Otsuka Joins NeighborWorks America Board; Synergent Appoints New President

EAST

The Community First Fund, an independent non-profit community loan fund in Lancaster, Pa., announced two new hires.

Ed Gallagher was hired as chief credit officer. Gallagher brings more than 25 years of experience in banking. He previously served at CoreStates Bank as a commercial lender; Univest Bank and Trust Company as SVP of corporate banking; and Phoenixville Federal Bank and Trust, where he was responsible for portfolio management, risk rating assessment, credit analysis, development of loan policy and procedure, and oversight of lending and operations.

Elizabeth Bennett was hired as CFO. Bennett began her career in finance with Beard Miller CPA, where she worked on the Community First Fund account. More recently, she served at D & E Communications as internal audit manager, and as CFO for the Lancaster Theological Seminary and Pennsylvania College of Art and Design. Bennett is a Certified Public Account and a Certified Fraud Examiner.

The $303 million, York, Pa.-based First Capital Federal Credit Union announced two promotions.

David Morse was promoted to SVP of operations. For the past eight years, Morse has served as vice president of operations for First Capital. In addition to his experience with First Capital, he has over 20 years of experience in personalized customer service, business management, strategic planning and banking operations.

Tara Houser Minetos was promoted to SVP of marketing. For the past 10 years, Minetos has served as the vice president of marketing and business development for First Capital. Prior to joining the credit union, she worked as a news producer, communications director and public relations manager. In her new role, she is responsible for developing marketing programs and initiatives that promote the credit union to current and potential members. Minetos currently serves on the council for the Women’s Business Center Organization, a program of the York County Economic Alliance and as vice president of the York Chapter of Credit Unions.

The $4.5 billion, Herndon, Va.-based Northwest Federal Credit Union announced two hires.

Taralyn Tharp Kohler was hired as vice president of The NWFCU Foundation. Kohler is the former CEO of the CORE Foundation and brings over 20 years of executive leadership experience in the telecom and the nonprofit sectors, including serving as executive director of the Barnett-Searing National Cancer Foundation. She holds certificates in public speaking and leadership coaching.

Nathan Turner was hired as SVP of marketing and communications. The former partnerships marketing manager for the Washington Commanders, Turner brings a background in sports management, beginning with the New Orleans Pelicans and the New Orleans Saints from 2022-2023. Before that, he spent four years at Learfield contributing to the marketing initiatives of institutions such as Duke University, the University of Louisville and Tulane University. Turner holds a masters in sports administration from Northwestern University in Evanton, Ill. In his new role, he will be responsible for the continuation and expansion of the Northwest-Commanders partnership, as well as managing the daily marketing and communication teams.

MIDWEST

The $364 million, St. Cloud, Minn.-based Great River Federal Credit Union hired Kevin Kubat as chief lending officer. Kubat is a certified Credit Union Manager by CUES and a certified Credit Union Financial Counselor by CUNA. Most recently, he served as vice president of consumer/commercial lending at the $796 million, Superior, Wis.-based Superior Choice Credit Union.

AGENCIES

NCUA Board Member Tanya Otsuka was appointed to the board of directors for NeighborWorks America, effective Jan. 11. Otsuka succeeded Rodney Hood as a member of the NCUA Board in January 2024. Before joining the NCUA Board, she served as senior counsel for the majority staff of the U.S. Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee under Chairman Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), where she managed the Committee’s work on banking and credit union issues. In 2019, Otsuka served on the Committee staff through the Government Affairs Institute at Georgetown University’s Capitol Hill Fellowship Program, on detail from the FDIC. Prior to her time with the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, Otsuka was a staff attorney and counsel at the FDIC, where she addressed banking issues. Determined by statute, NeighborWorks’ board consists of the heads of the financial regulatory agencies and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, or their statutorily designated representatives.

VENDORS

Synergent, a Westbrook, Maine-based financial technology and services company for credit unions, announced Randy Stolp as its new president, effective Jan. 22. Stolp has served in the credit union industry for 22 years, having most recently worked at the $491 million, Midland, Texas-based My Community Credit Union as chief information officer. He has also worked in various roles at three credit unions and as vice president/account executive for PSCU. Stolp was vice chair of the America’s Credit Unions Technology Council’s Executive Committee and has served as a Chapter President for the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues. In addition, he is a Western CUNA Management School graduate, a Credit Union Development Educator and a Certified Credit Union Financial Counselor, and graduated from Filene’s i3 program.

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