10 Credit Unions Celebrate Employee Honors and Career Moves

EAST

George Rudolph, president/CEO of the $8.2 billion, Harrisburg, Pa.-based PSECU, was named to Central Penn Business Journal’s Power 100 list for the fourth consecutive year. Rudolph joined PSECU as president/CEO in 2019 and has over 30 years of leadership experience in the credit union and airline industries. He has also served as an advisor to the CUNA Technology Council’s Executive Committee and the Federal Reserve’s Faster Payments Task Force. Rudolph holds an MBA from LaSalle University in Philadelphia.

The $1.6 billion, Pittsfield, Mass.-based Greylock Federal Credit Union appointed Joseph Baker to its volunteer Supervisory Committee. Baker is vice president of finance and administration with Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, where he oversees finances, investments, human resources and operations. He has worked in the community foundation field for nearly 20 years and brings a background in nonprofit finance, development and community initiatives. He previously worked for Fairfield County’s Community Foundation and the Community Foundation for Greater New Britain. He earned his MBA from the Yale School of Management. He also serves as treasurer of the Financial and Administrators Officers Group and the Association of Community Foundations Finance Professionals.

Sue DeStephano, president/CEO of the $302 million, York, Pa.-based First Capital Federal Credit Union, was named to the Central Penn Business Journal’s Power 100 list. DeStephano has been with First Capital for 35 years, starting right out of college as a loan officer, a position she held for almost 10 years before being promoted to loan manager. Within a few years, she was promoted to vice president of lending, a role she served in for 10 years before becoming vice president of operations. In 2015, she was selected as president/CEO. DeStephano serves as an associate board member for Vizo Financial Corporate Credit Union ($5.7 billion, Greensboro, N.C.); treasurer/second vice chair for the York County Economic Alliance General Authority of Southcentral Pennsylvania Board of Directors; vice president for the York County SPCA Board of Directors; a member of the Women’s Business Center Organization through the YCEA and a member of the United Way of York County’s Women United.

MIDWEST

The $1.3 billion, Omaha, Neb.-based Centris Federal Credit Union announced one new hire and one promotion.

Britany Klusaw was hired as assistant vice president, contact center. Klusaw brings over 20 years of banking experience, having most recently served as director of customer care at a large, local bank. She has also served in the roles of branch manager, personal banker, teller manager, lead teller and teller.

Jeff Richardson was promoted to vice president, business banking. Richardson has been an assistant vice president since arriving at Centris in 2021. He has eight years of banking experience with the last three in business banking. Richardson has served on the Board of Directors for Junior Achievement USA – Midwest Affiliation, as an Academy of Young Professionals legacy board member, as a former Sarpy County Chamber of Commerce ambassador and as a Team QLI Ambassador Committee member. He is a graduate of Leadership Sarpy through the Sarpy County Chamber of Commerce and the 2019 NBA Relationship & Business Development School.

The $1.6 billion, Bloomington, Ind.-based IU Credit Union hired Justin Wallace as mortgage origination manager. Wallace brings more than a decade of management, sales and customer service experience across multiple industries. He most recently served as event manager for the Bloomington Country Club and previously served as automotive dealer development representative for Fifth Third Bank. Wallace holds a master’s degree in kinesiology, athletic administration from Indiana University Bloomington.

Melanie Stillwell, president/CEO for the Williston, N.D.-based Western Cooperative Credit Union, will retire after more than 26 years of service. She will be succeeded by Justin Maddison on April 2. Stillwell has been in the credit union industry for 38 years. She began her career as an NCUA examiner, later moving onto Safeway Rocky Mountain Federal Credit Union in Centennial, Colo., as an SVP of finance. She served as vice president of WCCU for almost four years before being selected as president/CEO in 2002. During her CEO tenure, the credit union grew assets from $76 million to its current assets of $444 million. Stillwell has also served on the CUNA Exam and Supervision Subcommittee, North Dakota State Credit Union Board and DakCU Board of Directors, and was a founding member for Pactola.

She has also served on the Williston State College Foundation Board, as treasurer for the Western Region Economic Development Board and as vice chairman for the CHI/St. Alexius Health Center Board of Directors (formerly known as Mercy Medical Center.) She was also a Williston Rotary Club Member for 17 years, serving as both secretary and president. In addition, she served on several Chamber of Commerce committees during her years in Williston, was named one of Prairie Business Magazine’s Top 25 Women in Business and was inducted into the Credit Union House Hall of Leaders in 2023. She was awarded the Williston Area Chamber of Commerce Leadership award in 2024.

SOUTH

The $165 million, Kingsport, Tenn.-based Appalachian Community Federal Credit Union promoted Miranda Gray Cooper to chief experience officer. Cooper joined ACFCU in February 2021 and previously served as vice president of member experience. In her new role, she will be responsible for the overall direction of ACFCU’s six branch locations and continue to oversee all marketing, communication and business development functions. Cooper is a graduate of SHOUT! and Leadership Kingsport, was named to the local Business Journal’s 40 under Forty list and was selected as the Rogersville Review’s Best of the Best Businesswoman.

The $274 million Service One Credit Union in Bowling Green, Ky., hired Duncan Hines as branch manager of the Bowling Green Bypass Branch. Before joining the financial industry, Duncan gained 17 years of experience in the hospitality, hotel and tourism industries. He serves on the boards of various Bowling Green civic and professional organizations, including Leadership Bowling Green, SKYPAC and Foster Grandparents. He is also the current president-elect of the Bowling Green Noon Rotary.

ORNL Federal Credit Union ($3.6 billion, Oak Ridge, Tenn.) hired Jennifer Lopez Kouchis into the newly-created position of chief strategy and growth officer. In her new role, Kouchis will lead ORNL’s largest growth-driving areas, including lending, marketing and data analytics. She will also oversee 7, LLC, ORNL’s CUSO, which includes 7 Servicing, 7 Title, 7 Mortgage and 7 Insurance.

Kouchis brings over 20 years of experience in the financial industry, having most recently served as chief credit officer and head of mortgage banking for the $13.5 billion, VyStar Credit Union in Jacksonville, Fla. Before that, she worked at BBVA Compass, NVR Mortgage and the $170.8 billion, Vienna, Va.-based Navy Federal Credit Union. Kouchis attended the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin and the Columbus College of Art & Design in Columbus, Ohio; is a Certified Mortgage Banker through the Mortgage Bankers Association; and serves on the TransUnion Mortgage Advisory Board and the National POW/MIA Memorial & Museum Board.

The $2.1 billion, Richardson, Texas-based Texans Credit Union promoted Mike McWethy to EVP. He joined Texans in 2020 and most recently served as chief experience officer. Prior to joining Texans, he held various leadership roles, including EVP and COO, for over 15 years in the financial services industry. In his new role, McWethy will continue to oversee key areas, including IT, marketing, lending and retail operations, guaranteeing operational excellence for stakeholders and alignment with the credit union’s mission and goals. He holds a Lean Six Sigma certification.

The $5.9 billion, Oklahoma City, Okla.-based Tinker Federal Credit Union hired Paul Krus as SVP/supervisory principal for TFCU Financial Advisors. In his new role, Krus will be managing the ongoing operational compliance, sales and strategy of TFCU Financial Advisors and its investment and insurance planning services. He brings 33 years of wealth management experience in the financial services industry, having most recently served as senior director/EVP at Arvest Bank/Arvest Wealth Management in Tulsa, Okla., where he led the expansion and development of the AWM Advisor Growth and Development Team.

Please send your People news items to Natasha Chilingerian at nchilingerian@cutimes.com.