4 Credit Union Professionals Receive Promotions

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WEST

The $389 million, Yuma, Ariz.-based Avenir Financial Federal Credit Union hired Tim Rooney as EVP, chief strategy officer. In his new role, Rooney will oversee organizational strategy for the credit union. He most recently served as CEO for the Medjool date company Bard Valley Natural Delights, also in Yuma, for eight years.

Nikki Bunch, SVP of member experience for the $4.3 billion, Albuquerque, N.M.-based Nusenda Credit Union, was recognized as a 40 Under 40 Honoree by Albuquerque Business First. Bunch joined Nusenda 11 years ago with a background in hospitality management and a master's degree in business. She started as a teller and advanced through a variety of roles including management trainee, assistant branch manager, branch manager, assistant vice president and vice president of branch experience. In her current role, she is a member of the senior leadership team and is responsible for the member experience of all personal interactions. She also serves on the Nusenda Foundation Board.

EAST

Ronald Belle, CEO for the $2.6 billion, Rome, N.Y.-based AmeriCU Credit Union, was appointed as a new member of The Federal Reserve Bank of New York's Community Depository Institutions Advisory Council. Belle will serve a three-year term. Council members are representatives from commercial banks, thrift institutions and credit unions with assets under $10 billion and headquartered in the Federal Reserve's Second District. The purpose of the council is to provide information and insight to the New York Fed from the perspective of community depository institutions.

The $659 million ValleyStar Credit Union in Martinsville, Va., promoted Misty Reed to chief credit officer. Reed has over 22 years of experience across banks and credit unions in commercial lending, underwriting, operations and credit administration. She most recently served as SVP of credit administration at ValleyStar and served as chief commercial credit officer for a previous employer. In addition, Reed has spearheaded financial analysis courses in partnership with the Risk Management Association and local Small Business Development Centers, as well as served as past president of the Southwest Virginia Chapter of the Risk Management Association. She received CU Times' Trailblazer Award for Lending Officer of the Year in 2017, currently serves as chair of the Blue Ridge Council of Make-A-Wish Greater Virginia and formerly served as audit chair of the Girl Scouts Skyline Council. She holds an MBA from King University in Bristol, Tenn.

MIDWEST

The $2.8 billion, Muskego, Wis.-based Corporate Central Credit Union announced one retirement and one promotion.

Karen Christie, vice president, member services for Corporate Central, retired on April 5 after 36 years of service.

Stephanie Schmidt was promoted to vice president, member services. Schmidt joined Corporate Central in 2015 as a member services representative. In 2016, she was promoted to member services specialist, and the following year to manager, member services. In 2020, she was promoted to assistant vice president, member services.

In her new role, Schmidt will be responsible for orchestrating strategies to optimize member satisfaction, overseeing the implementation of personalized services, and fostering innovative solutions to meet evolving member needs and preferences. She will also be responsible for leading the member services team to deliver unparalleled support and value to members. Schmidt participated in The Wisconsin Credit Union League's Leadership Program in 2018 and graduated from CUNA Management School with honors in 2022. She holds the following professional designations: Accredited ACH Professional, Certified Wisconsin Credit Union Leader, Credit Union Development Educator, Certified Credit Union Executive, Certified Contact Center Manager and Certified Credit Union Financial Counselor.

The $534 million, Bettendorf, Iowa-based Ascentra Credit Union promoted Christian Marcussen to chief technology and innovation officer. Marcussen joined Ascentra in 2023 and succeeds EVP and chief technology officer Brad Knutson, who retired on Jan. 19 after nearly 35 years of service. Marcussen previously served at Mazuma Credit Union ($973 million, Kansas City, Mo.) and as chief strategy officer for Abound Credit Union ($2.2 billion, Louisville, Ky.). In addition, he served at iLending in Denver and was a co-founder of digital growth think tank Flux. Marcussen is a CUES Certified Senior Executive and Certified Information Systems Security Professional through ISC2.

The $7.4 billion, Waterloo, Iowa-based Veridian Credit Union promoted Ana Hernandez to community inclusion strategist. Hernandez has more than five years of experience at the credit union and most recently served as a loan advisor. She also serves on the board of directors for The Job Foundation.

Please send your People news items to Natasha Chilingerian at [email protected].

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Natasha Chilingerian has been immersed in the credit union industry for over a decade. She first joined CU Times in 2011 as a freelance writer, and following a two-year hiatus from 2013-2015, during which time she served as a communications specialist for Xceed Financial Credit Union (now Kinecta Federal Credit Union), she re-joined the CU Times team full-time as managing editor. She was promoted to executive editor in 2019. In the earlier days of her career, Chilingerian focused on news and lifestyle journalism, serving as a writer and editor for numerous regional publications in Oregon, Louisiana, South Carolina and the San Francisco Bay Area. In addition, she holds experience in marketing copywriting for companies in the finance and technology space. At CU Times, she covers People and Community news, cybersecurity, fintech partnerships, marketing, workplace culture, leadership, DEI, branch strategies, digital banking and more. She currently works remotely and splits her time between Southern California and Portland, Ore.