New Board Members & Officers Named at SAFE CU, RCU & Everwise CU

WEST

Ashley White, SVP, chief marketing officer for the $6.2 billion, Pasadena, Calif.-based Wescom Credit Union, was appointed to the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation Advisory Board in early April. As a member of the volunteer Advisory Board, White will support the overall Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation Board of Directors and its initiatives across the region and country through capital improvement raises, heritage and historical recognition, and educational programming through the Rose Bowl Institute. White has more than 13 years of experience in strategic marketing partnership leadership within Wescom and the sports industry. She previously served as vice president of partner development for Wescom and managed sports marketing contracts for the Rose Bowl Stadium and UCLA Athletics.

The $4.6 billion, Folsom, Calif.-based SAFE Credit Union announced that Rick Blumenfeld was elected chair of its Board of Directors, effective April 25. Blumenfeld has served on the board since 2014, most recently as 1st vice chairman. He replaces former chair Terrance Tremelling, who stepped down from the role after seven years and will continue to serve as a director. Blumenfeld also served as treasurer from 2018-2023, and his professional experience has included serving as a regional managing partner with Arthur Andersen LLP, as an independent Certified Public Accountant and as a principal of a real estate consulting practice. He has also served on the faculty of CSU San Francisco, CSU Sacramento, UC Davis School of Management and Sierra College. In addition, Blumenfeld serves as board member and treasurer of United Way California Capital Region, founding board member and treasurer of the Eureka Schools Foundation, and former board member and treasurer of the Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce.

With Blumenfeld taking on the chair position, several other board members received new officer assignments: Sonia Lewis moved into the 1st vice chair role, Bernadette Austin became 2nd vice chair; Donald J. Ball Jr. became treasurer and 1st assistant secretary, and Ryan Larkin became secretary. Longtime board members James Jefferson and Ronald J. Seaman retired from the board.

The $8.9 billion, Santa Rosa, Calif.-based Redwood Credit Union announced three board re-elections.

Robert Eyler was re-elected for a three-year term. Eyler has been an RCU volunteer official since 2009, and is a professor of economics and director of the Center for Regional Economic Analysis at Sonoma State University. He holds a doctorate in economics from University of California Davis and has worked as an economic consultant throughout California, as well as in other states and countries.

Jeri Hansen was re-elected for a three-year term. Hansen has been an RCU volunteer official since 2020, serves as chair of the Nominating Committee and is a member of the Governance Committee. She also currently serves as president/CEO of the Napa Chamber of Commerce and president of the Napa Valley Exposition Board. Previously, she held multiple leadership roles including immediate past-chair of the Workforce Alliance of the North Bay and chair of the Napa County Planning Commission in 2017, and past-state president of California Women for Agriculture. Hansen is also an alumna of Leadership Napa Valley.

Jim Olmsted was re-elected for a three-year term and will serve as chair of the Board. Olmsted has been a volunteer official with RCU since 1993, and has served on the credit union’s Supervisory Committee and the Board of Directors for RCU Services Group. He is principal of Olmsted & Associates, a land use planning consulting firm in Santa Rosa.

The Board also named the following officers: Lisa Wittke Schaffner, vice chair; Debbie Watts, secretary and David Gouin, treasurer.

EAST

The $1.6 billion, Pittsfield, Mass.-based Greylock Federal Credit Union announced one promotion and one new hire.

Nikki Jannicelli was promoted to branch manager of the North Adams branch on Ashland Street in North Adams, Mass. In her new role, Jannicelli oversees all activities for the branch, manages the location’s staff of seven and plays an active role in business development. Her key responsibilities include originating mortgage and home equity loans, overseeing branch compliance, originating and underwriting consumer loans, and maintaining a wide variety of member accounts. Jannicelli began her career with Greylock as a part-time teller at the North Adams branch and has held various positions over the years, most recently as an assistant branch manager at the North Adams location. She serves as the treasurer on the Adams/Cheshire Little League Board of Directors.

Michael A. King was hired as SVP, CFO. King brings 15 years of banking and finance experience, including budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting and analysis, capital and liquidity management, and team development and management. He is a Certified Public Accountant. In his new role, he serves on the senior management team and is responsible for assisting with the overall financial management of the credit union, and ensuring financial stability and sound financial strategy balanced with the best interests of the membership. Additionally, King will participate in the formulation and implementation of credit union policies and objectives, as well as long-range planning and forecasting. Most recently, he served as SVP/head of financial planning and analysis with Berkshire Bank. King holds an MBA from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan.

The $2.1 billion, Lowell, Mass.-based Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union promoted Sarah-Beth Dey to branch officer of the Chelmsford Branch in Chelmsford, Mass. In her expanded role, Dey will be responsible for managing the Chelmsford Branch and leading a team of 15 employees. She has been with Jeanne D’Arc since 2021, when she joined the Chelmsford Branch as assistant branch manager. Dey holds a Developing Great Managers certificate from the Cooperative Credit Union Association (CCUA), and prior to joining the credit union industry, she worked in retail management and operations for The TJX Companies, Inc.

The $2.4 billion, Newport News, Va.-based BayPort Credit Union announced two promotions.

Jennifer Coyne was promoted to EVP. Coyne has been with BayPort for more than 15 years, most recently serving as COO since her promotion to that role in 2019. Coyne has more than 30 years of banking experience, including commercial lending, business development, client relations, branch management and loan underwriting.

Lewis Smith was also promoted to EVP. Smith has been with BayPort for more than 20 years, most recently serving as CFO since his promotion to that position in 2019. Smith has more than 30 years of experience in financial reporting, asset liability management, budgeting, profitability reporting and other financial analyses.

MIDWEST

The $5.1 billion, South Bend, Ind.-based Everwise Credit Union announced Art Vasquez was elected to a three-year term on its Board of Directors during its Annual Meeting in late April. Vasquez brings extensive experience in health care leadership, finance and community service. He currently serves as president of IU Health Arnett and the West Central Region, having joined IU Health in 2016 and held various leadership positions during his tenure. Before that, Vasquez held leadership roles at St. Catherine’s Hospital in East Chicago and Kaufman, Hall & Associates in Skokie, Ill. Vasquez holds an MBA from Purdue University, Hammond and is a Certified Public Accountant. He also serves on the boards of the Indiana Latino Institute, The Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, Indiana Professional Management Group and The United Way of Greater Lafayette. Vasquez is a member of the Indianapolis Business Journal’s 2019 class of Forty Under 40 and the 2023 recipient of the La Plaza Outstanding Corporate Leader Award.

The $2.9 billion, Muskego, Wis.-based Corporate Central Credit Union re-hired Ryan McMillan onto its team, this time in the role of technology services director. He brings over two decades of experience in IT, governance, compliance and risk management, and previously served as senior solutions architect for the corporate. In his new position, McMillan will play a crucial role in the advancement of the organization’s technology development and delivery. He will also focus on making Corporate Central a technology leader in the credit union industry by fostering collaborative relationships among internal business units, members and third-party partners/vendors.

SOUTH

In a special presentation, the Board of Directors of SECU ($55.8 billion, Raleigh, N.C.) honored Financial Services Manager Rose Skinner for 50 years of SECU service. Skinner is the first employee in the cooperative’s history to reach this career milestone. Nearly 100 credit union employees and volunteers gave Skinner a standing ovation as SECU Board Chair Mona Moon presented her with a framed Board Resolution acknowledging her many contributions and tremendous dedication to SECU members and the organization.

The $4.4 billion, Warner Robins, Ga.-based Robins Financial Credit Union announced three promotions.

Shane Reagan was promoted to vice president of consumer lending. Reagan has been with the credit union for 31 years, during which time he progressed through various roles, most recently assistant vice president of consumer lending. In his new role, he will lead the strategic vision and operational oversight of consumer lending activities, helping to drive the credit union’s growth and success. Reagan is a graduate of Leadership Robins through the Robins Regional Chamber and currently serves on the board for the Warner Robins Downtown Development Authority.

Clay A. Nodes was promoted to director of facilities. Nodes has served as facilities manager at Robins Financial for the last 15 years. In his new role, he will maintain his oversight of the Facility Department’s day-to-day operations while also spearheading broader strategies like project management for new construction and long-term projects focused on the maintenance and security of credit union buildings and properties. Nodes served in the United States Air Force for 24 years, retiring as a senior master sergeant before beginning his career at the credit union. He holds a master’s degree in executive leadership.

Chelsea Crawford was promoted to marketing project manager. In her new position, Crawford will use her experience and education in marketing and project management to play a pivotal role in overseeing the more traditional aspects of the credit union’s marketing department. Her responsibilities will include advertising, media placement, managing promotions, creative strategies, branch retail, branding and overseeing direct mail campaigns, among other key areas. Prior to joining the credit union, she served as a consultant at Hargray Fiber and as a business account manager/retail manager for AT&T.

CUSOS

QCash Financial, LLC, a wholly-owned CUSO of the $7.5 billion, Naperville, Ill.-based Alloya Corporate Federal Credit Union, named Tracy Lafferty CEO. Lafferty also serves as the corporate’s CFO, a role she has held since 2020. She will continue to serve as CFO as she steps into this leadership role at QCash.

LEAGUES

Andie Panepinto, talent development manager for the $48.1 million, New Orleans, La.-based Instep Federal Credit Union, received the 2023 Young Professional of the Year Award from the Louisiana Credit Union League’s Young Professionals Network during its annual workshop, held April 24-25 in Lake Charles, La. The award recognizes an individual 18-40 years of age who has been exceptionally engaged and supportive of the Louisiana credit union movement over the past year. Panepinto began her career in the credit union industry began as a teller and has also served as a loan officer and marketing representative. She also serves as secretary for the East Orleans Chapter, as a member on the YPN Steering Committee for the Orleans Chapter, as well as a judge and committee member on America’s Credit Unions Marketing & Business Development Council Diamond Award Panel.

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