New Executives Named at SLFCU, Avenir Financial and Royal CU

EAST

The $553 million, Portland, Maine-based Evergreen Credit Union promoted Amanda Peacock to its leadership team as vice president of member experience and engagement. Peacock started with Evergreen in early 2024.

WEST

The $4.1 billion, Albuquerque, N.M.-based Sandia Laboratory Federal Credit Union named Mag Wangsuwana CFO, after he previously served as interim CFO. He brings more than 25 years of extensive financial expertise and leadership. As CFO, Wangsuwana manages SLFCU’s strong $4 billion balance sheet, guiding strategic investments focused on transforming the experience of members and expanding SLFCU’s presence in the Southwest. He also oversees all finance and accounting operations, including budgeting, forecasting and planning, and is instrumental in supporting SLFCU’s 140,000 members and broad product portfolio. Before joining SLFCU, Wangsuwana served as CFO for CalPrivateBank. Previously, he was CFO and treasurer for a community-based commercial bank in Los Angeles County that serves consumers, small- to medium-sized businesses and private banking clients. In addition, he was a long-term director for MUFG Union Bank. Wangsuwana started his career in financial services as an investment banker at Merrill Lynch and Lehman Brothers

The $399 million, Yuma, Ariz.-based Avenir Financial Federal Credit Union hired Travis Hice as a senior commercial loan officer within its Business Services team. He brings over 20 years of experience in banking and commercial lending and holds a degree in bank management from the Graduate School of Banking Colorado.

MIDWEST

The $5.2 billion, Eau Claire, Wis.-based Royal Credit Union promoted Edward Jambor to vice president – commercial lending regional manager. In his new role, Jambor is responsible for leading a team of commercial loan officers in the North Metro to achieve Royal’s objectives, strategic goals and initiatives. He will also assist in the development of new relationships. Jambor has over 30 years of experience in the financial industry, primarily in business banking. Most recently, he held the title of vice president – commercial lender at Royal. Jambor attended the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he received an Executive Leadership Certificate. He also serves as a board member for Vadnais Heights Economic Development Corporation in Vadnais Heights, Minn.

LEAGUES

The Dakota Credit Union Association (DakCU) announced seven board appointments during its annual meeting on May 16.

Bob Herrington was newly elected to the DakCU board and will serve as second vice chair representing ND Division A. Herrington has been the CEO of North Star Community Credit Union ($476 million, Maddock, N.D.) since 2016; prior to that he worked for a community bank in Harvey, N.D., and at credit unions in Montana and Wyoming.

Katie Bredvik will serve as DakCU director and first vice chair DakCUSC representing SD Division C. Bredvik was named CEO of Coteau Valley Federal Credit Union ($17.4 million, Sisseton, S.D.) in 2017. She completed management school in 2021, earning her Certified Credit Union Executive designation.

Lacey Fetsch will serve as DakCU board chair representing ND Division B. Fetsch began working at University Federal Credit Union ($45.7 million, Grand Forks, N.D.) in 2004 while attending the University of North Dakota. After graduating from UND, she held the titles of loan officer and director of operations before becoming CEO in 2016. She graduated with high honors from management school in 2018 and holds the Certified Credit Union Executive designation.

Veronica Holweger will serve as a DakCU board member and DakCUSC secretary/treasurer representing ND Division C. Holweger is the CEO of Med Park Credit Union ($17.6 billion, Grand Forks, N.D.). She was re-appointed to a board seat in 2023 following a short reprieve; she previously served on the board when she was CEO of Riverfork Federal Credit Union ($28.3 million, Grand Forks, N.D.). She has more than 25 years’ experience as a credit union CEO and 30 years in the industry.

Jake Klobuchar was newly elected to the board and will serve as DakCU director representing Multi-State At-Large. Klobuchar has been in the banking and credit union industry for 15 years. He is the SVP Fargo market president for Town & Country Credit Union ($695 million, Minot, N.D.), serves as the secretary of the Sharehouse Foundation Board, and is the first credit union representative to serve on the Lake Agassiz Certified Development Company’s board that manages the SBA 504 loan program.

Jarrod Reisner will serve as DakCU board first vice chair representing SD Division A. Reisner began working at Black Hills Federal Credit Union ($2.3 billion, Rapid City, S.D.) in 2009 and currently serves as CFO. He holds a CPA license and is a member of the SD GAC and is a board member for Midwest Business Solutions, LLC dba Pactola.

Dawn Van Ash was re-elected to serve as DakCU Director and Chair of DakCUSC representing SD Division B. Van Ash has been involved with credit unions for more than 35 years. Starting as a teller, she was promoted to several roles including loan officer and assistant manager, prior to becoming CEO of Oahe Federal Credit Union ($38 million, Pierre, S.D.). She is a graduate of management school and holds the Certified Credit Union Executive designation.

The California Credit Union League appointed Harold Roundtree as the at large director for the board of directors, effective May 14. This position was previously held by Geri LaChance, who stepped down in April pending her retirement from SESLOC Credit Union ($1.1 billion, San Luis Obispo, Calif.) in June. Roundtree brings more than 30 years of senior executive management experience in the financial services industry, serving as president/CEO of UNCLE Credit Union ($707 million, Livermore, Calif.) since 2011. Prior to joining UNCLE, he was SVP of the retail banking division of Technology Credit Union ($4.5 billion, San Jose, Calif.). Roundtree also currently serves on the housing and mid-size credit union advisory committees of the California Credit Union League, as immediate past chairman of the Livermore Valley Chamber of Commerce board of directors, as a member of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco’s Community Depository Institutions Advisory Council and as a member of the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation’s Credit Union Advisory Committee. Ahead of his credit union career, he held various leadership roles at World Savings as a director within the loan services division and First Interstate Bank as a vice president. He earned a master’s degree from Golden Gate University.

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