Credit/AdobeStock
WEST
Ken Downs The $1.1 billion, Las Vegas-based Silver State Schools Credit Union hired Ken Downs as SVP/chief information officer. In his new role, Downs will oversee the IT department by implementing technology solutions, fostering growth opportunities, and developing and implementing effective strategies, actions, programs and processes that align with the credit union's strategic objectives. He brings over two decades of credit union and banking experience, having previously served as chief information officer at Credit Union of Southern California ($3.5 billion, Anaheim, Calif.) and vice president of technology at Marine Credit Union ($1 billion, La Crosse, Wis.).
EAST
The $7.8 billion, Enola, Pa.-based Members 1st Credit Union announced five employee recognitions.
Michael Wilson, president/CEO, was named to Lehigh Valley Business's Power List for Banking, Finance, Accounting and Wealth Management.
Michael Wilson Kyle Cooper, multimedia specialist; Nicholas Garisto, multimedia specialist; Whitney Foote, marketing manager; and Allison Bush, marketing specialist, were awarded a bronze Telly Award for their work on the video "A Members 1st Adoption Story." The video captured the story of the Logan family, who used a Home Equity Line of Credit to adopt their daughter, Jeanie.
Kyle Cooper 
Nick Garisto 
Whitney Foote 
Allison Bush Chad Stine, vice president of relationship management, was honored with the inaugural Emerging Leader Award from the Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce.
Chad Stine Katlyn Derr, Union Deposit branch manager, was named to the Central Penn Business Journal's Women to Watch list.
Katlyn Derr MIDWEST
Tom Slefinger The $7.4 billion, Naperville, Ill.-based Alloya Corporate Federal Credit Union announced two staff changes.
Tom Slefinger, SVP of institutional fixed income sales, will step down from his leadership role at Alloya Investment Services and transition into a new role as the corporate's market strategist. Slefinger joined the corporate in 2008, serving multiple roles and eventually overseeing the broker-dealer services of the corporate's wholly-owned CUSO, Balance Sheet Solutions. Prior to joining Alloya, Slefinger was SVP and principal of Van Kampen Investments, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley.
Bill Paton Bill Paton, vice president and manager of Alloya's Loan Participation and Subordinated Debt Programs, was named Capital Markets sales director, taking over the management responsibilities of Alloya Investment Services and adding to his current management responsibilities. Paton has been with Alloya for 17 years, and also contributes to the corporate's monthly publication, Capital Markets Monthly, and participates regularly in speaking engagements at credit union events across the country.
SOUTH
The $4.4 billion, Warner Robins, Ga.-based Robins Financial Credit Union announced five promotions.
Dee Dee Côté was promoted to EVP/chief growth officer. In her new role, Côté oversees the development and implementation of strategies that strengthen the credit union's market position and enhance the member experience. According to her LinkedIn profile, she has been with Robins Financial for 16 years and previously served as EVP.
Dee Dee Côté John Cozart was promoted to COO. In his new role, he will be responsible for ensuring the credit union's day-to-day operations continue to run smoothly and efficiently. According to his LinkedIn profile, Cozart has been with Robins Financial for 23 years and previously served as SVP of technology.
John Cozart Chris Parker was promoted to chief risk officer/general counsel. According to his LinkedIn profile, Parker has been with Robins Financial for four years, and prior to joining the credit union, he served as staff attorney/compliance attorney for the $2.4 billion America's First Federal Credit Union in Birmingham, Ala.
Amy Etheridge was promoted to SVP of strategy and transformation. In her new role, she will be developing and executing key initiatives that propel the credit union forward in new markets and member segments. According to her LinkedIn profile, she has been with Robins Financial for 21 years and previously served as vice president of delivery channels and marketing.
Amy Etheridge Marin Kovarovic was promoted to vice president of accounting. In her new role, she will be ensuring the credit union's resources are managed effectively and fueling its strategic growth objectives. According to her LinkedIn profile, Kovarovic has been with Robins Financial for 27 years and previously served as assistant vice president of accounting.
Marin Kovarovic The $2.6 billion, Chattanooga, Tenn.-based TVFCU announced four promotions.
Tammy Zumbrun was promoted to director of marketing community relations. In her new role, she will continue to oversee the credit union's community engagement and marketing initiatives, leveraging her extensive experience to further elevate TVFCU's community presence. She has been with TVFCU for 39 years.
Tammy Zumbrun Jeff Gallaher was promoted to director of accounting and automated payments. Gallagher, who holds expertise in systems, procedures and reporting requirements, will guide the accounting and automated payments departments to achieve new milestones in his new role. He has been with TVFCU for eight years.
Jeff Gallaher Larry Chapman was promoted to director of collections and loan support/quality control. In his new role, he will continue to enhance the effectiveness of the collections and loan support/quality control teams. Chapman has been with TVFCU for nearly four years, and previously served in roles at First Horizon, BBVA Compass and BB&T.
Larry Chapman Matt Hopkins was promoted to director of human resources. Hopkins has served in various capacities within the credit union's HR department since 2015 and completed TVFCU's Leadership School in 2019. In addition, he completed the CUES Emerging Leader program in 2021, earning the designation of Certified Credit Union Manager, and served on TVFCU's Mentoring Committee.
Matt Hopkins CUSOS
David Casey CU Solutions Group (CUSG), a majority-owned CUSO of the Michigan Credit Union League, hired David Casey as chief information security officer. Casey brings more than 20 years of experience in cybersecurity and IT leadership, having previously served at the Department of Defense and in industries such critical infrastructure, entertainment and automotive. He is also a former career military veteran, Certified Information Systems Security Professional and Certified Information Security Manager.
Please send your People news items to Natasha Chilingerian at [email protected].
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Natasha Chilingerian
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.
