8 Career Moves Include a New Board Chair for WOCCU
Four credit unions and three vendors reveal hires, promotions, board appointments and recognitions.
WEST
The $5.5 billion, Richland, Wash.-based Gesa Credit Union hired Megan Wiseman to its leadership team as assistant vice president of retail sales and services. In her new role, Wiseman will spearhead branch operations and team leadership, focusing on delivering exceptional member service through coaching, development and providing additional support to those she oversees. In addition, she will work to deliver operational excellence and drive organizational success, assisting the Retail Sales and Services department in reaching its strategic goals. Wiseman will also lead the opening of new branches, spearhead growth in new markets and enhance service models. Wiseman began her career 19 years ago and since then has held nearly every branch position.
Lisa Paul-Hill, president/CEO for the $437 million, San Diego, Calif.-based Wheelhouse Credit Union, was named San Diego Business Journal’s 2024 business nonprofit CEO of the Year. The publication’s annual award program recognizes CEOs in the San Diego area for their contributions to company growth, leadership and community involvement. With 30 years of credit union experience, Paul-Hill has served as president/CEO of Wheelhouse since 2017. She was also named to the San Diego Business Journal’s 2024 50 Over 50 Women of Influence, which recognized women business leaders making an impact in San Diego. She currently serves as board chair for Make-A-Wish San Diego.
SOUTH
The $4.5 billion, Warner Robins, Ga.-based Robins Financial Credit Union hired Angela Applegate as director of audit. Applegate started her career in a public accounting firm as a tax accountant before transitioning to employment with the federal government. During that time, she held roles in accounting and auditing, where she prepared and analyzed financial statements, ensured adherence to financial regulations, and provided audit support to internal and external parties. In her new role, Applegate will oversee the credit union’s audit functions, focusing on maintaining the highest standards of integrity and accountability. She will be responsible for leading the internal audit team, conducting comprehensive reviews of financial operations, and collaborating with senior leadership to ensure the continued success and growth of Robins Financial.
Brian Vannoy, senior EVP, chief revenue officer and managing director of Allegacy Services for the $2.3 billion, Winston Salem, N.C.-based Allegacy Federal Credit Union, was elected to the Carolinas Credit Union League’s Board of Directors for a three-year term (2024-2027) during the League’s 2024 annual meeting in Hilton Head, S.C. Vannoy has more than 30 years of experience in financial services, 20 of which have been spent in North Carolina. He joined Allegacy in 2015. Vannoy is a 2009 graduate of Leadership Winston-Salem and holds the Credit Risk Certification and Credit Union Enterprise Risk Management designations. In addition, he completed the CUES CEO Institute, and currently serves on the boards for Winston Salem State University Foundation and the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce.
TRADES
World Council of Credit Unions announced Michael Lawrence, CEO of Australia’s Customer Owned Banking Association (COBA), as its new board chair on July 23 during the 2024 World Credit Union Conference in Boston. Lawrence has more than 30 years of experience in the financial services industry and has been a member of WOCCU’s Board of Directors since 2018. He succeeds Diana Dykstra, who is retiring.
VENDORS
First Community Trust, N.A. (FCT), a Dubuque, Iowa-based nationally-chartered trust company offering trust, investment and retirement services primarily through credit unions, hired Sheldon Reynolds as EVP, managing director. In his new role, Reynolds will oversee and lead the growth of FCT’s institutional division, including selling, managing and retaining relationships with financial institutions and clients, as well as driving new market expansion. Reynolds brings more than 30 years of financial experience, having most recently served as president of financial wellness at Local Government Federal Credit Union ($4.1 billion, Raleigh, N.C.). He is a CFA Charterholder and the founder of SBReynolds Consulting, LLC, where he provided tailored consulting services to credit unions, focusing on wealth management and financial wellness. He also previously served as vice president of trust and investments at Members Trust Company. Reynolds has completed industry education courses from the Cannon Financial Institute, Skillmark, CUES and the Harvard Business Publishing Education.
American Share Insurance (ASI) hired Jennifer Kelly as assistant vice president of advocacy. Kelly brings almost 20 years of experience in the credit union industry, having most recently served as senior director of state affairs at America’s Credit Unions. In her new role, she will be developing and executing policy strategies that maximize the value and relevance of ASI and its subsidiary, ESI, to policymakers at all levels of government.
FIntegrate Technology, a Birmingham, Ala.-based provider of loan portfolio tracking and collection recovery software for financial institutions, hired Mike McKenna as senior sales executive.
McKenna brings more than 30 years of sales experience in the financial industry, supporting both community banks and credit unions, as well as the managed health care software technology sector. Most recently, he served as senior sales executive for Jack Henry & Associates. In his new role, McKenna will help financial institutions increase recovery revenue, reduce annual collection expenses and improve productivity via the company’s data-driven analytics software, which includes FusionCRS (collections & recovery), FusionDMS (dispute management) and FusionLRS (image and data conversion).
Please send your People news items to Natasha Chilingerian at nchilingerian@cutimes.com.