New Credit Union Talent Includes Everwise’s First Chief Legal & Risk Officer

WEST

The $2 billion, Westminster, Calif.-based LBS Financial Credit Union promoted Violet Stewart to vice president of branch operations. Stewart previously served as branch manager at the credit union’s Lakewood, Calif., office. In her new role, she will be responsible for all seven of the credit union’s branch locations, with the vice president/branch managers reporting directly to her. Stewart started her career with LBS Financial in 2017 as the Lakewood branch manager. She earned her MBA with an emphasis on organizational leadership from Brandman University, a division of Chapman University.

MIDWEST

The $5.1 billion, South Bend, Ind.-based Everwise Credit Union hired Lyndsay H. Miller into the newly-created role of chief legal and risk officer. In her new role, Miller will lead the organization’s overall corporate legal function, compliance and enterprise-wide risk management. Miller brings 20 years of experience as an attorney in the financial services industry, including work with credit unions and regulatory organizations. Most recently, she served as assistant general counsel and corporate secretary at Federal Home Loan Bank in Indianapolis. Previously, Miller served as the deputy director of the Consumer Credit Division at the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions. In addition, she previously served as general counsel for the state banking regulator; associate general counsel, compliance for the Minnesota Credit Union Network; and executive director of the Minnesota Credit Union Foundation. Additionally, Miller worked in private practice representing community financial institutions early in her legal career. She holds a Juris Doctor from Mitchell Hamline School of Law in St. Paul, Minn.

SOUTH

The $4.5 billion, Warner Robins, Ga.-based Robins Financial Credit Union promoted Veronica Kelly to commercial loan administration manager. Kelly has more than 30 years of banking and management experience, and in her new role, she will be responsible for leading the credit union’s Commercial Loan Administration team, ensuring business members receive high-quality service and support. She joined the Robins Financial team during its acquisition of Person’s Banking Company in the fall of 2022. Prior to her career with Robins Financial, Kelly worked as a loan operations clerk and credit administration assistant. After the acquisition, she accepted a role as senior project coordinator.

The $2.8 billion, Dunedin, Fla.-based Achieva Credit Union hired Renee Grauer as president of retail sales and service. Grauer brings 40 years of experience in the banking industry, having most recently served as a regional banking senior manager and executive director at Wells Fargo. She also holds expertise beyond banking operations, including digital technology, compliance, risk management and strategic planning. She began her career by working as a teller while attending Florida State University. In her new role, Grauer will oversee Achieva’s retail banking operations, focusing on delivering exceptional service, driving growth and enhancing the overall member experience.

VENDORS

Plinqit, an Ann Arbor, Mich.-based mobile-first platform and fintech company serving banks and credit unions, promoted Kirsten Longnecker to chief marketing officer. In her new role, Longnecker will oversee Plinqit’s marketing team and the company’s go-to-market strategy across its suite of deposit growth tools, including its most recently launched white-labeled savings product, High Yield Savings by Plinqit. She will also strengthen awareness and engagement with the Plinqit brand through relevant thought-leadership content, digital marketing initiatives, strategic partnerships and more. Previously, Longnecker served as Plinqit’s SVP of marketing. Before joining Plinqit, she held multiple leadership roles at Kasasa over nearly 10 years, including vice president of communications and B2B content. Longnecker also serves as a mentor for the Women Communicators of Austin, where she previously held the role of vice president of philanthropy.

The Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.-based consulting and leadership development company Stuart Levine & Associates promoted Christopher Y. Clark to senior managing consultant. Clark has extensive experience in corporate governance, leadership development, strategic communications and media in the public and private sectors. He joined Stuart Levine & Associates as a senior consultant following a career at the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD), where he was a member of the Broadridge Virtual Shareholder Meeting Best Practices Working Group and contributing member of NACD’s Flag and General Officer Advisory Council. Before joining NACD, he worked at Forbes Inc. for more than a decade, holding various roles such as vice president of sales for Forbes.com and vice president and general manager of the Forbes Management Conference Group. Additionally, he served as advertising director for financial services at Forbes magazine.

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