10 CU Professionals Celebrate Honors & New Roles

EAST

The $553 million, Portland, Maine-based Evergreen Credit Union hired Erin Jones as assistant vice president, branch manager for the credit union’s South Portland branch. Previously, Jones served in multiple credit union member service and leadership roles in southern Maine.

The $2.1 billion, Lowell, Mass.-based Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union announced two promotions.

Brandy Siegler was promoted to assistant vice president – facilities. Siegler joined the credit union in 2002 as a teller and has worked her way through several areas of the organization before being promoted to facilities officer in 2022. During her more than 20 years of service, she has played an important role in the physical expansion of the credit union, most recently in the construction of its new office building, Acre Crossing.

Melissa Surun was promoted to systems application officer. Surun has been with the credit union since 2004 and has spent the last eight years as part of the technology department. Surun’s work ensures the seamless operation of systems, successful updates and the availability of accurate data for reporting. She played a pivotal role in the credit union’s core conversion in 2021.

LEAGUES

The Illinois Credit Union League announced the recipients of its 2024 awards program. They will be formally recognized during the Celebration Lunch at the 94th Annual ICUL Convention on Oct. 4, 2024, at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk.

Deborah Fears with Chicago Post Office Employees Credit Union ($29.7 million, Chicago) received the Small Credit Union Award. This award honors the outstanding accomplishments of credit unions with assets under $50 million.

Charla Buchanan with Citizens Equity First Credit Union ($7.8 billion, Peoria, Ill.) received the Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award. This award recognizes an individual who has made a significant and lasting impact on the credit union movement in Illinois and potentially at the national level.

Charles Peterson with 74th Street Depot Federal Credit Union ($9.3 million, Chicago) also received the Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award.

Greg Anderson with University of Illinois Community Credit Union ($667 million, Champaign, Ill.) received the Hall of Fame Leadership Achievement Award. This award honors an individual with a distinguished career demonstrating exceptional commitment to the credit union philosophy.

Betty Richardson with South Side Community Federal Credit Union ($6.1 million, Chicago) received the Spirit of Service Volunteer of the Year Award. This award celebrates a dedicated volunteer whose exceptional contributions exemplify the credit union spirit of “people helping people.”

Cinda Klickna with Illinois Educators Credit Union ($100 million, Springfield, Ill.) also received the Spirit of Service Volunteer of the Year Award.

Kim Morris with Illinois Community Credit Union ($120 million, Sycamore, Ill.) received the Spirit of Service Employee of the Year Award. This award recognizes a credit union employee who consistently goes above and beyond to serve members and exemplifies the credit union philosophy.

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