8 CU Hires & Promotions Include New Chief Lending Officer at Chartway

EAST

Hudson Valley Credit Union ($7.3 billion, Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) announced one new hire and one promotion.

Bianca West was hired as vice president, creative director. In her new role, West will focus on collaboration with key stakeholders and business units across the credit union to develop a consistent brand identity. This includes working with marketing and communications teams to coordinate strategic internal and external campaigns, market plans and product development. Prior to joining HVCU, West ran her creative agency, 21 Degrees West. She has worked with a variety of industries such as fintech, cybersecurity, pharma and media.

Kara Brinkerhoff was promoted to vice president, director of marketing insights. Brinkerhoff has been with HVCU for nearly 25 years, starting as a financial services representative in 2000 and eventually progressing to her most recent role of assistant vice president, manager of member experience. In her new role, she will drive marketing performance and optimization and business opportunities, and continue fostering a positive member experience.

The $2.1 billion, Lowell, Mass.-based Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union hired Sean Ball as assistant vice president – financial crimes.

In his new role, Ball will build a team of fraud specialists to further protect Jeanne D’Arc members from the ever-present threat of fraud. Ball is a Certified Economic Crime Forensic Examiner through the National White‐Collar Crimes Center and has over 13 years of experience auditing and investigating financial white-collar crimes. He most recently worked as a financial crime specialist and investigator for the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office. He earned an MBA in accounting with a concentration in forensic accounting from Southern New Hampshire University.

The $2.7 billion, Rome, N.Y.-based AmeriCU Credit Union promoted Todd Stiles to small business relationship manager of the Syracuse, N.Y., region. In his new role, Stiles will provide guidance and assistance to local businesses within the community. He has over 28 years of financial services experience, having begun his career at AmeriCU in 2003. He previously served as the financial center manager of the Fayetteville, N.Y., branch. Stiles has also been playing guitar for over 35 years and currently performs in the band Country Swagg.

The $1.2 billion, Sharon, Mass.-based SCU Credit Union hired Kevin Brower as chief commercial and consumer officer. Brower brings 25 years of experience in commercial lending. In addition, he serves on the board of the Old Colony YMCA Family Services Division, was involved with the Downtown Brockton Association as a member and past chair, served as a Loan Committee member for Brockton Restaurant Infrastructure Fund and previously chaired the Brockton Venture Fund.

The $2.9 billion, Virginia Beach, Va.-based Chartway Credit Union hired Steven Lee as chief lending officer. In his new role, he will oversee the credit union’s consumer, real estate and business lending, as well as its payments group. His focus will include continual advancement of Chartway’s lending strategies for ongoing growth, portfolio management and member service. Lee brings over two decades of experience leading transformative initiatives and fostering innovation within global enterprises. He previously held key leadership roles at institutions such as Bellco Credit Union ($8.2 billion, Greenwood Village, Colo.), First Tech Federal Credit Union ($16.7 billion, San Jose, Calif.) and Citibank.

MIDWEST

The $14.2 billion, Caledonia, Mich.-based Lake Michigan Credit Union hired Bo Wulbern as SVP of Commercial Lending in Tampa Bay, Fla. Wulbern brings over 20 years of lending experience in the Tampa area, and holds expertise in developing customized loan solutions to meet local businesses’ unique financial needs.

SOUTH

The $2.7 billion, Chattanooga, Tenn.-based Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union hired Babar Khawaja as director of consumer lending. Khawaja brings more than 17 years of experience in the financial services industry, including 14 years focused specifically on consumer lending. He began his career in lending as a credit analyst and has since held roles such as indirect lending manager, consumer lending manager and chief lending officer. Most recently, he served at Cedar Point Federal Credit Union ($793 million, Lexington Park, Md.).

VENDORS

Plinqit, an Ann Arbor, Mich.-based, mobile-first platform and fintech company serving banks and credit unions, promoted Crystal Boyer to chief customer officer. In her new role, Boyer will lead Plinqit’s efforts to enhance customer success, drive satisfaction and ensure alignment across all customer-facing teams. She will focus on creating strategic initiatives that enhance customer experiences, align organizational goals with customer outcomes, and innovate how the company manages customer relationships. Boyer joined Plinqit in 2021 after more than a decade in the banking industry.

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