New Hires Include SVP of Financial Opportunity at Navy Federal

WEST

The $33.4 million, San Luis Obispo, Calif.-based SLO Credit Union announced one promotion and one new hire.

Carolyn White was promoted to COO. White joined SLO in August 2023 as operations officer and has over three decades of experience in the credit union industry. Prior to joining SLO, she held key positions at CoastHills Federal Credit Union ($1.8 billion, Santa Maria, Calif.), and SESLOC Credit Union ($1.1 billion, San Luis Obispo). She also serves as chair for America’s Credit Unions’ HR/OD Council.

Moniroth Bond was hired as a loan officer. Bond brings over 20 years of experience in member services and loan processing, as well as extensive skills in loan underwriting, funding and processing, including signature loans, auto loans and home equity loans. Prior to joining SLO, Bond served as assistant branch manager and loan officer at County Schools Federal Credit Union ($92.7 billion, Ventura, Calif.) beginning in 2014. She also served as a member services representative at LBS Financial Credit Union ($2 billion, Westminster, Calif.), from 1995 to 2004 and again from 2007 to 2014.

EAST

The $177.6 billion, Vienna, Va.-based Navy Federal Credit Union hired Pam Perry as SVP of financial opportunity. In her new role, Perry will work alongside Brittani Ivey, who was installed as the credit union’s EVP of real estate lending and financial opportunity in March. Perry will head up Navy Federal’s new Office of Financial Opportunity, leading the credit union’s internal effort to engage with the CONVERGENCE Collaborative, an industry-wide group designed to address systemic barriers to homeownership among Black, Hispanic and other minority groups in America. Perry most recently served at Freddie Mac for 13 years as senior associate general counsel and vice president – single-family equitable housing.

The $931 million, Hunt Valley, Md.-based Point Breeze Credit Union promoted Nina Sagan to vice president of human resources. She joined Point Breeze five years and ago and most recently served as HR manager. A first-generation American and naturalized citizen, Sagan was also appointed as Point Breeze’s first DEI officer in early 2023. She has over 15 years of HR experience and holds a master’s degree in HR development from Towson University in Towson, Md.

The $342 million, East Meadow, N.Y.-based Nassau Financial Federal Credit Union hired Anthony Grigos as chief business banking officer. Grigos brings over two decades of experience in commercial lending, real estate and financial services.

His career has included leadership roles at major financial institutions, including the Royal Bank of Canada and JP Morgan Chase. After 15 years in the corporate sector, he transitioned to his family’s real estate and mortgage business in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, N.Y. Grigos then served as CEO of Bay Ridge Federal Credit Union (now the $1.5 billion, Hauppauge, N.Y.-based Island Federal Credit Union). In his new role, he will focus on enhancing business banking services and fostering relationships with local businesses to support their financial growth. He holds an MBA from Fordham University in Bronx, N.Y., is a licensed New York State real estate broker, holds leadership roles on various boards and is president of his parish council.

SOUTH

Randolph-Brooks Federal Credit Union ($17.6 billion, Live Oak, Texas) promoted Alexander Aguillen to vice president of enterprise fraud management. Aguillen has over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry with 15 of those years specifically dedicated to fraud prevention and detection systems. He joined RBFCU in 2015 by working overnight in the Card Fraud area and began moving into supervisory roles in 2017, most recently serving as assistant vice president – enterprise fraud management. Aguillen is also a frequent guest as a financial fraud analyst, appearing on KSAT-TV in San Antonio and WFAA-TV in Dallas-Fort Worth.

TRADES

CUES announced its 2024 CUES Award winners.

April Clobes, president/CEO for the $7.8 billion, East Lansing, Mich.-based MSUFCU, was honored with the CUES Outstanding Chief Executive Award, which celebrates exceptional leaders at the CEO level. Clobes was recognized for promoting lifelong learning among her team and furthering the industry through thought leadership.

Damita Robinson, EVP and COO for the $2.5 billion Andrews Federal Credit Union in Suitland, Md., received the CUES Exceptional Leader Award, which recognizes executive officers not yet at the C-level. Robinson was honored for proactively seeking to enhance the lives of the credit union’s employees and showing a remarkable ability to navigate challenges and deliver results, even in challenging times.

Dr. Julia Cronin-Gilmore, chairperson of the Board of Directors for the $1.2 billion Cobalt Credit Union in Papillion, Neb., received the 2024 CUES Distinguished Director Award, which recognizes a board or committee member whose achievements have strengthened their credit union. During 15 years of service on the Cobalt board, Cronin-Gilmore has played a crucial role in the institution’s exponential growth, taking assets from $400 million to over $1.2 billion.

Kelly Marshall, president/CEO for Summerland Credit Union in Summerland, British Columbia, Canada and director/immediate past chair of the CUES Board, was inducted into the CUES Hall of Fame. Hall of Fame inductees are recognized for their contributions to their profession and industry, involvement in community service and contributions to CUES. Marshall was honored for his notable achievements including serving as the CUES Board chair for over eight years, where he skillfully guided the organization through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and the loss of president/CEO John Pembroke in 2022.

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