Teresa Campbell, president/CEO for the $10 billion, San Diego-based SDCCU, was selected among the 2024 SD 500 – San Diego’s Most Influential People by San Diego Business Journal. Campbell’s previous awards have included being named one of SD’s Women of Influence for the third consecutive year, being selected as one of American Banker’s Most Powerful Women in Credit Unions and being presented with the California Nevada Credit Union League Distinguished Service Award. She was also honored as San Diego Business Woman of the Year by the San Diego Business Journal, recognized with a Stevie Award for Women in Business and selected for a Business Leadership Award from the North San Diego Business Chamber. She has over 25 years of experience in the credit union industry. Campbell serves on the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, formerly the Department of Business Oversight, CU Advisory Committee. She also served a two-year term on the CFPB, Credit Union Advisory Council; as the 2012 and 2013 board chair of the California Credit Union League; and Board Chair of the National Credit Union Foundation in 2022 and 2023.
EAST
Dennis Hebert
Dennis Hebert, vice president of culture and employee engagement for the $698 million, Manchester, N.H.-based Granite State Credit Union, was named Professional of the Year by the Cooperative Credit Union Association during the Awards of Excellence ceremony at its annual APEX Conference. This award is given to those who represent dedication to cooperative values, willingness to go above and beyond and focus on providing quality service to members, while also holding a positive attitude, being a leader among their peers and serving their community. Hebert has worked for Granite State for 37 years while holding a variety of positions at the credit union. He has held management roles in training, security, consumer lending and sales, and served as vice president of business development. While providing leadership to the Merrimack Valley Chapter of the NH Credit Union League from 2003-2016, he introduced and administered an annual Holiday Auction to benefit NH Make-a-Wish. He also served on the NH Credit Union League Social Responsibility Committee; the America’s Credit Unions Financial Literacy Committee; and as coach, director, vice president and president of the Candia Youth Athletic Association. Hebert currently serves as chairman of the Trustee of Trust Funds, a member of the Safety Complex Committee in Candia, N.H., and a member of the Pinkerton Academy Business Advisory Council and Hudson Career & Workforce Development Committee.
Ben Alessi
The $9.8 billion, Hauppauge, N.Y.-based Teachers Federal Credit Union promoted Ben Alessi to CFO. Alessi has over 24 years of experience in the financial services industry, 18 of which have been dedicated to Teachers. In his new role, Alessi will oversee the financial strategy that fuels Teachers’ vision and mission, while working closely with the executive team to drive growth and member value. Alessi’s first role at Teachers was within the internal audit team. Most recently, he served as SVP of accounting and finance. He is a Certified Public Accountant and holds an MBA in management and leadership from Dowling College in Oakdale, N.Y.
Prasad Surapaneni
Prasad Surapaneni, SVP and chief information officer for the $9.5 billion, Long Island City, N.Y.-based United Nations Federal Credit Union (UNFCU), received a New York ORBIE Award in late November in the Corporate Category. The honor is the premier technology executive recognition program in Greater New York, honoring chief information officers and chief information security officers who have demonstrated excellence in technology leadership.
MIDWEST
Pam Haller
Pam Haller, EVP – chief experience and marketing officer for the $5.3 billion, Eau Claire, Wis.-based Royal Credit Union, received the YMCA Leadership Award of Excellence. This honor, presented annually by the YMCA State Alliance of Wisconsin, Minnesota and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, celebrates volunteer leaders whose dedication and service have made a profound impact on their local communities. Haller served a seven-year tenure on the YMCA board.
SOUTH
Youssi Farag
The $1.3 billion, Oklahoma City, Okla.-based WEOKIE Federal Credit Union announced two new hires.
Youssi Farag was hired as CFO. Farag is a Certified Public Accountant and brings over a decade of experience in financial operations. She holds a master’s in management sciences from the University of Poitiers in France and has completed executive programs at the American Banking Association Stonier School of Banking and Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. In addition, she is fluent in Arabic, French and English, and serves on the Oklahoma Council on Economic Education and Edmond Public Schools Foundation boards.
Marna Asbury
Marna Asbury was hired as vice president of mortgage. Asbury brings over 30 years of experience in mortgage lending. She recently completed the Southwest Credit Union Management School and serves on the Variety Care Foundation’s board.
Leigh Brady, president/CEO for the $57.2 billion, Raleigh, N.C.-based State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU), was named as one of the “Most Powerful Women in Credit Unions” for the second consecutive year by American Banker. Issued annually, the list recognizes women who are addressing the problems and opportunities that their organizations and members face while serving the credit union mission of shared services and connections to their communities.
Leigh Brady
The $4.8 billion, Lake Jackson, Texas-based TDECU announced Roland Hendricks as chairman of the board. He replaces David Sikora, who announced his retirement in early November. Hendricks has been a member of the board since 2007 and previously served as vice chair. He is also senior pastor of the Greater Mount Zion Church in Brazoria, Texas. Hendricks previously worked for the Dow Chemical Company for 35 years and retired as the finance director and Texas manufacturing controller. He currently serves on the board of Brazosport College, GMZ Education and Development Center, Sam Feathers Youth Foundation, Levi Jordan Advisory Committee and Brazoria County Sheriffs Department Community Advisory Panel, and previously served on the boards of Sweeny ISD, Salvation Army of Brazoria County, Communities in Schools of Southeast Harris and Brazoria County, Sam Houston State University College of Business Advisory Board and Sam Houston State University President’s Council.
Roland Hendricks
VENDORS
Randy Salser
Allied Solutions, a Carmel, Ind.-based provider of insurance, lending, risk management and data driven solutions for financial institutions, hired Randy Salser as vice president, strategic partnerships. In his new position, Salser will play a pivotal role in driving business development, cultivating strategic alliances and identifying opportunities to support Allied’s development of client-centric solutions. He will also work closely with stakeholders across sales, marketing, product management, enterprise technology and corporate development to support the company’s strategic initiatives and partnerships. Salser most recently served as president of NAFCU Services, a long-time partner of both Securian Financial and Allied Solutions. He has also held leadership roles in which he gained expertise in joint ventures, contract negotiations, and mergers and integrations. Salser holds an MBA from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Please send your People news items to Natasha Chilingerian at [email protected].
Natasha Chilingerian has been immersed in the credit union industry for over a decade. She first joined CU Times in 2011 as a freelance writer, and following a two-year hiatus from 2013-2015, during which time she served as a communications specialist for Xceed Financial Credit Union (now Kinecta Federal Credit Union), she re-joined the CU Times team full-time as managing editor. She was promoted to executive editor in 2019. In the earlier days of her career, Chilingerian focused on news and lifestyle journalism, serving as a writer and editor for numerous regional publications in Oregon, Louisiana, South Carolina and the San Francisco Bay Area. In addition, she holds experience in marketing copywriting for companies in the finance and technology space.
At CU Times, she covers People and Community news, cybersecurity, fintech partnerships, marketing, workplace culture, leadership, DEI, branch strategies, digital banking and more. She currently works remotely and splits her time between Southern California and Portland, Ore.
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