Lindsey Salvestrin, president/CEO for the $2.4 billion, Vancouver, Wash.-based Columbia Credit Union, was recognized by the Portland Business Journal as a 2025 Women of Influence honoree. This award celebrates women in Oregon and Southwest Washington for their leadership and impact in business, nonprofits and the public sector. Outside her role at Columbia CU, Salvestrin serves on the boards of the Columbia River Economic Development Council and Identity Clark County.
Gwen Oldham
The $9.1 billion, Santa Rosa, Calif.-based Redwood Credit Union hired Gwen Oldham as vice president of community and social impact. In her new role, Oldham will provide leadership, guidance and oversight of RCU’s community and social impact programs, including the RCU Community Fund (RCUCF). Previously, Oldham was the director of corporate social responsibility at AT&T. She’s also served as vice president of marketing and communications at the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce and the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce. She earned a master of public policy from the University of Southern California.
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EAST
Chris Barry
The $1.6 billion Pittsfield, Mass.-based Greylock Federal Credit Union promoted Chris Barry to vice president, business banking officer II. In his new role, he will service existing and new business members, work on business development, originate and underwrite commercial loans, and help to create and manage new products, services and classes to serve the community. Barry began his career with Greylock as a commercial credit analyst in 2006. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Berkshire Family YMCA.
MIDWEST
John Katalinich
The $1.1 billion, Lansing, Mich.-based LAFCU announced one promotion and two new hires. John Katalinich was promoted to strategic development officer. He most recently served as assistant branch manager. In his new role, Katalinich plays a key part in supporting strategic initiatives, conducting strategic financial analysis to support growth and providing essential data for reporting on strategic projects. He also engages in community outreach programs, representing LAFCU at local events and volunteer opportunities to build relationships outside of the credit union. Before joining LAFCU, Katalinich gained almost three years of credit union experience, having previously served in roles such as commercial credit intern and commercial credit analyst.
Hannah Land
Hannah Land was hired as branch manager. In her new role, she leads and develops staff by providing training, monitoring performance and conducting coaching sessions. Land ensures efficient scheduling, tracks branch and individual goals, and drives team engagement to meet productivity and profitability targets. She also oversees daily branch operations, ensuring security procedures and compliance with regulations are followed, and handles member applications, resolves member issues and leads key projects. Land brings nearly 10 years of credit union experience, having previously served as a branch lead at another credit union based in Lansing.
Kristen Bergstrom
Kristen Bergstrom was hired as assistant branch manager of the contact center. In her new role, Bergstrom oversees employee training and support, monitors productivity and conducts coaching sessions. She is also responsible for efficient scheduling, tracking departmental and branch goals, and providing leadership to achieve them. Before joining LAFCU, Bergstrom served as an e-commerce supervisor at VF Corporation, where she collaborated with brands like Vans and Timberland to elevate customer experiences.
SOUTH
Jessica Parrish
Jessica Parrish, mortgage loan originator for Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union ($2.8 billion Chattanooga, Tenn.) was named the 2025 president of the Chattanooga Mortgage Bankers Association (CMBA). Parrish has been an employee of TVFCU for 10 years and was recently honored as a Circle of Excellence recipient by the CMBA. She was also recently named a diamond producer for selling over 150 units for just over $27 million. In her new role as CMBA president, Parrish will work closely with fellow mortgage professionals to advocate for the industry, promote growth and innovation, and support initiatives that benefit both mortgage professionals and consumers in the Chattanooga region.
Jared Dryer
The $1 billion, Metairie, La.-based OnPath Federal Credit Union announced two new hires.
Jared Dryer was hired as chief lending officer. Dryer brings over 23 years of experience in financial services, most recently serving on the executive team of the $2.2 billion Westerra Credit Union in Denver, where he held leadership roles in consumer and centralized deposit growth. His career also includes key positions at Bellco Credit Union ($8.5 billion, Greenwood Village, Colo.), Wells Fargo and Centennial Mortgage. He holds an MBA from Amberton University in Garland, Texas.
Ben Donald
Ben Donald was hired as SVP of retail. Donald brings over a decade of experience in financial services, specializing in branch operations, sales growth and member experience. Prior to joining OnPath, he served on the executive team at the $4.2 billion, Biloxi, Miss.-based Keesler Credit Union, where he led branch operations and regional management.
VENDORS
Christa Degnan
Bloom Credit, an API platform designed to modernize the infrastructure of the credit data ecosystem, announced two new hires.
Christa Degnan was hired as chief product officer. In her new role, Degnan will be responsible for leading product strategy, managing the product roadmap and overseeing product development. Previously, she was vice president of strategy, partnerships and business development for Consumer Information Services at Experian. Before that, she held senior product roles at insurance platform Vertafore and insurer Liberty Mutual, and senior finance roles at Safeco and Boeing.
Tushar Mukhija
Tushar Mukhija was hired as head of strategy and partnerships, Credit Union Financial Services. In his new role, Mukhija will oversee Bloom Credit’s expansion in the credit union space. Before joining Bloom Credit, he was chief growth officer at Members Development Company (MDC), the multi-million-dollar R&D department of the country’s credit union network.
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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