Credit union HR departments were busy this past week, with seven credit unions announcing new hires, promotions or employee awards. Plus, NASCUS hired a new executive.
WEST
The $1.8 billion Elevations Credit Union in Boulder, Colo., hired two industry veterans to its growing team in Northern Colorado.
Kari Coover (pictured) was hired as senior commercial loan officer. Coover brings 14 years of commercial and retail banking experience to the position. Coover will begin at the credit union’s mortgage loan office in Windsor, but will eventually be based at the newly announced Fort Collins Midtown branch located at 2025 S. College Ave.
Nadine Trujillo-Rogers was hired as business banking relationship manager. Before joining Elevations, Trujillo-Rogers worked at First Citizens Bank as a vice president, financial sales. Like Coover, Trujillo-Rogers will begin at Elevations’ mortgage loan office but will also move to the Fort Collins Midtown branch. Trujillo-Rogers has more than 23 years of experience in business banking.
Kristina Derkos, SVP of administrative services for the $3.4 billion Redwood Credit Union in Santa Rosa, Calif., was recognized with a Women in Business award by the North Bay Business Journal. Derkos received the award for her contributions to RCU’s growth and internal company culture and for her leadership in the local professional community. Derkos has more than 20 years of professional human resources experience and has been an SVP with RCU for 11 years.
EAST
The $7 billion Bethpage Federal Credit Union in Bethpage, N.Y., promoted two employees.
Gerard Schmitt (pictured) was promoted to SVP of marketing. In his new role, Schmitt will oversee brand and digital strategies to support new member growth, product growth and market expansion. Schmitt is a 10-year veteran of Bethpage and has played a significant role throughout the years in leading Bethpage’s brand strategy.
Lawrence Jones was promoted to SVP of lending. Formerly Bethpage’s vice president of commercial lending, Jones will now head up all lending groups for Bethpage including the real estate, consumer, business and commercial lending divisions, as well as its small business group.
The $1.3 billion Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union in Lowell, Mass., promoted Joshua Porter to assistant treasurer, regional financial education manager. Porter will work in the credit union’s newest high school branch at Nashua High School South. He will be responsible for the management and operation of all high school branches, as well as educating students in multiple areas of personal finance through the credit union’s course offered at the high school.
The $3.2 billion Veridian Credit Union based in Waterloo, Iowa promoted Vila Baccam to branch manager at its Edgewood Hy-Vee location. Baccam, a Cedar Rapids, Iowa resident, has worked at Veridian for eight years. She was most recently a loan officer at the Marion Hy-Vee branch. Baccam has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Comcenter College and an associate’s degree in accounting from Kirkwood Community College.
SOUTH
The $761 million Honor Credit Union Berrien Springs, Mich., expanded its leadership team with the promotion of four employees.
Megan Hendrix (pictured) was promoted to vice president of operations. She brings 13 years of experience with the credit union to the operations, facilities and project management teams. Originally from Decatur, Mich., Hendrix lives in St. Joseph with her husband and son.
Kaylee Ganus was promoted to vice president of community and brand leading Honor’s marketing, communications, community and brand teams. While born and raised a Hoosier, Ganus lives in St. Joseph, Mich., with her husband.
Frank Witucki (pictured) was promoted to vice president of risk management. He brings his expertise in the compliance and regulation arena to honor’s compliance, collections and processing teams. Growing up in Stevensville, Mich., Witucki spent time volunteering as a baseball coach for Lakeshore.
Scott DeFries was promoted to vice president of commercial and consumer lending. He brings more than 25 years of financial industry experience to his new role. He’ll be managing all lending operations for business, consumer and indirect lending portfolios. Born in Stevensville, Defries lived in Colorado and Texas before returning to his hometown with his wife and three kids.
The $4 billion Space Coast Credit Union Melbourne, Fla., promoted Heather Hickman to chief of retail delivery and EVP. Hickman began her career at SCCU in 1992 and rose through the ranks. In her new role, in addition to continuing to oversee the credit union’s retail and member service efforts, Hickman will now lead the credit union’s consumer sales channels, including indirect lending.
TRADES
NASCUS hired Alicia Valencia Erb as vice president of member relations. Valencia Erb has nearly two decades of experience working with cooperative and credit union leaders, state trade associations and national credit union organizations.
In the newly-created position, she is responsible for retaining and augmenting the association’s membership base, as well as reaching out to the state credit union system to demonstrate the value of NASCUS membership.
Please send your People news items to Tahira Hayes at thayes@cutimes.com.
