Credit Unions, CUNA Mutual Group Hire New Talent

Credit Unions, CUNA Mutual Group Hire New Talent
September 1, 2017 Marketing GrafWebCUSO

Seven credit unions recently announced staff moves to take their business to the next level. Plus, CUNA Mutual Group hired two new executives.

WEST

Robert D. Ramirez, president/CEO of the $1.8 billion Vantage West Credit Union in Tucson, Ariz., was appointed to Catalyst Corporate Federal Credit Union’s board of directors. An Arizona native, Ramirez has been with Vantage West Credit Union (formerly Davis Monthan Federal Credit Union) since 1985 and at its helm since 2000. Prior to his career at Vantage West Credit Union, Ramirez worked for Sundt Corporation and Capin Mercantile Corporation.

EAST

The $1.1 billion Greylock Federal Credit Union in Pittsfield, Mass hired Tracy L. McConnell as vice president/business banking officer. Prior to coming to Greylock, McConnell spent more than 20 years at another Berkshire County financial institution in various roles. Most recently, she served as vice president/commercial lender, and prior to that she was a commercial loan operations officer.

The $1.2 billion APG Federal Credit Union in Edgewood, Md., promoted Chris Mitchell to assistant vice president of branch operations. Mitchell has more than 11 years of service with APGFCU and most recently served as branch manager at the Edgewood office.

He is a 2015 graduate of the Harford County Leadership Academy and earned his Master of Business Administration degree at Wilmington University in Delaware.

MIDWEST

The $1.1 billion Firefly Credit Union in Burnsville, Minn., hired Sandy Fritz-Gerke as credit administration manager. Fritz-Gerke has more than 20 years of financial experience and has served in leadership, commercial lending and investing positions.

In her new role, Fritz-Gerke will manage policy and procedure compliance, underwriting, financial analysis and reporting.

SOUTH

The $202 million University Credit Union in Miami named Kenneth Palmer as vice president, senior lending. Palmer comes to University from CU Direct, where he served as regional director. He was responsible for developing tactics to increase revenue and profitability within a territory consisting of Florida and Alabama.

Prior to working at CU Direct, Palmer was the director of lending and business development at the $426 million Nutmeg State Financial Credit Union in Rocky Hill, Conn., where he was responsible for all aspects of consumer lending.

The $9.6 billion Security Service Federal Credit Union in San Antonio hired Shari Turner as vice president of marketing. Turner will oversee day-to-day projects and staff to ensure departmental goals, objectives and timelines are achieved. She will manage, develop and mentor marketing team members while also analyzing demographic information and evaluating industry developments to create targeted promotional strategies. Turner has more than 20 years of experience in marketing.

The $2.2 billion Truliant Federal Credit Union in Winston-Salem, N.C., hired Casey Mauldin (pictured below) as business services officer, commercial lender. Mauldin will help business owners access Truliant’s array of commercial, small business and USDA loan products.

His primary focus will be in commercial and industrial lending, commercial real estate and owner-occupied commercial real estate loans with ties to the Charlotte Metropolitan Statistical Area. Mauldin has 13 years of experience in commercial lending.

VENDORS

CUNA Mutual Group hired two employees to CUNA Brokerage Services, Inc., the company’s wealth management business.

Rob Comfort was hired as president. Comfort will be responsible for leading CBSI sales operations and further developing CBSI’s network of 400 advisors located at more than 250 credit unions across the country. Prior to joining CBSI, Comfort was EVP at LPL Financial where he guided strategic direction for the company’s business consulting team and managed partnerships with bank and credit union clients.

Martin Powell was hired as vice president of strategic account development and management. Powell will be working for CUNA Mutual Group’s annuity business to lead the distribution expansion for the company’s fast-growing annuity products into broker-dealer relationships. He joins the company with more than 20 years of experience in wealth management, business management and sales development. Most recently, he was vice president and senior account manager with Lincoln Financial Group, where he led strategic partnerships and product sales strategy.

Please send your People news items to Tahira Hayes at thayes@cutimes.com.