This past week, credit unions across the nation announced promotions, new hires and appointments. Plus, one credit union assistant vice president was recognized as a Credit Union Rising Star.
WEST
The $2.4 billion Spokane Teachers Credit Union in Liberty Lake, Wash., hired Brendan Wiechert (pictured) as director of commercial and business services. Wiechert oversees a commercial and business portfolio of more than 400 clients and more than $300 million in loan commitments. His team is based on the Hutton Building in downtown Spokane, serving members at STCU branch locations in Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho.
The $474 million Hawaii Community Federal Credit Union in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii announced the addition of Russell Komo to its board of directors. Komo is currently store manager for Long’s Drugs/CVS Pharmacy in Keauhou. He has worked at Long’s Drugs for more than three decades. Komo graduated from University of Hawaii at Manoa with a bachelor’s of arts in communication.
EAST
The $1.2 billion Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union in Lowell, Mass., promoted two long-time employees.
Sheila Fortin (pictured) was promoted to vice president – operational risk management. Fortin joined the credit union in 2004. She will now be responsible for managing risk as it relates to cybersecurity and third-party vendors, information, and physical security and incident response. Since 2008, she served as assistant vice president of corporate security.
Runny Huoth was promoted to assistant treasurer – branch manager. Huoth has been an employee of the credit union since 2004. In her new role, she will oversee the daily operations of the Tyngsboro branch. She began her career as a teller at the Dracut Lakeview Avenue branch and worked her way to earn multiple titles including member service representative, senior member service representative and her most recent title of assistant branch manager.
Jen Rivera-Cintron, assistant vice president, Hale Street and Cross Point Branch manager of the$583 million Align Credit Union in Lowell, Mass., has been recognized by the Cooperative Credit Union League as a Credit Union Rising Star. Award recipients were nominated by colleagues who felt they were rising stars in their profession and outstanding employees, managers or business leaders, aged 50 or under and making a notable impact on their institution or within the credit union industry.
The $92 million United Community Credit Union in Galena Park, Texas promoted Mac McDermott to president/CEO. McDermott was recruited by former CEO, Joe Harwell, in 2015 as part of the credit union’s succession plan. Following Harwell’s passing, the board voted unanimously in support of electing McDermott to be promoted from his previous role of CFO and EVP.
MIDWEST
The $1.6 billion Educators Credit Union in Mount Pleasant, Wis., appointed interim CEO Linda Hoover to serve as president/CEO, effective immediately. Hoover, a Racine native, joined Educators in 1987. Since then, she’s managed most of the business units of the credit union at one time or another. Hoover had served as the COO until her appointment as interim CEO in December 2016 upon the death of long-time president/CEO Gene Szymczak.
The $2.2 billion United Federal Credit Union based in St. Josephs, Mich., appointed William Schreck to the position branch manager at 101 Jack Street, Hendersonville, N.C. Schreck is responsible for providing operational leadership to branch staff, including staff development and retention, growth of branch sales and building relationships in the community. Schreck is a 30-year veteran of the financial services industry.
The $488 million Kellogg Community Credit Union in Battle Creek, Mich., promoted four employees and hired another.
Rori Ross (pictured) was promoted to vice president of marketing. Ross has been part of KCCU’s team for more than 11 years. She started her career at KCCU as a business relations developer. Her continued dedication and success with KCCU led her to a manager position and later to be an essential member of KCCU’s leadership team as senior marketing manager.
Lindsey Ostrowski was promoted to vice president of lending.Ostrowski started her career at KCCU on the retail team in May 2009 as a part-time teller and progressively climbed the ladder to retail management. She transitioned to lending manager in October 2014, and was most recently senior lending manager overseeing mortgages, and indirect and consumer lending.
Amber Swain (pictured) was promoted to vice president of human resources. Swain has more than two years of experience with KCCU’s team, with a total of 10 years of experience working in human resources. She started her career at KCCU as the human resource manager and later became the senior human resource manager.
Holly Hancock was promoted to vice president of financial operations. Hancock has worked at KCCU for more than 12 years. In her new role as vice president of financial operations, she will be focusing on internal processes, directly overseeing the accounting and support services Teams.
Keith Hooker was hired as a senior solutions manager focusing on development of the Kalamazoo, Three Rivers and Grand Rapids markets. Hooker has more than 12 years of experience in the financial industry and is excited to develop new relationships and gain more experience in this field. He will also be working closely with KCCU team members to continue to build upon member service.
Please send your People news items to Tahira Hayes at thayes@cutimes.com.
