Big changes are coming to Chemcel Federal Credit Union, and they’re the good kind. The credit union’s Board of Directors has named Justin Eddleton as its new President and CEO, passing the torch from Michael Engel, who’s been at the helm since 2007.
Let’s pause for a quick appreciation moment: under Engel’s leadership, Chemcel grew from a $50 million operation to one managing more than $180 million in assets. That’s the kind of growth that doesn’t happen by accident.
Meet the New Boss
So who’s stepping into these well-worn shoes? Eddleton comes loaded with over 17 years in financial services, most recently serving as Chief Lending Officer at Soarion Credit Union. There, he wasn’t just pushing loans out the door—he was orchestrating strategy across mortgage, consumer, and commercial lending while keeping one eye on making credit accessible and the other on managing risk. It’s a balancing act that would make a tightrope walker nervous.
Before Soarion, Eddleton built his chops at Credit Human, rotating through leadership positions in lending sales and marketing, operations, technology, and branch management. In other words, he’s seen the credit union world from just about every angle.
Why This Pick Makes Sense
“Justin is an accomplished executive whose experience, values, and member-focused approach align closely with the mission of Chemcel Federal Credit Union,” explained Ken May, the Board’s Chair. May pointed to Eddleton’s track record of building strong teams and finding smart growth opportunities without throwing caution to the wind—basically, the leadership equivalent of playing chess while everyone else is playing checkers.
Looking Ahead
For his part, Eddleton sounds genuinely excited about the opportunity. “I am honored to have the opportunity to serve as President and CEO of Chemcel Federal Credit Union,” he said. “I look forward to working alongside the Board, employees, members, and community partners to build on the credit union’s strong foundation, deliver meaningful value to our members, and pursue responsible, sustainable growth.”
The Board made sure to give Engel his flowers too, thanking him for nearly two decades of dedicated service. They’re working together to make the transition as smooth as possible—because nobody wants a leadership change that feels like a sudden lane change without a turn signal.
D. Hilton Associates, Inc. conducted the shard for the credit union.