Credit Unions Announce New Hires; GreenState CU SVP Receives JA Gold Leadership Award
A few credit unions including Royal Credit Union and Climb Credit Union announced new hires, and an SVP from GreenState Credit Union received a top national honor for volunteerism.
New Hires
Glia announced that channel ecosystem powerhouse Ray Hicken has joined Glia as an executive channel advisor. In this role, Hicken is fortifying and expanding Glia’s channel strategy, accelerating the company’s impact and reach in the voice and digital customer interaction space.
Royal Credit Union (Royal) announces Jeni Groppoli as Branch Manager II at their White Bear Lake office. In this position, Groppoli is responsible for overseeing daily operations of the White Bear Lake office, providing guidance and development to team members, and engaging with community members and local businesses.
Climb Credit Union, a $660M Colorado financial institution, is pleased to announce the appointment of Deb Inoue as VP of Information Technology. Inoue is an experienced executive with over 25 years in IT leadership and holds an MBA in IT Management. She specializes in infrastructure management, cybersecurity, and process optimization. Her expertise includes implementing innovative solutions, such as cloud migrations, system consolidations, and enhancing business efficiencies with modern technologies. Throughout her career, she has successfully aligned IT strategies with organizational goals in various industries, mostly nonprofit sectors, and is eager to bring this expertise to Climb Credit Union.
Valley First Credit Union, a leading member-owned, not-for-profit financial cooperative with $1.04 billion in assets, is proud to announce a series of strategic hires that reflect its commitment to enhancing member service, improving financial well-being, and driving organizational growth. Welcoming over 6,400 new members in 2024, these hires and investments underscore the credit union's dedication to empowering its growing membership with expert guidance, innovative solutions, and exceptional service.
Valley First Credit Union welcomes Chris Dalman as its new Chief Technology Officer. With 16 years of experience in the technology sector, Chris brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise in IT operations, security, and innovation. Most recently serving as Vice President of IT Operations at Harborstone Credit Union, Chris has also held leadership roles at Salal Credit Union, where he managed IT security and operations. Holding an MBA in Information Technology Management from Western Governors University and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Purdue University Global, Chris is equipped with a strong academic foundation and multiple technology certifications. As an active member of organizations such as America’s Credit Unions Technology Council, FS-ISAC, and FBI Infragard, Chris is committed to staying at the forefront of technological advancements. Reporting directly to the CEO, Chris will play a pivotal role in driving Valley First's technology strategy to enhance member services and operational efficiency.
Carlos Villapudua, newly appointed Vice President of Commercial Banking, brings over 35 years of expertise in commercial lending and relationship driven business banking. Serving the Modesto-to-Sacramento region, Carlos specializes in diverse lending solutions, from real estate and SBA financing to agricultural lines of credit. Carlos has built a distinguished career at several prominent financial institutions, including Bank of the West, Wells Fargo, and Chase, and has actively contributed to his community, serving on the Central Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in 2020 and 2021. Reporting directly to the Chief Lending Officer, Carlos will play a crucial role in strengthening Valley First’s commercial banking capabilities and delivering tailored financial solutions to meet the needs of local businesses.
Peggy Pollard, Vice President of Consumer Lending & Member Solutions, joins Valley First with over 25 years of lending experience, including more than 16 years dedicated to the credit union movement. Peggy brings a deep understanding of member-focused financial solutions. Her impressive career includes leadership roles such as Vice President of Lending and Collections at Interior Federal Credit Union and Chief Lending Officer at LA Financial Credit Union. Peggy also served as Vice President of Lending Services at Ventura County Credit Union. A graduate of the University of Oklahoma with a bachelor's degree in communications and speech, Peggy has furthered her expertise through specialized training at Rex Johnson’s University of Lending program. Reporting directly to the Chief Lending Officer, Peggy will be instrumental in enhancing Valley First’s lending services and delivering innovative solutions to support member financial well-being.
Recognitions
Junior Achievement of USA (JA) announced that 12 volunteers from across the country have been chosen from among more than 150 thousand U.S. volunteers for the organization's most prestigious national award for volunteerism, the JA Gold Leadership Award. One of them was Melissa Winter, Senior Vice President/Wealth Management, GreenState Credit Union, JA of Eastern Iowa. Junior Achievement's Gold Leadership Award honors volunteer excellence, presented in recognition of leadership in supporting and expanding JA's student impact, resources, operational excellence, and sustainability. The Gold Leadership Awards honor the recipients' JA volunteer service during the 2023-24 school year.
Promotions
Hawaii State Federal Credit Union (Hawaii State FCU) has announced the promotion of Reid Hinaga to senior vice president of its branch division. In this leadership role, Hinaga will be responsible for overseeing the performance and operations of the credit union’s 14 branch locations on Oahu and Maui, as well as its member call center.
Appointments
Technology Credit Union (Tech CU) announced the appointment of Linda Itskovitz to its Board of Directors. Linda joined the board in October and is a member of its Nominating and Governance Committee. With over 30 years of experience as an accomplished marketing executive in the FinTech and technology sectors, Linda brings a wealth of expertise and leadership to the board.