Credit Unions Recognize Team Member Achievements; Iowa Credit Union Foundation Announces 2025 Financial Coach Program Graduates

A few credit unions, including RRCU and Alliant Credit Union, recognized the achievements of their team members, and the Iowa Credit Union Foundation announced the names of its 2025 Financial Coach Program.

New Hires:

• Coastal Credit Union has hired Karen DeSalvo as its new VP of Marketing. In this role, DeSalvo will be responsible for all aspects of Coastal’s branding, advertising, product growth, and membership growth.
• Blend Labs, Inc. (NYSE: BLND) announced the appointment of Reva Rao as Head of Digital Transformation for Credit Unions. Rao brings over two decades of experience in financial services, with extensive leadership roles at prominent credit unions including Travis Credit Union and Golden 1 Credit Union. Her deep understanding of credit union operations and member-centric approach will be instrumental in driving Blend’s mission to help credit unions deliver exceptional digital experiences.

Recognitions:

• RRCU’s very own Financial Education Advocate, Emily Bright, proudly accepted the Principal’s Volunteer Award on behalf of RRCU at the Texarkana Arkansas School District’s Volunteer Awards Ceremony. This award, presented by Arkansas High School, recognizes our ongoing partnership in delivering important financial education and supporting the school community in meaningful ways. From classroom lessons to real-world money management tools, we’re committed to empowering students with the knowledge they need to succeed.
• The Iowa Credit Union Foundation (ICUF), the philanthropic arm of the Iowa Credit Union League, announced the 2025 graduates of its ‘People Helping People’ Financial Coach Program. The program, now in its seventh year, welcomed 50 participants representing 23 different credit unions across Iowa. Graduates will join a network of 300 financial coaches serving credit unions throughout the state.
  • The graduates of the 2025 ICUF ‘People Helping People’ Financial Coach Program are:
    • Angie Stewart (Clinton), 1st Gateway Credit Union
    • Carissa Hubbard (Sterling), 1st Gateway Credit Union
    • Zach Welsher (Camanche), 1st Gateway Credit Union
    • Kaylyn Burton (Newton), Advantage Credit Union
    • Brooke Smith (Clinton), Ascentra Credit Union
    • Donita Meyer (Davenport), Ascentra Credit Union
    • Roxanne Fish (Moline), Ascentra Credit Union
    • Diane Warren (Des Moines), Capitol View Credit Union
    • Linda Barnabo (Des Moines), Capitol View Credit Union
    • Heather Gerdes (Burlington), Casebine Credit Union
    • Eshley Johnson (Burlington) Casebine Credit Union
    • Dakota Sands (Cedar Falls). Cedar Falls Community Credit Union
    • Rachel McCullough (Cedar Falls), Cedar Falls Community Credit Union
    • Amila Hamzic (Mason City), CENT Credit Union
    • Angie Weiland (Algona), Citizens Credit Union
    • Diane Martens (Belmond), Citizens Credit Union
    • Ruth France (Fort Dodge), Citizens Credit Union
    • Brooke Mason (Indianola), Community 1st Credit Union
    • Erin Gay (Shenandoah), Community 1st Credit Union
    • Jennifer See (Centerville), Community 1st Credit Union
    • Julie Waters (Atlantic), Community 1st Credit Union
    • Chase Bauer (Cedar Rapids), Corda Credit Union
    • Michael Sauerbry (Cedar Rapids), Corda Credit Union
    • Naomi Gaede (Cedar Rapids), Corda Credit Union
    • Nicole Thies (Cedar Rapids), Corda Credit Union
    • Jeniffer Vasquez (Des Moines), Des Moines Metro Credit Union
    • Maddie Knapp (Cedar Rapids), Dupaco Community Credit Union
    • Aspen Kinmonth (Des Moines), Financial Plus Credit Union
    • Kaylynn Dresch (Des Moines), Financial Plus Credit Union
    • Sarvia  Rivera (Des Moines), Financial Plus Credit Union
    • Cynthia Gallardo (Ames), Greater Iowa Credit Union
    • Lois Logan (Ames), Greater Iowa Credit Union
    • William Holcomb (West Des Moines), Greater Iowa Credit Union
    • Dominique Vondran (Epworth), GreenState Credit Union
    • Jill Bell (Mason City), Iowa Heartland Credit Union
    • Alisha  Penman (Des Moines), Journey Credit Union
    • Kaitlyn Collison (Bondurant), Midland Credit Union
    • Kara Anderson (Urbandale), Midland Credit Union
    • Lupe Montenegro (Council Bluffs), Midland Credit Union
    • Andrea Phipps (Cherokee), North Star Community Credit Union
    • Anthony Sanchez (Cherokee), North Star Community Credit Union
    • Kimberly Chansler (Webster City),  Peoples Credit Union
    • Jennifer Santangelo-Warren (West Des Moines), Premier Credit Union
    • Tim Pabich (Mes), River Valley Credit Union
    • John Parks (Sioux City), Sioux Valley Community Credit Union
    • Maria Suarez (Sioux City), Sioux Valley Community Credit Union
    • Ana Hernandez (Waterloo), Veridian Credit Union
    • Angela Weekley (Waterloo), Veridian Credit Union
    • Dora Sedeno (Des Moines), Veridian Credit Union
    • Terry Sanders (Bellevue), Veridian Credit Union
• Alliant Credit Union announced that Yonah Sturmwind, senior manager of originations on the commercial team, has been named one of GlobeSt. CRE’s Aspiring Leaders of 2025. The recognition honors top commercial real estate professionals under 40 who demonstrate exceptional transaction volume, leadership and industry impact.
• Virginia Business has selected Brian Schools, president & CEO of Chartway Credit Union, as an inaugural Virginia C-Suite Awards recipient. The Virginia C-Suite Awards celebrate top corporate executives who consistently demonstrate remarkable leadership skills, integrity, values, vision, commitment to excellence, company performance and community engagement. The honorees must have their primary work office in Virginia and hold a top corporate executive position (such as CEO, COO, CFO, etc.) or equivalent job (executive director, owner, etc.)

Appointments:

• Evergreen Credit Union has added 5 members of the southern Maine community to their Board of Directors. 
  • Evergreen Credit Union’s new directors are:
    • Glen Holmes – Director of Business and Community Development, City of Auburn, ME
    • Nick McCrillis – Attorney with CaseiroBurke
    • Andrew Bourgoin – Founder and Principal at Bourgoin Insights Group
    • Florence Williams – Head of Transformation at UNUM
    • Skyler Redford – Head of Transformation at UNUM
• Royal Credit Union (Royal) held its 61st Annual Meeting on Tuesday, April 29, at Royal’s Corporate Center. Three board members were re-elected to three-year terms— Stuart Schaefer, Doug Olson, and Jennifer McDonough. At the Reorganization Meeting, Tom Huffcutt was elected Chairman; Stuart Schaefer was elected Vice Chairman; Bill Blackburn was elected Treasurer; and Jennifer McDonough was elected Secretary.  John Sackett, Nancy Beltz, and Doug Olson serve as Directors.
• Royal Credit Union (Royal) is pleased to announce the appointment of Kristi Fox and Kris Petersen as Associate Board Members. As a Member-owned financial cooperative, Royal is governed by a Board of Directors made up of volunteers elected by Members. This structure ensures that Member interests remain central to Royal’s operations.