Three credit unions, including Abri Credit Union and Credit Union West, announced new additions to their organizations, and Reliant Credit Union announced the retirement of its Chief Technology Officer.
New Hires:
- Abri Credit Union is pleased to announce the appointment of Jose Guzman as its new Vice President of Lending. In this role, Guzman will lead the credit union’s lending strategy, operations, and innovation across real estate, consumer, business, and participation loans. With a strong background in strategic lending leadership, he brings expertise in portfolio management, risk mitigation, and member-focused service. Guzman’s leadership will help drive Abri’s mission to “Help Our Members Succeed Financially,” positioning the credit union for continued growth and impact throughout the Chicagoland area.
- Credit Union West has selected John Faries to serve as its new Vice President of Finance and Accounting Operations. An executive with more than 20 years of industry service, Faries brings extensive asset liability management (ALM) expertise and balance sheet management experience to his new role. He previously served as CFO for Pivot Lending Group, and as the President & CEO of Columbine Federal Credit Union, a $64 million credit union located in Centennial, Colorado.
- People’s Credit Union (PCU) announced the appointment of Liz Kay as Head of Member Service Center. Reporting to the Head of Retail, Kay will be responsible for the successful operation, leadership, and daily oversight of the Center, as well as the implementation and utilization of new technology, and the continued enhancement of the Center’s ability to serve PCU members.
Retirements:
- Reliant Credit Union’s current Chief Technology Officer, Mark Dennis, will be retiring in January 2026, after 25 years with the credit union. Mr. Dennis has been responsible for planning and executing significant changes regarding technology for Reliant’s members and employees. Trevor Lerkins, Vice President of Information Technology, has been promoted to Chief Technology Officer. Mr. Lerkins joined the credit union in 2017 and has held the positions of Information Systems Manager and Vice President of Information Technology. He will oversee the technology strategy for the credit union, ensuring security, efficiency, and innovation. Mr. Lerkins will also be responsible for aligning technology with the credit union’s strategic priorities and member needs, while also evaluating emerging technologies to improve services and operational effectiveness.
Promotions:
- Reliant Credit Union is pleased to announce organizational changes that will enhance employee development and help the credit union achieve greater success for its members and its team.
- Chris Cusack, Lead Systems Administrator, has been promoted to a new role, Application Services Manager. Mr. Cusack joined Reliant in 2018 and has held various roles in the IT department. He will oversee the application development area of the IT department with an emphasis on automation, data management, and system enhancements.
- Barbara Adams, Training and Development Manager, has been promoted to Manager of HR and Employee Experience. Ms. Adams has been with Reliant for over 16 years and has held the roles of Member Service Center Manager and Training and Development Manager. She will be responsible for leadership development, employee engagement and overseeing employee relations, compensation, benefits and payroll.
- Kate DeNeef, Recruiter, has been promoted to the role of Manager of Recruitment and Training. Ms. DeNeef joined Reliant in 2021 as the Recruiter. She will continue to oversee recruitment and take on the oversight of the training team.
Appointments:
- Corporate Central is proud to announce the reelection of Kevin Chiappetta, CFA, Senior Vice President/Chief Education & Research Officer, as the Presidents Council Representative (PCR) from the Midwestern US Subregion for the esteemed CFA Institute. The CFA Institute is a global association of investment professionals committed to setting the standard for excellence in ethics, education, and professional excellence in the financial industry. The Presidents Council is composed of representatives from various subregions and plays a vital role in shaping Institute policy, promoting ethical practices, and fostering continued development of the profession.
- Members of Tinker Federal Credit Union (TFCU) elected two volunteers by acclamation at the credit union’s annual shareholders’ meeting held virtually and in person on April 5, 2025. The two candidates elected to the TFCU board of directors were Sheila Jones and Rodney Walker. After the annual meeting, board members met to elect new officers, as follows:
- Eldon Overstreet, chair
- Rodney Walker, vice chair
- Sheila Jones, secretary
- Al Rich, treasurer
- James Pearl, assistant secretary I
- Scott White, assistant secretary II
- Tiffany Broiles, assistant treasurer