Employees From Multiple Credit Unions Recognized; New Hires/Promotions Announced

Employees from multiple credit unions including AmFirst and Eglin Federal Credit Union were recognized for their achievements, and Workers Credit Union and People’s Credit Union announced changes to their leadership.

New Hires

Bay Federal Credit Union is excited to announce the return of Creedence Shaw as Vice President of Business Services. In this role, Mr. Shaw will lead Bay Federal’s Business Services Department, focusing on providing outstanding business lending and deposit services for small to middle-market businesses across Santa Cruz, San Benito, and Monterey Counties. By fostering greater economic mobility and supporting the creation of quality jobs, Mr. Shaw aims to make a lasting impact on the local community.

Workers Credit Union is proud to announce several key executive appointments designed to accelerate the organization’s growth and reflect its ongoing commitment to serving its members and community.

· Chad Lewkowski, Chief Operating Officer Lewkowski brings a wealth of experience in venture capital, fintech, and banking. As Chief Operating Officer, he will oversee lending, the contact center, retail, and marketing functions, with a focus on digital transformation and member relationships. His expertise will drive key initiatives aimed at expanding the credit union’s reach and optimizing its service delivery.

· Laci Gettings, Chief Performance Excellence Officer Gettings has officially joined the executive team after consulting with the credit union for more than a year. In her new role, she will continue to drive organizational strategy, focusing on process optimization, enterprise analytics, and business analysis. Her leadership will enhance operational efficiency, positioning the credit union for sustained growth.

Recognitions

JetStream Federal Credit Union was proud to be honored at the Nevis Association of South Florida's 16th Anniversary Christmas Banquet, held on Saturday, December 7, 2024, at Club 19 in Pembroke Pines, Florida. The event, which began at 6:00 PM, brought together the Nevisian community in South Florida for an evening of celebration, reflection, and recognition. JetStream Federal Credit Union was especially proud to see three of its dedicated team members—Martha Ortega, BSA Officer; Sheila Reason, Compliance Officer; and Tanya Lynch-Samuel, Accounting Specialist—receive the prestigious Appreciation Award for their outstanding contributions to the Nevis Association’s mission and community initiatives.

In a ceremony on December 5, the Birmingham Business Journal (BBJ) presented Bill Connor, the President and CEO of America's First Federal Credit Union (AmFirst), with Birmingham's Top CEO award for companies with 300 or more employees. This is the second consecutive year Connor was nominated and his first time winning the award. In his acceptance speech, Connor attributed this achievement to the collective efforts of AmFirst's employees: "Our people are what make our credit union strong. It's part of our culture and DNA to be actively engaged in the communities we serve. It has been the honor of my lifetime to lead this organization."

San Diego County Credit Union® (SDCCU®), one of San Diego’s largest locally-owned financial institutions, is proud to announce that SDCCU President and CEO, Teresa Campbell, was honored with a Silver Stevie® Award in the 2024 Stevie Awards for Women in Business. The Stevie Awards honor the world’s top female entrepreneurs, executives, employees and the organizations they run. The international competition garnered more than 1,500 nominations across 36 countries, and SDCCU president and CEO Teresa Campbell was given the Silver Stevie Award in the Female Executive of the Year category.

Eglin Federal Credit Union is proud to recognize SVP/Chief Technology Officer Tim Farnsworth’s remarkable 30-year career with the organization, during which he has grown to become an integral part of the credit union's leadership team. He oversees all cybersecurity, business continuity, electronic infrastructure and information technology operations. 

Promotions

Workers Credit Union is proud to announce several key executive appointments designed to accelerate the organization’s growth and reflect its ongoing commitment to serving its members and community.

· Robert “Bob” Lockett, Chief Revenue Officer Lockett has been promoted to Chief Revenue Officer, where he will focus on revenue generation, long-term strategic development, and growth opportunities across the organization. He will oversee the wealth advisory and insurance agency business lines, leveraging his decade of experience in the Worcester area to deepen community relationships and expand services.

· Robert “Bob” Leger, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer Leger’s promotion to Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer acknowledges his pivotal role in shaping the financial strategy of Workers Credit Union. He will continue to guide the credit union’s financial planning and risk management, ensuring the organization is well-prepared for future expansion and market opportunities.

· Via De Leon Bennett, Senior Vice President of Retail Banking Bennett will oversee all branch and deposit operations, focusing on enhancing the member experience across the credit union’s network of branches.

· Alisha Kaliviotis, Senior Vice President of Retail Lending Kaliviotis has been promoted to oversee all loan operations, including mortgage and consumer lending. Her leadership will drive growth in the credit union’s lending portfolio.

People’s Credit Union announced the promotion of Melissa Barros to Head of Learning & Development. Reporting to Kerry Parent, Head of Human Resources & Talent, Ms. Barros will be responsible for the implementation and success of sustainable learning initiatives for all employees, as well as overseeing a team of specialists delivering departmental training efforts across the organization.

Appointments

Jackie Buchanan, President and CEO of Genisys Credit Union, has been named as a Notable Nonprofit Board Leader by Crain’s Detroit Business. The recognition highlights her leadership as Board Chair at Lighthouse, a nonprofit dedicated to alleviating poverty and homelessness.

Glia announced that collaboration, contact center industry leader Michael Tessler has joined its board of directors to support and help guide the company’s strategic growth plan. Tessler brings over 20 years of proven success in growing and scaling technology businesses across the world. He is the co-founder and former CEO of BroadSoft where he led the company to become the global market leader in cloud communications. Under his leadership, the organization grew to over 2,000 employees, serving customers in over 80 countries. By prioritizing the needs of service provider partners and their end customers, Tessler positioned BroadSoft as the preferred cloud provider for the largest and most successful service providers worldwide – ultimately leading to the company’s acquisition by Cisco in 2018. Tessler is currently co-founder and managing partner at True North Advisory, a firm that helps scale customer experience-oriented businesses.