This past week, credit unions across the nation as well as twonotable industry vendors hired and promoted staff. Plus, SDDCU wasnamed San Diego's best consecutive credit union for the 17th yearin a row, and RTN FCU announced its 2016 scholarship winners. Learnmore below.

WEST

The $7.4 billion San Diego County Credit Union inSan Diego has been named San Diego's best Credit Union forthe 17th consecutive year by readers of The San DiegoUnion-Tribune. SDCCU also was selected in the recent 2016Readers' Poll as San Diego's best financial planner and best homeloan provider for the seventh year in a row, and best auto loanprovider for the third year in a row.

MIDWEST

Kevin Chiappetta (pictured) rejoined the$1.4 billion Corporate Central Credit Union inMuskego, Wis., as SVP of investment services. Chiappetta has morethan 30 years of experience in banking and financial servicesincluding a previous role at Corporate Central as the vicepresident investments. Chiappetta will be leading CorporateCentral's balance sheet management consulting practice to helpmembers strategically position their portfolios, better managetheir balance sheets, and provide robust education andexpertise.

The $2.1 billion United Federal Credit Union inSt. Joseph, Mich., named Erin A. Hennessy SVP ofmarketing. Hennessy will champion the corporate image throughoutUFCU's six-state footprint by providing leadership in marketing,advertising, public relations, community relations and productmanagement. Hennessy was previously vice president of marketing atthe $897 million Andigo Credit Union in Chicago.

Chrystal Murphy of the $600 millionLAFCU in Lansing, Mich., has been electedpresident of the Eaton Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce board ofdirectors for a one-year term. Murphy, an Eaton Rapids native, hasserved on the Chamber board since 2012. Murphy has deep familyroots in Eaton Rapids. She was born and raised in the community andher grandparents operated a restaurant on Main Street for manyyears.

SOUTH

The $1.1 billion Georgia United Credit Union inDuluth, Ga., selected Ray Caldwell as the newestmember of its supervisory committee. The supervisory committeereports to the board of directors and is responsible for overseeingthe accuracy of record-keeping and protection of the credit union'sassets. Caldwell has been a member of Georgia United since 2000 andbrings more than 25 years of educational leadership and trainingprogram experience. He is currently a training and staffdevelopment officer for the Northeast Georgia district of theDepartment of Transportation.

EAST

Rosemary Brinkley (pictured), board chair ofthe $878 million Educational Systems Federal CreditUnion in Greenbelt, Md., was inducted into theAfrican-American Credit Union Coalition's Hall of Fame during theAACUC's 18th Annual Conference on Aug. 5, 2016. The hall offame honors African-American professionals and volunteers in thecredit union movement who display unparalleled leadership,mentorship and professionalism. Brinkley has served on theboard of directors of Educational Systems for more than 40 years.Throughout her tenure, she has led change by setting a positiveexample for members, employees and volunteers.

The $860 million RTN Federal Credit Union inWaltham, Mass., announced the 2016 recipients of its James A.Burley, Jr. Scholarship Awards. The scholarship awards totaling$10,000 are presented annually to three college-bound studentswhose parents are credit union members.

Sarah Wilkinson (pictured) ofCanton, Mass., received the top award of $5,000. She will beattending Union College in Schenectady, N.Y., thisfall. Alexandra Cataldo of Waltham earned$3,000 as the second place award recipient. She will be a freshmanthis fall at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va.Grant Dolan Hespeler of Andover, Mass., took homea third place award of $2,000. He will be attending the Universityof Massachusetts at Amherst. The annual award is named in honor ofRTN's late Chairman and Director, James A. Burley, Jr., who servedthe credit union for more than 30 years.

VENDORS

Technology consulting firm Samaha andAssociates hired two senior consultants. PeterPalumbo Jr. (pictured), who was most recently servedas a senior manager for the PULSE Network/Discover FinancialServices, started with Samaha and Associates Aug. 22. Palumbo hasnearly 30 years of financial services experience. In April,Lori Koscki joined Samaha and Associates, leavinga senior account executive position at Discover's PULSE Network.She managed 30 key accounts in the community sector and wasresponsible for ATM network retention, volume growth, sales andoverall customer satisfaction.

Payments processor TMG hiredKelly Mendenhall as vice president of product.Mendenhall will oversee strategy and execution for TMG's productdevelopments and enhancements. He brings more than a decade ofexperience in the payments industry to his new role. Mendenhallwill work closely with the TMG product team and leaders of variousbusiness units, along with each of TMG's AMC sister companies andstrategic partners.

Please send your People news items to Tahira Hayes [email protected].