Smart Financial Credit Union, Houston, announced the retirement of Cheryl Davis and Roger Granad. Davis ended her career as president/CEO of Smart Financial Resources, a subsidiary of the credit union, after 46 years of service, beginning with a part-time position in her senior year of high school. Since then Davis has managed three branches and held the positions of vice president and executive vice president and directed operations, lending, collections and marketing. Granad, who most recently served in the capacity of vice president of special services, joined the staff four years after Davis. In his 42 years with the credit union, Granad held a variety of positions from teller and loan interviewer to regional branch manager and assistant to the controller.

Florida Commerce Credit Union, Tallahassee, Fla., named Valerie Silverman as chief financial officer. Silverman will use her 20 years of executive experience to oversee the development of the strategic planning and budgeting process at the 37,000-member credit union. Silverman holds a bachelor's degree in finance from the University of Colorado as well as an MBA from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.

Keesler Federal Credit Union, Biloxi, Miss., re-elected Dean Todd and Don McCormick to the credit union's board of directors. Todd and McCormick will serve alongside Chairperson Cynthia Payne Childers and four other executives as board members at the largest Mississippi-based credit union.

CommonWealth One Federal Credit Union, Alexandria, Va., announced that Nancy Symes will assume the position of vice president of human resources. A graduate of the University of Kansas, Symes holds a senior professional human resources certificate and more than 25 years of experience in employee development. Symes previously held the same position at Congressional Federal Credit Union in Washington where she played a key role in implementing a new employee benefit program including a 401(k) savings plan.

1st Choice Credit Union, Atlanta, featured Vice Chair and Director Howard Mosby as a panelist at the Atlanta Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce's fourth annual financial services breakfast. With a focus on poverty and wealth in black america, the panel discussion was moderated by CNN Financial contributing analyst Clyde Anderson and brought up questions and solutions about the financial status of Black America.

Security Service Federal Credit Union, San Antonio, announced the hiring of Cheri Whitacre, who will assumed the position of senior compliance officer in the risk management department. Whitacre will serve the credit union by overseeing regulatory analysis and disseminations, projected compliance related initiatives and business unit consulting. Whitacre earned a bachelor's degree from Southeast Missouri State University in business administration and holds a master's degree from Southern Illinois University.

MIDWEST

Government Credit Union, Clinton Township, Mich., hired Deborah Fahrney to be regional director. Fahrney will be responsible for managing the growth of the organization and providing leadership for the branches within her assigned region. With 17 years of experience at the management level of branch operations, Fahrney has held positions at Huntington Bank and LaSalle Bank.

Purdue Employees Federal Credit Union, West Lafayette, Ind., announced the hiring of Monte Bates as vice president of information technology. With 13 years of expeirence in the manufacturing, sales, technology and health care industries, Bates will supervise the daily responsibilities of the techonology team as well as lead new plans for product development. Bates holds a bachelor's degree in telecommunications management from Purdue University and a master's degree in information technology from Ball State University.

CUES, Madison, Wis., congratulated Michael Bartoo, Jim Gowan, Robin Jones, Randy Schultz, and Elizabeth Tarleton, credit union executives from around the country, for their integrity and knowledge of the credit union industry with certified financial supplier designations. Each of the five recipients passed an exam on general business topics and knowledge of the credit union industry.

Wanigas Credit Union, Saginaw, Mich., employee Karen Twaro was awarded the credit union spirit award by the Mid-Michigan Chapter of the Michigan Credit Union League. Twaro, a 25 year employee at Wanigas, was recognized for having a cooperative attitude and looking out for members' interests.