In the first month of year,credit unions in California, Michigan,Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Alabama and Nebraska, publicly announcedthe appointment of new CEOs.

The board of directors of Altura Credit Union in Riverside,Calif. announced that Jennifer Binkley was selected to succeedlong-time President/CEO Mark Hawkins.

Binkley, who has served as executive vice president and chiefoperating officer of Altura for nine years, will become the new CEOon Feb. 20, the credit union said in a prepared statement.

“Jennifer has come up through the ranks of Altura, and she hasproven herself every step of the way,” Hawkins said. “She is wellprepared for the challenges she will face as CEO. She understandsAltura, is dedicated to meeting our members' needs and is devotedto our community. Jennifer is going to do a great job and I'mexcited for her.”

Hawkins, 65, is credited with growing Altura over the last 29years from $37 million in assets to its current $1.2 billion inassets, and growing the credit union's membership from 14,000 tomore than 117,000. In addition, under his leadership the creditunion expanded from three branches and 28 employees to 13 branchesand 327 employees.

The board of directors for the $414 million CP Federal CreditUnion in Jackson, Mich., selected Chrissy Siders to serve as itsnew president/CEO.

She will replace John Crist who will retire in July.

Crist served CP Federal Credit Union more than 43 years as avolunteer supervisory committee member, board member and boardchair. He became president/CEO in 1997. Under his leadership, CPFederal Credit Union grew its assets, branches and members.

Siders joined CP Federal Credit Union in 1998 as a teller andmoved up in several departments spanning from accounting tocompliance and risk management eventually becoming vice presidentof risk management and specialized lending.

“Chrissy will make a wonderful president/CEO,” Crist said. “Herexperience and passion for the Credit Union and leadership willcontribute to the future success of CP Federal Credit Union.”

The $277 million Richfield-Bloomington Credit Union inBloomington, Minn. named Gregory Worthen as its newpresident/CEO.

He replaced Karen Hoeppner.

Before joining RBCU, Worthen served as chief operatingofficer/senior vice president for the $667 million 1st MidAmericaCredit Union in Bethalto, Ill. He also worked as the credit union'svice president of strategic operations and lending.

Lynn Stephenson was appointed president/CEO of West-Aircomm Federal Credit Union in Beaver, Pa.

Stephenson succeeded Ray Brunner who retired after 31 years ofservice.

Stephenson, who joined the credit union 35 years ago, mostrecently served as executive vice president for the creditunion.

Brunner, who was hired to run West-Aircomm in 1985 when it hadassets of $25 million, grew the credit unions assets to $212million.

“RayBrunner set the bar high, and I appreciate the support Iam receiving from the West-Aircomm members, board of directors andemployees as I assume the role of CEO,” Stephenson said in aprepared statement.

Hired as a loan clerk, Stephenson rose through West-Aircomm'sranks over the years.

The $177 million Mutual Savings Credit Union in Birmingham,Ala., appointed Kendall Speed as president/CEO.

He succeeds Douglas Key who will remain with credit union as itssenior vice president of strategic planning.

Speed joined Mutual Savings CU more than 15 years ago andrecently served as its chief financial officer and executive vicepresident.

Janeane Whitney was named president/CEO of the $35.3 millionU.P. Connection Federal Credit Union in Omaha, Neb.

She replaced Jan Kounkel who retired after 25 years ofservice.

Whitney, who most recently served as vice president of lending,joined the credit union two years ago. She holds more than 35 ofexperience in retail banking.