Stacey Murray was hired as senior business development coordinator. Murray brings 19 years of business development and marketing experience. She has served on the board for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and as committee chair of “Walk a Mile” to benefit SAFE & Domestic Violence Programs at Greater Baltimore Medical Center.

Tricia Lewns was hired as business development coordinator. Lewns brings 12 years of sales and marketing experience. In her previous role, Lewns was a three-time recipient of the Sr. Relationship Banker Award.

Damita Robinson, COO for the $2.4 billion, Suitland, Md.-based Andrews Federal Credit Union, was appointed vice chair of the Maryland Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Robinson will serve in this role for the 2025-2026 year. Prior to this appointment, she served the Maryland Chamber as the organization’s treasurer. In her new position as vice chair, she will support the Chamber and the Maryland community, continuing to strengthen the credit union’s ties with the local community.

The $2.4 billion, Littleton, Mass.-based Workers Credit Union announced two board appointments.

Christine Cloonan was appointed to the Board of Directors. Cloonan, an investor relations professional for a publicly traded company, brings over a decade of corporate financial leadership experience in technology and telecommunications. She holds a master of arts in Spanish from Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vt., and a master of finance from Universidad Torcuato Di Tella in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Paul Garcia was appointed to the Board of Directors. Garcia brings over 20 years of experience in information technology, with a strong focus on cybersecurity strategy. He is currently director, cybersecurity at L3Harris Technologies and previously held various cybersecurity roles at Raytheon. He holds a masters in human resource management from the University of Oklahoma.

The $6 billion, Portsmouth, N.H.-based Service Credit Union promoted Rob Derrickson into the newly-created role of vice president of real estate. In his new position, Derrickson will lead efforts to cultivate a strong sales culture, drive self-sourced loan production and guide his team in navigating the evolving real estate landscape. Derrickson has been with Service CU for nearly 11 years, during which time he has held roles as an originator, underwriter and lending manager.

The $3.3 billion, Chelsea, Mass.-based Metro Credit Union hired William Pagan as branch manager of its Tewksbury, Mass., branch located at 1527 Main Street. Pagan brings nearly 10 years of banking experience, including at Digital Federal Credit Union ($12.9 billion, Marlborough, Mass.), Reading Cooperative Bank and most recently Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union ($2.2 billion, Lowell, Mass.), where he served as branch officer. In his new role, he will oversee daily operations, lead staff development initiatives, and provide financial guidance and education to Metro members at the Tewksbury branch.

MIDWEST

The $1.1 billion, Lansing, Mich.-based LAFCU announced two new hires.

Sean Cervantes was hired as a business development and growth officer in the marketing department. In his new role, he will focus on membership growth through the credit union philosophy of “people helping people” while emphasizing diversity, equity and inclusion. He brings more than 13 years of management experience, including six years in the credit union industry. He most recently served as indirect/dealer relations manager and community development manager at a Lansing-based credit union, where he managed vendor relationships, loan underwriting and approvals. He previously served as director of operations and senior branch manager at another credit union. Cervastes is also a Certified Credit Union Financial Counselor.

The $5.4 billion, Eau Claire, Wis.-based Royal Credit Union promoted Ryan Balts to EVP-CFO. In his new role, Balts will oversee accounting and financial analysis, ensuring excellence in service delivery, fostering strategic collaboration within the Executive Team and driving financial success for the organization. Balts, who has served as Royal’s vice president of finance for the past 11 years, has extensive expertise in financial strategy, investment management and operational leadership. He holds an MBA from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and has served as Board president of the Chippewa Valley Museum Foundation. He currently serves as treasurer on the Boys & Girls Club of the Greater Chippewa Valley Board of Directors.

SOUTH

The $2.8 billion, Lake Mary, Fla.-based Addition Financial Credit Union promoted Yomary Velez to vice president of retail banking. Velez, who joined Addition Financial in 2010, has 22 years of banking industry experience and most recently served as a regional manager for the credit union, overseeing six branches. Her career with the credit union has spanned multiple roles, beginning as a peak-time member service representative and advancing through positions including head teller, assistant branch manager and branch manager. In her new role, Velez will oversee the organization’s entire branch network that will total 37 branches and 11 high school branches following Addition Financial’s pending merger with Envision Credit Union. Reporting directly to the COO, she will lead strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing the member experience, fostering community impact and empowering high-performing teams. In addition, Velez will focus on aligning people, processes and performance with the credit union’s values and long-term growth strategy. She will also champion a member-centric approach, using data-driven insights and empathetic leadership to deliver meaningful results.

Please send your People news items to Natasha Chilingerian at [email protected].