WEST
The $3.4 billion, San Diego-based Cal Coast Credit Union promoted Antonia Luna to COO. Luna has more than 30 years of experience in the credit union industry. She joined Cal Coast in 2017 and has progressed through several senior leadership roles, including vice president of operations, SVP of branch network and support services, and most recently EVP of member delivery, where she led initiatives to strengthen member relationships, enhance service delivery and drive organizational performance. Luna completed executive leadership training through the CUES School of Applied Strategic Management and Western CUNA Management School, where she earned her Certified Credit Union Executive designation.
EAST
The $5 billion, Laurel, Md.-based Tower Federal Credit Union hired Darena Merdzhanova as vice president of compliance. Merdzhanova brings more than 20 years of leadership experience across banking, credit union and fintech, having previously led regulatory risk and compliance initiatives for financial institutions nationwide, with expertise in deposit, lending, payments and fintech partnerships. She has also served as a chief compliance officer and held several senior advisory roles. In her new role, Merdzhanova oversees Tower's Compliance Management System, leading efforts related to regulatory compliance, risk assessments, policy and procedure development, monitoring and testing, training, complaint management and reporting to Tower's leadership and Board. She holds a Juris Doctor and an MBA in risk management. She is also a Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager and a Six Sigma black belt.
MIDWEST
The $4.2 billion, St. Joseph, Mich.-based United Federal Credit Union announced two promotions.
Brittany Grasley was promoted to COO. Grasley joined United in 2009. In her new role, she will lead the credit union's daily operations, including loans, deposits and payment services. She will also lead project management and continuous improvement strategies. In this role, she ensures these areas run smoothly, efficiently and consistently to support a high-quality experience for United's members.
Dan Card was promoted to chief information officer. Card joined United in 2013 and has since played an important role in advancing United's growth and innovation efforts in its information technology department. In his new role, he will lead the credit union's technology strategy and ensure systems, tools and data support the organization's goals and member experience.
SOUTH
The $2.6 billion, Richardson, Texas-based Texans Credit Union announced two promotions.
Adrien Augustine was promoted from district manager to director of branch operations. Augustine first worked for Texans from 2017-2019, during which time he advanced through the branch leadership ranks from assistant branch manager to branch manager to senior branch manager. He returned to Texans in May 2022 as senior branch manager. In his new role, Augustine will oversee seven branch locations.
Melissa Perea was also promoted from district manager to director of branch operations. Perea joined Texans in 2018 as a branch manager and was promoted to senior branch manager in 2020. In March 2024, she was elevated again to district manager, assuming oversight of the credit union's five North District branches. In her new role, she will also lead the credit union's newest branch location in McKinney, Texas when construction is completed. She will continue overseeing the North District while taking on broader responsibilities in support of Texans' member-first growth strategy.
The $3.8 billion, Lake Mary, Fla.-based Addition Financial Credit Union promoted Miriam Mitchell to chief growth officer. In her newly expanded executive role, Mitchell will lead a unified growth strategy that brings together lending, marketing, public relations and community development to strengthen member relationships, drive sustainable growth and advance the credit union's mission of helping members achieve financial success. Previously serving as chief lending officer, Mitchell will continue to oversee Addition Financial's lending strategy and loan portfolio while assuming leadership of the credit union's marketing, public relations and community development teams. Mitchell has more than 28 years of experience in financial services and banking. Since joining Addition Financial in 2005, she has held a variety of leadership positions including director of real estate lending and vice president of lending. She holds an MBA from Rollins College in Winter Park, Fla. She also serves on the University of Central Florida College of Business Dean's Advisory Board, previously served as president of the Credit Union Real Estate Network and is an alumnus of Leadership Orlando.
VENDORS
Ncontracts, a Brentwood, Tenn.-based provider of integrated compliance, risk and vendor management solutions to the financial services industry, hired Maureen Schumacher as chief marketing officer. Schumacher brings more than three decades of marketing leadership across financial services, payments and enterprise technology. Her career spans Smarsh, Global Payments, Google and GE, where she built brand and revenue programs across the U.S., Europe and Asia and established a consistent record of translating complex technology into market-moving strategies.
Please send your People news items to Natasha Chilingerian at natasha.chilingerian@arc-network.com.
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