AUSTIN, Texas – Amplify Credit Union announced CEO Paul Trylko plans to retire at year-end and that it has selected a successor. The credit union said it has chosen Executive Vice President Kendall Garrison to lead the organization effective Jan. 1, 2020.
Trylko joined the credit union in 1989 as EVP after having served as VP at another Austin-area credit union for 10 years prior. At the time Trylko took over as CEO, the credit union was known as IBM Texas Employees FCU and had $154 million in assets and 44 employees. During his career Trylko oversaw growth to nearly $1 billion in assets and $1.3 billion in assets under management, as well as growth to 200 employees, a rebranding, and expansion to a statewide FOM.
“It’s been an honor and privilege to serve alongside the employees and volunteers who serve Amplify’s members every day,” said Trylko. “I’m a firm believer in the positive role credit unions play in the lives of members and in the cooperative principles that have been the foundation of Amplify for more than 50 years. Knowing I’m leaving that mission in the capable hands of a strong leadership team gives me confidence our members will continue to be well served and our drive to bring the credit union advantage to more Texans will endure.”
About the New CEO
Garrison joined Amplify in 2010 on the lending team and served as SVP-lending until 2015, when he was named executive vice president.
“Since then, he’s been responsible for spearheading the credit union’s growth strategy and overseeing operations,” the credit union said in a statement. “ In that time, Amplify has expanded real estate lending, more than doubling the size of its real estate loan portfolio to almost $350 million and adding a portfolio of loans servicing for others of more than $300 million.”
The credit union has quadrupled the size of its commercial lending portfolio to more than $100 million, becoming the second-largest locally based SBA lender in Austin.
Prior to joining Amplify, Garrison had a 30-year career in mortgage banking with institutions including Franklin Bank, Extraco Bank and others. He was recently named the president of the Board of Managers for the Alliance of Austin Credit Unions, which is a collaboration of 16 Austin-area credit unions. In addition, he has served as chairman of CU Business Solutions, and chairman for Communities United for Fair Lending, which was a nonprofit organization that provided affordable short-term loans to people in need as an alternative to payday lending.
Also Founded Brewery
Beyond financial services, Garrison has also been an entrepreneur, having founded and operated Bosque Brewing Company in Waco, Texas, and he is a commercial-rated airplane pilot.
“One thing my time at Amplify has taught me so far is that if you bring together great people united by a worthy mission, anything is possible. Paul has done that over decades and it’s an honor to earn the trust of the organization to carry that forward,” said Garrison. “As we cross the threshold of one billion dollars on our balance sheet, we have a great team that will carry us forward to our next stage of growth.”
Other Changes
Other changes announced by Amplify included the retirement of Chief Operating Officer Nancy Ballman, who has been with Amplify for 29 years. Her responsibilities will be divided between Chief Experience Officer Stacy Armijo and Chief Information Officer Charlotte Morrison. In addition, the credit union recently chose to centralize the risk management function under Chief Risk Officer Alan Hansford.