HARRISBURG, Penn.–The CrossState Credit Union Association has announced its new board as well as the winners of a variety of honors.
The announcements took place during the association’s Reconnect Annual Meeting. The organization represents credit unions in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Elected as the new board chair of the CrossState CU Association was Andy Jaeger, CEO of Credit Union of New Jersey. Jaeger succeeds TruMark Financial Credit Union CEO Rick Stipa, who completed his term. Elected as vice chair was Wendy Kingsland, president & CEO of Visionary FCU.
“We congratulate Andy and Wendy, and thank them for their leadership and service,” said CrossState President and CEO Patrick Conway. “We thank Rick for his exceptional commitment during his years as board chair and look forward to his continued board service.”
The board also welcomed as a new member Richard Garcia, CEO of Newark Board of Education Employees Credit Union, and recognized John Murga and Tracy Sussmann for their years of service.
“I especially want to thank John Murga of Hidden River Credit Union, and Tracy Sussmann, CEO of Mid-State FCU, for the time they spent on the CrossState board of directors,” Stipa said. “I owe you a great deal of gratitude for your leadership and vision and the inaugural CrossState board of directors.”
Additional Honors
Other honors presented included:
Professional of the Year
Michael Kaczenski, president & CEO of Sun East FCU, was presented with the William W. Pratt Lifetime Achievement Award for the 2022 Credit Union Professional of the Year.
“Kaczenski has been with Sun East FCU since 1987 and served as the credit union’s president & CEO since 2002,” the CCUA said. “He’s a regular at CrossState’s Annual Convention, Fall Leadership Conference, Executive Forum, and more. He’s also president and a board member of the Delaware County Chapter of Credit Unions and served on the former PCUA board for nearly a decade, including two years as board chair, as well as a year spent on the Foundation board.”
According to the association, in addition to his duties at Sun East, Kaczenski has shown his dedication to the credit union movement through his 36 years of service. Of particular note from his career was the work he put into launching the iBelong Campaign to the benefit of credit unions everywhere, the association said.
“Michael is good for the credit union movement at large,” said Terri Lannon, senior director of business development at Sun East said. “He is all about cooperation and collaboration. Michael just sleeps, eats, and breathes Sun East and the credit union movement.”
“It’s a special honor for me to present this prestigious award to Mike,” added Conway. “Mike’s commitment to the credit union movement has been extraordinary, and his passion continues to help others every day.”
Volunteer of the Year
TheCrossState Credit Union Association has awarded First Capital FCU Board Chair Stewart Olewiler the Calvin H. Jackson Lifetime Achievement Award for the 2022 Credit Union Volunteer of the Year.
“Olewiler’s award comes as he celebrates 30 years of service as the First Capital FCU board chair; he’s been a board member since 1989,” the association said. “Olewiler is also a regular at the Association’s Convention and Fall Leadership Conference and is an avid supporter of the York Chapter of Credit Unions.”
“When I became CEO, Stu was nothing but supportive of me and of our team. He taught me a lot of valuable lessons early on in my career. He taught me you better be prepared, you better do your homework, and if you don’t know the answer [right away], it’s OK, but be ready and be prepared,” said First Capital CEO Sue DeStephano.
In addition to his dedication to First Capital, the association said Stewart stays active in his York, PA, community. He’s been a member of the York County Economic Alliance and York County Zoning & Code Enforcement Association and has been known to roam the sidelines as a youth soccer coach.
2022 Credit Union Ambassador
First Capital FCU’s Lisa Barshinger was named CrossState Credit Union Association’s 2022 Credit Union Ambassador.
Barshinger is the community and business development manager at First Capital and will represent CrossState at Association events for the next year.
The top two other presenting finalists were Cross Valley FCU’s Madison Polumbo and PSECU’s Libby Rippel.
Additional Finalists included:
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- Felicia Cunningham, Penlanco Federal Credit Union (Central Region)
- Donald Elizer, TruMark Financial Credit Union (Philadelphia Region)
- Reyannyon Ferrante, Members 1st Federal Credit Union (Harrisburg Chapter)
- Ciara LaVelle, PHEPLE Federal Credit Union (Greensburg Chapter)
- Heaven Merenich, Cross Valley Federal Credit Union (Northeast PA Chapter)
- Sharon Rozum, PRR South Fork Federal Credit Union (Johnstown Chapter)
The CrossState Credit Union Association said it “conducts this contest to prepare emerging credit union leaders for leadership roles within the credit union movement. Credit union members or employees are sponsored by the Association’s chapters. The contestants are judged on their knowledge of credit unions and their ability to communicate that knowledge.”
Several hundred credit union staffers have competed in the Credit Union Ambassador Contest since its inception in the early 1970s. Many of the contestants have gone on to hold volunteer and professional positions within the credit union movement, the association stated.