BATON ROUGE, La.—The $725-million Pelican State Credit Union has promoted Melissa Ott to president.
Current, long-standing President and CEO Jeffrey K. Conrad now transitions to CEO, the CU said.
Ott first started at Pelican in 2000 while studying accounting at Louisiana State University. After earning her degree, she worked her way up and provided leadership to various other departments, including marketing, financial outreach, and electronic services. In 2016, she was appointed chief financial officer overseeing accounting, human resources, facilities, and compliance, the CU said.
In 2022, she was named EVP, overseeing all departments.
“Her career path is the exception rather than the norm. She demonstrates a high energy level with strong organizational skills. She is at the maximum Hogan adjustability score, which means she can adapt faster than 99% of the world,” said Conrad. “Melissa is an inspiration to everyone she comes in contact with,” Conrad continued. “She has become a leader and coach who consistently displays compassion, humility, kindness, integrity, and innovation while procuring high performance and growth.”
Conrad, who has served Pelican for 38 years, including twenty-nine as president and CEO, will transition authority of administration and operations to Ott in her new role as president while he focuses his last four years on sustainable strategic growth of the credit union, the CU said.