MOON TOWNSHIP, Penn.–Credit unions in two states have named new leaders.
In Pennsylvania, the $1.8-billion Clearview FCU has selected Lisa Florian to lead the organization, becoming the first female president/CEO in the CU’s history. Florian will succeed Ron Celaschi, who is retiring March 31.
Florian currently serves as SVP-member experience, digital strategy, and marketing, a role she was promoted to in 2020. Florian has been with Clearview since 2015, previously serving as VP-member experience and marketing, and VP-finance and AVP-strategic research and analysis.
In all, the credit union said she has more than 25 years of experience in the financial services and credit union industries.
Clearview FCU said Florian is also active in her community, currently serving on the West Jefferson Hills Foundation for Education Board and Thomas Jefferson High School Football Boosters Board. She has also served on numerous committees for non-profits in the greater Pittsburgh region and spends time volunteering throughout the year.
"I am very excited and honored to be chosen by our board of directors as the next president and CEO of Clearview," said Florian. "I look forward to building on the foundation of providing financial solutions that help our members enjoy a better life and leading Clearview to continued success and growth."
Focus on ‘Evolution’
As CEO, the credit union said Florian will focus on the brand's evolution while remaining committed to building a community and member-forward culture, increasing access through digital channels, and implementing continuous improvement through organizational leadership.
Florian received her Master of Business Administration from Robert Morris University and her Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from Washington and Jefferson College. She resides in the South Hills of Pittsburgh with her husband, Jason, and sons, Nicholas and Nathan.
New CEO in Ohio
Separately, in Columbus, Ohio, the $1.38-billion Telhio Credit Union has named Derrick Bailey to succeed the retiring Leslie Bumgarner as CEO. Bailey currently serves as president of the credit union.
“It is an honor to drive the growth of a leading-edge credit union in our region,” Bailey said. “Our team is focused on an effective strategy that supports individuals and families and helps small and medium businesses create jobs that provide opportunities for local communities to thrive.”
According to the credit union, Bailey recognized Telhio had a great brand in the market after he left his position at a bank that was leaving the area and joined the credit union. What’s kept Bailey in credit unions is the collaborative nature and ability to help Telhio’s community at a granular level, part of which can be attributed to the credit union’s status as a CDFI-certified credit union, the credit union said.
Spearheaded CDFI Grants
CU Strategic Planning noted that Telhio has won $2.4 million in CDFI grants, an effort spearheaded by Bailey, and has applied for substantially more CDFI Fund financial awards.
“As a CEO, I feel that I can have the most impact on the community we serve,” Bailey said. “Strengthening the communities we serve is important to me. Helping the community by creating jobs through business lending and serving those who are underserved by access to banking services is my job as the leader of a credit union.”
A First in Ohio
Bailey is also the first Black CEO of a billion-dollar credit union in Ohio, and one of only 14 Black CEOs of a billion-dollar credit union in the U.S., according to the African American Credit Union Coalition.
Bailey joined Telhio in 2013 and within six months commercial lending became the top performing division, the credit union said.
“He developed innovative policies and procedures to provide loans to community companies and organizations, helping Telhio become a Top SBA lender (#2 overall, #1 credit union),” Telhio said in a statement. “Three years later he joined the executive team, providing the same leadership to the mortgage division, helping Telhio to become one of the top consumer mortgage lenders in the market (#12) and one of the top commercial mortgage lenders in the market (#16).”
‘Hearty Congratulations’
“The AACUC proudly supports the advancement of Black people in the credit union movement toward C-Suite positions through our mentorship and professional development programs,” said AACUC Executive Director Renee Sattiewhite. “We extend a hearty congratulations to Telhio and Derrick Bailey.”
Added CU Strategic Planning Chief Experience Officer Mike Beall, “Derrick’s determination to help Telhio improve the financial opportunities for Ohio’s working families and the communities in which they live is already a great CDFI success story. His passion as an incoming CEO is going to make Telhio a fantastic CDFI to watch in the years to come.”
Paying it Forward
Bailey said that becoming a CDFI allows credit unions to continue to move forward the mission of People Helping People.
“Using grant funds, we have been able to support the community by providing loans to complete certifications for skilled trades,” he stated. “We look for unique ways to serve those who would not have access to banking and lending services. Recently, we have partnered with fintechs for solutions to help workers in the gig-economy who tend to have a harder time finding lending services. Being a CDFI help us extend more loans to small businesses, helping create jobs in the communities we serve.”
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