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Our Team

Senior Leadership

Chris Felton

"I am fortunate to lead an exceptional team of passionate credit union visionaries laser focused on helping credit unions to be Wildly Successful. At Corporate Central we are redefining the role of a corporate credit union and how we leverage technology to build and deliver innovative solutions to credit unions. Through our family of CUSOs, we have assembled industry leading expertise in balance sheet optimization, employee benefit solutions and innovative business strategies to serve the credit union movement. A movement that continues to prosper and strengthen on the simple philosophy of 'People Helping People.' Through stewardship, collaboration, and exceptional member service we help credit unions serve their members and successfully grow.”

Chris became President/CEO in May 2016. He began his career at Corporate Central in 1990 as the first field representative; and spent his early years on the road building relationships with credit unions. After holding various leadership positions, Chris was promoted to Executive Vice President in 2012, overseeing areas such as planning, sales, strategic partnerships, operations, budgeting and forecasting, and market expansion. Chris has over 30 years of experience proudly serving the members of Corporate Central, endeavoring to improve the financial success of all members by creating member value and enduring partnerships.

As President/CEO, Chris is responsible for the culture, vision, and strategic direction of Corporate Central. Chris focuses his team on growing the organization, expanding member relationships, acquiring new members, developing innovative new services, and delivering an exceptional member experience. His strategic vision for Corporate Central is to collaborate on initiatives and innovation to help members to be wildly successful.

Chris's educational background includes a bachelor's degree in Finance from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

For over 3 decades, Chris has been the lucky husband to his bride, Kristy, and an inspired father to three wonderful children - a son and two daughters.

Kevin P. Chiappetta, CFA

Kevin's initial career at Corporate Central began in January 1996 as Vice President Investments where he managed the loan, deposit, and investment portfolios. Kevin departed in June 2002, where he spent over 11 years working with credit union investment CUSOs and 2 years with an asset-liability modeling and consulting firm. Working primarily with credit unions throughout his career, Kevin brings a rich history of over 30 years of experience providing financial services, with a primary emphasis in fixed income security analysis, portfolio management, and balance sheet risk management.

In August 2016, Corporate Central welcomed Kevin back as the Senior Vice President Investment Services to assist members in understanding the complete risk profile of their balance sheet risk, re-think traditional security analysis, and build portfolios to compliment the optimal performance of the entire balance sheet. Kevin also focuses on the continuing education for members and their supervisory committees and boards.

In May 2017, Corporate Central launched its balance sheet optimization CUSO, QuantyPhi, and named Kevin as President. QuantyPhi’s ALM experts focus on finding opportunity on both sides of the balance sheet by running what-if scenarios that facilitate successful relative-value balance sheet decisions.

In March 2024, Kevin accepted a new role as Senior Vice President / Chief Education & Research Officer. In this role, he serves as a dedicated expert executive that educates, trains, and gives back to the movement by teaching and instructing on everything related to balance sheet management and risk mitigation.

Kevin's education includes a bachelor's degree in Accounting from St. Norbert College in De Pere, WI. Kevin is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder and an active member and volunteer for the CFA Institute in Charlottesville, VA. Kevin was elected to the CFA Society Milwaukee Board in July 2019 and elected as President in 2021. He has been an active member of the society for over 25 years. In December 2023, Kevin successfully completed the Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) program at Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI. In January 2024, he embarked on a role as a Lecturer in Finance, commonly referred to as an Adjunct Professor, at UW-Milwaukee and in August 2024, he added another role as Adjunct Professor at Marquette University.

Kevin married his college sweetheart in 1987 and assisted in the upbringing of their son and daughter. As of today, Kevin still has the role of cheerleader, proud supporter, and provider of unlimited, unsolicited life advice to his children. In his free time, Kevin is interested in soccer at all levels, watching a variety of sports, reading about interesting topics, spending time with family, and correcting their grammatical errors.

Nicholas A. Fanning, CFA

Nick brings 20+ years of experience serving credit unions to his role of Senior Vice President / Chief Financial Officer. He is responsible for leading all aspects of the investments, accounting, lending, and asset/liability management functions for Corporate Central. In his prior role, he also directed the IT department for nearly ten years.

Nick has honed his skills in the management of the organization's investment and loan portfolios, funding and liquidity positioning, investment and credit analysis, asset/liability management (ALM), financial modeling, and the development and pricing of financial products and services in the years since he began his career at Corporate Central in 1997. He has been entrusted to manage Corporate Central's balance sheet since 2002. Nick also passionately presents on topics related to investments, economics, asset/liability management, and risk management.

As a member of the Executive Management team, Nick is significantly involved in strategic planning, establishing goals and objectives, budgeting, developing and maintaining effective policies, and ensuring compliance with regulations. He is a member of the Asset/Liability Committee (ALCO) and the Enterprise Risk Management Committee (ERMC).

Nick has bachelor's degrees in both Finance and Economics and is also a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charter holder. He is a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society of Milwaukee. Nick was also appointed to the Board of Directors of the Wisconsin CUES Council in 2017.

Jesse Kohl

Jesse began his career at Corporate Central in August 2002 and has been instrumental in the expansion efforts of Corporate Central’s products, services, strategic alliances, education, and overall membership base. Jesse started as a Relationship Development Officer and worked directly with member credit unions to assess their financial climate and needs and deliver value-added solutions to enhance their operations. In April 2008, Jesse became Director-Business Development and oversaw all Midwest growth efforts for Corporate Central. In January 2014, Jesse became Vice President Business Development and now leads Corporate Central's sales, business development, marketing, and strategic alliance efforts by working with existing and future member credit unions across the country.

In 2016, Jesse was named President of Corporate Central’s wholly owned CUSO, InterLutions, with a drive to provide innovative business solutions to credit unions across the country.

With nearly 20 years of experience working in the credit union movement, Jesse is proud of the accomplishments credit unions have achieved over the years and believes there is tremendous opportunity for all credit unions to become wildly successful. “It’s been an absolute joy working with so many credit unions across the country and witnessing first-hand the amazing benefits credit unions provide to their members and communities. Through hard work and collaboration, the credit union movement will not simply survive, it will thrive!”

Jesse graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in 2002 with a bachelor's degree in Business Finance. Although 50 years late to the wild music scene known as the British Invasion, Jesse still considers himself a “Beatle-maniac,” has learned every Beatles song on guitar, and will challenge anyone to a game of Beatles Trivial Pursuit. He resides in Fort Atkinson, WI with his amazing wife and their three wonderful children.

Nancy Morgan, BSACS, CCUFC

Nancy joined Corporate Central in March 1992. Nancy’s commitment to members is to ensure that enterprise-wide compliance oversight aligns with our passion for member service solutions. She makes sure that Corporate Central’s regulatory, procedural, risk, and contingency goals are aligned with operational efficiency, innovation, and Corporate Central's strategic vision. She loves the challenge of tearing down roadblocks of the juxtaposed objectives of compliance and creativity.

Nancy believes that Corporate Central's solid service culture and strong risk management principles provide a sound foundation for future growth in meeting the needs of our members with flexibility and efficient functionality.

Currently, Nancy is responsible for the operations of Corporate Central including member services, governance, compliance, business continuity, enterprise risk management, strategic initiatives, human resources, and helping to shape our technology vision.

Nancy has provided leadership in the areas of operations, member service and support, project management, risk management, compliance, governance, and financial controls. This varied experience offers a well-rounded perspective of Corporate Central's internal operations and an ability to relate to the operations of our members. The insight and heartfelt compassion derived from this personal credit union experience has led Nancy to be a credit union advocate to anyone that will listen. Nancy’s entire career has been within the credit union movement; it is her steadfast belief in the superior benefits credit unions provide that has determined her path. Promoting the conscious practices of the credit union movement is in harmony with Nancy’s personal interests of pursuing strengthening, mindful, and healthy lifestyle choices.

Pete Paulson, CCE, CUDE

Pete joined Corporate Central in October 2024 as Senior Vice President / Chief Operating Officer. He brings a wealth of experience in the credit union industry, having spent his entire career working in various roles including branches, lending, operations, training, IT, and executive leadership.

A critical part of his role includes fostering an “employer of choice” culture by mentoring, managing, and developing talent while coordinating interdepartmental processes focused on risk management, talent acquisition, and organizational efficiency. Pete leads the Enterprise Risk Management, Compliance, and Human Resources departments, ensuring their success in meeting organizational goals. He also oversees exam and audit activities in compliance with all applicable regulations and policies.

His career includes leading a CUSO and a philanthropic organization, and he has served on boards for the Illinois Credit Union League, Envisant, and Corporate Central Credit Union. Pete also served on the Illinois Board of Credit Union Advisors, which is a statutory advisory group appointed by the Governor. A visionary leader, Pete holds the Certified Chief Executive (CCE) designation and is a Credit Union Development Educator (CUDE). His work with the Filene Research Institute’s i3 and Think Tank initiatives reflects his dedication to advancing credit union professionals and innovative thinking in the industry.

Outside of work, Pete and his wife enjoy traveling and staying involved in their children’s lives as proud empty nesters. He has also served on his church council and endowment board and remains an active volunteer in various community organizations.

Heather Ristow, CCUE

Heather rejoined Corporate Central in September 2023 as Senior Vice President / Chief Experience Officer. She has over 20 years of experience in banking and financial services including a previous role at Corporate Central as a Relationship Development Officer.

As Senior Vice President / Chief Experience Officer, Heather creates an inviting member experience by playing a pivotal role in ensuring excellence within the entire organization by managing the member journey, while helping shape the employee journey with exceptional quality products and services. She serves as a member ambassador, connecting the corporate with members, improving member relations, and contributing to business growth. She works closely with the leadership team to improve processes and systems/software utilization, while investigating and driving new technologies, new products, and new opportunities to bring to market.

Heather’s diverse background includes her most recent role as Senior Vice President of Marketing at Connexus Credit Union and her prior position as Chief Operating Officer at Heritage Credit Union, where she oversaw several teams, optimized operations, and executed strategic plans. Before her role at Heritage, she held positions Fort Community Credit Union, Corporate Central Credit Union, and St. Mary’s & Affiliates Credit Union progressively growing her expertise and contributions in the credit union industry. For the past 10 years, Heather has been actively involved as a lead trustee for non-profit organizations, granting endowment funds and significantly impacting their missions and causes.

Heather’s educational background includes earning a bachelor’s degree in Finance from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and obtaining the prestigious Certified Credit Union Executive (CCUE) designation from the University of Wisconsin-Madison's CUNA Management School in 2015.

Heather, her husband John, and their two children Fiona and Owen are avid travelers and enjoy exploring new places, golfing, and hiking. With a heart for service, she actively volunteers at local food pantries, providing support and assistance to those in need.

Adam Stone

Adam Stone joined Corporate Central and QuantyPhi as Vice President ALM & Investments in May 2020 and was promoted to Executive Vice President Investment Services of QuantyPhi in January 2023. In March of 2024, he accepted the role of President of QuantyPhi. He has been primarily responsible for managing ALM and consulting programs for member credit unions. Additionally, he has overseen the sales of investment products to member credit unions as well as the design and execution of QuantyPhi’s business plan and growth initiatives.

Adam has over 17 years of experience in the financial services industry. He spent eight years as an Investment Analyst and Senior Investment Analyst for Corporate Central. Then he moved to New York City where he spent six years as a Senior Consultant and Manager for a large audit and advisory firm specializing in treasury, ALM and liquidity risk management for large, global financial institutions. Adam earned his bachelor’s degree in Economics from UW-Madison.

Gregg Tushaus

Gregg joined Corporate Central in December 2016 as the Senior Vice President / Chief Technology and Strategy Officer. He is responsible for providing vision, strategy, leadership, and technical expertise for developing and delivering information technology services that facilitate the organizational strategy and goals. As the Chief Technology and Strategy Officer, Gregg provides technical leadership and innovation and pursues technology entrepreneurial opportunities. We are pursuing FinTech ventures and applying innovative technology in the finance and investing space for our credit union members. The financial services industry is changing, and technology is a major driver. Corporate Central will provide credit unions technology leadership and enhance technology services such as cloud transformation, digital transformation, mobile, big data, identity management, block chain, and artificial intelligence.

In August 2017, Gregg took on an additional role as the President for Corporate Central's Technology CUSO, Emergifi. Gregg provided leadership for a technology solutions company with a singular credit union focus streamlining operations, reducing costs, enabling faster response, increasing productivity, and improving security. In May 2022, Emergifi strategically merged with Think|Stack in order to provide credit unions greater access to technology related products and services. Additionally, Gregg serves as a member of the Think|Stack board of directors.

Gregg is a financial wellness advocate, a Certified Credit Union Financial Counselor (CCUFC), a Ramsey Financial Coach, and a Crown Budget Coach that volunteers his time to financial wellness specifically for those with the greatest need by teaching and coaching.

Gregg is the founder, and former CEO, of Tushaus Computer Services. He had a successful exit after selling Tushaus Computer Services to Dedicated Computing in 2011. He continued to serve as a member of the executive team, Chief Information Officer, until departing in 2016. The company saw exceptional growth under his leadership, growing to more than 140 employees with revenues exceeding $32 million. Tushaus is an Inc. 500 company, a VAR Business 500 company, and was selected as a FUTURE 50 company in 1996, 1997, and 1998 by the Council of Small Business Executives through the Metropolitan Association of Commerce (MMAC). Financial services were a major customer segment for Tushaus Computer Services including many credit unions. His financial services experience extends back nearly 30 years.

Gregg received a bachelor's degree in Management Information Systems from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He has been recognized by numerous business and technology organizations, and most recently received the BizStarts Milwaukee’s “Inspirational Entrepreneur” award, presented to Milwaukee area business leaders who have successfully established thriving companies in Milwaukee. Gregg was recognized in the "Who's Who" list in Milwaukee by The Business Journal and as one of The Business Journal's 40 Under 40, Wisconsin's new generation of business and community leaders. Gregg is a past member of the Milwaukee chapter of Young Entrepreneur's Organization (YEO), a member of the Rotary Club of Milwaukee, a member of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC), and a member of the CEO Roundtable program through the MMAC. Gregg is a member of the prestigious Birthing of Giants program, class of 2000, co-sponsored by Inc. Magazine, YEO, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

In his free time, Gregg enjoys playing golf, pickleball, snowboarding, watching movies, and playing video games.


Accounting

Kaylee Duessing

Kaylee joined Corporate Central as a Staff Accountant/Analyst in March 2020. Her responsibilities include providing accurate and proficient review, analysis, and administration of activities related to the organization’s financial data and accounting systems. Performing efficient, timely, and accurate reconciliation of accounts, payment processing, data entry, and accounts monitoring functions; and providing backup support within the department and serving as a resource for member services.

Kaylee graduated from UW-Whitewater with a degree in Business. She has 10 years of experience in finance, with most of her time spent in accounts receivable at manufacturing companies. Her most recent experience was in a supply chain analytical role.

Outside of accounting, Kaylee loves to travel, listen to country music, go to concerts, and watch Disney movies. Additionally, she has a dog named Riley, who she describes as, "the cutest thing ever."

Susan Grassell

Susan began her career at Corporate Central in March 2008 as a Staff Accountant. In this role, she is responsible for performing efficient, timely, and accurate reconciliation of accounts and fixed asset system functions; accounts payable and cash management duties; and providing error resolution assistance to the member services department.

Peter Iwanowski

Peter joined Corporate Central as a Cash Management Accountant in March 2008. His responsibilities include accurate and proficient review, analysis, and administration of activities related to Corporate Central's financial data and accounting systems. He also performs efficient, timely, and accurate reconciliation of accounts, payment processing, and data entry.

His educational background includes a bachelor's degree in Accounting. In 2016, he joined The Wisconsin Credit Union League's (WCUL) Young Professionals program.

Outside of accounting, he loves to work out, play golf, and eat pizza!

Linda Resler

Linda began her career at Corporate Central in April 2010. She has been the Manager Accounting since January 2012. In this role, she oversees the daily accounting functions including timely and accurate postings to member accounts. She also provides reports and financial statements to the Board and Senior Leadership team.

Prior to joining Corporate Central, Linda worked for a full-service, natural-person, community credit union with two branches in the Milwaukee area for 17+ years. She spent her first seven years as a Lead Accountant. The last nine years, in addition to leading the accounting department, she served as the Executive Vice President. Linda has 25+ years of experience within the credit union industry. Her educational background includes a bachelor's degree in Accounting.

In her spare time, Linda enjoys going to craft fairs and spending as much time as possible visiting family in Door County, WI.

Cherie Spargur, CMA

Cherie started her career at Corporate Central in November 1996. Since that time, Cherie has gained vast experience within the Accounting department which lead her to be promoted to the Vice President Accounting in October 2008. Cherie oversees the Accounting department, directs and leads the development and implementation of new techniques, and accurately communicates federal, state, and local regulatory reporting.

Cherie holds a Certified Management Accountant (CMA) designation and is a member of the Institute of Management Accountants, Inc. She also has a bachelor's degree in Accounting and Business Administration from Ottawa University in Brookfield, WI.

In her free time, Cherie enjoys spending time with her friends and family.


Business Development

Sam Boore

Sam joined InterLutions in August 2024 as an Employee Benefits Executive. In this role, Sam spearheads the delivery of InterLutions’ I-Care employee benefits solutions to credit unions, their employees, members, and business accounts. His work involves identifying the unique needs of credit unions, providing tailored consultative solutions, and fostering long-term, mutually beneficial relationships.

Sam’s passion for health and wellness is evident in his academic background, where he designed an undergraduate degree that combined exercise science with health psychology, emphasizing the connection between physical and mental health. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Sports and Exercise from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania, followed by a successful 20-year career in the employee benefits industry. During this time, Sam gained extensive experience as a licensed agent, trained and supported brokers, built teams, and led his own benefits, insurance, and HR firm.

Chuck Doherty

Chuck joined Corporate Central as an Executive Account Manager in December 2022. In this role, Chuck proactively develops strong relationships with senior level management of Corporate Central’s growing membership. He promotes the organization’s products and services while assisting leadership with marketing strategies, business plans, and sales objectives. He also evaluates the needs and challenges of large credit unions and develops new solutions.

Chuck spent more than 25 years at Fiserv in a variety of roles including leading a sales organization; managing relationships with large, complex clients; managing remote deposit of checks as a product in the earliest days of the technology; and directing the company's public relations. Earlier in his career, he directed public relations and advertising at a Milwaukee area bank and grocery chain and was a business reporter at newspapers across the country. Chuck earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.

In his spare time, Chuck likes to camp, hike, backpack, and otherwise spend time in the wilderness. He enjoys golfing, reading non-fiction and more than his share of newspapers. He even joined a bowling team a few years ago for the first time since college. Chuck and his wife stay as often as possible at their small cottage in Door County and see their two adult sons whenever they are willing to spend time with their parents.

Chris Geisler

Chris joined Corporate Central in October 2017 as a Business Development Manager. In December 2018, he was promoted to Director Business Development. Chris focuses on the financial climate and needs of members and future members. He co-leads all aspects of sales and business development among sales staff through development of strategies and support materials. Chris also focuses on building relationships with credit unions in the Michigan and Indiana markets.

Chris has 19 years of experience in retail banking management, most recently as a Branch Manager of a natural-person credit union. Chris uses his background in the industry to help our members become wildly successful by finding new ways to save money and better serve their members and employees. Chris is a graduate of the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, with a bachelor's degree in Economics.

When he is not working, Chris enjoys golfing, bowling, going to concerts, and spending time with his wife and daughter.

Chelsea Menge

Chelsea joined Corporate Central in November 2024 as Relationship Development Manager. She brings a wealth of experience to Corporate Central, having started her credit union career in 2007. Her diverse background includes roles as a Teller, Loan Officer, Interim Branch Manager, Training Specialist, Vice President of Retail Operations, and Director of Branch Operations.

In this role, Chelsea works closely with member credit unions, proactively assessing their financial climates, identifying specific needs, and positioning Corporate Central’s products and solutions to address those needs effectively. She collaborates with member services and investment teams to strengthen partnerships with existing and future members, while also assisting leadership in the formulation of business development and marketing strategies.

Originally from Iowa, Chelsea holds an Associate’s degree in Business Administration from Kirkwood Community College and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources Management from Upper Iowa University. In her free time, Chelsea enjoys cheering for Iowa football and women’s basketball teams, as well as following Caitlin Clark’s career with the Indiana Fever. She and her husband have two children, and her hobbies include exercising, golfing, boating, snowmobiling, attending Heartland Church, and spending quality time with family and friends. She is also passionate about giving back to her community through volunteer work.

Ken Meyer, CCUFC

Ken joined Corporate Central in July 2021 as an Employee Benefits Executive. In this role, Ken proactively develops and solidifies relationships with credit unions to promote our employee benefit solutions and membership offerings. He also assists leadership with marketing strategies, business plans, and sales objectives.

Ken attended the University of South Florida where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Finance. His post education career to present has always been in a sales and/or advisor roles starting in direct sales of life insurance and mutual funds where he excelled at a local level with Prudential. From there, he entered employee benefits and never looked back. He was part owner in Paradigm MGU for several years and maintained strong growth and profits annually. He then began running his own employee benefits consulting company where he experienced significant growth for nine years.

Ken is an avid sports and live music fan and he attends numerous events each season. He enjoys time with his family, especially his wife and two sons. Rumor has it, he can hold pretty good note while singing, but proclaims to only be an empty car singer.

Mary Slottke

Mary joined Corporate Central as a Business Development Executive in November 2023. In this role, Mary proactively evaluates the financial climate of credit unions, identifies their needs, and positions Corporate Central solutions to meet those needs. She markets the organization’s financial products and services, advises and schedules training, educational, and informational opportunities for credit unions, and assists leadership in development of sales objectives, marketing strategies, and business plans.

Mary graduated from Michigan State University with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. She spent 30 years at Fiserv, Inc. in various management, service, and sales roles. Most recently she worked for Innovation Refunds as a Credit Union Strategic Partner Executive.

Mary, and her husband, moved from Michigan to Florida to escape the cold about 22 years ago and have taken advantage of the warm weather climate. Outside of work, Slottke loves spending time outdoors swimming, hiking, biking, and golfing. She entertains at their home often, including a lot of family and friends from "up north,” so it is a good thing she enjoys cooking. She loves to travel, especially short trips to live music events. She also enjoys reading or watching a good movie when she has some downtime.

Greg Yoko

Greg joined Corporate Central in February 2023 as a Business Development Executive. In this role, Greg proactively evaluates the financial climate of credit unions, identifies their needs, and positions Corporate Central products and solutions to meet those needs. He advises and schedules training and educational opportunities for member and future member credit unions. He also assists leadership in the development of sales objectives, marketing strategies, and business plans.

Greg brings over 25 years in marketing and business development experience across multiple industries, including technology, publishing, manufacturing, and college and professional sports. He also co-owned a publishing and event management company that served the land development industry. A native of Pennsylvania, Greg earned an undergraduate degree from Mercyhurst University in Communications/Journalism and a MA in Communication – Message Design from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.

In his spare time, Greg volunteers with two non-profit organizations in his hometown of Dubuque, Iowa where he also continues to write, edit, and design their newsletters. He also participates regularly in a couple of bowling leagues. He has been married for 35 years, has two sons who are also each married, and welcomed his first grandchild just before Christmas 2022.


Compliance

Frederick L. Blask, NCBSO, NCRM

Fred's first credit union experience was back in 1993 when he wanted to take out a loan for a computer (they used to be rather expensive). A family member helped explain the credit union difference and recommended joining one. Years later while making a career change to information technology, he was encouraged by family again to go the credit union way.

In April 2006, he started in Systems Information Support at Corporate Central. During his time with the IT department he was responsible for maintaining network and information security as well as providing IT project management assistance to various departments. In July 2014, he began a new role as Project & Compliance Risk Manager where he oversees the enterprise risk management program. Fred promotes the credit union's overall compliance culture and coordinates various internal audits and exams. His IT background has been beneficial in evaluating areas of risk and compliance with various technology partners and vendors.

In October 2017, Fred was promoted to Vice President Risk Strategy & Execution. His duty is to ensure that Corporate Central is compliant. He is in charge of enterprise risk management, coordinating audits and exams, business continuity planning, incident respondence, strategic initiatives, our third-party oversight program, and BSA, AML, and OFAC compliance. In December 2020, Fred's job description was updated and reflected a title change of Vice President Governance Risk & Compliance. Fred is a NAFCU Certified Bank Secrecy Officer (NCBSO) and he is a NAFCU Certified Risk Manager (NCRM).

Fred has two daughters, who keep him both young at heart and balding on top. When he is not working, Fred enjoys spending time with family, reading comic books, playing and watching sports, and seeing live music.

Danielle Carter

Danielle joined Corporate Central in December 2023 as a Risk & Compliance Coordinator. In this role she coordinates third party risk management and compliance activities across the credit union’s employees and lines of business. She serves as a resource for employees and members’ inquiries regarding third party risk management and compliance. She also provides primary support for the Compliance department, backup support for internal auditing functions, and assists with training and development support for employees and members.

Danielle started her career in financial services as a Proof Operator and then Teller before moving up to the Treasury Management Department as Implementation Coordinator. She continued her path up to Team Lead for the Technical Project Managers responsible for implementing Remote Deposit Capture products for commercial clients. She received her bachelor's degree in Economics from Marquette University and also obtained a Project Management Certificate from the University of St. Thomas. She then went on to get her Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Cardinal Stritch University.

Outside of work, Danielle loves decorating, reading, bowling, and baking. She also loves gathering with family during the holidays, especially Christmas.

Malisha Ellis, BSACS, CCUFC

Malisha rejoined Corporate Central as a Member Service Representative in June 2017. In April 2023 she was promoted to Member Services Specialist. In this role, she was responsible for facilitating robust delivery of superior member service and proactive relationship development. She also served as primary support for all new member onboarding processes, assisted with account user authority, and provided support for member solutions introductions and onboarding/implementation.

Now in her role of Compliance Analyst, Malisha oversees the BSA/AML monitoring program and she provides support for the daily auditing functions of user administration and setup. These both complement the work she has done with new member onboarding and her experience in Member Services helps inform the compliance aspects of transaction monitoring and Customer Due Diligence/Know Your Member requirements. Malisha also assists with member compliance requests and provides backup support for Member Services as needed.

Malisha brings several years of credit union experience to Corporate Central including positions in member services, teller, new accounts, ACH, accounting, and collections. She has served on the WACHA Planning Committee, served on the Cream City Chapter board, crashed Filene’s Big Bright Minds in 2018, participated in several YP events including HYPE at the Convention and HYPE at the GAC in 2018 and many bootcamps. She earned her ACH Certificate through MACHA in December 2022. In October 2023, she participated in the CUNA Financial Counseling Certification Program (FiCEP) and earned her Certified Credit Union Financial Counselor (CCUFC) designation. In February 2024, she achieved another professional milestone by earning the prestigious Bank Secrecy Act Compliance Specialist (BSACS) designation through CUNA.

Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family and going on adventures with her boys.


Human Resources

Amy Nowak, aPHR, CCUFC

Amy joined Corporate Central in July 2023 as a Human Resources Generalist. Her duties include overseeing day-to-day operations and administration of human resources policies, procedures, and programs. She leads and supports various human resources functions, including recruiting, new hire onboarding/orientation, performance management, compensation, and benefits. She collaborates with leadership to develop strategies to stay up to date with the latest HR trends and practices, and she administers payroll processing and supports HRIS database management and maintenance.

Amy also organizes volunteer events for employees every month through the Corporate Cares program. Throughout the year, employees have the opportunity to lend their voluntary support to programs that positively impact the quality of life within their communities. Over half of Corporate Central's Wisconsin employees have volunteered at least once this year.

Prior to joining Corporate Central, Amy had the honor of teaching elementary students for 27 years with 21 of those years in the West Allis-West Milwaukee School District. She earned her bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Edgewood College in Madison. She then went on to earn her master’s degree in Education from UW- La Crosse. In August 2023, Amy obtained her Associate Professional in Human Resources (aPHR) certification from the Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI).

Outside of work, Amy enjoys spending time with her family. She also loves to read books and to travel to new places.

Will Valadez

Will joined our team in June 2018 as an Accounting Assistant. In May 2019, Will extended his role to Accounting and Compensation Coordinator. After pursuing his degree in Human Resources from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Will was promoted to Human Resources Generalist. In January 2023, Will was promoted again to Human Resources Business Partner. His duties include partnering with business leaders to strengthen company culture and the employee work experience through effective strategic planning and competitive business strategy. He identifies, develops, and implements proactive business and talent initiatives to assist the employer of choice objective. He also collaborates with the HR department to align the human resource function to organizational goals and objectives while overseeing and maintaining optimal function of the organization’s human resources information system (HRIS).

Will brings previous experience as an Accounting Specialist of natural-person credit union experience to Corporate Central. This credit union experience taught him the value of the credit union movement and the concept of “creating member loyalty,” both internally and externally.

Outside the accounting world, Will enjoys playing disc golf, biking, rooting for the Packers and Bucks, watching Netflix originals, and is a collector of new experiences.

Michele Vukovic, MHRLR, CCUFC

Michele joined Corporate Central in April 2005 as a Human Resources Manager, the credit union’s first position dedicated to providing oversight and support for its workforce. Prior to joining Corporate Central, she worked as both an Executive and Human Resources (HR) Assistant while completing her Master of Human Resources and Labor Relations degree at UW-Milwaukee.

Proud to work with an organization dedicated to the ‘people helping people’ philosophy, a hallmark of both the credit union movement and the human resources (HR) function, Michele strives to advocate for and engage with staff members who live out the attributes of member service excellence on a daily basis.

Outside of work, Michele enjoys theater performances, travelling to visit family, watching her grandsons and continuing her Tae Kwon Do journey as a third-degree black belt.


Information Technology and Development

Amy Brown

Amy started in February 2022 as a Business Analyst. Amy analyzes and develops business processes and requirements for software application development. She also designs, tests, and implements new systems and modifies existing systems to meet business needs.

Amy graduated from UW-Madison with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism with a strong emphasis in Computer Science. She started her career as a Technical Writer but quickly moved into the Business Analyst role while working as a Consultant with Compuware and then Whittman-Hart, both in Milwaukee. Her experience there consisted of working with clients such as Miller Brewing Company and American Airlines on custom development. Throughout her career as a business analyst, she worked for GE Healthcare Financial Services followed by another consulting role with Tushaus Computer Services. From there she began several years working in the eCommerce/Retail space starting at Kohl's IT, followed by Ashley Furniture, and then Boelter Beverage. During this time, Amy worked as a Senior Business Analyst through the development of order fulfillment systems and point of sale/inventory systems as well as the development of a front-end eCommerce site with an SAP back end. For all those positions, Amy conducted as-is process analysis and elicited end user requirements before working closely with technical architects to develop updated systems and recommend more efficient processes. Her most recent experience was as a Business Analyst for 7 Summits (an IBM company) where she worked on Salesforce.com implementation projects.

Outside of work, Amy’s personal interests are centered around her husband and two sons. As a family, they enjoy watching movies from the Marvel Universe as well as the entire Star Wars collection. They also travel to Florida quite often to visit her family near Fort Myers. Amy loves spending time with friends watching movies or playing board games. She stays active in Aqua Zumba classes at the WAC and her latest activity for relaxation is crocheting hats and blankets – usually while binge watching Netflix.

Justin Burns

Justin joined Corporate Central as a Software Engineer in July 2023. His primary role is to create, code, test, debug, maintain, and troubleshoot complex applications to meet business requirements. Additionally, Justin designs and develops business intelligence systems and database systems; designs and maintains front-end user interfaces; and provides support to systems’ end users to identify complex problems and recommend appropriate resolutions.

Justin has two years of experience as a front-end development intern, and two years of stack development full-time. He graduated from UW-Madison with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science.

Justin loves traveling. He recently took two trips to Europe and plans to go to Asia next year. He loves dogs and has a Samoyed. During the summer, he likes going on walks/runs with his dog, wakeboarding, fishing, as well as playing golf and tennis. While his dog may be, he is not a fan of the cold, so during the winter he enjoys playing indoor soccer, as well as staying inside to either watch movies or play video games. He also recently got into woodworking, so feel free to ask him about some of his projects and current home renovation.

Jevon Cliffgard

Jevon joined Corporate Central in December 2019 as a Systems Developer. His primary duties are to deliver business process improvements and automation by managing, analyzing, designing, developing, and integrating efficient business intelligence and database systems, appropriate for the business environment.

Jevon brings over 20 years of IT experience in many areas including software engineering, systems administration, data analytics, business analysis, and project management. He has worked to design and deliver solutions in desktop, web, and integration service platforms utilizing many technology stacks.

Jevon has a bachelor’s degree from the Univsersity of Wisconsin-Whitewater in Management Computer Systems. In 2012, he earned his Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.

Jevon enjoys spending time with his wife, Christine, and sons, Hunter and Zach. He is an active volunteer in coaching his children’s sports, but also loves spending time outdoors, fishing, playing board games, and playing video games.

Raghu Gandhe

Raghu Gandhe joined Corporate Central as a Data and Analytics Architect in September 2024. In this key role, Raghu focuses on designing, developing, and maintaining reliable, secure, and efficient data and analytics solutions for our SaaS applications and fintech innovations. His work plays a big part in meeting the evolving needs of our credit unions, while also boosting our internal data capabilities. Raghu's proactive approach to delivering exceptional service and his passion for solving complex challenges through technology make him an invaluable part of our team.

With over 18 years of experience in data and analytics across healthcare, IT, retail, security, and manufacturing, Raghu brings a wealth of knowledge to Corporate Central. He earned his master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the City University of New York and has an impressive track record of building data-driven solutions that help us stay at the forefront of innovation in financial services.

Outside of work, Raghu loves spending time with his wife and two daughters. He also enjoys exploring new places and is an enthusiastic cricket fan; whether it's watching or playing, he’s always ready for a match!

Kyle Gutierrez

Kyle joined Corporate Central as an Information Technology Technician in November 2015. In October 2019, he was promoted to Associate Systems Engineer. Kyle provides primary support for both internal and external employees for hardware, software, and security management applications. He also performs management, maintenance, and upgrades to all of Corporate Central's information technology systems.

In previous positions, he has worked in hardware support, performing computer repairs, and in procurement, maintaining regular computer order requests and managing computer life cycles.

Kyle has an associate's degree in Information Technology - Networking from Waukesha County Technical College in Pewaukee, WI and a bachelor’s degree in Information Science and Technology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He is also a Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP).

Bryan Luitze

Bryan joined Corporate Central in August 2022 as a Senior Software Engineer. In this role, Bryan delivers business process improvements and automation to better assist internal operational needs. He is responsible for designing, developing, and integrating efficient business intelligence and database systems and front-end user interfaces.

After owning his own business as a flooring contractor for twenty years, Bryan entered the Web Software Developer program at Gateway Technical College in Racine, WI. Shortly before he graduated in 2018, he took a position with a startup. For the past four years, he has worked for a couple of startups and a corporation doing a large variety of front- and back-end development.

In his spare time, Bryan enjoys spending time with his wife Jenniffer and four sons Bryan, James, Noah, and Peter. They spend time traveling, walking, watching movies, and playing board games together. He also still enjoys working with his hands building a variety of things and doing projects around the house.

Ryan McMillan

Ryan rejoined Corporate Central in May 2024 as Technology Services Director. He plays a crucial role in the advancement of the organization's technology development and delivery. His vision extends to making Corporate Central a technology leader in the credit union industry by fostering collaborative relationships among internal business units, members, and third-party partners/vendors.

With a rich background spanning over two decades in IT, governance, compliance, and risk management, Ryan brings a wealth of expertise to Corporate Central. Prior to his return, Ryan held a position as a Senior Solutions Architect, where he honed his skills in solutions engineering and client engagement.

Outside of his professional endeavors, Ryan is passionate about coaching youth baseball, leveraging his love for the game to mentor young players. He also values spending quality time with his wife, four children, and two dogs, cherishing relaxed and meaningful moments with his family.

Adilet Momunaliev

Adilet joined Corporate Central as a Software Engineer in May 2021. His primary role is to create, code, test, debug, maintain, and troubleshoot complex applications to meet business requirements. Additionally, Adilet designs and develops business intelligence systems and database systems; designs and maintains front-end user interfaces; and provides support to systems’ end users to identify complex problems and recommend appropriate resolutions.

Adilet has over three years of experience in software engineering. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the Kyrgyz National University, majoring in Computer Science. Furthermore, he received a Web and Mobile Development Certificate from Epicodus coding school based in Seattle, WA. He loves the problem solving and collaborative aspects of software engineering, as well as cross-collaborative partnerships and knowledge sharing across teams. He also enjoys learning new stacks, trying new technologies, and integrating new skills for his personal projects.

Adilet enjoys spending time with his wife, Ajar, and playing soccer with his son. He spends as much time as he possibly can with his son, and hopes to teach him kindness and how to enjoy every day to its fullest. As a family, they enjoy exploring new hiking trails, visiting national parks, and walking by Washington Lake in Seattle, WA.

Brian Nowak

Brian suffered a massive stroke on April 15, 2024 and passed away on August 1, 2024. We miss him. He was known and respected by many in the industry. He is still with us in spirit.

Brian is survived by his wife, Amy, and their two children.

Max Nowak

Max joined the Corporate Central team in June 2022 as a Member Services Intern. In this role, Max organizes and formats member information for use within the various teams working at Corporate Central. In January 2023, Max was promoted to a part-time position of Associate Systems Analyst where he is continuing to use his skills with data analysis and IT to further assist the smooth flow of work within the organization.

Max is currently completing his bachelors degree in Computer Information Science at Edgewood College in Madison, Wisconsin and will graduate in May 2024.

Ken Pardon

Ken joined Corporate Central in August 2023 as a Senior Software Engineer. In this role, Ken delivers business process improvements and automation to better assist internal operational needs. He is responsible for designing, developing, and integrating efficient business intelligence and database systems and front-end user interfaces.

Ken worked for over 30 years in various industries including manufacturing, warehousing, healthcare, and financial services. His areas of work have included software design and development for systems integration, data conversions, web-scraping, installations, data analysis, user interfaces, web development, and reporting. He also worked in systems support troubleshooting and resolving customer software and hardware issues. Technologies have included C, C#, VB.NET, Python, and ASP.NET. He graduated from UW-Eau Claire with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science along with a minor in Physics.

Outside of work, Ken enjoys spending time with his wife, Chris, their three daughters, their son, and their families. He enjoys traveling to see new places and enjoys working outside around the house maintaining their property. He is active in trapshooting, competing nationally, and he is a volunteer coach for school youth trapshooting teams.

Brian Stefanski

Brian joined Corporate Central in June of 2017 as a Software Engineer. He designs and develops software solutions.

Brian holds a degree in Computer Science and he brings 27+ years of experience in software development. His experience includes application development, project management, support, process improvement, and business requirements. Brian specializes in Microsoft technologies (.NET, C#, VB.Net, ASP.NET, SQL) which is the platform for our existing custom applications and many partner interfaces and integrations.

Brian believes that software development will support our operational efficiency initiative. Software development is a key component to big data, data analytics, digital solutions, and digital transformation initiatives. Software development provides us a valuable tool for integrations across our many vendors and applications.

Brian's charge simply stated is automate re-engineered business processes and transform data into intelligence. Work smarter.

Kent Tushaus

Kent joined Corporate Central in October 2018 as a Senior Software Engineer. In this role, Kent delivers business process improvements and automation to better assist internal operational needs. He is responsible for designing, developing, and integrating efficient business intelligence and database systems and front-end user interfaces.

Kent brings 30+ years and a wide-breadth of experience across many industries in software design and development (including desktop, web applications and office automation), database administration and management, data integration, and data analysis and reporting. He received a bachelor's degree in Management Information Systems from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee along with a minor in Marketing.

In his free time, Kent loves spending time with his wife, Stacey, and their children Josiah, Aliyah, and Moriah. He is a very active parent attending all of his children's activities and festivities. He also enjoys reading, bicycling, gardening, camping, Eurogames, and strategic video games.

Kathy Westphal

Kathy started in June 2018 as a Product Manager & Business Analyst. She is responsible for developing, driving, and leading efforts to facilitate effective, efficient business process improvement; direct influence across the organization to drive change; translate business processes and needs into application development, and configuration; collaborate with and support stakeholders to achieve the initiatives and goals.

Kathy joins us from RMM Solutions where she served as a business analyst and key team member on a variety of business applications including accounting systems, service systems, professional services automation (PSA), customer relationship management (CRM), and document management. Kathy began her career as a business analyst for banking applications. She served as a business analyst automating, integrating, and digitizing business processes such as accounting system and PSA integration, accounts payable payments via ACH, service billing, product invoicing, and financial statements.

Pete Xiong

Pete started in February 2022 as a Systems Engineer. His primary role is to provide design, installation, migration, and support services for cloud solutions from Microsoft. Pete also provides pre-sales support to determine business and technical requirements, then identifies appropriate technology solutions to members.

Pete graduated from the MATC Microcomputer Specialist program and spent over ten years at a manufacturer of highly regulated computer equipment for the medical and simulation markets. His role was the lead systems administrator where he oversaw internal technology selection, implementation, and management.

In his free time, Pete enjoys learning new technologies and ways to implement them in a lab environment. He also enjoys playing games with friends and family.


Investments

Michael Baumann, MBA, CCUIP

Michael’s journey with Corporate Central began in November 2019 as a part-time Member Services Representative. By March 2020, he dove into a full-time role, and just a few months later, in July 2020, he shifted gears into the Investments department as an Investment Assistant. His hard work paid off in January 2023, when he was promoted to Investment Analyst.

Today, Michael conducts economic, market, and sector analysis and assesses current and potential investment holdings. He evaluates borrowing limits and performs credit analysis for member credit unions on top of helping them access the best investment and loan products. Additionally, he performs security safekeeping functions and provides monthly reporting for the Board and ALCO.

Michael's credit union roots run deep—he started as a Youth Apprentice in high school at Park City Credit Union and completed three internships with the credit union during college. On top of that, he has experience in the tech world with a computer software company.

Academically, Michael holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate from UW-Stevens Point and an MBA with a financial concentration from UW-Milwaukee. He’s also earned the prestigious Certified Credit Union Investments Professional (CCUIP) designation.

Outside of work, Michael enjoys spending time with his wife, their dog, family, and friends. In his free time, he likes watching sports and spending time outdoors hunting, fishing, and camping.

Hunter Cliffgard

Hunter joined Corporate Central as an Investment Analyst Intern in May 2023. In June 2024, Hunter was promoted to a full-time position as an Investment Assistant. His primary duties include conducting credit analysis on member credit unions, assisting in analysis of current and potential investment holdings in the organization, supporting the sales of investment and loan products to member credit unions, conducting safekeeping activities for credit unions, researching economic and market conditions, and actively engaging in various investment projects and enhancements.

Hunter recently graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater with a bachelor’s degree in Finance and Economics in May of 2024. He furthered his education by completing the Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) exam and is FiCEP certified through the NCUA.

Outside of work, Hunter enjoys spending quality time with his family and friends. Some hobbies of his include playing sports, playing video games and board games, exercising, and restoring vintage cars.

Wade Cooper, MBA

Wade joined Corporate Central as a Financial Strategist in April 2019. His primary role is to help credit unions optimize and build a balance sheet that maximizes performance and allows them to better serve their members. Wade helps members learn about what their balance sheet needs from an ALM, risk, liquidity, and investment perspective. Once we determine those needs, he can assist credit unions with using the tools that they need to build an optimal balance sheet.

From 2015 to 2019, Wade served as the Supervisor of the Credit Union Section for the state of Illinois. At the time of his departure, there were 191 state-chartered credit unions with approximately $39 billion assets. He led an exam team of 14 examiners and three office staff. As a regulator, Wade made decisions regarding field of membership expansions, mergers, lending limit increases, disciplinary matters, legislation, and rule-making. He led the team to obtain accreditation from NASCUS for the first time. Additionally, Wade spearheaded a pilot program for an indirect investment pool which eventually became a permissible investment.

Wade brings varied experience in government and finance. From 2001 to 2007, Wade worked for the Illinois State Treasurer, Judy Baar Topinka, in the Illinois Funds which is an investment pool for public entities. In 2008, he joined the $70 million Prairie Trail Credit Union (PTCU) in Joliet, IL. PTCU would merge with the $210 million, privately insured, Argonne Credit Union, which would eventually be known as Abri Credit Union in Romeoville, IL. Following Abri, and before becoming a regulator, Wade obtained his Series 7 and Series 66 and became a financial advisor for two and half years.

Wade has a bachelor's degree from Iowa State University in Ames, IA, and a master's degree from Governors State University in University Park, IL.

*Securities offered through Concourse Financial Group Securities, Inc. (CFGS), Member FINRA/SIPCAdvisory services offered through Concourse Financial Group Advisors, a DBA for CFGS, a Registered Investment Advisor. Corporate Central Credit Union is independent of CFGS.

**Securities offered through Concourse Financial Group Securities, Inc. (CFGS), Member FINRA/SIPC. Corporate Central Credit Union is independent of CFGS. Registered in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.

John F. Hickey, CWCUL

John started his career at Corporate Central in July 2007 as an Investments Officer. In January 2014, he was promoted to Vice President Investments. John directs daily functions related to member loan operations and asset liability management (ALM). He serves as portfolio manager for investments, loans and deposits, and is a member of the ALCO Committee. Additionally, John is responsible for research and development of new products, services, and partner relationships. 

Prior to joining Corporate Central, John was a 10-year veteran of the commercial and industrial lending sector with experience in loan origination, portfolio management, structuring, and underwriting with both regional and national banks. In 2009, John became a registered representative and began working exclusively with credit union CEOs and CFOs trading marketable securities. He holds his Series 7 and 63 licenses, and Six Sigma Green Belt certification. In 2018, John participated in The Wisconsin Credit Union League’s Leadership Program and earned the designation for Certified Wisconsin Credit Union Leader (CWCUL).

John received a bachelor's degree from UW-Madison. He is also a retired semi-professional rugby player.

*Securities offered through Concourse Financial Group Securities, Inc. (CFGS), Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered through Pershing Advisor Solutions, a DBA for CFGS, a Registered Investment Advisor. Corporate Central Credit Union is independent of CFGS.

**Securities offered through Concourse Financial Group Securities, Inc. (CFGS), Member FINRA/SIPC. Corporate Central Credit Union is independent of CFGS. Registered in Illinois and Wisconsin.

Bonnie Kwitek

Bonnie joined the Corporate Central team in January of 2023. She provides organizational and clerical support including data entry, preparing, and maintaining files and other documentation in addition to providing back-office and phone support, assisting with the preparation and maintenance of various reports, procedures, and correspondence, and also provides assistance in scheduling and planning meetings as well as other essential duties to support members and the Investment Department.

Bonnie’s life is filled with family, friends, and fun! She is the mother of three adult children and has four grandchildren she absolutely adores. She enjoys vacationing in Baraboo with family and traveling to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan where she spent her summers growing up. Kwitek is also an essential oil enthusiast who loves to share with others the benefits of therapeutic essential oils and how to incorporate them into a health and wellness plan.

Danny McIntyre

Danny joined Corporate Central and QuantyPhi in March 2017 as Vice President of Investment Services. In this role, he advises credit unions on managing their financial portfolios, focusing on risk mitigation, maximizing returns, and ensuring compliance with policies and regulations. He also develops new investment and consulting business while attracting additional deposits, building strong relationships with key credit union decision-makers.

Danny began his career trading fixed income for regional banks in New Orleans, LA, before managing a taxable trading desk in Dallas, TX. In 2003, he transitioned to the credit union industry, helping establish a broker-dealer program and quickly becoming a passionate advocate for the credit union movement. For more than 20 years, he has been dedicated to supporting credit unions by aligning investment portfolios with their lending operations.

Education and training for credit union professionals are a primary focus for Danny, as he believes efficiency in these areas allows credit unions to better serve their members.

Danny studied business at Loyola University, Delgado College, and Tulane University in New Orleans, LA. He holds Series 7 and 63 licenses. When asked about his greatest accomplishment, Danny highlights convincing his wife, Diana, to marry him, raising their son, Chase, and watching the Saints win the Super Bowl in 2009.

Grant Peyron

Grant joined Corporate Central in September 2021 as a Financial Strategist. His primary role is to proactively advise credit unions on methods to productively manage their financial services and product portfolios. He also develops new business, builds rapport, and provides fiduciary expertise to credit union decision makers.

Grant has 32 years of experience in the futures/commodity industry. He began his career with Kemper Clearing in 1989 facilitating interest rate futures order execution at the CME. He then spent 28 years with Rosenthal Collins Group as their CME Trading Operations Manager. Most recently, he ran the 24-hour Electronic Execution Service desk with Marex Spectron. Grant studied Economics at UW-Parkside and went on to earn his Series 3 Futures License.

In his free time, Grant enjoys spending time with family and friends, boating in Door County, and traveling to his daughter’s track meetings. He also enjoys listening to podcasts of his favorite financial gurus.

*Securities offered through Concourse Financial Group Securities, Inc. (CFGS), Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered through Concourse Financial Group Advisors, a DBA for CFGS, a Registered Investment Advisor. QuantyPhi, LLC. is independent of CFGS.

**Securities offered through Concourse Financial Group Securities, Inc. (CFGS), Member FINRA/SIPC. QuantyPhi, LLC. is independent of CFGS. Registered in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Texas, Wyoming, and Wisconsin.

Chad Ullenberg, CCUIP

Chad joined Corporate Central in October 2016 as an Investment Analyst. In January 2021, Chad was promoted to a Senior Investment Analyst. In this role, Chad provides his analytical expertise while taking lead on enhancing our analytics and risk management tools, processes, and reporting.

He has pursued and earned the CFA Institute Investment Foundations Program certificate, which is a comprehensive global education program that provides a clear understanding of investment industry essentials and sets a new standard of industry knowledge and ethical awareness. Chad has also achieved the Certified Credit Union Investments Professional (CCUIP) designation and has spent many additional hours studying materials related to finance, investments, treasury, risk management, and analytical tools.

Prior to joining Corporate Central, Chad was a Fund Administrator for U.S. Bank Fund Services in Milwaukee, WI. His educational background includes a bachelor's degree in Finance from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Lynda Vice

Lynda joined Corporate Central as an ALM & Investment Analyst in May 2021. Her primary role is to perform analysis for current and potential members of the organization. Lynda helps manage investment accounting programs and provides support and consulting to member credit unions on their ALM programs. Additionally, she provides economic, market, and sector analysis; supports sales of investment and loan products; aids member security safekeeping; and assists with monthly reporting for the Board and Asset Liability Committee (ALCO).

Lynda spent the last ten years of her career working as a Controller at a community bank in Alaska. She attended both the University of Alaska and University of Phoenix, graduating with a bachelors degree in Accounting.

In her free time, Lynda likes to hike, bake, craft, and spend time with her Labrador. She also enjoys spending quality time with her husband, doing yard work, and exploring the lakes and trails Wisconsin has to offer.


Marketing

Cameron Krueger, CCUFC

Cameron joined Corporate Central in June 2022 as a Graphic Design Intern, where he focused on creating effective graphics for the organization’s various marketing and sales materials. His skills and dedication quickly earned him a promotion to a part-time Marketing Coordinator position in December 2022. In this role, he enhanced Corporate Central’s brand through organizing successful marketing campaigns across email and social media, managing communication scheduling, and ensuring brand consistency across all platforms. In June 2023, Cameron transitioned to a full-time role as Marketing Coordinator, taking on additional responsibilities and continuing to demonstrate his proficiency in graphic design and marketing.

In July 2024, Cameron was promotion to the position of Website and Design Specialist. In this role, Cameron is responsible for creating visually appealing and user-friendly websites, ensuring seamless navigation and optimal user experience. His role involves collaborating with cross-functional teams, implementing design principles, product positioning, and staying abreast of industry trends to enhance the overall aesthetic and functionality of the websites.

Cameron graduated from Carthage College in May 2023 with his bachelor's degree in Graphic Design. He participated in the CUNA Financial Counseling Certification Program (FiCEP) and earned his Certified Credit Union Financial Counselor (CCUFC) designation in October 2023.

Mari Sommer

Mari joined Corporate Central in April 2024, assuming the role of Marketing and Events Coordinator. Collaborating closely with the marketing team, Mari crafts compelling email marketing and social media campaigns tailored to resonate with the credit union’s diverse audience. Her meticulous attention to detail and exceptional organizational skills ensure that each event reflects the professionalism and integrity synonymous with Corporate Central.

Mari’s journey to Corporate Central began at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, where she earned her bachelor's degree in Marketing alongside a Digital Media Studies & Design Minor. Following graduation, she honed her skills as a Marketing Brand Manager, excelling as a one-person team for over a year. Mari participated in the CUNA Financial Counseling Certification Program (FiCEP) and earned his Certified Credit Union Financial Counselor (CCUFC) designation in November 2024.

Beyond her professional pursuits, Mari is an avid fitness enthusiast. Whether lifting weights, hitting the trails for a run, or exploring new fitness classes, she embraces the challenge with enthusiasm. Her competitive spirit extends to participating in races, with her sights set on conquering a triathlon in the near future. When not pursuing her fitness goals, Mari finds solace in the outdoors, indulging in activities like hiking, skiing, and camping. Her close bond with family, including daily video calls to see her beloved dogs back home, underscores her appreciation for life's simple joys.

Orianna Valentine, CCUFC, CDMP, aPCM®

Orianna joined Corporate Central in August 2019 as a part-time Email Marketing Coordinator Intern. In January 2020, Orianna became full-time Marketing Communications Coordinator. In November 2022, Orianna was promoted to Marketing Strategist. Orianna’s main focus is to enhance the organization’s sales and member engagement efforts. She assists in the member onboarding experience through increased communication strategies. She also manages email marketing and social media campaigns; creates effective paid marketing campaigns with advertising partners; and collaborates across departments to research and develop innovative sales and marketing campaigns.

Orianna comes to us with a unique, creative background in arts and education. She has two degrees, both from UW-Milwaukee. Prior to earning her marketing degree, she was a public-school art teacher in the West Allis-West Milwaukee School District where she had the pleasure of encouraging thousands of students to reach their creative potential.

In her spare time, Orianna continues to be an active supporter of the arts and community in Milwaukee. She enjoys painting, drawing, DIY home projects, gallery nights, local theater, small concerts, and events that raise arts awareness. She loves to plan new travel adventures, especially to visit far-flung family and friends.

Julie Woloszyn, PCM®, CWCUL, CCUFC

As Marketing Manager, Julie is responsible for formulating marketing programs that exemplify the organization’s culture and philosophies and drive member engagement. Julie directs and manages all marketing, campaigns, and reporting processes, collaborates with leadership to formulate effective strategies to meet company objectives, and directs efforts to plan, create, and promote professional development opportunities for members. She also mentors, develops, and manages the performance of the marketing team.

Julie began her career at Corporate Central in August 2008 as the Director Brand Awareness. As Corporate Central grew and the marketing department expanded, Julie’s title adapted to Director Professional Development & Communications in March 2021 to better reflect her roles and responsibilities. In November 2021, Julie was promoted to Marketing Manager.

Julie earned her bachelor's degree in Communication Arts from UW-Madison, and she is a member of the American Marketing Association. She earned the Professional Certified Marketer® (PCM®) Marketing Management certification from the American Marketing Association in March 2023. She participated in The Wisconsin Credit Union League’s Leadership Institute and earned the designation for Certified Wisconsin Credit Union Leader (CWCUL) in July 2023. She participated in the CUNA Financial Counseling Certification Program (FiCEP) and earned her Certified Credit Union Financial Counselor (CCUFC) designation in October 2023.


Member Services / Member Experience

Courtney Baumann

Courtney joined Corporate Central in February 2024 as a Member Services Representative. In this role, she serves as an expert resource that operates with the highest levels of empathy and compassion in a sincere manner. She is a primary contact that establishes, maintains, and develops member relationships, while identifying member needs and facilitating relevant information to respective departments.

Courtney brings three years of prior credit union experience in various capacities to Corporate Central. Her background includes roles as a Member Services Representative, New Accounts Specialist, Accounting Assistant, and Accounts Payable Specialist. This diverse experience equips her with a well-rounded skill set to better serve members and contribute to the overall success of the credit union.

Outside of work, Courtney enjoys spending time with her husband, their dog, family, and friends. She also enjoys creating fine jewelry, drawing, and binge-watching shows and movies. She has met several actors, and loves to collect autographs, props, and photos from her favorite series.

Shannon Cate, NCP, CCUFC

Shannon Cate, NCP, CCUFC,CWCUL serves as Director of Member Experience at Corporate Central, where she brings over a decade of dedicated service and expertise to the organization. Beginning her journey with Corporate Central in September 2014 as a Member Services Representative, she has steadily advanced through positions of increasing responsibility, including Member Services Specialist and Manager Member Services, before assuming her current role in July 2024. In this position, she is responsible for enhancing the member experience through refined internal touchpoints, implementing member feedback-driven strategies, and overseeing continuous improvement projects. Her operational oversight includes managing corporate cash services, coordinating new service implementations, facilitating member mergers, and supporting core conversion projects.

Prior to joining Corporate Central, Shannon gained valuable experience working within a full-service credit union, complemented by roles in customer service and data entry. She holds an associate’s degree in business, and she earned her National Check Professional (NCP) accreditation in 2022 as well as her Certified Wisconsin Credit Union Leader (CWCUL) accreditation in 2024. . Known for her exceptional organizational skills and unwavering commitment to member service excellence, Shannon approaches her work with genuine enthusiasm, stating, "Changes in this industry are inevitable and I am so excited to have the opportunity to work directly with our members to help navigate these changes and help bear the weight of challenges." When not serving Corporate Central's members, Shannon enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter, watching documentaries, and planning trips to Disney.

Alexis Dohm

Alexis joined Corporate Central in February 2024 as a Member Services Representative. In this role, she plays a crucial part in ensuring superior member service, addressing inquiries related to products and services, and fostering proactive relationship development between members and staff. 

Alexis brings valuable experience to Corporate Central with a strong foundation in customer service that began at the age of 14. Her most recent position as a Client Services Representative at an emergency veterinary hospital has equipped her with the skills and dedication needed to excel in a member-focused role. She graduated from New Berlin West High School in New Berlin and has taken some classes at UW Milwaukee in Waukesha. 

In her spare time, Alexis enjoys spending time with her pets, hanging out with friends and family, and writing. When the weather is nice, she also enjoys hiking with her dog at state parks.

Sandy Garcia-Alvarez, CCUFC

Sandy began her career as a Member Services Representative at Corporate Central in January 2011. Her passion for helping others drives her to be the best she can be in this role. Sandy is readily available to help assist members with all aspects of their credit union.

Prior to joining Corporate Central, Sandy was part of two full-service, community credit unions within the Milwaukee area. She spent 15+ years working with these two credit unions and held various roles including Teller, Head Teller, Accounting Assistant, and Loan Officer. In her 21+ years working within the credit union industry, Sandy has found great satisfaction in working with members to help them solve problems or to become more successful.

Outside of Corporate Central, Sandy loves spending time with her friends and family.

Michele Randall, AAP, CCUFC

Michele joined Corporate Central in June 2021 as a Member Services Representative. In this role, Michele is responsible for providing superior member service and assisting members with questions related to products and services. Additionally, she serves as a liaison between members and staff to facilitate proactive relationship development.

Michele graduated from Stratton College with an associate degree in Information Processing, and she later studied at Alverno College. She has worked in the credit union industry for over 25 years holding head teller, Vice President of Operations, and Accountant positions. Michele earned her Accredited ACH Professional (AAP) designation in October 2022.

In her spare time, Randall enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and doing puzzles. She also enjoys serving at her church as a new member teacher, marriage ministry leader, and on the finance committee.

Sierra Randall, CCUFC

Sierra joined Corporate Central in October 2020 as a Member Services Representative. In her position, she is responsible for providing superior member service and assisting members with questions related to products and services. Additionally, Sierra will serve as a liaison between members and staff to facilitate proactive relationship development.

Sierra graduated from Rufus King High School and has worked towards her Liberal Arts Degree at MATC in Milwaukee, WI. Prior to joining Corporate Central she held a position as a Member Services Representative at Brewery Credit Union.

Outside of work, Sierra enjoys spending time with her family and friends, shopping, reading, and listening to music and seeing live bands.

Stephanie Schmidt, AAP, CCUE, CUDE, CWCUL, CCCM, CCUFC

Stephanie started her career at Corporate Central in February 2015 as a Member Services Representative. In September 2016, she was promoted to a Member Services Specialist. In June 2017, she was promoted to Manager Member Services. In July 2020, she was promoted to Assistant Vice President Member Services, and in March 2024, she was promoted to Vice President Member Services. As Vice President Member Services, Stephanie is responsible for orchestrating strategies to optimize member satisfaction, overseeing the implementation of personalized services, and fostering innovative solutions to meet evolving member needs and preferences.

Stephanie started her career in the credit union industry as a Teller, worked her way up to a Loan Officer, and then to a Lead Member Service Representative. She is an Accredited ACH Professional (AAP). In 2018, she participated in The Wisconsin Credit Union League’s Leadership Program and earned the designation for Certified Wisconsin Credit Union Leader (CWCUL). In 2020, she earned her Credit Union Development Educator (CUDE) designation. Stephanie proudly graduated from CUNA Management School (CMS) with honors in July 2022 earning her Certified Credit Union Executive designation (CCUE). In October 2023, she achieved her Certified Contact Center Manager (CCCM) certification from BenchmarkPortal. Also in October 2023, she participated in the CUNA Financial Counseling Certification Program (FiCEP) and earned her Certified Credit Union Financial Counselor (CCUFC) designation.

Stephanie truly enjoys creating lasting relationships with the members that she works with, and she looks forward to more opportunities to serve our Corporate Central family. Stephanie is known for loving things encrusted in glitter and rhinestones, and when she is not with her work family, she can be found reading, teaching/watching/performing ethnic dance, or spending time with her friends and family.

Carolyn Vraney, CCUFC

Carolyn joined Corporate Central as a Member Services Representative in September 2020. In this position, Carolyn will respond to members’ needs for issue identification, problem resolution, and delivery of products and services. She will serve as a liaison between members and other departments to facilitate proactive relationship development, and she will perform specified member services team functions.

Carolyn earned her associate’s degree in Accounting from MATC in Milwaukee, WI and she has five years of experience working in the banking industry.

Outside of work, Carolyn enjoys biking, watching sports, broadway shows, and being home with her dog.


Operations

Dawn Beyer, CCUFC

Dawn has been with Corporate Central since January 1998, serving as a Member Representative, Administrative Secretary, and Executive Assistant before becoming the Administration Manager in March 2014. She participated in the CUNA Financial Counseling Certification Program (FiCEP) and earned her Certified Credit Union Financial Counselor (CCUFC) designation in October 2023.

Prior to joining Corporate Central, Dawn worked in retail management. In her current role as Administration Manager, Dawn provides executive support on all matters pertaining to the office of the President/CEO. She also serves as the primary point of contact for Corporate Central Credit Union’s Board of Directors and various Board Committees. Her position also provides support services to top-level management and encompasses organizational and administrative functions.

As enthusiastic as Dawn is in her career, she equally enjoys quiet time at home with family and friends. Her hobbies and interests include crafting, painting, party planning, and traveling. She is passionate about cooking and baking, as they are her favorite form of creative art. Dawn loves inspiring her inner chef with new recipes and presenting them like an artist.

Clare Krupar

Clare joined Corporate Central in June 2024 as Accounting and Office Assistant. In this role, Clare supports the tasks and goals of the accounting department, providing essential assistance for organizational tasks and events. Her responsibilities include providing general accounting support, processing incoming and outgoing mail and packages, offering general office and clerical support, assisting with reception duties, and contributing to various projects as needed.

Clare graduated from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College in 2022 with an associate's degree in Nursing. Despite her background in nursing, her passion for business and accounting led her to work as a Customer Service Manager, where she gained valuable hands-on experience. She plans to further her education by pursuing a bachelor's degree in Accounting.

Outside of work, Clare enjoys spending time outdoors with her family, especially playing pickleball and hiking. She also has a passion for painting and drawing, which helps her unwind after a busy day.

Our Family of CUSOs

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