Our BenefisCU Members
BenefisCU credit unions are located nationwide. Contact us to become a part of our innovative solutions and Go Beyond Business As Usual.
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BenefisCU credit unions are located nationwide. Contact us to become a part of our innovative solutions and Go Beyond Business As Usual.
Contact
BenefisCU CEO; COO, TriscendNP
Ms. Staron serves as Chief Operating Officer of TriscendNP and oversees the integration of company strategies into daily business functions including Marketing, Business Development, Client Relations, IT, Finance and HR. She also serves as Chief Executive Officer of BenefisCU, a majority owned Credit Union Service Organization (CUSO) subsidiary of TriscendNP.
Ms. Staron joined the company in 2009 and brings 15 years of marketing and finance experience to her current role. Her educational experience includes a Bachelor of Science (with honors) in Business Administration from Northeastern University, a Master of Business Administration from Nova Southeastern University, and a certification in Management from Harvard Business School online. Ms. Staron also holds an active Life, Accident, Health and HMO license in the state of Texas.
Board Chairman; CEO, Goldenwest Credit Union
Board Chairman; CEO, Goldenwest Credit Union
As President and Chief Executive Officer of Goldenwest Credit Union, Kerry H. Wahlen is responsible for the development and execution of the credit union’s strategic initiatives, as well as providing the overarching leadership and direction across the $2.4 billion organization.
Kerry holds a degree in Business Administration from Weber State University and an MBA from Utah State University. He lends his expertise and experience in the community by serving as a member of several local and state Boards, including: Utah State University Foundation; Utah-Idaho Cystic Fibrosis Foundation; Ogden/Weber Chamber Governance; Weber School Foundation; and, Utah Certified Development Corporation.
Board Vice Chairman; Co-Founder & Principal, TriscendNP
Board Vice Chairman; Co-Founder & Principal, TriscendNP
Mr. Edwards serves as Principal of TRISCENDNP. As a co-founder, Mr. Edward’s vision is to take the experience and discipline from his investment banking background and provide unique products and services to the employee benefits sector. Mr. Edwards has used his extensive investment banking and M&A experience to invent numerous proprietary strategies. These strategies are designed to provide equitable executive benefits, increase the financial efficiency of transactions, protect assets, and build wealth for organizations, business owners, entrepreneurs and professionals.
Prior to TRISCENDNP, Mr. Edwards served as Chief Executive Officer of Professional Holding Company, LLC, a diversified holding company offering participant benefit design and underwriting services, and third-party administration. The company offers a wide range of financial products and services to organizations and their key executives, including sophisticated advanced case modeling, underwriting and servicing.
Mr. Edwards has over 20 years of experience in advanced employee benefit design, investment banking, mergers & acquisitions, transaction engineering and financial products, and has held several senior positions with responsibilities ranging from development, acquisitions and operations. These experiences include extensive professional services positions in employee benefits, managed care, health care mergers and acquisitions, finance, venture capital, and business development.
Earlier in his career, Mr. Edwards served as Senior Vice President of Development for a leading medical services company that specialized in management and capital arrangements with leading medical groups in non-urban markets. In addition,
Mr. Edwards has served as Vice President for Columbia/HCA, Senior Vice President for Medical Care America, and Vice President for Critical Care America. Mr. Edwards has personally been involved in over 100 M&A transactions representing over $1.6 billion in purchase consideration. These transactions have included ambulatory surgery centers, hospitals, laboratories, ancillary centers and physician practices.
Mr. Edwards is a graduate of Whitworth College where he received his Bachelor of Science in Biology and Chemistry and pursued his Masters in Health Services Administration. He is active in his community and currently serves as Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 227, Boy Scouts of America, as well as an Elder in his local church and is active in fund raising for several local charitable organizations.
Credit Union Practice Leader; Co-Founder & Principal, TriscendNP
Credit Union Practice Leader; Co-Founder & Principal, TriscendNP
Mr. Wright is a co-founder and serves as Chief Strategy Officer with primary responsibility for strategy and business development and has served in this capacity for 20 years. Areas of expertise include business development, compliance, business transactions, and financial and accounting topics. Additionally, he has over 12 years of previous experience in the health care field and has held executive positions ranging from operations to business development.
Mr. Wright holds health, life, and accident insurance licenses in multiple states. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Western Colorado University (where he earned All-RMAC, All-RMIGA, Mountaineer Sports Hall of Fame (team) honors in golf) and a Master of Healthcare Administration from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. Additionally, he received a Master of Business Administration from Colorado State University, earning Beta Gamma Sigma honors and serving on the program’s advisory council. He is also a former member of the Forbes Non-Profit Council.
Board Treasurer; VP of Finance & HR, TriscendNP
Board Treasurer; VP of Finance & HR, TriscendNP
Ms. Henry joined TriscendNP in 2006 and serves as Vice President of Finance and Human Resources. She oversees the firm’s operational accounting, and leads the production of financial reports, maintains the accounting system, and cash flow. As part of the corporate management and leadership team, Ms. Henry develops and implements Triscend’s financial strategic planning decisions. She is responsible for developing the annual budget and prepares financial forecasts, ensuring the fiscal welfare of the company.
Ms. Henry has over 20 years’ experience in providing professional services across a broad range of finance areas including compliance, business process, audit and financial reporting.
Ms. Henry holds an B.S. in Accounting and Finance from the Southern New Hampshire University.
Board Secretary; AVP of Marketing, TriscendNP
Board Secretary; AVP of Marketing, TriscendNP
Ms. Blodgett joined the company in 2021 and oversees the marketing efforts for both TriscendNP and the CUSO powered by TriscendNP, BenefisCU. Ms. Blodgett is responsible for the planning and execution of TriscendNP’s marketing efforts, including the integration of marketing efforts related to the company’s CUSO, BenefisCU.
Ms. Blodgett brings over 13 years of marketing and financial experience to her role. Her educational experience includes a Bachelor of Administration in Business Administration and Master of Business Administration from Northwood University.
BenefisCU expertise and resources are provided by the team at TriscendNP.
Chief Financial Officer, Michigan State University Federal Credit Union
Chief Financial Officer, Michigan State University Federal Credit Union
Sara Dolan, Chief Financial Officer of Michigan State University Federal Credit Union (MSUFCU) joined the Credit Union in 2005 and has led several divisions within the organization prior to being named CFO in 2013. Dolan also serves as CFO of The Reseda Group, MSUFCU’s wholly owned Credit Union Service Organization (CUSO) formed in 2021.
Dolan has been instrumental in the Credit Union’s growth and success, helping to triple the asset size in the 10 years since becoming CFO. She received the 2022 Outstanding Service Award from the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) Finance Council which recognizes a credit union leader who is dedicated to their credit union’s core values and provides exceptional support to their employees, members, and community.
Dolan was recognized as Michigan Credit Union League’s (MCUL) 2017 Credit Union Professional of the Year and won the 2018 Great Place to Work Leadership For All award, recognizing top female leaders. Dolan volunteers her time and talents on the Board of Directors for several Lansing based business and philanthropic organizations that aim to build vibrant and dynamic communities.
Dolan is inspiring a new generation of financial leaders to think beyond convention by driving innovation at MSUFCU and across the credit union industry. She currently serves on four (4) FinTech Boards that cater to diverse member needs including Curql Fund I, LLLP and Silvur. Her insights on the relationship between innovation and financial success has led Dolan to be a frequently requested speaker for industry conferences and panels. Through her leadership, Dolan and her team won the Excellence In Innovation for the 2018 Visa DPS Client Achievement Awards.
Dolan received a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Accounting from Michigan State University and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Western Michigan University. She is a proud Michigan State Spartan and an active member of the East Lansing community where she resides with her husband and four children.
Chief Financial Officer, American Heritage Federal Credit Union
Chief Financial Officer, American Heritage Federal Credit Union
Brian W. Schmitt is currently Chief Financial Officer of American Heritage Federal Credit Union and its Credit Union Service Organizations-American Heritage Management Company LLC, First Heritage Financial LLC, Member Business Financial Services, LLC, First Heritage Realty Alliance, LLC, Nu Direction Lending LLC, Datava Solutions, LLC and American Heritage Insurance Services LLC.
Brian also serves on the Board of the Kids N Hope Foundation as Treasurer and on the Board of First Heritage Financial, LLC as a member, both since December 1, 2006.
Mr. Schmitt received a B.A. degree in Business Administration and a M.B.A. degree from Rutgers University, graduated the National School of Banking from the Savings & Community Bankers of America, is a Credit Union Enterprise Risk Management Expert and is a Certified Public Accountant in New Jersey.
Mr. Schmitt has been in the credit union movement for over 23 years with three credit unions, and prior to that with Bankers Trust, Washington Savings Bank and Deloitte & Touche, LLC.
Partner, Dollar Associates, LLC
Partner, Dollar Associates, LLC
Dennis Dollar is the principal partner in Dollar Associates, LLC, a full-service consulting group focusing on credit unions and the organizations that serve them. Dollar Associates was formed by former NCUA Chairman Dennis Dollar and his former NCUA Chief of Staff and Counsel to the Chairman Kirk Cuevas upon their departure from the National Credit Union Administration in April 2004.
Dollar Associates works with credit unions, trade associations, leagues, CUSOs, and organizations that serve credit unions in the fields of governmental relations, regulatory compliance, strategic planning, management training, and field of membership issues. He and Mr. Cuevas are recognized as the architects of many of NCUA’s most far reaching and innovative regulatory actions of recent years, including Access Across America, RegFlex, Incidental Powers and Field of Membership Modernization. Their expertise in these fields have made them sought after consultants, speakers, facilitators, presenters and strategists for countless credit unions and related organizations.
Mr. Dollar’s background is extensive in the credit union and public policy arenas.
Dennis Dollar was appointed by President George W. Bush to serve as Chairman of the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) Board in 2001. Mr. Dollar had served on the three-member Board since being appointed by President Bill Clinton and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 1997, having been a member of the NCUA Board during the most far-reaching period of legislative and regulatory change in the history of the American credit union movement. As part of the NCUA Board, Mr. Dollar oversaw the making of all regulations for federal credit unions and the administration of the federal insurance fund covering approximately 9500 federal and state chartered credit unions in the United States.
In his capacity as NCUA Chairman, Mr. Dollar also served as Vice Chairman of the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC). The FFIEC is charged by the U.S. Congress with the responsibility for coordinating the examination and supervision programs of the five federal financial regulatory agencies.
A former two-term member of the Mississippi House of Representatives, Mr. Dollar was elected at age 22 to the House in 1975, at that time the youngest legislator in the state and one of the youngest in history. During his eight years in the House of Representatives, he won numerous awards for his leadership on issues ranging from open government to tax and education policy. Among his awards, Mr. Dollar received the prestigious Margaret Dixon Award from the Mississippi-Louisiana Associated Press Association for his tireless efforts in support of open government and sponsorship of the Open Meetings Act of 1981 and the Public Records Act of 1983.
Immediately prior to being appointed to the NCUA Board, Mr. Dollar served from 1991 to 1997 as President and CEO of what is now the Gulf Coast Community Federal Credit Union, at that time the Gulfport Veterans Administration Federal Credit Union which was a $32 million institution serving more than 12,000 members and 150 employer groups along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
During his credit union career, his credit union won the national Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Award from CUNA for its asset category and numerous local and state growth and service awards. Mr. Dollar was also a top five finalist for credit union CEO of the Year by Credit Union Times, a leading credit union industry publication, in 1994. His awards include a 2003 induction into the Mississippi Credit Union Hall of Fame and the Credit Union Executive Society (CUES) Hall of Fame, as well as receiving the prestigious 2004 Ambassador Award from the World Council of Credit Unions for his leadership in the international credit union movement and the 2005 Anchor Award from the National Credit Union Foundation for outstanding contributions to the credit union movement. In 2015, he was voted by the readers of Credit Union Times – the largest circulation credit union industry trade publication – as the Most Influential Credit Union Leader since 1990.
Active in a number of civic organizations, Mr. Dollar has served, among others, on Boards of the March of Dimes, United Way, Boys and Girls Club and local Chamber of Commerce. He is a Baptist deacon, a Gideon and a Sunday School teacher at Shades Mountain Baptist Church in Vestavia Hills, Alabama who also chairs the church finance committee.
Mr. Dollar received his bachelor’s degree in political science from Ole Miss in 1975 and is married to Janie, his wife of 45 years. He has a son, Chris, who is an associate with the Dollar Associates firm, and a daughter, Lindsay. Both of his children are married and the Dollars have five grandchildren.
Executive Vice President, Desert Financial Credit Union
Executive Vice President, Desert Financial Credit Union
Bio coming soon
President/CEO, Redstone Federal Credit Union
President/CEO, Redstone Federal Credit Union
Joe Newberry is a lifelong resident of Huntsville, Alabama and a graduate of Auburn University. His career in the financial industry spans more than 44 years. Joe’s career began with First American Savings and Loan Association in Huntsville where he served for 18 years, and then 13 years with Alabama’s largest member-owned financial institution, Redstone Federal Credit Union (RFCU). In 2007, Joe was appointed President and CEO of Achieva Credit Union in Clearwater, Florida. In January 2008, he returned to RFCU to become its fourth President and CEO, and was honored to rejoin a strong tradition of leadership that today serves over 500,000 members. His career with RFCU now spans 25 years, and he is humbled and thankful to be able to serve his community in this capacity.
Because of his dedication to the community, Joe has been recognized and awarded for his community service in several charitable and civic organizations. In 2012 he was a recipient of the Martin Luther King Unity Award. Other leadership roles include the Chamber of Commerce Huntsville/Madison County (Chair of the Board 2017), United Way, The American Red Cross, The Rotary Club of Greater Huntsville, The Schools Foundation, and the Alabama Space Science Exhibit Commission (U.S. Space & Rocket Center). In 2018, he was named CEO of the Year by Credit Union Executives Society (CUES).
Joe and his wife, Marie are active in the community and have two grown children – Scott and Michelle (both Auburn graduates!), as well as three granddaughters and a grandson.
President/CEO, Goldenwest Federal Credit Union
President/CEO, Goldenwest Federal Credit Union
As President and Chief Executive Officer of Goldenwest Credit Union, Kerry H. Wahlen is responsible for the development and execution of the credit union’s strategic initiatives, as well as providing the overarching leadership and direction across the $2.4 billion organization.
Kerry holds a degree in Business Administration from Weber State University and an MBA from Utah State University. He lends his expertise and experience in the community by serving as a member of several local and state Boards, including: Utah State University Foundation; Utah-Idaho Cystic Fibrosis Foundation; Ogden/Weber Chamber Governance; Weber School Foundation; and, Utah Certified Development Corporation.
Chief Executive Officer, Marion and Polk Schools Credit Union (MAPS)
Chief Executive Officer, Marion and Polk Schools Credit Union (MAPS)
Mark is the President of Maps Credit Union. Founded in Salem in 1935, Maps serves 75,000 residents of the mid-Willamette Valley through a network of 12 branches and offices located in Marion, Polk and Washington Counties.
Prior to his current leadership role, Mark served as Maps’ Chief Operations Officer and President of Maps Service Agency, Inc., the holding company for the Credit Union’s subsidiaries, including: CUW, Advanced Reporting, Evergreen Armored Transport and Maps Insurance Services. In that time, he led initiatives to form and/or acquire companies in the areas of technology, insurance, mortgage lending, business lending, registered investment advisory and employment screening.
A long-time community and industry volunteer, Mark currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the regional health system, Salem Health and on the Leadership Council for the Oregon Community Foundation. He remains active on several credit union industry boards, including NACUSO Business Services, Ongoing Operations, CU Benefits Alliance and Trellance.
Mark holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Western Oregon University, a Master of Business Administration from Southern Oregon University and a Master of Science in Educational Leadership from the University of Oregon.
A native Oregonian, Mark lives in West Salem with his two children, Amelia and Anderson.
Executive Vice President of Finance & Risk/CFO, University Federal Credit Union
Executive Vice President of Finance & Risk/CFO, University Federal Credit Union
Rhonda Pavlicek joined the UFCU leadership team in 2023 with more than 25 years of financial services experience, including the past 12 years as Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer at TDECU in Lake Jackson, TX. Rhonda has worked in various leadership roles in the credit union industry, and is passionate about the business and helping consumers find a pathway to financial freedom.
As a driven and strategic executive specializing in the credit union and
financial services sector, Rhonda comes to UFCU with experience balancing strategic goals with business requirements to achieve long-term stability and performance. In her role, Rhonda oversees Accounting and Finance, Pricing & Financial Strategy, Secondary Markets, Risk and Facilities, as well as lead a cooperative-wide approach to protect financial, physical and human assets.
Rhonda is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a Masters’ degree in Business Administration from Texas A&M University and a bachelors’ degree in business administration from Texas State University. She is a graduate of the Credit Union Executive Society CEO Institute and the CBA Graduate School of Retail Bank Management. She attended the Cardwell 306/2 CEO development program and is an active reader and learner.
Rhonda currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Regional Payment Association, ePay Resources and is a past board member on the national association, NACHA. She supports the Executive Banking School for the Consumers Bankers Association, teaching the Year 2-CFO curriculum.
President/CEO, Sunward Credit Union
President/CEO, Sunward Credit Union
Steph Sherrodd is the President/CEO of Sunward Federal Credit Union, joining the organization in January 2022. With 24 years in the credit union industry, she joins SLFCU from Houston, Texas, where she served as President/CEO for Texas Dow Employees Credit Union (TDECU) from 2012 to 2021, helping to grow the organization to assets of over $4 billion with 345,000 members. Her credit union journey began as a marketing intern with Warren Federal Credit Union (now Blue Federal Credit Union) in Cheyenne, WY, eventually becoming Chief Operating Officer.
Steph was born and raised in Green River, Wyoming. She is a proud graduate of the University of Wyoming, receiving her Bachelor of Science in Marketing as well as a Masters in Business Administration.
Steph is currently serving as a board member for Origence. Steph was named to the Credit Union Executive Society (CUES) Hall of Fame in 2019, after serving as a CUES Board Member and former Board Chair. In addition, Steph served as a member of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas Community Depository Institution Advisory Council. She was recognized as a New Mexico Woman of Influence in 2024.
President/CEO, Oregon Community Credit Union
President/CEO, Oregon Community Credit Union
Ron has been OCCU’s President & CEO since 2018. A member of the OCCU team for 10 years, Ron brings a diverse background of innovation, collaboration and strategy. His team-centered approach has allowed OCCU to further enhance the member experience through new technologies and security tools, as well as the introduction of new strategic planning and financial management processes. He was also integral in the development of the OCCU Foundation which harnesses resources to help strengthen the overall health and well-being of the local communities.
In addition to his role at OCCU, Ron serves as the chair of the PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center Foundation Board, chair of the OCCU Foundation Board of Directors, as a member of the Governmental Affairs Committee of the Northwest Credit Union Association and CUNA’s National Credit Union Roundtable Advisory Council.
Ron received his MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and has a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Michigan.
Ron lives with his wife, Kristee, and son, Jaeden, in Eugene, Oregon. As a first-generation American, Ron is passionate about staying true to his German and Czech heritage and enjoys cooking and baking its traditional cuisine. He has traveled extensively and experienced the adventure of living overseas. In his free time, Ron is a long-distance runner and avid stamp and coin collector.
Co-Founder & Principal, TriscendNP
Co-Founder & Principal, TriscendNP
Mr. Edwards serves as Principal of TRISCENDNP. As a co-founder, Mr. Edward’s vision is to take the experience and discipline from his investment banking background and provide unique products and services to the employee benefits sector. Mr. Edwards has used his extensive investment banking and M&A experience to invent numerous proprietary strategies. These strategies are designed to provide equitable executive benefits, increase the financial efficiency of transactions, protect assets, and build wealth for organizations, business owners, entrepreneurs and professionals.
Prior to TRISCENDNP, Mr. Edwards served as Chief Executive Officer of Professional Holding Company, LLC, a diversified holding company offering participant benefit design and underwriting services, and third-party administration. The company offers a wide range of financial products and services to organizations and their key executives, including sophisticated advanced case modeling, underwriting and servicing.
Mr. Edwards has over 20 years of experience in advanced employee benefit design, investment banking, mergers & acquisitions, transaction engineering and financial products, and has held several senior positions with responsibilities ranging from development, acquisitions and operations. These experiences include extensive professional services positions in employee benefits, managed care, health care mergers and acquisitions, finance, venture capital, and business development.
Earlier in his career, Mr. Edwards served as Senior Vice President of Development for a leading medical services company that specialized in management and capital arrangements with leading medical groups in non-urban markets. In addition,
Mr. Edwards has served as Vice President for Columbia/HCA, Senior Vice President for Medical Care America, and Vice President for Critical Care America. Mr. Edwards has personally been involved in over 100 M&A transactions representing over $1.6 billion in purchase consideration. These transactions have included ambulatory surgery centers, hospitals, laboratories, ancillary centers and physician practices.
Mr. Edwards is a graduate of Whitworth College where he received his Bachelor of Science in Biology and Chemistry and pursued his Masters in Health Services Administration. He is active in his community and currently serves as Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 227, Boy Scouts of America, as well as an Elder in his local church and is active in fund raising for several local charitable organizations.
Chief Executive Officer, First Service
Chief Executive Officer, First Service
BenefisCU products and services offer a substantial opportunity to enhance ROA, are synergistic with a credit union’s core business and offer many benefits to members. Whether you are an equity member or associate member, our goals remain the same with each BenefisCU membership.