LEGAL & FINANCE
CREDIT UNIONS, RANKED BY ASSETS
Top 10 DESERT SCHOOLS FEDERAL CREDIT UNION 148 N. 48th St., Phoenix, 85034 // 602-433-7000 // desertschools.org ASSETS $3.8 billion EMPLOYEES 1,100 PRINCIPAL AND HIGHEST-RANKING WOMAN Susan Frank, CEO ONEAZ CREDIT UNION 2355 W. Pinnacle Peak Road, Phoenix, 85027 // 800-671-1098 // oneazcu. com ASSETS $1.8 billion EMPLOYEES 467 PRINCIPAL David E. Doss, president and CEO HIGHEST-RANKING WOMAN Deborah Pearson, executive vice president brand and strategy VANTAGE WEST CREDIT UNION 2480 N. Arcadia Ave., Tucson, 85712 // 520-298-7882 // vantagewest.org ASSETS $1.5 billion EMPLOYEES 440 PRINCIPAL Robert D. Ramirez, president and CEO HIGHEST-RANKING WOMAN Brenda Gordon, vice president, legal counsel ARIZONA FEDERAL CREDIT UNION P.O. Box 60070, Phoenix, 85082 // 602-683-1000 // arizonafederal.org ASSETS $1.3 billion EMPLOYEES 447 PRINCIPAL Ronald Westad, CEO HIGHEST-RANKING WOMAN Amy Hysell, senior vice president and chief Information officer
HARD WORK PAYS OFF
LORI GALLEGOS EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER BY GEORGANN YARA
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Much has changed since Lori Gallegos joined First Credit Union as an administrative assistant in human resources 27 years ago. As the executive vice president and chief operations officer rose through the ranks of the once-small credit union, she saw the company grow from 70 employees to a staff of 151, and from $89 million in assets to $427 million. It’s not the first time she made the most of a modest start. Born early in Eldridge, Iowa, Gallegos spent her life in the Quad City area. She and her husband traded in small-town life for big city bustle when they moved to Phoenix, where her brother lived. “We had no job, no home, we drove here with $1,000 in our pocket,” recalls Gallegos, who was in her early 20s. “We thought we’d give it a try. If it didn’t work, we’d go back home.” A month later when they ran out of money, Gallegos’ job as a receptionist helped pay the bills. She and her now former-husband started a small company specializing in building management and maintenance. Then Gallegos went on to work for Del Webb and the Orange Tree Golf Resort where, as human resources director, she watched the resort facility expand into what it is today. “It was this great opportunity to see business growth and a rapidly changing environment,” she says.
In 1989, at the suggestion of a former co-worker, Gallegos applied for a position at First Credit Union and was offered the job by the end of the lunch interview. Gallegos earned a degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix. In 2008, she recieved the Credit Union National Association’s Training Champion Award for creating the credit union’s award-winning training programs. In 2015, she was named Operations Professional of the Year for developing the credit union’s personalized sales and service culture. Gallegos married her husband, Les, 19 years ago. Together, they have one child. Their blended family includes twins from Gallegos’ first marriage and a child from Les’ previous marriage. Among the mentors Gallegos credits as influencing her career is the late Fred L. Kent, the former CEO of First Credit Union who hired her. “He encouraged me to stretch my knowledge and my abilities,” she says. “He always gave me the opportunity and room to grow.” Willingness to step up to a challenge and not being afraid to get into the trenches propelled Gallegos’ success. When she arrived at the credit union, she even plunged toilets. “Be the person who does it,” she says. Someone people can count on, who doesn’t shy away from a challenge and helps other people through theirs.
TRUWEST CREDIT UNION 1667 N. Priest Drive, Tempe, 85281 // 602-629-1842 // truwest.org ASSETS $927 million EMPLOYEES 180 PRINCIPAL Alan Althouse, president and CEO HIGHEST-RANKING WOMAN Karen Bejarano, vice president - Arizona branch operations HUGHES FEDERAL CREDIT UNION P.O. Box 11900, Tucson, 85734 // 520-794-8341 // hughesfcu.org ASSETS $836 million EMPLOYEES 201 PRINCIPAL Robert J. Swick, president and general manager HIGHEST-RANKING WOMAN Kellie Terhune Neely, vice president marketing CREDIT UNION WEST P.O. Box 7600, Glendale, 85312 // 602-631-3200 // cuwest.org ASSETS $595 million EMPLOYEES 180 PRINCIPAL Robert MacGregor, president and CEO HIGHEST-RANKING WOMAN Karen Roch, executive vice president ARIZONA CENTRAL CREDIT UNION 2020 N. Central Ave., Suite 300, Phoenix, 85004 // 602-523-8255 // azcentralcu.org ASSETS $439 million EMPLOYEES 199 PRINCIPAL Todd Pearson, president and CEO HIGHEST-RANKING WOMAN Janet Moodie, vice president and chief operating officer FIRST CREDIT UNION 25 S. Arizona Place, Suite 111, Chandler, 85225 // 480-756-5500 // firstcu. net ASSETS $427 million EMPLOYEES 150 PRINCIPAL Jay Curtis, president and CEO HIGHEST-RANKING WOMAN Lori Gallegos, executive vice president and chief operations officer PIMA FEDERAL CREDIT UNION 6850 N. Oracle Road, Tucson, 85704 // 520-887-5010 // pimafederal.org ASSETS did not disclose EMPLOYEES 155 PRINCIPAL Nathanael Tarwasokono, president and CEO HIGHEST-RANKING WOMAN Cindy Campano, chief lending officer
WHO’S WHO IN BUSINESS // 2016
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