Southern Mass Credit Union announces new senior management team

FAIRHAVEN —Southern Mass Credit Union CEO Carmen Sylvester introduced the organization’s new senior management team.

Michael Gago, chief lending officer, came to Southern Mass Credit Union in June of 2018 from Centerville Bank with an extensive background in various aspects of consumer, residential, wholesale and commercial lending; financial management; asset management; and financial analysis. As chief lending officer for SMCU, he develops and implements products and services for commercial, residential and retail lending and maximizes portfolio growth through effective planning, development, and implementation of lending strategies. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in finance from Bryant University and an MS in accounting and an MBA in finance from Bentley University.

Jackie Bobola, chief financial officer, has primary oversight responsibility for accounting, financial management and reporting, asset liability management, investments and facilities. Bobola joined the SMCU team in 2018, bringing with her more than 15 years of accounting and leadership experience, most recently as controller at Direct Federal Credit Union in Needham. Bobola is a bottom line-focused financial leader who ensures the safeguarding of assets through the development, implementation and monitoring of proper internal controls, risk management and asset/liability management. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in accounting from Stonehill College.

Debra Tower, vice president of branch administration, has been part of the SMCU team for more than 20 years. Her most recent experience prior to joining the senior management team was as member services manager. In her current position, she is responsible for the operation and facilitation of front-line products and services, including the School Savings Program, and directs the operations and staff of five full-service and school branches. She has served as financial counsel, facilitator, and volunteer for several community organizations.

Susan St. Pierre, vice president of information technology, joined SMCU’s senior management team in July 2018 from HarborOne Bank with 29 years of experience in the financial industry, focused on information technology, risk management, and vendor direction. She is tasked with managing the information security and enterprise risk function of SMCU. In this critical role, she implements and maintains policies and goals that support the organization's IT needs and ensures the proper functioning of the information processing system with the primary goal of safeguarding sensitive data.

Stephanie Medeiros, vice president of operations, ensures the optimal performance of SMCU’s operations. Previously with Fall River Municipal Credit Union, Medeiros has 16 years of experience in the financial industry. In her new senior management role, Medeiros is responsible for the daily management of retail loan servicing and deposit services, and is instrumental in developing new products and services for the credit union. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in operations management and Master of Public Policy degree from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.

Kimberly Trahan, vice president of human resources, joined the senior management team at SMCU in August 2018. Trahan has 22 years of human resource experience in the financial services industry having previously been with Fall River Municipal Credit Union and BankFive. She is well equipped to manage all aspects of the SMCU’s Human Resource Department, including benefits administration, hiring, payroll administration, compensation programs, training, and development. Kim has an associate degree from Bristol Community College and a certificate from Babson School for financial services.

Suzanne Catraio, vice president of marketing, came to SMCU in September 2018 from Bridgewater Savings Bank with a strong background in advertising, public relations, and strategic planning, including more than 18 years’ marketing experience for financial institutions. Her academic credentials include a Master of Business Administration degree from Bryant University and Bachelor of Science degree in marketing from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.

Established in 1922, SMCU is celebrating nearly 97 years of service excellence and financially sound operations. The Credit Union has assets of over $200 million and provides banking services to more than 15,000 members. The main office is in Fairhaven, with branch offices in Fall River, New Bedford, and Plymouth. To learn more, visit www.southernmass.com.

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