Small CU leadership, new leaders, and passing the torch

At Cornerstone League, we’re proud of our members’ professional advancements and milestones. We take pleasure in posting significant news. We also memorialize individuals who have contributed greatly to the credit union movement.

Newfarmer presents at GAC Small Credit Union Roundtable

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Lily Newfarmer with Tarrant County’s Credit Union took a starring role at this week’s Small Credit Union Roundtable during America’s Credit Unions Governmental Affairs Conference. She joined several other small credit union CEOs who spoke about talent, succession planning, and a performance value matrix system her credit union has implemented for assessing employees that might be ready to train up.

Later, Newfarmer served as one of the subject matter experts stationed around the room for attendee questions. She also spoke about board engagement.

Tinker FCU names Lori Schwenke as new assistant vice president

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Oklahoma City-based Tinker Federal Credit Union has promoted Lori Schwenke to assistant vice president/manager, credit analysis. She will lead a new credit analysis department within commercial lending and oversee the recruitment and development of a team of credit analysts.

Schwenke’s primary responsibility will be to build and lead the department, enhancing the $6 billion credit union’s capacity to make informed lending decisions and foster positive financial outcomes for its 460,000 members.

“Lori’s knowledge of our culture will enhance our ability to provide top-tier support to our members, furthering the credit union philosophy of people helping people,” said Neil Schemmer, TFCU’s executive vice president/chief lending officer.

Schwenke, who has served as a commercial quality specialist at TFCU for the past seven years, brings 32 years of experience in financial and operational auditing and compliance. Her expertise extends to commercial loan credit analysis and loan review functions, financial statement and tax return preparation, financial accounting concepts and application, and commercial credit functions such as loan origination and servicing for the Paycheck Protection Program for the U.S. Small Business Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Federal Reserve’s Main Street Lending program.

Schwenke is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting. Schwenke is also a certified public accountant.

“I am thrilled to embark on this new journey with TFCU,” Schwenke said. “The changes and growth within our department present exciting challenges. I am eager to play a pivotal role in navigating our path forward.”

In Memoriam: Richard Dean Orr

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Richard “Red” Dean Orr, retired president/CEO of Central Missouri Community Credit Union, has passed away at the age of 83 on March 4, in Sedalia, Mo.

In his obituary, Orr landed his dream job at the credit union in 1982 as a vice president. He loved his job and working with people in the community where he never knew a stranger. He believed that everyone should have the opportunity to receive fair and equitable financial services and was the epitome of “truth in lending.”

During his 25 years at Central Missouri Community CU, he served on the Missouri Corporate Credit Union Board and the Missouri League Board, and he worked with the Missouri governmental affairs committee. He also held office in the West Central Chapter of Credit Unions and was a member of the Housing Authority, the Rotary Club, and the Elks Lodge.

Memorial Services
Memorial services are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 9, at Williams Funeral Chapel in Warrensburg. Interment will follow at Sunset Hill Cemetery in Warrensburg. The family will receive friends one hour prior to service at the funeral home.