Experience and Innovation
Credit Union Student Choice is led by a Board of Directors and Management Team that has a collective wealth of experience in the financial services arena, providing a deep understanding of the challenges faced by credit unions in today's economic landscape. With a keen focus on innovation, this group is committed to helping credit unions become leaders in private student lending.
Board of Directors:
Chair: Tom Ryan - Chief Operating Officer, Digital Federal Credit Union
Secretary: Linda Stephens - Vice President of Lending, Wright-Patt Credit Union
Treasurer: Tom Berquist - Senior Vice President, Member Strategies, BECU
Director: Peter Schmitt - President, Total Member Care, A PSCU Financial Services Company
Director: Charles "Chip" Filson - President, Callahan & Associates
Director: Jon Jeffreys - President, Credit Union Student Choice
Management Team:
Jon Jeffreys - President
In addition to serving as President of Credit Union Student Choice, Jon is the Vice President of Callahan Financial Services, a subsidiary of Callahan & Associates that provides expanded investment alternatives to credit unions. In this role Jon runs Callahan Credit Union Financial Services Limited Partnership (CUFLSP) CUFSLP, a CUSO owned by 40 of the nation's largest and most innovative credit unions. CUFSLP played a key role in the development of the initial idea to launch a student lending CUSO and Jon has been involved since its inception. Jon's multi-faceted credit union background includes research on business opportunities ranging from optimizing return on investment from the web-channel, to alternative investments and title insurance solutions. Through these experiences, Jon has gained expertise in credit union financial performance and decision-making. A recognized industry speaker, Jon hosts a series of web-based seminars for credit unions focusing on investments, ALM, financial management, and risk management.
Scott Patterson - Executive Vice President
In addition to his key development role with CU Student Choice, Scott serves as the Vice President of New Business Development at Callahan & Associates. A graduate of Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas where he received a B.S. in Business and Economics with a minor in Chinese Language. Scott started his work in credit unions as an internet strategist for the Credit Union Online Organizational Link (COOL) CUSO in 1996 where he help lay the first web foundation for several of the industry's largest credit unions. He was hired by Callahan & Associates in 1999 to develop the CreditUnions.com industry portal and has lead new research initiatives aimed at helping credit unions recognize best practices in their strategy. His consistent focus has been in the areas of credit union innovation and technology. Scott recently completed his Executive MBA at the University of Oxford's Said Business School in England..
Melissa Hunt - Vice President, Business Development
With more than 19 years of experience in the credit union industry, Melissa brings a wealth of knowledge to Credit Union Student Choice. Her past experience will help credit unions develop meaningful relationships with universities and families in their local communities. Before joining the CUSO, Melissa served as the Vice President of Business Development at Smart Financial Credit Union in Houston, TX. In this position her major responsibilities included youth outreach through high school and college channels, SEG relationship development, and community relations. Previously, Melissa spent 13 years with Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union in Tampa, FL.
Jim Holt - Vice President, Sales
Jim brings nearly 20 years of student lending and sales experience to Credit Union Student Choice. As the Vice President of Sales Jim will serve as the main point of contact for credit unions interested in learning more about the Student Choice program and utilize his extensive industry knowledge to help them successfully enter the private student lending market. Before joining Student Choice, Jim most recently served as Vice President, Sales for Overture Technologies, a leader in marketing and decisioning tools within the private loan space. Prior to his role at Overture, Jim served as Vice President at Citibank's Student Loan Corporation and Senior Vice President at College Loan Corporation. Jim has been a frequent speaker at higher education forums and is credited with crafting unique financing partnerships at prominent universities and colleges across the country.
Doug Jabbour - Vice President, Information Systems
Doug joins Student Choice with more than 25 years of experience in the student lending industry, many of which have been focused on the technical development of loan origination systems and processes. This industry knowledge and technical expertise will be vitally important in the ongoing development of the Student Choice program. Before joining the CUSO, Doug most recently served as Vice President, Technology and Business Services for Cology, Inc., a leading provider of student loan origination software, where he focused on technology consultation and business development. His career also includes 12 years with ELM Resources, a national data exchange network, working from its inception to design, develop and implement their electronic student loan delivery platform and national service bureau operation. During Doug's tenure with ELM, he also led system design efforts, product installation, and partner and school support activities, in addition to providing technical assistance and client relations management. Prior to joining ELM, he managed the departmental planning, advancement, and testing of a mainframe conversion for Citibank Student Loan Corporation, as well as directed the entire portfolio of profit and loss accounts for the company.
Michelle Pezzulli - Vice President, Operations
The former Director of Repayment Solutions for Sallie Mae, Michelle has nearly 20 years of experience in student lending. She will play an instrumental role in the continued development of the Student Choice lending solution, helping to enhance the product for the benefit of credit unions and borrowers. In her most recent position at Sallie Mae, she was responsible for the development and implementation of school loan repayment solution services for students and financial aid professionals, which included outreach efforts to school administrators and student groups, consumer education and school relations. During her tenure at the nation's leading provider of student loans she served in several other key capacities, including sales, business implementation, and school relations.
Michael Weber - Vice President, Marketing
Michael comes to Student Choice with more than 14 years of marketing, advertising and public relations experience in both business-to-business and business-to-consumer roles. Most recently, he served as the Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations for Dupaco Community Credit Union in Dubuque, IA, where he was involved in all facets of credit union marketing, including product development, research and analysis, and strategic planning and budgeting. During his nine years at Dupaco, Michael also served as the Chair of CUNA's Marketing and Business Development Council for two years. In his role with the CUSO, he will not only make the credit union industry aware of the Student Choice solution, but he will also work directly with credit union marketers to help make members and the general public aware of this exciting new product.
Bill Pezzulli - Director of Product Development
Bill joins Student Choice with more than 10 years of experience in developing innovative payment options to assist families while simultaneously providing schools with the ability to deliver customized options that meet the needs of both students and school-specific processes. As an operational manager and project lead for the Business Office Solutions Group, a Sallie Mae company, Bill was instrumental in developing custom processes with internal teams to provide seamless customer service resolutions and quick turnaround times. In addition to working with clients, he developed internal programs that accommodated outside vendor requirements to streamline payment processing, GL allocation and disbursement of funds. Bill's role at Credit Union Student Choice will include product enhancements and new product development that will improve the user experience.
Courtney Turner - Manager, Account Operations
With more than 13 years of proven experience in project management,
operational efficiency, customer support, and insurance, Courtney will be a valuable asset as the Student Choice program continues to expand. In addition to identifying opportunities for process improvement and assisting with new product development, she will play a key role in supporting the needs of our partner credit unions. Courtney most recently spent seven years at United Guaranty, working closely with credit unions to deliver loan default insurance products, including private education loan default insurance. She holds a B.S. in Management from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro as well as insurance licenses in Life & Health and Property & Casualty.
Christopher Verleger - School Account Executive
With more than 15 years of experience in higher education administration and student lending, Chris joins Student Choice as School Account Executive. In this position, Chris will work directly with colleges to ensure the successful delivery of the Student Choice loan program. Most recently, he served as Assistant Director of Financial Aid for Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island. Previously, he worked as an Account Manager in the New England area for Sallie Mae Repayment Solutions and as an alternative loan Marketing Manager for the Midwestern region at The Education Resources Institute (TERI). Chris also spent more than five years at Boston University, where he earned his graduate degree in Higher Education Administration, in a variety of roles, including operations management and graduate financial aid administration.
Erica McLure - Operations Specialist
Erica joins Student Choice with more than 10 years of experience in higher education administration, student lending and customer support. As Operations Specialist, Erica plays a key role in the implementation process and also supports the ongoing needs of our partner credit unions. Most recently, she worked at Duquesne University as Administrative Assistant for the English as a Second Language Program where she interacted with both students and staff while completing enrollment and registration. Erica also spent time as an Account Manager for the Pennsylvania and New York regions with Sallie Mae Repayment Solutions. Erica holds a B.S. in Communications from Clarion University of Pennsylvania and a M.A. in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix.
