LANSING, Mich. — LAFCU has named three individuals to leadership positions as senior staff members.
Chrystal Murphy has been promoted to vice president of operations. Melissa Whiteman is promoted to manager of the South Lansing and Collins Road branches. Umar Tahir joined LAFCU as branch manager of the Contact Center, which includes the phone center and member service through Interactive Teller Machines (ITMs) located at branch drive-thrus and in the community.
“The diverse experience of these three talented individuals will enhance the LAFCU leadership team as we continuously work to bring more value to members and advance member service,” said Angie Ruzinsky, chief membership officer.
As vice president of operations, Murphy oversees daily activities of LAFCU’s 10 branches, the Contact Center, and employees who staff them. She will continue to also serve as a loan officer.
Murphy most recently was assistant vice president of operations with oversight of the West Lansing Branch. She has worked at LAFCU since 2008, first as a teller at the Charlotte Branch, then at the Contact Center where she advanced to a managerial role. Murphy has managed branches in DeWitt, St. Johns and Lansing, and supported LAFCU’s launch of ITMs in 2014. Prior to joining LAFCU, she worked for two banks in Mason and Eaton Rapids.
Murphy earned the designation of CCUE, Certified Credit Union Executive, through a three-year CUNA Management School executive-level program at the University of Wisconsin School of Business, Madison, Wisconsin. She holds a bachelor’s in business administration from Northwood University, Midland.
She is a board member of the Local Development and Finance Authority, Eaton Rapids, and an active volunteer for the Capital Area United Way, Lansing.
As managers, Whiteman and Tahir are responsible for the operations at their respective branches, including member services, teller and lending functions and staff supervision.
Whiteman was previously senior member service representative at the West Lansing Branch. She joined LAFCU January 2021 with nearly 20 years of managerial experience. Most recently she was with the YMCA of Metropolitan Lansing for 11 years, serving as membership director for five years. Whiteman also worked at several international catering service corporations as director of food service operations where she was responsible for food services at the Department of Interior and three Indiana colleges.
The Dimondale resident earned a bachelor’s degree in international affairs at University of Mary Washington, Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Tahir joins LAFCU with 15 years of experience in multifaceted leadership roles, including 10 years with banks in Sault Ste. Marie and the Lansing area, in which he had marketing and supervisory responsibilities. He also worked for a technology company and FedEx, where he was project/operations manager for the office in Monroeville, Pennsylvania.
He earned an MBA in marketing, a bachelor’s in business administration at Preston Institute of Management Sciences, Pakistan, and the designation of CSM, Certified ScrumMaster. Tahir is an executive committee member for Islamic Society of Greater Lansing.
About LAFCU
Chartered in 1936, LAFCU is a not-for-profit financial cooperative open for membership to anyone who lives, works, worships or attends school in Michigan and to businesses and other entities located in Michigan. The credit union serves 72,000 members and holds over $970 million in assets. It was named a Best Credit Union to Work For in 2020. LAFCU offers a comprehensive range of financial products and services as well as an expanding complement of financial technology solutions. Members enjoy benefits such as low fees, low-interest rates on loans, high yields on savings, discounts, knowledgeable employees, and nationwide access to fee-free ATMs. A recipient of the national Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Community Service Award for credit unions, LAFCU enriches the communities it serves by supporting many organizations and causes. To learn more about LAFCU, call 800.748.0228 or visit www.lafcu.com.
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