Get to know us.
Our leadership team is committed to wise investments and sound lending decisions that grow our business and benefit our members. The team answers to our Board of Directors, which consists of member volunteers elected by you.
Our leadership team is committed to wise investments and sound lending decisions that grow our business and benefit our members. The team answers to our Board of Directors, which consists of member volunteers elected by you.
Directors
Chairperson & Director | View Bio
James F. Ingold
Chairperson & Director
James joined Quorum’s Board of Directors in 2018. Since 2012, he has served as Chief Financial Officer of Gas Technology Institute, a research and development organization. James also served as CFO at Coupon Cabin, LLC, and CastleRock Security. He has held financial positions for companies such as iPCS Wireless, Inc., Littelfuse, FleetPride, Tenneco Packaging (Pactive Corporation), and Deloitte & Touche, LLP. James is a Certified Public Account and a member of the Illinois CPA Society.
Vice Chairperson & Director | View Bio
Marcella Barry, MS, SHRM-SCP
Vice Chairperson & Director
Marcella joined Quorum’s Board of Directors in 2021. She is the Chief People Officer at Jitjatjo, a high-tech company redefining traditional labor models. By leveraging A.I. and Empathetic Intelligence, Jitjatjo makes it easy for people to connect with flexible work opportunities in their area. Before joining Jitjatjo, Marcella spent 10 years as the Chief Human Resource Officer at Design Within Reach, a Herman Miller Company. Marcella spent time on the front line overseeing and executing integration and M&As, showcasing her abilities to develop and build human capital that aligned brands for tremendous growth and success. She carries with her extensive experience in talent acquisition, organizational development, change management, and compliance. Prior to Design Within Reach, Marcella served in various Human Resources roles at Adaptive Marketing, AVON Products and Bally of Switzerland. She holds a Master of Science in Adult Education and Human Resources Development and a Bachelor of Arts, both from Fordham University.
Secretary & Director | View Bio
Gerald Filippone
Secretary & Director
Gerald joined Quorum’s Board of Directors in 2020. He currently serves as Manager of Controls and Compliance, Trust Operations, at Altria Client Services, LLC. He has previously worked as a financial analyst at Philip Morris Capital Corporation, as well as Kraft Foods Federal Credit Union as a branch manager. Gerald is an active participant in Commonwealth Association for Financial Professionals (CAFP).
Treasurer & Director | View Bio
Jan Price
Treasurer & Director
Jan was initiated to the Board of Directors in 1994. At Kraft Foods Inc., she worked in both the Information Technology division and the Logistics Department. After retiring from Kraft Foods, Jan worked at the Chicago Botanic Garden as the Government Affairs Officer. She also serves on the board of the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).
Director | View Bio
Valaree Brown
Director
Valaree joined Quorum’s Board of Directors in 2019. She worked as a Director of Information Technology at Filtran LLC (formerly a division of SPX Corporation), a global leader in the design and manufacture of automotive transition filters, before retiring in 2010. Prior to Filtran, Valaree held positions at Sara Lee Coffee & Tea, Brach’s Confections, Premark International, Kraft Foods, and Ford Motor Company.
Director | View Bio
Bruce L. Fishstein
Director
Bruce joined Quorum's Board of Directors in 2016. He worked at Toys “R” Us for 13 years in various positions, before leaving in April of 2016 as the Vice President of Internal Audit. Prior to Toys “R” Us, Bruce held Director Planning and Business Analysis positions in multiple divisions of Georgia-Pacific Corporation for seven years, as well as serving almost a decade at Kraft Foods and two years at Texas Instruments.
Associate Director | View Bio
Rudy Chang
Associate Director
Rudy joined Quorum’s Board of Directors in 2021. Currently the founder of Agile Innovations, a boutique strategy consulting firm, he and his team employ design thinking, agile methods, customer experience, analytics, CRM and technology to help leaders with transformation missions. Prior to consulting, Rudy worked in leadership positions at IBM, Pitney Bowes, and International Masters Publishers. He is also a Board member of the American Marketing Association.
Associate Director | View Bio
Michael L. Penncavage
Associate Director
Michael joined Quorum’s Supervisory Committee in 2019. He currently serves as Director of Finance at Party City, and previously served in various roles at Toys “R” Us, most recently, as Director of Internal Audit & Data Analytics.
Supervisory Committee
Chairperson | View Bio
Gerald Filippone
Chairperson
Gerald joined Quorum’s Board of Directors in 2020. He currently serves as Manager of Controls and Compliance, Trust Operations, at Altria Client Services, LLC. He has previously worked as a financial analyst at Philip Morris Capital Corporation, as well as Kraft Foods Federal Credit Union as a branch manager. Gerald is an active participant in Commonwealth Association for Financial Professionals (CAFP).
View Bio
Rudy Chang
Rudy joined Quorum’s Board of Directors in 2021. Currently the founder of Agile Innovations, a boutique strategy consulting firm, he and his team employ design thinking, agile methods, customer experience, analytics, CRM and technology to help leaders with transformation missions. Prior to consulting, Rudy worked in leadership positions at IBM, Pitney Bowes, and International Masters Publishers. He is also a Board member of the American Marketing Association.
View Bio
Michael L. Penncavage
Michael joined Quorum’s Supervisory Committee in 2019. He currently serves as Director of Finance at Party City, and previously served in various roles at Toys “R” Us, most recently, as Director of Internal Audit & Data Analytics.
Management Team
President and CEO | View Bio
Jeffrey Pachter
President and CEO
Jeffrey joined the Credit Union in 2014 with over two decades of global experience in public and privately held companies. He assumed the role of President and CEO in February of 2022 and remains focused on providing instant, accessible, and expert financial solutions to the Credit Union’s members and partners. Before joining Quorum, Jeffrey founded White Plains-based P.E.M.C. to provide executive consulting services to emerging and established business across all industries. Prior to P.E.M.C. he held senior management positions at Time Inc., Reader’s Digest Association, Gartner and Duracell.
Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) | View Bio
Carlene Armetta
Chief Marketing Officer (CMO)
Carlene joined the Credit Union in July 2017. She brings over 20 years of marketing leadership experience with a focus on direct, digital and content marketing strategies. Carlene has led acquisition and cross-sell strategies for organizations by leveraging data analytics, marketing automation and Customer Relationship Management. Prior to joining Quorum, she held senior positions in the financial services, technology, education and non-profit industries. Carlene’s community involvement has included volunteer and Board roles for the American Marketing Association of Fairfield County, King School, Bartlett Arboretum and Northeast Executive Advisory Group.
Chief Lending Officer (CLO) | View Bio
Tyson Blackburn
Chief Lending Officer (CLO)
Tyson joined Quorum in April 2012, bringing over 11 years of lending and servicing experience with a focus on first mortgage residential lending. Prior to joining the Credit Union, he was Vice President of Lending at Naugatuck Valley Savings & Loan, with 10 branches and over $580 million in assets.
Chief Financial Officer (CFO) | View Bio
Tavis Briechle
Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Tavis began working at Quorum in October 2001 as the Controller. Since then, he has held positions overseeing accounting, treasury, finance, and card services, including promotions to Vice President of Treasury and Card Services in 2012, Vice President of Finance in 2015, and most recently, a promotion to Chief Financial Officer in 2020. Prior to working for Quorum, Tavis worked in public accounting for over four years at the McGladrey New Haven, CT office.
Chief Servicing Officer (CSO) | View Bio
Diane Slifstein
Chief Servicing Officer (CSO)
Diane began her career at Quorum in 2006 as the Controller before earning a promotion in 2012 as Vice President of Operations and Controller. In 2015, Diane's title changed to Vice President of Operations and Member Services, and in 2020, she was promoted to Chief Servicing Officer. Prior to joining Quorum, her background included over seven years in public accounting experience with the New Haven, CT office of McGladrey, as well as financial accounting, reporting and internal controls position with IBM in Armonk.
VP, Information Technology & Facilities | View Bio
George Cacchiani
VP, Information Technology & Facilities
George joined Quorum in February of 2010. He brings over 20 years of leadership experience with project management, business applications, and technology infrastructure and strategy. Prior to Quorum, George held senior technology management positions at Readers Digest and PepsiCo.
Director of Internal Audit | View Bio
Daniel Gundersen
Director of Internal Audit
Daniel joined Quorum in January 2012 as the Director of Internal Audit. He brings over 30 years of Internal Audit experience in financial, operational and compliance-based auditing. Prior to joining Quorum, he held audit roles in both public and privately held companies such as KPMG, JH Cohn and A&P.
Director of Business Systems | View Bio
Ellie Macina
Director of Business Systems
Ellie joined Quorum in August 2012. Since joining, she has held various positions in Lending, including promotions to Director of Specialty Lending in 2017 and to Director of Mortgage Operations in 2019. In 2022, Ellie transitioned to her new role as Director of Business Systems, where she oversees critical third-party technology platforms to meet the ever-growing needs of Quorum members and partners. Prior to joining Quorum, her background included financial services at Hudson Valley Credit Union and insurance at Allstate.
Treasurer | View Bio
Matthew White
Treasurer
Matthew began working at Quorum in August 2012 as a Staff Accountant. Since then, he has held positions within Accounting, Treasury, Risk Management and Finance, including promotions to Finance Manager in 2016, Senior Finance Manager in 2019, and most recently, a promotion to Treasurer in 2021.
The word “Quorum” means a select group, a name that has come to signify who we are as a credit union, who our members are, and the exclusivity of advantages that come with membership. From a small group of Kraft Employees amid the Great Depression who decided they could do better, to a forward-thinking, technology-based online credit union serving members across the country, Quorum remains a credit union dedicated to helping its members save and grow money together, all while they experience—and benefit from—the Credit Union Difference.
Helping members for 90 years, in the pursuit of their happiness. From a small cooperative effort to a nationwide powerhouse of over 65,000 members strong. Thousands of people just like you—saving and growing money together. So that we may all enjoy greater financial clout.
1934
Of, by, and for the employees.
In the midst of the Great Depression, when banks were failing and personal savings were being lost as a result, a group of Kraft employees in Chicago, IL decided they could do better. Kraft Employees Credit Union was formed "of, by, and for the employees." The concept was that saving together under one roof would provide more financial clout for all members, big or small.
1936
General Foods gets on board.
General Foods employees in NYC devised a similar goal: “to pay as large a dividend to shareholders as possible and, at the same time, make loans available to members at the lowest possible rates.” In its first year, General Foods Federal Credit Union (GFFCU) saw 324 members, $6,374 in assets and a net income of $349.
1981
Once a member, always a member.
In 1981, the motto "Once a member, always a member" was adopted by General Foods Federal Credit Union, guaranteeing membership for life, regardless of a career change, retirement, move or change in household.
1987
ATMs enter the picture.
GFFCU installed its first ATM machines, extended membership eligibility to lifetime status, and broadened membership to Philip Morris employees. This was the year Philip Morris purchased Kraft Foods, setting the stage for a merger between General Foods Federal Credit Union and Kraft Employees Credit Union several years later.
2005
The Quorum Name.
In June of 2005, the Credit Union opened its doors to additional Select Employee Groups (SEGs), causing a surge in membership to 41,000 and assets to $537M. In December 2005, the Credit Union changed its name to Quorum Federal Credit Union to reflect its growth beyond its corporate roots.
2009
Game-changing growth.
Quorum launched the Vacation Ownership Funding Company to expand its reach into the vacation interval industry, and partnered with CU Student Choice, helping undergraduate students bridge the gap between total education costs, and traditional financial aid. By the end of the year, Quorum had helped over 50 students go to college, and loaned over $500,000.
2014
New brand, website, and online banking.
In March 2014, Quorum launched a new brand platform, corporate website and online banking service, incorporating a new visual brand identity and logo—all focused on delivering a superior member experience.