Nacha - The Electronic Payments Association today announced the election of new officers to its Board of Directors, effective immediately.
The Board consists of 19 voting members representing depository financial institutions of all sizes and types that utilize the ACH Network across the country.
The elected officers will serve a two-year term:
* Pat Thelen, CTP, Executive Director, J.P. Morgan, Chairperson
* Chrystina M. Giorgio, AAP, Senior Vice President, Operations, Sandy Spring Bank, Vice Chairperson
* Russell K. Oatman, Senior Vice President, Corporate Treasury Services Group, First National Bank of Omaha, Secretary/Treasurer
The NACHA Board of Directors is a critical voice for the industry, and it is an honor to be elected to serve as chair of this important group," said Pat Thelen, CTP, executive director, J.P. Morgan. "As the payments space continues to evolve and converge, the ACH Network will play a pivotal role in supporting the development of next-generation solutions. NACHA's Board will provide leadership and direction around the emerging opportunities and critical developments in ACH payments, and I look forward to leading the strategic dialogue that will move our industry forward."
Pat Thelen brings broad payments industry and financial management experience to his role as NACHA chairperson. Currently, he is product executive for J. P. Morgan's ACH, Global Check Deposit and Coin and Currency products and is accountable for product planning, profitability, and execution. Mr. Thelen is involved in various industry organizations and has served on the WesPay Board of Directors, EPN Business Committee, FedACH Product Advisory Group, and the Federal Reserve's Cash Advisory Council and Emerging Payments Subcommittee. He is passionate about leveraging product and operational design, technology, and regulatory change to drive innovation and enhance client experience. Mr. Thelen's tenure on the NACHA Board began in January 2010.
NACHA vice chairperson Chrystina M. Giorgio serves as senior vice president of operations at Sandy Spring Bank, where she is responsible for daily processing as well as strategic direction for all deposit, payments, treasury services, and item processing and image initiatives. Ms. Giorgio currently chairs NACHA's Risk Management Advisory Group. She is also a board member of MACHA - The Mid-Atlantic Payments Association, a member of the Federal Reserve 5th District Payments Advisory Council, the Federal Reserve Retail Payments Office Risk Forum Advisory Group, and recently was named co-chair of the FS-ISAC Payments Risk Council. Ms. Giorgio's tenure on the NACHA Board began in January 2007.
Russell K. Oatman, NACHA secretary/treasurer, serves as senior vice president at First National Bank of Omaha where he leads the Corporate Treasury Services Group. Mr. Oatman oversees business and product development for domestic and international payments solutions, customer implementations, and customer care. He is the immediate past chairperson of the EPCOR board, serves on the Federal Reserve Payments Advisory Board for the tenth Federal Reserve District, and is active in other industry groups and committees. Mr. Oatman begins his tenure on the NACHA Board this year.
"NACHA is pleased to welcome the new officers and members of NACHA's Board of Directors," said Janet O. Estep, NACHA's president and CEO. "The experience and expertise of the Board will be invaluable as the ACH Network continues to grow and enable innovation that strengthens the industry with creative payments solutions."
In addition to the officers, NACHA's 2011 Board includes the following individuals:
* Elliot H. Berman, Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary, Johnson Financial Group
* Mary Burchette, Senior Vice President, Global Treasury Management, U.S. Bank
* Robert D. Edwards, Executive Vice President, PNC Bank
* Janet O. Estep, President & Chief Executive Officer, NACHA
* Anthony A. Gautney, CCM, Executive Vice President & Head of Cash Management, First Southern Bank
* Hubert J.P. Jolly, Managing Director, Citibank N.A.
* Chet Kimmell, Chief Executive Officer, Neighborhood Credit Union
* Fred Laing, II, AAP CCM, President, Upper Midwest ACH Association
* Judy D. Long, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, First Citizens National Bank
* John E. Lucas, CCM, Managing Director, BNY Mellon
* William J. Schoch, President & Chief Executive Officer, Western Payments Alliance
* T. Richard Shier, Executive Vice President, City National Bank
* Robert A. Steen, Chief Executive Officer, Bridge Community Bank
* Colleen J. Taylor, Executive Vice President, Treasury Management, Capital One
* Keith K. Theisen, AAP, Executive Vice President & Director, TM Product Team, Wells Fargo
* Jonathan Wilk, Senior Vice President & Product Management Executive, Bank of America
* David Willis, Senior Vice President, Debit Cards & Funds Services, Navy Federal Credit Union
Alex C. Romeo, vice president and EPN product manager, The Clearing House, and James McKee, senior vice president, Federal Reserve System represent the ACH Operators to the NACHA Board in an advisory capacity.
The Board of Directors is the governing body of NACHA and provides guidance on the direction and management of NACHA's strategic initiatives. Their responsibilities include ensuring efficient organizational planning, providing fiscal accountability, and acting in the best interests of NACHA and its members. Directors help identify and support the interests of NACHA and the ACH Network for the benefit of all its participants.