CUEP INSTRUCTORS

Ryan has worked for VyStar Credit Union for over 9 years. As a Training Specialist for new employees, Ryan has the privilege of working with new hires throughout their orientation and teller onboarding training, with a focus on consumer lending.

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Credit has an impact on everyday life, and Ryan enjoys having the opportunity to teach and explain these lending topics further. As an introduction to Lending, this class focuses on credit and various other topics such as types of credit, lending regulations, and reviewing credit reports.

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Ryan graduated from the University of South Florida in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Throughout his career he has held various positions within the credit union, with Lending and Training being the most prominent.

With a commitment to excellence and a passion for people; driven by these core values, Lydia is a strong proponent of the "People Helping People" credit union philosophy.

She a Senior Project Manager at Community First Credit Union of Florida and holds a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from the Project Management Institute. She has held a variety of titles in both member-facing and support roles and is involved with the NEFL Credit Union community. Lydia also serves as Chair of the Credit Union Education Program.

Every day we interact with other people: members, coworkers, and managers just to name a few. Understanding personality types, learning styles, and emotional intelligence not only allows us to learn more about ourselves but helps us to better interact with those around us. Together in the Human Behavior class we will explore these concepts and find ways to apply it outside of the classroom.

Laneia is the Executive Assistant to the Chief Internal Auditor at VyStar Credit Union. She previously worked in the C Suite, Lending, Branch Operations, Human Resources, Training and Collections at 121 Financial, RadiFi, Community First and Coastline.

Laneia graduated from JU and UNF (BS Degree Accounting; MBA). She is a Certified Project Manager and was previously a Certified Credit Union Financial Counselor.

Exceeding expectations and serving others are her passions. Her goal is to provide a fun way to learn credit union math and see how it applies to work roles and everyday personal financial lives.

Lisa has been in the Mortgage Industry for over 20 years and has experience in every stage of the mortgage process.

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Throughout her career, she has had the opportunity to develop and implement many exciting programs to benefit members, including “No Closing Cost’’ program which has been extremely successful.

Lisa believes strongly in the Credit Union movement and is always promoting the Credit Union philosophy of “people helping people.”

Ashleigh is the Digital Marketing Manager for First Florida Credit Union.  She is responsible for First Florida’s digital communications, marketing platforms, and strategy. She is committed to financial literacy for all and has delivered financial education presentations for more than 5,000 youth and adults during her tenure. She also regularly represents the credit union on the local news delivering financial tips and information.

Ashleigh holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of North Florida and a Master’s Certificate in Nonprofit Executive Leadership and Management from the University of Florida. She is a proud graduate of CUEP and was recognized by LSCU as the 2022 Young Professional of the Year.

Personal finance will be an introduction to the 5 primary areas that make up the topic: Income, Expenses, Savings, Investing, and Protection. Even as credit union employees, there will be something new to learn that you can share with your members or apply to your future financial success.

John retired as CEO of Community First Credit Union in 2024 after serving in that role for 28 years. His credit union career spans over 40 years and includes serving as CEO of Cal State 9 Credit Union, CFO of Patelco Credit Union, and holding several leadership positions at PenFed Credit Union.

John earned an MBA from Virginia Tech, and a bachelor’s in finance from the University of Colorado. He holds the designation of Chartered Financial Analyst. CFA®.

Considering how important it is to manage a credit union’s finances effectively to set it up for growth and success, John is passionate about making credit union finance accessible, interesting, and relevant to team members. His goal is to help employees understand the fundamentals of how credit unions operate financially so that they have an expanded set of skills to apply when serving members and carrying out their daily responsibilities.

Karen serves as the Director of Organizational Development at Community First Credit Union of Florida, bringing nearly two decades of experience in the credit union industry. Her career journey has been marked by a variety of roles, including positions in Mortgages, direct member-facing responsibilities, and member support. Each of these roles has contributed to her deep understanding of the needs and challenges within the credit union environment.
Karen’s true passion emerged when she discovered her love for training employees. She thrives on creating engaging and impactful learning experiences, and finds fulfillment in witnessing those memorable “aha” moments when concepts click for her students. For Karen, facilitating growth and confidence in others is what makes her work truly rewarding.
As an instructor with the Credit Union Education Program (CUEP), Karen has the opportunity to share her extensive knowledge with a broader audience. She currently leads the Fundamentals of Member Service course, where she equips participants with essential skills and insights to excel in serving credit union members. Karen is dedicated to helping others succeed and is enthusiastic about supporting professional growth within the industry.

Tanner Neal is the Member Solutions Manager at VyStar Credit Union. He has spent most of his eight years with the organization driving early‑ and late‑stage delinquency strategies. He has also contributed to recovery efforts and supported commercial account management, giving  a well‑rounded perspective on member and portfolio needs.

He thrives in a member‑centered leadership style, strong relationship‑building, and proactive approach to solving problems, all of which help support teams and members in achieving sustainable financial success.

Tillery has worked in the credit union industry since 2013 and is currently a Commercial Lender for VyStar Credit Union. In her position she helps business owners in the North Florida market with commercial banking and lending needs. She previously worked as the Assistant Vice President of Business Lending for 121 Financial Credit Union.

She graduated from the University of North Florida with a BA in Elementary Education and has a passion for teaching (just not children). Tillery has 2 certifications from CUNA, CUBLP (Credit Union Business Lending Professional) and CCUE (Certified Credit Union Executive).

Her passion for education feeds into her daily life educating members and business owners helping their achieve their financial goals and is an advocate for promoting credit unions and the philosophy of “people helping people”.

With over 25 years of experience in accounting, Tara has served as the Accounting Manager at First Florida Credit Union since 2012. She enjoys the challenges of the accounting process and recognizes the importance of maintaining accurate financial records. Tara is passionate about teaching others the skills of accounting and the significance of accuracy in financial reporting.

She earned her BA in Accounting from the State University of New York, Utica/Rome.

Michael brings over 25 years of experience in the financial industry and currently serves in management at Publix Employees Federal Credit Union in Miami, Florida. In this role, he is responsible for training/developing associates and business development.

He holds a Master of Business Administration from Winthrop University, along with several professional certifications, including those from America’s Credit Unions.

A strong advocate for lifelong learning, Michael lives by the philosophy: "If you don’t make yourself obsolete, someone else will."

Arthur is a seasoned financial services professional with more than 20 years of experience across data analytics, education, and technology innovation. In his current role as an Analyst at VyStar Credit Union, he draws on a background of building high performing teams and software solutions to help improve operational efficiency, profitability, and organizational outcomes.
 
Prior to joining VyStar, he served as Senior Vice President for a technology consulting firm, leading a team of 30 consultants in meeting complex client needs. He has also held leadership roles as Chief Information Officer and Vice President, Affordable Lending Manager. Across all roles, he has maintained a strong focus on professional development.
 
After failing out of Florida State University at the age of 19, Arthur gained a renewed appreciation for education and recommitted himself to academic achievement, earning a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of North Florida (swoop!) and an MBA from the University of Florida.
 
Throughout his career, Arthur has focused on translating complex data into actionable insights, developing scalable educational programs, and leveraging emerging technologies, including AI, to drive smarter decision making and purpose driven results.

Ashley Campbell has been with VyStar Credit Union for more than 21 years, with experience across branch operations and lending services. Throughout her career, she has served in key roles including Teller, Teller Supervisor, and Assistant Branch Manager before transitioning to Consumer Lending, where she currently leads as a Consumer Lending Supervisor.

Ashley is committed to mentoring, coaching, and developing team members to ensure they deliver exceptional service and support to members. She is passionate about helping others grow, gain confidence, and achieve their professional goals within the financial industry.

Ashley holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Supervision and Management from Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ). She has also earned her Financial Counselor Certification and a Six Sigma Black Belt, strengthening her expertise in financial guidance, operational efficiency, and continuous education.