VANCOUVER, Wash. – Columbia Credit Union filled two new executive posts with David Gamez and Mike McGowan, respectively.
Gamez, as Vice President of Fraud Prevention, will head up the credit union’s identity theft and loss prevention efforts for both members and the organization—lending nearly two decades of financial fraud protection experience to Columbia Credit Union’s already robust anti-fraud infrastructure.
“David’s extensive track record as a leader in the field of fraud prevention speaks for itself,” said Wendy Smith, Columbia Credit Union’s Chief Risk Officer. “His understanding of the dynamics of fraud as it relates to members, victims, perpetrators, and investigation will be an incredible asset for us in keeping our members safe.”
“I’m looking forward to being able to make a difference for our members in an area that is increasingly getting attention,” said Gamez. “I’ll do everything I can to ensure Columbia Credit Union’s members remain protected from unauthorized activity and are kept aware of current fraud trends.”
The credit union has also hired McGowan as Vice President of Information Technology Infrastructure. McGowan will be involved in a number of large-scale initiatives in his role, aligning technology solutions with overarching business objectives.
“We’re excited to bring Mike in to our IT team,” said Mark Michaels, Columbia Credit Union’s Chief Information Officer. “He’s demonstrated during his career not only an excellence in managing large-scale IT operations, but also a commitment to fostering the growth of the next generation of IT professionals.”
“I’m eager to get involved in Columbia Credit Union’s progressive network infrastructure,” said McGowan. “I’m a strong believer that enhancing IT operations includes creating a culture of innovation and mentoring growth in the field—and I aim to do just that.”