VyStar Credit Union welcomes new Chief Human Resources officer
JACKSONVILLE, FL (September 20, 2021) — VyStar Credit Union announced today the hiring of Kawanza Humphrey as its new Chief Human Resources Officer, a position in which she will oversee the organization’s more than 2,000 employees and lead initiatives that emphasize the importance of having an outstanding company culture.
Humphrey joined VyStar on Aug. 30 and has more than 20 years of experience in the banking industry. She will be responsible for the credit union’s human resources efforts, including diversity, equity and inclusion, talent acquisition, employee relations, benefits, compensation, organizational performance and development.
“Kawanza is a proven leader whose fresh perspective will be valuable to our organization,” said VyStar President/CEO Brian Wolfburg. “She shares in our belief that our employees are our most important asset and will help us continue to build an environment that encourages the ideals we believe in.”
Humphrey joins VyStar as it was recently named a Best Place to Work in Northeast Florida by the Jacksonville Business Journal, a Best Place to Work in IT by Insider Pro and Computerworld and one of the Achievers 50 Most Engaged Workplaces®. Employee engagement will remain a top focus as the credit union continues to expand throughout Florida, with new branches down the Space Coast, across the Orlando area and up through Tallahassee. VyStar will also add about 300 new employees in Georgia when its acquisition of Heritage Southeast Bank closes. VyStar’s human resources teams are responsible for hiring, developing and retaining top employees to best serve its members.
“VyStar is already recognized as a best place to work because the organization invests in its employees, members and the communities it serves,” Humphrey said. “We want to continue to raise the bar and create a workplace culture that sets the standard for others in our industry. I am excited to contribute internally at VyStar and look forward to adding to the workforce and economic development of the Jacksonville community.”
Humphrey most recently served as the Senior Vice President of Corporate Responsibility for the Eastern Region of KeyBank, which has more than 1,000 branches and over $180 billion in total assets. In that role, she led a team of officers and provided executive leadership on community giving, community engagement and diversity, equity and inclusion efforts to over 400 branches and their communities. Prior to joining KeyBank, Humphrey held several positions at HSBC after completing the organization’s Executive Development Program.
In addition to her professional experience, Humphrey has volunteered with several nonprofit organizations, including serving on the Board of Directors for the Sisters Hospital Foundation in Buffalo. She is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and The Links, Inc. Humphrey was recently named to Buffalo Business First’s Power 200 Women and has been recognized as a Woman of Influence, a 40 under 40 recipient and a Black Achiever in Industry. Humphrey earned a bachelor’s degree in English/African American Studies from the University of Buffalo and a master’s degree in Executive Leadership and Change from Daemen College. She is a Phi Beta Kappa.
VyStar is hiring across the organization for talented individuals who believe in doing good in the communities we serve. Interested? Visit our Careers page for more information about current openings.
Kawanza Humphrey
About VyStar Credit Union
VyStar Credit Union is the second-largest credit union headquartered in Florida, with over 80 branches and now serves more than 975,000 members with assets of over $14 billion. VyStar is the largest mortgage lender in Northeast Florida and a major employer in the region with over 2,500 employees across the communities it serves. VyStar membership is open to everyone who lives or works in the 49 contiguous counties of Central to North Florida, 29 Georgia counties, and past and present military members and their families all over the world. For more information, visit vystarcu.org, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), and LinkedIn.
