First Financial Meet The Team

Issa Stephan, CCUE

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 18:48:00 GMT

As Issa Stephan tells it, his career in the credit union industry began as love at first sight. With a BBA in Systems Analysis from the University of Texas at Arlington, he initially entered the workforce as an information systems officer. But, as good as Issa was with technology, he enjoyed working with people more. So, when he first joined the credit union industry in 1995, he knew it would be the beginning of a lifelong commitment.

Issa is, first and foremost, a family man and an active member of his community. So, it’s no surprise that the community focus of most credit unions would capture his attention, and that he cares deeply about his First Financial “family” of members and employees.

As CEO, Issa is responsible for carrying out the short and long-term strategic plans and policies established by First Financial’s Board of Directors. He is responsible for the overall operation of the credit union with a total of five branches, call center and lending/contact center.

Among Issa’s many accomplishments to date are the successful re-branding of FFFCU’s identity and image to support its new community charter in both Monmouth and Ocean counties. As part of that initiative, Issa oversaw the new brand identity and logo for FFFCU; created a new strategic and business plan to strengthen FFFCU, and developed strategic plans to position FFFCU for the next decade.

As a result, FFFCU is stronger than ever and has a vast new array of products and services that impact the entire FFFCU family. For example, Issa has put a strong focus on financial education, believing that more educated members make for a stronger credit union. Issa has also maintained and broadened FFFCU’s community outreach programs, thus ensuring long-term positive relationships in the communities it serves.

Most recently, Issa spearheaded FFFCU’s push to incorporate social media such as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube into the credit union’s community outreach and educational programs in an effort to foster a stronger dialog between FFFCU, its members, employees and the community at large.

Among his professional affiliations, Issa is a member of the New Jersey Credit Union League’s Political Action Group Committee; the Society of Information Management, and the Credit Union Executive Society. Issa was a member of New Jersey Credit Union League’s Board and Professional Service Group; CUNA’s Technology Council, and the Texas Credit Union League’s Political Action Committee.

Personally, he is on the board of the Monmouth and Ocean Development Council; an active member of his church, and speaks regularly on various credit union and financial topics.

Alice P. Stevens

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 18:55:00 GMT

Alice Stevens began her career in the credit union industry and never looked back, making her way from bank teller to COO. As she explains it, it was always about the members.

From early in her career, Alice always gravitated toward roles within credit unions that involved member services and lending. Within her roles, she always emerged as a leader, spearheading the development of new programs and initiatives within each organization.

For example, at a previous credit union, Alice was in charge of the creation, coordination, implementation, and supervision of a telephone service center and centralized lending center - handling lending and deposit functions for 13 multi-state branches. At another credit union, her development and implementation of a risk-based lending program, automated online lending system, in-house indirect lending program and customer contact center led to a 20 percent increase in lending and 10 percent increase in membership over a three-year period.

With First Financial, Alice’s professional accomplishments only grew. As COO, Alice is responsible for the management of the credit union’s various divisions including lending, quality control, branch services, business development, training and marketing. She is also a member of the asset liability management committee. In addition to her management responsibilities, Alice contributed to a long list of successes including the institution of a flourishing Indirect auto underwriting program recruiting over forty auto dealerships in Monmouth and Ocean Counties, the institution of a thriving in-house mortgage underwriting and servicing program, the implementation of an updated Visa Platinum Credit Card program and the addition of business lending and deposit services to First Financial’s member product suite. As a result of Alice’s attention to membership and operations, First Financial has not only grown exponentially but has continued to run smoothly and provide the highest quality service to its members.

Among her professional affiliations, Alice is a member of the Monmouth Ocean Development Council and the Southern Monmouth Chamber of Commerce. She is also a founding advisory board member of the Wall Business and Finance Academy and a panel member of the CUNA Mutual Lending Advisory Council.

Personally, she is a United Way funds allocation committee member, an adult literacy tutor, and a Chamber of Commerce governmental affairs committee member.

Nancy J Culp

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 18:40:00 GMT

Nancy Culp began her employment with First Financial in December 1991. Since her employment with the credit union she has served as a Collector (1991-1993), Collection Manager (1993-1996), Lending Manager (1996-2008), and in 2008 was promoted to Assistant Vice President of Lending and Sales.

Prior to her career with First Financial, Ms. Culp worked as a Collection Supervisor and was skilled in retail installment accounts and documentation, review, and compliance for 1^st Fidelity Bank in Toms River. She is also a consultant for Rutgers University and conducts credit management workshops for Monmouth/Ocean Small Business Development Center at Brookdale Community College in Lincroft, New Jersey. Ms. Culp attended Ocean County College and Seton Hall University, where she majored in Business Administration.

Nancy Sanchez

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 19:09:00 GMT

Nancy Sanchez brings over 20 years of banking experience to First Financial. Prior to being hired at First Financial in 2005, Sanchez began her banking career at Emigrant Savings Bank in New York in 1989 - where she started as a teller and over the course of 16 years worked her way up to Operations Manager. She began her career at First Financial as a Senior MSO in the Freehold and Middletown branches, worked in the Contact Center and Loan Department, and was then promoted to Assistant Branch Manager of the Freehold Branch and Branch Manager of both the Howell and Neptune Branches.

Sanchez will now be responsible for the overall management, revenue generation, operational soundness, customer service, sales and service initiatives, and employee development in her new position as Assistant Vice President of Member Services.

Sanchez studied at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City, is married to husband Antonio, and has 3 children.

Kathleen Zimmer

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 19:06:00 GMT

Kathleen Zimmer brings over 20 years of experience in local community banking to First Financial. Prior to joining the First Financial team, Zimmer managed Manasquan Savings Bank’s Wall Township Branch for 11 years, as well as the Spring Lake Heights Branch. In 2008, Zimmer was hired as the Howell Branch Manager at First Financial where she focused on managing the day to day activities and success of the branch.

Zimmer will now be responsible for utilizing her strong leadership skills toward business development, attending community events, and maintaining relationships with First Financial’s SEG and Ambassador groups, as well as Business Accounts.

Zimmer holds a CFT – Branch Manager’s Certification, and is currently pursuing an Associate of Science Degree in Business Administration at Brookdale Community College. She was Past President of the Greater Spring Lake Chamber of Commerce, Current President for Le Tip of Wall Township, and is a three year participant in the Atlantic Club’s “Clubs for the Cure,” where she helped raise over $1 million for breast cancer research.

Zimmer is married to husband Thomas, has three children, one grandson, and a granddaughter. She is also a lifetime resident of Wall Township.

Louis Paolillo

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 19:02:00 GMT

Louis Paolillo of Freehold was recently hired as a financial advisor at First Financial Federal Credit Union’s Investment & Retirement Center.

Paolillo brings over 25 years of banking and finance experience to First Financial Federal Credit Union. Prior to his employment at First Financial, he was vice-president at Bear Stearns, vice-president of network operations at Morgan Stanley and most recently, a financial advisor at Wells Fargo. Paolillo is an accredited Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor and also holds his Series 7, Series 66, and Series 63 accreditations.

As a financial advisor, Paolillo will be responsible for designing investment strategies based on individuals’ unique goals and risk tolerances, as well as developing retirement plans.

Paolillo received a Bachelor of Arts degree in business and a minor in economics from Lycoming College. In his spare time he coaches youth basketball, plays golf, and volunteers as the vice-president of the Red Bank Catholic Athletic Booster Club. Paolillo lives in Freehold, NJ with his wife and two children.

Kathleen Acquaviva

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 19:14:00 GMT

Kathleen Acquaviva began her employment with First Financial in 2006 as a Mortgage Underwriter. Her current responsibilities at First Financial include answering member questions and counseling members regarding real estate loan transactions; she originates, processes, evaluates, closes, and funds all real estate related loans - including first mortgages, home equity loans, and home equity lines of credit; she handles any mortgage loans in delinquency; she maintains the mortgage loan servicing system; and handles mortgage compliance requirements.

Ms. Acquaviva began working in the mortgage industry in 1993, and was also employed by Arlington Capital, Gateway Funding d/b/a Ivy Mortgage, and Mary Holder Agency. She received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Georgian Court University in Lakewood, New Jersey.