06/16/2026
Credit Union of Southern California is a proud partner of the Alumni Association. Several of its senior team members are proud alumni:
Katsu Durst ’11 is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and finance executive with 15+ years of experience across credit unions, regulatory oversight, and accounting. He serves as Chief Financial Officer at CU SoCal. Previously, he was CU SoCal’s vice president controller and a principal examiner with the National Credit Union Administration.
Michelle Hunter ’89 is Chief Communications Executive and Experience Officer and has had with 25+ years in the credit union industry, including 18 years at CU SoCal. Her work includes supporting 20+ successful credit union mergers, major marketing campaigns, and community financial literacy programs. She has been recognized as California’s first “Credit Union Rock Star” by CU Magazine and as Marketing Professional of the Year by the Credit Union National Association.
Suzie Kisslan ’90 is Chief Operating Officer and has been with the organization for over 9 years. A credit union leader with 20+ years of experience in retail operations and lending, she oversees sales, branch operations, all lending channels, and wealth management for the $3.7B institution serving 180,000+ members.
Katie Smith ’08 is Senior Vice President of Human Resources and has been with CU SoCal for nearly seven years. With 15+ years of HR experience, she partners with executive leadership on strategy, culture, and employee engagement, and has led initiatives in leadership development and compensation. Her work has helped CU SoCal earn multiple Gallup Exceptional Workplace Awards.
Sevan Yakinian ’07 is Chief Technology Officer and a banking technology leader with 25+ years of experience. With seven years at CU SoCal (three as CTO), he leads enterprise technology strategy to improve member experience and operational performance. He helped launch the credit union’s loyalty program.
