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Volunteers
Mutual Credit Union relies on 12 volunteers to look to the best interest of its members.
The Board of Directors is comprised of 9 volunteers with 3-year staggered terms who are elected by the Mutual CU members at the annual meeting.
While Mutual Credit Union has a President and staff to manage the day to day affairs and direction of the credit union, the Board of Directors is tasked with the general management of affairs, funds and records of Mutual Credit Union.
Along with the Board of Directors, the Supervisory Committee is made up of 3 volunteers also elected to 3-year terms at the annual meeting. The Supervisory Committee is responsible for the auditing of receipts, disbursements, income, assets, and liabilities of the credit union.
To ensure that a sound succession plan is in place, Mutual has added opportunities to those interested in serving as a volunteer to begin exploring the commitment and functions of a volunteer by admitting Associate Volunteer Members to be a part of the Mutual Volunteer group. If you are interested in becoming an Associate Volunteer, please use the link below to access the application.
Annual Meeting
In compliance with the bylaws of Mutual Credit Union, a meeting is held each year prior to March 31st where all members of the credit union are urged to attend and learn more about the performance and the direction of the credit union.
The annual meeting is the time for volunteer elections — every year, 3 board member seats and 1 supervisory committee seat comes up for re-election and the members of the credit union vote for the candidates to sit on the Board of Directors and Supervisory Committee. In 2019, Mutual Credit Union initiated electronic voting whereby all elections are held prior to the annual meeting and announced at the meeting.
This is one of the special actions that makes being a member of a credit union unique and rewarding. Members have a say in the future of the credit union by selecting the Board of Directors.
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The Mutual Credit Union Board of Directors
Jerry Dean, Chairman
Jerry Dean, CCUB, CCUSC, NCVE, has lived in Vicksburg and been a Mutual Credit Union member since 1978. Prior to serving as a Board Director, Dean served 10 years on the Supervisory Committee, the last four as Chairman. He holds the designations of Certified Credit Union Volunteer for Board of Directors (CCUB), and Supervisory Committee (CCUSC), from the Credit Union National Association (CUNA). He completed the CUNA Volunteer Achievement Program (VAP) and the Management Enrichment Training Program (METP) and is a graduate from the National Association of Credit Unions Supervisory and Audit Committee University (NACUSAC). He also completed courses in Compliance Regulations and received the Compliance Achievement Award. The National Association of Federally Insured Credit Unions (NAFCU) has recognized Mr. Dean as a NAFCU Certified Volunteer Expert (NCVE). He has a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics from Mississippi State University and is retired from the Vicksburg District, U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, having served as an Economist, an Information Technology Branch Chief and an IT Project Manager in Corporate Information. He is a former long-time member of the Vicksburg Lions Club and a Melvin Jones Fellow, Lions Clubs International’s highest award. He is also a Past President of the Warren County MSU Alumni Association and Past President of the local chapter of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees (NARFE). He is a retired member of the U.S. Army Reserve and a member of Crawford Street United Methodist Church, where he serves on various committees.
Leonard Murrell, Vice Chairman
Leonard Murrell has 17 years of experience as a member of the Mutual Credit Union Board of Directors. Before retiring as Chief of the Contracts and Administrative Section of Operations Division for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Murrell was responsible for the management and administration of contracts for services, maintenance, construction and supplies at flood control projects within Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi. His skills include financial management, reliability, teamwork, problem solving, communication, creative thinking and diplomacy. Murrell has also played active leadership roles in the community, serving as lieutenant governor of Kiwanis Division 15 (Louisiana, Mississippi and West Tennessee District) and president of the Port City Kiwanis Club. He has also been a committee member for the United Way of West Central Mississippi and served on the board of directors for Vicksburg Chapter American Red Cross, State Service Counsel American Red Cross and Calvary Baptist Church, where he was also lead volunteer for the Salvation Army meals program supported by the church. Murrell and his wife, Doris, have three daughters: Leandra, Chandria and Alexis.
Rick Vessell, Treasurer
Rick Vessell is a lifelong resident of Vicksburg and has been serving as a Mutual Credit Union volunteer since 2015. As chief financial officer (CFO) of Warren Yazoo Behavioral Health since 1994, Vessell is responsible for all financial and technology-related aspects of the organization. He also serves on the management team and reports quarterly financials to the board. After receiving his Bachelor of Professional Accountancy from Mississippi State University in 1988, Vessell spent six years as an auditor for certified public accounting (CPA) firms, where he worked extensively with banking and financial institution clients. During his college years, he worked four summers as a teller at a local bank. As a CPA and CITP (Certified Information Technology Professional) with experience in auditing financial institutions, as well as a CFO with nonprofit management and communications skills, Vessell says he has the ability to “see the big picture” of the credit union. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Mississippi Society of Certified Public Accountants (MSCPA). Vessell is also a member and former president and board member of the Vicksburg Kiwanis Club; former president of MSU Alumni, Warren County Chapter; current board member and treasurer of both Wisconsin Cove and Cornerstone Apartments (housing providers for elderly and disabled individuals). Vessell and his wife, Jill, have a daughter and a son.
Tonya Acuff, Secretary
Tonya Leigh Acuff is a lifelong resident of Vicksburg and is proudly serving the members of Mutual Credit Union as a director elected in 2016. Acuff has worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for 17 years, where she is currently a program manager who oversees the regional regulatory program of the Mississippi Valley Division. This is a $26 million dollar program encompassing six districts, whose territory stretches from the Gulf of Mexico to the Canadian border. To ensure all districts are providing consistent information to the public by applying the proper laws and regulations, Acuff must use her strong organizational, budgeting, program management and interpersonal skills to coordinate with the districts, office headquarters and internal building personnel. Acuff also serves on an internal building committee, the Mississippi River Commission (MRC) Benefit Association, which provides employee recreational services for staff in the MRC building. In her free time, Acuff enjoys spending time with her family and friends, fishing and working outside in the yard.
Billy Bridges
Billy C. Bridges has volunteered as a Trustee, Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Mutual Credit Union Board and supported improvements that include merging with Raymond Credit Union and opening the Yazoo City Branch. For 17 years, he has served as a Director of the Mississippi Credit Union Association, where he is Vice Chairman of the Board, and he has lobbied Congress in support of credit union initiatives. A graduate of the Defense Information School, he was Chief of the Public Affairs Office of the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center and also worked as a Public Relations Manager and Subject Matter Expert contractor supporting the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Now retired, Mr. Bridges is a Certified Tree Farmer and member of the Mississippi and Attala County Forestry Associations. He is active in many church and community activities. Community support has included the Vicksburg-Warren Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development Foundation, United Way of West Central Mississippi Vicksburg-Warren Alliance, Mississippi Sciences Network and statewide People Against Litter organizations. He and his wife, Jaynie, have two children and four grandchildren.
Donna Hardy
Donna Farris Hardy, a Vicksburg native, has been a Mutual Credit Union member since 1975 and has served on the Board of Directors since 1997 years, including ten years as Vice Chairman of the Board. Ms. Hardy received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1975. She is currently in her 8th year as the Warren County Chancery Clerk, an elected position where she serves as the clerk to the Chancery Court, the Vicksburg Bridge Commission and the Warren County Port Commission. She is responsible for the collection of all delinquent property taxes and is the recorder and custodian of all County, Chancery Court and land records. Previously, she worked for 31 years with Warren Yazoo Mental Health Center in a variety of clinical, supervisory and management positions. The agency’s three in-patient treatment facilities and the Psychiatric Clinic came under her leadership, including the construction and management of affordable housing units for the disabled. Ms. Hardy is a member of the Warren County Chamber of Commerce, where she served as a past Director, and an active member of St. George Orthodox Church. She and her husband, Rick, have three sons.
Jeb Tingle
Jeb Tingle is a Vicksburg native who has been a Mutual Credit Union member for over 30 years, and has served on Mutual's Board of Directors since 2009. Mr. Tingle is fiscally conservative and a strong proponent of modernizing MCU's business operations as well as enhancing member products and services. He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from Mississippi State University and is pursuing his doctorate from the University of Illinois. As Senior Research Engineer in the Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory of the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, he manages and directs research and development programs in excess of $30M. Mr. Tingle's professional activities helped to develop his skills in business development, financial accounting, and leadership. He is also a member of First Presbyterian Church. Mr. Tingle and his wife, Shelley, have two daughters and one son.
Matt Hendrix
Matt Hendrix is a Vicksburg native who has been a Mutual Credit Union member since 2005. In 2018, Mr. Hendrix began serving as a volunteer on the Mutual Credit Union Board. He is a 1998 graduate of Warren Central High School and earned his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Louisiana at Monroe in 2005. He has served Vicksburg since 2005 as a Pharmacist. Mr. Hendrix is currently employed at Helping Hand Pharmacy, a local independent Vicksburg pharmacy. He is also a member of Crossway Baptist Church where he serves as a deacon, a pre-school volunteer and serves on the finance committee. In the past, he has served as a volunteer at the First Baptist Medical/Dental clinic. Mr. Hendrix is excited to serve the members of Mutual Credit Union. Mr. Hendrix and his wife, Dara, have a daughter and a son.
Joe Tom
Joe Tom was born and raised in Vicksburg. He and his wife Judy have three sons: Jay, Chris, Joe Jr. and nine grandchildren.
Mr. Tom has been a member of Mutual Credit Union since 1977. He is currently serving on the Board of Directors since 2001, having served as Chairman and Treasurer. He served on the Credit Committee from 1989 to 2001, serving as Chairman.
Mr. Tom is presently an appointee to the Warren County Parks and Recreation Commission by the Board of Supervisors. He will serve on the Finance Committee of the Hawkins United Methodist Church. Mr. Tom is presently the Treasurer of the Local Chapter of National Active and Retired Federal Employees. He is the voting machine manager of the Culkin Precinct.
Mr. Tom retired after 33 years of service as a Research Civil Engineer with the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center. Although retired, Mr. Tom is currently a registered Professional Engineer in Mississippi and an active voting member of the the American Society of Testing and Materials.
Mr. Tom attended the Vicksburg Public School System graduating from H.V. Cooper High School, attended Hinds Community College, and obtained an Engineering Degree from Mississippi State University.
In addition to being a volunteer with Mutual Credit Union, Mr. Tom has volunteered for numerous organizations including the American Red Cross, the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life (Team Captain) and Power in Purple (Finalist); the Openwood Homeowners Association (President); the WES Castle Club (Chairman); the Vicksburg Soccer Organization (Treasurer and Director); the Warren Central High School’s PTA (Parent of the Year), Band Boosters (Treasurer), and Soccer Club (President); the US Armed Forces Operation Desert Storm Homecoming (Chairman); YMCA coach for football, T-ball, and soccer programs; and also volunteered for a tour to Bagram Air Force Base in Afghanistan.
The Mutual Credit Union Supervisory Committee
Charlie McKinnie, Chairman
Charles A. McKinnie has been a member of Mutual Credit Union since 1980 and has 20 years of experience as a Mutual volunteer, beginning in 1996 as a Credit Committee Alternate. He was ultimately elected to the Credit Committee, serving as Credit Committee Chairman until June 2006. In 2009, Charles started serving on the Supervisory Committee and is currently the chairman. He has attended numerous Credit Union Training Conferences and is a graduate of the National Association of Credit Union & Auditing Committee’s NACUSAC University. Since his arrival in Vicksburg in 1980, Charles has worked for the Vicksburg District Corp of Engineers as a civil engineer and is project manager at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Charles has volunteered in many Vicksburg community organizations, serving as the Vicksburg Chamber of Commerce Board chairman for two years and on several United Way Committees, as well as the Haven House Board. He is also a member of the Vicksburg Kiwanis Club and the Red Carpet Bowl committee, and he is currently vice-chair of the River Region Hospital Board. Charles is married to Susan Kennedy McKinnie, who recently retired from teaching for the VWSD after 27 years, and has two sons and two granddaughters. Charles loves being in the outdoors and in his shop, where he enjoys woodworking and welding.
Ben Luckett
Ben Luckett, a lifelong resident of Vicksburg, has been a Mutual Credit Union member since 1996. Luckett is currently employed as a Warren County tax assessor and is a Mississippi Certified Appraiser through the Centers of Governmental Technologies at Mississippi State University. He also holds an IAAO Course Assessment Evaluator I and II Mississippi Assessment Evaluator designation. Actively committed to community works, Luckett is a member of Northside Baptist Church, where he serves as Chairman of Deacons and Sunday school teacher. He was also American Cancer Society Relay for Life Logistics Chair from 2008-2011. Luckett and his wife, Kristy, have a 5-year-old daughter, Gracie.
James Harper
James Harper is a Vicksburg native who has been a member of Credit Unions all his life. Mr. Harper, who has served as president of the Vicksburg Lions Club and has held various board and committee positions at First Baptist Church of Vicksburg is committed to his community. He currently serves on the Supervisory Committee for Mutual Credit Union. Mr. Harper retired after 35 years of Federal Service with his time divided between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In those positions, he supervised construction contracts ranging from $100,000 to $15 million where he reviewed and approved the initial contracts and followed it through to installment payments and any needed change orders. He and his wife Peggy Standefer of Raymond, MS are celebrating 40 years of marriage. They have two kids and six grandkids.
Management
Michael Mathews
Michael Mathews, President, began his career with Mutual Credit Union in May of 2011. He holds a B.A. Degree in Banking and Finance from the University of Southern Mississippi and a Master of Business Administration from Mississippi College. Michael also has completed the requirements to receive the designation of Certified Chief Executive (CCE) through the Credit Union Executive Society (CUES).
Michael is active in the Vicksburg community where he lives with his wife and two daughters.
Jennifer Lynne McMillin
Jennifer Lynne McMillin joined the Mutual Credit Union team as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in 2014. She is a native of Vicksburg, Mississippi and a lifelong member of Mutual Credit Union.
She received her Bachelor of Accountancy from Mississippi State University and her Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Mississippi. Jennifer Lynne is a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in Mississippi. She is also a Credit Union Compliance Expert (CUCE), Certified Credit Union Financial Counselor (CCUFC) and a Certified Regulatory Vendor Program Manager (CRVPM). She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Mississippi Society of Certified Public Accountant (MSCPA). She serves on the Accounting and Auditing Committee for MSCPA.
Jennifer Lynne began her career in public accounting at two of the big four accounting firms, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in Memphis, Tennessee and thereafter at KPMG in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where she worked in Audit and Assurance Services at both firms. Prior to becoming the CFO at Mutual Credit Union Jennifer Lynne was a senior associate at May & Company, LLP in which she specialized in tax, audit and assurance services. In 2011, Jennifer Lynne received recognition by The Vicksburg Post as one of the Top 20 Under 40 for her service and dedication to her profession and community.
Jennifer Lynne is actively involved in several community organizations. She has served as the Treasurer and Recording Secretary for the Junior Auxiliary of Vicksburg. She is also a member of the Vicksburg Lions Club and an active member of her church. Jennifer Lynne and her husband, Stephen, have two daughters, Lynlee and Lyla and recently welcomed their son, Lochlan to the family.
Alice Bell
Alice Bell, VP of lending, has been with Mutual CU since 2007, starting as the underwriter for the loan department and advancing to the vice president role in 2014 and is a Credit Union Compliance Expert (CUCE).
Alice believes in educating members so that they can make their best financial decisions and ensures the lending department focuses on helping the most people they can to achieve financial success. Alice also leads the Mutual CU Relay for Life team and is passionate about the work Relay for Life does.
Alice is a graduate of Mississippi College with a degree in finance. Alice is a Vicksburg native, married with three children and one grandson who she adores.
Rae Nelson Perry
Rae Perry, a Vicksburg native, joined the Mutual Credit team in January 2017 as the VP of Human Resources. Rae is an experienced Human Resource professional, with a focus on employee benefits, onboarding, and handbook development. She has received certification as a Credit Union HR Compliance Professional.
She earned a Master of Science in Instructional Technology and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management from Mississippi State University. During her free time, she enjoys traveling with her husband James, cooking, volunteering with the Meals on Wheels program, and attending Mississippi State sporting events.
Mia Mason
Mia Mason joined the Mutual Credit Union team as the Vice President of Operations in November of 2018. She has almost twenty years of experience in the financial industry, of which twelve years have been centered in the area of Operations. Mia holds a Bachelor’s Degree of Arts and Sciences from the University of Georgia and a Master of Business Administration from Phoenix University. Although Mia started her career in banking, she loves the credit union philosophy of “People Helping People”.
Mia states, “Being a part of a system that helps people achieve financial education and freedom is so important for our community and very rewarding for me personally. Mia grew up in a rural area of Hephzibah, Georgia and loves the country lifestyle. She and her husband, Chaka have two children, Brookins and Georgia. She is a devoted soccer mom that also enjoys the outdoors. When she is not spending time with her family, Mia volunteers as the Youth Director for her church. Mia believes spending time with children is the most enjoyable and worthwhile.
Stephanie Newsome
Stephanie Newsome, VP of Compliance, has been with Mutual Credit Union since 2010, starting as a Branch Manager and advancing to the Vice President role in 2020. She attended Kansas State University and has 20 years of experience in the financial industry, including the certifications of Credit Union Compliance Expert (CUCE), Bank Secrecy Act Compliance Specialist (BSACS), and Certified Regulatory Vendor Program Manager (CRVPM).
Stephanie’s first day in the credit union world was on the teller line on 9/11. Between that tragedy and many hurricanes on the MS Gulf Coast, she came to love and understand the credit union motto of “people helping people.” Stephanie is married with two children and one amazing granddaughter. In her free time, she enjoys going camping, beekeeping, and spending time with her family.
Christy Pecanty
Christy Pecanty, VP of Information Technology, has been with Mutual Credit Union since 1989, starting as a loan processor and advancing to IT as the data processor in 1990, then to Assistant Vice President of Information Systems in 2011 and Vice President of Information Technology in 2021. She holds an Associate of Applied Science in Computer Network Technology and an Associate of Applied Science in Cyber Security from Hinds Community College. Christy earned her Novell CNA certification in 1991 and later got her Network Pro Certification. She also holds several technical certificates in cybersecurity and networking.
Christy believes that the opportunity to serve a credit union with over 90 years of service to its members is an honor. She and her husband Ken have four children and five grandchildren whom they adore. They are members of First Baptist Church Vicksburg where Christy is active with the children’s ministry. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, sewing, family time, and doing mission work in Honduras.