WESTconsin Leadership Team

Lora Benrud

Chief Executive Officer

Lora Benrud began working at WESTconsin Credit Union in 1984 and is the fourth president in the company’s history. Prior to becoming CEO in August 2014, she held the position of Chief Financial Officer. Lora has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Mount Senario College and a Master of Science degree in Management Technology from University of Wisconsin – Stout. She currently serves on boards for the Stout University Foundation, Dunn County Economic Development Corporation, and Wisconsin Credit Union League. Lora is also a member of the Women’s Giving Circle of Dunn County. She enjoys sporting and outdoor activities, traveling and reading.

Jim Wookey

Chief Operations Officer

Jim Wookey has been an employee of WESTconsin Credit Union since 1994. He obtained his education from the University of Iowa with an emphasis in Business Administration. Jim’s involvements include Menomonie Rotary Club, Hudson Area Chamber of Commerce, the Hudson Hot Air Affair Committee, Hudson’s Sunrise Lion’s Club and many other community efforts. In his personal time, Jim enjoys golfing, reading and spending quality time with his family.

Niki Yarrington

Chief Talent Officer

Niki Yarrington has been working at WESTconsin since 2003, and was promoted to the credit union’s Corporate Team in November 2012. Niki possesses a Bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Management from University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, and has a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification. She serves on the grant comittee for the Community Foundation of Dunn County. In her free time, Niki enjoys traveling, camping and family activities.

Jerilyn Kinderman

Chief Financial Officer

Jerilyn Kinderman was hired as CFO in May 2014. Jerilyn is a graduate of University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire with a Bachelor degree in accounting and minor in management. Her community involvements include serving on the Board of Directors for the L.E. Phillips Senior Center in Eau Claire. She enjoys spending time with family, traveling and volunteering.

Stephanie Rasmussen

Chief Experience Officer

Stephanie Rasmussen has been working at WESTconsin since 2016, Stephanie possesses a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Relations and English Literature from University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire. She is also a Certified Credit Union Marketing Executive. She is a Board Member of the Dunn County Community Foundation and a strong supporter of Junior Achievement. Stephanie’s interests include spending time with her family and her 4 dogs including Gus who is training to be a Therapy Dog.

Scott Giltner

Chief Lending Officer

Scott Giltner joined WESTconsin’s Corporate Team in June 2019, and possesses 38 years of lending management experience. Scott is a graduate of University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. Scott has served as an instructor and board member for a statewide mortgage lending school, and has been a strong supporter of youth sports and first responders. He and his wife reside in Menomonie, and he enjoys traveling with his family, hiking and bike riding local trails, all Wisconsin sports teams, and a love for live music.

Kevin Hall

Chief Information Officer

Kevin Hall joined WESTconsin’s Corporate Team in May 2023, originally joining the credit union in May 2021 as Vice President of Information Technology. He has a bachelor’s degree in business management from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and has earned and maintains a CISSP certification. Kevin’s hobbies include skiing, hiking, soccer, and spending time with his wife and daughter.

Gerald Wolf

Elmwood - Chairperson

Jerry Wolf was born and raised in rural Elmwood, Wisconsin. He graduated from Elmwood High School in 1975, then began his career in agriculture by farming on the 200-acre Wolf family dairy farm that has been operated by the family for over 140 years. Wolf completed Chippewa Valley Technical College adult agriculture classes, and the Director Leadership Program when serving on Countryside Cooperative’s Board of Directors for five years.

Wolf farms in partnership with his brother, Chuck, as Sunnyview Dairy, which has been certified organic since 1998. Sunnyview received the Dunn County Farm Family of the Year from the Menomonie Chamber of Commerce in 2003, and in 2006, hosted the Dunn County Dairy Breakfast. In the fall of 2018, Wolf and his family retired from milking cows and the herd was dispersed. They continue to grow and market organic corn, rye, barley, and straw.

Wolf has served on the Countryside (ALCIVIA) Co-op Young Producers, Countryside Co-op, and the Dunn County Dairy Promotion boards. He’s also an active member of St. Henry’s Parish and the Elmwood FFA Alumni Association. He and his wife Tammy are blessed to have all three of their children and their spouses living close, along with their six grand babies, all four years and under.

Wolf has been a member of WESTconsin Credit Union since 1993. He was elected to the Board of Directors in 2005 and currently serves as Chairperson. Wolf also serves as a member of the WESTconsin Realty & WESTconsin Title and Cyber Security Committees.

Todd Leipnitz

Menomonie - Vice Chairperson

Todd has been a member of WESTconsin Credit Union since 1986 and was elected to the Board of Directors in 2008. He attended UW-Madison earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology and Biochemistry. After earning his DDS degree at the University of Minnesota, Todd is now self-employed at Leipnitz Dental. Todd is a member of Cedarbrook Church, Red Cedar Pheasants Forever, and Ducks Unlimited. He has also served on the advisory board for Chippewa Valley Technical College’s dental hygiene program.

Colleen Mensing

Menomonie - Secretary

Colleen has been a member of WESTconsin Credit Union since 1980 and was elected to the Board of Directors in 2008. Colleen was born and raised in Menomonie, Wisconsin. After graduating from Menomonie High School in 1980, she attended the Chippewa Valley Technical College and received an associate degree in accounting. Colleen retired from the United States Department of Agriculture in 2018 after 35 years with the agency. She has received many awards including Certificates of Merit from USDA for contributing substantially to Wisconsin Agriculture and continued delivery of services to Dunn County producers. Colleen is currently the Treasurer for the Town of Spring Brook and is a member of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association.

Karen Flug

Menomonie - Treasurer

Karen has been a member of WESTconsin Credit Union since 1997. She was elected to the Board of Directors in 2019. Karen was born and raised in Menomonie. She earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting and an MBA from UW-Eau Claire. As a senior healthcare executive with over 29 year’s leadership, general management and P&L experience, Karen has a successful track record of growing businesses and building relationships. Karen currently is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) at First Fertility.  Karen previously served on local advisory boards including the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Finance and Accounting Department Advisory Board and the Sacred Heart Hospital Advisory Board.

Dale Dahlke

Knapp - Director

Dale has been a member of WESTconsin Credit Union since 1995. He was elected to the Board of Directors in 2005. He served in the U.S. Army and the Wisconsin National Guard. He graduated from UW-Platteville and taught for seven years in Watertown, WI. He taught Biology and Anatomy/Physiology and coached track and field for 30 years at Menomonie High School, retiring in 2003. He then served two years as Activities Director at Menomonie High School, and four years at UW-Stout with Educational Talent Search. Dale is a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Clearwater Trout Unlimited Board of Directors, WAV (Water Action Volunteer) with Wisconsin DNR, and School District of Menomonie Area Interim Board member.

Sarah Noreen

River Falls - Director

Sarah has been a member of WESTconsin Credit Union since 1985 and began serving on the Board of Directors in 2020. She attended UW-Eau Claire earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Spanish. Sarah earned her Masters of Arts degree in Teaching English as a Second Language from Northern Arizona University. She is a Communication Skills Instructor at the New Richmond campus of Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College. In addition, Sarah teaches driver’s education in Hudson and River Falls. She is a member and volunteer at First Congregational United Church of Christ in River Falls, where she serves on the Mission Education committee, as well as a volunteer for Sporting World, a non-profit benefiting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Wisconsin.

Mark Dahms

Menomonie - Director

Mark Dahms is a 1986 graduate of Menomonie High School and graduated from UW Stout in 1991 with a Business degree. He has been employed at Halverson Brothers Plumbing & Heating since 1994, and in 2007, Dahms became part owner of the business. He has spent many years serving as a board member for the Menomonie Chamber of Commerce and the Menomonie Community Foundation. Additionally, he has been a Local 434 Plumbers and Fitters Board of Trustees Member since 2015. Dahms and his wife, Joyce, have two sons ages 16 and 12. As a family they enjoy athletics, hunting, fishing, ATV riding, snowmobiling, boating, and cabin life.