1. Within a short time span, Chad
identified areas that needed to be
addressed. Subsequently, we created
a tactical plan by item which identified
risk priority, target dates, and
resources required.
Century Federal Credit Union (CFCU) is one of the
largest credit unions in Northeast Ohio with over $350
million in assets and serving the financial needs of
28,000 members. CFCU was Federally Chartered in
1948 and has seven branch locations throughout greater
Cleveland, OH. We have 11 ATMs and over 20,000
surcharge free network ATM’s through MoneyPass and
Alliance One ATM Networks. We offer our members a full
range of financial services including Online Banking, Online Bill Pay, Remote Deposit
Capture and Mobile Banking services, Wealth Management, as well as a full gamut of
loan and deposit products.
As the result of some key personnel changes in our IT/MIS Department, we identified
through an external audit process areas of high risk that needed to be addressed. Not
having the expertise in the IT arena, I wanted to bring in an outside consultant to assess
the situation and to temporarily manage the department. The ultimate goal was to
identify specific actions that needed to be taken and implement a plan to correct, assess
the ongoing organization of the IT department, and implement a strategic plan for
moving forward. I did not feel comfortable staffing the department until I understood
the needs of the department and Credit Union from an IT perspective.
Finding a Consultant/CIO-On-Demand was not an easy task; we did, however, interview
three companies. Black River Technologies, and specifically, Chad Burnworth was
chosen for several reasons:
• High degree of industry expertise in the IT/MIS arena
• Clearly understood the direction and presented a workable plan for
accomplishing
• Management background in a similar sized community bank
• Experience with many of the same software/core system vendors as CFCU
• Personal knowledge of his work ethic; As CFO and VP of Finance, I worked with
Chad at a similar sized community bank
Within a short time span, Chad identified areas that needed to be addressed.
Subsequently, we created a tactical plan by item which identified risk priority, target
dates, and resources required. We have worked this list as a team and are well on our
way to reducing such items to embers versus fires. We completed a regulatory
examination (NCUA) during the last few weeks, and there were no IS/IT findings.
Sharon L. Churchill, CPA CCE
President and CEO
Century Federal Credit Union

2. 2016 will be a unique year in that our core system interface as well as our lending
systems are sun-setting. As a result, there are several inter-related software and
system upgrades and replacements that must take place. The successful
implementation of these changes will take a great deal of due diligence, time,
manpower and organization to accomplish. Chad has been an integral part of planning
for these critical infrastructure changes.
Chad has also been managing the day-to-day operations of the IT Department since the
autumn of 2015. Subsequently, we have been able to recruit and hire a new IT/MIS
Manager and staff. Chad is tasked with turning over the reins and bringing these
individuals up-to-speed. As we progress through the next year, Chad and Black River
Technologies will continue to assist us in the implementation of our infrastructure
changes.
Sharon L. Churchill, CPA CCE
President and Chief Executive Officer
Century Federal Credit Union
schurchill@cenfedcu.org
216-535-3120