Staff

Susan Allred

Director of Business Solutions, PLR

E-mail: sallred@carolinasleague.org
Phone: 800-822-8859, ext. 417

Susan joined the Carolinas Credit Union League’s subsidiary, PLR, in 2018 as the director of business solutions, where she plays a pivotal role in enhancing the support and resources available to our credit union members. Her career spans nearly 18 years of account management and business-to-business sales and service, making her a valuable asset to the credit union community.

For Susan, her role is a platform that empowers her to make a meaningful difference in the credit union world. Her primary focus is to help credit unions identify areas where League resources can provide practical solutions to their unique needs. Additionally, she excels in managing critical business partner relationships, acting as a liaison between these partners and our members.

Susan’s decision to join the League is grounded in the industry’s collaborative nature and the ethos of “people helping people.” She is genuinely passionate about the credit union movement, recognizing its ability to create positive change and make a difference in the lives of people and communities.

In her professional journey, Susan has been involved in volunteer work with organizations like the First Tee of the Carolinas, where she contributes to community development and hones her leadership skills. Her dedication to giving back extends beyond her career, reflecting her core values.

One of the highlights of Susan’s career has been researching and identifying new business partners. This effort not only enriches the offerings available to credit unions but also ensures their relevance in the ever-evolving financial landscape.
Susan attributes her professional success to the satisfaction she derives from helping others. Her top strengths are being a learner and an achiever, allowing her to continually acquire knowledge and pass it on to others, thereby empowering them to succeed.

Omar Ata

Auditor II, PLR Audit

Omar Ata has had an extensive career in the credit union industry, beginning in 1994 during his time at Guilford College. Since then, he has held a variety of roles within the sector, gaining a wealth of experience in credit union operations.

At PLR, Omar applies his deep industry knowledge and commitment to excellence as an Auditor II, where his attention to detail and thorough approach ensures compliance and operational success for credit unions.

Over the years, Omar’s career has been defined by his passion for learning and personal growth. He is particularly enthusiastic about travel, immersing himself in new cultures, and building connections with people from diverse backgrounds. His love for music and cooking reflects his desire to continually explore and appreciate different cultural experiences.

Hannah Broome

HR Consulting Specialist, PLR Talent Forward

E-mail: hbroome@carolinasleague.org
Phone: 800.822.8859, ext. 419

Hannah Broome is the HR Specialist at PLR’s Talent Forward, where she brings her expertise to support executive searches, HR projects, and provide critical HR support to clients.PLR, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Carolinas Credit Union League, offers a range of services tailored to credit union needs, including executive searches, HR training, and custom HR projects.

Hannah’s role at Talent Forward allows her to provide essential HR support to organizations that may lack the resources to effectively support their management and employees. With a background that spans industries from family-owned manufacturing to rapidly growing software companies, Hannah sought an organization with a mission to make a positive impact. She finds that in the credit union industry, which she believes promotes financial inclusion and strengthens communities. She is particularly inspired by the passion and kindness demonstrated by every credit union professional she encounters.

Hannah earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Cultural Anthropology, with a minor in Spanish, from Appalachian State University. Before her current role, she served as an HR generalist at Diesel Laptops, managing full-cycle recruiting, payroll, and employee benefits programs. In this role, she successfully led several key HR initiatives, including implementing a new HRIS system, a complete 401(k) conversion, a compliance audit, and the expansion of employee-friendly medical coverage options—all completed within four months.

Hannah is an active member of the Society for Human Resource Management’s (SHRM) national and Columbia chapters. To Hannah, the key to professional success is a commitment to continuous growth and learning, especially in the ever-evolving field of human resources. Her top values—compassion, honesty, and equality—guide her approach to her work, ensuring fair opportunities and support for all clients and employees. She is also passionate about equality initiatives and supports animal rescue centers, like the one where she adopted her dog.

Matthew Cotton

Senior Auditor, PLR Audit

Matthew Cotton is the senior auditor at PLR, a subsidiary of the Carolinas Credit Union League. He graduated from West Virginia University in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in communication studies. Matthew began his credit union career in 2008 at Blue Flame Credit Union, where he served as a member services representative, ACH coordinator, and loan officer until 2014. He then joined the Carolinas Credit Union League as an auditor and was promoted to senior auditor in 2019.

In his role, Matthew performs various audit functions, including comprehensive audits, internal audits, ACH audits, BSA audits, and cash count audits. He is also responsible for formulating audit programs, report templates, and procedures for new audits. Matthew is dedicated to helping credit unions achieve financial success by leveraging his extensive financial industry knowledge and 16 years of experience.

In 2019, Matthew earned the Certified Credit Union Internal Auditor (CCUIA) designation after attending the CUNA (now America’s Credit Unions) & Association of Credit Union Internal Auditors (ACUIA) Internal Audit Certification School in Atlanta. In 2024, he furthered his expertise by earning the Bank Secrecy Act Compliance Specialist certification.

Taylor Eblen

VP of HR Consulting, PLR Talent Forward

E-mail: teblen@carolinasleague.org
Phone: 800-822-8859, ext. 410

Taylor Eblen brings more than 15 years of HR experience to her role as vice president of human resources consulting at Talent Forward, powered by PLR. In this capacity, Eblen leads the formulation and execution of Talent Forward’s overarching strategy, focusing on delivering innovative HR solutions tailored to the unique needs of credit unions and other businesses.

Before joining Talent Forward, Eblen served as vice president of people strategy at Sharonview Federal Credit Union, where she honed her skills in strategic HR leadership and organizational development. Her deep understanding of the “people” challenges faced by credit unions positions her as an invaluable asset to Talent Forward’s mission of advancing clients through the power of people.

Rose Hudson

VP of CU Accounting & Consulting Services, PLR Audit

Title: VP of CU Accounting and Consulting Services
E-mail: rhudson@carolinasleague.org

Rose holds a strategic leadership role at PLR. This includes planning and directing the development, marketing, and service delivery activities for credit union accounting and consulting services. Her purview encompasses a wide range of critical functions, including overseeing the internal audit program, accounting and technical assistance, supervisory audit programs, strategic planning, and small credit union business consulting, among other vital aspects.

With over 20 years of commitment to the credit union service sector, Rose has a strong background in various facets of accounting, including reconciliations, call reports, ALM (Asset Liability Management) analysis, BSA (Bank Secrecy Act) compliance, lending, and cash management.

Throughout her career, Rose has consistently demonstrated a profound dedication to the community and addressing the everyday hurdles that credit unions encounter. Her professional success is underpinned by her reliability and responsiveness.
At the core of Rose’s values are positivity, family, and health. She believes in the power of maintaining a positive outlook, cherishing the bonds of family, and prioritizing health and well-being.

Kirshunda King

Auditor II, PLR Audit

Kirshunda joined the League in March 2022 and serves as Auditor II. In this role, she assists credit unions with their accounting, regulatory, and compliance needs.

Kirshunda brings more than 21 years of experience in the credit union industry, working her way up from teller, head teller, and loan officer before reaching branch manager. Her experience has gained her a thorough understanding of frontline teller operations, lending, accounting, back-office operations, and internal auditing. Kirshunda holds two master’s degrees, one in business administration and one in accounting.

Alex McElroy

Accounting Services Coordinator, PLR Audit & Accounting

E-mail: amcelroy@carolinasleague.org:

Alex McElroy is the accounting services coordinator for PLR. He joined the organization in May 2022 as an audit coordinator and was promoted to his current role in 2023. Alex supports both PLR’s Audit Services and CU Accounting Services teams, enhancing flexibility and connectivity between the two departments.

Alex brings extensive accounting and auditing experience to his role. He graduated from Mississippi State University in 2017 with a concentration in accounting and began his career as an accounting specialist in the credit union industry. In this position, he was responsible for credit union clearings, retention, reconciliations, and ledger verification for monthly, quarterly, and yearly closings. Alex was also the primary contact for organizing and assembling external ACH audits.

In 2020, he attended the CUNA & ACUIA Internal Audit Certification School in Tempe, Arizona, where he earned his Certified Credit Union Internal Auditor (CCUIA) designation.

To Alex, his role is about holding credit unions accountable, seeking constant improvement, and providing complete and accurate financial figures. He believes credit unions embody the true spirit of the financial industry, where members are valued as the organization’s lifeblood rather than just numbers. He views the League’s role as vital in ensuring the safety of member deposits while driving necessary improvements in credit union operations.

Alex attributes his professional success to an open mind and determination. He values honesty, continuous learning, and perseverance—qualities essential in his role as an auditor, where integrity and staying informed on financial regulations are paramount.

Outside of work, Alex is passionate about serving his faith, helping others achieve financial peace, and exploring how the world operates economically and socially.

Stephanie Riley

CU Accounting Manager, PLR Accounting

E-mail: sriley@carolinasleague.org
Phone: 800.822.8859, ext. 427

Stephanie Riley is the credit union accounting manager at PLR. In her role, Stephanie has the unique opportunity to work with small credit unions, providing specialized accounting services tailored to their needs. Her position allows her to deepen her accounting knowledge while expanding her expertise into areas such as auditing.

Stephanie joined the League with nearly a decade of experience managing ACH transactions, accounts payable, reconciliations, and general ledger balancing from her time as an operations specialist at Palmetto Health Credit Union. Her responsibilities include performing client accounting duties, overseeing special projects, promoting department services, onboarding new clients, and supervising the CU Accounting Services team.

One of Stephanie’s notable accomplishments includes graduating from the Southeast Regional Credit Union School for Management in 2019. She values integrity, accountability, and curiosity, ensuring her contributions are reliable and continually evolving. Stephanie finds the camaraderie within the credit union industry particularly rewarding, appreciating how credit unions support each other rather than compete.

To Stephanie, her role is a chance to significantly impact small credit unions and contribute to their operational success.