Ashley Melder

Ashley joined Lender*VP as Vice President of Professional Services in June of 2022.

Ashley’s main responsibility is to drive the growth and success of our clients’ lending departments and the Lender*VP team. She is passionate about assisting clients in reaching their goals and developing new lending products and services. Her other responsibilities include troubleshooting with clients, providing training for our credit unions and their staff, working with our third-party partners, driving CU*BASE lending projects, new client conversion support, and on-site client tune ups.

Having previously worked as a loan officer, Ashley most enjoys, “being on the other side of things and contributing to the development of the CU*BASE lending toolset that will help drive the success of our credit unions.” She also really enjoys “traveling to spend time with our clients on-site and building great relationships with them.”

In her free time, Ashley enjoys spending time with her loved ones and her pets, traveling to Mexico to see her family, watching Ohio State win football games, and soaking in the summer sun.

Beth Barron

Beth started as a Client Service Account Executive in August of 1998 and transitioned to Account Executive with Lender*VP in April of 2008.

Beth’s primary duties are to assist clients with anything lending related, including special programs like Skip-a-Pay, 1Click loans, new loan products, variable rate loans, and ongoing education. She also trains new clients on the CU*BASE lending platform and assists with the live support after their conversion to CU*BASE to ensure a smooth transition.

Beth most enjoys, “working with clients and showing them new things that are happening here at CU*Answers.”

In her free time, Beth enjoys an occasional round of golf or relaxing in the sun, whether it is a pool, a lake, or her deck.

Tom Heidenga

Tom started working at CU*Answers as a GOLD Developer and joined Lender*VP in September of 2014.

Tom’s main responsibility is loan and member forms and creating the signatures and logos clients see on their corporate checks and money orders. Tom is also responsible for the implementation and support of credit bureaus, Qualifile, J.D. Power, SavvyMoney, 1Click Loans, and batch soft pulls. He also assists with lending concerns and is currently learning the Servicer Edition.

Tom most enjoys, “being able to collaborate with our clients and partners to find solutions to their issues and make their day just a little bit better.”

In his free time, Tom enjoys woodworking, landscaping, fishing, hosting summer parties, and spending time with family and friends.

Jenn Baker

Jenn started as a Client Support Representative in 2017, working with client conversions and the University program. In 2023 she was hired as an Account Executive with Lender*VP. Jenn’s primary responsibilities include assisting clients with their lending needs.

Jenn most enjoys “working with clients–always a rewarding experience!”

In her free time, Jenn enjoys spending time with family, either at home or on the beach. She also enjoys playing golf and watching the Lions play football.

Nathan VanPatten

Nate worked as the Manager of the Xtend Contact Center before transitioning to CU*Answers in the Quality Control team.

He was hired as an Account Executive with Lender*VP in 2023. Nate’s primary responsibilities include supporting new client conversions and assisting with lending inquiries from clients, including questions on loan and member forms.

Nate most enjoys “being a part of such a great network and having the opportunity to make a positive impact on credit unions and their members.”

In his free time, Nate likes to play and watch sports, spend time with loved ones, and relax in the sun.

Dave McCumber

Dave McCumber joined Lender*VP in 2023 as Assistant Manager of Contact Center Operations.

Dave’s primary responsibilities include assisting with day-to-day operations of the Collections team and the Conversion Contact Center. In this role, he is also responsible for the onboarding, training, and coaching of employees.

Dave most enjoys, “watching a team member tackle a difficult situation or take on a new experience and succeed.”

In his free time, Dave likes to spend time with his family, and enjoys cooking, hiking, and fishing. He is an avid University of Michigan fan, especially of their football, basketball, hockey, and softball teams.

Elliott Petty

Elliott started as a Client Support Representative in 2020, followed by two years as an Account Executive for the Imaging team. In January 2024 he then joined the Lender*VP team as an Account Executive, with his primary responsibilities involving assisting clients with their lending needs.

Elliott enjoys, “working with clients to solve complicated problems” and the opportunity to travel to client locations to assist with conversions.

In his free time, Elliott likes to read. He is happiest near a body of water, either fishing, sailing, or spending time at the beach.

Jessie Lajcak

Jessie joined Lender*VP in September of 2024 as Assistant Manager of Collections and Contact Center Operations.

Jessie’s primary duties in the Collections team and the Conversion Contact Center include assisting with day-to-day operations, and the onboarding, training, and coaching of employees. She most enjoys planning team building activities and assisting employees to learn and grow to become successful. Before CU*Answers, Jessie worked in finance for twenty years, most recently as an Assistant Branch Manager.

In her free time, Jessie enjoys competing and taking her daughter to compete in barrel racing events, hunting at her family cabin, and lounging on a pontoon. She also enjoys watching a good Sunday football game or a Hallmark Christmas movie with her two corgis.