Leadership Overview
Blaze Credit Union has 5 executives leading key functions including strategy, finance, operations, marketing, and member relations.
Driven by a commitment to member success, Blaze Credit Union fosters a collaborative environment focused on delivering exceptional financial services and community support across Minnesota.
Driven by a commitment to member success, Blaze Credit Union fosters a collaborative environment focused on delivering exceptional financial services and community support across Minnesota.
Leadership Roles at Blaze Credit Union
Daniel Stoltz - Chief Executive Officer
Daniel Stoltz, the Chief Executive Officer at Blaze Credit Union, directs the overall strategic vision and operational framework. Overseeing the credit union's expansion and member engagement initiatives, Stoltz ensures alignment with the core mission established by the merger of Hiway and Spire Credit Unions. This leadership role involves guiding all departments to achieve financial objectives and enhance member value. Daniel Stoltz drives the organization's growth by fostering innovation in financial products and services, ensuring the credit union remains competitive and responsive to market demands. The Chief Executive Officer's purview extends to cultivating strong relationships with stakeholders and the broader Minnesota community, reinforcing Blaze Credit Union's position as a trusted financial partner.
Jon Seeman - Chief Financial Officer
Jon Seeman, the Chief Financial Officer at Blaze Credit Union, manages all fiscal operations and financial planning. Seeman oversees budgeting, forecasting, and investment strategies, ensuring the credit union's financial health and stability. This critical role involves managing risk, optimizing capital allocation, and reporting financial performance to executive leadership and regulatory bodies. Jon Seeman drives the financial integrity of the organization by implementing robust internal controls and compliance measures. The Chief Financial Officer's responsibilities include developing strategies to support the credit union's growth objectives and enhance profitability, directly impacting the member value proposition. Seeman ensures adherence to financial regulations within the Minnesota market.
Stan Edwards - Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer
Stan Edwards, the Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer at Blaze Credit Union, orchestrates daily operations and service delivery. Edwards oversees the implementation of strategic initiatives across all operational departments, ensuring efficiency and effectiveness in member service. This leadership position involves managing technology infrastructure, process optimization, and staff development to support the credit union's mission. Stan Edwards drives operational excellence by streamlining workflows and enhancing member experience through innovative service channels. The Chief Operating Officer's focus includes ensuring seamless integration of systems and processes following the merger, contributing to the overall stability and growth of Blaze Credit Union. Edwards champions a culture of continuous improvement within the operational teams.
Jeffrey Schwalen - President
Jeffrey Schwalen, the President at Blaze Credit Union, guides strategic partnerships and member advocacy. Schwalen focuses on enhancing the credit union's relationship with its members and the broader community, ensuring the organization's mission is upheld. This executive position involves fostering a member-centric culture and overseeing initiatives that promote financial literacy and community development. Jeffrey Schwalen drives member satisfaction and loyalty by championing initiatives that directly benefit the membership base. The President's role includes collaborating with the Chief Executive Officer and other leaders to refine strategic objectives and ensure operational alignment with the credit union's core values. Schwalen plays a key part in representing Blaze Credit Union in industry forums and community engagements.
Casey Carlson - Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer
Casey Carlson, the Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Blaze Credit Union, leads all marketing and brand strategy initiatives. Carlson directs campaigns focused on member acquisition, retention, and brand awareness across Minnesota. This role involves overseeing digital marketing, advertising, public relations, and product promotion to communicate the value of Blaze Credit Union's offerings. Casey Carlson drives market penetration and member engagement by developing data-driven marketing plans that resonate with the target audience. The Chief Marketing Officer's responsibilities include managing the marketing budget, analyzing campaign performance, and ensuring brand consistency across all communication platforms. Carlson works to strengthen the credit union's community presence and competitive positioning.
Explore Leadership Teams in Banking
Wintrust Financial Corporation is a prominent financial holding company headquartered in the Chicago metropolitan area that operates through a unique community banking model combined with specialty finance businesses. The company owns and operates a family of community banks serving the Chicagoland area, southern Wisconsin, and northwest Indiana, each maintaining its own local identity, management team, and community focus while benefiting from the resources and infrastructure of the larger organization. Wintrust's community banks provide comprehensive banking services including commercial and personal banking, wealth management, mortgage lending, and treasury management solutions tailored to meet the needs of local businesses, professionals, and families. Beyond its community banking franchise, Wintrust operates several specialty finance subsidiaries that focus on specific market niches such as commercial insurance premium financing, life insurance premium financing, mortgage origination and servicing, and short-term accounts receivable financing. The company has built a reputation for delivering personalized service and local decision-making authority, differentiating itself from larger regional and national banks through its commitment to community involvement and relationship banking. Wintrust's wealth management division offers investment advisory services, trust and estate planning, retirement planning, and asset management to high-net-worth individuals and institutional clients. The organization has grown both organically and through strategic acquisitions, expanding its geographic footprint and service capabilities while maintaining its core philosophy of combining community bank values with sophisticated financial products and technology. Wintrust continues to invest in digital banking platforms and innovative solutions to enhance customer experience while preserving the personal touch that defines its community-focused approach.
Company Leadership TL
MR
TH
Founded in 1870 and headquartered in Wheeling, West Virginia, WesBanco is a bank holding company that offers a variety of financial services, including personal and business banking solutions such as checking, savings, and loans.
Company Leadership JJ
BR

MF
Founded in 1978, Vectra Bank is a full-service financial institution that provides personal and business banking services. Vectra Bank is located in Colorado.
Company Leadership

Kearny Financial Corp. operates as the holding company for Kearny Bank that provides various banking products and services in the United States. The company offers various deposit products, including interest-bearing and non-interest-bearing checking accounts, money market deposit accounts, savings accounts, and certificates of deposit accounts. It also provides various loans, such as multi-family and nonresidential real estate mortgage loans, commercial term loans and lines of credit, one- to four-family residential mortgage loans, and home equity loans and lines of credit; loans to individuals, builders, or developers for the construction of multi-family residential buildings or commercial real estate, or for the construction or renovation of one- to four-family residences; overdraft lines of credit; and personal loans. In addition, the company engages in investment activities. Kearny Financial Corp. was founded in 1884.
Company Leadership SY
WL
KS
TS