Cowen Partners Places CEO at Signal Financial Federal Credit Union
April 10, 2025 – Vancouver, WA-based Cowen Partners Executive Search has assisted in the recruitment of Kenyahda Cahoon as the new CEO of Signal Financial Federal Credit Union. He succeeds Francois Verleysen, who served as president and CEO of Signal Financial since 2014. Mr. Verleysen retired from the organization in January 2025. “On behalf of the board of directors, we welcome Ken to Signal Financial Federal Credit Union and are excited for him to take the helm,” said Andy Mekelburg, chairman of the board. “What stood out to us most was Ken’s passion and commitment to providing superior service to credit union members and local communities. Under his leadership, Signal Financial is poised for an exciting new chapter filled with innovation, growth, and an unwavering dedication to the Credit Union’s members.”
Mr. Cahoon joins Signal from Democracy Federal Credit Union where he served as CEO beginning in January 2019. He brings more than 30 years of experience in the financial services industry to Signal Financial, having previously held leadership positions at the National Institution of Health Federal Credit Union, UNIFY Financial Credit Union, and American Spirit Federal Credit Union, amongst others. In addition to his work experience, Mr. Cahoon serves as a board member for the Credit Union Mortgage Association.
In his new role as CEO of Signal Financial, Mr. Cahoon will look to drive growth for the Credit Union, engage with the Credit Union’s local businesses and communities, and further drive a strong member experience that ultimately supports its members in taking ownership of their financial journey.
Founded in 1947, Signal Financial Federal Credit Union serves over 21,000 members across the Washington, D.C. metro area. Committed to providing innovative financial solutions, Signal Financial continues to support its members with a range of personalized services and resources.
Cowen Partners serves both small and large, publicly traded, pre-IPO, private, and non-profit organizations. Its clients are typically $50 million to multi-billion-dollar revenue Fortune 1000 companies or have assets between $500 million to $15 billion. Placements span the entire C-suite and include VP and director-level leadership roles. Cowen Partners has placed hundreds of candidates in industries including technology, healthcare, manufacturing, retail, financial services, and private equity.
Shawn Cole is a co-founder of Cowen Partners. He is a serial entrepreneur and executive leader with over 15 years’ experience founding and running companies. His business career has been centered on value creation for both turnarounds and start-ups. Mr. Cole helps find executive talent, such as a CEO, CFO, COO, chief revenue officer, and chief marketing officer. Clients are both small and large, publicly traded, pre-IPO, private, and non-profit organizations, typically $50 million to multi-billion dollar revenue Fortune 1000 companies or have assets between $1 billion and $15 billion.
Related: Here Is Why Versatile CEOs Are In Such High Demand
As a founding partner of Cowen Partners, Ash Wendt has drawn on his career experience in sales and executive recruiting. As a founding partner and practice leader for Cowen Partners sales and marketing division, Mr. Wendt has placed high-quality executives in positions such as chief revenue officer, chief marketing officer, vice president of sales, and vice president of marking, among others.
Recent Assignment
Cowen Partners recently assisted in the recruitment of Nichelle Dekeyzer as its first-ever chief people officer of Okland Construction in Salt Lake City, UT. “This hire represents a major step forward for Okland,” said Bill Okland, CEO. “Nichelle’s expertise and vision will be instrumental in helping us achieve our goal of becoming one of the most sought-after companies in the industry by 2030. Her leadership will ensure that our people and culture remain at the forefront of everything we do.”
Ms. Dekeyzer brings a wealth of experience from her previous role as chief people officer at CB Insights, where she led initiatives in organizational design, change management, compensation, and company culture. “With significant experience in data-driven results, recruiting, leadership development, and strategic planning, coupled with a doctor of education in organizational change and leadership from the University of Southern California, she is well-equipped to lead Okland’s people strategy into the future,” Okland Construction said.
As Okland pursues its ambitious goal of becoming one of the most sought-after companies in the industry by 2030, a key component will be fostering a strong, dynamic organizational culture. Ms. Dekeyzer will play a pivotal role in this journey, overseeing the company’s human resources strategy, talent management, employee engagement, and overall organizational culture.
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Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
