OXNARD, CA, April 24, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Stephanie Anne Garrison, CBSAP, CUERP, has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Ms. Garrison has established a distinguished career spanning 24 years in the financial services sector, culminating in her current role as chief risk officer at OceanAir Federal Credit Union, a position she has held since March 2025. In this capacity, she oversees the enterprise risk management function, ensuring the organization's risk framework and adherence to policies are robust and effective. Her responsibilities include managing compliance programs, such as Bank Secrecy Act and Anti-Money Laundering frameworks, spearheading loss-prevention initiatives, and developing mitigation strategies. Ms. Garrison also leads information technology teams, including cybersecurity and development operations, to support core systems and frontline staff. She supervises technology operations teams responsible for network connections and communications, expands operational oversight to include collections and related processes, and drives team growth and success across multiple departments.

Before she was appointed chief risk officer, Ms. Garrison served as vice president of risk and compliance at OceanAir Federal Credit Union from November 2023 to March 2025. In this role, she was instrumental in shaping the institution's compliance culture and strengthening its risk management infrastructure. Her leadership during this period laid the groundwork for her seamless integration into the executive leadership team.

From 2020 to 2023, Ms. Garrison served as an assistant vice president and operational risk manager at First Citizens Bank. There, she managed second-line enterprise risk for all consumer banking operations. This experience was pivotal in her career trajectory, following a significant layoff during her tenure at UNIFY Financial Credit Union. This moment prompted deep self-reflection and ultimately led her to pivot fully into risk management. Her exposure to California's rigorous regulatory environment further honed her expertise in compliance and operational oversight.

Ms. Garrison's earlier roles at UNIFY Financial Credit Union included assistant vice president of operations from 2018 to 2019, assistant vice president of branches from 2016 to 2019, and business support manager in 2016. These positions provided her with hands-on experience in branch operations, back office functions, and contact centers—insights that have proven invaluable in shaping policies and procedures throughout her career.

Her professional journey also includes serving as assistant vice president and process engineer for branch support and quality assurance at Banc of California from 2015 to 2016. She was responsible for optimizing branch processes and ensuring quality standards were met across the organization.

At Comerica Bank from 2012 to 2014, Ms. Garrison served as an assistant vice president and regional operations manager for Los Angeles, overseeing multiple banking centers and ensuring operational excellence across the region.

Her tenure at Bank of America spanned a decade, beginning in 2002. She advanced through several positions: teller and senior teller from 2002 to 2004; customer service specialist from 2004 to 2005; teller operational specialist from 2005 to 2009; assistant banking center manager from 2009 to 2010; process design consultant I on the national transition team from 2010 to 2012; and assistant vice president and banking center manager in 2012. Notably, she was nominated for the California Northwest Transformation project—a historic initiative involving core system migrations across multiple states—where she worked under the esteemed leadership of Lee Cross.

Throughout her career, Ms. Garrison has been an active member of America's Credit Unions, demonstrating her commitment to advancing the industry and her professional development.

Ms. Garrison's academic foundation is rooted in a Bachelor of Science in Education from California State University, Fullerton. Although her degree is not directly aligned with financial institutions, her expertise in child and adolescent development has significantly influenced her leadership style. Her understanding of human behavior, learning styles, and motivation has enabled her to foster team development effectively within California's diverse workforce.

She has further distinguished herself by earning certifications as a credit union enterprise risk management professional from America's Credit Unions in 2025 and as a certified Bank Secrecy Act professional in 2024. These credentials underscore her dedication to maintaining high standards of compliance and risk management within the financial sector.

Ms. Garrison attributes her success to an unwavering positive attitude she has maintained across various roles, despite challenges such as office politics and layoffs. She prioritizes never burning bridges at previous workplaces, believing that opportunities arise organically through nurturing strong professional relationships. Her philosophy emphasizes leaving a lasting positive impression at every organization or networking event—a practice that has consistently opened doors throughout her career.

Her entry into banking began as a teller at Bank of America, where she navigated assumptions about working alongside family members—her father, an executive at the institution—in the competitive California market. Initially intending to pursue teaching through the bank's tuition reimbursement program at California State University, Fullerton, she ultimately embraced a career in banking due to limited opportunities in education upon graduation. Ms. Garrison recognized early on an innate passion for rules and frameworks—a trait that naturally propelled her toward risk management and compliance roles.

Beyond her professional achievements, Ms. Garrison is actively engaged in civic initiatives. She serves on the advisory board for Our Lady of the Lake University and participates in clothing donation drives such as Coats for Kids. Her volunteer work includes supporting the Angel Tree Program with the Salvation Army, volunteering with PetSmart Charities and Ventura County Animal Services and participating in community events organized by OceanAir Federal Credit Union.

Her dedication has been recognized with awards, including the highest Gallup engagement score at UNIFY Financial Credit Union and the Assistant Manager of the Quarter award.

Born in the Verdugo Mountains, Ms. Garrison is deeply committed to family life. She cherishes spending time with loved ones—including two nieces who bring immense joy—and maintains close relationships with her parents, siblings, nieces and nephews, residing both locally and in Florida. Together with her husband—an avid movie enthusiast working in film production—she shares a home with two adopted Chihuahuas and two cats while volunteering with animal welfare organizations.

Looking ahead, Ms. Garrison envisions remaining dedicated to leading her team at OceanAir Federal Credit Union while continuing to evolve her skill set within financial services. She is particularly interested in artificial intelligence—both its risks and transformative potential across industries, including film—and seeks opportunities to help shape AI strategies alongside her husband's creative pursuits. Above all, she remains passionate about mentoring high-potential team members within her organization, striving to elevate others just as she has been supported throughout her own journey.

About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. The suite of Marquis® publications, including Who's Who in America® and Who's Who in the World®, remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the globe. Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

# # #