TAMPA, Fla. — GTE Financial has announced the promotion of three long-serving leaders to Assistant Vice President roles. Together, the three leaders represent nearly 50 years of dedicated service to the organization and the more than 230,000 members GTE Financial serves across the region.
With more than 500 team members and 24 Community Financial Centers, GTE Financial plays a significant role in expanding access to affordable financial services, supporting homeownership and investing in local workforce development throughout Tampa Bay.
“These promotions reflect not only years of dedication, but the lasting impact these leaders have had on our members, our teams and our community,” said Dona Svehla, Chief Operating & Lending Officer of GTE Financial. “Their leadership, institutional knowledge and unwavering commitment to excellence has helped position GTE for continued growth and innovation. We are proud to recognize their achievements and excited for what’s ahead under their expanded leadership.”
Bea Luzbet has been promoted to Assistant Vice President of Consumer Lending. Since joining GTE Financial in 2004, Luzbet has held roles of increasing responsibility, including project manager and supervisor. Over more than two decades, she has helped lead major organizational initiatives that strengthened lending operations and enhanced the member experience, earning her promotion to senior manager in 2024. Luzbet has been instrumental in achieving consumer lending goals, strengthening loan portfolio growth and leading process improvements and automation that improve efficiency while expanding responsible lending access to members across Tampa Bay.
CD Thornton has been promoted to Assistant Vice President of Mortgage Sales and Service. Thornton joined GTE Financial in April 2013, leading within the Community Financial Center network and building a strong reputation in the downtown and South Tampa market for his expertise in home lending and commitment to integrity-based selling practices. In 2017, he transitioned to the home loans division and was promoted to senior manager in 2024. Thornton led the creation and launch of Realty Reach, GTE’s first in-house real estate agent program, onboarding six agents and facilitating $39.1 thousand in commission rebates to members, helping make homeownership more attainable and affordable for families throughout the region.
Dominique Thompson has been promoted to Assistant Vice President of Member Loyalty. Thompson began her career with GTE Financial nearly 13 years ago managing the Land O’ Lakes Community Financial Center. In 2019, she stepped into a leadership role within the credit union’s member satisfaction program, expanding survey efforts, increasing completion rates and strengthening the accuracy and integrity of member insights and performance metrics. Since 2021, she has taken on expanded marketing leadership responsibilities. In her new role, Thompson will focus on deepening member engagement, advancing data-driven strategy and strengthening long-term relationships that fuel sustainable growth for the credit union and the communities it serves.
