HARRISBURG, Penn.–A new chairman and vice chairman of the Pennsylvania Credit Union Association have been elected.
During the PCUA’s recent annual reorganization meeting, Rick Stipa, CEO of TruMark Financial Credit Union, was elected chairman, while Amey Sgrignoli, CEO of Belco Community Credit Union, was elected as vice chairman.
Stipa has served as the vice chairman of the board since 2017. As a member of the board, he served on the Audit Committee and the Government Relations and Pennsylvania State Advisory Committees. Stipa also served as a director of the Pennsylvania Credit Union Foundation Board. He has been with TruMark Financial Credit Union since 2001.
Sgrignoli has served on the board of directors since 2015. In 2018, she served as chair of a Membership task force to evaluate the dues structure and membership options of the association. Sgrignoli also serves on the Investment Committee and the Regulatory Review Task Force. She has been with Belco since 2004.
As CUToday.info reported, members of the Pennsylvania CU Association have recently agreed to a merger with the New Jersey CU League that will lead to a reconstituted board representing both associations’ membership.
CEO of Year
Meanwhile, the PCUA awarded Bill Bowker, CEO of Glatco Credit Union, with the William W. Pratt Lifetime Achievement Award for the 2019 Credit Union Professional of the Year. The award was presented at the Association’s 85th Connect Convention at Hershey Lodge in Hershey.
Bowker has spent the better part of his career and his life working for and with credit unions for more than 43 years, according to the PCUA.
“Beyond demonstrating strong leadership at his credit union, Bowker has worked to ensure the future of the movement through his involvement with the regulatory review committee, the Chapter Youth Ambassador (now Credit Union Ambassador) Contest Committee, and continued support of advocacy efforts,” the PCUA said. “In fact, Bowker was part of the first grassroots walk on the Mall in Washington, D.C. Since then, he has played an active role in legislative days, which place credit union professionals in front of their state lawmakers to share the most important legislative items needed to keep credit unions going.
“Bowker’s dedication goes beyond the reach of the political realm, however,” the PCUA continued. “He has a passion for financial literacy, establishing an in-school branch at Spring Grove School District and has continued to run programs and teach students at the school about financial education. He also cares about the future of the movement.
“Bill is a staunch supporter of youth in the credit union industry,” former First Capital FCU CEO Dennis Flickinger said in a statement. “He has ensured the Chapter’s continuation of the Credit Union Ambassador Contest and provided several candidates from his credit union over the years.”
Volunteer Honored
Separately, R. Brian Wilbur has been presented with the PCUA’s Joseph A. Moore Award for the 2019 Outstanding Volunteer of the Year during the Association’s 85th Connect Annual Convention at Hershey Lodge in Hershey.
Wilbur has served as a PSECU official for more than 50 years, including 10 years as the credit union’s board chair (1979-1983 and 2006-2012) and 15 years as its board vice chair (1984-1995 and 2001-2005). Additionally, he volunteered time doing board committee work. He was chair of PSECU’s Credit Committee for several years and currently is chair of the Nominating Committee. During his tenure with PSECU, the credit union has grown from $1.8 million to $5.4 billion in assets and from 8,300 to more than 450,000 members, the PCUA said.
“In the time I’ve been involved with PSECU, I’ve watched it grow to become the state’s largest credit union both in terms of membership and assets. To me, that means that we’re doing something right – that people see the value in the products and services we provide, and that in response, they’re choosing to bank with PSECU. It demonstrates that we are successfully fulfilling our vision to serve as a trusted financial partner,” Wilbur said in a statement. “I’m proud to know that I’ve been a part of something that has been so well received and beneficial to others. To me, that is what being a volunteer is all about.”