Jimmie Bearden, the well-known president and CEO of AEDC FCU, called it quits recently, after nearly a half-century with the credit union.
Over 48 years with the credit union, Bearden, a self-described farm girl from Giles County, oversaw the growth of the credit union from a tiny shop with just two employees to a regional giant with $960 million in assets and 118,000 members through 500 select groups. Bearden joined the five-year-old credit union, chartered in 1956 to serve civilian employees of the Air Force and Army Corp. of Engineers, as a clerk, then took over as president and CEO 12 years later.
Named to succeed Bearden as CEO was Caren Gabriel. Gabriel has been with the credit union since 1985, most recently serving as executive VP and general counsel.