RUTLAND, Vt. — Ron Hance, longtime president and CEO at Heritage Family CU, has announced he plans to retire, though a departure date will not be determined until later this year.
Heritage Family's board has named a search committee to help find the credit union's next leader. Hance will remain CEO until a replacement is hired. The search process is expected to be completed sometime in the fall.
"It has been a high honor and wonderful privilege to lead the Heritage Family Credit Union," Hance said in a statement, crediting the staff, committee members, board of directors and membership with the CU's growth and accomplishments during his 36 years there. "I look forward to retirement and leave confident of the continued success that the organization will have."
When Hance first came to HFCU as a volunteer in 1967, the credit union had $2 million in assets, three employees and one branch.
Today, assets have risen to $350 million, more than 145 employees and nine branches (along with two student credit unions).
After starting as a volunteer and a member of the board of directors and various committees, Hance worked his way up through the institution, taking over as president and CEO in 1978. He has also served on the board of directors for WOCCU, been board chair of the Vermont CU League, worked with the National CU Foundation, the World Affairs Committee and more.
Thomas O'Brien, chairman of Heritage Family's board of directors, said Hance "has been, for many years, the symbol of the credit union movement of people helping people. He has been involved in the movement on the state, national and international levels but, more importantly, he has served us locally in our own community as the leader of Heritage Family."
Once new leadership is in place and Hance officially retires, he plans to spend more time traveling with his wife.
