Bert Hash Jr. plans to retire in June after 17 years aspresident/CEO of the $1.3 billion MECU of Baltimore, the creditunion announced Monday.

Hash will be succeeded by Gary J. Martin, the 106,600-membercredit union's SVP and chief lending officer. Martin joined MECU in1972 as a loan officer.

“The board had a number of specific qualities they wantedin the new CEO,” said Herman Williams Jr., board chairman at MECU.“We were looking for vision and continued implementation of newtechnology affecting financial services, but of utmost importanceto the entire board was a commitment to MECU's culture of givingback to the community.”

“The board felt that Gary Martin brought together all thesequalities,” Williams said in the MECU announcement.

Hash received the Pete Crear Lifetime Achievement Award earlier this year fromthe African-American Credit Union Coalition and was named the 2007Trailblazer CEO of the Year by CU Times.

In other credit union people news:

EAST

The $789 million Charter Oak Federal CreditUnion in Groton, Conn., named MichaelBallirano manager of its new branch to open in June at itsnew headquarters complex in Waterford, Conn. He currently ismanager of Charter Oak's Montville and Niantic branches and joinedthe credit union in 2011.

The $618 million St. Mary's Credit Union inMarlborough, Mass., promoted Thomas Seymour to EVPof lending. He joined the credit union in 1980. MelissaEagles was promoted to vice president of real estatelending. She was hired in 2007 as assistant vice president, realestate lending. John Hendrikse was promoted tovice president of indirect lending. He joined St Mary's in 2011 asassistant vice president of indirect lending. HeidiPierce was promoted to assistant vice president for themember service center. She joined the credit union in 2006 as amember service representative.

Peter Bruno, chairman emeritus of the $384million Financial Resources Federal Credit Unionin Bridgewater, N.J., was named to the CUES Volunteer Hall of Fame.The CUES Volunteer Hall of Fame is a lifetime achievement awardgiven to ensure outstanding directors are always remembered. Thecredit union board nominated Bruno to the board and administrativeemployees gathered together to congratulate him on hisachievement.

MIDWEST

The $2.5 billion Michigan State University FederalCredit Union in East Lansing named DeidreDavis its new vice president of marketing and sales. Shehas more than 10 years of marketing and member experience, mostrecently as chief marketing officer at the $464 million Notre DameFederal Credit Union in South Bend, Ind.

The $501 million Consumers Credit Union inKalamazoo, Mich., elected Brad Lawton as its newboard chairperson. Rod Adams is vice chair.Patrick O'Connor is secretary. KimShook is treasurer. Directors are BrentBassett, Kevin McPherson. NickZafer is associate director.

The Nebraska Credit Union League and the $78million People's Choice Federal Credit Union inLincoln, Neb., said longtime volunteer and legal counselJim Cada was inducted into the Credit Union HouseHall of Leaders in Washington, D.C., in recognition of hisdedicated service to legislative and political activities on behalfof Nebraska's credit unions and credit unions nationwide. Cada iscurrently the league's Political Action Committee chair. He joinedthe credit union in 1970 as a member and has been its legal counselsince the 1970s.

WEST

The $195 million Heritage Community CreditUnion in Sacramento, Calif., named EdTurk its CEO effective June 2. He succeeds CelesteMartinez, a 40-year industry veteran who plans to retire in July.Turk has more than 20 years of financial industry experience, mostrecently as EVP/COO for the $509 million iQ Credit Union inVancouver, Wash.

The $6.5 billion First Tech Federal CreditUnion in Mountain View, Calif., hired JeremyWalker as its new SVP for mortgage lending. He has 18years of executive mortgage lending expertise, including 12 yearsas an SVP with the Bank of America retail mortgage group inVirginia and later the Pacific Northwest.

The $131 million River City Federal CreditUnion in San Antonio named MichaelQuintanilla its new vice president of finance and CFO. Hehas more than 14 years of experience in treasury management withthe U.S. Air Force and prior to that worked in credit unionaccounting.

Sylvia Lyon, the retiring president/CEO of theCredit Union Association of New Mexico, wasinducted into the Credit Union House Hall of Leaders in Washington,D.C., on Feb. 25. The honor is for credit union leaders whosecommitment has inspired others and made a significant impact on thecredit union movement. U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.)unveiled a plaque in the Hall of Leaders, noting Lyon'saccomplishments during her tenure as head of the association. Shejoined CUANM in 1994 and became CEO in 2003.

VENDORS

BALANCE named Kathryn Davis tosucceed Joanne Budde as CEO of the San Francisco-based provider offinancial education and counseling programs for credit unions andtheir members nationwide. Davis currently is SVP at the $823million Xceed Financial Credit Union in El Segundo, Calif., andtakes on her new role May 1. Budde founded BALANCE in 1997 andannounced her retirement in September.

Bob Kigin, sales executive at CUNAMutual Group in Madison, Wis., since 2006, is retiring onMay 30 after more than 32 years of service with the company. Kiginjoined CUNA Mutual Group in 1982 as a group coverage representativetrainee in St. Paul, Minn., and was promoted to group sales managerin 1990. In 1993, he was one of the first account vice presidentsto be appointed under restructuring and has also served asexecutive group representative and account relationship manager.Kigin also is retiring after nine years of board service at the$398 million City & County Credit Union in St. Paul.

Octant Business Services in Littleton, Mass.,hired Lawrence Murphy as its new president/CEO.Murphy had been commercial examinations manager at TD Bank andprior to that spent 19 years with Santander/Fleet Bank, mostrecently as SVP of commercial real estate workout and director ofrisk and administration. He succeeds the retiring Bob Cipriani atOctant, which is owned by nine credit unions.