ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Richard (Rick) Rogers, president/CEO of Sandia Area FCU and chairman of the board of the Credit Union Association of New Mexico, died unexpectedly Oct. 7 from complications from a respiratory illness. He was 49 years old. Rogers was an executive in financial services for nearly 30 years, the last 10 as the head of Sandia Area FCU. He was also a member of the Credit Union Executives Society and was involved in many credit union credit union affiliations at the local, regional and national levels. Rogers is survived by his wife and two children. Scott Connely, executive vice president of Sandia Area FCU since 1995, was named by the credit union's board as its new president/CEO. Prior to working at SAFCU, Connely was senior vice president at OmniAmerican CU, Fort Worth, Texas. "Scott has been responsible for the day-to-day operations of Sandia Area and has demonstrated the ability to lead us into the future. We're fortunate to have a leader with his abilities on our team," said Sandia Area's Board Chairman Burton Clyde. Connely said he plans to continue Sandia Area's commitment to providing its members with the best service and products to maximize their financial situations. "We've helped our community make the right financial decisions for 50 years. Today's constant changes in technology and finances impact our members more powerfully than ever and make it all the more imperative that Sandia Area partner with our members to help them grab the advantages and negotiate the obstacles. We also have a commitment to the communities where our members live. We will continue to do all that we can to improve our community for us and for our children," he continued. Sandia Area FCU has nearly 40,000 members and more than $228 million in assets.