WETHERSFIELD, Conn. – Over a more than four-decade period, Dorothy "Dot" Sullivan has seen a number of changes at Dutch Point Credit Union, especially since she was the very first employee to work there. The president/CEO of the $146 million credit union recently announced that she will retire July 31 after 43 years of service. Sullivan won't go too far-she said she will continue to serve the credit union as a volunteer on the board of directors. Francis Proto has been named the new CEO. Proto has been with the credit union for 13 years and previously held the title of executive vice president and CFO. Well known in the industry, Sullivan represented Connecticut credit unions on both local and national levels. She served on the boards of the Constitution Corporate Federal Credit Union, the Connecticut Credit Union Association, the league insurance agency, and the New England chapter of the Credit Union Executives Society, serving as its president for five years. Additionally, she served on many other league committees including capital planning, corporate planning task force, future technology, governmental affairs, legislative committee and personnel committee. Sullivan said above all else, she will miss members and staff at Dutch Point. "I look back at my career and remember the days when we were able to help our members to save, buy their car, purchase their home, put their kids through school and reach their financial dreams-all in the cooperative spirit of people helping people," she said. Dutch Point was founded in 1960 by the men's club of Hartford Electric Light Company on Sheldon Street in Hartford. The credit union went from a one-person office in Hartford to a financial institution whose main office is located in Wethersfield, with branches in Waterford, Niantic and Berlin. It currently serves more than 17,000 members. Sullivan said she is looking forward to her retirement and will cherish the "many, many fond memories" at the credit union. "I have watched the credit union grow from a strictly savings and loan for its members to a full financial service institution," she said. "To have a career as fulfilling and rewarding as mine, defined by helping people, is a dream come true." [email protected]