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AACUC announce 2014 Pete Crear Lifetime Achievement Award recipient
(March 12, 2014) — Bert J. Hash, Jr., was announced as the 2014 Pete Crear Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient during the African-American Credit Union Coalitions’ (AACUC) Networking Meeting and Reception. The event was held February 25, during the CUNA Governmental Affairs Conference (GAC).
Hash was selected because of his commitment to the credit union philosophy and dedication to moving the credit union world forward at the local, regional, national and international levels.
Hash has led Municipal Employees Credit Union (MECU) of Baltimore for more than 15 years. During that time, the credit union grew from more than 50,000 members and $435 million in assets to more than 100,000 members and $1.2 billion in assets.
His career has been and continues to be one of commitment to employees, members and community “not for charity, not for profit, but for SERVICE.” In his first meeting with employees, Hash told staff that he would take care of them and they would take care of the members, simply “people helping people.”
In 2012, Hash was named the 2012 Outstanding Chief Executive by the Credit Union Executives Society (CUES). He was also name the 2007 CEO of the Year by the Credit Union Times and was inducted into the CUES Hall of Fame in 2008. Hash is a past Chairman and Vice Chairman of the AACUC Board of Directors.
Hash is a champion for causes, not only in the Baltimore area, but outside of the United States. During the Haiti crises caused by the earthquake, not only did the MECU help as an organization, Hash and his wife Joan provided personal individual support to the cause. Hash has also been instrumental in spearheading the Capital Credit Union in Scotland partnership.
The award will be presented to Hash at a dinner in his honor Friday, August 1, during the 16th Annual AACUC Conference in Memphis, Tennessee.