Chris Conway, President/CEO of Educational Systems FCU announces retirement In 2023
GREENBELT, MD (July 13, 2022) — Chris Conway, President/CEO of Educational Systems Federal Credit Union, has announced his intention to retire in early 2023. Conway joined Educational Systems FCU in 1998 as the Chief Operating Officer, and in 2007 he became the Credit Union’s CEO. Under Conway’s leadership, Educational Systems FCU has grown from $230 million in assets to almost $1.3 billion.
“It has been my privilege to serve our Credit Union and the education community for decades. We have continued to grow by focusing on our vision to be the premier financial services provider for the education community,” said Conway regarding his announcement. “I am grateful to have been part of the Educational Systems FCU team for so many years. Our outstanding volunteers and employees make a difference every day and we have accomplished so much together.”
Conway’s credit union career started at Montgomery County Teachers FCU in 1989 where he worked in a variety of capacities and executive roles. After becoming CEO of Educational Systems FCU, he led the merger of these two education credit unions in 2012. In the credit union community, he has served as President and a member of the Board of Directors of the Education Credit Union Council and on the Board of Directors of the MD|DC Credit Union Association where he held various leadership positions including Treasurer, Vice Chair and Suburban Chapter President. Conway also represented credit unions on the Community Depository Institution Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and the Maryland State Department of Education’s Financial Literacy Education Advisory Council. He was awarded with the MD|DC Credit Union Association’s Judith A. Burgin Memorial Professional of the Year Award in both 2011 and 2015.
The Board of Directors of Educational Systems FCU has named Girado Smith, CPA, their current Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, as the Credit Union’s next President/CEO. Smith has been with the Credit Union for 24 years. Upon the announcement, Smith noted, “I am honored to have been named as the Credit Union’s next President/CEO. Educational Systems FCU has a track record of excellence and I intend to build upon our commitment to serving the education community.”
Board Chair, Alonia Sharps, remarked, “We are proud of our exceptional performance under Chris Conway’s leadership, and we look forward to continued growth and success with Girado Smith in the years to come.”
About Educational Systems Federal Credit Union
Educational Systems FCU is a member-owned, not-for-profit financial cooperative, founded in 1955 to serve the education community. With $1.3 billion in assets, 13 branches and 85,000 members, the Credit Union strives to make financial wellness and stability accessible for all the communities they serve. The Support Education Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) established by Educational Systems FCU in 2017, supports students and school employees through charitable giving programs. Learn more at esfcu.org and SupportEducation.org.
