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State’s Top Credit Union Professional Award given to Enola resident
HARRISBURG, PA (May 27, 2014) — The Pennsylvania Credit Union Association (PCUA) awarded Kipp Stecher of Enola and Retired President and CEO of AmeriChoice Federal Credit Union headquartered in Mechancisburg with the William W. Pratt Lifetime Achievement Award for the 2014 Credit Union Professional of the Year. The award was presented during the gala banquet at the PCUA 80th Annual Convention & Exposition on May 20 in Atlantic City, New.Jersey.
At the end of 2013, Stecher retired as President and CEO of AmeriChoice Federal Credit Union headquartered in Mechanicsburg after 34 years of service at that credit union.
Stecher’s career in the credit union movement began in 1979 when he was named Manager of IBM Pennsylvania Central FCU, a credit union formed in 1970 by a small group of IBM employees that served the central Pennsylvania area facility. When Stecher started, the credit union had only six employees and very basic services.
Under Stecher’s leadership, the credit union expanded from a single sponsor to one with multiple select employee groups and changed its name to AmeriChoice Federal Credit Union.
Today, AmeriChoice now has seven branches, 65 employees, and serves a four-county community charter. AmeriChoice has more than 15,000 members and assets exceeding $170 million.
Within the credit union movement, Stecher served on the board of directors for the Pennsylvania Credit Union Service Centers, Inc., from 2000 to 2008 and served as Vice Chair from 2005-2008.
Stecher is an admired leader throughout the movement and within the community. The most telling sign of his dedication to the credit union philosophy is that both of his children have chosen to pursue careers within the credit union movement. The ability to pass on his legacy of People Helping People is the biggest demonstration of his devotion.
“We were pleased to recognize Kipp Stecher’s career and commitment to the credit union movement during our annual convention,” said PCUA President & CEO Patrick Conway. “We wish Kipp all the best in his retirement.”
The Professional of the Year Award is presented in memory of William W. Pratt, who for more than three decades worked on behalf of credit unions. When Pratt began working at the Association in 1942, there were 550 credit unions in Pennsylvania – when he retired in 1965, there were nearly 1,300 credit unions in the Commonwealth.
Credit unions are financial cooperatives that provide affordable financial services to help their owner/members. The Harrisburg-based Pennsylvania Credit Union Association is a trade association that provides legislative, promotional, educational, and operational support for nearly 400 credit unions in Pennsylvania. These credit unions have assets in excess of $38 billion and serve more than 3.8 million members. For additional information about credit unions or to find a credit union near you, visit www.ibelong.org.
Photo caption: Kipp Stecher (center) receiving the William W. Pratt Lifetime Achievement Award for the 2014 Credit Union Professional of the Year from PCUA President & CEO Patrick Conway and PCUA Board Chair Maria LaVelle.