The $347 million, 39,000-member Heritage Family Credit Union in Rutland, Vt., announced Tuesday that President/CEO Ron Hance is planning to retire this fall after 36 years of service.

Hance took over the $2 million credit union with its three employees at one branch in 1978 after serving as a volunteer board member beginning in 1967, HFCU said in its announcement. It now has more than 145 employees at nine branches, as well as two student credit unions and the Ron Hance Operations Center.

Hance has also been a leader in his local and the global credit union communities, including on the board of the World Council of Credit Unions, the Vermont Credit Union League and CUNA. He also has been active with the NCUF and is in CUES Hall of Fame, and has been a trustee with both College of St. Joseph's and the Rutland Regional Medical Center.

A search committee has been formed to seek his successor and he plans to stay on until the process is completed, expected this fall, the board said.

“The growth and accomplishments comes as a result of the talented staff, Board of Directors, other committee members and mostly the membership itself,” Hance said in the announcement. “I look forward to retirement and leave confident of the continued success that the organization will have.”

“Ron Hance has been, for many years, the symbol of the credit union movement of people helping people,” said Thomas O'Brien, HFCU board chairman.

Hance said his retirement plans include more traveling with his wife, Marsha.