Bert Hash Jr. plans to retire in June after 17 years as president/CEO of the $1.3 billion MECU of Baltimore, the credit union announced Monday.

Hash will be succeeded by Gary J. Martin, the 106,600-member credit union's SVP and chief lending officer. Martin joined MECU in 1972 as a loan officer.

 “The board had a number of specific qualities they wanted in the new CEO,” said Herman Williams Jr., board chairman at MECU. “We were looking for vision and continued implementation of new technology affecting financial services, but of utmost importance to the entire board was a commitment to MECU's culture of giving back to the community.”

“The board felt that Gary Martin brought together all these qualities,” Williams said in the MECU announcement.

Hash received the Pete Crear Lifetime Achievement Award earlier this year from the African-American Credit Union Coalition and was named the 2007 Trailblazer CEO of the Year by CU Times.

In other credit union people news:

EAST

The $789 million Charter Oak Federal Credit Union in Groton, Conn., named Michael Ballirano manager of its new branch to open in June at its new headquarters complex in Waterford, Conn. He currently is manager of Charter Oak's Montville and Niantic branches and joined the credit union in 2011.

The $618 million St. Mary's Credit Union in Marlborough, Mass., promoted Thomas Seymour to EVP of lending. He joined the credit union in 1980. Melissa Eagles was promoted to vice president of real estate lending. She was hired in 2007 as assistant vice president, real estate lending. John Hendrikse was promoted to vice president of indirect lending. He joined St Mary's in 2011 as assistant vice president of indirect lending. Heidi Pierce was promoted to assistant vice president for the member service center. She joined the credit union in 2006 as a member service representative.

Peter Bruno, chairman emeritus of the $384 million Financial Resources Federal Credit Union in Bridgewater, N.J., was named to the CUES Volunteer Hall of Fame. The CUES Volunteer Hall of Fame is a lifetime achievement award given to ensure outstanding directors are always remembered. The credit union board nominated Bruno to the board and administrative employees gathered together to congratulate him on his achievement.

MIDWEST

The $2.5 billion Michigan State University Federal Credit Union in East Lansing named Deidre Davis its new vice president of marketing and sales. She has more than 10 years of marketing and member experience, most recently as chief marketing officer at the $464 million Notre Dame Federal Credit Union in South Bend, Ind.

The $501 million Consumers Credit Union in Kalamazoo, Mich., elected Brad Lawton as its new board chairperson. Rod Adams is vice chair. Patrick O'Connor is secretary. Kim Shook is treasurer. Directors are Brent Bassett, Kevin McPherson. Nick Zafer is associate director.

The Nebraska Credit Union League and the $78 million People's Choice Federal Credit Union in Lincoln, Neb., said longtime volunteer and legal counsel Jim Cada was inducted into the Credit Union House Hall of Leaders in Washington, D.C., in recognition of his dedicated service to legislative and political activities on behalf of Nebraska's credit unions and credit unions nationwide. Cada is currently the league's Political Action Committee chair. He joined the credit union in 1970 as a member and has been its legal counsel since the 1970s.

 WEST

The $195 million Heritage Community Credit Union in Sacramento, Calif., named  Ed Turk its CEO effective June 2. He succeeds Celeste Martinez, a 40-year industry veteran who plans to retire in July. Turk has more than 20 years of financial industry experience, most recently as EVP/COO for the $509 million iQ Credit Union in Vancouver, Wash.

The $6.5 billion First Tech Federal Credit Union in Mountain View, Calif., hired Jeremy Walker as its new SVP for mortgage lending. He has 18 years of executive mortgage lending expertise, including 12 years as an SVP with the Bank of America retail mortgage group in Virginia and later the Pacific Northwest.

The $131 million River City Federal Credit Union in San Antonio named Michael Quintanilla its new vice president of finance and CFO. He has more than 14 years of experience in treasury management with the U.S. Air Force and prior to that worked in credit union accounting.

Sylvia Lyon, the retiring president/CEO of the Credit Union Association of New Mexico, was inducted into the Credit Union House Hall of Leaders in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 25. The honor is for credit union leaders whose commitment has inspired others and made a significant impact on the credit union movement.  U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) unveiled a plaque in the Hall of Leaders, noting Lyon's accomplishments during her tenure as head of the association. She joined CUANM in 1994 and became CEO in 2003.

VENDORS

BALANCE named Kathryn Davis to succeed Joanne Budde as CEO of the San Francisco-based provider of financial education and counseling programs for credit unions and their members nationwide. Davis currently is SVP at the $823 million Xceed Financial Credit Union in El Segundo, Calif., and takes on her new role May 1. Budde founded BALANCE in 1997 and announced her retirement in September.

Bob Kigin, sales executive at CUNA Mutual Group in Madison, Wis., since 2006, is retiring on May 30 after more than 32 years of service with the company. Kigin joined CUNA Mutual Group in 1982 as a group coverage representative trainee in St. Paul, Minn., and was promoted to group sales manager in 1990. In 1993, he was one of the first account vice presidents to be appointed under restructuring and has also served as executive group representative and account relationship manager. Kigin also is retiring after nine years of board service at the $398 million City & County Credit Union in St. Paul.

Octant Business Services in Littleton, Mass., hired Lawrence Murphy as its new president/CEO. Murphy had been commercial examinations manager at TD Bank and prior to that spent 19 years with Santander/Fleet Bank, most recently as SVP of commercial real estate workout and director of risk and administration. He succeeds the retiring Bob Cipriani at Octant, which is owned by nine credit unions.