“Tom Dorety's commitment to helping Suncoast meet its full potential in improving members' lives has been remarkable,” Suncoast Board Chair Velia Pedrero said. “What's even more impressive is his steadfast dedication to the credit union movement overall, grounded in firm convictions about what a financial institution should bring to its members, its employees and its community at large.”

Pedrero said the board has launched a new CEO search and expects to announce a decision by the fall.

“Tom's leadership on the local, state and national levels has changed the credit union movement for the better,” Patrick La Pine, president/CEO of the League of Southeastern Credit Unions, said. “He has never lost sight of the cooperative model or spirit, and the culture he fostered during his time at Suncoast strongly reflects this. I've really enjoyed working side-by-side with Tom, on behalf of LSCU, to strengthen the system overall.”

LSCU also announced Dorety is the recipient of the 2016 LSCU Distinguished Service Award, which will be presented in June at the Southeast Credit Union Conference & Expo. As a recipient of the honor, Dorety will be inducted into the Credit Union House Hall of Leaders in Washington.

Dorety chaired the CUNA Structure and Governance Task Force that recommended last September to the national trade association board that the longstanding dual membership requirement be eliminated and credit unions be given membership choice in CUNA and/or a league.

The CUNA board rejected the recommendation, which sparked an industry-wide firestorm and eventually led the board to reconsider the issue. In March, more than 90% of CUNA's members voted in favor of historic bylaw changes that included eliminating the dual membership requirement in 2017.

Dorety was also a member of the Filene Research Institute's board from 1998 to 2005, serving as chair for three years and on the CUNA board from 2001 to 2011, serving as chair from 2008 to 2009.

He currently chairs the MEMBERS Trust Company and serves on the boards of the National Credit Union Foundation and the CO-OP Financial Services Network.

“It has been an honor to serve our members and help Suncoast become such an integral part of our communities,” Dorety said. “I am confident that the board will select the right individual to lead Suncoast to an even brighter future.”