Suncoast CU’s Longest Tenured Employee to Retire After 46 Years
After an entire career spent at Suncoast, Cindy Helton announces her retirement.
On Sept. 1, 1976, the Bee Gees’ “You Should Be Dancing” was the number one song in the U.S. On that same day, Cindy Helton walked, and possibly danced, into the Tampa, Fla.-based Suncoast Credit Union as a student intern from Tampa Bay Technical High School. Forty-six years later, Helton will retire from Suncoast ($15.7 billion in assets, 1,082,957 members) as the executive director of the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation.
Helton is, by far, the longest tenured employee of Suncoast. On Friday, Helton will retire from the credit union – the only place she’s ever worked for her entire career.
According to a statement from the credit union, Helton began as an intern and over the years served in multiple roles across Suncoast. In 2014 Helton took over the Foundation’s leadership role.
Helton has played an instrumental role in Suncoast’s philanthropic efforts and community impact, according to the credit union. During her tenure as the Foundation’s leader, she has been able to distribute more than $26 million in funds into the communities served by the credit union.
“It has been my personal joy to serve in this role and to meet the people who carry out the works that we help fund,” Helton said. “I will always remember the faces of the children, the gratitude of those who understand and explain the need for the funds and especially for a job that sees the importance of being a true community servant.”
“It pains us all to bid farewell to Cindy,” Kevin Johnson, president/CEO of Suncoast, said. “She brings a high level of energy to the role, and she cares deeply about the work of the Foundation. She also has a great understanding of our history and growth, since she has been here the longest. We hate to lose her, but we’re also humbled and grateful for her service to those we serve.”
According to Helton, she plans to spend her retirement “reflecting and relaxing” while spending more time with her granddaughter.
Suncoast Youth Outreach Manager Kourtney Berry has been promoted to executive director of the Foundation and will take over on Monday, Dec. 19.