Etowah Valley Federal Credit Union announces the retirement of their President & CEO Veda Hilton. Ms. Hilton will have completed 40 years with Etowah Valley FCU and has been President/CEO since 1981. She has been through manual posting, batch, an on-line system and presently operating in-house. I've come from the archaic period to high tech, she laughingly stated. The threat of Y2K was no threat to me. I began my career with a pencil and paper." She has seen the credit union be under complete sponsor subsidy to being 100% self-supportive. She started her career inside the plant of then, Union Carbide Corporation in Cartersville. Since then, the Credit Union has built and occupied two different buildings. Their most recent building being the current location at 134 East Felton Road.
As well as serving very capably as CEO, Ms. Hilton also serves as a board member for Etowah Valley FCU. She has served as past President of the Mountain Empire Credit Union Chapter, has served on the board of the Georgia Credit Union League, and served several terms on the Georgia Credit Union Foundation Board. She has served as Chair of the Small Credit Union Advisory Committee. She has also served many appointed positions on the state level that include Director of the Georgia Credit Union Service Corporation, Georgia Credit Union League Audit Committee, Credit Union Development Policy Committee, and the Georgia Credit Union League Finance Task Force. In addition to these appointments, Mrs. Hilton has made herself available to other small credit union managers who might need assistance with developing services and policies.
Ms. Hilton has supported her local community by participating in March of Dimes, Children Miracle Network, collecting can goods for food banks, and support of the Flowering Branch Children Shelter. She is an active member of Wofford's Cross Roads Baptist Church where she teaches an adult Sunday school class, is the adult choir director, member of Women's Missionary Union, and serves on the Finance Committee.
Mrs. Hilton received the prestigious Moses C. Davis Professional of the year award in 2001. This award is widely recognized throughout the Georgia credit union movement. Mr. Davis helped found, lead and direct Atlanta Postal Credit Union. He was also instrumental in founding the Georgia Credit Union League and numerous other credit unions throughout the state. Introduced in 1985, the Moses C. Davis Award is a tribute to his tireless commitment to the credit union movement, and is presented to volunteers and professionals who personify our "People Helping People" philosophy.
Mrs. Hilton states, "I contribute my success to my staff who is the 'very best' in the state, to my husband, James, who has been my number one support person and has had to take up the reins at home so often when I was occupied at work, and my faith which has sustained me."
"I look forward to my next phase in life, spending much needed time with my husband, my two children and three grandchildren as well as spending time with my mother," continued Mrs. Hilton.
Etowah Valley FCU plans a retirement reception for Mrs. Hilton on August 12 at 12:15 p.m. at the Board Room of the Credit Union. The reception is open to both members and the community, to share well-wishes upon her retirement.
