DUNEDIN, Fla. (March 30, 2022) – Achieva Credit Union has named Susan Lacey as Regional Market President, giving her responsibility for an area that stretches along Florida’s west coast from Bradenton to Fort Myers and Estero. The promotion comes as Achieva puts an even stronger focus on Southwest Florida and continues to expand its branch network.
Lacey’s responsibilities as Market President expand her focus more to strategy and growth initiatives with particular goals on increasing visibility of Achieva’s “Banking for Good” benefits, and on refining how branches of the future will play a role in their local communities.
Achieva has been steadily growing its Southwest Florida presence since establishing operations south of the Sunshine Skyway with its merger with Sarasota Coastal Credit Union in 2010. Since then, the credit union has steadily grown southward, and the region south of the Skyway now accounts for 35 percent of Achieva’s membership, with 11 branches in Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte and Lee Counties.
The credit union is now eying possible growth south into Naples and Collier County with an approach that focuses on quality customer service, community involvement tied to top-notch technology and personal support for its individual and business members. Achieva is currently investigating two potential locations in the Collier County area.
“Susan Lacey’s long-standing record of excellence with Achieva made her promotion a natural transition,” said Achieva Chief Operations Officer Jennifer Galley. “As we continue to engage with more communities down into Southwest Florida, Susan’s efforts will ensure we have a strong leader to further develop and grow in those markets.”
Lacey first came to Achieva through Achieva’s merger with Sarasota Coastal Credit Union. She became a Regional Market Vice President for Achieva in 2012, responsible for overseeing branches in Sarasota and Manatee counties to ensure successful operations and growth.
During Lacey’s 10 years as Market Vice President at Achieva, she was responsible for a number of successes, including leading the credit union’s efforts in Manatee, Sarasota and Charlotte counties through challenges created by the pandemic.
As other financial institutions were closing locations and turning away new customers, Lacey was working the frontlines, making it possible for her teams to not only serve existing members, but also gain new ones, such as businesses who turned to Achieva for help with Payment Protection Program (PPP) loans. In Lacey’s market, Achieva served more than 760 small businesses through PPP.
“I love building relationships, and attribute much of my success to that passion,” Lacey said. “Learning what our current and future members need and value is made possible through relationships. We know peoples’ banking needs and habits have changed, especially in recent years, and we’re examining how we can keep driving value at the branch level, particularly as we look at future growth.”
Lacey’s success over the past decade has also included major operational achievements such as leading Achieva’s acquisition of Calusa Bank and overseeing the conversion of Calusa’s Charlotte County branches, as well as expansion into Lee County. In addition, Lacey helped establish stronger ties with the education community by creating internships for high school students and technical schools, and by opening the Suncoast Technical College Learning Loft at the institution’s Sarasota campus, which provides technology and financial literacy resources to students.
About Achieva
Achieva Credit Union was founded in 1937 in Pinellas County. Today, it is rated a Superior 5-Star credit union by Bauer Financial and has more than $2.4 billion in assets and 22 branches serving more than 153,000 members. Anyone who lives or works in Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Monroe, Pasco, Pinellas, and Sarasota counties, or whose family member has an Achieva Credit Union account can bank with Achieva. For more information, visit www.achievacu.com.