Tina Sbrega, president and CEO of Gardner-based GFA Federal Credit Union, will retire next spring after 40 years at the credit union.

Sbrega will continue in her role as chair of Lighthouse Biz Solutions LLC., GFA’s wholly-owned subsidiary working with the legal cannabis industry. The board of directors has hired D. Hilton Associates to conduct a nationwide search for the next president and CEO, according to a statement from the search firm.

“The board would like to thank Tina for the significant contribution she has made to GFA Federal Credit Union over the past 40 years,” Jerry Bankowski, the board’s chief governance officer, said in the statement. “Her leadership and vision have helped the credit union achieve so many extraordinary things and her passion to help others has had such a positive impact on the lives of the members, the employees, the board, and our community. We wish Tina all the best for her retirement and success in all her future endeavors.”

Sbrega has worked in the financial industry for more than 45 years and joined GFA Federal Credit Union in 1980. She was promoted in 2009 from her position as president and chief operating officer to the role of president and CEO.

Under Sbrega’s leadership, GFA Federal Credit Union increased the number of branch locations and more than doubled its asset size to $600 million, according to the statement. GFA Federal Credit Union became the first credit union in the nation to purchase a stock-owned bank in 2012. GFA was the first financial institution in Massachusetts to provide banking services to the legal, licensed recreation and medicinal cannabis industry.

Sbrega was nominated for the Cooperative Credit Union Association’s 2020 Award of Excellence, and she was recently inducted into CCUA’s Hall of Fame. Sbrega has received numerous awards over the years for her innovation and community engagement.

“I have had such a tremendously rewarding career; it has been such a fulfilling experience to have had the privilege of serving as the leader of such a quality and forward-thinking organization,” Sbrega said. “I have been so fortunate to have had the support, trust and confidence of the board over the past 12 years to lead the credit union to what it has become, and I am so very grateful for the support of the management, our Better Banking team, and community.”