Trecia Marchand got an early start on her path to being a Credit Union Hero. She’s been a credit union member “ since I was a little kid,” she said.

Her father signed the Connecticut native up for her first account when she was just a baby. And throughout her life, her local credit union proved a vital resource.

Trecia Marchand“When it was time for me to buy my first car, or thinking about [how to save for school] or, in my case, when I was getting married and needed help to understand my personal finances, they were the ones who helped me,” she explained.

It was those positive experiences that helped inspire her to embark on a career in financial services several years ago, after having experienced a wide variety of jobs, including running her own beauty salon.

“All the different types of jobs that I’ve done, I think really help me to connect [with our customers] at the credit union. I feel like I’m a real connector of people, and that’s what I enjoy,” she said.

After joining Pioneer Valley FCU as a branch manager in 2006, Marchand rose quickly through the ranks, learning credit unions inside and out through terms as director of marketing and business development, and as vice president for member services, before taking her current role on the executive team in 2012 as vice president of marketing and business development.

Along the way, Marchand balanced all that with returning to school to obtain first her bachelor’s degree in business management and then her MBA in entrepreneurial studies, both at Baypath College. Her experience at Baypath inspired her to give back to that institution, where she recently completed a three-year term on the college’s board of trustees as an alumni representative.

Marchand knew she wanted to be in executive leadership, and Baypath helped her not only meet, but exceed her professional goals. It’s “a very supportive environment … They’re about helping people to really find their path,” she said, adding that she wanted to help other students achieve the same success.

That success has been evident at Pioneer Valley, where she’s helped double the credit union’s membership base, as well as increasing its loan portfolio be over 50 percent, implementing innovative programs like “CU on the Go,” a mobile branch that travels to various locations in Pioneer Valley to help members bank more conveniently.

“Trecia lives the credit union motto of ‘people helping people,’” said Anabela Grenier, president of Pioneer Valley, in her nomination of Marchand for a Credit Union Hero Award.

“I think this is one of the best times for credit unions,” said Marchand. “We are an industry that will help you to make your life better. We’re growing as an industry – people realize we’re a smart choice.”

When’s not at work, Marchand is busy keeping up with her 14-year-old son, an avid runner and wide receiver for his high school football team. “He runs everywhere. I tell him, you’re too big to be running everywhere!” she laughs. But in all seriousness, she said, “Being a parent is one of my most rewarding jobs. Everything that I do, it’s to make sure he knows everything is possible if you work hard.”

Trecia Marchand

by Colleen M. Sullivan time to read: 2 min
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