First Commonwealth exec to become first woman president of Maryland credit union

Tricia C. Szurgot, executive vice president and COO of First Commonwealth Federal Credit Union in Trexlertown is leaving her post, and the state to take on an exciting new role in Maryland. 

Szurgot will become the first ever female president of Securityplus Federal Credit Union in Baltimore. 

“We are excited to have Tricia take on the role of CEO, after a unanimous vote by our board of directors. She is the right person to lead us into the future.” said Carolyn A. Brooks, chairperson of the credit union. “As the first woman to hold this top leadership role at Securityplus FCU, Tricia has the perfect combination of experience, leadership, credentials, integrity, passion and vision. She has spent her 30+ year career, including 15+ years in senior executive roles in the credit union industry, re-imagining business potential to help organizations preserve, protect and build future-focused and scalable growth strategies, business models and cultures. She is a proven, engaging and highly respected leader in and out of the credit union industry and we look forward to her bringing her vision for Securityplus FCU to life.” 

During her more than five years with First Commonwealth FCU, the credit union said Szurgot was the driving force behind the organization’s strategic business, brand and cultural transformation, nearly doubling their asset size to more than $1 billion, implementing new mission, vision and core values. 

She worked towards building and opening seven new branches and a new 81,000-square-foot corporate headquarters with income-generating tenant spaces. 

She founded its award-winning Corporate Social Responsibility, Financial Wellness & Empowerment, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, WE Thrive Foundation and BankOn/Cities for Financial Empowerment (CFE) initiatives and, most recently, developing and leading its non-organic growth strategy. 

She was also recognized in 2018 as a Lehigh Valley Business Woman of Influence.