Tricia Szurgot, Chief Marketing & Retail Officer at First Commonwealth FCU Receives CMO of the Year Officers Award

BETHLEHEM, Pa., Jan. 8, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Tricia Szurgot, Chief Marketing & Retail Officer of First Commonwealth Federal Credit Union, was recently honored at an awards ceremony in New York City with the 2017 CMO of the Year Officers Award by The CMO Club.

The CMO Club Awards celebrate leaders in marketing and offers CMOs the opportunity to share insights that drive the industry forward. The CMO Officers Award is based on a "marketing executive's demonstrated ability to democratize the brand beyond the marketing department and lead the growth agenda for the company across functional areas." Szurgot has previously won eleven national awards for excellence in marketing, branding, and communications.

"This award recognizes the drive and commitment of the entire First Commonwealth team to adapt to an ever-changing marketplace and lead through innovation, teamwork, inspiration and a purpose-driven, people-centric philosophy," said Szurgot. "It's an honor to be recognized by my peers at The CMO Club for doing what I love and included with such an elite group of marketers from around the world."

The CMO Club Awards were established to celebrate the marketing industry's brightest leaders and to provide a forum to share their successes. As the only marketing awards program driven, voted on and decided entirely by an elite group of "peers only," the awards panel included CMO Club Chapter Presidents and key CMO Club members who determined the winners. While the financial services industry was represented among the winners, Szurgot was the only nominee and winner from the not-for-profit, credit union sector, bringing new visibility to the credit union industry.

Donna LoStocco, President/CEO of First Commonwealth Federal Credit Union, nominated Szurgot. LoStocco said, "Tricia is a natural born leader, which became evident the first time we met her. She has a compelling presence that exudes confidence, poise and professionalism. She is always positive even in the most stressful situations. Tricia came in and gave our team confidence as a true professional who would now take the lead. Within six weeks she had evaluated the team and reorganized each area, pitching to her peers the resources she would need to accomplish the organization's high growth goals. She quickly won the trust and confidence of her peers, the CEO and the board of directors."

Szurgot, a Berks County native and resident of Wyomissing, PA, joined First Commonwealth in February of 2017, bringing more than 25 years of marketing, communications, branding and strategy experience in various industries and global markets, as well as more than 15 years in senior leadership positions. She leads First Commonwealth's marketing, communications and member experience and is head of corporate social responsibility and The First Commonwealth FCU WE Thrive^® Foundation.

"The CMO Club is thrilled with the quality of all CMOs nominated and then selected as category winners for this year's CMO Awards voted on by their peers," said CMO Club Founder and CEO, Pete Krainik. "We are not only excited to honor their accomplishments and legacies, but also to continue to share their expertise and insights with other CMOs in The Club and the industry."

For more information on the awards program and category winners, go to: www.thecmoawards.com. For a full list of category finalists, go to www.thecmoclub.com/news-item/2017-cmo-awards-finalist/. 

ABOUT FIRST COMMONWEALTH FEDERAL CREDIT UNION   
First Commonwealth, based in Bethlehem, PA, is a leader in banking innovation and the largest credit union in the Greater Lehigh Valley. With eight financial center locations and a best in class digital banking center, First Commonwealth serves more than 57,000 members and 1,200 member companies in the Greater Lehigh Valley and beyond. As a member-owned, not-for-profit financial cooperative, First Commonwealth is a leader in the B2C and B2B financial services marketplace and has been committed to growth, innovation, technology and personal, friendly service since 1959. First Commonwealth has 170 employees and $700 million in assets and serves its membership through purpose-driven and mission-based values to help members prosper. First Commonwealth FCU is committed to giving back through their First Commonwealth FCU WE Thrive^® Foundation and Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives.www.firstcomcu.org

About The CMO Club
The CMO Club is a membership organization exclusively for senior marketing executives who want to meet, share and learn from each other. Fueled by inspiring local dinners, regional events, CMO Innovation Summits, virtual Roundtables and the Digital "Members-Only" Clubhouse, marketers provide and receive valuable insights from each other, in a "non-vendor-selling" environment. Working with the over 800 club members and best-in-class strategic partners, The CMO Club also addresses the top CMO challenges each month with thoughtfully curated content. Visit us at www.thecmoclub.com

SOURCE First Commonwealth Federal Credit Union