ACE Awards
Amazing Commitment to Excellence
The ACE Award recognizes employees who exceed expectations by going above and beyond in their work. Please join us in congratulating members of our team for winning the ACE Award and going the extra mile!
Jason G.
Support Staff
Jason is a strong believer in assisting the lending team and providing support to them. He took the time to research every exception for 2025, sending letters to hundreds of members in order to help mitigate and lower the overall exception count. He consistently helps the frontline team clear their corrections and is available for questions and offers suggestions to achieve lower corrections when possible.
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Kayla H.
Support Staff
Kayla has consistently demonstrated exceptional initiative, teamwork, and growth, going well beyond the expectations of her role. She independently developed a comprehensive Cyber Knowledge Center, led critical marketing and TEAM program efforts during a prolonged staff absence, and seamlessly took on additional responsibilities while maintaining her regular duties. Her positive attitude, dedication, and willingness to step in wherever needed make her a true asset to the organization and a model for her peers.
Gail E.
Retail Branch
Gail shows up everyday with a smile and ready to provide great member service, whether its covering on the teller line, answering phones or covering at other branches, all while making sure her own work is done. She also makes time to assist with financial champions, she takes pride in doing these events and truly loves making a difference. She is a great asset to our branch and she truly puts her team and members first to make sure things are running smoothly.
Chris B.
Support Staff
Chris has consistently gone above and beyond to support his teammates and protect our members. From taking the initiative to learn and configure the first Mac device on our network to helping prevent an elderly member from falling victim to a scam, Chris demonstrates both technical expertise and genuine care. His dedication to solving problems thoroughly, supporting coworkers, and ensuring systems run smoothly makes him an invaluable member of the team.
Christie N.
Retail Branch
Christie is a dedicated and versatile team member who consistently goes above and beyond to support both her coworkers and members. She balances multiple responsibilities with ease, rotating between the teller line, her office, and even assisting the contact center, while maintaining a positive, can-do attitude. Her willingness to teach, her exceptional performance, and her commitment to helping the branch succeed make her an invaluable part of the team.
Michelle G.
Retail Branch
Michelle is an outstanding team member who exemplifies dedication, versatility, and kindness in everything she does. She seamlessly balances helping members at the teller line and in her office while also assisting the contact center and supporting her teammates. Her willingness to teach, her positive attitude, and her commitment to excellence have made her an essential part of the branch’s continued success.
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Jesse R.
Support Staff
Jesse consistently demonstrates excellence through his initiative, creativity, and dedication. He quickly and skillfully created custom icons for our phone system on short notice, going above and beyond expectations. His leadership in the credit union industry was recently recognized with the prestigious 2025 Outstanding Young Professional award, highlighting his impact both within our organization and NY State.
Jake C.
Retail Branch
Jake consistently goes above and beyond, showing exceptional dedication and teamwork. He helped prevent a major fraud loss, volunteered to cover multiple branches, stayed late to support coworkers, and even walked five miles to work after a car breakdown. His actions reflect a strong commitment to his team and the organization.
Tonya L.
Retail Branch
Tonya consistently goes above and beyond in her role by promoting security awareness, team development, and high performance. She implements creative and proactive methods, like randomly quizzing staff on member descriptions and organizing product challenges, to train and engage her team while enhancing safety protocols. Her dedication to both her coworkers' success and member protection makes her a strong leader and a valuable asset to First Heritage.
Jared M.
Retail Branch
Jared exemplifies an amazing commitment to excellence through his dedication to helping others. Whether stepping in to refinance a flood victim’s vehicle loan, preventing a member from falling victim to a costly scam, or offering kind support like helping an elderly woman to her car, Jared consistently goes above and beyond. His numerous Member XP awards and reputation for assisting both members and colleagues reflect his exceptional care, vigilance, and generosity, making a meaningful difference in the lives of those he serves.
Rachel V.
Support Staff
Rachel consistently goes above and beyond to support her team and serve members, often volunteering to travel between branches to deliver critical supplies or fill in on the teller line without being asked. Her flexibility, positive attitude, and lead-by-example approach have made her a respected team player and emerging leader within the organization.