L-R: Patti Nitterhouse, Board Secretary, Franklin County Visitors Bureau; Janet Pollard, Executive
Director, FCVB and Brad Warner, President/CEO, Patriot Federal Credit Union.
Patriot Federal Credit Union President/CEO, Brad Warner, was awarded the Community Impact Award by the Franklin County Visitors Bureau at their recent Ben Franklin birthday celebration event held at the FCVB, in Chambersburg. Warner received the award, the first ever given by the FCVB, in recognition of the credit union’s support of community events and organizations, as well as his leadership and financial support, helping to stop the 135-foot Transource high voltage powerline project from harming the County’s landscape, watershed, agriculture and scenic views.
“Without Brad’s and Patriot’s support, we would have had to fundraise all of last year and into 2023 to cover costs involved in defeating the Transource project,” said Patti Nitterhouse, Board Secretary, FCVB. And equally important is that Brad and Patriot have repeatedly given to the communities of Franklin County. Their support spans every facet of our community, to include festivals, community events, libraries, food banks, downtown organizations, education scholarships, historic and environmental organizations and help for the homeless.”
In receiving the Community Impact Award, in the lobby of the FCVB 11/30 Visitors Center that had been transformed into a colonial tavern for Ben Franklin’s birthday, Warner said, “In my more than 40 years of working in banking, I have never found a community quite like Franklin County. It’s a special place where people come together to make things happen. Thank you for this award, it’s a great honor.”
Warner became President/CEO of Patriot in 2015. During this time Patriot expanded its branch network from 6 to 10 locations, completed a successful merger with Neighbors First Federal Credit Union, and expanded the organization’s community charter footprint into Frederick County, MD and the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia – Berkeley, Jefferson, and Morgan Counties. Patriot’s assets have grown from $510 million to more than $1 Billion, and membership has grown from just over 51,000 to nearly 85,000.
Warner has recently announced plans to retire in early 2023. He has spent over 43 years in financial services, 32 of those years in the credit union movement and has been a Chief Executive Officer for over 30 years.
In addition the Warner’s Community Impact Award, the FCVB also presented the Cumberland Valley Breast Care Alliance with a $7,000 check. The donation came from proceeds raised at the 2022 Franklin County Festival of Trees fundraising event. And finally, the FCVB presented the Franklin County Certified Tourism Ambassador (CTA) of the Year award to Heather McEndree, Executive Director of the Cumberland School of Music, for her efforts in promoting activities, events and community spirit in Franklin County.