Harrisburg, PA (October 6, 2023) – Rick Long, PSECU’s Chief Information Officer, was named the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) Professional of the Year at the CUNA Operations and Member Experience Council Conference in Denver, Colorado, on October 6, 2023.
Long has been with PSECU for 40 years. For 30 of those 40 years, he has led an in-house digital development team responsible for the introduction of digital banking in the early ’90s. These technologies evolved into Internet and mobile banking beginning in 2000. Since then, his leadership has continued to keep PSECU at the forefront of “digital-first banking,” the foundation of PSECU’s banking model.
“I was thrilled to learn that Rick had been selected as the CUNA Professional of the Year,” remarked George Rudolph, PSECU President & CEO. “Rick’s many accomplishments certainly deserve to be celebrated. His leadership has ensured that PSECU is able to provide our members with optimal banking experiences in the digital age. The credit union is a better place because of the impact he has had during his career.”
While a great technician and strategist, Long also has passion for leadership, employee development, and mentorship. It is, as he has been known to say, his “greatest joy.” As recently as this year, he introduced an innovative “job swapping” program in the technology, operations, and payment functions at PSECU. This program is aimed at providing challenging and enriching professional development opportunities for his team.
Countless professionals have benefited from Long’s dedication to employee development.
Beyond work, Long is devoted to his family and has long served on the board of United Cerebral Palsy of Central Pennsylvania, including as a past Board Chair. He also volunteers at Bethesda Mission in Harrisburg, PA, as well as with the Special Olympics of Pennsylvania for the Capital Region. Long is a CUNA Technology Council member and a past CUES Technology Award winner.
He received his bachelor's and master's degrees from Duquesne University in Information Technology and Organizational Leadership, respectively.
Professionally, Long is a member of ISACA, the CUNA Technology Council, the PSCU Advisory Board, and the Corelation Advisory Board. He also held the designation of a Certified Information Security Manager.
“Having dedicated four decades to the ever-evolving financial services industry, I am truly humbled to receive the CUNA Professional of the Year award,” said Long. “Leading a dynamic technology, operations, and payments team has been a privilege, and witnessing the industry’s transformations has been enlightening. Yet, amidst all the technical and non-technical projects, my greatest joy has come from servicing and mentoring the next generation of industry leaders.”
Long continued, “this award is a testament to the incredible individuals I’ve had the honor of working with, and it fuels my passion to continue guiding and shaping the future of our field.”