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Port Elgin"s Meridian Credit Union Manager, Erin Zorzi, is retiring!

Erin Zorzi, Manager of Meridian Credit Union in Saugeen Shores, is retiring after 34 years.

With a career that started in the summer of 1977 as a university student part-time teller, Zorzi worked in virtually every position in the branch before becoming a full-time employee.

In 2005, she assisted through the transition of the merger between HEPCOE Credit Union and Niagara Credit Union into today's Meridian Credit Union.

"Meridian's values fit perfectly with my own love for helping people achieve their financial goals," explains Zorzi, "and, therefore, I feel a real sense of loyalty."

Reflecting on her many years in banking, Zorzi recalls when bank ledgers were handwritten, when Ontario Hydro employees received their 'paper' pay cheques every Thursday, when ATMs arrived, when mutual funds began to be offered in the branch, when tele-banking began and, finally, when on-line banking arrived.

This is Zorzi's 10th year as Branch Manager of Port Elgin Meridian and, under her leadership, the branch has more than doubled its portfolio, won the Saugeen Shores Chamber of Commerce Award for Customer Service and is recognized for outstanding financial and volunteer contributions to the health and well being of the Saugeen Shores community.

As part of her community involvement, Zorzi has held several positions with a number of Boards and organizations, including Rotary International, the Chamber of Commerce, Elgin Place West Non-Profit Housing, Toastmasters, Order of the Eastern Star, and the Southport Chapter of the Canadian Cancer Society. In addition, in 2008, she was recognized for her efforts with the International Women's Day 'Woman of Distinction Award'.

Starting the next chapter of her life, Zorzi is planning to begin a financial consulting business, where she will use her banking experience and expertise as a certified financial planner (CFP) to guide people to financial success.

She also intends however, to continue with her participation in Rotary, the Saugeen Memorial Hospital Foundation, Saugeen Shores Business Enterprise Centre Business, Faith Lutheran Church, and the Advantage Business Consortium.

"Retirement will allow me the flexibility to spend more time with my family," says Zorzi, "and I am  looking forward to it ... especially since becoming a grandma for the first time!"

Zorzi's husband, Paul, recently retired from Bruce Power and their son Mark and his wife Kristyn live in Port Elgin while their daughter Michelle and her husband, Dan, live in Hamilton with Zorzi's one-year-old granddaughter, Natasha.

Zorzi has lived in a wide variety of locations including Manitoba, Pakistan and Taiwan, but says, " I am very proud to call Saugeen Shores home."

Zorzi's last official day is April 30th.

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Wednesday, March 30, 2011