Financial Supermarkets, Inc. (FSI) proudly recognizes Richard Edwards, IT and Facilities Manager for Illinois Educators Credit Union, as the recipient of the 2024 Wingate Veteran of Distinction Award.
Named in honor of J. Alton Wingate, the visionary founder of FSI, this award seeks to honor exceptional individuals within the FSI community who have demonstrated valorous service in the United States armed forces, exhibited outstanding leadership, and continue to contribute significantly to the advancement of the financial industry sector and society at large.
Jody Dabrowski, CEO of Illinois Educators Credit Union, expressed her admiration for Richard, stating, “Rich is a hardworking, kind, compassionate individual who entered the army following high school. His home life provided no other opportunities following graduation, the army provided Rich with training in network telecommunications. He was able to take his training and work with the largest telecommunication provider in the U.S. (MCI, which became WorldCom and then Verizon). Having spent 20+ years with Verizon, he kept Target and other large retailers up and running. Rich runs our IT and hopefully our customers say ‘where would we be without IECU!’ Rich and his wife of 25+ years have 5 kids who are/have attended our local public schools. They are been involved in everything from choir to sports to auto mechanics. Together they bring a bright light to our community.”
Each year during the National Retail Banking Conference, FSI bestows this esteemed award upon one deserving individual, embodying the ethos of dedication, service, and leadership epitomized by J. Alton Wingate himself. Richard joins the esteemed ranks of past recipients, including FSI’s President & CEO, Mr. Roy Bell, who received the inaugural award in 2023.
Nominees for the J. Alton Wingate Veteran of Distinction Award are accepted through the FSI website at Supermarketbank.com. FSI encourages nominations for deserving individuals who embody the values and ideals of the J. Alton Wingate Veteran of Distinction Award. For more information about the award and the nomination process, please visit Supermarketbank.com.