Hudson River Community Credit Union Holds A Retirement Party for Board President

Hudson River Community Credit Union (HRCCU) held a retirement party for Donald Briner, former Board President, on June 30th at Mollie's Mason Jar, Hadley, NY. Briner has served on the Board of Directors for over 32 years. HRCCU, along with Briner's family and friends, celebrated the evening by honoring him for his many years of service with the credit union.

Donald Briner officially became a Director of HRCCU's Board of Directors in 1994. In addition to serving as HRCCU's Board President, Donald Briner previously served as Vice President. He also served as Chair of the Credit Committee for over 10 years. He has been a credit union member since 1954 when HRCCU was first chartered by the employees of International Paper Company, Corinth, New York. He retired from International Paper Comany in 1992. He has served as the President of the Corinth Little League since 1950. As President, his responsibilities include organizing 22 teams, soliciting sponsorships, fundraising, ordering uniforms, and operating the snack bar. He also volunteers for the local chapter of the Great Strides National Walk for the benefit of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation held annually at West Mountain Ski Resort, Queensbury, New York. He is an avid outdoorsman and enjoys hunting, fishing and camping in the Adirondacks and Lake Ontario region. He and his wife, Janet, reside in Corinth, New York.

Hudson River Community Credit Union has four branches located at 312 Palmer Ave., Corinth; 160 Broad St., Glens Falls; 3762 Burgoyne Ave., Hudson Falls; and 35 Niver St., Cohoes. The credit union is a not-for-profit financial cooperative owned and governed by its members. Anyone who lives, works, worships, attends school or businesses and other legal entities located in Warren, Washington, Saratoga and Rensselaer Counties or the Towns of Cohoes, Watervliet and Green Island are eligible to join the credit union. For more information, call 518-654-9028 or 1-800-824-0700.

Stuart Field (left), Hudson River Community Credit Union (HRCCU) Board President stands with Donald Briner (right) former HRCCU Board President at Don's retirement party held at Mollie's Mason Jar, Hadley, NY on June 30, 2010.

Hudson River Community Credit Union Announces Board Changes

  Hudson River Community Credit Union (HRCCU) has announced the appointment of Stuart Field as President, Charles Pasquarell, III as Vice President and Thomas Uncher as Director of the credit union’s board of directors.  Stuart Field replaces Donald Briner who recently retired from the board after serving as President since 2003. 

In addition to serving as HRCCU’s Board President, Donald Briner previously served as Vice President and officially became a Director of HRCCU’s Board of Directors in March 1998.  He also served as Chair of the Credit Committee for over 10 years.  He has been a credit union member since 1954 when HRCCU was first chartered by the employees of International Paper Company, Corinth, New York.  He retired from International Paper Company in 1992.  He has served as the President of the Corinth Little League since 1950.  As President, his responsibilities include organizing 22 teams, soliciting sponsorships, fundraising, ordering uniforms, and operating the snack bar.  He is an avid outdoorsman and enjoys hunting, fishing and camping in the Adirondacks and Lake Ontario region.  He also volunteers for the local chapter of the Great Strides National Walk for the benefit of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation held annually at West Mountain Ski Resort, Queensbury, New York.  He and his wife, Janet, reside in Corinth, New York.

Stuart Field has served on HRCCU’s Board of Directors since March 2003.  He initially joined the board as an Associate Director and later was appointed a Director and Vice President.  He has been a credit union member for 45 years and a member of HRCCU since 1985.  He is employed by Slack Chemical Company where he serves as the Manager for the Saratoga Division.  He previously was employed by International Paper Company and served at a number of locations throughout the United States.  Stuart earned a Chemical Engineering degree from Bates College, Lewiston, Maine, and a MBA from The College of St. Rose, Albany, New York.  He is also a volunteer for AARP and a member of the Adirondack Runners.  Stuart and his wife, Patricia, and their family reside in Queensbury, New York.

Charles Pasquarell, III, has served on HRCCU’s Board of Directors since 1999.  Prior to that time, he served on the credit union’s Supervisory Committee.  He has been a member of HRCCU for 20 years.  He is employed by Saratoga County at Maplewood Manor, Ballston Spa, New York where he manages the transportation department.  For the past 30 years, he has been a Volunteer Firefighter—serving with the Corinth Volunteer Fire Department since 1998.  He is a lifetime member of the Community Emergency Corp., Ballston Spa, New York.  He resides in Corinth, New York.

Thomas Uncher has been a member of HRCCU since 2007. Prior to his appointment to Director, he served as an Associate Director on the credit union's Board of Directors for 3 years. Tom has a Mechanical Engineering degree from Union College, coupled with twenty-five years experience in the energy industry. His experience covers years in both the utility and manufacturing side of the business. As General Manager for Brookfield Renewable Power, Tom has management responsibility for the safe, environmentally sound, efficient operation of twenty-seven hydroelectric facilities throughout New York State. Prior to his current position, Tom was the Manufacturing Business Manager for Power at International Paper's Hudson River Mill in Corinth, NY. Tom resides in Saratoga Springs, NY.

Front Row L - R: Donald Briner, Past President and Associate Director; Margaret Rabida, Director; Margaret Foote, Director; Charles Pasquarell, III, Vice President; Carol Ann Pacco-Long, Treasurer; Susan Commanda, HRCCU CEO.  Back Row L-R:  Gary Grady, Supervisory Committee; Tom Uncher, Director; Mike Niles, Supervisory Committee Chair; Stuart Field, President; Harold Jones, Secretary.  Absent: Dino Rosati, Supervisory Committee.

Brief History of HRCCU and Board Presidents

Hudson River IPCO FCU was chartered in 1954 by employees of International Paper Company, Hudson River Mill, Corinth, New York.  Hudson River Credit Union became a New York State chartered credit union in March 1998. In September 2003 it received approval to expand membership eligibility from multi-occupational to community.  Hence, anyone who lives, works, worships, attends school or businesses and other legal entities located within Saratoga, Warren, Washington and Rensselaer counties or the Towns of Cohoes, Watervliet and Green Island is eligible to join.  In 2004, the credit union changed it's name to reflect the new charter to Hudson River Community Credit Union.    

Past and Present Board Presidents