Community

At Piedmont Advantage Credit Union, teamwork isn’t just something we talk about. It’s what sets us apart. Our employees collaborate, support each other and go the extra mile for our members better than anywhere else. That’s why Employee Appreciation Day is all about celebrating them.

As we honor those who paved the way and look toward future growth, Piedmont Advantage Credit Union aims to highlight the historic black pioneers of credit unions while applying our cooperative principles to better serve and represent our communities.

Congratulations to Member Experience Advisor Elia Gonzalez on earning our highest annual honor, this year’s Simply Service® Award. She is known for her attention to detail, reliability and unwavering respect for our members and teammates. She greets everyone with an infectious smile and graciousness.

Dr. Meredith Adams, an Associate Professor of Anesthesiology, Artificial Intelligence, Translational Neuroscience and Public Health Sciences at Wake Forest School of Medicine captivated PACU employees at our recent PACU Day by challenging the notion that play is only for children, explaining that the opposite of play is not work but depression. 

On Presidents’ Day, a holiday that honors leadership and collaboration, PACU employees came together to receive updates on the credit union. Attendees listened to highlights for 2024 and explored new programs, ideas and growth opportunities for 2025 during our annual PACU Day. 

What better way to honor great accomplishments than with donuts and special prizes awarded to outstanding PACU team members for their exceptional contributions? In recognition of the PACU Member Relationship Team (MRT), who raised the most money during the PACU Foundation's Annual Holiday Giving Campaign, the MRT celebrated their achievements at their regular meeting.

With almost 15 years of working in a credit union under Maleia Brown’s belt, she knows how to help members with whatever financial issues or obstacles they face. Maleia is now the branch manager of PACU’s Advantage Way location. Once her then-branch manager moved to PACU, Maleia shortly followed in 2015 and has been here since.

As the PACU Foundation’s Annual Holiday Giving Campaign nears its end, we reflect on the many small acts of kindness and generosity from our members, employees and neighbors this year. Regardless of size, every donation went directly to programs that help residents in our communities overcome financial hardship.

In the spirit of holiday giving, Piedmont Advantage Credit Union’s Lending Department organized a toy drive for the Winston-Salem Police and Fire departments. The Advantage Way and Home Road branches collected toys from employees and community members for over a month. When the toy drive ended on December 10, PACU had two large boxes overflowing with donated toys.

In this second episode of Voices of Experience, we hear from three distinguished employees: Perry Crutchfield, Dorie Rickard and Kisha Dockery. They represent over 50 years of collective service to PACU and our members. Although Perry, Dorie, and Kisha come from different departments and backgrounds, they share countless stories and advice that can benefit everyone.