08/20/2026
We are so excited for Lori Zmecek Guzzi as she celebrates 27 years at Painesville Credit Union! She's seen a lot of ups and downs while working there, and now as the CEO, she has this credit union pointed in the right direction - FORWARD!
It's not easy being a small credit union. In a society where big banks have big bucks to do big advertising, sometimes the small credit unions thrive on their one-on-one relationships with their members. That is how this credit union grows. They take care of their members and they take care of their community.
Congratulations on your accomplishments and wishing you all great success in the future! 🎉
Twenty-seven years…that is how long I have been at Painesville Credit Union.
How does time get away from us so quickly?
Over the weekend, I had some time to think about my journey with PCU and how I ended up here. Honestly, it is kind of a great story—mostly because I never planned it.
I didn't apply at PCU. I had applied at the local schools, and a family friend who worked there called the CEO and said, “Hey, I think you should hire this young lady for the credit union.” She called me in for an interview, and somehow, that one phone call changed the direction of my life.
I started as a teller. At the time, I was a young wife and mom, babysitting and working at pizza shops opposite shifts from my husband so we could work and still be home with our kids. I wasn't looking for a 27-year career. I was looking for a job. But within a few months, I knew this was my place.
I loved the members. I loved getting to know their families, being part of the community and living out what "People Helping People" really meant. I loved helping someone solve a financial problem, helping them get to a better place financially, or sometimes just being there to listen.
I loved when the kids brought me their school pictures. I loved when a member would walk in and say, “Can I just wait for Lori?”
Those little things meant more to me than they probably ever realized.
I moved into collections, learned another side of the business and got to help members through some really difficult financial times. Then came technology and change—our website, online banking, debit cards and mobile banking. Some changes were exciting, some were exhausting, and sometimes they were both.
Through it all, I kept learning, growing and taking on more responsibility. Somewhere along the way, that little teller job became a career.
And now, 27 years later, I have the privilege of being the CEO of the credit union that gave me my start. Sometimes I still have to stop and think about that.
I have watched PCU grow, change and face some difficult moments. I have watched coworkers become friends and members become like family. I have watched generations of families come through our doors.
The reason I love this place has never changed.
The People.
Today, we are in another chapter of change. We have grown our staff, opened another location and are looking toward the future. Being CEO isn't just about taking care of today anymore. It is about making sure PCU is in the best possible place for the people who will carry it forward someday.
When I think about that young woman who walked into PCU 27 years ago looking for a job, I could never have imagined where that interview would take me. I am grateful for the person who made that phone call, for the people who took a chance on me, for every member who trusted me and for every person who has been part of this journey.
This is a reminder, take a chance, hold on and enjoy the ride!
I didn't choose PCU all those years ago.
In a lot of ways, it feels like PCU chose me.
And I'm pretty grateful it did.
