Volunteer Spotlight

Committed to Community: Meet Hugh Burgess

With the recent transition of AFCU to Spero Financial, you may be seeing a new face around Spero — that of Hugh Burgess, one of AFCU’s most influential board chairs and a stronghold in the Anderson community.

“For my wife, Rita and I, we intentionally have a filter for where we put our ‘time, talent, and treasure’ in our community service,” he said. “It’s simple; we ask two questions: ‘Do they give hope? And are they changing lives?’ If you look at our service, AFCU always passed that test, and we are confident Spero Financial passes and will continue to pass that test!”

Born in Seneca, Hugh was one of six children growing up in a Textile Community called Utica — home to the J. P. Stevens Plant. At that time, living in the Textile Capital of the World, it was inevitable that he would work at the plant — just as five of the eight members of his family did, including Hugh, who went to work for them on his 16th birthday.

Over the years, Hugh would serve throughout the Anderson community. In business, he served 18 years in multiple positions with the former Clark Schwebel Inc — the world’s largest producer of glass, Kevlar, and other technical fabrics — then as the President of Consolidated Southern Industries — a mechanical, electrical, and general contractor.

Personally, Hugh is very active in the Anderson community, serving on the AnMed Health Foundation Board as a Trustee and Past Chair, Tri-County Technical College Foundation Board, and with the Anderson University Board of Trustees where he serves as the Chairman of the Finance Committee and serves on the Executive Committee. His past service also includes the Anderson Area YMCA, the Anderson - Oconee Vocational Rehabilitation Services Board, the Anderson Interfaith Ministries Board, now called AIM, and the Rotary Club of Anderson. Additionally, Hugh and Rita have spent the last two years focused on Membership Development with the Anderson Area Chamber of Commerce.

But most recently, Hugh served as the Chairman of the Anderson Federal Credit Union Board of Directors, where he was influential in the decision to merge AFCU with Spero Financial.

“We had looked at other opportunities to merge or partner, but the values and the culture between AFCU and Spero (previously SC Telco) just fit,” said Hugh. With a lot of due diligence, the board knew it was the right move. “We both had similar long histories, the philosophy that every member matters, and both organizations knew that this was going to be a great marriage!”

Part of that great marriage, he noted, was the commitment to the community that flowed through both organizations — a focus on using available resources to better those around them.

Today, Hugh has continued his service to AFCU — now, Spero — to serve on the Spero Financial board and represent the interests of members in the Anderson area. “We are truly excited about this partnership,” Hugh said.

But for Hugh, the greatest part of his service, and of being able to see the partnership of AFCU and Spero finally complete is the potential that lives now within the partnership.

“The sum of the new Spero is greater than the two parts — AFCU and SC Telco,” he said. “Not only did it meet all of our goals as a board for AFCU, but this partnership accomplishes our future vision today! There is no doubt — we are stronger together!”

The new name says it all: Hope! This means that we can serve our members better. It means we can serve our community better and it means more opportunity for our employees.

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