Grace L.

About Grace L.

As President & CEO of St. Mary’s Credit Union, I lead one of Massachusetts’ longest-standing member-owned financial institutions with a clear mandate: build a high-performing, community-anchored, future-ready organization that expands financial opportunity and delivers exceptional value to the people and businesses we serve.I bring more than 35 years of leadership experience across the public, private, and financial sectors. My career has been defined by guiding complex organizations through transformation, strengthening operational and governance frameworks, and advancing equity and economic mobility across diverse communities.Before joining SMCU, I served as Massachusetts Regional President at M&T Bank, where I drove regional strategic growth, deepened corporate and community partnerships, and championed inclusion for underrepresented groups in the financial ecosystem.Previously, I held senior leadership roles in public finance and government, including Vice Chair of the Public Finance Group at Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, LLC, and First Deputy Treasurer and General Counsel of the Massachusetts State Treasury—becoming the first Asian American to hold either role in the Commonwealth’s history. In that capacity, I oversaw major Treasury divisions, led statewide financial and legal operations, and held statutory authority to act on behalf of the Treasurer. My work is grounded in disciplined execution, strategic growth, and a deep belief in the power of financial institutions to strengthen communities. I have also served as Interim Executive Director of the Massachusetts Asian American Commission, reinforcing my long-standing commitment to representation, advocacy, and building pathways for equity. At St. Mary’s Credit Union, my focus is on: • Strategic Growth: Positioning SMCU for expansion while preserving the mission that defines us. • Operational Excellence: Enhancing risk, credit, and financial discipline to support sustainable, long-term performance. • Member Experience & Innovation: Modernizing products, digital capabilities, and service delivery to meet evolving member needs. • Community Leadership: Strengthening partnerships that lift the economic well-being of families, small businesses, and underserved communities. • People & Culture: Building a values-driven, high-accountability organization that attracts and develops exceptional talent. I am driven by the belief that leadership is service—and that credit unions, at their best, are engines of trust, inclusion, and upward mobility.

Experience

1. Chief Executive Officer and President

   St. Mary's Credit Union

   Aug 2025 — Present · Marlborough, MA, US

Education

• California State University, Northridge

  BA, Political Science