Homeownership is seen as a truly “adulting” milestone. And it can be an exciting adventure for first-time buyers. But here’s a little cold water: the National Association of Realtors reports the average age of first-time home buyers is 35. And that’s an improvement from the previous average of 36! A discouraging mix of high interest… (read more)
You did it! You went out on your own with a great idea and built your business – and now you’re making a living doing what you love most: working for yourself. From one-person-shop plumbing businesses to freelance writers to personal trainers to small business owners of all shapes and sizes, the U.S. Bureau of… (read more)
With the housing market on a proverbial roller coaster, it’s hard to know whether to buy a house now or wait until interest rates decline. In a recent study from Fannie Mae, 79% of those who responded stated that it’s a bad time to buy a house. However, it doesn’t all need to be doom and… (read more)
If you know anyone who has recently tried to buy a house, you know what a challenge it can be. Due to the economy, interest rates are climbing, and it isn’t easy to find a reasonable interest rate in this market. While there are many options for acquiring a mortgage, people often overlook that their… (read more)
Here’s a little trade secret: financial institutions LOVE acronyms. No, not LOL and FOMO, but more like FICO and LTV. Not to worry. At FFCCU (that’s Firefighters Community Credit Union, BTW), we’ve compiled the ultimate list of mortgage abbreviations and mortgage acronyms that you might come across when applying for and filling out all the… (read more)
Are you wondering if paying off your mortgage early or investing is a better choice in the current economic climate? Nichole Coyle, Certified Financial Planner™, has some answers to help guide your decision. Why It May Make Sense to Pay off Your Mortgage Early: 1. You have a high-interest rate and refinancing to a lower… (read more)
Are you buying a new home this year? Since the beginning of the pandemic, the housing market has exploded, bringing both low-interest rates and low housing inventory. Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer or already own a home, it’s a good idea to be prepared. Keep reading to learn more about buying a new home this spring. Top… (read more)
If you are on the house hunt, chances are you’ll need a mortgage to go along with it. While you might be inclined to head to a bank or mortgage-specific lender, a credit union may be your best option. Here are six reasons why choosing a credit union for your home mortgage is a win… (read more)
Homes are selling fast in today’s market thanks to the rising demand. So, it’s crucial to have a competitive edge compared to other buyers. One way to stand out: get preapproved. If you are on the hunt for your dream home, here are four reasons it’s vital to get a home mortgage pre-approval before… (read more)
Mortgage rates are at historic lows, and it may be the perfect time for you to purchase a home. The major downside is, there are not enough homes for sale to meet the high demand! With the housing marking so competitive right now, here are five tips to help you buy the home of your… (read more)
You are leaving ffcommunity.com to visit one of our partner’s websites. If this was your intention, please click the “Continue” button below. The link will open in a new window/tab. Otherwise, click “Cancel” to close this box.
Bill has over 40 years of experience in credit unions and previously served as Chair of the Board of Directors for 30 years. Bill is a retired Captain of the Cleveland Fire Department. Along with his credit union experience, he has served for 16 years on the Ohio Police and Fire Pension Fund Board. He believes that credit unions are powered by providing the best customer service to members. Bill volunteers at St. Ambrose Parish and the Fire Museum renovation. Bill and his wife live in Brunswick and have two grown children.
Tony is honored to have been the current Board Director since 1999. He has been a credit union member of Cleveland Fire Fighter since 1988. Tony graduated with a BA degree in Business from Hiram College and an MBA from Baldwin Wallace College. He is currently an Assistant Chief with the Cleveland Fire Department.
Ben Laurendeau has been employed in the credit union industry since 1987 in a variety of positions. Ben has held the position of President/CEO with Firefighters Community Credit Union since January of 2005. Ben holds an Associate Degree in Accounting from Terra Community College, A Bachelor Degree in Accounting from Tiffin University and a Master of Business Administration Degree from Baldwin Wallace University. Ben serves as a Director on the Ohio Credit Union League Services Corporation Board and serves on the Ohio Credit Union League Audit Committee.
Gary is a lifelong resident of Greater Cleveland and has been a member of the Board of Directors since 2018. Many of his family members have served in the Cleveland Fire department and are long-time members of FFCCU. Gary holds a BA from Columbia College and a JD g from Cleveland State University. He has worked for both Cuyahoga County and the US Attorney’s office in Cleveland during his legal career. Now retired, Gary and his wife live in Lakewood.
Barb is a current Board Director of FFCCU and a fully vested member. She has an MBA in Finance and has spent 25 years teaching to all walks of life. Barb is a volunteer with the Foundation for Geauga Parks, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Lorain County Spirit of America, and Girl Scouts of Northeast Ohio. Barb is a lifelong resident of the Cleveland area. She and her husband have one daughter.
Alyssa Garcia Evanoff joined Firefighters Community Credit Union as the Chief Marketing Officer in February 2019. Alyssa has nearly two decades of experience in brand management and strategic marketing with a variety of organizations across the Greater Cleveland area. During her career, she has developed successful marketing and creative campaigns that have repositioned brand image and increased brand loyalty through emerging digital trends, content marketing and user experience strategy. Alyssa is a graduate of Miami University and sits on the board of the Cleveland chapter of the American Advertising Federation.
Jessica Bittner joined FFCCU as a teller in 2009. In 2012 she was promoted to branch manager, and has managed multiple branches throughout the credit union. Jessica holds a Bachelors in Human Resource Management & Business Management, with a minor in accounting from Baldwin Wallace University. She was promoted to COO in 2021.
Kathleen Riggs joined FFCCU as Chief Retail Officer in 2013. Kathy has been in the financial services industry for over 25 years, holding a variety of positions. Kathleen received her bachelors degree in psychology from Kent State University and is a certified trainer of CUNA’s Creating Member Loyalty program.
Paul Humphrey was born and raised in Northeast Ohio. He joined FFCCU in 2017 as the Chief Lending Officer. Paul is a graduate of Kent State University. He holds the designation of Certified Credit Union Financial Counselor (CCUFC) from CUNA. Paul has managed lending programs in both small and large credit unions and brings that unique perspective to serve the members of FFCCU.
John Carrick is the Chief Financial Officer of Firefighters Community Credit Union in Cleveland, Ohio. John was hired by Greater Cleveland Firefighters Credit Union (former name of Firefighters Community Credit Union) as an Accounting Assistant in February 1993, was promoted to acting CFO in 1995, and was awarded the position of CFO in 1996. John has assisted in the acquisition of multiple mergers for Firefighters Community Credit Union and has managed two different Merging Credit Unions during the merger process. John is a former member of the Audit Committee of the Cleveland Chapter of the Ohio Credit Union League. John holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Cleveland State University.
Dennis has been a member of the Board of Directors since 2017. He is invested in forming bonds between the Credit Union and the community and helping members improve their economic situations. He has a strong desire to have a voice in the decision-making process of an institution that he was raised with and believes in. Dennis has been a part of the Cleveland Fire Department for 25 years and is currently a Captain. Dennis and his wife live in the Cleveland area with their three children.
Damian has served on the Board of Directors for over 10 years. He has been the Citywide Service Manager for the City of Cleveland since 1983 and manages the demolition of houses and buildings. He holds degrees in Law and Engineering and is a member of the Ohio Bar. Damian lives with his wife in the Cleveland area. He has been a credit union member for 30 years.
Rich serves as the Chair of the Board of Directors and has been a board member since 2009. He has been a Cleveland Firefighter since 1989 and is presently a Battalion Chief serving the city’s lowerwest side. Rich is a founding member and Treasurer of the Firefighters Memorial Ride. Since their inception in 2004, they have donated over $250,000 to the families of fallen Fire, Police, and EMS workers. He has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a minor in Finance from Cleveland State University.
James is the Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors and has served on the Board since 1982. He has also held the position of Secretary. Jim is a retired Cleveland Firefighter after 30 years of service. He is the past treasurer of Fire Fighters Local 93 and served on the Union Executive Board for 18 years. Jim is also a former Worker’s Compensation Representative for Local 93 and the NOFF.
Bryan has served on the FFCCU Board of Directors since 2006 and looks forward to continuing to help the credit union move forward and provide quality services to members. Born and raised in Cleveland, Bryan and his wife live in Lakewood and have three grown children. He holds a degree in Communications from Cleveland State University and spent 40-years as a cameraman for the MLB and NBA. After 33 years, he retired as a Captain from the Cleveland Fire Department. He is a former Sergeant at Arms for Local 93 IAFF and was Secretary for the Firefighters Memorial.
Bob is a lifelong Cleveland resident and has been a member of FFCCU since 1993. He has served on the FFCCU board since 2019. Bob is a graduate of Cleveland State University and has served as a Cleveland firefighter for the past 28 years, becoming a lieutenant in 2002. He and his wife live in Cleveland and have two grown daughters.
Jim has been a credit union member for over 40 years and has served on the Board of Directors since 2012. He has been a Cleveland Firefighter for 29 years, currently stationed at Engine Company 13. James has served on the Cleveland Firefighters Relief Fund board and was a former Union Steward and Committee Member for Firefighters Local 93. He and his wife have three children.
