L.C.E. Federal Credit Union has provided banking services and given back to the community over more than 50 years of operation. It was recently recognized for its work by the Eastern Lake County Chamber of Commerce, which named the credit union its 2025 Business of the Year. The chamber will present the award at its Annual Meeting and Awards Reception later this month. It will also use that evening event to present its Beacon Award to William Creed, president and publisher of Gazette Newspapers and Great Lakes Printing. A chamber news release highlighted L.C.E. Federal Credit Union’s “remarkable achievements in innovation, community involvement and sustained growth. “L.C.E. Federal Credit Union has consistently gone above and beyond in giving back, actively participating in charitable events and partnering with organizations such as the Eastern Lake County Chamber of Commerce, Painesville Rotary, Salvation Army, Harvey High School, Forbes House and other local credit unions,” it said. Credit union CEO Anita Walters said that the institution did not expect to win the award, but it was “very honored” to be chosen. “Part of the credit union philosophy is people helping people, so that’s kind of what motivates us doing that,” Walters said. She said that the credit union has sponsored events in Painesville as well as chamber functions. It has also worked with the Painesville Rotary Club to support the St. James Episcopal Church meal program, participated in Painesville’s Holiday Shop and Stroll and contributed to Christmas programs for Asa’s Angels and the Salvation Army. The credit union started doing business in 1960. According to its website, it had one employee at the time and was open to Lake County employees and their families. The credit union has since grown and is now open to people who live, work, worship or go to school in Lake, Geauga or Ashtabula counties, Walters said. The chamber news release added that as of December 2024, the credit union had more than 5,800 members and $56 million in assets. “We’re a full-service financial institution, so we have savings, checking, money market certificates, we do all types of lending, we do mortgage-free financing,” she said. “We don’t do mortgage purchasing, but other than that, we offer the full gambit.” She added that the credit union offers seven ATMs in Lake County, remote loan signing for current members, online loan applications, online loan payments with a fee and remote deposit. It will add remote account opening this year. Walters said that the credit union’s member service sets it apart. “You walk in the credit union, 90 percent of our members that come in, they already know who they are and their account numbers and are quick to serve whatever they need,” she said. The credit union is located at 77 N. St. Clair St. in Painesville, and it also operates a Mentor branch at 8356 Munson Road. More information is available at lcefcu.org. Meanwhile, the chamber said that it awarded the Beacon Award to William Creed “for his unwavering dedication to community service and leadership.” Creed said that he has been working at Gazette Newspapers since 1984, rising from an advertising and marketing role to serving as president and publisher. As of Jan. 1, he has transitioned to a publisher emeritus role. “It was an amazing feeling, to be considered and talked about in the circle of past Beacon Award winners,” he said. “It almost makes you feel like, ‘Wow, how am I worthy to stand in this group?’ So I was really quite honored.” Creed added that he views the award as an award for the company’s staff. “It’s the staff that goes out and works so hard every day to make all of this possible,” he said. “Very proud of them for that, they understand our goals, they understand our mission, they understand what we need to do to support everyone’s efforts, and they do so exceptionally.” Creed added that Gazette Newspapers and Great Lakes Printing print membership directories and work on events with local chambers of commerce. They have also printed fair books for the Lake County Fair and promoted other Lake County events with special sections. “Basically, I look at our mission as that of helping the groups, clubs and organizations drive feet through the door,” he said. The chamber news release said that Creed “has consistently supported the community through advertising, sponsorships and editorial coverage.” It added that Creed has sponsored events including Perry Fall Festival, Kirtland Strawberry Festival, Better in Mentor Days, Painesville Party in the Park, Fairport Mardi Gras and the Lake County YMCA Dream Home. “Bill has also made significant financial contributions to organizations such as the Lake-Geauga Recovery Center and the Lake County Fair,” the release said. “His leadership exemplifies the values of collaboration and community engagement.” Creed added that the company also supports projects like Project Feed the Hope, which packages meals for area food banks, and an annual Remote Access Medical Clinic, where an empty department store is turned into a need-based medical clinic with free services. Gazette Newspapers is a family-owned company in Jefferson and operates The Tribune, Courier, News and Gazette newspapers in Lake and Ashtabula counties. “My involvement will remain very, very strong,” Creed said. “I’m committed to the paper and committed to the communities, and after you’ve spent 42 years doing something, it’s not as simple as turning off the light switch and shutting the door and going home.” “I’m anxious to work in the coming years in this new role, and just helping out wherever I can and just staying involved,” he added later. The Annual Meeting and Awards Reception is scheduled to run from 5 to 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 29 at Red Creek Bar and Grill, 1820 North Ridge Road, Painesville Township. Admission costs $30 for chamber members and $35 for non-members. More information and event registration can be found by calling 440-357-7572 or visiting easternlakecountychamber.org. Chamber Interim Executive Director Katrina March said that Jan. 22 will be the deadline to register. “We are thrilled to recognize these outstanding contributors to our community,” March said in the news release. “Their dedication and leadership embody the spirit of collaboration and progress that defines eastern Lake County.”