Community First Credit Union Names Longtime Local Credit Union Leader to be CEO and President

Sam Inman to succeed John Hirabayashi in the position by August 31, 2024

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., June 7, 2024 - The Board of Directors of Community First Credit Union of Florida announces that D. Samuel “Sam” Inman, MBA has been selected as its new CEO and president, assuming the position on August 31, 2024 after a brief transition alongside retiring CEO John Hirabayashi.

Inman most recently served as chief financial officer (CFO) and chief risk officer (CRO) at Community First and has held various leadership roles since joining the organization in 1990. He started at the credit union as an assistant accounting manager and became its first internal auditor. Rising through the ranks, Inman joined the senior leadership team as CFO in 1997.

The Board of Directors conducted a comprehensive national search for the new CEO and president. Board Chair Malinda “Lindy” Prudencio chaired the CEO Search Committee and partnered with a national search firm to interview candidates from credit unions across the country, ultimately choosing Inman for the position.

“Sam was the top candidate among some of the finest credit union leaders in the country,” said Prudencio. “We believe he is the best leader to secure and expand Community First’s future.”

Inman has played an instrumental role in growing Community First’s assets from $156 million to $2.7 billion with $344 million in retained earnings since joining the organization more than 34 years ago. 

“I’ve had the privilege of working with Sam during my entire 28-year career with Community First and he has been instrumental to our growth and financial stability,” said Hirabayashi. “I am confident Sam will build upon our successes and take the credit union to the next level.”

Among his successes, Inman led a 2016 planning process that established a goal to become a $2 billion credit union by 2020, a goal that was achieved and surpassed. He is also credited with building the organization’s risk management function, aggressively expanding the ATM and branch network, and growing the retail investment services program to over 5,000 clients and $400 million in assets under management.

“The credit union is an incredible local asset for our membership and our region,” said Inman. “I look forward to continuing the culture of engagement with our employees, members and community. Among our many successes, and a major part of John’s legacy, is living Community First’s Purpose by empowering employees, members, and the wider community to live their best lives.”

Part of the transition period will include recruiting a new CFO to replace Inman on the senior leadership team. 

Inman, 61, is a Jacksonville native and a University of North Florida (UNF) Alumni. He and his wife Karen have been married for more than three decades. Inman was born on Jacksonville’s Northside and is a graduate of Englewood High School. He was a “little brother” in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program when he was growing up in Jacksonville and is passionate about serving and nurturing public education, our youth, and our schoolteachers.

Inman serves the community through various nonprofit boards and positions. He will become the chair of the board of the Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida in July and has served on many boards and committees, including Learn to Read, the Teach Conference, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Florida.  He is the treasurer of the Community First Cares Foundation.

Inman succeeds Hirabayashi, who has led the credit union as CEO since 1996 and is one of the longest tenured financial institution CEOs in Jacksonville. Hirabayashi came aboard when it was known as Educational Community Credit Union, a $200 million asset institution with 44,000 members. Under Hirabayashi’s leadership, the credit union has grown exponentially, expanding its field of membership to include the entire Jacksonville community, and changing its name to Community First Credit Union.

Hirabayashi will remain in Jacksonville and plans to stay active in the community. He looks forward to travelling, pursuing his hobbies and educational interests, and spending more time with his wife, Jan, along with his four adult children.

Community First Credit Union has grown to serve more than 175,000 members with more than $2.8 billion in assets, making it one of Florida’s largest credit unions. Community First was founded Downtown in 1935 and remains Downtown Jacksonville’s longest continually operating financial institution. It has two HQ locations in LaVilla. 

Community First Credit Union of Florida, is a state-chartered credit union based in Jacksonville serving anyone who lives or works on the First Coast. Community First is one of the largest credit unions in Florida with $2.7 billion in assets and serving 171,000 members. Community First has 20 locations and more than 400 employees. A not-for-profit, Community First is a full-service financial institution offering banking, loans, mortgages and investments for consumers and businesses across the First Coast. 

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