By Greg Bassett

Martin T. Neat was all of 36 years old when he was recruited in 1985 to come to work at Salisbury’s iconic First Shore Federal Savings and Loan.

Promoted to President & CEO in 1991, the Downtown Salisbury institution has grown from $117 million in assets to more than $340 million in eight branches across the Lower Shore.

It’s been a 30-year run that has kept First Shore at the forefront of the local community-focused banks, preserving and enhancing the association as a community cornerstone.

Now at age 66, Neat has announced he will retire from First Shore, effective Dec. 31.

“I just feel like it’s time. I’ve had a great run,” Neat said in a recent interview. “It’s only fair to give another person a chance to have the best job in town.”

While Neat’s executive success in leading First Shore is more than apparent, even more obvious is the commitment the native Western Marylander has shown to the Salisbury community.

There isn’t a nonprofit board or vital community cause where Neat hasn’t been deeply engaged. From head of the TidalHealth and Wor-Wic Community College boards, to the United Way, Salisbury Zoo, Greater Salisbury Committee, Humane Society of Wicomico County, Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce … Neat has either led or played a crucial role in their missions.

And he has been both recognized and awarded for his efforts. Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore, Habitat for Humanity of Wicomico County, the Salisbury Area Chamber, Boy Scouts of America, Salisbury University and the Salisbury Rotary Club have all presented him with major awards.

Through First Shore, he was even recognized with the Maryland Business Philanthropy Award in 2000.

“When I first came to Salisbury, something I loved very quickly was how involved the business community was in community activities,” Neat said.

“I looked at people like Dick Hazel, Dick Henson and Frank Perdue. When you see that kind of involvement, you see it’s OK for the rest of the businesses to be involved. There’s a need -- and it’s encouraged. That’s something that played very well for me,” he said.

“Some people have the attitude that all they have to do is run a good business. I don’t happen to believe that. Fortunately, there are a lot of people in the business community that recognize they can make a difference outside of their own four walls -- and in fact should.”

After graduating with a Political Science degree from Frostburg University, Neat worked two years for the city of Frostburg. In 1979, Mayor Harry W. Kelley hired him to come to the town of Ocean City to serve as a grants specialist, seeking state and federal dollars for resort projects and programs.

In 1981, he went to work as a District Representative for 1st District Congressman Roy Dyson. It was at an event in which Neat was being honored by the Salisbury Jaycees that he first had a conversation with longtime First Shore President and community icon Dave Rodgers.

“Dave was looking for someone to replace him,” Neat recalled. “I can’t say that’s what I had in mind when I started talking to him, but it seemed like a good idea at the time.”

Neat was hired in 1985 as a bank Vice President. After earning a master’s in Business Administration at Salisbury University, Neat was in position to become President of the savings and loan.

When Rodgers left the bank to attend seminary and become a Catholic priest, Neat succeeded him.

In the years since, First Shore’s capital ratio -- a key indicator of the financial strength of a financial institution -- has more than doubled during that period making First Shore one of the strongest financial institutions in the region.  First Shore has also held a rating of “outstanding” for community reinvestment from its federal regulator for more than 25 years. 

“We’re a fairly modest-sized institution. I feel like we do good work. I’m proud of what we’ve done, but I don’t think we’ve ever lost sight of what we wanted to be,” Neat said.

First Shore’s Board of Directors has selected Diane M. Turner, the association’s Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, to fill Neat’s shoes.

Turner has been with First Shore Federal since 1990, having served as Controller, Vice President and CFO.  A graduate from West Virginia University with a bachelor’s in Accounting and a master’s in Professional Accounting, she has held the designation of Certified Public Accountant for more than 30 years.   

“I am also very proud that Diane Turner has been elected to the CEO post,” said Neat. “We have such a strong team at First Shore and it’s wonderful that promotion from within is so clearly appropriate. Diane has made me – and First Shore Federal -- look very good for a very long time.”

Neat said that -- as with any leadership transition -- changes will be inevitable at the bank.

“Diane will make some changes. We’ve already talked about some things that need to be changed. They’ll be good changes.

“I’m sure I did things differently than Dave Rodgers. Diane is a different person than I am and she’s so much more capable than me in a lot of ways,” he said. 

Turner echoed Neat’s sentiments.

“I won’t be Marty Neat -- I just hope to be the best Diane I can be,” she said.

In retirement, Neat said, he plans to spend abundant time with his wife, Marilyn, but will remain active in community events and organizations.

A devoted baseball fan, Neat is part of a group of friends who have visited every major league baseball field over the past 20-plus years. In August 2014, the group visited Target Stadium in Minneapolis, completing their tour of every stadium.