President Tom Fallo announced at Monday’s board meeting, his intent to retire with June 30, 2013 being his final day.

Fallo has served as the fifth president of EC since July 1995 where he also served as vice president of administrative services.

“My reaction was disbelief, I was shocked,” Ken Brown, board of trustees member said. “I hadn’t considered that. I’m a young guy on the board, I’ve only been working with Fallo for a couple of years, I’d thought we’d be working together a longer term than that. But I’m happy that he’s making that decision but I’m upset because he will be gone this time next year.”

Linda Beam, the new vice president of Human Resources, will lead the search for a new president.