USSFCU Spotlight Podcast

May is a very significant month for police officers around the nation in that the month is set aside to honor officers who have lost their lives in the line if duty. The culmination of the month-long tribute is National Police Week (May 14 - 20 in 2023) with Peace Officer’s Memorial Day being held on May 16 this year. This month is also significant to the U.S. Capitol Police in that May 2, 1828 was the founding day for the force. We were honored and had the great privilege of interviewing U.S. Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger. 
About Chief MangerChief Manger was sworn in as Chief of Police on July 23, 2021.  He has served 42 years in the policing profession, including more than two decades as Chief of Police for two of the largest police agencies in the National Capital Region. Most recently, he was Chief of Police in Montgomery County, Maryland, from 2004 to 2019.  He also served as Police Chief in Fairfax County, Virginia, from 1998 to 2004.  His leadership in regional law enforcement initiatives is extensive.

April is Credit Union Youth Month and we are featuring Chaplain Barry C. Black to discuss many things but one of the main topics is his new children’s book A Prayer for Our Country: Words to Unite and Inspire Hope. Chaplain Black shares his inspiration for the book and his life’s journey from “unpromising beginnings” to becoming the U.S. Senate Chaplain.
About Chaplain BlackBarry Clayton Black is the 62nd chaplain of the United States Senate. Chaplain Black served for over 27 years in the United States Navy Chaplain Corps, rising to the rank of 2nd rear admiral and ending his career as the Chief of Chaplains of the United States Navy. He retired from the Navy on August 15, 2003. He began serving as Senate chaplain on June 27, 2003, becoming the first African American and first Seventh-day Adventist to hold the office.

To wrap up our celebration of Women’s History Month we would like to share our interview with the Secretary of the U.S. Senate; Sonceria Ann Berry. Sec. Berry was sworn in as the 34th secretary of the United States Senate on March 1, 2021. Sec. Berry is the first African American to serve in this position and the eighth woman to hold the office.
About Secretary BerryMrs. Berry first came to the Senate in 1979 and served 18 years in many positions on Senator Howell Heflin’s staff. After he retired, she worked for Senators Daniel Patrick Moynihan, John Edwards, and Tom Carper. She also led the transition team for Senator Doug Jones, and most recently served as the deputy chief of staff to the Senate president pro tempore, Senator Patrick Leahy, who swore her in as the new secretary.

In celebration of Women’s History Month and specifically International Women’s Day, we would like to shine our spotlight on entrepreneur, business owner, Master Gardener and most recently, the newly appointed Board Chair for the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce - Nicole McGrew.
About Nicole McGrewNicole McGrew opened Threadleaf in 2018, which grew to Threadleaf and Company in 2022. A graduate of Georgetown University Law Center with a design background, Nicole practiced law for twelve years in Washington, DC prior to opening Threadleaf. Nicole currently is the 2023 Chair of the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce Board. She also serves on the boards of the Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food and Agriculture, Move2Learn and the Visit Alexandria Board of Governors. Nicole is also a Certified Master Gardener and is a member of Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia.

The particular date of this podcast episode is historically significant in that on February 25, 1870, Senator Hiram Rhodes Revels from Mississippi took the oath of office and became the first African American U.S. Senator. In celebration of Black History Month, we wanted to honor that historic date and share a very special conversation we had with USSFCU Board Member Emeritus and Capitol Hill Icon, Bertie Bowman.About Mr. BowmanMr. Bowman details his life experiences growing up in the Jim Crow south, making his way to Capitol Hill and working his way to becoming the Hearing Coordinator for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Serving longer than any other Senate staffer, Mr. Bowman was witness to many of the major events in American history. Mr. Bowman also discusses the progress and setbacks that have been made in the continued efforts for racial equality. Mr. Bowman also discusses being honored as the namesake for USSFCU’s headquarters building in Alexandria, Virginia.

In our first episode of USSFCU's Spotlight Podcast, our President and CEO, Timothy L. Anderson sat down with Oregon Senator Ron Wyden to discuss the credit union business model, its mission of equalizing financial opportunity for all, and the advantages of nonprofit financial services. The conversation also highlights Senator Wyden’s relationship with credit unions, his personal experience with USSFCU, and his passion for helping America’s (Oregon’s) small businesses.