Member Spotlight: Anthony Johnson

Mark Crawford, CUNA Councils
August 23, 2006

I started my career in credit unions back in 1987 with Navy Federal Credit Union. On year later the assistant manager of the Bethesda Naval Hospital Branch left and went to work for Montgomery County Teachers Federal Credit Union. A few months later he recruited me to work for MCTFCU. I worked there for 15 years in a number of positions, including member service representative, head teller, training coordinator, branch manager, and regional manager, to name a few.

In 2003 I was given the opportunity to work at Mid-Atlantic Federal Credit Union as the director of branch operations. In 2005 I was promoted to vice president of member services. Throughout my career I've been blessed to work with highly motivated and extremely intelligent individuals who have shared their knowledge and talents with me, including Alex Governatori, now of Energy Federal Credit Union, Andrew Grimm, now at Apple Federal Credit Union, Linda Ramsey and Joel Sarfati of Montgomery County Teachers Federal Credit Union, and Chalie Thomas and Michael Richardson of Mid-Atlantic Federal Credit Union. These people will forever by part of my growth and career within the credit union industry and I thank them for their faith in me and continued support.

Biggest challenge for 2006

Deposit growth. This seems to be the challenge all across our industry.

Best piece of advice

Although it is harder for credit unions to continue to compete, grow, and thrive in today's world, we must remember to hold onto the foundation of the credit union industry: people helping people. If we lose sight of that, then we throw away what makes us great as an industry.

Greatest benefit of Council membership

The willingness to share information, thoughts and ideas. We all seem to face the same challenges and it is helpful to get other perspectives or new ideas. I also appreciate the information and training I am able to access through the Council.

Best part of my job

Working with my extended family here at the credit union.

Hardest part of my job

Working with my extended family here at the credit union!

Best success story

About ten years ago I was conducting a business development and sales training with the MCTFCU staff. It was extremely gratifying to have employees come to me and thank me for being a part of my class. Some employees who attended the class shared with me that they used the information I trained them on and how exciting it was for them to see how effective the information really was, and how it changed their attitude toward cross-selling products and services.

Hobbies/interests

Music and golf are the things I do the most to occupy my time, when I have some.

People would be surprised to learn that I . . .

Had a brief music career as a member of the Gospel Group "God's Presence.”

Most recent book:

The Cell by Stephen King.

Life goal not yet accomplished

Honestly, there isn't anything that I've wanted to accomplish that I haven't had the opportunity to do at one time or another in my life. The only things I haven't accomplished are winning the lottery and retirement.

Something that always makes me laugh

Don Knotts playing Deputy Barney Fife on the old black-and-white Andy Griffith Show. That was a classic character that will never be duplicated again.

If I had an extra hour in the day . . .

I'd probably spend it relaxing to some old slow jams from the 60s, 70s, and early 80s.