Black History Month Interview
Taylor Neeley- Financial Education Coordinator
Q: What are some personal or professional accomplishments you are most proud of?
A: Throughout the years I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to participate in many community service projects and initiatives that uplift the very communities that raised me. I am grateful for all the amazing relationships that were built while coming together to meet the needs of our communities.
Q: What’s the best lesson you’ve learned?
A:The best lesson I’ve learned is to always show up as your authentic self; That your individuality may be exactly what the world needs.
Q: Why do you believe it’s important for the credit union to commemorate Black History Month?
A: Black history is American History. It is important to highlight the efforts of those who fought for equality and a better today. To acknowledge the achievements of people who have contributed to pushing the nation forward and inspiring the next generation.
Q: What inspires you?
A: I am inspired by the spirit of resilience I witness every day in those who face personal challenges and achieve personal goals. I find hope in the testimonies in of all who had to pressed forward to persevere and win!
Q: Do you have a favorite black-owned business you like to support?
A: I love Spectacular Spuds, Tee’s Plentiful Salads, and Charlie B. Enterprises in Downtown Flint.
Jay McDaniel- Downtown Flint Branch Manager
Q: What are some personal or professional accomplishments you are most proud of?
A: I would say personally I am most proud of achieving my master’s degree (MBA from UM-Flint) and professionally I am most proud to serve the citizens of Flint, MI as the Branch Manager of the Downtown Flint Branch.
Q: What’s the best lesson you’ve learned?
A: The best lesson I’ve learned (or continue to learn) is to listen with intent, with passion, and with empathy. There is no greater skill that will take you further in life (personal or professional) than mastering the skill of active listening.
Q: Why do you believe it’s important for the credit union to commemorate Black History Month?
A:I think it’s important for the credit union to commemorate Black History Month, because it’s crucial that the community we serve see people that look like them and come from where they come from actively working for their financial success. It’s important they are exposed to our stories, our backgrounds, and our successes in hopes they will find the motivation to chase and achieve their own dreams and goals.
Q: What inspires you?
A: I’m inspired by anyone that pushes through adversity. There is no success without failure. There is no triumph without trouble.
Q: Do you have a favorite black-owned business you like to support?
A: I have several favorite black owned businesses. My favorite would be Spectacular Spudz (see my answer on inspiration), but special shout out to Comma Bookstore, Eight Ten Nail Bar, and I Am My Billboard. There’s a host of great black businesses in Downtown Flint.
Taney Turner – Community Impact Coordinator
Q: What are some personal or professional accomplishments you are most proud of?
A: The professional accomplishment I am most proud of is a recent accomplishment with ELGA and that was securing the funding for the mobile branch that we’ll acquire, to address banking desert areas throughout our target market. A personal accomplishment I’m most proud of was buying my first home last year!
Q: What’s the best lesson you’ve learned?
A: What you put in is what you’ll get out. As a bowler, my dad would always tell me this in an effort to make me practice more and harder at my craft. He wanted me to understand that in anything that I do in life, I must put in great effort if I wanted to produce tremendous results.
Q: Why do you believe it’s important for the credit union to commemorate Black History Month?
A: It’s important because we need to be educated on the contributions that black people (past and present) have made to the CU arena and to this nation, altogether. Commemorating means that we’re honoring someone and the work they’ve done so it should be at the top of everyone’s list to show gratitude for the unparalleled contributions African Americans have made in this country.
Q: What inspires you?
A: Youth. The generations behind me and those to come. I have 4 nieces and 1 nephew, and I always think about how I can help to leave them with a better society to live in than what I and the generations before me had. That’s what truly inspires me.
Q: Do you have a favorite black-owned business you like to support?
A: I do! My church is probably my favorite black-owned business to support because they do so much for the community and they are always going above and beyond to help serve the people of Saginaw.
Kevin Galloway – Flint Branch Manager
Q: What are some personal or professional accomplishments you are most proud of?
A: Being a part of Flint and Genesee’s inaugural 40 under 40 for young professionals in business. To know that I am making a positive impact on my community and being someone my family & friends can be proud of, means the world to me! The privilege of teaching financial literacy to our incarcerated population to help end generational incarceration is an absolute honor to me! I love what I do!
Q: What’s the best lesson you’ve learned?
A: One of the best lessons I learned came from the words of George Washington Carver who said “There is no short cut to achievement. Life requires thorough preparation.” Some people wait for their time, but those who achieve, prepare for their time.
Q: Why do you believe it’s important for the credit union to commemorate Black History Month?
A: It’s important because it is an indication of equity. It is always appropriate to acknowledge the contributions that have been made to improve our world. History is more than events. History can be a tool to discover identity and identity is what makes us all unique. When Black History is commemorated it counters the stigmas and stereotypes, while highlighting and humanizing the strengths and success of a group of people that were not always treated as people, but as property. Equality is giving everyone the same thing. Giving everyone what they need to succeed, that is equity.
Q: What inspires you?
A: I am inspired by the accomplishments and achievements of anyone who has had to overcome tremendous odds to be successful! Those who did not have it easy but did not complain inspire me with their discipline, resilience, and will to win! Rosa Parks once said “each person must live their life as a model for others.” Those who overcome are a model for me!
Q: Do you have a favorite black-owned business you like to support?
A: Yes! Trademark My Stuff (trademarkmystuff.com). Attorney Kyona McGhee and her team are amazing at helping people safeguard their businesses & intellectual property!
