Message from the Board Chairman

On behalf of Tower's volunteer Board of Directors and Senior Management team, I want to thank those of you who participated in Tower's Annual Meeting on May 16. To view Tower's 2022 Annual Report, please visit our About Tower page.

Board of Directors election results
Thank you to all that took the time to vote in our recent Board of Directors election and I am pleased to welcome Janelle Romano as a new Director on the Board. 

Janelle has held numerous executive-level cybersecurity positions within the Intelligence Community and private sector over the past 28 years. She currently leads cybersecurity strategy for a large defense contractor, and also serves on the Boards of a leading commercial software company and a non-profit organization. Janelle is excited to help shape the Tower member experience through the delivery of secure products and services, and I thank her for her willingness to serve on Tower's volunteer Board. 

I'm pleased to also announce that Board member Thomas Woods, Jr. was re-elected to serve another three-year term. Tom has served on the Board since 2018 and as member of our Technical Advisory Board since 2001, providing cybersecurity guidance and expertise to Tower's Information Technology leadership. He is a respected cybersecurity leader with over 35 years of cryptographic security, information security, and cybersecurity experience. I thank him as well for his time and dedication to Tower. 

Last but not least, I'm happy to say that I was re-elected to serve another three-year term on your Board as well and will continue to serve as Board Chairman. I joined Tower's volunteer Board 18 years ago in May 2005, after having previously served on the Supervisory Committee for four years (1996-2000). I have really enjoyed serving on Tower's Board for almost two decades and especially all of the exceptional Board members, volunteers, employees, and members whom I have met along the way. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve another term on the Board. 

Board member Allen Brisentine retiring
It's bittersweet for me to announce that our Board Vice-Chairman, Allen Brisentine III, is retiring from the Board after 22 years of service. On behalf of the entire Board, I would like to thank Allen for his outstanding service. He served as Board Security Advisor for 12 years and on the Board for ten years. Allen was a great advocate and ambassador for Tower members and he will be greatly missed. We wish him the best and I know he is looking forward to spending more time with his family. 

Tower equals Teamwork
As I was preparing for the Annual Meeting and reflecting over the past year, one theme that consistently carried throughout 2022 for me was teamwork. I commend our entire Tower team for their teamwork and cooperation during the major technology upgrade that took place in February last year. The upgrade was the largest in Tower's 70-year history and touched all departments in one way or another. I also appreciate the patience and support from our members as we underwent this major change to better position us for the future. 

Another change that impacted all departments and reflected the teamwork that is a way of life at Tower was the recent brand refresh. I am excited about this new direction for Tower and we have received positive feedback from our members. The new brand betters tells the Tower story, will help us move forward into a brighter future, and will help us connect better with our younger members.

Teamwork is also one of the reasons Tower has once again been recognized as a "Great Place to Work"—for the fifth year in a row! If you are looking to change jobs and want to join an exceptional team of employees, please see our open positions. Maybe there's a new opportunity for you or someone in your family at your credit union.

We were also recently recognized by Capital Gazette newspaper readers as a Best of Anne Arundel County 2023 winner. We won top honors as "Best Mortgage Lender," thanks in large part to our amazing team of lending professionals who work every day with members to help them find their new home at the best rate through our HomeAdvantage® program, and we won second place for "Best Bank/Credit Union." If you are planning to buy or sell a home this summer, please come to Tower first. We are here for you, through all the ages and stages of life.

Fraud is on the rise
Unfortunately, as we all are likely aware, fraud continues to be on the rise and fraudsters are getting more sophisticated in their attempts to steal our personal information. I want to assure you that in all matters related to fraud, Tower remains vigilant and absolutely committed to security. From top-notch technology to investing in training for employees on how to detect and stop fraud, fraud prevention is a top priority for the Board and Senior Management team. 

We recently hosted a free Shred Day event at our Laurel branch to help members and the general community to safely dispose of documents containing sensitive information that they no longer need. Shredding documents instead of throwing them in the trash where they can fall into the wrong hands is a good way of helping to prevent identity theft. There are many other things you can do to protect yourself and your family. Together, we can help fight fraud.

Share the gift of membership
I'm sure we are all looking forward to sunny days ahead and the more relaxed pace of summer. While you're enjoying vacations and gatherings with family and friends, I invite you to talk to your friends and family who are not yet members about the Tower Advantage and encourage them to join the Tower family. Be sure to mention that they can get an extra $300 with a new Tower Checking account!¹ This offer is good for current and new Tower members, and is only available for a limited time.

It's also important to get kids in the savings habit early, and as an added incentive, if you open a Tower Prime Share savings account for your child this month with $25 or more we will deposit $25 in your child's new account. If you haven't opened a savings account yet for your child, this is a great time to do so. Stop by any Tower branch to get started. Please note that accounts for minors cannot be opened online.

Tower is here for you
As we continue to celebrate Tower's 70th anniversary year, I want you to remember that Tower is your credit union, and we stand ready to help you and your family achieve your financial goals. Thank you for your membership and for your trust in us through all of these years; it is our honor and privilege to serve your financial needs. 

Arland A. White, Jr.
Board Chairman