Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/847264
SPOTLIGHT 44 | | Spring 2016 T his month, the American Airlines Federal Credit Union celebrates 80 years RISURYLGLQJÀQDQFLDOVHUYLFHVWR its member-owners. What started in 1936 as an innovative idea by a small group at Chicago's Midway Airport has grown into a fully- LQGHSHQGHQW ÀQDQFLDO LQVWLWXWLRQ with 262,000 members. Just as impressive as the success of American Airlines Credit Union is Don Scott, who has been an employee there for more than half of the institution's existence. In 2016, Scott celebrates his 42nd anniversary with the company. For 10 years, Scott has served as vice president and controller, but his journey with the Credit Union began four decades ago in New York, after earning a degree in accounting from St. John's University. "I started as the lead clerk in the Accounting Department out at LaGuardia because that's where the Credit Union was headquartered at the time," Scott says. "From there, I became Senior Accountant, Supervisor of Accounting, Manager of Accounting and then Controller." When the airline relocated to Fort Worth, Texas, so did Scott, who eventually moved to his current position of vice president and controller. Having spent more than 40 years at a single company, Scott has seen plenty of changes in the industry and in the Credit Union itself. "The speed of change has accelerated more recently," Scott says. In addition to technology, Scott says he's seen changes in the environment, regulations and products the Credit Union is allowed to offer. American Airlines Credit Union's extraordinary growth is one of the changes Scott is most proud of. "I remember the Credit Union having to go out and EX\LWVÀUVWFDOFXODWRUZKHQWRWDODVVHWVH[FHHGHG PLOOLRQµKHVD\V´:KHQWKDWÀUVWFDOFXODWRU was bought, we had to be sure that it would handle $100 million. And now we're over $6 billion." Happy anniversary to Scott and American Airlines Credit Union. Here's to many more. Keep an eye on the Credit Union by visiting AACreditUnion.org and look for special offers for member-owners in celebration of eight decades of helping our members soar. Employee Spotlight Happy 80th anniversary to American Airlines Credit Union and a special person who's been there for 42 of those years B Y JA M E S M AY F I E L D Don Scott, right, poses with some of the Credit Union's other long-time staff members, including, from left, Ana Galla, Dora Herwig, Gail Enda and Leslie Weir.

