MSAA strives to be a leading resource for the MS community by improving lives today through vital services and support – and we could not accomplish this without the help of our volunteer board members. MSAA’s Board of Directors is comprised of accomplished professionals from across the country who volunteer their time to further MSAA’s mission. With our new series, Meet the Board, we hope to introduce you to our wonderful volunteer board members!
MSAA is proud to highlight two volunteer board members this month – John McCorry and James Anderson, Esq.
John McCorry
Board Chair, Member of the Executive Committee and Communications and Marketing Committee
Professional Background: John McCorry of Princeton, New Jersey is Senior Executive Editor for the Americas at Bloomberg News, in charge of more than 40 bureaus and the top news from the region. Previously, Mr. McCorry had been in charge of global company and regional news operations since 2003. Prior to that, Mr. McCorry was Managing Editor for North American company news, a position he began in 1998. He joined Bloomberg as a reporter in 1992 covering municipal finance and the bond markets and helped Bloomberg News win a Deadline Club award for its coverage of the Orange County bankruptcy.
James M. (Jim) Anderson, Esq.
Immediate Past Chair, Executive Committee Member
Professional Background: Jim Anderson of Ridgeland, Mississippi is the Managing Member of Anderson Crawley & Burke, pllc, a Mississippi law firm headquartered in the Jackson, Mississippi area. An Honor graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi and a cum laude graduate of the Mississippi College School of Law, Mr. Anderson is active in numerous professional organizations surrounding his private law practice where he focuses on workers’ compensation litigation, insurance/self-insurance regulation, and mediation. In 2012, he was named the Lawyer of the Year for Outstanding Lifetime Achievement in the Legal Community by the Mississippi College School of Law.
What inspired you to join MSAA’s Board of Directors?
McCorry: “My inspiration was a desire to give back. I’ve been profoundly lucky in life, and I wanted to help others. The fact that my wife, Rebecca Cox, was diagnosed with MS in 1999 of course was also a factor. Strangely enough, that wasn’t the event that landed me on the MSAA board eight years ago. That happened because my lifelong friend Bob Manley, then an MSAA board member and future chairman, asked if I would like to help because the board didn’t have anyone with media experience. I was honored to join, and have been blessed to be associated with this great organization ever since. I’ve gotten back at least what I’ve given into the effort – learning, understanding the disease and its effects, meeting some great people, and hopefully helping those affected by multiple sclerosis.”
Anderson: “In my search for an opportunity to serve the community-at-large in a meaningful way, I discovered MSAA through a friend who was then serving on the Board. After learning MSAA’s history, mission, and focus, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to participate on a Board that was making a difference in the lives of those who were impacted by multiple sclerosis. My impression has been proven valid. Learning the details of the implementation of MSAA’s mission, getting to know the MSAA staff members who do such an amazing job, and experiencing firsthand the impact the MSAA makes on the MS community has been a wonderful and life changing experience.”
What are your goals as an MSAA Board Member?
McCorry: “I’m goal-oriented in general, so I find that I match my goals to those of the organization. In that regard, I’ve tried to help define initiatives that could assist our clients – psychosocial workshops, better ways for the community to communicate, etc. I’ve worked on our goal to raise financing to fund all these programs that improve lives—today. More philosophically, I’ve tried to bring what I’ve learned in life and in my work as a journalist to the MSAA’s efforts. We have a compelling story to tell – how do we do so to reach the widest, most influential audience? What programs can we start that will not only make us a better organization to serve clients, but will contribute to the world at large? Wrestling with those sorts of questions hopefully helps all of us at MSAA and those who use the organization, and also makes for an interesting, fulfilling experience for me and all my colleagues at MSAA.”
Anderson: “My focus as a Board member continues to be on the evolution of the MSAA as the leader in providing services to those whose lives are impacted by multiple sclerosis. The Board’s governance role in achieving that status is the result of the combined efforts of the many talented people serving on the Board, working with the very talented MSAA staff, and collaborating with other interested organizations throughout the multiple sclerosis community. Expanding revenue streams to meet the needs of the MS community and improve the services offered by MSAA is a very worthwhile and rewarding challenge, but it remains the reason I continue to serve.”
Editor’s Note: MSAA is extremely proud and honored to enlist the support of John McCorry, Jim Anderson and all of our dedicated Board Members who volunteer their time, expertise, compassion, and leadership to help us achieve our mission of improving lives today for the entire MS community. We are very grateful for their service and look forward to their continued support as we strive to serve more people in more places than ever before. Thank you once again John and Jim!
