Bertha (Bert) McCann was local President of Petersburg, VA 1978 - 1979. She was an active member for several years with Credit Women International.
While she was a member of CWI, she recieved thank you letters from the American Cancer Society, Arthritis Foundation of VA, American Heart Association, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, just to name a few,
She was the delegate representative to the 35th Annual Mid-Atlantic Consumer Credit and Collection Conference for District 12 CWI in Washington, DC. She also represented Petersburg CWI at the CWI Conference in Chicago June 1978. She was certified by the Society of Certified Consumer Credit Executives in 1978.
Bert McCann was born in Warfield Virginia in 1929, the youngest of three sisters in a family of nine. Nearby Petersburg was the center of commerce and industry so that's where she went to work, in the big local department store that would shape her career and her life.
Rucker-Rosenstock grew through the years and Bert took on increasing responsibility as the company expanded to the suburbs, merged with Southern Department Stores, (which had locations across the state), shortened its name to Rucker's, suffered the decline of the urban core, and ultimately shrunk to one location - Casey's of Williamsburg.
In addition to being a department manager and store manager, Bert created the centralized corporate credit department and managed it through the entire cycle of growth and decline. Known to her employees by the endearing nickname "boss lady", she always sought talent and tried to develop career women. One way she did that was promoting the credit profession, which led her to the CCCE credential and CWI.
After retirement from that long career in retail, she went back to work, first as business manager for a salon, then a furniture store, then a funeral director, each of which allowed her to work with the public, solve problems, and show off her carefully curated wardrobe.
During her 7 decade career, Bert also raised a family, cared for home & family, and buried many friends & relatives, but always had a smile for the people she met along the way. "I'm Bert McCann and I'll help you however I'm able" was a common introduction.
To her son Troy McCann, she was Mom, and he hopes to live up to her standards someday.
Bert passed away at 85 years old, April 17, 2014 after a long and courageous battle with cancer.
