Merrick Engages Series

Join Murray Dalziel, dean of the Merrick School of Business as he talks with Michael Curry about his career, businesses and life lessons.

About Michael Curry

Michael Curry is the Principal of Business Contingency Services for the Vanguard Group, a leading provider of comprehensive investment management services based in Malvern, Pennsylvania.  In this position, he is responsible for enterprise-wide business contingency planning, development, maintenance and testing.  Prior to this role, Mike led the Vanguard Retirement Resource Center and served as an Executive Assistant to the Chief Technology Officer.

Curry began his career as a staff accountant with Deloitte, a public accounting firm.  Since then, he has held audit and management positions of increasing responsibility with several successful organizations including Philip Morris Companies, The Washington Post Company, Marriott Corporation and The Zurich Insurance Group.  Curry's educational background includes the U.S. Naval Academy and the University of Baltimore.  He is a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) and a Certified Business Continuity Professional (CBCP).  He is a registered representative and holds the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Series 6, 63 and 26 licenses.

Curry is an advocate and active member of several financial services industry professional organizations including the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA), the Association of Contingency Planners (ACP), the Securities Industry Financial Markets Association (SIFMA), the Investment Company Institute (ICI) and Chester County FIRST.  He currently serves as Chairman of Chester County FIRST.  He has served as Chair of the ICI BCP Sub-Committee; Co-Chair of the SIFMA Business Contingency Planning Tactical Committee; and as an Editorial Advisory Board member for Continuity Insights magazine.

As a Vanguard leader, Mike is actively involved in cultivating relationships with diverse professional organizations.  This includes the privilege of speaking and conducting workshops at National Association of Black Accountants (NABA), National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA) and the National Society of Hispanic MBAs (NSHMBA) local chapters and national events.  In February 2010, He was recognized by Savoy magazine as one of the “Top 100 Most Influential Blacks in Corporate America”.

For ten years, Mike was the sponsor for the Vanguard Computers for Schools Program.  This initiative identified, collected, refurbished and distributed over 8,000 computers, printers and peripherals for a “second life” in school systems, community services organizations and United Way agencies.  He has served as a member of the Urban League of Philadelphia Leadership Forum Task Force and a member of the Southeastern Pennsylvania United Way Campaign Cabinet.

Staying connected to his alma mater has been Curry's commitment for many years.  He served as Chairman of the University of Baltimore Foundation Board from 2011 – 2013 and continues to stay involved as a member of several board committees.  He was recognized as the University of Baltimore Alumni of the Year for the Merrick School of Business in 2008.

As an active member of the soccer community and as an accomplished coach,Curry spends some of his spare time working with the development of talented soccer players and coaches across the country.  Currently, he is a member of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Goalkeeping Coaching Staff and is Chairperson for the NSCAA Diversity and Inclusion Committee.  He is a member of the NSCAA Foundation and has established a scholarship for coaches in underserved soccer communities.  Over the years, he has served as a member of the NSCAA Board of Directors and as Chairperson of the NSCAA Board of Governors.

Curry is currently the Chairman of the Philadelphia Union Foundation.  In this role, he leads initiatives to support youth programs in underserved communities in collaboration with the Philadelphia Union, MLS (Major League Soccer) team.  Prior to this role, he served on the FC DELCO Soccer Club and Starfinder Foundation Boards for many years.

In August 2011, Curry had the privilege of being “called up” by head coach Juergen Klinsmann to serve as an assistant coach for the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team in the game against Mexico.

His other interests include jazz music, cooking, bicycling and traveling.  Although he resides in Berwyn, Pennsylvania, he takes advantage of any opportunity to let people know that Baltimore is his hometown.  His homemade crab cakes will convince anyone.