Q&A with Mary Ida Townson

This article originally appeared in the NACTT Quarterly (Vol. 34, No 2, January/February/March 2022).

On June 13, 2021, Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Mary Ida Townson as the U.S. Trustee for Georgia, Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands (Region 21). We sat down with Mary Ida virtually to learn more about her journey thus far.

You’ve been with the Program for just a few months. How do you like your new responsibilities so far?

I am enjoying learning each of my new job responsibilities, both on the legal and administrative fronts. The U.S. Trustee Program has a great mentor/ mentee program for all new employees, similar to the fabulous mentor/mentee program that the NACTT has developed over the past several years. I am fortunate to have a knowledgeable and committed U.S. Trustee as my mentor, Nancy J. Gargula, who was the U.S. Trustee for Region 21 for the 26 months prior to my appointment. Nancy is also the U.S. Trustee for Region 10 and has been a U.S. Trustee for approximately 20 years. We have spent many quality hours together via video since my appointment.

As a long-serving chapter 13 trustee, what interested you in joining the Program as a U.S. Trustee?

I did a lot of soul searching, from having conversations with both my wife and my best friend to creating a pros and cons list. What excited me most was the opportunity to make a positive impact on a larger scale within the overall bankruptcy system and community. It is my sincere hope that I will be able to do that in Region 21. In addition, I hope my prior chapter 13 trustee experience will be a benefit to the USTP on a national basis.

As most chapter 13 trustees know, during my tenure as a chapter 13 trustee, I had the honor of serving as an officer and eventually President of the NACTT. During that time, I was fortunate to be on the NACTT/ Executive Office for United States Trustees (EOUST) liaison committee for several years. In addition, I worked on various projects involving the NACTT, EOUST, National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees, National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys, and National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges. While I absolutely loved being a chapter 13 trustee, in the end, I wanted to pursue this opportunity, knowing it would be the final adventure in my professional career.

What similarities have you identified from your prior position to serving as a U.S. Trustee?

While I am still getting acclimated to my new position, being an effective administrator is important in both positions. Both positions also require keeping abreast of emerging case law. As a chapter 13 trustee, I learned a lot about many aspects of management, from human resources matters to employee morale, as well as striving to engender a positive work environment for all employees.

It is also important in both positions to establish a positive working relationship with parties in interest in the bankruptcy arena, while at the same time faithfully carrying out the many duties, responsibilities, and priorities of the organization. When I was a chapter 13 trustee, it was important to maintain positive working relationships with the judges and their chambers, as well as with the clerks of court and their staff. I certainly believe the same to be true in my new position.

What are a couple of the biggest differences?

As a chapter 13 trustee, I oversaw a trust operation for one specific bankruptcy chapter, and all my cases were assigned to three bankruptcy judges. In the few months that I have been a U.S. Trustee, I have already learned a great deal more about chapter 11 cases, and I am being exposed to chapter 7 matters more than I was previously. I also have a new appreciation for the perspective of the USTP as it relates to chapter 13 trust operations.

While I oversaw one office with about 30 employees as a chapter 13 trustee, I now oversee eight field offices with nearly 100 staff members. Fortunately, I have terrific Assistant U.S. Trustees overseeing the field offices in Region 21. They have been helpful whenever I have had questions or concerns. My next priority is to get to know everyone in each field office.

What has surprised you the most in making the change?

In my new position, I am still learning the overall structure of the USTP, such as when and where to refer administrative and legal matters within the Program. I did not previously know that the USTP provides resources to both U.S. Trustees and Assistant U.S. Trustees in so many different areas. I appreciate being able to seek guidance from colleagues both in Washington, D.C., and all over the country on a regular basis.

Although new to the position, what aspects of serving as the U.S. Trustee have you found the most rewarding?

It is rewarding to know that we, along with the Assistant U.S. Trustees and Region 21 office staff, are carrying out the mission of the USTP, which is to “promote the integrity and efficiency of the bankruptcy system for the benefit of all stakeholders – debtors, creditors, and the public.”

The Assistant U.S. Trustees in Region 21 are phenomenal in so many ways. They are terrific managers of the staff within their offices. They understand the USTP’s objectives and priorities and strive daily to assist in achieving those objectives and priorities. They communicate well with each other and know when to bring matters and cases to my attention. Every one of them has told me that his or her job is to support the important work we do to assure that all participants follow the Bankruptcy Code and Rules, that cases are efficiently and effectively administered, and that we work together as we oversee the cases fled in Region 21 and take appropriate action when warranted. Every one of them has also offered to assist me in my learning as a U.S. Trustee.

What do you look forward to the most in your new role?

I look forward to learning and hopefully excelling in my role as the senior legal officer for Region 21. I also, however, look forward to capitalizing on my vast experience as a chapter 13 trustee to benefit the USTP and the Program’s relationship with the NACTT membership.

About Mary Ida Townson

Mary Ida Townson is the United States Trustee for Florida, Georgia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands (Region 21). Before joining the United States Trustee Program, Ms. Townson was a chapter 13 standing trustee in the Northern District of Georgia for 18 years. Prior to her chapter 13 trustee appointment, she was a creditors’ rights attorney, a debtor’s attorney, and a chapter 7 panel trustee. Ms. Townson is a past president of the National Association of Chapter 13 Trustees and the Southeastern Bankruptcy Law Institute. She is also a past chairperson of the Bankruptcy Section of the State Bar of Georgia. Ms. Townson graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Auburn University in 1987. She obtained her law degree from the University of Georgia in 1990.