RECOGNIZING SHINYTOP BREWING

  Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, as chair of the Senate Committee on Small
Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize an outstanding
Iowa small business that exemplifies the American entrepreneurial
spirit. This week, it is my privilege to honor ShinyTop Brewing of
Webster County, IA, as the Senate Small Business of the Week.

  With a vision of building a local craft brewing scene in north
central Iowa, brothers Nate and Todd McCubbin founded ShinyTop Brewing
in 2016 after Nate, a military veteran, discovered a passion for
homebrewing. The brothers' venture was born from a desire to create
something their hometown could take pride in. What started with sharing
their craft beer among friends and family soon revealed a deeper
purpose: building community through brewing. A simple hobby quickly
grew into a meaningful opportunity to bring people together, foster
connections, and create a gathering place centered around great craft
beer.
  Over the years, ShinyTop experienced significant growth, expanding
both its physical space and its menu offerings. More than a decade
later, the brewery has become a fixture in Fort Dodge. The brewery has
remained a beacon of opportunity for the city. Fostering a welcoming
environment, the McCubbins have sought to build relationships and
connect their visitors to the city's vast art, music, and philanthropic
spheres. Yet for Nate and Todd, the true measure of success is not the
brewery's growth, but the positive impact it has had on the area and
the relationships it has helped foster along the way.
  The brothers successfully turned a dilapidated building into what
ShinyTop is today. Although the business physically resembles a
brewery, the brothers say that it is representative of much more than
that, ShinyTop is an instrument to cultivating community growth, while
sharing family values. As a member of the Greater Fort Dodge Growth
Alliance and the chamber of commerce, ShinyTop prioritizes economic and
social development in the city. In addition to ShinyTop's engagement,
the McCubbin brothers are also heavily involved in the community; Nate
is on the board of the Fort Dodge Fine Arts Association, and Todd is a
member of the city council. Through individual and group efforts, these
entrepreneurs are looking to positively impact their community.
  By partnering with local organizations, the brewery has fostered
meaningful engagement while supporting local initiatives, strengthening
neighborhood connections, and contributing to the overall growth and
well-being of Fort Dodge. In the spirit of supporting the area,
ShinyTop has partnered with the Fort Dodge Fine Arts Association,
Serving our Servants, Fort Dodge Firefighter's Association, and has
collaborated with other local organizations. More recently, the brewery
has introduced its Giving Tuesday initiative in which 10 percent of its
sales are donated to a partnering charity or organization. ShinyTop and
the McCubbins continue to prove their generosity and enthusiasm to give
back to the area.
  I am pleased to recognize Nate and Todd McCubbin along with the
entire team at ShinyTop Brewing for their dedication to the Fort Dodge
community. I look forward to their continued success and wish them the
very best in the years ahead.

                    REMEMBERING VERA BENESBY JORDAN

 Mrs. BRITT. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the life and
legacy of an exceptional Alabamian, Ms. Vera Benesby Jordan. Vera was
an incredible woman--a true steward of the Lord, a generous public
servant, a deeply loving daughter, sister, aunt, and friend, and
someone I was proud to know.
  A lifelong resident of Montgomery, Vera was born on December 13,
1971, to parents Richard S. Jordan, Jr., and Viola Howze Jordan. From
an early age, Vera was an involved and gifted student, excelling both
academically and in her extracurricular activities, later earning her
induction into the Lee High School Hall of Fame.
  Her enthusiasm for pouring her time and talents into her campus
community continued at Spelman College, where she earned a bachelor of
arts degree in history and minor in secondary education. There, she
held no shortage of leadership positions in student government, Kappa
Delta Epsilon, the Morehouse Maroon Tigers Cheer Team, Mortar Board,
and several other campus clubs. Vera also served as the president of
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Mu Pi Chapter and remained an
active life member in the Beta Nu Omega Chapter. She furthered her
higher education at both the University of Pennsylvania and Auburn
University of Montgomery where she earned master's degrees. For Vera,
education was a lifelong pursuit and she always embraced the
opportunity to learn.
  Her involvement at these universities was just the beginning of how
she would positively impact those around her across the great State of
Alabama. For 15 years, Vera served as a congressional field
representative for U.S. Senator Richard Shelby. I had the privilege of
working alongside Vera for several of those years, where we supported
Senator Shelby in his efforts to strengthen both Alabama and our
Nation. It was an honor to witness her incredible ability to connect
with Alabamians, work through issues, and deliver for our State. By the
time she retired in 2021, Vera was beloved and well-respected by her
colleagues and the people of Alabama.
  Beyond serving her State through her professional career, Vera was
also an active volunteer throughout the Montgomery community. From her
role as the president of the Montgomery (AL) Chapter of The Links,
Incorporated, to supporting Habitat for Humanity, to serving on the
Metro YMCA Board and so much more, Vera devoted her free time to
uplifting, strengthening, and advocating for those around her. She was
a shining example of a true servant leader.
  Vera's most important calling was to live a life of great faith. As a
fifth-generation member of Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church,
Vera's devotion to the Lord was the foundation of her life. Every
choice she made was rooted in her trust in God and in every action she
took, she sought to spread His love. She touched countless lives
through her deep faith in the Lord, and while her earthly journey has
come to an end, I am encouraged that her Heavenly one has just begun.
  While Vera's legacy of public service is unmistakably woven
throughout the Montgomery community, her spirit will truly live on
through her pride and joy; her family and friends. Vera treasured her
relationships with her mother; sisters Sharon V. Jordan, LaFreeda M.
Jordan, and Richele Jordan-Davis; nephews Richard Davis, Nyles Davis,
and Bray Davis; and brother-in-law Daryl Davis. She loved her family
deeply and offered them wisdom, and encouragement whenever possible.
Vera also worked to cultivate lifelong friendships and will be
remembered for her warmth, kindness, and support.
  As we mourn this devastating loss to the Montgomery community, I pray
that Vera's loved ones find peace in knowing how profoundly she
impacted and bettered those around her. She was truly one of a kind, a
leader with a servant's heart, steadfast faith in the Lord, and a
remarkable ability to create meaningful change. Vera will be greatly
missed. I am honored to share her story and help celebrate the memory
of an extraordinary woman.

                        TRIBUTE TO BARRY GOSNELL

 Mrs. BRITT. Mr. President, I am honored to recognize Mr. Barry
Gosnell, an exceptional public servant, business leader, and innovator
whose more than four decades of leadership in government and industry
have strengthened our national defense, advanced technological
innovation, and fostered economic growth throughout the Tennessee
Valley and beyond.
  A longtime leader at Redstone Arsenal, Mr. Gosnell devoted 28 years
of civilian service to advancing engineering excellence, innovation,
and mission effectiveness in support of the American warfighter. Most
recently serving as deputy director of the Software Engineering
Directorate, he helped lead one of the Army's most vital technical
organizations through a period of remarkable growth and transformation.
As a principal architect of that success, Mr. Gosnell played a central
role in the directorate's 40-percent increase in business revenue,
reaching $1.1 billion in fiscal year 2012, while the organization
expanded to more than 3,000 government and contract engineers
supporting some of our Nation's most important defense programs.
  Before serving as deputy director, Mr. Gosnell led the Acquisition
and Technology Engineering Division for 14 years and earned a
reputation as a