Thank you for joining us for our May CTC Friday Conversation, "2026 Young Professionals Leadership Awards - Empowering the Next Generation."

This inspiring session celebrated our outstanding young professionals award recipients. Our award-winning young leaders reflected on their experiences at the previous year's successful Young Professionals Summit, helping to inspire other young professionals while exploring exciting pathways to the 2026 Annual Conference Young Professional track. These emerging leaders truly embodied the next generation of credit union leadership.

Our esteemed panelists were:

• Jasmine Taylor-Newton, Community & Program Coordinator - YP Liaison, Illinois Credit Union League
• Makala Bloise-Worthy, Director of Training and Implementation, America's First Network Credit Union
• Thalia Anguiano, DEI Advisor, TruStage
• Jaylen Boney, Relationship Manager, Community Engagement Liaison - Virginia Market, Chartway Credit Union

Maricela Castillo, Lead Research Consultant Multicultural Business Strategist for TruStage moderated this session.

**VIDEO COMING SOON **

Keep reading to learn about the panelists and moderator.  

Jasmine Taylor-Newton
Community & Program Coordinator - YP Liaison
Illinois Credit Union League

Jasmine spent eight years at Great Lakes Credit Union in various roles, including Branch Manager. She joined the Illinois Credit Union League in March 2022 as the YP Liaison. Jasmine holds a master’s degree in Adult Education and Training and was the 2020 Illinois GAC Crasher and Spirit of Service Award winner. She serves on the AACUC Midwest Chapter Board and has been involved with the One-to-One Woman Mentorship Program as a mentee and mentor. Jasmine is a graduate of the C. Brinkley Leadership Program, completed the AACUC Mastermind Cohort, and has participated in the Board-Ready Training. She’s now looking forward to joining the AACUC DEI Academy. Outside of work, Jasmine enjoys journaling, game nights with family, and spending time with her three fur babies, Cheeto, Pepper, and Midnight.”

Makala Bloise-Worthy
Director of Training and Implementation
America's First Credit Union

Makala Burage-Worthy is a dynamic leader and change-maker at America's First Network Credit Union, serving as Director of Training & Implementation. She empowers staff to maximize their full potential, drives innovative initiatives that transform members’ experiences, and champions bold solutions that move the credit union forward. Outside of the office, Makala mentors students in the Groton Public School system and volunteers on her credit union's events committee, extending her impact to the community. Known for her collaborative spirit and audacious approach, she inspires the next generation of credit union leaders to lead with purpose, confidence, and courage.

Thalia Anguiano
DEI Advisor
TruStage

Thalia Anguiano is a Credit Union DEI Advisor with TruStage. She guides credit union leaders through their diversity, equity inclusion (DEI) learning journeys and emerging markets strategies. She is also a Credit Union Development Educator (2022), a Young Professionals ERG leader and IL CU League YPAC Member. Anguiano graduated from Drake University with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations and Pre-Law, and from Kent State University with a Master of Education in Higher Education Administration. In her free time, she tackles the issue of food insecurity by distributing groceries to hundreds of Chicago residents and supports immigration legal clinics.

Jaylen Boney
Relationship Manager, Community Engagement Liaison - Virginia Market
Chartway Credit Union

Jaylen Boney is a class of 2023 graduate of Morehouse College, and a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated. He has found his passion within the credit union movement for coaching and developing functional and effective habits within teams. His goal is to use his seat at the table to positively influence within every role he holds.

Jaylen is a proven change-agent with 3 years of Emotionally Intelligent leadership experience; he currently holds a dual-role at Chartway Credit Union. First, as the first as the Relationship Manager at the credit union's "flagship" branch; and his second role, which is newly-created, is one that he has spent the last almost two-years building and designing. As Community Engagement Liaison for the Virginia Market of the credit union, this role allows Jaylen to shape organizational strategy focused on the underserved segments of the credit union's membership base; while also serving as a trusted mentor and leader by his peers. The responsibility afforded to Jaylen feeds is passion for advocacy and finding the hidden potential in the overlooked."

Maricela Castillo
Research Consultant, Multicultural Business Strategy
TruStage

Maricela Castillo is a Research Consultant, Multicultural Business Strategy at TruStage. She has been involved with the credit union movement since 2017, starting as an intern with TruStage. Maricela received her Credit Union Development Educator designation in March 2022 and received the 2022 CTC Young Professionals Mindful Leadership Award from AACUC. As a young professional in the credit union movement, she is focusing on multicultural communities and how to make a brighter financial future more accessible for everyone. Her passion for research and creating a positive experience for multicultural communities is what drives her.