Thank you for joining us for our May CTC Friday Conversation, “Celebrating Juneteenth: Honoring Freedom and Heritage.”

This inspiring and heartfelt discussion explored the meaning and impact of Juneteenth through personal stories and lived experiences. Distinguished AACUC leaders shared reflections on family, freedom, heritage, and community, offering powerful insights into how Juneteenth has shaped their personal journeys and commitment to financial empowerment and service within the credit union movement. This intimate conversation educated, inspired, and connected attendees through authentic narratives that honor the past while celebrating progress and community uplift.

Our esteemed panelists were:

• Ashley Beach-Reid, CEO & Founder, It's Your Strategy, LLC
• Kimberly Plant, Director of Project Management, State National
• Sedric Brinson, Director of Membership and Engagement Councils, America's Credit Unions

James Pogue, CEO of JP Enterprises moderated this session. 

**RECORDING COMING SOON**

Keep reading to learn about the panelists and moderator. 

Ashley Beach-Reid
CEO & Founder
It's Your Strategy, LLC

Ashley Beach-Reid is a strategic advisor, leadership developer, and entrepreneur dedicated to advancing the sustainability and impact of small credit unions and the communities they serve.

She serves as Small Credit Union Strategic Advisor and Future Fund Program Director for the African-American Credit Union Coalition (AACUC), where she leads initiatives focused on leadership development, financial sustainability, and community impact. In this role, Ashley partners with credit union executives, boards, and industry stakeholders to design and implement programs that strengthen operational capacity, expand access to resources, and develop leaders at every level of the organization.

Ashley is also the founder of It’s Your Strategy; a consulting and coaching practice committed to equipping small credit unions to execute strategic initiatives and developing emerging leaders. Through her work, she provides strategic advisory services, facilitates planning and implementation, and coaches professionals to strengthen their leadership presence, decision-making, and organizational impact.

Kimberly Plant
Director of Project Management
State National

Kimberly is a trailblazer and seasoned project leader with deep expertise in insurance, financial services, and credit union operations. Known for driving transformation, she blends strategic insight, operational rigor, and people‑first leadership. Her background spans consumer experience, nonprofit governance, sales, marketing, community engagement, product development, and resource optimization. As Director of Project Management at State National, she leads enterprise initiatives with clarity and impact. She also founded REIT Marie Operations LLC, consulting on project management, strategic planning, and business optimization—empowering organizations to grow, adapt, and thrive.

Sedric Brinson
Director of Membership and Engagement Councils
America's Credit Unions

Sedric Brinson lives his life by the simple standard of the Golden Rule of treating others how he would like to be treated. A born leader who wants nothing more than to see others succeed and to see their goals accomplished. His passion for people is what fuels his desire to see communities thrive financially. Sedric’s purpose in life is simply to bring awareness to the Credit Union mantle of people helping people. Sedric has served in the industry for over 22 years. As a converted (Banker), he used those experiences as a driving force to make a difference in the Credit Union Space. Sedric received his C.U.D.E designation in the Best Class Ever of November 2017.  Sedric is also a graduate of the Southwest Credit Union Management School at TCU in 2019. Sedric believes that God, Family, and Friends are the pleasures and joys of life. Without them, there is no success.   

James Pogue
CEO
JP Enterprises

Dr. James Pogue is a leadership strategist and the CEO of JP Enterprises, bringing over 25 years of experience in advising C-suite executives and boards on how to build high-performing teams and organizations. He is the creator of the Connection Quotient™ and The No Nonsense Experience™. Dr. Pogue offers data-driven insights and practical tools to help leaders align talent, culture, and strategy.

As a combat veteran and an award-winning speaker, he is widely recognized for his impactful work in leadership development, organizational behavior, and executive performance.