Join us for our February CTC Friday Conversation, in celebration of Black History Month: "A Century of Black History Commemorations: A Legacy of Cooperation."

2026 marks the 100th anniversary of the first Black History Week, a milestone that honors a century of reflection, recognition and progress. During this session, we'll celebrate the 2026 African American Credit Union Hall of Fame Inductees, trailblazing credit union leaders who championed financial equity, inclusion and community empowerment. Together, we'll explore their inspiring stories, the challenges they overcame and the legacy of cooperation that continues to shape our movement today. 

Our esteemed panelists are:

• Creighton P. Blackwell, Chief Community Impact & Pubic Affairs Officer, Coastal Credit Union
• Carolyn Jordan, Chief Growth Officer, Neighborhood Credit Union
• Leigh Brady, President and CEO, State Employees' Credit Union of North Carolina
• Max Villaronga, President/CEO, Raiz Federal Credit Union
• Sati Smith, Chief Executive Officer, Diversified Members Credit Union

Sharon Camper, Chief People Officer of Apple Federal Credit Union will moderate this session.

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Keep reading to learn more about the panelists and moderator. 

Creighton P. Blackwell
Chief Community Impact & Public Affairs Officer
Coastal Credit Union

Creighton P. Blackwell is a seasoned executive with over 30 years of leadership in business and community impact. He serves as Chief Community Impact and Public Affairs Officer at Coastal Credit Union, with prior roles as Vice President of Corporate Affairs & Community Engagement and Vice President of Retail Banking. Blackwell actively serves on numerous nonprofit boards, earning multiple awards for his contributions. He is a University of North Carolina Chapel Hill graduate and a Certified Innovation Executive from Stanford. Blackwell is a passionate speaker and advocate for sustainability, economic development and financial education. He enjoys coaching sports and time with his family.

Carolyn Jordan
Chief Growth Officer
Neighborhood Credit Union 

Carolyn Jordan is the Chief Growth Officer at Neighborhood Credit Union, overseeing digital banking, data analytics, marketing, product development and advocacy. She serves as President of the AACUC Texas Regional Chapter and the Neighborhood Credit Union Foundation. Jordan is a former Chair of America’s Credit Unions Operations Council and a past member of the Dallas Federal Reserve’s Consumer Advisory Council. Awarded by the Dallas Business Journal as a 2024 C-Suite Leader and a 2023 Woman in Technology, Jordan’s leadership spans 46 years. She holds a Master of Science in Business Analytics from Texas A&M-Commerce and marketing certification from Southern Methodist University’s Cox School of Business.  

Leigh Brady
President and CEO
State Employees’ Credit Union of North Carolina

Leigh Brady is the President and CEO of State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU). With 38 years of service at SECU, Brady has served in various operations positions, including Chief Operating Officer, helping to grow the credit union, which serves over 2.9 million members. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from North Carolina State University and a Master of Business Administration from Meredith College. She serves on the Carolinas Credit Union League Board of Directors and the Executive Committee of America’s Credit Unions CEO Council. She is also a member of the International Women’s Forum of the Carolinas. 

Max Villaronga
President/CEO
Raiz Federal Credit Union

Max Villaronga has served as President/CEO of Raiz Federal Credit Union since 2014. His experience includes working in various industries and notable organizations such as The Home Depot and the U.S. Marines. He has focused on creating a culture centered on human dignity and leads his team to value DEIBA as both morally important and a strategic advantage. Villaronga holds an MBA from the University of Texas at Dallas, is a School of Retail Banking at Furman graduate, and holds Certified Chief Executive and Development Educator designations. He serves on the board of the Underserved Communities Foundation, El Paso Symphony, El Paso Chamber and NLCUP. 

Sati Smith
Chief Executive Officer
Diversified Members Credit Union 

Sati Smith is the Chief Executive Officer of Diversified Members Credit Union (DMCU), where she has served as CEO for two years following more than 20 years in the financial industry. An advocate for financial inclusion for all, regardless of socioeconomic status, Smith guides DMCU into a new era of growth and enhanced member experience. She serves on several boards, including the Detroit Public Safety Foundation and Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan and is an ambassador for the Voices of Black Women cancer research study. Passionate about empowerment, she shares her journey to inspire young women to pursue their dreams.

Sharon Camper
Chief People Officer
Apple Federal Credit Union 

Sharon Camper is an accomplished human resources executive, with a passion for optimizing organizational performance through its most valuable asset – its people. As Chief People Officer (CPO) at Apple Federal Credit Union, she plays a pivotal role in shaping the organization’s culture, aligning its human capital with its strategic objectives, fostering an inclusive and diverse workforce, and implementing cutting-edge performance management and learning programs.    

With over two decades of experience in HR management and talent development, Sharon has honed her expertise in creating an environment that attract, develop, and retain top talent. Her commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is evident in her efforts to create a workplace that celebrates differences and harnesses the power of varied perspectives to drive innovation.   

Prior to assuming the role of CPO at Apple FCU, she joined the credit union industry as the Managing Director for State Department Federal Credit Union. Sharon has held several key HR leadership positions in various industries, including finance, media, and retail. Her diverse background has equipped her with a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by organizations of all sizes and complexities.   

Sharon holds a Master of Science degree in Organizational Development and Strategic Human Resources from Johns Hopkins University. In addition, Sharon earned a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Building a Diverse Workforce Certificate from Cornell University.     

With her strategic acumen, people-centric approach, and unwavering commitment to fostering a positive and inclusive workplace culture, Sharon continues to be an influential force in shaping the future of human resources and leadership.