WS Chronicle

RALEIGH – State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU) is pleased to announce that Senior Vice President of Outreach Kelli Holloway received the 2022 Commitment to Change Leadership Professional of the Year Award by the African-American Credit Union Coalition (AACUC) during the organization’s inaugural Commitment to Change: Young Professional Leadership Awards ceremony. 

Holloway was one of six credit union professionals honored for their “Bold,” “Mindful,” and “Brave” leadership in helping eradicate racism throughout the credit union industry and advancing AACUC’s mission. The award was part of AACUC’s Credit Unions Unite Against Racism initiative, which focuses on the 8th Cooperative Principle of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, advocating for financial inclusion, closing the racial wealth gap, and fostering community involvement.

Holloway was recognized for her efforts as a trailblazer for young professionals in leadership, having successfully co-led the AACUC Reality Fair for five years and for being a beacon of Black excellence making real change and impact. She currently serves as the vice chair of the Southern Regional Chapter of the African-American Credit Union Coalition and is a recipient of the 2020 Chairman’s Award for Advocacy.

“I feel extremely honored to be recognized as the 2022 AACUC Commitment to Change Leadership Professional of the Year. I would not be a ‘young leader’ without the opportunities afforded to me by SECU and AACUC,” said Holloway. “The culmination of hard work, especially to lift diversity, equity, and inclusion, is a marathon – it has become one of the most fulfilling journeys of my career. This recognition has motivated me beyond words, and I will continue to use my voice to elevate others through my actions.”

As the senior vice president of outreach, Holloway oversees financial education, community involvement, and volunteer engagement efforts for SECU. For the past 13 years, Holloway has been influential in building SECU programs and initiatives to connect SECU employees to members and the community.

“Young professionals are the lifeline for AACUC and the leadership pipeline for our credit union industry,” said Renée Sattiewhite, president and CEO of AACUC. “Our inaugural honorees have done exceptional work embodying the principles of our Commitment to Change initiative and furthering diversity and inclusion in their spheres of influence. We are honored to recognize young people’s achievements and are confident this is just the beginning of their profound impact on our industry.”