SCL GPI Advisory board

Mr. Kimble is a 35-year veteran of Capitol Hill and has held positions as chief of staff for a senior member of Congress and chief lobbyist for one of the nation’s largest financial services firms. As the current DC Bureau Chief for the national chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), Kevin has unparalleled access to minority communities and civic leaders around the country. He is routinely called upon and advises members of Congress on policy and legislative issues. He has been asked to speak to state and local government and testify at hearings. 

As founder of the Financial Services Innovation Coalition (FSIC), a DC-based economic empowerment platform and think tank, Mr. Kimble is uniquely positioned to create connections among government, nonprofits, and corporations, and to facilitate the organization, funding, and integration of programs dedicated to financial wellness and accessibility. His extensive contacts in Congress and pertinent regulatory agencies facilitate this work.

Kevin has initiated and administered studies and programs related to solving problems experienced by those poorly served by the current economic framework.  He is the board chair for the FSIC American Innovation & Opportunity Fund (AIOF), whose programs encourage social and economic inclusion. He has advised many third-party groups, nonprofits, and corporate organizations through this organization on initiating programs and allocating funds to help these underserved populations. 

Through AIOF, Mr. Kimble has successfully created programs to help individuals access economic opportunities. He created the Minority Impact Small Business Empowerment Funding (MISBEF) program to help small businesses access startup or expansion capital. Also, he designed and implemented the AIOF Dream Creators Workforce Development Program to support women and men seeking employment in high-wage careers. In 2015, Kevin helped SCLC create a tutoring program for underserved students struggling to keep up with better-supported private and charter school students in remote learning classrooms.

He has previously counseled and currently sits on the advisory boards of multiple financial services start-up organizations and is well-positioned to act as their voice in Congress and with key regulatory agencies. He has access to many of Congress's trusted advisors and a network of individuals in important financial services agencies in DC and nationwide.

His extensive experience working with third-party community groups around the country includes program development, policy development, and advocacy work. He is currently managing partnerships with the following organizations: Leading Ladies of Richmond, VA, Homeless Coalition of Dallas, Target Evolution, Black Mayors of Arkansas, Nash Community College, Black Chamber of Illinois, Halifax County NC School System, Black Belt Community Foundation, and SLCL Roanoke Valley Chapter. 

Seasoned Financial Services and professional Business Development expert Brady J. Buckner has over 25 years of experience and success in consulting and relationship management. Mr. Buckner is adept at building and managing relationships with clients and stakeholders across many industries and all levels of business.

Formerly, he has acted as the VP of Sales and Marketing for Alliance Capital, an Investment Analyst with the Consulting Group at Smith Barney, an Account Executive with CIBC Oppenheimer, a Senior Financial Sales Consultant with PNC Bank, and an RIA Administrator with Pacific West Financial. Brady is currently the President for AIOF and is responsible for helping to manage the organizations complex network of multi-cultural projects and relationships.

Mr. Buckner joined the Financial Services Innovation Coalition in 2013 and subsequently formed AIOF with Mr. Kimble to better serve some of the poorest communities in America by directly implementing solutions developed by FSIC. Brady believes strongly in AIOF’s mission and hopes to have a significant role in solving some of the most serious economic issues that face our country today. 

Yardly Pollas-Kimble is an experienced leader and advisor with over 30 years of domestic and international government and business experience. She is a veteran of Capitol Hill, corporate America and the non-profit world. She has advised members of Congress, CEOs of fortune 100 companies, foreign governmental and political leaders, as well as international business leaders. They have all relied on her expertise and unique insights on issues ranging from political and legislative strategy to economic and business development planning. She has even represented and advised international filmmakers.

As an international political expert, she has monitored elections and helped organize parliamentary training for foreign leaders on the best ways to implement democratic ideals. Ms. Pollas-Kimble has also been relied on by foreign leaders, especially those in the Caribbean and Africa for advise on how to best create prosperity and long lasting democratic governance. She has worked for and with several international development organizations and advised them on both international and domestic US strategies. 

Arthur Sidney is the founder of The Sidney Group and a public policy attorney focused on technology policy, AI governance, regulatory risk, and civil rights. A former Congressional Chief of Staff and international trade attorney, he advises organizations on enforceable accountability systems, including procurement standards, audit-ready records, and workforce policy in the age of AI.

Formerly, he served for over eleven years as Chief of Staff and Chief Counsel for United States Congressman Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. Before working for Rep. Johnson, he served as Legislative Director and Chief Counsel for United States Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. He is a former complex commercial litigation practitioner with over 8 years of experience representing the U.S. in international trade remedies cases at the Department of Commerce and before the Court of International Trade, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and NAFTA and WTO panels. 

As a chief of staff and chief counsel, Arthur managed the day-to-day operations of a busy congressional office and lead a staff of 21 persons or more working across two office locations. In addition to directing the legislative, communications, and district staff. Arthur served as chief advisor to Rep. Johnson who is a senior member of both the House Judiciary and Transportation and Infrastructure Committees and was formerly a senior member on the House Armed Services Committee for nine (9) years. Additionally, Arthur was responsible for Rep. Johnson's work on both committees, including his work on the Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, Courts and the Internet. Arthur also handled Rep. Johnson and his former employer Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee's legislative portfolio for issues including copyright, consumer protection, crime, immigration, antitrust, technology and telecommunications, artificial intelligence, cyber-security, privacy, internet of things, foreign affairs, and international trade.

Charles Steele, Jr. was born on August 3, 1946, in Tuscaloosa , Alabama. He is CEO of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). Mr. Steele is a civil rights leaders first, using his constituency as a pulse to direct action and chapter development of public policies. His vision of a “national playing field” keeps him in touch with current issues and political fairness.

In 1985 Mr. Steele was elected to the Tuscaloosa City Council where he served two terms. His dedication to serving his constituents is evident through his many worthwhile and tangible accomplishments in Tuscaloosa County and West Alabama. During his tenure as City Councilman, he organized the Unity Day Scholarship Fund, The Tuscaloosa Police Athletic League, and secured funds to build the Bernice Washington Insight Center, a drug treatment center. He organized the Tuscaloosa Drug Task Force and after many years of relenting efforts, the Partners for a Drug free Tuscaloosa County (formerly Tuscaloosa Drug Task Force). During that time the partnership was awarded one million dollars. In 1994, Charles Steele, Jr. was elected to the Alabama State Senate. The Senator played key roles in recruiting not one, but several new plants in his district. He was instrumental in locating Tire and Wheel Assembly (T&WA) in Greene County, H&H (truck beds) in Perry County and Greenco Dimensions, Inc. (drum sticks) in Greene County. He also sponsored a non-traditional educational program with Robert Townsend of Hollywood, California for the youth of his district. Additionally, he recruited the Rosa Parks movie to Alabama, where he served as a consultant to the production of the $7 million CBS movie project.

He was serving his third terms as Senator before resigning to become the National Vice President of the SCLC, the Atlanta based organization founded by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In October 2000, Charles Steele was elected as a Senate Member of the High Chamber (U. S. Parliamentary Group) of the International States Parliament for Safety and Peace. The International Parliament nominated Mr. Steele to the Ministry of American Affairs on the 15th of March 2001. Charles Steele graduated from Druid High in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and attended college at Mississippi Valley State University and Oakland University.  He received his bachelor’s degree from American International University at the Paramaribo Suriname, South America Campus. He holds an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree from the prestigious Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, an Honorary Doctorate of Christian Education from the F. T. Bozeman School of Ministry and Global Evangelical Christian College of Louisiana, and an Honorary Doctorate from American International University at the Paramaribo Suriname, South America Campus.