The Future of Advocacy: Meet the 2025 GAC Crashers

Meet Caleb Lambert, a dedicated young professional at Legacy Credit Union who quickly became involved with the Young Professionals of the Birmingham Chapter. Inspired by the experience of YP President Ivey Sickafoose, a 2024 Crasher, Caleb shares, “Hearing her talk about how impactful the experience was made me even more eager to apply for the program myself.” He’s excited to deepen his understanding of advocacy, saying, “Legacy has played a huge role in educating and empowering me to take this step.”

Meet Jessica Lindsey, representing PenAir Credit Union and the state of Florida at the GAC. She shares, “The GAC sparked my interest to connect with like-minded individuals, share ideas, and learn from the best in the field.” Passionate about advocacy, Jessica takes pride in promoting the work happening in her state, adding, “This experience pushes me to grow, innovate, and keep striving for excellence.”

Meet Elia Boutros, a Marketing Coordinator at Peach State Federal Credit Union, who started her journey with the credit union as a Marketing Intern in 2022. Boutros shares, “Our passion for people helping people is indistinguishable” as part of the marketing team. Eager to deepen her connection to the credit union movement, she applied to be a Crasher, saying, “I’m excited to soak up every bit of knowledge from some of the industry’s most passionate leaders.”

Meet Kaitlin Trunell, a dedicated team member at Georgia United Credit Union. Reflecting on her four years there, she shares, “I was blown away by the deeply ingrained culture of empathy and commitment to putting people first.” Kaitlin is excited to expand her knowledge of the credit union movement through the Crasher Program, noting, “I look forward to the chance to share our story, network with peers, and connect with lawmakers to continue driving our mission forward.”

Meet Jaylen Boyle, a graduate of Morehouse College and Relationship Specialist at Chartway, where he also serves as the Multicultural Liaison for the Virginia Market. Jaylen is passionate about advocacy and bringing the “credit union difference” to life, especially for the African American community. As he puts it, “I never miss an opportunity to ‘use my seat’ in interest of the advancement of people with brown skin, like me.”

Meet Benjamin Soto, a mentor for the 2025 Crash the GAC delegation and a passionate advocate for the credit union movement. After attending the GAC as a Crasher in 2024, he says, “The Governmental Affairs Conference is an experience with a profound impact.” Now returning as a mentor, he’s excited to help guide the next generation of leaders, adding, “I’m honored to return as a mentor, playing a small part in ensuring they have an unforgettable experience.”