FSIC Task Force Members

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Kevin B. Kimble, Esq. founded the Financial Services Innovation Coalition (FSIC) in 2012 to serve as an economic empowerment platform where innovative and cutting-edge policy design help disadvantaged communities become thriving participants in the national economy.

He is the DC Bureau Chief for the national chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and serves as the Executive Director for their Global Policy Initiative (SCL-GPI) in Washington, DC.

Mr. Kimble is a 25-year veteran of Capital 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. He represents, advises and sits on the boards of numerous nonprofit organizations focused on equity and inclusion. 

Kevin’s work with community leaders at the federal, state and local level around the country give him unparalleled access to minority communities and civic leaders all over the U.S.  He is routinely called upon and advises members of congress on policy and legislative issues and has been asked to speak to state and local government agencies and testify at hearings. 

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.

Ms. Ophelia Gould-Faison is a lifelong resident of Littleton, NC and the daughter of the Late William and Sabina Gould.  She is the mother of two adult daughters, two sons-in-laws and six grandchildren. Ms. Gould-Faison is an alumna of the former McIver High School in Littleton and of North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC. She is a retired educator of the Halifax County Public School District, Halifax, NC.

Ms. Gould-Faison holds membership with the Oak Grove Baptist Church in Littleton, NC, a Life Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Charter Member and Chair of Roanoke Valley(NC)-Southern Christian Leadership Conference, a member of the Halifax County Branch of NAACP.

Ms. Gould-Faison’s community service includes Chair of M.L.K. National Holiday Celebration sponsored by Oak Grove Baptist Church Ministries/Littleton, Organize Voter Education & Voter Registration Forums in various Halifax County Communities, Chair of Littleton #1 Precinct of the Halifax County Democratic Party, a Charter Member and Board Secretary of the Ella Baker Educational Project of N.C.,  a Sarah Keys Evans Plaza Project member, and presently serves as an elected official as a Littleton Town Commissioner.  

Ms. Gould-Faison’s recognition and community awards include 2005-2006 Teacher of The Year at McIver Elementary School, 2017 Local African-American Hero Award/Halifax Community College Weldon, NC, and 2019 Hidden Figure/ Kappa Iota Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.   

Ms. Gould-Faison enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, family, friends and fishing. Her favorite quotes are “What are you doing for others?” --Rev. Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. and “If not us, then who? If not now, then when?”--- Congressman John Lewis.

G. Michael Flores, CEO of Bretton Woods, Inc., is a consultant and researcher who has studied financial services companies and consumer credit in general for close to 40 years, with a particular focus on “alternative” credit programs for the last 10 years.

He has written and published research papers on consumer credit in the United States and the United Kingdom, as well as papers on payments, including general-purpose reloadable and payroll prepaid cards. Based on these studies, he has testified before five House and Senate subcommittees and spoken to industry groups. He has also authored articles for industry publications.  He is currently conducting research for a book on the impact of artificial intelligence and robotics not only in financial services but also on human culture in general.

He is a faculty member with Pacific Coast Banking School at the University of Washington in Seattle where he teaches "Retail Banking in the 21st Century" and a graduate of the University of Notre Dame.