Poarch Creek Tribe Honors Leadership Alabama Graduates
“These accomplishments speak volumes about who we are as a Tribe”— Tribal Chair and CEO Stephanie A. Bryan
The Poarch Band of Creek Indians is celebrating two of its own. Jessica Black, Marketing Director at PCI Federal and a first-generation Poarch Creek descendant, and Cody Williamson, President & CEO of the Creek Indian Enterprises Development Authority and Poarch Creek Tribal citizen, have completed prestigious leadership programs offered by Leadership Alabama.
Jessica Black finished the Alabama Leadership Initiative (ALI) in April. ALI, part of the Leadership Alabama suite, gives early-career professionals with strong leadership potential a deeper understanding of the state’s most pressing issues.
Cody Williamson completed the longer, Leadership Alabama program in May. This rigorous series brings together veteran and executive leaders from many sectors to tackle key challenges statewide.
“These programs are powerful tools for collaboration and growth,” said Tribal Chair and CEO Stephanie A. Bryan. “We’re incredibly proud of Jessica and Cody for representing Poarch in these statewide leadership forums. Their participation not only strengthens their individual growth but also reinforces our Tribe’s commitment to public service and progress.”
Ashley Kaplan, Executive Director of Leadership Alabama, praised the programs’ impact. “Leadership Alabama is represented by the state’s most accomplished and forward-thinking leaders who share a strong commitment to serving the people of Alabama. By assembling such a committed and accomplished group of leaders each year, the state is sure to benefit from their collective passion, knowledge, and influence,” she said.
She also noted, “The ALI program led by Lydia Barnett exposes young professionals to decision-makers in Alabama who are sensitive to the challenges we face as a state, and it provides the participants with the unique opportunity to step inside the circle of decision-makers and problem solvers who mold the future of our state.”
Both programs demand intense involvement—months of travel and in-depth sessions that ask participants to engage directly with pressing issues, meet key decision-makers, and shape future strategies across Alabama.
“These accomplishments speak volumes about who we are as a Tribe,” Chairwoman Bryan added. “We invest in our people, and they, in turn, invest back into their communities.”
The Poarch Creek Indians are Alabama’s only federally recognized tribe. From hospitality to aerospace, the Tribe operates in a range of industries across the globe. Learn more at pci-nab.gov.
