Owesta Corporation's appointments of Penny Wynn as Chief Programs Officer and
Shannon Ward as Chief Lending
Officer bring decades of strategic expertise to Oweesta and affirm
its commitment to driving economic growth in Native
communities.
LONGMONT, Colo., July 31,
2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Oweesta Corporation,
a national Native CDFI intermediary helping to strengthen the
foundation in Native communities for sustainable, equitable growth
and prosperity, today announced two appointments to its executive
team: Penny Wynn as Chief Programs
Officer (CPO) and Shannon Ward as
Chief Lending Officer (CLO).
"We are thrilled to welcome Penny as our Chief Programs Officer
and Shannon as our Chief Lending Officer," said Chrystel Cornelius, CEO and president of Oweesta
Corporation. "Penny's visionary leadership in program management
and advancing capacity-building initiatives, combined with her deep
commitment to serving Native American communities, will be
instrumental in furthering our organizational goals and community
impact. Shannon's expertise in overseeing loan operations and
managing credit risk, along with her dedication to empowering
Native American communities through strategic financial solutions,
will help drive Oweesta's sustainable economic growth. We are
incredibly fortunate to have Penny and Shannon as new members of
our team."
Wynn joins Oweesta from the Chickahominy Indian Tribe – Eastern
Division, where she served as tribal administrator, managing
governmental initiatives, policy development, daily operations,
community engagement and long-term strategic planning. With over 25
years of experience, Wynn previously served in various leadership
roles at Citizens & Farmers Bank, one of the premier community
banks in the U.S., from 1995-2021. She is a citizen of the
Chickahominy Indian Tribe in Virginia.
As CPO, Wynn will play a vital role in designing and
implementing programs that address the unique needs of Native
communities, ensuring they have access to the resources and support
necessary for sustainable development. Her efforts will support
Native CDFI organizational capacity building and workforce
development initiatives, financial education trainings, and Native
homeownership initiatives.
Ward joins Oweesta from Native American Bank (NAB), a national
community development-focused bank and a certified Community
Development Financial Institution (CDFI), where she served as chief
lending officer and senior vice president. With over 25 years of
financial industry experience, Ward dedicated her 15 years at NAB
to providing tailored lending products to sovereign Indian Tribes,
leveraging her expertise in capitalizing new markets and creating
tax credit deals and participation lending programs. Before NAB,
Ward held key roles in the U.S. Department of Interior's Division
of Capital Investment, including regional manager and interim
division chief for the Indian Loan Guaranty Program, where she led
initiatives to increase access to capital for economic development
to Native American tribes, tribally-owned enterprises, and
Indian-owned businesses. She is a member of the Northern Arapaho
Tribe of Wyoming.
As CLO, Ward will oversee Oweesta's lending operations, ensuring
its financial products and services meet the specific needs of
Native communities. Her work will be pivotal to providing access to
capital for Native CDFIs, Tribes, and Native non-profits to support
small businesses, entrepreneurs, homeownership, and clean energy
initiatives for Native communities.
"We are excited to announce Penny and Shannon as new members of
the Oweesta leadership team. Their addition underscores our
commitment to delivering impactful lending products and technical
services for the Native communities we serve," said Cornelius.
"Their expertise and leadership are essential to ensuring that
Oweesta's strategic initiatives not only address immediate Native
CDFI's community needs but also create pathways for collective
growth and opportunity. Together, we will continue to expand our
mission, providing greater access to training and lending
opportunities and supporting the vibrant development of Native
communities across the nation."
About Oweesta Corporation
Oweesta Corporation is the longest-standing intermediary for Native
Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), serving as an
essential bridge between traditional lenders and underserved Native
areas. By addressing historical inequities and promoting economic
inclusion, Oweesta plays a vital role in fostering sustainable and
equitable growth that helps to strengthen the foundations of Native
communities. As the largest facilitator of capital to Indian
Country, Oweesta offers financial products and services to Native
CDFIs and provides expert technical assistance and training to
ultimately equip Native people with the knowledge and skills to
support strategic financial decision making. This empowerment is
key to advancing economic growth and independence and contributes
to the resilience and prosperity of Native communities. Based in
Longmont, Colorado, Oweesta is a
majority-Native, woman- and minority-led nonprofit organization.
Since its inception in 1999, it has funded more than 4,350 Native
businesses in 36 states, with its network of over 245 partners
disbursing more than 26,000 loans totaling over $826 million. For more information, visit
https://www.oweesta.org.
Media Contact
Michael Tebo, Gabriel Marketing
Group (for Oweesta Corporation), 703-829-6089,
michaelt@gabrielmarketing.com
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SOURCE Oweesta Corporation