Janet Powell Honored With NASCUS’ Pierre Jay Award

Posted by Jess Honcoop on September 24, 2025

(L-R) John Trull, GoWest; Jennifer Wagner, GoWest; Janet Powell; Amy Nelson, Point West Credit Union; David Curtis, GoWest

At the 60th Annual State Systems Summit, National Association of State Credit Union Supervisors (NASCUS) announced Janet Powell, Chief of Regulation and Supervision – Credit Unions at the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services, as the recipient of the 2025 Pierre Jay Award.

This distinction is NASCUS’s highest honor in recognizing individuals, programs, and/or organizations whose contributions have benefited the state credit union system in a significant way. The Pierre Jay Award honors those who have demonstrated outstanding service, leadership, and commitment to NASCUS and the state system.

“I’m thrilled to recognize the extraordinary and tireless leadership of Janet Powell in receiving the prestigious Pierre Jay Award,” said Troy Stang, President and CEO of GoWest. “Over the course of her 33-year career at the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation, Janet demonstrated unwavering integrity and a deep commitment to maintaining a vibrant and safe credit union system for Oregon’s 2.3 million credit union members. We congratulate Janet on her decades of work to protect and support people and credit unions.”

As a state regulator, Powell was noted for her transparency, sound management, and openness to innovation. Under her guidance, no Oregon state-chartered credit unions failed, and numerous rulemakings helped credit unions thrive and fulfill their service missions. On her regulatory watch, Powell helped credit unions navigate two particularly difficult challenges – the Great Recession and the COVID pandemic – providing regulatory oversight and guidance to help strengthen credit unions during challenging times.

She was appointed to lead Oregon’s credit union program in 2004, where she has served with distinction ever since, serving as the program’s chief examiner since 2004 and as manager since 2007.

“In her role as a regulator, Janet looks out for the interests of Oregonians – credit unions and the consumers they serve, businesses, taxpayers, and government entities,” shared Pamela Leavitt, GoWest’s SVP, Grassroots/Political Programs & Legislative Affairs for Oregon. “She was a valued partner in implementing legislation allowing Oregon credit unions to accept public funds deposits, providing credit unions with regulatory flexibility, and has helped us during the process of reviewing and updating the Oregon Credit Union Act.”

“As a regulator, Janet has demonstrated exceptional leadership which has made a positive and enduring impact on our community,” Amy Nelson, CEO of Point West Credit Union, added. “Her belief in collaboration and her trust in management teams were critical in helping Point West overcome challenges and thrive. Janet’s remarkable career culminates with her having never experienced a credit union failure in 33 years of service — a truly incredible accomplishment.”

The Pierre Jay Award is named after the first Commissioner of Banks in Massachusetts and an early champion of credit union development in the United States who worked alongside credit union trailblazer Edward Filene to lay the foundation for the expansion of credit unions across the country.

Posted in Leadership, Oregon, Regional Member News, Top Headlines.