PAWHUSKA, OK – Osage Nation Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear made two new appointments to the Osage Nation Community Development Financial Institution Board (CDFI) – Penney Johnson and John Jech. Both appointments were confirmed by Osage Nation Congress during the 2024 HunKa Session and sworn in by Judge Lee Stout. The CDFI Board oversees PBM Lending, a non-profit and public purpose corporation organized under the Osage Nation Law.
Penney Johnson has nearly 20 years of entrepreneurial and management experience. She currently owns Lucky Penney Dry Cleaners in Skiatook. Beginning her career as a bank teller in Barnsdall, Johnson went on to serve as Assistant Vice President for American Heritage Bank in Cleveland and served as Branch Manager of the Barnsdall location, bringing 15-plus years of banking experience to the PBM Board.
John Jech is a CPA who owns a business offering tax planning and preparation, consulting services, bookkeeping, auditing, and small business accounting. Jech was elected to the 3rd Osage Nation Congress in 2012 and served as Chairman of the Governmental Operations Committee and Chairman of the Appropriations Committee. He was Chief Financial Officer for the Osage Nation from 2005 to 2010 and Controller from 1996 to 2005. Jech brings impactful experience in accounting and auditing to the PBM Board.
About PBM Lending
PBM Lending was created by the Osage Nation Executive and Legislative Branches and is funded by the Native American Community Assistance (NACA) grant from the United States Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund and appropriations from the Osage Nation Congress. PBM Lending is implemented through the consistent effort of the Osage Nation CDFI Board of Directors and PBM employees.
PBM Lending is both a non-profit and public purpose corporation organized under the Osage Nation Law. The Osage Nation is the sole member of Place to Borrow Money as a corporation. PBM Lending is tax-exempt and welcomes year-end giving. PBM Lending plans to promote new products and programs such as small business lending, agribusiness lending, consumer lending, and home improvement loans. PBM Lending also plans to offer training courses, which will be announced in fiscal year 2024.
