Board Member Guest Blogs: Jeanne Pickens

In preparation for an upcoming series on Moving Forward through Change, SOREDI’s Executive Committee was asked to share a few thoughts on change: professional and personal. Jeanne Pickens, SOREDI Board Member, and Chief Operations Officer at Rogue Credit Union, contributed the following responses.

• What is the biggest change your company has made during the past 20 months?

The past 20 months have been a time of tremendous growth at Rogue. Our organization underwent a conversion to a new core operating system and completed a merger with a small credit union in Eastern Oregon/Western Idaho. Through the pandemic we continued to be a trusted local financial institution for Southern Oregonians, resulting in nearly doubling of the credit union’s assets.

• Do you foresee more economic changes coming for your business/industry?

As supply chain issues continue to interrupt normal commerce, we face challenges in putting our surplus of deposits to work through traditional lending channels.

• How have you been able to react to change on a personal level?

After two years of consistent and challenging change, we have all learned to pivot quickly while measuring risk. We will be able to look back on these times as pivotal moments of personal and professional growth. As leaders, we have an opportunity to be contributors to change.

• What do you think about the changes SOREDI has made? (Shifting focus to grants, etc.)

SOREDI proved to be incredibly nimble and was able serve the needs of our community and our local economy. They helped to keep businesses open that were impacted by COVID to helping those impacted by fires. SOREDI stepped up in a big way to help our community during a critical time with the facilitation of numerous grants.

• Can you provide a favorite quote on change?

“Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.” —John F. Kennedy

Thank you for sharing, Jeanne!