In far northeast Oklahoma, Hulbert is known for its rolling hills and rich cultural heritage. It’s a tight-knit, welcoming community where 30-year olds Zach and Rachel Weeks have chosen to raise their young family and turn their passion for trucking into a thriving business.

Zach, a member of the Peoria Tribe, and Rachel, who is Otoe-Missouria, have forged close relationships in the small town and embarked on a remarkable journey, founding Z&W Trucking together.

Their story is a testament to resilience, community support, and the power of trust, evidenced by the relationship the Weeks formed with Local Bank Hulbert, a Native-owned, female-owned CDFI dedicated to serving rural, Native American and underserved communities.

The journey to make Z&W Trucking successful doesn’t follow a straight path, but it began in Zach’s grandfather’s home when Zach was just a boy.

“My granddad drove a truck when I was a little kid. We would play with toy trucks on the floor. That’s what he did, and I thought my granddad was the coolest guy in the world,” Zach said.

Even though he loved playing with trucks, Zach began his career as a welder. He and Rachel traveled the country with their two young sons, passing big rigs along the highways. On those long rides, they realized a shared passion for trucking, and memories of Zach’s childhood fascination lingered.

“We were infatuated with trucks. We liked the big, shiny rigs going down the road. We liked looking at them, and we were tired of chasing welding all over the country,” Zach said.

In 2017, driven by a shared dream and a desire to settle down, Zach and Rachel made a bold decision. On a whim, they drove the four hours to Dallas and bought their first truck. Zach admits very little planning went into their decision, but they were also ready to chase their dreams and invest in themselves.

Starting a business is never easy, and Zach admits the first years were difficult. After some initial steady growth, Z&W nearly collapsed due to a lack of sustainable local freight, but the peaks and valleys were a valuable learning process, and they kept going.

“At one point, I could see trouble on the horizon. We hadn’t hit bottom yet, but I needed to make changes fast. At the time, I was working with Local Bank and another institution. I asked the other bank for help offloading equipment so I could invest in a road tractor, but they couldn’t see my vision,” Zach said. “That’s when I called Terry Lockhart with Local Bank. He said there was no reason to waste time on the phone. I should stop by, and let’s get it going. That was the push we needed, and we’ve been working with Local Bank ever since.”

At that moment, they transformed their relationship from occasional business into a true partnership. Local Bank’s mission-driven banking philosophy to serve rural, Native American, and underserved communities has been critical in Z&W’s journey and in helping Zach and Rachel realize their dreams as they struggled at crucial junctures.

“I think we were a little too small for other banks. But Local Bank saw something in us and was always understanding during the hard times. I’ve always given my word and stood behind it. I haven’t let them down, and they haven’t let me down, so it’s been a good relationship,” Zach said. “I do business with people all over the United States and have not met anyone with a banking relationship like mine. Local Bank has always been willing to do everything we needed. They’ve never backed down from my crazy ideas. Instead, they’ve helped me structure them and figure out how to make them work.”

Zach and Rachel are realistic about the future. They now own eight trucks and employ several drivers. They know there will always be ups and downs in an industry as ever-changing as trucking, but they know Local Bank will treat them as more than a number.

“This industry is tough. Even if the freight or numbers are great, it’s still extremely challenging. Insurance, fuel prices, and having people spread all over the country are just a few of the variables that make it a challenging industry,” Zach said. “And so many banks I’ve dealt with are on such a corporate level that I feel like I don’t matter. But Local Bank treats my problems like they matter and is always willing to do what it takes.”

The mission-driven banking that CDFIs bring and the support of organizations like Oweesta keep Zach optimistic about the future.

“I think anything is possible. If you can dream it, you can do it.” Zach emphasizes the importance of community engagement and networking. “Don’t be afraid to know your community and talk to people.”

Organizations like Oweesta are always there to help Native American entrepreneurs like Zach and Rachel find the resources and encouragement they need to succeed, inspiring and uplifting others facing similar situations.

(This story was originally featured in Oweesta’s 2023 Annual Report.)

Patti Maulson was ready to rebuild her life after going through a divorce that left her bankrupt. A tribal member of the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa tribe, she decided to return home to the reservation and become a homeowner once more.

With the bankruptcy fresh on her credit report, she couldn’t qualify for a loan through most banks. That’s when she reached out to Wisconsin Native Loan Fund (WINLF), a local Native CDFI servicing all eleven Tribes in Wisconsin. In a letter, Patti laid out the circumstances that led her to declare bankruptcy and the reparative steps she had been taking since then to rebuild.

Wisconsin Native Loan Fund, like many Native CDFIs, are usually the only non-predatory lender available to Native communities. And like many Native CDFIs, their mission as a lender is to uplift Native communities through fair lending and personalized financial education.

“We’re a hand up, not a handout,” said Janice St. Germaine, Director of Lending at Wisconsin Native Loan Fund (WINLF). “Not many people own their own homes. It’s not taught to own land on or off the reservation.”

Homeownership continues to be an area of great disparity, as Native communities face housing shortages, challenges in accessing mortgage capital, and other barriers to safe, affordable housing, enough that only 53% of Native Americans are homeowners compared to 71% of white households. Even worse is that usually the easiest and fastest way to acquire a loan is through payday lenders which trap people in predatory interest rates. Seeing a demand for housing and fair lending, WINLF opened their doors in 2008 and quickly expanded their operations to service all eleven Tribes in Wisconsin. They now offer a full range of lending services from auto loans to debt consolidation loans.

WINLF continues to strive for the development of Tribal Nations in Wisconsin, partnering with constructions companies to address the housing shortage. A lot of the work they do is also related to empowering communities to thrive within the mainstream financial realm. “Indian people are taught survival. We’re not taught to care about finances or credit scores. At WINLF, we’re trying to help people be comfortable with financial matters and make it so they can go to the bank or some other financial institution,” said Janice St. Germaine. “We want to be a steppingstone for people, so they can graduate into going to a bank.”

Patti has continued her relationship with WINLF. She returned for an auto loan for a much-needed new truck. She is also making renovations to her home with the help of WINLF. “I am so grateful to WINLF as an institution that is available to us as Native people who are working hard to build lives for themselves and our families. I am back home and finally living the life I have dreamed of for so long,” shared Patti Maulson.

(This story was originally featured in Oweesta’s 2021 Annual Report.)

Today, the Heinz Family Foundation recognized Oweesta’s CEO and President Chrystel Cornelius as the recipient of the 27th Heinz Award for the Economy. Established in 1993 in honor of the late U.S. Senator John Heinz, the Heinz Awards recognize individuals for their contributions in the areas of the Arts, the Economy, and the Environment.

Chrystel Cornelius was selected for the prestigious award for her work to return wealth and financial independence to Native lands and people, addressing centuries of disenfranchisement that have led to profound socioeconomic disparities for Native communities. “We innately know that when armed with the appropriate resources, Native peoples hold the capacity and ingenuity to ensure the sustainable, economic, spiritual and cultural well-being of their communities. Oweesta has been honored to walk hand in hand for over two decades with our Native communities to realize and redefine equity, together,” shared Ms. Cornelius.

A detailed profile of Chrystel Cornelius can be found here.

About the Heinz Awards

Established by Teresa Heinz in 1993 to honor the memory of her late husband, U.S. Senator John Heinz, the Heinz Awards celebrates the accomplishments and spirit of the Senator by recognizing the extraordinary achievements of individuals in the areas of great importance to him. The Awards, administered by the Heinz Family Foundation, recognizes individuals for their contributions in the areas of the Arts, the Economy and the Environment. Nominations are submitted by invited experts, who serve anonymously, and are reviewed by jurors appointed by the Heinz Family Foundation. The jurors make recommendations to the Board of Directors, which subsequently selects the Award recipients, two in each of the three awards categories. For more information on the Heinz Awards, visit www.heinzawards.org.