Baker Boyer Vice President, Credit Administration Officer Dana Evans has been named among the rising stars in banking and finance by American Banker.

Evans is one of just 15 women across the country included this week in The Most Powerful Women in Banking: Next program. The fourth annual program recognizes women 40 and younger who have demonstrated exceptional leadership over the last year. In addition to their achievements in banking and finance, applicants must have an endorsement from a senior executive at their place of employment and demonstrate C-suite potential, American Banker’s announcement said.

Honorees will be celebrated Oct. 25 at The Most Powerful Women in Banking: Next Awards dinner in New York City. The dinner is part of a weeklong celebration of American Banker’s 20th anniversary of The Most Powerful Women in Banking, an annual program that has recognized the achievements and influence of female executives in banking and finance since 2001.

“It is an honor for me. I am very flattered,” Evans said.

In its article, American Banker highlighted Evans’ work on Paycheck Protection Program pandemic-relief loans, as well as her efforts rewriting Baker Boyer’s lending policy, which draws on her expertise in legal writing.

Trained as an attorney, Evans worked in prosecution and civil litigation before she moved to Walla Walla and made the switch to banking. She joined Baker Boyer in 2016 as a commercial loan officer. In 2019 an open position in credit administration was a perfect fit for her talent in regulation and legal issues — another detail highlighted by American Banker.

The pandemic has created unique circumstances that rely on the agility of Baker Boyer’s team, including subject matter experts like Evans, to build solutions in real time. She counts assisting in the creation and implementation of pandemic programs among her major accomplishments.

“It’s not like you’re picking up what someone else created,” she said. “You can’t know all the answers. You have to be comfortable with gray. To be on a team that’s doing that and see its success and be able to help people is really cool.”

Evans’ dexterity also comes from navigating a second job as the Walla Walla High School girls’ soccer coach. To achieve both, she sometimes starts work early in the morning so she can leave in the afternoon and lead the team. Her dedication to leadership and helping others was a highlight of her endorsement from the Baker Boyer executives who nominated her — Rosendo Guizar, Chief Credit Officer, and Mark Hess, Chief Operating Officer.

“Dana’s strength of character and willingness to stand up for her beliefs are two critical components of what makes her a great employee. These traits are the most vital and important when defining what a great employee is. All other accolades and accomplishments follow as a result,” said Rosendo Guizar, Chief Credit Officer. “Many things have changed over the 150 year life of our company, but honesty, integrity, and strength of character are eternal for us.”

In addition to her work on the field and in the bank, Evans is the current president of the Exchange Club of Walla Walla.