OSWEGO, IL (December 19, 2025) |
Earthmover Credit Union is proud to announce that Janel Cabadas has been promoted to President/CEO of Earthmover Credit Union. A longtime Earthmover, Janel spent over 20 years building her career at the credit union. She will begin her new position on Jan. 1, 2026 after the retirement of current President/CEO Kelly McDonough. Kelly is retiring after an impressive career in the credit union industry, spending over 30 years in senior leadership positions. She leaves behind a legacy of charitable service, exemplary leadership and commitment to credit union members.
“Janel is one of the finest leaders I have had the opportunity to work with,” said Kelly. “She is excellent with people and cares about their success; she is tenacious and passionate about the mission and future of Earthmover. You will have an exceptional leader at your helm.”
A lifelong Oswego resident, Janel worked as a teller at Earthmover’s student-run branch, Panther Credit Union, at Oswego High School. After earning a bachelor’s in communication with minors in Spanish, English and psychology, she returned to the credit union to work in business development. She served as Vice President of Marketing & Business Development for over seven years before becoming Executive Vice President in 2024, taking on additional leadership responsibilities. She graduated from the CUES CEO Institute in 2025, which featured intensive training in strategic planning, leadership and organizational effectiveness at Cornell University, Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia and The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
“The future of the credit union is bright,” said Janel. “We have a very strong foundation and strong team, with many initiatives in mind to help serve our membership.”
Throughout her career, Janel championed many important initiatives including a full scale rebrand of the credit union in 2022 and managed branch remodels, the new Batavia branch, a merger with Peoples Energy Credit Union and moved toward a more digital environment. Janel epitomizes servant leadership. She could often be found at Shred Events hauling boxes or collecting donations at fundraising events. For Janel, every job, no matter how small, is given dedication. As President/CEO, Janel will pave a new way forward as Earthmover’s biggest advocate.
