Experience

• 

  Legal aid services of oregon and monroe county legal assistance

  Jan 1990 - Jan 1997

  Staff attorney

  Provided high-impact legal services and representation for low-income residents in civil cases. Practice focused on upholding the fair housing and civil rights of clients in state and federal court. Assisted hundreds of clients escaping homelessness, poverty and domestic violence.

• 

  Community partners for affordable housing

  Jan 1997 - Jan 2000

  Board member

  Served as a Director for dynamic community development organization that develops and operates high quality, sustainable affordable housing to meet unmet housing needs in Washington and Multnomah County, Oregon.

• 

  Portland housing bureau

  Feb 1998 - May 2011

  Bureau operations manager; deputy director for programs

  Provided executive leadership in a variety of positions for the City of Portland's Bureau charged with solving the unmet housing and economic opportunity needs of low-income Portland residents. Oversaw strategic planning, public involvement, legislative affairs and budget and program development. Appointed by Housing Commissioner as Interim Director to navigate complex merger with the Housing Department of Portland's urban renewal agency. Managed compliance with federal fair housing and entitlement grant requirements. Show less

• 

  Volunteers of america oregon

  Oct 2011 - Nov 2014

  Chief operating officer

  Oversaw agency operations, facilities, strategic planning and program budget development for high-impact social service agency with annual budget of $17M and a staff of 340 serving the Portland, Oregon region’s most vulnerable residents. Also served as the agency's Housing Director and Director of Social Enterprises.

• 

  Family forward oregon

  Dec 2014 - Jul 2016

  Member board of directors

  Board member of a nonprofit organization and its separate action fund dedicated to making the Oregon workplace work for all of today's families through the development of sensible public policy, advocacy, public education and organizing.

• 

  Our just future

  Jul 2015 - now

  Executive director

  CEO of a justice-seeking nonprofit organization that provides affordable housing, workforce development and a holistic range of community programs focused on housing and economic security and justice for those least well-served by existing systems.