Our Mission Statement

NeighborWorks Umpqua is a rural-focused housing and community development corporation committed to
promoting opportunity for all. We will do this by providing quality housing, community development, property
management, financial services, education, and advocacy in order to attain economic, social and environmental
sustainability, and equity.

NeighborWorks Umpqua is a private rural 501(c)(3) organization with a more than five county service range. Established in 1991 as Umpqua Community Development Corporation, the organization’s first goal was to develop affordable housing for modest and moderate-income residents in Douglas County. The first major project was the development of an affordable multi-family rental housing complex, the first of its type in nearly 20 years. In 1999, the organization recognized important community needs were not being met and the organization pivoted. We added community-based economic development to the mission and expanded our service area to include all of rural Oregon.

In our 25+ years, NeighborWorks Umpqua has met all our housing and economic goals through creating overlapping client services that include:

• Affordable Housing Development
• Education, Training, and Homeowner Assistance
• Lending and Financial Services
• Economic Development
• Community Development
• Asset and Property Management

As a charter member of NeighborWorks America, NeighborWorks Umpqua is a dynamic, flexible organization that seizes opportunities to meet changing local needs. NeighborWorks Umpqua provides technical and support services, competitive grants and other financial assistance, training institutes, scholarships for training and events, and much more.

Merten Bangemann-Johnson
Chief Executive Officer

Eric Harvey
Chief Financial Officer

Michelle Martin
Director of Community Building and Economic Development

Olympia Church
Director of Lending and Financial Services

Brian Shelton-Kelley
Director of Acquisition and Development

Arielle Reid
Director of Policy and Advocacy

Lynn Dow
Director of Property Management

Marla Zoeter
Director of Heartwood ReSources

Trisha Ingalls
Director of Operations

NeighborWorks Umpqua Board of Directors

Jake Winn, Chair
Bureau of Land Management, Roseburg District

Deb Lightcap, Vice Chair
Mercy Medical Center

Betti Manfre, Secretary
Manfre Design Source (owner)

Elin Miller, Immediate Past Chair
UmpquaNut Farm (Owner)
Vice Chair, Vestaron Corporation

Nikki Bartram
Co-owner of Old Soul Pizza

Randall L. Mason
Senior Relationship Manager

Leesa Cobb
Executive Director of Ocean Resource Team

Nancy Southerland
Retired Social Service Provider

David Morrison
Retired law partner

Meg Story
Community member with a background in Human Services

Our Partners and Affiliations

NeighborWorks Umpqua is nationally recognized and in good standing with the following affiliates and partners:

NeighborWorks America

NeighborWorks America was created under Title VI of the Housing and Community Development Amendments of 1978. The principal purpose of the Corporation is “to revitalize older urban neighborhoods by mobilizing public, private, and community resources at the neighborhood level”.

The Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation strengthens communities and transforms lives across America by supporting innovative local partnerships of residents, businesses, and government, collectively known as the NeighborWorks Network, and by advancing broader community development goals.

NeighborWorks Umpqua, formerly known as Umpqua Community Development Corporation, has been a Charter Member of the NeighborWorks America network since the fall of 2002. We partner with others in the NeighborWorks network to help strengthen the communities and transform lives across all of Rural Oregon.

Rural Local Initiatives Support Corporation

Rural LISC is a national provider of technical assistance and other support for community development corporations.

Housing Oregon

Housing Oregon is a membership-based, statewide association of affordable housing and community development organizations that provide housing and economic opportunity for working families, people with disabilities, seniors and others struggling to meet their needs in communities throughout Oregon.

American Independent Business Alliance

The American Independent Business Alliance helps communities start and sustain an Independent Business Alliance. AMIBA is a charitable organization, organized under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code.

External Links

Oregon Housing and Community Services

Focused on Sustainability

NeighborWorks Umpqua’s commitment to sustainability and green practices has permeated everything that we do. We integrate green practices in our new construction, in our rehabs, and in our offices. We strive to help build the local economy; sustainability is at the core of our used building material store, Heartwood ReSources.

We are always looking for passionate professionals looking to make a difference in Southern Oregon. To see what we have open, visit our career portal below.

Employment Opportunities

NeighborWorks Umpqua is a licensed Service Provider and currently holds the following licenses:

• CCB (Oregon Construction Contractor’s Board) # 151999
• CCB (Oregon Construction Contractor’s Board) #142405
• ML (Mortgage Lender) # 4254
• NMLS (National Mortgage Licensing System) # 255912

Awards