Newsroom

The NeighborWorks Umpqua Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Erica Mills as our new Chief Executive Officer starting today, Sept. 7. We couldn’t be more excited for this appointment, and after a nationwide search, we know she will lead our company to excellence. Erica knows NWU’s programs, projects, and obligations best. As previously planned, our interim CEO, Betty Tamm, will return to her retirement. 

Erica will lead the organization in its mission to provide financial opportunity and housing stability for Southern Oregon residents by cultivating solid partnerships and strategic investments. With her excellent leadership skills and understanding of the staff strengths, she is already positively affecting the company’s culture. 

Erica is a Douglas County resident who has served for three years as the Homeownership Director and then the Lending Director for NeighborWorks Umpqua.  Before NeighborWorks Umpqua, Erica spent over 20 years managing operations for regional mortgage companies in Oregon, Washington, and Minnesota. She has also owned and operated a small lending business. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Promotion and Education with a special emphasis in Gerontology from Oregon State University. In 2019, she was elected to the Umpqua Community College Board of Education and was re-elected in 2021. 

We remain grateful to you for your continued collaboration and support of NeighborWorks Umpqua, as we continue to serve the southwest Oregon communities that we’ve jointly strengthened for nearly 30 years.