WNHS Staff

Jim Moorefield, Executive Director

Since 1998, Jim Moorefield has served as Executive Director of Willamette Neighborhood Housing Services, a private nonprofit community development organization serving Benton and Linn Counties. During his 31-year career in human services and community development, Jim has been recognized for his work for private nonprofit and public organizations; service to seniors, people with disabilities, youth, people with mental illness, people in crisis, and the homeless; assistance developing hundreds of units of affordable housing in Benton, Linn, and Lincoln Counties; and achievements in developing and capitalizing a number of new asset building programs.

Jim is a 30-year resident of Corvallis and has served on the Corvallis City Council, as well as directed local community efforts related to housing, land use planning encompassing historic downtown Corvallis, and open space preservation.

Brigetta Olson, Deputy Director

Brigetta Olson manages asset building programs at WNHS, including the NeighborWorks® HomeOwnership Center, Financial Future, Valley Individual Development Account and Resident Services programs. During her eight years at WNHS, she has developed and managed programs designed to help low-income individuals and families build personal and financial assets, lead healthy and productive lives, and develop their potential as involved citizens.

Her professional experience includes achievements as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Morocco, a Crisis Corps Volunteer for an HIV/AIDS awareness project in Kenya, and the coordinator of the Pregnancy Consultation Center in San Francisco. While in Morocco, she worked to develop a women’s microbusiness and literacy center. Additionally, her leadership in Kenya led to the development of a microlending program and local citizen empowerment. She is a graduate of the Master of Public Administration program focusing on Non-Profit Management from Portland State University.

Greg Gerding, Director of Fiscal & Administrative Services

Greg Gerding provides advanced financial and administrative support to WNHS, including general office management, financial management, contract managements, human resources management, and risk management services. He earned his undergraduate degree in Business Administration (Marketing) from Oregon State University and holds advanced degrees in Finance (Golden Gate University), Computer Systems (Naval Postgraduate School), and Systems Engineering (University of California, San Diego). Greg is an advocate for education and equal economic opportunity. He sits on the board of directors of the Corvallis Independent Business Alliance (CIBA) and is a graduate of Leadership Corvallis 2011.

Jodi Erickson, Asset Manager

Beginning as WNHS’ Asset Manager Assistant in 2006, Jodi Erickson worked her way to Asset Manager by completing extensive, intensive national and local trainings in property and asset management. In early 2012, she is scheduled to receive her certification in Housing Asset Management from NeighborWorks® America and to graduate from the Housing Development Center’s Asset Management and Portfolio Preservation Program. Jodi received a Bachelor’s degree in Women’s Studies from Northern Arizona University in 2005 and moved to Oregon shortly thereafter to return to the Pacific Northwest. She provides oversight of WNHS’ diverse housing portfolio of 285 units; fifteen affordable special needs, senior and/or disabled, and family rental properties located in Corvallis, Lebanon, and Sweet Home. She is currently on CSC YouthBuild’s Advisory Council and volunteers for Jackson Street Youth Shelter during independent-living skills week. Jodi loves to read, follows current affairs, and bird-watches in her spare time.

Kym O’Hare, Lending and Home Retention Coordinator

A licensed mortgage broker and Certified Foreclosure Counselor, Kym O’Hare is responsible for all lending activities at WNHS. Kym has been in mortgage lending for more than 20 years and worked as a loan originator, processor, and underwriter at several lending institutions. She is on the executive board for the Santiam Board of Realtors and a member of the Willamette Association of Realtors. She enjoys spending her time with family and is an avid college football fan.

Garrick Harmel, Housing Development Manager

Garrick Harmel oversees all aspects of housing development activities at WNHS. These activities include oversight of the entire development process of both multi-family and single-family projects. Garrick has spent the majority of his career serving populations in need in multiple communities. He is extremely interested in minimizing negative environmental impacts throughout the development process, and providing housing options that are environmentally sustainable to the people served by WNHS. Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, he earned his undergraduate degree in Studio Art at Georgia State University and his graduate degree in Community Development and Planning from Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts. Garrick is the only staff member at WNHS who celebrates his birthday every four years and can claim that biking to work is a 70-mile round trip. He loves drinking lots of coffee and trying to keep up with his daughter while pondering the symbiotic relationship between both activities.

Larina Warnock, Resident Services Coordinator

As Resident Services Coordinator, Larina Warnock works with families living in WNHS’ affordable housing properties in Benton and Linn Counties to help them gain self-sufficiency, access basic needs, and find appropriate services. In addition, she manages the Financial Future Program to help households better manage their money and plan for the future. Throughout Larina’s career, she has worked as an advocate for underrepresented populations, with an emphasis on people living in poverty and people with disabilities. She earned her undergraduate degree from Eastern Oregon University and is a graduate student at Saint Xavier University. An award-winning poet and author, Larina serves as President of Writers on the River. She is also a member of the Sunrisers Kiwanis Club of Corvallis.

Claudine Oriani, Education Services Coordinator

Claudine Oriani began her support of WNHS as a volunteer and is now responsible for providing consumer education on subjects like budgeting, money management, and credit. Prior to this position, Claudine assisted WNHS with homebuyer education and homeownership stabilization initiatives. She is committed to helping others overcome financial barriers so they can reach their financial goals. Claudine has nearly three decades of experience with workplace education management and delivery, eight of which have been focused on financial literacy for low and moderate income adults and families. In addition to her work with WNHS, she enjoys providing workplace education solutions for employer groups and conducts keynotes speeches on leadership, marketing, strategic planning, and human capital development. Claudine is a graduate of the Professional Management Institute at Oregon State University and has served on the boards of three local nonprofit agencies.

Holly Needham, MPA Program Coordinator & Foreclosure Prevention Assistant

Holly Needham graduated from Oregon State University in 2011 with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Housing Studies and Interior Design. She worked as an intern and housing counselor with WNHS before becoming the MPA Program Coordinator and Forcelosure Prevention Assistant in November 2010. In 2009, Holly was given the opportunity to design a $360,000 interactive classroom for the Physics Department at Oregon State University, and she enjoys interior design as a hobby. Traveling is a huge passion of hers, with South Africa being one of her favorite places to visit.

Linda Whiteman, Resource Development Specialist

Linda Whiteman works with the Community Relations Committee to put on events throughout the year and to coordinate our annual fundraiser. In addition to event planning, she sends out all thank you receipt letters to our donors and keeps the donor database up-to-date. Linda logged 21 years as an employee of Oregon State University and two years with Benton County in a part-time capacity. She is now retired from OSU and enjoys working part-time with an outstanding team at Willamette Neighborhood Housing Services.

Debra Allen, Administrative Assistant

Debbie Allen is the Director of First Impressions at Willamette Neighborhood Housing Services. She is the registrar for all of the agency’s classes and keeps the WNHS client databases up-to-date. Debbie worked for a number of years providing support services for aging populations and people with disabilities. She also operates a home-based business, and her hobbies include cooking and pairing food and wine.

Board of Directors

Carol Trueba, President
Realtor, Keller Williams Realty

Judy Hill, Vice President
Medical Practice Manager, Terrance Hill, MD

Barbara Sackett, Secretary
Board Member, Arc of Benton County

John Tappon, Treasurer
Certified Public Accountant, Stover Neyhart & Co., PC

Ann Gaidos-Morgan
Precision Measurements and Instruments Corp

Douglas Baily
Corvallis Fire Department

Duane Walrod
Owner/Manager, The Home Report

Louise Ferrell
Retired

Mike Volpe
Resident, CoHo Ecovillage

Arlen Emmert
Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital

Betty Schmidt
Umpqua Bank

Carmen Steggell
Oregon State University

Alesanne Duggan
Lebanon Express

Richard Hervey
Corvallis City Council Liaison