Debra Neal joined Portland Housing Center’s Board in 2017. Debra has over 20 years of experience in the Real Estate industry as a Realtor. She is especially dedicated to helping and encouraging first time homebuyers. Prior to serving on the board, Debra served on Portland Housing Center’s African American and Realtor Advisory Committees. Debra is a principal broker and relocation specialist with Windermere Real Estate.

Deona is an Affinity Loan Officer at HomeStreet Bank, with over 25 years in the banking and mortgage industry.  Her relationships with non-profit housing resource centers in the area have given her detailed knowledge of down payment assistance programs and first-time home buyer loan programs. In that role she’s had the opportunity to work with PHC clients, which she greatly enjoys. Deona strongly values long-term homeownership having bought her childhood home from her mother‑‑who owned it as a single parent–where she still lives today, enjoying strong support and friendships throughout her local community. Deona strives to be an active and positive contributing member of the community and is excited to serve on the PHC board.

With 15 years’ experience in the mortgage industry, Adam Boomer currently serves as Director of Real Estate Lending at Advantis Credit Union. His expertise spans sales management, strategic planning, and operational efficiency. Adam is deeply committed to fostering a customer-centric and inclusive environment, demonstrated through involvement in first-time homebuyer education and DEI initiatives. In addition to the Portland Housing Center, Adam participates as a board member on the Oregon Mortgage Bankers Association (OMBA), and the Credit Union Real Estate Network (CUREN). Adam lives in Happy Valley with his wife, two kids, and beloved cat.

Carissa is a multifaceted entrepreneur with extensive experience in the finance and housing sectors. As a loan officer at Mortgage Express, she specializes in homebuyer education and providing tailored loan solutions that meet the diverse needs of her clients. As landlords and partners in Look Construction LLC, Carissa and her husband Shawn are committed to enhancing community development and are dedicated to making homeownership and quality housing accessible to all.  Carissa, Shawn, and their two daughters reside in West Linn, and when not at work, you can find them boating on the Willamette or cheering on the Oregon Ducks at Autzen!

Ada Dortch is the Director of Development and Advocacy at Impact NW; the largest organization in the region dedicated to preventing homelessness. She has 20 years of experience in human rights advocacy, nonprofit fundraising, and program development. She previously worked in a large hospital system, and with an international human rights organization. Ada also comes from a social work background and brings these experiences with her throughout life. Ada is committed to helping the community where she was born and lives.

Over the past 14 years, Alexis has taken on multiple roles within Multnomah County’s Department of County Services. In April 2020, she stepped into the position of Division Director for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. A lifelong Portland resident, Alexis has seen the impact of discriminatory housing practices up close, fueling her commitment to organizations that strive to dismantle systemic injustices, foster economic stability, and enhance homeownership opportunities for individuals who identify as people of color or belong to other marginalized communities. In her free time, Alexis loves to share Sunday dinners with her family and explore new places through travel.

Alma is a passionate fundraising professional with over 20 years of experience in building relationships and securing resources to support community-driven initiatives. As Development Director at Community Warehouse, Alma is committed to helping individuals and families create stable homes where they can rebuild their lives with dignity and comfort. Her work is fueled by a deep belief in housing equity and the transformative impact it has on people’s lives. Previously, Alma served as Fund Development Director at Proud Ground, where she championed affordable housing as a pathway to stability and wealth creation for underserved communities. She currently serves on the board of NAREB Oregon Realtist as First Secretary, where she supports NAREB’s mission of delivering democracy in housing and increasing Black homeownership through equitable access to housing and economic opportunity. Alma holds a BS in Business Administration from California State University, Northridge, and moved to Portland from Southern California in 2021. She is the proud mother of three adult children and is delighted to call Portland her home. In her free time, Alma enjoys hosting game nights with friends and exploring the outdoors with her Boston Terrier, Lola Love.

Camille is an interdisciplinary social impact consultant working at the intersections of community engagement, strategic communications, and movement building. She uses her expertise as a trained strategic communications practitioner to mobilize communities and forward-thinking organizations to build trust and co-create sustainable, justice-driven change. Camille is a 4th generation Portlander and cares deeply about housing and homeownership, community economic development, urban planning, and design. Camille recently renovated and lives in her great-grandmother’s 1942 farmhouse in North Portland with her partner and their two young children.

Jeff Pratuch has been in the Financial Services field focused on Residential Mortgages for over 25 years. His current position is that of Regional Production Manager at US Bank where he has been since 2014. Prior to that, he was with Washington Mutual and Chase Bank for 20 years. Jeff prides himself in mentoring leaders and making people around him better at what they do while being a trustworthy friend and coworker at the same time.  Jeff graduated from California State University, Sacramento in 1984 where he earned a BS Degree in Business Administration – Finance, Management and Marketing. Jeff lives in Washougal Washington where he and his wife and best-friend, Shannon, are active in the community. They love hiking, biking, and traveling.

Lonnie is an agent with New York Life Insurance company and has been in his present role for 7.5 years. He is very passionate about financial literacy as well as home ownership. Lonnie also serves as a member of Portland State Alumni Association and Benson Tech Booster club.

Mesha brings a decade of experience working in housing in both the public and private sectors. She currently works for the Portland Housing Bureau, and prior to working for the city of Portland, she worked as a property manager managing various multi-family residential assets throughout the Portland-Metropolitan Region. She brings a well-rounded approach to understanding some of the issues facing our rental housing market from both a tenant and landlord perspective; and strongly believes that everyone deserves access, opportunities, and resources to make homeownership a reality. Further, Mesha wants to ensure that renters, especially disproportionately marginalized BIPOC renters benefit from education and resources that can aid in advancing equitable outcomes in Oregon’s homeownership market. When she’s not working, she enjoys movie and game nights with her husband and two children.

Mike is an attorney at Orrick specializing in public finance. He regularly works with state agencies, counties, cities and tribal governments in structuring and negotiating bond issues to finance public projects. Mike also represents banks and underwriters with the purchase and sale of bonds. Mike serves as a board member of Bridge Meadows, an organization that builds intentional intergenerational living communities to bring youth formerly in foster care, their adoptive families and elderly together.

Nancy works at Microenterprise Services of Oregon focusing on Microenterprise IDA’s (Individual Development Accounts) for entrepreneurs. Working for a non-profit organization like MESO has allowed Nancy to stay connected with the community she grew up in, while working alongside entrepreneurs that are wanting to turn their dreams into reality. Nancy’s work and personal experience have allowed her to be an advocate for future IDA savers as she serves as a committee member for the IDA Advocacy Committee by Neighborhood Partnerships. She is also a mother of two and enjoys being a sports mom!

Ta’ Neshia Renae is the owner of Stamped & Signed a mobile notary and signing agent and an Air Force veteran. She is a former client of PHC and a recipient of the N/NE Preference policy DPAL grant.  Ta’ Neshia is an active member of her community and serves as a sub committee chair for the Multnomah County Involvement Committee and a committee member of the N/NE Oversight Committee as well as her neighborhood association. She dedicates her time to giving back to the organizations that helped her achieve her goal of homeownership.  She is an aspiring farmer and lives in historical Vanport with her two teenagers.

Tanja is the director of finance at The Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO). Prior to IRCO, she led the finance groups at Our Just Future, All Hands Raised and Hacienda CDC. Tanja started her career as an elementary and middle school math teacher and has a master’s in education from Boston College. Tanja and her two kids have a home in NE Portland.

Robert is the former technology manager at the Bureau of Development Services for the City of Portland, and is also a former client of PHC. His years at the city, preceded by 20 years at Nike, have informed his vision of the home buying process from both the private and public sector perspective. He is a strong advocate of homeownership and the belief that homeowners make a neighborhood a better place for families and kids. Robert is an avid outdoors person and now that he is an “empty nester” he has more time for doing the things that he enjoys.