The Deschutes Economic Alliance was founded by a group of business and public sector leaders who are motivated by our common goal to improve the economy and quality of life throughout our community.

Biographies

Lawnae Hunter

Lawnae is the owner and principal broker of Hunter Properties, LLC and PLUS Property Management, LLC; with offices in Bend and Redmond, Oregon.  Lawnae offers over thirty years of experience to the real estate marketplace.   Her expertise spans all sectors of real estate sales, investment and development; and she thrives in a dynamic environment with a strong understanding of the market forces affecting Central Oregon.

Lawnae developed and owned the largest real estate company on the Central Coast of California; this company was acquired by a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate in 2003.  In honor of her commitment to community and career; she was awarded the Woman of the Year for the 33^rd Assembly District.  Lawnae was the founding Chair Member for the Central Oregon Economic Forecast Project 2009 and 2010, President of the Central Oregon Rental Housing Association 2009/2010, a member of the Greater Bend Rotary, and a Board Member for Innovation Theater Works, Bend, Oregon.

Lawnae is a licensed Principal Broker in the State of Oregon, a licensed Broker in the State of California, a Certified Residential Brokerage Manager (CRB), and Graduate Realtor’s Institute (GRI).

Jerry Mitchell

As a consultant to private sector and public sector clients, Jerry Mitchell integrates land use planning, infrastructure and community development. With 30 years of professional experience, Mitchell provides management expertise at all stages of the project cycle, from preliminary planning through design and construction.

For the past four years Mitchell has provided development management services for the City of Bend’s Juniper Ridge Project. This landmark 1,500 acre development is envisioned as a mixed-use regional employment center, supported by residential and commercial development and anchored by a higher education presence with research and development capabilities.

Before coming to Bend Mitchell was at KPFF Consulting Engineers in Portland, where he focused on public / private partnerships including the Rose Garden Arena and numerous urban redevelopment projects.

Michael Taus

Michael Taus is co-owner of Code Benders, a web application and software development company based in Bend. Since 1996, Michael has been starting and managing rapid-growth technology businesses with an emphasis on Internet, Telecom, wireless and software ventures. He has participated in the founding, development, financing and management of several early-stage technology companies, including officer and board-level positions. He has maintained a broad range of professional responsibilities including strategic planning, finance, operations, marketing and corporate governance.

In 1999, he co-founded and was the VP, Business Development and General Counsel of Rent.com (acquired by NASDAQ:EBAY). Former client companies include In-Sync Interactive, GreenlightJobs.com, FlyFone International and Pacific Media Ventures. He has also participated in early stage investments including Internet Brands (NASDAQ:INET), HiMax, GoMed and others.

Michael is a board member of Central Oregon’s Tech Alliance and Unite Now, a non-profit organization that is developing a social network for other non-profits.  He has an undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of California, Irvine and a Juris Doctorate degree from the McGeorge School of Law.

Tom Bahrman

Successful real estate investment and development requires the integration of a broad range of knowledge and skills. Tom is uniquely educated and experienced to unite those divergent components together into a cohesive plan and then efficiently execute that plan. As an attorney and broker, Tom has been involved in many facets of real estate, including acquisition, financing, development, land use planning, leasing and disposition. As a private developer, he understands the practical implications of risk/return trade-offs and cost/benefit analyses. The depth of Tom’s experience and breadth of his skill helps maximize the future cash flow generated by his clients’ real estate investments and development projects.

Jim Clinton

Jim Clinton was elected to the Bend City Council in 2004 and re-elected in 2008. Priorities include economic development, higher education, urban and transportation planning, public safety and health, and water issues.

Jim owns a small R&D company working on novel medical and aerospace sensors, advanced materials and solar energy systems. Experience includes university teaching and research, and being founder and CEO of a high-tech company.

Jim grew up in Lakeview, Oregon, graduated from the University of Oregon, and received a PhD in physics from the University of California, San Diego.

Tom Van Hemelryck

Tom Van Hemelryck is Senior Vice President-Business Banking Team Leader at Premier West Bank. Tom joined the bank in 2009 to open a new lending office and recruit top talent to focus on commercial and industrial business relationships. He has held a number of commercial lending leadership positions in Central Oregon dating back to 1988, and has financed and helped to expand some of the area’s largest employers. Tom has undergraduate degrees in finance and business management from Montana State University, graduated from Pacific Coast Banking School at the University of Washington in 2000, and is a member of the Greater Bend Rotary Club and has served on a number of other civic organizations.

Shelle Pack

As VP, Sr. Business Relationship Officer for Premier West Bank, Shelle Pack has 20+ years in the Banking Industry. She has wide-ranging experience in business banking having managed a credit support team and then her current position as Relationship Officer. Shelle has supported her Commercial, Industrial and Professional clients with all aspects of their banking needs. She is a past chapter president and current board member of the Risk Management Association and involved in several committees with focus in community enhancement.

Darrell Deglow

Darrell Deglow is co-owner of Cascade Commercial Appraisal Services located in Bend. He specializes in commercial real estate and holds the MAI designation (Member of the Appraisal Institute) with the Appraisal Institute and is a Certified General Licensed appraiser with the State of Oregon. He has been in the appraisal and consultation business for 34 years. Areas of specialization include appraisals of existing and proposed general and medical offices, condominium projects, restaurants, retail buildings, shopping centers, mini storage facilities, industrial projects, subdivisions and agricultural lands. Valuation assignments include leased fee, leasehold and partial interest appraisals, investment consultation, and feasibility studies. Darrell has extensive experience as an expert witness in federal and state court in several surrounding counties; which include condemnation/right of way work, estate valuation, dissolution testimony, bankruptcy and fraud. In addition, Darrell has provided testimony in front of several local city council and planning commissions and has taught classes and seminars on ethical practices and applications in the real estate appraisal profession to professional affiliations and lending institutions.

Maggie Annschild

Maggie Annschild, Ph.D. has had careers in university teaching, higher education and corporate administration, urban redevelopment,  and grant writing and fundraising for non-profits.  Her academic background includes studies in Sociology, Psychology, History and English.  She was part of a national research project regarding educational innovations in low income primary schools and a second project to predict survival or demise of new social innovations.

She started and ran a community learning exchange, designed and administered a displaced homemakers project, helped get women’s studies curriculum started at three universities, and wrote the sexual harassment guidelines for the UC system. Coordinating a group of medical doctors and alternative practitioners, she founded a large holistic health center in Santa Barbara in 1986;  built it, managed it, and worked as a counselor to staff and patients.

Thirty-five years for all these endeavors led to certification and volunteer work as a community mediator and hospice counselor in California and Hawaii. Her time is now devoted to Imagine Health Now, a vehicle for teaching QiGong and wellness consultation.

Steve McDonald

Steve McDonald is the Vice-President and County Manager of Deschutes County Title Company. He has held this position since the company was founded in 2003. Prior to starting Deschutes County Title, Steve was the Assistant Manager of Cascade Title Company in Vancouver, Washington. He helped start that company in 1999. Steve has worked in the title and escrow field since 1991.

A proud member of the Bend Rotary Club, Steve was named a Paul Harris Fellow in 2006. In 2007 Steve was named to Cascade Business News’ Accomplished Under 40. He graduated from the University of San Diego with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.

Arlene Gibson

Arlene B. Gibson, J.D., is the Founder & CEO of Foundations That Make A Difference™, a unique and creative resource consulting company that provides world-class, one-on-one development and support for the individualized needs and goals of non-profit organizations and foundations nationwide.  With over 20-years of non-profit program direction and resource development experience, Arlene has created numerous educational, professional and developmental programs that have reached thousands of youth, adults and volunteers and has secured well over a million dollars in funding for her clients from grants, capital sponsorships, direct and in-kind donations.

Arlene earned her law degree from Pace University Law School and her Bachelors Degree in Political Science and certification in law and society programs for academic excellence in law-related courses from the State University of New York, Binghamton and certification in grant writing, fundraising and philanthropy from the State University of New York, Purchase.  She was featured as a “Women in Business” Award Recipient by Cascade Business News for making a difference in business, the community and in the quality of life for the family.

Dave Lewis

CEO of Jarno International.

Ed King

Coming soon!

David Stephenson

Coming soon!