Directors
Kent Ziegler
President
A Founding Director of the Oregon City Business Alliance, Kent Ziegler is currently serving his tenth year as its President. In addition, Kent serves on the State Homebuilder's Association (HBA) Board of Directors and has been involved in the home building industry for over 35 years. Kent is a fourth generation Oregonian growing up and living in Clackamas County. He also has served on numerous local committees including the Willamette Falls Trust, Chair of the Beavercreek Employment Area, Economic and Legislative Steering Committee for the Clackamas County Business Alliance and several others. His diligent and committed community involvement continues today by moderating monthly Forum presentations at the OCBA which focus on community outreach and citizen education of critical and timely matters in our local region.
Renate Mengelberg
Vice President
Renate worked as an economic development professional for 30 years, promoting, supporting, and attracting businesses to Clackamas County and the City of Canby. She created business-friendly policies and programs to encourage business recruitment, retention and expansion, and industrial land development. She also served Oregon City on the City Commission, Planning Commission, Budget Committee, Willamette Falls Legacy Project Team, Beavercreek Road Taskforce, and several transportation advisory committees. At a regional level, she served on the Metro Policy Advisory Committee, Metro Technical Advisory Committee, and Brownfields Advisory committee as well as Greater Portland, Inc. She was active in the Oregon Economic Development Association serving as a long-time board member and past president. After retirement, she became active in the Oregon City Women’s Club and the Mt. Hood Economic Alliance.
Brian Shaw
Secretary
Director Brian Shaw is a former City Commissioner for the City of Oregon City. He also served as an Urban Renewal Commissioner, Planning Commissioner, and a Founding Member of the Oregon City Historic Review Board.
Brian currently is Board Member for the Clackamas County Homeless Solutions Coalition, serves on Oregon City Together (an organization dedicated to mitigating the use of drugs and alcohol in the school district), and serves on the Oregon City School District Budget Committee.
Brian recently retired as an Application Engineer where for 30 years he worked mainly in the aerospace industry. He is now moving his former private practice as an architectural designer into a full-time operation. Brian has designed projects from Seal Rock, Oregon to Tokyo, Japan. He specializes in residential and passive solar projects.
Having lived in Oregon City for over 45 years, Brian was raised on a farm in Eastern Oregon. He understands and respects our resources and continues to work toward the highest and best use of them.
Tim Wuest
Director
Tim served 36 years providing equipment and software to medical institutions in the northwest. Now retired, Tim has worked on multi-family housing and is currently working on retail real estate projects with an emphasis on business growth. Tim and his wife have lived in Oregon City for 34 years. He is a member of the Oregon City Transportation Advisory Group and speaks up for cyclists and pedestrian safety. Tim also sits on the board of the Hillendale Pickleball Club who promote and encourage the participation of the sport at Oregon City’s Hillendale Park. As a proud Director of the OCBA, Tim wants to be a part of the smart growth of Oregon City.
Jeff Shaffer
Treasurer
Jeff Shaffer, Vice President of Finance and Operations at Clackamas Community College, has led the business side of the college since 2017. Before joining CCC, Jeff dedicated 23 years to the City of Portland’s Parks and Recreation, rising to the positions of Finance Director and CFO. Deeply committed to educational funding and community engagement, Jeff co-chaired the Friends of North Clackamas School District political action committee. He has also served on several citizen bond oversight committees and helped develop and launch effective marketing and social media strategies to educate the community about the positive impact of school bonds and levies. Jeff has spent most of his life in what is now known as the Happy Valley area in Clackamas County. He currently owns a small farm with his partner, Tracy, in Beavercreek, where they provide fresh eggs and cut flowers to the local Oregon City and Beavercreek communities.
Dan Fowler
Director
Founding Director Dan Fowler, former Oregon City Mayor and active in community development, currently serves on the OCBA board.
Dan is committed to quality projects that improve the livability and economy of Oregon City. He has served as an Oregon City Commissioner, Chair of the South Board Water Board, Chair of the Urban Renewal Agency and Chair of the Historic Review Board. Dan currently serves as Co-Chair of the Homeless Solution Coalition of Clackamas County, Chair of Clackamas Heritage Partners and is a Board Member of the Providence Willamette Falls Foundation Board. Dan is co-owner of the Abernethy Center and his long-term business and community involvement brings a unique perspective and insight to the Oregon City Business Alliance Board.
William Gifford
Director
A Founding Director of the OCBA and Past President, Vice-President, and Secretary, William Gifford owns an e-commerce enterprise and is actively involved in Oregon City politics. He serves on the City’s Budget Committee and the Urban Renewal Budget Committee and is a former Trustee of the City’s Enhancement Grant Program (EGP). As a county-appointed member of the Clackamas Water Environment Services (WES) Advisory Committee, he additionally serves on the WES Budget Committee. Further responsibilities include membership on the Clackamas Fire District Budget Committee and serving several years as an appointed Commissioner to the Clackamas Economic Development Commission. An over 15-year member of the Oregon City Chamber of Commerce, he is an active member and past Chair of their Government and Economic Affairs Committee (GEAC). Gifford also serves as his Neighborhood Association’s Land Use Chair.
William is married to Joyce, who is also very active in the community, and the proud father of four adult children and two adult stepchildren, four grandchildren and three step grandchildren, and three great-grandsons – all living in the Willamette valley.
John Lewis
Director
John graduated in 1989 from the Oregon Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. More recently John worked for the City of Oregon City for 20 years and served as the Director of Public Works since 2012. Before Oregon City, John worked 10 years as a project/program manager for the City of Lake Oswego. He has demonstrated success in public administration, governance, engineering, construction management, public finances, community engagement, a wide range of strategic initiatives, policy development, project management, and human capital management. John has been on the Board of Directors of the Oregon Chapter of the American Public Works Association (APWA) serving as Immediate Past President in 2023, President, Treasurer, Director, and served two years on the APWA Scholastic Foundation Board of Directors. John now spends much of his time as a Senior Program Manager for 3J-Consulting, Inc.
John and his wife Bunny live in Oregon City, where they enjoy family, the great outdoors, and often can be found together appreciating Oregon City’s plentiful eating establishments.
Seth Henderson
Director
Seth is a mixed-use developer who brings close to thirty years of construction and real estate development experience to the Board. Passionate about communities and his profession, he serves on the Boards of the Home Building Association (HBA), Construction Management Association of America (CMAA), Downtown Oregon City Association (DOCA), and Oregon City Chamber as well as the Urban Renewal Task Force for Wilsonville and Developer Advisory Group for Gresham. Certifications include Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Construction Manager (CCM), and LEED AP, with a BS in civil engineering from Washington University in St. Louis.
Having grown up in the Bay Area, Seth and his wife smartly moved their family to SW Portland in 2009. You can find him at every Timbers’ match or knocking mud off his boots on a construction site.
Tiffany Gillespie
Director
Tiffany Gillespie, Chief Philanthropy Officer – Ministry Foundations, has served as a leader within Providence Foundations of Oregon for over 18 years. Her portfolio of experience with the dynamic fundraising team includes event and project management for cancer research, children’s health, and major equipment, as well as capital campaigns, portfolio management, strategic planning, and community relations. Prior to Providence, Tiffany served as a Development Manager focused on corporate relationships and peer-to-peer fundraising for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society – Oregon Chapter. Her work at NMSS supported disease research, patient support programs, and education. These career steps were made possible by her time at the University of Oregon where she was hired as the Fundraising Coordinator for the Associated Students of UO while she completed her undergraduate degree.
Tiffany holds an Associate’s Degree in general studies; a Bachelor’s Degree in Planning, Public Policy, and Management; a Master’s Degree in Business and Management; and is a certified facilitator. She serves on multiple community boards for causes she is passionate about including economic development, child abuse, and community services. She is a Rotarian and past President of the Rotary Club of Oregon City. Tiffany was born at Providence Willamette Falls, was educated in Oregon, and considers Oregon City as her hometown. She has been married for over 20 years to her best friend and partner, Craig. They are the proud parents of a US Army soldier, Hayden, and a young engineer, Grant. In Tiffany’s spare time, she enjoys hiking, kayaking, live music, and bourbon.
Petronella Donovan
Director
Petronella Donovan is a seasoned change agent with a career in operations, management, and adult care. As the Founder and CEO of senior care facilities since 1999, she excels in creating effective solutions, building high-performing teams, and fostering relationships. Petronella's expertise spans various medical conditions, and she actively engages in advocacy and community involvement.
In leadership roles, she chaired the Board of Directors for Clackamas Volunteers in Medicine, served as President of the Independent Adult Care Home Association, and held positions like Board Chair for the Oregon Association of Care Home Providers. Petronella's commitment to enhancing senior care is evident in her roles, including Founder and CEO of Petra Memory Care. Additionally, she is a land developer, serves as the Chair of the Government Affairs Committee for the Oregon City Chamber, and is a member of the city's transportation committee, showcasing her multifaceted involvement in business development, community affairs, and city planning. Her extensive background reflects leadership, advocacy, and a dedication to improving senior care quality, contributing to the overall well-being of the community she serves.
Director Emeritus
Eren Starr
Director Emeritus
Eren Starr served as the OCBA Treasurer and is a Life Underwriting Training Council Fellow (LUTCF). This is a professional designation that is given jointly by The American College and the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors. Eren owns a Farmers Insurance and Financial Services agency on Main Street, downtown Oregon City, specializing in all lines of insurance coverage and financial services. She has been a licensed Insurance Agent since 1985, starting her agency with Farmers in 1990. She is also a director on the board of FEAPAC of Oregon; Farmers Employees and Agent Political Action Committee and a member of the Oregon City Chamber of Commerce.
Nick Veroske
Director Emeritus
A Founding Director of the OCBA, Nick Veroske is President of Willamette Equities, Inc., a real estate investment, development, and commercial brokerage firm, as well as a property owner in downtown Oregon City. Mr. Veroske has an MBA from UCLA, a BA from the University of Puget Sound and is a graduate of the Northwest Bank Directors College. He was a director of Premier Commercial Bancorp, Hillsboro, OR, from 2011 until the bank’s merger with Heritage Bank at a market cap of $100 million in 2018. He has been a Trustee for the YMCA of Portland since 2000. He has served Oregon City’s business community since 2006 in various capacities including committees of Downtown Oregon City Association (DOCA) at its founding, as a member of two Parking Advisory Committees and currently as a monthly sustaining member of the Willamette Falls Trust. Nick lives in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.
Sherrie Henson
Director Emeritus
Sherrie Henson served as the Vice President, Business Banking Relationship Manager at Columbia Bank. She was responsible for small business banking and lending in the region. Sherrie placed an emphasis on maintaining strong relationships and was vigilant about consistent contact with her colleagues and clients so that she could easily identify opportunities to assist while acting as a resource and proactive problem solver.
Sherrie was in the banking industry for 20-plus years. Prior to joining Columbia Bank, she held the position of a multi-site manager for 16 years at Bank of the West and held various retail positions during her 20-year tenure at US Bank. Sherrie has served on many Boards including NARI Pacific NW, the Rotary Club of Oregon City, Clackamas Volunteers in Medicine, the Oregon City Rotary Club Foundation, and the Oregon City Chamber of Commerce. She was on the Board of Directors for the Oregon City Business Alliance, Neurotherapeutic Pediatric Therapies, Inc., and Providence Willamette Falls Medical Foundation.
Robb Crocker
Director Emeritus
Founding OCBA Director Robb Crocker has invested over twenty years as a multiple award-winning serial entrepreneur and real estate investor. During this time, Robb has started multiple video-related media companies to exploit the booming demand for video content across the globe and, since 2005, has been creating opportunities for rising communities and entrepreneurs through commercial real estate investment and development.
Robb, always visionary, was an early investor in Oregon City’s Main Street renaissance. He holds a BFA in Media Arts from University of Arizona and is a long-time northwest resident and property owner.
Nick Dierckman
Director Emeritus
A Founding Director, now Emeritus, of the Oregon City Business Alliance, Nick Dierckman previously held the office of Secretary as well as Membership Chair. Nick continues to be active with the OCBA Marketing Committee and various community organizations.
Shelly Parini Runge
Director
Shelly is a passionate community builder. Her career strengths include strategic communications, designing results-driven community engagement initiatives, and raising support for critical public infrastructure projects. Shelly has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Arizona State University and a Master of Arts in Organizational Communications from Marylhurst University. Shelly lead Clackamas Water Environment Services External Affairs program. She is a past WaterReuse (WR) PNW Board member and currently serves as the Co-Chair of the WR PNW Oregon Committee for Legislative and Regulatory Affairs. Shelly also serves on the Oregon ACWA Education Committee.
Renee King
Director Emeritus
A long-time Clackamas County resident, Renée is a Senior Community Relations Manager serving Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center. She has been with Providence Health & Services for 23 years, with a current focus on community engagement and partnerships. Providence Willamette Falls is one of the largest employers in Oregon City and continuously evaluates what services and programs are needed to improve the health of the community.
Renée is currently a member of the Citizen Accountability Committee for the C800 communication system upgrade project, is a past-president of Rotary Club of Clackamas, and currently secretary of the club. She has served on the board of the Clackamas County Arts Alliance, North Clackamas Chamber, and North Clackamas Parks and Recreation District Advisory Board.
Blane Meier
Director Emeritus
A Founding OCBA Director, now Emeritus, Blane has been a long-time resident of unincorporated Oregon City. After many years of service to numerous organizations, he is currently taking a hiatus from those responsibilities.
Chris Storey
Director Emeritus
Chris works as the general counsel for Inflexion Point Technologies, an agriculture technology startup and also as a lawyer for the Iowa Utilities Board that oversees private utilities, both located in the Des Moines, Iowa area. He also continues to consult with and support Clackamas Water Environment Services (WES), the regional wastewater and surface water utility serving large portions of Clackamas County. From 2009 to 2019, Chris served on the Oregon City School Board as an elected member, including a nearly three-year term as Chair. In that capacity, he met other members of the Oregon City Business Alliance and was impressed with their vision and dedication to making our community a better place to work and live. Eventually becoming an OCBA board member, he served as Secretary and then Vice-President before shifting to emeritus status. For his career, Chris has worked as an attorney for nearly 20 years in both private and public practice, representing banks, venture capital funds, real estate investors, and businesses from startups to Fortune 100 companies. He also formerly served as Legal Counsel for Clackamas County.
Don Slack
Director Emeritus
Founding Director of the Oregon City Business Alliance, now Emeritus, and Past-Treasurer for the OCBA, Don is an Oregon City property owner. His community involvement includes being first Chair of the Main Street organization now known as DOCA. He continues to be active with the OCBA Marketing Committee and various community organizations. Don is a former recipient of the Oregon City Citizen of the Year award.
Maureen Parkin
Director Emerita
Maureen Parkin is retired Controller at Parkin Electric, here in Oregon City. As former Director, now Emeritus, Maureen served many years as the OCBA Treasurer and continues to support the Chamber of Chamber of Commerce and other community organizations.
Rose Holden
Director Emerita
An OCBA Founding Director, now Emeritus and Past-Secretary, Rose is a long-time community business leader and visionary property owner.
OCBA Staff
Sheri Imes
Administrative Assistant
Sheri Imes is the Oregon City Business Alliance Administrative Assistant. She works to provide support to the OBCA Directors and the daily working tasks of the Alliance. Some of these items include preparing flyers and monitoring the registration of the monthly luncheons. She also attends the monthly Board meetings and prepares the draft agenda and minutes. Sheri began working with the OCBA in August of 2017.
Sheri has a love for downtown Oregon City. Her grandparents purchased the building at 900 Main Street in 2006. Sheri was offered the position of Accounting Manager in 2009 for that building and continued to work there until the building sold in 2019. Sheri also managed the office and accounting duties of two other office buildings, one in Beaverton and the other in Vancouver Washington. She began working with Bookworks Accounting and Consulting at the beginning of 2019. Sheri spent time in high school and her early college years working in an accounting department.
Sheri holds a BA in Liberal Studies from Simpson University in Redding California.