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Staff & Leadership

Meet Our Leadership

We do more than just construct buildings. We are rooted in community-led development and work in deep partnerships because we know that together, we can foster better communities. As members of the Seattle community for over 45 years, we aspire to be humble learners, committed to meeting the evolving needs of the community.

Leadership

  • Chris Persons 20170223 001

    Christopher Persons

    Chief Executive Officer

  • Andrew Oommen profile pic

    Andrew Oommen

    Chief Operating Officer

  • Lwoodworth.800x800

    Leslie Woodworth

    Chief Financial Officer

  • Toni Ball

    Toni Ball

    Resident Services Manager

  • Sarah Bramson

    Sarah Bramson

    Director of Property Management

  • Valenciachambersmanora.2320x2320

    Valencia Chambers Manora

    Director of Property Operations

  • Dhattk

    Kiley Dhatt

    Community Roots Housing Foundation Executive Director

  • Morgan Ford.square

    Morgan Ford

    Director of Information Technology

  • Amy Forsaith

    Amy Forsaith

    Senior Manager of Philanthropy

  • Lisa Hagen

    Lisa Hagen

    Director of Asset Management

  • Michelle House

    Michelle House

    Director of Compliance

  • Mceachran

    Scott “Mac” McEachran

    Director of Facilities

  • Jason Mclin (2)

    Jason McLin

    Vice President of Real Estate Development and Workforce Housing

  • Thea Munchel.square

    Thea Munchel

    Vice President of Real Estate Development and Tax Credit Housing

  • Jessica Sherwin

    Jessica Sherwin

    Senior Communications Manager

Chris Persons 20170223 001

Christopher Persons

Chief Executive Officer

Christopher Persons has led Community Roots Housing since 2007 and has more than three decades of senior nonprofit leadership experience. Prior to joining Community Roots Housing, he was the executive director of Inspiration Corporation, a homeless and housing services agency in Chicago. Under his leadership, it grew from a neighborhood agency to a city-wide, award-winning corporation. Chris guided the organization through two mergers, started a housing program, and opened a restaurant that doubled as a job training and employment center.

Chris has led the organization through significant transition and growth and has overseen the development of several award-winning properties including 12th Avenue Arts, Liberty Bank Building, the Jefferson, and Station House. In 2010, he oversaw the creation of the Community Roots Housing Foundation, and in 2012 he oversaw the creation of the Capitol Hill EcoDistrict, which leads the community’s efforts around resilience and equity. Chris has provided leadership on many external community boards and currently serves on the boards of the Housing Partnership Network and Seattle Crescent Collaborative.

Andrew Oommen profile pic

Andrew Oommen

Chief Operating Officer

Andrew Oommen joined Community Roots Housing in 2021. He has worked in housing and community development for over a decade, previously working with Rebuilding Together, Habitat for Humanity, and Mercy Housing. He holds a Master of Public Administration degree from The Evergreen State College, a Bachelor of Arts from Western Washington University, and a Certificate in Accounting from University of Washington. He enjoys playing guitar out on the weekend.

Lwoodworth.800x800

Leslie Woodworth

Chief Financial Officer

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Leslie Woodworth oversees Community Roots Housing’s finance team. She joined the organization in 2021, with over 15 years of experience in the Seattle area. Leslie previously held accounting leadership roles within university housing and online retailing organizations. She began her career in public accounting as an auditor of government and nonprofit organizations, as well as public and private companies. Leslie is a licensed Certified Public Accountant and graduate of the University of Washington Foster School of Business. She is most energized by problem solving and making financial information more accessible to a broader audience. In her spare time, Leslie enjoys playing music, drinking coffee, and enjoying the outdoors with her two dogs.

Toni Ball

Toni Ball

Resident Services Manager

Pronouns: she/her

Toni Ball is an Army veteran who loves the Pacific Northwest and its food. Toni joined the Community Roots Housing team in 2023 as the Resident Services Manager, bringing over 15 years of experience serving Washington’s most vulnerable community members from all walks of life in the housing industry. Toni is excited to be working to keep residents in their homes and to enrich their quality of life as they reside in Community Roots buildings. Toni has served Washington communities as a volunteer mediator for several dispute resolution centers and believes a well-facilitated dialogue can change the world. She is a proud dog mom of two, CWU alumni, and a social justice warrior rolled into one.

Sarah Bramson

Sarah Bramson

Director of Property Management

Sarah Bramson joined Community Roots Housing in 2022. She has worked in property management for nearly two decades and has a deep passion for the sanctity of people’s homes. Sarah believes in property management that looks beyond buildings to focus on the people who live within those walls. Sarah is a passionate leader who prides herself on developing professional property managers who value the highest standards for the buildings they manage. She has previously worked in multifamily real estate property management for conventional management companies, numerous nonprofit organizations in housing specializing in domestic violence survivors, the Snohomish County Homeless Coalition Board, Snohomish County Human Resources, and Snohomish County Superior Court- creating a grassroots organization that links youth in the juvenile detention system with members of the legal justice community for music mentorship. Sarah holds certifications in Portfolio Supervisor Management as well as affordable housing. She is a proud momma of four children and finds her own personal joy in organic gardening and playing piano.

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Valencia Chambers Manora

Director of Property Operations

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Valencia Chambers Manora hails from Seattle and loves the liquid sunshine that the city provides.  She joined Community Roots Housing in 2014.  She began as a site manager of the 12th Avenue Arts Building — also home to the Community Roots main office — and worked her way up to become the Director of Property Management. Valencia has worked in the housing industry for over 12 years. Prior to her work in affordable housing, she honed her skills working as an escrow officer, closing real estate transactions for first time homebuyers working with HomeSight. Valencia holds multiple certifications in affordable housing as well as her real estate broker license.

Valencia has always valued working to ensure that inclusiveness and equity are at the forefront of her work. She loves working with people and is compassionate and fair. When not at the office Valencia loves spending time with her husband Edward, her two children, friends, and family.  In her spare time she enjoys decorating, gardening and painting.

Dhattk

Kiley Dhatt

Community Roots Housing Foundation Executive Director

Kiley Dhatt manages the Community Roots Housing Foundation’s annual fundraising program as well as the $25 million collaborative capital campaign called Rise Together. Kiley works closely with staff and partners to develop and execute effective fundraising strategies to support Community Roots Housing programs, community-centered real estate developments, and general operations. In her role, she also helps to oversee the administrative and events work of the Community Roots Housing Foundation. She loves knowing that her work helps to make Seattle a more inclusive, diverse, and interesting place to live. Prior to joining Community Roots Housing in 2015, Kiley came from a background in writing and education. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Washington and a master’s degree in English Composition and Rhetoric from the University of Delaware. In her spare time, Kiley can be found cooking adventurously, playing with her two mischievous cats, and enjoying any remotely decent weather with her husband on the back deck of their little home in the Mt. Baker neighborhood

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Morgan Ford

Director of Information Technology

Pronouns: he/him/his

In the role of Director of IT, Morgan provides guidance, management and oversight for the technology systems that make much of our work possible. With 25+ years of experience in building IT solutions, Morgan develops efficient and creative ways to keep improving how we serve our community, empower our team-members, and support the organizational mission. Technology isn’t just a profession but a passion for Morgan, as anyone who knows him would attest. Being a student of life-long learning and an avid adventurist keep him grounded in the Pacific Northwest where he was born, raised and will always call home. Morgan is grateful to work at Community Roots Housing where his work can continue the drive for our communities to be fair, just, equitable and supportive of everyone.

Amy Forsaith

Amy Forsaith

Senior Manager of Philanthropy

Amy first joined Community Roots in 2020 as the Grants Manager for the Community Roots Housing Foundation. In this role, she led the preparation and submission of grant proposals big and small, securing millions in funding for Community Roots’ priority projects and programs. After a brief hiatus in 2022 to provide grant writing support for a national nonprofit, Amy returned to Community Roots in 2023 to serve as the Senior Manager of Philanthropy. In this new capacity, Amy leverages her 6+ years of fundraising experience to manage the larger philanthropic efforts for the organization, overseeing grant development and establishing a strategy for soliciting individual gifts.

Amy holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of California, Davis in Community & Regional Development, and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Washington’s Evans School of Public Policy & Governance. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and fur babies, reading, exploring the endless beauty of the PNW, and taking long walks through Target.

Lisa Hagen

Lisa Hagen

Director of Asset Management

Lisa worked in commercial real estate valuation for seven years before joining Community Roots Housing in 2015 to pursue a more fulfilling career in nonprofit affordable housing. She earned a BBA in Real Estate and Urban Land Economics from the University of Wisconsin and is a CHAM Certified Asset Management Specialist. She has a passion for solving complex problems, collaborative teamwork, and making a positive impact through her work. Lisa has developed deep knowledge of Community Roots’ real estate portfolio, leading the implementation of a Business Intelligence System that stores a variety of key data to inform decisions benefiting our residents and promoting equity. Lisa loves to spend her free time hiking, backpacking, and gardening.

Michelle House

Michelle House

Director of Compliance

Michelle has worked in the housing industry for over 14 years with experience ranging from site manager, portfolio manager, and compliance positions. Prior to her work in the affordable housing industry, Michelle worked with the Community Action Program in Kitsap County for five years, providing assistance in areas of low-income heating and energy assistance, WIC, and community resources and referrals. Michelle holds multiple certifications within the compliance field for affordable housing and has her real estate brokers license. Michelle is fan of Seattle sports: Seattle Sounders, Seahawks, Mariners, and Storm. When not in the office, Michelle enjoys her time with her husband Shaun, son Chris, granddaughter Alina, and their dog Rocko.

Mceachran

Scott “Mac” McEachran

Director of Facilities

Scott “Mac” McEachran oversees the operations of Community Roots Housing maintenance services program and capital projects. He has supervised the maintenance department since 2002. Mac has vast knowledge and experience at Community Roots Housing buildings and has managed increased responsibilities in his tenure. His efforts have grown the maintenance department and its ability to provide repair and maintenance for the growing portfolio of buildings. Prior to joining the organization, Mac worked as a Project Development Facilitator focused on continuous process improvement, worked in a lead position as Facilities Maintenance Technician for a large manufacturer, and as a Journeyman Union Carpenter. He has 30 years of experience in facilities maintenance, building construction, property management, and project management.

Jason Mclin (2)

Jason McLin

Vice President of Real Estate Development and Workforce Housing

Jason joined the Community Roots real estate development department in 2021. He currently serves as the Vice President of Real Estate Development and Workforce Housing where he focuses on portfolio analysis, deal structuring, and workforce housing development activities. Jason brings over 20 years of affordable housing real estate development and finance experience to this role. His previous work experience includes working for both public and private organizations. Jason’s work as a developer for a nationally recognized firm focused on revitalizing urban communities by effectively utilizing public/private partnerships, along with his experience serving in various underwriting roles for debt and equity providers affords him the opportunity to evaluate a transaction from the perspective of a community-focused owner, developer, and financing partner. Jason graduated from Clark Atlanta University where he earned an MBA in Finance. He is also a proud alumnus of Morehouse College where he completed his undergraduate studies in finance.

Thea Munchel.square

Thea Munchel

Vice President of Real Estate Development and Tax Credit Housing

Thea comes to Community Roots from Cincinnati, Ohio by way of Portland, Oregon. In Cincinnati, Thea was the director of real estate and economic development for the Walnut Hills Redevelopment Foundation, a community-led Community Development Corporation nonprofit. In this role, she worked closely with community members to redevelop the neighborhood business district to provide a diversity of housing options along with a ground floor retail program that offered commercial space to serve and reflect the diversity in age, race, and incomes found throughout the community. In Portland, she worked with Prosper Portland, the city’s urban renewal agency, to provide Tax Increment Finance resources into community supported real estate projects in the far east neighborhoods of Portland.

Thea is passionate about the relationship between community and development and seeks ways to center racial equity outcomes to improve the vibrancy and resilience of communities.

Jessica Sherwin

Jessica Sherwin

Senior Communications Manager

Jessica came to Community Roots Housing after leading the communications for Missourians for Monarchs, a nonprofit committed to pollinator preservation in the Midwest. Jessica attended the University of Missouri for her undergraduate as well as her graduate degree, where she studied journalism and strategic communications. Outside of work, Jessica loves a good hike and is constantly searching for pizza to rival that of her hometown, Chicago.

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