About Us:
The Spokane Community Land Trust (SCLT) was established as an outcome of recommendations made by the Spokane Regional Affordable Housing Task Force. The SCLT etablished its Board and bylaws in March 2010 and opened its office in 2011. The SCLT is working to develop broad-based community support, build partnerships with community organizations and secure major funding from foundations and state and local housing programs.
The modern-day Community Land Trust is relatively new, with the first CLT's appearing in the United States in the 1970s. The CLT model of affordable housing was created by the Institute of Community Economics in response to the rising costs of housing, limited space for new construction, growing numbers of abandoned buildings and an aging housing stock in eastern U.S. cities. The CLT movement has spread and there are now well over 200 land trust communities across the U.S. The number of CLT's nationwide has more than doubled in the last ten years. The Northwest has over 20 land land trusts. The largest include Proud Ground of Portland and Homestead of Seattle.
The modern-day Community Land Trust is relatively new, with the first CLT's appearing in the United States in the 1970s. The CLT model of affordable housing was created by the Institute of Community Economics in response to the rising costs of housing, limited space for new construction, growing numbers of abandoned buildings and an aging housing stock in eastern U.S. cities. The CLT movement has spread and there are now well over 200 land trust communities across the U.S. The number of CLT's nationwide has more than doubled in the last ten years. The Northwest has over 20 land land trusts. The largest include Proud Ground of Portland and Homestead of Seattle.
Board of Directors:
Spokane Community Land Trust is guided by a Board of Directors, which includes Lessee Representatives, General Representatives, and Public Representatives. Directors serve two-year terms.
Chris Venne, President
Chris Venne is the Development Finance Manager for Community Frameworks, a nonprofit organization working to support and develop affordable housing that enables individuals, families and neighborhoods to build vital communities. At Community Frameworks he has managed the HomeStarts self-help homeownership program that has built and sold nearly 175 new homes to low and moderate income buyers and he has developed over 350 units of affordable rental
housing. In his current position Chris provides budget and financial consultation, planning and oversight in all of Community Frameworks lines of business. He also serves as lead developer on
certain housing projects, and provides technical assistance to select clients.
Chris is very active in the community and currently serves as the Board Chair for ECCO Community Development Corporation which works in Spokane's East Central Neighborhood. He earned a BA in Economics from Gonzaga University.
housing. In his current position Chris provides budget and financial consultation, planning and oversight in all of Community Frameworks lines of business. He also serves as lead developer on
certain housing projects, and provides technical assistance to select clients.
Chris is very active in the community and currently serves as the Board Chair for ECCO Community Development Corporation which works in Spokane's East Central Neighborhood. He earned a BA in Economics from Gonzaga University.
Mary Jo Harvey, Vice President
Mary Jo Harvey brings to the Spokane Community Land Trust over 35 years of experience in the field of affordable housing. Mary Jo moved to Spokane in 1983 to accept the position of Executive Director of the Spokane Housing Authority, where she served for seventeen years. From 2000 – 2006, she worked with Community Frameworks by helping communities and non-profits in Washington and Idaho with housing technical assistance. Mary Jo joined the staff of Habitat for Humanity of Spokane in July, 2006 where she worked as a resource director and to represents the affiliate with a variety of housing networks.
Mary Jo earned a BA at the University of Toledo with an interdepartmental major of Political Science, Economics and Spanish. She completed all coursework in graduate school in the field of Public Administration.
In addition to Mary Jo’s extensive participation in housing task forces, planning committees and local, regional, and national housing support organizations, she has also contributed on local and state-wide organization boards in support of the Coalition of Responsible Disabled (CORD), the Hearing Loss Association (HLA), and the Governor’s Committee on Disabilities and Employment Issues.
Mary Jo earned a BA at the University of Toledo with an interdepartmental major of Political Science, Economics and Spanish. She completed all coursework in graduate school in the field of Public Administration.
In addition to Mary Jo’s extensive participation in housing task forces, planning committees and local, regional, and national housing support organizations, she has also contributed on local and state-wide organization boards in support of the Coalition of Responsible Disabled (CORD), the Hearing Loss Association (HLA), and the Governor’s Committee on Disabilities and Employment Issues.
John Fisher, Secretary
John has been a resident of Spokane since 1998 and is a graduate of Whitworth University and Eastern Washington University. Before he moved to Spokane John lived in Oregon, Minnesota, and Malaysia where he attended high school. He is a resident of the Garland Neighborhood and enjoys all the amenities that Spokane has to offer.
John is the Vice President of Production and Spokane Operations for Community Frameworks, a non-profit affordable housing developer. His responsibilities include land development, construction oversight and ensuring that HomeStarts activities result in successful affordable homeownership projects that support the mission and business objectives of Community Frameworks. He plans, coordinates and manages homeownership programs and projects to successful completion, and works collaboratively with a broad range of stakeholders, partners, advisory groups, funders and clients to further Community Frameworks’ goals.
Prior to joining Community Frameworks, John worked as a Neighborhood Planner and developed a comprehensive plan for the East Central Neighborhood in Spokane, Washington. He has experience in organizing and facilitating community groups and creating input processes for the public. John has a Masters degree in Urban and Regional Planning and has served as an AmeriCorps volunteer to develop a housing conditions analysis of Spokane.
John is the Vice President of Production and Spokane Operations for Community Frameworks, a non-profit affordable housing developer. His responsibilities include land development, construction oversight and ensuring that HomeStarts activities result in successful affordable homeownership projects that support the mission and business objectives of Community Frameworks. He plans, coordinates and manages homeownership programs and projects to successful completion, and works collaboratively with a broad range of stakeholders, partners, advisory groups, funders and clients to further Community Frameworks’ goals.
Prior to joining Community Frameworks, John worked as a Neighborhood Planner and developed a comprehensive plan for the East Central Neighborhood in Spokane, Washington. He has experience in organizing and facilitating community groups and creating input processes for the public. John has a Masters degree in Urban and Regional Planning and has served as an AmeriCorps volunteer to develop a housing conditions analysis of Spokane.
Ric Gaunt, Treasurer
Ric, a Spokane resident since 1978, has over 30 years of banking experience and currently is the Community Development Manager of Sterling Savings Bank. He is responsible for administration of the bank’s community development activities, community outreach and identification of credit needs and services targeted to low and moderate income individuals.
His career spans both retail and commercial banking and includes experience in consumer mortgage and commercial lending. He is very active in the community and serves on several boards, including the Spokane Community Land Trust; the Washington Community Reinvestment Association Credit Committee; the Spokane Housing Working Group, Boy Scouts of America and Red Cross. Ric also serves as a supporting member of the Spokane Low Income Housing Consortium and the Northwest Indian Housing Association.
His career spans both retail and commercial banking and includes experience in consumer mortgage and commercial lending. He is very active in the community and serves on several boards, including the Spokane Community Land Trust; the Washington Community Reinvestment Association Credit Committee; the Spokane Housing Working Group, Boy Scouts of America and Red Cross. Ric also serves as a supporting member of the Spokane Low Income Housing Consortium and the Northwest Indian Housing Association.
Derrick Braaten
Derrick Braaten is the Development Servies Director for the City of Airway Heights. He has over 10 years experience working in the non-profit sector, focusing on organizational development and program development and mangement. Well versed in development practices, land-use regulations, and customer relations, Derrick joined the City in September of 2007. He last worked as the Government Affairs Director for the Spokane Homebuilders Association and Spokane Association of Realtors. He has a dual bachelors degree in philosophy and humanities, a year of law school at Gonzaga University, and will be finishing his Masters Degree in Public Administration shortly. He currently lives in Spokane.
Michone Preston
Ms. Preston became Habitat for Humanity-Spokane's second Executive Director in 1999 and was promoted to CEO in 2011. She previously served as the Development Director of Habitat-Spokane since 1995, and has served the nonprofit community since 1991. She holds a B.A. in Communications and Marketing, and earned the CFRE credential from the Association of Fund Raising Professionals in 1999. She is currently working towards an M.A. in Philanthropy
and Development from Saint Mary’s University in Minnesota, a leading national fund development program. She oversees all departments of Habitat-Spokane and coordinates policy-making with the Board of Directors. In addition to her local role, she serves as the Vice Chair of Washington State Habitat for Humanity Board.
and Development from Saint Mary’s University in Minnesota, a leading national fund development program. She oversees all departments of Habitat-Spokane and coordinates policy-making with the Board of Directors. In addition to her local role, she serves as the Vice Chair of Washington State Habitat for Humanity Board.
David Roberts
Dave Roberts joined the Spokane Housing Ventures development team in May, 2005. Since joining SHV, Dave has assumed primary responsibility for four projects, including a HUD Section 236 seniors complex with project-based Section 8 rental subsidy in Davenport Washington which SHV successfully acquired with a housing trust fund award and completed rehabilitation work utilizing low income housing tax credits, and most recently the acquisition and rehabilitation of a historic 33-unit complex near downtown Spokane using funds from both the housing trust fund and the housing finance commission. Dave has also assisted with several other substantial SHV projects, including the Bel Franklin Apartments.
Dave is native to Spokane and enjoys the outdoors and an active lifestyle here, but he and his family lived and worked in Seattle for over 20 years. Equipped with degrees in accounting and taxation, he’s traversed a career that transitioned from public accounting to operations and financial administration in private industry to real estate development.
Dave is native to Spokane and enjoys the outdoors and an active lifestyle here, but he and his family lived and worked in Seattle for over 20 years. Equipped with degrees in accounting and taxation, he’s traversed a career that transitioned from public accounting to operations and financial administration in private industry to real estate development.
Tom Hormel
Tom Hormel has been a REALTOR® since 1999. He has served the REALTOR® family on the local, state, and national levels. Locally he has served on the government affairs, technology, education, special events committees, as well as on the board of directors. He has served state level on the association operations, information systems, the executive committees and many task forces. He also serves as the current president of the state chapter of CRS® and has chaired and served on that board at all levels.
Tom is currently teaching fellow REALTORS® across the Nation about tablets and how to become a paperless agent. He was also a presenter at the NAR® conference in 2011, and will present at this year’s NAR® conference also.
Tom volunteers outside of the associations. He has served on the Eastern Washington University Athletic
Association board, the March of Dimes, Habitat for Humanity, Longview Homeowners Association, Greenacres PTSA, and One Spokane.
Tom is currently teaching fellow REALTORS® across the Nation about tablets and how to become a paperless agent. He was also a presenter at the NAR® conference in 2011, and will present at this year’s NAR® conference also.
Tom volunteers outside of the associations. He has served on the Eastern Washington University Athletic
Association board, the March of Dimes, Habitat for Humanity, Longview Homeowners Association, Greenacres PTSA, and One Spokane.
Homeowner Positions
Four positions on the CLT Board are reserved for future Spokane Community Land Trust homeowners.
Staff for Spokane Community Land Trust:
Tim Williams
Tim brings a broad based skill set in strategic planning, finance and organizational leadership to his position as Program Director for the Spokane Community Land Trust.
Before joining the Land Trust, Tim served as the Director of Administration and Finance for the State Agency Sirti, providing strategic and operational leadership for finance, accelerator facilities, grant administration, metrics, IT and the Technology Growth Fund. He has held positions as a controller, finance manager and senior marketing analyst while working at Agilent Technologies. At Hewlett-Packard, he held positions including finance manager, information systems manager and financial analyst.
Prior to getting his MBA, Tim worked as a program coordinator for Metrocenter YMCA and the pilot program of the Washington State Energy Extension Service. Tim has a B.A. in economics and an MBA in finance and accounting from the University of Washington.
Before joining the Land Trust, Tim served as the Director of Administration and Finance for the State Agency Sirti, providing strategic and operational leadership for finance, accelerator facilities, grant administration, metrics, IT and the Technology Growth Fund. He has held positions as a controller, finance manager and senior marketing analyst while working at Agilent Technologies. At Hewlett-Packard, he held positions including finance manager, information systems manager and financial analyst.
Prior to getting his MBA, Tim worked as a program coordinator for Metrocenter YMCA and the pilot program of the Washington State Energy Extension Service. Tim has a B.A. in economics and an MBA in finance and accounting from the University of Washington.