Dee Walsh
Executive Director, REACH Community Development Corp., Portland, OR

Dee Walsh has been the Executive Director of REACH Community Development since 1990. REACH is a 22-year old private nonprofit community development corporation that develops affordable housing, revitalizes residential and business districts and provides services to adult and youth tenants of REACH-owned housing. Dee is responsible for the overall management of REACH, which has a staff of 45, an annual budget of $3.9 million and a portfolio of over 800 units of affordable housing.

Prior to her work with REACH Ms. Walsh was a community development specialist with Pacific Power, preparing economic development plans for cities, counties and economic development organizations in a six state region. In addition, she has held positions with the City of Portland Bureau of Community Development, where she created and managed an award winning grant program for community improvement projects called the Neighborhood Self-Help Program. Earlier in her career she worked for the city of Seattle, assisting with the redevelopment of Seattle’s International District, which included housing and business development programs.

Ms. Walsh holds a Masters degree in Urban Planning from the University of Washington and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Iowa. In 2004 she received a certificate of completion for the Achieving Excellence in Community Development Program from Harvard University. In 1993, Dee was the recipient on behalf of REACH of the Volunteer Action Award from President Bill Clinton and in 2002 she received the Gretchen Miller Kafoury Award for Lifetime Achievement in Community Development.

Dee currently serves on the Central Eastside Industrial Council Board of Directors.