Nonprofit Banking Team

Nick Anderson, senior vice president and commercial banking team leader, manages a team of bankers focused on serving the financial needs of nonprofit sector organizations, closely-held businesses and local government. Nick and his team excel at providing solutions for the difficult and complex needs of mid-large size organizations – examples of which include; financing an organization’s growth when most banks turned them away or implementing multi-faceted payment systems for a large organization with hundreds of seasonal volunteer employees.

Nick earned a Certified Treasury Professional designation in 2011 from the Association of Financial Professionals. He is a graduate of Leadership Tomorrow, class of 2015, and a 2008 graduate of the Pacific Coast Banking School. Nick was recently named to the Puget Sound Business Journal’s 2017 40under40 and in 2009 he was named one of the banking industry’s ‘Rising Stars’ by the Independent Community Bankers Association.

Nick is active in his community as a board member and advisor to non-profit and public sector organizations including The Social Enterprise Alliance of Washington, Rotary Club of Seattle, Seattle Works and many more.

Dana Gardner, assistant relationship banking officer, creates and maintains strong relationships with current and new clients, helping them continue to move toward success. She is a banker who tirelessly looks for creative solutions to meet her client’s needs.

Dana has been with Columbia Bank since 2006, and has been in the industry for more than 18 years. Dana is very involved with her community and volunteers for many impactful local organizations including, Habitat for Humanity, Seattle Parks and the City of Kent Parks and Recreation Department.

As vice president, commercial relationship banking officer, Debra Holland is responsible for retaining current clients, adding clients and referring lending opportunities while building the Columbia Bank brand in the Greater Puget Sound area. In her role, Debra focuses on the nonprofit services group which she has grown from having approximately 20 clients in 2009 to more than 150 today.

Debra mirrors Columbia Bank’s philosophy of being client-centered in her approach. Her enthusiasm and ability to create strong, positive, lasting relationships and knowledge of nonprofit finances, governance and trends allow her to excel in her role. Debra has more than eight years of industry experience including vice president, senior relationship banking officer at Pacific Continental. Prior to becoming a banker, Debra spent nearly 30 years in nonprofit leadership. A graduate of Seattle Pacific University, Debra received her Bachelor of Arts in communication.

Debra is qualified to leverage marketing opportunities to grow the bank’s brand by taking advantage of networking with nonprofit organizations in the community and at hosted events by the bank, with marketing materials and by being visible where nonprofits meet. Debra also leads speaking and training opportunities on topics such as “Fundraising Fundamentals for the Nonprofit Board,” as well as “The Art of the Ask” where she combines her experience as a grant maker and grant seeker, having worked in both sectors.

Debra currently serves as Chair-Elect for Humanities Washington and is a member of Seattle Pacific University School of Business, Government and Economics Executive Advisory Board. She is also involved with Sons of Norway, Swedish Cultural Center and Seattle Yacht Club. Past volunteer experience includes Junior League of Seattle, Fran Nordstrom Guild of Seattle Children’s Hospital and Seattle Rotary Club #4. Debra has also supported Leadership Tomorrow, Seattle Children’s Hospital, Fred Hutch Cancer Research Center, American Lung Association, CityClub of Seattle, The Arboretum Foundation, First Place School and Treehouse.

Luke Pingel, senior vice president and commercial banking officer with Columbia Bank is an expert at providing tailored banking services for nonprofit and governmental clients throughout the Pacific Northwest. Luke designs solutions based on client's unique needs and in consideration of the unique challenges of project funding such as capital campaigns, state, and federal grant funding. For more than a decade, Luke has built outstanding relationships in the nonprofit sector with clients in education, healthcare, human services and religious organizations among others; and in the governmental sector with cities, counties, housing authorities, ports, school districts and utilities.

Luke serves as Columbia Bank’s municipal banker for the state of Washington, but also draws heavily on his experience in working with schools and universities, social service agencies, and Native American Tribes, as well as marine transportation, seafood companies and finance organizations.

As vice president, relationship banking officer, Karen Friedman is responsible for developing and managing relationships with current and potential clients as part of the Nonprofit Services Group for Columbia Bank. Karen strives to understand each client’s needs through attentive listening and a high degree of integrity and mirrors Columbia Bank’s philosophy of being client-centered in her approach.

With over 25 years of experience working in nonprofit and corporate settings, Karen has a proven track record of results oriented relationship building and client retention. She is a graduate of California State University, Chico where she earned a paralegal certificate and her Bachelor of Arts in political science. She previously served as a board member of the Congregation Beth Shalom and remains actively involved in her community as a board member for the Seattle Jewish Community School.

Linda Reid, relationship banking officer in Vancouver, Washington, is responsible for client relationship management and retention and is dedicated to creating new ways to enhance those relationships. She is also responsible for developing new business relationships and formalizing a strong network of referral sources while sharing the Columbia Bank story in her community. Linda strives to deliver the highest level of customer service and always puts client’s needs first.

Linda has nearly 40 years in banking, including 20 years of experience in commercial real estate. Her expertise resides in nonprofit and small business banking. She is actively involved in her local community, serving as a board member with Vancouver’s Downtown Association; Leadership Clark County; the Clark County Mural Society; The Nonprofit Network of SW Washington, Ducks Unlimited and Washington State University Business MAP Growth Program. She is also an active committee member for Evergreen Habitat for Humanity and a volunteer with Junior Achievement.

Through a consultative approach, Jamie Louie-Smith, vice president, commercial relationship manager for Columbia Bank, provides solutions to clients and prospects that assists them with their unique business needs. Jamie manages a team that supports those clients and prospects and whom works to ensure an excellent client experience. Jamie is experienced in underwriting many types of commercial loans including commercial real estate, equipment financing, lines of credit, startups and acquisitions. Over the past several years, Jamie has specialized within the medical and dental niche as well as nonprofit organizations.

With more than 15 years of experience, Jamie launched her banking career in 2002 as a client service specialist at Pacific Continental Bank before serving as a senior credit analyst. Jamie attended the University of Oregon where she graduated Summa Cum Laude, majoring in sociology and receiving a business minor. Jamie also attended the Western School of Commercial Lending and graduated in 2013 from the Leadership Eugene-Springfield Program. Jamie was a recipient of the 20 under 40 Rising Business Star award in 2008.

In an effort to improve the communities she serves, Jamie is active on a variety of non-profit committees and boards with the goal of putting her skillset to the best possible use. Jamie is actively involved with Food for Lane County, Springfield Education Foundation, Looking Glass Youth and Family Services and the Eugene/Springfield Risk Management Association.

In her role as wealth advisor for Columbia Bank in Eugene, Ore., Elena Fracchia serves as a wealth consultant and resource to individuals and businesses who want to learn more about Columbia Bank’s wealth management services. She is responsible for meeting with people and assessing their needs before providing an objective and unbiased recommendation on which experts will be best to provide clients with the products and services they need. Elena is dedicated to understanding the underlying needs of each client to ensure they are getting what they need.

Elena has a background and expertise in nonprofit management, financial education and community engagement. Prior to her role as wealth advisor for Columbia Bank, Elena served as community relations officer at Pacific Continental Bank for over a year. Elena attended the University of Oregon where she received her Bachelor of Arts in sociology from the Robert D. Clark Honors College as well as her Master’s Degree in public administration and a graduate certificate in nonprofit management. Elena is actively involved with the University of Oregon and previously worked with United Way of Lane County, Oregon Retirement Savings Taskforce, Northwest Health Foundation, Lane Coalition for Healthy Active Youth and the Climate Leadership Initiative.

Margot Swanson, relationship banking officer at Columbia Bank in Portland, Ore., is dedicated to providing excellent customer service to her clients and leveraging the expertise of her team to develop banking and treasury management solutions that fit the unique goals and needs of each individual organization she works with. Margot is also tasked with building new relationships in the community and bringing new clients to the bank. Margot establishes solid relationships with new and existing clients by striving to learn about each client’s needs and goals to develop a strategy that will help them get there.

Margot was previously an associate director of development at the Oregon Health and Science University Foundation. Graduating Cum Laude in her class, Margot received her Master of Business Administration from Willamette University. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Whitworth University where she received her Bachelor of Arts in business management.

Working in the nonprofit sector for more than eight years, Margot has developed a strong network in the community that includes strong relationships with past colleagues, board members and volunteers from these organizations. Margot is dedicated to her local community and recognizes that it is a much stronger and more prosperous place when corporate and nonprofit communities are closely aligned and focused on shared goals for the cities and states in which they operate. Previous volunteer experience includes Sisters of the Road and Dove Lewis Animal Hospital. Margot was also a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals where she was also a speaker at the International Conference in April 2017 and was also part of the Willamette Valley Development Officers.

Heather Gabbert, relationship banking officer for Columbia Bank, is a true advocate for her clients, and spends the time needed to provide them with the kind of strategic counsel they need to succeed. Heather works hard to ensure that her clients never feel as if they are a “transaction,” but instead feel like a partner with her through conversations. Heather’s goal is to develop a relationship that lasts for many years.

An 11-year banking veteran, Heather has experience in many areas including as a client service specialist and assistant branch manager and has held positions in both the retail and commercial sectors. She is active in the community including involvement with United Way Emerging Leaders program and in service to organizations including Food for Lane County, Habitat for Humanity, American Cancer Society and the Eugene Mission.

Kelly Heffner, relationship banking officer for Columbia Bank, believes in providing top-notch client service and going the extra mile to help clients reach their financial needs and goals. Her specialty is working to develop a client’s strategic plan and making adjustments and modifications along the way in order to maximize success.

Kelly has been a banker for six years, but also has more than 15 years of client service experience. A University of Oregon alum, she is very active in her community including current and former leadership and volunteer positions with the Eugene Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals, United Way of Lane County, CASA of Lane County, FOOD for Lane County and Financial Beginnings of Oregon.

Kim Diercks, commercial credit analyst for Columbia Bank, is well known in her community of Northern Idaho for developing outstanding relationships with clients and helping them navigate the credit authorization process. Kim specializes in providing strategic counsel to a host of local clients serving many communities and people throughout Northern Idaho and Eastern Washington.

A Stanford University graduate, Kim has been involved in banking for the past 16 years since moving to Sandpoint. She is deeply involved in her community including as a board member for Kinderhaven, board president of 7B Women – a women’s advocacy group, and as a board member of Columbia Cares - a Columbia Bank-affiliated organization that provides aid to community members in crisis.

Rhonda VanOrder, vice president, treasury management sales officer for Columbia Bank, is an expert at helping clients utilize the bank’s treasury management services to effectively and efficiently move their money in order to reach their financial goals. Rhonda works tirelessly to build a sound relationship with clients based on the art of listening and really hearing what they need from their financial partner.

A veteran banker of more than 26 years, Rhonda has vast experience in treasury management, commercial and consumer loans, as well as mortgage lending. She is also extremely active in her community and currently volunteers for Rotary Club, Relay for Life, Salvation Army, Future Farmers of America and the Cambridge First Baptist Church.