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, commercial banking officer in Vancouver, Washington, develops outstanding client relationships and is dedicated to creating specific strategies for her clients to succeed. Additionally, she develops new business relationships and forms a strong network of referral sources while sharing the Columbia Bank story in her community. 

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. 

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, commercial banking officer at Columbia Bank in Portland, Oregon 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 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's degrees in business management. 

Working in the nonprofit sector for more than eight years, Margot has developed a strong network in the community. 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, commercial 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.

A 10-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, assistant vice president and commercial banking officer for Columbia Bank, works to ensure that her clients are fully educated on the full suite of services Columbia Bank offers to meet their financial needs. Further, she provides day-to-day strategy counsel to clients ranging in size from large corporations to small businesses and nonprofits throughout Lane County and the Willamette Valley.

Kelly has been in banking for seven years and client service for more than 15 and is a proud graduate of the University of Oregon. She is extremely active in the community and serves in leadership and volunteer positions for Financial Beginnings of Oregon, FOOD for Lane County, the Eugene Education Foundation and Habitat for Humanity.

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.