Meet The Staff

Yesika ArévaloHomeownership Program Manager

Yesika discovered her passion to help families reach the dream of homeownership after witnessing the hard work of her parents in buying their first home more than 17 years ago. Since then she has acquired extensive experience developing and implementing outreach plans for Non-profit organizations.

For the past fifteen years she has worked in the non-profit sector advocating and empowering families from all walks of life in reaching the dream of homeownership. Her experience includes working with first-time homebuyers through NEDCOs’ pre-purchase programs and financial literacy classes. She is a certified homeownership counselor by the NeighborWorks Center for Homeownership Education & Counseling. And in the past six years she has served as the Cross-Cultural Community Outreach Coordinator for Proud Ground, helping many families learn about the CLT model and assisting them to purchase homes that will be forever affordable.

Yesika currently serves at Board of Directors of Habitat for Humanity of Oregon and as Ambassador CLT Homeowner for Grounded Solutions Network.

Marita I. DeLeonCommunications Coordinator

Marita joined the Proud Ground team in 2018 and brings with her a steadfast commitment to impacting people’s lives in a positive way on a daily basis. She has worked in non-profit organizations for the majority of her career, most notably as a Mortgage Counselor at Solid Ground in Seattle.

While assisting homeowners who were facing foreclosure, she became acutely aware of the racial, cultural and socio-economic barriers around sustainable homeownership. She represented Solid Ground as a member of the City of Seattle’s Race and Social Justice Core Team IV from 2010-2014, and received Solid Ground’s Racial Justice Award in 2014.

Jackie KeoghDeputy Director

Jackie joined the Proud Ground team in 2017, bringing with her extensive affordable housing and non-profit experience in both Portland, OR and Boston, MA. Jackie has dedicated her career to the community development and housing industry, previously working with the Portland Housing Bureau and North Shore CDC, a culturally-specific community development coalition.

As a fundraising and communications professional, Jackie acts as a connector – from connecting people to people socially, to bridging organizations to their communities, and donors to a cause. She started volunteering with a community development organization in college and hasn’t stopped working to give every individual, every family, and every business an opportunity to be part of their community through local non-profits. Additionally, Jackie currently serves as the Development Committee Board Chair of KairosPDX.

Tyler KoskiReal Estate Broker & Project Manager

Tyler joined the Proud Ground team in 2013, bringing with him extensive non-profit experience in supervisory and leadership roles at Outdoor School, Boys & Girls Clubs and SUN Community Schools. Tyler is passionate about serving his community.

As a licensed real estate agent Tyler guides Proud Ground participants through the home buying or selling process and markets Proud Ground homes in addition to providing education, outreach and general program support. Through Proud Ground real estate brokerage Tyler is able to offer his real estate experience and expertise to partners and the general public.

Tyler enjoys cooking for friends and family, home improvement projects, coaching basketball and weekend trips around the Northwest with his wife Carly and their dog Dekum.

Diane LinnExecutive Director

Diane Linn joined Proud Ground as the new Executive Director in December 2013 after nearly six years in Marin County, California serving as Director of Ritter Center, which provides services to low-income, working poor, and homeless families. Diane is the former Multnomah County Chair (2001 – 2007), and served as Commissioner (District 1) prior to serving county-wide. While with the County her top priorities were providing fairness and justice for communities of color and LGBTQ individuals, and vital services to the County’s most vulnerable people. Diane served Director of the Office of Neighborhood Involvement for the City of Portland and, prior to ONI, she was the Executive Director of Oregon NARAL. Diane is a native of Portland, raised her two children here, and has worked to improve conditions and build community for vulnerable and under-served families throughout her career. Diane is thrilled to be back in her hometown to promote the dynamic mission of Proud Ground.

Dianne ToppFiscal Manager

Dianne has over ten years of experience in nonprofit financial administration. Dianne has worked with OSPIRG, M&R Consulting, and co-owned a small environmental consulting firm. Dianne lives in SE Portland with her family and a few chickens, and enjoys exploring Oregon’s amazing hiking trails.

Ryan ParkerHomeownership Program Coordinator

Ryan joined the Proud Ground team in 2019 and brings with him nine years of non-profit experience, with five of those years running two individual development account (IDA) programs. Ryan also spent a year serving as an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer at the Native American Youth and Family Center in Portland. An enrolled member of the Northern Cheyenne tribe in Montana, Ryan’s experience growing up in a low-income household on a reservation has drawn him to organizations like Proud Ground that work to help people who face barriers in affording a home.

Ryan lives in NE Portland with his wife and son and enjoys regular trips to the coast, going to local pow wows and Native events, and watching Portland Trail Blazers games.

Katie UllrichHomeownership Program Director

On staff with Proud Ground since 2004, Katie has a Masters in Social Work; is a licensed Realtor; and is certified for homeownership and foreclosure intervention counseling and in post purchase education by the NeighborWorks Center for Homeownership Education & Counseling.

Katie’s experience includes working with first-time homebuyers through USDA Rural Development’s Self Help Homeownership Program in SW Colorado; neighbor to neighbor mediation; serving on the board of directors of the NW Community Land Trust Coalition; working in several arenas with diverse youth; and 2 ½ years researching, analyzing and utilizing data regarding regional indicators of a healthy community. Katie provides all homebuyer counseling and education services; provides post-purchase support to current homeowners; leads program innovations; and is responsible for lender relations.

Board of Directors

Proud Ground Board Members are comprised of one-third Proud Ground homeowners, one-third community partners, and one-third community stakeholders within its service area. Additionally, Proud Ground maintains a Board of at least 50% people of color.