Boards and Staff

Mel Jones

Director of Inclusion, Hoffman Construction

Mel Jones is the Director of Inclusion at Hoffman Construction where he leads the corporate initiative for a more wholistic inclusive environment. With over 30 years of experience in the construction industry, Mel has developed strategies and implemented processes that increase employee engagement and work satisfaction as well as increased diverse and small business inclusion at all levels of the design and construction process. His role serves as a catalyst to promote a culture of inclusion, where all individuals thrive and remain highly engaged.

Mel facilitates inclusive business practices for women, minorities, and small businesses in support of construction projects and actively conducts community outreach to develop new partnerships with MWVESB firms.

Eric Ufer

Founder/President, Eco Property Solutions

Eric Ufer is a Portland-based entrepreneur, business leader, and community advocate with deep experience in building and scaling ventures across diverse industries. He is the Founder and President of Eco Property Solutions which provides various services to residential, commercial, and governmental properties. He is also the President and founder of Amigoas Aventuras mezcals.  Previously, he founded and led Pest Solutions LLC, a successful Portland-area pest control company that was acquired during Covid by a national entity. Eric’s career also includes 17 years in high level investment services, including senior positions at Wells Fargo Securities and Black & Co. He has owned and managed over 50 apartment units across the country. His professional journey reflects a passion for innovation, relationship building, strategic growth, and empowering others success.

In addition to his business achievements, Eric is a committed community supporter and mentor, focused on creating opportunities and fostering inclusive economic development. He has served in leadership roles with local organizations and initiatives that support youth, entrepreneurship, and collaborative community impact. Eric holds a B.S. in Finance from Portland State University.

Natasha Hendricks, CEPA

Financial Advisor, Financial Planning Specialist

Natasha Hendricks is an entrepreneur, a speaker, and a business owner. She is a first generation immigrant from Russia, and she has a unique experience of owning a metal fabrication business for fifteen years, as well as running a Wealth Management practice at Morgan Stanley. She graduated from the University of Portland Pamplin School of Business with an MBA in Finance and has been a financial mentor to many businesses. She also holds the Financial Planning Specialist and Certified Business Exit Advisor (CEPA®) designations, along with being licensed as Registered Investment Advisor in Oregon and Washington and holding Series 7 and 66 Licenses in 22 states.

Natasha is passionate about helping individuals, businesses and public entities making sound financial decisions while making positive impact on their lives and communities.

Kenyatta Trice

Founder, TRICE OCS

Kenyatta Trice is the founder of TRICE OCS, a black-owned, woman-owned consulting agency specializing in business and career development. She is dedicated to helping job seekers secure meaningful employment and assisting entrepreneurs in launching and growing successful businesses through strategic plan management.

Kenyatta has over 20 years’ experience, holding positions as Recruiter (Brooks Staffing), Economic Empowerment Coordinator (Bradley Angle), Director of Access To Capital (OAME) and the Program Director of a federally-funded program (MBDA). Within all positions held and in current business, advocacy, awareness and stabilization are at the heart of her work. 

Matthew Calhoun

Owner, G.I. Junk Removal

Matthew Calhoun is a military veteran, entrepreneur, and community leader. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Advertising from Northern Arizona University in 1994 immediately commissioning as an Army officer. He served in Air Defense Artillery and later transitioned to Army Intelligence, completing deployments to Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kuwait. In 2005, he joined the Oregon Army National Guard, retiring in 2014 after 20 years of service.

In 2018, Matt founded G.I. Junk Removal, a company built and run with Integrity, Respect, Compassionate Approach, Mission First and Exceptional Service — values that align with his personal code. He became a board member in 2024 and is the Veteran Committee Chairperson for the Oregon Association of Minority Entrepreneurs (OAME).

Matt lives in Portland with his wife, Jennifer, and their three children—two sons and a daughter. 

James Faison

Owner, Faison Construction

Mr. James Faison opened the doors at Faison Construction in 2004 with one truck, out of a small office in N.E. Portland. Since then he has grown Faison Construction into a recognized, widely respected, and successful Construction firm. Having partnered with privately held companies like Hoffman, Fortis, Skanska, and Wildish as well as publicly owned / managed clients like TriMet, ODOT, Portland Parks and many others, Faison has positioned himself as one of the NW’s premiere Concrete / General contracting firms.

Lee Fleming

Naim Hassan

Naim Hasan Photography, LLC

Naim Hasan has been a trusted provider of high-quality photographic services since 2002, serving a diverse clientele that includes local, regional, and national entities such as government agencies, business associations, and travel and tourism organizations.

Brent Ward

Owner, Left Coast Facilities Consulting

I have been in Facilities since 2007. Mostly in the Education sector, but also Banking, and Medical Laboratories. I started my own consulting Firm in 2023.

I am on the Board of the Oregon Southwest Washington chapter of the International Facility Management Association (IFMA) as the Immediate Past President (previously as the Treasurer, Vice-President and President). My term as Vice President of the Non-Profit Council ended, but I was the Vice-President and am now the Treasurer of IFMA’s Facility Management Consulting Council. I am on IFMA’s Global Board’s Americas Advisory Board and am a Board member of the IFMA Foundation.

I have been speaking publicly since I was 5, and for the past 5 years writing articles for Business Journals, Industry Specific Journals, and IFMA’s FMJ magazine. I also write articles to post on LinkedIn, all of which are on my website www.leftcoastfc.com.

I was raised in a construction family, was running front end loaders on my uncles sites at 10 years of age! Owned my own painting company for many years, worked in the insurance industry for a few years, and landed in Facilities in 2007. I have my Facility Management Professional (FMP) and Sustainability Facilities Professional (SFP) credentials, and the Certified Facility Manager (CFM) certification, and I am also a Certified Facilitator of Training (CFT).

I have always looked at projects with an eye to sustainability and have tried to repurpose as much as possible. Looking for tech that will enhance a reduction in energy usage or eliminate it altogether is my goal. Sustainability is a profit center and I enjoy finding ways to make businesses more profitable.

Moayad Zahralddin

Operations Director

Bill Prows

Director of Events

Della Shanley

Event Producer