Who We Are - Board of Directors
The NSCEDC is governed by a Board of Directors. The Board of Directors is responsible for establishing program policy, approving the annual budget, and determining, facilitating, and promoting the goals of the NSCEDC.
Nancy Hendricks (Board Secretary) also serves on the Enterprise Facilitation Resource Board. In her professional life, Nancy and her husband Carl are the owners of Fresh To You Produce and Garden Center in Stayton. Nancy graduated from Oregon State University with a degree in Fruit & Vegetable Production.
"Volunteering and giving back to the community has always been an important part of my life. I served on the Jackman Board, the fundraising arm of the College of Agriculture at OSU, for 8 years, 2 as President. I have been President of both the Stayton Library Foundation and the Stayton Community Food Bank. I also served on the Oregon Blueberry Commission for 9 years."
"As a small business owner I know how challenging it can be to stay in business. Shopping local is vital for the survival of small communities. That is why I want to see the success of many businesses in the Canyon area and am willing to give of my time to enable that to happen."
Email: nancy@growsantiam.org
Allison Ford McKenzie is the Executive Director of the Board and is also the Enterprise Facilitator for GROW North Santiam. With a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Whitman College and a Masters in Management from Keuka College, Allison brings more than 22 years of experience in business development consulting, writing, lecturing, and investment sales & management to her position with GROW.
Allison grew up in Snohomish, Washington. She watched her town deteriorate when the mills got into financial trouble, an experience that later inspired her graduate school research on communities that have reinvented themselves after years of economic decline. For her, it’s all about collaboration.
“What I love about this work is that everyone gets to run their business idea up the flagpole. Every person who comes to us has access to a multitude of hometown people who stand ready to offer their brainpower, creativity, optimism, and experience to help entrepreneurs succeed. It is a great gift to me to see the look on clients’ faces when they realize they don’t have to go it alone, that they have entire communities of people rooting for them to succeed and willing to help them in the process.”
Email: allison@growsantiam.org
John McGinn (Interim Board Chair) serves on the GROW Resource Board as well as serving as a corporate director. McGinn is the General Manager of All Pro Web Works in Aumsville, Oregon. Prior to All Pro Web Works, McGinn has been self-employed in a variety of businesses; he worked in advertising sales and served in the U.S. Marine Corps for four years. He is a former member of the Aumsville Planning Commission and was the chair of Aumsville Revitalization Group.
McGinn says, “I believe in GROW because I’ve seen a positive impact in my business, as well as to other businesses in the Canyon. GROW is providing support and real solutions to local businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs. Our business is seeing the results.”
Email: john@growsantiam.org
Sue Nichols recently joined the NSCEDC board. She is the Community Development Director of Travel Salem and has been with them since 2008. Prior to that she spent 14 years as the Executive Director of the Stayton-Sublimity Chamber of Commerce. Her range of experience and skills include organization administration, financial oversight, program reporting, and the recruitment and training of staff and volunteers. Her strong relationships throughout Marion and Polk counties are invaluable assets to our organization.
Sue has been an independent business woman owning her own clothing boutique in the mid-eighties. She then went on to work for Nordstrom for many years where she was responsible for annual sales of $4 million and the coordination of all sales promotions.
Sue is a perfect fit for the NSCEDC.
Email: sue@growsantiam.org
Sandra Rupert is a board member of the North Santiam Canyon Economic Development Corporation. In her professional life, Rupert is a contractor for the United States Postal Service, operating the branch in Gates.
Previously, she worked for the local Santiam Canyon School District. She is a devoted community volunteer, holding roles in the Gates Neighborhood Watch Association, the Mill City-Gates American Legion Auxiliary, and the Santiam Canyon Youth and Families Alliance. She is also a Deaconess at Gates Community Church of Christ. Rupert graduated from Holloway High in a rural farming community in Minnesota.
She and her husband of 45 years, Richard (Duff), moved to Gates more than 30 years ago with their two sons. She is a proud mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Rupert believes that a strong point of an enterprise facilitation program is that it will enable Canyon residents to live and work closer to the place that they call home.
Email: sandra@growsantiam.org
Sharlene Trexler is a board member of the North Santiam Canyon Economic Development Corporation.
Email: sharlene@growsantiam.org