Our Team
Erik Andersson
President
eandersson@sedcor.com
Office: 503-837-1800
With 30+ years of experience in economic development, Erik’s background includes work in the utility industry, serving as Economic Development Manager for Tacoma Public Utilities and Pacific Power. He was also the regional coordinator for Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski’s Economic Revitalization Team and a Business Development Officer with Business Oregon. He also has served as a SEDCOR board member; as a president for Oregon Economic Development Association; chair for the Oregon Infrastructure Finance Authority and a board member of Restore Oregon and Rural Development Initiatives. He was awarded the Oregon Economic Developer of the Year in 2014.
Born and raised in New York, Andersson received his bachelor of science degree in agricultural economics from Cornell University in New York and his masters of business administration from McGill University in Canada. Known for his enthusiasm for the region, Erik works on economic development projects to support the communities and traded-sector businesses throughout the region.
Nick Harville
Marion County Business Retention & Expansion Manager
Office: 503-837-1804
nharville@sedcor.com
As the Marion County Business Retention and Expansion Manager, Nick Harville has a stellar reputation for solving problems for traded-sector business owners and public partners.
Understanding the key to finding answers starts with listening, Nick travels throughout Marion County to meet with public and private partners.
His job includes writing grants, researching financing resources, knowing land use and planning laws and helping businesses make connections, and advising businesses on how to grow.
Nick’s knowledge of economic development organizations and industries is backed by more than 20 years of experience from Oregon’s Coast to a variety of companies around the country. After establishing the economic development organization for Lincoln County, Oregon, he began a private consulting career.
Major accomplishments are helping to fund the start-up and organize the Oregon Brewers Guild. He helped conduct business analysis and planning for brewing operations throughout the U.S. His private consulting work exposed him to a variety of industries and companies, from food processing to manufacturing and healthcare. He started SEDCOR’s Construction Alliance and created the IMOM or the Industrial Maintenance Operator/Mechanic Training program.
Alex Paraskevas
Polk County Business Retention & Expansion Manager
Office: 503-837-1803
alexp@sedcor.com
Thanks to a grant from the Ford Family Foundation and support from Polk County, the city of Independence and SEDCOR have jointly hired Alex to work as a rural innovation catalyst and the business retention and expansion manager to assist traded-sector businesses in Polk County.
Alex will work with Independence Economic Development Director Shawn Irvine on the Smart Rural Community effort to encourage the establishment and growth of technology and agriculture-based companies in Polk County. The Rural Innovation Catalyst also will work to foster entrepreneurship and STEAM education programming.
For 10 years, Alex worked at Willamette University serving as assistant director of alumni communication and then as associate director of research and prospect management.
A 2006 University of Oregon graduate, Alex, whose last name is pronounced Pa-ra-skeh-vas, grew up in Salem, graduating from South Salem High School in 2002.
Abisha Stone
Yamhill County Business Retention & Expansion Manager
Office: 503-837-2131
Cell: 503-507-4175
astone@sedcor.com
Yamhill County Business Retention and Expansion Manager Abisha Stone’s strategy is to ask questions, listen and take into consideration what is best for each individual traded-sector business. Her position was created after SEDCOR was awarded a contract by Yamhill County to provide economic development to the county and its 10 cities.
Before starting at SEDCOR, Abisha was the production manager for Oregon Cherry Growers; the vice president of operations for Marion-Polk Food Share and the contract packing/relations manager for Truitt Bros. Inc. She is a board member and is the secretary on the executive committee for Oregon Aglink, a private, nonprofit volunteer membership organization dedicated to growing agriculture in Oregon through education and promotion and bridging the gap between urban and rural Oregonians.
Eager to assist traded-sector companies in Yamhill County, Abisha shared she takes a holistic approach to problem solving.
“With every person I work with, I first try to gain a deep understanding of what the business culture is and the strategic opportunities that could be implemented to meet the individual business’ needs,” Abisha said.
Jenni Kistler
Director of Operations
Office: 503-837-1801
Cell: 541-918-1588
jkistler@sedcor.com
Jenni is likely to be a familiar presence to many, having spent the past eight years working with Oregon cities through her role at the League of Oregon Cities. There she managed many of the member facing programs and projects, including the Annual Conference, affiliate conferences, training program, and the Small Cities program. She is excited to focus her passion for serving her community and the SEDCOR members who make the area such a fantastic place to live.
Jenni grew up in the Willamette Valley, residing in Brownsville and attending Central Linn schools and Linn Benton Community College. She received her Bachelor of Science from New York University in 2010 before returning home to Oregon. Jenni lives in Independence with her husband Jason, son Jackson, and their cat Oscar. She enjoys being involved in her community and spending time with her family.
Naureen Khan
Marketing & Communications Manager
Office: 503-837-1802
nkhan@sedcor.com
As a native Oregonian, Naureen has a strong passion to tell local stories and promote the growth of Oregon businesses. Previously, she worked as Communications & Public Relations Account Manager at Gard Communications where she has worked with a range of clients including those in the nonprofit, environmental and philanthropy fields. She has specialized in social media strategy and marketing outreach. In addition to managing SEDCOR’s communications and events, Naureen also works part-time for Friends of Frog Ferry, an initiative to bring a ferry service to Portland.
Naureen holds a degree in Marketing and International Business with an Economics Minor from Portland State. During her time at university, she studied abroad in Hong Kong and Japan. Her time in Hong Kong taught her about global business and economics operations. While in Japan, Naureen learned about earthquake and crisis resiliency and how it relates to Oregon’s preparedness for “The Big One”.
Outside of work, Naureen is a board member of GlobalPDX, an organization that connects globally-minded Oregonians, and also serves on the Dundee Community Committee, a volunteer group that plans family events for residents of Dundee. She also is professionally trained Bollywood dancer and spends her time looking for more ways to be sustainable.