Gina Leon
Senior Vice President & Director, Affordable Housing Commercial Real Estate @Columbia Bank
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WORK HISTORY
Senior Vice President & Director, Affordable Housing Commercial Real Estate @Columbia Bank
Leading a growing affordable housing division spanning six states, I oversee a specialized team responsible for financing the creation and preservation of affordable housing aligned with CRA and ESG priorities. My work involves cross-departmental collaboration with risk, compliance, credit, and executive leadership—while maintaining strong relationships with developers, nonprofit partners, and public sector stakeholders.KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Lead a multi-state team serving nonprofit and for-profit affordable housing developers Support institutional CRA and ESG performance through tailored lending strategies Drive operational continuity and staff alignment through periods of enterprise change Deliver internal training programs and mentor staff into elevated leadership roles Represent the bank in academic, policy, and community engagement settings
EDUCATION
Portland State University - School of Business
Bachelor of Arts - BA, Finance, General
ABOUT GINA LEON
With more than two decades in affordable housing finance and commercial real estate lending, I lead initiatives that expand access to housing, strengthen CRA performance, and align lending strategies with long-term institutional goals. Career experience spans the development of multi-state platforms, talent cultivation, and cross-functional alignment across risk, compliance, and community investment priorities. Leading diverse teams across regional markets, I’ve built internal systems from the ground up, mentored future industry leaders, and navigated major organizational transitions without losing sight of impact.Known for driving results through steady execution, I bring a combination of policy fluency, technical credit knowledge, and collaborative leadership that’s helped shape ESG and CRA strategies while keeping client outcomes and regulatory integrity front and center. Speaking regularly at professional and academic forums, I remain committed to the next generation of community development finance professionals—and to solutions that serve both people and institutions.Career Accomplishments Preserved/created more than 8,500 units of affordable housing through creative lending structures Directed multi-state teams of housing professionals across six Western states Doubled LIHTC investment activity and expanded CRA-aligned lending platforms Spearheaded policy and ESG integration efforts across credit, risk, and community development Promoted multiple staff members into SVP and senior leadership roles through direct mentorship Steered cross-functional training in housing finance to underwriting, appraisal, and loan admin teams Advised statewide cohorts on policy reform and program design for housing credit enhancements Represented lending institutions in graduate-level classrooms, nonprofit coalitions, and regulatory working groupsSpecialty areas include:Affordable Housing Finance · LIHTC and Bond Financing · CRA Strategy & Compliance · ESG Alignment · Lending Platform Design · Team Leadership & Mentorship · Credit Risk & Structuring · Government Engagement · Public Speaking · Regulatory Alignment · Multi-State Operations · Community Development Lending · Cross-Functional Collaboration · Talent Development · Strategic Planning
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