As some of you may know, UCP’s Finance Director (Esther Large) is retiring, effective 1/2/24, after 20+ years at UCP. UCP’s Payroll/Accounts Payable Clerk (Janet Fromdahl) will be retiring on that date as well.
 
We’d love you to share your favorite memories and best wishes with Esther and Janet; see the form at the end of this post. 

About Esther
 
Esther came to UCP in 2003, and has been a stronghold for UCP through two decades of growth and change. Esther supported UCP’s financial operation as we grew from $1.3 million to $13 million in annual revenues. No small feat in the accounting world!
 
Esther says, “It has been my pleasure working at UCP Oregon over the last few years.  I feel so lucky to have been able to work with such a talented team of individuals that care so much for our mission, and would personally like to acknowledge Ann Coffey for her leadership and compassion for the Agency. And while I am excited about my new adventures, I will truly miss all of you.”
 
About Janet

Janet started at UCP in 2013. Janet has been treasured for both her thoroughness and her kind, helpful approach to her work.
 
Janet says, “I always say that when going to work stops being fun, I am going to stop going to work. The fact that I am still at UCP 10.5 years after starting here says it all!! The employees, the customers, and the mission have all brought joy into my life! But it is time for me to get to the next stage of my life—more time for family, travel, and whatever else life has in store for me! Don’t be surprised if my smiling face occasionally appears in the office just to say, ‘Hi!’ I will miss all of you!!”
 
Esther and Janet will be moving into another stage of their lives, with plans to kick back and enjoy the fruits of their labor.
 
Celebrating Esther and Janet

Both Esther and Janet be incredibly missed. As UCP’s Executive Director, Ann Coffey, says, “Over the years, we have all come to know and rely on Esther and Janet. They are amazing to work with. Always available at a moment’s notice to support excellent customer service to all of us, and in turn to support quality services to the customers we support. Esther and Janet, you will be missed.”
 
As we say goodbye, we also say hello to UCP’s new Finance Director, Jerry Hoffert who started in his new position in early October, 2023. If you’d like to learn more about Jerry, click here.

Please share your memories and/or best wishes for Esther and Janet below. Comments will be shared directly with Esther and Janet, and may be shared in a Facebook post, in the Employee Newsletter, and/or on the UCP website. Thank you!

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We’re thrilled to introduce you to our new Finance Director, Jerry Hoffert!
 
As you may know, Esther Large, who served as UCP’s Finance Director for 20+ years, is retiring in December of 2023. Also retiring is Janet Fromdahl, who has been UCP’s Payroll/Accounts Payable Clerk since 2013. We'll be sharing more about Esther and Janet's time at UCP in a future post.

UCP Oregon conducted a thorough and competitive recruitment process to fill the Finance Director position.

Jerry brings 20+ years of strategic leadership experience in non-profit finance and grant financial management. He also has a Master of Business Administration from George Fox University, with a focus on management and leadership.
 
Some of Jerry’s experience includes:

• Chief Financial and Grants Officer (National Association for the Dually Diagnosed).
• Chief Financial Officer (Native American Rehabilitation Association of the Northwest, Inc.).
• Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (Albertina Kerr Centers).
• Assistant Controller (Morrison Child and Family Services).

 
Some of you may already know Jerry; he is the former President of UCP Oregon’s Board of Directors. Jerry has also served on the board of Family Promise of Metro East.
 
Jerry began in his new position in early October, and will have several months of overlap with Esther and Janet. He is currently settling into his new position, and is also leading the hiring process for hiring a new Payroll/Accounts Payable Clerk.
                                      
Congratulations, Jerry! We’re excited to work with you in your new capacity at UCP.

We’d like to share some great “behind-the-scenes” news.

UCP applied for—and received—funds via the federal government’s Employee Retention Credit (ERC).

After we received the funds, we asked all of our departments to create a “wish list” of wants and needs.

Below are some of the items from those wishlists that we’ll be funding in the coming months:

• A contribution to the Bill Porter Memorial Fund, which supports UCP customers who have needs that aren’t supported by formal funding streams.
• Bonuses for all employees.
• A continued investment in UCP’s E.Q.U.A.L. Committee activities. (The E.Q.U.A.L. Committee’s mission is to embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion practices within our organization and our broader communities.)
• Support of additional Family Support activities.
• Leadership coaching, team building, and strategic planning support for UCP Oregon’s Leadership Team.
• Funding for a gathering for all of UCP’s customers.
• Funding for a celebration with all of UCP’s employees.

We’d like to thank Esther Large (UCP’s Finance Director) and John Hancock (a long-term member of UCP’s Board of Directors), for their work related to the ERC funds!

​We’d also like to thank the entire UCP Board of Directors for their ongoing commitment to supporting UCP’s workforce and our delivery of quality services.