Meet our Oregon Commercial Team
Oregon Commercial Banking
Here at WaFd Bank, our experienced Oregon Commercial Bankers knows what it takes to get your commercial loan booked, whatever your goals might be. With an impressive combined 250 years of experience, we do real estate projects, business purchases, working capital, equipment financing and more. Every year on average, our team finances more than $300 million in commercial loans for Oregon clients. We have the ability to help your business succeed too, whether you're in agriculture, healthcare, construction, or anywhere in between and beyond.
Leigh Ann Evans
VP, Director of Agribusiness Lending
541-947-3142
Leigh Ann Evans joined the WaFd team in November 2012 and is currently the Director of the WaFd Bank Agribusiness Lending Group. Coming from a banking background, Leigh Ann has experience ranging from retail branch management, rural community facilities financing and building a commercial loan portfolio with an emphasis on agricultural lending. With a lending focus in the livestock, hay and row crop segments of agricultural lending, she brings with her a broad background of practical experience from the cattle industry. Throughout her 24 years in banking, Leigh Ann has served in a variety of leadership positions within the community and continues to be involved in several local service groups. Leigh Ann earned a Bachelor's degree from Oregon State University in Agricultural Economics and she and her family live and ranch in Lakeview, Oregon.
Thomas White
Senior Credit Analyst
541-774-1452
Thomas White has been with WaFd Bank for 7 years and is currently the Senior Credit Analyst for the Agribusiness Banking team. His primary lending focus is cattle, hay and grain production, with experience in vineyards and timber. As a 3rd generation rancher, he understands the production flow of agriculture and draws on that knowledge while working with clients.
Bend Office
Bend Office
Ryan Brown
Senior Relationship Manager
541-312-7132
Ryan has spent the majority of his 16-year banking career serving businesses, people, and communities throughout Central Oregon. A relentless advocate, he takes to heart the importance of supporting his client's entire relationship and in growing the right way. Ryan's in-depth experience of Commercial lending is wide-ranging and includes real estate, construction, equipment, and working capital lines of credit, as well as other financing capabilities. Outside of work, he prefers spending time outdoors with his wife and two daughters.
Craig Chenoweth
Commercial Relationship Manager
541-280-5683
Craig Chenoweth's professional background provides a diverse range of skills, making him a unique asset in the banking industry. In addition to his years as a Commercial Relationship Manager, specializing in construction and CRE lending since 2016, Craig worked for the City of Bend for 17 years in Planning and Development. There, he facilitated the entitlement process for various commercial, industrial, and residential projects. His consulting work within the private sector as a project manager for development projects provides a detailed understanding of project elements related to permitting and construction.
In addition to his professional roles, Craig has been actively involved in his community. He served on the Bend Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors in 2024 and was a Bend Parks and Recreation District Board Member from 2013 to 2016. Craig has been proud to call Central Oregon his home for more than 25 years and is excited to be part of shaping its future.
Steve Smith
Community Business Banker
541-880-5206
A Klamath Falls native, Steve started his banking career in 2004 as a mortgage loan officer, transitioning into commercial banking in 2013. Steve enjoys working with local business owners supporting their lending and deposit needs. In his spare time, he enjoys family time, hunting, fishing and watching his girls play soccer.
Danny Proudfoot
Commercial Division Manager
541-312-7140
With over than 20 years banking experience, Danny has expertise in helping finance businesses in nearly all industries. His current focus is Home Builder Finance and Multifamily. As the Central Oregon Commercial Division Manager, he partners with the commercial banking team to provide customized lending and account solutions. Danny is a native Oregonian, living for the past 32 years in Central Oregon. When not working Danny enjoys spending time outdoors and traveling with his wife and son
Dan LaCoste
Regional President
541-434-3270
Dan has been in banking for 25 years and is well versed in most aspects of the financial industry. Dan's expertise in helping businesses spans from managing your cash to purchasing your dream business to ensuring you have the right amount of working capital. As the Southern Oregon Division Manager, Dan has a team of 5 lenders that are truly the in best in the business. As a resident of Oregon for the past 45 years, he is passionate about helping our state grow and flourish!
Eugene Office
Eugene Office
Scott Kuvaas
Relationship Manager
541-434-3274
Scott is a native Oregonian with over five years of commercial banking experience, supporting customers throughout the Willamette Valley. His areas of expertise include investor-owned commercial real estate in multi-family housing, office, industrial, retail, and hospitality, as well as commercial construction. Scott is committed to supporting businesses of all sizes to achieve their goals through a supportive banking relationship.
Jeannie Sterry
Treasury Relationship Manager
541-434-3295
Jeannie Sterry has worked in banking for 30+ years, joining WaFd in 2019. Her focus is around the secure and efficient management of client payables and receivables, combined with fraud tools and a team of support, which provide an effective and robust treasury environment for businesses to thrive. When Jeannie is not working, she enjoys camping and traveling with family, and volunteering through several local nonprofits.
Nicole Nelson
Commercial Division Manager
541-686-2134
Nicole has devoted her twenty-year career to commercial banking and serving clients throughout the Willamette Valley. Well versed in various types of commercial lending, Nicole has expertise in commercial real estate, construction, operating lines of credit and equipment finance. Growing up in a family business has given her a deep understanding of business operations and respect for her commercial clients.
Medford Office
Medford Office
Jerry Herbold
Senior Relationship Manager
541-774-1457
Jerry has over 27 years in commercial lending experience in the Southern Oregon area, with the last 9 years at WaFd Bank as a Relationship Manager. His experience includes construction financing for real estate projects including multi-family, commercial and medical facilities. Additionally, he has helped facilitate financing for businesses, including equipment financing, working capital and operating lines of credit. Jerry values building his relationships with his clients and providing customized solutions to meet their lending needs.
Laura Robles
Commercial Relationship Manager
503-956-9074
Laura, a lifelong PNW resident with a decade of diverse banking experience, is dedicated to supporting clients in the Southern Oregon area. Commercial lending specialties include multi-family housing, office, retail, and construction. Through detailed relationship reviews, Laura strives to add customized efficiencies to business operations with the support of her local team. Her priority is full immersion into the communities she lives in through volunteering and exploring all that Southern Oregon has to offer. In her personal life Laura supports the growth of her entrepreneurial husband and two children.
Portland Office
Portland Office
Gary Haines
Regional President
971-300-3313
Gary joined the bank in 2008 and has over 30 years of experience in the banking industry. He started his banking career in Florida as a Small Business Banker and relocated with his family to the PNW in 2000, where his career path moved him into commercial banking. After joining WaFd, Gary held roles as a commercial relationship manager, senior commercial relationship manager, and division manager. In 2013, he was asked to relocate to the Portland area to take on a new role with the bank integrating South Valley Bank and Trust into the WaFd family, and ultimately as its Northern Oregon regional president. Gary has been involved in many youth and community organizations, and has done a significant amount of work as a volunteer in the non-profit space in Oregon. He is the past president of JDRF Columbia-Willamette, and a former board member at the United Way Columbia-Willamette.
Gary has been happily married for 30+ years to his wife, Kirsten, and has 4 beautiful children. In his free time, he enjoys watching his children play sports, watching football, and fishing.
Kent Ikeda
Senior Vice President & Division Manager
503-893-0345
A native of Honolulu, HI, Kent has been a dedicated banking professional since 2005. Throughout his career, he has gained extensive experience working with various national, regional, and community banks. Kent began his journey as a Small Business Banker in Portland, OR, and subsequently held roles in Student Loans and Business Payroll Sales before transitioning to Business and Commercial Banking.
In 2013, Kent relocated to Denver, CO, to join a high-performing Business Banking team. Two years later, he and his wife decided to return to Portland to be closer to family. Upon their return in 2015, Kent joined a regional bank in Business Banking, and by 2018, he had moved into Commercial Banking with a community bank. In 2022, Kent advanced to Middle Market Banking, covering Oregon, Washington, and California.
Kent has been happily married to his wife, Josie, for over 14 years, and they have two children, Hiro and Mira, along with three fur children. An active community member, Kent serves on the boards of The Legacy Meridian Park Foundation, Schoolhouse Supplies, and Mary's Woods.
Daniel Weldon
Vice President & Director of Commercial Banking
503-327-3985
Daniel began his 35-year banking career in community development lending in Portland, Oregon. He is well versed in identifying and crafting solutions which meet the needs of commercial investors and developers, with specific expertise in multi-family and construction lending.
Daniel serves on the Board of the Portland Metro chapter of RMA as the Academic and Education committee chair. He is a graduate of Cal Poly State University in San Luis Obispo and earned his MBA from George Fox University, Newberg. A 40-year resident of Portland, and the father of two grown and independent sons, he never tires of the wealth of activities here in the Pacific NW.
Marc Sheehan
Vice President, Treasury Relationship Manager
503-320-5552
Marc began his career in 1996 serving in a 24/7 customer service group. He accepted a position in 2000 as a Treasury Management Officer and worked with small business and middle market customers throughout Oregon. In that same year he earned his Certified Treasury Professional (CTP) designation, becoming a Treasury Management Consultant in 2016 working with clients in Bellingham, Vancouver, and Salem.
Happily married to his wife Shellie for 29 years, they have raised three terrific kids together, Graham, Brooklyn, and Gavin. Outside of work, Marc enjoys spending time on the mountain skiing and playing pickleball in his backyard in Beaverton.
Derek Ditora
Officer & Relationship Manager
916-833-7359
Derek has over four years of Commercial Banking experience, joining the bank in 2020 as a Commercial Credit Analyst and working his way to a promotion to Community Business Banker, and recently to Commercial Relationship Manager. Prior to starting his career in banking, Derek worked in public accounting after graduating from Oregon State University with a degree in Finance and Accounting.
Actively involved in the community in volunteer roles, in his free time Derek enjoys being in the outdoors skiing, fishing, or golfing.
Awarded America's Best Big Bank - Three Years in a Row
Best Big Bank in Washington, Idaho, New Mexico
Awarded America's Best-in-State Bank
Best-in-State Bank in Washington, Nevada, New Mexico
Awarded America's Best Big Bank - Three Years in a Row
Best Big Bank in Washington, Idaho, New Mexico
Awarded America's Best-in-State Bank
Best-in-State Bank in Washington, Nevada, New Mexico