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Winta Yohannes drives the mission, fundraising, operations and strategy for Albina Vision Trust, a nonprofit that stewards the thoughtful reinvention and transformation of the 94-acre historic Lower Albina neighborhood.

During her tenure AVT has grown its real estate and development capacity, with its first project breaking ground in 2023 and the right of refusal secured on a key 10.5-acre tract. AVT has earned recognition for its leadership in counteracting anti-Black racism in the urban form, including awards for design excellence in its groundbreaking master plan.

Before leading AVT, Yohannes was a senior policy advisor for the city of Portland. She supported the development of Portland’s first immigrant legal defense program and co-established the Social Equity Program in the Cannabis Licensing Office to support entrepreneurs of color.

Earlier this year, Yohannes and AVT partnered with Lewis & Clark College to build a hub for education and economic opportunity within the Lower Albina district. In 2024, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek appointed Yohannes to a five-year term as position 8 of the Urban Flood Safety and Water Quality District.

Sarah Zahn has served as managing director of development at Security Properties for more than two years; she now has 24 years of industry experience. Throughout her career, she has delivered diverse projects across the West, including the historic renovation of a former post office building into Pacific Northwest College of Art’s campus headquarters in Portland.

Her portfolio spans affordable housing developments providing subsidized homes for low-income families, an addiction recovery center for women and their children, and mixed-use developments. Security Properties recently completed in Portland a mixed-use high-rise featuring 341 apartments, office space, retail space and below-grade parking.

Zahn’s leadership philosophy centers on empowering teams to pursue excellence and innovation while maintaining quality. She emphasizes continuous learning and adaptation to market changes, materials and technology advancements.

She serves as board chair for both Oregon Smart Growth and Housing Development Center. Zahn also is an Urban Land Institute Portland Advisory Board member and ULI National Product Council member (Small Scale Development Council).