Heritage Bank announces new commercial banking team in Portland, Oregon

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Jul 20, 2017, 12:00 ET

OLYMPIA, Wash., July 20, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Heritage Bank ("Company" or "Heritage"), subsidiary of Heritage Financial Corporation (Nasdaq: HFWA), is pleased to announce the addition of a new commercial banking team in downtown Portland, Oregon. The new team includes Emily Leach, Kristen Connor, Doug White, Kathy Swift, Joanie Miller, and Sheldon Alexander.

Emily Leach joins Heritage as the Commercial Team Leader and has been in the banking industry for 17 years. Most recently, she led a team at a regional community bank and focused on commercial, non-profits, schools, and corporate sustainability. In her community, Emily volunteers at and supports Neighborhood House, the Bonneville Environmental Foundation, and the Portland Rotary Club.

Kristen Connor joins the team as the Community Impact Officer. She has more than 13 years of experience in the commercial banking field, with expertise in business development and portfolio management for commercial and non-profit businesses, including some of the region's leading law firms, whose missions focus on a broad range of sustainability and social justice issues as well as independent and alternative schools. Actively involved in her community, Kristen serves as a board member of the Oregon Law Foundation and Jessie F. Richardson Foundation. She also volunteers her time with EarthShare Oregon, Off the Sidelines, Know Your City, and Corporate Sustainability Collaborative.

Doug White joins the team as a Commercial Banking Officer. Doug comes to Heritage with 42 years of banking experience. In addition to continuously growing his loan portfolio, Doug is respected for training new officers, guiding sales efforts, and providing high-quality customer service. Doug is also Treasurer and board member of the Columbia Corridor Association and volunteers with St. Vincent DePaul and Community Café at St. Anthony in Tigard, Oregon.

Kathy Swift joins the team as the Non-Profit Development Officer. Kathy has 34 years of banking experience as well as expertise managing a portfolio of both for-profit and non-profit companies including real estate loans, lines of credit, tax-advantaged bonds, and affordable housing credits. Kathy stays active in her community by serving as a member of the Risk Management Association and other non-profit boards such as Parish Trust Fund of the Portland Archdiocese, Jesuit Volunteer Corp NW, Portland Community Reinvestment Initiative (PCRI), Catholic Charities of Oregon, and the Oregon Business Association.

Joanie Miller joins Heritage as a Commercial Banking Officer. She has more than seven years of experience in the banking industry with expertise in account management, financial statement analysis, cash flow, collateral support, guarantor analysis, loan structure, and industry trends. Joanie's main focus, though, is her clients and their success – always ensuring their needs are met effectively and efficiently. Joanie has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Accounting from Southern Oregon University, and a certificate in Business Information Systems with an emphasis on Accounting Information Systems.

Sheldon Alexander joins Heritage Bank as a Senior Cash Management Relationship Officer. Sheldon has more than 28 years of cash/treasury management experience and holds a Certified Treasury Professional (CTP) certificate. He has expertise in business development and portfolio management for general industry clients, including supporting the gaming industry throughout the State of Nevada, as well as working with Native-America Indian Tribes and their related gaming businesses. Sheldon has also worked closely with government entities, nonprofit organizations, law firms, hospitals, school districts, colleges, and universities. Sheldon has been a board member with the Special Olympics of Oregon and with St. Andrews Legal Clinic. Sheldon has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a minor in marketing from the University of San Francisco.

Bryan McDonald, Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer, comments, "We are excited to have this talented group of bankers join Heritage Bank, and we look forward to supporting their efforts to deliver an expanded set of high quality banking services in the dynamic Portland market."

The new team is currently located at 1001 SW 5^th Avenue, Suite 250, Portland, OR, and will move to the 1000 Broadway Building in downtown Portland in the early fall. Heritage Bank plans to bring additional capacity to the team and is in the process of recruiting for a Senior Credit Administrator, Commercial Bankers, and a number of other support roles.

About Heritage Financial Corporation

Heritage Financial Corporation is an Olympia-based bank holding company with Heritage Bank, a Washington state-chartered full-service commercial bank, as its sole wholly-owned banking subsidiary. Heritage Bank has a network of 59 banking offices to serve customers in Washington and Oregon. Heritage Bank also does business under the Central Valley Bank name in the Yakima and Kittitas counties of Washington and under the Whidbey Island Bank name on Whidbey Island. Heritage's stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol "HFWA." More information about Heritage Financial Corporation can be found on its website at www.hf-wa.com and the Heritage Bank website at www.HeritageBankNW.com.

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SOURCE Heritage Financial Corporation