Welcome Jessica Mole Heilman as ALF Oregon's New Executive Director
Dear ALF Community,
The ALF Oregon Board of Directors is excited to share an important leadership update for the American Leadership Forum of Oregon. Please join us in welcoming Jessica Mole Heilman (Class 45 “Fortified”) as our new Executive Director.
Jessica brings more than a decade of experience advancing leadership development, cross-sector collaboration, and equity-driven systems change across Oregon. She is a systems-minded, relational leader known for building trust across differences and supporting leaders to move from shared values to collective action.
Born and raised in Cherry Grove, Jessica is a first-generation Oregon college graduate whose rural roots continue to shape her leadership. She brings a deep understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing communities across urban and rural Oregon alike, and a commitment to ensuring leadership pathways are accessible, inclusive, and grounded in lived experience.
Photo: Jessica Mole Heilman
Throughout her career, Jessica has led organizations and initiatives through periods of transformation and growth—strengthening ecosystems, expanding statewide reach, and securing significant public and philanthropic investments to advance access, opportunity, and justice. Her work spans convening cross-sector coalitions, designing and facilitating a variety of leadership programs, advancing policy and advocacy efforts, and building sustainable fundraising strategies rooted in authentic relationships.
Jessica approaches leadership development not simply as a programmatic offering, but as a core strategy for systems change. She sees this work as one way to live out a commitment to reparative and restorative practices—investing in people, redistributing access to power and opportunity, and cultivating leaders equipped to navigate complexity with courage and accountability.
As Executive Director, Jessica will steward ALF Oregon into its 5th decade: deepening its impact across the state—strengthening its network of leaders, expanding opportunities for connection and collaboration, and continuing to nurture the kind of leadership our communities need for a sustainable future.
To help you get to know Jessica Mole Heilman a bit more, we asked some of her colleagues from the Senior Fellow Network to reflect on her leadership. Here’s what they had to say:
I had the joy of nominating Jessica to ALF's Class 45. Today, it's an even greater joy to welcome her as its next Executive Director. Jessica has a remarkable ability to help people discover one another's humanity across differences of geography, identity, and lived experience, building the kind of authentic trust that makes courageous learning possible. She leads with humility, curiosity, and quiet purpose. She is unmatched in creating spaces where people feel they belong, where hard truths are spoken with care, and where people go home saying it was one of the most impactful experiences of their lives. Welcome, Jessica. ALF Oregon is in truly wonderful hands.
― Emily Evans (Class 32), Director of the Center for Nonprofit and Philanthropic Insight (CNPI) at ECOnorthwest
Jessica brings her experience as executive director of the Center for Women’s Leadership during these challenging times to ALF Oregon. She is perceptive and insightful….we are lucky to have her leadership at ALF Oregon.
― Congressman Earl Blumenauer (Class 1), Presidential Fellow and Advisor at Portland State University
I'm excited to support Jessica Mole Heilman as the next ED of ALF. I respect her insights, work ethic, and values and I have long admired her work with the Center for Women & Leadership. She walks the talk and is intentional in her focus on a statewide and inclusive approach to engaging more leaders from historically-underrepresented communities. I look forward to seeing the next chapter for ALF under her steady leadership. Congratulations and welcome, Jessica!
― CM Hall (Class 35), Executive Director of Emerge Oregon and Newport City Councilor
Jessica leads with heart, integrity, and a genuine love for community. This is exactly the kind of leadership Oregon needs right now. As a fellow community leader, I couldn't be more proud to see her step into this role with American Leadership Forum. She is poised to serve all of Oregon, and we are lucky to have her. ¡Bienvenida, Jessica!
― Cynthia Carmina Gomez (Class 40), Director of Community & Civic Impact at Portland State University
I could not be more excited that ALF Oregon has selected Jessica for this critical position. I have seen firsthand the heart, commitment to equity, humility, and vision that Jessica brings to her work, and it is exactly what I believe ALF Oregon needs today and into the future. She has what it takes to build bridges, create connections, and see people in their full humanity. Her rural lived experience contributes to the valuable perspective that ALF Oregon continues to need. My hope is that the ALF Oregon and ALF National Networks will rally around her and support her leadership journey. I know I will!
― Lisa Watson (Class 30), Interim Executive Director of Oregon Consumer Justice
As we mark this transition, we also want to express our deep gratitude to Sarah Greenman (Class 40) for her remarkable leadership and stewardship of ALF Oregon. Her vision, care, and commitment have strengthened this community in lasting ways. Jessica transitions into this role building on a strong foundation shaped by Sarah and the dedicated leadership of the Board, whose guidance and partnership continue to sustain and grow this work.
Jessica's first day on the job is scheduled for August 5th. Sarah will remain on the job through August as part of Jessica's onboarding process.
A Note From Jessica:
I’m thrilled to be joining the ALF Community as the next director. It’s an honor to work across the state building connection with such an incredible Senior Fellow Network. ALF has a long legacy of investing in people and relationships as the foundation for change. I’m excited to build on that legacy—supporting leaders across Oregon to show up with courage, curiosity, and a commitment to collective impact.
We are excited for this next chapter and look forward to the leadership and vision Jessica brings to ALF Oregon. And we invite you to join us in welcoming Jessica in person at one of our upcoming gatherings:
Sincerely,
Jason Carr (Class 39)
ALF Oregon Board Chair
Photo: Incoming Executive Director Jessica Mole Heilman and outgoing Executive Director Sarah Greenman along the Snake River in Baker County during ALF Oregon's April 2026 Senior Fellow Saturday.