Meet our
ADVISORY
COMMITTEE
ADVISORY
Committee
Matthew Leiphon
Matthew is a former community land trust homeowner with the Grand Forks Community Land Trust. Mathew works for the Agricultural Utilization Institute (AURI) in Crookston. Matthew also brings experience working with the federal government as a field representative for U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp. Matthew believes the CLT is one solution for addressing affordable housing challenges in rural economic hubs.
ZACH FINNEY
Zach is a realtor in the Greater Grand Forks/East Grand Forks region. Zach has been a top realtor for Greenberg Realty over the last five years and can bring that experience to the advisory committee. Zach believes a solution like CLT will become even more important in the future as construction costs continue to increase and interest rates remain uncertain.
MARK BORSETH
Mark spent 34 years in Public Works and Community Development for the City of Thief River Falls. He is now working as the Director of Corporate Facilities for Digi-Key as well as consulting with communities for community development services. Housing has always been a part of his work, and a challenge he remains interested in addressing. Mark is also a Minnesota Licensed Building Official.
TODD PETERSON
Todd has been working to find housing solutions for over 25 years in Roseau. Todd is interested in the CLT model and the opportunity to create affordable homeownership opportunities and address workforce housing needs. Todd has experience with local housing boards as well as experience with housing advocacy work at the state capitol.
GAIL LEVERSON
Gail is a Senior Funding Specialist with Widseth, a statewide architecture and engineering firm. Gail has served on her local habitat board and lives in Hubbard County. She has been interested in land trusts and the potential for creating homeownership opportunities. Gail will bring extensive experience in accessing and managing funding opportunities to the committee.
Gail Mistic-Dockendorf
As a mortgage lender, Gail coaches new buyers on how to become property owners and make sure they are comfortable with the process. Gail has been a real estate lender for 12 and considers the most rewarding part of the job as being able to coach clients on what they need to do to purchase a home and see them come back in a year with all their boxes checked and ready to go. There are many loan products, and a good lender is able to fit the right loan to the right buyer, depending on their personal situation.
Kristi Thorfinnson
Kristi works a dual role as the Housing Specialist Coordinator and Community Development assistant for the Northwest Minnesota Multi-County Housing and Redevelopment Authority. She is involved with the federal homelessness initiative, the Northwest Continuum of Care, and is passionate about advancing the personal, professional, and community opportunities in northwest Minnesota.
JEFF WASHBURNE
Jeff brings 20 years of experience managing a CLT to the committee. Jeff grew the City of Lakes CLT to a portfolio of over 400 homes. He is currently the administrator for the MN CLT Coalition and does consulting work for CLTs across the nation. Jeff is interested in learning more about the challenges in Northwest Minnesota and bringing his experience working across the nation to create solutions.