ILWACO — Steve McConnell, chairman of the Craft3 Board of Directors, released the following statement on the appointment of Adam Zimmerman as president & CEO of Craft3, a nonprofit lending institution serving Oregon and Washington:

“Our late CEO John Berdes’ passing in June left big shoes at the helm of Craft3 — and while John can never be replaced, the board is confident that Adam is the right choice to guide Craft3 forward. As we finalize our next five-year plan later this year, the board believes Adam’s leadership capabilities, deep knowledge of community finance, and problem-solving approach are exactly what Craft3 needs. The Craft3 team will do great things with Adam as president and CEO.”

Zimmerman has worked at Craft3 for 14 years. Most recently he served as executive vice president guiding organizational growth, consumer lending, external affairs and brand management, and has been a member of Craft3’s executive management team since 2011. He started with Craft3 in 2002. At that time the organization managed $8 million with a staff of 10 — which has grown to $165 million under management with 55 staff.

“Craft3 is at an inflection point. We are on the cusp of $400 million deployed in Oregon and Washington, and have opened offices that better reflect our role as a regional institution. I’m thrilled with these developments — but they aren’t enough. Our late founder John Berdes believed that Craft3 needed to ‘think big’ to reach under-served communities with the capital they need to be successful. And so I look forward to carrying out John’s vision as we move Craft3 into our next era,” said Zimmerman. “I’m humbled to have the board ask me to lead Craft3, and am grateful for the support of our incredible staff and my family as I step into this new role.”

In 2012, Zimmerman was appointed by the governor of Oregon to serve on the Oregon Growth Board. In 2013, Adam was recognized by the Portland Business Journal as one of the region’s “40 under 40” business leaders.

The appointment follows the June 12, 2016, passing of Craft3 founder and CEO John Berdes.