Deidre DeJear
President and CEO
DeJear’s career of nonprofit and community leadership demonstrates her dedication to providing impactful community support. As President & CEO of Oakridge Neighborhood, DeJear leads Iowa’s largest affordable housing complex, dedicated to enriching diverse communities through exceptional housing and inclusive support services. Prior to joing Oakridge Neighborhood, DeJear was a long-time owner of a consultancy working with clients on developing and implementing financial education and small business development, and was the 2022 Democratic nominee for Iowa Governor. She serves on the boards of the City of Des Moines Housing Services, The Directors Council, and Wright Foundation, and as Board Chair of Healthy Birth Day. She is a member and officer of the Des Moines Chapter of The Links Incorporated, and she has served on the boards of the Des Moines League of Women Voters, By Degrees, Iowa Community Capital CDFI, and others.
Management Team
Oakridge Neighborhood Board of Directors
President – Skylar Mayberry-Mayes, PhD, The Jacobson Institute at Grand View University
Vice President – Emily LeMay, Global Atlantic Financial Group
Secretary – Jamie Buelt, enQStrategies
Treasurer – Diana Dubuisson, Dotdash Meredith
Immediate Past-President – Dr. Andrea McGuire, Dr. Andy McGuire & Associates
Marcy Baker, Sammons Financial Group Companies
Carol Bodensteiner, Writer/Editor
Albert Farr, DMACC Urban Campus
Jessica Feeney, Atlantic Bottling Company
Sharon Gaddy-Hanna, Bankers Trust (retired)
Tim Haight, Deere & Company/John Deere Financial (retired)
Sherri Hart, Casey’s General Stores
Mary Johnson, Assured Partners
Nalo Johnson, PhD, Mid-Iowa Health Foundation
Kent Kramer, The Foster Group
Erin Kuhl, Community Volunteer
Joyce McDanel, UnityPoint Health Des Moines
Kuuku Saah, Ntontan RE
Matthea Little Smith, Resident Representative
Deidre Williams, Community Volunteer
Mark Wiltse, F&G
Jessica Zaugg, Nationwide
