After nearly eight years at the helm of the largest community development organization in the region, Merten Bangemann-Johnson is leaving the Northeast Kingdom nonprofit. Bangemann-Johnson first came to RuralEdge in 2007 as its CEO, offering more than 15 years of experience in local, national, and international housing and community development – experience he used to vastly expand RuralEdge’s scope of services and work. RuralEdge will appoint an interim CEO while the board continues to search for a permanent hire.
Founded in 1986, the nonprofit was first known under the name Gilman Housing Trust, and focused on creating quality, affordable housing throughout the Northeast Kingdom. Merten was at the forefront of the in-depth strategic planning process that led to the organization’s re-brand in 2012 to RuralEdge.
In 2008, under Bangemann-Johnson’s stewardship, RuralEdge added a Property Management Division to its portfolio, eliminating the established third party real estate management system the company had previously used.
The move more than doubled the size of the company to 35 full-time employees, and allowed RuralEdge to become a more people-oriented organization.
“I think that RuralEdge has become a real community partner,” said Bangemann-Johnson, of his tenure. “And I think that’s something that’s a little different- we’re a lot more out there, we’re a lot more visible. We were a real estate development company for a long time on a small scale; we’ve really moved that dial to be a community development corporation.”
As part of that shift toward community development, RE also added the broadly successful Support and Services at Home (SASH) program, which merges community-based long-term care andsupportive services with affordable senior housing, in 2011. The program has had tangible results in the community, with local hospitals reporting a drop in emergency room visits from seniors.
Bangemann-Johnson also oversaw the expansion of RuralEdge’s property portfolio, as the company added seven new housing development sites, bringing more than 100 affordable apartments and commercial spaces onto the area rental market.
“In terms of the organization, I was part of an amazing team that really pulled together, and accomplished some pretty amazing things in a fairly short amount of time,” said Bangemann-Johnson.
Aside from his day job, Bangemann-Johnson was a prominent member in the NEK community, serving on the East Burke School Board, the Northeast Kingdom Chamber Board, and the NEK Collaborative, among others.
“We’ve really made this home,” he said. “We’ve made a lot of good friends here- it’s a great area. Community is a big thing in the Northeast Kingdom, and we’ll obviously miss that. It’s kind of a cool place.”
Board members agree that Bangemann-Johnson will be missed.
“Merten has been an outstanding leader at RuralEdge,” said longtime Board President Sally Ann Young. “He brought RuralEdge through financial difficulties to the successful operation we have today. We will miss his tremendous vision, his expertise in many fields and especially Merten, himself! We wish him all the best in his new endeavors and know he will excel in all he does.”
Bangemann-Johnson will be leaving at the end of June for Umpqua, Oregon, where he will head up another Neighborworks organization.
A farewell party will be held at the Darling Inn on Tuesday, June 16th from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The public is encouraged to drop by and wish him well.
“I think that we forged some really strong partnerships that, even long past my leaving here, will improve the quality of life in the community for everybody,” said Bangemann-Johnson, thinking back. “And that’s what this is about- we’re really about touching people’s lives and improving their quality of life. And not just the residents of affordable housing, but everybody in the community. We’re all connected.”