Washington County's Department of Housing Services has ushered in a new era of financial oversight with the appointment of Ryan Bansbach as its deputy chief financial officer, a move announced after an exhaustive search extended across the nation. Bansbach's tenure began on May 5, raking in extensive experience from his 13-year stint at the U.S. Forest Service, where he most recently managed an imposing budget north of $1 billion for the Pacific Northwest Region. His academic credentials boast an MBA alongside a law degree, stamped with the heritage of being a fourth-generation Ohio State Buckeye, according to a Washington County press release.
The search committee was swayed by Bansbach’s comprehensive know-how in complex funding streams honed at the federal level, complemented by his local engagement as a Bond Accountability Committee Member for the Beaverton School District, and Budget Committee Member for Tualatin Hills Parks and Recreation District, which manifested the technical acumen essential to navigate the intricate regulations of finance needs, as detailed by Washington County. Molly Rogers, the executive director of the department, shared that "Ryan’s experience in braided funding streams at the federal level, as well as with his time serving locally assured the search committee that he had the technical acumen to understand the complex regulatory landscape of our finance needs," she further affirmed Bansbach's hands-on and empowering leadership as the ideal match for their Finance, Accounting, and Budget team.
Embracing his role, Bansbach expressed his zeal for the opportunity to put his financial knowledge to use in the local community, especially towards a noble endeavor such as affordable and supportive housing. He has also been vocal about his admiration for the team within the department, citing their passion and expertise he encountered upon his reception into the organization. Bansbach told the Washington County press that "I’m thrilled to be joining Washington County’s Housing Services Department and Housing Authority and having the opportunity to serve my local community with our vital mission through financial stewardship," his statement reflecting both an earnest readiness and the warm welcome he's received from the dedicated community.
Outside the confines of fiscal spreadsheets and budget meetings, Bansbach's personal life resonates with vibrancy, where he and his husband, Bryan, engage in the daily dance of parenthood, shepherding their energetic kids Jasper and Clara, along with steering the antics of Rigo, their Rhodesian Ridgeback of considerable size. The trajectory of Bansbach's journey from the wilderness of federal budgets to the corridors of local housing finance outlines the dynamic portrait of a professional poised to impact the realms of community housing through the lens of fiscal responsibility.
