NEWPORT – The executive director of Benton County Habitat for Humanity has been hired to lead the Housing Authority of Lincoln County.
Karen Rockwell replaces Kathy Kowtko, who joined the Housing Authority in 1983, and was named executive director in 2018. Kowtko is retiring.
Rockwell had been executive director of the Benton County organization since 2013. She has a master’s degree in nonprofit management from a Minnesota university and ran a Midwest homebuilders association before moving to Oregon.
Rockwell has served on the executive board of Habitat for Humanity Oregon, was a commissioner on the Linn Benton Housing Authority, and was vice chair of the Corvallis Housing and Community Development advisory board.
“I am honored to have been selected for this position,” said Rockwell, “and I am excited to combine my experience with the opportunities in Lincoln County to address the housing shortfalls and affordability challenges.”
The Housing Authority of Lincoln County is overseen by a board appointed by county commissioners. The current board includes James Bassingthwaite, Niesa Chastain, Larry Henson, Shannon Montgomery, and Mitch Parsons.
The housing authority is a public, not-for-profit community organization founded in 1944 providing affordable housing assistance and training. It currently manages 242 housing units and housing vouchers for an additional 570 units and is working to develop additional units in the county.
