Sunflower Hill names first executive director

Nonprofit leader Edie Nehls has been hired as the first-ever executive director of Sunflower Hill, a Tri-Valley organization focused on residential and vocational opportunities for local adults with special needs.

Nehls joins the six-year-old nonprofit at a critical time, with Sunflower Hill working to move forward with affordable housing complexes in Pleasanton and Livermore while also striving to maintain and grow its vocational sites at Sunflower Hill Gardens and Stable Cafe for special-needs adults.

The recent Livermore transplant told the Weekly she’s honored for the opportunity to lead Sunflower Hill in the newly created position.

“It is very exciting to be a part of an organization that is striving to impact a critical social need in a thoughtful and meaningful way,” Nehls said. “I am thrilled to work alongside the dedicated and knowledgeable Board of Directors, advisers and volunteers and learn about all that this team has accomplished.”

“As I am in the first month of my tenure, my focus is on getting to know those we serve, meeting key stakeholders, learning about our business operations and beginning to assess what needs to be done to ensure we continue to move forward in a successful manner,” she added.

With more than 24 years of experience, Nehls most recently worked at the National Ag Science Center in Modesto, where she managed fundraising, marketing and financial administration.

Before that, she served as a manager for the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego where she worked on two capital campaigns a new museum and administration facility in downtown San Diego and renovations of the La Jolla flagship museum.

“Edie Nehls excels at helping organizations grow in strategic and meaningful ways,” said Susan Houghton, president of Sunflower Hill’s Board of Directors.

“Throughout her career she has championed innovative ideas for institutional change, successfully built and led departments across various business units and developed new revenue streams to improve the fiscal stability and growth of organizations,” Houghton said. “We’re excited to have her join the Sunflower Hill team and to help take our organization to the next level.”

Nehls’ appointment came weeks after Sunflower Hill received confirmation of key funding for its Sunflower Hill at Irby Ranch affordable housing community with 31 units just outside downtown Pleasanton.

The Alameda County Board of Supervisors approved just under $7.2 million in maximum funding from Measure A1 affordable housing bond funds for the project, a joint venture between Sunflower Hill and Satellite Affordable Housing Associates.

The agencies have filed their application with the state for tax-credit financing to support the estimated $19 million construction project. They hope to break ground on the Pleasanton project by the end of the year.