Mudgett brings passion for housing, community to Merrill

Jessica Mudgett started as Executive Director of the Housing Authority of Merrill on Aug. 26, 2025, stepping into a position that had been vacant since July.
“I just really had a passion for making sure people were housed,” Mudgett said, who came to Merrill from Medford, where she resides with her family.
Mudgett’s journey into affordable housing began after 20 years in banking. She returned to college as a single mom working full time to earn her business management degree from Rasmussen College.
“I said I want to do more,” Mudgett said.
She started her housing career at the Medford Housing Authority and then noticed a critical gap in Taylor County services.

“I started getting phone calls and people were talking about not having a place to sleep at night,” Mudgett said. “I realized we had no services in Taylor County for that.”
That realization sparked action. Mudgett founded Taylor County Supportive Housing, a nonprofit focused on serving individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
“I started calling community members together,” Mudgett said. “We started a nonprofit. I started applying for grant funding. I said we are gonna have services in Taylor County.”
In 2022, they successfully opened The Taylor House, the county’s first homeless shelter, in a former nursing home that provided the layout they needed.
“Just seeing the impact that made and being involved in that project, I feel very fulfilled when I can be involved in a project like that and helping people in that way,” Mudgett said.
She said she thrives in an environment where she is working directly with clients.
“I realized how important it is for me to work with clients and see the impact of the work that we do,” Mudgett said. “I am a people person. I’m front and center. I’m the person that’s gonna answer all the questions.”
When the Merrill position opened, a former colleague who had worked at a Merrill homeless shelter reached out about the opportunity.
“It just did really align with what I’ve done in the past and where my passions lie,” Mudgett said.
She interviewed with the entire Board of Directors to get the position. The Board of Directors includes Chair Ian Cohrs from Edward Jones, Vice Chair Jeff Schneider from Sierra Pacific, Jim Fukken, Sue Norenberg, and outgoing member Jeremy Cordova, whose term ends Nov. 1. A new Board member will be appointed by the City.
“Our Board is wonderful,” Mudgett said. “They just really are great, really supportive, and really hands-on.”
The Housing Authority of Merrill manages three properties: Park Place, Stonebridge, and Jenny Towers. The organization recently closed on the sale of the last Woodbine properties and completed the Bluejay Building program.
“It’s hard the way that we are regulated,” Mudgett said, explaining that strict HUD compliance requirements for handicap accessibility and inspections made maintaining some older properties impractical.
Mudgett sees potential for growth through new funding sources, including a state program that pools Community Development Block Grant funds for converting vacant buildings into affordable housing.
“I think there’s opportunities that we can grow here in Merrill,” Mudgett said. “It’s just seeking out what that might look like here.”
She’s quick to note that major changes will take time as she learns the organization, but she is figuring things out.
The organization currently employs six staff members, with plans to add one more property manager soon. Three work in administration and three in maintenance.
“It was very important to make sure that we were all involved in that decision-making process because we do want to have a good, positive work environment,” Mudgett said.
Reconnecting with residents stands as an immediate priority. Mudgett recently scheduled “meet the Director” sessions at all three buildings in early October, offering donuts and coffee.
“They haven’t had the Director on site having those meetings since COVID,” Mudgett said. “It’s important. And when the Board said it was important to them, I was thrilled, because it’s important to me.”
She plans regular staff presence at the buildings beyond the monthly meetings.
“That’s my hope, is to have more of a presence at the buildings than there has been in the last few years,” Mudgett said. “I think that’s what the tenants need as well.”
Mudgett also intends to engage with the Merrill community outside her role at the Housing Authority. She served as a chamber ambassador in Medford for years and as president of the Taylor County Supportive Housing board until her move.
“My goal is to get involved in the chamber and get involved in this community,” Mudgett said. “I definitely want to make those connections and get involved here.”
She plans to attend the chamber’s Business After Hours events as one way to do that.
“I really want to focus on the future,” Mudgett said. “I certainly want to lead and move forward in a positive way.”