About

Ruben J. Menashe, Inc. has been active in Portland real estate development and construction for more than 55 years. Since its inception in 1962, the Ruben J. Menashe, Inc. name has been synonymous with quality and integrity. Through the years, attention to detail and concern for a quality product has produced hundreds of satisfied Ruben J. Menashe, Inc. customers. Ruben J. Menashe, Inc. is a solid company with experience and reputation earned through years of commitment to residential construction.

Principals

RUBEN J. MENASHE was born and raised in Portland. He attended Grant High School and Willamette University where he graduated with a B. A. degree in Economics. Ruben was active in student affairs and sports at both schools. At Grant, he was not only the Student Body President, but also played football on two State Championship teams and earned All City and All State awards. Ruben was also Student Body President at Willamette and earned All Conference honors while playing football, as well as a number of other honors and awards.

Upon graduating from Willamette University, Ruben served in the U.S. Air Force as an Intelligence Officer. After returning to the United States from a tour in Japan, Ruben and a close college friend formed a construction company in Gilroy, California. It was a very profitable and educational 2½ years, but Ruben missed Portland, his family, friends, the greenery and the rain. He returned in 1962 to start his own development company in Portland: Ruben J. Menashe, Inc. The Corporation has earned a reputation for building quality residential communities and has been continuously active in single family, multi-family, land and investment property development for over 55 years.

While Ruben is still actively involved with the company, he is also quite active in the community, serving many local charitable organizations. After over 55 years in the development business it’s refreshing to know that Ruben is still enthusiastic about Portland, it’s people and his community!

Jack R. Menashe was also born and raised in Portland, where he attended Parkrose High School. After his graduation from Parkrose, he moved to Claremont, California where he received a B.A. in Economics from Pomona College.

After college, Jack was hired by the Robert Randall Company (now the Randall Group) a Portland-based real estate development firm. Jack was immediately transferred back to Southern California where he gained valuable experience as a property manager for some of the company’s larger properties.

Like his father before him, Jack wanted to return to Portland, his hometown. During his management of a 448 unit property in Lancaster, California, Ruben asked if Jack would like to be a part of the development of a new apartment community. That was the impetus Jack needed, and soon he and Ruben were working closely on many new single-family and multi-family developments in the Portland area.

With 30 years of experience in the real estate development business, Jack is the company’s President, overseeing the Corporation's daily operations; including all construction and property management activities.

Additional Team Members

Elaine Baker — Metro Area Asset Manager
Elaine was born in Alameda, California and graduated from Fremont High School. She attended Ohlone College in Fremont Ca., where she also began her property management career managing single family homes. She later moved to Pleasanton to further her Real Estate career. While in Pleasanton, along with Real Estate, she started her own business, “Gift Baskets By Elaine” featuring gourmet food and wine. Elaine relocated to Portland in 1999 and began working once again in residential property management in the SW and Beaverton areas. In September of 2002 Elaine decided to move across the river closer to her family and was hired by Ruben J Menashe, Inc. to be the Resident Manager of the Stonehurst Apartments.

Elaine was promoted to Metro Area Asset Manager in June of 2017.

Vera Foss — Office Manager
Office Manager, VERA FOSS was born in North Dakota, and moved to Washington to attend Walla Walla College. After two years, she moved to Portland where she worked as a secretary for eight years before moving to Alaska. Fourteen years later, she returned to Portland, and has been the Office Manager for Ruben J. Menashe, Inc. since 1988.

Vera is an integral component to the smooth daily operations of Ruben J. Menashe, Inc.

Christopher Socha — New Construction Customer Service and Property Maintenance
CHRIS was born in Newark, New York (40 miles East of Rochester, NY) and moved to Oklahoma after High School at the age of 19 to work first as a deckhand in the oil fields with his brother, and later worked as a pipeline worker. He also worked nightshift for the Enid News. Chris relocated to Portland in 1988 and was hired by Ruben J. Menashe Inc. that same year.

Chris’s almost 30 years of experience with the company makes him a Jack of all-trades, and important part of the operation.