who we are

Who We Are

Fox Cities Habitat for Humanity is an innovative leader in diverse housing solutions by empowering families and inspiring community wide action to break the cycle of poverty.

Our Mission

Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope.

Our Vision

A world where everyone has a decent place to live.

Our Values

Everything we do is in stewardship of our community, our environment, and the time, talent, and treasures of our volunteers, staff, donors, and shoppers. As good stewards, we commit to upholding these values: Family, Stewardship, Excellence, Innovation, and Community.

  • Family. We show up as real, vulnerable, transparent human beings who speak from the heart, value each other’s contributions, and invest in each other’s growth. 
  • Stewardship. We are resourceful and efficient.  We strive to use everyone’s time, talents, and treasures effectively. We commit to constant process improvement. 
  • Excellence. We take pride in what we do and what we make possible. We are determined to focus on community needs and dedicated to meeting those needs with a sense of urgency. 
  • Innovation. We believe in a workplace where it is safe to try new things – where we can learn from things that don’t always go according to plan. We are continually a work-in-progress, always striving to do better.
  • Community. We approach our work with the intent of building relationships and growing partnerships that can be increasingly and mutually beneficial. We connect people to the right opportunities and services at the right times.     

Leadership

Board of Directors

  • Chairperson – Jackie Weber | Retired VP Member Engagement & Growth, Thrivent 
  • Vice-Chairperson – Dennis Episcopo | Senior Pastor, Appleton Alliance Church
  • Treasurer – Charlie Goff | General Partner, NEW Capital Management
  • Secretary – Mark Loper | Retired President/CEO, AZCO, Inc.

Board of Director Members

  • Luke Benrud | President, Dura-Fibre, LLC
  • Rayon Brown | Fox Valley Technical College Executive Director for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion/Chief Diversity Officer
  • Coreen Dicus-Johnson, J.D. | President/CEO, Network Health
  • Mike Kalinowski | Retired Manager of Supply Chain Analysis, Kimberly Clark
  • TJ Minnehan | President Bank of Kaukauna
  • Amy Sabourin | Vice President of Human Resource Services, J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.
  • Kathi Seifert | Owner & President, Katapult, LLC
  • Catherine Tierney | President/CEO, Community First Credit Union
  • Rob Underhill | Retired, Kimberly Clark
  • Dave Van Lieshout | Owner/Attorney, Van Lieshout Law Office
  • Mike Weller | CEO, Mike Weller & Associates, LLC

Staff

  • President/Chief Executive Officer: John Weyenberg
  • Chief Operating Officer: Amy Ristow
  • Director, Construction & Real Estate: Roger Roth
  • Director, Development: Amy McGowan
  • Director, Family Services: Kristi Clover
  • Director, Finance: Paul VanVreede
  • Director, Marketing & Communications: Eric Cernjar
  • Director, Volunteer Services: Jodi Isom

History of Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity was first imagined at Koinonia Farm in Americus, Georgia. Founded by farmer and biblical scholar Clarence Jordan in 1942, Koinonia Farm was committed to community and racial equity.

In 1973 at Koinonia Farm, Jordan, along with Millard and Linda Fuller, developed the concept of “partnership housing,” which emphasized people working side by side to build decent, affordable homes. From that idea, Habitat for Humanity International was founded in 1976. Today, Habitat affiliates work in more than 1,400 communities and 70 countries.

Fox Cities Habitat started serving families through new home construction in 1993. Since then, the organization has grown to support two Habitat for Humanity ReStore home improvement outlets, an Almost Home program, home rehab, home repair, Neighborhood Revitalization and Rock the Block programs.

Non-Proselytizing Policy

Habitat for Humanity International (“Habitat”) and its affiliated organizations will not proselytize, nor will Habitat work with entities or individuals who insist on proselytizing as part of their work with Habitat. This means that Habitat will not offer assistance on the expressed or implied condition that people must adhere to or convert to a particular faith or listen and respond to messaging designed to induce conversion to a particular faith.

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