Congratulations to Carol Sullivan the new Chair of the Board of Directors of NW Metro Atlanta Habitat for Humanity. Carol works for Munich Re, U.S. Life as the manager of corporate marketing and communication. She is also responsible for the corporate citizenship program for the company.
Carol lives in Cobb County with her husband and 2 of their 3 sons. Their oldest son is married and also lives in Cobb. Carol’s hobbies are many including various creative crafts as well as sewing. She recently acquired an embroidery sewing machine, which she is having fun with. Her enjoys reading and is a self-declared Pinterest junkie!
In a recent interview Carol was asked about her involvement with our affiliate, what she enjoys most about working with us and where she sees our affiliate in 5 years. Here are some excerpts from that interview:
Interviewer: How did you get involved with Habitat?
Carol: I’ve been familiar with Habitat for Humanity for a long time. My first personal exposure came seven years ago when my company participated in its first build, a rehab. When I became responsible for our program, the affiliate we worked with was not able to accommodate our need to be part of a coalition. So, I looked around and found NW Metro Atlanta Habitat. They were so excited to include us in the “Methodist Coalition.” I’ve been active in our builds ever since.
Interviewer: What do you enjoy most about working with Habitat?
Carol: Everything! Really! I enjoy the camaraderie on the build. Because our company has been building with the same other groups for six years, every year is like a reunion with old friends. And our Gray Ghosts are such interesting people! They have great stories to tell at lunch. I love the sense of challenge and accomplishment when we do our work. I love the power tools! I enjoy the opportunity to learn new skills (and you can see I put them to use at home) and to put the ones I’ve learned before to good use. At the end of each day and at the end of the build I feel happy and proud that I am helping make a difference for a family and a community.
Interviewer: As the new Board Chair, where do you see our affiliate going in the next 5 years?
Carol: Our affiliate is poised to do amazing things. Through the dedication and good stewardship of the staff, we have come out of the financial crisis—which was also a crisis for many charitable organizations—with a sound financial footing. And that foundation will allow us to grow and expand in our community and in achieving our mission. So in five years…maybe we could be building 30-50 houses a year.
My greatest hope is that we will be much more visible so that we are at the top of the public’s mind as far as improving our community, making a difference in eliminating sub-standard housing, and making a difference to the futures of families who might otherwise be unable to escape a cycle of poverty.
Interviewer: What would you like to have the general public know about Habitat?
Carol: Having a Habitat house in your neighborhood is a GOOD thing! Over the years I’ve seen how the new house in the neighborhood inspires others to start fixing up their homes. We leave the neighborhood improved not just by our work, but by the work we inspire others to do.
A Habitat house is not a freebie. Our homeowners pay a mortgage, taxes and insurance just like more affluent homeowners, they pay closing costs, and they put in 200 hours of sweat equity. These first time homeowners will contribute a significant amount in taxes and other economic activity to our community as a result of their homeownership.
Habitat maintains a long-lasting relationship with the families it accepts as homeowners and has minimum standards for their behavior. Construction of a Habitat house is not an invitation to illicit activity, crime, unrest, laziness, or any of the negatives I have heard over the years. Quite the opposite. Families are carefully chosen. They are responsible, industrious and great members of the community who simply need a hand up.
I am so honored to be the chairman of the board this year, our 30th anniversary. I’m looking forward to working with David, the staff and the rest of the board to start mapping out a path for the next 30 years.
I recently saw a quote that really struck me, to the effect that just as some people inherit wealth, others inherit poverty. I believe it is our responsibility to help those who inherited poverty to achieve their dreams. These families have fewer options, but their dreams are familiar…a safe and stable place to live and raise their families, education and a chance to pass along something better to their children.
NW Metro Atlanta Habitat is blessed to have such a dynamic individual as Carol Sullivan leading our organization. Under her leadership we will continue to make a positive impact on our homeowner families and the community we serve.