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Habitat CFC Announces Appointment of New CEO
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Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County’s Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Cathy Collins to the position of Chief Executive Officer.
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Dr. Collins’ extraordinary career has included leading innovative nonprofit organizations dedicated to addressing social justice and transformative social change. She was the first Executive Director for the Racial & Cultural Diversity Commission for the City of Little Rock (AR) and was at the helm of Positive Atmosphere Reaches Kids (LR, AR) and the Eleanor Roosevelt Center (Hyde Park, NY).
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Most recently, Dr. Collins served as the Executive Director for Habitat for Humanity of Greater Newburgh (NY). Over the seven years she led the organization, she initiated vision and organizational change to expand the number of families served by increasing construction from an average of 4-6 homes a year to 7-10. During her time as Executive Director, the affiliate completed 50 homes and finished over 35 A Brush With Kindness home repairs. Dr. Collins promoted a targeted neighborhood focus for greater impact and developed an entire Habitat street in Newburgh. She created organizational-wide systems resulting in increased revenue and volunteers recruited. She helped grow the affiliate’s ReStore profits, resulting in a decision to relocate to a larger store where revenue increased by over $250,000 in the first year. These efforts led to the organization being named an “Affiliate of Distinction” by Habitat International in 2017.
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Dr. Collins earned her doctorate in Human and Organizational Systems from Fielding Graduate University and did her undergraduate work at the University of Southern California where she was co-valedictorian in Public Administration. Her experience in the most distressed urban area in New York State, the Delta region of Arkansas, the hollows of Appalachia as well as her studies in India on a Fulbright Hays Teacher Fellowship and living in Senegal, West Africa as a Rotary Graduate Fellow sensitized her to the realities and impact of substandard housing and inspired her commitment to its elimination. In addition to affordable housing, Dr. Collins possesses a wealth of knowledge in organizational development, race relations and community building. Her life has been dedicated to creating inclusive communities and being a bridge of understanding across lines of difference.
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“Cathy is an amazing individual with so much knowledge of Habitat for Humanity and a track record of creating positive organizational change as well as transforming communities,” said Rev. Eric Fjeldal, Habitat CFC Board Chair. “We are truly delighted that she has agreed to join us in our mission to build communities and improve lives by eliminating substandard housing and creating affordable homeownership possibilities for families in Fairfield County.”
Dr. Collins has two daughters in college and is relocating to the area. In her spare time, she enjoys tennis, water aerobics, walking in nature, and exploring faith traditions and practices.
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Habitat CFC’s Board of Directors is grateful to Carolyn Vermont for her leadership as Interim CEO and also to the Search Committee that worked on finding the organization’s new CEO.
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Please join us in welcoming Cathy.