This is Your Habitat

Gary Elder is new to the Habitat Board for 2017. He is an attorney in the practice of Elder and Watkins, P.C., with offices in Farmville and Charlotte Court House. Gary is originally from Charlotte County and is a 2002 graduate of Hampden-Sydney College in Farmville. After living in Birmingham, Alabama and Washington, D.C., he decided to return to Southside Virginia in 2010.

Gary is a member of numerous professional and civic organizations including the Virginia State Bar, Virginia State Bar Ethics Disciplinary Committee, District of Columbia Bar, Madisonville Presbyterian Church, Charlotte County Friends of the Library, Keysville Ruritan Club, and the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities.

Cheryl Gee is a new member, active with the Charlotte Committee. She loves the concept that Habitat provides in assisting the community with affordable housing and is very excited about the “A Brush with Kindness” program. Cheryl has been in the banking field for close to thirty years, the last eight being with Benchmark Community Bank. She hopes to continue to make a difference in Charlotte and other counties with home improvements and housing opportunities.

Fred McGee, now retired, has over 30 years of experience as a Senior Health Career Executive with expertise in strategic planning, business development, public affairs, and health care real estate master planning. He has served on the Board of Directors for Dane County Wisconsin United Way He was most recently president of Nelson County Virginia Habitat for Humanity 
Mr. McGee served as Vice President of Planning for Meriter Health Services from 1993 to 2009. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Appalachian State University in 1976 and a Masters of Health Care Administration from George Washington University in 1981.
 

Pauline Stokes is new to the Habitat Board for 2017. She has been employed with the Virginia Cooperative Extension Family Nutrition Program for 12 years. As the SNAP_ED Agent she serves the counties of Prince Edward, Amelia, Appomattox, Buckingham, Charlotte, Cumberland, Lunenburg, Nottoway, Amherst, Campbell, and Lynchburg City. She worked in the past as a Nutrition Assistant with the Virginia Department of Health (WIC) in Farmville and as the Food Service Manager at the Weyanoke Retirement Home in Farmville. Pauline is the founder of The Balm of Gilead Nonprofit Faith-Based Community Missions Inc. and also serves in many other community organizations and nonprofits.

Her formal education includes a B.S. in Business Administration from Saint Paul’s College, a Certificate in Religious studies from Virginia Union University, an Associate of Applied Science in Human Services from Southside Community College, and a Certificate as a Home Care Provider.

Pauline is married with three children and six grandchildren. In her spare time, she enjoys singing, reading, gardening, and working on small projects.

Dan Weese has been involved with Habitat for Humanity in one capacity or another since 2007. He currently serves as Chairperson of the Family Services Committee. Dan is a professor of Psychology at Hampden-Sydney College. He earned his Ph.D. from Indiana University in 1983 and an A.B. from Washington University in 1972. Dr. Weese’s areas of expertise and research are in Behavioral Neuroscience, Cognitive Neuroscience, Drugs and Behavior and Methods of Psychological Research.

Jayne Johnson has served as the Executive Director of the Farmville Area Habitat for Humanity since 2004. Since then, the local Habitat has more than doubled the number of Habitat homes built each year, implemented homeownership education training for all Habitat partner families, opened a successful Habitat ReStore, and initiated critical strategic partnerships. FAHFH has expanded operations to include Prince Edward County and parts of Buckingham, Cumberland and Charlotte Counties. In addition, Jayne currently serves as a member of Habitat for Humanity International’s US Council, Affiliate Enhancement Committee. Jayne has been an active member of Habitat for Humanity Virginia, most recently serving as Treasurer of the Habitat for Humanity Virginia Board of Directors, and previously serving as Secretary and VP over her eight years of HFHVA board service.

Before signing on with Habitat for Humanity, Jayne’s professional career was in public relations and public affairs consulting. She holds a B.S. degree in Social Sciences and Humanities from Lewis Clark State College and has completed graduate courses in education at the University of Idaho and has earned a Certificate in Fundraising from The Fundraising School at the Lily Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University.

Dennis joined the Habitat team in April of 2019.  He brings a vast experience of construction knowledge and volunteer coordination.  Most recently, Dennis was the Home Repair Coordinator/Safety Officer for the Appalachia Service Project for seven years.  That organization works on over 400 homes a year with the aid of over 11,000 volunteers in order to serve low-income families in need of housing solutions in the central Appalachia region.  As a licensed general contractor, Dennis previously operated his own construction business for fifteen years.  Prior to that, he contracted as a Construction Analyst/Inspector with the Planning Department of Laramie County, Wyoming.  Dennis also served as the senior pastor of a church in Thermopolis, Wyoming for six years.  

Dennis holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science/History from Montana State University-Northern and a Master of Arts in Biblical Literature from the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary.  He also holds a variety of construction related certifications.  

Sam Rabon, the Community Outreach Director, is not new to the Farmville Area Habitat for Humanity team, but he has taken on a different role as the Community Outreach Director. Previously Sam worked with the Habitat ReStore by driving the truck and helping to collect all donated items. Prior to coming to Habitat, Sam was the Children's and Youth Pastor at Heritage Baptist Church in Farmville for 9 years, during which time he developed a strong relationship with Habitat. Sam felt led by God to step down from the ministry to serve the community in a different way. In his new position, he looks forward to hearing and sharing the stories of partner families and learning how their life is being positively impacted. Sam says his goal is to "love God and love my neighbor in whatever way I can." His vision at Habitat is to help connect more people so Habitat can build more in order to serve more.

Sam has a B.A. in Sociology from Furman University in Greenville, SC and a Masters of Divinity in Student Ministry from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, NC.

Mary grew up in Lynchburg, Virginia before coming to Longwood University in Farmville, where she received her B.A. in Liberal Studies with a Concentration in Children's Literature. She comes with a wealth of community engagement across a variety of sectors: Resident Assistant while at Longwood where she helped students navigate campus life, teacher at Fuqua Lower School, leading children's and youth ministry in the local church, and associate at the fast-paced customer-oriented Enterprise Rentals. Speaking to her excitement for her new role, "It is an honor to work in a Christian organization where I can be the hands and feet of Christ in such practical ways."

Dan Dwyer joined the Piedmont Habitat team in November 2019. Dan grew up in Farmville and graduated from James Madison University earning a B.S. in Economics. After a lengthy career managing Farmville Printing, he worked at Centra Southside Community Hospital as Special Projects Administrator before coming to Habitat.  He was elected to Farmville Town Council as a Councilman-at-Large in 2014 and chairs the Town Property committee. Dan has been a member of the Farmville Rotary Club since 1984 and is currently serving on the Southside YMCA Board of Directors. 
 

Russell Dove joined the staff of Piedmont Habitat in early 2020 in the role of Community Outreach.  His position specifically involves organizing Piedmont Habitat’s goal to expand full services into Nottoway County and to further the work in Nelson County.  He has a long and outstanding record of service in the local community, having served with the Longwood Police and most recently as the Director of Public Safety and Chief of Police for Central Virginia Community College.  In addition, he served as both a Board Member and Chair of the Prince Edward County Public School Board for more than a decade.  During his time of School Board service and his prior public service through law enforcement and volunteer emergency medical services, he has earned a long list of accolades for outstanding performance and meritorious service. His education includes a BS in Sociology from Longwood University, among other degrees and certificates.  Russel has also been a member of the Rotary Club of Farmville since 2004.