Habitat for Humanity Wellington County has announced the hiring of its first executive director, Diane Nelson.
She accepted the position in the fall of 2007 and has since been working with the various committees of the group to achieve its goals.
Nelson has a strong history in leading new, not-for-profit agencies from infancy to maturity. Early in her career she worked with a community group in Inuvik, North West Territories to establish a Canadian Mental Health Branch. From there she went to the Ontario Division of the Canadian Mental Health Association providing evaluation, program development and governance consulting services to seven northern CMHA branches.
For the last 12 years, she again was the first executive director for a community group providing housing and support to pregnant teens.
Nelson has always worked in the social service field with housing and homelessness as a primary concern for the clients served. When the opportunity arose to work with Habitat for Humanity. it was a perfect fit.
“I have been amazed and humbled by what HFHWC volunteers and dedicated board and committee members have accomplished throughout the county,” she said. “Since 2000, Habitat for Humanity Wellington County has built nine homes in Mount Forest, Elora, Fergus, Rockwood, and Guelph.
“My family has lived in the East Wellington area for the past 13 years, and I would like to see Erin or Hillsburgh added to the list of addresses of Habitat homes.
“There is so much potential support for Habitat among business, political and faith leaders in this community, she said. “I look forward to dramatic increases in the number of homes we will build for families who need not a gift, but a hand up.”
