NEW ORLEANS – New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity (NOAHH) announced that executive director Jim Pate and director of operations Elizabeth Lisle will retire in August, 2019. Details were shared in a press release. Details were shared in a press release.
NOAHH’s Board of Directors has formed a selection committee to seek the next executive director and director of operations to lead the vibrant nonprofit, which has provided affordable home ownership opportunities for the working people of New Orleans since 1983.
Jim Pate and Elizabeth Lisle have served New Orleans Habitat as executive director and director of operations since 2000 and 2001, respectively.
“For the past 20 years, Jim and Elizabeth have provided NOAHH with dynamic and visionary leadership. To say we are grateful for their service is an understatement,” said Tom Exnicios, chairman of NOAHH’s board of directors. Exnicios confirmed that, over the coming months, Jim and Elizabeth will help ensure a smooth transition to new leadership which is expected to be completed this summer.
Jim Pate and Elizabeth Lisle were at the helm in 2005 when Hurricane Katrina created an unprecedented housing crisis throughout the New Orleans area. In its wake, NOAHH conceived and built the Musician’s Village to ensure New Orleans’ culture bearers could return to the city. During that time and since, NOAHH has recruited and deployed more than 180,000 volunteers who performed more than 3,600,000 volunteer service hours as they undertook more than 3,200 improvement and construction projects in Orleans, Jefferson and St. Bernard parishes.
“Under Jim’s leadership, NOAHH has consistently ranked in the top three-percent of Habitat for Humanity International’s 1,100 affiliates, based on the number of homeownership opportunities created as well as the meaningful impact the non-profit continues to have on our community,” explained Exnicios.
“We are honored to have had the opportunity to work with wonderful people and face great challenges to make decent, safe and affordable housing a matter of conscience and action. We are leaving with a sense of accomplishment and gratitude for these opportunities,” said Jim Pate.
“New Orleans Habitat is an incredible organization of partner families, staff, Board, volunteers and the donors, foundations and corporate partners who support our work,” said Elizabeth Lisle. She noted that she and Pate will remain in their 'beloved New Orleans' and be active in issues of affordable housing, homelessness and social justice.
