Two Dozen Executives Unite To Build Habitat Homes And Advocate For Affordable Housing

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. (November 8, 2024) – In an unprecedented collaborative effort, 24 of Central Florida's top CEOs and business leaders came together for Habitat for Humanity’s CEO Build 2024 in partnership with Seminole County, Florida. On Monday, November 4, 2024, the executives teamed up to build a home for two local families and raise awareness of the affordable housing crisis in Central Florida.

 

Participating CEO Build organizations and leadership included:

ABC of Central Florida: Michele Daugherty - CEO

AdventHealth Altamonte: Jeffrey Villanueva - CEO

AdventHealth Altamonte: Aimee Keller - COO

Comprehensive Energy Services: Mike Morgan - Director of Operations

D.A Levesque Corp: Daniel Levesque, CGC, CCC, SCC - CEO

Equinox Development: Ryan Phelps - Vice President of Development

HCA Florida Lake Monroe Hospital: John Gerhold - CEO

Hudson's Furniture: Joshua Hudson - CEO

Hudson's Furniture: Adam Hudson - President

Infrastructure Site Development: Timothy Ciurzynski - CEO

Morton Construction Company: Josh Morton - President

Orlando Credit Union: Suzanne Weinstein - CEO

Orlando Health: Shawn C. Molsberger - SVP, Northeast Region and President, South Seminole Hospital

Orlando Health: Philip Koovakada - SVP, Southcentral Region, and President, Health Central Hospital

Orlando Orthopedic Center: Kevin Joyce - CEO

Phaxis: Gemma Filliben - VP, Client Success

Rhodes+Brito Architects: Ruffin Rhodes - Principal

Rhodes+Brito Architects: Maximiano Brito - Principal

Seminole County Property Appraiser's Office: David Johnson

Seminole County Tax Collector: J.R. Kroll

Tangible Developments: Nicolette Stockwell - Managing Partner

TECO Peoples Gas: Luke Buzard - VP of Regulatory & External Affairs

Total Solutions Group: Tom Margio - CFO

WorkForce Partners: Celinette Jimenez - Managing Partner

 

 

The CEO Build executives spent the morning painting the new homes, caulking windows and doors and planting new landscaping. View photos from CEO Build 2024 here and watch a recap video of the event here.

 

“We are so grateful to these dedicated leaders who have committed to addressing the affordable housing crisis in Central Florida,” said Penny Seater, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Seminole-Apopka. “For our two hard-working families, that means they are one-step closer to realizing the American dream of homeownership.”

 

Torrie, a single mother of a 15-year-old daughter and 18-year-old son who resides in a sub-par apartment complex in a high-crime area and Wilnise, a single mother of a six-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter who live in a two-bedroom apartment are each future homebuyers of the CEO Built homes in Altamonte Springs, Florida. Torrie works two jobs to provide for her family, as a legal assistant for the past 12 years and as a part-time drug screener at the Orlando International Airport. A graduate of culinary school, Wilnise is lead cook at a Central Florida senior living facility.

 

Habitat homeowner families must be actively engaged in building their own home and/or other homeowners’ homes by investing up to 400 “sweat equity” hours, which also includes their participation in classes that encourage their financial stability. Those families then become eligible to purchase their home at a much-reduced cost.

 

Habitat for Humanity Seminole-Apopka has been building brighter futures and better communities in Central Florida for over 33 years. Through financial support, business partnerships, and volunteer resources, Habitat builds and develops affordable homes that are sold to low-to-moderate income families at no profit and are financed with a modest mortgage.  Homebuyers qualify through financial education, volunteerism and by helping to build their home as well as those of other, future homebuyers. Visit https://www.habitatseminoleapopka.org/ to learn more.