Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg Announces Retirement of CEO Janet V. Green
Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg announced today the retirement of its esteemed and longtime CEO, Janet V. Green, effective December 31, 2024.
Ms. Green has led the organization with passion, dedication and a commitment to community service for over 20 years, transforming countless lives and building hope in neighborhoods across the region.
Under Ms. Green’s leadership, and an operating budget that has blossomed from $250,000 when she started to the over $8 million it is today, Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg has built and repaired over 500 homes, including the first 3D printed Habitat home in the nation.
The opening and operation of three Habitat ReStores boosted its presence and impact in the community. Today the affiliate manages three ReStores in Newport News, Williamsburg and Yorktown, plus an online ReStore eStore. The Williamsburg location is ranked the third most profitable in the nation. Proceeds from each of the ReStores go directly to Habitat’s mission of building more homes in the community.
Habitat for Humanity builds affordable homes in partnership with local families. Homes are purchased with a zero-interest, 20- to 30-year mortgage by families with low to moderate incomes.
Community has driven Ms. Green throughout her entire career.
She majored in social work at Michigan State University, but an internship with a court program punched home a message that resonated, as she grew frustrated with the cyclical pattern of parents promising change only to repeat their mistakes due to the odds stacked against them.
“Work to change the laws,” a professor and mentor advised.
That thinking pushed Ms. Green to intern in Lansing for a congressman and, from there, she transitioned to campaign work.
“I was doing social work, but I was trying to help people on a grander scale,” she says. “I realized I could make a bigger difference working for politicians who believed in what I believe in.”
That mindset carried her to the White House as Operations Director for the Clinton Administration.
Ms. Green dedicated much of her service to Clinton’s signature AmeriCorps National Service Program, which brought together people from all backgrounds to solve community problems and improve lives, a bipartisan initiative that continues today with AmeriCorps servicemen and women working with Habitat under Ms. Green. She also served as Executive Director of the Democratic National Committee during President Clinton’s second term.
When Ms. Green was hired over 20 years ago at Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg, she was one of three employees along with founder Lorraine Austin and a construction supervisor.
“I saw it as getting back to my social work roots,” Ms. Green said. “I could make a difference and help people and still affect the larger policies that would impact people locally and at the state and federal levels.”
Founded in 1985, the affiliate built a total of 62 homes for families prior to Ms. Green’s arrival in 2003. In addition, Habitat started a repair program that has helped hundreds of owners age in their homes.
“Habitat’s motto is building homes, community and hope,” Ms. Green said. “I’m proud to say we’ve really done that. I’m honored to have served as CEO and deeply grateful for the support of our dedicated team, volunteers and partners who have made our mission possible. Together – because everything we do is together – we have made a lasting difference in the lives of many families. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for this remarkable organization.”
The Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg Board of Directors has formed a search committee to recruit Ms. Green’s successor. The committee is committed to conducting a thorough and inclusive search process to identify a leader who will build on the strong foundation established by Ms. Green and continue to advance the mission.
For more information about the search for a new CEO, go here.
