Greenville business leaders help Habitat for Humanity

February 22, 2013

GREENVILLE, SC – February 22, 2013 – Ten area business leaders gathered this morning to help build a better community in Greenville with Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County.

The group launched construction of Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County’s newest project, a home in the Abigail Springs development of Taylors.  This particular house is the inaugural project of a new Habitat for Humanity campaign, called CEO Build – Framing the Future. The business leaders signed the wall studs for the new home during the ceremony.

This program calls on area business leaders to donate at least four hours of service work to the targeted Habitat home. 

Habitat of Greenville’s first CEO Build team includes: Dick Wilkerson (Michelin North America: former President and CEO and CEO Build Chairman); Mark Nantz (Bon Secours St. Francis Health System: President & CEO); Angela Webb (CertusBank: President); Bob Morris (Community Foundation of Greenville: President); Timothy Brett (Complete Public Relations: CEO); George Acker (Duke Energy: Regional Community/Government Affairs Director); Rick Davis (Elliott Davis: Managing Shareholder); Annette Allen (Fluor Corporation: Vice-President and General Manager, Greenville Office); Ben Haskew (Greenville Chamber of Commerce: President); Martin Livingston (Greenville County Redevelopment Authority: Executive Director); Russell Stall (Greenville Forward: Executive Director); Michael Riordan (Greenville Hospital System: President & CEO); Dr. Keith Miller (Greenville Technical College: President); Larry Jackson (Jackson Marketing Group: CEO); Don Erickson (Lockheed Martin: Greenville Site Lead); Steve Spinks (The Spinx Corporation: CEO); Ted Hendry (United Way of Greenville County: President); Steve Wetmore (Wal-Mart Distribution Center: Operations Manager); and Paul (Bo) Aughtry (Windsor Aughtry Company: President).

Dick Wilkerson kicked off the gathering speaking before the enthusiastic crowd that included the participating CEOs, their guests, the Habitat for Humanity Board, Habitat staff and its Quality Assurance team.  The CEO Build team showed an increasing sense of camaraderie.  Not only do these community leaders know each other from their business dealings, Habitat’s campaign brings them together periodically to create that important sense of team.

Monroe Free, the executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County, noted the team’s powerful commitment to Greenville while praising their philanthropic efforts.

Seeing these area leaders taking  time out of their hectic schedules to come here and swing a hammer for a few hours really affirms your faith in community and what we can achieve when we pull together for the greater good,  he said.

About Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County was chartered in 1985 and has provided home ownership to more than 300 low-income families. Through affordable home construction for low-income families, Habitat for Humanity of Greenville strives to eliminate poverty housing and the social and economic problems.