Home Works of America announces executive leadership transition

The board of directors for Home Works of America, South Carolina’s largest nonprofit focused on charitable home repair, has announced a transition of executive leadership, effective Sept. 16.

Madelyn Smith, the organization’s operations director since 2018, is succeeding Executive Director Joe Huggins, who is joining the pastoral staff at Shandon Baptist Church in Columbia after seven years at the helm of Home Works. During Huggins’ and Smith’s tenure together, nearly 1,000 homes across the state have been repaired at no cost to vulnerable aging homeowners.

“Joe has brought new systems and organization to Home Works and substantially increased our capacity for charitable home repair, and we are grateful that he’ll continue to serve as a volunteer executive adviser,” said Marty Brown, chairman of Home Works’ board. “We’re looking forward to Madelyn’s leadership, especially given the phenomenal job she has done in multiplying our volunteer workforce and cultivating a greater awareness of Home Works’ mission.”

Smith first began serving Home Works as a volunteer, then as a partner at a Midlands-area church and later as Home Works’ full-time volunteer coordinator.

“She knows all areas of the organization, not only in the Midlands, but in all of our major service regions in South Carolina,” Huggins said. “Most importantly, she drives and lives our culture as a Christ-centered ministry to those who need it most. I am excited for Home Works as she takes the reins as executive director.”

Smith earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Elon University and previously served in church ministry as director of family ministries and as assistant director at a camp and conference center. She is a member of the Coalition for Home Repair and has completed a Certified Aging in Place designation from the National Association of Home Builders. Smith currently serves on the board for the Central South Carolina Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

“It is an honor to step into a new role at an organization I care about deeply,” Smith said. “I’m grateful to have witnessed community impact up close for six years and counting, and I look forward to continuing this work alongside a wonderful team as we serve some of the most vulnerable in our state through repairs.”

Home Works of America was established in 1996 by founding director Hank Chardos. In the 28 years since, 63,216 volunteers have repaired more than 3,936 homes across South Carolina and in Fayetteville, N.C. primarily. In addition to individual donations, the nonprofit organization is supported by many of South Carolina’s leading corporations and charitable foundations.