Leadership, Board, & Advisory
Meet the executive leaders, board of directors, and advisory council members who guide our operations, governance, community ties, and mission fulfillment.
Leadership
Rosalyn Merrick
Rosalyn Merrick is the President and CEO for Atlanta Habitat for Humanity. In this role, Merrick leads the organization’s strategic direction to accomplish its mission of empowering generations of working families by providing quality, affordable homes in safe, vibrant neighborhoods with opportunities to thrive.
Merrick, who joined the organization as chief development officer in November 2020, successfully generated diverse, record-breaking funds that helped the organization emerge from the pandemic with ample resources to ramp up production and expand its programs.
In January 2023, she was promoted to executive vice president and chief operations officer, a multifaceted role that empowered her to lead the organization’s extensive daily operations including oversight of eight departments — Family Services, IT, ReStore, Construction, Real Estate, Site Planning & Design, Warehouse and Facilities.
A native Atlantan and magna cum laude graduate of Georgia State University, Merrick’s 24-year career includes previous leadership roles at Georgia Community Foundation, Mount Vernon School, The Ron Clark Academy and United Way of Greater Atlanta.
Rosalyn currently resides in Tucker with her husband and two sons.
Joe Lessard
Joe Lessard, is the Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer. In this role Joe is responsible for all fiscal aspects of the organization ranging from insurance, banking, mortgage services and accounting as well as annual budgeting and long-term strategic planning from a financial perspective.
In July 2024, Joe was promoted to Executive Vice President and CFO adding the business operations and program verticals to his financial responsibilities including leadership and oversight of 4 additional departments – Homeowner Services, HR, Legal and IT to his responsibilities
Lessard joined Atlanta Habitat in October 2014, his 34-year career includes financial leadership positions at Reed Construction Data, Verizon and Sikorsky Aircraft. He holds a bachelor of Science in finance from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA, and an MBA from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT. Born in Springfield MA. he has been in Georgia since 1998.
Candice Jordan
Candice Jordan, is the Chief Development Officer. In this role, she guides strategic communications and a team of resource development professionals to generate revenue and manage volunteers for Atlanta Habitat.
Most recently, Jordan served as the Associate Vice President for Development at Jumpstart where she managed a $17M portfolio and led strategy, stewardship and new funder solicitations across 15 states as well as Washington DC.
Jordan is an accomplished leader whose accolades include participating in LEAD Atlanta (Class of 2013), serving as a Diversity Fellow for the Association for Fundraising Professionals (Atlanta Chapter) and earning Atlanta Business Chronicle’s “40 Under 40” recognition.
Her dedication to service includes volunteer roles with the North Gwinnett School Foundation and a local chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She is also the current Board Chair for Hand, Heart and Soul Project, a grassroots organization dedicated to creating equitable access to quality education, nutrition and community resources.
James (Jim) Blackstone
Jim Blackstone, is the Vice President of Housing Development for Atlanta Habitat for Humanity. In this role, Blackstone leads the organization’s housing and land development, construction, and real estate, and cultivation of strategic partnership and investment opportunities for expanded affordable housing and neighborhood revitalization.
Blackstone has served Atlanta Habitat’s mission for over 20 years, primarily as Construction Director, leading and shaping the organization’s construction methods, team and contractors for new home builds, rehabs, and critical repairs. Blackstone has been instrumental in establishing Atlanta Habitat’s trademark high-quality, cost-effective, energy-efficient craftsman-style single-family homes. Under his leadership, the organization has grown a team of diversely talented, experienced housing development staff and skilled volunteers.
Before joining Atlanta Habitat, Blackstone was a Partner at RCD Construction. He also held leadership roles with Southeastern Advertising and Sales Systems, Epoch Group and Daetwyler Construction. Blackstone’s 40-year career spans construction management, land development and property management for large scale and complex projects in the residential, commercial, and affordable housing development sectors.
Board of Directors
Rosalyn Merrick, President and CEO
Atlanta Habitat for Humanity
John Goff, Chair
DaVinci Development Collaborative, LLC
Jeremy Silverman, Vice Chair and General Counsel
Alston & Bird LLP
Michael Hibbison, Secretary
The Home Depot
Cecilia Bailey
Regions Bank
Krystal Barnett
Cox Communications, Inc.
Althea Broughton
Arnold Golden Gregory, LLP
Stuart Bruening
JE Dunn Construction Company
Kimberlyn Daniel
Interior Architects
Catherine Dixon
G. H. Smart & Company, LLC
Keisha Duck
Ryan Companies
Robert Golden
3M
Christopher Goode
Goode Van Slyke Architecture
Isabelle Helms
Cox Automotive
Dewayne King
Fifth Third Bank
Andy Konieczka
Georgia-Pacific
Lillie Louis-Fils
Bank of America
Amber Murray
Jamestown, L.P.
R. Kirk Rich
Avison Young
Greg Schlicht
Novelis
Courtney Showell, Sr.
PwC
Matt Sparks
Delta Air Lines
Advisory Council
Isabelle Helms, Chair
Cox Automotive
Brantley Barrow
Community Volunteer
Susan Bixler
Bixler Consulting Group
Jorge de la Cova
Community Volunteer
William M. Earnest
Community Volunteer
Cindy Ethridge
Warren Averett LLC
Adrienne Findley
Community Volunteer
Andy Kantor
Community Volunteer
Catie Mannarino
Delta Air Lines
Kara Miller
Community Volunteer
Kirk Ossewaarde
Community Volunteer
Linda Parrish
Community Volunteer
Jeff Pierce
Berkeley Capital Partners
Mark Pighini
Deloitte US
Barbara Reid
Non-Profit Accounting Consultant
Kristina Kopf Thomas
Eversheds Sutherland LLP
Ken Thrasher
Bennett Thrasher LLP
Alison Drane Waterson
Wood Partners
