The board of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga Area has appointed Donna C. Williams as the executive director of the organization.
“Donna brings a wide variety of experience in marketing, sales, planning, and real estate to her new role with Habitat," said Linda Mines, president of the board of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga Area. “She has a passion for urban revitalization and for helping people become homeowners, and the energy and enthusiasm Habitat needs to become a greater force for change in our community. We are looking forward to working with her, Habitat’s volunteers, staff and the community in the days and months ahead to build a brighter future for more of our neighbors in need of decent and affordable homes.”
Since returning to her native Chattanooga in 2001, Ms. Williams has served as a strategy, sales and marketing consultant to several teams consisting of private and public partners for the redevelopment of some of Chattanooga’s historically under-served neighborhoods. Her experience with private, local and federal funds specifically targeted for use by low-to-moderate income homeowners has led to numerous national assignments, group trainings and speaking engagements in the areas of Neighborhood Revitalization and Community Engagement.
Under her Live Urban brand and as a realtor with the downtown office of Keller Williams Realty, Ms. Williams has helped build momentum in under-served neighborhoods by working with hundreds of homebuyers, most of whom received public or private down payment assistance to help them achieve their dream of home ownership.
Prior to her return home, Ms. Williams held sales and marketing positions with Apple, technology divisions Simon & Schuster/Viacom, Elemental Interactive/Gray Advertising and World African Network.
Her community involvement has included service on the board of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga Area, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s Chancellor’s Roundtable, board of the Chattanooga Girl’s Leadership Academy, board of Cornerstone, Inc., board of the Trust for Public Land, commissioner with the Historic Zoning Commission, Commissioner with the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport, and Advisory Council member with Atlanta Habitat for Humanity.