Our Board
At Lancaster/Northumberland Habitat for Humanity, our Board of Directors is made up of dedicated volunteers from diverse backgrounds who guide and support our mission. We are a working Board, meaning we operate without an Executive Director — all programs and operations are led or managed directly by Board members.
Executive Committee
Directors
Dick Bennett • Julia Cain • Edna Davenport • Jim Dullea • Bill Haglan • Jay Hughitt • Alex Mason • Barbara McCarthy • Mason Washington
How We Work
Our Board is organized into several Committees and Subcommittees; each focused on a specific area of our work. This structure allows us to efficiently oversee everything from construction and family support to fundraising and community engagement.
Operating Committees: Each Board member serves on one or more of these Committees, contributing their time and expertise to help us build homes and strengthen our community.
Budget and Finance• Construction • Faith Relations • Family Empowerment • Fundraising • Nominating Committee • Public Relations
Other Key Roles in Our Affiliate
In addition to our Board of Directors, several individuals take on important leadership roles to ensure our affiliate runs smoothly, remains compliant, and engages the community effectively.
Jim Dullea – Interfaith Service Council Coordinator
Dick Bennett – Volunteer Coordinator
Delinda Nelson – Habitat ReStore Manager
Jim Dullea – Safety Officer
Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) Compliance
Responsible for ensuring compliance with all HFHI guidelines, reporting, and best practices.
Alan Ross – Chair; Annemarie Walsh – Safeguarding Lead; Annemarie Walsh – Anti-Money Laundering Officer; Alison Sowers – Competent Person; Edna Davenport, Julia Cain, Barbara McCarthy & Khrystal Butler – Qualified Loan Originators (QLO)
Board News
July marked a time of transition for Lancaster/Northumberland Habitat for Humanity as we said farewell to three valued Board members: outgoing President Sandra Baxter and longtime Faith Relations Board members Rev. Donald Conaway and Chris Dameron.
Sandra served on our Board for six years, including two years as President. During her tenure, she helped strengthen our affiliate by recruiting talented and dedicated Board members, building strong relationships within the Habitat organization, expanding funding opportunities through grants, and helping secure properties for future Habitat homes.
Some of Sandra’s favorite Habitat memories include swinging a sledgehammer at the Richmond Women Build and celebrating with the family of our Build 22 home at their housewarming. We will remember her commitment to the belief that everyone deserves a safe place to live, along with her creativity, friendship, leadership, and willingness to roll up her sleeves and get the job done. Sandra was, quite simply, one “darn” hard worker!
Rev. Donald Conaway and Chris Dameron served our Board for many years, building important relationships between Habitat and the faith community throughout our area. Their dedication to Habitat’s mission and to serving others was always evident and always heartfelt.
We will especially miss the thoughtful prayers they offered at our meetings and events – reminding us of our shared purpose and, most importantly, the families and communities we are here to serve.
Sandra, Donald, and Chris, thank you for your years of service, friendship, and dedication to Lancaster/Northumberland Habitat for Humanity. You have each left your mark on our affiliate, and we are better because you were part of it.
Welcoming Our New Board President, Al Ross
Following Sandra Baxter’s successful tenure as Board President, we are pleased to welcome Al Ross as President of Lancaster/Northumberland Habitat for Humanity for the 2026-27 term. Thanks to Sandra’s leadership and the dedication of our Board and volunteers, Al steps into his new role with a strong and effective organization – and a solid foundation on which to build.
Al also recognizes that the coming years will bring both significant challenges and exciting opportunities for our affiliate. Rising construction costs, changing financing requirements, and the growing need for affordable housing in Lancaster and Northumberland counties mean we must continue to evolve.
Building-material costs have increased dramatically over the past five years, significantly raising the cost of constructing our traditional 1,200-square-foot, three-bedroom Habitat home. In response, our affiliate is exploring new approaches to financing, including working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, rather than relying solely on the traditional model of holding partner-family mortgages in-house.
At the same time, the need for affordable housing in our community far exceeds our traditional pace of approximately one home per year. Under Al’s leadership, the affiliate is exploring modular construction as a way to increase production while maintaining the quality and affordability expected of a Habitat home. While costs can be comparable to traditional construction, modular construction has the potential to reduce the building timeline substantially in that a modular home can be delivered in two months rather than 12-15 months for stick-built construction.
Al also brings valuable knowledge of state funding opportunities that could provide financial support for an expanded building program. Taking advantage of these opportunities may require us to grow quickly—including adding professional staff, strengthening our fundraising capabilities, and potentially establishing a permanent office for the affiliate.
These are substantial changes for an organization that has long relied on the extraordinary commitment of an all-volunteer working Board. But Al understands both the challenges ahead and the tremendous opportunity they represent.
With Al’s leadership, the continued dedication of our Board and volunteers, and the generosity of our community, Lancaster/Northumberland Habitat is preparing for its next chapter. The need for affordable housing in our counties is simply too urgent for us to stand still.