Susan Connolly, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Foley Incorporated, was elected president of the board of trustees of Raritan Valley Habitat for Humanity Inc. on Feb. 7, 2011 by action of the board at the annual meeting of the corporation for a term of one year, renewable for up to 3 years.
Having joined Foley Inc. in 1974, Connolly’s career has spanned the entire organization. Before being promoted to executive vice president and chief operating officer in 2000, she successfully managed several other areas of the company, such as credit, parts, financial services, general manager of Foley Lift Company, vice president of Foley Lift Company and Foley Power Systems.
Connolly has served as an officer of the Raritan Valley Habitat for Humanity Board since 2008, when she was elected to the position of board secretary. As president, she “shall preside at monthly meetings of the board and have responsibility for general and active management and control of the affairs of the corporation and to see that all orders and resolutions of the board are carried into effect.”
Connolly will work closely with the executive committee, which includes the vice president, secretary, treasurer and financial secretary. She also will work hand-in-hand with the executive director, Nancy Asbury, to set strategic direction and ensure that the organization meets its goals.
Raritan Valley Habitat for Humanity, (RVHFH), is an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International. The organization is committed to improving the lives of low-income families throughout Somerset and Hunterdon counties in New Jersey by helping them build and buy their own simple, decent homes. Habitat prides itself on “offering families a hand up, not a hand out.” Every partner family devotes at least 250 hours of “sweat equity” to help build their home or a neighbor’s home and secures a 0 percent mortgage provided by Habitat. Habitat for Humanity supports partner families with training in budgeting, home and landscape maintenance, and how to be a good neighbor. Currently, 159 people are now living in 40 homes built by RVHFH.
Raritan Valley Habitat for Humanity is in an important transition in the life of the organization. The organization will be completing its first development in Bridgewater, N.J. which will include nine houses. Additionally, for the first time, it will be building on multiple sites at once as it moves to Lambertville and Franklin Township later this year.
Executive Director Nancy Asbury stated, “Not only are we as an organization changing as we mature in our building and fund raising programs, but the world around us is changing. This year we will face challenges from the changing state of the economy and the state of affordable housing legislation here in New Jersey. Susan [Connolly] brings great experience from her work at Foley Inc. to help us meet the challenges these changes may bring.”
As the organization grows and evolves, it has been finding new ways to raise funds for housing projects. The group is currently preparing to host its “Habitat Derby Bash” at the Fiddler’s Elbow Country Club in Bedminster, N.J. on April 30. For $125 per person, the event promises “an evening of dinner, dancing and derby games.”
Foley Inc. employee Diane Fonseca also is active on the committee and helping to plan this fundraising event.
“I am very excited to be working with Susan,” Asbury said. “She has already stepped out as a strong leader and partner, helping me to set reasonable goals for managing the day-to-day work of the organization, and encouraging active involvement by the executive committee in managing change and risk in the work we do. In the year that I have been on staff, Susan has served as a mentor for me, giving out of her experience in managing an organization through many changes. I have found her counsel and encouragement key in helping me transition into my role as executive director.”
For more information, call 908/704-0016 or visit www.rvhabitat.org.
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