Welcome New AmeriCorps Members!

We are thrilled to welcome two new AmeriCorps Members: Alina Stevenson and Jessie Livingston!

Alina holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from Gustavus Adolphus College in Saint Peter, Minnesota.  She recently completed a year of service through the AmeriCorps Vista program with Habitat for Humanity in Virginia, Minnesota.  Through that position, Alina gained experience working with homeowners, volunteers and donors.  Alina also works part-time as a gymnastics coach.

Jessie recently completed her studies at Oakton Community College in Des Plaines, Illinois.  She brings a variety of experience to this position, including working as a preschool teacher, life guard and swim instructor and serving as a volunteer with both Habitat for Humanity and a dog shelter.

This is the sixth year that Rebuilding Together has been awarded an AmeriCorps grant through the Corporation for National and Community Service.  The goal of the AmeriCorps CapacityCorps program is to build the capacity of grassroots Rebuilding Together programs so they can be more sustainable, effective, and efficient in helping homeowners in need.  Welcome to the team Alina and Jessie!

Meet our New Program Manager!

We are excited to announce that Brent Suski has joined the staff at Rebuilding Together Twin Cities as our Program Manager!  As you may know, Brent recently completed a year of service with us through the AmeriCorps program as a Project Coordinator.  In that position, he demonstrated a passion for serving homeowners in need, as well as strong project management, volunteer coordination and design skills.  He is a great permanent addition to our team!  Welcome Brent!

Sears and Craftsman Make a Difference for Military Family

We were thrilled to partner with Craftsman, Sears Heroes at Home program and Greiner Construction last month to help a military family in need.  Joy is a single mother of two boys; and her oldest son is currently completing his training for military service. In the past, it has been a struggle for Joy to hold on to her house, but upon first glance you would not know it. She is extremely resourceful and has taken on many of her household repairs herself, including dry walling her entire garage. Joy is very supportive of her son’s choice to join the military and hopes to keep the house as a place for him to return.

On July 26th, we partnered with volunteers from Greiner Construction to repair Joy’s home.  Volunteers replaced flooring, painted, installed drywall and made other repairs.  This project was part of the Craftsman Make a Difference Tour, which traveled across the country this summer restoring the homes of veterans in need.  The Make a Difference Truck provided tools for this project and the Sears Heroes at Home program provided financial support.  Thank you to everyone who came together to help Joy and her family!

Welcome New Rebuilding Together President and CEO Charley Shimanski

The Board of Directors of Rebuilding Together, Inc. recently announced that after an extensive nationwide search, it has elected Charles S. Shimanski as president and chief executive officer (CEO).

As president and CEO, Charley will have responsibility for the overall management of Rebuilding Together. He will be responsible for developing, establishing and implementing strategic goals for the organization moving forward and will be the key liaison to the 187 affiliates across the nation. He also will serve as the primary spokesperson and national fundraiser for Rebuilding Together.

Charley joins Rebuilding Together from the American Red Cross, where he has served since 2008. He worked at Red Cross national headquarters since 2010, most recently as a senior vice president of Development and as senior vice president of Disaster Services. Prior to that, Charley was CEO of the Red Cross regional office in Denver. During his tenure at the Red Cross, Charley created and implemented fundraising campaigns, led major disaster relief programs and worked closely with affiliate organizations. Prior to the Red Cross, he was president and CEO of the Colorado Nonprofit Association from 2004-2008. From 1993-2004, Charley served as the executive director of The American Alpine Club in Colorado.

Charley is also the author of several guidebooks on nonprofit excellence and individual giving. He served on the National Advisory Council for the Department of Homeland Security/FEMA and on the National Advisory Council for the National Preparedness Leadership Initiative at Harvard University in 2011. He received his B.A. in Economics from the University of Wisconsin.

Charley’s strong experience and knowledge of nonprofits, fundraising, affiliate relationships, and disaster recovery will help guide Rebuilding Together to best serve our vision of a safe and healthy home for every person.  We are thrilled to have him lead our organization.  Welcome Charley!