Local executives will help build Habitat home

A dozen local executives will pick up construction tools to help build a Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity house Friday, June 5.

Fox Valley Habitat's part of a Chicagoland Leadership Build Day will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at 911 W. Galena Blvd in Aurora.

The inaugural event is part of "Building On!" a coordinated building blitz at Fox Valley Habitat and five other Chicago-area Habitat affiliates. In addition to Fox Valley, other affiliates participating are McHenry, Lake, Northern Fox, DuPage and Windy City.

The Rev. Jeff Barrett is Fox Valley Habitat executive director and pastor, Genesis Community Church in Montgomery. He said, "Chicago-area Habitat affiliates, working together in a regional effort, will coordinate a building blitz during this summer. The purpose is to engage new and existing corporate leaders and volunteers in Habitat for Humanity's mission.

"This effort will help Habitat to double the number of families served and to increase the number of volunteers engaged across Chicagoland."

After the kickoff Leadership Build Day, executives and their employees will build Habitat homes during the summer. The building blitz will conclude Nov. 7 with home dedications to enable partner families to share the holidays in their Habitat homes.

The blitz also is designed to raise funds for Habitat's growth and raise awareness for Habitat and corporate partners.

The Aurora Leadership Build Day will open with networking and refreshments at 8:30 a.m. At 9 a.m., Zach Martel, board chairman, and Barrett will welcome executives. At 9:30 a.m., Oswego's Al Green, Habitat construction supervisor, will review safety procedures and explain scheduled work and Yorkville's Ron Kelso, grant writer, will offer a prayer.

At 9:45 a.m., executives will autograph house studs. From 10 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., executives will don face masks and hard hats and use staple guns to install insulation on the home's ground floor and basement walls.

At a 12:15 p.m. closing program, Barrett will thank executives and Latricia Stone of Aurora, future 911 W. Galena Blvd. homeowner, will offer brief remarks. She will be accompanied by her sons Yinka and Samuel.

Executives will sign and release balloons to conclude the event.

Executives scheduled to participate are Steve Steirwalt, general manager, Meadowvale Dairy; Brian Pogi, CEO and Aaron Pogi, secretary-treasurer, Youngren's Inc.; Brian Dumais, regional vice president, Rachel Denney, regional operations manager and David Senft, regional administration manager, Nissan; Robyn Proctor, marketing director, Flexicorp; Russ Kathrein, president and CEO, Alexander Lumber Co.; Bill Donnell, Aurora alderman, fourth ward; Rob Costello, principal, Torch Architecture; Barry Finn, CEO, Rush-Copley Medical Center; James Eccher, CEO/president, Old Second National Bank; Rev. Gary Olson, senior pastor, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church; Steve Bauserman, owner, Illinois Industrial Lumber; and Nick Wallace, principal, 3 Roof Bids Inc.

For more information about Habitat, call (630) 859-3333, email info@foxvalleyhabitat.org, or visit FoxValleyHabitat.org.