Incoming Chief Executive Officer Everett McElveen.
We are thrilled to share that Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties has named Everett McElveen as our next Chief Executive Officer. Everett will join us on June 1, succeeding outgoing CEO Becky Lucas, who has served the organization and its mission for 25 years.
Everett brings more than 30 years of experience in affordable housing and human services to the role. He comes to Habitat from his previous position as CEO of Community Alternatives for Supportive Abodes (CASA) in Raleigh, North Carolina. There, he expanded the organization’s affordable housing portfolio to more than 700 units and led their $27 million King’s Ridge development, the region’s first supportive housing community of its kind.
A Cornell University graduate, Everett has also completed executive programs at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business and Harvard Business School.
Everett was selected following a competitive search led by a dedicated Search Committee of current and former board members, assisted by a consulting firm recommended by fellow Habitat affiliates. The committee conducted an extensive review of 75 candidates from the local community and across the country before arriving at a decision.
“His impressive resume demonstrated the exact qualifications and experience we were seeking, but it was our personal conversations that truly set him apart,” said Sandy Stilwell Youngquist, a fellow board member and search committee member. “Everett is not only highly qualified, but also warm and personable, qualities that will resonate beautifully with our dedicated staff and the communities we serve.”
Everett’s career in housing and human services began as a case manager at a men’s shelter in South Carolina, where he worked alongside disabled, elderly and homeless individuals. This early experience has shaped a career that has spanned multiple states and a wide range of mission-driven organizations.
For over 45 years, Habitat for Humanity has partnered with income-qualified families to help them build, improve and retain affordable places to call home. As a leading affordable housing builder and developer in Lee and Hendry counties, Habitat has repaired more than 400 homes, counseled over 3,000 families toward their housing and financial goals, and built more than 1,950 affordable homes. This coming year, the organization will proudly mark a landmark milestone with the completion of its 2,000th home.
“Change has always been part of our journey, and it’s what allows us to grow and better serve our community,” said Chief Operating Officer Karen Rodriguez. “We are grateful to Becky for helping elevate our organization, for the partnerships built, and for the care and mentorship shown to everyone at Habitat. With strong leadership and a dedicated team that truly lives our core values, we are ready to welcome Everett McElveen as our new CEO, embrace what’s ahead, and continue doing what we do best: providing affordable homeownership to families in need.”
To ensure a smooth transition, Everett and Becky will share an overlap period, with opportunities for the broader community to connect with Everett in the months ahead.
“Serving Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties has been one of the greatest honors of my life,” said Becky. “I am incredibly proud of what we have built together, and I am confident that Everett’s leadership, experience, and heart for this work will carry Habitat into a strong and meaningful next chapter.”
