The Staunton-Augusta-Waynesboro Habitat for Humanity is in a rebuilding mode, and in this crucial time, it may have found the perfect person to lead the organization forward.
Brad Bryant has been named the executive director of the Staunton-based Habitat affiliate, and he’s banking on his reputation in the community and strong network to create a solid foundation for the future success of the nonprofit.
Bryant has an impeccable reputation in local education, nonprofit and building circles with a resume and accolades that admittedly make him blush a little.
“My net worth is my network,” Bryant told AFP. “That’s one of the things that I know I bring to the table, and it gives me very strong hope that this is going to work.”
Bryant officially began work on June 2. He is no stranger to the SAW Habitat organization. He previously served on the board of directors of the Staunton-based nonprofit, and most recently lent his time and expertise to its construction committee.
“I have always thought that as an organization, even when I was a board member, that we were underachieving, and coming off the heels of the victories I had with the school for the blitz, I thought this is the right spot for you to go next,” Bryant told AFP.
During the interview process, Bryant really felt that he could be the leader that the organization needed right now. After an extensive interview process, the board agreed.
“We came to an agreement, and I was like, I’m all in, let’s go.”
Among his achievements, he organized a community blitz with 10 local builders, Valley Career & Technical Center carpentry students and community support organizations who built nine homes in nine days in heavy rain from the remnants of Hurricane Helene. The effort was spearheaded by Bryant and was recently named the best community project/program by the Home Builders Association of Virginia.
In 2022, he was honored as Augusta County’s Teacher of the Year and was a recipient of the prestigious Dawbarn Education award presented by the Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge.
He also serves on the Board of Directors for the CFCBR and is the president of the Augusta Home Builders Association.
Focus on transparency, integrity
The Staunton-Augusta-Waynesboro Habitat for Humanity has faced a challenging 13 months after its former executive director, Lance Barton, resigned last May when the board raised issue with financial transactions that potentially linked the nonprofit to an alleged sexual assault incident.
In the aftermath of Barton’s resignation, the staff remained largely intact, but the board struggled to rebound, falling to as few as three members at its lowest point.
A local Habitat veteran, David Wenger, stepped in temporarily to help the organization get through the transition until it found its new director.
Wenger had previously served as executive director of Habitat in the Rockingham County and Harrisonburg area and stepped out of retirement to help the SAW affiliate get back on its feet.
He will continue to lend his expertise to the organization in the role of a consultant.
Bryant said that he felt Wenger coming in from the outside allowed the organization to bridge a gap, and his calm demeanor helped everyone refocus and heal.
Bryant is hoping a new focus on transparency and integrity will be the winning combination to move the organization forward.
“We’ve structured ourselves to have a bunch of checks and balances. We are going to find people that have the same integrity that will be needed to continue building trust so that the faces of this organization don’t come with skeletons,” Bryant said.
He wants to recruit strong board members that don’t just vote “yes” but ask questions especially when things come up that don’t fit into the core mission of the organization.
“I don’t think everything or anything in a board should always be unanimous,” he said. “I need somebody to be asking the questions that are hard questions, so we don’t fall into those mistakes again.”
Uncertainty in the nonprofit world
If rebuilding isn’t enough of a challenge, Bryant is also assuming the role of director at a time when nonprofits throughout the nation are facing a lot of uncertainty when it comes to federal funding.
The Trump administration and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development have slashed affordable housing initiatives that address homelessness and poverty. The Environmental Protection Agency is also working to claw back billions of dollars in federal grant money from nonprofits, including Habitat for Humanity, that addressed affordable housing, clean energy and climate solutions awarded by the previous administration.
In addition to the potential loss of federal grants, tariffs have also jeopardized housing projects by Habitat affiliates nationwide, with fluctuating costs for building materials.
Bryant said even his wife questioned his career change; he had already signed a letter of intent to return to his job at Valley Career & Technical Center. She wondered if now was the right time to take a non-profit job in the current climate.
“I said, this community can support this Habitat without that. I have strong ties with commercial businesses, and they’re not changing.”
He’s reviewed the budget for the SAW Habitat chapter, and “it did not rely heavily and it was not predicated on monies that we don’t have.”
The proceeds from the SAW Habitat ReStore on Greenville Avenue provide a backbone for funding for the nonprofit, Bryant said.
“When I look at the numbers on that, it’s a primary funding source that is consistent right now, which is good, because that’s not federal dollars, that’s not state dollars.”
Focus on moving forward
While Bryant admits there were some missteps in the past, he’s focusing his time and energy on moving forward.
He’s encouraged that people have reached out to him since he took over the role. One person told him: “I don’t think there’s a better person to do it than you.”
He’s not a crier, he said, but he welled up a little when they said that.
One thing is for certain, Bryant does not intend to fail in his new role.
“There are far too many amazing people in this community that know that a strong Habitat is a necessity to affordable homes,” Bryant said.
“I’m not one that’s willing to fail,” he said. “Anything worth a damn, you gotta work for.”
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Crystal Graham
