Jan. 24 - Habitat for Humanity names new CEO

“We’re planning to build a record number of homes this year,” McClish said. “Our historic average has been seven a year. This year we’ll build 20. Seventeen will be in Allen County and three in Huntington County.

“The need for affordable homeownership has never been greater. In fact, we opened our application process early this year and were flooded with thousands of applications from families looking for an affordable mortgage. This is what we’ll be fighting for in the years to come, advocating for families in Greater Fort Wayne, building relationships with community partners and increasing affordable housing stock.

“One of our greatest multipliers is partnering with other nonprofits in the community. Our partnership with Vincent Village is a great example of this and has grown this past season as we kicked off two more homes that will house the families they serve.” He added, “this opportunity has supported Vincent Village in what they do best, guiding families experiencing the crisis of homelessness, by doing what we do best, building affordable homes.”

Board chairperson Adrienne Wampole said in an announcement that McClish “has made a transformational impact during his time at Habitat and we have no doubt he will continue this momentum as our new CEO. He’s a faithful leader with a passion for the Habitat staff, partner families and the community.”

McClish attended Purdue University to study engineering, but changed majors and earned a degree in general studies from Indiana University-Purdue University at Fort Wayne. He and his wife, Molly, and their three children lived in Colorado for 10 years where he managed and was a shareholder of a guest ranch.

Habitat, the nonprofit homebuilder unites community donors, volunteers and qualified Habitat families to build homes and communities. It serves Allen, Huntington and Wells counties and has provided 267 families an opportunity to build wealth through affordable home ownership in the region since 1986.