Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Indiana Announces Appointment of Jennifer Parham as Director of Development and Community Engagement

Dear Friends, Partners, and Supporters,

It is with great excitement that I share an important addition to our leadership team at Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Indiana, as our mission and momentum have never been stronger.

Please join me in welcoming Jennifer Parham, our new Director of Development and Community Engagement.

A visionary leader known for aligning people, purpose, and performance, she has a proven track record of building mission-driven organizations, developing strategic partnerships, and expanding access to homeownership opportunities.

Most recently, Jennifer served as the 2024 President of the Indiana Association of REALTORS®, where she helped guide statewide strategy, policy, and professional standards. She is also the founder of Lighthouse Realty and the Lighthouse School of Real Estate, where she has led initiatives focused on equity, education, and community advancement.

Her passion for affordable housing, financial literacy, and community collaboration aligns perfectly with our mission, and her leadership will be instrumental as we continue to grow our impact across Lake County.

This announcement comes at a pivotal moment for our organization.
In 2026, Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Indiana proudly celebrates 40 years of building homes, communities, and hope across Lake County. For four decades, we have partnered with families to create strength, stability, and self-reliance through affordable homeownership and critical home repair.

Today, that mission is more urgent than ever.

With rising housing costs and limited access to affordable financing, too many hard-working families are being left behind. That’s why we are expanding our work through innovative solutions, including the Affordable Housing Tax Credit (AHTC) program.

The AHTC program offers a powerful opportunity for individuals and businesses to invest directly in affordable housing, receive significant state tax credits, and help Habitat build more homes and serve more families. Through this initiative, we are raising critical funding to accelerate construction, expand homeownership opportunities, and deepen our community impact.

Jennifer will play a key leadership role in advancing this effort by building relationships with donors, financial advisors, and corporate partners to maximize the impact of the AHTC program and other strategic initiatives.

As we look ahead to our next chapter and the next 40 years, we are focused on scaling our impact, strengthening partnerships, and ensuring that more families across Northwest Indiana have a place to call home.

Please join me in welcoming Jennifer to the Habitat family. We are excited about the energy, experience, and heart she brings to this work and about what we will accomplish together.

With gratitude,

Jim Drader
Executive Director
Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Indiana

Connect with Jennifer:
dirdev@nwihabitat.org
219-923-7265
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-parham-36257727/

www.nwihabitat.org

Be part of the next 40 years of impact.
To learn more about the Affordable Housing Tax Credit program or how you can get involved, please contact our team today.

Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Indiana Announces Appointment of James Drader as Executive Director

Gary, IN – February 16, 2026 — Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Indiana announces that appointment of James (Jim) Drader to the position of Executive Director. Mr. Drader has over twenty years of nonprofit management experience, underscored by a commitment to collaborative community development and housing advocacy.

“Jim exemplifies servant leadership and strategic vision," stated Chris Johnson, Board President. "His extensive experience and dedication to building inclusive communities make him exceptionally qualified to lead our organization forward.”

Mr. Drader holds a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics from Purdue University and a Master of Public Administration from Indiana Wesleyan University.

Jim has held senior leadership roles in both banking and nonprofit sectors, most recently serving as Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of New River Valley in Christiansburg, Virginia. During his tenure, Drader expanded the critical home repair initiatives for aging populations, increased donor engagement, and enhanced ReStore operations. Prior to this, he was the founder and CEO of New Creations Men’s Center in Valparaiso, Indiana, from June 2008 to August 2020, where he established nonprofit services for men experiencing homelessness, collaborated with numerous congregations and agencies, and initiated transitional housing programs.

As an active participant in local governance and housing policy, Drader serves on the Oversight Committee for Habitat for Humanity International and was honored with the 2013 Northwest Indiana Innovator of the Year Award.

In his role as Executive Director, Jim will oversee strategic planning, operational management, project development, community relations and financial oversight. His leadership will beinstrumental in advancing HFHNWI’s mission to bring people together to build homes, strengthen communities, and instill hope.

“I am privileged to join Northwest Indiana Habitat for Humanity during a period of growth and potential,” said Drader. “This organization has a remarkable tradition of fostering change through safe and affordable housing. I look forward to working collaboratively with staff, volunteers, and partner families to enhance our impact throughout Lake County Indiana.

Since 1986, Northwest Indiana Habitat for Humanity has not only constructed homes but also forged enduring partnerships, cultivated neighborhood pride, and created avenues toward stability for families in need. Under Drader’s leadership, the organization looks forward to furthering its long-term vision - a world where everyone has a decent place to live.

For updates and additional information about Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Indiana, please visit www.nwihabitat.org.

Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Indiana Announces Leadership Transition and Reaffirms Continued Commitment to Its Mission

Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Indiana today announced that Executive Director Dawn Michaels, who has served in the role for the past eight years, will be stepping down effective December 31, 2025. Michaels leaves with more than a decade of dedicated service, visionary leadership, and organizational advancement, leaving a legacy that will influence the mission for years to come.

During Michaels’ tenure, Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Indiana experienced transformational growth and measurable community impact. The organization expanded the development of essential workforce housing across Lake County—with notable progress in Lake Station—completed one Veteran home per year and continued to grow the ReStore into a thriving resource that supports ongoing mission work. Under her direction, partnerships deepened, programs strengthened, and the organization’s ability to serve families in need of safe, affordable housing continued to rise.

“Dawn has made an incredible impact on our organization and the communities we serve,” said Chris Johnson, Board President “Through her leadership and commitment to our mission, we are stronger, more resilient, and better positioned for the future. We are deeply grateful for the past decade of service and impact.”

Reflecting on her time with the organization, Michaels shared:

“It has been such a joy to serve Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Indiana and work alongside such a passionate board, staff, volunteers, and community. I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together and confident that the organization’s brightest days are still ahead.”

The Board of Directors has initiated a leadership transition plan to ensure continuity and sustained success. Information regarding the Executive Director position can be found on the organization’s website: https://www.nwihabitat.org/who-we-are/careers.html

Michaels will work closely with the Board and leadership team during the transition to support a seamless handover of responsibilities.

Ask Us How You Can Get a Tax Credit for Your Donation!

We are so excited to share with you that donors to Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Indiana are eligible for a tax credit equal to half of their donations!

Donors need to contact us to get the tax credit form and more information on how you can participate.

Direct your tax dollars to Lake County, Indiana by helping give your neighbors a hand-up and not a hand-out through Habitat for Humanity's homeownership program!

Call Amanda to get all the information! 219-923-7265 ext. 1304

May 26, 2025

Healthy Habits to Becoming a Strong Communicator

Motivational speaker Paul J. Meyer once said, “Communication—the human connection—is the key to personal and career success.” Much of life, achievement and human relationships is based almost entirely on connecting and communicating efficiently with those around you. Whether you’re in the business world or the nonprofit realm, communication is a critical component of moving things forward and accomplishing your goals.

However, more often than not, the complex art of teaching and learning communication falls by the wayside. This can result in challenging relationships across every avenue of life. So, what can be done? Fortunately, there are a few ways and practices to grow in your communication skills. Here are healthy habits you can try to become a strong communicator.

Practice active listening.

Have you ever had a conversation with someone, and the whole time you listen, you find yourself thinking about what you want to say next? When it comes to listening, this is often the case. Typically, we only half-listen when someone tells us something. As they talk, we either think about what we want to say next, or we think about a different topic altogether. If you want to be a strong communicator, you must practice active listening. Active listening means sitting up straight, leaning forward and truly focusing on what the other person says. Breathe in their words. If necessary, repeat their words to yourself in your mind to really let them sink in. The better you listen to what the other person has to say, the better conversation you can have.

Watch body language.

Approximately 90% of communication is nonverbal. What does this mean for your communication style? It means when someone tells you their thoughts, you should also pay attention to their body language. Body language includes such things as facial expression, arms, hands, eyes and even tone of voice. It often says how the person is truly feeling, rather than just what they say. Additionally, you can also improve your own communication by focusing on your body language. Sit up straight to show confidence, make direct eye contact to show intention in the conversation and maintain a polite and focused facial expression to show the recipient you care about them.

Ask questions.

When you ask questions, you show the other person you are truly listening, and you genuinely care about their thoughts on the topic. If you’re not sure about something they mention, repeat your own interpretation of it, then ask if you got it right. Request clarification and ask questions about their thoughts; don’t simply share your own. For instance, “What are your goals with that action?” or “What do you prefer?” are simple, guiding questions which can move the conversation along and demonstrate your interest in the dialogue.

Allow for silence.

You know the feeling. One person says something, the other replies and then both of you stand there in awkward silence. More often than not, we really don’t like silence. However, it can be an extremely valuable part of communication. Silence can provide time for both parties to really focus on what the other said, soak in the words and formulate a thoughtful response. Occasional lapses in conversation are completely natural, so don’t worry if there are a few here or there. Natural pauses are as integral to a conversation as the words themselves.

Agree with feelings, not facts.

If you’re talking with someone you strongly disagree with, it can be incredibly challenging to keep the conversation from going hostile quickly. So, practice this mantra: agree with feelings, not facts. You don’t have to agree with another person’s opinion in order to have a valuable conversation. But, you can agree with how they feel, empathize and show them you hear their needs. For instance, “You sound hurt. That must be challenging,” is a way to empathize with the other’s opinion without validating their opinions.

Without communication, many of our relationships would struggle. And just like any skill, good communication can be learned, practiced and even perfected. Try out these healthy habits in your everyday conversations in order to become a strong communicator.

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