The Rotary Club of Christiansburg-Blacksburg awarded its 2019 Professional Leadership Award to Shelley Fortier, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of the New River Valley, Habitat NRV.
The award recognizes individuals who have gone beyond the boundaries of conventional professional success by demonstrating exceptional leadership in the development and implementation of programs beneficial to the community. The award has been made annually since 2000 to individuals in diverse professions including technology, education, medicine, finance, and public safety.
Ms. Fortier has been involved with Habitat NRV since she volunteered with the newly opened ReStore in 2007. She joined the Board of Directors in 2012 and became the executive director in 2013, the nonprofit said in an announcement of the award.
Ms. Fortier has helped Habitat NRV move into the 21st century, said the announcement, by becoming an entrepreneurial social enterprise, increasing staff and operating income, which has in turn increased the organization’s sustainability, productivity, and opportunity for volunteers and employees.
Habitat NRV has been selected as the nonprofit of the year for two consecutive years by the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce.
During Ms. Fortier’s tenure, ReStore sales have increased by 367 percent; Habitat NRV contributions have increased by nearly 400 percent; nine homes have been built; and over $2.4 million in grant funding has been received.
The proceeds from the ReStore were enough to fund two homes this year.
In addition, construction has recently begun on a seven-unit townhome project to house Montgomery County school teachers and Virginia Tech employees and a $636,000 HOME grant was recently received to construct a similar project in Floyd.
Ms. Fortier has worked with local municipalities for better collaboration between government and nonprofit efforts to leverage resources for better service to those in need.
She served as an advocate for Blacksburg families required to move their mobile homes from rental property slated for development of new apartments. Working with the Town of Blacksburg, she helped the families navigate the rules and logistics of relocating, particularly those living in older mobile homes that could not be safely moved.
Ms. Fortier is currently working with local churches and government officials to organize a forum on affordable housing issues and opportunities in the New River Valley scheduled for the fall.
In her words, “Group effort is what makes us a great place. We have hope. Combine that with action and commitment and we can all make a difference.”
In addition to her work with Habitat NRV, Ms. Fortier volunteers with Musica Viva, New River Land Trust, Blacksburg schools, and Destination Imagination and recently served as a mentor for the Community Foundation of the New River Valley’s Nonprofit Accelerator program.
She received a Game Changer Award, Top 40 Network, and Hall of Fame recognition from the Virginia Housing Alliance and has been named the Nonprofit Woman of the Year from the Montogmery County Chamber of Commerce.
Founded in 1923, the motto of the Rotary Club of Christiansburg-Blacksburg is “Service Above Self”. The Professional Leadership and Citizen of the Year Awards, the semi-annual blood screening event, youth development programs, and community service projects as well as participation in Rotary International programs like PolioPlus and Group Study Exchanges exemplify this motto.
