Executive Team
Alan Ferguson, Sr.
Named President and CEO of Atlanta Habitat for Humanity in July 2022, Alan Ferguson brings extensive experience and expertise in affordable housing, neighborhood revitalization and community development. As Atlanta Habitat creates future-forward solutions to address Atlanta’s affordable housing availability, Alan’s vision to help educate Atlanta’s communities around economic mobility and income equality will help all Atlantans realize their ability to create stability and growth within their own households.
Alan led teams focused on building vibrant communities and increasing economic prosperity for all Atlantans during his 8 years with Invest Atlanta. This involved bringing together policy, strategy, and innovative tools to create and deliver housing development, and revitalization opportunities in the City of Atlanta. At The American Opportunity Foundation, Inc., he led affordable workforce housing acquisition and investment activities. During Alan’s considerable tenure in several positions with Fannie Mae, he held a key role at Fannie Mae’s American Communities Fund, in which he led debt and equity investments for neighborhood housing community revitalization investments for Mid-Atlantic and Southeast.
Throughout his career, his dedication to and success in the areas of housing, commercial real estate, business finance, public finance, and equity investments furthered his broad experience in community and economic development leadership.
Alan holds a Bachelor of Arts in Banking and Finance from Morehouse College, an MBA from the Goizueta Business School at Emory University, and a Master of Science in Real Estate from J. Mack Robinson School of Business at Georgia State University. Alan pursued doctoral studies in Real Estate Finance at Georgia State University and is currently completing his dissertation requirements for Ph.D. in Entrepreneurship and Innovation at The University of the Cumberlands.
Born in Brooklyn, NY and reared in South DeKalb, Alan currently resides in Edgewood with Janelle, his wife of 27 years. Alan and Janelle are enjoying becoming empty nesters, with daughter Alayna and son Alan pursuing graduate and undergraduate studies, respectively at Georgia State University. In his spare time, Alan enjoys music, travel, movies, fitness, and still holds dreams of becoming a BBQ pitmaster.
Rosalyn Merrick
As Executive Vice President & COO, Merrick sets goals, implements strategic plans, and maintains fiscal oversight of seven groups within the organization: Family Services, Construction, Real Estate, Site Planning and Design, Staff Development, Warehouse, and Restore. Her responsibilities also include oversight of safety, facilities, and information technology for the entire organization.
Rosalyn is a nonprofit executive and development professional with over 20 years of experience in leading strategy, growth and impact for nonprofits and educational organizations and implementing multi-million-dollar fundraising campaigns. Prior to her current role, Rosalyn also served as the Chief Development Officer for Atlanta Habitat.
Before joining Atlanta Habitat, Rosalyn was Director of Strategy and Stakeholder Engagement for the Georgia Community Foundation. She also served in fundraising leadership roles for Mount Vernon School, The Ron Clark Academy and United Way of Greater Atlanta. Rosalyn graduated magna cum laude from Georgia State University, with a BA in Journalism-Public Relations.
Rosalyn is an Atlanta native and currently resides in Tucker with her husband and two sons.
Joe Lessard
Joe Lessard, as the Vice President & Chief Financial Officer, Joe brings 24 years of diverse financial knowledge to Atlanta Habitat and is responsible for all aspects of the fiscal functions of the organization ranging from insurance, banking, mortgage services and accounting as well as annual budgeting and long-term strategic planning from a financial perspective. With extensive experience in financial analysis, strategic planning, and operational finance functions, he clearly recognizes finance’s role in partnering with the entire organization to successfully achieve the mission at Atlanta Habitat.
He joined Atlanta Habitat in October 2014 following a 12-year career at Reed Construction Data in Norcross, GA where he served as the senior director of financial planning and analysis for North America.
Joe began his career at Sikorsky Aircraft in Stratford, CT, holding several key finance positions in his eight-year tenure prior to relocating to Georgia in 1998. He holds a bachelor of science in finance from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA, and an MBA from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT. An avid sports enthusiast, Lessard has been active as a volunteer soccer coach in Forsyth County since 2005.
Candice Jordan
Candice Jordan, is the Chief Development Officer. In this role, she guides strategic communications and a team of resource development professionals to generate revenue and manage volunteers for Atlanta Habitat.
Most recently, Jordan served as the Associate Vice President for Development at Jumpstart where she managed a $17M portfolio and led strategy, stewardship and new funder solicitations across 15 states as well as Washington DC.
Jordan is an accomplished leader whose accolades include participating in LEAD Atlanta (Class of 2013), serving as a Diversity Fellow for the Association for Fundraising Professionals (Atlanta Chapter) and earning Atlanta Business Chronicle’s “40 Under 40” recognition.
Her dedication to service includes volunteer roles with the North Gwinnett School Foundation and a local chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She is also the current Board Chair for Hand, Heart and Soul Project, a grassroots organization dedicated to creating equitable access to quality education, nutrition and community resources.
James (Jim) Blackstone
Jim Blackstone, is the Vice President of Housing Development for Atlanta Habitat for Humanity. In this role, Blackstone leads the organization’s housing and land development, construction, and real estate, and cultivation of strategic partnership and investment opportunities for expanded affordable housing and neighborhood revitalization.
Blackstone has served Atlanta Habitat’s mission for over 20 years, primarily as Construction Director, leading and shaping the organization’s construction methods, team and contractors for new home builds, rehabs, and critical repairs. Blackstone has been instrumental in establishing Atlanta Habitat’s trademark high-quality, cost-effective, energy-efficient craftsman-style single-family homes. Under his leadership, the organization has grown a team of diversely talented, experienced housing development staff and skilled volunteers.
Before joining Atlanta Habitat, Blackstone was a Partner at RCD Construction. He also held leadership roles with Southeastern Advertising and Sales Systems, Epoch Group and Daetwyler Construction. Blackstone’s 40-year career spans construction management, land development and property management for large scale and complex projects in the residential, commercial, and affordable housing development sectors.
Photography by www.rickbanksphotography.com and Toshé Phillips