About Us

Chris is responsible for all aspects of the organization and works closely with the Board of Directors to make long-term, strategic decisions to fulfill Habitat’s vision of a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Chris is excited to expand Habitat’s impact on families in our community through record numbers of new home builds as well as serving current homeowners through the Critical Home Repair program. In his spare time, Chris enjoys running, hiking, and spending time with his family.

Jason Pyrah is the Director of Administration at Habitat. He is responsible for overseeing many of the affiliate’s daily activities, including family services, construction and volunteers, and the two ReStores. Jason has been on Habitat’s staff since 1997, gaining on-the-job experience through the years. He looks forward to the day when everyone has a simple, decent place to live.

Christy's role in the organization is to spread the organization's presence in the community while generating funding for Habitat programs to allow more families to afford homes. Christy loves being able to tell the stories of the families in Habitat’s program. By doing so, she hopes to show that Habitat doesn't just build homes, we build strong, confident, families that make their communities a better place. In Christy’s spare time, she enjoys hiking, reading and spending as much time at the beach with her daughter as possible.

Brooke's role in the organization is to assist applicants in the homeownership approval process and recruit volunteers. Brooke loves working with newly approved homeowners and seeing the hard work they put into the program pay off when they reach their settlement date. In her spare time, Brooke enjoys the beach and hiking.

Sam is a dedicated philanthropy professional with extensive experience in non-profits. Prior to joining Habitat for Humanity of Chester County as Chief Development Officer, she held roles at Institute on Aging in San Francisco, the Santa Fe Opera in New Mexico, and Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan. A graduate of Brown University with a degree in Biology, Sam combines her analytical background with a passion for community impact. Outside of work, Sam enjoys spending time with her daughter and rescue dog, and putting together a delicious cheese board

Tom Leonard is the Chief Operating Officer at Habitat for Humanity of Chester County. Tom's expertise is developing processes and infrastructure within the construction industry. He is excited to be part of the Habitat team of volunteers, homeowners and professionals and to be making a positive impact in any way possible.

Milby Thorington is a Site Supervisor at Habitat. His role in the organization is to teach the volunteers and future homeowners as well as manage the job site. He loves that he is able to be in service every day and is inspired by watching the communities transform. Milby is looking forward to experiencing the magic of creating more homes for families. In his spare time, Milby enjoys working with rescued animals, creating memories with loved ones, and adventures with his service dog Loki.

Liz's role in the organization is to build relationships with businesses and donors to help Habitat further its mission. Liz also writes corporate and community foundation grants to secure funding for Habitat's programs. Her role at Habitat exposes her to the best parts of people's characters on a daily basis. In her spare time, Liz enjoys yoga, reading fiction, listening to autobiographies. and spending time with her family and her dog, Shelby.

Stacy's role in the organization is to manage all phases of the ReStore program, develop partnerships with local donors, and share the purpose of the ReStore and how it impacts Habitat's mission. Stacy loves the many ways the ReStore impacts the community and is looking forward to expanding the ReStore program to all corners of Chester County. In her spare time, Stacy enjoys spending time with family, her dogs and a good book.

Cassie manages the retail facility and donor pick-ups, which serve Chester County at the Caln ReStore. Cassie has been in the retail and service industry for over 30 years. She is proud to work with a great group of staff and volunteers who are just as committed to the habitat mission as herself.  In her spare time, Cassie likes to visit distilleries and wineries with her husband, garden and read a good book on the porch.

Kiara oversees the daily operations at the Phoenixville ReStore, with almost a decade of experience in big-box retail. She is passionate about helping people attain basic, affordable housing that is accessible to all. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, paddleboarding, and sewing.

Kristin Podwojski’s role encompasses connecting Habitat to resources that help build healthy, strong and safe communities for all, by supporting fundraising and individual donors. Kristin believes that it takes a village to build a village, and is excited to bring her project management, development, events and fundraising experience to Habitat. In her free time, Kristin enjoys traveling the world with her husband and supporting the world-class dance dreams of her daughter.

As a former volunteer firefighter, I have always believed in giving back to my community and helping others. I love working with volunteers and new homeowners, and teaching new skills that they can use again. When I’m not at work, I enjoy spending time with my wife, our sons, and our rescue dog, as well as working on small projects around the house.

Erica Gaffney is proud to support the mission of Habitat for Humanity of Chester County by helping keep the organization running smoothly and connected to the community it serves. She works closely with the CEO and team to coordinate daily operations, communications, and key initiatives that support affordable housing across Chester County.

Lisa is the finance hub for the organization and brings 30+ years of consulting and finance experience. A self-professed nerd, she loves spreadsheets, Star Wars, kayaking, and cooking. Lisa is also a passionate advocate for strong public policy, especially affordable housing, healthcare, and public education, and brings her passion and experience to help with this work in Chester County.

The gratitude that has been shown to me by our families for providing a basic need has been humbling. I look forward to every day that I can make a difference in their lives. I enjoy boating on the Chesapeake Bay with my family and friends.