Habitat for Humanity’s Board of Directors is made up of talented and involved members of the Southern Idaho Community. They provide a back bone of talent, expertise, leadership, community connections and oversight to Habitat for Humanity. They are all have become involved with Habitat for different reasons – but share in our mission of providing simple decent and affordable housing in partnership with those in need.
Board Officers
Rosemary Barta Fornshell – 2012 President, Family Selection Committee Member
Rosemary is a retired CSI Professor and a long time volunteer for Habitat for Humanity of the Magic Valley. She rejoined the board after a brief hiatus. Rosemary brings skills in management, finance, employee relations and a true love of the Habitat Mission. We are lucky to have her serving on the board again.
Donna Suhr – Vice President
Donna Suhr is the retired area Director of South Central Head Start and was also previously a Realtor and co–owner of Canyonside Realty, and served as the Director of Volunteers for the area Department of Health and Welfare. Currently Donna is a volunteer with the area CASA (court appointed special advocate) program, where she represents the best interests of abused and neglected children in court. This combination of experiences has given Donna an understanding of the difficulties low-income families face in securing safe, affordable housing and also the importance of developing multiple funding sources for non-profit organizations. Donna has been involved with Habitat for Humanity of the Magic Valley for over 12 years and has brought a wealth of experience and insight into how to run a social service organization to Habitat.
Why Does Donna Help Build It With Habitat?
Habitat is fun! Participating is securing homes for such appreciative families is a very heartwarming way to help build our community!
Jerry Marcatonio – Treasurer
Jerry brings a strong knowledge of accounting to help the board of directors understand financials and to guide them in the day to day decisions that face the board. Jerry is a long time volunteer and helped in the early years of the affiliate with our book keeping. He is a great new asset to our growing board.
Dana Stewart – Secretary
Dana Stewart came to the Twin Falls community with her family in 2007 and is a Manager for D.L. Evans Bank. As an active community member, Dana enjoys volunteering her time and being involved in local events like Paint Magic, Christmas for Kids, Relay for Life and assisting with local food drives.
As a new Habitat Board Member, Dana hopes to be able to be a positive addition to Habitat and the ReStore. She has chosen to get further involved as our new secretary.
Board Members
Dorthy Dallman – Fundraising Committee
Kathy Stewart-Williams – Past Secretary
Bob Forster – Past President
Bob Forster is a retired Professor of Plant Pathology for the University of Idaho. In his twenty-six years as a professor, he helped people solve their problems with plant diseases and was responsible for research and extension services. Bob has been retired since 2002 and during that time he has increased his already active volunteer-ism in the community. He volunteers with the Mustard Seed Community Assistance Office, is a member of Kiwanis, and is active in his Church.
Bob Forster joined the Habitat Board in 2004 and during that time has helped build several houses, recruited more Board members and volunteers, helped with special events like Rim2Rim and provided leadership and guidance as we have grown.
Why Does Bob Help Build It With Habitat?
As you give of yourself, you receive. We are so blessed to live in Idaho and in this country. Volunteering is the rent we pay for the space we take up on earth. I am also motivated by Mathew 25:40 in which Jesus Christ says, “In as much as you have done it unto the less fortunate, you have done it unto me.” Habitat for Humanity is a great way to carry out Christ’s mission.
Bobbi Pyle-Media Relations
Bobbi Pyle is in charge of membership at the Twin Falls Chamber of Commerce. She is well connected with the Magic Valley community and acts as an ambassador for Habitat’s message. Before joining the Habitat board in 2010 Bobbi had been involved with Habitat for 8 years recruiting volunteers, organizing ribbon cuttings at house dedications and being an enthusiastic Habitat booster in the community. Bobbi has brought an infectious enthusiasm to our work at Habitat and continues to be a great advocate for the work we do.
Why Does Bobbi Help Build It With Habitat?
Habitat for Humanity changes peoples lives; it gives them worth and they in return go out and give back to their community and other families…what better way than to see an organization go full circle?
Joe Young – ReStore Committee
Joe Young came to Habitat as part of the Thrivent Builds partnership and Habitat has been vastly better off as a result. Joe is the liaison between Habitat and the wonderful Lutheran volunteers that have made the ReStore possible as well as been the source of the great Thrivent Builds grants that have allowed Habitat in partnership with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and local Lutheran Churches build several homes in the Magic Valley. Joe also works tirelessly at the ReStore himself.
LeRoy Hayes
Advisory Non-Voting Members of the Board
The following volunteers serve as an advisory panel to the board, but are not actually members of the board themselves. Many of them are past board members that continue to share their experience in a different role.
Carol Robertson – Grant Writer and Grant Administrator – former board member 1993 – 2008
Carol Robertson is a retired Librarian and Administrator at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Agriculture and Law Libraries, where she taught legal research and government documents. She also has taught courses for legal secretaries at local community college and written and administered grants from The U.S. Dept. of Education, The USDA, The Council on Library Resources, The Center for Technical Assistance (former EEC), and The Cargill Corporation. She has degrees in math, political science, library science, and business administration and is a Consultant on agricultural and law database design, as well as the author of several law and agriculture reference books and articles.
Carol has also been a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity of the Magic Valley for over 17 years! Most recently Carol has written and been the administrator of a grant from the Neighborhood Stabilization Program for over $700,000.00 to Habitat which was used to buy 5 foreclosed homes in 2010 for 5 new Habitat Families.
Why Does Carol Help Build It With Habitat?
Habitat – both the organization and the people – have taught me a great deal and have kept my mind and body active in my retirement – it’s a great retirement project and Retirees have a great deal to offer Habitat. Anyone who enjoys learning new things and helping other people would benefit from and contribute to Habitat.
