Jacob brings his experiences and training as an educator, mediator, home builder, and community organizer to the work of housing. He holds a master’s degree in conflict resolution from Trinity College Dublin and spent several years working as a mediator and facilitator on education for reconciliation projects in the Middle East and Northern Ireland. Jacob loves that he can combine his love of carpentry and non-profit management in his role as Executive Director of the affiliate. Jacob is married to Jessica; they love living and working in Montana communities. Together, they enjoy exploring Montana’s historical sites with their two collies, Lambert and Wendell.

Mark Leland joined the team at Helena Area Habitat for Humanity over four years ago.  He oversees both the new construction and repair program for the affiliate.  Mark has a Bachelor’s Degree in History from Montana State University.  Upon graduating college, he worked for several years as a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity as an Americorps member before moving into a 15 year career as a home builder and remodeler.  In 2017, Mark came back into the Habitat world and has been excited to be a part of the growth and impact of Habitat’s mission here in Helena.

Ben has been with Habitat since 2018 when he and his wife, Gwen, moved to Helena from Idaho.  His family has since grown to include their son, Calvin, and their daughter, Audrey. He enjoys spending time with family, watching movies, and doing yard work.  He loves being a homeowner and is passionate about helping others achieve that same dream.  He is a Certified Public Accountant with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Washington State University.  He began his career in public accounting where he worked with small businesses and nonprofits and tries to leverage that experience to help Habitat achieve its goals.

Russ has over 35 years of experience with an emphasis on leadership, program management, financial management and training.  Most of his career has been focused on healthcare, human services, and helping the vulnerable in our communities.  Additionally, Russ has been involved in addressing issues of poverty in Mexico, Mongolia, and Myanmar, including living for four years in Myanmar.  A resident of Helena since 1998, Russ is excited to take what he has learned over the years and help to address the issues of homeownership in Helena.  Russ and his wife Michele have 3 children, and a growing number of grandchildren.

Cassie has lived in the Helena area for a little over 10 years, and as of summer 2021 is a Habitat homeowner in East Helena. She and her three kiddos love to go camping and spend time in the outdoors. She has lived in several different parts of the country including Kansas and Arizona, but Montana is now home. As someone who has gone through the homeownership program herself, Cassie loves Habitat’s mission and getting to help other families achieve homeownership.

Born and raised in Helena, Sam bought her first home in 2019 to raise a family; she and her husband have been together for 12 years and have two boys, Connor and Kaiden. Together, they enjoy anything and everything outside, from swimming to playing in the backyard. Sam loves that she gets the opportunity to help others achieve the same dream of owning a home.

Craig has 18 years of construction experience and spent 9 years working in the oil fields. He is a father of 5 children and is extremely happy to be home and working for Helena Habitat, building homes for deserving families. He enjoys hunting, fishing, and anything outdoors or with his family during his off time.

Rex is an aspiring rancher from Minnesota and he and his wife have two children. Rex lives in the Red Lodge Area and runs all of Helena Habitat’s construction operations at that job site. He does an excellent job working with contractors and leading volunteers in all stages of home construction.

Chris is a Wisconsinite with a disaster response background. He started at Helena Habitat as an AmeriCorps National member is now a full-time member of the construction crew. Stan Lee once said, “That person who helps others simply because it should or must be done, and because it is the right thing to do, is indeed without a doubt, a real superhero.” Chris never would have thought he’d get to work with superheroes every day.

Mindie has lived in the Helena area for a little over 8 years. She grew up in Libby, Montana, but has lived in a few different states and overseas. She enjoys traveling and spending time with her three children. She has worked for Helena Area Habitat for Humanity since September 2022 and loves being a part of Habitat’s mission helping families achieve their housing goals and dreams.

Born and raised in Oklahoma City, Jeremy Ingram comes to us via Lawrence, Kansas where he worked as a Supervisor with the University of Kansas.  Jeremy loves meeting new people and moved to Helena to be closer to his family. A music and movie buff, Jeremy loves to hike, fish, camp, and kayak with his wife, daughter, in-laws and friends.  He holds a Bachelors degree in computer science from OSU but would rather talk to people in person.

Jen has lived in Helena with her husband for nearly eight years. She joined the ReStore staff in the summer of 2022 and has truly enjoyed getting to know customers, volunteers, and her coworkers. Jen spent 12 years working as a barista in Seattle, Great Falls, and Helena, before landing happily at the ReStore. Outside of work, she enjoys cooking, crafts, shopping, and binge-watching her favorite shows.

Dennis is very happy to have been offered an opportunity to be a part of the ReStore family.  As a builder since the mid 80’s, he was looking for something a little easier on his body that still offered a way to be of service to his community.  Dennis is an avid reader and in his down time loves to roam Montana and fish.  He has lived in Helena since the 70’s and hopes to be able to serve the Helena community until he retires.

Linda is originally from New Jersey and raised three boys in Florida. She’s lived in Montana since 2006 and began working at the ReStore in 2016. Linda is the cashier and enjoys seeing all the great items that come through the store.

Trent was born in Oklahoma City in 2004, where his dad was stationed in the U.S. Air Force. He then moved with his parents to Anchorage, Alaska, and spent 4 years there before moving to Helena, where he would grow up. Trent has an older brother, as well as a younger sister and brother. Trent is an avid gamer, but still likes fishing and the outdoors. Trent attended YouthBuild from 2021, graduating in 2022.

Daniel was born and raised in Midwest City, Oklahoma. He loves food and music with a lot of bass. Outside of work, he attends Living Hope Fellowship, where he also volunteers as an usher. Daniel is looking forward to making a difference while at Habitat for Humanity!

Selina is delighted to serve their AmeriCorps National term with Helena Area Habitat for Humanity. They graduated from Haverford College in 2023 with a degree in Growth and Structure of Cities, where they studied urban planning history. During their time at school, they were also a member of Nerd House, a community house that hosts dry weekend events. They love being able to apply their event coordination skills to their passion for affordable housing! They hope to stay in non-profits even after their AmeriCorps term is over. In their spare time, they can be found embroidering, hiking, or catching up on yesterday’s crossword.