Asrat Gebre
CEO
Asrat Gebre has been the Executive Director of Hope Community Builders since 1997 and was instrumental in incorporating HCB and having it certified as a Community Housing Development Organization. Asrat has also set up a fully computerized accounting system for the organization and established a functioning public relations and volunteer system with the churches and universities of the area. Asrat is responsible for the day-to-day operations of Hope Community Builders, the establishment of budgets and schedules, and guides potential buyers through the steps required to secure financing.

Past Experience
Prior to 1995, Asrat had extensive international experience managing a non-profit organization that had developed programs in providing primary health care and curative health programs, low cost housing and the development of appropriate technology methods.

Education
Asrat has BA in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Law from Addis Ababa University. In addition he has completed all the classes for the Masters in the Conflict Transformation Program at Eastern Mennonite University. He had participated in several workshops related to housing issues. He is also qualified as a Housing Development Finance Professional (HDFP).

Duane Bontrager
Senior Building Supervisor
Duane is Senior Building supervisor and is responsible for all the building activity of HCB. Some of his duties include: designing homes in consultation with home buyers, scheduling all building activity, budgeting and cost control of new homes, working with the City and subcontractors.

Past Experience
Duane is a professional social worker but construction is in his blood - his father was a construction contractor. Duane has 17 years of supervisory residential construction. In addition to his varied construction experience, he is a dispute resolution specialist. He has travelled to Honduras for his study-service trimester.

Education
Duane has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work from Goshen College. He is a certified lead carpenter. He has honed his construction management skills by completing a course at Blue Ridge Community College.

Eric Beck
Building Supervisor
Eric is Building Supervisor and works with Duane, sub-contractors, and home buyers to ensure each home is built to specifications and according to building timetables.

Past Experience
Eric has worked in carpentry since 1998. He has been a lead and finish carpenter in new construction and remodeling in Indiana and Michigan before moving to Harrisonburg in 2005.

Education
Eric has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work from Goshen College. He has also taken graduate courses in education.

| 7.26.2006 |Print |