By Special to the News
Carmen Smith has been named as the new vice president, United States Affiliate Services, with Habitat for Humanity International. Smith will join the team June 3 and has served as the executive director of the Chipola Area Habitat for Humanity in Marianna since 2014.
Carmen is said to be a well-respected leader.
“She has been a member of the U.S. Council since 2021 – serving as chair of the U.S. Council’s policy committee,” a news release said. “As ED of Chipola Area Habitat, Carmen has – with excellence – overseen every aspect of program operations for the affiliate, ranging from residential construction, mortgage origination, and servicing, advocacy, faith relations, and retail sales.”
Smith also led the affiliate’s efforts in strategic and financial planning, grant writing and administration, resource development, homeowner support, community engagement, and volunteer programs.
Prior to her time at Chipola Area Habitat, Carmen worked for the Florida Department of Health as an HR program specialist and for the Chipola Healthy Start Coalition as a program coordinator.
“She is a current Board member of the Florida Housing Coalition, North Florida Inland Long-Term Recovery Committee and Jackson County Chamber of Commerce and is secretary of Habitat for Humanity of Florida,” the news release said. “Carmen earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Education and Communication from the University of Florida, and a Master of Business Administration degree from Troy University.”
As vice president of U.S. Affiliate Services, Smith will lead that division in “maximizing the effectiveness of the U.S. network and our HFHI operations in support of affiliates across the U.S,” according to Habitat’s statements.
“An important part of her new role will be to establish and foster relationships with affiliate and HFHI leaders to create synergy, maximize success in attaining Habitat’s goals in the U.S. – including the Collaborative Operating Model – and in co-creating a shared vision of success for strategic projects and shared goals,” the news release said.
Carmen is said by Habitat to be “not only smart and witty, but she is uniquely qualified to come in and make an immediate impact to usher work forward.”
“She has great ideas about how the company can build a more unified network together and has a deep understanding of the services HFHI offers to the U.S. network, including what works well, what needs improvement, and what services may need to evolve,” Habitat’s news release said. “Because she is a well-known and well-regarded affiliate leader from within the network, she is in an advantageous position to seek candid feedback on the services HFHI offers – ranging from our expertise hubs to the Affiliate Support Center and more.”
Smith will oversee the work of the Affiliate Experience, Expertise Hubs and Transformation/COM Support Model teams within the U.S. Office.
“She will continue to be based in Florida and will serve on both HFHI’s senior leadership team and the operations leadership team,” Habitat said.
Staff Report 
Jim Saunders