Habitat Erie Appoints New Board President and Member
The nonprofit fills board seats to increase governance capacity for its active homeownership program in Erie.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in People
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Greater Erie Area Habitat for Humanity has appointed Dr. Elisa Konieczko as board president and Nadia Shabanza as a board member. These leadership changes aim to bolster the nonprofit’s ongoing efforts to provide affordable housing and support families through its homeownership program.
Why it matters
Nonprofit boards require leaders with specialized professional experience to scale operations and manage complex homeownership programs. Strengthening organizational governance helps ensure steady progress on current construction projects and the vetting of future families.
Habitat Erie has added 10 new families to its homeownership program over the past two years. The organization is currently finalizing its sixth and seventh homes for participating families.
The players
Dr. Elisa Konieczko
A professor of biology at Gannon University who now serves as the board president of Greater Erie Area Habitat for Humanity.
Nadia Shabanza
The founder and principal designer of BeBe Design House who brings 10 years of experience as a Habitat Family Partner to the board.
Greater Erie Area Habitat for Humanity
A local nonprofit organization focused on expanding affordable housing opportunities through its homeownership program in Erie.
The details
Board appointments at the nonprofit are based on prior leadership and volunteer experience, ensuring that oversight aligns with the operational demands of housing development. Dr. Elisa Konieczko brings academic experience from Gannon University, while Nadia Shabanza leverages a decade of experience as a Family Partner for the organization. These roles are critical for governing the administrative processes involved in preparing families for sustainable homeownership.
Timeline
Nadia Shabanza served as a Family Partner for the past 10 years.
10 new families joined the homeownership program in the past two years.
Market Landscape
These appointments follow the standard governance structure of the Habitat for Humanity homeownership program eligibility criteria. The leadership shift marks a strategic effort to increase organizational capacity to meet program standards for local families.
Business operators and community leaders should track these board updates as signals for upcoming expansion in local housing development. The organization continues to solicit volunteers, family partners, and budget coaches to support the growing number of families in the program.
The takeaway
Effective nonprofit management hinges on recruiting board members who combine professional industry expertise with direct, long-term volunteer experience. Local operators looking to support these initiatives should monitor the organization's public call for budget coaches and volunteer partners to assist families in the homeownership pipeline.
Further reading
For more on local leadership changes, see People.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Erie News Now - Your News Team.
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