Welcome to Habitat for Humanity of the NC Sandhills! At Habitat, we believe everyone deserves a safe, decent, and affordable home. We provide a hand up…not a handout by partnering with families who invest their time and energy to purchase a home with an affordable mortgage. We also provide critical home repairs to individuals 55+ or living with disabilities who own their home and are in need of affordable exterior repairs, such as roof and window replacements or wheelchair ramps. We invite you to join us – our monthly orientations are held on the third Thursday of each month at 5 pm in our conference room located at 2268 NC 5 Hwy, Aberdeen. Thank you for building with us!
Our Directors
FARRAH NEWMAN
Executive Director
Farrah began her career with Habitat for Humanity as Finance Manager in March 2017. In October 2017, Farrah took on the challenge of Construction Director and has since led Finance and Construction together. Farrah manages the daily task of building hope through Habitat homes. Farrah came to Habitat as a Financial Advisor with Edward Jones Investments. Farrah has been an Unclassified General Contractor in North Carolina since 2008. Farrah’s experience is in residential construction, and she owned a construction company for several years, with a primary focus on asphalt. Farrah has an associate's degree in Accounting and experience in the field. Farrah earned a Project Management Certificate through NCDOT via NC State University. Farrah states that Habitat promotes opportunities for all people, and Sandhills Habitat is at the forefront in female leadership opportunities.
- Moore County Home Builders Director/Treasurer-Jan 2023-Dec 2023
- Moore County Schools Business Advisory Council-on going
- West Southern Pines Task Force for Neighborhood Revitalization-June 2020-2021
- Town of Aberdeen Appearance and Beautification Committee-Feb 2021-Sep 2021
- North Carolina Home Builder Association Nominating Committee Member-Feb 2021-Feb 2022
- Moore County Planning Board Member-July 2023- June 2026
DONDI JONES
ReStore Direct0r
Dondi Jones has been a part of Habitat of the NC Sandhills for the past nine years. He began as a driver making pickup deliveries of donations and eventually worked his way up to ReStore manager, where he has been for the past three years. Dondi manages six full-time paid staff and approximately 60 volunteers on a week-to-week basis. His role also includes daily monitoring of sales and inventory that comes in and out of the ReStore. Dondi says, “It’s been great to be a part of something great!!”
- Pinecrest Football Booster Club 2022-2023
- Southern Pines Rotary 2019-2023
- Coach with Moore United Track Club (Current)
- St. Andrews University Football Booster Club (Current)
OLIVIA WEBB
Development Director
Olivia Webb is a seasoned communications and nonprofit professional with over 15 years of experience leading strategy, branding, and development initiatives across education, government, and mission-driven organizations. She is the Founder and Principal of Rhetorical Peach Cultivated Consulting, providing customized marketing and communications solutions to a range of clients. Previously, Olivia served as Director of Communications for the North Carolina Association for Public Charter Schools, where she shaped legislative and member communications, managed media relations, and led statewide advocacy efforts. She also served as Director of Admissions and Financial Aid at The O’Neal School, increasing enrollment and reforming financial aid processes, and as Executive Director of the Richmond Community College Foundation, overseeing $3 million in philanthropic resources. Olivia’s earlier public service includes her tenure as Mayor of the Town of Ellerbe, where she led major infrastructure projects. She holds a B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communication from UNC-Chapel Hill and a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Duke University.
Sandhills Habitat Board Members
Executive Committee 2025-26
Tim Dwyer
Chairman
Tim Dwyer served on the construction committee since 2005, having been a construction volunteer since 2001. He served on the Board from 2003-09 and was Chairman and President
from 2007–2009. More recently, he served as Secretary to the Board. Tim retired from the railroad industry where he held various Marketing and Management positions over a 30 year career. He and his wife Marj have resided in Southern Pines since 2000. They attend St.Anthony of Padua Catholic Church.
Mark Hamilton
Vice Chair
Mark Hamilton’s experience with Habitat for Humanity started 30 years ago when he organized a golf tournament fundraiser for Orange County Habitat while earning his MBA at UNC Chapel Hill. While working at Whirlpool, he participated in a Blitz Build in Arizona where he helped build nine homes in five days. In 2021, Mark repurposed (he doesn't like retired) his calling as a building products sales executive to a volunteer serving others. This is when he started as a Hardcore construction volunteer at Sandhills Habitat. Mark recently completed a three-year term on the Vestry at Emmanuel Episcopal Church where he served as Junior Warden responsible for the Buildings & Grounds. When not volunteering he enjoys taking walks with his wife, Liz, and dog, Daisy, working out with F3 Sandhills, travelling, and playing pickleball.
Larry Smith
Treasurer
Larry, a CPA, is now serving his third Habitat chapter, having begun his association with Habitat in Canton, Ohio, serving the Habitat chapter in northeastern Ohio, including Stark, Tuscarawas, and Jefferson counties. While serving on this board as Treasurer, the chapter expanded its operations to cover three counties and served as a distribution center for Whirlpool appliances for other chapters. Larry moved to Moore County to be with the family and began the third stop in his adventure. Serving as a volunteer in the finance office with data entry and related accounting functions, reconciling mortgage receivable balances between the bank and chapter records, providing cash flow projections for the executive director, and being part of the finance committee have provided a varied understanding of all aspects of our mission from a dollars and cents point of view. When not Habitating, golf and the HOA board treasurer's work occupy his time.
Susan Ralston
Secretary
Sue Ralston has served on the board of Habitat for Humanity of the North Carolina Sandhills for 2 years. Prior to moving to North Carolina, she served on the board of directors for Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King & Kittitas Counties (Seattle, WA) and was a marketing executive at Microsoft Corporation (Redmond, WA). She resides in Southern Pines, NC with her husband, David, and enjoys golf, biking and pickleball.
Directors 2025-26
Sally Brown
Sean Davis
Bob Friesen
Fran Grandinetti
Jim Hart
Bert Harrell
Robert Jackson
Marvin Jennings
Karen Reese May
Kayla Prestwood
Diane Reynolds
Chris Roach
Jill Saunders
Ed Spitler
Berni Szczepanski
Diane Wilson
Non-Proselytizing Policy
Habitat for Humanity International and its affiliated organizations will not proselytize. Habitat for Humanity (HFH) is a Christian ministry dedicated to a vision of a world where everyone has a decent place to live. HFH conducts its programs in ways that are sensitive and respectful to the cultural context and the local faith community and reflect our belief that all are created in God’s image and deserve to be treated without discrimination. Habitat for Humanity International and its affiliated organizations will not proselytize. Nor will HFH work with entities or individuals who insist on proselytizing as part of their work with HFH. This means that HFH will not offer assistance on the expressed or implied condition that people must adhere to or convert to a particular faith or listen and respond to messaging designed to induce conversion to a particular faith.