Building Connection is a podcast from Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis hosted by Memphis Habitat President & CEO Dwayne Spencer. This podcast seeks to highlight the connections between housing and issues that we all care about -- health, wealth, safety, and more. Healthy communities, intergenerational wealth, peace of mind, and the ability to focus on what matters most -- it all starts with a home. Building Connection explores that. In this episode: For this special episode, Dwayne Spencer, Memphis Habitat’s President & CEO, is our guest! Dwayne sits down with Jessica Hord, VP of Brand Strategy at Memphis Habitat, to share his story, his path to Habitat, and why he wouldn’t want to work anywhere else. Dwayne and Jessica also discuss Memphis Habitat’s history and growth, our homebuying and repair programs, and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. More about Dwayne and Memphis Habitat Learn more about Memphis Habitat’s Framing the Futurefundraising campaign.Dwayne’s TEDx Memphis Talk, 2023NBC Nightly News Feature on Dwayne, 2016 Connect with Memphis Habitat! Like and subscribe to Building Connection or leave us a review!Ideas for future guests or topics? Email podcast@memphishabitat.com.Subscribe to Memphis Habitat news.Follow Memphis Habitat on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn. Podcast Credits: Guest: Dwayne Spencer, MPA, President & CEO, Habitat for Humanity of Greater MemphisHost and Executive Producer: Jessica Hord, VP of Brand Strategy, Habitat for Humanity of Greater MemphisProduction Partner: Forever Ready Productions Dwayne Spencer has worked in nonprofit management for 30 years. Since joining Memphis Habitat in 2001, he has grown the organization from a 9-member staff to more than 70 employees; from a $1 million budget to $25 million; and from building 15 homes per year to building 30+ new homes and serving 250+ Aging In Place repair clients annually. Today, Memphis Habitat ranks 25th out of more than 900 Habitat for Humanity affiliates across the U.S. in new home production. Through studies developed in partnership with local economists, Memphis Habitat is now able to demonstrate its impressive local impact – more than $366 million in cumulative impact since 1983. Dwayne holds a master’s degree in public administration from The University of Memphis and currently serves on Habitat International’s Advocacy Committee as well as other boards and advisory committees. In 2024, Dwayne was among the four Memphis-area leaders named CEO of the Year by Memphis Magazine. Jessica Hord was named VP of Brand Strategy at Memphis Habitat in 2024 and leads thought leadership efforts and events, public relations, Memphis Habitat’s CEO Build, and other special projects. With 20-plus years of public relations, marketing, and nonprofit strategy experience, she has spent nearly 15 years managing the Memphis Habitat brand. In 2016, she led the local team for Habitat’s Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project. Prior to Habitat, she worked at Obsidian PR and Baptist Memorial Health Care and has a B.S. in Communications from The University of Tennessee.
