For the past three years, Connie Imig has run the local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity of La Plata County.  Imig announced her resignation from the affiliate to the Board of Directors in late February of this year and has been slowly cutting her work week in a gradual phase out from her position as Executive Director.  Seven homes have been completed, four will be constructed this summer in Bayfield and a total of nine families have received homes during her tenure. 

Habitat’s Assistant Director, Nadine Chaney-Orantes will take over as Interim Director on May 1^st although Imig will stay working with the affiliate for another month before transitioning to become an “as needed” consultant for the organization.  Imig was just  re-elected to the state Board of Habitat Colorado where she has served as Secretary for the last two years.   Imig said, “My position on the HFHC state board will continue to benefit our local affiliate and allow me the ability to advocate for the needs of affiliates statewide.  I am very honored to be a part of the state board and will continue to work on affordable housing issues through it.” 

Imig said Chaney-Orantes brings a different skill set to the job than she did and will provide a continuity of service, all of which will benefit the non-profit.  “Nadine has a sense of empathy and compassion, as well as an understanding of the complexity that is Habitat, and will provide the organization with strengths I don’t possess. She will fill in gaps I couldn’t.”

Imig said, “Habitat has come a long way since I was hired and while we’ve had our challenges, I am very proud of how we handled them, the excellent staff we have in place both administratively and in the store, and the assistance we’ve offered to families needing homes.”  She plans on continuing to represent Habitat through her committee positions for the local Regional Housing Alliance, the Affordable Housing Task Force and will stay on various committees with Habitat. 

A “transition plan” is rare for a non-profit and Imig said that’s why she and the Board chose to do a gradual faze out, in place of the more typical notice.  “I’m not leaving for another job and this gives everyone time to adapt and learn while I’m still around to answer questions and put mechanisms in place for an easy transfer of duties.”  The Board of Directors expressed it’s appreciation for her time with Habitat and her willingness to leave the organization in a manner that assures its continued health. 

Imig, who is in the process of starting a botanical garden in Durango says she is “not going away” but going to start taking more time for her art work.  She was recently selected for the San Juan National Forest Artist-in-Residence program for her tile making and her photography has been displayed in several places around Durango and in Tucson.  She said, “I’m glad to finally have the time to consistently promote the botanical demonstration garden concept and be an artist again.  Habitat is going forward in very good hands!”