Our Staff

Administrative Support

Mark Patton, Executive Director

Mark Patton is the Executive Director for Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity. His responsibilities include hiring staff, supervising daily operations, finding resources to build more homes, and assisting those on fixed incomes to remain in their homes. Mark has held the IVHFH’s Executive Director position for nine years. Originally from Manchester, IA, Mark graduated from Iowa State and started searching for an organization that offered help to families and made sure the job was done successfully.

In his spare time Mark loves to ride his bicycle. One fact that many don’t know about Mark is that his schoolteacher called him Myrtle for two years.

Theresa Burns, Office/Finance Manager

Theresa Burns is Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity’s office and finance manager. Her duties include working with accounts payable and receivable and assisting families through the appointment process. Theresa came to Habitat in 2006 because she wanted to switch from the corporate industry to the non-profit. Originally from Esterville, IA, Theresa graduated from University of Iowa with a psychology major. Working with the families and IVHFH’s staff is the most enjoyable aspect of her job. In her spare time Theresa likes to golf, read, and garden.

A random fact that many don’t know about her is that she has a niece older than her.

Ashley Wahlert, Volunteer Coordinator

Ashley Wahlert is Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity’s volunteer coordinator. Recruiting and working directly with volunteers and developing volunteer programs for construction, weatherization, the Habitat ReStore, and Many Hands are Ashley’s main responsibilities. Originally from Urbandale, IA, Ashley graduated from University of Iowa with a marketing degree. IVHFH has brought many unique opportunities to Ashley, and she particularly enjoys the people she gets to work with every day.

A fact that many people don’t know about Ashley is that she hates public bathrooms. In her free time Ashley enjoys spending time with her dog, Marlo and dancing.

Maggie Pforts, Resource Development Director

Maggie Pforts is Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity’s resource development director. Maggie is responsible for fundraising and public relations events, website upkeep, creating relationships with companies and organizations, and more. As a construction volunteer for the Tippie Build and a member of the executive committee for the University of Iowa Habitat Campus Chapter, Maggie found her calling to Habitat as a college undergrad. Maggie’s favorite aspects of her job are coordinating events and knowing that she is a part of an organization that is making a difference in people’s lives.

Many people don’t know that Maggie spent her high school career in England and graduated in a cathedral. She also enjoys baking.

Construction/Weatherization

Christy Shipley, Weatherization Manager

Christy Shipley is Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity’s weatherization manager, and her main responsibilities include performing whole house audits, overseeing implementation of weatherization for homes, and oversight of the funding. Originally from Kansas City, Christy was drawn to Habitat for Humanity after enjoying volunteering with a Kansas City affiliate, and she has been working for IVHFH for the past five years. “Once, I became very close with one of our partner families and when we finished the build for this young couple with three children, the father brought his children over to me and told them, ‘I always want you to remember Christy, she is like your grandmother,” said Christy. “He laughed then an added, “a grandmother who knows how to build a home. Our home.”

Christy’s favorite thing to do in her free time includes remodeling projects and writing. Many people don’t know that she is a poet at heart.

AmeriCorps Members

Joseph Rys, Construction

Joey Rys is Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity’s construction assistant since August 2011. Building fine homes from start to completion is Joey’s main responsibility. After graduating from Loras College with an integrative visual arts degree and a minor in arts history, Joey decided to join IVHFH to build a relationship with the community. Originally from Monkena, IL, Joey’s favorite aspect of being a construction assistant is the wide range of carpenter duties that he can partake in and master. In his free time Joey likes to ice skate.

One random fact that many don’t know about Joey is that he doesn’t eat anything red.

Cliff Thompson, Weatherization

Cliff Thompson helps audit and retrofit residential homes to make them more energy efficient. He has also taken charge of the Many Hands Ramp-Up program. Originally from Trenton, Nebraska, Cliff received his bachelor’s degree in creative writing at Morningside College and is currently working on his master’s in Journalism at the University of Iowa. Cliff joined Habitat to make a displayed positive difference in the community. “We were finishing a ramp build one day when a neighbor drove by and thanked us. He said the homeowner needed some help for a long time,” said Cliff. “That made me feel like we were really making a difference.” Cliff enjoys bicycling in his spare time where he has been actively involved with RAGBRAI.

One thing that many people don’t know about Cliff is that he was the top-ten finisher in the Nebraska Spelling Bee in eighth grade.

Wren Almitra, Furniture Project

Wren Almitra is Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity’s furniture project assistant. Her duties include coordinating the furniture project and scheduling and managing donations. Originally from Iowa City, working with the community, families, donors, and customers is Wren’s favorite aspect of her job.

In Wren’s free time she volunteers her time at Agape Café, a free sit-down breakfast service in Iowa City, and also supervises public skate night on Friday evenings. When the weather starts to get warmer, she spends her time in the garden growing various vegetables and flowers.

ReStore

Mande Butler, ReStore Director

Mande Butler is Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore Director. Mande’s responsibilities include managing all operations and staff, marketing the store, and controlling the ReStore’s finances. Her favorite aspect of IVHFH is collaborating with the hard working and supportive staff as well as the ReStore providing an ecofriendly option to the community. Mande has been a part of IVHFH since March 2004. Her favorite memory is the staff mission trip to the Gulf Coast to help rebuild after Hurricane Katrina. Originally from Davenport, IA, Mande graduated from the University of Iowa with Bachelor Arts degrees in Literature, History, and Education. In her free time Mande loves to spend time outside with her dog and husband.

What many don’t know about Mande is that her husband is the head chef at the local restaurant Devotay.

Charlie Uthe, ReStore Manager

As Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore manager, Charlie Uthe supervises the Habitat ReStore’s operations, staff, donations, and volunteers. After graduating from the University of Iowa with a degree in anthropology and management, Charlie started searching for an organization that brought benefits to the community.“I appreciate the service Habitat for Humanity provides,” said Charlie. “I really enjoyed working with the staff as a volunteer, so joining Habitat for Humanity was an easy choice for me.” Originally from Dubuque, IA, Charlie has been involved with IVHFH since September 2011.

In his free time Charlie enjoys playing a round of golf with his friends.

Jennifer Corcoran, ReStore Assistant

Jennifer Cocoran is Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore assistant. Some of her duties include researching, accepting, pricing, and organizing donated items. She really enjoys seeing people’s excitement when they find exactly what they are looking for in a price range they can afford. “I’ve had customers tell me that they have redone whole houses just from shopping at the ReStore. It’s also a great feeling knowing we saved all of this stuff from the landfill,” said Jennifer. Originally from Mt. Vernon, Iowa, Jennifer joined Habitat for Humanity, because she knew that it helps the community and people in need.

In her free time, Jennifer likes to cook and spend time with her dog Avett. One random fact about herself that many don’t know is that she loves to collect vintage housewares.

In addition to the full-time staff members and AmeriCorps members, we are fortunate to have great work-study students and interns that round out the staff and work hard to fulfill Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity’s mission.