Atlanta Habitat for Humanity is pleased to announce the appointment of Alan Ferguson as the organization’s President and CEO beginning July 2022. Following a national search, Ferguson was chosen for his extensive experience and expertise in affordable housing. Even as Atlanta Habitat advances its traditional focus on single-family homes, Ferguson will lead the organization to expand upon neighborhood revitalization and place-based strategies.
“Our goal is to double Atlanta Habitat’s impact over the next few years,” said board chair Danielle Cheung, who serves as Bank of America’s Business Banking Market Executive in Metro Atlanta. “We look forward to Alan leading our collaboration with fellow community organizations, public and private partners, and other stakeholders to transform communities through access to quality affordable housing.”
Ferguson recently served as Senior Vice President, Development & Operations for The American Opportunity Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit investor and owner of affordable workforce housing, and as Invest Atlanta’s Senior Vice President of Community Development. Ferguson’s vision and passion guided his career to serve with organizations that help build vibrant communities and increase economic prosperity for all Atlantans and moderate-to-low-income persons and families across the nation. His background at Fannie Mae’s Lender Channel honed his housing, commercial real estate, business finance, public finance, equity investments, and community and economic development expertise.
Ferguson holds a Bachelor of Arts in Banking & Finance from Morehouse College, an MBA from The Goizueta Business School at Emory University and a Master of Science in Real Estate from the J. Mack Robinson School of Business at Georgia State University. He pursued doctoral studies (ABD) in Real Estate Finance at Georgia State University and is currently completing his dissertation requirements for a PhD in Entrepreneurship & Innovation at The University of the Cumberlands. Born in Brooklyn, NY and raised in South DeKalb, he resides in Atlanta with Janelle, his wife of nearly 27 years, and two children, who are both pursuing graduate and undergraduate studies at Georgia State University.
“As early as my high school years in South Dekalb, I was inspired to change the pattern of disinvestment in my community,” Ferguson said. “In my public and private sector work on affordability and neighborhood transformation, I have seen first-hand the powerful impact Atlanta Habitat for Humanity has on Atlanta. Atlanta Habitat is creating future-forward solutions to address Atlanta’s affordable housing availability, one of the most critical issues facing our city and our nation.”