Photo: Photos courtesy of Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity
John Habat, J.D. — Senior Advisor, former President/CEO
John has served in positions in nonprofit management, higher education, public policy, law, government, and economic development. He has had a diverse professional life spanning a variety of administrative and financial management positions. During a thirty-year career, he has helped shape and advance institutional vision, built and directed staff and volunteer resources, and formed internal and external partnerships throughout Northeast Ohio. As an advocate for Greater Cleveland in Columbus and Washington, D.C., John was active in many economic and community initiatives.
John began his career as a legislative fellow in the Ohio General Assembly, moving from there to work as an Executive Assistant to Cleveland Mayor George Voinovich; thereafter he practiced law at a firm that specialized in municipal government legal matters. He moved on from the full-time practice of law to work as an advocate for Greater Cleveland in state and federal relations, eventually becoming Vice President for Government Relations and Transportation at the Greater Cleveland Growth Association. John’s career path took a new direction when he became an executive in higher education, serving first as Vice President for Administration and Finance at Youngstown State University and subsequently in two senior management positions at Cuyahoga Community College.
In 2011, John became President/CEO of Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity and led the organization to by far its most productive and impactful years. In the years immediately preceding John’s arrival, the organization completed at best a few homes annually, but gradually grew to become one of the most productive Habitat affiliates in the country under his leadership, completing over 20 homes per year. Not only has Habitat provided homeownership opportunities to hundreds of Cleveland families in this timeframe, but it has also been a catalyst for the revitalization of multiple inner-city Cleveland communities. John retires from the organization leaving it in great position to continue to thrive and be one of the strongest Habitat affiliates in the nation.
John Litten – President/CEO
John joined Cleveland Habitat as its new President/CEO on October 1, 2022. John succeeded John Habat, who served as Cleveland Habitat’s President/CEO since 2011.
John joins Cleveland Habitat after serving as Executive Director at the West Side Catholic Center since 2017. Previously, he served as Executive Director of the Diocese of Cleveland’s St. Vincent de Paul Society and was Director of the Cleveland Catholic Charities Camp Christopher. He brings a wealth of nonprofit and fundraising experience, a deep understanding of poverty issues and Cleveland’s housing crisis, and solid relationships with civic and corporate leaders and government officials.
Listen to the CEOs You Should Know podcast with John Habat and John Litten below.
Visit Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity: HERE