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Highlands Today

New Habitat Director Ready To Take Charge

Jasmina Meyer/Highlands Today

Mike Jacobson, from Sarasota, is the new Executive Director of the Highlands County Habitat for Humanity.

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By Bill Rettew Jr. | Highlands Today

Published: June 26, 2008

SEBRING – Born and raised in New York City, a former resident of Los Angeles and Sarasota is taking charge of the Highlands County Habitat for Humanity, and now calls Sebring his home.

Mike Jacobson, 58, started work as the local Habitat's executive director following a three-year stint as both a volunteer and at a similar paid position in Sarasota.

The married father of two said he's pleased to live in the Heartland and has already received a "very warm, engaging welcome" and was "made to feel as if I'd been here my whole life."

Habitat for Humanity is a national organiza-tion, with both volunteers and paid employees. The organization builds houses and sells them to residents who work hundreds of hours on their homes while contributing "sweat equity." The new owners buy those homes with a mortgage, for the cost of construction.

Eighteen local paid staffers and hundreds of volunteers have constructed more than 100 homes in the county for low-income families.

Tim Blackman is president of the board of the Highlands County Habitat for Humanity. He said that more than a dozen candidates were considered following a national search, after former director Jane Breylinger left the position for a job with Habitat in Arcadia.

"We feel like Tim is somebody who will become a really active member of the community," said Blackman. "He has the knowledge and connections to raise the millions of dollars we need to get people out of substandard housing and into real homes."

On Tuesday, Jacobson was living in a hotel and moving a few boxes into an otherwise empty home.
While he is a big reader of Florida novelist Carl Hiassen, the golfer said he most often reads subject matter on how to best perform his job.

"I really don't know what needs to be done to end that viscous cycle of working class poverty," said Jacobson. "I've seen in our society how people really do live. It's a disgrace for a country that has so much in natural resources that any hard-working American should not have a safe, affordable place to live."

The University of Syracuse graduate put his money where his mouth is. The former American Express and AT&T employee said he's worked with some of the best innovative and creative minds, but doesn't mind the pay cut to have a chance to make a difference with the organization.

When others doubted, Jacobson put up the numbers. He collected $11 million for Sarasota Habitat and 50 acres of land was donated, while many said Sarasota residents wouldn't support the cause.

"Everything that was impossible, is possible," said Jacobson. "If you can't be number one, why compete?"

A major goal for the new executive director is to demystify specifically what Habitat for Humanity does and the people who use its services.

Jacobson said the nameless and faceless person who drew your blood or a cook at a restaurant or even the person who assists your children at school are all examples of people who might benefit from Habitat.

"The foundation of our society is the people who are the most in need or the people who we need the most."

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