Duane grew up on a family farm in rural South Carolina, moved to Pennsylvania and graduated from Millersville University with a BA degree in music. He discovered the value of nonprofit organizations and began a career with Habitat for Humanity as an Org Development Consultant and earned a Masters in Administration Degree from Georgia Southwestern University in 1999.
In his long career with Habitat, Duane led dozens of strategic planning sessions with Habitat affiliate board and staff leaders, coached new Executive Directors and guided strategic transitions that impacted structure, systems and staff. He led many workshops on building capacity, growth transitions and change management.
Duane’s consulting perspectives draw from a deep well of experiences and perspectives. A week with Edgar Schein sparked a deep appreciation for helpful questions to uncover essential but unspoken organizational areas. A week with Harvard’s Executive Leadership program raised the value of metrics and the dynamic interplay of an organization’s structure, strategy, systems, style and staff. Another week with Tom Osborne, leader in the Appreciative Inquiry movement, instilled the value of building on assets and strengths.
Duane holds certifications from Harvard’s Executive Leadership Conference, Indiana University’s Center on Philanthropy Fundraising Management, The Cape Cod Institute’s Organizational Therapy (led by Edgar Schein), the Institute of Cultural Affairs’ Technology of Participation and various community development workshops from the NeighborWorks Institute.
Duane has coached many Habitat Executive Directors and board leaders through personnel and strategy changes. He’s also coached individuals in private business seeking career guidance.
Each year Duane leads several Habitat for Humanity Global Village trips of 15-20 people to build and repair homes in poor communities. He’s led fifteen trips to Guatemala, two to Honduras and other trips to Nicaragua, Poland, Portugal and Mexico. These week-long house building “vacations” provide profound cultural encounters that leave a deep impact on participants. Over two hundred people from the US, Germany, Canada and China have participated on Duane’s Global Village trips.
Duane remains very active with Habitat for Humanity, serving as Executive Director of Greater Lycoming County Habitat in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. He and his wife, Ruth, enjoy their three adult children and five grandchildren. He loves to restore old homes. Music is still a major love, he writes songs and performs occasionally in churches and coffeehouses.