Jonathan Reckford
Encyclopedia
Jonathan Reckford is an American
businessman, and chief executive officer
of Habitat for Humanity International
.
, who served as honorary chair of Habitat's succession planning task force, said, "Jonathan Reckford is a wonderful choice to become Habitat for Humanity's new chief executive officer. His background in business will help Habitat navigate the economy and business climate, and his pastoral experiences will help him shepherd Habitat's ministry and assure it continues to share and demonstrate Jesus
' teachings worldwide."
"Rosalynn
and I look forward to working with thousands of other volunteers to help assure the complete success of Habitat’s worldwide ministry under Jonathan Reckford’s leadership."
Reckford and his wife, Ashley, who is originally from Albany, Georgia
, are longtime supporters of Habitat and have worked alongside Habitat partner families in building their homes. The change is a big one, Reckford said, but is a natural next step.
"I have felt an increasing passion to serve more directly in heeding Christ's call to serve the poor and forgotten," he said. "My motivation is best summed up by the desire to live out the great commandment, expressed by Micah
as a call to 'act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with your God'" (Micah
6:8).
of Christ Presbyterian Church of Edina, Minnesota
. Before joining Christ Presbyterian, Reckford was president of stores for the Musicland
division of Best Buy
, senior vice president of corporate planning and communications for Circuit City, and director of strategic planning for Disney Design and Development.
Christ Presbyterian, a 4,300-member ministry, is recognized as a pioneer in partnering with nongovernmental organizations such as World Vision
and Opportunity International
(where Reckford is a board member) to combat AIDS
in Uganda
and which supports cross-cultural mission
s locally and internationally. Opportunity International is a partner with Habitat on an AIDS-focused project in Africa
that features house-building and micro-financing components.
"Henry Blackaby (a pioneer missionary
who heads Blackaby Ministries in Georgia
) suggests we should take on God-sized tasks because then it is clear to everyone who deserves the credit. It is humbling to get to serve alongside the thousands of committed Habitat associates and volunteers to bring hope and dignity, build communities and strive toward our mission to eradicate poverty housing," Reckford said.
Reckford grew up in North Carolina
. He graduated from St. Paul's School and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
, with a degree in political science
. In 1984, he joined Goldman Sachs
, then was awarded the Henry Luce
Foundation Scholarship for Young American Leaders. With that, he traveled to South Korea
to work with the Seoul Olympic
Organizing Committee, working on marketing sponsorships and coaching the Korean national rowing team.
Upon his return from Korea, he graduated in 1989 from Stanford University Graduate School of Business in Palo Alto, California
, with a master's in business administration focused on public and non-profit management. There his classmates included Gary Kremen
and Ryland Kelley. He joined Marriott
's corporate strategy group. In 1991, he moved to Disney Design and Development, and then was named senior vice president, corporate planning and communications for Circuit City Stores, then president of stores of the Musicland Group which was subsequently acquired by Best Buy.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman, and chief executive officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of Habitat for Humanity International
Habitat for Humanity International
Habitat For Humanity International , generally referred to as Habitat for Humanity or simply Habitat, is an international, non-governmental, non-profit organization devoted to building "simple, decent, and affordable" housing, a self-described "Christian housing ministry." The international...
.
Habitat for Humanity
Former U.S. President Jimmy CarterJimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
, who served as honorary chair of Habitat's succession planning task force, said, "Jonathan Reckford is a wonderful choice to become Habitat for Humanity's new chief executive officer. His background in business will help Habitat navigate the economy and business climate, and his pastoral experiences will help him shepherd Habitat's ministry and assure it continues to share and demonstrate Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
' teachings worldwide."
"Rosalynn
Rosalynn Carter
Eleanor Rosalynn Carter is the wife of the former President of the United States Jimmy Carter and in that capacity served as the First Lady of the United States from 1977 to 1981. As First Lady and after, she has been a leading advocate for numerous causes, perhaps most prominently for mental...
and I look forward to working with thousands of other volunteers to help assure the complete success of Habitat’s worldwide ministry under Jonathan Reckford’s leadership."
Reckford and his wife, Ashley, who is originally from Albany, Georgia
Albany, Georgia
Albany is a city in and the county seat of Dougherty County, Georgia, United States, in the southwestern part of the state. It is the principal city of the Albany, Georgia metropolitan area and the southwest part of the state. The population was 77,434 at the 2010 U.S. Census, making it the...
, are longtime supporters of Habitat and have worked alongside Habitat partner families in building their homes. The change is a big one, Reckford said, but is a natural next step.
"I have felt an increasing passion to serve more directly in heeding Christ's call to serve the poor and forgotten," he said. "My motivation is best summed up by the desire to live out the great commandment, expressed by Micah
Micah
Micah is a given name.Micah is the name of several people in the Hebrew Bible , and means "who is like God?". The name is sometimes found with theophoric extensions...
as a call to 'act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with your God'" (Micah
Book of Micah
The Book of Micah is one of fifteen prophetic books in the Hebrew bible/Old Testament, and the sixth of the twelve minor prophets. It records the sayings of Mikayahu, meaning "Who is like Yahweh?", an 8th century prophet from the village of Moresheth in Judah...
6:8).
Prior to Habitat
He was previously executive pastorPastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
of Christ Presbyterian Church of Edina, Minnesota
Edina, Minnesota
Edina is a city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States, and a first-ring suburb situated immediately southwest of Minneapolis. Edina began as a small farming and milling community in the 1860s. The population was 47,941 at the 2010 census.-Geography:...
. Before joining Christ Presbyterian, Reckford was president of stores for the Musicland
Musicland
The Musicland Group, Inc. was an entertainment company which ran Sam Goody, Suncoast Motion Picture Company and the Media Play Superstore Chain. Musicland filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy in January 2006. Trans World Entertainment which runs FYE, and sells CDs, DVDs, and video games, purchased...
division of Best Buy
Best Buy
Best Buy Co., Inc. is an American specialty retailer of consumer electronics in the United States, accounting for 19% of the market. It also operates in Mexico, Canada & China. The company's subsidiaries include Geek Squad, CinemaNow, Magnolia Audio Video, Pacific Sales, and, in Canada operates...
, senior vice president of corporate planning and communications for Circuit City, and director of strategic planning for Disney Design and Development.
Christ Presbyterian, a 4,300-member ministry, is recognized as a pioneer in partnering with nongovernmental organizations such as World Vision
World Vision
World Vision, founded in the USA in 1950, is an evangelical relief and development organization whose stated goal is "to follow our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in working with the poor and oppressed to promote human transformation, seek justice and bear witness to the good news of the Kingdom of...
and Opportunity International
Opportunity International
Opportunity International is an organization that provides small business loans, savings, insurance and training to more than two million people working their way out of poverty in the developing world...
(where Reckford is a board member) to combat AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
in Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
and which supports cross-cultural mission
Mission (Christian)
Christian missionary activities often involve sending individuals and groups , to foreign countries and to places in their own homeland. This has frequently involved not only evangelization , but also humanitarian work, especially among the poor and disadvantaged...
s locally and internationally. Opportunity International is a partner with Habitat on an AIDS-focused project in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
that features house-building and micro-financing components.
"Henry Blackaby (a pioneer missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
who heads Blackaby Ministries in Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
) suggests we should take on God-sized tasks because then it is clear to everyone who deserves the credit. It is humbling to get to serve alongside the thousands of committed Habitat associates and volunteers to bring hope and dignity, build communities and strive toward our mission to eradicate poverty housing," Reckford said.
Reckford grew up in North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. He graduated from St. Paul's School and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
, with a degree in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
. In 1984, he joined Goldman Sachs
Goldman Sachs
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. is an American multinational bulge bracket investment banking and securities firm that engages in global investment banking, securities, investment management, and other financial services primarily with institutional clients...
, then was awarded the Henry Luce
Henry Luce
Henry Robinson Luce was an influential American publisher. He launched and closely supervised a stable of magazines that transformed journalism and the reading habits of upscale Americans...
Foundation Scholarship for Young American Leaders. With that, he traveled to South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
to work with the Seoul Olympic
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
Organizing Committee, working on marketing sponsorships and coaching the Korean national rowing team.
Upon his return from Korea, he graduated in 1989 from Stanford University Graduate School of Business in Palo Alto, California
Palo Alto, California
Palo Alto is a California charter city located in the northwest corner of Santa Clara County, in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, United States. The city shares its borders with East Palo Alto, Mountain View, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Stanford, Portola Valley, and Menlo Park. It is...
, with a master's in business administration focused on public and non-profit management. There his classmates included Gary Kremen
Gary Kremen
Gary Alan Kremen is an entrepreneur who founded personals site match.com, and registered several premiere domain names in the early days of the internet, including sex.com, jobs.com, , and autos.com...
and Ryland Kelley. He joined Marriott
Marriott International
Marriott International, Inc. is a worldwide operator and franchisor of a broad portfolio of hotels and related lodging facilities. Founded by J. Willard Marriott, the company is now led by son J.W. Marriott, Jr...
's corporate strategy group. In 1991, he moved to Disney Design and Development, and then was named senior vice president, corporate planning and communications for Circuit City Stores, then president of stores of the Musicland Group which was subsequently acquired by Best Buy.
Source
External links
- Chief Executive Officer profile at Habitat for Humanity
- Christ Presbyterian Church