Michelle Pereira

Habitat for Humanity Manitoba

Chief Operating Officer                                              2021 – Jan 2023

• Developed new programs, led operations, financial oversight, led a team of 4 vice presidents (with up to 50 indirect reports), and was responsible for about 5,000 volunteers.
• Areas of responsibility included, people resources, volunteer engagement, recruitment of partner families, operations, fundraising, land acquisition, ReStore operations, neighbourhood design, brand management, government relations, organizational reputation, and national organization working group.
• Responsible for implementation of five-year strategic plan, Annual Business Plan development, and financial health of the organization, responsible for developing and executing a $12M organizational business plan. 
• Responsible for building and maintaining strong relationships with high wealth donors, corporate community, Federal and Provincial Government.  
• Led the development of new program innovation designed to support homeowners on a fixed income who need a critical home repair in order to stay in their home safely. 
• Reported to a true Governance Board of Directors providing current organization information about current and arising risks to the charitable landscape. 
• Actively involved in Habitat’s work within a Federated model across Canada to raise the profile of the organization and the need for affordable housing which is at an all time high.  

Select Accomplishments

• Co-chaired HFH Canada’s Critical Repair’s Working Group that developed a new program to expand HFH’s Canada wide impact to serve low or fixed income homeowners that require critical home repairs in order to stay in their home.  Presented to the National Board of Directors receiving unanimous support.  This program will launch across Canada in 2023.  
• Responsible for Board of Directors Policy document review and development of new safeguarding and whistleblower policies.

Habitat for Humanity

Vice President, Marketing, Communications & Philanthropy    Sept 2013 – 2021

• Led the marketing, communication and fundraising departments to raise money and HFH’s profile to serve low-income, working families through their journey to affordable homeownership.  
• Responsible for leading the organization through a new brand strategy implemented by Habitat for Humanity International, including a complete rebrand for the affiliate including 13 Chapters outside the City of Winnipeg. 
• Developed department budgets, business plan strategy and monitored performance throughout the year.  
• Responsible for raising the Habitat for Humanity brand in Manitoba that directly impacted the most successful years in the organization’s history. 

Select Accomplishments

• Raised over $5 million per year (except during COVID impacted years)
• Increased number of Volunteers to over 5,000 annually representing over 59,000 volunteer hours
• Raised HFH media profile, taking HFH onto the top 10 charities in Manitoba when HFH had previously not been on the list.  Attained goal of having HFH appear in media at least 3 times monthly.

Canstar Community News, Division of the Winnipeg Free Press

Publisher                   Oct 2011 – Sept 2013

• Responsible for weekly production of five community news papers including revenue, editorial and community engagement. 
• Responsible for rebranding the papers and increasing revenues to achieve expected financial targets.  
• Reported to the Board of Directors quarterly with current business metrics, including Key Profit Indicators, strategic direction and human resource updates.
• Experienced in labour negotiations within a strong union environment (4 unions) and involved in contract negotiations with 2 different unions. 

Previous experience includes Director of Advertising at Dufresne Group and Sales Manager for a group of radio stations.

• Enrolled in the ICD Board Dynamics course – March 6 & 7, 2023.  
• Executive Leadership Coaching with Dianne McCoy, MA, PCC.  
• Met monthly with Dianne over a year to continue my development in leadership, change management, human resources and administrative management.  I am a continuous learner and put a lot of emphasis on being a responsible leader that actively seeks out opportunities for growth.
• How to Have Difficult Conversations (2 day workshop)
• Facilitated Solutions, Mediators & Conflict Management Specialists
• Project Management; A Practical Approach, QNET