staff and board

September 20, 2022:
Please see the letter from AHIP’s board president for an important update!

Our Construction Department has more than 100 years of combined construction management (planning, estimating, scope of work development, and project management) experience. Much of AHIP’s expertise lies in serving the unique needs of income-limited and elderly clientele while navigating the complex landscape of public and private grant funding and local, state, and federal compliance. AHIP is successfully guided by a 15-member board of directors that meets six times a year.

Construction

Wayne Snow

Crew Leader

David Bauer

Electrician

Travis Brown

Carpenter

Zarius Rush

Carpenter’s Helper

Programs

Laurie Southworth

Office and Intake Manager
434.817.2447 x21
Email (lsouthworth@ahipva.org)

Bio

Laurie joined the AHIP team in February 2015 as Project & Administrative Assistant, but in July 2017 assumed her current role of Program Manager serving as a point of contact for clients, overseeing the client intake process, and being our staff contact for the Energy Retrofit Initiative and other programs. A licensed teacher for more than 25 years, Laurie has worked with students in both public and private schools. From 2010 to 2014, Laurie and her husband, also with a long career in education, owned and operated a distance education company, designed as an outreach for Virginia students needing online classes and tutoring in a home-based setting. An experienced writing and editing professional, Laurie has provided freelance contract services for businesses and local authors for the past 15 years and additionally was a contributing writer for the special sections of the Daily Progress. Laurie is a native Central Virginian with strong family ties to the area. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education from James Madison University. She grew up in Fluvanna County and lives there today with her family. When she’s not working, Laurie enjoys gardening, singing, cooking, hanging out in antiques shops, and exploring the beauty and back roads of Virginia.

George Herring

Construction Supervisor
434.817.2447 x34
Email (gherring@ahipva.org)

Bio

George brings more than 30 years of construction experience to his role as AHIP’s Construction Supervisor. He provides comprehensive project management and quality control expertise to meet the unique needs of each AHIP client. George joined AHIP in 1996 as a Crew Leader, responsible for scheduling various duties of the crew and subcontractors as well as managing inspections and ordering materials. In 2001, he assumed his current post and began to develop, track, and analyze cost estimates and cost records to ensure projects are delivered within budget. When not working for AHIP, George runs his own contracting business, skilled in all phases of residential construction from foundation and framing to interior/exterior trim, flooring, and roofing. Having grown up in Charlottesville and Greene County, George has deep roots in the local construction industry, as his father was a local contractor along with his brother.

Lee Miller

Rehab Specialist
434.817.2447 x28
Email (lee@ahipva.org)

Bio

Lee has served as AHIP’s Construction Rehabilitation Specialist since 1996. In this capacity, Lee presents programs, qualifies clients for funding, and designs rehabilitation projects. He also is responsible for estimating jobs (including new construction, additions, and rehabs) and preparing construction documents (including drawings, procurements, and inspections). Lee also serves as the supervisor of the Electrical and Plumbing Program and has supervised volunteer groups who frequently work with AHIP crews. In addition to his duties as Rehab Specialist, Lee also is an area REALTOR who received a REALTOR of the Year and Top Producer awards in 2005. Since 1979, Lee also has managed his own remodeling and home inspection business. Lee is licensed by the state of Virginia in building, electrical, plumbing, lead inspection, and risk assessment and is a state-certified Master Electrician and Master Plumber. He has performed thousands of home inspections for real estate and loan closings. Lee grew up in Richmond, Virginia and graduated from New York Sales School and the International Correspondence School, earning a diploma in Building Codes and Home Inspections. In 2003, he graduated from Piedmont’s Real Estate Course and went on to pass state and national exams.

Len Wishart

Rehab Specialist
434.817.2447 x35
Email (lwishart@ahipva.org)

Bio

As Rehabilitation Specialist, Len is responsible for rehab project management from start to finish beginning with initial client home inspections, construction estimates, and determining the scope of work for city and county rehabs and emergency repairs. Len assists clients in navigating funding source options; arranging specialty inspections of their properties; and complying with city, county, state, and federal regulations for assistance in construction rehabilitation. In addition to completing HUD Section 8 inspections, evaluating city property maintenance inspections, flood plain certifications, and historical review application requirements, Len also is responsible for obtaining all relevant local government and health department construction permits and soliciting multiple bids from subcontractors for each job requiring their use. Len created and currently directs the AHIP Respiratory Protection Program and Lead Worker Medical Surveillance Plan. Before coming to AHIP in August of 2003, Len owned and operated a construction and rehab company that performed custom and historical renovations throughout the area as well as rehab work for the Fluvanna County Housing Foundation. Len has conferred bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Virginia and holds a Contractor’s License, Lead Abatement Supervisor License, and Lead Project Designer License with the Virginia DPOR. He also has completed EarthCraft House Builder Training certification and coursework with the College of William and Mary Center for Executive Development in Construction Management and is an EPA certified RRP renovator.

Administration

Cory Demchak

Interim Executive Director
434.817.2447 x26
Email (cory@ahipva.org)

Bio

Cory joined AHIP in September of 2018 as the Director of Programs. In this role, Cory is responsible for program oversight and coordination as well as program development and reporting. Before joining AHIP, Cory worked for the City of Charlottesville’s Office of Economic Development in charge of various workforce development initiatives including management of the Downtown Job Center. Prior to that he was a probation and parole officer for nearly a decade serving Charlottesville and central Virginia.
A resident of Albemarle County, Cory has lived in the area since 2005 when he moved to Virginia from western Pennsylvania. He holds a bachelor’s degree in criminology from Indiana University in his home state of Pennsylvania. Outside of work, Cory enjoys spending time with his wife and their three children. He also enjoys exploring the outdoors, playing rugby, and bird watching.

Craig Kaiser

Chief Financial Officer
434.817.2447 x30
Email (ckaiser@ahipva.org)

Bio

Craig was selected for the role of Finance Director beginning in July 2014 and now serves as Chief Financial Officer. He provides management control and administration of all fiscal and HR operations, as well as ensuring that the organization is well equipped with evolving technologies to help carry out its mission. Craig brings 15 years of experience in accounting and finance positions with contractor and service organizations to his job at AHIP. He earned a B.A. in Accounting from National College of Business and Technology in Roanoke. Craig grew up in Charlottesville, and now lives in Albemarle County. When not working, he enjoys gardening, creating dinosaur dioramas, and visiting the Carolina beaches.

Erica Dempsey

Assistant to the CFO
434.817.2447 x24
Email (edempsey@ahipva.org)

Bio

When she came on staff at AHIP in April 2016, Erica turned her interest in the local real estate market and housing issues into a full-time job. A Charlottesville resident since 1980, Erica brings 12 years of accounting expertise to the Finance Department at AHIP. She earned a B.S. in Sociology with a minor in Communications from Virginia Tech. When she’s not working, Erica enjoys a hobby in home design and spending time with her family, especially game night with her daughters.

Development

Kyle Ramey

Development Manager
434.817.2447 x22
Email (kramey@ahipva.org)

Bio

Kyle joined AHIP in October of 2022 as the Development Manager. Working with the Director of Development, he is responsible for the donation intake process, private grant applications, digital marketing and communications, and general fundraising support. Kyle draws on a background from various fields of work, both private and nonprofit. Kyle has a bachelor’s and master’s degree in writing, rhetoric, and technical communication from James Madison University and enjoys spending time with friends playing board games.