Habitat for Humanity director to retire

SBJ file photo

Larry Peterson

Habitat for Humanity of Springfield, Missouri Inc. Executive Director Larry Peterson announced plans to retire this spring.

Peterson, who’s led the nonprofit since October 2012, is scheduled to retire in April, when he’ll be 65 years old, according to a news release.

“I have greatly enjoyed the opportunities and challenges, the people and the mission of Habitat over the past eight years, but it was time to let new leadership take the affiliate to the next level,” Peterson said in the release. “It really is a younger person’s sport.”

Habitat Board of Directors President Jacqueline Post credited Peterson for leading neighborhood revitalization efforts in partnership with the Woodland Heights neighborhood; increasing revenue at the ReStore retail business to more than $1.6 million annually; and the receipt of three grants totaling nearly $2 million from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines.

“Larry has been the face of Habitat for many years, and he has been instrumental in leading the Springfield affiliate to new levels of success,” said Post, who works in marketing at BluCurrent Credit Union, in the release.

Post said in the release the board is finalizing the search committee process and plans to post the position soon.

In 2016, Peterson was a member of Springfield Business Journal’s class of Men of the Year.

Habitat for Humanity of Springfield has built or renovated more than 700 homes to place over 1,300 individuals since 1988, according to the release.