Greater Mount Airy Habitat for Humanity is now without an executive director due to the sudden resignation of Joe Dellinger after only about six months on the job.

“He resigned without giving notice,” Paul Eich, the president and chairman of the organization’s governing board, said Thursday when the departure of Dellinger was announced.

“He was not fired,” added Eich. “He was not forced to resign.”

The board official said that Dellinger, who became executive director of the local Habitat for Humanity on Jan. 4 and had volunteered with the organization in the past, approached him earlier this month and indicated he was leaving.

“He resigned saying he did not feel he was right for the job and did not believe he was doing the job satisfactorily,” Eich said.

Dellinger did not respond to a telephone call Thursday seeking comment about his resignation.

When Eich was asked if any problems had become apparent with Greater Mount Airy Habitat for Humanity in recent months, he replied, “It’s always a challenge.” But Eich said that based on a discussion he had with Dellinger at the time of the resignation, “I agree with his decision — I think that’s a fair way to put it.”

Eich declined to offer specifics regarding that discussion, explaining, “It’s a personnel matter.”

But the Habitat board chairman, who had many complimentary things to say about Dellinger when he was appointed as executive director, said Thursday that he and other board members wish Dellinger well. “He’s a good guy.”

The employee handbook for the non-profit community organization prescribes that a four-week notice be given by personnel who resign. “It’s not a requirement,” Eich said. “We don’t have contracts.”

“Initially, I was very surprised,” Eich said the fact that Dellinger had quit without notice.

“We’re sure the community is just as shocked as we are, because this is the second time within a year that we’ve been without an executive director,” the board chairman continued.

He was referring to Tim VanHoy’s death from a heart attack last July 31.

Mission Will Continue

Eich said Thursday that he wanted to assure the community that the work of Habitat for Humanity will continue despite the latest loss of an executive director.

Two Habitat for Humanity homes are now being built, with one already under roof and the other to be by this weekend, said Eich. He added that the organization plans to complete its construction schedule for the rest of 2010 as planned.

“We hope to build a total of six (houses) this year ... so this is not, ‘Joe’s gone, the place is going to fall apart — what are we going to do?’”

Eich said that with the sudden loss of Dellinger, who earlier was an assistant manager with Eckerd Drug in Mount Airy for 18 years, Habitat for Humanity officials are unclear about what their next step will be regarding an executive director. “We don’t know at this point. The board has not met since his (Dellinger’s) resignation.”

In the meantime, Administrative Assistant Sherry Russo — who has been with Greater Mount Airy Habitat for Humanity since 2003, initially as a volunteer — will help manage the organization along with Eich. “She’s reaching up and I’m reaching down, and we’re getting it all covered,” he said of the responsibilities involved.

“And there is not a beat being missed right now,” Eich added. “Joe’s resignation will not affect Habitat’s operation and mission, thanks to the continuing dedicated work of its staff, both paid and volunteer.”

The governing board could decide to expand Russo’s role or otherwise restructure Habitat for Humanity’s local leadership in dealing with the departure of Dellinger.

Since 1995, the organization that provides affordable housing to deserving families has built 27 homes in this area.

It also operates a “ReStore” on West Pine Street offering construction materials, gently used furniture and appliances and other items for sale to the public at reduced prices. Funds raised by the store help build more homes.

Contact Tom Joyce at tjoyce@mtairynews.com or at 719-1924.