Staff Members
South Shore Habitat for Humanity
Martine Taylor, Executive Director
Raymond Chesley, Construction Manager
Richard McGowan, Director of Operations
Rajani Mitchell, Development Manager
Kathryn Prioli, Community Relations Manager
Martine L. Taylor
Executive Director
Martine Taylor joins South Shore Habitat for Humanity, having recently left Project Hope, a multi-service agency that provides low-income women access to education, jobs, housing and emergency services in Boston where she served as a consultant for the Development and Operations Departments. Martine was responsible for client relations, strategic planning, special event planning, and organizational development. Prior to joining Project Hope, Martine worked as the Director of Strategic Development for Richard White Sons, Inc., a prominent New England construction management and general contracting firm. Martine focused on expanding the existing client base and developing new business. In addition, she assisted the firm in assessing short and long term strategic goals to foster company growth and expansion.
For most of Martine's career, she was the Executive Director for Rebuilding Together Boston (RTB), an affiliate of a national non-profit organization that renovates homes of low-income homeowners and non-profit facilities. RTB's initiatives focus on providing safety, security, and independence to their recipients, while preserving home ownership and reducing the risk of homelessness. As Executive Director, Martine was responsible for the overall development, management, and execution of all programs and services offered by Rebuilding Together Boston.
During her tenure with RTB she served as the New England representative and Secretary of the National Affiliate Council (NAC), has served on the National Conference Planning Committee, and National Committee on Advocacy and Public Policy. During Martine's term on the NAC she was instrumental in helping the National Organization (RT) develop the Standards of Excellence and a new Affiliate Partnership agreement.
Martine has served as the Director of the Christian Youth Conference in Ocean Park, ME, was the former Director of Youth Leader Core, a state-wide youth development program for high school youth, and is actively involved in her church, The First Baptist Church in Needham, MA where she has served as Trustee and is now currently Vice Chair of the Deaconate.
Martine has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Family Studies, with a concentration in Family Relations from the University of New Hampshire.
Richard T. McGowan
Director of Operations
Dick has been a volunteer with South Shore Habitat for Humanity since 2006. He became the Chair of the Finance Committee in early 2007 and joined the Board of Directors in the fall of 2007 as the Vice President of Administration. Dick was asked to serve as Interim Executive Director from May to August of 2010 while a search was conducted for an Executive Director. In September 2010, Dick joined the staff as the Director of Operations where he will be responsible for Construction, Fiscal, and IT management, as well as Human Resources.
Prior to taking early retirement, Dick spent 24 years in the insurance industry with Canton based One Beacon Insurance Company, a $2 Billion Property and Casualty insurer. Dick was Director of Finance and Administration for the IT Division where he led a team that successfully implemented process automation and improvement in the areas of planning, budgeting, forecasting, cost allocations, management reporting and contract management. In addition, he provided oversight for a $200 million dollar budget and overall financial operations. Prior to that he served as the Manager of Financial Systems for Corporate Finance where they provided systems support and implemented a number of automation initiatives that improved productivity and reduced ongoing expenses.
Along with a wealth of management experience and demonstrated leadership skills, Dick has a successful track record in project management, financial oversight and process improvement. In his spare time, he enjoys woodworking and landscaping projects and he has hands on experience building houses.
Dick has a B.A. from Stonehill College.
Rajani Marie Mitchell
Development Manager
Rajani Marie Mitchell graduated from Emmanuel College in Boston where she majored in International Relations and minored in History. Currently, she serves as the Development Manager for South Shore Habitat for Humanity where she is primarily responsible for the successful implementation and execution of the overall fundraising initiatives. Rajani works closely with the South Shore Habitat for Humanity Local Partnership Committees to help and facilitate fundraising at the local grassroots level.
Rajani is responsible for special event planning, including the Annual Gala, Annual Bird House Show, Ride for Habitat, and the Golf Classic. Additionally, Rajani manages and oversees the grant writing, individual, corporate, and foundation cultivation and stewardship and overall donor relations.
In college, Rajani served as a development intern and development volunteer at several non-profit organizations throughout greater Boston and the South Shore.
Rajani is originally from Scituate, MA and is currently living in Dedham, MA. She enjoys spending time with family and friends and especially her dog, Baxter.
Kathryn Prioli
Community Relations Manager
Kathryn Prioli joined South Shore Habitat for Humanity, in 2005 filling the newly created position of Administrative Manager taking responsibility for the overall office management, administration and finances of the affiliate. Kathryn worked closely with the Executive Director and other professional staff as well as the Board of Directors and Finance Committee to provide oversight, management and support services for all administrative, financial and reporting functions of the affiliate. She worked diligently to develop and implement administrative and financial functions resulting in improved processes and cost savings throughout the organization. Playing a key role in the relocation of the affiliate office from Braintree to Weymouth, Kathryn quickly recognized a need for growth and advocated for larger office and meeting space which is where South Shore Habitat for Humanity is located today.
After 5 ½ years, Kathryn moved into the role of Community Relations Manager where she is primarily responsible for the successful organizational outreach and volunteer management of the affiliate. In particular, Kathryn ensures that volunteers, both corporate and individual, are scheduled for build days throughout the year. Her position is instrumental in communicating the volunteer needs for SSHH, including committee recruitment and leadership, and for providing awareness about the organization throughout the 35 cities and towns that we serve.
Having spent more than 20 years as a volunteer for various non-profits on the south shore, Kathryn brings her experience with event planning from her work with the American Cancer Society. It was there that she developed and planted the Relay for Life in Braintree, MA in 2000, incorporating more than 600 volunteers and raising $100,000+ during the Inaugural Relay For Life while realizing a 15% increase in gross revenues in years two and three.
As a member of Living Hope Foursquare Church in Hanover, Kathryn has served as both Youth Leader and Event Coordinator since 2001 bringing new fundraising and community outreach events to the Town of Hanover and the surrounding communities.
A long-time community advocate, Kathryn has shared her talent and desire to make a difference in her own community serving as Vice-Chairman (retired) of the Braintree School Committee, Founder and Chairman of the Braintree Hazardous Materials Truck Ban Committee and the Ross School Traffic Study Committee. She also served as a Town Meeting Member and member of the Board of Directors for Braintree National Youth League.
Kathryn is a graduate of Braintree Public Schools and the Jack Conway School of Real Estate.
Ray Chesley
Construction Manager
Ray Chesley joined South Shore Habitat for Humanity in May of 2008 in the capacity of Construction Manager. His responsibilities include permitting, site safety, budgeting, sub contractor selection and management of the construction process.
Ray has been in the construction field for over 40 years having a diverse set of skills and has held positions ranging from Field Engineer to Vice President and Division Manager for an industry leading national construction/development firm. He has managed construction on numerous affordable residential housing projects located in Massachusetts, Virginia and Pennsylvania. Other projects include new and renovated buildings for Harvard University, Boston University, Wentworth Institute, Duke University the University of Georgia and many commercial, hotel and industrial buildings.
Ray currently holds a Massachusetts Construction Supervisor License and graduated from Wentworth Institute of Technology with a degree in Architectural Engineering. His interests include boating, travel and spending time with his two grandchildren and family.
