Meet Our Office Staff
Katie Blunt, Chief Executive Officer
Katie Blunt is the Executive Director at Habitat for Humanity Sault Ste. Marie and Area. At work, she leads a highly motivated team in the implementation of the organization’s strategic plan with the overall goal of creating affordable housing for families that face barriers to traditional homeownership.
Katie graduated from McMaster University in 2015 with a Master’s Degree in Political Science. Before her work with Habitat, Katie worked in various community-oriented roles including fundraising for the British Red Cross, coordinating the Community Adjustment Committee with the City of Sault Ste. Marie, and facilitating social enterprise development across northern Ontario with NORDIK Institute.
One of her most significant personal achievements is volunteering in Ghana, Africa at a children’s home where, in collaboration with volunteers from across the globe, farming land was purchased to provide the home with a sustainable source of food.
Katie has contributed to Sault Ste. Marie by helping to organize the Jane’s Walk Festival, assisting in the start-up of the Algoma Community Foundation, and participating on various committees such as the Cultural Vitality Committee.
Derek Paquin, Director of Operations
Derek Paquin is a sales and operations management professional with over 30 years experience in management, customer service, relationship building, human resource, health and safety, and special event organization with an education background in Business Administration.
Derek possesses strong interpersonal, training, and coaching skills to work well within a team environment and is a self-motivated individual who enjoys the challenges of working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment where change is constant.
Derek joins Habitat for Humanity Sault Ste. Marie and Area’s team following 22 years in the building materials supply chain for the construction industry, specifically focused on residential and commercial development sales and operations management.
Outside of work, Derek can frequently be found traveling with his wife Anna, enjoying the sports and academic activities of their two daughters, Kayla and Alyssa.
Joe Mackenzie, Finance & Risk Manager
Joe Mackenzie is the Finance & Risk Manager at Habitat for Humanity Sault Ste. Marie & Area. He has been with the organization for over 10 years. He graduated in 2010 from Algoma University with a degree in accounting.
Outside of work, Joe loves playing hockey, watching the Soo Greyhounds, and going out for lunch. Most of all, however, he loves his family. Joe lives with his wife, Desiree, and his two sons, Max and Miles. As a Sault Ste. Marie resident all of his life, Joe is proud of the work that Habitat for Humanity does for the community.
Raphy Falardeau, Fundraising and Marketing Coordinator
Meet Raphy, our new Fundraising & Marketing Coordinator!
Raised in a French Canadian and Swiss household, Raphy Falardeau has lived in Gatineau, Temiskaming Shores, Sudbury (twice), and even France. Having completed her Advanced Diploma in Graphic Design from Cambrian College, she deeply understands the importance of social media content and engagement strategies. She excels in organisational skills and web design and speaks French fluently. Raphy has worked in non-profit marketing and project management in Northern Ontario for the past four years.
One of her significant achievements has been the co-creation and implemention of the Redefining Success in 2023. The campaign presented 19 local keynote speakers across 10 unique locations, and an Entrepreneur Spotlight, where 15 local entrepreneurs in the Sudbury area shared their journeys. The campaign raised over 10k in sponsorship funds and engaged with over 250 people. She has also created TikTok content that has reached over 43k views.
Outside of work, she tends to her many plants and two cats, reads fantasy fiction books, and knows everything there is to know about Game of Thrones.
From now on, you’ll be meeting her at fundraising events, seeing her in videos and even on the radio!
Jill MacIsaac, Family & Volunteer Coordinator
Jill was born and raised in Nova Scotia where she attended Saint Mary’s University, graduating in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology as well as playing for five years on
the women’s hockey team. Following graduation, Jill moved to Alberta where she began her career in human services, working predominantly in the housing and homelessness sectors.
During her eight years in Calgary, Jill gained professional experience in both frontline and leadership roles while working with vulnerable folks of all ages. She also enjoyed volunteering with Hockey Education Reaching Out Society (HEROS), providing kids and youth with an opportunity to play hockey, who may otherwise not have the chance to do so.
Since moving to Sault Ste. Marie in 2020, Jill has continued to use her knowledge and experience to illicit change in the local housing and homelessness system, engaging leaders and stakeholders throughout the community to encourage a more integrated system of care to solve homelessness. Jill also discovered a passion for sewing, and in 2022 started her own business designing and making upcycled clothing, bags, and more.
Outside of work, you can likely find her at the rink, perusing her entrepreneurial endeavors, or enjoying time outdoors with friends and family, and her dog, Gary.
Meet Our ReStore Staff
Karen Lapointe, Assistant Manager
Karen is a lifelong resident of Sault Ste Marie and a 2010 graduate of Sault College’s Personal Support Worker Program (achieving a 4.0 GPA with distinction!). Karen has done many renovations herself, giving her knowledge of materials and tools needed to assist ReStore customers who are shopping for their DIY projects. Karen loves to see customers’ excitement when they find "their treasure" of the day and seeing people smile.
Outside of work, Karen is an avid outdoors person with a love of sports and a passion for fishing. She was on the Soo Y Dolphins swim team and has competed in various swim meets. Karen really enjoys weekend downhill skiing. She also has a love for many four-legged animals, having the fortune of owning a few Golden Retrievers over the years (one of her favourite breeds!).
Brock Pinder, Donation Centre Lead
Brock is our Donation Centre Lead. He was born and raised in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, is a former service member of the Canadian Armed Forces. Brock has traveled across the country and across the world!
He grew up playing sports, starting with Soo Pee Wee Hockey and Sault Minor Football, before finding his passion for boxing and MMA in his early teenage years, Currently, Brock competes in MMA and lives an active lifestyle. He loves Training MMA, lifting weights, running, snowboarding, surfing, and being outdoors.
Kassidee Odber, Sales Associate
Kassidee is a 27-year-old Sales Associate at the Habitat ReStore. She was born and raised in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Kassidee believes in Habitat for Humanity’s mission and values, and that, by working at the Habitat ReStore, she is helping make her community a better place. In her free time, Kassidee enjoys being outside and hanging out with her friends, family, and dog.
Michael Flemstrom, Donation Centre Assistant
Born of Ojibwa/Cree descent on a fly-in reserve Northeast of Thunderbay, Mike moved to the Sault in 1976 where he entered the working world at six years old, delivering newspapers for The Sault Star. Mike has worked many other labour-intensive jobs over the years and attended postsecondary school. Despite all of the skills he’s picked up, he notes that he still manages to learn something new every day.
Mike started volunteering and working at the ReStore part-time in 2015, noting that he felt it was a good way to participate in his community.
Outside of work, Mike has helped his family by offering unpaid health care since his early thirties. Mike enjoys the outdoors, walking, and spending time with family.
Kevin Possamai, Donation Centre Assistant
Kevin Possamai lives with his parents, who own a Construction Company that Kevin loves to help out with. Kevin is a member of Community Living Algoma. He loves and does many Special Olympics seasonal sports.
He was a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity ReStore before being asked to join the team as a staff member. Kevin loves to come to work and interact with the staff. He is so happy to meet new people and always ready to help the customers. Kevin “came alive” with the opportunity that Habitat for Humanity has given him. To learn more about Kevin, you can watch his short film by clicking here.
Patrick Gignac, Truck Driver / Donation Centre Assistant
Patrick is a 29-year-old professional Truck Driver at Habitat for Humanity Sault Ste. Marie & Area. He was born in the small town of Desbarats, Ontario then relocated to Sault Ste. Marie to focus on his studies in Digital Film Production at Sault College in 2013.
Patrick is a kind-hearted, social and reliable person that believes in Habitat for Humanity’s mission and values, he aims towards success and making a connection to all staff and Habitat customers alike.
Outside of work, Patrick enjoys being an adventurer, attending comic con conventions, reenacting lines from movies/tv shows, creating film projects in the film industry and focusing on his side business of wedding videography.
Autumn Anderson, Sales Associate
Autumn is a part-time sales associate at the Habitat Restore. Autumn likes how Habitat for Humanity is determined to help people and she desires to be a part of the change.
In her free time, she enjoys being around her friends and co-workers. Autumn is currently pursuing a degree in Social Work at Algoma University.
Payton McCorriston, Sales Associate
Payton is a 29-year-old sales Associate at the Habitat Restore. She was born in Ajax. Payton believes in giving back to the community, as well as Habitat for Humanity’s mission and values.
In her free time, Payton enjoys writing, gaming, and drawing. She also enjoys being outside with her two beautiful girls, who are 9 and 3 years old.
Payton is proud to work for Habitat for Humanity! She hopes to one day become a published author.