MIAMI, FL - January 11, 2011 - The Board of Directors of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Miami is pleased to announce the appointment of Mario Artecona to the position of Chief Executive Officer.

Artecona joins Miami Habitat from the Miami Business Forum,   where he has served as Executive Director since 2004.  The Miami Business Forum is a non-profit organization made up of South Florida's business leaders and CEOs dedicated to strengthening the relationships between the civic, government and business sectors. Prior to that position, Artecona was a Vice President of The Codina Group, a development, construction and real estate brokerage firm. Beginning his career with Miami-Dade County, he served in various capacities culminating with his appointment to Chief of Staff to a County Commissioner.

Active in the community, Artecona currently chairs the Miami-Dade County Community Relations Board, a group which promotes interaction, dialogue and conflict resolution between Miami Dade's varied communities. He is on the Board of Trustees and Executive Committee of The Miami Foundation (formerly the Dade Community Foundation), and has served on several civic county boards, ranging from the Super Bowl Host Committee to Miami-Dade County’s procurement reform advisory board, as well as the Charter Review and Arts Funding Task Forces.

“I am honored that the Board has chosen me to lead this incredible organization,” said Artecona. “Habitat helps transform lives and has an enormous impact on those we serve. I care deeply for our community and cannot think of a better way to contribute to it,” he added.  

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Miami’s mission is to build homes in partnership with low income families to help break the cycle of poverty.  Miami Habitat has built approximately 800 homes and is projected to bring 250 new homes online in the next three years.  The organization is funded by grants, government funding as well as private and corporate contributions.

For more information, please visit: www.miamihabitat.org. Print quality photo available upon request.