Staff Spotlight: Felicia Desboine
This month we are proud to welcome and introduce our newest hire here at Solano-Napa Habitat for Humanity: Felicia Desboine, our Community Outreach Coordinator!
A native of Oakland, Felicia’s career journey began at Wells Fargo and spanned over three decades where she honed her expertise in risk and compliance, policy development, and quality assurance. Her dedication to serving others led her to mentorship roles, where she empowered her team with the Wells Fargo vision and values. When her regional department closed, it was a pivotal moment of reflection that propelled Felicia towards a new path of purpose.
“During the closure I was asked, ‘What would you want to do if you could do anything?’ and that question made me realize I could take this opportunity to reset my career, go to school, and I knew I really wanted to make a tangible difference in people’s lives.”
Fuelled by this clarity, Felicia embarked on a journey of self-discovery and education and enrolled in the Project Management program at UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education. Equipped with fresh skills and a renewed sense of purpose, she sought opportunities to channel her passion for the community. It was during this time that Felicia’s longstanding connection with Habitat for Humanity came to the forefront.
“My father is from Plains, Georgia and grew up with President Jimmy Carter,” said Felicia. “Our family reunions were sometimes held in Americus, Georgia, where Habitat is headquartered, and President Carter would attend our family reunions (pictured below).”
Through her job at Wells Fargo and with her church, Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, Felicia has also volunteered on several local Habitat builds in Fairfield and Vallejo. During these volunteer experiences and especially the women’s builds, Felicia felt a sense of belonging, empowerment, and even learned how to use a power saw and a drill driver.
“I’ve always had a servant’s heart and felt comfortable working behind the scenes, but I felt like God was pushing me more to the forefront,” said Felicia. “I have always told God, ‘Wherever you want me, I’ll go.’ so when this career opportunity came up to work with Habitat, it felt like it was decades in the making and truly meant to be.”
Felicia is eager to share the work of Habitat with others in her new position, and plans to visit churches, service clubs, and community organizations to spread the news of Habitat and volunteer opportunities with as many people as possible.
“I want people to know that they are never too old to learn.” said Felicia. “If you have a passion to serve, just go for it. You never know where it will take you.”
Please join us in welcoming Felicia to Habitat – we are grateful to have her experience and enthusiasm on our team! Please get in touch with Felicia to find out how you can get involved and volunteer with Habitat by calling (707) 422-1948 or email her at fdesboine@solanonapahabitat.org.
