6 | THELAKER the new, merged organization will give him the opportunity to focus on opportunities to add and expand services, for example, doing more work to repair homes. “Habitat really came into my life at the right time. I love playing music, but the life of a performing musician was not really the life I wanted to have, being on the road, playing late into the night,” says Nash, who has a photo of his two young daughters in his o ce at the ReStore building in Hopewell. “I was learning what I wanted and what I didn’t want in my future and Habitat presented me with an opportunity to have a career that aligns with my values, is deeply rooted in community, and provided the work-life balance for Heather and I to start our own family.” Nash has long been open to tackling something new. At FLCC, he took classes in marketing, business and computer science – he even returned to get an associate degree in computer science in 2014. While students, he and Heather joined the Finger Lakes Environmental Action Club, joining conservation professor Marty Dodge on a trip to southern California’s Channel Islands. “I came out of my college experience with a major in music but an ability to utilize skills in a variety of elds,” Nash says, “and I think that positioned me well to be able to try out di erent things and be open to new opportunities as they came along.” – Lenore Friend Photos by Rikki Van Camp Nash Bock ’06, ’14: Habitat for Humanity A er earning a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Geneseo, Nash taught private music lessons and worked at FLCC as an adjunct instructor in the music department for a few years. (His wife, Heather ’06, worked for FLCC’s Community College Undergraduate Research Initiative from 2012 through 2021). Nash began working at Ontario County Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore to make some extra money in the summers. “My rst job was a part-time associate, so I was literally pushing couches around, greeting donors, helping shoppers,” he says. His role soon expanded to website development and social media strategy. In 2014, he became the program services manager, overseeing the process for selecting new families for Habitat homes and working closely with volunteers. “It’s very personal. We spend a year to two years working with families on their journey to becoming homeowners,” he begins. “ ey’re inviting us into their lives as well. We get to know them very closely. We get to know their kids. O en, you get to know their siblings or parents, too.” A year later, the board of directors named him executive director, overseeing everything from fundraising to volunteer management to connecting with the international organization. His role with from the cover “Habitat presented me with an opportunity to have a career that aligns with my values.” Nash Bock ’06, ’14 Nash Bock says Habitat for Humanity builds relationships as much as it builds houses.
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