Sheila Porter Announces Upcoming Retirement

Sheila Porter, Vice President of Homeownership Center Services

After a career at DHIC spanning more than two decades, Vice President of Homeownership Center Services, Sheila Porter, has announced that she will retire in Q1 2025. After a background as a Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) loan officer, Sheila joined DHIC as a counselor on October 23, 2000, where her role evolved over the years. 

She was promoted to the Manager and Director of the Homeownership Center in 2013 before transitioning into her current position. During her career, she has been responsible for providing oversight for 10 different downpayment assistance loan programs, growing the reach of the Homeownership Center, and positioning potential homebuyers to become eligible for successful home purchase transactions. 

Thinking back over her career, Sheila says, “The work I’ve done here at DHIC has truly been a blessing from God. Before I started working here, I was praying for an opportunity to serve as a counselor for first-time homebuyers because I felt a calling in my heart that it’s what I was meant to do. God opened the door for me and it’s been an honor to touch the lives of so many people while in this position. This role has always been more than a job to me and none of my personal success would be possible without my incredible team of Jackie Salvati, Lou Sivulka, Tiffany Wilkins, Tammy Simmons, and Issac Reyes. I would also like to thank all of our partners who embraced our mission to empower individuals and families on the path to homeownership and financial wellness.” 

Since starting in 2000, Sheila’s hard work has helped: 

• 6737 households graduate from the Bringing Home the Dream workshop
• 2451 families become homeowners

During her tenure at DHIC, Sheila was under the leadership of former President, Gregg Warren, and current President, Yolanda Winstead, both of whom she credits with her success. “The leadership of this organization—under Gregg earlier in my career and now under Yolanda—has made all the difference in our collective success,” she explains. “It’s been a privilege working with both of them along with all of our staff over the years, and I’ll miss them as I transition to the next phase of my life.”

“The success of our Homeownership Center over the past two decades is a direct result of Sheila’s leadership and passion for our mission,” says DHIC President, Yolanda Winstead. “We will miss Sheila’s hard work and dedication to helping first-time homebuyers achieve their dreams, but we are excited for her to enjoy her well-deserved retirement.”

As she prepares for her upcoming retirement, Sheila is certain that one thing will never change: her passion for helping to empower people as they change their lives for the better. Even in retirement, she plans to find other ways to continue giving back to those experiencing homelessness, people pursuing financial wellness, and more.

She explains, “God brought the opportunity at DHIC to me and I look forward to seeing what He has planned for me next. In the meantime, I’m going to spend time in my happy place, which is flying my kite on the beach at sunrise and awaiting what He has in store for me.”