The Raleigh ReStore team brings together a passion for helping others, a love for the unique and a commitment to fostering a welcoming shopping experience. Whether you're looking for advice on your next DIY project, in search of a hidden gem, or simply exploring, the Raleigh staff is ready to make your visit memorable!
Mike Franks, Store Manager
With 13 years of experience at Habitat for Humanity and seven years at the Raleigh ReStore, Mike has seen the impact of the organization firsthand. He started his journey at the Durham ReStore in procurement, picking up community donations, before transitioning into a leadership role at the Raleigh ReStore. His favorite part of the job is witnessing the excitement when families find exactly what they need for their home when they come in.
Mike enjoys the challenge of finding space for the unique donations that come through, from an entire hotel’s worth of furniture to building materials from house demolitions. A fan of wood furniture, he admits it’s hard to resist buying nice wooden pieces for himself.
When he's not managing the ReStore, Mike enjoys collecting items from the natural world, like animal skeletons and cicada shells, and working on jigsaw puzzles. His favorite food is jerk chicken and rice, and his favorite color is green.
Karen Grace, Assistant Manager
Karen joined the Raleigh ReStore team almost a year and a half ago. She loves the dynamic environment at the ReStore, where every day brings new challenges and the need for creativity. Creating vignettes is one of her favorite tasks because it allows her to showcase the possibilities for items in shoppers' homes.
Karen has learned a lot about different building materials since joining and values personal interactions with regular customers, especially those who might just need someone to talk to. In her free time, she enjoys creative hobbies like painting and decorating, and a lot of times you can find her spending time with her five grandbabies, who range from 10 months to 13 years old. She can't wait for the holiday season because one of her favorite activities is baking cookies with them at Christmas! She also loves to spend time with her fiancé and their dog. The couple hosts music events on their property a few times a year, bringing in bands from all over to the area. She loves Italian food, and her favorite colors are black and red.
Shaaf McGlown, Assistant Manager
Shaaf, better known to others as Freedom, has been with the organization for six years. As a Shaw University graduate, he appreciated how Habitat Wake supported him during his transition from college to the workforce. He loves putting smiles on shoppers' faces and thrives on the challenge of managing a high-volume store. Freedom's approach to staying on top of tasks includes starting each day with a game plan and a positive attitude. He believes every purchase at the ReStore, whether big or small, makes a significant impact on the community.
He enjoys resetting furniture aisles to keep the store looking its best and finds that the store's size ensures there is always plenty to do. Outside of work, Freedom is passionate about powerlifting, hoping to compete soon. He also loves cooking, and baked mac-n-cheese is one of his specialties. His favorite color is blue.
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