Dan Hope and Stan Olson, June 2010 Habitat Heroes

Top: Dan Hope served as a judge and as an event photographer at the 2010 Car Show. Bottom: Stan Olson serves as the "hot dog man" at the Car Show. In 2010, he even created a hot dog sign for his booth!

Q & A with Habitat Hero Dan Hope

1. How long have you lived in Memphis? I've lived in Memphis since 1968 - moved here a week after graduating from Lovett School in Atlanta.

2. How long have you volunteered with Habitat? I started helping with the Exotic Italian Car Show the first year it was held at the Pink Palace - I think that was 2004 - not sure. It was part of my job that year, but when it moved to the Botanic Gardens after two years at the Pink Palace, I volunteered to continue helping promote the show.

3. How did you get involved with Habitat? I got involved with Habitat through the car show and Memphis Cars Italia, and that's been my main involvement. It's great being involved through something you love - a lifelong passion, and having it benefit a wonderful organization like Habitat, as well.

4. What kind of activities have you participated in during your time as a volunteer? We get started with the planning of the car show several months ahead of the actual event. So for that one-day fundraiser, many weeks are spent planning, and getting promotional activities underway. We start by creating promotional materials, then contacting monthly publications and websites first, then setting up interviews on local media, announcements on local radio, getting weekly and daily publications on board, as well as cultivating TV news coverage and finally managing and giving interviews the week of the event. So it's mostly publicity and promotion. Pitching in on clean-up was fun this year, too.

5. Why do you volunteer your time with Habitat? I think attending the dedication of several homes the week after the event concluded really brought home the reasons why I love to help Habitat and its great work in the community. Seeing the people take the keys (and the responsibility) for their new homes is inspiring. Working with the car show that benefits Habitat is a blessing for me, because exotic cars have been a lifelong passion of mine. But seeing how the funds raised benefit Habitat is the ultimate reward. It makes it all worthwhile.

6. Do you have a favorite Habitat moment you would like to share? Being totally surprised and honored by being named Habitat Hero was a wonderful moment. It doesn't get any better.

7. Do you have any personal details you would like to add (where you work, how many kids, what do you like to do on your free time, etc.)? I work as a senior communications specialist for Memphis Light, Gas and Water in their corporate communications department. I'm married to Ginger. My son Josh is grown, and is a farmer in Arkansas tilling the soil that feeds us all. I've been a Midtowner since I moved to Memphis. I graduated from University of Memphis with a degree in Journalism (I'm currently president of the Journalism Alumni Board there.). I've been a Memphis musician since the early '70s; my band Tropix has been together 19 years. I'm about to post two music videos I did in the '80s - "Change My Luck" and "Golden Ships" - on YouTube. Ain't life grand?

Q & A with Habitat Hero Stan Olson

1. How long have you lived in Memphis? Six years.

2. How long have you volunteered with Habitat? Since 1998, starting in California.

3. How did you get involved with Habitat? I am a former California licensed general contractor. That experience coupled with friendships with key Christian business and community leaders where we selected Habitat as a way to "pay it forward" and collaborate together to make our community better.

4. What kind of activities have you participated in during your time as a volunteer? Built 29 Habitat homes in California Bay Area (Contra Costa County) over six years -metal studs plus shear walls welded on I-beams (pillars and cross beams) to resist earthquakes. Memphis build support on two builds. "Stan the Hot Dog Man" for the past five years built on collaborative friendship with professional colleague and principal car show leader Tom Francis.

5. Why do you volunteer your time with Habitat? Following Christ's example, it is a privilege to serve. Jesus said, "As you have done to the least of these, you have done it unto me." I have been commissioned and empowered. We all need help to build a life. I did not get where I am as a medical device executive without strong mentors and relationships and experience. Not everyone has the savvy, education and experience needed to leverage opportunities as they open before them. They need a helping hand from "player-coaches - those willing to stand beside them and build community together, one life and one family as a time. It's the same reason I also teach in Memphis High Schools for Junior Achievement and teach Entrepreneur skills at West Tennessee State Prison (Fort Pillow) as prisoners come within 3-5 years of parole and release.

6. Do you have a favorite Habitat moment you would like to share? A home dedication in California where we worked for months to complete earthquake resistant homes: I never met this particular homeowner until the dedication day. It was clearly a home for a special needs disabled family. On the day of dedication they asked the family to come forward. Stepping forward was a handsome, calloused Hispanic man - a widower who worked two full-time jobs to care for his family of four children ages from 10 to 16; three of those children were confined to wheelchairs. Through the father's broken English we learned about the struggle to make it as a single parent, without a spouse and in homes not well suited or safe for the disabled "latch-key" children. He shared what this new home that was prepared precisely for their needs would mean for them; most considerably for his peace of mind while he is at work. There was not a dry eye among the 250 to 300 volunteers present. My tears were flowed and were so delicious. God was so great to allow me to play a small role for this deserving family.

7. Do you have any personal details you would like to add (where you work, how many kids, what do you like to do on your free time)? Personal story: Native of Minnesota. Former Army Infantry Officer, Special Forces Team Leadership 1968 to 1975. Graduate of University of Minnesota. Nearly 30 years of experience as a medical device executive (now with Medtronic); including five start up companies, taking two of those start ups public into the stock market. Spouse Joanne is a strong Habitat collaborator and supporter. Married 33 years in a row. One adult son, Jon, also a Habitat volunteer at the car show for several years. He now completes four concurrent engineering degrees at the University of Memphis.