Catina's Story: Turning Experience Into Impact

For Catina, the Managing Director of the Koenig Jones Group at Baird, generosity is more than a value; it's a way of life. Her passion for affordable homeownership comes from personal experience, and her story is one of resilience, hard work, and giving back. Today, she’s on a mission to raise $200,000 to sponsor the building of a Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity home in memory of her mother, Joyce. But her journey with Habitat began long before that.

A Childhood that Shaped a Mission

Catina’s childhood was marked by instability. Her mom was a single mother at just 16 years old, doing her best to provide for her daughter without support. Housing was never certain, and by the time Catina was 10, they had moved nine times. Even as a young child, she remembers hearing about Habitat for Humanity. "I saw an interview. It was a news story about a new Habitat house and the family moving in and the excitement of the people around that. I remember thinking, 'Oh that's so cool,'" she says.

From her mom, Catina learned generosity even in hard times. "Even when we had very little, she always found a way to help others, giving what she could. Not because it made her feel noble, but because she believed people should show up for each other. It's just what you do."

Her mom did eventually buy a house. It provided some stability, but without financial education, she refinanced repeatedly and walked away with only $10,000 in equity after 30 years. 

"I am so convinced that if she had purchased a home through Habitat or even just gotten the education that came along with owning a home, caring for a home, and the financial aspect of it, that it would have been a very different story. For that reason, I am really, really passionate about Habitat for Humanity."

Connecting with Habitat

Catina loving her time on a Habitat build site.

Many years after seeing that first news story about a family moving into a Habitat home, Catina connected with Twin Cities Habitat through her professional role at Baird, processing stock gift donations. Then came an invitation from Habitat's former Chief of Staff Cathy Lawrence to join a Women Build day. It was exactly the nudge Catina needed. "I'd always admired Habitat but never knew how to get involved," she says. That first build day had her swinging a sledgehammer in the rain to position a wall panel on a second floor. "Who wouldn’t be hooked?!"

From there, Catina joined Habitat’s Campaign Council for emerging leaders, later serving on the Leadership Council and Campaign Cabinet. She has led Habitat build days for coworkers and even clients, who often fall in love with the work themselves. And Catina recently shared her personal story and mission at a Women Build event at the Minneapolis ReStore.

The Baird team working on a build site.

Philanthropy With Purpose

Catina believes in making every event meaningful. In 2020, when Baird offered a budget for a women’s initiative, she asked to direct the funds to Habitat instead of renting an expensive venue. "I reached out to Habitat and I said my real goal is to give the budget available as a donation to Habitat, keeping the cost of the event as low as possible so that most, if not all, of that contribution can go to Habitat."

That decision turned into a $5,000 donation and an event showcasing a presentation and panel discussion on philanthropy. And that was where that idea was born: How do we blend wanting to bring people together and raise awareness for a cause. Her philosophy is simple: Think bigger, live bigger, give bigger. And generosity isn't about how much you give; it's about how much you care.

"I can tell you, generosity is contagious. It's addictive, and it creates a ripple effect that turns personal wealth into community transformation. Staring at a big number on a piece of paper doesn't change the world, but giving now when people and organizations need it most, that's real impact. That's how you make money matter. When you think bigger, give bigger and live bigger through generosity, that's where you get truly meaningful returns, and those are the returns that I care about most."

Catina with Habitat homeowner Michelle at the Women Build Mixer.

Sponsoring a Home

Catina has long admired Habitat supporters who sponsored entire homes. "I thought I'd do that someday when I retire," she says. But when her mother passed away in 2022 after a battle with colon cancer, the idea became urgent.

Her mom had kept a life insurance policy she insisted on maintaining "just in case." When the check came, it sat unused as Catina reflected on a meaningful way to use it. In the end, she decided to honor her mother's life and her own passion for Habitat and not wait for retirement. Catina and her husband are matching her mother’s gift and rallying their network to raise $200,000 to build a Habitat home in the Twin Cities!

"Truly, this is about more than just one home. It's about creating the knowledge, stability, and dignity that all families deserve. How do we do that? We do it with and through Habitat for Humanity. Philanthropy isn't out of reach. You don't need millions to make an impact. You just need to start."

Catina’s Advice for Getting Involved

Catina posing at the photo booth at Hard Hat & Black Tie gala.

For anyone curious about Habitat, Catina says the best first step is the simplest: sign up for something. "I tell people, if it takes more than seven seconds to commit, you probably won’t. Just click the link, sign up for a build day or event, and get it on your calendar. We’re so busy, but if it’s on the calendar, it gets done."

She’s also quick to point out that even if Habitat isn’t someone’s passion, the experience can spark generosity in another area. "If bringing someone to Habitat inspires them to give back elsewhere, that still makes our community stronger."

If you’d like to help Catina reach her goal of building a home in memory of her mother, visit her donation page to contribute.