Founder & CEO

Nora El-Khouri Spencer, MSW, Founder and CEO of Hope Renovations, is on a mission to empower underemployed women and gender expansive folks into the construction trades while helping seniors access the repairs and renovations they need to stay in their homes as they age. After a 15-year career in corporate human resources and recruiting, Nora (a self-taught remodeler) decided to switch directions to pursue a Master of Social Work from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a focus on social entrepreneurship. In Summer 2020, Nora combined her workforce development expertise, her experience in the construction industry, and her passion for women’s empowerment to launch Hope, a 501c3 nonprofit.
Nora is an NC Licensed Building Contractor. She has received multiple honors for her work, including being named the 2023 National Association of Home Builders’ “Woman of the Year”. In 2022, Nora was recognized as a Top Ten CNN Hero, and she has had multiple guest appearances on the Drew Barrymore Show.
Nora is an avid UNC Tar Heels and LA Dodgers fan, a Master Gardener, and a beach addict. She lives in Chapel Hill with her husband Brian and several spoiled pets, and is expecting her first child in March.