Windy Hill Welcomes A New Executive Director

Windy Hill Welcomes A New Executive Director

By M.J. McAteer

In the 40-plus years Middleburg’s Windy Hill Foundation has been providing affordable housing to local families, older adults and people with disabilities, its executive director has always been drawn from people who had served on its governing board.

Eloise Repeczky, who took over the executive director’s job Nov. 1 from the retiring Bob Dale, is a break from that tradition.

Repeczky’s arrival also marks a second never-before for Windy Hill: At 33, she’s its first executive director to be younger than the organization she’ll be leading.

“I’m used to being the youngest,” said the unfazed Repeczky. “I have familiarity with working with a lot of generations.”

Eloise Repeczky, Windy Hill’s new executive director

Gabrielle Gallegos, president of the Windy Hill board, is a member of one of those “other” generations, but she has zero concerns about Repeczky’s relatively tender age.

“Even [at that age], people can be seasoned,” she said. “Eloise brings a breadth of experience” to the job.

A glance at Repeczky’s resume bares out that assessment.

In her previous employment with several large Washington law firms, she proved herself to be a marathon multitasker. Repeczky devised marketing and business development plans, handled communications, managed websites, organized webinars and symposiums and dealt with workflow issues. All those skills will come in handy at Windy Hill, along with her age-appropriate ease with modern technology.

Law firms can “be a real pressure cooker,” said Gallegos, an attorney. “Eloise survived it with grace. She is amazingly poised.”

Repeczky left her last job with the global law firm Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP in the summer of 2021. She was the Business Development Manager for the firm and has led significant volunteer fundraising efforts with multiple non-profit organizations. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in international and global studies from Sewanee: The University of the South.

“I wanted to reevaluate and give serious thought to what should come next,” she said of her ensuing work hiatus. During that down period, she took a three-month road trip with only her dog, Souffle, for company, while her husband, Will Nisbet, stayed in Middleburg to work. Nisbet is director of institutional development at The Hill School, and the couple reside in faculty housing off Madison Street.

On her solo journey, Repeczky drove 15,000 miles and logged 700 miles of hiking, which gave her plenty of time to think.

“I’m incredibly grateful to have had that opportunity,” she said. “It put into perspective what I wanted--to be in a community setting with a missionbased organization. Now, I can’t wait to collaborate.”

Repeczky will have some big shoes to fill. Bob Dale was a retired CPA when a couple of his fellow board members approached him six years ago about taking on Windy Hill’s top job. His tenure as executive director turned out to be “an encore career,” he said, and a win for the foundation.

“Bob understands complex business and banking arrangements inside and out,” Gallegos said, which was hugely helpful in getting housing built. Just as important as his clinical expertise, however, was the depth of his personal relationships in the community.

Windy Hill works “with friends and neighbors, not some distant beneficiaries,” Gallegos added. And having lived in the Middleburg area for more than 45 years, Dale was a natural to represent the nonprofit.

His personality was another big plus. “Bob is the most pleasant person you could ever hope to work with,” Gallegos said. “He is gracious, considerate, kind and unflappable.”

As executive director, Dale oversaw the completion of two projects--30 townhomes at Washburn Place in Marshall, and 96 apartments at Heronview in Sterling. That brought Windy Hill’s housing inventory to about 310 units, now home to more than 850 people.

He also built up resident services programs such as after-school programs and an educational fund to fill gaps in financial aid for students. He’s especially pleased when Windy Hill residents manage to move on to marketrate housing and even become homeowners.

“I love the cause, and I love making a difference,” he said. “My greatest fulfillment was helping residents improve their lives.”

Dale will stay on as chief financial officer for an indeterminate time as Repeczky learns the ropes. Then, he said, “I’ll ride off into the sunset.”

Still, apparently he won’t ride far, because he expects he’ll find ways to volunteer his services to Windy Hill. Don’t be surprised, Gallegos said, to spot him behind the wheel of one of Windy Hill’s minibuses one day soon, assisting residents in getting medical care or taking their kids to camp.