Longtime Opportunity Council executive director announces retirement
When Greg Winter was first offered a job with Opportunity Council, he almost turned it down.
It was 2008, and Winter was already doing work with homelessness and affordability in Whatcom County. He helped found the nonprofit Kulshan Community Land Trust in 1999, and was doing planning work with the county around the issue of homelessness.
The Whatcom Homeless Service Center was a new idea at the time, and Opportunity Council agreed to take it on, on behalf of the county. They wanted Winter to lead it — and after thinking about the experiences he’d had over the years and the people he’d worked with both as clients and partners, he agreed.
He led the department for the nonprofit for eight years before becoming Opportunity Council’s executive director. Now, after over a decade in the position, he’s stepping away to usher in a new era for the organization.
“I really feel like it’s time for change and for a new generation of leadership,” Winter told The Herald.
During Winter’s time as executive director, Opportunity Council developed more than 300 new, affordable homes; grew to become one of the largest nonprofit employers in Northwest Washington; co-developed a 16-bed residential treatment facility for people with mental illness who are experiencing homelessness; and provided emergency rental and housing stabilization assistance to over 10,000 households during the pandemic.
Winter said none of these accomplishments were his alone, though — it was all about Opportunity Council and its staff as a whole.
“I’m really proud of the team and the difference that they’ve made in people’s lives,” Winter said.
He said people often come up to him in public when he’s wearing Opportunity Council-branded clothing to share how the nonprofit helped them or their loved ones.
“It’s heartwarming and inspiring, and it really speaks to the wide-ranging impact that our staff have had throughout the communities that we serve,” Winter said. “I hope Opportunity Council will continue its tradition of assessing community needs on a regular basis and rising to the challenge of those needs as it moves on into the future like we’ve done in the past.”
Winter’s replacement will be chosen by the Opportunity Council Board of Directors, led by its president Rebecca Boonstra.
Boonstra recalled meeting Winter when she joined the board in 2014. She said he’s always been caring and approachable, with a “quiet confidence” and a dedication to his work.
“I could really tell that he found a lot of value in it,” Boonstra said. “It was not just a paycheck and a time clock to punch.”
She said Winter should be proud of his leadership of the organization, and that he’ll be leaving Opportunity Council in a good financial position to continue its work going forward.
Boonstra was disappointed when she learned Winter was retiring, but she said the feeling quickly faded into gratitude for his impact on both her life and those of many others. She added that whoever replaces Winter has “some sturdy shoes to fill.”
The board is looking for someone with patience, leadership skills and a good attitude, Boonstra said. She explained that the executive director needs to be able to act as a conduit between the government and people who need a hand – and be able to do so in a way that’s empowering, not pitying.
Winter will remain in his position through August to help with the transition process. To learn more or apply, visit oppco.org/leadership-transition.