Nancy M. MacMillan, Executive Director
Hired in July 2022 as the first WLB Executive Director, Nancy MacMillan has unique experience in that her professional background is both within the public and private sectors, working in the “for profit” and “not for profit” industries, in real estate, affordable housing development, community development, and within county government.
Nancy graduated from Saint John’s University in Jamaica, New York with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice. Her original aspirations were to go to Law School at St John’s University but after graduation, she pursued a career in commercial real estate appraising, obtaining a General Certified Real Estate Appraiser License with the State of New York. As a commercial real estate appraiser, Nancy analyzed commercial real estate, taxes/assessments, feasibility of real property, and market trends. This analytical ability, along with her staff's capabilities at the Land Bank, assists the WLB in repurposing blighted property and returning properties to viable uses for the City.
Ms. MacMillan’s experience employed in Westchester County Government in the Planning Dept was an invaluable experience. Working with the County Executive’s office, and Board of Legislators, underwriting projects for grants or loans provided by the County, as Director of Housing, Nancy and her staff were responsible for the asset management of over 1,500 properties which received grants/loans provided by the County.
As Director of Real Estate Development in New Haven for Common Ground Community, a NYC based not for profit supportive housing development organization, Nancy, as Director, managed their New Haven Office. This was her first opportunity to fulfill a life passion to develop affordable housing, starting with the redevelopment of the Historic Hollander Building on Asylum Ave in Hartford. This historic building was vacant for years until it was acquired and redeveloped into a 76 unit, mixed-use, mixed-income, historic rehab, and LEADS certified project…the first in City of Hartford. With the partnership of Yale School of Architecture, the West Haven Veterans Administration, and the Greater New Haven Community Loan Fund, Nancy was the team leader for Common Ground Community in creating their first home ownership-housing model. Yale students designed and built several two-family homes for moderate- and low-income families with focus on female veterans.
As Executive Director for Loyola Development Corporation in the City of Waterbury, Ms. MacMillan assisted in the revitalization of the South End Neighborhood. Partnering with the Carabetta Organization, Loyola Development developed Liberty Commons, an affordable housing project for families, on South Main Street.
As Executive Director for the WLB, Nancy has strong aspirations to continue her community development work in Waterbury with her Board of Directors, and her colleagues.