After 18 years of leadership at Opportunity Council—including 10 years as the chief executive—Greg Winter has announced his plan to retire in August 2026.  

Winter joined Opportunity Council in 2008 to help launch the Homeless Service Center, building what would become a coordinated, community-based response to homelessness in Whatcom County. He stepped into the role of Executive Director in 2016, guiding the organization through a period of significant growth, national policy shifts, expanded services, and deepened regional partnerships.  

“Leading Opportunity Council has been the honor of my professional life,” Winter said. “I’m deeply proud of the staff, board, clients, and community partners who make this organization what it is. Together, we’ve grown our capacity to meet urgent community needs while staying grounded in our mission to help people improve their lives.” 

Opportunity Council is a nonprofit Community Action Agency serving Whatcom, Island, and San Juan counties. Community Action Agencies are part of a national network founded in the 1960s to address poverty at its roots. Across the country, these agencies administer programs such as Head Start, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), and Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF), while developing local solutions that reflect the needs of their communities. 

During Winter’s tenure as Executive Director: 

  • Opportunity Council grew to nearly 450 employees across three counties, making it one of the largest nonprofit employers in Northwest Washington and a significant contributor to the region’s human services workforce. 
  • The agency expanded energy assistance, housing stabilization, early learning, and other services across the region with annual revenue increasing to approximately $70 million. 
  • Under Winter’s leadership, Opportunity Council developed more than 300 new, affordable homes (an additional 150 apartments to open in the next two years)—the most significant expansion of affordable housing in the organization’s history, serving families, seniors, Veterans, and individuals rebuilding after homelessness. 
  • During the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 10,000 families and households remained in their homes through emergency rental and housing stabilization assistance. 
  • In partnership with PeaceHealth, Unity Care NW, and Whatcom County, Opportunity Council opened the Way Station medical respite program, a safe place for recovery for patients discharged from inpatient care but with no other safe place to recover. 

Winter’s tenure also included moments where Opportunity Council made difficult operational decisions to align with its values. In 2019, the organization ended a more than 25-year commercial kitchen lease with an organization that fired a teenage staff member over his sexual orientation. Opportunity Council cited its non-discrimination obligations in federally and state-funded contracts and described the decision as a “live-your-values moment.” 

“Greg’s leadership strengthened both the mission and the infrastructure of Opportunity Council,” said Rebecca Boonstra, president of the Opportunity Council Board of Directors. “He grew the organization thoughtfully, invested in staff and partnerships, and helped ensure we can continue serving our community with stability and integrity.” 

Opportunity Council’s Board of Directors has initiated a national search for the organization’s next Executive Director and is committed to a thoughtful transition. Winter will remain in his role through August 2026. 

Information about the Executive Director position and the search process will be available at oppco.org/leadership-transition.