More News

Rector leads homebuilder’s new active-adult division

Friday, Oct. 27, 2006

Allen L. Rector wants to help baby boomers keep working and playing near friends and family as long as they can.

‘‘We expect Allen to be a tremendous asset” as the new director of the soon-to-be launched Active Adult Division of Winchester Homes, said John Monacci, vice president of operations at the Bethesda building company.

Rector is one who would appreciate an active adult life, Monacci said.

Rector is a former Marine, speed skater, award-winning salesman, electronics technician, construction firm vice president and head of an active-adult community construction company in Virginia. And, if that’s not enough activity for one person at a ripe young age of 40, Rector is also a father, husband and grandfather.

‘‘The reason we are excited at Winchester to have Allen lead our active adult team is because of his varied life experiences, not only in the active adult business, but also with his demonstrated leadership in building successful teams,” Monacci said.

Active-adult communities, popping up across the nation, are known for spacious, landscaped grounds, state-of-the-art fitness centers, art centers, clubs and being close to shops and health care facilities for busy older adults.

Rector will develop the plan for Winchester’s active-adult business by drawing foremost from team-building skills that he learned as a Marine. He said the military opened his mind to boundless opportunities.

‘‘The skill set I got in the Marines has opened many doors, from building a confidence level to knowing what a small cohesive unit can accomplish efficiently in a little time,” he said.

He will lead the sales, production and service efforts in all of the company’s active-adult communities and also hire, train and manage the various community teams.

‘‘I am very excited to join Winchester Homes to develop the new active-adult business to its fullest potential,” he said.

Previously, Rector was vice president of the active-adult community division, called Del Webb, of Pulte Homes Inc. of Bloomfield Hills, Mich.

The initial wave of active-adult communities, stemming from single-income families of the ’50s, Rector explained, was ‘‘toward the mindset that it had to be near a destination, such as a resort.”

The trend is now reversing itself with two-income families, he said.

‘‘These are people who do not want to move away from friends and family,” he said. ‘‘They want to continue to work and live near them.”

The active-adult market is defined as 55- to 74-year-olds.

‘‘Obviously the baby-boomer population is feeding into it,” he said. ‘‘The 2000 census showed that 21 million homeowners are 55 plus ... and they account for 64 percent of the national earned income and 57 percent of the total net worth.

‘‘It is not just about hobbies,” he said. ‘‘They are still working hard, managing a portfolio, raising children and grandchildren.”

Rector, a native of Virginia, grew up in Warrenton. He graduated from the Marine Corps Communications Electronics School and attended the Marine Corps Institute in Washington, D.C., where he specialized in administration, personnel management, finance and communications.

While an electronics technician, he supervised 45 Marines, implemented safety standards, planned training programs and coordinated team efforts.

In 1990, he was named top salesman and worked in transportation, distribution and logistics at Pepsi Cola Co. in Manassas, Va.

He has also served on the Maryland National Capital Building Industry Association and the Fauquier County and Fredericksburg area chapters of the Northern Virginia Builders Association.

He is also a certified coach of regional and national speed-skating champions.

‘‘I am most proud of my coaching, especially watching the determination and development of young skaters,” he said.

From 1994 to 1997 Rector competed in the National Speed Skating Indoor Championships. And he has served the Southeast region as a representative on the National Board of the U.S.A. Speed Skating Association.

Rector and his wife, who live in Conde, Va., have four children and one grandchild.