The Anniston Housing Authority is proud to announce the retirement of Mr. Willie B. McMahand, Jr., affectionately known as Sonny. Sonny’s official last day will be December 3, 2022, giving him approximately 10 years of service with the authority.

Born and raised in Greenville, SC., Willie B. “Sonny” McMahand, Jr. received his degree in Sociology from Johnson C. Smith University in 1978. Looking for work in his field of study, he landed the position of Inspector at Greenville Housing Authority in Greenville, South Carolina. In the coming years, he also worked for Charlotte Housing Authority and Durham Housing Authority. In Charlotte, he was among the leadership team that transformed three major affordable housing communities.  As the Chief Operating Officer in Durham, NC, he led the agency out of a ‘troubled Housing Authority status’ and successfully transitioned it to HUD’s mandated Asset Management Program. During this time, Sonny furthered his education, receiving additional training and certifications from The National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO), Nan McKay and Associates, and the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM).

In December 2012, Sonny was selected as the Executive Director of the Anniston Housing Authority (AHA) to transform Anniston’s Public Housing into communities where people want to live, work, and succeed.  Since then, AHA has achieved high performer statuses in both its Public Housing and Housing Choice Voucher Programs and developed a housing redevelopment strategy for all Public Housing units.

In 2013 Sonny pioneered AHA’s nonprofit, Anniston Fatherhood Initiative, where he is currently the Chairman. This nonprofit provides training for men to become better fathers and how they can become involved in the community with their children. The program also assists boys and young men who need guidance in different aspects of life. Sonny has been an extremely impactful mentor to the fathers and children in Anniston. He attends all functions for the program and is very hands on with the direction of the program. As a father of three, all boys, this program is extremely important to him, and he has made a phenomenal effort of helping make this program a success!

Sonny has been an immaculate motivator and leader and has always pushed his team at AHA to strive for the best. He challenges them to think outside the box and always do what’s best for the people we serve. From AHA’s successful collaborations with other entities, to inspiring employees to further their education, Sonny has always made it a point to aim high! Under his leadership, AHA has embraced a vision and accomplished the following goals:

• Board approval of a Development Strategy to implement the repositioning of Public Housing Properties
• Collaboration with the City of Anniston, Anniston City Schools on the West Anniston Master Plan
• Management Operations Report and Transition to HUD required Asset Management Properties
• Cooper Homes fence removal, resident relocation, and demolition
• Constantine Homes- renovations, EnVision Center, Landry facility
• Successful relocation of Residents from Glen Addie Homes
• Hobson City Apartments Renovations
• Housing Development Corporation (HDC)- renovation of four units and new construction of two units
• Barber Terrace Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) Conversion & Redevelopment
• Employment Training Center
• Family Self Sufficiency Program & Fatherhood Initiative
• Resident Opportunities for Self Sufficiency (ROSS) Program
• Occupational, Skills and Training (OST) Program
• Duly elected Resident Council & Award-winning newsletter
• Management of Heflin Housing Authority for 6 years
• HUD Real Estate Assessment Condition (REAC) Physical Inspection scores above 90 for six consecutive years
• No Audit findings for the last 5 years
• Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program, Section Eight Management Assessment Program (SEMAP) high performer or standard performer for 9 yrs
• Public Housing Assessment System (PHAS) – from troubled to standard or high performer 6 of last 10 years
• Newly constructed Website and Social Media outlets
• Development of Standard Operating Procedures for all Departments
• Installation of Audio Video equipment in four Office/Community Buildings
• Purchase of two Vans which includes one handicapped accessible van
• Successful award of Safety and Security Grant which allowed for Camera’s installation, Carbon Monoxide (CO) detectors and fencing

Following retirement, Sonny plans to return to his hometown of Greenville, SC, with his wife, Vickie Ellis. He is excited for this new chapter in his life, and we here at AHA are grateful to have been under his leadership for the last 10 years!