Making a Home—and a Future—in Wilmington

Photo: What began as a place to reset became the place where Sam Kondracki learned how to build community.

Sam Kondracki has lived in Wilmington three separate times since 2018. Each return marked a new chapter, shaped by growth, exploration, and an evolving sense of purpose. 

“Moving to Wilmington for the first time in 2018 truly changed my life,” Sam says. “It provided me a refresh on my life and clarity on what I wanted to do.”

That first move gave her something she hadn’t realized she needed: space. Wilmington became a place where she could pause, reflect, and imagine what might come next.

Grounding and Growth

That sense of grounding gave Sam the confidence to explore elsewhere. Wilmington “provided me the space to grow,” she explains—growth that eventually took her to Colorado, the Carolinas, and back again. Each time she left, Southern Vermont remained a constant. “The Green Mountains and the community welcomed me back each time,” Sam says, “encouraging me in each new adventure I wanted to explore.”

At the end of 2024, after living in a combined eight different states, Sam and her husband bought their first home in Wilmington. “We feel at peace knowing Southern Vermont is home,” she says.

Finding a Passion for Community Building

When Sam decided she was ready to return for good, she knew she wanted to be in Wilmington—but wasn’t yet sure what her work would look like. A conversation with her father helped point the way. 

“In 2023, when I called and said I was ready to move back to Wilmington but wasn’t sure what I wanted to pursue for work, he suggested Wilmington Works,” she recalls. Wilmington Works is the town’s Main Street organization, focused on downtown vitality. 

Sam joined the nonprofit with curiosity and openness. “I had no idea what working for a nonprofit entailed,” she says, “but I was interested to learn more.” What followed was a turning point. With support from the board and time to settle back into the community, Sam found a role that brought her unexpected fulfillment. “Now,” she says, “I have more passion for what I do than I ever imagined possible.”

Today, as Executive Director of Wilmington Works, Sam focuses on strengthening the local economy through small-business support, workforce development, and downtown revitalization. This includes everything from sending other newcomers “Welcome!” postcards to administering façade improvement grants and business plan competitions to organizing a regular “Village Stroll” to get locals together in the heart of town, whether for fairy villages or to walk through a batch of available commercial space. 

Investing in the Future – Personally and Professionally

Sam credits her father—who moved to Wilmington 15 years ago—with giving her a place to land, leave, and return. 

“He gave me room to grow, try new things, leave and come back several times,” she says. “Each time offering me a place to come back to.”

For Sam, returning to Southern Vermont wasn’t about settling—it was about arriving. Wilmington offered the space to grow, the freedom to explore, and ultimately, the opportunity to build something lasting. By choosing to come back—and by investing her energy in the town’s future—Sam Kondracki has turned a place that once offered clarity into a place she now helps lead forward.

Move to Vermont

Want to live here too? We’d love to have you! Check out the resources on our Move to Vermont page or Connect with a Vermonter to get connect to our 1:1 relocation support.