Editor's Note: To honor Women's History Month, celebrated each March, this is the first in a series of articles highlighting notable Shenandoah County women. 

MOUNT JACKSON — Sitting in her office, surrounded by framed words of encouragement, Olivia Hilton is in her element. Recently named the first female town manager of Mount Jackson, Hilton is embracing her title and proving that a new era of female talent is on the horizon for small rural communities.

“Being a woman, I have a frame in my office that I recite regularly that says, ‘Know your worth and then add tax.’ That’s how I try to live,” said Hilton, who at 32 years old is also Mount Jackson's youngest town manager.

The Front Royal native, who defines herself as colorful, generous and forgiving, recalled a time in middle school when she was class president and her first speech had to be proofread by her principal.

“I think he was worried I was going to do something, like some sort of protest to the man,” she said with a chuckle. “I’m not entirely sure, but I knew from a young age that I was different.”

After graduating from Radford University, Hilton explored and traveled. But as she says, the Valley just calls you home.

“I’m grateful that I’ve been able to find a career here because a lot of times there's not always an opportunity for our young people to come back and be able to work, live and play in a community that they care about or grew up in,” said Hilton, who before coming to Mount Jackson worked for several years as the town of Strasburg's director of strategic initiatives. 

Hilton said she was surprised she found her next step so close by in the Town of Mount Jackson.

“I think this opportunity, especially, I adore Strasburg and this county, so to be able to keep those county connections and then just transition to the southern end was huge because it also took a little bit of the learning curve away from stepping into a new role.”

Looking at a sign on her wall that her mother recently gave her, "Don’t let anyone ever dull your sparkle," Hilton continued.

“You shouldn’t have to shrink yourself to make yourself more digestible. So, I think that's kind of how I’ve embraced it more, because growing up, you know, of course, you’re going to hit those traditional gender norms, where you’re told you should be quiet, kind and girly. That just never felt right to me.”

There have been a few times her boisterous personality has backfired on her, but Hilton said she’s proud of her upbringing and has no intention of changing who she is.

“I wanted to come and make waves and change. I’m a bit of a bulldozer. But I’m not going to change my stars anymore," she said. “My parents obviously had a lot to do with that, the shaping of me and allowing me to be a little different.”

Raised by a strong mother and an affectionate father, Hilton was always told she came from a strong stock. Her biggest support is her mother, Hilton said. She’s her number one volunteer, number one cheerleader and always has her back.

“She taught me a lot about growing up. How to treat people, to send thank-you notes, things that still matter,” she said.

Hilton said her parents both worked hard to send her and her brother to college. Perhaps her love of small businesses also comes from the fact that she comes from a line of entrepreneurs. But there’s also a more sober reason for that appreciation of the small-town spirit.

“When I was in high school, my family lost our home to a fire," she said. "The community in Front Royal rallied around us. They literally gave us the shirts off their backs.” 

Leaving for college when her father was rebuilding their family home felt strange, Hilton said, but she was reminded how grateful she was and still is for growing up in a small town like Front Royal.

“I love thinking of those humble beginnings that my parents had, and they allowed me and my brother to start on that more equitable land, you didn’t have to fight to pay back your loans, you could just invest in yourself and move forward,” she said.

On a more professional level, Hilton shines when she talks about Michelle Bixler, Woodstock’s deputy town manager.

“She was my mentor in Strasburg,” Hilton explained. “She taught me all the things when it came to government. I related to her sense of urgency and creativity, which is rare in government.”

Both women were recently accepted into Virginia Women’s Municipal Leadership Institute and will spend eight months together in various cities across the Commonwealth where they will build a female cohort.

“I joke that I’ve joined the Old White Man’s Club,” Hilton said when asked about barriers in government. “I’m, on average, six years younger than the average Mount Jacksonian. I’ve had a lot of, ‘Oh! I didn’t know you were so young,’ or ‘Who’s in charge?’ or ‘You’re too pretty to be in your job.'’’

Despite the skepticism, Hilton is thriving.

“Everyone has been trusting and supporting. More than I expected," she said. "They’re very much true to their word. We want all the things here in Mount Jackson.”

And Hilton plans to bring "all the things" to the southern end of the county. She’s currently working on a new town website, rebranding a master park plan, and has hired a diverse group of individuals who have not come from traditional government backgrounds. Hilton meets with town residents on Friday mornings to hear their suggestions and commentary.

When Hilton looks back at her middle school self, she acknowledged she had no idea she’d land in a government position, much less a town manager.

“It's a little surreal to think a young girl might read this and think to themselves, ‘I want to be a town manager.' Or that I might encourage her but it’s also very exciting because I think that resilience is important to build across the board. You’re going to get pushed back and you’re going to feel uncomfortable at times in your career. But stand up and speak for yourself.”

One final note, while walking out the door, Hilton added:

“Create your support system. Develop those friendships, the female friendships, any type of friendships, but that strengthen you personally, professionally regardless of what your background is. If you invest in yourself, you’re creating that space. Bring yourself to the table, ask questions, advocate for yourself.”