Mara Hilliar Retires after Memorable 30-year Career

Mara Hilliar

Mara Hilliar started as a temporary employee with the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office in August of 1988 and with 30 years of service on the books, she retires this month.

"Working for all three branches of Virginia’s government including the Governor’s cabinet, I have worn many, many hats over the years such as executive assistant to the president/chief of staff, adjunct instructor, office manager, administrative staff specialist, assistant editor and researcher for the Blue Book of the Commonwealth, enrolling assistant, and restoration of rights and executive clemency coordinator," she says.

The last five years of her work in the Commonwealth has been for UVA and she has made a difference during her tenure. She began in the School of Architecture as the assistant to the dean before coming to UVAFinance as the executive assistant to Vice President for Finance Melody Bianchetto.

"Mara is committed to lifelong learning, being a dedicated football mom and attentive grandmom, analyzing the best way to get anything done, and serving as chief DocuSign advocate at UVA," says Bianchetto. 

"Mara enjoys a challenge and will stick with a complex meeting task until it is complete, no matter how many blocks are put up."

In her career, Hilliar has most enjoyed connecting people to resources, "I considered myself a true civil servant and with the mission of looking for ways to help serve Virginia’s constituency. Because I had the opportunity to work in many different agencies and engage with many diverse populations, I was able to see how services and programs intersected. I used this knowledge to help those lost in where to go and how to go about getting what they needed to point them in the right direction and provide options."

Back in 1996 during the General Assembly, Hilliar worked for the Senate Finance Committee as their office manager. Due to the 1995 election, the Senate ended up split evenly by party and the influential Senate Finance Committee ended up power-sharing with co-chairs. The House of Delegates, specifically the House Appropriations Committee and House Speaker, thought this would weaken the Senate and when it came time for budget negotiations thought they would have the upper hand.

Hilliar recalls of this time, "Negotiations stalled and because this was before the practice of extending the session or coming back at another time, the legislature had to pass a balanced budget before the last day of the session per the Virginia Constitution."

Hilliar stepped in to go above and beyond in her role, "After the conference committee finally convened, the analysts approved all the numbers, it was left to the office managers of both money committees to see the budget conference report got printed and onto the floor of the respective chambers for the members to vote. And those familiar with the final report know that it is the size of a book. I did an all-nighter that lasted 36 hours total but ended with me being escorted by Capitol Police as I rolled the 50 copies from the General Assembly Building to the floor of the Senate in time for the vote."

Her career has been made memorable by the projects she's managed and the people she has supported, but also because of her generous personality and creativity.

"I am constantly blown away by her. Mara is a renaissance woman who relishes getting her hands dirty with topsoil while growing almost anything, an amazingly creative artist and craftsperson, a mixologist and chef, a lover of books, and a generator of unique ideas for UVAFinance swag - chocolate bars, anyone? I’ll always remember her as someone who does whatever is needed to get the job done even with grace and a smile," Bianchetto shares.

Hilliar's last day in the office is Sept. 30 and a celebration of her time with UVAFinance is planned during the networking event at 4 p.m. on Sept. 29 during the Fall Meeting.