In his shirt emblazoned with the Airlie logo, general manager Josh Reichert is a walking billboard for AU’s picturesque property in Warrenton, Virginia. Inquisitive community members often pepper Reichert with questions about Airlie, prompting him to share what makes the historic property about an hour outside of DC so special to locals and travelers alike.

“It’s truly a blessing to work at Airlie,” he said. “Parking my car and walking through the beauty that is Airlie to my office gives me peace and serenity as I start my day.”

Reichert joined Airlie in July 2021 and took over as general manager in April 2022, overseeing 230 of the property’s 317 acres—everything except Airlie Berkshire Farm. He manages an operation with more than 120 dedicated staff that has welcomed roughly 15,000 guests in 2023 alone.

For his efforts, Reichert was named one of five finalists for the Fauquier County Chamber of Commerce Emerging Leader of the Year Award in November. Although he didn’t win the honor, Reichert said his nomination highlights the staff’s dedication and commitment to spreading the word about the 124-year-old Airlie, which was gifted to AU in 2016 as part of the Change Can’t Wait campaign.

“We’re starting to get out there and show we’re part of the community,” Reichert said. “We’re trying to be a good neighbor and a good partner. Just to be part of that conversation and part of that award is a great thing for Airlie.”

Earlier this year, the property—long an oasis for sharing ideas and solving problems, having hosted countless civil rights leaders, cabinet secretaries, heads of state, and more—was also named to the Historic Hotels of America’s list of the country’s most haunted hotels and those with the most magnificent gardens. This fall, the organization, part of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, recognized Airlie one of the best historic hotels in the US with 76 to 200 rooms. It also honored Airlie for its social media.

“These awards and honors are recognition of what we at AU already know: Airlie is a special property with endless opportunities for our community of changemakers,” said Bronté Burleigh-Jones, Kogod/BS ’91, MBA ’93, CFO, vice president, and treasurer. “I’m grateful for the dedication of our hardworking team as we continue our efforts to maximize opportunities across campus, throughout Fauquier County, and beyond.”

In November, the property hosted the inaugural AU-Airlie 5K Fun Run Race and Fall Festival, which drew more than 100 attendees. Airlie—which this year introduced a community-supported agriculture program that now boasts more than 100 subscribers—also hosts bingo nights, trivia, and other social events to bring locals to the property, which features a Top Golf simulator, restaurant, and bar.

Michael Scher, SOC/BA ’08, WCL/JD ’13, Kogod/MS ’19, assistant vice president of Campus Auxiliary Services and Airlie, said the 2023 accolades “are an acknowledgement of the work done by everybody on the team at Airlie, but also at AU on the visioning board to really bring Airlie to the forefront of what we’re doing.”

“You don’t get these things because one person is doing the work,” he said. “You get it because everybody’s coming to the table and sees the value. It gives us all really good evidence that what we’re doing matters.”