Springfield WORKS Founding Executive Director Anne Kandilis to Retire After a Decade of Leadership

Organization launches search for next Executive Director to build on its strong foundation and lead the next chapter

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – August 20, 2026 –
Springfield WORKS today announced that founding Executive Director Anne Kandilis will retire from her role at the end of the year, concluding a decade of leadership. The organization has launched a search for its next Executive Director to build on that foundation and help shape Springfield WORKS’ next chapter.

Springfield WORKS was established through the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston’s Working Cities Challenge. The initiative received an implementation grant in 2016 and began its work in 2017, bringing employers, educators, workforce organizations, community leaders, government and residents together to strengthen pathways to economic opportunity.

As Springfield WORKS’ first Executive Director, Kandilis has led its evolution from a collaborative initiative into a recognized regional workforce and economic development organization. During her tenure, Springfield WORKS has developed career pathways, strengthened connections between employers and talent, advanced new approaches to workforce participation and economic mobility, and brought partners together to address barriers that no single organization can solve alone.

Its work now spans education, healthcare, financial services, legal services, clean energy and skilled trades, along with broader economic mobility initiatives including the statewide Bridge to Prosperity Cliff Effect Pilot.

“Anne’s decade of leadership has been foundational to Springfield WORKS and to the way our region thinks about the connection between workforce and economic development. She leaves Springfield WORKS with a strong reputation, deep partnerships and a track record of meaningful impact. We’re grateful for what she has built and excited to welcome the leader who will carry that work forward while bringing their own vision to what comes next.”

“Springfield WORKS has become an important and distinctive voice in our region’s workforce and economic development landscape. Anne has built an organization that brings employers, educators, workforce leaders and community partners together around a shared goal of creating stronger pathways to opportunity. We’re looking for a leader who can build on that foundation, deepen those partnerships and bring a bold vision for what Springfield WORKS can accomplish next.”

“Springfield WORKS is in a period of growth and is ready for new leadership, fresh eyes and new energy. I’m proud of what we have built together and deeply grateful to the partners and community who have made this work possible. This feels like the right time for the next leader to bring their own perspective and vision to what comes next.”

Opportunity to Lead the Next Chapter

The next Executive Director will have the opportunity to deepen strategic partnerships, strengthen employer engagement, advance sector-based workforce strategies and career pathways, grow and diversify resources, and champion the role of talent and economic mobility in regional competitiveness.

The full-time position is based in Springfield with a hybrid work schedule and periodic travel throughout Massachusetts. The salary range is $165,000-$180,000 annually, plus a competitive benefits package, commensurate with experience and qualifications.

The ideal candidate will bring at least 10 years of progressive leadership experience in economic development, workforce development, organizational or nonprofit leadership, public policy, community development, or a related field, along with demonstrated success building cross-sector partnerships, growing resources, and advancing economic mobility and regional prosperity.

Kandilis will continue leading Springfield WORKS through December 31 and will work with the Springfield WORKS Board of Directors and Western Mass Economic Development Council leadership to support a smooth and thoughtful transition.