Dora Robinson to Step Down at United Way of Pioneer Valley
SPRINGFIELD — United Way of Pioneer Valley (UWPV) announced that the organization’s president and CEO, Dora Robinson, will retire effective June 30, 2017, starting an orderly leadership transition over the next six months. The board of trustees named Jeffrey Ciuffreda as the organization’s interim president and CEO, effective immediately. Robinson will continue to serve UWPV as president emeritus.
Robinson’s decision will bring to a close a career of moren than 40 years of nonprofit leadership in the Greater Springfield community, the last seven with UWPV.
“We thank Dora for her years of service, celebrate her contributions, and are excited to build upon them,” said Bennett Markens, president of the UWPV board of trustees. “It is our sincere hope that she enjoys this well-deserved retirement.”
Added Robinson, “it has been an honor to lead this organization alongside our dedicated volunteers, staff, and board members. I look forward to working with Jeff, the board, and the management team during the six-month transition period.”
Robinson began with UWPV in 2009. Under her leadership, the organization launched several new strategies to diversify revenues contributing to education, homelessness, basic needs, and financial-security programs, among others. During her tenure, she co-founded the UWPV Women’s Leadership Council to engage local women leaders in supporting financial literacy and health initiatives for women and girls. She also led the effort to establish UWPV as a support organization for local and regional disaster-recovery efforts.
With Ciuffreda managing day-to-day operations, the board of directors will conduct an exhaustive search for Robinson’s successor. “As the search for a permanent replacement moves forward, we know that UWPV is in good hands and that there will be no interruption in the critical services we provide in our community,” said Markens.
Ciuffreda noted that “the United Way has been providing key support to families and organizations across the Valley for 94 years and has operated at a high level in this role. It is my hope to not only maintain the organization’s success, but also build upon it. I am honored to lead an organization with such an impressive legacy.”
Ciuffreda becomes interim president and chief executive officer of UWPV after his August retirement from the Springfield Regional Chamber of Commerce, where he served for 29 years, the last five as president.
