Page 53 - BusinessWest February 19, 2024

Simply put, Rudder said, “I just think I have been called to contribute to important causes, and I go after that.”
Her first nonprofit job was in Buffalo, N.Y., where she grew up, for an organization called Women for Human Rights & Dignity. “It just like cracked me open, like, ‘oh, the skills that I have and the compassion that I have ... they can be aligned, and I get paid to do awesome, impactful work?’
“That was all about women’s empowerment,” she added. “We did alternatives-to-incarceration programs and domestic-violence support and non- traditional education and housing. I was really young, and I had a little baby, and I was doing this good work, but also learning how to run a business.”
Since then, Rudder has taken care to align with causes that are important to her, moving into work with fair housing and civil rights in the Buffalo region before moving to Western Mass., where her first pathway to organizational leadership was at MotherWoman, a nonprofit focused
on maternal health and well-being, where she served as executive director.
Later, she was executive director
for Providence Ministries Inc., a
nonprofit advocating for and supporting
marginalized populations across programs
dedicated to food security, addiction
recovery, housing, clothing, and workforce development. That role opened her eyes to many types of need and further honed her sharp sense of empathy.
“I remember my grandmother saying, ‘but for God’s grace,
Shannon Rudder with the two youth emcees from last month’s MLK Day celebration.
“I just think
I have been called to contribute
to important causes, and I go after that.”
Congratulations, Shannon Rudder!
For over 150 years, Monson Savings Bank has been a trusted, local, community bank dedicated to making a positive impact for individuals, businesses, and communities. Our community partner, Shannon Rudder, is
a passionate and impactful community leader who is dedicated to addressing important needs of our shared communities. We’re proud to congratulate Shannon for being deservingly recognized as a 2024 Difference Maker!
Shannon Rudder, President & CEO
Martin Luther King Jr. Family Services
Congrats to all of the 2024 Difffference Makers www.monsonsavings.bank
BusinessWest
2024 A33