YWCA Central Massachusetts has elected longtime board member Elizabeth Thompson as president of its Board of Directors, placing the Holden resident and Hanover Insurance Group executive at the helm of the nonprofit’s volunteer leadership as it prepares for the coming year.
Thompson, who has served on the YWCA board since 2018, was elected to a one-year term leading the organization’s 17-member board, which helps set the strategic direction and policies guiding the nonprofit’s mission of eliminating racism and empowering women.
An assistant vice president of Professional & Executive Lines Delegated Distribution at The Hanover Insurance Group, Thompson brings experience in technology, operations and organizational leadership. She holds a degree in economics from Mount Holyoke College and has previously been recognized as one of the Worcester Business Journal’s 40 Under Forty and is a graduate of Leadership Worcester.
In the announcement, Thompson said supporting the organization’s staff and strengthening the board’s leadership will be priorities during her term.
“As we look to the next 12 months, it is critical that we remain connected, engaged, and united as a board,” Thompson said. “I am committed to ensuring that we stay nimble and focused in our role: supporting the extraordinary staff who carry this mission forward every single day. They are the ones delivering programs, creating safe spaces, and standing alongside those who need it most. Our responsibility is to ensure they have the resources, guidance, and partnership to succeed.”
She added that the board’s work extends beyond governance.
“These are not easy times. But we are here because we believe in something better. We believe in a future where equity is not aspirational, but real and we know the YWCA is helping to build that future every day. I look forward to what we will accomplish together,” Thompson said in the announcement.
Joining Thompson as officers are President-elect Dr. Jennifer Bradford, medical director for the City of Worcester and assistant professor of family medicine and community health at UMass Chan Medical School; Treasurer Shantie Prashad, assistant vice president and retail banking officer at Country Bank; and Clerk Katie Stickney, project manager for community and government relations at UMass Chan Medical School.
The YWCA also announced the election of Felicia Riffelmacher, executive director of development and alumni relations at Worcester State University, to its board. Returning for new three-year terms are Doreen Samuels of Van Aide/Vanpool Transportation Company, Bradford and Prashad.
Deborah Hall, CEO of YWCA Central Massachusetts, said the organization is continuing to build on its partnerships despite ongoing financial challenges.
“This year offered many opportunities to connect with our community, strengthen partnerships, and further our mission. Despite uncertainty in national and local funding, what stands out are the moments of hope, joy, resilience, and determination,” Hall said in the announcement.
Hall credited the nonprofit’s volunteer leadership with helping guide its work.
“As a women-led organization guided by a dedicated and accomplished all-women board, whose leadership has steered strategic growth, ensured mission alignment, and fostered innovation, we bring diverse perspectives, lived experiences, and a shared commitment to advancing equity and opportunity in our community. I look forward to working with our board as we continue to eliminate racism, empower women, and address the evolving needs of those we serve,” Hall said.
YWCA Central Massachusetts is part of the international YWCA movement, serving communities through programs focused on social justice, family support and women’s empowerment.
