Anne Thomas Named President, CEO of Glenmeadow

LONGMEADOW — Paul Nicholson, chair of the board of directors for Glenmeadow, announced that Anne Thomas has accepted the position of president and CEO and will begin work with the nonprofit on Tuesday, Nov. 1.

Thomas most recently served as vice president of residential health at JGS Lifecare in Longmeadow, and she has over 25 years of experience working with seniors.

“She has strong operational, interpersonal, team-building, and financial-management skills,” Nicholson said. “Most importantly, though, her career has been devoted solely to older adults, and she is passionate about the people she serves, including the staff members she leads. She has demonstrated that she is a driven leader.”

In the brief interim until Thomas begins her new position, Glenmeadow Controller David Leslie and Assistant Administrator Anne Miller will share the responsibilities of former President and CEO Timothy Cotz, who retired on Oct. 5.

Cotz announced his retirement in March to “give our board the opportunity to seek my successor in a thoughtful, planned way.”

Witt/Kieffer, an executive search firm with a specialty in senior living, conducted a national search, which narrowed the field to three finalists. Each spent a day at Glenmeadow meeting with residents, board members, and staff.

Thomas holds a bachelor’s degree in social work from Providence College in Rhode Island and a master’s in social work from Hunter College in New York.

“I am truly excited about the opportunity to lead Glenmeadow as its next CEO,” Thomas said. “Glenmeadow has earned its stellar reputation by its deep dedication to improving the lives of older adults. As a core value, I have always believed later life should be the best part of life. This philosophy is embedded in the Glenmeadow community, so I was immediately attracted.”

Throughout the interview process, Thomas said she talked with many residents, employees, and board members, all of whom expressed their genuine love for Glenmeadow. “Having always worked in elder care, I know the difficulty of achieving this level of confidence,” she said. “My initial goal will be to develop strong relationships with residents, employees, and board members. It will be my true pleasure and honor to guide the team. I cannot wait to get started.”

Glenmeadow is a life-plan community known for its holistic mission and innovative programs and outreach to the wider community. Once offering services only to residents, the organization now provides services to people living across the Greater Springfield area. Through such innovations as Glenmeadow at Home, the Lifestyle Pass, and Glenmeadow Learning, area residents have access to services from transportation and care management to education. The organization employs a staff of 200.