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Anderson leaves city position to lead Chamber

Date: 2/29/2012

Feb. 29, 2012

By G. Michael Dobbs

news@thereminder.com

HOLYOKE — After working 13 years for four different mayors, Kathleen Anderson, the director of the city's Office of Planning and Development, is switching jobs, but will be maintaining her focus on business development.

On Feb. 22, in a press conference at Mayor Alex Morse's office, Anderson was presented as the new president of the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce, succeeding Doris Ransford, who lead the chamber for 26 years.

Ransford said, "Kathy Anderson has been a partner in many of the chamber's programs over the years and is a natural choice to lead the organization into the future. I am looking forward to working with her in achieving a smooth transition."

Anderson said, "It's very similar to what I do now, just with a different hat on."

Anderson and Morse both said her departure was not part of an effort for Morse to place his own candidate in the position.

Anderson said that he and the mayor "completely agree" on the goals for the office.

She was motivated to make the change in her career because she wanted more time to spend with her family.

Anderson added that she has learned from each of the mayors with whom she worked.

Morse said Anderson's departure was a "definite loss for the city." He will be starting a search for her replacement and seeks someone with knowledge of Holyoke, a long-term vision for the city and both energy and passion. He intends to have Anderson's replacement set by April 15.

Anderson will be leaving her position in mid-April so she can work for Ransford before officially becoming president of the chamber on June 1.

Speaking about her time with the city, Anderson said among the projects in which she takes pride was the Canal Walk, starting the city's farmers' market, working with three different mayors on the Massachusetts Green High Speed Computing Center, and lobbying for a train stop as part of the plan to begin a high-speed rail line to Vermont.

The challenge, she added, for many projects was finding funding from state and federal sources as well as grants.

She thanked her staff as well as the heads of other departments for working with her over the years.

At an often-times emotional event attended by members of the city government, colleagues and members of her family, Anderson noted the new job will allow her to continue to do what she has been doing for years: "welcoming people to the community and helping businesses grow."

"I'm not going away. I'm just moving a few doors down," she said.



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