Southwestern Vermont Council on Aging names Zagorski new Executive Director

RUTLAND, Vt. – Southwestern Vermont Council on Aging (SVCOA) is pleased to announce that it has hired Pamela Zagorski as its new Executive Director. Zagorski is set to begin serving in this role on May 17, 2021.

“I am thrilled to join SVCOA and eager to work collaboratively to help make Vermont the best place for seniors to live and thrive in their communities of choice,” said Zagorski. “I look forward to working with SVCOA's dedicated Board of Directors, leadership team and staff in continuing to advance the agency's mission.”

Zagorski comes to SVCOA with over three decades of experience in healthcare and non-profit human services financial and administrative management. Most recently Zagorski served as Chief Administrative Officer for Seacoast Mental Health center in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. For the previous ten years she was Chief Financial Officer for Community Enterprises, a nonprofit human services agency based in Northampton, Massachusetts that supports individuals with disabilities in five states. Zagorski was instrumental in implementing Community Enterprises’ merger with a similar agency in 2017 to form Viability, Inc. Prior to this, she worked for several healthcare organizations in contracting, business development and financial management, and for a healthcare consulting firm.

Zagorski is a graduate of the University of Bridgeport with a Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology, and later earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts as well as a Juris Doctor degree from the Western New England College School of Law.

Additionally, she has served in a range of community and professional leadership roles including as Treasurer for the United Way of Hampshire County, on the Massachusetts Provider Council Public Policy Committee, and as Administrative Surveyor for the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities International (CARF).

“We are pleased to formally announce the beginning of a new and exciting chapter for SVCOA with the appointment of Pam Zagorski as the agency's new executive director,” said Howard Cohen, Vice President of SVCOA’s Board of Directors. “Pam was selected after an extensive search process and brings to this important position a strong combination of educational and professional experiences. We believe she will bring an abundance of enthusiasm, professionalism and leadership in guiding SVCOA moving forward.”

Previously, SVCOA successfully operated under a co-director leadership model. Given increased demand on the agency in recent years and anticipated service request growth in the future, SVCOA’s Board of Directors elected to appoint Zagorski as Executive Director in order to fully support agency management, staff and clients, and position SVCOA for continued future success.

Zagorski joins Chris Adams – Development and Communications Director, Rosemary Greene - Business Operations Director, Courtney Anderson – Nutrition Director and Jennifer Plouffe – Bennington Aging Services Director, on SVCOA’s senior management team.

Southwestern Vermont Council on Aging exists to be a community force in creating and sustaining opportunities for elders and caregivers in our region to help assure that elders are able to maintain maximum independence and quality of life. With offices in Rutland and Bennington, SVCOA offers a wide range of supports, services and programs for older Vermonters, caregivers and volunteers across Rutland and Bennington counties.

Media Contact: Chris Adams, 802-236-1560