The Massachusetts Workforce Association (MWA) is a statewide membership association that leads, advocates and convenes on behalf of the Massachusetts workforce development system.
OUR MISSION
We are the voice for the Commonwealth’s workforce development system, encompassing an array of partners and stakeholders, including the MassHire Career Centers and Workforce Boards. MWA provides a unified voice for the state’s regionally-led workforce development system to ensure it is responsive to the dynamic demands of businesses, job seekers, incumbent workers, and youth throughout the Commonwealth.
Diversity can show up in race, gender, sexual identity, nationality, socioeconomic status, educational attainment, veteran status, age, physical ability, regional diversity (rural, urban, surrounding communities), and many more expressions of identity. Many existing systems of power and privilege affect access to services unequally and that equity is crucial to the long-term viability of the organization. We seek board members that represent the constituents that we serve to give power to the many voices within workforce development.
DIVERSITY
STATEMENT
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Massachusetts Workforce Association’s 15-member Board of Directors is composed of knowledgeable leaders from business, nonprofit, labor, and the workforce system. The Board is private sector-led and helps guide the strategic direction of the organization.
CHAIR
Valerie Sutton
Exponential Changemakers
MassHire Metro North Workforce Board
VICE CHAIR
Robert Bower
TREASURER
Charles Gagnon
Volunteers of America Massachusetts
SECRETARY
Tonja Mettlach
Massachusetts Business Roundtable
Greg Bunn
MassHire Metro SouthWest
Workforce Board
Robert Corley NeighborWorks Housing Solutions
Maura Geary
MassHire Franklin Hampshire
Career Center
Lisa Gurgone Mystic Valley Elder Services
Kara O’Donnell-Galvin
Cape and Islands Workforce Board
Emmanuel Owusu African Bridge Network
Karen Pelletier
Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce
Kevin Lynn
MassHire Springfield Career Center
Erin Travassos
Eversource
MWA WELCOMES NOMINATIONS TO OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MWA welcomes nominations to our board of directors. To learn more and apply or nominate someone, click the link below.
STAFF
Cole Angley
Executive Director
Cole Angley is the Executive Director of MWA and has more than seven years experience within Massachusetts Legislature. His tenure there included significant positions such as Chief of Staff to the Joint Committee on Labor & Workforce Development and Legislative Aide for Representative Josh Cutler. During his service, Cole managed critical commissions and task forces, including the Legislature’s Future of Work Commission, UI Trust Fund Study Commission, and WorkAbility Task Force. His contributions to co-authoring a legislative report on disability hiring policies and enacting new pay transparency legislation have marked significant advancements in our field. Cole is a graduate of the University of Vermont with a BA in Political Science, a J.D. from Suffolk Law School and is a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association.
Kelly Hanlon
Associate Director
Kelly Hanlon is the Associate Director of MWA and has more than twenty years of experience in organizational and employee development. Kelly served as an Event Manager for the University of Massachusetts-Amherst in the Office of External Relations and University Events. Kelly also worked for TJX Companies in operations management. She worked for Senator Ted Kennedy in his Office of Labor and Industry and in the Office of Communications. She is a graduate of George Washington University (BS).
