melissadimondThe Board of Trustees of Wellspring House has appointed Melissa A. Dimond as the organization’s next Executive Director. Ms. Dimond, a Gloucester resident, was chosen after an extensive search process. She succeeds Kay O’Rourke whose resignation will take effect on June 30, 2015 after eight years at the helm. “We are thrilled to welcome Melissa to Wellspring and believe she’s the perfect person to keep the momentum going and move the organization forward,” says Board Chair, Kim McGovern. “It’s an exciting time for Wellspring as we launch some robust education programs,” adds McGovern. Wellspring House began as a family shelter in 1981, and, while continuing its basic needs work, has increasingly focused on adult education and job training in order to help the people it serves find more opportunities to make a living wage. “Kay has been instrumental in the efforts to expand our education programs and has worked tirelessly to better the futures for the individuals and families we serve,” comments McGovern. “We are very grateful for all that she has done for Wellspring and the North Shore community.”

Dimond, who will begin her post on August 3rd, is a 22-year veteran of the non-profit sector. For the past six years she has been Manager of Community Initiatives at the Massachusetts General Hospital Chelsea HealthCare Center. As the leader of a comprehensive “Healthy Communities” coalition, Dimond has successfully led efforts to build collaborations between MGH Chelsea and more than 40 local non-profits, municipal departments, public schools, and local businesses. Prior to joining MGH Chelsea, she was the Founding North Shore Regional Director of The Food Project, Inc.. “As a 16-year Gloucester resident, I have admired the work of Wellspring for many years,” states Dimond. “I am looking forward to working with the Wellspring staff and being part of an organization that helps to transform the future path for families in Gloucester and throughout the North Shore.”

Melissa holds a Master of Science in Public Health from the Harvard School of Public Health and is a graduate of Washington University, St. Louis, MO. She has served as a founding advisory board member for the Cape Ann Farmers’ Market since 2006 and is a former board member at Stoneridge Children’s Montessori School in Beverly and Temple Ahavat Achim in Gloucester. From 2009-2012 she served on the Health Services Allocations Committee for the North Shore United Way.

Share This