Gary MacDonald, Executive Vice President of the Associated Industries of Massachusetts Employers Resource Group, has been elected president of the Board of Directors of FutureWorks Career Center in Springfield, the organization announced today.

MacDonald, a veteran human resource executive who has directed AIM’s HR and training operations since 2013, will serve a two-year term. He succeeds MacArthur Starks Jr., an Assistant Vice President at AIM-member MassMutual, who served in the position for four years.

FutureWorks, part of the Massachusetts One-Stop Career Center system, provides job seekers and businesses a range of services such as job postings; workshops on resume writing, interviewing, and salary negotiations; use of computers, FAX machines, phones and copiers; and access to trained professionals to assist members in their job search, career planning and management.

During Fiscal Year 2015, FutureWorks served 11,740 job seekers who visited the career center 51,160 times. The organization served nearly 600 business during that time with recruiting and staff development.

“I am honored to serve as president of the FutureWorks Board of Directors as the career center celebrates its 20^th anniversary,” MacDonald said.

“At a time when employers cite the ability to hire and retain qualified workers as their primary challenge, organizations like FutureWorks are indispensable for their ability to match talented job seekers with the needs of business.”

MacDonald has worked with hundreds of Massachusetts employers on leadership development, organizational effectiveness and HR management. He joined AIM in 2002 after building three decades of business experience with global companies such as Thomson Financial and General Electric, and his expertise ranges from facilitating strategic planning with top management to teaching foundational management skills to brand new supervisors

Also elected as officers at the March 23 meeting of the FutureWorks board of directors were Marylou Fabbo, a Partner with the law firm Skoler Abbott & Presser, vice-president; Josephine Sarnelli, a CPA, treasurer; and George Kohout, Director ABE/ESOL Services and Workforce Development at Springfield Technical Community College, secretary.

Other members of the board of directors include:

• Joanne Berwald, Vice-President Human Resources, Mestek
• Brian Connors, Deputy Director Economic Development for the City of Springfield
• Kermit Dunkelberg, AVP Workforce Development, Holyoke Community College
• Mike Grandfield, Senior VP Commercial Relationship Manager, Berkshire Bank
• Ronn Johnson, President CEO, Martin Luther King Jr. Family Services
• Denise Jordan, Chief of Staff, Mayor of Springfield
• Paul Judd, Vice-President Human Resources, Baystate Health
• Vicki Shrewsbury, Director Talent Acquisition, Smith & Wesson

The volunteer board oversees FutureWorks program services and provides financial oversight.