Press Release: Make-It Springfield Names Roberta Wilmore as First Executive Director

For immediate release:

SPRINGFIELD, MA, June 10, 2020 — Make-It Springfield, the downtown Springfield community makerspace, announced that it has hired Roberta Wilmore as its first Executive Director. Wilmore joins an already growing staff and will lead the organization into its next phase of growth, including a transition to a larger space.

“Roberta joins us with decades of experience in nonprofits, commercial real estate, creative entrepreneurship, and the equity and inclusion work that is so fundamental to our mission. Make-It will certainly benefit from Roberta’s veteran leadership, but Springfield at-large will benefit as well,” said Laura Masulis, co-founder of the makerspace.

Specifically, Wilmore's consulting and training practice specializes in conflict management, board development, employee management, transition planning, and social justice. She has served as a trusted advisor, executive coach, and Board member for dozens of nonprofit organizations throughout the region, ranging from creative arts organizations, to academic institutions and philanthropic organizations. Additionally, in 2001, Wilmore founded the Children’s Equestrian Center, connecting under-served families and children of color to the world of equestrian sports.

“The search committee was especially impressed by Roberta’s deliberate and thoughtful approach to leadership, team-building and partnerships. We believe Roberta will lead Make-It Springfield forward and skillfully navigate the COVID crisis and any other challenges we might face in the future,” said Michael DiPasquale, another co-founder.

Wilmore said, “It is incredibly exciting to see that Make-It Springfield has outgrown its original location. I am honored to join them and to be part of growing this resource for the benefit of the city and its residents.”

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For more information about this press release contact:

Roberta Wilmore, Executive Director, roberta@makeitspringfield.org

Michael DiPasquale, Co-founder, dipasquale@umass.edu

Laura Masulis, Co-founder, laura@makeitspringfield.org

Make-It Springfield is a community incubator and workshop space for everyone to make, create and share their skills and tools. Make-It provides a platform for community members of all backgrounds to learn new skills, build relationships, launch creative businesses and inspire one another. For more information visit https://www.makeitspringfield.org/.