Anne McCaffrey is next CEO at People Inc.

Hospital CEO to lead area’s largest nonprofit human services agency

Earlier this week, the board of directors of People Inc. named Anne McCaffrey as its new CEO. McCaffrey, currently the president and CEO of Eastern Niagara Hospital, will replace Rhonda Frederick, who is retiring in April after a 43-year career at the agency.

McCaffrey was chosen after an extensive national search that began shortly after the August 2022 announcement of Frederick’s retirement, said JoAnne Hudecki, chairperson of the People Inc. board of directors.

“The board is extremely confident that Anne is the right person to take this amazing organization forward into its next chapter,” Hudecki said. “She has made an impact on the community in every role she has taken on, and we know this will be no different.”

McCaffrey, who will begin her tenure at People Inc. on March 20, spent 19 years in various roles at Lake Shore Behavioral Health (now BestSelf Behavioral Health) before moving to a city government role in Lockport. She was mayor of the City of Lockport from 2014-18.

In August of 2018, McCaffrey was named president and CEO of Eastern Niagara Hospital, where she helped facilitate a successful restructuring and transaction with Catholic Health to keep hospital services in Niagara County. She is also a member of the New York State Legislative Ethics Commission.

“This role combines all of my previous positions and passions, with a mission I am honored to support,” McCaffrey said. “I am thrilled to be joining the People Inc. family – and I already know that it truly is a family.”

People Inc. employs over 4,000 people and provides programs and supports to more than 12,000 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, families and older adults throughout Western New York and Rochester.

The agency’s mission is to assure people with disabling conditions or other special needs have the supports they need to participate and succeed in an accepting society. 

Frederick, who started at People Inc. in 1980 in an entry-level direct support role, was the chief operating officer for many years before becoming CEO in 2014. Frederick will stay on for a number of weeks to assist with the transition, Hudecki said. 

“Rhonda leaves big shoes to fill, but Anne has the right mix of experience in health care, leadership, nonprofit, and relationship-building we think is necessary for this role,” Hudecki said. “Most importantly, we set out to find the absolute right person to lead the organization in supporting the thousands of people who truly need us. I am certain we have found that person.”