Workforce Southwest Washington board appoints Darcy Hoffman as interim CEO

The Executive Committee of Workforce Southwest Washington (WSW) has approved Darcy Hoffman as interim chief executive officer, effective upon approval by the full Board of Directors at its June 9 meeting.

Hoffman has been a valued member of the Workforce Southwest Washington team for nearly eight years and brings more than two decades of workforce development experience to the role, a news release from WSW stated. Prior to joining WSW, she worked in business services within the WorkSource system, helping employers connect with talent and workforce resources across the region.

Most recently, Hoffman served as WSW’s chief impact officer, following her promotion from director of business services. Throughout her tenure, she has demonstrated strong leadership, a deep commitment to workforce development, and extensive knowledge of the workforce system, making her uniquely qualified to guide the organization during this transition, the news release stated.

“Darcy’s appointment reflects both her outstanding leadership and the confidence our Board has in the future of Workforce Southwest Washington,” AD Simmons, chair of the Workforce Southwest Washington Board of Directors, said in the release. “She brings decades of workforce development experience, a deep understanding of our region and a genuine commitment to the people and communities we serve. We are grateful for her willingness to step into this role and provide strong, steady leadership as we begin the search for our next permanent CEO.”

As interim CEO, Hoffman will ensure continuity across the organization, maintain momentum on strategic priorities, support staff and partner engagement and provide leadership throughout the CEO transition process, the release declared. Her focus will be on organizational stability, disciplined operations, strategic relationship management and preparing WSW for a successful long-term leadership transition.

“It is a privilege to serve WSW in this interim capacity. We have a strong board and team, dedicated partners, and a clear vision for strengthening our regional workforce system. I am deeply committed to ensuring continuity, maintaining momentum on our strategic priorities, and continuing to deliver results for job seekers, businesses, and communities across Southwest Washington while our board conducts its search for the next CEO,” Hoffman said.

Hoffman will serve as interim CEO through Dec. 31. The WSW Board of Directors will lead a national search for the organization’s next chief executive officer, with the goal of selecting a candidate who will begin serving in the role on Jan. 1, 2027.

An external executive search firm will be engaged to facilitate the recruitment process, with additional details to be announced in the coming weeks.