Starfish Family Services CEO Ann Kalass Announces Retirement

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Courtesy of Starfish Family Services
Courtesy of Starfish Family Services

Ann Kalass has announced she will retire from her role as CEO of Inkster-based Starfish Family Services by early 2023.

Kalass joined Starfish as CEO in 2007, expanding upon the organization’s commitment to children and families and strengthening the agency’s competencies in early care and education and children’s mental health services.

Kalass welcomed innovation, growth, and developing a broad continuum of family-centric care and programming that leveraged the assets and strengths of families while recognizing systemic barriers and the prevalence of trauma.

Her commitment and management resulted in a 15-year tenure, through which the organization has seen much growth. Her vision and leadership quadrupled the support and resources for metro Detroit children and their families, growing an annual operating budget of $12M to $48M and an increase in team members from 115 to 440.

“Together with an amazing and determined team at Starfish over these past 15 years, we have expanded trauma-focused and behavioral health programs, co-created new educational environments and curriculums for children, and focused on individualized care to best nurture every child’s strengths — knowing every child learns differently — and every family has the capacity and desire to thrive,” says Kalass.

The board has selected Charlie Ingersoll of Korn Ferry to lead a national search. Nominations or interest inquiries can be directed to Charles.Ingersoll@kornferry.com