Welcome to the Amplify Your Journey September Executive Powerhouse Spotlight! 

 

I’m honored to introduce Zulmira Allcock, whose career and personal journey are deeply rooted in hard work, family, and service. Immigrating from the Azores at just two years old, she grew up with caregiving and family values at the center of her life—a thread she carried forward as a working mother and now as the daughter of a 98-year-old father. 

 

Over the course of an impressive, almost 40-year career at Associates for Human Services, she has grown from Early Intervention service coordinator to President and Chief Executive Officer, with each role deepening her reputation for integrity, compassion, and the ability to listen and connect. Whether guiding families through services, mentoring staff, giving back to her community, or sharing meaningful moments with loved ones, she embodies the truth that leadership and caregiving go hand in hand.

 

Her story is a powerful reminder that true leadership is found in the way we care for both our families and our communities. 

 

Read on to learn more about this remarkable leader.

I immigrated from the Azores when I was 2 ½ years old, with my parents and older brother, who was 6 ½.  My father was a carpenter and my mother a seamstress. We moved into an apartment with my grandparents in a 4 family apartment building.  I describe this as the importance of family has been ingrained in me since I was a toddler. 

 

Through those years, my parents worked hard to save money, and my dad built our house that we moved into 8 years after arriving here. My mother was so proud of being in America that when they both reached their 5-year mark for living in the US, she and my father went to class to become US citizens. My brother and I would help them study, and we were also sworn in soon after.  

 

The duty of family has always been at the forefront of my life. When my mother passed away six years ago, my brother and I would take turns being in the hospital by her side from 8 am to 8 pm, each taking 6-hour shifts, all the while still working remotely.

 

After my son was born, my mother and father cared for him when my maternity leave ended. I knew how fortunate I was to always have someone I trusted watching him. I have always taught him the importance of family and respect for our elders. (He was by my mother's bedside when she passed away, as he insisted on being there.) My dad now lives alone, and my brother and I each spend one weekend day with him. He is 98 years old, and we are so grateful that he is still so independent—he drives, makes his own meals, loves to read, pray, and he journals every day.

 

Growing up, I often translated for my parents and other family members at medical appointments, unemployment offices, and other places. So, it’s no surprise that I went into the counseling field. One thing my mother was adamant about when she immigrated was learning about American culture and language. She believed you had to help yourself if you wanted to get better at anything. That shaped my approach to therapy: it was always about the client or family—how they wanted to grow, what they wanted to achieve, and how I could guide them toward their ultimate goal.

 

That same belief governs my interpersonal relationships in supporting friends, family, and colleagues to feel empowered to change their situation and feel competent and happy.  

 

Still caring for my father continues to teach me about listening and being patient, even if his stories are repetitive.  His ability to be calm, accepting, and respectful always, even at this age, is just so inspiring. 

I am truly blessed.

I don’t know if there really is a secret, but I do like keeping my brain active. In the morning, I do a walking app for 30 minutes and then some word puzzles—it’s sort of my get-up-and-go.

 

I love the work I do at Associates for Human Services (AHS). That's my secret there. I started as a home visitor in Early Intervention, moving from team leader to the director.  I've loved every position I've had at AHS. I was humbled by my former CEO's encouragement and faith in me to carry on her legacy.  With that challenge, I have been grateful for deepening my knowledge, appreciation, and opportunity to expand and advocate for all the programs,  not only Early Intervention, but Early Head Start, Taunton Area School to Career (TASC), and Wise Adult Day Health.  I have been so grateful to be able to be part of the work that is done every day, with unique and diverse children, families, young adults, the elderly, and staff.  They challenge me to be a better, more respectful, tolerant, and accepting person. It reminds me that everyone has challenges, and I hope to give people the sense that I am a sounding board or a resource for how they can get help. 

 

At home, balance for me is about simple things. I love just coming home, having dinner, and afterwards sitting down to watch TV

(especially when the Red Sox are on) with my husband, now that my son is on his own, living in the Boston area. I also loved having a dog, though I recently lost my golden retriever and will wait a little while before getting another one.  I do get to dog sit my son's dog, so grateful for my canine fix. 

Challenges in human services that I've faced are how to best and most efficiently provide services, and in making sure that I advocate for funding. Adequate resources and access for families, as well as staff salaries have always been challenging in this industry. Advocacy is key.

 

Other challenges include being able to deal with people’s different personalities and making sure that communication is clear and effective. Those prove to be truly challenging and require great patience and addressing them one day, and one challenge, at a time. 

My career milestones have spanned nearly 40 years. First, becoming the Director of Early Intervention. Second, serving as the Massachusetts Early Intervention Consortium (MEIC) President. And now, as the President and CEO of my organization. I will celebrate my 40th anniversary at AHS on March 31, 2026! These are humbling achievements of which I am very proud. 

 

Additionally, I am honored to serve on the Taunton Rotary and currently as the Secretary of the Board. I also received the Paul Harris Award, and was deeply honored to be chosen." (This is Rotary International's most prestigious recognition, awarded to individuals who demonstrate an exceptional commitment to Rotary's mission of ‘service above self,’ in honor of founder, Paul Percy Harris.)  

 

I participate in the Rotary’s big Family Fun Day, which usually welcomes more than 800 attendees. Everything is free except for food, and we spend the year securing sponsorships to fund this special event for the community.

 

On a personal note, my son got engaged and is getting married next year. He and his fiancée have an adorable long-haired dachshund they adopted last year. Proud mom moments to celebrate!

As a caregiver, my strengths are my patience, and my absolute love for my husband, child, family, and dear friends.

 

As an executive, I excel at being approachable, listening, and in my ability to view positions from different sides.

 

I also feel it is vital to be visible to your staff, your community, and at the state level.  In addition to being a member of Rotary and MEIC, I also serve on the MA Adult Day Health Services Association and the MA Head Start Association.  Building relationships so that we can work together for the collective good is essential.

Innovation and Integrity — I have always been innovative.  I believe it's because I don’t like being bored. If I get bored, then, I know the staff are bored. 

I also feel that how I hold myself as a leader is important. Integrity, respect, and being a positive role model and displaying how to communicate directly and honestly are important not only for staff, but for my own family, too.

My growth goal is to look at my management team and continue to ensure unity and success in all programs and departments. I am currently participating in leadership training within the management team so that the programs remain solid and the staff have confidence in their leadership for years to come.

I have just started using a coaching model, but I wish I had done it earlier.  Having someone to talk about issues, strategies, and thoughts who is outside the agency is so important. As a leader, I am aware that sharing challenges with staff about the workplace is not always in the best interest of the staff. However, being available and accessible to staff is imperative to truly be transparent and form trust and accountability. 

I am a big Boston sports fan. Celtics, Patriots, Bruins, and especially Boston Red Sox.  I love to crochet and read at the beach.  The beach is my favorite place to be listening to the waves and birds, and children laughing.

I am fluent in Portuguese, and I enjoy going out with friends and spending time with family. 

Two things come to mind. First, I think I have always wished that I had the opportunity to spend more time with my son when he was born. I always tried to balance work with being involved with him at school. 

In hindsight, I have to say he is such a great human being that I think my work ethic and how I did the best I could at home, as well as at work, was enough—for myself, my family, and in my career. 

 

Second, the reason I have always loved working at AHS is because everyone has supervision, and communication is effective. That support is critical for the team. If I had known how valuable having a coach was or continuing somehow to have mentorship for myself once I became the CEO, I would have done it long ago. My advice would be to invest in yourself!

Stay tuned for next month's powerhouse spotlight!

 

For past spotlights and newsletters email me: amy@amplifyjourney.com.

 

Thanks for reading,