Press Release: 7/9/2025

49 graduate from MMA-Suffolk leadership program

Forty-nine graduates received their certificates in Local Government Leadership and Management this spring, as the MMA-Suffolk program completed its 23rd and 24th classes.

Nearly 600 municipal officials have completed the Certificate in Local Government Leadership and Management program since its inception in 2011.

The MMA and Suffolk University program is designed for municipal employees looking to further their careers in municipal management. Graduate-level courses cover topics including strategic leadership, budget and financial management, and human resources management.

The five-course program is held over 25 Fridays in two locations each academic year. The 20234-2025 programs were based in Pittsfield and Sharon.

Pittsfield class

The 2024-2025 Pittsfield program graduates are:

• Hayley Bolton, town administrator, Shutesbury

• Laura Brennan, assistant director and economic development manager, Berkshire Regional Planning Commission

• Colleen Canning, planning/conservation coordinator, South Hadley

• Jennifer Catolane, accountant, Lee

• Anthony Gattuso, head clerk, Treasurer’s Office, Pittsfield

• Brandon Gill, community development accountant, Pittsfield

• Jay Green, town manager, Lenox

• Amy Hahn, Land Use Coordinator, Deerfield

• Alison Manugian, assistant town manager/community development director, Dracut

• Dillon Maxfield, associate planner, Easthampton

• Paul McLatchy III, town administrator, Ashfield

• Kimberly Mew, principal assessor, Amherst

• Clarissa Mitchell, administrative assistant, Hinsdale

• Sarah Navin, assessor, Lee

• Michael Obasohan, chief diversity officer, Pittsfield

• Brett Roberts, senior planner, Berkshire Regional Planning Commission

• Marie Ryan, town administrator, West Stockbridge

• Lindsi Sekula, executive assistant, Easthampton

• Janey Snyder, town manager, Sandisfield

• Tammy Tefft, chief procurement officer, Westfield

• Sabrina Touhey, executive assistant to town administrator and Select Board, Lee

• Brittany Walsh, executive assistant, Pittsfield

Tom Bernard, president and CEO of the Berkshire United Way and a former mayor of North Adams, was the keynote speaker for the Pittsfield graduation. The faculty speaker was Scituate Finance Director Nancy Holt, and the student speaker was Jay Green.

Sharon class

The 24th class of the MMA-Suffolk Certificate in Local Government Leadership and Management program, based in Sharon, graduated on June 10 at Suffolk University in Boston.

The 2024-2025 Sharon program graduates are:

• Christopher Aylward, detective lieutenant, Westwood Police Department

• Tiffany Benoit, local public health nurse consultant, UMASS Amherst College of Nursing

• Kevin Bishop, detective lieutenant, Sharon Police Department

• Leeann Bradly, director of planning and community development, Middleborough

• John Cianciarulo, director of administrative services, Norwood

• Paul Dell’Aquila, land use and inspectional services director/town planner, Boylston

• Christopher Flanagan, deputy chief, Norwood Police Department

• Frank Gervasio, town manager, Holliston

• Kate Hinckley, GIS director, Franklin

• Rajon Hudson, assistant town administrator, Boxborough

• Sophie Jean-Felix, education and workforce development director, Massachusetts Association of Community Health Workers

• Rebecca Johnson, assistant town administrator/human resources coordinator, East Bridgewater

• Alexandra Kalkounis, city solicitor, Worcester

• Aoife Kelly, executive assistant, Walpole

• Thomas Kenvin, assistant fire chief, Foxborough

• David Kurczy, Police Chief, Mendon

• Jody Kurczy, finance director, Millis

• Robert Lussier, planning and engineering director, Bellingham

• Rana Mana-Doerfer, assistant finance director, Dedham

• Magnolia McComish, communications coordinator, Dartmouth

• Elizabeth McGovern, library director, Westwood

• Indira Pisupati, assistant town accountant, Sharon

• Brandy Silva, finance and operations manager, New Bedford

• Lauren Taylor, assistant town administrator/Town Accountant, Blackstone

• Kevin Weber, deputy public works superintendent, Sharon

• Mikaela Wolfe, library director, Natick

Massachusetts Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael Rodrigues was the keynote speaker for the Sharon program graduation, which was held at Suffolk University in Boston. Scituate Finance Director Nancy Holt was the faculty speaker, and the student speaker was Jody Kurczy.

Looking ahead

MMA-Suffolk certificate programs that are scheduled to begin this fall in Barnstable and Winchester are fully enrolled.

Information about the 2026-2027 programs, in Littleton and Medfield, will be available in the fall, and applications will be available on Feb. 1 on the MMA website.

For more information about the MMA-Suffolk certificate program, visit mma.org/suffolk or contact Katie McCue at 617-426-7272, ext. 111, or kmccue@mma.org, or Kate Evarts at 617-426-7272, ext. 172, or kevarts@mma.org.