Metrowest Chamber of Commerce

The MetroWest Leadership Academy, founded by the MetroWest Chamber of Commerce in 1986, graduated its 23^rd annual class on June 18^th. There are now more than 500 alumni of the flagship program of Leadership MetroWest working in the public, private and nonprofit sectors and contributing to the region’s civic leadership.

At the event, hosted by the Sheraton Framingham Hotel & Conference Center, 26 leadership participants received their graduation certificates after completing 10 monthly program days meeting with local leaders and experts, exploring regional issues and engaging in site visits to important institutions.

 

Leadership MetroWest also recognized the 20^th anniversary of MetroWest Harvest, a program in which volunteers collect donated food from restaurants, hotels and other institutions and bring it to shelters and food pantries. The program was founded as a community service project of the Leadership Academy Class of 1989, which was represented at the alumni reception and graduation by four members of that class: Lauren Rikleen, Sarah Duckett, Phyllis May and Jim Gaffey. 

 

Rikleen, a senior partner at Bowditch & Dewey, spoke to the Class of 2009, alumni and guests about the creation and early years of MetroWest Harvest. “Since my year at the Leadership Academy in 1989, I have been involved with many wonderful organizations in the MetroWest area.  Each one of these opportunities can be traced back to my Leadership Academy experience."

Jeen Kniveton, the Director of MetroWest Harvest for the past 15 years, received a citation from the Massachusetts State Senate, presented by Michelle Goldberg on behalf of Senator Karen Spilka.

 

The MetroWest Leadership Academy is accepting applications now for the class of 2010, which begins in late September. For information about the program, visit www.leadershipmetrowest.org, or call Helen Lemoine at (508) 872-6161.

 

Members of the 2009 graduating class include:

 

Lois K. Adams (Framingham)

Grants, Community & Municipal Assistance Branch Chief

Environmental Protection Agency

 

Michael Bilinsky (Marlborough)                     

Assistant Vice President

Framingham Cooperative Bank

 

Laura Becker (Framingham)

Director, Grants & Contracts

South Middlesex Opportunity Council

 

Carol Brown (Medway)

Branch Manager/Assistant Vice President

Middlesex Savings Bank

 

Cheryl Cook (Milford)

Corporate Missions/Flight Director

Christa McAuliffe Center-Framingham State

 

Marie Lourdes Elgirus (Wellesley)

Director, International Education

MassBay Community College

 

Elaine Gabrielson (Blackstone)

Marketing Specialist

1-800 Got Junk?

 

Millie Gonzalez (Framingham)

Reference & Electronic Resources Librarian

Framingham State College

 

Wayne Johnson (Barrington, RI)

Training & Development Consultant

 

Chuck Kadlik (Holliston)

Director of Municipal Inspection

Town of Hopkinton

 

Miriam Kimball (Sherborn)

Director of Development & PR

MetroWest YMCA

 

Tami Lyn King (Medway)

Controller

F. H. Perry Builder, Inc.

 

Jim Lynch (Shrewsbury)

Superintendent

Keefe Regional Technical School District

 

Bonnie Mitchell (Ashland)

Director of Library Services

Framingham State College

 

Moira Munns (Natick)

Director, Human Services & Council on Aging

Town of Natick

 

Michelle Murdock (Hopkinton)

Reporter

The Hopkinton Independent

 

Mark Racicot (Charlton)

Director of Facilities

MetroWest Medical Center

 

Heather Rogers (Ashland)

Managing Partner

Massachusetts Nonprofit Support Services

 

Matthew Selby (Upton)

Conservation Agent

Town of Ashland

 

Karin Semizoglou (Shrewsbury)

Business Development & Sales Manager

TD Banknorth

 

Jeff Valpey (Hopkinton)

Business Development & Sales Manager

TD Banknorth

 

Rich Vetstein (Sudbury)

Attorney

The Vetstein Group

 

Jennifer Violette (Hopkinton)

PR/Communications Consultant

 

Georgia Wilhelmson (Framingham)

Assistant Vice President, Electronic Banking Manager

Middlesex Savings Bank

 

Eva Willens (Natick)

Administrative Assistant

MetroWest Regional Transit Authority

 

Toni Wolf  (Weston)

Executive Director

Employment Options, Inc.