Who is a member?
Our members are the local governments of Massachusetts and their elected and appointed leadership.
Amesbury Mayor and MMA President Kassandra Gove speaks during the graduation ceremony for the MMA-Suffolk Certificate in Local Government Leadership and Management program on June 9 at Suffolk University in Boston.
Fifty-one graduates received their certificates in Local Government Leadership and Management this spring, as the MMA-Suffolk program completed its 25th and 26th classes.
Nearly 650 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 2025-2026 programs were based in Barnstable and Winchester.
Barnstable class
Graduates of the MMA-Suffolk Certificate in Local Government Leadership and Management program in Barnstable gather at their ceremony on June 9 at Suffolk University in Boston.
The 2025-2026 Barnstable program graduates are:
• Laurie Barr, human resources director, Eastham
• Jason Belmonte, health director, Dover
• Jarrod Cabral, public works director, Truro
• Kelly Collopy, communications manager, Barnstable
• Diana (Dilly) DeBlase, assistant to the town administrator, Chilmark
• Erin Ellis, safety officer, Department of Public Works, Barnstable
• Joshua Faherty, planning director, Wareham
• Sean Gilrein, lieutenant EMS officer, Sandwich
• Donna Hemphill, executive assistant, Marion
• Chad Hunter, harbormaster, Plymouth
• Deloris Joseph, youth advocate, Dartmouth
• Kimberly Lannigan, senior and community services assistant director, Sandwich
• Barry Lewis, acting health director, Yarmouth
• Sean Lewis, Town Planner, Carver
• Ann Marie Luppino, Sandy Neck assistant park manager, Barnstable
• Melanie Perry, executive assistant, Dartmouth
• Polina Plucinski, property manager, Barnstable
• Laurie Ruszala, water and wastewater superintendent, Yarmouth
• Jenna Silva, natural resources director, Sandwich
• Steven Solbo, town administrator, Halifax
• Molly Stevens, treasurer, Centerville-Osterville-Marstons Mills Fire District
• Calvin Sutton, deputy public works director, Orleans
• Rachael Tynan, benefits/onboarding coordinator, Barnstable
• Sydney Viveiros, assistant town accountant, Lakeville
• Kevin Wilkinson, accounting officer, Barnstable
• Terrell Wright, microcomputer specialist, Barnstable
Winchester class
Graduates of the MMA-Suffolk Certificate in Local Government Leadership and Management program in Winchester gather at their graduation ceremony on June 9 at Suffolk University in Boston.
The 2025-2026 Winchester program graduates are:
• Carolina Bencosme, health agent, Andover
• Jeremy Brandl, assistant facilities director, North Andover
• Romulo Cabrera, registration supervisor, Amherst
• Mitchell Carolan, human resources generalist, Belmont
• Nicole Civitarese, executive assistant to the town manager, North Andover
• Nick Connors, town administrator, Swampscott
• Robert Craig, special projects and grants manager, Rockport
• Paul Creedon, project portfolio manager, Cambridge
• Alison Cservenschi, council on aging director, Bedford
• Thomas Dalton, communications and events manager, Melrose
• Connor Degan, town clerk, Hopkinton
• Anthony DeSimone, public works operations manager, Burlington
• Melanie Dineen, public health director, Concord
• Emily Granoff, deputy director, Housing and Community Development, Chelsea
• Meghan Jones, assistant town clerk, Wilmington
• Michael Joseph Lucas, assistant comptroller, Winchester
• Kristin MacLeod, head of circulation services, Winchester Public Library, Winchester
• Elizabeth Mancini, purchasing director, Lexington
• Arthur Markos, highway department superintendent, Groveland
• Jennifer O’Neill, human resource coordinator, Mendon
• Kelley Price, administrative assistant, Boxborough
• Sovanary Tina Rivard, public works director, Sudbury
• Julitza Rivera, senior accountant, Brookline
• Janci Soto, deputy chief of people and operations, Andover
• Patrick Wood, public works director, Winchendon
Amesbury Mayor Kassandra Gove was the keynote speaker for the graduation ceremony, which was held at Suffolk University in Boston. Wakefield Town Administrator Denise Casey and Scituate Finance Director Nancy Holt were the faculty speakers, and the student speakers were Thomas Dalton and Polina Plucinski.
Looking ahead
MMA-Suffolk certificate programs that are scheduled to begin this fall in Littleton, Medfield, and Palmer are fully enrolled.
Information about the 2027-2028 programs, in Barnstable, Great Barrington and Lexington, 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 [email protected], or Kate Evarts at 617-426-7272, ext. 172, or [email protected].