Thursday - October 19, 2023
9:00 am – 3:00 pm

The Massachusetts Municipal Management Association will hold its annual “boot camp” on Oct. 19 at the Sharon Community Center.

The boot camp is designed as a practical guide for administrators and assistants who are new to the profession, and for department heads and professional staff who are planning to move into a town manager or administrator role.

A Management 101 session will feature a panel of managers who will share their experiences and insights on everything from working with elected officials to ethics.

Additional topics will address opportunities and challenges of the profession.

The day-long meeting, which will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., is also an opportunity for networking.

Please note that the boot camp is not a training session for frontline staff or elected officials.

The full agenda and online registration will be available on www.mma.org later this month.

Agenda

8:30 a.m.
Light Breakfast, Registration

9:15 a.m.
Welcome, Introductions and Overview
Steve Bartha, MMMA President
Denise Casey, Program Committee Chair

9:30-9:45 a.m.
MMA Welcome and Update
Adam Chapdelaine, MMA Executive Director

9:45-11:15 a.m.
The Basics of Municipal Management
This session will focus on issues that managers/administrators face on a daily basis. It will include the following topics:
• Your ethical responsibilities as a manager
• Working with select boards, other boards, residents, media and staff
• How to be a leader in your community
• Building effective relationships
• How to show community pride
• Developing a support network
Ryan McLane, Town Administrator, Carlisle
Steve Bartha, Town Manager, Danvers
Jamie Hellen, Town Administrator, Franklin
Kristine Trierweiler, Town Administrator, Medfield
Denise Casey, Deputy Town Manager, North Andover
Denise Dembkoski, Town Administrator, Stow
Kristi Williams, Town Manager, Westborough

11:15-11:30 a.m.
Networking Break

11:30 a.m.-noon
MMMA Committees in Action
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Fidel Maltez, Town Manager, Reading
Women Leading Government
Melissa Goff, Deputy Town Administrator, Brookline
Ethics
Heather Harper, Assistant Town Manager, Sandwich

Noon-12:45 p.m.
Lunch

12:45-1:45 p.m.
Multi-generational Dynamics in the Office
Colin Loiselle, Town Manager, Tyngsborough
Devon Fields, Assistant Town Administrator, Brookline
Michael Dutton, Town Manager, Bridgewater
Meghan Jop, Executive Director, Wellesley
Kevin Harutunian, Town Administrator, Topsfield
Leon Gaumond, Town Manager, Weston
Moderator: Ryan McLane, Town Administrator, Carlisle

1:45-2:45 p.m.
Polishing Your Interview Skills
Through mock interviews, learn from municipal HR professionals – what you’re doing right and what you can do to improve.
Dori Vecchio, Assistant Town Manager, Auburn
Leon Gaumond, Town Manager, Weston
Moderators: Denise Casey, Deputy Town Manager, North Andover and Jamie Hellen, Town Administrator, Franklin

2:45 p.m.
Wrap-up and Final Thoughts

Location
Sharon Community Center, Sharon

Contact
MMA Senior Member Services Coordinator Denise Baker, dbaker@mma.org

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