Thursday - June 23, 2022
9:30 am – 1:30 pm

Women Leading Government will hold a meeting titled “Owning the Interview Process” on June 23 at Hillview Golf Club in North Reading.

The day will open with a discussion of the book “Huddle: How Women Unlock Their Collective Power” by Brooke Baldwin, led by Needham Town Manager Kate Fitzpatrick and Southborough Assistant Town Manager Vanessa Hale.

A panel of town managers and human resource directors — including Brookline Town Administrator Mel Kleckner, Sandwich Town Manager Bud Dunham, Stow Assistant Town Administrator Dolores Hamilton, Rowley Town Administrator Deborah Eagan, and Westford Town Manager Jodi Ross — will share their experiences as hiring managers, focusing on why candidates move on in the job search process, and how candidates can be successful. They will also discuss recent trends in municipal hiring.

The panel will then engage in mock interviews with candidates. The interviews will be designed to show strengths and weaknesses of candidates, prompting discussion between attendees and the panel.

All attendees will have the opportunity to practice their interviewing skills in small groups.

The meeting will run from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The cost is $20 per person, including lunch.

Women Leading Government is an initiative of the Massachusetts Municipal Management Association. Its mission is to encourage and support women in appointed staff positions in local government. Women working in any level of local government are encouraged to register for this event.

The MMA currently requires attendees of in-person events to show proof of being fully vaccinated for COVID (card, photo or QR code). (Religious or medical vaccine exemptions are allowed with a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours.) Masks are optional. These safety protocols are subject to change based on the latest public health data and guidance.

The cancellation deadline for non-COVID related cancellations is June 20.

Agenda

8:30-9 a.m.
Coffee and Light Breakfast, Networking

9:15 a.m.
Welcome
Melissa Goff, WLG Committee Member and Brookline Deputy Town Administrator

9:30-10 a.m.
Book Discussion
Huddle: How Women Unlock Their Collective Power
Led by Needham Town Manager Kate Fitzpatrick and Southborough Assistant Town Administrator Vanessa Hale

10 a.m.-Noon
Owning the Interview Process
The panel will share their insights into the recruitment and interviewing process. This will be followed by a trio of staged interviews, leading to discussion on how the candidate performed in each interview and suggested improvements and/or corrections.
Dolores Hamilton, Assistant Town Administrator, Stow
Bud Dunham, Town Manager, Sandwich
Mel Kleckner, Town Administrator, Brookline
Jodi Ross, Town Manager, Westford
Debbie Eagan, Town Administrator, Rowley
Molly Kean, Human Resources Director, Norwood

12-12:30 p.m.
Mock Interviews
Attendees will have the opportunity for mock interviews in small groups at their tables using a list of questions provided. A great chance to practice what you’ve just seen!

12:30 p.m.
Lunch

Location
Hillview Golf Club, North Reading

Contact
MMA Senior Member Services Coordinator Denise Baker, dbaker@mma.org
Massachusetts Municipal Management Association

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