Twenty men and women, sponsored by area companies as up and coming employees and future leaders in our community, have been accepted into the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce’s Instituto de Liderazgo Comunitario.  CLI is dedicated to providing participants with individual leadership skills and a deep understanding of the region.  The nine month program focuses on education, government, health care, social services, justice system, media, arts and culture, environment and history.  The Chamber created the Institute to inspire a new generation of men and women to enthusiastically assume important roles in their community.   The program challenges individuals from diverse backgrounds to be influential in our region’s future.

Professor Mike Greenwood, business professor at Fitchburg State University and chairman of the Institute steering committee, is enthusiastic about this year’s participants and the meaningful professional, personal and community development they will take part in.  “I have been with the class since it’s reintroduction in 2011.  Each year, I am amazed and impressed with the dedication of the participants.  Programs like this are an important asset within the community to ensure one that continues to thrive, even after our current leaders retire.”

Marty Connors, president of Rollstone Bank & Trust and past chairman of the Institute steering committee, led the Institute’s revival in 2010.  “I was in the 1991 class of the Institute and it was an integral part of my success in the community.  As Chairman of the Chamber’s Board of Directors in 2010, I felt we needed the program back to once again support our needs for leadership and succession planning. Rollstone Bank & Trust’s participants have enjoyed the program and become leaders here in their workplace and in the community.  We could not be prouder of the work they have done.”

Participants in the 2019 Class include:
Amy Bonilla, Rollstone Bank & Trust

Matthew Borseth, Fidelity Bank

Jared Brown, W. E. Aubuchon Company, Inc.

Jon Bullock, Enterprise Bank and Trust Company

Kathleen Craigen, The Sizer School

Jill deSousa, Avidia Bank

Kelley French, No. Central Mass Workforce Investment Board

Kyle Johnson, Johnson Controls

Brion Keagle, Fitchburg State University

Sweta Khajurivala, Montachusett Opportunity Council, Inc

Heather Layton, Mount Wachusett Community College

Christine Lowe, Institute of Professional Practice

Rocco Mammone, Resource Management, Inc.

Mary May-Lucchese, Montachusett Regional Voc. Tec

Christopher Medley, Fitchburg State University

Frances Santos, Montachusett Home Care Corp.

Jessica Senee, Leominster Credit Union

Jennifer Stone, Fidelity Bank

Anthony Trapasso, Halstead Insurance Agency, Inc.

Peter Ryan, Johnson Controls