The Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the 28 professionals who have been selected to participate in the 2021-2022 Leadership Worcester class.

Now in its seventh year, Leadership Worcester has graduated more than 150 professionals in the Greater Worcester area from various sectors including government, business, education, nonprofits, and the arts. These alumni are committed and connected to Worcester through residence or their place of work.

Through a nine-month experiential learning program from September to May, Leadership Worcester participants learn about their community from a variety of angles and engage with local leaders to learn about the region’s challenges and opportunities. Each monthly session takes participants behind the scenes of Worcester’s diverse anchor institutions and hidden gems, allowing them to see the city through a new lens. Participants then graduate in June and join a robust network of Leadership Worcester alumni.

Members of the Leadership Worcester Class of 2022 are:

  • Amy Sciannameo – Senior Underwriter – Hanover International, The Hanover Insurance Group
  • Andrew McShane – Program Manager, Downtown Worcester Business Improvement District
  • Ariana Dello Stritto – Marketing Coordinator and Financial Literacy Assistant, Bay State Savings Bank
  • Brittany Wong – CEO, Studio Jade
  • David Conner – Director of Community Engagement, Worcester Historical Museum
  • David Sullivan – Economic Development and Business Recruitment Associate, Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce
  • David Zeutas-Broer – Major Gifts Officer, EcoTarium
  • Domenica Perrone – Project Manager, Department of Health and Human Services; City of Worcester
  • Elizabeth Deliberto – Vice President, Nativity School of Worcester
  • Heather Forchilli – Branch Manager, Central One FCU
  • Johan Romero Luna – Area Manager, Workers Credit Union
  • Jonida Duque – Director, Open Sky Community Services
  • Juli True-Dooley – Director of Grants and Marketing, Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center
  • Katherine Aguilar – Owner and Founder, K Sense Co. LLC
  • Keyshawn O’Connell – Director of Athletics & Healthy Habits, Boys & Girls Club of Worcester
  • Kimberly McCullen – Employment & Employee Relations Specialist, College of the Holy Cross
  • Kwame Ofori – Director of Information Technology, RCAP Solutions, Inc.
  • Larnese Cook – Director of Operations, Central Massachusetts Agency on Aging, Inc.
  • Lisa Malo – Creative Group Manager, Bose
  • Lovo D. Koliego-Narmah – Executive Director, Community Health Awareness Network (CHAN)
  • Margarita Navarro – Executive Assistant & Event Coordinator, KARL STORZ
  • Paula Fitzpatrick – Dean, D’Amour College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, Assumption University
  • Ryan Petrone – Owner/CEO, Energy Athletics LLC
  • Sam Sui – Utilization Management Clinical Pharmacist, Fallon Health
  • Samantha Sendrowski – Technology Innovation Manager, Bowditch & Dewey, LLP
  • Sherri Lee Gentile – Project Manager, UMass Memorial Health
  • Steven Schimmel – Executive Director, Jewish Federation of Central MA
  • Vittoria (Tori) Buerschaper – Interim Executive Director, Community Harvest Project

The class was carefully selected by committee and includes a diverse group of 19 women and nine men from Central Massachusetts. The selection committee sought motivated individuals aspiring to take active leadership roles in Worcester and have the potential to create meaningful change. Selected applicants were notified in July.

The Leadership Worcester Class of 2022 represents a variety of industry sectors, cultural backgrounds, and diverse educational experiences.

“As has been reinforced by the COVID-19 pandemic over the past year-plus, strong and collaborative leadership is the cornerstone of any successful community. That’s why the Chamber and our employer partners remain committed to running this crucial Leadership Worcester program year after year,” said Timothy P. Murray, president and CEO of the Worcester Chamber. “Leadership Worcester alumni have gone on to do great work, advancing the region and helping move us all forward. We congratulate these 28 professionals – our next generation of leaders – on their selection to the class, and we’re confident that they too will make tremendous and meaningful contributions to our community.”

The class will get underway on September 16 with an overnight retreat at the AC Hotel by Marriott in Worcester, offering participants an opportunity to get to know one another, determine individual leadership strengths, learn more about participants’ experiences, and to understand more about the Worcester community and our emerging leadership.

Monthly sessions will explore topics that are critical to Central Massachusetts, such as urban environment and sustainability; economic development; health, public safety; government; arts, culture, and quality of life; and food insecurity. The daylong sessions will take place the second Thursday of each month from October through May; the program will conclude with a graduation ceremony in June of 2022.

Applications for the next Leadership Worcester class will be made available online in February of 2022. More information can be found online at leadershipworcester.com.