Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce Announces
the Leadership Worcester Class of 2023
WORCESTER, MA- The Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce announces the selection of 28 talented professionals who will make-up the class of 2023.
Members of the Leadership Worcester Class of 2023 are:
Katherine (Katie) Acker- Health Equity Program Manager, Fallon Health
Marwa Alnaal- Director of Government Affairs, Ascentria Care Alliance
Christina Bazelmans- Associate Principal, Lamoureaux Pagano Associates Architects
Margie Breault- Program Manager, EforAll
Staisha Chavis- Operations Manager, City of Worcester-Executive office of Economic Development
John Daniels- Director of Investments, The Menkiti Group
Jennifer Delaney- Community Health Manager, UMass Memorial Health
Lora Dumas- Director of Strategy, UMass Chan Medical School
Katie Ferreira- Director of Communications & Development, Guild of St. Agnes of Worcester, Inc.
Stacey Forrest- Chief Operating Officer, Thrive Support & Advocacy
Anastasia Garcia- Commercial Lines IT Business Analyst, Hanover Insurance Group
Maricelis Gonzalez-Executive Director, El Buen Samaritano Food Program, Inc.
Amaris Gonzalez- Director of College Placement and Transition, Nativity School of Worcester
Kendra Hacker- Lead Admissions Marketing Specialist, UMass Chan Medical School
Holly Hodgkins- District Representative, Office of Congressman McGovern
Kayanna James- Workforce development specialist, U.S. Department of Labor
Billie Kenyon- COO/Sales Operation & Customer Success, Ladybugz Interactive Agency
Peter Munene- Program Coordinator, Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance
Wanjiru Nganga- Assistant Administrator, Operations, Century Homecare, LLC
Jay Prosser- Chief Nursing Officer, Saint Vincent Hospital
Victor Rivera- Senior Manager, Strategic Priorities, YMCA of the USA
Gabriel Rodriguez- Outreach Director, Legendary Legacies
Eric Roldan- Director of Outpatient Services, Open Sky Community Services
Loreta Sulejman- Market Manager, Webster Five Cents Savings Bank
Janelle Tanenbaum- Associate Attorney, Seder & Chandler LLP
Marina Theberge- Financial Services Professional, Dream Big Wealth Strategies LLC
Joel Wallen- Associate Executive Director, Pernet Family Health Service
Jibrael Younis- Operations Manager, MassHire Central Career Center
The class was carefully selected by committee and includes a diverse group of individuals from Central Massachusetts. The selection committee sought motivated individuals who aspire to take an active leadership role in Worcester and who want to learn how they can tap in to make the best/biggest impact on the city and surrounding communities. The selected applicants were notified this July.
The 2023 class will get underway on September 15, 2022, with an overnight retreat that offers 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.
Monthly sessions will explore topics that are critical to Central Mass. The daylong sessions will take place between 8:30 a.m. and 4:15 p.m. on one Thursday a month from October through May and culminate in a graduation in June 2023. Session topics include Urban Environment and Sustainability; Education and Youth Development; Economic Development; Public Health; Community Safety; Government; Arts, Culture and Quality of Life; and Food and Housing Security.
“Now more than ever, we need leaders – those who understand the needs of our community and will step up to facilitate change and inclusivity,” said Timothy P. Murray, President and CEO, Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce. “For nine years Leadership Worcester has been cultivating just such individuals. Graduates of the program have gone on to do incredible things in our community and beyond. I know that this new class will do the same to help our great city continue to grow in the fields of science, education, healthcare, technology, and more.”
“As a past Leadership Worcester graduate, several years ago, I have since then overlapped with many LW classmates that are now involved in the community and it is incredibly heartening for me to see so many recent grads of Leadership Worcester getting involved with local organizations. It is a fabulous program, and it helps the Worcester area advance as a great place to live and do business! Leadership Worcester grads really make a difference.” – Deb Cary, Community Advocacy and Outreach Manager, Mass Audubon, Central Region
The cost to participate in the program is $3,200. Scholarship assistance from employers and a number of Worcester foundations including: George F. and Sybil H. Fuller Foundation, George I. Alden Trust, Stoddard Charitable Trust, Hoche-Scofield Foundation, the Fletcher Foundation, and new this year, the Leadership Worcester Alumni Fund which is made up from alumni donations.
Applications for the next class will be available online in February 2023. For more information, visit www.leadershipworcester.com.
