Two dozen leaders—ranging from elected officials to CEOs and clergy to charitable heads—are taking part in the Haverhill cohort of a seven-month fellowship program designed and delivered by Harvard Business School faculty and staff.
Besides Haverhill, there are cohorts from Lawrence and Lowell for a total of 70 participants in the LEADS Executive Leadership program. The program meant to bring about “systems-level change at the community and regional level.” Pam Hallagan, Harvard Business School’s director of Custom Executive Education and co-founder and executive director of LEADS, said the fellowship represents a mechanism for investing in more inclusive leadership pipelines.
“LEADS programming is a powerful platform to connect impactful leaders within the Merrimack Valley as well as to other key change makers in Boston and across the state,” she said. The new cohort is majority female, 52%, and majority people of color, 57%, “reflecting the communities that are the ultimate beneficiaries of this investment in the capacity, connectivity, and commitment of local and regional leaders.”
Haverhill participants are Gretchen Arntz, director of philanthropy, Emmaus; Keith Boucher, co-founder, MakeIT Haverhill; state Sen. Diana DiZoglio; Jonathan “Jon” Dowst, president, Pentucket Bank; Katrina and Dennis D. Everett Jr., co-founders, Power of Self-Education; Penelope Guerrero Perez, founder and creative director, Penelope Guerrero Design; Allison Heartquist, chief of staff to Haverhill Mayor James J. Fiorentini; Bradley Howell, president and CEO, Fidelity House CRC; Matthew E. Juros, founder, Fishbrook Design; Margaret Marotta, superintendent, Haverhill Public Schools; Manuel Matia, managing partner, Matias Realty; Michael R. McCarthy, chief financial officer and chief operating officer, Northern Essex Community College; Stephen “Steve” Pascoe, Capri Realty and Management; Kerri Sheeran Perry, director of Planning and Development, Community Action; Caroline Pineau, owner and chief executive officer, Haverhill Stem; Andres “Andy” Polanco, student support and community liaison, Haverhill High School; Anabelle Rondon, Great Neighborhoods network director, Livable Streets Alliance; Jesus Ruiz, chaplain, Leaving the Streets Ministry; Bridget Stewart, chief operating officer/vice president of operations, Holy Family Hospital; Michael “Mike” Trotta, president/chief executive officer and managing director, Crystal Engineering; Sarah Van Gulden, priest-in-charge, Trinity Episcopal Church; state Rep. Andy X. Vargas; and Will F. Vilas Novas, director of Workforce Development, UTEC.
The program, which has been adapted due to COVID-19, is scheduled to kick off Aug. 5.