BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Rocco Mammone, Chair

Fitchburg Resident; Human Resources Generalist, Mount Wachusett Community College

Born and raised in Fitchburg, MA, Rocco graduated from Fitchburg High School. He got his bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in marketing at Fitchburg State University. Rocco continued on to get his MBA in Human Resource Management at Fitchburg State University. While at Fitchburg State University, Rocco was involved in the college radio station, WXPL, hosting radio shows and assisting with marketing and public relations while at the radio station. Rocco is also certified with the Society of Human Resource Management as a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP).

In Rocco’s spare time, he enjoys helping out in the local community, enjoying the great outdoors by gardening and going for hikes, photography, rooting on all Boston sport teams, savoring a great cup of coffee, and spinning the hits at local events and weddings as a mobile DJ for KMJ Entertainment.

Rev. Dr. Susan Suchocki Brown, Vice Chair

Winchendon Resident; Faith-based Community, Winchendon, MA

Sheri Bean, Finance Chair

Westminster Resident; Principal Planner, Montachusett Regional Planning Commission

Miranda Jennings, Clerk

Winchendon Resident; Winchendon Community Action Committee and HEAL, Winchendon/Gardner, MA

Dr. Shelley Errington Nicholson, Member

Gardner Resident; Director of the Brewer Center for Civic Learning and Community Engagement, Mount Wachusett Community College

Shelley Errington Nicholson was born and raised in Rhode Island and is a graduate of Roger Williams University with a Bachelor’s degree in Corporate Communications and a minor in Music. She also received her Masters of Science degree in Human Development and Family Studies with a concentration in College Student Personnel from the University of Rhode Island. Shelley is currently a doctoral candidate in Educational Policy and Leadership at the University of Massachusetts Amherst while also pursuing a graduate certificate in advanced feminist studies. Her research interests include community college peer mentoring, college student food insecurity and feminist spatial theory.

Shelley has worked at several institutions including WPI, MCPHS, Rice University, and the University of Edinburgh. Shelley is the co-editor of the text Empowering Women in Higher Education and Student Affairs: Theory, Research, Narratives and Practice from Feminist Perspectives. In her current role at MWCC as the Director of the Brewer Center for Civic Learning and Community Engagement, Shelley coordinates service learning and community-based internships for MWCC students, oversees the SOS Peer Mentoring Program and Food for Thought: Campus Pantry, as well as budget management and strategic planning. She is also the co-advisor for the Cultural Engagement and International Service Club and has traveled with students to do service in Haiti, Guatemala, Mexico, Costa Rica and Peru. Shelley lives in Gardner and in her spare time, loves to read, travel and collect Elvis memorabilia.

Kelly Johnson, Member

Gardner resident; GP Teaching Garden Graduate; Community Relations Specialist, DCU Credit Union

Born, raised and educated in Fitchburg, Kelly is raising her teenage son to help their community through volunteerism. Together they actively build gardens, feed those in need of hot meals and package snack-sized foods for children to take home each weekend. Kelly is also an active Mentor through LUK, Inc, is on the Board of Governors of the N. Central MA YMCA, and regularly packages tens of thousands of meals with End Hunger NE.

Kelly received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science in 2018. Through her education, she realized the ability to help yourself and your neighbors isn’t afforded to everyone. To be able bodied and have the time to dedicate is something many people wish they had but simply don’t. Kelly’s days are spent helping her community thrive in a sustainable environment where people can learn to grow food for themselves, where children will appreciate that, although they were unable to help themselves as a youth, their neighbors showed them how to act selflessly and take care of those surrounding them who may need a helping hand.

Kelly and her son love to travel, visiting places like the mountains of Utah, Seattle, San Diego, Niagara Falls, Pearl Harbor, Disney World, Fenway Park and New Brunswick Canada, among others. Culture is a wonderful thing to explore; gardening is something we can take anywhere in the world to empower people to help themselves. It’s a beautiful thing to see your child get excited about a community garden plot growing in different regions around the globe, knowing that we have a hand in it right in our own community.

Amanda Curtis, Member

West Boylston Resident; Economic Development Coordinator, City of Leominster

Polly Sioux, Member

Clinton Resident; Traveler’s Insurance (national)

Evie Gleckel, Member

Ashby Resident; Surge and Three Pyramids, serving NCMA

Meghan Maceiko, Member

Rutland Resident; North Central MA Community Foundation, serving NCMA