PROBATION’S PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT GROUP
CELEBRATES TEN YEARS

The Professional Development Group, an organization of mostly female employees from the Massachusetts Probation Service, recently celebrated its 10^th anniversary at the Fuller Crafts Museum in Brockton.

During the 10^th anniversary event held in June, 16 women were recognized for their contributions to the service. The honorees included: Second Deputy Commissioner Elizabeth Tavares; Regional Supervisor Ellen Slaney; Lynn District Court Probation Officer Michelle Carter; Newburyport District Court Chief Probation Officer Patricia Kane-Thompson; Franklin/Hampshire Juvenile Court Probation Officer Irene Kennedy Murphy; Brockton District Court Chief Probation Officer Jean-Ellen Ouellette-Kenney; Essex Juvenile Assistant Chief Probation Officer Carol Joyce Clark; Worcester Women's Community Corrections Center Probation Officer in Charge Nancy Grossman; Lynn District Court Probation Officer Paula Nimkar; Dedham District Court First Assistant Chief Probation Officer Harriet Beasley; Gloucester District Court Probation Officer Andrea Occhipinti; Lawrence District Court Probation Officer Danielle Sullivan; Middlesex Probate & Family Court Chief Probation Officer Sophia O'Brien; Worcester Juvenile Acting Chief Probation Officer Francyne LeFemine; Franklin County Community Corrections POIC Eileen Torchio; and Barnstable Probate & Family Court Probation Officer Julie Bennett.

Bennett, the group’s coordinator, said the organization’s mission is to provide members with opportunities for professional and personal leadership development.

“Networking is a big focus of our group,” said Bennett.

The group meets twice a year, once in the spring and then in the fall. During the meetings, the group hosts an educational workshop. Previous workshops have covered such topics as financial issues, professional advancement, and stress management.

Although the organization membership is mostly female, Bennett said men are more than welcome to join and participate in the group’s activities.

The idea for the organization was first introduced by Nancy Grossman, who is now Probation Officer in Charge at the Worcester Resource Center, and Marge Brown, former Deputy Commissioner who is now retired. Grossman and Brown were joined by Francyne LeFemine, who is now Acting Chief Probation Officer at Worcester Juvenile Court; Donna Quick, Assistant Chief Probation Officer at Worcester Juvenile; Heidi Marshall, Worcester District Court Probation Officer; and Colleen Trainor, retired Gardner Assistant Chief Probation Officer.

“We formed the organization to address a couple of issues. We wanted to work to overcome the isolation women felt by networking, doing mentoring, seeking opportunities and fostering training and development for ourselves,” said Grossman.

Grossman said she is pleased with the success of the group which she describes as having made strides over the years.

“The organization made it possible for us to create a network across the state. We’ve created valuable relationships where we have been able to reach across court departments and share information as well as support one another in our profession,” said Grossman.