News  Massachusetts Probation Service employees contribute to success of international convention in Boston

More than 2,000 criminal justice professionals from across the country and Canada traveled to Boston last week for the American Probation and Parole Association (APPA) convention which was planned and hosted at the Boston Sheraton thanks in part to the volunteer efforts of Massachusetts Probation Service employees.

MPS volunteers and members of the local host planning committee met regularly with APPA representatives for several months via Zoom in preparation for the 46th Annual Training Institute. The convention was offered in-person, virtually, on demand, and via streaming. Michelle Williams, Chief Probation Officer at Boston Municipal Court-Charlestown and a member of the APPA host committee, served as chief coordinator of the volunteers.

Volunteers assisted with set-up, conference registration, ran host information tables, served as ambassadors, and security. They also hosted events and served on panels. Another volunteer, Edith Alexander-- a BMC-Roxbury Probation Officer--arranged for Boston Medical Center to provide COVID-19 vaccinations at the conference site.

“The 46th Annual APPA Training Institute was a success in no small part because of the active support and hard work of the Massachusetts Probation Service. Dr. Patti Gavin and her MPS Training Division team, the local host committee and many MPS volunteers worked tirelessly for months leading up to the convention and from dawn to dusk during the conference to ensure everything from content to execution was perfect,” said Massachusetts Probation Commissioner Edward Dolan.

Commissioner Dolan added, “MPS actively hosted this event. Deputy Commissioner Pamerson Ifill's served as Master of Ceremonies at the opening session. MPS volunteers staffed registration. There was significant participation of MPS staff on various panels and presentations and there were many MPS employees in attendance. We can all take pride in their effort to make this international event a success and reflect positively on Boston and the Massachusetts Probation Service."

Pictured, from left: Statewide Training Manager Patricia Gavin, Chief Probation Officers Michelle Williams, Kim Gruenberg, and Maureen McCole, Paula Keating, Chief Probation Officers Diane Massouh and Rebecca Ramirez, and First Deputy Commissioner Dianne Fasano.

The following are the volunteers who helped make the national meeting a success.

APPA Local Host Committee members:

• Alf Barbalunga, CPO, Southern Berkshire District Court
• Patricia Gavin, Statewide Manager of Training
• Carmen Gomez, Chief Probation Officer (CPO), Chelsea District Court
• Patricia Horne, Deputy Director, Office of Community Corrections (OCC)
• John "Jack" McGrimley, PO, Falmouth District Court
• Michelle Williams, CPO, Boston Municipal Court- Charlestown

APPA Boston Volunteer List:

• Kim Albin, Program Manager, Community Corrections
• Edith Alexander, Boston Municipal Court-Roxbury PO
• James Arena, Essex Superior ACPO
• Lilybeth Arroyo, Leominster District Court Associate Probation Officer (APO)
• Damon Banks, Cambridge District Court CPO
• Michelle Carter Donahue, PO, Newburyport District Court
• Jude David, Chelsea District Court PO
• Marcia Davis Garrison, Norfolk Superior PO
• Maryanne Deschenes, Essex Superior PO
• Michael Dube, Brighton District CPO
• Peter Garofalo, Essex Superior Court PO
• Julie Grady, Administrative Coordinator, Training Unit
• Kim Gruenberg, CPO, Quincy District Court
• Jessica Iovanna, Chelsea District Court Assistant Chief Probation Officer (ACPO)
• Laura Lempicki, Statewide Manager, Research and Development
• Diane Massouh, CPO, Gardner District Court
• Maureen McCole, Somerville District Court CPO
• Derrick Mensah, Statewide Manager of Substance Use Services
• Dexter McKenzie, Salem District Court PO
• Olivia Nambi, Newburyport District Court PO
• Rebecca Ramirez, CPO, Fitchburg District Court
• Janelle Reppucci O'Brien, Chelsea District Court PO
• Angela Ricard, Barnstable/Town of Plymouth Juvenile Court APO
• Diane Richard, Lead Program Manager, Training Unit
• Joe Robles, Essex Superior Court PO
• Kristin Scribner, Administrative Assistant, Training Unit
• Yardley Theolien, Regional Program Manager Office of Community Corrections (OCC)
• John Turner, Boston Municipal Court-Central CPO
• John Walsh, Core Competency Training Manager, Training Unit