Leadership MetroWest Tabs Next Executive Director

Press release from Leadership MetroWest

FRAMINGHAM, MA — Leadership MetroWest, a nonprofit community leadership development organization, today is announcing the hiring of Brandon Ward as its new Executive Director. Ward is replacing the retiring Helen Lemoine, after she served in the Executive Director’s position since 2000.

Before joining Leadership Metrowest, Brandon Ward served as a Senior Program Manager at the Harvard Kennedy School's Center for Public Leadership (CPL), where he facilitated leadership development cohorts for graduate students committed to public service and social justice. Prior to CPL, Ward worked at the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy as a faculty assistant to former Canadian politician Michael Ignatieff; at the international development nonprofit BRAC USA as the special assistant to the CEO; and in the U.S. Senate as a congressional aide to Senator Joe Lieberman. Outside of work, Ward serves as a school committee member for the South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical School (Keefe Tech), and on the boards of Downtown Framingham, Inc. and Friends of Saxonville, where he serves as Board President. He has spent time volunteering in Haiti and western Kenya on projects related to rural health and primary education. He is a proud graduate of Trinity College and Framingham High School.

“Our Search Committee, comprised of several current Board members and dedicated Leadership MetroWest alumni, conducted a comprehensive search process over the past several months to find our next Executive Director,” said Chris Brown, Chair of Leadership MetroWest’s Board of Directors, in announcing the hiring. “We knew with Helen retiring that these were big shoes to fill, but in Brandon, I am confident that Leadership MetroWest can continue to thrive and grow as an organization. Brandon distinguished himself during the search process with his grasp of leadership development and civic engagement, both key themes explored every year in the Leadership Academy. We were also very impressed with and energized by his ideas and strategies to enhance our organization’s impact in the region in the future. The Board and I are very excited to work with and support Brandon in his new role for us.”

As the Executive Director of an organization with one full-time staff member, Ward will have the responsibility for programming (which includes a 10-month Leadership Academy that meets monthly), revenue generation (including fundraising), communications, and finance, with support and strategic guidance from an engaged board of directors who bring a range of skill sets, perspectives, and geographic and sector diversity.

“I’m delighted to join Leadership MetroWest as the next Executive Director, and to take on the challenge of finding new and innovative ways for this organization to lead within our community,” said Brandon Ward, Executive Director of Leadership MetroWest. “I care deeply about building a MetroWest that is equitable and inclusive – and in order to do that, you need community leaders who lead with courage, compassion, and authenticity. I look forward to collaborating with local community organizations and government officials to empower our next generation of leaders to do just that.”

Ward concluded by saying, “Leadership MetroWest is a highly-respected organization thanks to the hard work of Helen Lemoine and the board of directors, and I’m honored to be entrusted with leading this organization into its next chapter.”

Earlier in March, the Board began the search process by releasing a job posting seeking a candidate who has the skills and drive to team up with the Board to implement their vision, manage the flagship Leadership Academy, interact with alumni, and strengthen community partnerships in order to grow and sustain the next generations of MetroWest leaders. Ward was unanimously selected by the Leadership MetroWest Board after being recommended by the Board’s Search Committee. He has already begun transition meetings, and has confirmed an official start date of July 25th.

About Leadership MetroWest and the Leadership Academy

Leadership MetroWest is a respected community leadership development 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving the region and recognizing more than 34 years of impact by 800+ alumni of the signature program, the Leadership Academy. Leadership MetroWest’s goal is to encourage and empower Academy participants and alumni to be more effective community and business leaders and to embrace civic engagement and cross-sector collaboration. Leadership MetroWest’s mission is to build and inspire a network of engaged and collaborative leaders who move the region forward. Leadership MetroWest serves the public, private and nonprofit sectors in Framingham, Natick, Ashland, Hopkinton, Holliston, Marlborough, Sherborn, Southborough, Sudbury, and Wayland.

Leadership MetroWest’s flagship program is the annual Leadership Academy. Each year the Leadership Academy brings together 30 established and emerging leaders from every sector of MetroWest to explore issues, institutions, resources, and opportunities in the region. Participants engage in monthly site visits and discussions with local, regional and state leaders and experts and experience diverse schools of thought and team-building while refining their personal leadership capacity and cultivating relationships with other leaders. Topics explored include government, business, the economy, arts & culture, public safety, education, environment, health & human services, transportation, and housing. The Academy also includes a leadership development curriculum designed to help identify, expand and enhance core leadership capacities and explore positive actions for equity, inclusion and antiracism in the context of being a leader. The Academy’s intention is for all participants to emerge from their year-long Academy experience with valuable cross-sector connections, community knowledge, and a strong sense of personal direction. Through Leadership MetroWest, participants are invigorated, confident, committed, and better prepared to help affect community and organizational change. Following each annual academy, graduates join Leadership MetroWest’s Alumni Network. Alumni are encouraged to remain in touch through multiple annual virtual and in person events and emails to foster connections to each other, to the region and to invaluable resources to create opportunities for cross-sector collaboration, community involvement, and professional development.

For additional information about Leadership MetroWest, visit
https://www.leadershipmetrowes...