Apply to be part of the next cohort!

Leadership South Shore was established in 2016 by South Shore Bank in partnership with the South Shore Chamber of Commerce. This celebrated program selects participants from a pool of applicants and leads them through a yearlong immersive learning curriculum, resulting in a group of individuals who are committed to transformative leadership in our community.  
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This year marks the 7th Anniversary of Leadership South Shore, and we are proud of the more than 100 highly motivated graduates whose commitment to using their knowledge has made a positive change in the region. Leadership South Shore is not a starting point, but rather a process for emerging and established leaders to connect and inspire others to increase civic engagement, build vibrant communities and strengthen the South Shore and beyond.
Why this Program?
Leaders and emerging leaders play a vital role in the workplace and in our communities.  It is important that they understand what is unique to our region and that they learn to navigate and embrace opportunities and challenges so that they can help build, define and promote the South Shore.   Informed leaders make informed decisions.
​Program Content
This yearlong, thought-provoking community leadership program examines regional challenges and opportunities through expert panel discussions, virtual and on-site visits, presentations, focus groups, interactive activities and other innovative, experiential activities.
Leadership South Shore Day themes in years past have included:
  • Health & Human Services
    • Exploring topics such as The Addiction Crisis: Response, Treatments and Supports; Homelessness and Food Shortages; Mental Health & Wellness. Some of the organizations involved previously include South Shore Health System, Interfaith Social Services, Father Bill’s & Mainspring, New Way Recovery Center, South Shore Peer Recovery, Bay State Community Services.
  • Education System
    • Exploring topics such as Post-Secondary Options Outside Traditional Four-Year University; STEM Learning Access; Changing Face of Early Education. Some of the organizations involved previously include South Shore Charter Public School, Weymouth High School, Massasoit Community College, MassHire South Shore Workforce Board, Southeastern Regional Vocational School. 
  • Justice System
    • Exploring topics such as Programming and Classification for Inmates; K9 Demonstration with Plymouth County Sheriff; Crime Lab Analysis. Some of the organizations involved previously include Plymouth County Sherriff’s Department, Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane, Hanover Police Department, and the office of the Plymouth County District Attorney. 
  • Economic Development
    • Exploring topics such as Economic Development in Braintree, Weymouth and Quincy; Real Estate and Commercial Expansion. Some of the organizations involved previously include South Shore Chamber of Commerce, Union Point, Jack Conway Realty, The Kingston Collection, Atlantic Mechanical, SEED Corporation, and local Mayors of Braintree, Quincy, and Weymouth.  
  • Arts & Culture
    • Exploring topics such as Impact of Arts on Economic Development; Growing our Community with Arts & Culture; Hospitality & Tourism; Creative Arts Therapies. Some of the organizations involved in the past include Mass Cultural Council, South Shore Conservatory, Company Theatre, Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra, South Shore Art Center, Plymouth Bay Cultural District, Zildjian.  

2024 - 2025 Cohort

Dan Berry
South Shore YMCA
Brian DeFelice
Hull Public Library
Cassie Fruggiero
​South Shore Bank
Shayna MacDonald
​Friendship Home
Lisa Reich
Archway Mediation 
Katie Bolger
​Abington Bank
Pam Eddy
​Cardinal Cushing Center
Elizabeth Jones
The Arc of the South Shore
Mike McDonough
BELD
Jessica Szklut
South Shore Therapies
Lauren Cole
CB Realty
Lisa Feldman
Pop-A-Lock​
Bobby Joseph
​Braintree Police Department
Mike Murphy
Unicorn Realty​
Silvana Xible-Zakrzewski
Blue Cross/Blue Shield of MA
Nicole Craven
Sing, Explore, Create
Shawn Flynn
​Bridgewater State University​
Zach Littman
​Citrin Cooperman
Barbara O'Leary
NVNA and Hospice
Jim Dunphy, President & CEO of South Shore Bank, discusses the importance of leadership development and why Leadership South Shore makes a difference in our community.

Steering Team

Jacquie Collins
Partnering for Performance

Jill Donovan
South Shore Chamber

James Dunphy
South Shore Bank

Joanne Tully
South Shore Bank

Advisory Team

Nicole Joy Hales
PR First

Kimberly Kroha
Baker, Braverman & Barbadoro, PC

Judi Vigna
Specialized Career Guidance

Testimonials

"My participation in the 2017 South Shore Leadership program has proven to be an outstanding experience.  As a practicing business professional on the South Shore for over 30 years, this program has provided me with invaluable insights, validation of all the reasons why I choose to live and work on the South Shore, and numerous opportunities for meaningful engagement."  
Jeff Forsythe  Class of 2017
Manager, Jack Conway & Company, Inc.
Leadership South Shore has been such an eye-opening and profound experience...
The experience has allowed me to grow in: awareness, appreciation and commitment to the South Shore community at large.  The cohort is amazing and the lessons learned priceless, but my greatest realization was the importance of connecting with others to bring about sustainable social justice and meaningful change.  The program impacts different people in different ways and that speaks to the richness of the curriculum and the fact that EVERYONE in this program will have a unique takeaway.

Abigail P. Mojica, Class of 2019
Chief Operations Officer, Arc of the South Shore
"Leadership South Shore has been a tremendous opportunity to not only meet influential and dedicated leaders in the area, but to learn about amazing services and resources in our South Shore communities.  From the bus rides and the diverse panel discussions, to the quiet reflection in our journals and everything in between, the curriculum brings together a wealth of leaders and influencers in a unique and effective forum."
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​Eddie Liao   Class of 2018
VP, Clinical & Ancillary Services, South Shore Health
Leadership South Shore has been one of the best experiences of my professional career. As someone who relocated to the South Shore it’s helped me learn about vital factors in the local economy and population, as well as meet with key influencers and decision makers in the area. Hands down the best part is meeting with other leaders within our cohort group, it’s wonderful to get to know others who are passionate about giving back to the area in which we live. I can’t thank South Shore Bank and the South Shore Chamber enough for hosting this amazing program.
Patrick J. Powers, Class of 2019
Senior Branch Manager, Liberty Mutual Insurance
"Leadership South Shore expanded my network of connections to growing and established leaders.  I now feel that I have a deeper understanding of the endless benefits to living and working on the South Shore, of all the region has to offer and of ways I can work to positively influence the area."

Heather Webb, CPA   Class of 2017
Chief Financial Officer, Bristol Brothers Development

Leadership South Shore Alumni

2023 Graduates
Jane Barry, South Shore Bank
Megan Bettencourt, Unicorn Realty
Michelle Duggan, Manet Community Health
Madeline Gabor, this is us now
Maggie Giusti, Express Employment Professionals
Briana Keating, Bay State Community Services
Diane Kildea, Phifer Pinkham LLC
Robert McDonough, Sullivan Tire
Sean McNeil, GT Reilly & Company
David Newhall, Crocker Design Group
Yvana Osborne, Marshfield Community Media
​Mary Kate Paris, MassHire South Shore
Leo Rosa, Cardinal Cushing Centers
Elyssa Scheck, The Trustees
Meghan Steinberg, SteinbergHR
Kristine Swan, South Shore YMCA
Todd Swavey, South Shore Conservatory
Lisa Westgate, LN Westgate, LLC
John Zarella, Mass General Brigham
2022 Graduates
Ryan Austin
Michelle Badger, Massasoit Community College
Michael Bosco, Curry College
Peter Brown, Tiny & Sons Auto Glass
Jessica Feenan, Rodman for Kids
Peter Herbst, Herbst Law Group
Hilary Jenison, Hingham Anchor
Sean Leary
Lura Lynch, Children's Hospital
Kerin McGue
Beth Moore, Quincy Mutual Group
Paul Moran, South Shore Bank
Patrick Morris
Ibi Opuiyo, nMed
Holly Petersen
Scott Pralinksy
Michael Richardson, Richardson Insurance
Gina Rosas, Cardinal Cushing Centers
Rebecca Simmons
Trevor Williams, South Shore YMCA
2021 Graduates
Mary Ann Blackmur
Lauren Dell'Olio, South Shore YMCA
Julie Ellis, The Chef's Table
Kristi Faby, South Shore Conservatory
Andrew Grande, New York Life
Peter Herbst, Herbst Law Group LLC
Erin Joyce, Joyce Consulting Group PC
Elizabeth Lake, Moriarty Troyer & Malloy LLC
Michelle Markowitz, Cardinal Cushing Centers
Angela Mitchell, Quincy Mutual Group
Paul Moriarty, South Shore Bank
Damion Outar, JCO Group of Services
Jennifer Palmer, Marshfield Community Media
Michael Ruh, FoxRock Properties
Thomas Smith, Atlantic Mechanical
​Judi Vigna, Specialized Career Guidance LLC
2020 Graduates
Lisa Berardinelli, PREP Hanover Mall
Patrick Brady, Cornerstone Realty Capital, LLC
Melissa Burke, Quincy Chamber of Commerce
Suzanne Chase, South Shore Therapies
Claudia Cunha, United Way of Greater Plymouth
Pam Denholm, Weymouth Food Pantry
Nicole Duggins, Citrin Cooperman
Meghan Dunphy, MountainOne Bank
Denver Gibbs, Gibbs Software Solutions
Meghan Groves
Susan Jessup, Bane Care
Bill Kingdon, Ellis Realty Group
Steven Litcoff, Massasoit Community College
Mark Meloy, Giri Hotel Management
Mark Mulhern, South Shore Peer Recovery
Pauline Murnin, Blue Cross Blue Shield MA
Shelley North, Glow Beauty Boutique
Tom Osuch, South Shore Bank
Erin Ross, South Shore YMCA
Jessica Symonds, South Shore Health
Karen Thompson, Atlantic Symphony Orchestra
Curtis Webb, Bristol Brothers Development Corp.
2019 Graduates
Derek Antunes, Leonard, Mulherin & Greene PC
Serenity Belo, NeighborWorks Solutions
John Connolly, Success Real Estate
Tom Dearnley, CLA
Rick Doane, Interfaith Social Services
Heather Dwyer, Friendship Home
Joe Femia, G.T. Reilly
Jonathan Grabowski, Marshfield Community TV
Ciara Gogan
John Leonard, NFP
Rita MacKinnon, Bay State Community Services
Chris Miller, Jack Conway & Co.
Abby Mojica, ARC of the South Shore
Patrick Powers, Liberty Mutual Insurance
Lisa Rabideau, South Shore Health
Pat Ronan, Father Bill's & Mainspring
Emily Sugrue, Bane Care Management
Kim Sullivan, Insource Services
Mike Tinkham, South Shore Bank
Meg Verlicco, Weymoth Public Schools
Bernadette Ward, NVNA and Hospice
Gavin Williams, Williams Energy
2018 Graduates
Kyle Austin, Austin Insurance Agency
John Bateman, Murphy, Hesse, Toomey, & Lehane, LLP
Amy Belmore, Habitat for Humanity
Tom Bhisitkul, Moriarty Troyer & Malloy LLP
Stan Blackmur, South Shore Magazine
Tim Carey, Bane Care Management
Philip Cong, Quincy Asian Resources
Christina Curreri, Scituate Salt Cave
Paul DeSousa
Nicole Hales, PR First
Charles Kennedy, G.T. Reilly & Company
Eddie Liao
Kerri-Ann Moores, South Shore Bank
Matt Pretti, South Shore Bank
Catie Reilly, Father Bill's and Mainspring
Bryna Rogers, Bay State Community Services
​Athony Sheehan, Aspire Health Alliance
2017 Graduates
Jerry Agbon
Ryan Bristol, Brisol Brothers Development Corp.
Lucille Cassis
Stephanie Fitzgerald, South Shore Bank
Jeff Forsythe
Mark Gianno, Gianno & Freda
Joe Gratta, Atlantic Mechanical
​Katie Howard, South Shore Health
​Brian Jacobson, Capstone Headwaters
Kim Kroha, Baker, Braverman, & Barbadoro
Bob McCrystal, Beth Israel Deaconess - Milton
Heather Webb, Bristol Brothers Development Corp.
Jessica Wilcox, South Shore Conservatory
Erin Williams, Rockland Trust
Program Size & Timeline
Leadership South Shore runs from October through May, with a September graduation date. Participants attend a program day once monthly during fall/spring, with dates provided at the start of the program year. As attendance is a key pillar to program success, participants are required to attend all program days. Applicants are asked to submit an Employer Commitment Form to assure mutual understanding and support of anticipated participation requirements.
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Prior to Covid-19, each year's cohort could accommodate up to 24 participants. Given the state’s dynamic occupancy guidelines, we have decided to limit the 2021-22 class to 12 participants to allow more flexibility for hybrid and in-person activity.   Leadership South Shore will continue to closely monitor CDC guidelines while evaluating whether in-person sessions can safely proceed during the 2021-22 program year.  
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**Scholarships may be available for qualifying applicants.  Please contact Jill Donovan for more information about scholarships.
Applying to the Program: Each year we select a diverse group of emerging leaders who want to advance their personal and professional development and make genuine connections within their class. There is a Tuition Fee of $500 to participate in the program, which covers all program-related activities and materials.

All leaders applying to the program will be invited to interview  with the Leadership South Shore Steering Team. 
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Ready to apply?
Email [email protected] for an application.