Dougan Sherwood, CEO/President, Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce, NECC President Lane Glenn, and Haverhill Superintendent of Schools Margaret Marotta.

Northern Essex Community College President Lane Glenn hosted a warm welcome for two of Haverhill’s newest community leaders on Monday, August 6.

Northern Essex faculty and staff as well as Haverhill community business leaders, educators, and elected officials greeted Margaret Marotta, Haverhill’s superintendent of schools, and Dougan Sherwood, president and CEO of the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce, at the evening reception, which featured a brief program.

“As a community college, our relationships with our community partners are critically important,” said Glenn.  “Our goal was to bring our Haverhill partners together and celebrate the new talent and energy that we have in our community, especially as it relates to education and workforce development.”

A theme that ran throughout the evening was the progress that can be made when the school system, local college, and chamber of commerce work together to educate local residents and prepare them for careers.

“We need a strong educational system and strong workforce development so our youth can go right from high school to college to jobs,” said Attorney Paul Magliocchetti, chairman of the chamber board and vice chair of the Haverhill School Committee.

John Michitson, who serves on the school committee, said “There’s a lot of discussion about every kid in the city needing the chance for a fulfilling life.  That requires a good education and we have someone who can help us get there.  And that requires a good job, and we have someone who can help us get there.”

One-hundred people attended the September 6 reception at NECC welcoming two new Haverhill leaders.

Margaret Marotta comes to the Haverhill Public School System from Salem, MA where she served as assistant superintendent for the last six years and as director of pupil personnel services for two years.

Northern Essex President Lane Glenn, who introduced Marotta and emceed the program, said “She has considerable passion and experience in areas such as special education, English for non-native speakers, and public safety.

After one month on the job, Marotta is appreciative of how warmly she’s been welcomed and is shaping plans for the future.  “I want to bring some new and exciting things to Haverhill, and work with Dougan and Lane to help our students move from high school to college to jobs.”

Sherwood was most recently in Cambridge, MA, where he was managing director of new markets for the Cambridge Innovation Center.  Before that, he was co-founder and managing director of the Cambridge Innovation Center in Greater St. Louis.

“Haverhill is a new environment for me…but I know economic development,” said Sherwood.

Comparing Haverhill to other cities he has worked in such as Providence, RI and St. Louis, MO, Sherwood added.  “I don’t think it’s silly to call what’s happening here a Renaissance.  Everyone is serious about the future…Haverhill has a lot going for it and I want others to see that.”

He shared that in November the city is hosting a hackathon, which will bring together data-driven professionals who will meet for 24 hours to solve a problem submitted by a nonprofit, city department, or neighborhood group.

“I want to attract more people from the outside to Haverhill, especially in technology,” he said.

In addition to serving on the Greater Haverhill Chamber Board of Directors, Glenn was a member of the search committee that hired Haverhill’s new superintendent of schools.