Healey and Driscoll to Conduct Search for Next MBTA General Manager

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BOSTON — Governor-elect Maura Healey and Lieutenant Governor-elect Kim Driscoll announced that they have retained the executive search firm Krauthamer & Associates (K&A) to conduct the search for a permanent General Manager of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA).
 
According to a press release, K&A is the premier transit search firm in the field and has placed hundreds of executives in transit agencies across the country, including through other state contracts in Massachusetts.
 
"Lieutenant Governor-elect Driscoll and I hired Krauthamer & Associates because choosing the best person to be the next MBTA General Manager is critical for the future of Massachusetts' transportation system, economy, workforce, housing sector and economic competitiveness," said Governor-elect Healey. "K&A will be looking statewide, nationally and internationally to identify strong candidates who have transit and management experience and who understand the urgency of ensuring safety, reliability and accessibility issues across the system."
 
The current MBTA General Manager, Steve Poftak, announced that he will step down on January 3rd. At that time, Governor Charlie Baker will appoint an Interim General Manager. K&A has been retained to hire the next permanent General Manager.
 
"K&A has a proven track record of hiring strong, qualified and diverse candidates for transit roles in state government. They understand the industry and are uniquely qualified to support this critical search," said Lieutenant Governor-elect Driscoll. "We look forward to engaging with advocates, legislative leaders, labor partners and community members to find the best candidate to move the MBTA and Massachusetts forward."
 

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Five Local Firefighters Graduate From Massachusetts Firefighting Academy


Cody Doyle, left, and Owen Hoffman of Dalton hold their axes after graduating from the academy on Monday. 
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Five local firefighters were among the 20 graduates of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy on Monday. 
 
Jahyde Bullard, Phourasamy Din and Matthew Tobin, all of Pittsfield, and Cody Doyle and Owen Hoffman of Dalton completed the academy's 50-day Career Recruit Firefighting Training Program.
 
Bullard, Din and Tobin were appointed permanent firefighters by Mayor Peter Marchetti last July. 
 
"Massachusetts firefighters are on the frontlines protecting their communities every day, and today’s graduates are needed now more than ever," said State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine. "The hundreds of hours of foundational training they’ve received will provide them with the physical, mental, and technical skills to perform their jobs effectively and safely."
 
The graduating firefighters of Class  No. S39 represent the fire departments of Amherst, Chicopee, Dalton, Monson, Northampton, Palmer, Pittsfield, South Hadley Fire District 1, Springfield, Ware, and Westfield.
 
The Richard N. Bangs Outstanding Student Award, which is presented to one recruit in each graduating career recruit training class, was presented to Dylan Sliech of Springfield Fire and Emergency Services. The award is named for the longtime chair of the Massachusetts Fire Training Council and reflects the recruit's academic and practical skills, testing, and evaluations over the course of the 10-week program.
 
The graduates received classroom training in all basic firefighter skills during the course. They practice first under non-fire conditions and then during controlled fire conditions. To graduate, students must demonstrate proficiency in life safety, search and rescue, ladder operations, water supply, pump operation, and fire attack. Fire attack operations range from mailbox fires to multiple-floor or multiple-room structural fires. 
 
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