Great news from the Mass. Commission on the Status of Women…two strong leaders in a row! outgoing Chair Liz Houlihan of Falmouth announced the results of yesterday’s MCSW 2007-2008 election…Marianne Fleckner of Westford, DCR Deputy Commissioner and well-known activist in the women’s community will be taking over the Chair. Houlihan said she had contacted the Commission’s Appointing Authorities (Gov., Lt. Gov, Senate President, Speaker and Caucus of Women Legislators) today to give them the news released to the press.
The Commission released the following information:
DCR DEPUTY COMMISSIONER MARIANNE FLECKNER
ELECTED CHAIR MASS. COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN
September 26, 2007, Boston, MA….The Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women has elected Marianne Fleckner of Westford to Chair the statewide commission for the 2007-2008 term. Outgoing Chair Elizabeth Houlihan said, “The entire Commission is pleased with the strong leadership we will have for the coming year. I am confident that the Commissioners have selected an extraordinary woman to lead us forward.” The Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women is made up of commissioners from across the Commonwealth appointed by the Governor, the Senate president, the Speaker of the House and the Caucus of Women legislators.
Houlihan noted, “Our newly elected Chair is Marianne Fleckner of Westford, a remarkable woman who has earned the respect and admiration of the entire commission, legislators and women leaders across the state. Ms. Fleckner was one of the “founders” of the commission who worked with the Administration and the Legislature to establish a permanent MCSW in 1998. Since then, Ms. Fleckner has given generously of her time, expertise and creativity to fulfill the commission’s mission statewide. She has a gift for bringing people of very diverse political, cultural and geographic backgrounds together to accomplish positive goals.”
Because most commissioners do not have government backgrounds, the MCSW has benefited from Ms. Fleckner’s keen intelligence and understanding of state government. From her career that spans from the Dukakis Administration to the present, Marianne brings a wealth of knowledge that has enriched our work.
She currently serves as the Deputy Commissioner of Administration and Finance at the Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation. Before joining the MDCR. She was employed by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health as their Associate Commissioner of Management & Operations. Previous to that, she was with the Massachusetts Human Resources Division where she managed a staff that defined the Commonwealth’s Business Requirements for a new automated Human Resources/Compensation Management system.
“Marianne Fleckner’s work ethic, integrity and dedication are role models for what is right about state government. She is surely a credit to this Administration,” Houlihan said.
Ms. Fleckner has been a leader in the MCSW’s efforts which established the Unsung Heroines Initiative and the Mass. Women’s Resource Network. She was also an active participant with top female leaders from business, education, government and the non-profit sectors in MassGAP, the program to identify and promote more women for appointment to administrative positions in state government. The issues she is most involved with are domestic violence prevention and gender pay equity. She is also a member of the National Notary Association, member of the League of Women Voters, a Library Trustee for the Westford J.V. Fletcher Library and a volunteer with the Westford School system.
” The MCSW has a great new leader, our appointing authorities have a strong ally, and most importantly, the women of Massachusetts have a true friend and effective advocate in Commissioner Marianne Fleckner,” Houlihan concluded.
Other commissioners elected to serve on Commissioner Fleckner’s leadership team include: Gloria Coney, Boston, Vice Chair; Catherine Greene, Boston, Secretary; and Greer Swiston, Newton, Treasurer.
