About Us

Dennis DiZoglio, Executive Director

phone: 978-374-0519 ext.12
email: DDiZoglio@mvpc.org

Started at MVPC: 2007

Mr. DiZoglio became the Executive Director of the Commission in January 2007. He reports directly to the Commissioners and is responsible for the overall administration of the MVPC. He oversees all the land use, transportation, environmental, GIS, and economic development planning performed by the Commission. He has over 30 years of community planning experience.

Before coming to the Commission Dennis was the Deputy General Manager for Planning and Development at the MBTA. Prior to working for the MBTA, he served as the Mayor of Methuen for six (6) years, where he was the first Mayor of Methuen in 70 years. He served three (3) terms before leaving due to term limits. Before being elected to Mayor of Methuen, Dennis was the Planning Director for the City of Peabody and prior to that for the City of Taunton. He holds a Master’s Degree from Suffolk University and received his Bachelor’s Degree from Merrimack College.

Jenifer Dunlap, Accountant

phone: 978-374-0519 ext. 11
email: JDunlap@mvpc.org

Started at MVPC: 1995

Ms. Dunlap is responsible for any and all financial activities including accounts payable, accounts receivable, job costing, billing, payroll, general ledger, financial statement preparation and analysis, forecasting and budgeting.

Prior to joining MVPC, Ms. Dunlap worked from April 1989 to June 1995 as General Ledger Accounting Manager/Assistant to the Controller at National Education Training Group – Spectrum, Bedford, MA. NETG-Spectum employs 200 who work to provide multimedia solutions for large corporations’ business concerns. Ms. Dunlap also worked from 1984-1988 (parttime) and 1988-1989 (fulltime) as Bookkeeper/Office Manger at Christiansen and Sergi, Inc., Haverhill, MA. Christiansen and Sergi Inc. provides professional civil engineering and land surveying services.

Education: BS in Business, Bentley College (1988)

Nancy Lavallee, Office Administrator

phone: 978-374-0519 ext. 10
email: NLavallee@mvpc.org

Started at MVPC: 2002

Ms. Lavallee takes pride in being MVPC’s Office Administrator and as the key focus providing administrative support to the staff. She coordinates and publishes the agency’s annual report, newsletter and marketing materials and is the event coordinator for MVPC’s training and workshops. Nancy has over 35 years experience as an office manager/administrator with an Associates Degree in business management and computer sciences from Northern Essex Community College in Haverhill.

Alan Macintosh, Assistant Director/Environmental Program Manager

phone: 978-374-0519 ext. 16
email: AMacintosh@mvpc.org

Started at MVPC: 1978

Mr. Macintosh assists the Executive Director in agency administration and program development and management. He oversees the regional environmental and land use planning program, consisting of watershed and water quality assessments, water supply protection, land use inventorying and analysis, open space preservation planning, nonpoint source pollution identification and mitigation, and coastal resources protection. In addition, Mr. Macintosh chairs the Management Committee of the Massachusetts Bays National Estuary Program (1998-Present) and is a recipient of the U.S. EPA Region I Merit Award (1998)

Peter Phippen, Coastal Resources Coordinator (8T&B)

phone: 978-374-0519 ext. 17
email: PPhippen@mvpc.org

Started at MVPC: 2002

Mr. Phippen coordinates and provides technical assistance to the Eight Towns and The Bay Massachusetts Bays Program Local Governance Committee for the nine communities of the upper north shore to improve the conditions of Massachusetts Bay, including working with local officials and citizens to promote coastal stewardship; facilitating the development of coastal environmental initiatives, implementing outreach and education strategies; and the development of grant proposals to public and private sources to fund coastal restoration and protection projects.

Anthony Komornick, Transportation Program Manager

phone: 978-374-0519 ext. 15
email: AKomornick@mvpc.org

Started at MVPC: 1983

Mr. Komornick is the Transportation Program Manager at MVPC. He directs the multimodal transportation planning activities of the agency, which include highway, pedestrian, bicycle, transit and other major means of travel in the region. Mr. Komornick has almost 30 years of experience in conducting transportation studies and analyses including the preparation of regional transportation plans, transportation elements of community master plans, development of regional transportation demand models, and the development of for major corridor traffic studies.

Mr. Komornick received his B.A. in Economics from the State University of New York at Cortland in 1977. He earned his M.A. in City and Regional Planning from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in 1982, with a concentration in transportation planning.

Mary Kay Beninati, Senior Transportation Planner

phone: 978-374-0519 ext. 22
email: MKBeninati@mvpc.org

Started at MVPC: 1985

Ms. Beninati is responsible for administration of the Transportation Improvement Plan.

Todd M. Fontanella, Senior Transportation Planner

phone: 978-374-0519 ext. 24
email: TFontanella@mvpc.org

Started at MVPC: 2009

Mr. Fontanella holds a B.S. in Environmental Design from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst (1986) and a Masters’ Degree in City Planning from Boston University’s Metropolitan College (2006). He has worked for over 19 years in the community development, environmental consulting and transportation planning fields. Mr. Fontanella came to MVPC in May 2009 after nine years with the Executive Office of Transportation and Public Works (EOTPW) and its predecessor agencies. As a Senior Transportation Planner at MVPC, he is managing a regional telework study, will be participating in various corridor studies, and assisting communities in transportation project development and implementation.

George Burnham, Senior Transportation Engineer

phone: 978-374-0519 ext. 23
email: GBurnham@mvpc.org

Started at MVPC: 1998

Mr. Burnham administers transportation projects assigned by the Transportation Program Manager.

James Terlizzi, Transportation Engineer, P.E.

phone: 978-374-0519 ext. 26
email: JTerlizzi@mvpc.org

Started at MVPC: 2000

Mr. Terlizzi is responsible for administering pavement management programs, corridor traffic studies, parking studies and intersection improvement studies. In addition, Mr. Terlizzi assists with preparation of the Transportation Improvement Program and data collection for the Commission and the I-93 Corridor Study.

Prior to joining MVPC, Mr. Terlizzi worked for Edwards and Kelcey, Inc. of Boston, MA where he was Senior Transportation Engineer. While there, he worked on numerous projects including the signal design of intersections, traffic management plans for bridge foundation boring work, a master plan for an industrial park and peer review of work conducted in a Traffic Impact and Access Study (TIAS) for a development to be located in Newington, NH.

Prior to Edwards and Kelcey, Mr. Terlizzi worked at Vanasse and Associates, Inc. in Andover, MA where he was Project Engineer. In that capacity, he prepared TIASs and traffic studies within Environmental Impact Reports for land development by private and public entities. His clients ranged from office developers, to shopping mall developers, to public school systems. In addition, Mr. Terlizzi prepared Functional Design Reports (FDR) in support of signal design work for construction documents. One such FDR was for a signal system located on Pleasant Valley Street (Route 113) in Methuen.

Education and/or professional accreditation: Education B.S.M.E., University of New Hampshire; A.S.C.E.T., University of Massachusetts, Lowell, Professional Registration: Professional Engineer (Civil), Commonwealth of Massachusetts. License No. 39507.

Daniel, Ovalle Field Services Specialist

phone: 978-374-0519 ext. 14
email: DOvalle@mvpc.org

Started at MVPC: 2000

Mr. Ovalle conducts traffic counting and movement studies.

Betsy Goodrich, Senior Transportation Planner

phone: 978-374-0519 ext. 21
email: EGoodrich@mvpc.org

Started at MVPC: 2007

Ms. Goodrich is a Senior Transportation Planner for the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission where she focuses her work on alternative transportation modes including transit, bicycling and walking. Prior to joining MVPC, Ms. Goodrich worked for Rails-to-Trails Conservancy for eight years where she assisted trail builders nationwide as the Trails and Greenways Clearinghouse Manager in Washington, DC and then as a New England Field Representative in Massachusetts. She received a Masters Degree in Public Administration from The George Washington University and a Bachelor’s Degree from Dickinson College.

Jerrard Whitten GIS/IT Manager

phone: 978-374-0519 ext. 18
email: JJWhitten@mvpc.org

Started at MVPC: 1995

Mr. Whitten manages MVPC’s Information Technology and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Performing in its capacity as the Regional GIS Service Center for northeast Massachusetts, MVPC works with municipal, private and state agencies, to map and analyze information, and to support the development of electronic records and datasets. Mr. Whitten is also responsible for overseeing the operation and maintenance of the commission’s web-based Municipal Information Mapping Access Program (MIMAP) as well as the Merrimack Valley Means Business economic development initiative.

Stephen Lopez, GIS Specialist

phone: 978-374-0519 ext. 19
email: SLopez@mvpc.org

Started at MVPC: 2006

Stephen is responsible for maintaining the Commission’s Geographic Information System (GIS). Prior to joining MVPC, Stephen worked as a Regional Planner with Central New Hampshire Regional Planning Commission. While there, his responsibilities included a variety of GIS, transportation, and environmental planning projects. Stephen’s past experiences also include working with the NH Merrimack County Conservation District as an AmeriCorps volunteer, and working for the NH Fish & Game Department Marine Fisheries Division, as a Biological Technician.

Jeff Normandin, GIS Technician

email: JNormandin@mvpc.org

Started at MVPC: 2011

Jeff is responsible for assisting in the development of GIS data sets, producing maps and databases as well as providing technical support for MVPC projects. Jeff has worked as a GIS consultant on a number of projects in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine, with clients in local government and the private sector. His experience includes GIS for planning, transportation, utilities, conservation and land protection. Jeff also served as the GIS Specialist for the Audubon Society of NH. Jeff holds a BA in International Development with a concentration in GIS, and an MA in International Development and Social Change.

Mike Parquette, Comprehensive Planning Manager

phone: 978-374-0519 ext. 27
email: MParquette@mvpc.org

Started at MVPC: 2007

Mr. Parquette is responsible for tying together the planning areas of transportation, land use, economic development, and the environment with a focus of helping communities select priority development sites through the state’s Chapter 43D permit streamlining process.

Ted Semesnyei, Economic Development Coordinator

phone: 978-374-0519 ext. 28
email: TSemesnyei@mvpc.org

Started at MVPC: 2003

Ted coordinates MVPC’s regional economic development efforts through the management of the Merrimack Valley Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Program. The CEDS is the region’s action-oriented economic development master plan and includes elements such as business marketing, public works assistance, brownfields redevelopment, and networking support. In addition, Ted maintains the region’s demographic data center and economic forecasting model, and is in charge of the Planning Commission’s website.

Before joining the Commission, Ted worked as an economist for the U.S. Census Bureau in Washington, DC, and, previous to that, with Wharton Economic Forecasting Associates (WEFA, Inc.) in Philadelphia, now known as IHS Global Insight, the world’s largest economic forecasting and consulting firm. He holds a B.A. in Economics from Fredonia State College and a Master of Public Management from the University of Maryland.

Gene Amiss, Revolving Loan Fund Manager

phone: 978-374-0519 ext. 25
email: GAmiss@mvpc.org

Started at MVPC: 1996

Mr. Amiss administers MVPC’s EDA funded revolving loan fund.