After spending half of the winter searching, MVPC would like to give a warm welcome and open our doors to Theresa Park, former senior planner and Chairwoman of the Commission, as our new Executive Director. With the experiences of 27 years in planning throughout the Commonwealth behind her, she brings a demonstrated ability to lead and build relationships to the role. Her experiences working in the public and private sectors, most recently Lawrence’s Office of Planning & Development Director, paired with her intimate knowledge of the Commission make her the ideal candidate to further our mission and promote the orderly growth and preservation of the Merrimack Valley Region.

Currently, the Commission works actively in each of the 15 cities and town in the Merrimack Valley; Theresa plans to explore and expand additional ways to creatively build relationships and add capacity to support local planning function. With this, she hopes to continue to make the Merrimack Valley more economically visible, viable and resilient. With Theresa at the helm, the Commission will continue to plan, innovate and promote the health and well-being of the region.

When she isn’t in the office, Theresa is out in the world! An avid traveler having visited over 40 countries and counting, she enjoys experiencing the diversity of other cultures which broaden her perspectives and expand her problem-solving skills. When at home, she can often be found walking through the woods and soaking in all that nature has to teach us. Welcome Theresa, we look forward to an exciting 2020 at MVPC.