Welcome to our Office of Economic & Economic Development staff . Click on any person below for detailed contact information, biography and a photo.

James Marsh
Development Director
P. 781-586-6770
F. 781-477-7026
E. jmarsh@ci.lynn.ma.us
Mr. Marsh was appointed Development Director in September of 2008. He is a graduate of Syracuse University and the University of Massachusetts. Before coming to the Office of Economic and Community Development, he worked in the Massachusetts State Legislature and as the City’s Chief of Staff for thirteen years. He has taught at North Shore Community College and lives in Lynn with his family.

John Kasian
Economic Development / Youth Services
P. 781-586-6767
E. jkasian@ci.lynn.ma.us
John began working for the Office of Economic and Community Development in March, 2005.  He oversees the operation and scheduling of both Manning and Fraser Field, which are active athletic and community facilities from March to November.  John provides administrative and supervisory support to the Lynn Summer Jobs program.  He has also worked on other public projects including the Waterfront Master Plan, Keaney Park, Sluice and Flax Pond and the Gateway/Traffic Island signage/green space program.  John is also involved in securing grant funding for municipal projects and works closely with legislative offices and agencies at both the state and federal level.

AnnMarie Leonard
Community Relations Manager
P. 781-586-6764
F. 781-477-7026
E. aleonard@ci.lynn.ma.us
Before her recent retirement, Ann Marie Leonard worked for the Department of Community Development from its origin as Western Walnut through its metamorphosis to the Office of Economic and Community Development, a span of over 34 years.  Very shortly thereafter the City asked her back, part-time, to perform her valuable duties.  She continues to work closely with the Lynn Police Department to bridge the gap between residents, businesses and the police in order to resolve conflicts and give voice to their concerns.  She manages the Lynn Memorial Auditorium volunteers, solving problems and coordinating efforts to satisfy the concert attendees.  She is still the central figure that brings the waterfront to life every Fourth of July; her pursuit of funding for the fireworks is thorough and relentless.  Ann Marie’s dedication to “Quality of Life Issues” is exhibited in 24/7 availability and results-oriented behavior that is unmatched. 

Richard Mageary
Community Facilities Manager
P. 781-586-8121
F. 781-586-8120
Richard has been employed by the City of Lynn, Department of Economic and Community Development for over 20 years. His titled position is that of Project Manager which involves the field supervision of public projects as well as acting as Clerk of Works. Richard has an extensive background and a documented project history working with various governmental agencies both city and state, neighborhood groups as well as various community organizations. He has participated in the designer selection process, design development and construction build out of some of the City’s important and most visual community projects. Richard also acts as the Building Manager for the City run Multi-Service Center and the High Rock Tower Stone Cottage.

Joanna Mills
Administrative Assistant / Special Events
P. 781-586-6770
F. 781-477-7026
E. jmills@ci.lynn.ma.us

Joanna is the Administrative Assistant to the Development Director.  She started employment in the OECD in 1994.  She oversees the daily operations of the office and staff, as well as greeting incoming clients and customers.   Joanna is Secretary to the Citizens Advisory Board and works with the members on meetings and public hearings.  She coordinates the volunteers of the City Hall Information Table, the City Flower Barrel program and assists with the Summer Youth Employment Program and Seaport Marina billing, as well as many other special projects as needed.  Joanna is a graduate of Salem State College and is married with two sons, Brian and Jonathan.

John Moberger
Community Facilities Manager
P. 781-586-6772
F. 781-477-7026
E. jmoberge@ci.lynn.ma.us
John has been working for the Office of Economic and Community Development for over 30 years.  He is a graduate of Colby College and the Radcliffe Landscape Design Institute.  He is responsible for all community facility projects, including park and playground renovations, downtown lighting and streetscape improvements, traffic island and tree planting programs as well as historic and structural building projects.  Community Facilities starts at the grant writing stage and proceeds to specifications and plans, public bidding and managing construction.  Long-term projects include High Rock Reservation consisting of the restoration of the Tower, site and historic Stone Cottage, Lynn Woods Reservation, Lynn Commons and the waterfront.

Michael Murray
Community Facilities Specialist
P. 781-586-6773
F. 781-477-7026
E. mmurray@ci.lynn.ma.us
Michael started working for the OECD in December of 1994 in the housing department as an inspector.  With the changeover of all housing programs to the LHAND in 1999, Michael transitioned himself into the community facilities field as the Community Facilities Specialist.  He is the clerk of all community facility projects, including park and playground renovations and historic structure improvements in the city, as well as record keeper of all required HUD forms related to such projects.

Allison Perry
Project Operations Assistant
P. 781-586-6763
F. 781-477-7026
E. aperry@ci.lynn.ma.us
Allison has worked for the OECD for 20 years.  She is a 1992 graduate of Salem State College with a Bachelor’s degree in English.  She provides administrative, project related and clerical support on community development projects such as the Consolidated Plan, Annual Action Plan and CAPER, as well as coordinating the Youth Assistance Program and the Safe Neighborhood Initiative Jobs for Youth Program.  She also works on compliance of HUD regulations on matters such as environmental reporting and their national database of projects, IDIS.  Allison is married with two children, Ava and Zack.

Millicent Ryan
Administrative Assistant
P. 781-586-6762
F. 781-477-7026
E. mryan@ci.lynn.ma.us
Millie has been working in OECD since 1976 as Administrative Assistant to the Community Facilities Manager and Community Facilities Specialist.  As well as greeting incoming guests and clients, she also prepares correspondences and reports, completes special projects as directed, including contracts, specifications, bid documents, etc., and performs routine clerical functions including filing, research, copy routing, etc.  All OECD mail is collected, logged and delivered by Millie.

Valerie Slepoy
Financial Services Specialist
P. 781-586-6776
F. 781-477-7026
E. vslepoy@ci.lynn.ma.us
Valerie is the Financial Office Manager for the Office of Economic and Community Development.  In this role, Valerie looks after and coordinates all aspects of the financial responsibilities for the Department and also for the Seaport Landing Marina.  She has been with the Department for 28 years.  Prior to becoming the Financial Office Manager, Valerie started out as a Co-Op Student from the Lynn Vocational Technical Institute in 1981.  She was employed as a Xerox Specialist, Financial Clerk and a Financial Services Specialist before becoming the Financial Office Manager in 2003.

Debra Starratt
Reproduction Clerk
P. 781-586-6777
F. 781-477-7026
E. dstarratt@ci.lynn.ma.us
Debbie has been working in the OECD since 1997 as the Reproduction Clerk. She operates the copy room as well as provides coverage for the main office performing miscellaneous office duties as needed. Debbie also lends a hand at the City Hall information booth when coverage is needed, welcoming visitors to City Hall and directing them to the appropriate department.

Donald Walker
Director of Project Operations
P. 781-586-6778
E. dwalker@ci.lynn.ma.us
Don began his tenure as an Office of Economic and Community Development employee in the summer of 1983.  He received a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Suffolk University in 1991 and is currently the department’s Director of Project Operations.  In this capacity he is responsible for the implementation of the City’s Entitlement Grant Programs funded through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), including the City’s compliance with applicable state and federal guidelines and regulations.  He assists the Development Director on various economic and community development initiatives and prepares public grant applications to leverage funding for these activities.  He also participates in the operational management of the Lynn Multi-Service Center and the Seaport Landing Marina on behalf of the City.