Providing Training Support and Professional Development to SEIU Local 509 Public Sector State Workers
Our Vision
All human service and education workers will have access to high-quality, worker-centered professional development opportunities, leading to better outcomes for our community and individuals served.
In 2021, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and SEIU Local 509 signed an agreement to create a labor/management training fund, called the SEIU Local 509 - Commonwealth Human Service Workers and Educators Training and Professional Development Fund. SEIU Local 509 and the Commonwealth have a long history of sponsoring other trust funds focused on dental and vision benefits.
This Fund is focused solely on training and professional development and will be supported by a bargained contribution from the Commonwealth. The Training Fund is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization.
"I cannot say enough about the value of these trainings or how thankful I am that we have a training fund specifically catering to our needs and listening to our suggestions!”
- Local 509 Member
Program Eligibility
All members of Bargaining Units 8 and 10 of SEIU Local 509 are eligible to participate in the 509 Public Sector Training Fund programs from the first day of their employment. Eligibility for programs is verified with SEIU Local 509.
For more information, please contact us.
Our Governance
This Fund is overseen by 6 trustees, 3 appointed by the Commonwealth and 3 appointed by SEIU Local 509 from bargaining units 8 and 10.
Appointed by SEIU Local 509:
Courtney Kenney, SEIU Local 509
Chair through June 30th, 2026
Dean Paolillo, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Amy Meinart, Department of Revenue - Child Support Enforcement
Appointed by the Commonwealth:
Matthew Hale, Human Resources Division
Secretary through June 30th, 2026
Juanita Trigilio, Executive Office of Health and Human Services
Dianne Canavan, Executive Office of Education
The SEIU Local 509 – Commonwealth Human Service Workers and Educators Training and Professional Development Fund partners with SEIU Education and Support Fund to support the administration of the fund and the design and delivery of training and professional development programming.
The SEIU Education and Support Fund (ESF) is a 501(c)(3) organization with a successful track record of nearly 30 years managing workforce development grants, developing educational materials, convening health and safety trainings, undertaking public informational efforts and improving standards in the public and service sectors. ESF partners with think tanks, policy makers, advocates, community colleges and businesses, as well as labor unions, chief among them the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).
ESF has a long history of administering initiatives designed for our core sectors including early childhood education, human services and property services. ESF also manages labor-management training funds in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and California.
Our Advisory Committee
The Advisory Committee is an important resource and partner for the Training Fund. The Committee provides a bridge linking the Fund’s staff and trustees to the workers we serve through active participation by SEIU Local 509 Public Sector state workers and management representatives. It actively supports the Fund in reviewing grant applications, providing feedback on and input into programming decisions, and assisting with communications and logistical questions.
Gabby Lawrence-Soto
Fernando Lazu
Laura Leicach-Alleyne
Samantha Linden
Denise Martinez
Jean McClure
Angel Mendez
Carol Menton
Janay Mitchell
Bernard Audette
Mark Belzowski
Jenny Campos
Bethany Feldman
Laurie Girdharry
Kathleen Hammerstorm
Michelle Harris
Jocelyn Henry-Crayton
Joanna Laghetto
Elena Nuciforo
Scott Rogers
Cassandra Sampas
Samantha Schneider
Kelly Anne Sylvia
Stan Taraska
Pamela Thomas
Marianne Walles
David Zbikowski
Our Team
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Joe McEvoy is the Director of the SEIU Local 509 Commonwealth Human Service Workers and Educators Training and Professional Development Fund. Joe joined ESF in 2022 after more than 10 years in leadership roles in the non-profit and education space. After completing his MA program at the University of Glasgow, Joe worked as a public sector consultant specializing in procurement and process improvement. In 2011 Joe moved to the US to develop a fledgling educational equity program which would go on to serve millions of students and teachers across the country. In 2016, Joe took up a leadership role with a large community non-profit on Boston’s North Shore. Eventually becoming the organization’s Chief Strategy Officer, Joe’s work focused on strategic planning, program development, communications, advocacy, and partnership building. Across his varied experiences, Joe’s focus has been on finding ways to improve services and outcomes for vulnerable populations. Having grown up amid civil unrest and violence in a divided society in Belfast, Ireland, Joe is strongly committed to advancing equity and justice. Leveraging his “outsider” role, Joe focuses on building partnerships and power while centering empathy and understanding.
Of his work at ESF, Joe says: “The workers we serve are really the backbone of our communities. They work with some of the most vulnerable populations in the Commonwealth. For many of our workers, this is more than a job, but a commitment or even a vocation. They continue even in the face of some of the most pressing challenges. Being able to harness the knowledge and experience of members means we can be proactive, creating programs that meet the wants and needs of workers. Our work allows us to focus on supporting workers to build their skills and take greaters ownership of their career progression. At the same time we can create safe spaces for workers to center self-care and access the support they need to separate their work and home lives. We also work with workers who want to communicate better with their teams and communities, build stronger teams, and improve their workplace environment and culture.”
Outside of work, Joe enjoys spending time with his wife and two young daughters, and traveling, mostly back to Ireland and Scotland to keep up with friends and family.
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Emily Provenzano joined the ESF team in 2021 as the Training Coordinator for the MA Human Service Workers & Educators Training Program and now serves as the Program Manager. She brings a passion for education and the potential that it unlocks for people in every stage of their life to her work at SEIU ESF. She believes that every person deserves the opportunity to explore new learning that enhances both their professional and personal lives. Working at ESF gives her the satisfaction of helping people who help people through their human services work. Emily was previously a high school Latin teacher at a magnet school in Hartford, CT committed to the reduction of racial and socioeconomic isolation of young people living in Hartford. She holds a BA from Vassar College in Latin and an MA in Education with a focus on Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Saint Joseph. She enjoys puzzles, gardening, and taking way too many pictures of her cats.
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Mark is the Grants and Scholarship Project Manager for SEIU Local 509 - Commonwealth Human Service Workers And Educators Training And Professional Development Fund. Mark is passionate about collaborating with human service workers to brainstorm, create and ultimately provide professional development opportunities and training resources to empower the workforce. He believes that the Training Fund has the ability to greatly enhance the learning experience and growth of public sector workers while simultaneously having a positive impact on the communities these individuals work within.
Mark has spent the majority of his career in the nonprofit sector advocating for individuals in need of support, both in human services and healthcare. He joined the ESF team in early 2022 and holds a Masters in Nonprofit Management from Northeastern University.
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Stephanie Montilla-García is the Human Services Training Coordinator. She joined ESF in 2024 after varied experiences in the human services field, including working in the private sector, the public sector, and with nonprofit organizations. Stephanie is passionate about empowering workers through educational and professional development opportunities. She believes workers thrive when given the chance to grow and explore their interests. Stephanie holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Philosophy from the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus. She enjoys reading, learning new things, and traveling to Puerto Rico to see family. Day to day you can find her juggling her time between her partners, children, and dogs.
