Brian J. Connor is a 38-year veteran of the Emergency Medical Service Industry.
Brian began his career as an EMT at age 19, following his graduation from the Northeastern University EMT Program in 1979. He was hired as an EMT for Armstrong Ambulance Service, one of the oldest family-owned businesses in Massachusetts. He served in many clinical and managerial positions throughout the next 26 years, ultimately serving as the Chief Executive Officer for the last ten years while employed at Armstrong.
On April 25, 2006, Brian established LifeLine Ambulance Service. LifeLine quickly became one of the largest privately-owned ambulance companies in New England; with 13 offices strategically located throughout Massachusetts and New Hampshire, 400 employees and fielding a fleet of more than 160 vehicles. Collectively LifeLine transported over 350 patients each day. LifeLine was awarded the “Pacesetters” award from the Boston Business Journal in April 2013 and was featured in the Boston Business Journal on January 25, 2013. On July 1, 2015, LifeLine and its subsidiaries were sold to Kamylon Capitol, a Massachusetts based holding company. Brian remained on as a Senior Advisor and Consultant and retired on January 1, 2017.
During his 38-year career in EMS, Brian also served as President of the Massachusetts Ambulance Association for over 14 years; served on many local and state EMS committees and advisory boards; and founded the “Emergency Medical Coalition of Ambulance Providers” in 2002. EMCAP was a nationwide organization made up of ambulance providers focused on advocating on the federal level on the establishment and implementation of what’s now known as the Nationwide Medicare Fee Schedule Program.
As a frequent employer and supporter of MMA students; Brian helped establish the MA Maritime EMS System through his donation of an Ambulance, Ford Explorer first responder unit and Golf Cart in 2012. MMA-EMS is the only college-based, 100% student-run EMS club in Massachusetts, and a select few nationwide, that owns and operates their own Class I Licensed Ambulance; providing emergency and non-emergency coverage to the Academy’s entire Campus; and transporting those injured or ill persons directly to local hospitals. In recognition of his leadership and service to the Academy, Brian was awarded the Massachusetts Maritime Medal of Valor by Admiral Richard Gurnon on June 13, 2013.
In 2018, through a $100,000 grant from the Connor Family, MMA-EMS purchased a brand-new Ambulance and now provides EMS coverage beyond the Academy’s Campus. I n recognition of his continued leadership and support of MMA-EMS, Brian was named an “Honorary Member of the Regiment” by the Cadets and awarded his second Medal of Valor by Admiral Francis McDonald in 2019.
Aside from EMS, Brian serves on many Hospital Boards and Foundations, he is a former Scoutmaster and Eagle Scout and was recognized for his many years of service by the Boston Council Boy Scout Council. Brian is also an advocate for public housing, currently serving as Chairman to the Arlington Housing Authority, appointed by both Governor Romney and Governor Baker.
His hobbies are restoring antique ambulances, boating, and fishing. He also holds a 50 GRT Masters License from the United States Merchant Marine and during the summer Captains for Sea Tow, rescuing stranded boaters.
Brian is a 1984 graduate of Northeastern University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice. He also received a Master’s Degree in Management in 1997 from Lesley University, Master’s Degree in Emergency Management in 2018 from Massachusetts Maritime Academy; and is currently completing both his Master’s Degree in Maritime Business and a Master’s Degree in Facilities Management at MMA, due to graduate with both Masters in the spring of 2020. Following this, Brian will be the first “Triple Buc”; the first person in the Academy’s history to have earned three separate degrees.
Brian resides in Arlington with his wife, Michele and two children, Elizabeth and Patrick.
James F. Kane serves as Senior Vice President of Real Estate and Operations for the A.D. Makepeace Company, a land holding company in southeastern Massachusetts. In that role Jim oversees all facets of land use planning, permitting and plan implementation whether it is a residential, commercial, conservation/open space or a renewable energy use. He is also responsible for all infrastructure planning, development and execution to serve company and regional needs for water, waste-water, property and open space management as well operational profit and investment for each division.
Jim has worked cooperatively and successfully with the many towns in which the company owns land to develop and implement innovative zoning by-laws to guarantee conservation of critical open space habitats that serve to protect unique landscapes while allowing for the development of traditional New England villages.
While with Makepeace, Jim undertook and completed an extensive analysis of alternative energy opportunities within the Company’s holdings. Project and market viability analysis included large-scale solar, hydro-electric generation, geothermal and wind energy.
Prior to returning to Massachusetts and joining the A.D. Makepeace Company, Jim served as Deputy Executive Director/CFO of the Republican Governors Association in Washington DC where he was responsible for all financial and administrative operations and national polling and political advertisement. In the years before joining the RGA, Jim served in various senior roles in the Weld/Cellucci administration, first in the Governor’s office as Deputy Chief Policy Advisor and at the Massachusetts Government Land Bank where he oversaw the merger of two quasi-public agencies, Massachusetts Industrial Finance Agency and Massachusetts Government Land Bank into MassDevelopment, and the redevelopment of Fort Devens. He later served as Chief of Operations at the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority.
Jim earned an undergraduate degree in economics and political science from College of the Holy Cross and a master's degree in public administration from Clark University and is in his third term as a member of the Shrewsbury Board of Selectmen, and presently serving as Chairman of the Beal Early Childhood Center Building Committee. Jim resides in Shrewsbury with his wife Hannah and three wonderful children.
Julie McMichen graduated from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy in 1985 with a Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering and a U.S.C.G. 3rd Assistant Engineer’s License.
Upon graduation, Ms. McMichen had a brief shipping career with Marine Transport Lines. Julie was hired by Electric Boat in 1988 as the first female engineer in the department of Nuclear Procurement Quality Control. During this time, she worked on several main and auxiliary components in the engine room for the Seawolf Class. In October of 1993, Julie returned to MMA as an employee and worked onboard the T/S Patriot State as a permanent crew member in the capacity of Purser/Supplier Officer for 7 years. From 2000-2004, Julie worked in Student Services as 5th Company Officer. Julie returned to Electric Boat and has been working in Supplier Quality as an Engineering Specialist in areas of propulsion, engine room components and missile systems in new construction for the Virginia and Columbia Class submarines for the past 16 years. Thirteen of the 16 years was as the EB resident engineer at Northrop Grumman in Sunnyvale, CA which is 10 miles from her birthplace. Things do come full circle!
Ms. McMichen was on the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy Alumni Association from 2002-2020 and has served as a Board member, Secretary, Vice President and first female President. Julie is an active parishioner of St. Bonaventure in Manomet, member of the American Society of Quality and also the Society of Women Engineers.
Julie lives in Sagamore Beach, MA, near many family members including her parents and brother, Richard. Her brother, T. Blane is a 1983 graduate of the Academy and lives in Zionsville, IN. Julie enjoys skiing, hiking, knitting, traveling and spending time with family and friends.
Ms. McMichen dedicates this appointment to the memory of our shipmate and friend, Prendi.
Melissa Karam Panchley graduated from BMC Durfee High School in 1991 and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and Human Development from Boston College in 1995.
After graduating from college, Melissa went to work at the Fall River Housing Authority for six years where she was a Youth Outreach Worker, and then the Elderly Services Coordinator. When she decided to start a family, she went to work for the family business at Karam Financial Group, where she could do bookkeeping work from home while she raised her children.
In 2009, Melissa received a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.
In 2011, Melissa transitioned into the role of Senior Property Manager for the adult communities managed by Karam Financial Group. In this role she is responsible for overseeing the management and physical plant of 304 apartment units on the Southcoast and Cape Cod, as well as 44 condominium units.
Melissa served on the Fall River School Committee from 2014-2017. During that time, she chaired the Finance Sub-Committee, as well as the Instructional Sub-Committee. She also served on the Superintendent search committee in 2016. After serving on the Fall River School Committee, she was the Treasurer for the New Durfee Ballot Action Committee, a ballot question committee in support of funding for a new Durfee High School.
Melissa has been involved in numerous organizations as a volunteer, such as the President of the Board of the Ninth Street Day Nursery and Vice President and Treasurer for the Friends of Saint Anne’s Hospital. She currently serves on the Fall River Area Chamber of Commerce’s Sub-Committee on Education, the Board of the Greater Fall River United Way, and Treasurer of the Durfee Hilltopper Athletic Foundation.
Melissa was born and raised in Fall River and currently resides in the city with her husband, Josh and two sons, Thomas and Christopher.
Captain Elizabeth Simmons, LP.D is the Vice President of External Affairs encompassing both the Enrollment Management and Advancement departments at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. She is responsible for the planning, implementation, and evaluation of short and long range strategies, goals, and objectives for the Office of Enrollment while managing relationships with the Academy’s external stakeholders at the local, state, and federal level.
A 1997 Marine Safety and Environmental Protection (MSEP) graduate of Massachusetts Maritime Academy, she worked in both the environmental and human resources fields before coming back to the academy in 2002. Since returning, she has succeeded in increasing women and minority enrollment while exceeding the strategic goals of growing the overall student population. Elizabeth has earned a masters in facilities engineering, holds a doctorate degree in law and policy from Northeastern University and enjoys volunteering and giving back to multiple community organizations.
Currently she is the Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) USA New England Chapter President, immediate past President and Board Chair for Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts, serves on the Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School Steam Engineering Advisory Board, and is a member of Congressman Keating’s Service Academy Nomination Committee. Elizabeth is proud to serve as a mentor and role model in promoting women in the maritime and associated trades.
A native of Yarmouth, Massachusetts Elizabeth grew up sailing the waters of Lewis Bay in iconic Beetle Cats and Cape Cod Knockabouts. Currently, Elizabeth lives in Onset, MA.
Bill Straus is a former member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from the town of Mattapoisett. He served in the House from 1993 through 2024. He did not run for re-election in 2024. He worked on a number of legislative committees during that time including as House Chair of Environment and Natural Resources from 2009 to 2010, and House Chair of Transportation from 2011 through 2024.
Bill has held a number of other public positions. From 2011 through 2024 he was co-chair of the UMass Amherst Oversight Board for the Cranberry Research station in Wareham. He was a public member of the Massachusetts Hazardous Waste Facility Site Safety Council pursuant to chapter 21D from 1987 through 1992, a member of the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission from 1989 through 1992, and an Assistant District Attorney in Bristol County from 1982 through 1988.
From 2006 through 2016 he was an Adjunct Lecturer at the Boston University Law School. He was engaged in the private practice of law with an office in New Bedford until 2021.
Bill Straus received a BA from Middlebury College, his law degree from the Georgetown University Law Center, and a Masters of Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School.
Mary Regina Thomann (formerly Sullivan) graduated from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy in 1981 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Transportation as part of the Academy’s first class of women. Mary was inspired to attend the Academy by her love of the sea and by the accomplishments of her two paternal Aunts, Captains Elinor and Mary Rose Sullivan, U.S. Navy. In 1992, she received a Master of Business Administration degree from Rivier College in Nashua, N.H.
Since 1983, Mary has worked in the Human Resources field gaining diverse global business experience in both corporate and manufacturing environments. She has a track record of successfully recruiting highly skilled technical staff, improving staff morale, and coaching and partnering effectively with senior executives. Since 2011, Mary has been providing Human Resources Consulting Services.
In 2014, inspired by the registered nurses in her life, including her mother, grandmother, and aunts, Mary earned her Associate’s Degree in Nursing at the now Rivier University in Nashua, N.H. and obtained her Registered Nurse Certification. She currently works part-time as a per diem R.N. at a Long-Term Care skilled nursing facility.
In December of 2016, together with the other women from the Class of 1981, Mary was honored to receive the Emery Rice medal in recognition of having graduated in the first class of women at the Academy. Mary is a Member of the Society for Human Resources Management and the American Association of Nurses. She volunteers at Nevins Farm MSPCA in Methuen, MA.
Mary grew up in Roslindale, Massachusetts as the oldest of 12 children and daughter of Mr. & Mrs. James E. Sullivan. She now resides in Dracut, Massachusetts with husband Gary, a Sales Engineer, and dog Bilbo. They enjoy spending time on and around the North Atlantic Ocean whenever possible.
Jessica Waters graduated from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering and a U.S.C.G 3rd Assistant Engineer’s License. She was an Emery Rice Scholar and served as the Academy’s first female Regimental Executive Officer. Jessica was also co-captain of the women’s varsity crew team. She later returned to MMA and earned her Masters Degree in Emergency Management in 2009.
Ms. Waters has been employed at FM Global, a leading commercial property insurer, since 2001. She has held various field, account, and operations engineering roles, all with a focus on property risk assessment and loss prevention. She has significant project management experience through working with clients to coordinate risk mitigation efforts and by leading global internal engineering implementations. As a Senior Engineering Technical Specialist with the company’s Natural Hazard and Structures group, Jessica leads the company’s natural hazard strategy as it relates to windstorm, wildland fire and other perils.
Jessica is an active member of the Society of Women Engineers and in her spare time enjoys cycling and hiking.
