Mayor Brett Smiley Announces Sheila Dormody as Chief of Policy and Resiliency
Today, Mayor Brett Smiley announced Sheila Dormody as the Chief of Policy and Resiliency for the City of Providence. Dormody is joining the City of Providence with over 30 years of leadership in policy research, development, and advocacy and has been on the forefront of the state’s efforts to address climate change and promote social equity. Mayor Smiley has also hired Johnathan Moore as the City’s Director of Inspections and Standards.
“Sheila is a well-known and respected leader in Rhode Island,” said Mayor Smiley. “I am thrilled to welcome her back to the City of Providence where she will play an integral role in the development of policies that address the city’s top priorities including building a resilient city, increasing education opportunities, and improving the overall quality of life in our neighborhoods. Her years of policy leadership will be an invaluable asset to our administration as we make Providence the best-run city in the country.”
Dormody has led critical projects across numerous areas of policy development at the city, state, and federal level, managed highly successful grant and fundraising projects and won a New England Women in Energy and Environment Achievement Award in 2021 for her years of experience in policy advocacy and organizing. In 2014, she served as the City of Providence first-ever Director of Sustainability, helping establish the office and its mission. Most recently, Dormody served as the Director of Climate and Cities Programs for The Nature Conservancy where she led programs to better position Rhode Island to address climate change through innovative greenhouse gas reduction policies, rapid deployment of renewable energy and increased the use of nature-based strategies to improve community resilience. Sheila lives in Providence and graduated from Southern Connecticut State University.
“I am excited to join the Mayor’s team to improve the quality of life for residents in every neighborhood,” said Chief of Policy and Resiliency Sheila Dormody. “This is an incredible opportunity to create a more equitable and resilient future for our community.”
Moore joins the administration with 16 years as a liaison between public and private sectors and expertise in international building codes. Moore holds multiple technical certifications, years of military and corporate leadership training, and experiences include hazardous chemicals storage and fire safety.
Mayor Hopkins’ Candidate for Personnel Director Unanimously Approved By City Council
The Cranston City Council has given unanimous advice and consent for Cranston Mayor Ken Hopkins’ nominee to serve as the next personnel director for the City of Cranston.
Former Councilman Michael W. Favicchio (R-Ward 6) was approved unanimously by council members at a special meeting of the City Council on Thursday, April 13. The department head opening occurred following the departure of Daniel O. Parrillo who left to serve as the new Coventry Town Manager.
“I am delighted that Mike Favicchio has agreed to join my administration as personnel director,” said Hopkins Friday. “He brings an outstanding background of professional, legal and governmental experience to the position.”
Mayor Hopkins expressed his appreciation to the City Council for their review and approval of Favicchio’s credentials.
“They worked with Mike on the City Council and knew him to be a capable legislator who will be a respectful and capable department head for our human resources and personnel matters,” Hopkins said.
Favicchio is a practicing attorney licensed in the States of Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Florida. He is admitted to appear in all courts and the federal District Courts of Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Favicchio graduated from Providence College in 1975 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Latin America studies. He received his Juris doctorate degree from Suffolk University in 1978 and began his forty-three-year career in the practice of law.
“Mike is bi-lingual and has had a successful multi-state practice of law serving a broad spectrum of legal needs for his English and Spanish speaking clients,” Hopkins said. “In addition to being a council member and past chair of the Finance Committee, Mike Favicchio has served in the legislative counsel’s office for the General Assembly helping to draft legislation.”
A former city-councilor, Favicchio served for five terms from 2011 to 2021 representing the residents of Ward 6. Under the city charter, he was term-limited and could not run again in 2020. As a dedicated and common-sense council member, Favicchio served as council Vice President and chair of all the various council committees.
“I served on the City Council with Mike for four years and for two years as mayor,” Hopkins stated. “I watched his diligent and attentive approach to public service and especially in his knowledge of personnel appointments and reviewing collective bargaining agreements that came before us for ratification. Mike’s legal and legislative experience will help in the administration of our employee contracts. I know he will work to minimize and resolve employee grievances, and in doing so save us on outside legal expenses for labor attorneys.”
The Cranston mayor also said, “Mike shares my goals to recruit and encourage a diverse and qualified pool of employees for our future job openings,” and “he will be a key member of my administrative team and work well with all our department heads and city employees.”
The nomination required the advice and consent of the City Council under the City Charter. Hopkins thanked the City Council for their “overwhelming endorsement for Mike Favicchio based on his qualifications, experience and past service to our city.”
Favicchio and his wife Donna are long standing residents of Cranston and the parents of grown children Michael, Jr., and Alicia Grossi.
The mayor also expressed his sincere appreciation to outgoing personnel director Dan Parrillo and thanked him for his years of service to Cranston following a distinguished law enforcement career in Johnston.
“Our loss is a major gain for the residents of Coventry” stated Hopkins. “Dan helped us in many areas beyond personnel matters and certainly will be missed.”
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