LACONIA — Leadership Lakes Region appointed John Beland as chair of the Board of Directors and Willow Furey as the organization’s new program coordinator. Their combined expertise and deep community roots position them to carry forward the legacy of excellence established by their predecessors, Don Morrissey and Jennifer McLean.
Beland brings decades of public service and community leadership to his new role. Recently retiring as the emergency preparedness and response manager for The Partnership for Public Health, Beland has served on several community boards and is a seasoned public safety professional, having retired as fire chief of Gilford Fire-Rescue and served as deputy coordinator for Lakes Region Mutual Fire Aid. His long-standing commitment to regional collaboration and civic engagement makes him exceptionally well-suited to lead the board during this next chapter.
Furey steps into the program coordinator role with a strong background in community development, youth engagement, and nonprofit support. A creative and mission-driven professional, Furey is known for her collaborative spirit and ability to bring people together to solve complex challenges. She has 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry and has previously served in leadership and communications roles that align with Leadership Lakes Region’s mission to educate and inspire current and future leaders.
To learn more, visit leadershiplakesregion.org.
