Board of Directors
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Brian J. Connor, Chair
Governor Appointee
Brian J. Connor is currently serving his third five-year term, appointed by both Governor Romney and Governor Baker to the Arlington Housing Board.
Brian is a lifelong resident of Arlington along with his wife, Michele and children Elizabeth and Patrick. He is a former Town Meeting Member from Precinct 18 and has served in many volunteer positions, boards, and foundations locally and throughout Massachusetts.
Brian is a graduate of Northeastern University and has earned five additional graduate degrees; Master’s in Business Administration, Healthcare Management, Emergency Management, Facilities Management and Maritime Business; from Lesley University, Massachusetts Maritime Academy and Southern New Hampshire University. In addition, Brian is a licensed Master Mariner holding a 100-ton Captains License with the US Coast Guard and is also Certified Port Manager.
Brian was employed for 38 years in the emergency medical service industry, serving as CEO for Armstrong Ambulance Service, President of the Massachusetts Ambulance Association and in 2006, he established LifeLine Ambulance Service. LifeLine was one of the fastest growing ambulance companies in New England, operating out of 14 offices throughout Massachusetts and New Hampshire and transporting more than 350 patients daily. In 2015, LifeLine and its various companies were sold to a private equity group.
Currently, Brian Chair’s the Board of Trustees at Massachusetts Maritime Academy and operates a consulting entity on various EMS and Maritime Industry related services. Contact Brian at bconnor@arlingtonhousing.org.
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Gaar Talanian, Vice Chair
Gaar is serving his first five year term as an elected member of the board. Previously, he was appointed by former Governor Deval Patrick for a five year term. Gaar’s 30 years of experience in the residential housing finance industry as well as construction lending are instrumental in understanding the renovation and maintenance of AHA’s rental units. He is currently a Senior Vice President of Residential Lending at Dedham Savings Bank.
As a life-long resident of Arlington, Gaar graduated from Arlington High School and Connecticut College. He resides in Arlington with his wife Lori and their two children. Contact Gaar at gtalanian@arlingtonhousing.org.
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Nicholas Mitropoulos, Treasurer
Mr. Mitropoulos was elected to the Arlington Housing Authority Board of Commissioners in 2001 and brings a strong business background and considerable business experience to the Board. He also serves on several subcommittees that reach out to tenants, governmental departments and non-profit organizations in the community.
Nick is a lifetime resident of Arlington, a graduate of Arlington High School, and he has an MBA from Babson College in the areas of Finance and Marketing. Nick and wife Marie have two daughters. Contact Nick at nmitropoulos@arlingtonhousing.org.
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Jo Anne Preston, Board Member
Jo Anne Preston has lived in Arlington with her husband and daughter for 25 years. She currently serves as a Town Meeting member for precinct 9 which encompasses 3 of the 5 Arlington Housing Authority building complexes. She regularly volunteers for the Council on Aging Thanksgiving Dinner and Holiday Gift programs. And during the pandemic, she volunteered to organize sewing face masks and delivering them to the AHA Menotomy Manor housing complex.
Jo Anne has earned a B.S. in Psychology from Tufts University and a Ph.D. in Sociology from Brandeis University. In her professional career, she have taught courses in social gerontology at Colby College and Brandeis University, served as Research Director to an Institute of Aging Research Project “Aging and Generational Relations,” and worked as a social worker for Medical Aid to the Aged. She previously served as the chair of a tenants’ organization, advocating for the needs of low-income tenants.
An additional skill Jo Anne acquired in graduate school and employed in her professional work, that of grant-writing, She has successfully written grants for the Thompson and Ottoson Schools when her daughter was a student. Jo Anne plans to use her grant-writing ability and experience to work with the Board to bring more funding to the Arlington Housing Authority.
Jo Anne, working with the Board, wants to enhance the quality of life of AHA residents, which included not only clean, functional living areas but also more programing, increased financial resources, and better integration of the AHA residents with the greater Arlington community. Contact Joanne at jpreston@arlingtonhousing.org.
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Fiorella Badilla
Tenant Board Member
Fiorella Badilla was temporarily appointed in December 2020 to a vacated board member seat. She was then unanimously appointed to the tenant member seat on the Arlington Housing Authority board in August 2021.
Fiorella is from San José, Costa Rica, making her the first Latina board member in Arlington Housing Authority history. She has been a resident of Arlington since 2012, and a tenant of Menotomy Manor (Arlington family public housing) since 2014, putting her on the front lines of understanding the needs and aspirations of AHA tenants and the Board. She has continued her education on public housing with Mel King Institution and MassNAHRO. Contact Fiorella at fbadilla@arlingtonhousing.org.