Meet Our New Leadership Team

I am pleased to announce changes in RVA’s leadership team that will ensure the continuation of the high-quality engagement and public policy work we have provided for 45 years.

Regan Checchio has been named Chief Executive Officer for RVA. An experienced member of RVA’s leadership team, Regan succeeds Nancy Farrell and assumed responsibilities on September 5. Regan first joined RVA in 2000. She has been a Senior Vice President and part of the leadership team at RVA since 2018. During her time at RVA, Regan has led public outreach, strategic planning and event management projects for a number of public and private sector clients, including MassDOT, the MBTA, and the MA Department of Public Health among others. Most recently, she led the outreach team for MassDOT and the MBTA’s Bus Network Redesign project; managed the transition for Massachusetts Early Intervention Consortium’s annual 2-day conference’s transition to a virtual event during the pandemic; and provided project management support for the Commonwealth’s COVID vaccine distribution response. Building on what the RVA team has already accomplished, under her leadership we hope to grow and develop our organization, strengthen our partnerships, and build new relationships.

Regan succeeds Nancy Farrell, who will serve as Senior Advisor. Nancy will continue to consult on major projects, strategic planning and policy and serve as a mentor to RVA staff. Nancy joined RVA 40 years ago and has been CEO since 1999. We are incredibly fortunate in Nancy’s stewardship of the firm over these years. She led RVA’s 10-year engagement on the Boston Harbor Project and numerous water and sewer projects. Over more than 20 years, Nancy has been a project manager and principal for projects and programs for the MBTA, MassDOT and the MA Department of Public Health, and municipalities in MA and New England. She is looking forward to continuing work on her major projects and devoting more time to her mental health and suicide prevention advocacy.

Michelle Cook has been named Vice President for Personnel and Finance. This title recognizes Michelle’s essential role as RVA’s financial director, as well as our point person for employee policies, benefits, payroll and audit. Michelle joined RVA in 1994 after working for the Commonwealth in the Office of the Commissioner of Probation. She manages our compliance with many regulations and has a vast knowledge of both financial and personnel issues that our senior team depends on.

I also want to be sure that you have been introduced to Jason Silva, who joined RVA in April 2022 as Community Engagement Director. Jason has significant experience in municipal and state government, operations and capital improvements. He served as a Town Administrator and as chief of staff for a North Shore Mayor and Senator and spent three years as a City Councilor-at-Large in Beverly, MA. In these positions, Jason worked with state and local elected officials, and was involved in setting policy, and supervising and directing the operations of communities. He is skilled in managing communications and outreach, strategy and budgeting development, and coordinating planning and communication with constituents, advocacy groups and state and federal agencies. Jason is managing strategy and engagement for major projects as a new member of RVA’s team.

We look forward to continuing our work with you.

Regina Villa
President and Owner