Metayer appointed acting executive director


Barry Metayer has been appointed the acting executive director at MCDI. Reminder Publications photo by Natasha Clark

By Natasha Clark

Assistant Managing Editor

SPRINGFIELD Mayor Charles Ryan has appointed Barry P. Metayer as acting executive director of the Massachusetts Career Development Institute, Inc (MCDI).

"I'm very excited about it," Metayer said. "I'm gratified that the mayor has the confidence in me to put me in this position, and I'm looking forward to continuing the good work that we've done here for 37 years."

MCDI is a comprehensive job skill development center. Its student population consists of the unemployed, underemployed, homeless (men and women), and at-risk youth.

Michelle Webber, chief of staff for Ryan, said that Ryan felt that Metayer was a good choice to replace outgoing Executive Director James Morton because of his time at the agency and his intimate knowledge of the day-to-day operation.

Metayer said he is looking forward to sitting down with Ryan and discussing the future of MCDI.

"James Morton, who left, did a fantastic job. My immediate priority is to continue the initiatives he started," Metayer said, adding that he hopes to develop some short and long term strategies with the Ryan.

"[The school] has improved. We've had to adapt to ongoing state and federal cuts for employment and training," Metayer said. "We've got some great staff who do some incredible things to turn people's lives around, and I think we've continued to provide a service here in the city of Springfield in the face of these ongoing budget cuts."

He said he hopes to expand MCDI's training services for adults and youth and offer some new programs, which he said will "increase our capacity here to do what we've always done."

Metayer has been employed by MCDI since 1985, according to information released by the mayor's office. He has been involved in the daily operation, planning and budgeting for the organization. Metayer has also been responsible for the coordination of federal, state, public and private foundation funding for the many programs available at MCDI.