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Walsh Announces Three Appointments

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Thursday Jan 22, 2015

Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced several appointments over the past few weeks.

Rosanne Foley, Executive Director of the Boston Landmarks Commission. A longtime resident of Dorchester, Foley will manage the historic preservation program for the City of Boston, including the Boston Landmarks Commission and nine Historic Districts Commissions. Her position is in the Environment, Energy, and Open Space Cabinet, under the guidance of Chief Austin Blackmon.

"Rosanne is a community connector, who has been deeply involved in supporting and advocating for Boston's neighborhoods and Main Streets," said Mayor Walsh. "Rosanne has vast experience in building community partnerships, and I'm pleased to welcome her in this important leadership role."

"I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of Mayor Walsh's Environment, Energy and Open Space team," said Foley. "I look forward to making use of my background and relationships to honor the unique cultural resources that exist in all Boston neighborhoods."

In her role, Foley will supervise and direct activities of staff members engaged in preservation surveying and planning and regulatory review. She will represent the City of Boston and the Landmarks Commission in the local, state, and national preservation communities, and interact with local, regional, and federal preservation, development, and environmental agencies.

Most recently, Foley was the Executive Director at Fields Corner Main Street where she helped build stronger relationships between area residents, merchants, and institutions. Previously, Foley was cultural events and marketing consultant for Upham's Corner Main Street and for other Boston area arts and culture non-profit organizations. She has also worked with Go Local MetroBoston, a social enterprise start up, and Codman Square Health Center. Foley held the position of Director at GreenDorchester, a grassroots environmental action collaborative for 8 years, helping to launch Boston's first local bike advocacy group, two farmers' markets, and a food co-op.

Foley has provided leadership in advisory positions for the City, state, and area non-profits, including the Ashmont MBTA Station Citizens Advisory Committee, the Codman Square Main Street Design Committee, the Dorchester Arts Collaborative, the Dorchester Historical Society, and the Metropolitan Beaches Commission.

Foley is a graduate of Northeastern University with a degree in History and Art History.


Gina Fiandaca as Commissioner of the Boston Transportation Department (BTD). Fiandaca, has served as the Interim Deputy Commissioner of BTD since May 2014.

As Commissioner, Fiandaca will be responsible for overseeing the city's transportation planning, traffic management and engineering, roadway signage, and parking enforcement.

"Gina Fiandaca has served the residents of Boston for over 25 years, and brings extensive experience to her new role as Commissioner of the Boston Transportation Department," said Mayor Walsh. "She has proven herself to be an exceptional leader, who has strong working relationships with advocates, community members, and state and federal transportation partners."

"I am grateful to Mayor Walsh for the opportunity to serve as his Commissioner of the Boston Transportation Department," said Fiandaca. "I look forward to continuing to implement innovative transportation and parking systems in the City of Boston."

Fiandaca has worked at BTD in a variety of capacities since 1990. In 1998 she spearheaded the implementation of Boston's web based parking ticket payment system. From 2006 to 2014, she served as Parking Clerk where she was responsible for all day-to-day operations of the department, including ticket hearing adjudication, parking enforcement oversight, data and revenue analysis, and management of the resident parking program.

Fiandaca has hands on experience in innovative transportation policy, and worked closely with the Mayor's Office of New Urban Mechanics on the newly launched ParkBoston app, a mobile phone application that allows users to pay their meter from a smartphone.

Fiandaca is a member of several national parking groups, including the National Parking Association. She currently serves as the President of the New England Parking Council.

Fiandaca has an MBA from Boston University, and has recently pursued courses in Business and Managerial Economics at Harvard University. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Management, and Operations from Suffolk University.

Giselle Sterling as the City of Boston's Veterans' Services Interim Commissioner. Sterling joined the City as a Community Relations Specialist in March 2012.

"I want to continue to elevate the Veterans' Community, and Giselle is an exceptional leader," said Mayor Walsh. "She carries a wealth of experience, having enlisted in Marine Corps among other means of public service. She shares my commitment to both improving the quality of life for those who put their lives on the line for us, and I'm pleased she'll be serving with us in this capacity."

"I'm humbled at the opportunity to continue working with my fellow veterans," said Sterling. "The men and women who have worn the uniform for our country deserve to come back to a community that values their commitment, recognizes their strengths and meets their needs. I look forward to my new responsibilities and in moving ahead with serving our veterans as honorably as they have served us. "

Prior to her appointment, Sterling served in the United States Marine Corps. In 2000 she completed basic training at Parris Island, South Carolina and was soon after trained as a Field Radio Operator with deployments to Kandahar, Afghanistan; the Philippines; Guam; Diego Garcia and Okinawa, Japan. Giselle was honorably discharged in 2004 and was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal.

Sterling also previously worked as a Special Event Coordinator for El Mundo Newspaper, and as a Charitable Campaign Coordinator for Action For Boston Community Development, Inc.

The first daughter to be born in the United States to Dominican parents, Sterling was instilled with an appreciation for the arts along with a sense of generational responsibility.

Sterling is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, Lowell with a Bachelor's Degree in English (writing) and a Minor in studio art. She is currently a graduate student in the Sierra Nevada College MFA Low-Residency Creative Writing Program and resides in Boston's historic North End.