Maureen entered the IBEW Local 36 electrician apprenticeship program in 1983, and worked on residential, commercial and industrial construction projects throughout Western Massachusetts. Maureen was elected to the Executive Board of IBEW local 7, and later to Recording Secretary for the organization. In 1991, she accepted a vocational teaching position at Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School, where she also served as chapter coordinator for the Northampton Teachers Association. Maureen served on the advisory board for the Gender Equity Project, seeking to increase participation of students in non-traditional occupations. She earned two graduate degrees from the University of Massachusetts: M.S. in Labor Studies, and M.Ed. in Occupational Education.
I consider Maureen Carney to be one of the best candidates for office I have seen in a long time. I have worked with her on several neighborhood issues and I have been impressed with her intelligence, thoughtfulness and her commitment to finding solutions.
Maureen is a problem solver and a consensus builder. She has that rare facility for combining empathy and common sense and applying it towards developing fair resolutions.
She is a strong independent thinker and has an impressive grasp of the more complicated and challenging issues facing many Ward One constituents.
We will be fortunate, indeed, to have her as our representative voice in the Council Chambers.
— Bill Dwight,
former Councilor, Ward One
In 2000, Maureen accepted the position of Workforce Development Specialist for the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, working with companies and labor organizations to access funding to upgrade worker skills. Now the Coordinator of the Dislocated Worker Program, Maureen provides assistance every day to people affected by layoffs and plant closings. Her first priority is to work with companies, unions, local, state, and federal officials to find alternatives to closings, and to avert layoffs. Working closely with the Division of Career Services Rapid Response Team when layoffs are imminent, Maureen coordinates delivery of services to help workers gain retraining and re-employment.
Maureen serves the city of Northampton as an officer of the Franklin-Hampshire Regional Employment Board. She has also served as a Commissioner on the Housing Authority, and on the United Way Board, chairing the Funds Distribution Committee on Children and Youth.
Labor leader, workforce development professional, and community activist, Maureen Carney brings experience, commitment, and service to the residents of Northampton. In her free time she enjoys the outdoors, practices yoga, and plays violin with the Pioneer Valley Symphony. She loves Northampton, and lives happily at 13 Church St, with her two dogs and two cats.
