NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The head of the county's former Berkshire Creative agency has been named assistant secretary of program and performance management for the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development.

 

Helena Fruscio Altsman, a former city resident, has held a number of creative economy posts in state government including creative economy industry director. 

 

Fruscio Altsman is one of three changes in the senior leadership at EOHED and the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism: Mark D. Fuller has been named undersecretary for business growth and Keiko Matsudo Orrall as MOTT's executive director.

 

"I am excited to round out my senior leadership team to help advance our work around business growth, program and performance management, and travel and tourism," said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Michael Kennealy in a statement. "Mark, Helena, and Keiko bring invaluable experience and perspective to their new roles, and I look forward to working closely with each of them to grow the commonwealth's economy, spur the creation of jobs for residents, and highlight Massachusetts' unique cultural and historic assets."

 

EOHED works to advance the economic opportunity for residents, partner with local leaders to pursue economic priorities, and engage with businesses to support job creation. EOHED is comprised of several agencies, including Housing and Community Development and the Office of Consumer Affairs, and has a $1.4 billion budget and approximately 1,000 employees.

 

In her role as assistant secretary, Fruscio Altsman will ensure program effectiveness on behalf of EOHED, tying its financial and programmatic support to economic outcomes on behalf of the commonwealth. Through secretariat partnerships, she will coordinate the implementation of programs for EOHED. 

 

Fruscio Altsman has served as a policy adviser to the state for the past seven years, serving most recently as deputy assistant secretary of innovation, entrepreneurship and technology and the director of the Office of Performance Management Oversight.

 

Her work for the state has been informed by her experience as the director of Berkshire Creative Economy Council, which was a key organization in the creation of the economic development organization 1Berkshire. A graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government with a master's degree in public administration and an undergraduate degree from Rochester (N.Y.) Institute of Technology, Fruscio Altsman has a track record of developing, advising, and deploying programs that truly impact the communities in which they are implemented. 

 

Fuller will play an integral role in advancing the administration’s strategy for job creation and business development across the entire commonwealth. He will coordinate state-funded incentive, capital, and operating budget driven programs and departments that offer support and resources for business of all sizes, and foster relationships with the state's diverse business owners. Fuller most recently the chief of staff at the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, and previously worked in the office of the governor as director of performance management.

 

As MOTT's new executive director, Orrall will build on the Baker-Polito administration's first-term accomplishments, which include expanding MOTT's international presence and increasing visitation from 27.5 million to nearly 29 million visitors. Prior to joining the administration, Orrall served in the Legislature for four terms as a representative for the 12th Bristol district.