Board of Directors

PRESIDENT: Maura Mann

Maura is President of The Nagler Group and KNF&T Staffing Resources where she is responsible for the client service strategy and execution that has resulted in award-winning growth and achievement for both companies.  She also oversees the Strategic Accounts teams for the BANKW Staffing companies.  Prior to joining BANKW Staffing in 2011, Maura held leadership roles with multiple local and international staffing and recruiting organizations where she led teams focused on accounting & finance, legal and administrative staffing. She loves meeting new people and always networking, professionally and personally.

Maura is a member of ProVisors, a national networking organization where she is the assistant group leader for the Boston Women’s Affinity group and sits on the Executive Committee for a group based out of Woburn, MA. She also sits on the board of the Massachusetts Staffing Association and is actively involved in the Northeast Human Resources Association (NEHRA), the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), and the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce. She is a member of the Diversity Workforce Coalition and founded BANKW’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Committee.

Maura is a proud Boston College alumna, a member of the Boston College Club and is involved in a local charity, 100 People Who Care. Outside of work, Maura is a diehard Boston Bruins and New England Patriots fan as well as a busy hockey and lacrosse mom. She lives in Tewksbury with her husband, son, and adorable labradoodle named Loki.

Contact Information:

Maura Mann
781-405-4438
mmann@naglergroup.com

VICE PRESIDENT: Kevin Donovan

Kevin joined TradeSource, Inc. in 2006 as the Director of Risk Management & Benefits, from TAC Worldwide Companies. Kevin is responsible for the implementation and monitoring of the company-wide safety program, securing and placing all insurance coverages, incorporating a complete offering of employee benefits, and compliance with all regulatory and legal issues.

Kevin entered the Temporary Staffing Industry in 1998 and has worked in the Insurance and Risk Management world since 1992.

Kevin is OSHA 500 Certified Trainer in Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry and has an accredited Supervisor License in Asbestos Abatement under the Toxic Substance Control Act.

Kevin is a former member of the Safety Committee for the American Staffing Association.

Kevin holds a Bachelor’s Degree from St. Anselm College and is a Notary Public.

Contact Information:

Kevin Donovan
Director, Risk Management & Benefits
TradeSource, Inc.
205 Hallene Road Unit #211
Warwick, RI 02886
1-401-921-6008
fax 1-800-741-3859
Kdonovan@tradesource.com

COUNSEL: David O’Connor

David M. O’Connor is the principal of O’CONNOR & ASSOCIATES, LLC, an AV-rated law firm serving staffing, construction, professional, and insurance clients in the areas of trial and appellate practice; employer liability and workers’ compensation; contract negotiations and drafting; and insurance coverage dispute resolution and litigation.

Mr. O’Connor graduated from Georgetown University and cum laude from Boston College Law School, where he was Articles Editor of the Boston College Environmental Affairs Law Review. He has been recognized as a Massachusetts Super Lawyer (in the categories of employment practices, civil litigation, and workers’ compensation) and in Martindale-Hubbell’s Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers.

In addition to counselling the firm’s clients and trying over 100 cases before jurors, judges and administrative agencies, Mr. O’Connor is called upon regularly to address national and regional organizations (such as the American Staffing Association, the American Bar Association, the Risk & Insurance Management Society, the University Risk Management Association, the Association of Subcontractors of Massachusetts and the Associated General Contractors of Massachusetts).

Contact Information:

David M. O’Connor O’Connor & Associates, LLC
Boston/MetroWest
617-723-7201
doconnor@oconnorllc.com

DIRECTOR AT LARGE: Daphne Phalon

Daphne Phalon is President/Owner of Ardent Staffing Solutions.  Ardent Staffing is a Massachusetts based temporary and permanent placement staffing agency specialized in Engineering, Administrative, and Advanced Manufacturing recruiting.  

Daphne joined the MSA Board of Directors in 2014 and became our President in January of 2020. In addition to providing Association and industry leadership, Daphne is President and Founder of Ardent Staffing Solutions, a Massachusetts based skilled manufacturing and professional staffing agency. 

Daphne has committed her entire career to staffing and is highly involved in compliance and legislative matters facing the staffing industry. She works closely with the American Staffing Association (ASA) and Massachusetts Staffing Association and is a member of NEHRA and SHRM. She is a regular public speaker and training facilitator on topics facing the industry such as worker’s compensation insurance, safety, and hiring practices. Additionally, Daphne is a member of the ASA Safety Committee and OSHA/ASA Safety Alliance. Through this partnership with OSHA, Staffing Industry leaders work toward creating safe work environments for all of our workers, contract and permanent alike.

Daphne is a graduate from the University of Massachusetts.  Additionally, Daphne has held her SPHR Certification since 2005 and achieved both her CSP and SHRM-SCP certifications in 2014.

Contact Information:

Daphne M. Phalon
President
Direct: (508) 530-7209
Email: daphne@ardent-staffing.com
5 Mount Royal Ave, Marlborough, MA

DIRECTOR AT LARGE: Mark O’Hara

Mark is the Area Manager for Trillium Professional. Since 1984, Trillium Professional and its affiliates have been staffing professional IT and Engineering candidates in positions around the country. Our industry trained experts recruit only top talent, providing our clients with unparalleled flexibility and reliability. Trillium Professional strives to provide the most efficient, cost-effective, and beneficial services to both our clients and our employees. Utilizing a strategic partnership approach , our recruiting staff identifies employer and employee matching on an advanced platform including skills, objectives, and qualifications to ensure a good fit.

Mark is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts – Amherst.

Contact Information:

Mark O’Hara
Trillium Professional
980 Washington Street, Suite 218
Dedham, MA 02026
(618) 477-5254
mohara@trilliumprofessional.com

DIRECTOR AT LARGE: Jonathan Bedard

As Chief Marketing Officer, Jonathan Bedard leads Bullhorn’s marketing efforts globally, including product marketing, demand generation, PR, branding, content, and creative. He brings a broad range of skills and experiences across business development, sales, marketing, and strategy at industry-leading and high-growth organizations to help drive growth. Jonathan previously led enterprise strategy & operations, product marketing and customer marketing teams at athenahealth, which grew from $400M to $1.4B in revenue over the course of his tenure. Jonathan has a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Colgate University, where he was a Fulbright Scholarship recipient.

DIRECTOR AT LARGE: Jim Arria

Jim Arria is the Vice President of Operations at King & Bishop and Finish Line Staffing Services, with offices in Norwood, MA, Wakefield, MA, and Sarasota, FL. Since beginning his career in 2015 as a Technical Recruiter, Jim has steadily advanced in the staffing industry, earning an executive leadership role in 2024.

He leads a team dedicated to delivering tailored staffing solutions across a range of specialties, including human resources, finance, administration, engineering, and manufacturing. With a strong foundation in customer service, Jim brings a client-first approach to his work and values building meaningful, long-term relationships within the industry.

Based in Westborough, MA, Jim is an avid basketball and pickleball player who enjoys staying active outside of work

DIRECTOR AT LARGE: Jamal Mahijibhai

Since 2005, Jamal Mahijibhai has led MSG Staffing as President and CEO with strategic foresight, aligning talent with opportunity and enhancing healthcare delivery and patient care. Grounded in his educational foundation in computer science and as a registered nurse, Jamal brings a unique perspective to the intersection of healthcare and technology. This dual expertise has been pivotal in understanding both the cutting-edge tools that drive healthcare forward and the compassionate care that defines patient experiences.

 As a first-generation immigrant, Jamal has navigated his path with resilience, rising above challenges and undermining within the organization to steer MSG Staffing toward a vision of inclusive growth and excellence. His journey reflects a quiet strength and humility that inspire his team and resonate with the core values of the MSA Board, which he serves with distinction.

 Under Jamal’s leadership, MSG Staffing has become a nurturing ground for a culture that deeply understands the aspirations of healthcare professionals and institutions. A blend of industry insight, technological advocacy, and community engagement defines his tenure, with a commitment to not just meet, but exceed healthcare staffing needs, empowering communities, and transforming individual lives.

 In his role with the MSA Board, Jamal propels initiatives aligned with the staffing industry’s strategic growth, reflecting MSG Staffing’s innovative spirit and adherence to values of progress, integrity, and teamwork.

 Forward-looking, Jamal commits to steering MSG Staffing into emerging markets, harnessing technology to enhance efficiency, and reinforcing its strategic partnership in healthcare. His commitment to building trust and quality places MSG Staffing at the forefront of the industry.

 Jamal envisions a future where innovation and practicality intersect, expanding MSG Staffing’s influence on uplifting community health outcomes, steadfast in a commitment to excellence and community well-being.

Contact Information:

Jamal Mahijibhai, CEO of MSG Staffing, Inc

25 Union St., Suite 105
Worcester, MA 01608
(508) 799-6674
Jamalm@msgstaffing.com

DIRECTOR AT LARGE: Vinda Souza

Vinda Souza is the Chief Marketing Officer at RefAssured, a provider of automated reference checks and hire quality platform technology for the staffing industry, where she manages all aspects of marketing and thought leadership strategy. Prior to RefAssured, Souza spent fifteen years in various high-tech corporate marketing roles, including almost ten years at global recruiting software company Bullhorn leading communications, content and events, and industry marketing. She started her career in technology public relations at boutique PR agency fama PR, where she spent five years serving multinational brands across numerous sectors including information security, industrial design, and data management. In addition to her role at RefAssured, Souza currently serves on the Leadership Board of the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston and on the Board of Directors of Seeding Labs. She also previously spent five years on the board of the Massachusetts Staffing Association before rejoining in 2024.

DIRECTOR AT LARGE: Yolande D

Yolande Deryck is the Chief People Officer with Masis Staffing Solutions, LLC headquartered in Worcester, MA. Masis Staffing supports industries from warehouse and manufacturing to finance and information technologies in 27 states. They employ 350 internal employees and an average of 5,500 temporary associates weekly.

With nearly 30 years of professional Human Resources experience Yolande’s passions lie in the area of strategic and organization development of successful, well-informed teams. She is motivated by challenge and strives to identify and implement solutions to support the success of individuals and the company as a whole. She is steadfast in weaving a positive influence into all she contributes toward the end goals of a company’s vision, core values and strategic planning.

Prior to Masis Staffing, Yolande worked as Sr. Regional HR Manager for G2 Secure Staff, LLC where she was responsible for human relations of over 11,000 aviation employees across 16 US based airports. Additionally, she has 21 years in the non-profit sector, as the Director of HR for Seven Hills RI.

Yolande holds a BA in HR Management and Master’s of Science in Organizational Leadership from Southern New Hampshire University.

Contact Information:

DIRECTOR AT LARGE: Stu Coleman

DIRECTOR AT LARGE: John Morgan