Amherst Values

My values were formed while growing up in Amherst in the 1960's and 1970's. I am the youngest of 6 boys raised by my widowed mother (Sabra Rogers MacLeod) along with a lot of help from my grandparents.  I understand firsthand the challenges that single parents and working families face.  I believe that we all have a duty to help others in need, and an obligation to give back to our community.  I was a Boy Scout for many years, and retain the values the Scouts organization advocates.  I understand the issues faced by our elderly residents, having cared for my aging mom for many years prior to her passing. More recently, my beloved Aunt Betsey Johnson, who I considered a member of my immediate family, passed. My family and I are members of the Saint Brigid's parish in downtown Amherst.

My grandparents were active Amherst community members.  My grandfather Norman G. MacLeod was an Amherst select board member for 18 years and chair for 9 years.  My grandmother Margery MacLeod was a long time active member of the South Church (Congregational) Amherst.  She retained the Golden Cane as the oldest Amherst resident for many years as she lived to 106! My grandfather John "Doc" Rogers was the town dentist.  He and my grandmother Betty Rogers were lifelong members (and club champions) of the Amherst Golf Course where you will find the "Doc" Rogers pavilion dedication.  My mother, Sabra Rogers MacLeod lived in Amherst for 90 years.  She taught at UMass for many years, and was very active in the First Congregational Church, Valley Light Opera, along with many other organizations.  My two  children attended Amherst schools and graduated from ARHS, recently.  

I attended Amherst schools from Kindergarten through High School graduation.  I went on to receive a B.A. and MBA from the Isenberg School of Management at UMass, Amherst.  My mother was a graduate of Smith College and a professor at UMass in the Spanish department for 24 years. She also managed the UMASS summer student counseling program. My father earned degrees from Amherst College and the University of Chicago' and was a practicing lawyer prior to his untimely death in 1962. Thereupon, my newly widowed mom returned to her hometown of Amherst. Both of my parents were graduates of Amherst High School.  My children attended and recently graduated from ARHS, "Go Canes!).  I recognize the importance of education as a means to empower our children and youth to achieve their aspirations.

I owned and managed a contracting business in Amherst during the 1990's and understand firsthand the needs and burdens faced by our entrepreneurs and business owners. For the last 25 years I have worked in a managerial capacity at Human Resource Development Press and have provided management consulting and training for a wide range of organizations - Fortune 500, small businesses, municipalities, etc.  Areas of focus have included conflict resolution, management effectiveness, communication, collaboration, leadership and others.  I have also organized and managed conferences, meetings, and other types of events.   

I have also worked in a professional capacity for Sikorsky Aircraft, Sherwin Williams, and a number of other organizations.  I have a BA and MBA from the Isenberg School of Management at UMass, Amherst. I posess a keen and thorough understanding of the complicated fnancial issues and specifics of our town. My combination of experiences provides me the ability to both understand these complex issues and to translate them into well reasoned practical solutions. 

My wife Laura and I have two children - William and Elizabeth - who are now in college.

  The MacLeod family has been a proud part of the Amherst Community for generations. Both of my children attended Amherst Schools and graduated from ARHS - my daughter most recently in 2025 "Go Canes!). Laura, and I are members of the Saint Brigid's Parish in downtown Amherst.  

I served on the Amherst Community Preservation Act Committee (CPAC), for six years, having been Chair for the past three years.  We recommended and contributed to many projects for Community Housing, Recreation, Historic Preservation, and Open Space.  I am particularly proud of our committees contribution towards bringing the ARHS Track and Field project to a reality.  I considered the opportunity to be on the committee as a great privilege, and am very proud of my service.  I strove for inclusion and transparency while chair, and believe that our outreach efforts made a positive difference .  

 I have been on the Board of Directors of the Amherst Youth Soccer Association since 2017.  In the past, I had the great privilege of coaching and mentoring (and, of course, chauffeuring!) Amherst youth for years. Volunteering in the community has been a very rewarding experience for me in so many ways.  I have enjoyed the opportunity to meet and connect with many of our youth and families throughout our greater community; we all united for the joy and benefit of our youth.  I believe our youth sports programs to be among the strongest fibers that that knit together the fabric of our community.