Executive Committee
President
Amanda O’Grady
Prime Realty Group Boston
Amanda is a Vice President at Prime Realty Group Boston and joined the Brighton Main Street board in 2021.
Vice President
Rita Marrocchio
Boston Medical Center – Brighton
Rita Marrocchio has been a dedicated member of the Brighton Main Streets Board since May 2021. With a lifelong career in the healthcare field, she currently serves as an Operations Manager at Boston Medical Center in Brighton, where she also acts as a liaison between BMC Brighton and the Brighton Main Streets Board.
Originally from Formia, Italy, Rita moved to the Allston-Brighton community with her family as a child. She now lives in Brighton, where she raised her own family and continues to invest her time and energy into strengthening the neighborhood she proudly calls home.
In addition to her role with Brighton Main Streets, Rita serves as Vice President of the Jackson Mann Community Center Board, further demonstrating her commitment to community engagement and local development.
Outside of her professional and volunteer work, Rita enjoys reading, cross-stitching, and spending time with friends at local Brighton restaurants.
Treasurer
John Izzo
Chief Development Officer – Anna’s Pals
John currently serves as Chief Development Officer for Anna’s Pals, a local nonprofit working to build a respite care facility for immunocompromised children and their families on Cape Cod. Born and raised in Brighton, John brings more than 30 years of experience in philanthropy and nonprofit leadership to his role.
After spending many years away—attending school and working in Atlanta, Washington, D.C., the Bay Area, and South Florida—John returned home to Brighton in 2010. His professional journey has been rooted in strengthening communities, and he has long been passionate about preserving the qualities that make Brighton and Boston such special places to live.
As a member of the Brighton Main Streets Board, John is focused on fostering strong relationships with the next generation of Brighton residents and encouraging their active involvement in the community. He joined the organization to help support thoughtful growth—balancing inevitable change with the preservation of the neighborhood’s core character and values.
When he’s not working, you can often find John at The Corrib, or stopping by Ziggy’s for dinner after a long day.
Secretary
Andrea Whalen
Sr Analyst – John Hancock Life Insurance Company
Andrea is a lifelong resident of Brighton, with deep roots in the neighborhood she proudly calls home. Born and raised in Brighton, she also raised her own children here, giving her a multigenerational perspective on the community and a strong appreciation for what makes it special.
She values Brighton’s rich history and the relationships that have shaped it over time, while also embracing thoughtful, responsible change that strengthens the neighborhood and supports a vibrant future for generations to come. Andrea believes that growth works best when it respects the past, reflects community voices, and creates opportunities for everyone.
Andrea works for John Hancock Financial Services as a Senior Analyst, bringing a strong professional background and analytical perspective to her community involvement. She has served on the Brighton Main Streets Board since June 2025 and continues to be an active Brighton resident.
An engaged and energetic community member, Andrea enjoys staying active and connected—whether exploring the neighborhood, discovering and supporting new local businesses, or spending time in familiar community spaces. She takes pride in seeing Brighton evolve and thrive and is passionate about supporting a welcoming, dynamic business district that reflects the character and diversity of the community.
Mary Kilgallen
Chief of Staff – Boston Fire Department
Mary is the Chief of Staff at Boston Fire Department. Mary has been on the Brighton Main Street board since 2023 and is a Brighton Resident.
Peter Cao
Vivi Bubble Tea Brighton
Peter is the owner of Vivi Bubble Tea in Brighton Center and joined the Brighton Main Street board in 2021.
Cecilia Nardi
Director of Community Relations at Boston University
Cecilia Nardi is the Director of Community Relations in Boston University’s Office of Government & Community Affairs. A graduate of Fordham University with a Master’s degree in Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning from Tufts University, she brings a strong foundation in community development and public policy to her work.
In her role at BU, Cecilia works to connect and strengthen community programs across the University in ways that are thoughtful, sustainable, and built to last. She partners with neighborhood groups, public officials, and other stakeholders to foster strong, positive relationships between BU and the communities it serves.
Cecilia joined the Brighton Main Streets board to help build a closer relationship between the neighborhood and the University. Through her board work, she aims to deepen partnerships between Brighton and BU that support community vitality, strengthen local businesses, and encourage long-term growth.
Brighton holds a special place for Cecilia—it was the first neighborhood she lived in after moving to Boston, and many of her earliest Boston memories were made there.
Josh Drawas
Licensed Relator at Compass Real Estate
Josh is a realtor at Compass Real Estate. He has been on the the Brighton Main Street board since June 2024 and is a Brighton resident.
Adrianna Alpaugh McGrath, MSW, CDP
Geriatric Care Consultant
Adrianna McGrath has served on the board of Brighton Main Streets since June 2025. She has worked with older adults for more than half of her life and is the owner of Golden Years Consult, where she empowers, supports, and coaches seniors and their families through the many transitions associated with aging.
Originally from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Adrianna moved to Vermont for her undergraduate studies in 2009 before relocating to Boston in 2013 to pursue her Master of Social Work at Boston College. She has been a Brighton resident ever since and fell in love with the community on her very first day. Over the past decade, she has witnessed many changes in the neighborhood, and through her role with Brighton Main Streets, she hopes to enhance neighborhood vitality by supporting community events, engagement initiatives, and fundraisers.
Adrianna has a deep appreciation for Brighton’s lifelong residents and is passionate about creating opportunities that bring neighbors together. Fun fact: in 2018, she met the love of her life right here in Brighton at the late Green Briar Restaurant & Pub. Adrianna and her husband, Denis, have since made it a tradition to explore nearly every restaurant in the neighborhood and love discovering new spots for their weekly date nights.
Charlie Vasiliades
Resident of Brighton
Charlie Vasiliades is one of the founding members of Brighton Main Streets, dating back to the organization’s creation in 1999. He holds a Master’s Degree in City Planning and retired in 2022 after 38 years working for the Commonwealth on affordable housing programs.
Charlie joined Main Streets—and continues to be actively involved—because he believes strongly in giving neighborhoods the opportunity to be proactive in shaping their business districts, rather than simply reacting to outside forces. His work reflects a deep commitment to thoughtful planning, community-driven development, and long-term neighborhood vitality.
A longtime champion of Oak Square, Charlie is especially devoted to the Oak Square Common and the Faneuil Branch Library. And while his enthusiasm for roller coasters is well known, he’ll admit they’re one amenity Oak Square doesn’t quite offer—yet.
Kelly McGrath
Executive Director of Brighton Main Streets
Kelly McGrath is the Executive Director of Brighton Main Streets, where she leads efforts to support small businesses, strengthen the local economy, and enhance the vibrancy of the Brighton commercial district. With a strong commitment to community development and stakeholder engagement, Kelly works closely with business owners, residents, and city partners to advance initiatives that promote economic growth, public safety, and neighborhood vitality.
In addition to her professional role, Kelly is deeply engaged in the Allston-Brighton community. She serves as the sitting President of the Jackson Mann Community Center Council and is a Director on the Allston Brighton Chamber of Commerce. She is also a Board Member of the Brighton Allston Historical Society, The Women’s Table, and Friends of McKinney, and serves as an Advisory Board Member of the Harvard Ed Portal. Kelly is an active member of the Allston Brighton Health Collaborative, the Brighton Lodge of Elks #2199, and the Ladies Auxiliary of Marsh Post #442.
Outside of her work, Kelly enjoys spending time with her husband, Barry, and their daughter, Olivia. She co-hosts a podcast, Boston Tea with Beth and Kelly, alongside her lifelong friend and fellow resident Beth Gavin. Kelly has a passion for history, enjoys reading, and values time spent with her family—whether in the mountains or at the beach, especially in Marshfield.