SalemNews.com, Salem, MA

News

Going Green on the North Shore: Celtics' employees have local ties

By Paul Leighton
Staff writer
Published: May 16, 2008

With the Boston Celtics in the midst of a heated playoff run, even casual fans are starting to pay attention. Local fans might be glad to know there are people right here on the North Shore who are contributing to the cause.

Heather Walker

Job: Director of public relations

North Shore ties: Grew up in Manchester-by-the-Sea, lived in Marblehead for six years, now lives in Salem. Loves to walk her yellow Lab at Salem Willows

Age: Would rather not say

Family: Married to Stephen Walker

Sports background: Played basketball for coach Joe Aiello at Manchester High. "He called me and another girl the 'Twin Towers' because we were both tall and blond." Also played college hoops at North Adams State.

Personal note: Organizes a team of bicyclists to ride in the Pan-Mass Challenge in memory of her father, Roger Michalowski, who died of cancer when Walker was 17. Has already raised $10,000 for this year's ride.

On her job: "I do all the off-court PR for the players, dancers, ownership, Lucky (the team mascot), the brand. It's more lifestyle-type public relations, like fashion pieces. It's just high energy. Every day is something new, a new challenge. The players are fantastic to work with. So are the (Celtics) dancers. It's a great organization to work with. It doesn't matter what the charity is, they try to wrap their arms around it."

Sean Barror

Job: Senior vice president of corporate partnerships and business development

North Shore ties: Grew up and still lives in Beverly

Age: 41

Family: Wife Annie; daughters Paige, 8, and Avery, 5; son Charlie, 4

Sports background: Played baseball and football at Beverly High School, baseball at Tufts University. Hired in 2003 by Celtics team President Rich Gotham, who was Barror's boss when he worked at Internet media company Lycos.

Personal note: One of nine children; brother Bill is a Beverly police officer

On his job: "All the businesses that want to be associated with the team filter through my group (Barror leads a team of 15). We also do community relations, the charitable side of things, player appearances. We've got a really good group of guys (referring to the players). They participate voluntarily, which isn't the case with a lot of teams."

JoJo White

Job: Director of special projects/community relations representative

Age: 61

North Shore ties: Has lived in Middleton for 10 years

Family: Wife Deborah and six children

Personal note: Son Brian is an actor whose most recent role was in the Disney movie "The Game Plan"; youngest child, Jamie, is a junior at Masconomet Regional and a star on the girls' basketball team

Sports background: One of the greatest Celtics of all time. Played on 1974 and '76 championship teams. Played 60 minutes in historic triple-overtime win over Phoenix in '76 Finals. Hold teams record for consecutive games played (488).

On his job: "I would love to be a bit more involved on the basketball side, but I guess in time. I'm like a voice and a face in the community. I do a lot of mentoring on the team. All the experience our players are going through, I've already been through."

Tom Thibodeau

Job: Associate head coach

North Shore ties: Played and coached basketball at Salem State College in the early 1980s. Lived in an apartment on Wisteria Street in Salem.

NBA background: Was an assistant coach at Harvard when the late Bill Musselman, then coach of the expansion Minnesota Timberwolves, hired him as an assistant coach in 1989. Now in his 18th season as an NBA assistant, his first with the Celtics. Considered one of the top defensive coaches in the league. Has been mentioned as a possible head coaching candidate.

On his job: The Celtics don't allow their assistant coaches to talk to the media during the season. So we asked Salem State College sports information director Tom Roundy, a former roommate of Thibodeau, about his friend's success.

"I'm not surprised where Tommy is today. He was driven. He defied the odds in some ways, a guy coming from a small-college atmosphere. He has proven you do not have to have played at a very high level to understand the game and carry it on as a coach in what's considered the greatest league for all for basketball."

Photos