Attorney General Maura Healey has named Ava Callender Concepcion to the Cannabis Control Commission, replacing Commissioner Britte McBride and filling the otherwise vacant public safety seat on the board, Healey’s office announced Tuesday.
Concepcion, who hails from Dorchester, most recently served as director of governmental affairs and external partnerships for the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office.
“Ava brings a strong background in public safety and experience working with a range of stakeholders including law enforcement, advocacy organizations, and constituents on important policy matters,” Healey said in a statement. “As a lifelong resident of Boston, Ava has dedicated her career to social justice and her perspective will be extremely valuable to the Commission in promoting safety, equity, and opportunity.”
McBride announced her impending departure from the Worcester-based CCC in August. She was appointed by Healey in 2017.
Concepcion is a graduate of New England Law Boston and a member of the Massachusetts Bar. She holds a bachelor’s degree in criminology from Johnson C. Smith University in North Carolina. Having held several positions in the public sector, she began first as a victim witness advocate in Boston Municipal Court.
Concepcion is one of three new members to be named to the CCC in the last month, including Nurys Camargo, director of external affairs in Massachusetts for AT&T, and Bruce Stebbins, a member of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission.
