Employee Relations Team

David LaChappelle

 Director, Employee & Labor Relations, Human Resources
 774-455-4827
 david.lachappelle@umassmed.edu

David LaChappelle is the Director of Employee Relations. He has extensive experience in employee and labor relations matters. Most recently, he worked as Associate Counsel, Labor, at the University of Massachusetts Office of the General Counsel where he provided legal advice for the University’s Amherst and Medical School campuses. He provided legal advice on a wide variety of complex labor and employment legal issues, including negotiation strategy, bargaining obligations, and compliance matters.

Before moving to his role at the Office of the General Counsel, he worked here in UMass Chan Human Resources as the Assistant Director of Employee & Labor Relations where he directed day-to-day operations. Dave also led a team of Employee Relations Consultants in providing strategic consulting to UMass Chan leaders and managers regarding employee relations matters. Prior to that role, he was our Senior Labor Relations Consultant and worked as lead negotiator for UMass Chan in collective bargaining negotiations.

Before his roles at the University, Dave worked as Counsel at a number of organizations including the City of Boston's Office of Labor Relations. While his role at UMass Chan keeps him very busy, when he is not working, he enjoys fishing, hiking and spending time with his wife and young son.

 Jeffery G. Matthews

 Employee Relations Consultant
 508-856-5787
 jeffery.matthews@umassmed.edu

Jeffery Matthews has served as an Employee Relations Consultant, in the Human Resources Office of Employee Relations for the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School (UMMS) since June 2012. Prior to joining the Human Resources Department, Matthews served as a Diversity Consultant at UMass Chan for 2 years. Matthews’ experience includes serving as HR Manager at Hanover Insurance for 19 years and has over 25 years of employee relations experience. Matthews holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Becker College.

 Matthew Lyford, J.D.

 Senior Labor Strategy Consultant
 508-856-4194
 Matthew.Lyford@umassmed.edu

Matthew Lyford is the Senior Labor Strategy Consultant in the Human Resources Office of Employee Relations department. Matthew serves as the main representative of UMass Chan to union officials pertaining to management decisions, personnel matters, and collective bargaining negotiations. In this role, Matthew brings valuable experience in labor and employment matters. Prior to joining UMass Chan, Matthew’s experience includes serving as Staff Representative for SEIU Local 1199, a Law Clerk for the Massachusetts Superior Court, and a legal intern to the City of Boston Office of Labor Relations. Matthew is a graduate of the New England School of Law. 

Allison Atwood

Employee Relations Consultant
508-856-2160
Allison.Atwood@umassmed.edu

Allison Atwood has recently joined the Human Resources Office of Employee Relations for the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School as an Employee Relations Consultant. Atwood previously worked at various health care agencies around Massachusetts with extensive Employee Relations experience as well as worker’s compensation and leave of absence experience spanning the last 11 years, most recently at Riverside Community Care in Dedham, Mercer in Norwood and South Shore Hospital in Norwood. Atwood is a graduate of UMass Dartmouth, Charlton School of Business.

Bonnie Kumar

Human Resources Manager - Boston
617-886-8305
bonnie.kumar@umassmed.edu

Bonnie Kumar has served as the Human Resources Manager, in the Human Resources Office of Employee Relations for the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School since March of 2016, prior to that she was the Recruiting Manager at MassBiologics. In this role, she brings extensive experience in Talent Acquisition, Employee Relations, Education and Training along with Customer Care. Prior to joining UMass Chan, Bonnie was a National Dentist Recruiter responsible for the full life cycle recruiting for 9 different states. Bonnie has over 10 years of Talent Acquisition and Employee Relations experience and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Neuroscience from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.