When Frank Picozzi steps into the corner office at City Hall on Jan. 5, he’ll be bringing along some seasoned professionals in municipal government, law and the news media.

Picozzi turned to his Facebook page yesterday to announce his selections for city solicitor, chief of staff, office manager, constituent liaison and press secretary.

The announcements come following an intensive month-long, if not longer, series of interviews as the mayor-elect assembled his team with the help of his transition team headed by Mark Carruolo, a resident of Warwick and chief of staff for former Mayor Scott Avedisian.

“I’ve assembled my staff after an exhaustive and extensive recruitment and interview process. I am very confident in their abilities and skill and that their help will be invaluable in my mission to make our city a place that our residents will be proud of,” Picozzi said in the release.

The announcement caught some members of Mayor Joseph Solomon’s administration by surprise, as the positions had not been posted nor had their current occupants been contacted that they would be replaced.

With the exception of his constituent liaison, Betty-Ann Smith, Picozzi’s choices are new to Warwick government. Smith held the position of constituent liaison for Avedisian, staying on in the job when Avedisian resigned in May 2018 to become the president and CEO of the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority and then moving over to Senior Services.

“Betty Ann has the knowledge and experience that I need in this role. She will have the key role in my administration dealing with the needs to residents and working to resolve their problems,” Picozzi said in his release.

Picozzi’s choice for chief of staff was recruited from the administration of Cranston Mayor Allan Fung. An attorney licensed to practice in Rhode Island, Susan Nahabedian Ayrassian most recently held the position of personnel director for the city of Cranston and is an adjunct faculty lecturer at Salve Regina University instructing graduate courses in business law, social justice and ethics. She earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Rhode Island and a law degree from the New England School of Law. She has completed training in conflict mediation and served as the chairperson of the Cranston Diversity Commission.

“After several interviews I have become very confident that Susan is a person that I can heavily rely on to help me achieve my goals and visions for the residents of Warwick. She has an outstanding combination of education, experience, and interpersonal skills,” Picozzi said.

For the post of city solicitor, Picozzi tapped Michael Ursillo of Ursillo, Teitz & Ritch, Ltd. With 40 years of municipal law experience including representation of 12 Rhode Island cities and towns on all sides of the political aisle, Ursillo and the firm have successfully helped municipalities navigate issues that include labor contract negotiations and grievances; open meeting laws and public records requests; tax revaluations and appeals; code violations, litigation, and other vital municipal issues.

The youngest member of the staff so far at 22, Picozzi has called on Aaron O’Brien Mackisey as his office manager. Mackisey ran as an independent for the Ward 9 City Council seat this year, placing third in the four-way contest. He is a graduate of Catholic University of America and is in pursuing his master’s in international affairs at Boston University. Mackisey has worked in the offices of U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, Lt. Gov. Dan McKee and Ambassador Jorge Heine.

“Aaron will bring a fresh and youthful perspective to my administration” Picozzi said. Mackisey will not only manage the office but be assigned additional duties such as scheduling and performing administrative tasks.

Picozzi’s pick for press secretary, a position he has renamed media coordinator, is Elizabeth Tufts, an ABC 6 anchor and reporter for the past 10 years. Before coming to Rhode Island, Tufts worked at news stations in Lincoln, Nebraska, and Springfield, Massachusetts. She graduated from Emerson College in Boston with a bachelor’s degree in communications and is the winner of several Associated Press awards.

Picozzi said besides serving as his chief spokesperson, Tufts will tell stories throughout the community and keep the people of Warwick informed daily through audio and video on every platform of social media.

“My goal is to make this city’s government entirely open and transparent to its residents,” the mayor-elect said. “Elizabeth will be the key to getting the information out to people via the press, and social media. She not only has experience as an anchor and reporter but as a writer and producer as well as vast knowledge of the necessary equipment. ”