Water Authority Board Seat Filled

Barrington has another new face on the board of directors of the Bristol County Water Authority.

Robert J. Allio, a management consultant, was named to fill one of Barrington’s three board seats at Monday night’s Town Council meeting. He replaces Lloyd Matsmoto, who asked not to be considered for reappointment when his term expired at the end of February.

Allio is a consultant with the firm he founded: Allio Associates of Providence. He has lived in Barrington for almost four years.

According to the firm’s website, Allio is a “noted strategist, educator, and author” with “a broad range of experience and insight” who has led “top-level strategy consulting and management education projects for hundreds of firms in the U.S., Europe, Latin America, and India.” He plans to apply his expertise to the water authority.

"My firm improves an organization's performance, both in it effectiveness and its efficiency," Allio said. "I think I can help the water authority take steps in that direction."

Allio said he applied for the position because "I haven't contributed much to the town yet. I hope I can apply my background and skills to a worthy cause."

The consultant said he is familiar with the criticism of the water authority board and its former executive director. He anticipates being able to help address those issues and the deficiencies revealed by the recent performance audit.

Allio founded his first management consulting firm, Robert J. Allio & Associates, Inc., in Boston, after leaving Arthur D. Little, in 1979, according to the website. Over the past three decades, his clients have included 3M, New York Life, GTE, Digital Equipment, Allied-Signal, Dominion Textile, Dupont, USX, Weyerhaeuser, and the U.S., Canadian, and Puerto Rican governments.

Allio’s academic background includes positions as Dean of the School of Management at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He has also been a Professor of Management at Babson College.

Allio has authored more than 100 articles on strategic management, and a number of books. His latest book, Seven Faces Of Leadership, presents his perspective on strategy and leadership.

Allio joins Allan Klepper and Kevin Fitta as Barrington representatives on the nine-member BCWA board.