Year-End Report reveals the most active company relocation and expansion activity in over a decade
Watertown, MA – Four new Directors were elected to the MassEcon board at yesterday’s Annual Meeting, along with the re-election of six board members.
The new Directors elected to the Board are: Kenneth Turner, President and CEO at the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center; Patricia Timility, Senior Vice President at Eastern Bank; Bruce Platzman, CEO at AIS, Inc.; and Sean O’Brien, CEO and Chairman at BSC Group.
“It is with great pleasure that I welcome four new members to Mass Econ’s Board of Directors,” said Denise McGeough, MassEcon Chair and Senior Vice President of Commercial Markets at Citizens. “They bring great talent and diversity of perspective to our organization, enabling Mass Econ to execute on its mission of fostering economic development equitably throughout the Commonwealth.”
Re-elected to the Board are: Brian Cohen, Senior Vice President at CBRE; Stephen Flavin, Senior Director at Harvard Business School Online; Mike Houllahan, Executive Director and Market Executive at Chase; Tiffany Gallo, Vice President of Project Development at Cutler Associates; Rich Hollworth, Director Land Development, Principal at VHB; and Taidgh McClory, Founder and Social Entrepreneur at T.H. McClory, LLC.
Board Members and MassEcon members in attendance reviewed the year’s highlights, in which MassEcon provided assistance to 86 prospect companies, the highest number over a decade, considering expansion in or relocation to Massachusetts. These prospects sought 9.9 million square feet of space and 1,300 acres of land. Repligen in Hopkinton, Plug Power/Giner ELX in Concord, Watson-Marlow in Devens, and Walgreens Fulfillment Center in Mansfield are among the companies moving to or expanding in Massachusetts. Among the companies served by MassEcon, 14% were international, 44% were out-of-state, and 42% were from within Massachusetts.
Members also approved amendments to MassEcons bylaws, per recommendation of the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (ED&I) Committee and the Executive Committee, to include the MassEcon Mission Statement, inclusive of the ED&I mission statement; further the ED&I mission in review and approval of new members, Associates, and directors, and in determination of dues and fees for Associates; to formally establish the ED&I Committee, to include at least one member of the Executive Committee, which will develop a definition and framework for ED&I as it applies to the operations of the Corporation; modification of gender specific references to be gender neutral; and more.
“Throughout our collective journey in considering how equity, diversity and inclusion principles influence MassEcon’s work over the last two years, we have tried to take an intentional approach to embrace an equity mindset,” said Taidgh McClory, MassEcon Board Member, Co-Chair of the ED&I Committee, and Founder and Social Entrepreneur at T.H. McClory, LLC. “Following the 2019 revision of the MassEcon mission statement and the creation of our ED&I mission statement, a review of our by-laws and board governance was a logical next phase in that journey. From an outsider’s perspective, the changes may seem small and incremental; however, we are proud of the care and effort that our fellow ED&I Committee members dedicated to reviewing, discussing and memorializing our ED&I mission. As a purpose-driven board, our vision is that this step will help us make strategic decisions toward more equitable outcomes for MassEcon and ultimately the Commonwealth.”
New MassEcon members this year include AIS, Inc., Boxborough EDC, Jones Lang LaSalle, the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, and the Town of Mansfield.
The meeting at Nutter in Boston yesterday was followed by MassEcon’s Holiday Reception, sponsored by Nutter and Colliers. Massachusetts Film Office Director Lisa Strout was the featured speaker, sharing film clips and insights on the very active year for film industry in Massachusetts.
ABOUT MASSECON
MassEcon’s mission is to promote and champion Massachusetts as the best place to start, grow and locate a business. Built upon a robust network of corporate and civic members, MassEcon convenes public and private sector leaders of industry to create an inclusive business ecosystem that enhances job growth across a diverse talent pool; promotes investment in all communities; expands equitable opportunities throughout the Commonwealth. For more information, please go to www.massecon.com.
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