Rep. Peter Welch was the featured guest at a May 14 Congressional Roundtable breakfast in Burlington, VT, co-hosted by the Vermont Business Roundtable (VBR).  Pictured here (L to R) are: VBR Chairman Mark Foley, Rep. Peter Welch, Tess Stack Kuenning of the B-State Primary Care Association, and New England Council President & CEO Jim Brett. 

On May 17, Rep. John Larson spoke to NEC members about his recent work in Congress at a Capital Conversations breakfast in Washington, DC, hosted by Capitol Counsel.  The Congressman is pictured here with Suzanne Day of Harvard University. 

Sen. Ed Markey updated some 200 NEC members on his work on such issues as transportation, environmental protection, and innovation at a Congressional Roundtable on May 20 at the Boston Harbor Hotel.  He is pictured here (R) with Board Member Mark Reilly of Comcast, the event sponsor. 

On May 29, 2019, The New England Council presented a special event, "The Future of Work: The Next Generation."  Hosted by Council member Becker College at their Worcester, MA, campus, the half-day forum featured opening remarks by U.S. Representative Jim McGovern.  Following the Congressman's remarks, two different panels engaged in discussions about the skills necessary for the jobs of the future, and the educational means of preparing a workforce to meet these demand. The first panel featured representatives of several area colleges and universities, and the second featured representatives of some of the region's large employers.  Over 70 people attended and the event was covered in the Worcester Business Journal and on Worcester TV 3.

For more information on the Council's work on higher education issues, please contact Taylor Pichette. 

The latest episode of DC Dialogue aired on NECN on Sunday, May 19, 2019.  In the first segment, Jim Brett and Peter Howe were joined by former Massachusetts Governor and Republican Presidential candidate Bill Weld.  In a wide-ranging conversation about his campaign, Gov. Weld predicted that he would win the California primary, gave Attorney General William Barr a near-failing grade for his handling of the Mueller Report, and was critical of President Trump's trade policies. 

	Jim Brett and Beacon College President  G eorge Hagerty.

On Saturday, May 4, New England Council President & CEO James T. Brett received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letter from Beacon College, the first accredited baccalaureate institution dedicated to educating primarily students with learning disabilities and learning differences.  In addition to leading the Council since 1996, over the course of his career, Jim has been an outspoken and tireless advocate for people with intellectual disabilities.  He currently serves as the Chairman of the Massachusetts Governor's Commission on Intellectual Disability and was recently re-appointed to serve a second term on the National Council on Disability.  Jim addressed the colleges 85 graduates at the commencement ceremony on the school's Leesburg, FL, campus. 

On June 12, 2019, The Commonwealth Institute will release the findings of its 2nd Annual Women's Leadership Development Impact Study at a special event in Boston.  The New England Council was a Survey Partner for the study, and Council members were invited to participate.  The goal of the study is to help stakeholders better understand employers' actions to develop, retain, and advance female employees in Massachusetts.  The survey findings will be released at a summer mixer on Wednesday, June 12, from 5:30 - 8:00 p.m. at PwC's office in the Seaport District.  Click below for more information and to register.