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We hope you had a wonderful holiday season and a happy, healthy, and safe start to 2022. As we begin this new year, we are eager to build on the milestones and successes achieved in 2021 including the activity shared in the enclosed newsletter highlighting the final months of the year. Most importantly, Massachusetts begins this new year with access to $4 billion in newly allocated funds dedicated to critical investments that will further help to position the Commonwealth for economic recovery, growth, and competitiveness. As emphasized with the release of our Talent Agenda in the fall, we envision these investments as a means for increasing opportunity, equity, and competitiveness both in the short and long-term especially to support talent attraction and retention, talent development, and talent diversity—each pillar intersecting with strategies to make Massachusetts a thriving place for all to live, work, play, and innovate.
We look forward to continuing conversations with members, collaborators, and stakeholders and meeting again in person next year. Thank you all for your partnership!
Best,
JD, Lauren, and Claire
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In the final quarter of the year, it's tradition for the Roundtable to look back on the progress achieved during the year to advance public policy. The Roundtable's End of Year Policy Roundup highlights these efforts, especially driving greater opportunity, equity, and competitiveness as part of its 2021-22 Policy Agenda. Read the Roundtable’s End of Year Policy Roundup.
Policy highlights from this quarter also include:
Takeaways from Summer Meetings: After meeting with over 60 members in the summer, the Roundtable noted five common themes and takeaways based on conversations with members that adds perspective on potential policy implications from the business community. These takeaways are shared by JD Chesloff in a Boston Business Journal op-ed.
Talent Agenda: Following the release of the Roundtable’s Future of Work and Massachusetts Competitiveness Survey and Report and Talent Agenda, The Boston Globe covered the release of the Talent Agenda. Based on member feedback, the Talent Agenda notes “to support a strong, sustainable, and impactful recovery, we recommend the state prioritize investment in talent via strategies and policies that effectively attract, retain, develop, and diversify talent in Massachusetts."
Leadership on Early Childhood Education: The Roundtable continued to highlight the urgency to invest in early childhood education, and JD Chesloff co-authored an op-ed in The Washington Post with CEO Action for Racial Equity leaders Roger Crandall of MassMutual and Dr. Leslie Fenwick of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education and Howard University providing a national business perspective on childcare. We also continue to support the advancement of the MA Business Coalition for Early Childhood Education. Read about the Coalition's impact.
Improvements for Mental Health Resources: In addition to meeting with legislators, the Roundtable released a statement this fall in favor of a provision within "An Act Addressing Barriers to Care (ABC) for Mental Health." Passed by the Senate, this provision in comprehensive behavioral health reform legislation will require coverage for annual mental health wellness exams, similar to the requirement for physical health exams. The Roundtable also appreciated Mass General Brigham helping to expand the message for system improvements as described in a Boston Globe op-ed by Dr. Maurizio Fava, Psychiatrist in Chief at Massachusetts General Hospital.
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Welcome Our Newest Members
Please join the Roundtable in welcoming members who joined
the Roundtable this past quarter.
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Matthew Dyment
Office Managing Tax Principal
BDO USA LLP
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Stephen Woerner
President, New England
National Grid
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Fall Update on ARPA Hearing Process
October 6, 2021: Featured updates and a conversation with State Representative Dan Hunt, Chair of the House Committee on Federal Stimulus and Census Oversight, as the legislative hearing process came to a close. Governor Baker later signed into law a $4 billion plan to allocate federal stimulus dollars much of which was directed toward Roundtable priorities including over $100 million in workforce and career technical skills, $400 million for addiction treatment and related behavioral health services, workforce, and infrastructure, and nearly $600 million for housing production, maintenance, and other housing infrastructure and resource needs. Read the press release following the bill signing.
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See Yourself in STEM
October 20, 2021: Featured Lt. Governor Karyn Polito, Chair of the Governor's STEM Advisory Council, plus employers sharing business strategies to support STEM/STEAM education in collaboration with schools and the community. Additional speakers included: Lisa Freed of iRobot; Dr. Melodie Knowlton of Vertex; and Roundtable member Mike McCarthy of Design Communications. Read the Open Forum Roundup and an Op-Ed on Building a Diverse STEM Talent Pipeline by Lisa Freed of iRobot and Lauren Jones from the Roundtable.
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King Boston Overview & Access to Forms of Capital
November 3, 2021: Featured Imari Paris Jeffries, Executive Director of King Boston. Introduced by Roundtable Chair Jane Steinmetz of EY Boston, Imari provided an overview of King Boston and plans for a memorial in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King in addition to other resources in Boston in their honor. Additionally, Imari introduced to members the concept of various forms of capital such as social capital, network capital, linguistic capital. View the presentation.
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A New Corporate Social Responsibility Framework
November 17, 2021: Featured a special joint webinar hosted in partnership with the Harvard Business School (HBS) Alumni Association of Boston on "A New Corporate Social Responsibility Framework." This unique forum convened executives from McKinsey, Bank of America, Anheuser-Busch InBev, and For Futuring, who each shared their ESG journeys and highlighted the value and opportunity of integrating ESG into their business practice. Watch the webinar.
Outlook for 2022
December 1, 2021: Featured an open discussion with members on issues top of mind to employers heading into 2022. The discussion was complemented by a panel for the 2022 outlook on the economy, the pandemic, State House priorities, and talent during the December Quarterly Board of Directors meeting. Read a recap covering discussion from both sessions.
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Going Around the Table
Sharing a few highlights from member companies!
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Future of Work Testimonials: Thank you to Roundtable Chair Jane Steinmetz of EY Boston and Roundtable member Dr. Aisha Francis of the Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology for testifying in early December before the Future of Work Commission. Thank you also to representatives of Northeastern University, Deloitte, and Comcast for also presenting in the fall to the Commission. Review summaries of past Future of Work Commission hearings. | |
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News from Berkshire Health Systems President & CEO: Congratulations to Roundtable member David Phelps on his retirement and in celebration of over 30 years of service as President & CEO of Berkshire Health Systems. During Phelps' tenure, he implemented substantial technological and facility improvements such as the Crane Center for Ambulatory Surgery and the BMC Cancer Center, built the hospital systems' affiliated long-term care company, and developed clinical partnerships like Berkshire Medical Center's membership in the Dana Farber Cancer Care Collaborative. Read more on Phelps' retirement. | |
Point32Health's New Leadership and Vision: Recently named CEO of Point32Health, Cain Hayes became a member of the Roundtable in September. This fall, Cain's vision for Point32Health, bringing together Tufts Health Plan and Harvard Pilgrim under his leadership, was featured in the Boston Globe. Cain brings a wealth of experience and the Globe highlights his path to leadership and approach to leading what he describes as a "$9 billion startup." Read the feature on Cain Hayes, CEO of Point32Health. | |
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Introduction to National Grid's New Regional President: At the start of the quarter, Stephen Woerner was announced as the President, New England for National Grid. The Roundtable is also thrilled to welcome Steve as one of our newest members. Interested in learning more about Steve's background? Check out the Boston Business Journal's coverage. | |
Expanding the Table
Roundtable member companies promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace
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Board Diversity: The Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association is urging hospitals across the state to diversify the membership of their governing boards to better reflect the patients and communities they serve. Roundtable member Dr. Kevin Churchwell of Boston Children's Hospital co-chairs the association's committee on diversity, health equity, and inclusion along with an executive from Massachusetts General Hospital (part of Roundtable member company Mass General Brigham). With this call to action, Dr. Churchwell questioned "how can we do the best job we possibly can to care for [our communities] if we don't reflect them and understand where they are in terms of their lives?" Read more on the leadership by Churchwell. | |
Latinos & the Economy: In October, the Roundtable joined the Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor & Workforce Development, the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, Conexion, and IBA Boston to co-host a webinar focused on the essential role of Latinos in our economy during the peak of the pandemic, today, and in the future. Titled: "Essential Today, Essential to the Future: Latinos and an Equitable Labor Market Economy," this virtual convening brought together thought leaders including the Roundtable's former Chair, Bob Rivers of Eastern Bank along with Governor Charlie Baker, Secretary Rosalin Acosta and more. Read a recap of this event including a recording to watch. | |
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Through a national lens on the impact of Latinos and the economy, Roundtable member Lucy Perez of McKinsey released a report in December that she co-authored titled: "The economic state of Latinos in America: The American dream deferred." This report sheds light on national trends and challenges Latinos in the United States face as workers, business owners, and consumers and the barriers to closing the wealth gap for this growing, essential demographic in America. Read the report.
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