|
Partnership Honors Egan and
Wheeler Award Recipients
From left to right, Dennis Giombetti, the recipient of the Donald R. Wheeler Public Sector Leadership Award; Joseph Zink, the recipient of the Ambassador Richard J. Egan Private Sector Leadership Award; and Paul Fitzgerald from EMC, Partnership Board member and presenter of the Ambassador Egan Award.
The Partnership’s annual appreciation reception was held in April, generously hosted by Quest Diagnostics in Marlborough, and honored Joseph Zink of Atlantic Management with the Ambassador Richard J. Egan Private Sector Leadership Award and Dennis Giombetti of Framingham with the Donald R. Wheeler Public Sector Leadership Award.
The Ambassador Egan award was presented by Paul Fitzgerald, EMC’s Vice President of Global Real Estate and Partnership Board member. The award commemorates the leadership and vision of EMC’s founding CEO, whose work was synonymous with the expansion of the 495/MetroWest economy. Ambassador Egan was also a founder of the Partnership. Joseph Zink was honored as the President and CEO of Atlantic Management, where he’s overseen the redevelopment of Marlborough Hills, which is home to Quest Diagnostics and GE Healthcare, and features 1.05 million square feet office/lab space, 350 one- and two-bedroom residential units, 153 room Hilton Garden Inn, and 75,000 square feet retail/ restaurant space. Joe Zink said “it is humbling to be mentioned with Ambassador Dick Egan”, and stressed that the success of Atlantic Management’s Marlborough Hills development is due to their partnership with the tenants of Quest Diagnostics and GE HealthCare; the City of Marlborough; and the state.
This year’s Donald R. Wheeler Public Sector Leadership Award was presented by Barbara Wheeler; the award commemorates her late husband’s committed spirit of public service, through municipal government in Boxborough, regional initiatives such as the Partnership, and charitable endeavors. Dennis Giombetti was honored for his extensive past service as a Framingham Selectman, Chair of the MetroWest Regional Collaborative, a founding board member for the MetroWest Regional Transit Authority, and a Public Sector Co-Chair of the Partnership, as well as current service with the Danforth Art Museum, the MetroWest Tourism and Visitors Bureau, and Framingham Downtown Renaissance, while representing our region on the Boston MPO which directs federal transportation funding. Dennis Giombetti thanked the Wheeler family, pointing out that “Don Wheeler left a wonderful legacy of public service to strive toward.” He commended the Partnership for playing a critical leadership role in the region, by bringing together public and private sector leaders, and thanked his wife Ann for her constant and committed support.
Beyond the awards, the Partnership also announced our officers for 2015:
- Private Sector Co-Chair: Gerry Preble, President of Beals + Thomas
- Public Sector Co-Chair: Joseph Nolan, Chairman of Wayland’s Board of Selectmen
- Private Sector Vice-Chair: Bill Pezzoni, Partner at Day Pitney LLP
- Public Sector Vice-Chair: Henry Fitzgerald, a Selectman from the Town of Shrewsbury
- Treasurer: Charles Dwyer, Senior Vice President from Middlesex Savings Bank
- Clerk: Peter Martin, Partner at Bowditch and Dewey LLP
And newly appointed members of the Board of Directors, including:
- Don Lowe, Bolton’s Town Administrator
- Peter Caruso, Sherborn’s Board of Selectmen
- Bill Nemser, Maynard’s Town Planner
- Stacey Wetstein, Bellingham’s Town Planner
- Jennifer Raitt, Metropolitan Area Planning Council’s Assistant Director of Land Use Planning and the Chief Housing Planner
- Arthur Robert, Framingham’s Community and Economic Development Director
- Yves Solomon-Fernandez, MassBay Community College’s Vice President for Strategic Planning and Partnership Advancement
“These individuals were selected by the Partnership’s Nominating Committee for their impressive accomplishments, commitment to public-private collaboration, and leadership in ensuring the continued prosperity of the region,” explained Paul Matthews, the Partnership’s Executive Director.
The Partnership would also like to thank outgoing Board members for their leadership, particularly two individuals who reached the term limit of nine years of service – Marc Draisen from MAPC and Gino Carlucci, President at PGC Associates and Town Planner for Sherborn. “Both Marc and Gino have provided extensive leadership and counsel to the Partnership for almost a decade through their service on the Board and the Executive Steering Committee, and will be sorely missed”, said Paul Matthews.
Transportation Developments
As a result of the Partnership's leadership on transportation issues, Executive Director Paul Matthews has been appointed to the Executive Committee for Transportation for Massachusetts. T4Mass is a statewide and diverse coalition of over forty organizations working together to create safe, convenient, and affordable transportation for everyone. In addition to advocacy, T4Mass issues research and resources on transportation issues, and is holding a statewide Transportation Summit on May 1st at Worcester's DCU Center to explore ideas and actions to improve transportation in every corner of the Commonwealth.
In the wake of the MBTA problems this winter, a number of organizations have issued reports and recommendations, including the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation. Their report, The T: The End of Its Line, found that "the MBTA’s fiscal and structural problems are so severe and pervasive that marginal reforms will no longer suffice."
On the state level, Governor Baker convened a special panel of experts to conduct a comprehensive review of the MBTA over an intensive period to develop immediate recommendations for improvements. On April 8th, this panel submitted their report, Back on Track: An Action Plan to Transform the MBTA , which offers substantive recommendations such as..
New Fiscal and Management Oversight: Replace the current MassDOT Board with a five-member Fiscal and Management Control Board, with three members appointed by the Governor and one each nominated by the Speaker of the House and the Senate President. The Governor appoints a Chief Administrative Officer to lead the T, who reports to the Control Board.
Capture Revenue Opportunities: Significantly increase MBTA self-generated revenue from fares, advertising and real estate, as well as through grants and federal programs.
Budget Firewall: Build a firewall between the operating and capital budgets - construct one, five and twenty year plans for each.
Capital Planning: Create a dedicated state-funded capital program to modernize vehicles and infrastructure and pause construction spending for system expansion (except for federally funded projects) until such a plan is in place.
Customer Service: Create customer-oriented performance management and strengthen communications.
Update System Routes: Rationalize and reform system routes, including buses.
The Partnership will continue to speak out for the 495/MetroWest region's needs as this discussion on the future of our transportation system continues.
Not Following the Partnership
Yet? Why Not??
Stay up-to-date on the Partnership’s work and events by following us on social media. The Partnership has a Twitter account, LinkedIn Group and a Facebook page for you to follow, join or friend as a way to keep up with our various activities on behalf of the 495/MetroWest region. No longer will you have to wait for our e-newsletter for the latest updates on the Partnership’s efforts; connect to one or all of our social media outlets today!
  
Special thanks to our state legislators for securing state funding for regional economic development, and the Office of Business Development for their support.
Special Thanks to Our Champion Investors:
Bose Corportation | Bowditch & Dewey LLP
Carruth Capital LLC | EMC² | IBM
Special Thanks to Our Partners:
Alexander, Aronson, Finning & Co. PC
Cisco Systems | Genzyme, a Sanofi Company
Eversource
Special Thanks to Our Advocates:
Beals + Thomas | DayPitney LLP
Dean College | Framingham State University
Mirick O'Connell | NAIOP Massachusetts
Patriot Place | Sam Park & Co. Ltd.
Staples | Sunovion Pharmaceuticals, Inc
TJX Companies | TransAction Associates
VHB/Vanasse Hangen Brustlin
495/MetroWest Partnership
Private Sector CoChair: Gerry Preble, Beals + Thomas
Public Sector CoChair: Joseph Nolan, Town of Wayland
Private Sector ViceChair: Bill Pezzoni, Day Pitney LLP
Public Sector ViceChair: Henry Fitzgerald, Town of Shrewsbury
Treasurer: Chuck Dwyer, Middlesex Savings Bank
Clerk: Peter Martin, Bowditch & Dewey
Paul Matthews, Executive Director
Jessica Strunkin, Deputy Director
|
