Women’s Economic Empowerment series 9/29

Massachusetts State Treasurer’s Office of Economic Empowerment (OEE) will facilitate the Women’s Economic Empowerment series in two pilot cities this fall. This new initiative, in collaboration with Citizens Bank, is a free 4-session program focusing on wage negotiation, money management, retirement and investment strategies for women of all ages, ethnicities, economic backgrounds and levels of fiscal knowledge.

In Massachusetts, women are paid 82 cents on the dollar compared to their male counterparts. This ratio is even worse for African American women who earn 61 cents, and Latina women who earn 50 cents. Learn more at www.EqualPayMA.com. Although the Massachusetts State Treasurer's Office has offered financial literacy conferences for over a decade, this pilot program is the first to specifically focus on empowering women to reach their full financial potential by enabling them to become more financially informed, delivering high-quality educational workshops and inspiring participants to pursue long term economic stability through unique salary negotiation training.

Space is limited:

This is a 4-session program. Please register for this program, ONLY if your schedule allows you to attend all four Thursday evening sessions.

Dates:

Week 1: Personal Budgeting (September 29, 2016)
Week 2: Borrowing Basics & Beyond! (October 6, 2016)
Week 3: Secure Your Future (October 13, 2016)
Week 4: Negotiate with Confidence (October 20, 2016)

Time:

6:30 pm-8:30 pm

FAQs

Where can I find workshop descriptions?

Please visit: www.mass.gov/treasury/empowerment/series for detailed workshop descriptions.

What are my transport/parking options getting to the event?

Parking: There is ample free on-street parking on Old Colony Avenue and St. Ann’s Road. There is also free parking in the two lots next to the building.

Getting to The Women’s Economic Empowerment Series in Quincy via MBTA:
Take the MBTA Red Line to the Wollaston Station. Upon exiting the station on Newport Avenue, turn left onto Beale Street. Take right onto Old Colony Avenue (Boncaldo’s Barber Shop and Coffee Break Cafe are visible on the corner). Walk down Old Colony Avenue, bearing to the right to stay on Old Colony Ave. for approximately 1/4 mile. The Quincy Center for Innovation will be on your left.

Where can I contact the organizer with any questions?

financialeducation@tre.state.ma.us

What if I have a conflict and cannot attend all four sessions, but want to learn more?

Please contact the Office of Economic Empowerment at financialeducation@tre.state.ma.usfor more information.

WHERE

Eastern Nazarene College - 180 Old Colony Avenue, Quincy, MA 02170 - View Map

MAJOR INSURANCE COMPANY TO REFUND MASSACHUSETTS HOMEOWNERS FOR IMPROPERLY CHARGED FORCE-PLACED INSURANCE

MAJOR INSURANCE COMPANY TO REFUND MASSACHUSETTS HOMEOWNERS FOR IMPROPERLY CHARGED FORCE-PLACED INSURANCE AG Enters into Third Settlement Regarding Force-Placed Home Insurance in Past Year

BOSTON – In the third such settlement in the past year, a company has agreed to provide refunds to Massachusetts homeowners who were improperly charged for force-placed insurance policies, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.  

Today’s settlement with QBE Insurance (QBE) requires refunds for Massachusetts homeowners whose mortgage lenders wrongly force-placed the consumers with QBE despite the fact that the consumers already had home insurance with other companies, as well as consumers who were overcharged by QBE because their homes were misclassified as commercial properties. 

“We will continue to ensure that mortgage lenders and their insurance business partners do not overcharge Massachusetts residents or force them to pay for unnecessary insurance,” AG Healey said. “Today’s agreement provides Massachusetts homeowners the restitution they deserve.”

The AG’s Office will conduct an audit to ensure all eligible consumers receive full restitution. To date, the AG’s Office has identified potentially improper charges that could result in more than $1 million in relief to Massachusetts homeowners. Aside from amounts identified in the audit, the agreement also requires QBE to pay $375,000 to the state.

Force-placed insurance is property insurance taken out by a mortgage lender to protect a home when the homeowner does not have insurance in place. Mortgage servicers often rely on force-placed insurance companies, like QBE, to monitor whether borrowers have maintained appropriate insurance coverage.

When a borrower is believed to have failed to maintain appropriate coverage, the insurer issues a force-placed insurance policy and the mortgage servicer charges the premium for the policy to the borrower. Force-placed policies are considerably more expensive than regular homeowners insurance policies.

In November 2015, American Security Insurance Company, a subsidiary of Assurant, entered into a settlement with the AG’s Office in which it similarly agreed to refund premiums to thousands of Massachusetts homeowners who were required to purchase unnecessary or overpriced force-placed insurance policies. In February, mortgage lender and servicer HSBC agreed to refund Massachusetts consumers the improper compensation it received tied to force-placed insurance. 

The AG’s Office continues to review force-placed insurance practices. Consumers who have complaints or disputes relating to force-placed insurance or their mortgage are encouraged to file a complaint with the AG’s Office. Consumers who have questions about the settlement or force-placed insurance can call the Attorney General’s Insurance Hotline at 1-888-830-6277, Extension 3.

This case was handled by Assistant Attorney General Tim Hoitink, Investigations Supervisor Arwen Thoman, Mathematician Burt Feinberg and Division Chief Glenn Kaplan of AG Healey’s Insurance and Financial Services Division. 

Baker-Polito Administration Launches Drought Emergency Loan Fund

Baker-Polito Administration Launches Drought Emergency Loan Fund

New fund will provide affordable working capital to family farms and other small businesses impacted by historic drought conditions

BOSTON –Today the Baker-Polito Administration announced the launch of the Massachusetts Drought Emergency Loan Fund, which has the capacity to provide up to $1 million in micro-loans to family farms and other small businesses affected by widespread drought conditions in Massachusetts. The Drought Emergency Loan Fund is part of the Baker-Polito Administration’s coordinated response to five consecutive months of abnormally dry weather across the Commonwealth.

“Small businesses are the bedrock of the Massachusetts economy, and our administration is deeply committed to maintaining the health and vibrancy of family-owned businesses,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Like the emergency loan fund we launched following record snowstorms, this Drought Emergency Loan Fund will provide affordable working capital to small businesses grappling with the aftermath of extreme weather.”

“Massachusetts family-owned farms play an integral role in our state’s broader economy, by providing jobs, driving regional tourism, and conserving land,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “This new loan fund is one important component of our comprehensive effort to help family farms and other agriculture-related small businesses recover from this summer’s prolonged drought.”

“Farms around the Commonwealth are a vital part of our state’s economy, and continue to ensure residents have access to healthy, locally-grown culinary products,”said Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources Commissioner John Lebeaux. “The Massachusetts Drought Emergency Loan Fund will allow Massachusetts’ farmers to seek financial relief during this period of prolonged dry weather as they continue to offer fresh, nutritious products to consumers.”

“We are pleased to offer this support to struggling family farms and related businesses hit hard by the drought,” said Larry Andrews, President of MGCC. “Our team will provide prompt review of each application and work to help local farmers in need.”

“This affordable, flexible loan program agricultural businesses regain financial stability and recover quickly from lost revenue due to the drought,” said Assistant Secretary of Business Development Nam Pham.

For more information about the loan fund, and to access an online application, visitwww.massgcc.com.

STATE TREASURER’ S OFFICE AND DIVISION OF BANKS ANNOUNCE HIGH SCHOOL GRANT RECIPIENTS OF THE FINANCIAL LITERACY EDUCATION INNOVATION FUND

STATE TREASURER’ S OFFICE AND DIVISION OF BANKS ANNOUNCE HIGH SCHOOL GRANT RECIPIENTS OF THE FINANCIAL LITERACY EDUCATION INNOVATION FUND

Boston, MA State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg and the Division of Banks announced today the 2016-2017 recipients of Financial Education Innovation Fund grants, an initiative that provides capital to expand Credit for Life and financial education fairs in high schools across the Commonwealth. These awards are funded by a grant from the Division of Banks through settlements over alleged unlawful lending practices.

“I have experienced firsthand the critical skills these ‘ Credit for Life’  fairs teach our high school students,”  said Treasurer Goldberg.  “These new grants will help students to budget their money responsibly and make informed financial decisions as they prepare to enter college or begin their careers.”

Through an extensive application process that culminated this month, the Treasurer’ s Office awarded 27 high schools across the Commonwealth nearly $80,000 in grant money to expand upon or establish these programs.

“Credit for Life fairs help students understand the real-life consequences of poor financial habits,” said John Chapman, Undersecretary of the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation, whose office includes the Division of Banks. “Teaching students why their credit scores matter, that credit cards aren’t free money, and the importance of living within their means teaches them that money management skills are necessary tools for success.” 

“I am pleased that we are able to support these 27 high schools’ Credit for Life fairs this spring,”  said David Cotney, Commissioner of Banks.  “Our hope is that more schools will consider organizing Credit for Life fairs and expand upon their existing event framework in the next school year.”

This is the third installment of these innovation grants, which were established as an ongoing effort to strengthen financial literacy, so schools will have the opportunity to apply during the next round of funding.

List of 2016-2017 Grant Recipients

Barnstable High School (Barnstable)

Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School (Upton)

Bourne High School (Bourne)

Bridgewater Raynham Regional High School (Bridgewater)

Brockton High School (Brockton)

Chicopee Comprehensive High School (Chicopee)*

Chicopee High School (Chicopee)*

Clinton High School (Clinton)

Dracut High School (Dracut)

Falmouth High School (Falmouth)

Framingham High School (Framingham)

Haverhill High School (Haverhill)

Hopedale Jr. Sr. High School (Hopedale)

Hudson High School (Hudson)

Joseph P. Keefe Technical School (Framingham)

Ludlow High School (Ludlow)

Lynn Vocational Technical Institute (Lynn)

Lynnfield High School (Lynnfield)

Martha's Vineyard Regional High School (Oak Bluffs)

Nantucket High School (Nantucket)

Northbridge High School (Northbridge)

Pope Francis High School (Chicopee)*

Reading Memorial High School (Reading)

Salem High School (Salem)

Shrewsbury High School (Shrewsbury)

Whitman-Hanson Regional High School (Whitman)

Worcester Technical High School (Worcester)

*In affiliation with the Chicopee Public Schools’ grant proposal

The Division of Banks is an agency within the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation which oversees state-chartered banks and credit unions, check sellers, debt collectors, foreign transmittal agencies, and mortgage lenders and brokers. For more information visit the Division’s website at www.mass.gov/dob or contact the Division of Banks’ Consumer Hotline at 1-800-495-BANK (2265).

BOSTON SUMMER PROGRAMS BOOST MATH, READING, SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SKILLS, NATIONAL STUDY SHOWS

BOSTON SUMMER PROGRAMS BOOST MATH, READING, SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SKILLS, NATIONAL STUDY SHOWS

RAND, Wallace Study Affirms Goal Set by Mayor Walsh, Superintendent Chang

BOSTON - Wednesday, September 7, 2016 - Elementary students with high levels of attendance in Boston's voluntary summer learning programs earned a clear advantage in math and reading over their peers, according to new RAND findings from the largest research study ever conducted on summer learning. The national study released today also points to an advantage in vital social-emotional skills, like self-regulation and relationships, for those who are high attenders of summer learning programs - defined as at least 20 days of a five- to six-week program. "When we work together, set ambitious goals and have the courage and collaboration to follow through, students have an opportunity to thrive - the data in this report proves that," said Mayor Martin J. Walsh. "We are excited to have new evidence on what works as we expand summer learning in Boston and continue to be a model for the nation in reducing the 'summer slide'." Boston is one of five cities participating in the $50 million National Summer Learning Project, funded by The Wallace Foundation. The report, Learning from Summer: Effects of Voluntary Summer Learning Programs on Low-Income Urban Youth, explains the impact of programs in summers 2013 and 2014. The six-year project will track student outcomes through spring 2017. "Boston students who participated in summer learning walk into schools tomorrow better prepared to learn and succeed," said Superintendent Tommy Chang. "Summer learning is critical to student achievement and this study shows that we can accelerate learning all year long." "This research compels us to look beyond the traditional school day and year when we think about education," said Chris Smith, executive director of Boston After School & Beyond, the city's lead partner on after-school and summer learning efforts. "There is work to be done, and we will collaborate with programs to improve our impact on students." The study showed that, after the first summer, students who attended at least 20 days outperformed the control group in math, and the improvements persisted through the school year. After the second summer, high attenders outperformed the control group of students in math and reading, both in fall 2014 and in the following spring. The academic advantage for the students with high attendance after the second summer translates to between 20 percent and 25 percent of typical annual gains in mathematics and reading, the study found. High-attending students were also rated by teachers as having stronger social and emotional competencies than the control group students. Boston's programs, which feature partnerships among a wide array of enrichment programs and an explicit focus on social-emotional skills, had a greater share of students who were high attenders than the five-city average, reaching 73 percent in year one and 67 percent in year two, compared to 63 percent and 60 percent nationally. The RAND research seeks to find out whether and how voluntary summer programs can help low-income students succeed in school. Summer is a time when low-income students lose ground relative to their wealthier peers, but it also holds promise as a time to improve outcomes for them by providing additional opportunities for academics and enrichment. The study's results are drawn from all five districts, which also include Dallas, Duval County (Fla.), Pittsburgh and Rochester, N.Y. Each district offered five to six weeks of free summer programs that included enrichment activities and instruction in math and English language arts. "Until now, we didn't know if urban school districts could offer high-quality summer learning programs for low-income students and whether they would make a difference for children," said Will Miller, president of The Wallace Foundation. "We have learned two important things: That high-quality summer learning programs are capable of helping disadvantaged students succeed in school, and that high attendance is crucial to delivering these benefits." These findings are correlational but controlled for prior achievement and demographics, giving researchers confidence that the benefits are likely due to the programs and meeting the requirements for promising evidence under the federal Every Student Succeeds Act. Researchers have less confidence that social-emotional outcomes were due to the programs, given the lack of prior data on these competencies. For students to experience lasting benefits from attending summer programs, the report recommends districts and their partners: run programs for at least five weeks; promote high attendance; include sufficient instructional time and protect it; invest in instructional quality; and factor in attendance and likely no-show rates when staffing programs to lower per-student costs. A total of 574 Boston Public School students participated in the study across seven program sites - Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston, Courageous Sailing/Community Boat Building, USS Constitution Museum, Hale Reservation, Tenacity, Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center, and the YMCA of Greater Boston. These programs participate in the Boston Summer Learning Community, a network convened by Boston After School & Beyond and BPS that works to strengthen student skills, share best practices, and pursue continuous improvement. In July 2015, Mayor Walsh and Superintendent Chang set a goal to reach 10,000 students in 100 summer programs by 2017 through this network. This goal was exceeded a year early. Learning from Summer: Effects of Voluntary Summer Learning Programs on Low-Income Urban Youth, is available at www.rand.organd www.wallacefoundation.org.

Leland Cheung Calls For Senator Jehlen To Honor 350 Mass Action Pledge By Giving Back Fossil Fuel Donations

Leland Cheung Calls For Senator Jehlen To Honor 350 Mass Action Pledge By Giving Back Fossil Fuel Donations

Cambridge -- State Senator Pat Jehlen contradicted the progressive values for which she has been so vocally advocating during this campaign cycle.

State Senator Jehlen’s campaign finance report failed to adhere to the spirit of the 350 Mass Action pledge Clean Money For Climate Pledge (the Pledge) after only having been signed on to the pledge for a total of 6 days. State Senator Jehlen accepting donations from a lobbyist with connections to the fossil fuel industry.

The Pledge bluntly outlines by signing a candidate agrees to “refuse campaign contributions of $200 and over from executives, in-house lobbyists and others employed by the ten fossil fuel and utility companies". Among the fossil fuel companies listed on the top ten list include BP, Chevron and Exxon Mobil.

After doing a basic search on the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance (OCPF) website, Senator Jehlen failed to meet these standards by taking donations from William Coyne, Jr. Mr. Coyne, a notable Beacon Hill lobbyist, was paid $24,618.48 on January 1, 2016 by Exxon Mobil for "matters affecting major integrated oil and gas".

On two separate occasions, once on May 10, 2016, and June 28, 2016, Senator Jehlen accepted $200.00 from Mr. Coyne. These two donations, both separately and together, contradict the spirit of the pledge..

Senator Jehlen has publicly stated that she has not read her own campaign finance reports, but signing blind pledges is a part of a bigger trend that includes $10,945.34 in completely anonymous money this year alone to her campaign , and $71,935.54 lifetime - donations marked as “unitemized” in OCPF.

As a result, City Councillor Cheung is calling on State Senator Jehlen to immediately return the money in order to honor her own word and to not corrupt the spirit of this greatly needed Clean Money For Climate Pledge.

Cambridge City Councillor Leland Cheung is running for State Senate in the Democratic primary in 2nd Middlesex District, which includes Cambridge, Medford, Somerville, and Winchester. The Massachusetts state primary is set for Thursday September 8th, 2016.

華心中文學校 9/10 開放日

位於牛頓市的大波士頓區中華文化協會將在9月10日；星期六早上11點到下午兩點舉行文協華心中文學校、華心藝術學校、及文協課後中文班聯合開放日的活動。這是首次文協三個寓教於樂；異曲同工的教學單位共同舉行開放日。

華心中文學校每星期日上午9點上課，包括大、小兩班學前班，中文初級、中級、與高級按照程度分成的6班，還有初級和高級兩班成人班，採小班制教學，每班人數不超過10人，課程內容除了中文以外，學生還可以憑個人興趣選擇書法、國畫、扯鈴、功夫、烹飪、手工、和棋藝等文化課程。

華心藝術學校則著重在繪畫、各種中國樂器、扯鈴雜技、和功夫的教學，由於樂器的上課形式多半是一對一教學，上課時間由老師和學生之間互相協調安排。該校師資陣容堅強，都是波士頓地區的名師，包括揚琴老師張鎮田、打擊樂老師陳志新、二胡老師林湛濤、古箏老師楊信宜、繪畫老師牛曉林、功夫老師陳弘等，這些老師不但本人藝術修養高超，教學態度也特別認真，過去的學生裏，不乏出類拔萃；表現優異；並參加各項比賽獲獎的高材生。

文協課後班的教材以中文為主，強調聽、與說的能力，同時為提高學習興趣，也依據學生需要，增添各種唱遊、舞蹈、繪畫等課程，週一到週五，每天下午3點到5點半上課，如果遇到學校提早放學的日子，課後班中午12點就開始，為父母兩人都工作的家庭服務，讓孩子們放學後能去個有老師照顧的優良環境，並且也是個很好的學習機會。

開放日當天，文協將利用不同的教室，同時展演各種不同的教學項目，歡迎有興趣的人士蒞臨參觀。文協地址是437 Cherry Street, Newton, MA. 查詢電話是 617-332-0377，網址是 GBCCA.org.

查理貝克政府指派八人進供應商價差評審委員會

Baker-Polito Administration Names Appointees to Special Commission to Review Variation in Prices Among Providers

BOSTON – The Baker-Polito Administration today announced eight gubernatorial appointees to the 23-member Special Commission to Review Variation in Prices among Providers.  This commission will review various factors contributing to price variation in physician, hospital, diagnostic testing and ancillary services, under a consensus reform solution reached in partnership with Senate President Stan Rosenberg and House Speaker Robert DeLeo earlier this year on the Health Care Price Variation Measure.

“I was pleased to work with legislative leaders to come to a consensus solution addressing these important issues in the health care industry,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “We look forward to reviewing the commission’s recommendations and continuing to work with the legislature to resolve the matter of price variation.”

By statute, the Commission will also include the Secretaries for Administration and Finance and Health and Human Services, the Attorney General, and the Executive Director of the Group Insurance Commission (GIC), or their designees, legislative appointees, and health care industry experts, under the co-leadership of the Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing Senator James Welch and House Chair of the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing Representative Jeffrey Sanchez.

“These appointees come from across the Commonwealth equipped with a deep understanding of the health care industry,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “This special commission will significantly aide in helping to determine the necessity for appropriate actions related to health care pricing.”   

Special Commission to Review Variation in Prices Among Providers

*or a designee; **gubernatorial appointment

Senator James Welch, Co-Chair

Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing

Representative Jeffrey Sanchez, Co-Chair

House Chair of the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing

Attorney General Maura Healey*

Secretary of Administration and Finance Kristen Lepore*

Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders*

GIC Executive Director Dr. Roberta Herman*

Dr. Stuart Altman, Brandeis University

Appointee of Senate President Stan Rosenberg

Dr. Howard Grant, Lahey Hospital & Medical Center

Appointee of Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr

Representative Ron Mariano

Appointee of House Speaker Robert DeLeo

Rick Lord, Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM)

Appointee of House Minority Leader Bradley Jones

Deb Devaux, Chief Operating Officer

Representative of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Inc.

Lora Pellegrini, President & CEO

Representative of the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans, Inc.

Steven Walsh, President & CEO

Representative of the Massachusetts Council of Community Hospitals, Inc.

Lynn Nicholas, President & CEO

Representative of the Massachusetts Hospital Association, Inc.

John Fernandez, Chair

Representative of the Conference of Boston Teaching Hospitals, Inc.

Steve Carey, Vice President of Human Resources**

Polar Beverages

Gregory DeConciliis, Administrator**

Boston Out-Patient Surgical Suites

Connie Englert, Principal and Managing Director**

TrueNorth Transit Group, LLC

Dr. Richard Frank, Margaret T. Morris Professor of Health Economics**

Harvard Medical School Department of Health Care Policy

Mark Goldstein, President & CEO**

Anna Jacques Hospital

Tyrék D. Lee Sr., Executive Vice President**

1199SEIU

Dr. David Torchiana, President & CEO**

Partners Healthcare

Kate Walsh, President & CEO**

Boston Medical Center

About the Gubernatorial Appointees (8):

Steve Carey:

As a successful human resources executive, Stephen P. Carey has a 20-year record of implementing effective organizational improvements, processes, and productivity to day-to-day operations, while maintaining the integrity of the institution and enhancing its viability. Holding a Masters degree in Business Administration from Anna Maria College in Paxton, Mr. Carey created the Human Services role for Polar Beverages in 1998—one of Massachusetts’ most well-respected and successful family-owned companies—advancing the position to one of leadership and vision. He continues to serve in that role as Vice President of Human Resources/Safety. Mr. Carey currently serves on the Board of Family Services of Central Massachusetts.

Gregory P. DeConciliis:

Graduating from Stonehill College with a Bachelor’s in Biology in 1997, Gregory P. DeConciliis has served in healthcare for over 16 years. He began as a Physician Assistant in Orthopedics for New England Baptist Hospital before becoming a Physician Assistant and Administrator at the Boston Out-Patient Surgical Suites in Waltham. In 2013, DeConciliis was elected President of the Massachusetts Association of Ambulatory Surgery Centers, where he works collaboratively with the Department of Public Health, the Betsy Lehman Center, the Health Policy Commission, the national Ambulatory Surgery Center Association and the state’s major insurers.

Connie Englert:

Connie Englert, a graduate of Vassar College with a degree in Urban Studies, has nearly 30 years of experience in transportation working for some of the nation’s largest transit companies and systems. Her service includes time as a Senior Operations Planner at the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA) and Manager of Transit Programs at the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), as well as Amtrak, JetBlue, United Airlines, the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority and New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). In 2015, Englert founded TrueNorth Transit Group, a rural and regional transportation and consulting collaborative in Shelburne Falls.

Dr. Richard G. Frank:

Harvard’s Margaret T. Morris Professor of Health Economics, Dr. Richard G. Frank has more than 30 years of experience, including as a former Assistant and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation for the Department of Health & Human Services and on the President’s Task Force on Health Care Reform. Dr. Frank, who obtained his Ph.D. in Economics from Boston University, worked as an economist at the Division of Biometry and Epidemiology at the National Institute of Mental Health, before teaching at the University of Pittsburgh and Johns Hopkins University.

Mark L. Goldstein:

Mr. Mark L. Goldstein has over twenty-five years of healthcare, budgeting and financial planning experience with firms and hospitals in Massachusetts, holding degrees in Health Administration and Accounting from Worcester State College, in Business Administration from Boston University, and Executive Management and Leadership Training from the University of Michigan. He has held senior roles with Blue Cross Blue Shield, University Hospital Medical Center, Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Winchester Hospital and Boston Medical Center. Since 2006, Mr. Goldstein has worked at Anna Jaques Hospital in Newburyport, serving initially as CFO before transitioning into the role of President and CEO in 2015.

Tyrék D. Lee Sr.:

Working in Massachusetts labor, healthcare and social justice movements for over a decade, Tyrék D. Lee, Sr. was appointed the 1199SEIU Executive Vice President in January, 2016, having served as a Vice President since 2010, where he played a key role in the union’s organizing, political, coalition building and negotiating strategies. Lee is also the Secretary-Treasurer of the SEIU Massachusetts State Council, a vice president of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, the Eastern Region President for the SEIU African American Caucus (AFRAM), and an executive board member of the Greater Boston Labor Council.

Dr. David F. Torchiana:

With a degree in Biology from Yale University and doctorate from Harvard Medical School, Dr. David F. Torchiana serves as a Senior Surgeon at Massachusetts General Hospital, Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School, and President and CEO of Partners HealthCare. Dr. Torchiana specializes in cardiothoracic surgery, having worked in the healthcare industry for over 30 years. Dr. Torchiana serves with the Massachusetts Hospital Association, the Digital Healthcare Steering Committee of Massachusetts Competitive Partnership, American College of Surgeons and the American Surgical Association.

Kate Walsh:

Receiving her bachelors and Masters degrees in Public Health from Yale University, Kate Walsh has worked in hospital administration for nearly four decades, beginning at Brookside Health Center in Jamaica Plain and later at several hospitals in New York. Ms. Walsh’s leadership roles include Senior Vice President at Massachusetts General Hospital, Chief Operating Officer at Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research in Cambridge and the Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer at Brigham and Women’s/Faulkner Hospitals in Boston. Ms. Walsh currently serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer at Boston Medical Center and Boston Medical Center HealthNet Plan.