News, Updates, and Happenings at Our Firm |
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Hello,
Sometimes it is hard to be upbeat when the world faces so many challenges. That is why leadership is so important – showing the way to a better place by advancing an idea, motivating the masses or questioning how we, as a society, do things.
The work our firm does is so rewarding because we are surrounded by people – our clients – who demonstrate leadership every day. There is so much inspiring work being done on the front lines. In this issue, you will read about great ideas being advanced to address a housing shortage that affects not only our state’s success, but its very viability.
You will also read about people leading the way to address the behavioral health crisis, the opioid epidemic, persistent barriers to health care access, and workforce challenges that threaten the caregiving professions. One client works to revitalize a Gateway City downtown that has faced decades of disinvestment, and another looks to improve patient quality of life by converting medications that are now administered by time-consuming IV treatment into simple injections.
Yes, the world has its problems, but so many good solutions are being put forward as well. That gives us the energy to rush back to work every day. Happy Holidays!
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David Ball
President & Founder
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CLIENT SPOTLIGHT:
HOUSING MAKES HEADLINES
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HBRAMA leaders have focused on fair policies that will help boost the construction of residential housing, particularly affordable units, while at the same time factoring in the challenges of climate change.
In an opinion piece in the Boston Business Journal, newly elected HBRAMA President Jeff Brem explained how the lack of permitting for accessory dwelling units, aka in-law apartments, is a major missed opportunity to create new housing in an efficient way in many locations. “Cities and towns are gradually revising their zoning code to allow ADUs, but they are still costly to build in light of the added regulations,” Brem wrote. “More comprehensive state policy could encourage broader development of ADUs across the commonwealth.”
In the Telegram & Gazette newspaper, HBRAMA Executive Officer Joe Landers urged Worcester city officials to closely evaluate an “inclusionary zoning” proposal aimed at addressing the dearth of affordable housing options. A draft ordinance ended up with changes that would threaten the feasibility of certain projects, and thus undercut the opportunity to create more housing in the city.
On the Boston Globe’s opinion pages, outgoing HBRAMA president Emerson Clauss III pushed (successfully) for passage of the state’s economic development bill because it contained a provision, called Chapter 40Y, that allows zoning districts for starter homes. This will create financial incentives for municipalities to designate these districts and enable the creation of affordable, energy-efficient homes where first-time home buyers could settle and become part of a community.
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Responding to a Boston Globe editorial, Lydia Conley, President and CEO of the Association for Behavioral Healthcare, weighed in on the workforce shortage that is seriously challenging care access and delivery. “This crisis will not abate until we devise a way to invest in the community behavioral health clinics where this workforce gets trained, so that these clinicians can ultimately care for patients in the hospital and elsewhere,” Conley wrote.
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As part of its 5th anniversary, RIZE Massachusetts created a special grant program, Together We RIZE, to support initiatives that will support the behavioral health workforce, bolster harm reduction services, and increase access and equity.
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For the West Suburban YMCA, 2022 has been a momentous year. The Y is opening a second location in Newton to expand access to youth and adult recreation, health and fitness opportunities. The Y also bid farewell to outgoing board chair Ned Morse, making a special tribute honoring his service to the organization during its Annual Gala, which raised $130,000 to support programs and families. Morse was featured as a “Bold Type” in the Boston Globe.
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Comera Life Sciences welcomed state and biotech industry officials to a celebration at its Woburn headquarters, where it expanded lab and office space and has plans to double its workforce. The company is developing a new generation of bio-innovative biologic medicines – that convert drugs previously only administered by IV into injectables – to improve patient access, safety and convenience.
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The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation launched a column series by President and CEO Audrey Shelto on MassLive.com, one of the region’s top digital news sites. The primer-style piece aims to help readers better understand the health care system, which is vast and vexing to many in Massachusetts but vital for the well-being of all. The Foundation also boldly set the table for the next gubernatorial administration with a new research report outlining the top health care priorities for the state’s leadership.
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Positive growth in the Gateway City of Brockton continues, with local developer Joseph Goncalves making plans for a six-story, 50-unit transit-oriented residential building downtown. The RingSide Residences is so-called because of its proximity to a planned memorial for the late Marvelous Marvin Hagler and to the site of the gym where the middleweight boxing champion trained. The project was highlighted in the New England Real Estate Journal (NEREJ). Goncalves also recently completed the One-Nine Residences, restoring a previously-condemned building in that same community by creating 20 units of downtown market-rate housing, which was also reported on in NEREJ.
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As reported by MassNonprofit News, Ellis Early Learning enjoyed a very successful benefit event, where the Boston-based early education provider celebrated the “power of childcare” and honored a pair of supporters, Krissy Davis, a former Ellis director who is a Deloitte vice chair, and Boston School Committee Chairperson Jeri Robinson.
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Advocates, a nonprofit provider of services to individuals facing life challenges, recently benefited from an Eagle Scout’s public service project that was featured on a local news site in Framingham. A group of Scouts installed three book-sharing boxes, called Little Free Libraries, at residential programs owned by Advocates to help the individuals who live there connect with the community.
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WHDH-TV Channel 7 featured a piece of Community Servings history on the 25th anniversary of Princess Diana’s death. CEO David Waters recounted how the nonprofit was poised to benefit from the auction of one of Diana’s gowns when tragedy struck, prompting an increase in interest in the HIV/AIDS champion’s legacy that ultimately helped the organization grow.
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Michelle McKenzie Named Account Manager |
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Michelle McKenzie has joined Ball Consulting Group as an Account Manager and will help lead the firm’s growing nonprofits and human services practice.
McKenzie is an experienced communications professional who has worked as a journalist and editor as well as in the fields of marketing and public relations. Prior to joining Ball Consulting Group, she led internal and external communications for a large behavioral health provider and also the Providers’ Council, the largest group of human services providers in New England.
As Communications and Public Policy Manager for the Providers’ Council, McKenzie was responsible for external communications including weekly newsletters, website content, a monthly newspaper, press releases and social media.
She launched her career as a sports reporter at a daily newspaper, ascending the ranks to Assistant Sports Editor and Suburban Editor. From there McKenzie transitioned to public relations and multicultural marketing, working primarily as a consultant across diverse industries, including nonprofits, funeral service, finance and human resources consultant groups.
McKenzie holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Boston University.
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Check out Ball Consulting Group’s capabilities presentation for an overview of our services and examples of the high-impact results that we have generated for our clients.
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