NEC Notes
June 2019
Welcome
to the June 2019 edition of
The New England Council's E-Newsletter.

Upcoming Events
Politics and Eggs with
Senator Amy Klobuchar
Monday, June 10, 2019
8:00 - 9:30 a.m.
NH Institute of Politics
Manchester, NH
Click Here to Register
Politics and Eggs with
Congressman Tim Ryan
Tuesday, June 11, 2019
8:00 - 9:30 a.m.
NH Institute of Politics
Manchester, NH
Click Here to Register
Congressional Roundtable with
Senator Susan Collins
Friday, June 11, 2019
7:45 - 9:00 a.m.
Norman Hanson DeTroy
Portland, ME
Congressional Roundtable with
Rep Jared Golden
Monday, June 17, 2019
8:30 - 10:30 a.m.
Bernstein Shur
Portland, ME
Capital Conversations with
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse
Thursday, June 20, 2019
8:00 - 9:30 a.m.
jetBlue
Washington, DC
Breakfast with
Governor Janet Mills
Thursday, June 27, 2019
8:00 - 9:30 a.m.
Verrill Dana
Portland, ME
Recent Events
Congressional Roundtable with
Rep. Peter Welch
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. 
Capital Conversation with Rep. John Larson
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. 
Congressional Roundtable with
Sen. Ed Markey
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. 
Capital Conversations with
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen
On May 21, 2019, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen updated NEC members on some of the recent issues before the U.S. Senate at a Capital Conversations Breakfast in Washington, DC.  The breakfast was sponsored by AT&T new England and hosted by the AT&T Forum.  Sen. Shaheen is pictured here (R) with Marie Long of AT&T.
2019 Washington Leaders' Conference
200 NEC Members Gather in DC for Annual Conference
On May 8 and 9, some 200 NEC members gathered in Washington, D.C. for the Council's 2019 Washington Leaders' Conference. The newly-renamed event kicked off with a luncheon at the Ronald Regan Building and International Trade Center, featuring a panel of journalists offering their "Perspectives from the Press Gallery". Members heard from Kimberly Atkins of WBUR, Lauren Dezenski of CNN, Thomas Kaplan of the New York Times, and Anna Palmer of Politico in an engaging conversation moderated by NEC Board Chairman John Hailer.  
 
On Wednesday evening, members gathered in the historic Kennedy Caucus Room for our Annual Capitol Hill reception, which was attended by many members of the New England delegation.  
 
On Thursday, May 9, the day began with a Congressional Breakfast where members heard from U.S. Representative Jared Golden (D-ME), U.S. Representative Chris Pappas (D-NH), U.S. Representative Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), and U.S. Representative Lori Trahan (D-MA).  
 
In addition to these three gatherings, members also had the opportunity to participate in over a dozen different committee meetings with members of Congress, Congressional staff, White House staff, and federal agency officials.  
Future of Work: The Next Generation
Rep. McGovern Headlines Special Event at Becker College
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
DC Dialogue on NECN
May: Gov. Bill Weld; UMass Chancellor Katherine Newman
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. 
 
Later in the show, Katherine Newman, the Interim Chancellor of UMass Boston and author of "Downhill from Here:  Retirement Security in the Age of Inequality," joined Jim and Peter to discuss to looming retirement crisis in the US and efforts underway in Washington, DC, to advance policies to bolster retirement savings.  
June: MassTech's Carolyn Kirk, Political Analyst Scott Spradling
The next episode of DC Dialogue will air on Sunday, June 23, 2019 at 11:30 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.  Carolyn Kirk, the new Executive Director of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative -- a Council member -- will join us to share her vision for the agency as it works to support the growing technology sector in our region.  We'll also discuss the latest development in the 2020 Presidential race with veteran political analyst Scott Spradling of The Spradling Group.  Be sure to tune in!
Jim Brett Honored by Beacon College
Jim Brett Receives Honorary Degree
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. 
NEC Staff Updates
Larry Zabar Celebrates 30th Anniversary at New England Council
In May 2019, Larry Zabar, the Council's Executive Vice President, celebrated his 30th Anniversary at The New England Council. Larry first joined the Council in 1989, after working on Capitol Hill for over a decade.   In his current role at the Council, Larry oversees membership development and retention, the Annual Dinner, the Congressional Roundtable series, and the Politics & Eggs series. 

Please join us in congratulating Larry on this incredible milestone and thanking him for his tireless work to support he Council's continued growth and success!
Taylor Pichette Receives MBA from George Washington University
On May 17, 2019, Taylor Pichette, Federal Affairs Manager in the Council's Washington office, graduated from the George Washington University School of Business with his MBA.  Taylor pursued his degree in the evenings while working full time at the Council, where he staffs the Council's Higher Education Committee.  He first joined the Council as a co-op while pursuing his undergraduate degree at Northeastern University, and joined the Council staff full time after graduation.  Please join us in congratulating Taylor on this tremendous accomplishment.
Griffin Doherty Transfers to NEC Boston Office
Griffin Doherty, a Director of Federal Affairs at The New England Council, recently transferred to the Council's Boston office.  Griff first joined the Council in October 2017 and had been based in the Washington office, where he staffs the Council's Financial Services Committee and also leads the Council's work on tax policy.  Griff's role will remain the same and he will travel to Washington regularly.  Griff looks forward to connecting with more of the Council's New England-based members in the coming months, and can be reached in the Boston office at 617-723-4009.
Women's Leadership Survey to be Released
The Commonwealth Institute to Release Survey Findings at June 12 Event
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.  

Policy Committee Updates
Financial Services Committee Weighs in on Marijuana Banking, Retirement Savings Bills
The NEC Financial Services Committee weighted in on several pieces of legislation in May.  First, the committee sent  letters to members of the New England House delegation to express its support for the SAFE (Secure and Fair Enforcement) Banking Act (H.R. 1595), which allows marijuana-related businesses in states with existing regulatory structures to access the banking system.
Later in the month, the Council weighed in on two separate but similar bills in the House and the Senate aimed at bolstering retirement savings. On the House side, the Council endorsed the SECURE (Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement) Act (H.R. 1994), introduced by House Ways & Means Chairman Richard Neal.  The bill passed the House 417-3 on May 23.  On the Senate side, the Council sent a letter of support for the Retirement Enhancement and Savings Act (RESA) (S. 972).
For more information on the Council's work on financial services issues, please contact Griffin Doherty.
Trade Working Group Ramps Up USMCA Advocacy
As the Administration moves forward with efforts to obtain Congressional approval of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA)--which updates and modernizes the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)--the Council is working on our own advocacy efforts in support of the agreement.  The Trade Working Group is in the process of finalizing a letter ot the New England Congressional delegation expressing the Council's support for the new agreement, and is also planning a "Hill Day" in the coming weeks when a group o members will visit Congressional offices to advocate for the agreement.  For more information, please contact Peter Phipps.
Member News From Our Blog
Membership Update
May New Members
Please join us in welcoming the following new members who joined the Council during the month of May: