Hello,

While the crisis matters on which we work are always confidential, I began thinking this summer about the broad trends we are seeing in our practice and how they are impacting businesses and nonprofits of all sizes.

• Affordability, Inflation, and Debt – A $40 trillion national debt, persistent inflation, and sky-high bond yields will make borrowing far less desirable. The health care and education sectors, with their continuous maintenance and modernization needs, will be most impacted. In a crisis, you can never have too many reserves. For those organizations that lack the reserves and need credit, the worst time to seek a credit line is when you need one. Banks won’t lend when you are in the middle of a crisis, so secure credit in good times.

• Climate – The terrible wildfires in Canada, the devastation in Nepal, and the severe droughts affecting much of the nation are a warning beacon. It is essential for crisis planning to include the environmental risk factors. Any business or nonprofit that owns or leases property is at risk. Extreme heat may mean more failures of cooling systems; extreme cold may mean frozen pipes or even structural damage. A drought – we have had more of them in recent decades – could leave fire suppression vulnerable. Every enterprise should analyze how it will be impacted by climate and plan for such events.

• The 800-Pound Gorilla: Housing – The lack of an adequate housing supply is a threat to every business, because it is constraining the workforce. Businesses that employ large numbers of people should be thinking strategically about how they can house them, or help to house them, because a marketplace solution is a long way off in Massachusetts and nationally. During the industrial revolution, factory owners provided worker housing. Is something similar needed for the AI revolution?

• Cyber-Events are a When, not an If – Plan for your next cyber-attack. Build in redundancy and ensure you have the right cyber insurance policy. If you already have a plan, update or fine-tune it.

Surely, I’ve only scratched the surface here. Crisis planning is about more than what to do when things go wrong. It involves anticipating the challenges and planning for them so they no longer pose a threat. Let us know if we can help.

The trade association or professional society model is a challenging one: Develop a consensus position and message based on the input of many members with different business interests or needs, commit resources to successful advocacy, provide quality training and professional education, and manage costs so that dues increases can be kept to a minimum. 

Because of these inherent challenges, associations must continually evolve and innovate. One evolution occurred in July, when the New England Society of CPAs was created through a merger of the CPA societies in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. NECPAs is led by Zach Donah, who was CEO of the former MassCPAs. The merger was the result of many months of discussions between the five societies’ boards, and ultimately required a vote of the members of each society.

The timing and the business climate were right for such a move. The CPA profession itself is undergoing tremendous consolidation as speed, scale, and technology are prized by accounting clients. The five original societies provided a similar set of benefits to members and shared the goal of growing the profession, creating the best practice climate possible, and ensuring a steady pipeline of new professionals. No jobs were eliminated but savings will be created through systems consolidations and some economies of scale. In short, the merger resulted from a position of strength – healthy societies that could be even more effective operating as one.

We worked with MassCPAs and the other societies to build support among members on the move. Change is hard, but working together we made the case that personal relationships would remain the same, local priorities would not be lost, advantages would be created for multi-state practices, and costs could be better managed over time. The Boston Globe covered the merger in its Bold Types column and The Journal of Accountancy provided national industry coverage.

A research project conducted by SOS Signs of Suicide, a program of Riverside Community Care, and funded by the personal care brand Harry’s, found that men who work in the fishing, mining/excavation, and construction industries have a significantly higher rate of mental health diagnoses and suicide than those in other industries. (Many women work in these industries, as well, but the research focused on men and their mental health.) 

The isolation, long hours, time away from home and family, and tight deadlines create extraordinary stress. In fact, suicide and fatality rates in these fields are multiple times higher than the national average. Too often, workers uphold a “tough it out” mentality and employees do not have access to counseling and other services that can help.

Beyond capturing the depth of the problem, the report also outlined solutions for these industries to consider. Notably, mental health literacy and suicide prevention training that is tailored to the workplace is a must. We were pleased to have the opportunity to assist with the report and shine a light on the findings. The report was covered by WBZ NewsRadio and MassLive. An op-ed by Riverside Community Care President & CEO Vic DiGravio with an urgent call to action was published in The New Bedford Light. New Bedford is home to the nation’s largest commercial fishing port.

Massachusetts policymakers and leaders convened at the Health Equity Compact’s 2026 Health Equity Trends Summit in June, where new approaches to advancing health equity for marginalized communities were discussed at a time when restrictive federal policies are limiting and reshaping access to coverage and care. State Senator Pavel Payano previewed the event by discussing the Compact’s health equity legislation on WCVB Channel 5’s CityLine. State House News Service covered in detail panels on primary care reform and immigrant healthcare access, and The Bay State Banner summarized the solutions discussed throughout the day. GBH, MASSterlist, Worcester Business Journal, New England Public Media, and other outlets also covered the impactful event. 

Marking Child Abuse Prevention Awareness month, Massachusetts Children’s Alliance Executive Director Thomas M. King urged adults to turn concern for children into action. In an op-ed published by the Springfield Republican, King pointed to the more than 59,000 Massachusetts children who were the subject of an investigated report of alleged maltreatment in fiscal year 2024 and stressed the importance of listening when children speak, recognizing the warning signs, and reporting suspected abuse.

The Coalition for Safe Drinking Water advocates for the half a million Massachusetts residents who rely on private wells for their drinking water. Unlike public water systems, private wells are not subject to routine testing. In an op-ed published by the Springfield Republican, Dr. Alan Woolf of Boston Children’s Hospital made the case for statewide regulation and pointed to the risks of children consuming contaminated drinking water.

Pleasant Gardens is Thrive Support & Advocacy’s newest initiative to benefit both the individuals served by the agency as well as the communities in which they live. Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities served by Thrive maintain a greenhouse and grow healthy foods at a low cost while addressing food insecurity in the region by fueling the Flourish at Thrive food pantry. WCVB Channel 5’s Erika Tarantal visited program locations in Marlborough and Worcester for a feature on the station’s 5 for Good segment. 

Residents of Heritage Hills Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center in Smithfield, R.I. and Elmhurst Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center in Providence, R.I., both supported by Marquis Health Consulting Services, recently laced up their skates for a Bucket List outing at United Skates of America. The roller-skating excursion is part of a series designed to help residents fulfill lifelong wishes and learn or revisit their favorite activities. The outing was captured in a photo feature by The Providence Journal and a segment by NBC 10 Providence (WJAR-TV).

Camp BraveHeart, a program of hospice and palliative care provider HopeHealth, marked its 20th anniversary this summer, continuing its tradition of giving children and teens who have lost a loved one a place to connect, have fun, and talk openly about grief. The camp in North Attleboro welcomed 76 campers for two days of games, crafts, music, karate, and dance. The (Attleboro) Sun Chronicle visited the camp and spoke with campers and HopeHealth staff about the friendships and sense of connection that have kept families returning year after year.

The Association of Developmental Disabilities Providers (ADDP) board of directors announced its new officers, naming Mike Hyland, president and CEO of Venture Community Services, as board chair. MassNonprofit News, the The (New Bedford) Standard-Times, Fig City News in Newton, and Sturbridge Villager highlighted Hyland’s appointment, along with new board members Jenny Duval of The Nemasket Group, Lauren Solotar of the May Institute, and Jean Yang of Vinfen.

With Cape Cod’s housing crisis making it difficult for people who live and work in the region to find a home they can afford, Housing Assistance is helping bring more year-round housing to the Lower Cape. They joined Congressman Bill Keating, state and local leaders, and project partners to break ground on Spring Rock Village, a 45-unit affordable rental development in Brewster. The Cape Cod Times, Cape Cod Chronicle, and Boston Real Estate Times, among other news outlets, covered the new community that will provide attainable homes for households across a range of incomes.

A Worcester pilot is giving early childhood educators room to grow their businesses. With support from a $1 million grant from The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts, the Family Childcare Success Project provides two educators with rent-free classroom space at the Guild of St. Agnes while they prepare to eventually operate child care programs from their homes.

CommonWealth Beacon, Worcester Business Journal, and Worcester Guardian took an in-depth look at the program and how it can serve as a model for other communities in Massachusetts.

When federal funding cuts threatened to end college and career support for students in Central Massachusetts, Seven Hills Foundation stepped in to help students navigate the path to higher education. The organization brought the programs of Massachusetts Education and Career Opportunities, Inc. (MassEdCO) under the Seven Hills umbrella. The Boston Business Journal, Worcester Business Journal, Worcester Telegram & Gazette, MassNonprofit News, and Worcester Guardian covered the news.

Chris Tuttle, president and CEO of Bridgewell, authored an op-ed on federal challenges to the landmark 1999 Supreme Court decision Olmstead v. L.C., which established that unnecessary institutionalization is a form of discrimination. Tuttle details the serious concerns for disability advocates, service providers, families, and the thousands of individuals who rely on community-based supports every day in a piece published by The Salem News.  

The Association for Behavioral Healthcare announced a new slate of board officers, including Chair Daurice Cox, president and CEO of Bay State Community Services, and the addition of two new board members.  State House News Service, MetroWest Daily News, Sentinel & Enterprise, Milford Daily News, MassNonprofit News, The Canton Citizen, and The Quincy Sun covered the news.

Leaders of Volunteers of America of Massachusetts (VOAMASS) joined state and local officials and area veterans to dedicate a new van for its Plymouth Area Veterans Center. WBUR, State House News Service, WATD, The Patriot Ledger, MassNonprofit News, and the Franklin Observer + Medway Monitor reported on the news, emphasizing the significance of local transportation for our nation’s heroes. 

HousingLab

The Dover Amendment Becomes the

Latest Housing Flashpoint

Many religious uses of property were historically the subject of outright discrimination, which led to the 1951 enactment of the Dover Amendment in Massachusetts. This law permits educational and religious uses of land as of right, with cities and towns retaining the jurisdiction to ensure that what is built fits within the communities’ restrictions for height, massing, and related specifications.

Even with such broad protection for these uses, communities, through their elected boards, continue to create impediments to these valid and necessary uses. We have had the opportunity to work on multiple Dover Amendment projects in 2026. In two instances, zoning boards blocked them, necessitating further adjudication by a court. In several recent cases, courts have sided with the organization proposing the use.

To be a competitive commonwealth, we need more housing of all types: supportive, deeply affordable, affordable, workforce, market rate, luxury, and yes, even ultra-luxury. Through our HousingLab, we are championing the development of more quality housing, including Dover Amendment projects that ensure religious and educational uses have a home.

On a related note, we are honored to be nominated for the Banker & Tradesman Best of 2026 Awards. You can find the ballot here and cast your vote – only if you think we are truly the best – in the “Other Professional Services” category, under "Public Relations Agency." Thank you!

McKinney and Nickel Named Account Directors

Ball Consulting Group is pleased to announce the appointments of Molly McKinney and Izzy Nickel to Account Director. In their new roles, Molly and Izzy will continue to lead strategic communications and media relations efforts for our clients. Both have become key members of our team and we look forward to seeing them grow in these new roles.