2025 Washington Leaders' Conference

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  • About
    • Staff
    • Board of Directors
    • Member Directory
  • Membership
    • Membership Benefits
    • Membership FAQ
    • Join NEC
  • Issues
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • Energy & Environment
    • Financial Services
    • Healthcare
    • Higher Education
    • Housing
    • Technology & Innovation
    • Trade
    • Transportation & Infrastructure
    • Partnerships for Talent Pipeline Directory
  • News
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Past Events
    • 2025 Centennial Celebration
    • Washington Leaders’ Conference
    • Politics & Eggs
    • Inside the Corner Office
    • Rising Stars Network
    • Celebrating 100 Years
      • New England Council Fellows Program
    • Sponsorship Opportunities
  • Contact

2024 Annual Celebration Program

Sponsors Looking for Someone?

MUSICAL PERFORMANCE  

 “The Star-Spangled Banner”
Michelle Brooks-Thompson 

 

WELCOME REMARKS 

 James T. Brett
President & CEO, The New England Council 

 John T. Hailer
Chairman, The New England Council
Chairman, F/m Investments 

 

AWARD PRESENTATIONS 

 Retired Brigadier General Jack Hammond
Executive Director, Home Base

 Introduced by
Tom Werner
Chairman, The Boston Red Sox

*** 

 Melissa Smith
Chair, CEO and President, WEX

 Introduced by
Shikhar Ghosh
Professor of Management Practice, Harvard Business School
WEX Board Member

 

*Dinner Break* 

 

MUSICAL PERFORMANCE  

 “God Bless America”
Michelle Brooks-Thompson 

 

EVENT CHAIR’S REMARKS 

 Katherine Craven
Chief Administrative & Financial Office, Babson College 

 

AWARD PRESENTATIONS 

 The Honorable Ann McLane Kuster
U.S. House of Representatives, New Hampshire

 Introduced by
The Honorable Lori Trahan
U.S. House of Representatives, Massachusetts
 

***

Robert F. Rivers
Eastern Bank 

 Introduced by
The Honorable Maura Healey
Governor of Massachusetts

***

The Burton Family
Ron Burton Training Village

Introduced by
Rob Griffin
Co-Head of U.S. Capital Markets, Newmark 

 

CLOSING REMARKS 

 James T. Brett
President & CEO, The New England Council 

 

MUSICAL PERFORMANCE  

 “September”
Michelle Brooks-Thompson 

 

About the New Englander of the Year Award

First presented in 1964, The New Englander of the Year Award honors residents or natives of the New England states for their commitment and contributions in their fields of work, as well as their leadership and impact on the New England region’s quality of life and economy.

Learn More

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