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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

Rising Stars Network

Powering Future Leaders and Enriching Regional Growth

The New England Council Rising Stars Network was established to harness the potential of emerging professionals across the New England region. Our mission is clear: to connect, empower, and elevate young leaders, forging lasting relationships and driving career growth while enriching our regional landscape.

Rising Stars Network aims to build a vibrant community that brings together young professionals from our members’ various industries and backgrounds. Through networking events and other professional development opportunities such as our “Guiding Stars” series, our primary objectives are to:

  • Forge Valuable Connections: Our events open doors to connections that can lead to new career paths, mentorship, and personal growth, anchoring top-tier talent within New England.
  • Celebrate Diversity and Inclusion: Embracing diversity is key. The Rising Stars Network ensures events welcome a wide range of young professionals from member companies, knowing that different perspectives lead to innovation and teamwork.
  • Unlock Resources: Our events offer resources like career tips, and the latest industry news to keep members informed and ready for new opportunities.

Fostering Connections and Maximizing NEC Membership Value

In addition to the myriad of benefits already provided to Council members, the Rising Stars Network presents exclusive opportunities that are specially designed for young professionals—these opportunities serve as a tool to help them fully leverage their membership and derive the greatest possible value from it.

“Guiding Stars” Series

In addition to larger networking events and mixers, Guiding Stars is a key component of the New England Council’s Rising Stars Network, aimed at giving young professionals from our member organizations the opportunity to connect with industry leaders through mentorship roundtables. These sessions are interactive and allow for direct engagement, offering a platform for in-depth discussions and personal advice crucial for career growth. The initiative’s goal is to provide a supportive environment for emerging talents to receive guidance and insights from experienced professionals, enhancing their career development.

“Rising Leaders Conversations”

Rising Leaders Conversations offers young professionals exclusive opportunities to engage directly with influential voices from across New England. These candid, interactive discussions feature policymakers, industry leaders, and changemakers who are shaping the future of our region.

Whether it’s learning about their career journeys, gaining insights into critical policy issues, or asking the questions that matter most to you, these conversations are designed to inspire, inform, and connect. Recent guests include Congressman Jake Auchincloss, Congressman Gabe Amo, Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander, and Congressman Chris Pappas, who shared their perspectives on leadership, innovation, and the challenges facing our communities today.

 

Contact

Ashley Lokken or Mariah Healy.

join our linkedin group

Guiding Stars featuring Patrick Bench, Alia Hamada Forrest, John Valentine

Wednesday, June 11, 2025
10:00 am - 12:00 pm

register

Advisory Committee

leadership
  • Ashley Rose Lokken, Chair, The New England Council
  • Mariah Healy, Chair, The New England Council

 

Boston Committee Members
  • Christina Ascolillo, Rasky Partners, Inc
  • Alyssa Benalfew-Ramos, Black Economic Council of Massachusetts
  • Dan Cullinane, Kearney Donovan & McGee
  • Franceska Dapshi, Guidehouse
  • Milly De La Cruz, University of Rhode Island
  • Colleen Fitzgerald, Benchmark Strategies
  • Andrew Hinckley, Fidelity
  • Maha Mich, Fidelity
  • Victoria Mier, British Consulate-General Boston
  • Mike Schiano, Denterlein
  • Brigitte Spillane, American Tower
  • Amaran Toppa, CMBG3 Law

 

Washington d.c. Committee Members
  • Taylor Berlin, Avangrid
  • Anna Buhlinger, NAMIC
  • Jean Cornell, Plurus Strategies, LLC
  • Peter DeYoe, Harvard University
  • Myria Garcia, ML Strategies
  • Evan Gillissie, Iron Mountain
  • Ben Goldstein-Smith, O’Neill and Associates
  • Carrick Heilferty, ISO New England
  • Jesse Poon, Northeastern University
  • Abigail Robbins, Northeastern University

 

Advisors
  • Emily Heisig, The New England Council
  • Pauline Spheekas, The New England Council

 

board ambassadors
  • Kristen Garvey, Waters Corporation
  • Becca Gould, American Tower
  • Amy Iseppi, Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston

Becoming a Catalyst for Growth: Sponsorship Opportunities

Interested in supporting the Rising Stars Network? Become one of our Network Sponsors.

become a sponsor

Thank you to our 2025 Series Sponsors

Questions about the Rising Stars Network?

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