Greetings!

ELP Annual Luncheon 

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Jeff Swartz, former CEO of Timberland, offered a compelling keynote address at the 2012 Changing the Face of Leadership lunch on November 7, 2012 at the Park Plaza Hotel. Over two hundred guests were on hand to celebrate the 2012 Emerging Leaders Program fellows as they walked across the stage as graduates of the program, and to hear what Jeff Swartz had to say.

Jeff's message conveyed that the class of 2012 coupled with the collective power of over 400 alums of the Emerging Leaders Program can make a difference. As leaders, we all need to think about real collaboration for real solutions to problems. When Timberland started their collaboration with City Year, he stated, "It wasn't about giving them red jackets for a photo op. It was about investing in a social justice organization by helping them learn how to run a business that is sustainable." Jeff challenged the emerging leaders to create an agenda for social change that is integral to the business strategy. He concluded by stating "I look towards you hopefully. It is in your hands to make a difference, and the world awaits you." 

2020 Women on Boards

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On November 29, 2012, the Center had an event to raise awareness and funds for nonprofit organization 2020 Women on Boards as well empower women to join boards. Our keynote speaker was Grace Fey of Grace Fey Advisors, LLC. Other speakers included Sherry Penney, Stephanie Sonnabend, and Bridget Hindle '08.  BoardProspects and New Directions were on hand to inform attendees about the services they offer to help individuals get on a board. The event was sold out with 140 women attending. Many thanks to event sponsor Sovereign Santander Bank.  

Team Project Presentations  

UMass Boston Communications posted an article about the ELP team project presentation. Click here to check it out.

State Street Connect  

On October 9, 2012 several ELP alums attended the UMass Boston State Street Connect Event. Pictured are Stephen Finocchio '06, Andrea Reardon '12, Paul Francisco 05, and Lunie Jean-Philippe '08.  

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Jessica Anderson '10 and her husband had a baby boy on August 9th named Robert Hamilton Anderson.

Philip Carver '06 has been named Assistant Treasurer of Work Incorporated, Board of Directors; named Treasurer of Work Housing Corporation, Board of Directors; named Treasurer of Supportive Living Program, Inc., Board of Directors; named Treasurer of West Roxbury Residences, Inc., Board of Directors; elected Chairman of the Board of Directors, Dorchester Board of Trade; elected Board of Directors, New Market Square Business Association.

Lynette Correa '12 received ALPFA's Excellence in Service to the Community Award for her dedication to helping kids succeed through her organization Career Coaching 4 Kidz. The awards were presented on November 15, 2012.    

Diane Darling '06 workshop called, "Water Cooler Football" was featured in the Boston Globe. Read more.    

Duke Guthrie '10 reports another new role at City Year. Starting January 1, he will shift from City Year Boston to City Year, Inc. (headquarters) where he will serve as National Director of Foundation Relations supporting City Year's 24 locations.   

Rick Jakious '09 was featured in the October 25, 2012 massnonprofit.org newsletter. "In many ways the sector has made immeasurable gains by adopting many of the best qualities of the private sector, but the nonprofit sector has a unique quality that is better suited for the landscape - its willingness and ability to collaborate," said Rick Jakious, CEO of the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network (MNN). Read more. 

Michael James '06 will be receiving Color Magazine's All-Inclusive Publisher's Award. The committee recognized Michael's dedication to giving back to the community, including his work with The Northeast Human Resources Association, the City-Wide Dialogues on Ethnic & Racial Diversity, Commonwealth Compact Higher Education Steering Committee and Bike Rides for Peace.   

Lafayette Jefferson '04 will be interviewed on blogtalk radio on "The Drs. Gwyn and Handy Show" on December the 8th at 2PM to talk about Sista Spectacular, a t-shirt company started by Lafayette and his daughter Danielle. The call number is 646.929.2024. Read more. 

Lauren Jones '09 is preparing to run the Boston Marathon with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. She was inspired to join the team to help find a cure for blood cancers, including Multiple Myeloma and Lymphoma which have impacted her mother and aunt in the past few years. Please join her and her family in giving back by donating to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Click here to check out her donation page.  

David Manzi '10 immediate past president of The Rotary Club of Boston is happy to report that The Shops at Prudential Center and Prudential Tower will shine a light on The Rotary Club of Boston during 31 Nights of Light. On December 12th at 4:30pm The Rotary President, Lucy Millan will "flip the switch" to light the top of Prudential Tower blue and yellow in honor of The Rotary Club of Boston.    

Mark Michaud '09 is now the Director of Business Strategy and Innovation for the MCCA overseeing the development of strategic roadmaps, new product development and co-ordination of product and market research.    

Teresa Rodriguez '07 writes, "after 17 years in public school, I have moved to work at a private school. I am the new K-8 Director of Multiculturalism and Community Development at Milton Academy. I look forward to connecting with ELP alums in my new role."

Jeff Russell '10 and his wife Kristen had their 1st child earlier this year. Graham Sullivan Russell was born on February 5th.  Jeff writes, "As the picture shows, he is eagerly awaiting the holidays."

Diego Miguel Sanchez '04, Senior Policy Advisor to Congressman Barney Frank (MA-4), was presented the Special Achievement Award by Fairness West Virginia on November 10 for his lifelong advocacy for civil rights, including increasing national awareness and understanding of transgender people and the LGBT community.  The event was held in Charleston, West Virginia's State Capitol complex.

Lauren Smith '04 has been appointed Interim Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Read article. Read her statement.     

Johanna Storella '08 is now the Chief Strategy Officer for the MCCA focusing on formulating, developing and implementing top-line revenue growth, expense control and overall profitability strategies across all four properties.

Craig Williams '07 was named Chief Operating Officer at Tufts Medical Center on November 6, 2012. "Since joining the organization in 2008, Craig has worked closely with doctors, nurses and other professionals to enhance our outpatient services and improve our operating efficiencies," said Eric Beyer, President and CEO of Tufts Medical Center. Read more.   

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What would you do if you knew you could not Fail?
Society has given the word failure a negative connotation whereas I choose to think of it as a temporary setback.  Merriam-Webster defines failure as, "a lack of success." In Buddhism there is a precept that says that, "No effort is wasted."  Think for a moment of the number of times that things have worked out exactly as you planned.  Now think for a moment longer, how many of those things worked out the very first time you tried to accomplish them?

Want to read the rest? Check out her Blog page...

Do you blog? Let us know, and we will highlight you in the ELP Exchange.  

Big Star on Bar

December 10 from 5:30pm - 8:30pm

Darryl's Corner Bar & Kitchen

Jodi Wolin '06 will be the "Big Star on Bar" for an event series Darryl Settles is hosting.  Please come celebrate the holidays on December 10 from 5:30 - 8:30 at Darryl's Corner Bar & Kitchen. All of Jodi's "tips" will be donated to the Rose F. Kennedy Greenway Conservancy.   

Ebony Winter Gala

December 14 from 8:00pm - 2:00am

Marriott Copley 

The YMCA of Greater Boston in association with The United Minority Professionals cordially invites you to The 25th Ebony Winter Gala at the Boston Marriott Copley Place on Friday, December 14th, 2012 from 8pm - 2am. Tickets are $55. Please contact Francios Fils-Aime '07 for more information.  

Save the date:

On Monday, March 4, 2013 (5:30 - 8:30pm), Theatre Espresso will celebrate its 20th anniversary at Wheelock Family Theatre. The evening will feature keynote speaker, the Honorable Nancy Gertner (ret.). Excerpts from Theatre Espresso's new project Secret Soldiers: 

Women Who Fought in the Civil War, written and directed by Wendy Lement '07, will be performed. Proceeds from the event will help subsidize performances for Boston Public School groups at the John Adams Courthouse through the company's Road to Tolerance project. The program, which is part of the company's Boston Youth Initiative for Theatre and Civic Dialogue, allows BPS to participate in a range of interactive plays designed to enhance and deepen the history and civics curriculum for Boston's youth (grades 5 - 12). Additional information about the event will be included in ELP's February issue of the Exchange. To learn more about Theatre Espresso visit their website at: www.theatreespresso.org. 

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 Joe Bator '08

JoseAlberto Betances '07
Kara Boniface '12
Julie Burke-Blanchard '11

Philip Carver '06
Angela Cassidy '12
Peter Clemons '12
Alison Conlon '09
Kathleen Connolly '07
Lynette Correa '12

Susan Crandall '05 

Michael Crowley '07
Lisa DeAngelis '03
Kelly Dougherty '12

Ryan Dunlevy '12
Maura Feldman '12
Stephen Finocchio '06
Sarah Gauger '04

Nicole Gittens '10 

Rachel Gogos '03
Kate Gorman '11
Carl Guerin '11
Duke Guthrie '10

Carey Hagland '12 

Cuong Hoang '08 

Stuart Hollis '12
Patrick Hughes '12
Kris Ikenberry '06
Rick Jakious '09
Stephanie Janes '11

Kris Kaktins '11 

Stacie Lallier '11
Andrew Leeson '12

Alicia Lenahan '12

David Leonard '10
Marc Lucas '05

David Manzi '10
Jessica McDermott '10
Georgianna Melendez '04
Mark Michaud '09
Susan Miskell '11

Patricia Neilson '04 

Jennifer Panagoulias '08

Raul Porras '11
Meredith Price '12
Patti Quint '07
Andrea Reardon '12
Michelle Ridgley '12
Teresa Rodriguez '07 

Diane Roger '11

Stephen Roger '08 

Pawan Roy '10
Victoria Sheehan '12
Sarb Shergill 08

Christopher Sinclair '11  

Charles Smith '12 

Johanna Storella '08
Shake Sulikyan '08

Pauliina Swartz '05
Jennifer Thibadeau '11
Mila Thigpen '12
Amanda Van Veen '08

Susan Verity '09
Dana Whiteside '08
Craig Williams '07
Jesse Wong '09
Deanna Yameen '03

Andrea Zuniga '07 

Donations as of 11/19/12. If you are not on the list, but have donated, please email andrea.wight@umb.edu 

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ELP Alumni Board

2012-2013

Executive Committee

Andrea Zuniga, Chair

Stephen Roger, Vice Chair

Joe Bator, Past Chair

Committee Chairs

Julie Burke-Blanchard, Fundraising

Mark Michaud, Communications

Chris Sinclair, Networking Events 

Raul Porras, Recruitment

Andrea Reardon, Programming

Class Representatives

Chris Peabody, 2002 

Rachel Gogos, 2003

Sarah Gauger, 2004

Mark Lucas, 2005

Phil Carver, 2006

Patti Quint, 2007

Johanna Storella, 2008

Kelly Cameron, 2009

Danielle Prentis, 2010

Stacie Lallier, 2011

Charles Smith, 2012

Committee Members:

Nora Blake '09 

Sheila Burch '12

Devin Cole '09

Annis Gill Miller '02

Kate Gorman '11

Kristine Kaktins '11

David Manzi '10

Michelle Ridgley '12

Johanna Storella '08