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BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Stephen J. Adams (Chairperson) |
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Stephen J. Adams is the SBA Office of Advocacy's Regional Advocate forRegion I, covering Connecticut , Maine , Massachusetts , New Hampshire ,Rhode Island , and Vermont .
Previous to his appointment to the Office of Advocacy, he was Presidentand CEO of Pioneer Institute, Massachusetts ' premier policy researchinstitute. Adams also directed Pioneer's Center for UrbanEntrepreneurship which was focused on the support network needs oflow/moderate-income entrepreneurs. Before working at Pioneer Institute,he was Vice President and Director of Research and Strategy for theInitiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC). Adams' public sectorexperience includes eleven years as economic policy advisor to governorsin Maine including a stint as Director of the Maine State PlanningOffice. He also served as Assistant Treasurer for the Commonwealth ofMassachusetts.
Adams received his bachelor's degree in Political Studies from QueensUniversity in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, and his Masters of PublicAdministration from Pennsylvania State University . |
Todd Rodman (Clerk) |
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Long time resident of Worcester and local attorney/partner at Seder&Chandler. Attorney Rodman has worked diligently to better the community in which he lives by giving of his time, talent, and treasures to organizations like the Main South CDC, the YMCA and MLK-BEC. |
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Frederick Crocker Jr. (Treasurer) |
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Mr. Crocker is a graduate of the distinguished Milton Academy in Milton, Massachusetts. He received his Bachelors Degrees from Harvard University. He also holds a Bachelors Degree in Accounting from Assumption College. He received an MBA from Columbia University. He also served in the United States Navy where he achieved the rank of Lieutenant. Throughout his career he has brought his financial expertise to many companies serving as CFO for Fortune 1000 Corporations. |
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Barbabra Holland |
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Barbara G. Holland is the President and Founder of BreakThrough Partners, a consulting firm focusing on inclusion and diversity, organizational change, workforce effectiveness and workplace equity. Working in a proactive manner for over 25 years, she has a history of success working with organizations to effect change. Her commitment and leadership in helping to create diverse and inclusive organizations have been demonstrated through her ability to spearhead the strategic thinking, organizational action planning, program implementation and monitoring that are vital to long-term systemic change. Through the connected experiences of thinking, doing and being, her clients are able to improve performance and effectiveness. Before founding BreakThrough Partners, Ms. Holland held two precedent-setting positions: First, as the first Director of Campus Diversity at Framingham State College for over six years and most recently, as the first Director of Diversity at Massachusetts General Hospital for four years. She has also been a facilitator with the Anti-Defamation League’s World of Difference program for the past 19 years and also facilitates for the National Conference for Community and Justice.
Ms. Holland is highly regarded for her unique ability to engage with the staff members and students of educational institutions, healthcare systems, regional banks, Fortune 500 corporations, community organizations and city government.
Ms. Holland holds a Master’s Degree in Education and Administration from Cambridge College and a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from Boston University. As a frequent spokesperson on social justice issues, she has made many television and radio appearances, been featured in a variety of newspaper articles and been a guest speaker/panelist on many occasions. She is a repeatedly utilized resource during Black History Month. |
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Kathryn Zingg Hunter |
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President and Chief Executive OfficerYMCA of Central Massachusetts
Kathy has worked in the YMCA organization since 1979. Prior to joining the staff team in Worcester in 1987, Kathy began her career at the Springfield YMCA as a Youth Program Director. Appointed to President/CEO in July of 2004, she now leads one of the largest community based organizations in Central Massachusetts.
Since 1864, the YMCA of Central Massachusetts, with a membership over 29,000, reaches out to over 60,000 individuals throughout its 41 communities with programs and services that help all people develop in spirit, mind and body. Kathy has a Bachelor of Science degree from Springfield College and a MBA from Western New England College. She currently serves on a number of local boards and committees and is very active in the community. |
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Diane Langford James |
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Dianne Langford -James has worked for corporate America for over 20 years. She is a community activist and has worked, volunteered and served as board member for several non-profit organizations in Worcester. She currently is a business owner and her goals are to help others strive for and attain financial freedom, enrich her community, and to fulfill her purpose to God.
Dianne is Alumni of Worcester State College with a BA in Communications. Mrs. Langford-James is completely dedicated to her family and is determined to better the lives of those in the community. She is a highly respected African American woman in the City of Worcester due to her accomplishments and much success.
Dianne also strives to educate the community on issues that may have some affect on their quality of life. She is a humble individual with a unique persona. Mrs. Langford- James is truly a spiritual woman that believes her higher power is in charge of and responsible for her purpose. |
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Kevin Kane |
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Kevin H. Kane has been a member of the MLK-BEC Board of Directors for nearly fifteen years. He is a Senior Vice President with Middlesex Savings Bank. His previous banking experience includes Flagship Bank and Summit Bank (MA). He has also worked with multinational Fortune 500 companies including the B.F. Goodrich Company and Norton Company. His community volunteer experience includes the United Way of Central Massachusetts, Seven Hills Foundation, and Community Healthlink. Kevin is a graduate of Boston College and holds an MBA from Tulane University. |
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Polly Tatum |
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Having conducted over 1200 family law and divorce mediations with traditional and non traditional families since 1997, divorce lawyer and mediator Polly A. Tatum brings a wealth of understanding and experience to her family law and mediation practice. Trained as a professional mediator and domestic relations attorney, Ms. Tatum has distinguished herself in Worcester, Massachusetts through her tireless efforts, awards and affiliations some of which include:
2005 Katherine Forbes Erskine Award Recipient for Business and Law
Corporator for the Greater Worcester Community Foundation
Board member for the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Business Empowerment Center
Former board member of the Massachusetts Council on Family Mediation
Co-Chair of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Section of the Worcester County Bar Association
Governors Advisory Committee on the Status of Woman
The Lutheran Social Services Permanency Mediation Committee |
Robert Thomas, MBA -- Founder, President and CEO |
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Mr. Thomas, a native of Michigan, has been located in the Worcester, Massachusetts area for over 20 years. Mr. Thomas graduated from Cass Technical High School in Detroit and went on to earn his undergraduate degrees from Ferris State University and Western Michigan University. Mr. Thomas earned his MBA from Nichols College in Dudley, Massachusetts. Before founding the Martin Luther King, Jr. Business Empowerment Center, Mr. Thomas spent over 20 years in Corporate America where he accomplished outstanding sales achievement and national prominence with a Fortune 1000 company. With his years of experience in sales, training, marketing, real estate, community organizing and entrepreneurship, Mr. Thomas saw a need in the Worcester Community and developed a vision for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Business Empowerment Center. Although the vision for the Center has become a reality and has successfully assisted business owners and individuals for over 15 years, Mr. Thomas is more than ever committed to expanding the Organization’s business and training expertise to a broader clientele. As Mr. Thomas explains, “People are people, money is green and successful business practices work for all”. |
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