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MVPC teamed up with MassEcon to support marketing Massachusetts beyond its borders. MassEcon will present a high-level snapshot of industry trends in the area and MVPC will join a panel of economic development experts and industry representatives to talk about the assets that make the Northeast a thriving place for businesses.
Speakers:
Opening Remarks: Kari Reinking, Relationship Manager, TD Bank
Kari Reinking joined TD Bank in 2001, having held roles in commercial credit and risk prior to moving to lending in 2012 as a Relationship Manager for the northeastern Massachusetts/Merrimack Valley region. She is responsible for new loan origination and ongoing relationship management focused on being a responsive, knowledgeable banking partner who advises clients on all bank services that may benefit them and their businesses. Kari has worked with many different types of enterprises, including manufacturers; service companies; franchise restaurants; municipalities; wholesalers; and commercial real estate investors. Prior to banking, Kari worked in the manufacturing and education sectors. She grew up working summers on her family’s blueberry farms. Kari is active in the local community. She is a board member of the Greater Lowell Chamber of Commerce and the co-chair of the United Way’s Summer Experiences in Greater Lowell committee, which raises funds for summer programming for youth, as well as a MassEcon committee member.
Moderator: Dori Ross, Director of Operations, BSC Group
Dori Ross, PE has recently taken on the role of Director of Operations for BSC Group, an engineering consulting firm headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. A registered Professional Engineer with more than 25 years of experience in project/program management, Dori specializes in implementing organizational efficiencies for the architectural/engineering industry. Dori is a registered Professional Engineer in Massachusetts and has a background in geotechnical engineering for consulting firms at the local, national, and international levels. Dori joined BSC Group as a Senior Associate and is a member of the firm’s Management Committee.
Panelists:
Lisa Marrone, Director of Business Development, Town of Chelmsford
Joining the Town of Chelmsford in 2018 as the Director of Business Development, Lisa brings a combination of skills, experience and education to the role. She has a Bachelor’s in Management from Bentley University and a Master’s in Business Administration from Fitchburg State University. Her previous employment includes MIT Lincoln Laboratory in business management and the City of Leominster with economic development. Lisa has a particular focus on the Chelmsford Cross Roads of Route 129 to create stronger business attraction to the corridor with the most recent news and additions being BioReady Platinum status, Pressed Café, Triton Systems and Thermo Fisher Scientific. She also continues to provide Town-wide business support, municipal engagement and interest to develop partnerships.
Tom Balf, Board Member, Gloucester EDIC
Tom Balf has been a member of the Gloucester Economic & Industrial Corporation since 2019. A Gloucester resident and Cape Ann native, he brings more than 25 years of experience as an environmental executive and consultant, including past work with ML Strategies, the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council, and the Gloucester Fishing Community Preservation Fund. He is currently on the steering committee of the North Shore Blue Economy Initiative and a Board Member of Discover Gloucester, a destination marketing organization. His role on the EDIC includes advancing strategies and looking for opportunities to boost the marine-based economy.
Nate Robertson, Community and Economic Development Planner, Merrimack Valley Planning Commission
Nate is responsible for gathering, preparing, and analyzing a variety of socio-economic data for public use. His work includes identifying and developing economic development projects in the region, including managing all U.S. Economic Development Administration funding in furtherance of Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy efforts. Nate also supports the implementation of the regional housing production plans and overseeing planning technical assistance programs for the municipalities in the region. Prior to joining MVPC Nate worked as the Assistant Director of Economic Development for the City of Haverhill, where he oversaw a wide variety of projects and initiatives. Prior to his work in Haverhill, Nate worked in public health on Cape Cod. He brings his experience working in economic development, urban planning, and public health to the agency. Nate is thoroughly from New England – born in Boston, raised in Rhode Island, educated in Vermont, and now living in Haverhill. Something about changing seasons, historic communities, and clam chowder anchor him to the region.
Gil Stevens, Executive Director, Global Engineering, Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc.
Gil Stevens joined Ultragenyx in 2019 and is currently overseeing a greenfield site development in Bedford, Ma. This new facility is the company’s first internal manufacturing, capable of clinical and commercial supply of the company’s portfolio of gene therapies. With over 25 years’ experience in Biopharmaceuticals, Gil has been directly involved in greater than $2B of facility expansion projects. He holds a B.S. Degree in Marine Engineering from Massachusetts Maritime Academy and a M.S. Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Jason Vining, President, Salem Metal, Inc.
As head of Salem Metal, Jason upholds the same commitment to the company’s success and growth as his father, founder and former president James Vining. Jason’s career in sheet metal fabrication began in high school, when he worked on the company’s production floor. Jason continued his work at Salem Metal during college, learning the variety of services offered and how to operate the company’s state-of-the-art equipment. He is a graduate of Masconomet Regional High School and UMass Dartmouth with a B.S. in management. He is also a Certified Mitsubishi Laser Operator. In 1998, Jason was promoted to vice president and became involved in all aspects of the daily running of the business, including purchasing, sales, scheduling, and expediting. In 2009, Jason was promoted to president, tasked with the continued refinement of the company’s manufacturing operations and service offerings to meet evolving customer needs. Jason is a member of Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, Int’l (FMA), the Middleton Board of Trade, the Knights of Columbus, and the 1728 Club of Middleton. In addition to metal fabrication, Jason enjoys traveling, golfing, music, skiing, and the Red Sox.
Chris Ross, Interim Sector Head of Life Science, Executive Vice President Head of Integrated Supply Chain Operations, MilliporeSigma
Chris Ross is Interim Sector Head of Life Science and Head of Integrated Supply Chain Operations for MilliporeSigma, the $7.6 billion Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. Ross also serves as the United States Country Speaker for the U.S.-based businesses of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. As Interim Sector Head of Life Science, Ross is responsible for leading the strategic direction of the business and its more than 22,000 employees. MilliporeSigma collaborates with the global scientific community to solve the industry’s toughest problems by providing scientists with lab materials, technologies, and services to make research and biotech production simpler, faster and safer. As Head of Integrated Supply Chain Operations, Ross is responsible for the global manufacturing site network, supply chain planning activities, and distribution center network for MilliporeSigma. The Integrated Supply Chain Operations organization of more than 11,000 employees drives MilliporeSigma’s manufacturing strategy, capital investments, operational excellence, and supply chain management processes to improve cost, quality, and delivery of products for MilliporeSigma customers. Ross began his career with the organization in May 2008 as the Head of Bioprocess Single-Use Operations in Danvers, Massachusetts and Anderson, California. He later worked as Managing Director of Cork, Ireland, and Consett, UK Operations and then Senior Vice President of the Separations Technology Cluster, both roles based in Cork, Ireland. From 2012 to 2015, Ross was Senior Vice President and Head of Global Operations for EMD Millipore, where he managed all aspects of supply chain and manufacturing across three Technology Clusters. Ross received a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Washington in Seattle and a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Ross currently serves as a board member of the New England Council.