Get Konnected 100 Dear Sponsors, Honorees and Friends On behalf of Get Konnected! and Colette Phillips Communications, Inc., I am delighted to welcome you to the 8th Annual Anniversary of Get Konnected!, a business networking event I founded in 2008 on the premise of “inclusion.” Today, Get Konnected! has become Boston’s premier inclusive business networking event that brings together urban and international professionals, business executives, and entrepreneurs of all cultures for the purpose of networking. Boston is a thriving world class city, that is both rich in history and diversity. Today, the city is considered one of the most culturally, ethnically and racially diverse cities in the U.S. Thanks to our status as a center for innovation in technology, healthcare, academia, and culture, Boston continues to draw people from all ethnicities and all points of the globe. The richness and influence of the city’s diversity however, is not always as widely celebrated and appreciated as it should be. The GK100: Boston’s 100 Most Influential People of Color aims to change that. It is a unique opportunity to celebrate, document and validate a plethora of individuals of color who are making positive contributions to the economic and social fabric of our vibrant city. Among them are scientists, corporate executives, educators, innovators, technologists, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, artists, social justice and civil rights advocates, high-ranking politicians and everyday people who regularly bring change and progress to their neighborhoods and beyond. The GK100 should serve as a strong reminder to Boston’s business, academic, political and social institutions and circles, to replace the phrase “we can’t find qualified candidates of color” with the names in this booklet. They stand on the shoulders of the GK50: the pioneers and trailblazers who shattered what must have seemed like intractable barriers in a time when little was expected of them and out-and-out prejudice rampant. Though many have retired, few have slowed down, and their work and influence continues. Equally inspiring is the next generation: the GK25: youthful leaders, thinkers, innovators and doers who are already making their mark and creating a brighter future for our city and its citizens. The GK Founder’s Choice celebrates and spotlights 10 outstanding citizen activists, social entrepreneurs and social justice advocates who are working on the frontline to level the playing field and ensure opportunity, equality and equity for all. More than a popularity contest, these lists are a tool. If you have a corporate or nonprofit board in need of energetic and thoughtful members, consult it. Tap it also for panels of experts, job and leadership candidates, or specific expertise truly representative of the city's multi-ethnic and culturally diverse citizenry. If you are a corporation or Institution, become a Get Konnected! partner. If you are a business executive, entrepreneur or graduate student we invite you to participate as well in the Get Konnected! gatherings bringing together the richness of Boston’s diversity in every sphere of influence. Are the lists complete? By no means, but they’re a start. Each represents a sampling of many thousands of African Americans, Asians, Hispanics and Native Americans who every day shape our lives in the greater Boston area, and without whom the city would not work. If any were missed, the fault is ours, and the committee humbly and enthusiastically invites nominations for the future. Lastly, we are deeply grateful to all our corporate and institutional sponsors and partners without whom Get Konnected! and this project would not be possible. We encourage all our friends and members of the Get Konnected! network to patronize and support these organizations who help to sustain and make Get Konnected! possible. With Great Admiration and Respect, Colette A.M. Phillips President & CEO Colette Phillips Communications, Inc. Diverse Solutions for a Global Market Founder/Publisher Kaleidoscope/Get Konnected! Colette Phillips Communications One McKinley Square, 6th Floor, Boston, MA 02109 phone: 617-357-5777 • fax: 617-357-7114 e-mail: info@cpcglobal.com • website: www.cpcglobal.com Get Konnected! e-mail: info@getkonnected.com • website: www.getkonnected.com The GK100 Academia Krystal Banfield Dean for City Music Berklee College of Music Javier Cevallos President Framingham State University Tommy Chang Superintendent Boston Public Schools Pam Eddinger President Bunker Hill Community College Robert Gittens Vice President Public Affairs Northeastern University Joi Ito Director, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab Deborah Jackson President Cambridge College Jackie Jenkins-Scott President Wheelock College J. Keith Motley Chancellor University of Massachusetts Boston Nitin Nohria George F. Baker Professor of Administration Dean of the Faculty, Harvard Business School M. Lee Pelton President Emerson College Joan Reede Dean for Diversity and Community Partnership Harvard Medical School Paul Watanabe Director, Institute for Asian American Studies and Associate Professor of Political Science University of Massachusetts Boston Academia The GK100 Arts & Entertainment Jose Barriga Founder, Boston Latino International Film Festival Susan Chinsen Director Boston Asian American Film Festival Junot Diaz Pulitzer Prize Winning Author David France Executive Director Revolution of Hope / Roxbury Youth Orchestra Lois Roach Playwright & Director; Lecturer in Theatre Studies, Wellesley College Lisa Simmons Founder and Director Roxbury International Film Festival Arts & Entertainment The GK100 Business & Innovation Joanne Chang Founder/Owner Flour Bakery Wayne Chang Founder of Crashlytics; Director of Product Strategy, Twitter Sheila Marcelo Founder, Chairwoman & CEO Care.com Quincy Miller Vice Chairman & Chief Banking Officer Eastern Bank Valerie Mosley Chairwoman Valmo Ventures Hector & Nivia Pina Founders and Owners Merengue & Vejigantes Restaurants Darryl Settles Pres./Managing Partner, Catalyst Ventures Dev. Proprietor, Darryl’s Corner Bar & Kitchen Niraj Shah Chief Executive Officer Wayfair Raj Sharma Founder and Managing Director The Sharma Group, Merrill Lynch Navjot Singh Director, Boston McKinsey & Company Corey Thomas President & Chief Executive Officer Rapid 7 Sushil Tuli President & Chief Executive Officer Leader Bank Clayton Turnbull Founder and CEO The Waldwin Group Beth Williams President & CEO Roxbury Technology Teri Williams President and COO One United Bank Business & Innovation The GK100 Communications & Media Josefina Bonilla Founder and Publisher Color Media Group Richard Chacon Executive Director of News Content WBUR Liz Cheng General Manager for Television WGBH Callie Crossley Host, “Under the Radar with Callie Crossley” WGBH-FM Latoyia Edwards Morning Anchor NECN Marcela García Editorial Writer The Boston Globe Karen Holmes Ward Dir. of Public Affairs and Comm. Services WCVB-TV Shirley Leung Business Columnist Boston Globe Jose Masso Host/Producer, “Con Salsa” WBUR-FM Alberto Vasallo, III President, CEO and Editor-in-Chief El Mundo Newspaper Adrian Walker Columnist The Boston Globe Communications & Media The GK100 Diversity & Inclusion Javier Barrientos Sr. Director, Global Diversity & Inclusion Biogen Marques Benton Vice President & Chief Diversity Officer Federal Reserve Bank of Boston Sadie Burton-Goss Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer Babson College Lisa Coleman Chief Diversity Officer & Special Assistant to the President Harvard University Beverly Edgehill Vice President TJX Companies Inc. Paul Francisco Managing Director - Head of Diversity Consulting and Sourcing Office State Street Dawn Frazier Bonhert Sr. Vice President and Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer Liberty Mutual Insurance Jackie Glenn Vice Pres., Chief Global Diversity Officer EMC Su Joun Vice Pres., Talent, Inclusion & Diversity Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Kenneth Turner Director of Diversity & Inclusion/Compliance Massport Diversity & Inclusion The GK100 Health & Human Service, Life Sciences Joseph Betancourt Co-Founder of Quality Interactions; Director of the Disparities Solutions Center and Director for Multicultural Education Massachusetts General Hospital Tony Coles Founding investor, Chairman and CEO Yumanity Therapeutics Ralph De la Torre Founder, Chairman and CEO Steward Health Care System LLC Rakesh Jain A.Werk Cook Professor of Radiation Oncology, Harvard Medical School; Director, Edwin L. Steele Laboratory for Tumor Biology Massachusetts General Hospital Paula Johnson Professor, Harvard Medical School; Executive Director, Connors Center for Women's Health & Gender Biology, and Chief, Division of Women's Health, Brigham & Women's Hospital Myechia Minter-Jordan President/CEO The Dimock Center Oz Mondejar Sr. Vice President Mission & Advocacy Partners Healthcare Inez Stewart Vice President Human Resources Children’s Hospital Frederica Williams President & CEO Whittier Street Health Center Damian Wilmot Vice President, Litigation Vertex Pharmaceuticals Susan Windham-Bannister President & CEO Biomedical Growth Strategies Health & Human Service, Life Sciences The GK100 Law & Social Justice Ferdinand Alvaro General Counsel, Company Secretary Jazan Gas Project Company Michael Curry President Boston Branch NAACP William Gross Superintendent-In-Chief Boston Police Department Ivan Espinoza-Madrigal Executive Director, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Economic Justice Winston Henderson Vice President, General Counsel C2Sense and Nano Terra Paul Lee Of Counsel Goodwin Procter Stephanie Lovell Exec. Vice Pres., Medicare, & Chief Legal Officer Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Charles Ogletree Jesse Climenko Professor of Law and Founding Director, Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race & Justice Harvard Law School Carmen Ortiz United States Attorney District of Massachusetts Diane Patrick Co-managing Partner of Boston office Ropes & Gray Walter Prince Partner Prince Lobel Tye, LLP Steven Tompkins Sheriff Suffolk County Darnell Williams President/CEO Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts Steven Wright Executive Partner Holland Knight Law & Social Justice The GK100 Philanthropy & Non-Profit Phyllis Barajas Founder and Executive Director Conexion Vanessa Calderon–Rosado CEO Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción James Canales President and Trustee Barr Foundation Desh and Jaishree Deshpande Founders Deshpande Foundation Sylvia Ferrell-Jones President & Chief Executive Officer YW Boston Carol Fulp President and CEO The Partnership Charlayne Murrell-Smith VP, External Relations & Corp. Development Boston Children’s Museum Joan Wallace-Benjamin President & Chief Executive Officer The Home for Little Wanderers Leverett Wing Executive Director The Commonwealth Seminar Philanthropy & Non-Profit The GK100 Politics & Public Sector John Barros Chief of Economic Development City of Boston Sonia Chang–Diaz State Senator Commonwealth of Massachusetts Linda Dorcena Forry State Senator Commonwealth of Massachusetts Charlotte Golar Richie Commissioner Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination Tito Jackson City Councilor City of Boston Ayanna Pressley City Councilor-at-Large City of Boston Jabes Rojas Deputy Chief, Office of Access & Opportunity Commonwealth of Massachusetts E. Denise Simmons Mayor City of Cambridge Ronald L. Walker, II Secretary of Labor & Workforce Development Commonwealth of Massachusetts Setti Warren Mayor City of Newton Michelle Wu City Council President and City Councilor-at-Large, City of Boston Politics & Public Sector