Lora M. Pellegrini, Esq.

BOARD CHAIR

Lora M. Pellegrini, Esq., has been President and CEO of the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans (MAHP) since February 2010. Under her leadership, MAHP has focused on providing access to high-quality, affordable, and equitable health care for all Massachusetts residents. During her tenure at MAHP, Lora has served as a member of the Health Policy Commission’s Advisory Council, and on the Legislature’s 2017 Special Commission on Provider Price Variation. She was also appointed by Governor Baker to the Digital Health Council and the Merged Market Advisory Council.

Prior to joining MAHP, Lora was the Vice President of Government Affairs and Community Relations at Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, where she oversaw over $1M in community giving annually. She also worked on the staffs of Governors Deval Patrick and Michael Dukakis, and as an assistant attorney general.

Lora has a special interest in issues of importance to women and girls. She served for many years as a Big Sister and she is a former president of the Massachusetts Women’s Political Caucus (MWPC), a non-partisan organization dedicated to promoting women to elected and appointed office. She is currently a Board Member of Dedham Savings Bank. In October 2019, Lora was awarded the Abigail Adams Award from the Massachusetts Women’s Political Caucus for her years of service to the MWPC.

Lora was named to the Boston Business Journal’s (BBJ) 2017 and 2018 Power 50, the BBJ’s list of the 50 most powerful individuals in Boston-area business. She was also named as one of the 50 Most Powerful Women in Boston by Boston Magazine. In 2018, she was awarded the Women’s Bar Association’s Lelia J. Robinson Award, the organization’s most prestigious award which recognizes women who, like Robinson, are pioneers in the legal profession, experts in their fields and have made a difference in their community. The WBA recognized Lora’s work to ensure that Massachusetts women have access to contraceptive coverage as part of their insurance coverage when that coverage was threatened federally. Lora holds a BA from Wheaton College and a JD from the New England School of Law.

Caitlyn Aerial Clarke

VICE PRESIDENT

Caitlyn is a Managing Director and the Global Head of Enterprise Risk Management at Cambridge Associates where she is responsible for leading the firm’s risk management function globally, setting the strategic risk management vision, and leading a team of senior risk professionals to deliver on that strategy. Previously, she was the Director of Enterprise Risk Management and an Operational Risk Lead at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. Caitlyn was a Senior Associate in Risk Assurance specializing in Internal Audit, Compliance and Risk Management Solutions (“ICRS”) at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, one of the world’s largest professional services firms. Caitlyn began her career at State Street Corporation where she held various roles the last being as an Operational Risk Manager for State Street Global Advisors covering Operations teams in North America.

Caitlyn has been actively involved in Duke Alumni Engagement and Development since 2016 in various roles, including as the chair of Boston Duke Black Alumni and the Co-Chair of the Boston Duke Women’s Forum Steering Committee. In the Boston community, Caitlyn was the past president of the Boston Rotaract Club and the past District Rotaract Representative for 7930, sat on the Board of Directors of the Philanthropy Connection, co-chaired the Massachusetts Women’s Political Caucus Political Action Committee (MWPC PAC) from, 2018-2020, as well as served on the Board of Directors of the MWPC Educational Fund in 2021, is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, and has volunteered with the Louisiana Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership seminar for 20 years as a facilitator and speaker. Caitlyn was also a 2017 Emerge Massachusetts Fellow and completed the Partnership Fellows program and the Management Accelerator program as part of McKinsey’s Black Leadership Academy.

Caitlyn received her Masters in Management Studies from Fuqua in 2011 and her Bachelor of Arts in International and Area Studies, with a minor in Political Science, from Washington University in St. Louis. Caitlyn was also a Resident Advisor for the LEAD Business Institute at Duke.

Caitlyn lives in Quincy, Massachusetts. Her hobbies include fitness (strength endurance training, mixed martial arts and Zumba), binging on true crime documentaries and Hallmark movies, and traveling.

DR. KATHRYN NIELSEN

TREASURER

Dr. Kathryn Nielsen is the Senior Executive Officer at North Shore Community College. She is a leader in higher education with over 20 years as a researcher, college administrator, teacher, and speaker. She earned her Ph.D. in Educational Studies, Adult and Transformative Learning from Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts and has taught graduate and undergraduate courses in education and social policy.

Inspired by women who lead with authenticity, values and vision, Dr. Nielsen is committed to transformative leadership, democratic philanthropy, and community engagement. A resident of Salisbury, MA, she is active in her community and serves on several non-profit boards including the Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center in Newburyport, MA, and the Massachusetts ACE Women’s Network whose mission is to support the advancement of women in all segments of higher education and the New England region and to promote the diversity of women and their contributions in Massachusetts higher education. The network is committed to developing leaders that promote justice, equity, and inclusion at their institutions. Dr. Nielsen is the founder of 100 Women Who Care Boston North, a giving circle committed to strengthening the local community through philanthropic giving.

A feminist, aspiring minimalist, and mother of four, Kathryn enjoys tennis, yoga, golf, art, travel and work that inspires personal, professional, and philanthropic growth.

Liz Leahy

SECRETARY

Liz Leahy is the Senior Vice President of Advocacy and Engagement and Chief of Staff at the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans where she leads MAHP’s work to engage and deepen relationships with stakeholders across the healthcare industry to advance MAHP’s mission of fighting for affordable, high-quality, and equitable health care. Prior to joining MAHP, Liz worked in private practice civil litigation and with a variety of public interest groups including the Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders, Community Catalyst, and the Community Dispute Settlement Center. For more than a decade, Liz taught courses at Merrimack College in the Women and Gender Studies Department and Pre-Law minor focused on the intersection of gender studies, law, and public policy and has been a visiting lecturer at Tufts University’s EX-College and Boston University.

A Massachusetts-licensed attorney, Liz earned her Juris Doctorate from New England School of Law and a B.A. from Merrimack College in English and Women and Gender Studies. She is a certified Professional designee through the Academy for Health Care Management. In 2023, Liz was selected as one of Boston’s Future Leaders by the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and earned a certificate in Leading with Purpose from Harvard Business School. She is a graduate of the Women’s Leadership Program through Simmons University and the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce. In 2017, Liz was appointed to the Massachusetts Commission on Discrimination Advisory Board by Governor Baker. She serves as the fundraising chair of and as a member of the Community Dispute Settlement Center’s Board of Directors.

In her free time, Liz and her husband own and operate Massachusetts’ smallest licensed brewery, Time & Materials Beer Company, offering direct-to-consumer sales of craft beer brewed primarily with ingredients from local farms and maltsters.

KAT CLINE

Executive DIRECTOR

Kat Cline is the Executive Director of MWPC. Cline brings to the organization a wealth of campaign experience at both the federal and state level in Massachusetts. Most recently, she served as the Congressional campaign manager to Ihssane Leckey in the competitive 2020 CD-4 race. During Shannon Liss-Riordan’s Senate campaign, she was Political and Operations Director. In Cline’s first race, she managed State Senator Becca Rausch’s winning campaign against a four-term incumbent. A graduate of Simmons University (formerly Simmons College), Cline has also been a Barbara Lee Family Foundation Fellow.

Shannon Montanez

PAC CHAIR

Shannon is the Northeast Healthcare Practice Manager at Slalom. With nearly a decade of consulting experience, she bridges the gap between consultants and executive leadership to drive new business, while engaging and educating team members. Prior to coming to Slalom, she worked in consulting within the public health sector, focusing on health and human services agencies.

Shannon is passionate about civic engagement. She was a 2019-2020 SPARK Boston Council member and is on the East Boston Climate Resiliency Community Advisory Board. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Parks, Recreation and Tourism from the University of Missouri.

GAIL JACKSON-BLOUNT

Gail Jackon-Blount is the founder and principal of Jackson Communications, a marketing communications firm specializing in fundraising, public relations, DEI marketing, political affairs, event production and management, community engagement strategy.

Most recently she served as the Sr. Director of Marketing and External Affairs at Carney Hospital, part of the Steward Health Care System. Reporting to the hospital president as a member of the hospital’s executive leadership team, Gail managed crisis communications, and developed a new marketing plan to rebrand the hospital, wrote speeches, created strategic partnerships that brought in new patients, and successfully enhanced the strategy for delivering equitable health care. Prior to joining Carney, Gail was the first Chief Development and Communications Officer at the Harvard Street Neighborhood Health Center, where she led fundraising efforts to raise over $4 Million to support the health center and COVID-19 programs. She drove media campaigns & strengthened relationships with elected officials, government and the broader community. Additionally, with leadership and community partners, established a COVID-19 Mass Vax Center which today has vaccinated tens of thousands of residents from across the Commonwealth. She joined Harvard Street, first as a consultant, and after three months was offered the CDO opportunity. Gail continues as the principal of Jackson Communications and is committed to working with mission-driven companies that are dedicated to advancing diverse and underserved populations and businesses.

Clients have included the American Red Cross, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. & MassBio, La Alianza Hispana, and the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) – She has spearheaded DE&I focused marketing initiatives for Avon, Pfizer, and Partners HealthCare in Massachusetts. Gail has held communications leadership positions with Wang Laboratories, Action for Boston Community Development, Roxbury Community College, The Ad Club Foundation, and as the Massachusetts Executive Director for Political & Community Affairs of the 2004 Democratic National Convention Committee.

DELORIS PETTIS

Deloris Pettis is a C suite executive with broad experience in audit, general management and risk management across the public and private sectors and in higher education. She currently serves as CFO for Quality Interactions, a leading provider of health care cultural competency training. Deloris previously served as the VP for Enterprise Risk Management at Northeastern University where she was responsible for the implementation of an institution-wide enterprise risk management program. Her work led to the effective incorporation of risk analysis with university strategy and stronger governance practices.

Earlier Deloris served for thirteen years in roles of increasing responsibility at Harvard University. As Director of Risk Management and Audit Services where she chaired Harvard’s international projects committee. As Associate Vice President for Sponsored Programs Administration, Deloris was accountable for a portfolio of over $600MM of federally sponsored awards; and as Director of the $70 million PEPFAR (AIDS) program transition initiative at the School of Public Health.

Deloris held audit leadership positions at Digital Equipment Corporation, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and Barone & Associates; and held financial and compliance roles at the Bank of Boston. Deloris began her career in public accounting at KPMG.

Deloris earned her MBA in accounting from Tulane University and has a BSc in Political Science from the State University of New York at Buffalo. She is a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), a Certified Public Accountant (inactive) and has a Certification in Risk Management Assurance (CRMA).

Deloris is a member of the Institute of Internal Auditors and Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics. In addition, Deloris serves on the Board of Directors of OneUnited Bank and as Audit Committee Chair; Board of Directors of Boston Urban League and as a member of the Finance Committee, President of Newton Chapter Jack and Jill and a former Town Meeting Member in Framingham.

CHELSEA AQUINO

Chelsea Aquino joined the Museum of Science as their Senior Government Relations Officer in January of 2022. In this role, she develops and manages the museum’s policy efforts, maintains relationships with state and local agencies, and secures government grants to support a wide array of initiatives to create compelling proposals for program, exhibit, curricula, and capital funding needs.

Prior to her work at the Museum of Science, Chelsea served as a lobbyist for the Mass Mentoring Partnership, Associate Director for the Massachusetts Women’s Political Caucus, and was the former Finance Director for Boston City Councilor At-Large Ayanna Pressley’s ticket-topping 2011 and 2013 re-elections.

Chelsea graduated from UMass Amherst with a BA in Political Science in 2010 and completed a Master’s in Public Administration from UMass Boston in 2020. She lives in Winthrop with her husband Eric, their son Aidan, and their rescue dog Stella.

Michael Caljouw

Michael Caljouw is Vice President for State and Federal Government and Regulatory Affairs at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. Mr. Caljouw leads the largest Massachusetts health plan’s regulatory, legislative and policy agenda. He also supervises the company’s contracts division. He previously led Blue Cross’ commercial merged market segment.

Prior to Blue Cross, he was senior counsel for regulatory, policy and insurance at the national law firm Holland and Knight. Mr. Caljouw spent a decade in leadership positions in Massachusetts government including General Counsel of the Division of Insurance and Deputy Director, General Counsel and Chief of Staff of the Executive Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation where he regulated insurers, banks and professional licensing boards. Mr. Caljouw previously was Chief of Staff and Legal Counsel to the Senate Minority Leader.

Mr. Caljouw graduated from Boston Latin School, Williams College and Suffolk University Law School, where was an Editor on the Law Review earning his Juris Doctorate cum laude. He has taught at Boston University School of Law and appears often as a guest lecturer on topics of interest in the health care, legal and public policy community. Most recently, he has lectured and written extensively on policies related to drug pricing and cost containment efforts affecting Massachusetts and the nation. He has been profiled in the Boston Sunday Globe and Suffolk Law Alumni Magazine.

Mr. Caljouw is a Director of the Massachusetts Health Policy Forum and serves on the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission’s Advisory Council. He chairs the Board of Advisors to the Rappaport Center for Law and Public Policy and serves on executive committee of the Board of the Massachusetts Taxpayers’ Foundation and Board of Directors of Associated Industries of Massachusetts. A former Chair of the Board for the Boston Latin School Association, he continues to volunteer on several committees supporting continued excellence and equitable opportunity at the oldest public school in the United States. He mentors emerging leaders in health law and public policy and has received Suffolk University Law School’s Outstanding Service Award.

Mr. Caljouw and his wife Ann-Margaret have two grown children and they reside in Boston with Carly, their amazing goldendoodle.

ANNISSA ESSAIBI GEORGE

Annissa Essaibi George, a mom, former high school teacher, business owner, first-generation American, and lifelong Boston resident, was elected as a Boston City Councilor At-Large in 2015. On the Council, Annissa is distinguished by her efforts to empower the voices of stakeholders directly impacted public policy and her solutions-oriented approach to government. In 2021 Annissa was a finalist in the Boston Mayoral election.

As the first BPS teacher elected to the City Council and the first to serve as Chair of the Education Committee, Annissa’s unique experience as a BPS graduate, a former teacher and mother of four attending Boston Public Schools has fostered an inclusive environment for teachers, parents, and students. She has led the Council’s efforts to address their concerns through hearings on securing a full-time nurse and a full-time social worker in every school, improving school safety measures, increasing investments for vocational education, and increasing funding for our schools in the City’s budget.

When taking office in 2016, Annissa served as the founding member and Chair of Committee on Homelessness, Mental Health, and Recovery. Building from her education work, Annissa successfully increased funding in the City’s budget to support the almost 5,000 students in BPS experiencing homelessness and helped launch a Family Led Stability Pilot to house those students close to their schools, winning her the 2018 Navigator Award for her innovative approach to government. To best inform policy, Annissa hosted a monthly roundtable series that alternates between family shelter providers and mental health providers to connect the with policymakers in all levels government. Her most recent efforts to expand access to treatment included developing an Ordinance Establishing A Mental Health Commission. In 2019, Annissa passed a City Ordinance forming a Special Commission to End Family Homelessness in Boston and an Ordinance Requiring Pharmacy Take Back for Sharps.

Annissa is married to Dorchester native Doug George. They are the proud parents of four boys: Douglas, age 18, and triplets, Charlie, Kayden and Samir, age 16.

Annissa recently was named the new CEO and President of the Big Sister Association of Greater Boston. Big Sister’s mission is to ignite girls’ passion and power to succeed through positive mentoring relationships with women and enrichment programs that support girls’ healthy development. Ultimately, the vision is to create a mentor-rich community in which every girl has access to the individual nurturing, guidance, and support she needs to become a confident, competent and caring adult. Big Sister is a national model for gender-sensitive mentoring for girls which can be replicated in other mentoring programs. Annissa and Big Sister believe that all children can benefit from the care and guidance of an adult mentor and, that when girls’ unique needs are addressed, they thrive with increased confidence, improved relationships and the ability to achieve their individual goals. Big Sister is a part of a network of more than 300 Big Brothers Big Sisters of America agencies. We are the only affiliate solely serving girls.

Martina Jackson

ABBY KIM

Abby Kim is currently the senior director of public policy at the Association for Behavioral Healthcare (ABH), responsible for the legislative, budgetary, and regulatory agenda for 80 community-based mental health and addiction treatment providers.

Prior to coming to ABH, Abby was legislative director in State Senator John F. Keenan’s office and a clinical researcher in addiction medicine. Abby is a former Rappaport Public Policy Fellow and New Leaders Council Fellow and has a Master’s in Public Health in Health Policy and Law. She was recognized for her grassroots advocacy work with a 2020 Mitch Snyder Award and in 2018 earned the Excellence in Practice Award from Boston University’s Activist Lab. She is a public health professional passionate about utilizing policy to reduce the harms of drug use and improve health equity.

Michelle McGee

Michelle McGee has been representing a wide variety of clients at the local, state and federal levels for over two decades. Michelle develops strategies to successfully advocate for clients on many complex issues and positions her clients to achieve their public policy goals. Through strategic education, lobbying, coalition building and advocacy, Michelle works with her clients to influence the direction of issues before the Legislature and Administration. Areas of expertise include energy, education, regulatory and budget advocacy, non-profit, retail business and procurement advice.

Before co-founding Kearney, Donovan & McGee, LLC, Michelle was a member of the Government Affairs Practice Group at Choate, Hall & Stewart. Michelle also worked at New England Electric System (now National Grid), was an associate at the firm of Joyce & Joyce, and served as counsel to a legislative committee for the Massachusetts House of Representatives.

Michelle is active in various civic and charitable causes, and local political campaigns. She is currently a member of the President’s Circle at the Women’s Lunch Place and on the Board of the Massachusetts Association of Mental Health. She previously served on the Women’s Network Advisory Board of the Boston Chamber of Commerce and the Board of the Charlestown YMCA. Michelle received a B.A. from The Catholic University of America, a J.D. from Suffolk University Law School, and an M.P.A. from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. She currently lives in Charlestown.

Jen Benson

Anne Mahoney

Anne Mahoney, a dedicated mom, marketing strategist, and former small business owner, served with distinction as a Quincy City Councilor At-Large. A lifelong resident of Quincy and a former School Committee Member, Anne;s commitment to her community runs deep. Reflecting on her past service and a recent mayoral run, she continues her advocacy for a thriving Quincy.

In 2023, Anne Mahoney undertook a significant political endeavor, running for Mayor against a 16-year incumbent who spent over a million dollars in the campaign, compared to her campaign’s budget of 99k. Despite the financial disparity, Anne’s commitment to the community and her vision for a better Quincy resonated with voters, marking a testament to her dedication and connection with the people.

As a former City Councilor At-Large, she played a crucial role in shaping policies, authorizing public improvements, and overseeing the city’s budget. Her initiatives, such as Quincy Pride and a focus on transparency and diversity, have left a lasting impact on the community.

A fourth-generation resident of West Quincy, Anne;s roots are firmly planted in her family home. A graduate of Quincy Public Schools and Suffolk University with a degree in finance, she brings a wealth of knowledge to her roles. Anne’s professional journey includes serving as a strategic marketing consultant for a financial institution, where she gained global business experience as a senior executive in multiple corporations.

In 1993, Anne took her entrepreneurial spirit to Quincy Center, founding Cyclone Design, Inc., a graphic design company. Her creative endeavors added vibrancy to the local business landscape. Alongside her husband, Kevin, Anne is the proud parent of three children – Maggie, 27; Liam, 25; and Rory, 20 – all of whom attended Quincy Public Schools.

In addition to her public service, Anne has a rich corporate background, contributing to major financial institutions and leading successful marketing campaigns. Her strategic project management skills and community outreach efforts have consistently yielded positive outcomes. As a former Quincy City Councilor At-Large and a recent mayoral candidate, Anne Mahoney’s legacy is marked by a vision for Quincy where residents thrive. She continues to bring a unique blend of local roots, business acumen, and a genuine passion for community welfare to her ongoing endeavors.

Beth Mullen

Beth Mullen is a Senior Vice President at Womble Bond Dickinson Government and Public Affairs, where she works with wide array of clients in government affairs, lobbying, community relations, and related legal compliance solutions in Massachusetts. Prior to joining Womble Bond Dickinson she worked for over a decade as Vice President at McGlynn & McGlynn, Attorneys at Law, a boutique law and lobbying firm. There, she represented a clients in fields ranging from healthcare, transportation, consumer protection, insurance, construction, and zoning. Previously, she served as Legislative Director and Deputy Chief of Staff for former Senate Majority Leader Frederick E. Berry for six years where she managed the Senator’s legislative agenda. In that office, she also acted as sole staff for the Senate Committee on Ethics and Rules during the 2009 update to campaign finance, ethics, and lobbying laws. She is a graduate of Fairfield University and Suffolk University Law School.

Lauren Peters

Lauren Peters is the Executive Director of the Center for Health Information and Analysis (CHIA), the independent state agency of record for Massachusetts health care information. CHIA serves as the Commonwealth’s primary hub for health care data and analytics and is charged with objectively reporting information about the quality, affordability, utilization, access and outcomes of the Massachusetts health care system to support policy development and the state’s provision and purchase of health care services.

Prior to joining CHIA, Lauren served as the Undersecretary for Health Policy at the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS). In this role, Lauren was responsible for overseeing key programs and policies across several EOHHS agencies including the Department of Public Health; the Department of Mental Health; and MassHealth, the state’s Medicaid program. During her EOHHS tenure, Lauren played an integral role in the state’s COVID-19 response, the development of programs to support individuals experiencing homelessness and addiction, and advanced strategic policy priorities including long-term care and behavioral health reforms.

Lauren previously served as Associate General Counsel and Director of Healthcare Policy at the Executive Office for Administration and Finance (A&F) where she served as an advisor on healthcare finance, policy, and legal matters. Lauren’s state service also includes prior roles at the Health Policy Commission and the House of Representatives.

Lauren is a graduate of Suffolk University Law School where she concentrated in Health and Biomedical Law; and holds a Bachelor’s degree with honors from William Smith College.

Dr. Yvonne Spicer

Jacquetta Van Zandt

Linnea Walsh

Linnea Walsh is the Director of Communications and Intergovernmental Affairs, Massachusetts Department of Veterans’ Services. Linnea Is a strategic communications professional whose portfolio includes leadership roles spanning government, national and local non-profit organizations, PR agencies as well as community and board associations. A former journalist, she leads the development and execution of integrated marketing communication campaigns on behalf of agencies to increase awareness of and educate and inform members and stakeholders about programs and services.

In addition to her service with MWPC, she serves on the Steering Committee of The John F. Kennedy Library Foundation’s New Frontier Network, a diverse, cross generational group of emerging leaders and philanthropists and on the Board of the South Shore Conference for Women.

SARA WASHINGTON JUTEAU

Sarah Washington Juteau is an attorney for Principal Financial Group where she serves as counsel to the company’s dually registered broker-dealer and investment advisor. As part of her role, Sarah monitors and provides advice regarding regulatory and legislative developments related to the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”), and state securities regulators. Prior to working at Principal, Sarah worked as an Examiner at FINRA and as an Enforcement Attorney at the Massachusetts Securities Division. Sarah also worked in private practice, where she specialized in insurance law.

Sarah graduated from Oberlin College in 2012 and Boston University School of Law in 2017. While at Oberlin, Sarah majored in Political Science and participated in the Cole Scholars Program, part of the Oberlin Initiative in Electoral Politics. At Oberlin, Sarah was heavily involved in grassroots efforts both on and off campus. During this time, she worked on political campaigns in Boston, Washington D.C., and Ohio. Sarah also participated in Oberlin’s Congressional Internship Program, which provided her with the opportunity to intern for a Senator on Capitol Hill during the Winter Term. Sarah subsequently served as the student coordinator for the program. As student coordinator, Sarah helped students prepare intern applications for Congressional office internships and traveled to D.C. to meet with Congressional staffers and present student applications.

Sarah serves on the Associate Board for the Anti-Defamation League and as a volunteer for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts.

KATE WORRALL

Kate Worrall serves as Vice President at Charles Group Consulting, a lobbying firm based in downtown Boston and focused on the needs of nonprofit clients. In her over ten years at Charles Group, Kate has served as one of the two principal lobbyists, assisting a range of clients on Beacon Hill, with state agencies, and in the day-to-day management of their government affairs work. She advocates directly with state policymakers and staff, including liaising with legislators and staff, and drafting legislation and lobbying materials. In her decade of lobbying on Beacon Hill, Kate has focused on campaigns to combat food insecurity, increase access to postpartum healthcare, and ending childhood deep poverty. Kate has served on the board of the Sharon Cooperative School from 2019-2022 and was named a Top Lobbyist in 2021 by the National Institute for Lobbying and Ethics for her work ensuring more students in Massachusetts have access to school meals.

Kate holds a B.A. in English and Political Theory from Tufts University, and a Master’s in Public Policy from The George Washington University. Kate currently resides in Sharon, MA with her husband and 3 children.

Jason Aluia

Jason Aluia is a veteran of the Massachusetts State House and Boston politics with 25 years of experience in public policy and advocacy.

Jason is the Senior Vice President at Tremont Strategies Group, a bipartisan government and public affairs firm based in Boston and Washington, DC. Jason works closely with corporations, associations, and non-profit organizations in healthcare, energy, technology, education and other industries.

Jason previously served as the Vice President of Government and External Affairs at the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans (MAHP), a role he has held for 13 years.

Jason served as Deputy Chief of Staff and Legislative Director of the Massachusetts House of Representatives under former Speaker Sal DIMasi, and prior to that served as his Director of Constituent Services for several years.

Jason attended Suffolk University for Public Policy and currently serves as the Chairman of the Ward 3 Democratic Committee in Boston. He is also the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the NEW Health, a federally qualified health center servicing the residents of the North End, Waterfront and Charlestown neighborhoods in the City of Boston.

Charlene Rideout

Charlene Rideout is a partner at Kearney, Donovan & McGee, LLC. With more than 25 years of government affairs experience at both the state and local level, she provides policy and strategic counsel to clients from multiple business sectors, including health care, emerging technologies, public safety and financial services. Charlene represents clients on a wide variety of matters including state appropriations, legislative, regulatory, economic development and procurement.

Prior to joining KDM, Charlene served as Intergovernmental Affairs Manager for the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA). In that capacity, she was in charge of implementing legislative and regulatory strategies as well as promoting and advocating MWRA’s agenda. Charlene also worked as Legislative Director in the Massachusetts State Senate where she was responsible for researching and analyzing a broad range of legislative and policy issues related to affordable housing, health care and budgetary matters.

Charlene is Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for the Boston Municipal Research Bureau and is an elected member of Boston’s Ward 16 Democratic Committee. She has been involved with numerous local, state and federal political campaign efforts. She previously served as Vice Chair of the Emerge Massachusetts Board, the Community Advisory Board of WGBH and the City of Boston Waterways Board.

Charlene received a B.A. from Suffolk University, an M.P.A. from the John J. McCormack Institute of Public Policy at the University of Massachusetts, and a J.D. from Suffolk University Law School.

Kaitlyn Sprague

Kaitlyn Sprague is a government relations professional with over 15 years experience in state government and associated roles. She is currently the northeast regional Government Affairs Lead for UCB, a global biopharmaceutical company. Prior to UCB, Kaitlyn was a Vice President of Government Relations at ML Strategies, the consulting and lobbying arm of Mintz Levin in Boston. During her ten years at the Massachusetts State House, Kaitlyn served in both the House of Representatives and the Executive Branch. As Legislative Director to Governor Baker, she led the Governor’s legislative agenda and facilitated the review of legislation on the Governor’s desk. Before that, Kaitlyn was the Legislative Director to the House Minority Leader, where she drafted bills and monitored legislative sessions for the caucus. Kaitlyn holds a Bachelor’s degree from Boston College and graduated cum laude from Suffolk University Law School. Raised in Maine, she enjoys skiing, hiking, and travelling.

Stephanie Swanson

Stephanie Swanson serves as Executive Vice President of Government Affairs at the Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM), where she leads policy, regulatory and overall lobbying efforts on behalf of the organization’s over 3,400 member businesses.

Prior to joining AIM, Stephanie spent more than a decade working on Beacon Hill in the Massachusetts Senate. She served as Chief of Staff and General Counsel to former Senator Eric Lesser, managing a robust legislative and policy portfolio and overseeing both strategic planning and day-to-day operations for the office. During her eight years with Senator Lesser, she worked on major 2018, 2020, and 2022 economic development packages which provided billions of dollars to businesses, communities and families across the Commonwealth.

Swanson began her Senate career as Legislative Director and Legal Counsel to Senator Barry Finegold, where she assisted Senator Finegold in passing both the 2014 election reform and campaign finance reform bills into law. She also worked on Senator Finegold’s successful 2012 state senate campaign.

A political science and economics graduate of Tufts University, Swanson studied at the London School of Economics and Political Science before earning her law degree in 2012 from Northeastern University School of Law. She has been a member of the Massachusetts bar since 2012.