On May 12, 2014 Big Sister held our Annual Meeting, sponsored by Grand Circle Corporation and Jules Catering. Joining Big Sister staff members in the celebration were our Board of Directors, Advisory Board, Young Professional Board (YPB), Diversity Council, Alumnae Association, partners, and friends.
We bid a fond farewell to retiring board members Lisa Murray and Kathy Kiely. We officially elected eight new board members: Thomas Menino, former Mayor of Boston; Jane Bowman, Vice President of Marketing and Sales Development at The Boston Globe and Boston.com ; Marc Crisafulli, Managing Partner at Hinckley Allen; Patrice DeVoe, Vice President of Operations at Tufts Health Plan; David Gow, Partner at Ernst & Young; Colleen Keating, Senior Vice President of Operations at Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.; Brenda Lyons, Executive Vice President at State Street Global Services; and Mariann Youniss of Wellesley.
Current Board Officers President Tom Barrette, Senior Council at Holland & Knight; Chair Sharon McNally, Chief of Staff at The Connors Family Office; Vice President Joe Realmuto, Partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC; Treasurer Aileen Keaney, Vice President of Finance at Audax Group; and Clerk Deborah Daccord, Member at Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.
We also appointed new members of the Young Professional Board: Andrew Brewster, Private Equity Associate at Audax Group; Talia Doucette, Consumer Marketing Associate at Gorton’s Seafood; Caitlin Glynn, Associate at Taylor, Ganson, and Parrin, LLP; Alena Johnson, Assurance Associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP; Derek Losi, Vice President at Cresa Boston; Lily Lynch, Communications Director at Massachusetts Non-Profit Network ; Alison Marigliani, Senior Accountant at Pegasystems, Inc.; Chris Nabhan, Senior Real Estate Analyst at Eaton Vance Management; Elke Perkuhn, Tax Associate at Ernst & Young, LLP; Arivee Vargas, Attorney at Jones Day; and Alexandra Webber, International Research & Innovation Specialist at Dunkin’ Brands.
After nominating committee and parliamentary procedures, Deborah Re, Chief Executive Officer, turned to the audience to share their favorite Big Sister highlights from the past year before unveiling the 2013 Annual Report, which celebrates all of Big Sister’s accomplishments. Featured on the cover is a city skyline of Boston, which represents our deep commitment to bringing about positive transformation throughout the community. Through vibrant graphics, heartwarming quotes, and fun photos, readers will learn about the impact an investment in Big Sister Association, and a Big Sister mentor can have on the life of a young girl and on the City of Boston.
We then honored our Big Sisters of the Year, Corporate Partner of the Year, and Community Partners of the Year, who shared inspiring stories about the impact of Big Sister’s mentoring programs.
Big Sister of the Year Evelyn Reyes Beato said, “I am grateful and honored to be a mentor to Little Sister Blasmiry at Big Sister. Big Sister has provided the opportunity for me to build a relationship with an amazing young girl! In the 3 years that we have been matched, I have watched her grow, mature and flourish. I want Blasmiry to know that she has the power within her to go far, realize all of her goals and dreams, and that I will be there to support and guide her every step of the way”.
Congratulations again to our Big Sisters of the Year: Eneida Roman-Olivieri, Rosemary Aylward, Jessica Burday, Vita Franjul, Sharon Jones, and Evelyn Reyes Beato; our Corporate Partner of the Year, Pricewaterhouse Coopers, LLP; and our Community Partners of the Year, Harbor Point Collaborative (The American City Coalition, The Harbor Point Community Task Force, Inc., Housing Opportunities Unlimited, and Corcoran Jennison Companies) and Josiah Quincy Elementary School. We look forward to fostering deeper relationships and more partnerships as we continue our work serving girls in Greater Boston.
We also celebrated the achievements of a staff member who embodies the values and beliefs of Big Sister and does whatever it takes to ensure girls reach their full potential. Helen Fullerton, Match Support Specialist, was recognized with the Above and Beyond Award. Not only is Helen responsible for many of our long-term successful matches, but she also brings creative and innovative ideas to her work, such as advocating for starting anniversary parties as a way to celebrate matches when they meet their critical 1st year milestone. Helen’s enthusiasm, insight, and genuine delight in her work of supporting matches shines through in everything she does.
CEO Deb Re then gave a special presentation thanking Sharon McNally for her dedicated service as Board President and welcoming her into her new role as Chair of the Board of Directors. Sharon McNally then invited previous Board Presidents Dolores Mitchell, Tim O’Brien, and Max Bardeen up to the podium to impart their words of wisdom in a roast-style passing of the torch to new Board President Tom Barrette. Tom graciously acknowledged the advice given by his predecessors and spoke about his vision for the next two years before Deb brought the evening’s program to a close.
Visit our Facebook photo album to see photos from the event.
Check out our 2014 Annual Meeting Slideshow:
