Richard K. Sullivan, Jr. is the President & Chief Executive Officer of the Western Mass Economic Development Council, a private non-profit corporation that provides resources and information to businesses operating in or entering the region by aiding in expansion, relocation and networking.

Before heading the EDC, Sullivan was Governor Deval Patrick’s top advisor and worked with all members of his Cabinet to advance the Administration’s agenda. Prior to being named Patrick’s Chief of Staff, Sullivan served as Secretary of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, overseeing the Commonwealth’s six environmental, natural resource and energy regulatory agencies: the Departments of Environmental Protection, Public Utilities, Energy Resources, Conservation & Recreation, Agriculture, and Fish & Game. He also served as Chairman of the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, the Energy Facilities Siting Board, and the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, and as Commissioner of the Department of Conservation and Recreation.

Sullivan served as the mayor of Westfield from 1994 to 2007 and, in that capacity, chairman of the Westfield School Committee.

He is a past president of the Massachusetts Mayors Association, past chairman of the Turnpike Advisory Board, and a past member of the Governor’s Local Advisory Committee.

Sullivan holds degrees from Bates College and Western New England School of Law.

During this episode, we discuss:

• What Rick does at the EDC
• An overview of what the EDC is and how it supports the local economy
• What encouraged Rick to become the President & CEO
• Benefits businesses get from becoming members of the EDC
• Affiliates the EDC works with
• How the EDC is supporting workforce development
• The EDC’s role with guiding businesses through seasonality issues
• Various projects the EDC is working on

And more. Listen to this episode to learn more about Rick and the Western Mass Economic Development Council’s initiatives for stimulating a vigorous economy in Western Massachusetts.

Access the full transcript here.

Watch the episode on YouTube here.

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