|
The Massachusetts Business Roundtable is a statewide public affairs organization of chief executive officers and area executives of the state’s leading companies representing a full range of Massachusetts industry and business enterprise.
The Roundtable’s mission is to inform the Commonwealth’s elected and appointed leaders by applying the knowledge, experience, insight and unique managerial perspective of its membership toward the resolution of complex public policy issues. Through research, evaluation and communication, the Massachusetts Business Roundtable strives to influence the state’s public policy agenda, and develop and articulate long-term views, programs and policies that promote the economic and social vitality of Massachusetts.
Major business leaders formed the Massachusetts Business Roundtable
in 1979 to respond to the need for a statewide forum for private
sector leadership in state public policy. The members are committed to
advocating for public policies that foster economic growth and a well-trained
and productive workforce for all businesses in the commonwealth.
As an invited member, one is recognized for business and community leadership. A CEO's participation in the Roundtable means that he or she is concerned with quality of life issues in Massachusetts and is willing to work directly with peer business leaders to study and address key public policy issues such as health care, economic development, fiscal policy, corporate social responsibility, and education. Additionally, MBR meetings and events allow members to develop personal relationships with their business peers and collaborate on work that is important to the commonwealth.
The Massachusetts Business Roundtable has at least three distinct
characteristics:
| 1. |
Its membership is comprised of the highest level
of business executives from employers across the full range of
diverse industries in the commonwealth. The membership is not
dominated by any one industry or geographical area. |
| |
|
| 2. |
The Roundtable is a member-driven organization. Our members take active leadership roles in directing and implementing the MBR agenda. The principal strength of the organization is the extent of participation by the CEO's of the member companies and the opportunity to influence the state's public policy agenda. |
| |
|
| 3. |
MBR is selective in the issues it studies. The Roundtable takes
a long-term perspective when addressing public policy issues.
The organization focuses on only two or three major issues at
one time. |
The Massachusetts Business Roundtable's leadership is comprised of four
officers, an executive committee and a board of directors. The Roundtable's
public policy advocacy agenda is driven through task forces, each headed
by a CEO and made up of members who meet regularly to discuss issues
and hear presentations on subjects germane to the task force's topic
area. The task forces also review past Roundtable actions, commission
research, and develop advocacy agendas to be enacted by the Roundtable.
MBR's agenda is driven by the membership working together on issues
that have broad impact on the social and economic well being of the
commonwealth. The members select issues where they can provide input
from their knowledge and perspective as CEOs. Traditionally, the MBR
has worked primarily on education, health care, workforce training
and infrastructure issues.
The most intense policy work takes place in our task force process,
and members often appoint their most senior deputy to participate
in our task force discussions. Certain evenst like the directors' meetings are reserved for members only.
However, most events are open to the member's top deputy, whose participation
is encouraged by MBR members.
The Roundtable places its focus on policy. We work closely with state
elected officials, but we do not endorse or support candidates running
for office.
There is no formal affiliation or alliance with other Roundtable organizations.
There are currently seventeen states with some form of a Roundtable
organization, as well as the National Business Roundtable. These organizations
share many of the same agenda items, such as education and health
care improvements, and information is exchanged at the staff level
throughout the year.
The Roundtable's Membership Committee reviews potential members. Formal
membership is by invitation from the Roundtable's Board of Directors.
MBR does not normally hold open meetings or events, but occasionally
cosponsors a public event that will contribute to the public's understanding
of a critical issue.
The board of directors meets quarterly. Task forces meet more often
depending upon the work they have undertaken and the issues with
which they are dealing. When appropriate, the Roundtable will have
an event for all members regarding a particular issue. In addition,
the Roundtable holds an annual meeting for all members and deputies
and an annual retreat weekend for members and their spouses.
|
