The High Tech Agenda

2025 Annual Meeting

Massachusetts is at a pivotal moment in shaping its economic future. As economic conditions evolve and competitive pressures intensify, the Council convened senior leaders from business, government, and academia on October 7 for its 2025 Annual Meeting at the Boston Marriott Burlington.

Guided by the theme of Restoring and Sustaining Massachusetts’ Competitiveness, the program examined the urgent challenges confronting the Commonwealth’s economic trajectory. The meeting featured the election of new Board leadership, updates on MassVision2050, the Mass Opportunity Alliance (MOA), and the MassVision Foundation, as well as updates about the Council’s proactive policy agenda, including two proposed 2026 ballot initiatives aimed at strengthening the state’s fiscal foundation and competitiveness.

At the Annual Meeting, Council members elected new Officers, Directors, and Executive Committee members, marking a defining moment for the organization’s leadership and its role in advancing Massachusetts’ competitiveness agenda.

Wirth and Kniker succeed John T.C. Lee, Ph.D., President and CEO of MKS, Inc., and Corey Thomas, CEO of Rapid7, Inc., who, since 2023, have guided the Council through a period of strategic expansion. Under their leadership, the Council launched the MassVision2050 initiative and the Mass Opportunity Alliance, solidifying its position as a leading voice for policies that drive growth and competitiveness.

In addition to re-electing 22 incumbent Directors, members welcomed five new Directors to the Board:

The Council also expanded its Executive Committee to enhance strategic oversight and strengthen member engagement. Newly elected members include Patrick Freytag, Puneet Mahajan (Suffolk), Val Panier, Ph.D. (BCG), Michael Plisinski (Onto Innovation), Grace Wang, Ph.D. (Worcester Polytechnic Institute), and Jean-Charles Wirth. They join continuing members John Lee, Robert Reynolds (Great-West Lifeco U.S.), Navjot Singh, Ph.D. (2123iX), Jane Steinmetz (EY), and Corey Thomas (Rapid7). 

As Massachusetts faces intensifying competitive headwinds, this leadership team will be central to shaping the Council’s strategy and advancing policies that drive sustainable growth and opportunity. 

Now, even The Boston Globe is taking note, recently stating in an editorial, “The state is facing serious, systemic headwinds, and policy makers need to be focusing on the broader business climate to attract new businesses and keep the ones we have.” The editorial concluded that “competing with North Carolina means getting serious about improving the state’s competitiveness, either by reducing taxes, improving public infrastructure, reining in energy and housing costs, or a bit of all of the above.” 

As Massachusetts strives to restore and sustain its competitiveness, MOA stands as both a symbol and a strategy for progress, harnessing the collective expertise of the Commonwealth’s business and innovation community to build a more resilient economic future.

State Business Climate, Government News, & Public Policy Updates

On October 3, the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Revenue held a hearing on two bills that would increase taxes on certain businesses operating here. These proposals, dubbed a “corporate fair share” tax by their supporters, are being advanced by the same organizations that pushed for the income surtax constitutional amendment. The proposals would make Massachusetts even more of an outlier on tax policy while exacerbating declining job growth, driving up high costs, and pushing taxpayers out of state.

Since its creation, MOA’s mission has been to educate the public and policymakers on the decline in competitiveness ailing Massachusetts. Council President Chris Anderson joined MOA Founders Jay Ash of the Massachusetts Competitive Partnership and Jim Stergios of Pioneer Institute in submitting testimony from MOA in opposition to these bills.

Council Vice President Elizabeth Mahoney testified at two legislative hearings held on September 16 and September 17 in support of bills that address the state’s early literacy and housing crises.

The Council recently joined Mass Reads, a coalition of teachers, parents, policy experts, and business leaders dedicated to ensuring all children can read on grade level in Massachusetts. Only 42% of the Commonwealth’s third graders were proficient in reading on the 2024 MCAS exams, an alarming statistic that demands action. As part of this coalition, Mahoney testified in support of a bill that would help school districts provide high-quality, evidence-based curricula, effective teacher training, and ongoing student screening to increase reading proficiency among elementary students to ensure their future success.

The high cost of housing in Massachusetts continues to be a challenge for the state’s competitiveness, as workers—particularly recent graduates—struggle to find housing they can afford, contributing to the outmigration of talent to lower-cost states. The Council testified in support of a proposal to facilitate housing construction on property owned by faith-based organizations. This would unlock thousands of acres of unused land, provide much-needed multifamily housing, and bring tax-exempt property onto the tax rolls.

On October 15, Governor Maura Healey announced the formation of a new Competitiveness Council, aimed at addressing Massachusetts’ economic challenges and restoring the Commonwealth’s long-term growth and affordability. The Council applauds the Governor’s efforts and sees it as an opportunity to reverse Massachusetts’ declining economic competitiveness and set the Commonwealth on a path toward renewed growth. 

Although Massachusetts remains a global innovation leader, recent data show significant pressures on the state’s economy, and restoring our competitiveness requires more than rhetoric. Key areas for action include lowering the cost of doing business, restructuring unemployment insurance, implementing zoning and permitting reforms to expand housing supply, strengthening workforce and educational outcomes, and advancing fiscal responsibility. We urge the Competitiveness Council to set measurable goals to achieve meaningful improvements by 2026, 2028, and 2030, including restoring Massachusetts to the Top 10 in business competitiveness and reversing the net outmigration of skilled workers. 

To learn more, read our press release HERE. 

MHTC News & Updates

As artificial intelligence continues to reshape industries, education, and the workforce, the Council and Boston Consulting Group (BCG) will convene senior leaders for the Massachusetts Leadership Forum on AI and the Workforce on Thursday, October 23, 2025 from 4:00 PM – 6:30 PM at BCG’s Boston office in the Seaport.

Panelists include:

• Andrea Gallego, Global Managing Director, Google Distributed Cloud GTM, Google
• Vlad Lukić, Global Leader, Tech & Digital Advantage, Boston Consulting Group
• Gabriele Ricci, Chief Data & Technology Officer, Takeda
• Grace Wang, President, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Following the discussion, attendees will connect with peers across sectors during a networking reception. Attendance is near capacity, reflecting the critical importance of AI and workforce strategy to the Commonwealth’s economic future.

As part of the Council’s mission to ensure the business community’s voice is heard in shaping the Commonwealth’s future, we are hosting a series of invitation-only Meet & Greet conversations with declared candidates for Governor of Massachusetts. 

These confidential, off-the-record sessions provide senior executives a unique opportunity to engage directly with candidates on their leadership vision, economic priorities, and policy proposals impacting the state’s competitiveness and quality of life. 

The Council hosted its first session in September with candidate Mike Kennealy. The conversation featured a candid exchange on the state’s fiscal outlook, business climate, and the policies needed to restore growth and affordability. 

Three additional sessions will be held virtually in November:

• November 10: Governor Maura Healey
• November 12: Mchael Minogue
• November 17: Brian Shortsleeve

Invitations with meeting details will be extended directly to invited members. To RSVP, members should email Jenny Enfield (jenny@mhtc.org) to be added to the calendar invitation for the respective session(s).

These discussions underscore the Council’s commitment to fostering open, solutions-oriented dialogue between the state’s top business leaders and its next potential chief executive.

Please contact Elizabeth Mahoney with questions regarding the Meet & Greets.

Building on the Council’s long-standing leadership in pandemic response and recovery, we are collaborating with the PolyBio Research Foundation and former Executive Committee member Steve Pagliuca to spotlight a new, high-impact initiative aimed at tackling one of the most persistent health and workforce challenges of the post-pandemic era: Long COVID. 

During the height of the pandemic, the Council played a pivotal role in shaping Massachusetts’ response through the Massachusetts Recovery and Return to the Workplace Framework—a trusted resource for employers and public officials that informed the Commonwealth’s reopening strategy. That same spirit of cross-sector collaboration and data-driven action now underpins our support for the Long COVID Cure Initiative (LCCI). 

The Long COVID Cure Initiative (LCCI)—led by PolyBio in concert with the Pagliuca family—seeks to validate and commercialize the most promising diagnostic tests and treatments for Long COVID, which has affected millions and contributed to an estimated $3.7 trillion economic burden nationwide. Despite its scale, there are still no FDA-approved treatments and no validated diagnostics to guide care. 

To advance understanding and engagement among Council members, PolyBio is hosting two virtual briefings on October 17 and October 29 for our members. During these sessions, LCCI leaders will share the latest research findings, discuss clinical and commercial pathways, and outline opportunities for collaboration to accelerate progress. 

Invited members received RSVP information directly. Others interested in learning more may contact Jenny Enfield (jenny@mhtc.org) with questions. 

This effort continues the Council’s tradition of convening Massachusetts’ innovation community to drive data-driven, cross-sector solutions that improve health outcomes, strengthen the workforce, and sustain economic vitality.