Carmen Arce is the Chief Operating Officer of The Partnership, Inc., a Boston based organization focused on attracting, developing, and retaining professionals of color in the region and beyond.

Prior to joining The Partnership, Carmen served for over three years as Director of Personnel and Administration in the office of Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick overseeing and managing all matters related to high-level personnel transactions in the executive branch. Prior to this role, she served as Project Director of ONE Massachusetts at the Public Policy Institute and trained more than 250 community leaders on issues related to community empowerment and public policy strategy.

Carmen serves on the board of WBUR, Boston NPR news station, on the leadership board of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and on the newly created Governor’s Council on Latino Empowerment. Carmen also recently served as a trustee of Buckingham Browne and Nichols School and chaired its inaugural Diversity, Equity & Inclusion committee. Her past board engagement also includes the boards of MassVote, the Chelsea Collaborative, Emerge Massachusetts, and the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women.

Carmen’s recognitions include: AmplifyLatinX 2024 ALX100 honoree and the Commonwealth Seminar inaugural 20 for 20 distinguished alumni honorees. The Red Sox also recognized Carmen on the field for its 2023 Annual Women’s Celebration Night. In 2022, Tufts University recognized Carmen with a Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award – one of the highest recognitions the university awards every year to its alumni. The Boston Business Journal named Carmen as one of its 2018 40 Under 40 honorees, a competitive awards program that recognizes Boston’s most promising young professionals. In 2019, Boston executives selected Carmen to be part of a 10-member cohort representing Boston at the Harvard Business School “Young American Leaders Program” around issues of cross-sector collaboration in the US.

Originally from Mexico, Carmen graduated with a LL.B from Universidad Panamericana Law School in Guadalajara Mexico, a LL.M from Suffolk University Law School, and a MALD degree from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy focusing on International Development – Social and Political Change.

She resides in Watertown, MA together with her 14-year-old daughter Pilar.

Heather Campion is a managing director at Diversified Search Group, and leads the firm’s strategic consulting practice, Connected Leadership. Her practice helps CEOs and c-suite leaders to connect, convene, and communicate to expand their influence and impact. She also serves as a strategic adviser in Diversified Search Group’s executive searches across multiple sectors. Campion has broad experience at the highest levels of public, private, and nonprofit institutions with expertise in communications, marketing, government relations, and charitable giving. Prior to joining Diversified Search Group, Campion was CEO of the JFK Presidential Library Foundation following over a decade in financial services. She led Corporate Affairs as EVP at Citizens Financial Group, serving on the company’s top management team through over a dozen acquisitions. She later served as Chief Administrative Officer and Corporate Secretary of Northeast Bancorp. Prior to her career in banking, Campion held several key leadership positions at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. She was associate director of Harvard’s Institute of Politics and director of the JFK Jr. Forum. She also served as the school’s director of public liaison and helped launch the Center for Business & Government.  Campion began her career in politics and government and served in the Carter White House. She has also had roles in several presidential campaigns. A recognized leader in women’s advancement, Campion is a past president of the Massachusetts Women’s Forum and is on the board of the Massachusetts Conference for Women. She is currently on the board of AAA Northeast, the President’s Advisory Board of the Brigham & Women’s Hospital and is a member of the Corporation of Mass General Brigham. She has served on numerous private and nonprofit boards including Harvard’s Institute of Politics (IOP), PennyMAC Financial Services, and Citizens Energy. 

Renee Connolly is the Chief Belonging & Inclusion (B&I) Officer for Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany and Senior Vice President of Communications & Branding for its Life Science business.

As B&I Officer, Connolly leads the global strategy to foster an inclusive and purpose-driven workplace. Her work focuses on embedding B&I into the company’s culture and operations, of the €21 billion enterprise, spanning 62,000 employees in 65 countries. supporting both business and employee development.

As the Global Head and SVP of Communications and Branding for the Life Sciences business, Connolly oversees internal and external communications for the €8.9 billion business with more than 26,000 employees, as well as brand strategy and creative services. Her team supports global business with integrated campaigns that bring its science, people, and purpose to life.

With more than 20 years at Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, Connolly has played a pivotal role in driving strategic transformation and shaping the company’s identity. She previously led Communications and Business Markets / Services for the Life Science business, and in 2015, she directed the communication strategy for the €14.5 billion acquisition of Sigma-Aldrich, the largest in company history. She also launched SPARK™ global volunteer program and Curiosity Labs™ program, which brings hands-on STEM education to students around the world.

Earlier in her career, Connolly served as Vice President of U.S. Communications for the company’s Healthcare business and worked in public and investor relations in New York City, supporting biotech, pharmaceutical and life science clients.

Connolly is a passionate advocate and community leader. She serves on the boards the International Women’s Forum of Massachusetts, the American Cancer Society’s New England Region chapter, the Home for Little Wanderers and is the current President of the Massachusetts Conference for Women.  She is a past recipient of the Working Mother of the Year award from Working Mother Magazine and of the American Cancer Society’s Cindy Lombardo Service Above Self Award for her support in the fight against cancer.

Connolly holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Ithaca College. She lives in Boston with her husband and four children.

Monisha Dabek, Chief Operating Officer at Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc., is an accomplished executive and leader in the management consulting, sales, brand marketing, innovation and strategy arenas. “There are equal parts magic and value creation in finding the authentic connection point between consumers and brands. Whether building upon history and recognition or making a difference in a consumer’s life through innovation, there is nothing more exciting than bringing a brand to life.”

Dabek leads Ocean Spray’s Sales, Marketing, Innovation, Consumer Insights and Public Relations in the U.S. region, with oversight and management of the profit and loss (P&L) for these critical areas.  “What a unique and exciting opportunity—to bring this team together to collaboratively and strategically drive growth and prosperity for our family farmer-owners, ensuring the iconic Ocean Spray brand and cooperative continue to be vibrant for the next century.”

She comes to us from Danone, where she most recently created and led the Enterprise Strategy & Innovation team. Her prior roles with Danone were centered in the brand marketing organization, spanning leadership positions in Plant Based Food & Beverage (Silk, SoDelicious), RTD Coffee (International Delight & Stok), and other portfolio brands. In addition to her time with Danone, she has worked for a variety of well-known industry leaders, including Accenture, PepsiCo, and WhiteWave Foods. 

Throughout her career, Dabek has led cross functional teams, managed P&L’s, and driven successful communications and innovation efforts for new brand launches and restages. She also has developed extensive sales expertise through her customer facing and HQ leadership roles, as well as experience across DSD & Warehouse, and multi-temperature supply chain networks.

Pamela D. Everhart is a 30-year Fidelity Investments veteran with financial services expertise, Pamela Everhart is a senior vice president and Head of Regional Public Affairs, Inclusion, and Impact in Fidelity’s Corporate Affairs group. In this role, Pamela oversees the firm’s state and local government relationships, is responsible for Global D&I strategy, and public affairs, and community relations activities at its Boston Headquarters and across Fidelity’s regions in the U.S., India, and Ireland. Pamela has led Fidelity’s efforts to deliver financial literary to hundreds of thousands of students in underserved communities in the regions where Fidelity has a footprint. Previously, Pamela led the firm’s advocacy strategy and engagement with government officials in Washington, DC on federal regulatory policy matters that could impact Fidelity’s ability to serve its clients and customers, its products and services, and the firm.

Pamela is excited and proud to lead Fidelity’s “Invest in My Education (ME)” initiative. This is a $250M innovative, holistic program to help students from underserved communities and underrepresented populations graduate from college with little to no educational debt, and provide mentoring as well as other wraparound ongoing support to help them complete their degrees, find post-graduation employment, and start on a pathway to generational wealth. The program will also provide eco-system grants to leading nonprofit organizations who are focused on improving graduation rates for underserved high school and college students.

Pamela has led Fidelity’s Personal Investing and Workplace Investing business units’ external retirement and benefit policy development efforts, where she engaged and educated federal and state lawmakers and administrative officials on key policy issues and positions. She has managed the staff and budget of a 200+ compliance team for the firm’s retirement and HR outsourcing services and products provided to corporate, tax exempt and governmental employers. She has held the position of Associate General Counsel, responsible for legal issues arising from the company’s management of retirement plan assets, including application of federal tax laws, regulations, and rulings. Pamela is also a member of all of Fidelity’s Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and serves as Co-Executive Sponsor for Aspire (Fidelity’s Latino and Black ERG) and a Senior Advisor for the Women’s Leadership Group.

Prior to joining Fidelity, Pamela was an associate with the global law firm of Ropes & Gray LLP, concentrating in employee benefits and corporate tax matters. She also practiced as a certified public accountant and senior tax manager with EY.

Pamela received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Texas at Austin and a Juris Doctorate from Harvard Law School, where she was an Asst. Managing Editor on the Harvard Women’s Law Journal and a Class Marshall. Pamela worked on the campaigns for former MA Governor Deval Patrick, President Barack Obama, Senator Kamala Harris, among others.

Regarding professional affiliations, Pamela is admitted to practice law in Massachusetts and before the Supreme Court. She is a member of the Massachusetts Bar and the Texas Society of CPAs. She is a Governor-appointed member of the MA MassHire State Workforce Board, the MA Economic Development Council, and the MA Financial Services Advisory Council. Earlier this year, Governor Maura Healey announced the appointment of Pamela to serve on the Massport Board of Directors. Pamela was also appointed to serve on Governor Healey’s Advisory Council on Black Empowerment to advise on issues related to the economic prosperity and wellbeing of Massachusetts’ Black community. She is also a member of the executive board of The New England Council. Pamela is Co-Chair of the Public Policy Leadership Council and a member of the Economic Opportunity Committee at the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce. Pamela is the 2021 recipient of the Boston Chamber’s Pinnacle Lifetime Achievement Award. Pamela has served as the mutual fund representative to the IRS Information Reporting Program Advisory Committee, where she advised senior IRS officials on a wide range of tax reporting issues.

As a leader in the community, Pamela is one of the 19 MA Black and Brown executives who launched the “New Commonwealth Racial Equity and Social Justice Fund” to help drive transformative social changes to address systemic racism and racial inequity and was appointed by Boston Mayor, Martin Walsh, as a Steering Committee member of the Boston Racial Equity Fund. Pamela is active in several community service organizations and sits on several not-for-profit boards, including the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Trustee Advisory Board, Harvard Law School Alumni Association, the Neighborhood House Charter School (life trustee), and the Boston Symphony Orchestra (overseer Emeriti). She’s also legislative chair of the Boston Chapter of Jack and Jill, Inc., and an active member in Girl Friends, Inc., Circle-Lets, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Pamela is a past member of the board of trustees of the Roxbury Latin School, past president of the Boston Chapter of Links, Inc., and a former president of the Houston Chapter of the National Association of Black Accountants.

Pamela is married and has two children.

Melanie Foley is Executive Vice President and Chief Purpose and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Officer at Liberty Mutual Insurance. She leads our talent, brand and communications, community investments, sustainability, and DEI functions to enable a high-performing and inclusive culture that results in employee pride and partner trust.

Melanie is known for her deep business knowledge, broad leadership skills and commitment to DEI. She has extensive experience leading global organizational transformations and driving talent and enterprise strategies that enable business success and enhance employee experiences.

Melanie joined Liberty Mutual as an account executive in 1996. For more than a decade, she was promoted into several positions of increasing responsibility in the sales and marketing functions of the US Personal Insurance business. In 2009, she was appointed Executive Vice President and General Manager of Distribution. She was named Executive Vice President and Chief Talent & Enterprise Services Officer of the company in 2011. In the last two years, her role expanded to include a focus on purpose and DEI.

Additionally, Melanie serves on the boards of trustees at Boston Medical Center, Bentley University and HopeWell, a nonprofit foster care agency and youth support organization.

Melanie received her BS in Marketing from Boston College and an MBA from Bentley College. A native of Boston, she currently resides with her husband and four children in Westwood, Massachusetts.

Kathy Horgan is executive vice president and chief human resources and citizenship officer at State Street Corporation, responsible for ensuring that employees feel engaged, valued and committed to the markets and clients they serve. She leads all global functions related to talent acquisition, education and training, career development, performance management, succession planning, diversity and inclusion, and leadership development company wide. She is a member of State Street’s Management Committee, the company’s most senior strategy and policy-making team. Horgan joined State Street in April 2009, initially as the head of human resources for State Street Global Advisors. She took on roles of increasing responsibility within human resources, including talent development, employee relations and HR operations, before assuming her current role in 2017.
Prior to joining State Street in 2009, Horgan was an executive vice president of human resources at Old Mutual Asset Management, where she was responsible for the delivery of HR strategy and services supporting the firm’s institutional multi-boutique model. Prior to that, she spent more than 10 years at Mellon Financial Corporation as human resources director for its global asset management business. Prior to Mellon, she was a human resources manager at Boston Scientific Corporation. She began her career with Baxter Healthcare Corporation. Horgan chairs State Street’s U.S. Benefits Committee and is a member of the company’s Professional Women’s Network global advisory board and “Leading Women,” a mentoring program for senior women across the company.  She serves on the Board of Trustees for Thayer Academy in Braintree, Massachusetts.  Horgan was named to Profiles in Diversity Journal’s annual list of “Women Worth Watching” in 2017. She often presents on topics related to career management, talent management and employee engagement. Horgan has more than 30 years of human resources experience, primarily in the asset management industry, and graduated from Cornell University with a bachelor’s degree in industrial and labor relations.

Kelli Kirwin is an award-winning and well-respected executive, currently serving as senior director of global software sales with Cisco Systems. Over her nearly 15-year career with Cisco, Kirwin has a proven track record of success incubating and scaling new market opportunities, ensuring customers realize value faster across the lifecycle selling motion. She is adept at building powerful teams and relationships, identifying next wave growth opportunities, communicating vision, and maximizing the power & potential of her teams. Prior to her current role, Kirwin served in various positions, leading teams across Cisco’s global software, services, and customer success areas. Prior to joining Cisco, Kirwin was a senior consultant with Silverback Technologies, and a partner development manager with American Power Conversion. Kirwin is on the board of directors of the Massachusetts Conference for Women. She completed her BS at the University of Rhode Island and has continued her executive education at Harvard University.

Kimberly Vaughan is the founder and Principal of Summit, a management consulting firm that specializes in unifying brand and culture for peak performance. Working with clients across a variety of sectors, Summit uses a proven process to get at the heart of what a company stands for, the way it puts it in action, and how it turns it into a story that employees, customers and other audiences can believe in. Summit helps create the alignment that drives higher performance inside companies and out. Previous to launching Summit, Vaughan was the Chief Marketing Officer and Brand Head, Chief People Officer and Chief Culture Officer at Suffolk, one of the largest and most innovative building construction companies in the country. Over more than a decade, Vaughan was at the nexus of brand and marketing, people and culture. As Chief People and Culture Officer, Vaughan provided leadership and oversight of talent acquisition, talent management, succession planning, engagement and retention, performance, training, leadership development, and compensation and benefits. Vaughan also served on Suffolk’s executive management team, which was responsible for providing counsel and input on the strategic direction of the company. Here, she ensured that any evolving strategies, ideas and initiatives were in alignment with Suffolk’s overall mission and business goals, while also creating and maintaining a strong corporate culture for employees. Vaughan serves on the board of trustees of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, Massachusetts Conference for Women, and is Treasurer of the Massachusetts Women’s Forum. Vaughan was named one of Banker & Tradesman’s Women of FIRE, an annual award recognizing key female players in the local FIRE (Finance, Insurance and Real Estate) sector. She was also named one of the 10 Phenomenal Women Honorees by Strong Women, Strong Girls, was honored as one of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce’s 2012 recipients of the Ten Outstanding Young Leaders awards, and has also received the prestigious Pinnacle Award by the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce. Vaughan graduated from Holy Cross with a BA and recently received her Executive MBA from the Harvard Business School.