Pioneer's MissionPioneer InstitutePI_089a47d8-a34a-11e4-909d-ef52ae8142d9Pioneer Institute is an independent, non-partisan, privately funded research organization that seeks to improve the quality of life in Massachusetts through civic discourse and intellectually rigorous, data-driven public policy solutions based on free market principles, individual liberty and responsibility, and the ideal of effective, limited and accountable government.Pioneer Institute StaffJim StergiosExecutive Director -- Jim Stergios is Executive Director of Pioneer Institute, a Boston-based think tank founded in 1988. Prior to joining Pioneer, Jim was Chief of Staff and Undersecretary for Policy in the Commonwealth’s Executive Office of Environmental Affairs, where he drove efforts on water policy, regulatory and permit reform, and urban revitalization. His prior experience includes founding and managing a business, teaching at the university level, and serving as headmaster at a preparatory school. Jim holds a doctoral degree in Political Science from Boston University.Jim has been interviewed on the BBC, Fox News Channel, MSNBC, and has appeared regularly on local television and radio news broadcasts, including Chronicle, WBZ, WHDH, WCVB, NECN, Fox 25, WGBH TV and radio, WBUR’s Radio Boston, WBZ’s Nightside with Dan Rea, and WRKO. Jim’s opinion pieces have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, The Boston Globe, The Weekly Standard, The Washington Times, The Daily Caller, and regional newspapers throughout New England. He has been quoted in hundreds of news outlets across the country, including in The New York Times, The Economist, and The Washington Post, and speaks at national policy conferences.Mary Z. ConnaughtonDirector of Finance and Administration -- Mary Z. Connaughton, CPA, is Pioneer’s Director of Finance and Administration. Prior to joining Pioneer, she was a partner in the business development firm of Ascentage Group. Her professional experience also includes being an accounting instructor at Framingham State University and senior manager on the audit staff at Ernst and Young in Boston.Mary served on the former Massachusetts Turnpike Authority board of directors. She was a member of the Massachusetts Commission on Judicial Conduct and was on the board of directors of Commonwealth Corporation. She was Chief Financial Officer of the Massachusetts State Lottery and served in the State Treasurer’s Office. Mary was formerly vice chair of the Framingham Finance Committee.Mary earned an M.B.A. from Assumption College in 2009, as well as a B.B.A. in Accounting and a B.A. in English from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. She is a member of the Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants.Matt BlackbournOperations and Administrative Coordinator -- Matt Blackbourn has been Pioneer’s Operations and Administrative Coordinator since April 2012. As an intern at Pioneer during the winter of that year, Matt led the intern solicitation effort of the Better Government Competition. Since starting at Pioneer, he has helped develop new strategies for the competition’s outreach effort and has assisted with revamping the organization’s intern program, which he now helps manage. He is also involved with the Institute’s government transparency initiative.Matt holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Philosophy from Tulane University in New Orleans, where he graduated summa cum laude and completed a senior thesis concerning Mexico’s 1938 oil nationalization.Jamie GassDirector of the Center for School Reform -- Jamie Gass is Pioneer Institute’s Director of the Center for School Reform. At Pioneer, he has framed, commissioned, and managed over 60 research papers and numerous policy events on K-12 education reform topics. Jamie has more than two decades of experience in public administration and education reform at the state, municipal, and school district levels. Previously, he worked at the Massachusetts Office of Educational Quality and Accountability as Senior Policy Analyst-Technical Writer and in the state budget office under two Massachusetts governors. In the 1990s, Jamie worked for the Dean of the Boston University School of Education/Boston University Management Team in its historic partnership with the Chelsea Public Schools. He has appeared on various Boston media outlets: WBZ’s Nightside with Dan Rea, WRKO’s Tom & Todd Show, WBZ’s Keller at Large, WGBH’s Callie Crossley Show, WBUR, as well as talk radio across the country. He has been quoted in The Economist, Education Week, and The Boston Globe, and his op-eds are regularly published in The Boston Herald, The Worcester Telegram & Gazette, The Lowell Sun, The Providence Journal, other regional newspapers, as well as national op-eds and magazine articles in The Wall Street Journal, Education Next, and City Journal. Jamie speaks on academic standards, school choice options, and school accountability at events throughout the country. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from Boston University.Shawni LittlehaleDirector of Pioneer's Better Government Competition -- Shawni Littlehale is Director of Pioneer’s Better Government Competition. Associated with Pioneer since 1997, she worked in state government during the Weld administration as Director of Privatization Research and was a member of the Administration and Finance strategic planning and policy team. Shawni has also consulted to the MBTA on cost-cutting measures. She holds a B.A. in government from Wheaton College.Gregory SullivanResearch Director, Director of the Centers for Better Government and Economic Opportunity -- Gregory W. Sullivan is Pioneer’s Research Director, and oversees the Centers for Better Government and Economic Opportunity. Prior to joining Pioneer, Sullivan served two five-year terms as Inspector General of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts by appointment of the Governor, Attorney General, and Auditor. As Inspector General, Greg directed many significant cases, including an investigation that led to the conviction of House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi, a forensic audit that uncovered substantial over-billing by health-care providers to the state uncompensated care pool, a study that identified irregularities in the approval process of the state charter school program, and a review that identified systemic inefficiencies in the state public construction bidding system.Prior to serving as Inspector General, Greg held several positions within the state Office of Inspector General; his work included leading a project that identified systematic under-reporting of Big Dig cost-to-complete estimates, an investigation that led to the state’s recovering a misappropriated patent on an invention made in the state Biologic Laboratories, and an investigation that led to the conviction of the former budget director of the committee on ways and means of the Massachusetts State Senate for receiving kick-backs as financial advisor to the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority.Sullivan was a 17-year member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, serving on the committees of Ways and Means, Human Services, and Post-Audit and Oversight. As a legislator, Greg was a fiscal conservative. Working with the Pioneer Institute, he introduced legislation that was passed by the House of Representatives and State Senate to institute a workfare requirement in Massachusetts. He also sponsored legislation that resulted in the establishment of the Massachusetts research and development tax credit.Greg is a Certified Fraud Investigator, and holds a bachelor’s degree from Harvard College, a master’s degree in public administration from The Kennedy School of Public Administration at Harvard, and a master’s degree from the Sloan School at M.I.T., with a concentration in finance. Greg and his wife Marion live in Norwood and have four children and one grandchild.Micaela DawsonDirector of Communications -- Micaela Dawson is Pioneer’s Director of Communications. Micaela comes to Pioneer from Rising Tide Charter Public School in Plymouth, where she was responsible for managing the school’s external outreach to local media, political leaders, and the business community. In addition to maintaining regular communication with current families through a weekly newsletter, she marketed the school to prospective new families through a targeted mailing campaign and frequent school tours. Micaela has firsthand experience with educational accountability both as Student Information Coordinator at Rising Tide and as Technical Writer with the Office of Educational Quality and Accountability. She also served as a consultant with the Boston Public Schools, and provided development support for Fidelity Investments and Property & Portfolio Research. Micaela earned a Bachelor of Arts in Classics from Tufts University.Brian PattersonAdvancement Officer -- Brian Patterson is Pioneer’s Development Coordinator. He recently served as both Legislative Aide and Chief of Staff in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. During his tenure in state government, Brian was responsible for legislative drafting and research, media exposure, social networking, and budgetary analysis. He also has experience in political campaign operations, having served as Field Director for several successful state legislative races. Brian obtained a B.A. in Political Science and a minor in Philosophy from Saint Michael’s College in Colchester, VT.Kate ApfelbaumPeters Fellow in Education -- Kate Apfelbaum is Pioneer’s Peters Fellow in Education, and she is conducting the Institute’s research initiatives on the financial impact of charter schools and tax credit scholarship programs in Massachusetts. Kate earned a master’s degree in comparative social policy at the University of Oxford in 2013, writing a thesis on the unintended segregation effects of priority education in Paris and New York City. Prior to that, she worked with the Foundation for Education Reform and Accountability in Albany, NY on charter school and parent trigger research. She is a graduate of Trinity College, where she majored in education studies and minored in philosophy. In her free time, Kate coaches for the Boston University rowing team.Joshua ArchambaultSenior Fellow -- Joshua Archambault is Pioneer’s Director of Health Care Policy & Program Manager for the Middle Cities Initiative. Prior to joining Pioneer, Josh was selected as a Health Policy Fellow at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C. His research centered on the treatment of small businesses in the implementation of health reform in Massachusetts, and proposed alternative paths for other states to pursue. Other past research has focused on delivery system reforms in Massachusetts as a cost containment measure from increasing health care spending.Josh served as Legislative Director for State Senator Scott Brown and as a Senior Legislative Aide in the Governor’s Office of Legislative Affairs. During his tenure in the State House, Josh worked closely with municipal and business leaders on quality of life issues such as: public safety, improving the business climate and the education system.Josh holds a Masters in Public Policy from Harvard University’s Kennedy School and a BA in Political Studies and Economics from Gordon College.Iliya AtanasovSenior Fellow on Finance -- Iliya Atanasov is Pioneer’s Senior Fellow on Finance, and he is leading the Institute’s research initiatives on public pensions, infrastructure, and municipal performance. A former Presidential Fellow at Rice University in Houston, Texas, Atanasov is a PhD Candidate in Political Science and Government and an MA Candidate in Statistics.Charles D. ChieppoSenior Media Fellow -- Charles D. Chieppo is a Pioneer senior fellow. Previously, he was policy director in Massachusetts’ Executive Office for Administration and Finance and directed Pioneer’s Shamie Center for Restructuring Government. While in state government, Charlie led the successful effort to reform the Commonwealth’s public construction laws, helped develop and enact a new charter school funding formula, and worked on state workforce issues such as pension reform and easing state restrictions against privatization. In 2000, Charlie was a member of the MBTA’s Blue Ribbon Committee on Forward Funding and, more recently, his analysis of the proposed merger between the University of Massachusetts and Southern New England School of Law played a key role in the Board of Higher Education’s rejection of the proposal. His columns appeared regularly in The Boston Herald and have also been published by The Boston Globe, Boston Business Journal, Providence Journal, Springfield Republican, and Worcester Telegram & Gazette.John FriarSenior Fellow on Jobs & the Economy -- John Friar is Pioneer’s Senior fellow on Jobs and the Economy and Executive Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Northeastern University’s College of Business Administration. Dr. Friar has researched and written on the subjects of marketing strategy, management of innovation, and technology strategy, with emphases on radical innovations and start-up companies. Professor Friar has been involved in the start-up of several companies and currently serves on the board of several others. He has held positions in planning, marketing, and finance at N.A. Philips Corp. and was a software engineer at Draper Laboratories. Professor Friar has also taught at Clark and Brandeis University, Melbourne University in Australia, and Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées in Paris. An active consultant, he has special interest in the medical electronic, computer, and telecommunications industries.Stephen LisauskasSenior Fellow on Urban Revitalization -- Stephen Lisauskas is Pioneer’s Senior Fellow on Urban Revitalization. Stephen’s work focuses on helping cities and towns reduce costs, develop performance management and improvement systems and improve financial management and operational efficiency.Stephen served for two years as Executive Director of the Springfield Finance Control Board and one year as its Deputy Executive Director. In these roles, he oversaw the finances and day-to-day administration of a city with 7,000 employees, a $643 million operating budget and $260 million in ongoing capital investment. Prior to the establishment of the Springfield Finance Control Board, Springfield had experienced eighteen consecutive years of deficits; under State control, the City?s budget was balanced for five straight years, generating in excess of $50 million in surpluses. Also, a variety of innovative programs were implemented including the Springfield Promise Program, CitiStat, 311, Productivity Bank and others. Stephen holds a Master Degree of Public Administration from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University and a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science, also from Syracuse University.Amy LischkoSenior Fellow on Health Care -- Amy Lischko is a Pioneer senior fellow and an Associate Professor at Tufts University School of Medicine. Amy has over fifteen years of experience working for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in senior- level management positions. Amy has a doctorate degree in health services research from Boston University and extensive experience in health services research and policy analysis. Amy was the principal investigator on the Commonwealth’s grants to evaluate options for expanding health insurance coverage and was one of the key authors of the adminstration’s healthcare reform proposal. Since leaving state government in 2007, Amy has provided consulting services to AcademyHealth, Mathematica Policy Research, the National Governor’s Association, and individual states including Rhode Island, West Virginia, Minnesota, the US Virgin Islands and Washington State. She is the recipient of several grants to evaluate access to insurance and costs of the healthcare system. Amy’s research interests include bridging the gap between research and policy and making academic research more accessible to policymakers.Bruce WykesRuth and Lovett C. Peters Fellow in Education -- Bruce Wykes is the Ruth and Lovett C. Peters Fellow in Education for 2014. His starting focus is conducting research initiatives on Common Core and active duty military family members, curriculum choices made by parents when barriers are removed under school choice initiatives, and the benefits of traditional/classical literature as a background for English study. Bruce completed a master’s degree in politics and political philosophy in 2014 through the Van Andel Graduate School of Statesmanship at Hillsdale College, writing a thesis on the legacy impacts of progressive education theories of the early twentieth century. Prior to that, he was an Air Force officer, completing nearly 23 years of active duty, the first seven as an enlisted Airman. His military career spanned diverse areas including education, human resources, equal opportunity, deployment planning and operations, airlift execution, and also time teaching undergraduate history at the U.S. Air Force Academy.Bruce’s prior academic career includes a master’s degree in Middle East history through the University of Texas at Austin, a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Guam, and two associate of applied science degrees, one in educational and instructional technology, through the Community College of the Air Force, and one in Christian studies, through the San Antonio campus of Wayland Baptist University. He also completed multiple levels of both enlisted and officer professional military education. In his free time, Bruce enjoys reading, movies, dark chocolate, good coffee, travel, experiencing the outdoors, and time well spent with family and friends. He and his wife, Meg, have eight children, many of whom were adopted during multiple years of foster parenting and guardianship.Pioneer Institute Board of DirectorsStephen Fantone, Chairman -- President/CEO, Optikos CorporationLucile HicksVice-ChairC. Bruce JohnstoneVice-Chair -- Managing Director and Senior Marketing Investment Strategist, Fidelity InvestmentsNancy AnthonyTreasurer -- President, Fernwood Advisors, Inc.Jim StergiosExecutive DirectorMary Z. ConnaughtonClerk & Assistant TreasurerSteven AkinBoard MemberDavid BoitBoard MemberNancy CoolidgeBoard MemberAndrew DavisBoard MemberAlfred HoustonBoard MemberKeith HyltonBoard MemberGary KearneyBoard MemberJohn KingstonBoard MemberNicole ManseauBoard MemberPreston McSwainBoard MemberMark RickabaughBoard Member -- Executive VP, Anchor Capital AdvisorsDiane SchmalenseeBoard Member -- President, Schmalensee PartnersKristin ServisonBoard MemberBrian ShortsleeveBoard MemberPatrick WilmerdingBoard MemberEmmy Lou Hewitthonorary Board MemberEdna Shamiehonorary Board MemberPhyllis M. Stearnshonorary Board MemberWilliam B. TylerBoard Member -- Chairman Emeritus_089a4ada-a34a-11e4-909d-ef52ae8142d9To improve the quality of life in Massachusetts_089a4bfc-a34a-11e4-909d-ef52ae8142d9Civic DiscourseRigorFree MarketBrand. The application of free markets is not a conservative nor even a libertarian dictum. Markets work. Over the past half-century, governments of all political persuasions have used markets to provide more effective and efficient services.LibertyResponsibilityEffectivenessLimited GovernmentAccountabilityIndependenceWe do not accept government grants, are not attached to a university, and do not do contract research. Instead, we address the issues we believe to be most pressing in the context of our mission. We are supported in our efforts by individuals and foundations who believe in our mission and in our ability to fulfill it.ResearchProduce research through outside experts_089a4cf6-a34a-11e4-909d-ef52ae8142d91State of MassachusettsMethod. By producing research almost exclusively through outside experts, Pioneer ensures credibility, remaining focused on what we do best -- developing a strategic research and programs agenda for issues we believe in. We are a resource for legislators on Beacon Hill and for staff in the State's executive offices, and we attract more press than any other research institute in Massachusetts._089a4dfa-a34a-11e4-909d-ef52ae8142d9AgendaDevelop a strategic research and programs agenda_089a4ef4-a34a-11e4-909d-ef52ae8142d92_089a50de-a34a-11e4-909d-ef52ae8142d92015-01-23http://pioneerinstitute.org/pioneers-mission/OwenAmburOwen.Ambur@verizon.net