The Greg Bialecki Leadership Seminar launches with a day of learning, collaboration, and celebration

On July 22, MassINC brought together municipal officials, economic development practitioners, real estate developers, state leaders, and civic partners at the UMass Club for the inaugural Greg Bialecki Leadership Seminar and kickoff reception. The day honored Greg Bialecki, former Massachusetts Secretary of Housing and Economic Development, and reflected the qualities that defined his career: ambitious thinking, practical problem-solving, strong public-private partnerships, and a deep commitment to helping Gateway Cities thrive.

The seminar began with a welcome from André Leroux, program director of the Gateway Cities Innovation Institute, followed by remarks and a conversation with Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities Juana Matias.

Ben Forman, director of the MassINC Policy Center, and Leroux provided updates on the MassINC Policy Center’s ongoing research and policy agenda with a particular focus on efforts to ensure that Gateway City communities offer residents pathways to upward mobility.

The first panel, Partnerships for Growth, explored how municipal, state, and private-sector leaders can work together to advance complex development projects. Peter Dunn of the City of Worcester, Marcos Marrero of MassDevelopment, and Eric Nakajima of the City of Holyoke joined moderator Stephanie Pollack, a MassINC Greg Torres Senior Fellow and former Massachusetts transportation secretary, for the discussion.

The Gateway City Gallery Walk brought these challenges and opportunities to life through development projects from communities across Massachusetts. Together, the projects demonstrated both the scale of investment occurring in Gateway Cities and the creativity required to overcome financial, infrastructure, regulatory, and development barriers.

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The afternoon continued with Let’s Build!, a conversation focused on what developers need to successfully invest in Gateway City neighborhoods. The panel featured April Anderson of Anderson Strategic Advisors, Kenan Bigby of BLD Properties, and Jonathan Lee Cozzens of Lee Properties and MassINC Greg Torres Senior Fellow. Rebecca Davis of the Massachusetts Competitive Partnership moderated the discussion.

Secretary of Economic Development Eric Paley later joined participants for remarks and a conversation about the Commonwealth’s economic development priorities and the role Gateway Cities can play in Massachusetts’ future growth.

Following the seminar, MassINC welcomed friends, colleagues, community leaders, and partners for a kickoff reception celebrating the launch of the Greg Bialecki Leadership Seminar. Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, Senate President Karen Spilka, and several of Greg’s former colleagues, friends, and family members shared reflections on his leadership, his lasting contributions to Massachusetts, and his deep commitment to expanding opportunity across the Commonwealth. Their remarks underscored how the new initiative will carry that work forward by investing in the next generation of leaders and ensuring Greg’s legacy continues to shape Massachusetts for years to come.

Housed within the MassINC Policy Center’s Gateway Cities Innovation Institute, the Seminar will carry Greg’s work forward by creating opportunities for public- and private-sector leaders to learn from one another, strengthen their leadership skills, visit communities, develop partnerships, and collaboratively address the challenges facing Gateway Cities.

The gathering was both a celebration of Greg’s extraordinary legacy and a commitment to the future he worked throughout his career to build: a more innovative, inclusive, and prosperous Massachusetts, powered by strong cities and bold, collaborative leadership.

Thank you to the speakers, participants, supporters, and members of Greg’s family and community who helped make the inaugural seminar and kickoff reception possible.