Katie Johnston
Journalist, The Boston Globe

Katie Johnston writes about work and income inequality for the Boston Globe. She has been part of the Business department at the Globe since 2009, covering labor unions, low-wage workers, the carceral system, and other economic justice issues. She also edits the Globe Magazine's annual Top Places to Work section. Previously at the Globe, she wrote about travel and tourism, worked as an entertainment and music editor, and wrote comedy and dining reviews. She has also worked at the Itemizer-Observer in Dallas, Ore., and the Colorado Springs Gazette and has received awards from the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing, the Colorado Press Association, the Oregon Newspaper Association, and the Society of Professional Journalists. She graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder.

Kathy Henry
Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary, Eastern Bank

Kathy is Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary of Eastern Bankshares, Inc. and Eastern Bank (together, Eastern). She oversees the various legal affairs of Eastern, including corporate governance, in-house legal advice, litigation risk, and SEC compliance; she also leads the human resources team as well as corporate communications and public relations.  She serves on Eastern’s executive management committee and was part of the leadership team that led the company through its highly successful IPO in 2020 and intensive mergers and acquisitions, including three bank acquisitions, helping to grow Eastern into Greater Boston’s leading bank.  Prior to joining Eastern, Kathy served as the General Counsel and Deputy General Counsel at Plymouth Rock Assurance Corporation; and before that was a litigator at Choate, Hall & Stewart, where she also served as the firm’s hiring and pro bono partner. Nominated by Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, she serves as Chair of the Massachusetts Judicial Nominating Committee.  Kathy is a member of the Boston Bar Association (BBA) and has served on or chaired various of its committees.  She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Political Asylum/ Immigration Representation Project; and on the Advisory Committee for the Women in the Law Conference of Northeastern University Law School. Kathy is a graduate of Boston University (B.A. Journalism) and Northeastern University School of Law.  She is a ten-time Boston Marathoner.

Amy Dwyer
Chief Human Resources Officer, Salary.com

Amy is a strategic HR executive specializing in cultural shifts and elevating talent. With over twenty years of experience, Amy has built and scaled human resource functions across multiple industries.  She is passionate about harnessing the power of HR to drive positive impact, whether it's optimizing operations, fostering innovation, or cultivating a culture of continuous learning and development. She specializes in crafting people-centric strategies that foster engagement, boost morale, and drive results.

Outside of work, Amy enjoys spending time with her family and friends.  She also loves to travel, is an avid reader, and occasionally binge-watches reality TV.

Steven Marshall
Managing Principal, Gale Associates

Steven Marshall is the Managing Principal of Gale Associates, Inc., responsible for corporate leadership, strategic direction, and overall performance of the firm’s multi-disciplinary practice. With over 30 years of experience in building enclosure consulting, he is recognized as an industry leader and leverages that background to guide the company’s diverse service offerings and drive operational excellence across all disciplines.

Chris Floyd
President and CEO, C.E. Floyd Company PBC

Chris manages all facets of the business with a focus on C.E. Floyd’s vision and long-term strategic planning. He brings a dynamic blend of construction and business experience to his work in culture creation, continuous improvement, client and employee engagement, and market analysis. Chris is passionate about C.E. Floyd’s role in helping clients and people build their vision. He began his career at John Moriarty and Associates, then joined C.E. Floyd in 2003 after receiving his MBA from Babson College. Chris gained experience in every department of the company before becoming President and CEO in 2015. He’s on the Advisory Board of the Frank & Eileen Center for Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership at Babson College and is an active member of YPO, the premier leadership organization to harness the knowledge, influence, and trust of the world’s most influential and innovative business leaders.

Sarah Chechowitz
Compensation Manager, Rapid7

Sarah Chechowitz (she/her) is a Compensation Manager for Rapid7, where she partners with leadership, HRBPs, and TA to ensure all global employees are paid competitively and equitably for the skills and experience they bring.  Together with her team and HR Partners, she advocates for thoughtful compensation decisions, scalable programs, and equitable pay practices that align with Rapid7's core values.

Sarah also serves as the North America focal for Rapid7's Neurodiversity ERG.  In this role, she works to champion inclusive workplace standards and support a culture where neurodivergent talent can thrive. She is dedicated to the intersection of data-driven equity and empathetic advocacy to build a more inclusive professional landscape.

Laura Mannix
Human Resources Business Partner, Bentley University

Laura Mannix is a Human Resources Business Partner at Bentley University with 15+ years of experience strengthening leadership capability, organizational effectiveness, and culture. She has been instrumental in administering Bentley’s Career Success Equity Program and now leads efforts to evaluate and adapt it to advance racial and gender wage equity. With a focus on Organizational Development and Talent Strategy, Laura brings deep experience advising managers on employee issues and building professional development systems that support consistent, inclusive staff experiences. Her professional experience includes roles at Tufts University, MIT, and Bank of New York Mellon. She earned a BA in Psychology from Dartmouth College and a MA in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from Rice University. 

Dominick Pangallo
Mayor, City of Salem

A lifelong Salem resident, Dominick Pangallo is now raising his family in the North Salem neighborhood where he grew up. The son of two educators, he graduated from Salem public schools before earning a bachelor’s degree from Bates College and two master’s degrees from Suffolk University in political science and public administration.

Mayor Pangallo began his public service career working for State Representative John Keenan, later serving in communications and community development roles, including with the Peabody Essex Museum and the Partnership for Community Development. In 2013, he returned to Salem to serve as Chief of Staff for the next decade under Mayor Kim Driscoll, overseeing city operations and helping lead major initiatives for a decade, including Salem’s COVID-19 response.

In 2023, Dominick was elected Salem’s 52nd Mayor after winning the citywide special election. This past year, he was elected to his first full four-year term after running unopposed. As Mayor, Dominick has focused on housing affordability, transportation, climate action, equity, responsive public services, and transparent, inclusive government. Mayor Pangallo currently chairs the Salem School Committee and serves on numerous local, regional, and statewide boards and organizations. His goal is to ensure Salem remains a city that works for and welcomes everyone.

Joanne Pokaski
Assistant Vice President of Workforce Planning and Development, Beth Israel Lahey Health

Joanne Pokaski is the Assistant Vice President of Workforce Planning and Development at the Beth Israel Lahey Health system, the second largest private employer in Massachusetts. Her team sponsors employees’ training and promotion to hard-to-fill roles, supports all BILH employees in their career development, and partners with community organizations to connect community members to jobs and careers at BILH.

Joanne is the Chair of the Massachusetts Workforce Board and a member of Boston’s Workforce Board. Joanne founded and for seven years chaired the Boston Healthcare Careers Consortium, which convenes Boston’s healthcare employers, academic institutions and workforce system to improve training pathways that lead to healthcare jobs.

Prior to her current role, Joanne served as Senior Director of Workforce Development and Community Relations at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC). Prior to BIDMC, Joanne served as Director of Boston Career Link, a one-stop career center in Boston. She has also worked at the Boston Redevelopment Authority, the Clinton White House and as Special Assistant to the Administrator of the Medicare and Medicaid programs during the Clinton Administration. Joanne earned a Bachelor’s degree in Government from Harvard College and a Master’s degree in Public Affairs from Princeton University.