Ralph C. Martin II Named Chairman of the Board of The Partnership, Inc.

BOSTON, Dec. 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Partnership, Inc. today announced Ralph C. Martin II as its new Chairman of the Board following a formal vote at its Annual Meeting. After a nine year hiatus, Martin returns to the role of Chairman at a critical time in The Partnership's history. Currently serving as Senior Vice President and General Counsel for Northeastern University, Martin has led a career dedicated to business, public service and academia.  Martin succeeds Edward Baker-Greene, Senior Vice President of ING, who has served as Chairman of the Board for the past five years. Baker-Greene becomes Chairman Emeritus and will serve on The Partnership's Advisory Board. 

"Ralph's role in the Boston business community has spanned decades," said Carol Fulp, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Partnership. "Through these experiences, he has gained an invaluable understanding of the global marketplace and the important role people of color play in shaping the future. Perhaps most importantly, he is dedicated to giving back to his community and understands the importance of helping others succeed."

Designed to strengthen the Commonwealth's capacity to attract, retain and develop professionals of color – and in doing so, enhance the competitiveness of the region – The Partnership celebrated its 25^th anniversary in 2013.

"I am honored to have the opportunity to rejoin The Partnership as Chairman," said Martin. "It is a significant time in the organization's history, as well as in the city of Boston. The opportunities that exist for people of color are endless, especially in industries—including education, healthcare and STEM—that are driving the business community."

"I had the pleasure of working with Ralph when he was the Chairman of the Board for the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce," said Paul Guzzi, President of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce. "By bringing Ralph on board, The Partnership continues its legacy of leadership that understands and addresses the workforce-related challenges facing the Massachusetts business community—especially here in Boston."

"By selecting Ralph as the next Chairman of the Board, The Partnership is demonstrating its commitment to equip our future leaders with the tools they need to be successful," said Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick. "Ralph is continuing to strengthen his legacy of serving the people of Massachusetts, through education, mentorship and fellowship." 

Martin follows in the footsteps of Baker-Greene who has been a member of The Partnership's Board of Directors for fifteen years. Baker-Greene was heavily involved in the year-long celebration of The Partnership's anniversary and has been instrumental in positioning the organization to succeed for the next 25 years.

Martin is joined by several new members of The Partnership's Board of Directors as part of this transition. They include Paul Alexander, Executive Vice President and Chief Communications Officer of Liberty Mutual Insurance, Michelle Whitham, Partner at Foley Hoag LLP; and Minnie Baylor-Henry, Worldwide Vice President of Johnson & Johnson. Each new member of the board represents a key industry in the business community, ensuring that The Partnership is able to prepare individuals of color in relevant fields. Herb Mitchell, Senior Vice President and Manager of Service for Liberty Mutual Commercial Insurance, will be transitioning off the Board to co-chair The Partnership's Community Engagement Board.

Before joining Northeastern, Martin was the Managing Partner of Bingham McCutchen, an 1100-lawyer international law firm. He is also the former Suffolk County District Attorney, having served as the elected prosecutor for Boston, Chelsea, Revere and Winthrop from 1992–2002. During his nearly 10 years in office, he was credited with helping to oversee substantial changes in the way law enforcement collaborated with other agencies to make dramatic improvements in crime prevention and prosecution. 

About The Partnership, Inc.

The Partnership, Inc. was founded 26 years ago and brought to prominence by business executive Benaree Pratt Wiley and most recently led by Dr. Beverly Edgehill. It is New England's premier organization dedicated to leadership development and talent management solutions for professionals of color. The Partnership improves clients' business performance by providing tailored solutions for professionals of color to tap into their leadership potential; and it convenes thought-leaders to identify and share best practices. Through its mission, The Partnership has become the prominent voice on issues impacting diverse professionals in the corporate, public and civic communities. Nearly 3,000 professionals of color and 250 leading corporations have engaged The Partnership's services.

Contact:
Kate Rambo
(O) 617-520-7048
(E) [email protected]

SOURCE The Partnership, Inc.