Business Leaders

When the head of JPMorgan Chase met with shareholders to answer for a trading loss of more than $2 billion Tuesday, it was against an evolving political backdrop: Donors from big banks are betting on Mitt Romney to defeat President Obama and repeal new restraints on risky, large-scale investments. "There's no doubt that there's been a big diminution of support for the president," said William M. Daley, Obama's former chief of staff and a former top JPMorgan Chase executive. "People in the financial services sector are saying, ‘The president has been too tough on us, both in policy and on...

Paul Grogan , CEO of the Boston Foundation, and James Roosevelt Jr. , president and CEO of Tufts Health Plan, were among the Boston execs who participated in Thursday night's Commonwealth Shakespeare Company's "Shakespeare and Leadership" event at the Cutler Majestic Theatre. They were joined by other business leaders — including Boston Globe publisher Chris Mayer , Bain & Company Ssenior adviser Phyllis R. Yale , and Eastern Bank CEO Richard Holbrook in a reading of "Coriolanus" followed by a talk about the play and its themes.

BUTTE, Montana — Some of the biggest names in business said yesterday that they see a bright future for the economy, with famed investor Warren Buffett declaring the country and world will not fall back into the grips of the recession. “I am a huge bull on this country. We are not going to have a double-dip recession at all,’’ said Buffett, chairman of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. in Omaha. “I see our businesses coming back across the board.’’ Buffett said the same things that worked for the country through a century of two world wars, a depression, and more — all while...

His friendship with President Obama has sparked talk of a Cabinet appointment or a Supreme Court nomination should the Democrats retain the White House this fall. His travel to presidential primary states, national TV appearances, and book-writing have prompted speculation about his own presidential candidacy in 2016 should Obama lose reelection. And a couple of long weekends in the Berkshires, a lengthy trade mission to South America, and vacations to such exotic locales as Paris and the Virgin Islands have fueled the opinion he's lost interest in the drudgery...

Against the backdrop of city service cuts, additional property tax hikes and the stigma of a municipal bankruptcy, city and business leaders in Central Falls are holding up a message: The city is open for business. The struggling municipality is holding a business networking event Wednesday evening sponsored by Rhode Island Young Professionals and a Rhode Island credit union that got its start in 1915 in a Central Falls church basement. "This community has a lot of potential, but needs a little help," said Sandra Cano, business and community development officer for Navigant...

Mayor Thomas M. Menino and business leaders on Wednesday launched a new web site promoting the South Boston waterfront, an area that has attracted an array of new businesses and residents in recent years. The new site, bostonsnewwaterfront.com, is designed to help people navigate the fast-growing waterfront and learn about new restaurants, special events and other attractions. The site features a calendar to advertise upcoming concerts, coffee hours, cocktail parties, and a wide array of other events.

Last Sunday's story about MassINC's report ("Ambitious emissions plan called lagging," Page A1) was right to draw attention to Massachusetts' nation-leading climate change goals. Lost in the speculation about progress toward the state's goals, however, is the momentum gathering since the Clean Energy and Climate Plan was adopted. This momentum is particularly strong among business leaders, who are realizing that climate action is good for their bottom lines as well as the environment.

His friendship with President Obama has sparked talk of a Cabinet appointment or a Supreme Court nomination should the Democrats retain the White House this fall. His travel to presidential primary states, national TV appearances, and book-writing have prompted speculation about his own presidential candidacy in 2016 should Obama lose reelection. And a couple of long weekends in the Berkshires, a lengthy trade mission to South America, and vacations to such exotic locales as Paris and the Virgin Islands have fueled the opinion he's lost interest in the drudgery...

Beacon Hill leaders are once again about to take another courageous step forward by making their pioneering energy strategy — the Green Communities Act of 2008 — even better. Not surprisingly, clean energy critics are using sensationalized scare tactics to try to bully lawmakers into backing down from a bill that could help save consumers money and realize the jobs and health benefits of clean and renewable energy generation in the Commonwealth. Many business leaders like me support the bill, which would improve a program already delivering real economic benefits.

Former Boston Mayor Kevin Hagan White, who will be buried today, could never pass up an opportunity - for himself or his city. That's why, for all the traumas and missteps of his 16 years in office, White will be remembered as one of the city's most daring and effective mayors. White took office in 1968, a nadir for urban America. A June 1967 riot in Roxbury's Grove Hall, and the looting and burning following the assassination of Martin Luther King less than a year later, had unnerved the city's business leadership.

Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray is set to meet business leaders to discuss efforts to save the six Massachusetts military bases from federal plans to cut $487 billion from the defense budget over the next 10 years. The cuts caused Murray to sign an executive order in February creating the Military Asset and Security Strategy Task Force charged with crafting a strong case to protect Massachusetts bases. Murray heads the task force as it works with business, community and municipal leaders to develop and implement actions supporting the bases.

Senator Scott Brown is planning to deliver a speech this afternoon focused on bipartisanship and titled, "Americans First," but he previewed his thoughts earlier this week during remarks to a pro-business trade group. Speaking Monday to The New England Council, the Massachusetts Republican not only differentiated himself from the Democrats composing the rest of the state's congressional delegation, but many of his colleagues in Congress and his likely reelection opponent this fall, Democrat Elizabeth Warren.

Last Sunday's story about MassINC's report ("Ambitious emissions plan called lagging," Page A1) was right to draw attention to Massachusetts' nation-leading climate change goals. Lost in the speculation about progress toward the state's goals, however, is the momentum gathering since the Clean Energy and Climate Plan was adopted. This momentum is particularly strong among business leaders, who are realizing that climate action is good for their bottom lines as well as the environment.

Organizers say more than 550 people are signed up to attend a two-day Maine emergency preparedness conference in Augusta. Those registered for the conference Tuesday and Wednesday include first responders, government officials, business leaders, school administrators, health and social service providers and volunteers. Gov. Paul LePage will deliver welcoming remarks at the Maine Partners in Emergency Preparedness Conference at the Augusta Civic Center. The emergency manager for the state of Vermont on Tuesday will discuss the state's response to Tropical Storm Irene last year.

Mayor Thomas M. Menino and business leaders on Wednesday launched a new web site promoting the South Boston waterfront, an area that has attracted an array of new businesses and residents in recent years. The new site, bostonsnewwaterfront.com, is designed to help people navigate the fast-growing waterfront and learn about new restaurants, special events and other attractions. The site features a calendar to advertise upcoming concerts, coffee hours, cocktail parties, and a wide array of other events.

Beacon Hill leaders are once again about to take another courageous step forward by making their pioneering energy strategy — the Green Communities Act of 2008 — even better. Not surprisingly, clean energy critics are using sensationalized scare tactics to try to bully lawmakers into backing down from a bill that could help save consumers money and realize the jobs and health benefits of clean and renewable energy generation in the Commonwealth. Many business leaders like me support the bill, which would improve a program already delivering real economic benefits.

From Boston boardrooms to factory floors to kitchen tables across the state, a constant drumbeat of negative news is deepening financial anxiety, threatening to curb business development and consumer spending, and undermining an already weak economy. As the Dow Jones industrial average plunged 634.76 points yesterday, negative sentiment emanated from many sectors of the Massachusetts economy. A leading housing researcher reported a sharp increase in home foreclosures, financial companies scrambled to calm skittish investors, and several business leaders said the stock market losses and US and...

BURLINGTON, Vt. — A 20-year-old University of Vermont student has been crowned as the new Miss Vermont, giving her the opportunity to compete for the Miss America title in Las Vegas in 2012. Katie Levasseur of Burlington won the Miss Vermont Scholarship Competition over 10 other contestants Saturday night at the South Burlington High School Performing Arts Center. “I am already looking forward to my duties this year, traveling, meeting new people, and getting the word out about my platform, which is Youth of Today, Leaders of Tomorrow,’’...

The following was submitted by Enterprise Center at Salem State University: Six North Shore companies are semi-finalists in the 2012 North of Boston Business Plan Competition, a program designed to identify and support both start-up and existing growth businesses. They are as follows: Advastim™ LLC of Beverly, MA, produces a wireless (leadless) neurostimulator system that can potentially minimize complications and improve long-term effectiveness of spinal cord and other neurostimulation treatment.

Religious and business leaders in Massachusetts called Tuesday for state lawmakers to rein in health spending more aggressively than House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo has proposed, but groups representing doctors and hospitals warned that slowing spending too sharply could be harmful. The Greater Boston Interfaith Organization, which has provided a significant consumer voice throughout the state's health care overhaul, said Tuesday night that DeLeo's proposal to cap health care cost increases at about 3.7 percent annually, a number...