The New England Council, the country’s oldest regional business organization, will present its prestigious “New Englander of the Year” awards at its 2014 Annual Dinner at the Seaport Hotel/World Trade Center in Boston on Thursday, October 9, 2014.  This year’s recipients are Peter Frates, who inspired the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge; Gary L. Gottlieb, M.D., President & CEO of Partners HealthCare; Alan S. McKim, Chairman & CEO of Clean Harbors Environmental Services; and George Stephanopoulos, Chief Anchor at ABC News.  Over 1,400 New England Council members representing businesses large and small across a wide range of industries throughout New England will be in attendance. The “New Englander of the Year” awards are presented each year by the New England Council and honor residents or natives of the New England states for their commitment and contributions in their fields of work, as well as their leadership and impact on the New England region’s quality of life and economy.  First presented in 1964, over the years the award has been presented to Senators Ted Kennedy, Jack Reed, Jean Shaheen, Kelly Ayotte, Susan Collins and John Kerry; Congressmen Richard Neal, Ed Markey, John Larson, and Barney Frank; and business leaders Abigail Johnson of Fidelity Investments, Robert Reynolds of Putnam Investments, Anne Finucane of Bank of America and many other respected government, business, and non-profit leaders.

“Each of our 2014 honorees has made remarkable contributions to our economy and our communities, both here in New England and beyond,” said James T. Brett, President and CEO of the New England Council.  “Through thoughtful leadership, innovative thinking, and dedication to their community, these individuals truly embody all that is great about New England. We’re delighted to be celebrating their accomplishments with hundreds of our members at this year’s Annual Dinner.”

The New England Council’s Board of Directors selected this year’s honorees based on their commitment to the community, distinguished careers and countless contributions to the region:

Peter Frates Peter Frates is a native of Beverly, MA, and a graduate of Boston College, where he was the captain of the Eagles baseball team.  In 2012, Peter was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease.”  Since his diagnosis, Peter and his family have dedicated much of their time and energy to raising awareness of ALS and raising funds to support research for a cure.  Peter is the inspiration for the “ALS Ice Bucket Challenge,” which “went viral” and became a global phenomenon during the summer of 2014.  Around the world, millions of people, from politicians, to celebrities, to countless private citizens, took the challenge and donated to the ALS Association, resulting in over $140 million raised to support research for a cure.

Gary L. Gottlieb, M.D. – President and CEO, Partners HealthCare Gary L. Gottlieb, M.D., is the President and CEO of Partners HealthCare, an integrated health system founded by Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital. Partners HealthCare, one of the largest employers in New England, and one of the world’s largest academic biomedical research enterprises, also includes community and specialty hospitals, a managed care organization, community health centers, a physician network, home health and long-term care services, and other health-related entities. Dr. Gottlieb is  a Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and a member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies.  He has served in a variety of leadership posts at some of the nation’s top hospitals, including President of Brigham and Women’s Hospital. A recognized community leader in the region, Dr. Gottlieb also focuses his attention on workforce development issues, serving as the Chair of Boston’s Private Industry Council. He is a graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Albany Medical College of Union University and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Alan S. McKim – Founder and CEO, Clean Harbors, Inc. Alan S. McKim founded Clean Harbors in 1980, and today serves as its Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board. Under McKim’s leadership, Norwell, MA-based Clean Harbors has grown from a four-person tank cleaning business to the leading environmental, energy and industrial service provider in North America, with revenues over $3.5 billion in 2013. Clean Harbors has led clean-up efforts following natural disasters, such as hurricanes and tornadoes, as well as environmental incidents, including the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. Clean Harbors also provides leading edge technologies and services to prevent the release of contaminants to the environment and its wide range of sustainability and recycling capabilities include the world’s largest oil re-refining facility. McKim serves as a Trustee of Northeastern University, where the University’s D’Amore-McKim School of Business was named in honor of Mr. McKim and a fellow classmate in recognition of their significant business achievements and substantial contributions to the university. He holds an MBA from Northeastern University and an Honorary Doctorate from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. George Stephanopoulos – Chief Anchor, ABC News George Stephanopoulos was named Chief Anchor of ABC News in June 2014, leading the network’s coverage of special events and breaking news. The Fall River, MA, native currently serves as the anchor of ABC’s “This Week with George Stephanopoulos”, and as the anchor of “Good Morning America”, which he has helped propel to the number one spot in the competitive national morning news market. Prior to joining ABC News in 1997, Stephanopoulos served as a senior adviser to President Bill Clinton. He is also the author of the New York Times number one best seller, “All Too Human”. Stephanopoulos is a graduate of Columbia University and Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes Scholar.

The New England Council’s 2014 Annual Dinner will be held on Thursday, October 9, 2014, at the Seaport Hotel/World Trade Center in Boston.  The reception will begin at 4:30 p.m., followed by a dinner program and award presentation beginning at 6:00 p.m.  This year’s Annual Dinner is being chaired by New England Council board member Patricia Jacobs, New England President of AT&T.

The New England Council, the country’s oldest regional business organization, is an alliance of businesses, academic and health institutions, and public and private organizations throughout New England formed to promote economic growth and a high quality of life in the region.  The Council is dedicated to identifying and supporting federal public policies and articulating the voice of its membership regionally and nationally on important issues facing New England.  The NEC is also committed to working with public and private sector leaders across the region and in Washington through educational programs and forums for information exchange.  For more information, please visit: www.newenglandcouncil.com.