Jennifer Menard
Treasurer & Secretary
Jennifer has served as the Vice President of Economic & Business Development for Bristol Community College since 2018, overseeing a wide range of programs including offshore wind, corporate training, career and technical programs, professional development, grant development and adult education.
Jennifer brought the National Offshore Wind Institute (NOWI) from a concept to reality, developing supply chain and workforce infrastructure for the offshore wind sector in the U.S. Jennifer has grown the NOWI’s programs including Health and Safety programs such as Global Wind Organisation (GWO) trainings; Bridges to Offshore Wind, Virtual Training Program and customized private sector training for the developers, OEMs and supply chain companies. Under the NOWI, Jennifer has developed programs focused on diversity, equity and inclusion such as the NOWI Speaker Series: Equity in Offshore Wind; and is now developing the Access to Equity program partnering with community-based organizations to highlight the educational and career pathways into offshore wind.
Jennifer’s background in offshore wind goes back to 2004, managing U.S. delegations visiting offshore wind projects in Germany and the U.K to inform the work of Massachusetts. Jennifer was a part of the team that released the 2018 Massachusetts Offshore Wind Workforce Assessment, funded by the MA Clean Energy Center and used as the centerpiece for workforce development and employment data for the offshore wind industry.
Jennifer also manages Business Solutions & Partnerships that offers customized, corporate training to organizations in any sector with needs assessments and business supports as well as Career and Technical Training including credentialing, upskilling, professional development, and stackable credential opportunities leading to academic and career pathways. Jennifer also oversees the Adult Education area with high school equivalency courses and English Speaker of Other Languages or ESOL programs. Lastly, Jennifer oversees the Grant Development area that supports grants from across the college community, overseeing and serving as the lead for grants totaling over $45M.
Jennifer has an extensive background in economic and business development, serving as the SouthCoast region’s point of contact for all business development related issues for 14 years. Jennifer managed the SouthCoast Development Partnership, an economic development group that supported a regional approach for business recruitment and development, with a focus on targeted industry sectors. Jennifer led the regional team of chambers, economic development offices, industrial parks and other business-related entities to identify regional priorities and managed a regional business development program, recruiting business to the SouthCoast from innovation sectors such as life sciences and clean energy.
Jennifer has the distinction of defining what would eventually become the “SouthCoast region” through a comprehensive campaign. Jennifer managed a communication campaign that employed business recruitment, business development and industry collaborations. Jennifer led regional recruitment drives that included state, federal and international conferences and trade shows, partnering with state and local municipal leaders in business and economic development; and critical industry cluster development programs focused on clean energy, marine science and technology, life science and medical devices, and tourism.
Jennifer also supported the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth’s Chancellors office for over 14 years for economic and business development, community relations and external affairs. Jennifer was responsible for Chancellor signature events including Commencement, Gubernatorial and senate debates, Chancellor Inauguration week, and advancement related events. Jennifer also served as a managing editor for a state agency for nine years, using her critical writing and editing skills.
Jennifer has been served as a leader and member of many important organizations including currently serving as the Chair of Leadership SouthCoast, the Treasurer of the New Bedford Ocean Cluster, the past Vice Chair and now member of Southeastern Economic Development Corporation, a corporator for Bank Five, and corporator and serves on Development Committee for SouthCoast Community Foundation. Jennifer also formerly served as the Southeastern Massachusetts representative on the Economic Assistance Coordinating Council.