Jennifer Menard
Treasurer & Secretary
Jennifer Menard serves as the new Regional Director of the Southeast region, for the Massachusetts Office of Business Development (MOBD) under the Executive Office of Economic Development. Jennifer provides support and assistance to businesses in the Southeast region of the Commonwealth relocating or expanding in Massachusetts with a focus on job creation and retention as well as capital investment.
Jennifer has an extensive background in economic and business development. In her previous role as Vice President of Economic & Business Development at Bristol Community College, Jennifer provided leadership and vision for operational and strategic planning, with a focus on external affairs, workforce development, corporate training, adult education, and industry collaborations. Jennifer brought the National Offshore Wind Institute, a state-of-the-art offshore wind and maritime training facility, from concept to reality overseeing industry partners and relationships. Under the NOWI, Jennifer oversaw programs focused on diversity, equity and inclusion such as the NOWI Speaker Series: Equity in Offshore Wind; and the WindWorks for You project. 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 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 sectors such as life sciences, medical devices, tourism, manufacturing, and clean and renewable 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.