The Progressive Business Leaders Network ("PBLN") is a peer-to-peer educational organization for CEOs and top officers. Its mission is to promote the best practices of business leaders committed to socially and environmentally responsible economic growth and the public policies that advance it (see: Mission Statement). Specifically, the PBLN highlights best practices in corporate social responsibility and in the contribution of business leaders to public policy. It also encourages and assists the contribution of PBLN Members to unpaid public-private boards, commissions and task forces in ways that best leverage PBLN Members' expertise and interests.
The PBLN is comprised of CEOs, Managing Partners, CFOs, COOs and General Counsels of for profit companies. The PBLN's Leadership Circle is comprised exclusively of CEOs and Managing Partners. Similarly, the Chairs of the PBLN's industry-specific Working Groups are CEOs.
As a peer-to-peer educational organization, a primary value the PBLN offers is the connections it facilitates. Specifically, the PBLN facilitates Members' connections to like-minded CEOs, top officers and investors as well as to best practices, policy expertise and top policy-makers (see: Get Connected).
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| Kennedy Presidential Library October 26th, 2007, PBLN Members (L-R): Kirk Sykes (Pres. USA Fund); Bev Armstrong (COO Paratek Pharmaceuticals & PBLN VP); Gerardo Villacres (Editor & Director El Planeta); Norm Gorin (CFO Analysis Group); Deval Patrick (Governor MA, USA); Josh Boger (CEO Vertex Pharmaceuticals & PBLN Co-Chair) Andrea Silbert (CEO EOS Foundation); Jeff Bussgang (Gen. Partner Flybridge Capital Partners & PBLN Co-Chair); Tom Dretler (CEO Eduventures & PBLN President); Jim Boyle (CEO, Sustainabiliy Roundtable Inc. & PBLN Ex. Dir.) |
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The CEOs, top officers and investors who make up the PBLN come from diverse industries, but they share a commitment to environmentally sustainable economic development and greater social justice. Moreover, they believe robust economic growth and greater social justice can and should reinforce each other. The C-Level executives who become PBLN Members are advised by industry experts on the initiatives, commissions and public/private boards that will best allow the PBLN Member to leverage her or his interests and expertise to promote both sustainable growth and greater social justice. Where no appropriate initiatives, commissions or boards exists, Members may seek to enlist the assistance of the relevant Working Group of the PBLN to help create a new public/private partnership. |
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| April 17, 2008: Senator Kerry with Tom Dretler, CEO of Edventures & PBLN President |
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The PBLN has fiveWorking Groups in: (1) Education; (2) Energy & Environment; (3) Health Care; (4) Housing & Economic Development; and, (5) Life Sciences. Each CEO Chaired Working Group is coordinated by a volunteer expert in the relevant field. These experts work with the PBLN's Board of Directors to advise PBLN Members through-out the year on existing and possible public/private partnerships in their field and they run focused break-out meetings with top federal and state policy-makers during the PBLN's semi-annual one-day conferences (see: "Working Groups"). |
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| Our Two Signature Events: |
The PBLN meets in Massachusetts each October and in Washington DC each April for unique one day conferences focused on sharing best practices regarding corporate social responsibility and the contribution of business leaders to progressive public policy (see: Annual Conferences). These conferences enable top state and federal policy-makers to hear directly from PBLN Members. At these conferences, PBLN Members and policy-makers work together in industry-specific Working Groups to identify strategies and opportunities for progressive business leaders to contribute meaningfully to the development and implementation of effective public policy. Special consideration and focus is given to boards, commissions and tasks forces which encourage "multiple bottom-line" commercial ventures. |
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"A stand can be made against invasion by an army; no stand can be made against an invasion by an idea"
- Victor Hugo, Histoire d'un Crime, 1852 |
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