James T. Brett

president, CEO, New England Council

James T. Brett is president and Chief Executive Officer of The New England Council, and chair of the Governor's Commission on Developmental Disabilities. The Council, a nationally respected and influential regional organization, was established in 1925. It is an alliance of schools, hospitals, corporations, and other private organizations throughout New England, working together to promote economic growth and a high quality of life in the New England region. It identifies and supports federal policies of importance to New England, and advocates for its membership regionally and nationally. While a legislator, Mr. Brett was formally honored on several occasions by labor, human service, and law enforcement organizations for outstanding public service. Many other groups honored him as "Legislator of the Year," and organizations such as Friends of the John F. Kennedy Library, Central Remedial Clinic in Ireland, and the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers have publicly honored him for his service. Mr. Brett has continued to be a tireless advocate for the physically and mentally challenged, and has been recognized for his humanitarian work by Action for Boston Community Development (Lifetime Public Service Award) and Hospice of Boston (Humanitarian of the Year). In 1996, Bay Cove Human Services of Boston named a new community home for disabled adults "Brett House" in his honor. Mr. Brett also received the Distinguished Leadership Award from Massachusetts Special Olympics in 2008.