Staff
Paul F. Matthews Phone: (774) 760-0495 ext. 105
Executive Director Email: paul@495partnership.org
Before being appointed Executive Director in the summer of 2005, Mr. Matthews had been serving since January 2004 as the Partnership's Public Affairs Program Manager. In that capacity, he directed the Partnership's advocacy activities, communications strategies, and public affairs; served as a liaison to municipal officials, regional employers, legislators, and state agencies; and coordinated initiatives on transportation, water resources, public policy, economic development, brownfields, permitting, and workforce development.
Mr. Matthews came to the Partnership with extensive experience in public policy, government affairs, communication, and municipal issues. From 2000 to 2003, he served as the Director of Government and Public Affairs for the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, where he worked with legislative, municipal, and business leaders from across Central Massachusetts, and coordinated the public policy program for the state's chamber of commerce association. Previous to that experience, he worked in the Massachusetts Legislature for then-State Representative Harriette L. Chandler, serving as her Legislative Aide from 1995 to 1996, and becoming her Chief of Staff at the House Committee on Health Care from 1997 through 2000. Throughout these roles, Mr. Matthews has focused on such public policy issues as economic development, transportation policy, education, workforce development, and health care.
Mr. Matthews holds degrees from Colby College in Government and Biology, and was recognized by the Worcester Business Journal as a "Forty Under" award winner in 2001. Beyond his professional responsibilities, Mr. Matthews is active in a number of community organizations and is married with two young children.
Jessica Strunkin Phone: (774)760-0495 ext. 103
Deputy Director of Public Policy & Public Affairs Email: jessica@495partnership.org
Jessica Strunkin joined the Partnership in January 2008, as the Manager of Public Policy & Public Affairs. In this role, Ms. Strunkin is responsible for analyzing public policies, developing consensus on positions and responses, and implementing strategies to increase the impact of the Partnership's message to the state and federal government, municipalities, regional employers, the public and other key stakeholders. Additionally, Ms. Strunkin coordinates the Partnership's newsletter the Partnership Update, and organizes the Partnership's annual State House Day.
Prior to joining the Partnership, Ms. Strunkin was the Director of Government Affairs at the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce, where she managed various volunteer committees and was responsible for representing business community needs to state and local officials. During that time Ms. Strunkin also coordinated the state chamber association's legislative council agenda and meetings, and served on the Montachusett Joint Transportation Committee, which was responsible for making recommendations to the local MPO. While attending graduate school, Ms. Strunkin worked as an editorial assistant for the international journal, Diplomacy & Statecraft, in addition to her role as a research assistant on Andrew Bacevich's book, The New American Militarism.
Ms. Strunkin holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Colgate University in Hamilton, New York. She received her Master of Arts in International Relations from Boston University in 2005, where she was honored with the Department Graduate Prize for Excellence in International Relations. She is married with one child.
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