2011 Panel
 Susan C. Hammond
CPA, MST, scHammond Advisors
Susan C. Hammond consults with CEOs of small to mid-size companies and nonprofit organizations on the formation and facilitation of advisory boards, ways to enhance organizational financial intelligence, and governance. She is the author of the Advisory Board Kit: A Comprehensive Guide to Establishing an Advisory Board.
A recognized expert on advisory boards, Susan has been an active advisory board member and facilitator since the early 1990’s. Currently, she serves on advisory boards of The ToolBox, Bentley University’s Women’s Leadership Institute and Micro-Finance Initiative.
Susan’s prior nonprofit board experience includes serving on the boards of the Art & Business Council/Boston, Duxbury Council on Aging, and the South Shore Art Center. Her previous advisory board experience includes the Business School at Bridgewater State University, Fulfillment Plus, Career Investment Strategies, and several others.
Susan has also served as a contract CFO/COO and strategic advisor to technology companies, professional service firms, and nonprofit organizations. While serving as contract CFO for Fuller Craft Museum, she worked closely with the Director to re-energize the board, recruit new members, and improve governance practices.
Susan is a co-founder and former board member of the South Shore Women’s Business Network and the Center for Women & Enterprise. In 2006 she received the President’s Call to Service Award which recognizes individuals with 4,000 hours or more of lifetime community service.
She holds a CPA certificate from the State of Massachusetts, received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting from Northeastern University and a Master of Science in Taxation from Bentley University. Susan completed coaches training through the Arbinger Institute and the Coaches Training Institute.
 Ellen Richstone
Ellen B. Richstone has extensive experience both as a Board Director and as an Operating Executive. She is known for working with companies at critical phases of development, both in high growth companies as well as turnaround situations, building operational infrastructure and attracting top-level talent to companies. Her industry experience includes: Computer-Hardware/Software; Communications; Industrial Products, Lighting and Semiconductors; as well as some experience in Consumer Products, Automotive and Aerospace. Ellen began her career in the Financial Services area. She has a strong background in working both large and small companies in the areas of: international business, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, and raising capital in the public markets and has implemented SOX controls both as an Operating Executive, as well as a Board Member.
Ellen was recently named to the Top 100 Board Diversity Candidates for Public Companies by Agenda (Parent Company-Financial Times) as well as to CFO Magazine’s Editorial Advisory Board.
As a Board Member, she has more than 30 years of cumulative directorship experience on multiple company boards, including: Public (APC-S&P 500 Company for approximately 4 years until its acquisition for $6 Billion in cash, an 82% premium), Private (Blue-Shift Technologies-funded by Atlas, North Bridge and Intel Capital for approximately 5 years, assets sold) and non-profit boards (Employment Resources Inc for approximately 12 years). Ellen is currently Chair of an Audit Committee, Chair of one Nominating Committee and has extensive experience as a member of Compensation Committees. In addition, she is an experienced SEC Financial expert.
From an Operating perspective, Ellen was the President and CEO of the Entrepreneurial Resources Group (ERG) growing the Company by a multiple of five in a two year time period. She has also been a Chief Financial Officer for both Public and Private Companies ranging in size from $100 Million to $2.5 Billion in revenue. Ellen has extensive experience in opening new offices worldwide, buying and integrating over 35 acquisitions both domestically and overseas, treasury and financial planning/analysis. In addition, Ellen has also implemented and promoted training/ growth of professional talent worldwide and is a recent Operating Executive. Companies include: Sonus Networks (Telecommunications), Brooks Automation (Semiconductors), Augat (Connectors selling into: Automotive, communications and computer industries), Honeywell Bull (Computers), Data General (Computers), Polaroid (Consumer Products), Chemical Bank (Financial Services).
Ellen graduated from Scripps College in Claremont California where she was Student Body President. She holds two graduate degrees from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University (International Affairs and International Business Law). In addition, she completed the Advanced Professional Certificate in Finance at New York University’s Graduate School of Business Administration and attended the Executive Development program at Cornell University’s Business School. She is currently the Chair of the Program Committee of the National Association of Corporate Directors (New England) and is a member of both the Board Leaders Group, as well as the Women Corporate Directors Organization. In addition, she is a member of the Corporate Directors Group (CDG) through which she earned both her Professional Director Certification for Public Company Directors in 2010 and her Advanced Professional Director Certification in 2011 from the American College of Corporate Directors.
 Linda Whitlock
Principal, The Whitlock Group
A successful CEO, Director, and strategy consultant, Linda Whitlock has won widespread respect for a strong record of effective management, corporate and non-profit board leadership, finance and strategy consulting, and public service. Ms. Whitlock is the Principal of The Whitlock Group, which provides high-level management and governance consulting to CEOs and Boards of Directors. She is the immediate past Nicholas President and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston, one of the most highly regarded institutions in Greater Boston.
Ms. Whitlock has been an active participant on more than 20 corporate and non-profit boards, including the board of the Boston Stock Exchange. She currently serves on the boards of Cambridge Bancorp/Cambridge Trust Company, where she is Lead Director; The Princeton Review, where she is a member of the Audit Committee; Brigham and Women’s Hospital, where she is chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee; Brandeis University; and Boston World Partnerships. She is also a member of the Strategic Advisory Board of AesRx, a biopharmaceutical company, and is a member of the global organization, Women Corporate Directors.
Ms. Whitlock has been awarded honorary doctorates by Suffolk University, Babson College, and Pine Manor College. She has been recognized by the top business and civic institutions in the region, including the Boston Business Journal, the Boston Municipal Research Bureau, and Boston Magazine, and has been inducted into the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce’s Academy of Distinguished Bostonians, among many other honors.
An alumna of Mount Holyoke College with a Masters degree from the University of Michigan, Ms. Whitlock served in the administrations of Massachusetts Governors Dukakis and King, and has been appointed by Governors Romney and King and Boston Mayor Menino to an array of boards and commissions. Ms. Whitlock taught at MIT, Tufts, and the University of Michigan, and was recently a Senior Fellow at Boston University’s School of Management. She has served as Senior Advisor to Harvard Business School Professor Michael Porter in his role as CEO of the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City.
Ms. Whitlock is a frequent lecturer on topics related to strategic leadership, effective governance, and skilled philanthropy.
Panel Facilitator
 JoAnn Cavallaro
CEO, eVisioner, Inc.
JoAnn Cavallaro is a seasoned executive, solutions-driven consultant, entrepreneur and sought after speaker who thrives on making things happen.
Applying strategic vision with a pragmatic bottom line approach, JoAnn has focused much of her career at the critical intersection of the operation and the human capital. She leads clients through the tough issues and choices that are at the heart of every opportunity and challenge and works with leaders and their teams to develop their authentic leadership brand to ensure that organizations thrive and results are achieved.
With significant experience across diverse industries, JoAnn has a track record of success across critical transition points including start up, growth, mergers and acquisitions and infrastructure overhaul. In her partnership with senior leaders, she brings her keen understanding of how all pieces of an organization work and must align to impact change and growth. She is known for leading game-changing industry transformations in telecommunications and broadband, and she has directed enterprise-wide change for clients in the financial services, insurance, and staffing industries.
Ms. Cavallaro currently serves as acting CEO of eVisioner, an enterprise software startup in Boston.
Prior to establishing DeCava Consulting, Ms. Cavallaro served as Corporate Vice President of Charter Communications, the nation’s third largest cable/broadband provider. As chief customer officer, she was responsible for developing and overseeing execution of strategy and service delivery in five divisions serving Charter’s 6.5 million customers. She has held executive positions at MediaOne, Century Communications and SNET /ATT serving in operating roles with full P&L responsibility. She has been recognized for her inspirational leadership of enterprise-wide change, her pioneering work in labor/management relations and for her achievements in introducing innovative first to market initiatives to transform service delivery.
Ms. Cavallaro has dedicated her career to advancing women into positions of influence. With a long history in developing, coaching and empowering women, she has worked to advance a generation of women into senior executive roles. She currently serves as Vice President of The Boston Club and as chair emeritus of the Corporate Board Committee. In this role, she advises and coaches women leaders to prepare for future board service while at the same time working with CEO’s of private and publicly traded companies to identify and recruit qualified women into key management and board positions. She is a frequent speaker, panelist and advisor on topics relating to the advancement of women and leadership development.
Ms. Cavallaro is a graduate of the Executive Education Program at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. She completed her undergraduate degree at Fordham University and her graduate work at Southern Connecticut State University. She is a member of The Commonwealth Institute and formerly served as Trustee of the Board of Women in Cable & Telecommunications and as a member of the NCTA’s Customer Care Advisory Council.
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