Leadership | Junior Achievement of Southern Massachusetts
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JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF SOUTHERN MASSACHUSETTS LEADERSHIP
Jeffrey Pelletier – President
Jeffrey Pelletier serves as the President of Junior Achievement of Southern Massachusetts a nonprofit organization that collaborates with the public, private and education sectors to advance career readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy education for students across the region. Under Pelletier's leadership, Junior Achievement of Southern Massachusetts has grown its student education programs which now serve over 6,000 students annually across 21 cities and towns. In 2018, Junior Achievement of Southern Massachusetts was awarded Junior Achievement USA's Peak Performance award.
Previously, Pelletier worked closely with the private, public and nonprofit sectors in his role as the Business Development and Communications Officer for the New Bedford Economic Development Council where his portfolio included the city's multi-faceted efforts to develop the offshore wind industry, public policy, communications, workforce development, and land-use planning activities.
Pelletier also served as the Program Director for Executives Without Borders, a non-profit organization dedicated to engaging the business community in solving the world's greatest humanitarian challenges. In Haiti, he directed a nationwide jobs and recycling program that collected over 35 million plastic bottles and generated over $250,000 in incomes for communities in need. In Honduras, he directed private sector engagement projects with a Fortune 500 company to increase the sustainability of the life-saving medical work of a local nonprofit.
He graduated from Methodist University in North Carolina with a degree in Business Administration and is also a graduate of Leadership SouthCoast.
He is an active volunteer in the community and serves as a member of the Board of Directors for Leadership SouthCoast and as a member of the Community Benefits Committee for Southcoast Health. Pelletier also serves as the Chair for the Youth Committee of the Greater New Bedford Workforce Investment Board and as a member of the Bristol Community College Civic Engagement Advisory Committee. Pelletier is a past winner of the SouthCoast Emerging Leader Award.​
To contact, email Jeffrey Pelletier.
Michael Patacao – Chairman of the Board of Directors
Michael Patacao is the Vice President of Commercial Lending with Bristol County Savings Bank where he supports businesses in the greater Southeastern Massachusetts Community by fulfilling their financial needs. In his role, Patacao is responsible for developing new business relationships while assisting in the management of the Bank's commercial loan portfolio.
Patacao earned his bachelor's degree in 2005 from Umass Dartmouth's Charlton College of Business. He has since graduated from the Massachusetts Bankers Association School of Commercial Lending and more recently graduated with honors from The New England School of Financial Studies at Babson College. In 2015, Patacao was the recipient of the SouthCoast 5 emerging leader award. He is also a graduate of Leadership SouthCoast, class of 2016.
Michael continues to demonstrate a commitment to the community as a member of Prince Henry Society, board member of Stanley Street Treatment Resources (SSTAR), and Board Chair for Junior Achievement of Southern Massachusetts. Michael has served on the Junior Achievement board for eight years, been an active JA volunteer in local classrooms, and been a strong supporter of JA events, including the Titan Business Challenge that he helped found six years ago.
A native of New Bedford, Patacao currently resides in Westport with his wife Annie and two daughters.
To contact, email Michael Patacao or go to bristolcountysavings.com.
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"I was elated to see the great boost in confidence my daughter gained."
SPARK Parent
"Teaching Junior Achievement is one of the best things I have ever done in my life. Teaching the children about important factors that will play key roles in their lives is what makes it so special. I loved the opportunity, thank you so much Junior Achievement!"
"Having a Junior Achievement volunteer in my classroom has been so great for the students."
"I would like to thank you and all of JA Titan for the opportunities you have given me."
Titan Scholarship Recipient
"This program is so important for students to understand they are part of a bigger community."
"I really think this is a great program for the kids and I'm glad that they give these children the opportunity to show that they can be successful businesswomen."
"The most heartwarming moments are when the children present you with drawings or tell you, 'This has been the best day ever!'"
"They're learning about important concepts like how and why to earn and save money at such a young age, and those lessons will help them become responsible members of the community as they get older."
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