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\nPlease join us as we welcome the Secretary of Labor\, Lauren Jones\, and the Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities\, Ed Augustus\, to the SouthCoast to discuss two of the most significant issues impacting the Massachusetts business community- Workforce and Housing.
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\nSecretary Ed Augustus leads the newly created Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities. The office is dedicated to housing and driving solutions to create more homes and lower costs. It is focused on the urgent need to build places to live that are affordable and closer to public transit &ndash\; giving residents access to jobs\, medical care\, groceries\, and other essential services.
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\nBefore joining the Healey administration\, Secretary Augustus served as City Manager of Worcester\, functioning as the gateway city'\;s chief administrative and executive officer of more than 200\,000 people. \;
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\nAs City Manager\, Augustus spearheaded the $240 million landmark redevelopment of Worcester'\;s canal district\, including leading the complex negotiation to relocate the Boston Red Sox AAA affiliate (now the WooSox) to the city and constructing the multi-use Polar Park Stadium. \;
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\nBefore joining the city of Worcester\, Augustus served as Director of Government and Community Relations for the College of Holy Cross\, state senator for the 2nd Worcester district\, chief of staff for Congressman Jim McGovern\, and chief of staff to the assistant secretary for intergovernmental and interagency affairs at the U.S. Department of education under President Clinton'\;s administration. \;
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\nSecretary Lauren Jones \;brings nearly two decades of experience working in local and state government\, non-profits\, and the private sector\, with a particular focus on workforce development. Prior to joining the Healey-Driscoll Administration\, Jones served as Executive Vice President of the Massachusetts Business Roundtable and led the organization&rsquo\;s workforce development policy and strategy. She previously led the Massachusetts market for the non-profit Apprenti\, where she worked with companies to cultivate and diversify tech talent through registered apprenticeships. She also created and led the Business Strategy Unit for Boston Mayor Marty Walsh&rsquo\;s Office of Economic Development\, supporting business attraction and employer engagement in the city of Boston. Prior to that\, she held several roles in the Patrick-Murray Administration\, including Communications Director for the Executive Office of Labor &\; Workforce Development\, Policy &\; Communications Director for former Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray\, and Senior Program Manager of the Economic Development Incentive Program in the Office of Business Development. \;
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\nAs Executive Vice President of the Roundtable\, Jones was the Co-Chair of the Workforce Solutions Group and served on the Board for the Massachusetts Workforce Association\, the Executive Committee for the Alliance for Vocational Technical Education\, the Board of Advisors for the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education\, the Boston Private Industry Council\, and previously served on the Future of Work Commission. She holds a Master'\;s in Public Administration from Northeastern University and a Bachelor&rsquo\;s Degree in Political Science from Providence College. She lives in Boston. \;\n

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