Four New Members Welcomed to Our Board of Directors

The Room to Dream Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of Kevin Sullivan (Easton, MA), James “JR” Richardson (Waltham, MA), Nessan Bermingham (Boston, MA), and Susan Mackiewicz (Sudbury, MA), to our Board of Directors.

Kevin Sullivan is the Vice President of Shawmut Construction (Boston, MA) where he began as an Assistant Project Manager 18 years ago. Kevin brings years of experience to Room to Dream working with local colleges and universities, leading on construction projects such as administrative offices, fast track dining renovations, and historic/preservation projects. He has worked with Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Tufts University, and other colleges and universities. “As the father of two, The Room to Dream Foundation’s mission is just so natural to get behind and support,” states Sullivan. “As a member of the Shawmut Design and Construction family, I’m also proud to continue the partnership our company has had with this excellent organization.”

JR Richardson is a consultant with the Bostonian Group (Boston, MA) where he is responsible for delivering benefit solutions for small to midsized companies. Before starting at the Bostonian Group, JR worked as a retirement counselor for Fidelity Investments. He brings 10 years of experience to The Room to Dream Foundation focusing on building strong, long lasting relationships with a wide variety of clients. In response to his appointment JR Richardson states that, “The Room to Dream Foundation touched a personal cord for me because I have seen the effect a child’s illness can have on a family. I strongly believe in the mission of our organization and consider it both an honor and a privilege to be elected as a new member of the board.”

Nessan Bermingham is the founding CEO of Meltemi BioTherapeutics (Cambridge, MA). Nessan has extensive experience in healthcare investing and managing companies’ investments as a partner at Omega Funds and Atlas Venture. He received his PhD in molecular biology from Imperial College London and later became a Howard Hughes Associate Fellow at Baylor College of Medicine. “I am delighted to have the opportunity to join such an exciting and impactful board. It is rare to be able to participate in a foundation like The Room to Dream Foundation, that has had such a profound impact on the quality of life for sick children through a simple concept, states,” Nessan Bermingham.

Susan Mackiewicz is a vice president in Human Resources with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. An experienced HR executive, Mackiewicz served at the vice president and senior vice president levels, focusing in the areas of compensation, benefits and HR systems. A graduate of UMass Dartmouth, she has worked in a number of industries including high tech, biopharmaceutical and healthcare. Susan Mackiewicz notes, “I am so pleased to be part of a team that creates uplifting environments for children with chronic illnesses. A positive environment can power the minds of children and give them that much more strength for their journey.”

Chairman of the board, Stefan M. Nathanson states, “JR, Kevin, Nessan, and Susan will give a fresh breath of life to the board with their combined years of experience in networking,development and planning. Their passion and dedication will help us bring joy to the lives of the chronically ill children we work with.”

Tags | Board of Directors, James Richardson, Kevin Sullivan, Nessan Bermingham, Susan Mackiewicz