Who is a member?
Our members are the local governments of Massachusetts and their elected and appointed leadership.
Connect 351 provides opportunities to network and to catch up with longtime friends. Pictured at last year’s MMA conference, left to right, are retired manager Jeff Nutting, MMA Vice President and Franklin Town Administrator Jamie Hellen, Medfield Town Administrator Kristine Trierweiler, and Marblehead Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer.
Registrations are pouring in at a record pace for Connect 351, the MMA’s annual conference, which will be held Jan. 23-25, 2025, in Boston’s bustling Seaport District.
With a bit more than a month and a half to go, more than 680 municipal leaders have already registered for this timely opportunity to network, learn, share and be inspired. [Update: This number is 800 as of Dec. 12.]
The robust program is continuing to take shape, and over the past two weeks the MMA has announced:
• The full slate of 18 conference workshops
• The four proposed resolutions for its Annual Business Meeting
• The speaker for the Women Elected Municipal Officials Leadership Luncheon
The new name for the conference, Connect 351, reflects the event’s emphasis on connection among attendees and the MMA’s mission to connect all of the Commonwealth’s 351 municipalities.
“Connect 351 is a ‘must-go’ conference,” said Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller. “Network, learn, commiserate, discover, and connect.”
Westminster Town Manager Stephanie Lahtinen said the new name “perfectly captures the spirit of the conference.”
“Whether you’re a seasoned municipal pro or new to the field,” she said, “the MMA conference is the best place to swap stories, share a laugh, and learn from colleagues who know all the same highs and can empathize with our similar woes.”
Online registration is open through Jan. 20. The event will be held at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center and the Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport.
Speakers
Connect 351 features inspiring speakers:
• Friday Keynote Suneel Gupta, a bestselling author and entrepreneur who studies how leaders succeed and fail, will explore the connection between well-being and performance in his keynote, “Momentum: Boosting Resilience, Fulfillment and Performance.” Gupta will discuss the “human energy crisis” and how an emphasis on well-being can create a roadmap for success.
• Saturday Keynote Matt Lehrman, co-founder of Social Prosperity Partners, will help local leaders refine their approach with his keynote, “From Conflict to Conservation.” His consulting firm works with municipal, civic and nonprofit organizations to facilitate public engagement and consolidate consensus.
Both keynote speakers preview their talks in video messages created especially for the MMA, which can be found on Connect351.org.
• Health and Human Services Secretary Kate Walsh will take the podium for the WEMO Leadership Luncheon on Friday, Jan. 24. Walsh, who joined the Healey administration in March 2023 after serving as CEO of Boston Medical Center for 13 years, will offer insights from her experience in health care and discuss the successes and challenges she has faced as a woman leader.
• A special Women Leading Government session on Thursday, Jan. 23, will feature Lancaster, Texas, City Manager Opal Mauldin-Jones in a conversation with Needham Town Manager Kate Fitzpatrick. Mauldin-Jones will reflect on overcoming challenges, balancing one’s personal and professional life, and the value of mentorship.
Networking
Fitchburg Mayor Samantha Squailia, left, Franklin Town Councillor Melanie Hamblen, center, and Marlborough City Council President Michael Ossing chat during last year’s MMA annual conference.
The MMA conference features numerous receptions, awards ceremonies, and other activities.
Networking opportunities include meetings of Massachusetts Municipal Communicators, Small Town Administrators of Massachusetts, and mayoral chiefs of staff, and an MMA-Suffolk programs reception.
And there are always the hallway conversations and numerous seating areas where members can engage with colleagues whenever they’d like.
Trade Show
A lively Trade Show, with more than 200 exhibitors showcasing the latest in products and services for Massachusetts municipalities, will open on Thursday afternoon, providing a great opportunity to meet with exhibitors at a time when the Trade Show floor will be less crowded than at peak times. A welcome reception will be held on the Trade Show floor from 4 to 5:30 p.m. (See the current exhibitor list in this issue.)
The Trade Show will also be open on Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m, with six Learning Lab sessions on the show floor from 11:30 a.m. to 1:20 p.m. The Trade Show will not be open on Saturday.
Other features
• Representatives from the Healey-Driscoll administration will host a session on Friday, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., covering opportunities to engage with and participate in the Commonwealth’s 250th anniversary celebration activities in 2025.
• “Speed Coaching for Municipal Officials,” on Thursday, 2-2:45 p.m., will be aimed at providing career guidance and professional counsel to attendees interested in advancing their careers.
• Attendees can get free, professional photos taken at the Headshot Station, which will be open on Thursday from 2 to 5:30 p.m. and on Friday from 8 to 9:30 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Connect351.org has complete information on this vibrant, informative conference, and the event’s free mobile app will help attendees make the most of their experience.
Registration
Somerville City Councillor Kristen Strezo, left, Massachusetts Select Board Association President and Stoughton Select Board Member Debra Roberts, center, and Sharon Select Board Chair Kiana Pierre-Louis get together during last year’s annual conference.
Online registration for Connect 351 will be available through Jan. 20.
The early registration rate is $265 for MMA members and Partner Program members. Partners must be in good standing as of Dec. 30, 2024, to be eligible for registration and attendance. New MMA Partner Program applications will not be accepted after Nov. 30, and renewal applications will not be accepted during Connect 351.
Registration is also open for the Women Elected Municipal Officials Leadership Luncheon on Friday, Jan. 24, at a cost of $55, and the Friday evening dinner, at a cost of $65.
Connect 351 registration is not available by mail or over the phone. The MMA accepts credit cards for all Connect 351 transactions and is able to invoice your municipality after the meeting as well.
Online registration requires a member’s unique username and password. Those who need assistance with their username and password can email connect351@mma.org.
Nonmember governmental entities are welcome to attend Connect 351 as well, at a cost of $330.
Registration will be available on-site during the conference at a rate of $300 for MMA and Partner Program members, and $365 for nonmember government entities.
Accommodations
The Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport, conveniently located across the street from Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, has a room block available for Connect 351 attendees at an MMA-negotiated, reduced rate of $219 per night in the Artist Tower or $249 per night in the Patron Tower. The reduced-rate rooms are expected to sell out quickly and must be booked by Dec. 23. The Omni is sold out for the evening of Thursday, Jan. 23.
The Westin Seaport, located next to the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, has a small room block available for the nights of Thursday, Jan. 23, and Friday, Jan. 24, at an MMA-negotiated reduced rate of $229 per night. The reduced-rate rooms are expected to sell out quickly and must be booked by Dec. 27.
To make or cancel a reservation, use the Omni online form and Westin online form specifically for our event. Members may also call the Omni Boston Hotel at 1-800-THE-OMNI or the Westin Seaport at 617-532-4600 and mention Massachusetts Municipal Association.
Additional rooms are available at the neighboring Element Boston Seaport District, which has a room block available for the nights of Thursday, Jan. 23, and Friday, Jan. 24, at an MMA-negotiated reduced rate of $139 per night. The cut-off date for these rooms is Jan. 2, 2025. To make or cancel a reservation, use the online form or call 617-530-1700.
Aloft Boston Seaport District also has a room block available for the nights of Thursday, Jan. 23, and Friday, Jan. 24, at an MMA-negotiated reduced rate of $119 per night. The cut-off date for these rooms is Jan. 2, 2025. To make or cancel a reservation, use the online form or call 617-530-1600.
Hotel reservations must be made directly with the hotel. These hotels all have a cancellation policy of noon three days before check-in.
Other hotel options in the area include the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel (606 Congress St.) and the Seaport Hotel Boston (1 Seaport Lane).
For more information on Connect 351, visit Connect351.org or contact Timmery Kuck at 617-426-7272, ext. 106. For Trade Show and Partnership Program information, contact Karen LaPointe at 800-882-1498, ext. 154, or 2025TS@mma.org.