Bay Path University

Inaugural Speakers Greetings from the Community domenic j. sarno Mayor of Springfield, Massachusetts Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, a native son of the City of Springfield, is the longest serving Mayor in the City's history. A former four-term City Councilor who served as City Council President and as a member of the Springfield Finance Control Board, Sarno was elected to his first term as Mayor on November 6, 2007 and won reelection in 2009, 2011, 2015 and 2019. Now in his fifth term, Sarno, above all, is an enthusiastic cheerleader for all things Springfield. Supported by a dedicated staff, he has redefined the relationship between City Hall and the residents from the "City of Homes." Among his administration's many accomplishments and priorities, education is preeminent. Under his leadership, the collaboration between his administration, educators and parents has resulted in monumental changes in the Springfield Public Schools, includ- ing decreased dropout rates and increased graduation rates. Education has also been the link between Bay Path, the City of Springfield, and Mayor Sarno. From his jubilant greetings at Bay Path's annual Women's Leadership Conference to his support of the University's mission, he has welcomed Bay Path students and alumni as volunteers, in- terns, and employees to the City in a variety of capacities. congressman richard e . neal Chairman, House Ways and Means Committee Richard E. Neal is the United States Representative from Massachusetts' First Congressional District who has represented the people of western and central Massachusetts since 1989. Elected by his colleagues to serve as Chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means in 2019, Congressman Neal oversees all taxation, tariffs, and other revenue-raising legislation, as well as Social Security, unemployment insurance, healthcare, and worker and family support. Congressman Neal is the dean of both the Massachusetts Delegation and the New England Congressional Delegation. Congressman Neal is an At-Large Whip for the House Democrats and is the Democratic Leader of the Friends of Ireland Caucus. He is a long-time guest lecturer at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst and a National Trustee of John F. Kennedy Library in Boston. Prior to his time in Congress, Neal was a high school teacher, member of the Springfield City Council, and served as the Mayor of the City of Springfield from 1984 to 1988.

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