Jay Ash is the president and CEO of the Massachusetts Competitive Partnership, a nonprofit, non- partisan, 501(c)(4) public policy group comprising the CEOs of 18 of the commonwealth’s largest businesses. His work there to focus on policies and initiatives that make the Massachusetts economy stronger and more competitive comes after serving as the commonwealth’s secretary of housing and economic development in Governor Charlie Baker’s first cabinet.

As secretary, Jay was responsible for directing and executing Governor Baker’s agenda on housing and community development, job creation, business development, consumer affairs, and business regulation. During his four-year tenure, he headed up efforts to retain and attract businesses, promote the revitalization of communities, and support the prosperity of the state’s residents. In addition to championing four major economic development bills into law, Jay was the governor’s lead on the attraction of GE to Boston and the PawSox to Worcester; the implementation of more than 100 community revitalization initiatives, including the groundbreaking of the Berkshire Innovation Center in Pittsfield and the Paramount Theater renovations in Springfield; and the development of strategies that led to greater state support for workforce development and a 96 percent decrease in the use of hotels and motels to shelter homeless families.

He previously served for 14 years as the city manager in his native Chelsea, where he grew the city’s housing stock by over 10 percent, expanded its commercial base with two dozen major projects, led all Gateway Cities with a 15 percent increase in new employment, developed 10 new parks, secured 5 credit rating increases, and won 2 All-America City designations.

Jay previously served as co-founder and vice-chair of the Metropolitan Mayors Coalition, as past president of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, as a board member of the public policy think tank MassINC, the staff director to the Massachusetts House majority leader, and as an elected trustee of his alma mater, Clark University.