National Association of Corporate Directors New England Chapter New England Tap 2013 Director of the Year Award Recipients [Professional Services Close – Up]

The National Association of Corporate Directors New England Chapter announced the recipients of the Seventh Annual 2013 Director of the Year Awards.

According to a release, NACDNE is a source for corporate governance information, education and training for directors and CEOs who are committed to raising standards and improving boardroom performance in New England.

Each year, NACDNE recognizes board members and boards from public, private and nonprofit organizations who exemplify the key attributes of outstanding directors. NACDNE will present the awards to the recipients at a formal recognition ceremony on April 11 at the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel.

"NACDNE's Director of the Year Awards honor those who uphold the highest professional standards for corporate governance," said Robert Popeo, President of NACDNE and Chairman and President of Mintz Levin. "On the heels of the greatest financial meltdown in modern day history and the resulting sweeping regulatory reforms such as the Dodd-Frank Act, this is a demanding environment for corporate boards. It is more important than ever to recognize effective boardroom leaders who guide companies through challenging times by making tough decisions with foresight and integrity."

This year's honorees include:

-Lifetime Achievement in Governance: Samuel Thier, Former CEO, Partners HealthCare System; Director of Charles River Laboratories; former Director of Merck & Co., Inc. and Federal Reserve Bank of Boston; member of the Board of Overseers of Cornell University Weill Medical College, of Brandeis University Heller School for Social Policy and Management, and Dean's Advisors of Harvard School of Public Health.

-Leadership in Corporate Governance: Cathy Minehan, Dean of the School of Management at Simmons College, retired CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston; Director of Visa Inc., Partners Healthcare System, and the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company; Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Massachusetts General Hospital; former Director of Becton Dickinson and Mitre Corp.; Chairman of the Executive Committee of the University of Rochester Board of Trustees and Chairman of the Massachusetts Governor's Council of Economic Advisors.

-Myra Kraft Award for Non-Profit Leadership: Stephen Woodsum, Co- Founder, Summit Partners, Chair of the National Board of City Year, Director of Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston; Director of Massachusetts General Hospital; member of Overseers at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and Trustees of the Boston Harbor Island Alliance. Former Board Chair of the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center and Buckingham Browne and Nichols School. Former Director of Jumpstart for Young Children, CIDCO, Clean Harbors, Information Builders, QMS and Superior Services.

-Public Company Board of the Year: CVS Caremark, Larry Merlo, President and Chief Executive Officer; David Dorman, Non-Executive Chairman; David Brown, Anne Finucane, Kristen Gibney Williams, Marian Heard, Jean-Pierre Millon, C.A. Lance Piccolo, Richard Swift and Tony White

-Private Company Board of the Year: Polar Beverages, Ralph Crowley, President, CEO and Acting Chair; Christopher Crowley, Richard Anderson, Jeffery Dickson, Frederick Ferbert, Lincoln Isetta, Howard Jacobson, Michael McGrath and Carolyn Stimpson.

"I'm honored to be among this distinguished group of award recipients who are being recognized for exemplary boardroom leadership," said Minehan. "In today's ever-evolving business environment, effective corporate governance is critical to a company's ability to grow, thrive and sustain."

"CVS Caremark's Board of Directors plays a pivotal role in helping our company fulfill its purpose of putting people on their path to better health," said Merlo. "Thanks in part to the leadership and guidance of our Board, we are bringing forward innovative health care solutions that increase access to care, lower overall health care costs and result in positive health outcomes. We are pleased that this award recognizes our Board's significant ongoing efforts to improve and enhance pharmacy care."

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