The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston has announced six new members of the New England Advisory Council (NEAC). They are:

• Carol Conway Bulman, CEO and president, Jack Conway & Co.
• Karen Colberg, co-CEO, King Arthur Flour
• Brad Hittle, Founder, CEO and president, Two Roads Brewing Company
• Gregory Janey, president, Janey Construction Management and Consulting, Inc.
• Oliver Smith, CEO, O. & Co.
• Kierston Van Soest, CFO, L.L. Bean

The NEAC is convened by Boston Fed President Eric Rosengren and includes senior leaders of small- to mid-size businesses throughout New England. Members advise the Bank about underlying trends in the economy as viewed through the prisms of their own companies and respective industries.

“It’s exciting for me to welcome each one of these new members to the council, because I know they’ll help us stay connected to the real economy and its practitioners in the First District,” President Rosengren said. “We need to hear from leaders of businesses of all sizes, in all sectors, across New England, and each one of these new members offers unique perspective and experience.”

In addition to welcoming new members, returning member Amy Latimer, president of TD Garden and Delaware North's United Kingdom operations, will become the chair of the 2019 NEAC.

Additional standing members of the council include:

• James T. Brett, president and CEO, New England Council
• Travis McCready, president and CEO, Massachusetts Life Sciences Center
• Nannu Nobis, CEO, Nobis Engineering
• Paul Rumul, president, The Davenport Companies
• Jessica Tang, president, Boston Teachers Union

New member biographies

Carol Conway Bulman is the CEO and president of Jack Conway & Co., Inc., the largest locally-based independent real estate firm in Massachusetts. She is vice-chair of the Board of Directors for the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World, (LeadingRE), a member of the Board of Directors for MLS PIN, and serves on the Board of Trustees for South Shore Health. She also co-chairs the South Shore Redevelopment Committee and is a former president of the Massachusetts Mortgage Association. She holds degrees from Providence College and the National School of Mortgage Banking in Chicago.

In addition to serving as co-CEO, long-time King Arthur Flour employee-owner Karen Colberg serves as chief brand officer. Before coming to King Arthur Flour in 2005, Colberg worked for eight years as divisional merchandise manager for Gap, Inc., and participated in General Electric’s Financial Management program. She is a graduate of Colgate University and holds an MBA from Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College.

Two Roads Brewing Company President and CEO Brad Hittle began his career in brand management, first for Johnson & Johnson, then at Unilever, and later as the group director of marketing for Labatt USA, where he led brands including Rolling Rock, Tecate and Dos Equis. Hittle also worked as a partner and CEO for Kokomo Spring Company before becoming the chief marketing officer for Pabst Brewing Company in 2006. Hittle holds a bachelor’s degree from Colgate University and an MBA from Northwestern.

Gregory Janey is the President and CEO of Janey Construction Management and Consulting Inc., a firm providing professional construction management services throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. Janey has received many awards for his professional and philanthropic efforts concentrated in STEM and underrepresented communities. He is the vice chairman of the Board of Trustees for Wentworth Institute of Technology, a member of the Board of Directors for Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, and the former national vice chair of the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA). Janey holds a bachelor’s in construction management from Wentworth Institute of Technology, a master’s in civil engineering from Northeastern University, and an Honorary Doctor of engineering from Wentworth Institute of Technology.

Oliver Smith, CEO of O. & Co. is a strategic advisor for mergers and acquisitions activities for many financial institutions, privately held companies, family offices, and private equity funds. He has had engagements with more than 100 companies in Greater New England and serves as a trusted advisor in the areas of operations, finance, legal, turnarounds, exits, and strategic acquisitions.

Kierston Van Soest is CFO and Treasurer of L.L. Bean, Inc. of Freeport, Maine. Prior to L.L. Bean, Van Soest held executive finance roles with Time Inc. (New York City) and the public accounting firm Arthur Andersen (Baltimore; Warsaw, Poland; and New York City). She has held various board positions with different community organizations in Southern Maine and most recently was appointed to the Board of Directors of United Way of Greater Portland. She received her degree in business administration from Lehigh University and is a licensed Certified Public Accountant.

NEAC members rotate every two to three years and attend quarterly meetings at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. In spirited roundtable discussions, NEAC members share perspectives on a range of business conditions, including revenue forecasts, employment practices, capital spending, and access to credit.

For more information on the NEAC, contact Vice President and Public Information Officer Tom Lavelle at thomas.l.lavelle@bos.frb.org or 617.973.3647.