May 5, 2006
For Immediate Release

Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce to Welcome the President of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care

Northbridge, MA: The Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce will host a health insurance luncheon on Wednesday, May 10th at Pleasant Valley Country Club in Sutton, MA. Registration starts at 11:30a.m.

President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Inc. Charles D. Baker will make a presentation entitled, "Managing Escalating Health Care Costs in a Changing Regulatory Environment." Mr. Baker is responsible for managing one of New England's leading non-profit health plans with a provider network of 22,000 physicians, 125 hospitals, and offers health and benefit plan solutions to more than 910,000 members.

Before becoming Harvard Pilgrim's CEO in May 1999 Mr. Baker was the President and CEO of Harvard Vangard Medical Associates and served Governors Weld and Cellucci as Secretary of Administration and Finance as well as Secretary of Health and Human Services. Mr. Baker serves on the Board of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and The Kenneth Schwartz Center.

Jeff Ritter, Executive Director of the Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce said, "we are delighted to welcome Mr. Baker to the Blackstone Valley. This event provides our members and others an opportunity to hear and participate in a very timely discussion regarding the ongoing increases to the cost of health care."

Major sponsors of the event are William Smith, from W.B. Smith Companies and Russell VanderBaan, from Morgan Construction.

Mr. Baker is also a member of the Board of Selectmen in Swampscott.

To pre-register please contact Nagibe at the Chamber Offices at (508) 234-9090 x 100 or register online before Monday. The cost is $25.00 for members, $30.00 at the door and $35.00 for non-members.

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About the Chamber

The mission of the Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce is to promote the economic vitality of the Blackstone Valley and meet the needs of the Chamber's business members, while providing leadership on issues which impact the economy and quality of life in the Valley. The Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce serves the eleven towns in the Massachusetts BV Region: Blackstone, Douglas, Grafton, Hopedale, Mendon, Millbury, Millville, Northbridge, Sutton, Upton and Uxbridge. For more information on the Chamber please contact administrator@blackstonevalley.org or call 508 234 9090 X101.

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About the Education Foundation

The Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce Education Foundation, Inc. is the not-for-profit umbrella organization for all Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce school-business related activities and cultural programs. Our Mission: To lead and support education that promotes workforce development and enhances the quality of life in the Blackstone Valley.