Danvers, MA — Essex County Community Foundation (ECCF), an organization serving the 34 cities and towns of Essex County, is pleased to announce that Lane A. Glenn of Amesbury, Patricia Fae Ho of Beverly, and Dean J. Marsh of Middleton have recently been elected to the organization’s Board of Trustees.
“Our board is made up of a group of accomplished and passionate community leaders who care deeply about Essex County and the residents who call the region home,” said Beth Francis, president and CEO of ECCF. “The addition of Lane, Patricia and Dean really strengthens ECCF as an organization and their combined experience, skills and unique perspectives increase our capacity to serve Essex County alongside so many dedicated community partners.”
Lane A. Glenn
A longtime leader in higher education and current president of Northern Essex Community College, Lane A. Glenn has spent much of his career advocating for colleges and universities as engines of economic and workforce development, particularly in Gateway cities, and advancing the mission of community colleges.
“Like ECCF, the mission of community colleges in Massachusetts is to open the doors of opportunity even wider, for education, workforce training, arts and culture, and most of all, economic mobility for everyone in the communities we serve,” said Glenn.
Glenn is also an experienced community volunteer. He currently serves on the boards of MassINC, a nonprofit that promotes civic engagement, the Lawrence Partnership and Lawrence General Hospital. In the past, he has served on the boards of the Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce, the Amesbury Educational Foundation, the United Way and a wide variety of other nonprofits and community and academic organizations. Before joining the ECCF board in 2022, he was also a member of the foundation’s County Leadership Council.
“I am incredibly excited to be joining the board of ECCF, this organization I have admired for so long, and that has become an essential convener and thought-partner in so many initiatives striving to improve equity and the quality of life for our communities, from Impact Essex County to Creative County, Advancing Digital Equity, and so much more,” said Glenn.
Patricia Fae Ho
Patricia Fae Ho has more than three decades of nonprofit volunteer leadership and advocacy work, focused largely on helping women and their families break through barriers so they have equitable opportunities for self-sufficiency and fulfillment.
“To achieve sustainable communities, we must address disparities in access to education, jobs, health care and housing,” said Ho. “A community’s wellbeing is enriched by those who have opportunities to lead productive lives.”
To that end, Ho served as national president and board chair of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), based in Washington, D.C., where she focused on equity issues such as Title IX, equal pay and access to STEM careers for girls and women. She is also the founding president of the Essex County Commission on the Status of Women.
Ho currently serves as board chair of Wellspring House in Gloucester and as co-chair of Salem-based Voices Against Injustice. Previously, she served as president of The House of Seven Gables Settlement Association and Health Quarters, Inc. and on the boards of Peabody Essex Museum, United Way of the North Shore and Healing Abuse Working for Change. She has been recognized by several organizations for her leadership.
“It is truly an honor to support the mission work of ECCF, which promotes equity and inclusiveness in making our communities stronger,” said Ho. “By seeking stakeholder input and ensuring excellence in its programs, ECCF has notably strengthened the quality of life in Essex County.”
Dean J. Marsh
In his professional life, Dean J. Marsh is a seasoned corporate leader with nearly three decades of experience in the technology sector. In his current role as managing director, Cloud First at Accenture, a global professional services company with leading capabilities in digital platforms, cloud and security, Marsh is working with the world’s leading corporations to guide their digital business transformation in the cloud.
As a volunteer, Marsh currently serves on ECCF’s racial equity committee, a group charged with helping the foundation design and implement its current and evolving racial equity effort.
“The racial equity committee has supported ECCF in making tremendous progress over the past 24 months in educating the community at large about the importance and impact of diversity and inclusion,” said Marsh. “Whether by helping to address recent events in the community, disseminating the 21-day racial equity challenge or providing the data needed for informed decision making, ECCF has taken a lead role in Essex County, and it has been a pleasure to serve on the racial equity committee to help further the cause.”
Prior to his election to the ECCF Board of Trustees, Marsh also served on the foundation’s County Leadership Council. He is currently on the advisory board of Ivyees Everything Honey, a fast-growing, innovative startup focused on producing all natural, healthful products with raw, organic honey from Jamaica and New Zealand. He has also volunteered for many years with Middleton Youth Soccer.
“I am honored to be joining the ECCF board of trustees,” said Marsh. “It has been eye opening to witness the impact of philanthropic giving here in Essex County, particularly as we continue to adopt and help the community thrive in a post-pandemic environment.”
Glenn, Ho and Marsh are now part of a dedicated 19-member board of community, business and philanthropic leaders, each committed to volunteering their skills, experience and knowledge of the region to strengthen the communities of Essex County.
“We are so fortunate to have people of this caliber join the ECCF Board,” said ECCF Board Chair John Colucci. “Together, Lane, Patricia and Dean add a new level of focus and energy that significantly impacts our ability to work towards meaningful change in Essex County. We are incredibly grateful for their service.”
