National Grid president honored with Pinnacle Award

Date: 2/6/2012

Feb. 6, 2012

By Matt Murphy

mmurphy@thereminder.com

WILBRAHAM — Jan. 26 was a day of recognition, which honored not only the recipient of the 2012 Pinnacle Award but also the place she came from: Western Massachusetts.

Wilbraham native Marcy Reed, president of the Massachusetts branch of National Grid, received the honor from the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce in front of an audience of 1,200 people. This prestigious award was first given 17 years ago by the Chamber’s Women’s Network, and recognizes business and professional women for their outstanding achievement in the workplace, their demonstrated leadership that has made a difference, and their commitment to enhance the quality of life in the region.

“Marcy Reed is an exemplary leader in this region’s business and civic communities, and the work she has done to advance female leadership within the ranks of National Grid and across the broader utility industry is truly commendable,” Paul Guzzi, president and CEO of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, said.

Over the past 20 years, Reed has held leadership positions not only in Western Massachusetts but around the world. She sits on several boards, including the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, Jobs for Mass, the Massachusetts Business Roundtable and the United Way of Central Massachusetts, among others. She worked for three years as the head of Investor Relations for National Grid in London and is the global sponsor for National Grid’s Women in Networks employee affinity group.

Reed also works within many community organizations. “My focus in these groups is definitely geared toward women and young girls, helping them find ways to reach their highest potential,” she said.

Reed credits her success to her parents. “I remember both of them earning masters degrees at night while they worked full time and parented four children. We never really spoke about gender in my house. We were just all considered capable, hard-working people who were expected to grow up and be the best we could be,” she explained.

Speaking of the things that she has done that earned her the recognition and the award, Reed said, “I am passionate about the advancement of good, hard-working employees, especially women. In 2005, I started an employee resource group at National Grid called Women in Networks, or WiN. What began as an effort to increase the number of women in all levels of the organization and provide developmental opportunities is now a group of about 1,000 employees (mostly women, but some men) who engage in networking, learning and development, and other advancement activities.

“In addition to serving as executive sponsor of WiN, I mentor many women at the company ... I hope I act as a good role model every day. In what is mostly a male-dominated industry, I am keenly aware that women at National Grid watch me and how I act in every situation facing me,” she continued.

Though her career has taken her miles from home, Reed hasn’t forgotten her roots in Western Massachusetts. “Most recently, as a board member of The Partnership Inc. [I’ve] helped extend Boston-based leadership development programs to professionals of color in the Springfield / Hartford [Conn.] area.”



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