Brian J. Connor - Bio
Brian is currently in his 9th year as a member of the Board of Trustees at Massachusetts Maritime Academy, appointed by Governor Baker for two consecutive terms. During his tenure, he has served as Board Chairman for the past three years as well as Chair of the Facilities & Finance Committee, Audit and Governance Committee, and currently serves as Chair of the Education Committee.
Brian began his career as an EMT at age 19, following his graduation from the Northeastern University EMT Program in 1979. He was hired as an EMT for Armstrong Ambulance Service, one of the oldest family-owned businesses in Massachusetts. He served in many clinical and managerial positions throughout the next 26 years, ultimately serving as the Chief Executive Officer for the last ten years while employed at Armstrong.
On April 25, 2006, Brian established LifeLine Ambulance Service. LifeLine quickly became one of the largest privately-owned ambulance companies in New England, with 13 offices located throughout Massachusetts and New Hampshire, 400 employees, and a fleet of more than 160 vehicles. Collectively, LifeLine transported over 350 patients each day. LifeLine was awarded the “Pacesetters” award from the Boston Business Journal in April 2013 and was featured in the Boston Business Journal on January 25, 2013. On July 1, 2015, LifeLine and its subsidiaries were sold to Kaymlon Capitol. Brian remained on as a Senior Advisor and Consultant and retired on January 1, 2017.
During his 38-year career in EMS, Brian also served as President of the Massachusetts Ambulance Association for 14 years, served on many local and state EMS committees and advisory boards, and founded the “Emergency Medical Coalition of Ambulance Providers” in 2002. EMCAP became a nationwide organization advocating at the federal level for what is now known as the Nationwide Medicare Fee Schedule Program.
During his time at LifeLine, he employed many MMA Cadets. This relationship progressed into the founding of the MA Maritime EMS Service in 2012, a cadet-operated class one ambulance service. LifeLine donated the first Class One and Class Five ambulances, as well as an EMS golf cart. MMA-EMS is the only college-based, 100% student-run ambulance service in Massachusetts and one of only a few nationwide.
MMA EMS Cadets, certified as EMTs, provide emergency and non-emergency coverage to the Academy’s campus, responding to and transporting injured or ill persons directly to local hospitals. In recognition of his leadership and service, Brian was awarded the Massachusetts Maritime Medal of Valor by Admiral Richard Gurnon on June 13, 2013.
In 2018, through a $100,000 grant from the Connor Family, MMA-EMS purchased a new ambulance and expanded coverage beyond campus. In recognition of his continued leadership and support, Brian was named an “Honorary Member of the Regiment” and awarded a second Medal of Valor by Admiral Francis McDonald in 2019.
Aside from EMS, Brian serves on many boards and foundations. He is a former Scoutmaster and Eagle Scout and was recognized for his service by the Boston Council Boy Scouts. He is also an advocate for public housing and currently serves as Chairman of the Arlington Housing Authority, appointed by Governors Romney and Baker.
Brian continued his education following retirement, completing four additional master’s degrees (five total) and attending his first year of law school. He also holds a Master 100-ton Captain’s License from the USCG and founded the Massachusetts School of Boating, where he instructs novice boat owners.
As the first official “Triple Buc” at MMA, he hopes to enroll in the future Doctorate Program in Maritime Strategy & Security currently being pursued by the Academy.
Brian resides in Arlington with his wife Michele and their two children, Elizabeth and Patrick.
James F. Kane serves as Senior Vice President of Real Estate and Operations for the A.D. Makepeace Company, a land holding company in southeastern Massachusetts. In that role Jim oversees all facets of land use planning, permitting and plan implementation whether it is a residential, commercial, conservation/open space or a renewable energy use. He is also responsible for all infrastructure planning, development and execution to serve company and regional needs for water, waste-water, property and open space management as well operational profit and investment for each division.
Jim has worked cooperatively and successfully with the many towns in which the company owns land to develop and implement innovative zoning by-laws to guarantee conservation of critical open space habitats that serve to protect unique landscapes while allowing for the development of traditional New England villages.
While with Makepeace, Jim undertook and completed an extensive analysis of alternative energy opportunities within the Company’s holdings. Project and market viability analysis included large-scale solar, hydro-electric generation, geothermal and wind energy.
Prior to returning to Massachusetts and joining the A.D. Makepeace Company, Jim served as Deputy Executive Director/CFO of the Republican Governors Association in Washington DC where he was responsible for all financial and administrative operations and national polling and political advertisement. In the years before joining the RGA, Jim served in various senior roles in the Weld/Cellucci administration, first in the Governor’s office as Deputy Chief Policy Advisor and at the Massachusetts Government Land Bank where he oversaw the merger of two quasi-public agencies, Massachusetts Industrial Finance Agency and Massachusetts Government Land Bank into MassDevelopment, and the redevelopment of Fort Devens. He later served as Chief of Operations at the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority.
Jim earned an undergraduate degree in economics and political science from College of the Holy Cross and a master's degree in public administration from Clark University and is in his third term as a member of the Shrewsbury Board of Selectmen, and presently serving as Chairman of the Beal Early Childhood Center Building Committee. Jim resides in Shrewsbury with his wife Hannah and three wonderful children.
