REQUESTFORQUALIFICATI ONS Building a Tactical Revitalization ...

Robert Culver l
Principal
Managing Director
EDUCATION
Harvard University, Kennedy School of
Government, M.P. A.
London School of Economics and Political
Science, M.A., Area Studies (China)
State University of New York at Buffalo,
B.A., Honors in History, Cum Laude
Cambridge University, Faculty of Oriental
and African Studies, Scholarship student,
non-degree intensive program in modern/
classical Chinese language
CURRENT PROFESSIONAL
AFFILIATIONS
Urban Land Institute (ULI)
Global Exchange Council Member
American Society of Landscape Architects
(ASLA)
Boston Society of Landscape Architects
(BSLA)
Northeastern University, Corporator
New England Conservatory of Music;
Corporator; Member, Facilities Committee;
Member, Audit Committee
Dean’s Advisory Leadership Council (DALC),
Harvard University,
Kennedy School of Government
PAST PROFESSIONAL
MEMBERSHIPS & AFFILIATIONS
National Grid USA, Advisory Board Member
Niagara Mohawk Holdings, Inc., Director;
Member of Audit Committee
U.S. Trust Company (Boston), Director;
Chair, Audit Committee; Member,
Compensation Committee
Boston School Committee, Member;
Chair, Finance Committee
As a managing director, Bob works closely with firm leaders on issues of strategy,
marketing, and business development. Bob also works directly with Sasaki’s
clients on overall strategy, project management, and project financing.
Bob’s acumen for creative problem-solving and diverse professional background
renders him a unique asset to the firm and Sasaki clients alike. He enjoys building
strong and productive relationships with academic, corporate, and urban clients.
Bob is the former president and CEO of the Massachusetts Development Finance
Agency and also served as the Vice President for Finance and Administration at
Yale University, the Executive Vice President/CFO for the Cabot Corporation, the
Senior Vice President and Treasurer of Northeastern University, and a consulting
partner at Coopers & Lybrand dealing primarily with higher education and
healthcare clients.
EXPERIENCE
MASSDEVELOPMENT; Boston, Massachusetts, 2004-2011
President and Chief Executive Officer
Responsible for managing 180-person, $100-million state finance and development authority
leveraging investment of more than $1.7 billion annually in private and public funds
to promote economic development, stimulate job creation, and increase housing supply
throughout Massachusetts.
Key management achievements:
Coached and guided skill-based project teams; Managed eight member Executive Team,
Restructured agency debt; Quintupled investment income; Improved internal accounting
systems and controls; Worked with multi-disciplinary Board of Directors to set lending and
financing priorities and agency-wide strategic planning framework; Worked with legislature
and mayors to assess, formulate solutions and address regional and municipal economic
development needs.
Major team accomplishments;
• Restructured/refocused product lines to target high impact communities and economic
sectors statewide; In fiscal years 2005 through 2010, value of agency- arranged
financing and agency-managed projects exceeded $1.7 billion annually.
• Implemented agency-wide evalutationof financial and information systems and comprehensive
improvements to achieve compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley and upgrade S&P
credit rating.
• Redeveloped and managed Devens, a 4,400-acre former U.S. Army base, into the
premier economic development site in the Commonwealth with more than 85 businesses
employing 3,000 people and producing an annual payroll of nearly $220 million;
Won site competition for $750 million Bristol-Myers Squibb bio manufacturing plant in
Massachusetts against competition from Ireland, Singapore, and various U.S. locations.
New England Conservatory of Music,
Trustee