12 Distinguished Boston Leaders Recognized as Diversity Game Changers

James E. Rooney, executive director of the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, was among 12 Boston business and philanthropic leaders honored recently by Get Konnected! as outstanding diversity game changers in the City of Boston. Rooney was recognized for his success in making Boston a more appealing destination for minority-based meetings and events. The "white man who can jump" theme honored these white, male business leaders who have strongly supported diversity.

Other honorees were:

• Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh

• Alan Khazei, president & CEO of Be the Change and adjunct professor Harvard Kennedy School of Government

• John Henry, Red Sox owner

• Dean Barry Bluestone, director of the Kitty and Michael Dukakis Center for Urban Studies at Northeastern University

• Robert Rivers, president and COO of Eastern Bank

• Eric Rosengren, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston

• Rob Leikind, executive director of the American Jewish Committee

• Larry Lucchino, principal owner of the Boston Red Sox

• Dr. Peter Slavin, president and CEO of Massachusetts General Hospital

• James Geraghty, executive director of Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management

• Steve Grossman, Massachusetts State Treasurer

The event was held in late March before about 400 guests at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center.

Rooney was cited for his role in the creation of the award-winning "Weekend of Discovery" program that encourages diverse associations to view Boston as a desirable location for their meetings and conventions. As a result, Boston has become a popular destination for minority-based meetings and conventions, including the National Urban League, Blacks in Government, the National Association of Black Journalists and the National Society of Black Engineers.