Harron Ellenson
Member, Board of Advisors
After almost 40 years in business, Harron Ellenson retired in 2016 from running her Boston based company Harron and Associates. The firm specialized in bringing together the public and private sectors to create memorable civic events, such as the Centennial Dedication of Boston Symphony Hall, the traditional lighting of the Boston Christmas tree, the two-week port visit of the BT Global Challenge Yacht Race, and the opening of the Prudential Center retail complex in Boston.
She consulted on numerous anniversary celebrations including Mount Auburn Cemetery, The Associated Industries of Massachusetts, the USS Constitution, and the Friends of the Public Garden.
Harron advised a multinational telecommunications/media firm to provide corporate hospitality at the 2004, 2008, and 2012 Democratic and Republican National Conventions.
Another career highlight included work with the governments of Britain, Portugal, and Nova Scotia on both tourism and trade initiatives in the US. Harron and Associates helped to found and administer NEWIRE, New England Women in Real Estate, from 1982 until 2014.
From 2010–2014, she concurrently ran her firm while serving as Executive Director of the Boston Landmarks Orchestra, establishing the orchestra’s role on the cutting edge for programs for people with disabilities and as a catalyst for community participation in the arts. Previously to opening Harron and Associates, she served as Director of Marketing for the Massachusetts Transportation Authority. From 1969 to 1976 she worked for the City of Boston under Mayor Kevin White, first as a program coordinator for Summer-thing, a citywide arts festival, then as assistant director then director of Boston 200, the city’s celebration of the Bicentennial of the United States. At Boston 200 she oversaw the visit of the Queen of England to Boston as well as the creation of policies to expand and broaden preservation and cultural tourism efforts in the city and Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In 1977 she helped implement the 7 Inaugural Balls held for President Jimmy Carter.
In 1984 she was recognized as one of the 10 Young Leaders of Boston. In 2001, the Women's Network of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce honored Ms. Ellenson with its annual Pinnacle Award, which recognizes Boston women who have achieved excellence in business, management, and the professions.
Currently she has been working as a volunteer on the Partnership to Renew the Shaw 54th Regiment Memorial, the Revolution 250 Commemoration Committee, and she serves on the Board of the Eureka Ensemble.