After more than 25 years of serving on the Blackstone Valley Education Foundation’s board of directors, Gerald “Lee” Gaudette is stepping down from the Whitinsville board he helped found.
After more than 25 years of serving on the Blackstone Valley Education Foundation’s board of directors, Gerald “Lee” Gaudette is stepping down from the Whitinsville board he helped found.
Gaudette co-founded the foundation, proposing its establishment in 1999. Today, the nonprofit works to provide learning, leadership development, and work opportunities for Worcester County students through collaborations with schools, employers, and community partners.
“Since 1999, Lee’s steady leadership has guided BVEF’s growth and helped us build programs and events that create lasting partnerships for professionals, students, and educators across the Valley and beyond,” Erin Conley, BVEF executive director, said in a Wednesday press release. “His commitment to connecting young people with future career pathways has shaped BVEF’s identity and impact. We are deeply grateful for his service and vision.”
Gaudette, who serves as president of Gaudette Insurance Agency in Whitinsville,
was named one of WBJ’s Power 100 in 2025.
Gaudette worked as BVEF’s inaugural president and board chair, most recently serving as its long-term treasurer. Under his leadership, the nonprofit gained enough financial security to officially split from the Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce in 2006; Gaudette’s father Gerald “Gerry” Gaudette co-founded the chamber.
Gaudette was instrumental in securing Connecting Activities grants from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and establishing the organization’s Blackstone Valley Youth Leadership Academy. He supported a number of initiatives to prepare students to enter the workforce, including through career fairs, industry roundtables, and teacher externships.
In recognition of Gaudette as he steps down, BVEF has created the Lee Gaudette Blackstone Valley Vision Fund, funding student-facing projects including the youth academy, career and hiring fairs, teacher grants, and the nonprofit’s teacher externship program.
Mica Kanner-Mascolo is a staff writer at Worcester Business Journal, who primarily covers the healthcare and diversity, equity, and inclusion industries.
