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Archived: Harpoon Co-Founder to Chair AIM Board

Posted on May 10, 2015

Daniel Kenary, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Harpoon Brewery in Boston, was elected Friday as chairman of the board of directors of Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM).

KenaryKenary will lead the commonwealth’s largest employer association for the next year as AIM observes the centennial of its founding in 1915. Directors elected Kenary by acclamation at the AIM annual meeting at the Westin Boston Waterfront.

“AIM celebrates its 100th birthday at a time when the future of the organization has never been brighter,” said Kenary, who helped to launch the craft beer movement in the United States when he and two partners started Harpoon in 1986.

“This association represents the most successful example of civic engagement ever conducted by employers in Massachusetts. The 4,500 employer-members of AIM remain committed to creating an economy in which employers can grow and create opportunity for the citizens of Massachusetts.”

Harpoon has created plenty of its own opportunity since Kenary began brewing beer in warehouse space on the Boston waterfront. From those humble beginnings, the company has grown into the thirteenth largest craft brewery in the United States, turning out 210,000 barrels of IPA and other brews annually for customers in 24 states.

Harpoon became a company owned by its 184 employees in 2013.

“Dan Kenary knows what it is like to build a business from the ground up in Massachusetts. He’s just the sort of visionary entrepreneur who is perfect to lead Associated Industries of Massachusetts into its next century,” said Richard C. Lord, President and Chief Executive Officer of AIM.

“What better example of the power of economic transformation than a company grown on the Boston waterfront where everyone on the production line is an owner.”

Watch Video of Dan Kenary

Kenary succeeds Gary Magnuson, Executive Vice President of Citizens Bank N.A. in Boston, who served as AIM board chair for three years.

Elected as vice chairs of the association Friday were John M. Lynch, Esq., Principal, Lynch, DeSimone & Nylen LLP, Boston; and John C. Stowe, President, LUTCO, Inc., Worcester. Joanne K. Hilferty, President & CEO, Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries, Inc., Boston, was elected treasurer, and Dennis J. Leonard, President, Delta Dental Plan of Massachusetts, was elected assistant treasurer.