Blackstone Valley Education Foundation Announces Board Leadership Transition. Founding Board Member Lee Gaudette Steps Down After More Than Two Decades of Service

The Blackstone Valley Education Foundation (BVEF) today announced that Gerald L. Gaudette, III, known to many as “Lee”, will step down from its Board of Directors after over 25 years of transformative leadership. A founding board member and long-serving Treasurer, Gaudette has been a pivotal force in shaping BVEF’s evolution from a volunteer committee into a leading regional organization delivering early career-connected learning, educator development, and real-world student experiences across Worcester County.

From Partnership Committee to Regional Powerhouse: Lee Gaudette’s Enduring Vision

BVEF’s origins trace back to the late 1970s, when the Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce (BVCC), then operating under the Worcester Area Chamber’s affiliate model, maintained a School-Business Partnership Committee (SBP) focused on fundraising and classroom mini-grants. By the mid-1990s, a broader vision emerged. With new state and federal investments, including a $500,000 School-to-Work (STW) grant secured in partnership with Valley Tech, the groundwork was laid for more systemic school-to-career alignment.

As the STW grant approached sunset in 1999, Gaudette and Marty Green proposed the creation of a new nonprofit entity to sustain and expand the work. Recognizing the limitations of housing such work under a chamber structure, they launched the Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce Education Foundation, Inc., now BVEF, as a 501(c)(3) organization. Lee Gaudette served as its first president and board chair, helping to formalize its membership model and financial structure.

Legacy of Leadership

Over the next two decades, Lee Gaudette’s fiscal stewardship and commitment to building strong public-private partnerships helped grow BVEF from a grant-distributing volunteer group into a trusted intermediary serving 15+ partner and member districts. His leadership was instrumental in stewarding state Connecting Activities funds, advancing new programming like Blackstone Valley Youth Leadership Academy (BVYLA), and ensuring financial independence through a formal separation from the Chamber in 2006.

A believer in the idea that “every great place has great schools,” Gaudette’s leadership emphasized relevance, access, and collaboration. Lee believed that creating authentic connections in teaching and learning would increase student engagement and ultimately achievement. From career fairs and industry roundtables to youth leadership development and teacher externships, he has worked to create lasting pathways for students to engage with the workforce and community.

“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,” said Dr. Erin Conley, Executive Director of BVEF. “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.”

A Multigenerational Legacy

Lee Gaudette’s service continues a family legacy of civic leadership. His father, Gerald “Gerry” Gaudette, co-founded the Blackstone Valley Chamber and is remembered as “the father of the Blackstone Valley,” with community contributions including the Gerry Gaudette Pavilion in Whitin Park. Lee extended that commitment across the region through leadership roles at the Greater Worcester Community Foundation, the Town of Northbridge, and numerous state and industry boards.

Introducing the Lee Gaudette Blackstone Valley Vision Fund

To honor his service, BVEF has established the Lee Gaudette Blackstone Valley Vision Fund, a dedicated fund to sustain and grow student-facing programs that embody BVEF’s founding mission. The fund will support signature initiatives in the Blackstone Valley, including:

• BVYLA (Blackstone Valley Youth Leadership Academy)

• Arts in the Valley, Massachusetts’ largest K–12 art show

• Career & Hiring Fairs

• STEM Unfiltered

• Grants to Teachers across member districts

• ExGen- teacher externship program 

  
  

As BVEF expands its regional reach and deepens its influence on educational policy and practice, the Lee Gaudette BV Vision Fund ensures that youth from the Blackstone Valley continue to benefit from high-quality, real-world learning opportunities.

To learn more or to donate, visit: www.bveducationfoundation.org/donate