The Perkins Bass Lecture Rockefeller Center Introduction: Representative Charlie Bass '74 Former U.S. Congressman (R-NH) Son of the late Representative Perkins Bass '34 Governor John Lynch Former Governor of New Hampshire Perkins Bass Distinguished Visitor Re-elected in 2010 to a historic fourth term, Gov. John Lynch has been a strong, effective leader in working to make real progress on the issues that matter most to New Hampshire families and businesses ­-- improving the quality of education, promoting job creation and economic development, reducing health care costs, ensuring public safety and protecting New Hampshire's environment and natural resources. Under Gov. Lynch, New Hampshire was named the "Most Livable State" in the nation, as well as the "Safest State" for three years in a row. New Hampshire has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation, the lowest states taxes, and fourth lowest government spending per capita. Under Gov. Lynch it has been named one of the most business-friendly and best-managed states in the nation. Gov. Lynch has worked with Democrats and Republicans to make kindergarten available to every child, to cut New Hampshire's high school dropout rate in half, pass the toughest laws in the nation to protect children from sexual predators, to reduce spending by making government more efficient and build the economy by making it easier for companies to retain and hire new workers, increasing job training and providing tax credits for research and development. A commitment to putting the interests of people first is an extension of Gov. Lynch's work as a business and community leader. As the President and CEO of Knoll, Inc., a national furniture manufacturer, he transformed a company losing $50 million a year into one making a profit of nearly $240 million. Under his leadership, Knoll created new jobs, gave factory workers annual bonuses, established a scholarship program for the children of employees, created retirement plans for employees, and gave workers stock in the company. Gov. Lynch has also served as chair of the University System Board of Trustees, where he worked to keep tuition increases to a minimum; as director of Admissions at the Harvard Business School, where he made ethics one of the criteria for admissions; and as president of the Lynch Group, a business-consulting firm in Manchester. Long a community leader, John Lynch served on the board of Catholic Medical Center in Manchester and on the board of the Capitol Center for the Arts. He is the past president of the UNH alumni association, and a longtime coach of youth soccer, hockey, softball and baseball. Working his way through college, Gov. Lynch earned his undergraduate degree from the University of New Hampshire in 1974. He also holds an M.B.A. from the Harvard Business School and a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center. He and his wife of over 30 years, Susan, live in Hopkinton, and have three children, Jacqueline, Julia and Hayden.