Rick McKenna became Executive Director of the Framingham Economic Development Corporation in July 2025, bringing comprehensive experience in municipal economic development and private sector leadership. He previously served as Economic Development Specialist in Framingham's Planning and Community Development Division for three years and spent seven years on the Framingham Zoning Board of Appeals.
McKenna's diverse business background spans industrial, hospitality, retail, and educational technology sectors. His career includes serving as Marketing Director at a MIT-affiliated educational software company based in Cambridge and working at a Boston advertising agency as Creative Director. His consulting portfolio features prominent clients including Mitsui Petrochemical, General Cinema Corporation, Sheraton Corporation, the FEMA National Earthquake Education Project, and U.S. Army Child Development Services.
Currently, McKenna focuses on workforce development programming in life sciences and applied AI. He was instrumental in founding the Framingham Geothermal Workforce Alliance and continues championing clean energy technologies.
A lifelong Framingham resident, McKenna served on the MAPC MetroWest Regional Collaborative Executive Committee and holds memberships in the Framingham Business Association, MetroWest Life Sciences Network, and MetroWest Chamber of Commerce. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Northeastern University.