About South End Business Alliance and Our Board

Mission Statement

(SEBA) South End Business Alliance is a volunteer organization that represents a range of businesses and non-profits in the South End of Boston and is engaged in promoting and growing this business community with a strong and unified voice. Our members have entrepreneurial spirit and our volunteer board offers broad knowledge and expertise in finance, operations, sales, marketing and government relations.

The SEBA business community is diverse. We represent Retailers (online & storefronts), Restaurants, Design & Architecture, Artists & Galleries, Property Owners and Hotels, Non-Profits, Education and Home Services.

 

CORPORATE OFFICERS

PRESIDENT

Philip Saul is the founder and creative director of SAULT New England. He opened his first location at 577 Tremont Street back in 2011 and has worked to build a successful brand that has been recognized by the NY Times and GQ for his collection of Made in New England brands and classic Brands to create a great shopping experience.

Philip Started his career in retail right out of High School and has worked with brands like American Eagle, Banana Republic and Urban Outfitters where he excelled in visual merchandising, new store openings and oversaw stores in New England and Canada. Philip has a keen eye for design and a strong work ethic that has resulted in two brick and mortar shops and a successful online store. He has also opened two pop up stores in the South End over the Holidays resulting in activating the spaces and engaging with the neighborhood.

Philip knows that a strong restaurant and retail scene is vital to a healthy and diverse neighborhood for all.

Philip has been a resident in the South End since 2001 and has witnessed first hand how the neighborhood has grown. "I strongly believe we need to continue to foster and support our local business in the South End, We have more room to grow and make this the best neighborhood in Boston. I love the history of the neighborhood and proud to call this Home."


TREASURER

KEVIN HEPNER has lived in Boston for the past 33 years and served as The South End Business Alliance’s Treasurer from 2010 to 2014.  He is a certified public accountant by training and an organizational change agent by passion. Kevin moved to the nonprofit sector from public accounting to directly address socially impactful issues close to his heart.

He founded NPMF, the Nonprofit Financial Mangers Group Which is run by a steering committee of its members. The group provides a forum for discussion of the current issues facing non-profit financial professionals. He has worked with over 40 nonprofits, helping them develop the organizational infrastructure to support their missions. He has extensive experience at managing boards as a senior staff person, as a board chair, and board member of many nonprofit organizations including serving as board President of a community health center for 10 years and overseeing the transition from its executive director of 35 years to new leadership.

Kevin helped start 5 nonprofits and one insurance company owned by its nonprofit policy holders where 100% of the profits of the company goes back to the nonprofit policy holders. He worked with a group of Harvard Medical School students to create a public health organization in Mali, Africa. Kevin is also an instructor at the Boston University School of Social Work and was a founding faculty member of the Institute for Nonprofit Management & Leadership where he shared his financial management expertise and best practices to students seeking to pursue leadership roles within the nonprofit arena.

When not working on nonprofit issues Kevin enjoys sailing the waters of New England and expressing his creativity through the fiber arts.


CORPORATE CLERK & Website


CAROLYN KRAUT is a 30-year South End resident and owner of Hands of Time, a personal concierge and virtual assistant business-serving clients in the Greater Boston area and beyond.

Hands of Time’s personal services include personal shopping and organizing, social and business event planning and an array of other professional concierge services. Business services include customer e-mail list management, database management,  research, proof reading and website testing.

Carolyn holds a Master’s Degree in Information Systems and studied Fine Art and Art History as an undergraduate. She has also served as the past Event Manager for the Boston Chapter of Ellevate an international women’s professional organization. Prior to establishing Hands of Time, Carolyn ran a software consultancy specializing in collaborative and workflow application development. Her career also includes fashion merchandising, working both on the selling and merchandising sides of the industry.

She has seen so many changes over the years having moved to the South End in the late 80's; but her favorite thing about the South End is the friendliness and helpfulness of the community. You can catch Carolyn at Flour Bakery (best coffee), Code 10 (best ice cream), PRB boulangerie and the SOWA Market.

To learn more and connect with Carolyn at Hands of Time  or email: info@handsoftimeconcierge.com


BOARD OF DIRECTORS

COMMUNITY LIASON

EVE WARD is a South End resident and founder/owner of Bond and Des Voeux. A resource for relocation management, full-service move management and down-sizing based in Boston’s South End.

Whether you are moving around the corner or around the world, our team has the experience necessary to handle the stresses and challenges that often go beyond the logistics of a move. Guiding you through every aspect of settling into your new home, from unpacking to helping you find your new favorite restaurant. We love to highlight all that Boston has to offer to make you feel at home.   We believe you can achieve everything you want in life, with the right people to help along the way.

She serves on the Board of the South End Business Alliance and served as past President and calls the South End her home in Boston’s neighborhood that she has come to love and call home. A seasoned international citizen who has enjoyed a long career in the corporate world with Fidelity Worldwide Investments. After training management teams in providing world-class customer service and ultimately heading the operational risk management team in Asia, Eve decided to embark on an entrepreneurial path.

Eve served on the Washington Gateway Main Street (WGMS) board of Directors for 5 years and in 2018, she received the volunteer year award from WGMS & the City of Boston.

To learn more about Bond and Des Voeux and connect with Eve email eve@bondanddesvoeux.com


GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

RANDI GROHE LATHROP is the President & CEO of RG Lathrop Consulting LLC, based in Boston. Focused on Development Consulting, Government Relations, Urban Planning and Zoning, Community / Business Engagement, Business Development / Economic Development and Retail Assistance. She is an Urban Planner and formally a retailer for 17 years in a family owned high end craft & glass gallery called Signature and the Grohe Glass Gallery.

Randi, her husband Bob & their son Keith moved to the South End in 1986. Randi and Bob live in the South End and her son now lives in the Back Bay. Her genealogy roots go back to 1870, when her paternal grandfather Herman Benjamin Grohe immigrated from Baden Baden Germany with his mother & his 7 siblings. Her paternal grandmother was born at home on Tremont St in Mission Hill and grew up on Columbus Ave in Bay Village So I guess her home & heart will always be in the South End.

Randi was a volunteer board member and became VP & President of the Blackstone Franklin Sq. Neighborhood Assoc in the late 1980’s-1990’s. In 1993, she was appointed by the late Mayor Thomas M. Menino, to chair the Washington Street Task Force which was a volunteer community driven planning effort by residents, non profits, businesses and property owners that worked with the City of Boston’s Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA), the planning and development agency for the City of Boston.

Randi believes strongly in supporting local, family owned and independent retailers & food establishments in Boston. She does her banking at Hingham Institute of Savings, shops groceries & prepared foods at Foodies Urban Market & the South End Emporium . For home furnishings, she shops at Lekker Home, Hudson Interiors , SOWA studios, and buy gifts at Sky Candle, Sault and other cool independent shops in the area. You may find her grabbing a sandwich, pastry & coffee at Sip of Joy, Berkeley Perks, Flour Bakery or SE Buttery.

Randi & her husband, Bob support many of the restaurants in the area: Mike’s City Dinner, Bar Mezzana, Black Lamb, Aquataine , Petit Robert & Frenchie to name a few!

To learn more and connect with Randi visit RGlathropConsulting or email randilathrop@comcast.net

Board Member

KIMBERLY WINTERS is the Director of Hospitality at Alpine Restaurant Group. The Alpine Group currently has six restaurants and a food truck.

Growing up in the heart of the Berkshires, Kim Winters entered the hospitality world at 14-years-old with a job manning the snack bar at a local indoor playground. What truly solidified her interest in restaurants though was her part-time hosting position at Trattoria Il Vesuvio in Lenox, a family-owned Italian restaurant that introduced her to home-style cooking and the concept of family meal. Seeking continued understanding of the industry, Kim joined the team at the nearby Cranwell Resort, where she worked summers throughout college. Under the guidance of her mentor at the resort, Kim learned firsthand the finer points of management and delegation.

After graduating from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a B.S. in Hospitality & Tourism Management, Kim quickly immersed herself in the Boston-area hospitality industry. Starting her career at Character’s Bar & Grill in the Boston Cambridge Marriott,

Kim has also served as the Restaurant Manager at the Boston Renaissance Waterfront’s 606 Congress, the General Manager at Max & Dylan’s, the General Manager and Corporate Trainer at SIP Wine Bar & Kitchen.

Kim has been with the Alpine Restaurant Group since 2013, first serving as the General Manager at The Painted Burro, then the Director of Media Relations for the Group, followed by Director of Human Resources.


ADVISOR

ELIZABETH BEUTEL, past President of SEBA from October 2020 to September 2024.
A native New Yorker, Elizabeth has resided in Massachusetts for more than 20 years and worked in the South End/Boston for the past 15 years in hospitality. Her experience encompasses sales, marketing, event planning, business development and operations for tourism, hotels and restaurants. Currently, Director Sales and Marketing at the AC Hotel in the Ink Block complex in the South End of Boston. Elizabeth is certified in Healthcare Meeting Compliance and Six Sigma.

The South End represents all that I enjoy in life... food, fashion, music & the arts, community and dogs!

For more than five years, proud to say not a penny spent on Amazon. I would rather "shop local" at Jacobson's Floral, pop into Foodies, buy wine at Brix, dine at MIDA, Frenchie's or Bar Mezzana. When I lived on West Newton Street, Anchovies was my salvation in winter -sitting at the bar eating Linguini and Clams with a dirty martini. The South End continues to give me great memories.

My goal is to support and build the business community within the four walls of the South End. The South End Business Alliance ((SEBA)) is a business resource to problem solve, create networking and partnerships, develop programs that attract consumers and promote the South End Lifestyle.

To learn more about AC Hotel and connect with Elizabeth email ebeutel@colwenhotels.com

 

ADVISOR

 

MAYRA I. NEGRÓN-ROCHE is Chief Operating Officer at Inquilinos Boricuas En Accion (IBA). With 20 year of experience, she oversees all administrative functions of the organization including Property Management, Real Estate Development and Asset Management of a portfolio of 667 units of affordable housing, in addition to commercial real estate.

Mayra provides vision, direction, coaching, support and guidelines to all senior staff and employees across the organization in all aspects of administration and services related matters. Prior to her current position, Mayra, was Chief of Finance and Administration and in that role improved accounting and financial control systems to effectively meet all fiscal standards.

Her favorite things of South End are:
1. Restaurant: Orinoco
2. Retail: Boomerangs
3. Fast casual food establishment: Flour
4. Favorite coffee shop: South End Buttery
5. Favorite Pizza place: Picco


LEGACY ADVISOR

TED PIETRAS is a veteran "Bostonian" and senior sales associate with Gibson Sotheby's International Realty for the past 30+ years

Offering extensive knowledge & familiarity with Boston and its real estate environment. Ted is consistently among the top producers at Gibson Sotheby's and has received state and national recognition for his outstanding sales achievement.

In 2020, Ted was selected by Mayor Marty Walsh's office to serve on the Clarendon YMCA renovations to affordable housing, plus Dartmouth Street Citizen's Advisory Committee and the Stuart Street Advisory Group, all of which advise the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) on current development initiatives. Ted is proactively involved in effecting change; he has served as State Legislative Aide and organized a successful citywide homeowner's group that focused on real estate issues. Ted aggressively supports the Arts in Boston, served recently on the board of directors of the Community Music Center of Boston and is on the board of The Friends of Peters Park, Eight Street Neighborhood Association and the Berkeley Community Gardens.

Ted continues to serve on the Board for the South End Business Alliance ((SEBA)) and brings extensive knowledge as past President. He has a leadership role in improving neighborhood conditions and trying to help to maintain and increase the sense of community.

To learn more about Gibson Sotheby's and connect with Ted email Tedp@GibsonSIR.com.


LEGACY ADVISOR

SHEILA GROVE has resided in Boston’s South End since the 1970’s and with her husband, Carl they raised two children in the Union Park area.  A South End small property owner and Real Estate attorney by trade; she has represented many property owners in the South End and throughout Metro Boston.

An active voice of the community and instrumental in creating the vision of the South End we know today.  Sheila is Instrumental in working and guiding property owners, developers and new business owners through the community engagement process, leasing process and development review process in Boston. She has served as a volunteer as President of the Union Park Neighborhood Association. In 1997, and appointed to Mayor Thomas Menino’s Washington Task Force, which was a community driven process that collaborated with the City of Boston & the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA), which made recommendations for the future development of Washington Street.

Sheila received many awards as Executive Director of WGMS. Washington Gateway Main Street was the first urban main street in the U.S. to be named a "Great American Main Street" by the National Trust of Historic Preservation. The American Planning Association (APA) also awarded Washington Street as one of the best 10 best streets in the US.

Sheila supports local, family owned and independent businesses. You can find her enjoying French food at Frenchie Bistro, Aquitaine and Black Lamb. She shops for home furnishings at MJ Berries, Lekker Home and Artefact. You may find her grabbing lunch or dinner at the South End Buttery, Banyan Bar & Refuge, Mike’s City Diner,the Elephant Walk,  Orinoco, and Myers Chang. If she needs a card or gift, she will go to BRIX Wine Shop, Boomerangs, Olives & Grace, Gifted or M Flynn jewelers.

To learn more and connect with Sheila email: sheila.grove2@verizon.net