Kevin Galvin
Encyclopedia
Kevin Galvin is a Connecticut
-based business activist. He is the founding chair of the Small Business for Health Care Reform advisory committee and is best known for his efforts as an advocate for the interests of small business
in the reform of health care systems. Galvin participated in the national health care reform
debate that culminated in the passage and signing of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
in March 2010. He and his coalition also played a role in the passage of Connecticut’s SustiNet
health care reform plan in 2009.
. He attended Conard High School
and now resides in Farmington, Connecticut
. He has been a small business owner since 1972. He spent 15 years promoting professional motor sports in the continental United States
, Hawaii
, Canada
and the West Indies as part of his business, New England Pro Racing. Later, he managed, then purchased, a hardware store and founded a handyman business in West Hartford. Galvin is now owner of the West Hartford-based Connecticut Commercial Maintenance, Inc., a commercial and residential facilities maintenance company. He is a past president of the West Hartford Chamber of Commerce. Galvin and his wife have two children.
and long-term economic development
in the 1990s.
In February 2009 Galvin collaborated with other small business owners to organize a coalition of thousands of small companies known as the Small Businesses for Health Care Reform. The coalition endorsed the SustiNet plan, a bill in the Connecticut General Assembly
developed by Universal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut
and aimed at achieving universal health care in Connecticut by opening up the existing state employee insurance pool. Galvin testified before the Connecticut General Assembly on multiple occasions in support of SustiNet, which became law in July 2009.
In August 2009 Galvin hosted Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius
, Small Business Administration
Administrator Karen Mills
, Senator Chris Dodd and Representative Rosa DeLauro
at his Connecticut Commercial Maintenance shop facility for a discussion of health care reform and business.
In October 2009, Galvin was invited to the White House
with a group of small business owners from across the nation to share his ideas about what small business need in order to grow and strengthen the economy and communities.
The following month, Galvin served on a panel with Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner at the Small Business Financing Forum, a gathering of policymakers, lenders, and business owners called by President
Barack Obama
to explore ideas and strategies for expanding access to financing for small businesses.
In the course of the national health care reform debate, Senator Dodd made two presentations on the floor of the United States Senate
based on Galvin’s story. At the White House Health Care Summit on February 25, 2010, Dodd said, “He [Galvin] decided he wanted to provide health care. And, like the stories you've all heard, he lost a fellow of 24 years because the guy had a health care issue… But Kevin did more than just tell me a story about himself, Mr. President, and what happened to his seven employees because he couldn't get health care. He went out in my state of Connecticut and organized small businesses. And they changed the law in Connecticut… Because here was a small business guy who wanted to take care of his people… ”
Galvin served on a state advisory committee for the implementation of thee SustiNet plan He and his advocacy work have been featured in the Hartford Courant, the Hartford Business Journal, the New Haven Register and the Los Angeles Times
, among other publications, as well as on MSNBC
.
In June 2009 Galvin was honored by the Connecticut General Assembly for his "Commitment to improving health care... on behalf of thousands of entrepreneurs and families across Connecticut who struggle with health care costs, access and quality."
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
-based business activist. He is the founding chair of the Small Business for Health Care Reform advisory committee and is best known for his efforts as an advocate for the interests of small business
Small business
A small business is a business that is privately owned and operated, with a small number of employees and relatively low volume of sales. Small businesses are normally privately owned corporations, partnerships, or sole proprietorships...
in the reform of health care systems. Galvin participated in the national health care reform
Health care reform
Health care reform is a general rubric used for discussing major health policy creation or changes—for the most part, governmental policy that affects health care delivery in a given place...
debate that culminated in the passage and signing of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is a United States federal statute signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010. The law is the principal health care reform legislation of the 111th United States Congress...
in March 2010. He and his coalition also played a role in the passage of Connecticut’s SustiNet
SustiNet
SustiNet is a Connecticut health care plan passed into law in July, 2009. Its goal is to provide affordable health care coverage to 98% of Connecticut residents by 2014.-Provisions of the legislation:...
health care reform plan in 2009.
Biography
Galvin was born and raised in West Hartford, ConnecticutWest Hartford, Connecticut
West Hartford is a town located in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The town was incorporated in 1854. Prior to that date, the town was a parish of Hartford....
. He attended Conard High School
Conard High School
Conard High School is a public high school in West Hartford, Connecticut. It opened in 1957, and was named after Frederick Underwood Conard, president of Niles-Bement-Pond Company and chairman of the local Board of Education when plans for the school were approved...
and now resides in Farmington, Connecticut
Farmington, Connecticut
Farmington is a town located in Hartford County in the Farmington Valley area of central Connecticut in the United States. The population was 25,340 at the 2010 census. It is home to the world headquarters of several large corporations including Carrier Corporation, Otis Elevator Company, and Carvel...
. He has been a small business owner since 1972. He spent 15 years promoting professional motor sports in the continental United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and the West Indies as part of his business, New England Pro Racing. Later, he managed, then purchased, a hardware store and founded a handyman business in West Hartford. Galvin is now owner of the West Hartford-based Connecticut Commercial Maintenance, Inc., a commercial and residential facilities maintenance company. He is a past president of the West Hartford Chamber of Commerce. Galvin and his wife have two children.
Advocate
Galvin was a leader in organizing West Hartford community members in support of smart growthSmart growth
Smart growth is an urban planning and transportation theory that concentrates growth in compact walkable urban centers to avoid sprawl and advocates compact, transit-oriented, walkable, bicycle-friendly land use, including neighborhood schools, complete streets, and mixed-use development with a...
and long-term economic development
Economic development
Economic development generally refers to the sustained, concerted actions of policymakers and communities that promote the standard of living and economic health of a specific area...
in the 1990s.
In February 2009 Galvin collaborated with other small business owners to organize a coalition of thousands of small companies known as the Small Businesses for Health Care Reform. The coalition endorsed the SustiNet plan, a bill in the Connecticut General Assembly
Connecticut General Assembly
The Connecticut General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is a bicameral body composed of the 151-member House of Representatives and the 36-member Senate. It meets in the state capital, Hartford. There are no term limits for either chamber.During...
developed by Universal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut
Universal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut
Universal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut is an independent, nonprofit organization with offices in Meriden, Connecticut. The foundation supports the mission of its parent organization, CHART...
and aimed at achieving universal health care in Connecticut by opening up the existing state employee insurance pool. Galvin testified before the Connecticut General Assembly on multiple occasions in support of SustiNet, which became law in July 2009.
In August 2009 Galvin hosted Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius
Kathleen Sebelius
Kathleen Sebelius is an American politician currently serving as the 21st Secretary of Health and Human Services. She was the second female Governor of Kansas from 2003 to 2009, the Democratic respondent to the 2008 State of the Union address, and chair-emerita of the Democratic Governors...
, Small Business Administration
Small Business Administration
The Small Business Administration is a United States government agency that provides support to entrepreneurs and small businesses. The mission of the Small Business Administration is "to maintain and strengthen the nation's economy by enabling the establishment and viability of small businesses...
Administrator Karen Mills
Karen Mills
Karen Gordon Mills is the 23rd administrator of the Small Business Administration , a federal agency which provides small businesses with access to capital and government contracts, counseling and training, and disaster relief...
, Senator Chris Dodd and Representative Rosa DeLauro
Rosa DeLauro
Rosa L. DeLauro is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1991. She is a member of the Democratic Party.The district is based in New Haven, and includes most of that city's suburbs.-Early life, education and career:...
at his Connecticut Commercial Maintenance shop facility for a discussion of health care reform and business.
In October 2009, Galvin was invited to the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
with a group of small business owners from across the nation to share his ideas about what small business need in order to grow and strengthen the economy and communities.
The following month, Galvin served on a panel with Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner at the Small Business Financing Forum, a gathering of policymakers, lenders, and business owners called by President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
to explore ideas and strategies for expanding access to financing for small businesses.
In the course of the national health care reform debate, Senator Dodd made two presentations on the floor of the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
based on Galvin’s story. At the White House Health Care Summit on February 25, 2010, Dodd said, “He [Galvin] decided he wanted to provide health care. And, like the stories you've all heard, he lost a fellow of 24 years because the guy had a health care issue… But Kevin did more than just tell me a story about himself, Mr. President, and what happened to his seven employees because he couldn't get health care. He went out in my state of Connecticut and organized small businesses. And they changed the law in Connecticut… Because here was a small business guy who wanted to take care of his people… ”
Galvin served on a state advisory committee for the implementation of thee SustiNet plan He and his advocacy work have been featured in the Hartford Courant, the Hartford Business Journal, the New Haven Register and the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
, among other publications, as well as on MSNBC
MSNBC
MSNBC is a cable news channel based in the United States available in the US, Germany , South Africa, the Middle East and Canada...
.
In June 2009 Galvin was honored by the Connecticut General Assembly for his "Commitment to improving health care... on behalf of thousands of entrepreneurs and families across Connecticut who struggle with health care costs, access and quality."
See also
- Chris Dodd
- ConnecticutConnecticutConnecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
- Health care reform in the United StatesHealth care reform in the United StatesHealth care reform in the United States has a long history, of which the most recent results were two federal statutes enacted in 2010: the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act , signed March 23, 2010, and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 , which amended the PPACA and...
- SustiNetSustiNetSustiNet is a Connecticut health care plan passed into law in July, 2009. Its goal is to provide affordable health care coverage to 98% of Connecticut residents by 2014.-Provisions of the legislation:...
- Universal Health Care Foundation of ConnecticutUniversal Health Care Foundation of ConnecticutUniversal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut is an independent, nonprofit organization with offices in Meriden, Connecticut. The foundation supports the mission of its parent organization, CHART...
- West Hartford, ConnecticutWest Hartford, ConnecticutWest Hartford is a town located in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The town was incorporated in 1854. Prior to that date, the town was a parish of Hartford....