About Hannah

Explore Hannah's professional background and experience, and learn about the vast community involvement that she continues to prioritize as the State Representative for the 11th Worcester District.

Hannah Kane serves as the State Representative for the 11th Worcester District, representing the towns of Shrewsbury and Westborough, Precinct 4. Hannah was re-elected to serve for a fifth term in November 2022 and sworn into office as a member of the 193rd Biennium session of the Great and General Court on January 4, 2023.
 
Hannah graduated from Boston University's School of Management in 1993. Hannah has significant experience in both the public and private sectors, beginning her career working as a Product Analyst at Unum Insurance Company. She was then recruited by Lt. Governor Paul Cellucci to the Weld/Cellucci Administration on the redevelopment of the former 4,400-acre Fort Devens Army Base and on the merger of two quasi-public state agencies into the economic development authority MassDevelopment as Director of Marketing and Product Development. Hannah helped generate over a billion dollars in economic development across the Commonwealth. Hannah later returned to the private sector as Vice President of Marketing Services for a consulting firm, developing and implementing business growth and marketing strategies for her clients. Hannah most recently co-owned and was managing partner of Beaton Kane Construction.

Hannah is deeply committed to public service in the community. She is currently:
  • an elected Town Meeting Member (20 years)
  • President of the Shrewsbury Public Schools Foundation
  • a member of the Shrewsbury Coalition for Addiction Prevention and Education
  • a Trustee for the Seven Hills Foundation
  • Board Chair for Andover Newton Seminary at Yale Divinity School
  • the Host of a charity golf tournament benefitting SYFS, St. Anne’s Human Services and Westborough Food Pantry
  • an Advisory Board Member of the 495/MetroWest Partnership
  • a member of the Central MA Opioid Task Force
  • a Worcester County Reserve Deputy Sheriff

She has also previously served as:
  • an appointed member of the Shrewsbury Finance Committee
  • the President of the Shrewsbury Development Corporation
  • ​a member of the Floral, Oak & Sherwood Middle Schools Councils
  • a Board Member for Shrewsbury Youth and Family Services, Inc. (SYFS)
  • the President of Floral Street School PTO
  • a Strategist on the "Community Supporters for Shrewsbury" 2014 ballot committee
  • a Co-Chair of the "Community Supporters for Sherwood" ballot committee (2009-2010) 
  • on the Shrewsbury Youth and Family Services Resource Development Committee
  • a Shrewsbury Oil Assistance Relief: “Let Your Spirit SOAR”  Fundraiser Host
  • on the Shrewsbury Public Schools Coordinating Council, Superintendent Screening Committee and Foundation for Children’s Books Vice-President

On Beacon Hill, Hannah serves as:
  • Ranking Minority House Member, Joint Committee on Health Care Financing
  • Ranking Minority House Member, Joint Committee on Public Health
  • Ranking Minority House Member, Joint Committee on Elder Affairs
  • Member, House Committee on Ethics
  • Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the first in the nation Legislative Food System Caucus
  • Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Legislative Cancer Awareness Caucus
  • State Director for the National Women in Government Foundation
  • Co-Chair of the Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators

Appointments to Special Commissions and Task Forces: 
  • Hannah serves on the:
    • Rare Disease Advisory Council
    • Women's Rights History Trail Task Force
    • Massachusetts Food Policy Council
    • Massachusetts Commission on Unaccompanied Homeless Youth
    • Commission on Malnutrition Prevention Among Older Adults
  • Hannah previously served on the:
    • Financial Literacy Task Force
    • Special Commission on Local and Regional Public Health 
    • Regional Transit Authority Task Force 
    • Special Commission on Family Care and Child Care Services
    • Governor Baker's Food Security Task Force
Honors and Awards:

  • Shrewsbury Youth and Family Services, Inc.'s 2018 Harry S. Cutting, Jr. Award for outstanding commitment, contributions and support of the Shrewsbury community
  • Shrewsbury Education Foundation's first Community Award For Service in 2011
  • In 2018, Hannah was the first member of the Massachusetts’ Legislature honored as a Service Hero by Project 351, an organization that promotes year-long service by an 8th grade Ambassadors from each of the Commonwealth’s 351 cities and towns. 
  • Hannah received the 2016 Worcester County Food Bank (WCFB) Harvester Award in recognition of her partnership with the WCFB to help feed hungry people today, while working to create hunger-free communities of tomorrow.
  • In April 2017, Hannah received the American Nursing Association of Massachusetts Friend of Nursing Award for her work on marijuana policy. 
  • Hannah accepted the 2018 Massachusetts Parks and Recreation Association Legislator of the Year Award in March in recognition of her work to support parks and recreation in her district and the Commonwealth. 
  • The Worcester County Bar Association recognized Hannah as a 2019 Public Official of the Year for her bi-partisan work on the Healthy Incentives Program.
  • Hannah received the 2019 Legislative Leadership Award from the Massachusetts Public Health Association in recognition of her work to promote a more effective, efficient and equitable local public health system.
  • In June 2021, Hannah received the 2021 Rare Impact Award from the National Organization for Rare Disorders for her leadership in passing legislation to create a Rare Disease Advisory Council in Massachusetts.
  • Hannah received the Vic Karaian Award from the Massachusetts Environmental Health Association in May of 2022 in recognition for her leadership and primary sponsorship of the Statewide Accelerated Public Health for Every Community Act (SAPHE 2.0). 
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Supporting the Shrewsbury and Westborough Community:
The Hannah Kane Charitable Foundation has raised and donated over $505,000 to non-profit organizations in Shrewsbury and Westborough
  • Shrewsbury Youth and Family Services
  • St. Anne’s Human Services
  • Westborough Food Pantry
  • Shrewsbury Education Foundation
  • Westborough Education Foundation/Turkey Trot
  • Shrewsbury Public Library Capital Campaign
  • SPS Unified Basketball
  • Shrewsbury Fire and Police Relief Association
  • Binkeez for Comfort
  • Veterans’ Inc.
  • Ava Roy Fund​
  • In Your Shoes - Little Free Pantry in Westborough
  • Shrewsbury Community Fridge

Hannah and her husband, Jim, have lived in Shrewsbury for 25 years and have three children, Madison, Caitlin and Patrick. Madison attends Loyola University in Baltimore, MD; Caitlin attends Endicott College in Beverly, MA; and Patrick attends Saint John’s High School in Shrewsbury.