Charlie Baker

Baker fell in love with Lauren Cardy Schadt, an alumnus of Kellogg School of Management. They got married in 1987 and have three children.

Lauren has worked at a New York agency as an assistant account executive. She comes from an affluent family as her father was a former CEO of Reader’s Digest and Cadbury Schweppes Americas Beverages.

The Baker family has contributed to charity organizations; volunteering along with providing financial support. Presently, Charlie and Lauren along with Charlie, AJ and Caroline, reside at Swampscott.

Charles Duane Baker Jr. was born on 13th November, 1956 in Elmira, New York to Charles D. Baker, a businessman and Alice Elizabeth Ghormley, a homemaker.

His father was a conservative republican and investor at the ‘Westinghouse Electric Corporation while his mother was a liberal democrat. Baker had two younger brothers, Jonathan and Alex.

His grandfather and great grandfather served in the public sector. Thus, politics ran in his genes. His family shifted to Needham in Massachusetts, where he grew up playing all kinds of sports.

He received elementary education in Washington D.C when his family moved there in 1969. Upon his return to Needham after a few years, he attended ‘Needham High School’, where he was an integral part of the Student Leadership Body.

As a sportsman, his basketball skills were excellent, making him a part of the school basketball team. He even played at the ‘Bay State Conference’ basketball championship.

It was on the recommendation of Lovett C. Peters that Baker was appointed ‘Undersecretary of Health and Human Services’ by William Weld, Massachusetts’ 68th Governor in 1991.

After working diligently, invoking novice ideas and bringing about reforms that were both criticized and appreciated, he was promoted to the post of ‘Secretary of Health and Human Services’ the following year.

During Weld’s second term as governor, Baker was also appointed as the Secretary of Administration and Finance. In 1997, when Paul Cellucci took over as acting governor, he offered Baker the position of lieutenant governor, but not finding it the most ideal time to take on such responsibility, he declined the offer.

After Paul Cellucci’s term came to an end, Charlie turned to private sector in 1998. He became the CEO of the dwindling ‘Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates’ organization and the following year took ownership of ‘Harvard Pilgrim Health Care’ as President and CEO.

He redeemed the organization from bankruptcy. In the span of six years he brought about drastic changes that reformed the structure and functioning of the organization. He outsourced its IT, created contracts with Massachusetts’ physicians and increased premiums, making it one of America’s best health organizations.

His reputation in the health industry increased so much that he was made a member of the board of director at ‘Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center’ and ‘Kenneth B. Schwartz Center’.