History of The Junto Group

The Junto Group was founded in 2006 by Michael A. Salguero and Seth I. Rosen. Its formation was inspired by two distinct and historically separate sources.

Well before signing the Declaration of Independence, and at the young age of 21, Benjamin Franklin was already a visionary in building organizations. In 1727, Franklin brought together a group for the purpose of facilitating discussion amongst interested and exceptional individuals about topics of the day. The group, initially composed of twelve members, called itself the Junto (Latin for meeting). Its members all lived in Philadelphia and were drawn from diverse occupations and backgrounds. They each shared a spirit of inquiry and a desire to improve themselves, their community, and the lives of others: Joseph Breintnall was a merchant and scrivener, who also loved poetry and natural history; Thomas Godfrey was a glazier, mathematician and inventor. Nicholas Scull and William Parsons were both surveyors; Scull was also a bibliophile and Parsons a cobbler and astrologer. William Maugridge was a cabinetmaker. William Coleman was a merchant’s clerk. Robert Grace brought an intellectual element to the group, plus a fine library. John Jones, Jr. was a Philadelphia Quaker, a neighbor of Franklin's, and later a founding member of the Library Company of Philadelphia. The club met Friday nights to discuss moral, political and scientific issues.

In a somewhat similar spirit, Kevin C. Phelan formed a Boston-based discussion group in 1978. Phelan’s “Breakfast Group” was conceived in the shadow of “The Vault” (a Boston-based group of CEOs that preceded Phelan’s group and was widely recognized as the de facto governing body of mid-20th century Boston). Today, Phelan’s "Breakfast Group" is comprised of distinguished individuals in the Boston community from diverse areas of business, politics, media, and civic-life. The proclivities of the group mirror Phelan’s own deep commitment to Boston. Together, “The Breakfast Group” and its membership have accomplished unparalleled civic and philanthropic goals, and together, the collective has helped to shape the future of Boston over more than three decades.

The Junto Group was inspired by the vision of these two men, and by the fundamental belief that exceptional people can accomplish dynamic goals if they are brought together.

The Junto Group collectively seeks out and invites dedicated, interested, and passionate people from diverse backgrounds to engage on topics of the day. As relationships between members build, they faithfully support each other’s individual dynamic goals, and the group fosters an environment for generating new ideas and pursuing collective missions.

Every member of The Junto Group is handpicked with the following four characteristics in mind: