Chelsea Petersen and 17 Years of Making Massachusetts Government More Accessible
When I joined InstaTrac more than 17 years ago as a Northeastern Co-Op, the Massachusetts legislative process was opaque to most professionals who needed to track it. Bills moved through the State House with limited visibility, committee hearings weren’t recorded, and getting reliable, timely information meant relying on personal connections or manual tracking.
We were a small but ambitious team with one mission: to make Massachusetts’ legislative process more transparent and accessible. Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to help that mission evolve from a simple bill-tracking platform into a suite of tools relied on by professionals across state and municipal government every single day.
My Background in Massachusetts Government
My career has been immersed in state government from both the executive and legislative perspectives. Before joining InstaTrac, I worked in the Boards and Commissions Office under Governor Mitt Romney, an experience that gave me an insider’s perspective on how Beacon Hill actually operates, how political decision-making happens, and what information matters most when you’re working at the center of policy and politics.
I also built a background in political opposition research that deepened my understanding of the Massachusetts political landscape. I’ve composed detailed reports on the legislative records of presidential candidate Mitt Romeny, former U.S. Senator Scott Brown, U.S. Senate candidate Geoffrey Diehl, and numerous other state legislative candidates. This research appeared in publications such as the Washington Post, Boston Magazine, the New York Times, and the Boston Globe, and was purchased by political campaigns and PACs that needed precise, actionable intelligence on legislative records.
The research work taught me the difference between raw data and intelligence. Anyone can pull up a voting record, but understanding the context, the nuances, and the implications, that’s what makes information valuable. It’s a principle I’ve carried with me throughout my career at InstaTrac.
The work of government affairs professionals in Massachusetts isn’t just about understanding the technical aspects of legislative tracking, but also the nuances – how different stakeholders need different types of information, when timing is critical, and what details matter most to lobbyists, government officials, and policymakers. That depth of experience, rooted in my own time working in the Massachusetts government, informs every operational decision I make at InstaTrac.
Turning Systems into Solutions
As Director of Operations, I oversee the systems that keep everything running efficiently. That includes managing customer service, project workflows, and internal coordination across departments. My goal is to make sure that every part of InstaTrac, from product development to client support, runs smoothly and cohesively.
Understanding what Massachusetts Professionals Actually Need
My approach to operations is deeply informed by my understanding of who uses InstaTrac and why. I know that a lobbyist tracking legislation needs instant and accurate alerts when bills move. A municipal clerk accessing a transcript needs reliable and searchable documents. A lawmaker reviewing committee votes needs comprehensive context.
Each of these users has different needs, different timelines, and different ways of working. My job is building operational systems flexible enough to serve them all while maintaining the consistency and reliability that InstaTrac’s reputation depends on.
Looking Ahead
Working at InstaTrac has given me the chance to grow alongside the company. I’ve seen our tools expand, our team strengthen, and our reach deepen across Massachusetts’ public policy community. As we continue to innovate, I’m proud to help shape the operational backbone that allows our technology, and our users, to thrive.
At the end of the day, my goal is simple: to make sure InstaTrac continues to deliver the accuracy, speed, and trust our clients have relied on for over three decades.
To learn more about InstaTrac’s government tools, visit www.instatrac.com or contact me at info@instatrac.com.