Mary Carroll Murphy
Mary Carroll Murphy
CEO - Cost Cures
CEO - Cost Cures
Mary Carroll Murphy, an accomplished business owner and former Fortune 500 executive, hails from Hillsborough County, New Hampshire. Born and raised in Western Massachusetts, her career trajectory took a significant turn when Digital Equipment Corporation relocated her to Bedford, New Hampshire, in 1990 to lead marketing efforts for their cutting-edge integrated office systems.
Throughout her career, Murphy has lived and worked across various states, including Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, California, and even internationally. Her decades-long career in the information technology and financial services industries is marked by numerous high-profile awards, underscoring her achievements in these fields.
Today, Murphy leads a groundbreaking software company and, alongside her husband Michael, manages substantial acreage in Francestown, New Hampshire. There, they have built their "forever" home, Black Shoals, nestled on the scenic banks of the Piscataquog River.
Cost Cures
As the CEO of Cost Cures, headquartered in Peterborough, New Hampshire, she oversees this disruptive software company founded in 2024. Cost Cures aims to provide transparency in pricing for dental, healthcare, and vision services, focusing on reducing the high costs of healthcare nationwide. The company is developing an AI-based database and search tool that allows users to find low-cost self-pay, cash, or negotiated prices for various medical services across the country. Additionally, Murphy and her team are integrating telemedicine and medically trained concierge services into their offerings, accessible through the company's website and a dedicated mobile application.
Black Shoals Farm
In 2022, Murphy and her husband established Black Shoals Farm in Francestown, New Hampshire. This startup farm emphasizes sustainability and non-GMO, chemical-free cultivation of fruits, vegetables, edible flowers, and medicinal and gourmet herbs.
Charles Schwab
In 2011, Murphy became the first-in-the-nation franchisee of a Charles Schwab Independent Branch. Under her leadership, her franchise grew significantly, managing nearly $1 billion in assets by early 2022. Her pioneering efforts were recognized when Charles Schwab established the Champion Award in her honor, celebrating her role in validating the Independent Branch Service model. She sold her thriving franchise in mid-2022.
Earlier Roles
Murphy's career began in 1979 at what is now known as Eversource in Western Massachusetts and Connecticut. By 1982, she had transitioned to the insurance industry, starting as a Technical Analyst at ITT/Hartford Insurance Group. Quickly climbing the ranks, she became the Assistant Systems Manager and later Director of a Hartford Insurance Group subsidiary. Her tenure in the high-tech sector included significant roles at Digital Equipment Corporation, Lotus Development Corporation, IBM Corporation, and various technology startups. Notably, IBM/Lotus Development relocated her to Europe to lead a global division focused on deploying public Internet and email applications.
After a hiatus in 2001 to care for her elderly parents, Murphy earned a master's degree from Rivier University in 2004 and briefly taught mathematics and personal finance at Manchester High School West. She returned to the financial sector in 2006 as a financial advisor, transitioning to an independent advisor and career agent with MassMutual in 2008.
Bridgewater State College
Murphy graduated from Bridgewater State College in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, in 1978, having studied communications, arts, and sciences. A class officer and member of the swim forensic and debate teams, she also pursued minors in psychology and English studies.
Rivier University
In 2004, Murphy graduated with an M.Ed. with high distinction from Rivier University in Nashua, New Hampshire. The New England Commission of Higher Education accredits the private Catholic university.
Murphy's exemplary performance has garnered her numerous awards. She won DEC 100 and Decathlon sales awards from Digital Equipment Corporation and was a recipient of an Electronic Mail Association Leadership Award in 1992. Her tenure at IBM/Lotus Development Corporation earned her a Lotus Achievers Award in 1994 and the Summit Award for Manager of the Year in 1995. Her financial advisory role at UBS earned her two UBS Leaders Circle Awards, and as a Charles Schwab franchisee, she received several Peer Excellence Awards and the prestigious ICON Award.
She and her husband are committed philanthropists, supporting local organizations such as the Francestown Old Meetinghouse and Monadnock Community Hospital, where she is a member of the Parmalee Society. They have donated an 11-acre riverfront conservation easement to the Francestown Land Trust and are actively involved in various community events and charities.
Murphy has been a Rivier University trustee since January 2016 and previously served on the board of St. Joseph Hospital between 2016 and 2019. Her leadership continues to support the Catholic university's mission of transforming hearts and minds to serve the world.
She enjoys a fulfilling personal life with her husband and their Belgian Malinois dogs in Francestown, New Hampshire. Her interests include gardening, kayaking, sport shooting, and cooking for friends and family, reflecting life as rich personally as it is professionally.
Mary Carroll Murphy's career and personal achievements illustrate a portrait of dedication, innovation, and community involvement, marking her as a distinguished figure in both the business and philanthropic worlds.