March Good Morning North Central features Founder of Garden Remedies and new Executive Director of Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education

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The Good Morning North Central series is a high-profile, fast-paced and educational breakfast program geared towards executives, senior managers, professionals and business owners.  Each of the programs has a business-oriented focus and features prominent popular speakers to present on topics of interest to local businesses.

The featured speakers for the March edition are Karen Munkacy, M.D. Founder, President and CEO of Garden Remedies and Edward Lambert, Jr., Executive Director of the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education (MBAE). 

Karen Munkacy founded Garden Remedies in 2013. As a cancer survivor, board-certified anesthesiologist, fellowship-trained pain management doctor and former faculty member at UCLA and USC Medical Centers, Dr. Munkacy learned about cannabis medical benefits
first-hand. She became interested in the medical benefits of cannabis when she was undergoing debilitating treatment for breast cancer. She is a member of Americans for Safe Access, the largest organization of patients, medical professionals, scientists and concerned citizens promoting safe and legal access to medical marijuana. She was a leader in the successful ballot campaign for the legalization of medical marijuana in Massachusetts and as an advocate and physician, helped persuade the Massachusetts Medical Society to sponsor a physician education program. 

Ed Lambert joined MBAE in January of 2019. Mr. Lambert previously served as vice chancellor for university relations at UMass Boston. He was founding director of the Urban Initiative of UMass Dartmouth where he helped organize the state’s Gateway Cities Coalition. He also taught Public Policy and Public Management and served as the Chair of the Education Policy Committee of the Kaput Center for STEM Education and Research. He served as mayor of Fall River from 1996 to 2007, and represented Fall River and Westport in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.  While in the legislature, he co-chaired the Literacy Caucus in support of increased funding for Adult Basic Education and literacy programs. He also served on a national task force for the development of the 21st Century Workforce of the Urban Serving Universities. He was appointed Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation by Governor Patrick and, earlier in his career, served as the director of social services at Saint Vincent’s Home in Fall River. He earned his BA in psychology at UMass Dartmouth and his MEd in counseling at Bridgewater State College.  

The cost is just $25 for Chamber members/$40 non-members and includes a breakfast buffet.  Pre-registration is required. For more information or to register, please contact Kathleen Deal at 978.353.7600 ext. 235, kdeal@northcentralmass.com or click here to register.

Time for Bold Education Reforms to Move Massachusetts Forward: An open letter to State Leaders

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The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce has long been a champion of education and has been actively engaged in supporting our schools. We recognize that the quality and accessibility of public education is critical to the health and prosperity of our state and regional economy.  We would, therefore, like to commend Governor Baker and our legislative leaders for looking to address education reform in this legislative session.  It has been twenty six years since the state last did so, and we believe that there is no issue more critical to our state and its future.  

As Beacon Hill moves forward with discussions on how to best improve our schools, the Chamber would like to present five recommendations for consideration.  These proposals were developed, with input from educators, by a taskforce of employers convened through the Chamber.  Much of the final report – titled Build North Central and published last month – focuses on our K-12 institutions. Public schools have a substantial impact on the skills and careers the state’s students pursue. 

School Funding: Much of the discussion so far has focused on providing additional funding – of up to and over $2 billion – and adjusting the formula that the state uses to support school systems.  It has been twenty-six years since the formula was first developed, so we agree that it is time to explore reforms and look to new investments into our schools. However, any new funding should be accompanied by meaningful reforms with increased focus on career readiness and greater support for underachieving school systems. Meaningful reforms should be a condition to providing additional funding.  

College and Career Readiness: Reforms should encourage an emphasis on creating career pathways in the schools and promote both college and career routes.  Currently, high school success rates are measured heavily by college admissions, leading to curriculums that promote college preparation over other options, such as vocational training.  State leaders should look at reforms that will better align school success with workforce needs.  Partnerships with schools and employers should be incentivized by the state to ensure alignment with the students’ career interests and the skills necessary to succeed in the workplace. 

Expand Experiential Learning: We are staunch proponents of work-based learning which, provided alongside rigorous college-level coursework, has proven to be effective in preparing students for success academically and in the workforce.  Programs such as internships, co-ops, apprenticeships strengthen the educational experience, help our schools engage local employers, and provide meaningful introductions to career opportunities.  State leaders should look for ways to expand work based learning in the schools, granting every high school student access to some type of experiential learning prior to graduation.  The taskforce also recommends that career introduction programs be offered in the middle school to allow exploration of potential career opportunities before they and their parents begin discussing high-school coursework.

Expand Access to Vocational Technical Education: Vocational Technical schools in our state serve as models of how to best integrate academics with career preparation.  Employers value the high caliber graduates coming out of these increasingly premier institutions, who leave prepared for both college and the workforce.  This, in turn, has greatly increased competition for class space, leading to long wait-lists among those seeking admission.  Reforms should include increased access to high-quality vocational education, achieved through expanding our technical schools; introducing vocational-technical elements into our conventional schools; and supporting partnerships between our high schools and our community colleges to fill the gap.

High-School Credentialing: Industry-recognized credentials are often used by employers to certify that an applicant has the appropriate level of skills to qualify for a particular job.  State leaders should look for ways to encourage school systems to introduce high-school credentialing courses that are linked to the demands in the labor market.  Students who earn industry certifications, which are often “stackable”, are then better prepared to find high-demand, high paying jobs directly out of high school or to continue their education in a chosen career. 

We support the continuing dialogue that incorporates the concerns of students, parents, employers and educators and prepares our youth to succeed and our state to excel in today’s competitive environment,

 

Roy Nascimento, IOM

President & CEO

North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce 

Chamber Welcomes Two Fitchburg State University Interns

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The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce is pleased to welcome Christopher Gerardi of Shrewsbury and John Ronan of Townsend as interns for the spring semester. Christopher, currently a senior, is majoring in Communications Media with a concentration in Professional Communications.  His focus on online communications such as social media and other online platforms is what led him to the Chamber. John, also a senior, is majoring in Business Administration with a minor in Economics.

Both Christopher and John are learning a variety of aspects of the Chamber and its affiliates. They have been gaining hands on learning experience by assisting with drafting press releases, helping organize special events and assisting with advertising campaigns.

“We are excited to welcome both Christopher and John as part of our team this semester,” said Roy M. Nascimento, President & CEO of the Chamber.  “They are bright and ambitious students who will benefit from their time working with our members and supporting the advancement of North Central Massachusetts. I have no doubt that they will make a positive contribution to our organization.”

Christopher and John were connected to the Chamber through Fitchburg State University’s Internship program, which allows students to explore a career field and gain relevant work experience, apply academic learning to real world situations, and build critical thinking, problem solving, communication, and professional skills. Please contact the Chamber at 978.353.7600 ext. 240 for more information. 

Starting or Expanding: A Small Business 101 Seminar Set For February

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The North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation and Fidelity Bank are holding two free business workshops on Tuesday, February 19, 2019 aimed at assisting potential and existing entrepreneurs.

These free workshops are approximately two and a half hours each and are being held in partnership with the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce, Greater Gardner Chamber of Commerce, North Quabbin Chamber of Commerce, Massachusetts Small Business Development Center, The Wachusett Business Incubator, SCORE and NewVue Communities.  Both workshops will be held at the Wachusett Business Incubator, 35 Sanborn St, Gardner.   

Session I: Fundamentals in Planning, Preparing, and Financing Your Business will run from 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and will focus on evaluating and understanding the fundamentals of owning one’s own business.  Information on how to get started, where and how to get financing and the loan application process will be presented.  Registration begins at 8:00. Continental breakfast will be provided for all participants.  Presented by Michelle Miller, Center for Women & Enterprise 

Session II: Understanding the Purpose of Financial Statements and How They Can Help Determine the Health of Your Business will run from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and will focus on understanding a balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement.  The workshop will also explain how a small business owner can anticipate financial needs in order to operate his/her business more efficiently.  Registration begins at 11:30. Lunch will be provided for all participants. Presented by Michelle Miller, Center for Women & Enterprise

The workshops are free, but pre-registration is required.  To register, please contact Sandie Cataldo at 978.353.7607 ext. 232 or email SCataldo@northcentralmass.com.  You may also register online at www.northcentralmass.com/calendar-of-events.   

Scholarships Available through the North Central Massachusetts Chamber Foundation

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(North Central, MA) – The North Central Massachusetts Chamber Foundation is pleased to announce that applications for its 2019 Scholarship program are now being accepted.  Each year, the Chamber Foundation distributes approximately 25 scholarships to local high-achieving high school students in North Central Massachusetts.  Since the establishment of its scholarship program, the North Central Massachusetts Chamber Foundation has awarded over a million dollars in scholarships. 

Students interested in applying for a 2019 scholarship through the North Central Massachusetts Chamber Foundation should contact their high school guidance department to submit an application.  Deadline for applications is Friday, March 1, 2019.  A limited number of scholarship applicants are submitted by each school in the Chamber’s service area each year and then reviewed by a committee of Chamber members. 

Many of these awards are made possible through contributions from members of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce and proceeds from the Chamber’s Annual Scholarship Golf Tournament.  Scholarships endowed through the Chamber Foundation are often named in honor of prominent members of the North Central Massachusetts business community whose philanthropy and commitment to the community have helped shape North Central Massachusetts.  

The Chamber’s Foundation is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization focused on assisting in the betterment of the region through charitable activities.  Funds raised by the Foundation are utilized primarily for education/workforce development initiatives and charitable activities in North Central Massachusetts, including scholarships to eligible applicants pursuing education and grants to support economic and community development projects.

For more information on the North Central Massachusetts Chamber Foundation’s scholarship program or a list of the named scholarships, please visit northcentralmass.com or call 978.353.7600 ext. 222.  

North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce Celebrates 35 Years

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(North Central, MA) – This year marks the 35th Anniversary of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce.  It was in January of 1984 that the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce was formed as a result of a merger of several local chambers of commerce in the region.  Since then, the Chamber has evolved into the region’s leading economic development and business advocacy organization.  Since its founding, the organization has been defined by its strong leadership, dynamic program of work and its positive impact in advancing the economy and quality of life in North Central Massachusetts.  The Chamber has been recognized among the top chambers of commerce in the country for its impact and operations.  Among its many honors, the Chamber was a 2017 runner up for the prestigious National Chamber of the Year award, the first chamber in Massachusetts to have ever been recognized as a finalist.  The Chamber also achieved 4-star accreditation in 2018, an honor achieved by only 204 of the 7,022 chambers in the country.   

“This major milestone is a great time for us to reflect on our history, but more importantly to look forward to the future of our dynamic organization and region,” said Roy M. Nascimento, president & CEO of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce. “Over the next year we plan to celebrate this milestone with our members and partners who have been an important part of our past success and who will lead us into the future, working collectively to advance North Central Massachusetts.”  

Throughout 2019, the Chamber will be commemorating 35 years of building businesses and building communities, which will include a very special anniversary celebration planned for the spring. All businesses and community leaders are encouraged to contact the Chamber to find out how to get involved in the spirit of the Chamber’s 35th Anniversary Year.  For more information or to stay up to date on the Chamber’s plans, please visit www.NorthCentralMass.com.  

Grand Bargain Timeline

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Six months ago, the State House passed a raft of legislation that had been negotiated between business advocates and labor groups. The compromise eliminated numerous ballot questions in return for concessions on the minimum wage, paid leave, and mandatory premium pay on Sundays. On the 1st of this year, the initial phase of the Grand Bargain’s implementation took effect. As employers, you have a right and a need to know how these changes impact your business. see chart for a brief overview of the rules which just took effect.

*Due to an error in the Grand Bargain Legislation’s language, mandatory premium pay of time and a half (1.5 multiplier) will remain in effect for New Year’s Day, Columbus Day, and Veterans’ Day until further notice. 

As was alluded to above, this is only the first phase of the Grand Bargain’s multi-year rollout. Further changes are approaching, and we encourage you to speak with your payroll company or human resource department about how these and future adjustments will impact you. If you would like to learn more about the Grand Bargain and its schedule of implementation, you can do so here. 

If you have any questions or concerns about the Grand Bargain, the Chamber’s policy on it, or our stance on other matters before the State House, please contact Christopher McDermott at (978) 353-7600 ext. 224, or email him at cmcdermott@northcentralmass.com. 

 

 

Chamber Publishes Manufacturing Report

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(North Central, MA)  –  The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce and its economic development affiliate the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation (NCMDC) today released a report entitled “Build North Central: Promoting the Industrial Heart of Massachusetts.” The recommendations developed by a taskforce of the region’s premier manufacturers focuses on steps the region and state can take to address their workforce challenges and fuel economic advancement throughout the region.  

The report highlights a mix of both programmatic and policy related recommendations and strategies focused around workforce and education, regional cooperation and regional promotion. In addition to manufacturers, the Chamber and NCMDC also sought input from education and workforce leaders to produce this report.

“Aligning and integrating our educational system with the needs of employers must be a priority if North Central Massachusetts is to compete and prepare the workforce of tomorrow,” said Ray Martino, President & CEO of Simonds International and Chair of the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation. “Too many manufacturers today are having difficulty finding the qualified and skilled workers that they need, and the problem will only get worse if we are not ready with new solutions for the coming years.” 

“We are excited to put forward these bold recommendations to strengthen our education and workforce systems for the benefit of both our students and employers,” said Roy M. Nascimento, President & CEO of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce. “We hope that this will be a useful resource for discussions around education reform in Massachusetts.”

Some of recommendations highlighted in the report include creating career pathways; a greater emphasis on both college and career readiness; expansion of career exploration programs into the middle schools; introduction of high school credentialing courses; increasing the labor pool by attracting more workers to the region; and expanding technical education in both vocational and conventional high schools.  To view the full report, please visit www.NorthCentralMass.com 

With over 440 firms, North Central Massachusetts boasts the largest concentration of manufacturing in the state.  One in every four private jobs in the region are manufacturing jobs, with one third of all private wages in the region directly related to the sector.  Manufacturing firms in North Central Massachusetts range from the world class plastics industry cluster, to pharmaceuticals, photonics, paper, and biomedical devices to name a few.

Manufacturers today are some of the most well-paid, highly trained and in demand employees in the workforce, operating advanced equipment and technology.  However, many manufacturers have been unable to recruit the workers they need.  Despite the high wage potential and increasing employer demand, there is both a need for more young workers and a skills gap among an existing and a transitioning workforce. Nationwide, 75% of employers report difficulty filling positions, with the problem being particularly acute in manufacturing. The challenge is expected to grow, since the average age of a manufacturing employee in North Central Massachusetts is 55 and young people typically rank manufacturing careers dead last due to false perceptions of the industry. If these individuals are unable to train replacements prior to retirement, the skills and experience they take with them will be lost permanently.

The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce and the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation remain committed to supporting and growing this critical sector of the region’s economy.  The organizations convened the taskforce to address workforce issues and provide a unified vision for improving the workforce pipeline.  The organizations are working with partners to address this skills gap, retain the region’s young talent, and introduce them to the high-tech, high-skilled, and high-paying careers of the modern manufacturing industry.  The Chamber believes that building successful education partnerships between businesses and the region’s schools is critical to collective, on-going efforts. 

To read the full report click here

35th Anniversary Open Letter

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Celebrating 35 Years of Building Businesses, Building Communities!

This year marks the 35th anniversary of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce. It was back in January of 1984 that this organization was formed as a result of the merger of several local chambers of commerce in the region. This major milestone is a great time for us to reflect on our history, but more importantly to look forward to the future of our dynamic organization and region.

Much has changed since our founding, but the Chamber has remained true to our mission of supporting our members and advancing North Central Massachusetts.  It is inspiring that so many of the Chamber’s decisions made over the last 35 years are still making a difference today in supporting local businesses and growing our economy. I would like to thank our entire Board of Directors for their leadership and role in guiding this organization and serving the interests of our members and communities.  I would also like to thank and acknowledge the 159 board members that came before them who helped drive our organization to what we are today.

More importantly, I would like to thank you, the business community, for your years of dedication and support in shaping our Chamber. The business community is, at its core, the backbone of our organization and the driving force in making our region a thriving one. We are extremely grateful for your continued support and always value your voice.

Over the next year, we will celebrate this milestone with you, our members and partners. It is you who have led this community for the past 35 years and it is you who will lead us into the future, remaining focused on the pressing needs of the day and committed to working collectively to advance our region. 

While we have much to be proud of, the history of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce will continue to unfold. Standing still and resting on our laurels is simply not possible. We have bold plans for the future and look forward to working with you to continue to drive North Central Massachusetts forward. 

Onward!

Roy M. Nascimento, CCE, IOM

President & CEO

Small Business Energy Exemption Certificate

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The Massachusetts Department of Revenue will now oversee the process for claiming a certificate.  As of January 1, 2019, the process will be completed online through the Department’s MassTaxConnect.  Here are some of the highlights that will be important to qualifying small businesses:

  • As of January 1, 2019, small businesses will apply online for an exemption certificate through the MassTaxConnect application rather than submitting a paper Form ST-13 to their energy provider
  • Current (2018) exemptions were automatically extended for small businesses through March 31, 2019
  • Small businesses must apply for a 2019/2020 exemption certificate by March 31, 2019
  • Exemptions granted in 2019, and after, will be effective for up to two calendar years
  • DOR will send renewal reminders prior to the exemption certificate’s expiration date in 2020

For additional information, including a link to the draft regulation, businesses may refer to the Department’s small business energy exemption page which we will continue to update as information is available.