The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce and its economic development affiliate the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation are pleased to announce the launch of a targeted social media campaign to promote careers in manufacturing to young people and their parents.  This new campaign is designed to reach audiences that are not typically associated with careers in manufacturing and aims to target a new audience for a potential future workforce.

The awareness campaign, part of the Chamber’s “Amp It Up!” initiative, highlights the exciting, technology-driven, well-paying career options in manufacturing, dispels common myths about the industry, and bolsters the prospective employee base for these quality jobs with North Central Massachusetts companies.  The campaign includes short videos, infographics and news reports highlighting manufacturing careers and posted on popular social media channels including Facebook, YouTube and twitter.  The campaign is expected to run from late February through the end of May and is directed towards millennials and their parents.

North Central Massachusetts boasts the largest concentration of manufacturing in the state.  Fully one-third of all private wages paid in the region are from manufacturing jobs.  Companies range from the world class plastics industry cluster of more than 140 companies to pharmaceuticals to photonics and paper, as well as biomedical devices.

Manufacturers today are some of the most well-paid, highly trained and in demand employees in the workforce, working on advanced equipment and technology.  However, many manufacturers have been challenged recruiting 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.

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 purpose of the “AMP it up!” initiative is to leverage new and existing resources to continue ongoing efforts to reach career counselors, community organizations, youth-serving organizations, teachers, and most importantly students throughout North Central Massachusetts.  The Chamber’s “Amp It Up!” initiative is funded in part through a matching grant from MassDevelopment.  Other partners include Fitchburg State University, Mt. Wachusett Community College and school systems throughout the region.  Ongoing efforts to promote manufacturing careers have also included engaging the schools and offering career exploration activities to students such as manufacturing tours and participating in career day activities in the schools.

For more information on the social media awareness campaign or the “Amp It Up!” Initiative, please contact the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce at (978) 353-7600.

The next edition of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber’s popular Good Morning North Central breakfast series is scheduled for Friday, March 11, 2016 from 6:45 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. at the Doubletree by Hilton, 99 Erdman Way, Leominster, MA.  The March edition is sponsored by the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts.

Featured speakers for the March breakfast are Travis McCready, CEO of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center and Worcester County Sheriff Lew Evangelidis.  McCready joined the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center as the organization’s second President & CEO in October 2015. In this position, Mr. McCready is responsible for leading the ongoing implementation of the $1 billion Massachusetts Life Sciences Initiative, a public-private partnership that has contributed to Massachusetts’ emergence as the global leader in life sciences.  McCready directs and oversees the Center’s investment strategy, along with the agency’s operations, programs and partnerships.

Sheriff Evangelidis was elected Worcester County Sheriff on November 2, 2010, after having served eight years as a state representative. In his role as sheriff, he serves as the highest law enforcement official for the largest county in Massachusetts with 60 towns and over 800,000 residents.  Since taking office, he has focused his efforts on improving the professionalism of the department and implementing education and drug prevention initiatives as ways to keep youth out of the jails.

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

Don’t miss the region’s best morning gathering.  The cost is just $25 for Chamber members/$40 non-members and includes a breakfast buffet.  Season Tickets are also available for purchase.  Pre-registration is required. For more information or to register, please contact the Chamber at 978-353-7600 ext. 235 or visit www.northcentralmass.com

The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that the Massachusetts Gaming Commission and the DoubleTree by Hilton will be the featured presenters at the next “A Chance to Meet the Buyer” program.  This installment of the quarterly series will be held on Wednesday, February 17, 2016 from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., at the Chamber offices, 860 South Street, Fitchburg, MA.

The “A Chance to Meet the Buyer” program provides small businesses the opportunity to connect with purchasing managers from larger companies or organizations.  The program provides an opportunity for large businesses in our region to showcase best practices of their purchasing agents while offering suppliers a rare opportunity to connect with those large businesses.  Each quarter, purchasing managers from two larger organizations will provide brief backgrounds of their organization, requirements for supply qualification, methods and procedures of purchasing, and what opportunities there may be for smaller businesses.  Attendees are then afforded the opportunity to directly network with presenters and leave with key direct contact information for procurement personnel from presenting organizations.

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission oversees all gaming facilities in the Commonwealth, including compliance of the sites as well as all vendors and certification of vendors.  Needs of gaming facilities can range from facility supplies, food and beverage to property maintenance. Commissioner Bruce Stebbins most recently served as Business Development Administrator for the City of Springfield.  He also served two terms on the Springfield City Council from 2006 through the end of 2009.  Prior to joining the City’s Economic Development office, Commissioner Stebbins served as Senior Regional Manager for the National Association of Manufacturers in the New England region from 1999 through 2010.

Suzanne Farias, General Manager of the DoubleTree by Hilton, has been with the hotel for more than 20 years and can speak to the intricate details of the property’s management and vendor usage.  Recently renovated, the Leominster hotel offers14,000 sq.ft. of flexible function space, including a 7,800 sq. ft. Grand Ballroom and an outdoor garden pavilion.

The cost to attend is $20 for Chamber members/$40 non-members. For more information or to register, please contact the Chamber at 978-353-7600 ext. 235 or visit www.northcentralmass.com