(Leominster, Mass.) Fidelity Bank announced the appointment of Andrew Beauvais to Vice President, Manager of the Fidelity Bank Winchendon Banking Center located at 1 School Square in Winchendon.
In this role, he will oversee the LifeDesign banking approach at the Winchendon Banking Center and continue to care for Fidelity Bank clients when they are making financial decisions.
Andrew comes to Fidelity Bank from Worker’s Credit Union where he served as Assistant Vice President, Financial Wellness Coach at its Townsend location. He has more than 10 years of banking experience serving in a variety of management roles at TD Bank and GFA Federal Credit Union.
“Andrew has much experience in providing financial coaching to clients on building savings and credit, eliminating debt, and planning for various phases of life,” said Sheila King-Goodwin, Senior Vice President, Chief Community Banking Officer, Fidelity Bank. “With his additional experience overseeing daily banking center operations and service, he is the perfect fit to bring our LifeDesign approach to banking to our clients in Winchendon.”
A resident of Winchendon, Beauvais earned his high school diploma from Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical High School. He holds a Massachusetts producer license for Life and Health Insurance and annuities and is a Certified Financial Education Instructor for the National Financial Educators Council.
Leominster, Mass – Fidelity Bank announced the appointment of Barbara Yanke to Senior Vice President, Director of Residential Lending. In this role, Yanke will lead the growth of all residential lending originations and processes while also executing the overall direction of the residential lending sales strategy.
With more than 25 years of experience in residential and consumer lending, Yanke joins Fidelity Bank from Hometown Financial Group where she most recently served as Senior Vice President, Residential and Consumer Lending responsible for three banks: Easthampton Savings Bank, Hometown Bank and Abbington Bank. Prior to that role, she was Vice President, Residential and Consumer Lending Manager of People’s United Bank in Brattleboro, Vermont.
“Barbara has extensive experience in the leadership of mortgage and consumer lending,” said Joseph Silva, Chief Lending Officer, Fidelity Bank. “With Barbara’s knowledge and experience, combined with our LifeDesign approach and C.A.R.E. process, our clients are in good hands when making one of the most important financial decisions of their lives in buying a place to call home.”
A resident of Wilmington, Vermont, Yanke earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Management and a certificate in Human Resource Management from Champlain College. She is also a Certified Mortgage Professional from the Vermont Mortgage Bankers Association. She currently serves on the board of directors at the YWCA of Springfield, and the Mass Mortgage Bankers, and serves on the Development Committee of Worcester Community Housing Resources.
GARDNER, MA – September 12, 2022 – Mount Wachusett Community College has been awarded an Upward Bound Math and Science grant from the US Department of Education for five years beginning September 1, 2022. The grant amount is $312,480 annually or $1.6 million over 5 years. The Upward Bound Math and Science (UBMS) grant aims to prepare high school students for postsecondary education that leads to careers in the fields of math and science.
The 5-year grant will provide a comprehensive academic year, summer, and bridge program customized to the needs of each participant, preparing high school students for postsecondary education programs that lead to careers in the fields of math and science. The UBMS program will serve 63 high school students from Gardner, Athol, and Winchendon.
“Upward Bound Math and Science programs have touched the lives of many students and their families in North Central Massachusetts,” states MWCC President James Vander Hooven. “This funding ensures that we can continue our mission to support students, families and schools in providing access to STEM career exploration and higher education opportunities.”
During the academic year, UBMS students receive support and guidance in developing a comprehensive individual success plan. Within these plans, students will be provided a variety of in-school and out-of-school services: tutoring, advisement on secondary course selection, assistance with secondary school entry and alternative education programs, and workshops for students and parents/guardians. Additionally, STEM-based cultural/academic enrichment, hands-on labs, career speakers, and field trips are provided. Upperclassmen will have access to dual enrollment courses, SAT preparation, a college fair, college admission assistance and course selection.
“We are so excited to be able to continue to provide this opportunity for students in North Central Massachusetts. Upward Bound Math & Science students have profound learning experiences that help to inform career decisions, provide exposure to math and science in many different forms, and help students to navigate through the college decision, application, and transition process,” states Fagan Forhan, Assistant Dean of K-12 Partnerships and Civic Learning. “We are thrilled to be partnered with Winchendon, Gardner and Athol, who are all deeply committed to expanding STEM opportunities for students who perhaps don’t have a parent who have attended higher education, or who struggle to make ends meet.”
In the summer, students will complete four courses in the areas of math, science, foreign language, and literature/composition during a six-week residential academy hosted on a college campus. Graduating UBMS seniors will participate in college survival and matriculation workshops as well as be encouraged to enroll in college-level courses. Up to five graduating UBMS seniors may serve in a work study capacity as a student leader for UBMS.
Upward Bound Math and Science is part of the Federal TRIO Programs, founded in 1990 to address the need for specific instruction in the fields of math and science, aimed at addressing the underrepresentation of economically disadvantaged college students in math and science careers.
The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce is partnering with other regional organizations to host the Work North Central Hiring Event scheduled for Tuesday, September 27, 2022, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Wachusett Mountain Ski Area, 499 Mountain Road, Princeton, MA. The event is free of charge to attend and open to the public. The regional organizations involved include Fitchburg State University, the MassHire North Central Massachusetts Career Center, the MassHire North Central Massachusetts Workforce Investment Board, and Mount Wachusett Community College.
The event will connect potential applicants with local employers of all sizes and industries to discuss employment and career opportunities available in the region. Employers from diverse industries will be seeking candidates with all levels of skill and backgrounds, including entry level, and professional and technical positions in such industries as construction, distribution, education, financial services, government, healthcare, hospitality, non-profit, manufacturing, restaurants and other industries. Additionally, some employers will be hiring on-site and may provide signing bonuses and other incentives. Job seekers attending the event will also be eligible to enter a drawing for a $500 Gift Local eGift card from the Chamber. The Gift Local eGift Card is redeemable at a variety of local businesses throughout the region, including restaurants, coffee shops, retail shops, inns, farms and attractions.
In addition to networking and learning about available positions across the region, attendees can also take advantage of complimentary professional headshots, free career counseling, individual resume review and sessions on how to improve your interview skills. Mount Wachusett Community College will also be offering informational sessions on free training programs available for individuals interested in pursuing careers in health care and manufacturing. Other special sessions planned during the hiring event includes a panel presentation hosted by the Young Professionals of North Central Massachusetts. This panel of successful young professionals will discuss topics such as finding the balance of work and family, best ways to search for a job, dressing for the right job, talking about benefits, why networking is important and more.
“As a leader in helping North Central Massachusetts compete for talent and advance the region’s economic prosperity, we realize there is a critical need to help our local businesses find qualified and skilled talent in order to grow and succeed,” said Roy M. Nascimento, President & CEO, North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce. “This event is aimed to create economic opportunity, and a strong and diversified workforce for our employers, while providing the unemployed and underemployed the opportunity to meet with a number of employers in one location.”
The Work North Central Hiring Event is a complement to the Chamber’s WorkNorthCentral.com Jobs Board, which serves as an online resource to connect job seekers and local employers while also improving the talent pipeline and better connect employers to local schools.
Adult job seekers, high school graduates, college students in the community, retired individuals interested in returning to the workforce or anyone interested in learning about full and part-time employment opportunities in North Central Massachusetts are invited to attend to connect with participating employers. Pre-registration is not required, walk-ins are welcome.
Free parking for job seekers and attendees is available at Wachusett Mountain Ski Area. Public transportation is also available via the Montachusett Regional Transit Authority (MART) for anyone who may require it. MART will be offering complimentary round-trip shuttle service from the Fitchburg Commuter Rail Station, located at 100 Main Street, between 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., to the Hiring Event with a stop at the Wachusett Commuter Rail Station. Job seekers should look for the shuttle van labeled with the Hiring Event sign. This special shuttle service can be accessed by job seekers from MART’s fixed bus route or at the Fitchburg Commuter Rail Station via MART’s intercity/MWCC bus for those located in Leominster, Gardner, Athol and other communities outside Fitchburg that connect there. Check MART’s website for more information, www.mrta.us.
For more information on the Work North Central Hiring Event, please visit www.northcenralmass.com. Employers interested in participating and reserving a table at the Work North Central Hiring Event should contact Lauren Goulet at 978.353.7600, ext. 222, or Kat Deal at 978.353.7600, ext. 235, to inquire about availability.
MASS-TECH PROJECT: The Chamber’s economic development arm – The North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation – has received a small grant from the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative to help strengthen the environment for start-ups in the region. This project builds off of the work of the One North Central Regional Economic Development Plan, which prioritizes efforts to grow the region from within through small business support programs and initiatives. The Chamber has formed a small advisory committee of members and hired economic development consulting firm RKG Associates to assist with the project. The project scope will entail reviewing the current entrepreneurial ecosystem in the region including inventorying existing practitioners, policies, programs and resources available to start-up and early stage companies, and looking at what gaps exist in the region.
GIFT CARD PROGRAM: The Chamber has revamped the Gift Local Gift Card program to make it easier for members to process the gift cards, and for the public to redeem them. We transitioned over the Summer to a new technology platform called Yiftee that is very user friendly and allows the new gift cards to be issued electronically and processed as a Mastercard. To accept the new e-Gift Cards a participating merchant just needs to accept Mastercard and process it via a key-entry. There will no longer be any need for a separate web terminal for processing, dual entries into the terminal and POS system, or any costly POS integration. Most importantly when consumers use the gift card, dollars stay local and benefit our shops and restaurants and our communities. We are planning an advertising campaign starting in the Fall running through the holidays to promote the new e-Gift Local Gift Cards. Because it is an opt-in program, members interested in being able to accept the gift cards need to contact the Chamber to receive an activation card to participate. Visit Giftlocal.net for more information or contact the Chamber.
CHAMBER FOUNDATION: The Chamber Board approved a contribution of $9,600 to the North Central Massachusetts Chamber Foundation. The contribution represents the proceeds from the Chamber’s Scholars Breakfast in the Spring and will help to strengthen the foundation’s scholarship and education efforts. The Foundation is the Chamber’s charitable affiliate. Thank you to all the members that supported the foundation!
NEW LOANS: The Chamber’s economic development arm – the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation – has closed 25 micro-loans for a total of $1,277,500 since October 1, 2021. The loans were made to a mix of existing and start-up businesses and ranged from $7,500 to $206,000. There are another three loans totaling $300,500 that have been approved but have not yet closed.
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: During the last quarter, our team provided over 310 hours of direct technical assistance to small businesses. Our 2-day in-person Quickbooks seminar was a big success, with sold-out attendance. We also connected several of our borrowers and small business clients to professionals for technical assistance, such as bookkeeping, marketing, website design and legal services.
JOBS BOARD: The Chamber continues to offer the WorkNorthCentral.com online jobs board as a resource to connect employers and job seekers in North Central Massachusetts. The jobs board has had over 8,600 jobs posted and more than 80,000 views by job seekers since being launched. As a reminder, the jobs board is free for members to utilize. We encourage members to post any employment opportunities they offer or send them to us and we will post them for you.
EQUITABLE CREDENTIAL ATTAINMENT PROJECT: A North Central Massachusetts team comprised of the Chamber, Mount Wachusett Community College and the Spanish American Center have been meeting monthly as part of the Equitable Credential Attainment initiative offered through the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) and the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). North Central Massachusetts was one of seven regions selected in the Spring from throughout the country to participate in this 18-month competitive program. This initiative is focused on growing credential and degree program participation among minority workers with the goal of helping to place these workers in well-paying jobs with career advancement. Our team has already seen some early successes in building partnerships and engaging the Latinx community around micro-credentialing in the health care and manufacturing industries.
WORKFORCE STUDY: In related news, the UMass Donahue has completed the workforce study commissioned by the Chamber to assess and recommend ways to enhance the labor pool in the region. The results will be unveiled at the September edition of the Chamber’s Good Morning North Central Massachusetts breakfast program and shared online. We hope the study will be a useful resource to help develop new strategies and advocate for solutions to the workforce challenges faced by employers.
ENERGY PROGRAM: From its inception in August 2014 through July 2022 the solar field on Pleasant St. has produced 11,473,106 KwH of Net Metering Credits to the manufacturers participating in the program. Total value of these credits is $2,551,981.14 and the collective savings to participants totals $2,169,184.
DIGITAL MARKETING: Traffic to our websites averaged approximately 12,122 unique page views each month in FY2022 which ended in June. In FY22 we also garnered over 2.3 million google impressions. We continue to be very active on social media, populating our Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter platforms with our content. Our social media platforms have a combined 23,139 total followers. In CY2021, our social media platforms garnered an average of 217,000 impressions monthly and a total of nearly 2.4 million impressions for the year.
We wanted to provide an update on the work of our destination marketing arm, Visit North Central Massachusetts (VNCM), to promote the region to visitors and groups over the late Spring and Summer.
The Spring/Summer edition of the Guide to North Central Massachusetts was published in April. The magazine is the primary travel publication promoting the communities of North Central Massachusetts and includes information on our local communities, a calendar of events, stories about the region and much more. The guide was distributed through AAA offices throughout New England and through CTM Media Group to hundreds of locations including hotels, visitor centers, attractions and airports, including Logan and Worcester. The magazine was also posted on our website. The Fall/Winter edition is currently at the printer and expected to hit the stands by early September. Members interested in advertising in the 2023 Spring/Summer edition should contact the Chamber to reserve an ad in this popular publication. We also published our 2022 edition of the Venue Guide to North Central Massachusetts. This publication is a resource for event and meeting planners and helps promote the region as a unique destination for events, conferences, corporate events, and weddings. The Venue Guide is posted on the website and shared via social media and at trade shows.
In addition to these publications, we continued to invest in creating an assorted mix of strong content for our travel website – Visitnorthcentral.com – highlighting seasonal activities and attractions. Stories posted during the Spring/Summer season included “Raise a Glass” which promoted the region as a destination for craft beer lovers; “Hook, Line & Sinker!” which highlighted the region as a fresh water fishing destination; and “The Sweetest Season” which focused on sugar houses located in the region.
Our paid advertising efforts during the Spring/Summer primarily focused on utilizing digital strategies. We ran a sponsored content campaign with MassLive promoting breweries, wineries and cideries in the region to day trippers and overnight visitors. We also ran geofenced digital advertising campaigns with MassLive and LocalIQ on their websites to build brand awareness and promote activities in the region. The LocalIQ digital ads have garnered 306,148 impressions and 155 clicks so far and will run through the end of September. The MassLive campaigns garnered 465,768 impressions and 898 clicks with a .19% CTR through June 30.
While we mainly invested in digital, we also secured some print advertisements to promote the region, including ads in Yankee Magazine; a full panel ad in a tourism map published by CTM Media Group and distributed throughout the state; and an ad in the Dream Destinations Guide targeted towards the Western Massachusetts and Connecticut market. We also ran several ads in Baystate Parent Magazine targeted towards families with young kids centered around the family-friendly experience our region provides.
For FY2022 which ended on June 30, VisitNorthCentral.com saw a 25% increase in traffic with 43,034 visitors and 94,992 pageviews. We also had 1,408,054 google impressions. Our Visit North Central Facebook following grew in FY22 by 5.5% to 12,172 followers. We published 338 Facebook posts during the year, which was down 13% over the previous year. Our posts had a reach of 366,952 people, down about 5% over the previous year, and 23,000 engagements which was up modestly by .3% over the previous year. Our Instagram page saw a 10.8% increase in followers to 1,163. We published 71 posts on Instagram, up 12.7%, which reached 20,726 people. Our engagement rate increased to 7.7%.
Lodging data continues to show signs that the region is experiencing some recovery from the pandemic. Although occupancy still trails pre-pandemic levels slightly, both RevPAR and ADR exceed 2019 levels which indicates that demand is driving up prices. Hotel occupancy for YTD through July was 70.3%, a 25.5% increase over the previous year, ADR was up through the year by 57.5%. RevPar and total room revenue was up 97.6% and rooms sold was up 25.5% for YTD through July.
We have also started to resume some trade show participation. In the Spring, we hosted a booth at the Dream Destinations Travel Show in Springfield and we will be helping to staff the Massachusetts booth at the Big E scheduled for the Fall. Our public relations efforts also resulted in the region being highlighted in a recent edition of Sports Events Magazine, an industry publication for sports events planners.
In other news, our Johnny Appleseed Visitor Center in Lancaster has completed some renovations and upgrades to help improve the experience and better showcase the region to the more than 165,000 visitors that stop there each year. Renovations included adding handicap doors, new security cameras, a dog walking station, a water refilling station, shading for the picnic tables and new signage on the grounds. Inside the center we also added new floors, rustic paneling on the walls, new rugs, new signage for the exhibits and new office furniture. We are also in the process of upgrading the electronic screens inside the center, adding new seasonal banners on the lampposts and having the popular “Big Apple of New England” sculpture repaired. We hope to host a special event in the Fall to showcase the improvements.
We were challenged in the Spring with the loss of our marketing manager as well as increased costs for paid advertising and printing costs for our publications. But in July we welcomed a new marketing manager, and we are currently in the process of updating our marketing plan and implementing promotional efforts for the busy Fall season.
While the legislative session has wound down, election season is in full swing, and the North Central Massachusetts Chamber continues to remain engaged on both fronts. Earlier this Summer, the Chamber partnered with a number of community partners and local media outlets as part of the Elect North Central Coalition for a series of forums with the state’s gubernatorial candidates. The forums with the candidates that chose to participate can be viewed online. The Chamber also continues to interview candidates running for statewide seats as part of the Inside North Central Massachusetts Podcast: Election Series which can be streamed on the Chamber’s website as well as Apple and Spotify.
The Chamber is in the process of reaching out to our elected officials as well as candidates that will appear on the ballot in our local and statewide races for our Annual Legislative and Candidates Reception. The Legislative and Candidates Reception is one of the most exciting events of the year, providing members of the business community the opportunity to engage the region’s elected officials and those looking to hold office. This year’s event, sponsored by Mount Wachusett Community College, will be held at the Chocksett Inn in Sterling on Thursday September 22 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM.
At the end of July, Governor Charlie Baker signed his eighth and final budget as Governor to the tune of $52.7 billion, a 10.7 percent increase over the previous fiscal year. The State’s budget for the new fiscal year saw crucial funding to a number of priority areas including local aid, K-12 education, career pathway programs and other workforce development programs as well as economic development initiatives which will benefit the region.
Although formal sessions have wrapped up, the Chamber continues to monitor Beacon Hill as they continue their final push on a number of pieces of legislation. In the middle of August, Governor Charlie Baker signed off on a new climate bill that will boost offshore wind and solar despite his voiced concerns over a provision allowing a group of ten cities and towns to ban the use of fossil fuels in new construction and major renovations. The Chamber will continue to monitor this development and its potential impact on the North Central Massachusetts business community. Earlier in the same week, Governor Baker signed off on a bill legalizing sports betting, setting Massachusetts up to better compete with neighboring states who have already been capitalizing on the industry. We are also closely monitoring the proposed economic development bill which, as of this writing, has yet to make it across the finish line. We continued to advocate for the region as the House and Senate put together their priorities for that bill. At the end of July, state budget officials announced a preliminary surplus of $1.9 billion following the approximately $3 billion in tax refunds to Commonwealth taxpayers. Despite ongoing talks of tax relief for Commonwealth residents, nothing has been set in stone yet.
Down in Washington D.C. the House came together to approve what has been come to be known as the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, sending the bill to the President’s desk. Major components of the bill fit the President’s build back better pledges that he campaigned on during the 2020 election. The bill includes $370 billion in climate investment, proposes changes aimed at saving consumers money on prescription drugs, and according to the administrations, it also upholds President Biden’s commitment to ensure families earning less than $400,000 per year do not see any tax increase. The bill contains a major provision imposing a 15% Corporate Minimum Tax, additionally it would impose a 15% domestic tax on the approximately 200 largest corporations that currently pay less than that corporate tax rate.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Travis Condon, the Chamber’s public affairs manager, at 978.353.7600, ext. 224; or via email at .
Pictured is Senate Clerk Michael Hurley carrying the clean energy bill and its amendments during the final hours of the legislature’s formal 2022 session. Photo courtesy of the State House News Service.
LEOMINSTER, MA—Aging Services of North Central Massachusetts (ASNCM), the region’s Aging Services Access Point (ASAP), is pleased to invite the community to the 2022 AGEwell EXPO. The EXPO will highlight the many offerings for everything health and wellness that is offered by our community-based businesses and nonprofit agencies. The AGEwell EXPO is by the community for the community.
With nearly fifty exhibitors there will be something for everyone. Highlights of the EXPO include acupuncture, massage therapy, pet therapy, the new nutrition, volunteer & learning opportunities as well as resources galore.
There will be ample opportunities to assess one’s health such as testing eye pressure, blood pressure and fall risks. One can also preregister for the COVID booster clinic.
The AGEwell EXPO is free for all ages with a specific focus towards our older adult population. The EXPO is Thursday, September 29th at Great Wolf Lodge (150 Great Wolf Way, Fitchburg, MA 01420) from 11am – 3pm.
To learn more about the 2022 AGEwell EXPO, or Aging Services of North Central Massachusetts—including programs and services being offered, and ways you can donate or volunteer, please visit www.AgingServicesMA.org or contact David Ginisi, Chief Marketing Officer, at (978) 466-1571 or by email at .
GARDNER, MA – Mount Wachusett Community College is pleased to announce their Fall Open House to be held on Saturday, October 29, 2022 from 9 am to 12 pm.
Prospective students and families will have the opportunity to speak with academic advisors, explore academic and career programs, bachelor’s degree transfer options, and learn about financial aid and the wide range of student support services available at the Mount.
“Whether students are attending college for the first time, transferring from another college or university, or exploring new career options, our Open House is a great first step for prospective students and families to learn what makes MWCC so special,” states Associate Vice President of Enrollment Management Marcia Rosbury-Henne. “Whether students are looking to start in January, next summer, or next fall, all are welcome.”
Check in and registration will open at 8:30 am, with a welcome and overview at 9:00 am followed by breakout sessions at 10 am and 11 am. Throughout the event, admissions staff will be available for on-the-spot application and acceptance, and student financial services will be available to help with financial aid applications.
Premier event connects elected officials, candidates for office, with local business and community leaders
The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce today announced the 2022 Legislative and Candidates Reception will be held on September 22, 2022, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Chocksett Inn, 59 Laurelwood Road in Sterling. Mount Wachusett Community College is the premier sponsor for the event.
The Legislative and Candidates Reception, held every fall, is one of the region’s premier events intended to offer local business and community leaders the opportunity to connect with the region’s elected officials, as well as those seeking public office.
“Government affairs and public policy advocacy are key components in our efforts to promote a healthy, active business climate throughout the region,” said Roy Nascimento, President and CEO, North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce. “This reception offers direct access to our legislators and candidates running for office in a casual environment where our members can ask questions and learn more about the issues and opportunities for businesses in our region.”
“At Mount Wachusett Community College, we understand the importance of engaging with the region’s business and legislative communities. These connections and insights help guide the college in various areas such as programming and outreach,” said MWCC President James Vander Hooven. “It is vital for our region’s business leaders, legislators, and policy-makers to meet and network so that they can engage and learn from each other. I am delighted that we will be gathering in person again this year for this important event.”
All legislators representing, and candidates running for office, in the Chamber’s 27 communities are encouraged to attend.
As of September 13th, the following elected officials have confirmed their attendance:
Confirmed Officials:
Senator Jo Comerford, Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester District
Senator John Cronin, Worcester and Middlesex District
Senator Diana DiZoglio, 1st Essex District
Senator Anne Gobi, Worcester, Hampden, Hampshire and Middlesex District
Representative Natalie Higgins, 4th Worcester District
Representative Meg Kilcoyne, 12th Worcester District
Representative Michael Kushmerek, 3rd Worcester District
Representative Dan Sena, 37th Middlesex District
Sheriff Lew Evangelidis., Worcester County
Adam Costa, Assistant Register of Deeds, Worcester Northern District
Governor’s Councillor Paul DePalo, 7th District
Mayor Stephen DiNatale, City of Fitchburg
Mayor Mike Nicholson, City of Gardner
Councilor Paul Beauchemin, City of Fitchburg
Councilor Andrew Couture, City of Fitchburg
Councilor Sally Cragin, City of Fitchburg
Councilor Andrew Couture, City of Fitchburg
Councilor Bernard Schultz, City of Fitchburg
Councilor Samantha Squailia, City of Fitchburg
Councilor Andrew Van Hazinga, City of Fitchburg
Councilor Peter Angelini, City of Leominster
Councilor Mark Bodanza, City of Leominster
Councilor William Brady, City of Leominster
Councilor Susan Chalifoux Zephir, City of Leominster
Councilor David Cormier, City of Leominster
Councilor Todd Deacon, City of Leominster
Councilor Claire Freda, City of Leominster
Town Manager Shaun Suhoski, Town of Athol
Town Manager Heather Lemieux, Town of Lunenburg
Town Administrator Bill Caldwell, Town of Sterling
Town Administrator Stephanie Lahtinen, Town of Westminster
Selectman Peter Cunningham, Town of Groton
Selectwoman Alix Turner, Town of Lancaster
Selectman Michael-Ray Jeffreys, Town of Lunenburg
Selectwoman Heather Sroka, Town of Lunenburg
Selectman John Kilcoyne, Town of Sterling
Selectman Sam Albert, Town of Westminster
Selectwoman Melissa Banks, Town of Westminster
David Quiroa, Regional Director, US Senator Ed Markey
Nyanna Slaughter, Regional Director, US Senator Elizabeth Warren
The event will feature an open bar and gourmet appetizers and hors d’oeuvres. Cost for members is $35 and non-members is $45. Registration is available online at www.northcentralmass.com. Please contact Kathleen Deal at 978.353.7600 ext. 235 or for more details.
The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the addition to its professional staff of Vicky Tippawong as Marketing Manager and Terry Young as Manager of Talent and Education Initiatives.
Tippawong will be responsible for the marketing and communications efforts of the Chamber and its affiliate organizations – Visit North Central Massachusetts and the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation. This includes managing its multiple websites, social media, media buys, PR and our other marketing channels. Tippawong has broad experience in graphic design and marketing. She comes to the Chamber from NEWW Packaging and Display in Gardner. Earlier in her career she also worked for Checkerboard, LTD; LCI Paper; and the Merrimack Repertory Theatre. She lives in Leominster and holds an Associate degree from Mount Wachusett Community College in Graphic Design. She is also the owner and designer of her own small business which offers custom party decorations.
In the newly created position of Manager of Talent & Education Initiatives, Young will be working with employers, regional partners and education leaders on developing strategies and programs to build and strengthen the region’s current and future workforce. She comes to the Chamber with 25 years of experience in non-profit management, program development and community organizing. She joins the Chamber from Maine General Hospital, where she served as the Program Director for their Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children. Prior to Maine General, she worked at the Community Health Network of Connecticut Foundation, Inc. where she oversaw multiple grants, capacity building and in-kind programs as well as project development as Director of Programs. She holds a Bachelor degree in Natural Health Sciences/Nutrition and lives in Ayer.
“We are very excited to have Vicky and Terry join our growing team and help contribute to the Chamber’s work of improving the business climate and advancing the economy of North Central Massachusetts.” said Roy M. Nascimento, President & CEO of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce.
Vicky Tippawong can be reached at 978.353.7600 ext. 240 or via email at and Terry Young at 978.353.7600 ext. 244 or via email at .
GARDNER, MA – September 6, 2022 – Mount Wachusett Community College held an orientation for new and transfer students on September 1, 2022 in preparation for the start of its 59th academic year on September 7, 2022.
“We are looking forward to welcoming students back to our campus,” stated MWCC President James Vander Hooven. “The life that students and faculty bring to the halls and classrooms has been missed, and I personally have missed interacting with our students, faculty and staff in person.”
Highlights of the Fall Semester include:
– United Way Day of Caring on Friday, September 16. Students, staff, and faculty will be volunteering at various locations in the community as part of this annual event.
– In celebration of Constitution Day the Brewer Center for Civic Learning and Community Engagement will be hosting a voter registration table in the Student Center on September 20 from 10 am to 2 pm.
– Pregnant and Parenting Student Expo will be held on Wednesday, September 21st. Our Student Parent Support team will be meeting with pregnant and parenting students to explore the services available to assist them as they pursue their educations.
– Community College Night at the Woo Sox will be held on Thursday, September 22nd. MWCC and the Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges organized this statewide evening to watch the Woo Sox take on the Syracuse Mets
– Tea Time Speaker Series returns with “Puerto Rican Declaration of Independence” on Friday, September 23 and “Gender Identity and Understanding LGBTQIA+” on Friday October 21.
– MWCC will be at the North Central Chamber of Commerce “Work North Central” Hiring Event at the Wachusett Mountain Ski Lodge on September 27 from 10 am to 1 pm.
– The MWCC Dental Clinic, co-located with the Community Health Center in Fitchburg, will hold a ribbon cutting to celebrate a significant enhancement to the clinic facility on September 28th.
– The NEACAC College Fair will be held at Mount Fitness on Tuesday, September 27th. Representatives from nearly 100 colleges and universities from all over New England and beyond will be on hand to talk to high school students and other individuals.
– The Coffee and Career Fair returns on Wednesday October 5. MWCC welcomes businesses and recruiters to campus to meet with students and graduates.
– Horticulture students have been raising pumpkins this summer in anticipation of the first MWCC Pumpkin Fest on October 5.
– The Fall Open House will be held on Saturday, October 29. Potential students are welcome to tour and can apply and be accepted on the spot.
MWCC admissions are rolling, students can apply and register for classes up through the first week of the semester. More information on upcoming events at MWCC can be found at mwcc.edu.
