An Electronic Publication of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce
Inside this edition, you’ll discover the latest Chamber initiatives and success stories from across our region. From economic development projects and upcoming networking events to policy updates and workforce training opportunities, we’re keeping you connected to what matters most for your business and North Central Massachusetts.
June 2026
Not Yet A Member? Join the Chamber
The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce is here to help – with trusted resources, a strong business network, and a support system to keep your business and the region moving forward
In an effort to gain an accurate assessment of COVID-19’s ongoing impact to businesses in North Central Massachusetts, the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce has created this new survey. This is a follow-up to a survey conducted in March at the onset of the pandemic. The first survey was very helpful to our initial response to the pandemic. This new survey is intended to capture fresh data and dive deeper into the impact to local businesses. The Chamber is partnering with the MassHire North Central Massachusetts Workforce Board, Montachusett Regional Planning Commission, NewVue Communities and many of the cities and towns in the region on the distribution of this survey. Please take a moment to complete the survey. The survey is estimated to take between five to ten minutes to complete. All information will be reported in general terms and individual business information will remain confidential.
Please feel free to contact the Chamber at 978.353.7600 or via email with any questions or concerns.
Thank you in advance for your participation. Click here for information and resources for businesses dealing with the Coronavirus Outbreak.
Survey Partners
Thank you to the following communities and organizations for helping to distribute the survey to businesses and organizations:
Like many of us around the globe, you’re probably used to working from home, including using Zoom, an engaging, user-friendly meeting application. However, an unexpected outage from Zoom caused thousands of workers immense frustration, as they were unable to access Zoom webinars and attended Zoom meetings.
It’s always smart to have a back-up solution, and we’ve collected four popular alternatives just in case Zoom goes down again. We looked at different tools, and evaluated the reliability, features and ease of use, the value and affordability (especially important for small businesses), and the security of each, helping reduce chances of sensitive company data being leaked.
Ring Central Video
Ring Central works well with video and phone support and has a high level of security. It’s included with RingCentral Office®, a comprehensive program that integrates cloud phone service with business numbers in over 100 countries, unlimited audio conferencing, video meetings, team messaging, and business SMS. For specialized industries, such as healthcare and insurance, or others that still rely on faxing documents, there’s also a secure, unlimited online fax feature.
With seven layers of security, it’s also excellent at protecting company files. The program integrates with dozens of apps and works seamlessly with both Microsoft and Google software, which makes it easy for users to send and receive documents in different formats.
Also included with the cost for Ring Office is employee training and 24-hour customer support – essential for employees that may be working at odd hours or who have a flexible schedule.
Microsoft Office 365 E3
This is hands-down the best tool for internal collaboration. It’s an excellent alternative to Skype for Business. This program is part of Office 365 (the premium version) and includes Microsoft Teams, which allows employees to chat online, meet via video, share files, and track the progression and timelines of certain projects. Outlook and cloud storage are also included.
However, other features like phone and audio conferencing outside of the Teams application are extra, and this software doesn’t offer business SMS or online fax capabilities, so it may not be useful for some industries. Other drawbacks include a lack of cloud service for customer engagement, although it works quite well for internal teams.
Group FaceTime
FaceTime is an easy-to-use application that many of your employees are probably already familiar with. It’s perfect if your team all use Apple products, and as far as video quality and communication it can’t be beat. It’s clean, crisp, and has excellent end-to-end encryption.
However, as a business application, it lacks the integration of other applications, such as Ring Central and Microfot Office/ Teams. Group FaceTime also lacks an office suite that make sharing files and projects easier.
Google Meet
Google Meet is ideal for file storage and sharing, and in a pinch, coupling this with Group FaceTime (even though they run on two different operating systems) can help you through times when Zoom goes down.
Google Meet integrates any number of Google-based apps, including the popular Hangouts, which works like a chat meeting in real-time. However, this program also lacks audio conferencing, business SMS, or secure online fax options. But, at just $10 per month and with the capability to support user-designed apps, Google Meet does have a lot of other advantages.
Bottom Line
Having Zoom go down can be frustrating and may even cost your business. Before (if) it happens again, it’s important to have a back-up in place, and to train your team on how to use your back-up remote office suite. This ensures that you’re prepared for the challenges that remote working can throw at you.
The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce would like to remind members to always be on the lookout for possible scams and frauds. Online fraud is on the rise and businesses continue to be a target of thieves and scammers looking to exploit the COVID-19 pandemic for their gain.Often fraudsters try to impersonate trusted institutions, like your bank/credit union, government agencies, or trusted non-profits in the community like the chamber of commerce.
While we haven’t received any specific reports, we wanted to be proactive and alert you to the following chamber practices so that you can stay diligent and protect yourself and your business.
The North Central Massachusetts Chamber will never ask you for any personal data through unsolicited emails, texts messages, pop-up windows or website banners. If you were to receive something electronically that looks suspicious and claiming it’s from the Chamber then reach out to us immediately;
If you ever receive a suspicious call from someone claiming to be from the Chamber or one of our affiliate organizations* (listed below) and asking for personal or financial details, then reach out to us immediately. We may occasionally call to collect or confirm information, but you should not provide any sensitive information unless you are absolutely certain that it is a legitimate call from the Chamber;
The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce does not utilize telemarketing firms. If you ever receive a suspicious call from a telemarketer claiming they are soliciting donations for the Chamber or saying they are updating their records, then you should contact us immediately. Do not provide any sensitive personal information;
The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce does not endorse any particular products, services, candidates, companies or charities other than its own affiliate organizations. Any solicitations you receive claiming that they are affiliated with the Chamber, endorsed by the Chamber, claiming their product is distributed by the Chamber or using similar language should be viewed with some level of caution. You should contact the Chamber immediately to confirm validity;
The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce is an independent organization that is not affiliated with any national, state or local chamber of commerce. Anyone approaching you claiming that they are another “chapter” of the chamber or a business group that is associated with our Chamber or one of our affiliate organizations should be viewed with caution. You should contact the Chamber to confirm validity.
In general, we encourage you to always scrutinize unknown or suspicious emails that you receive with attachments or with requests for sensitive details or money transfers. Scammers will mask their email domains to impersonate legitimate sources. If you are suspicious about an email you receive, then you can scroll over the email address to reveal the domain. An email from the Chamber should have the domain of @northcentralmass.com. When in doubt, call to confirm the legitimacy of the email you received.
We encourage you to continue to be alert and don’t fall for any scams that may compromise your business or personal information. For useful information regarding Coronavirus related scams, please visit the Federal Trade Commission, https://www.ftc.gov/.
*Affiliated organizations of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce include the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation; Johnny Appleseed Trail Association DBA Visit North Central Massachusetts; the North Central Chamber Foundation; and Chamber Insurance, Inc.
Join us for Connect North Central
Friday, November 20, 2026
8am-9am View
Event
Joint Mayor's Meeting
December 4, 2026
Chamber members are provided with the opportunity to engage with the Mayors of Fitchburg, Gardner, and Leominster who provide updates on projects and other things happening in their Cities. These events are by invitation only, please contact Travis Condon for more details. View
Event
Future Leaders of North Central: Annual Holiday Party & Ugly Sweater Competition
December 8, 2026
Bull Run Restaurant
215 Great Rd. Shirly, MA View
Event
Chamber members are provided with the opportunity to engage with the Mayors of Fitchburg, Gardner, and Leominster who provide updates on projects and other things happening in their Cities. These events are by invitation only, please contact Travis Condon for more details. View
Event
Building on the success of their Nauti hard seltzer line, Wachusett Brewing Company is now stepping into the hard cider ring with their latest platform, Fifty Trees Hard Cider. Fifty Trees Hard Cider will be launched with two styles, both featuring local apples from farms in North Central Massachusetts. The first style, Fifty Trees Original, is blended with a touch of European Bittersweets for a semi-dry character that features a flavorful apple taste with a crisp, clean finish. The second style, Fifty Trees Cranberry, features the tart, refreshing flavor of locally sourced cranberries.
“We have been making hard cider pretty consistently over the last two years” saidWachusett President Christian McMahan. “Craft cider shares all the same values ascraft beer. It has an incredible history, it’s handcrafted, and it allows for incredible diversity and creativity. We have done a ton of experimentation over that time and are proud to finally be able to launch Fifty Trees to a wider audience.” McMahanconcluded.
Fifty Trees Hard Cider is handcrafted in Westminster, Massachusetts, in the heart ofthe state’s apple growing region, aka “Johnny Appleseed Country.” It pays tribute to the legendary orchardist and nurseryman who was born right down the road. In theearly 1800’s, he helped frontier settlers establish land rights by planting fifty apple trees on their land to establish permanent residency as required by Congress at the time, taking advantage of the Northwest Ordinance. Interestingly, the fruits born from these trees were not culinary apples for eating but instead were destined for producing hard cider. Fifty Trees represents a nod to this pioneering spirit and is also exploring other cider styles using ingredients indigenous to the New England agricultural region.
For more information about Wachusett Brewing Company, visit www.wachusettbrew.comFor more information about Fifty Trees Hard Cider, visit www.fiftytreeshardcider.com.
The Wachusett Business Incubator, a business environment dedicated to fostering economic growth in the North Central Massachusetts region is pleased to announce the addition of our first Candidate for our Leadership Candidate Program.
We welcome Justin and Kate Robichaud to the WBI family. The up and coming business is known as ‘Wood You Build It’. The company is growing exponentially since its start in 2018. Wood You Build It provides custom cabinet products to clients regionally, blending personal service and craftsmanship while engaging clients in the online realm.
Working with WBI, Justin and Kate intend to scale their business nationally while building a portfolio of commercial real estate all while providing meaningful work opportunities for others.
“We are absolutely thrilled to engage Justin and Kate in our unique Leadership Candidate Program” said WBI executive director Scott M. Graves. “The projected growth of their company is significant and a clear example of their steadfast belief in themselves as entrepreneurs. Their company’s mix of leveraging modern tech with the traditions of Gardner’s craftsmanship past makes for the perfect early candidacy in our program.”
Rep. Jon Zlotnik, a tireless advocate for the WBI said, “I’m very pleased at the progress at the business incubator. It’s exciting to see more and more business activity and it’s a testament to the work and perseverance our group has put into this idea. I look forward to its continued success as well as the success of the businesses being formed and grown with the incubators support.”
The Leadership Candidacy Program of Wachusett Business Incubator, the first known of its kind in the United States is fast becoming a premier alternative to the ‘Hollywood’ model of incubator and accelerator programs. To find out more about our exciting opportunities write to Scott Graves or 978-410-9250.
Wachusett Business Incubator is also engaging additional clients and intellectual property. The organization is developing several event series and is actively fielding candidates.
Our website: http://wachusettincubator.com
All Other Inquiries
Scott M. Graves Wachusett Business Incubator 35 Sanborn St. Gardner, MA 01440
978-410-9250
Matthew S. Sosik, CEO of Hometown Financial Group, Inc., announced that Karen Yancik has been promoted to the position of Senior Vice President, Senior Compliance and Risk Management Officer. Yancik has responsibility for internal audit, compliance and risk management for the subsidiary banks of Hometown Financial Group; bankESB, bankHometown and Abington Bank.
Yancik joined the company in 1987 and has held significant positions in the areas of internal audit, compliance and risk management, and most recently, Vice President of Compliance and Risk Management.
Yancik received her Bachelor’s Degree from Nichols College. She is also a member of the Massachusetts Bankers’ Association Legal and Regulatory Compliance Committee, the Eastern Massachusetts Compliance Network and the Western Massachusetts Compliance Association.
Yancik resides in Dudley, Massachusetts with her twin sons.
About Hometown Financial Group, Inc.
Hometown Financial Group, Inc. is a $2.7 billion mutual multi-bank holding company headquartered in Easthampton, Massachusetts and is the parent company of bankESB, bankHometown and Abington Bank. These separate and distinct banking franchises offer a complete line of consumer and business deposit and lending products through its 30 branch offices located throughout Massachusetts and northeastern Connecticut. For additional information about Hometown Financial Group, please visit www.bankhfg.com.
For more information, please contact:
Hometown Financial Group
Dena M. Hall
Chief Marketing Officer
(413) 779-2215
Member Spotlight
Custom Cleaning Service of Peabody
When the workday ends and the lights go down, Custom Cleaning Service of Peabody, Inc. gets to work. “We operate as our clients’ silent partner after business hours,” says Adam Paicos, of Templeton, who now serves as Director of Operations and oversees the company’s expansion into North Central MA. “We are not often seen, but we ensure facilities are clean, secure, and ready for business each day while serving as the eyes and ears for our clients when they are not on site.”
Discover local business stories through our Inside North Central Massachusetts Podcast series. Listen as Chamber members share their journeys, insights, and contributions to our thriving regional business community.
From Chamber events and ribbon cuttings to community celebrations and regional highlights, stay connected with what’s happening across North Central Massachusetts. Follow us on social media for the latest photos, updates, and stories.
Looking for your next opportunity? Explore current job openings from employers across North Central Massachusetts on our Jobs Board. Whether you’re starting a new career or making a change, you’ll find a variety of local positions available to help you take the next step.
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