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
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The North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation (NCMDC) recently granted an Express Loan of $5,000 to Jennifer Morazes of Genesis Coaching and Consulting in Acton, MA. This loan will assist with expenses associated with starting her business.
Jennifer has been coaching students for 20 years in college and high schools. She has recently opened her own coaching and consulting business for those interested in achieving educational, career, and wellness goals with a focus on first generational students. Jennifer was referred to NCMDC by Commerce Bank. For more information on Genesis, visit their website at www.genesistimetobegin.com.
The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce announced today that it has been named a finalist for the prestigious 2017 Chamber of the Year award, presented by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE). The announcement was made to a sold out audience of over 400 business leaders and Governor Charlie Baker at the Annual Business Meeting of the Chamber.
The North Central Massachusetts Chamber is one of only three finalists – along with chambers in Paducah, KY and Kalispell, MT – in its category. It is also the first chamber of commerce from Massachusetts to have ever been selected as a finalist.
Chamber of the Year is the nation’s only award recognizing the leadership role chambers have in their communities. Those honored with the Chamber of the Year designation have demonstrated organizational strength and made an impact on key community priorities, such as education, transportation, economic development and quality of life.
Only 104 out of 7,000+ chambers nationally meet qualification standards to enter the Chamber of the Year competition based on membership performance and financial management. The rigorous award application requires written responses addressing all aspects of organizational operation and programmatic work. Applications are then scored by peer chamber executives to determine finalists. Winners are selected from among finalists based on an in-person interview before a panel of experienced chamber professionals. This year’s competition drew numerous entries from chambers throughout the United States and Canada.
“To be named a finalist for this award is an incredible honor for our Chamber. It is a tribute to the innovation and passion of our member companies and the many business leaders that support our mission and that work so hard to build a stronger economy and quality of life in the communities that we call home here in North Central Massachusetts,” said Roy M. Nascimento, President & CEO of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce. “I want to thank our staff, board leaders and all of our engaged members for their support and dedication in helping us achieve this level of accomplishment.”
Finalists for the award will be celebrated at a special event Tuesday, July 18 in Nashville, TN. The Chamber’s Annual Meeting held on June 15th also included recognition awards and the commencement for the 2017 class of the Chamber’s Community Leadership Institute.
Emerging Leaders Learn about the Importance of the Creative Economy
On Thursday, May 25, 2017 the Community Leadership Institute class of 2017 visited Fitchburg Art Museum where the class spent the day learning about the creative economy and its importance to the growth and development for local communities and the region. Over the course of the day the class heard from Matt Wilson, Executive Director at MassCreative, and met with several local community leaders including Mayor Stephen DiNatale of the City of Fitchburg, Nick Capasso, Director of the Fitchburg Art Museum, Sharon Bernard, Director of the Fitchburg Public Library and Steve Duvarney, President of Duvarney & Company Jewelers.
Dr. Mike Greenwood, business professor at Fitchburg State University and chairman of the Institute steering committee, helped facilitate the creative economy session which explored current creative economy initiatives, trends, challenges and opportunities. The goal of the session was to give participants an understanding of the role that the creative economy has in contributing to eco nomic growth and how community leaders can become involved in supporting efforts to grow arts and culture in North Central Massachusetts.
The program included a presentation from Matt Wilson on arts, culture and advocating for this crucial part of society. His presentation was then followed by a panel of local representatives including, Nick Capasso, Mayor Steve DiNatale, and Lisa Dutton-Swain and Marc Dohan of NewVue Communities. The panel discussed Fitchburg’s plan to renovate the downtown area, and have the creative economy help downtown businesses blossom. Also, the panel discussed the ways in which Fitchburg highlights arts and culture, using institutions like the Fitchburg Art Museum, the Fitchburg Public Library and Fitchburg State University. Arts and culture is not only a want of the Fitchburg community, but it is a necessity in order for the city to grow and improve.
Following the panel, the Community Leadership Institute class went on a tour of downtown Fitchburg lead by Nick Capasso, Director of the Fitchburg Art Museum. The class saw some of Fitchburg’s most important cultural assets including the Fay Club, the Arc of Opportunity mural, Gallery Sitka, Fitchburg Public Library, the “Before I Die” public art wall, “the Immigrant” sculpture by Nora Valdez, and the BF Brown School. The importance of seeing these arts and culture venues in the downtown was to understand the positive influence the creative economy can have on a city, and the ways in which art can bring a community together. Art not only is beautiful to the eye, but is beneficial towards a community’s leadership, education and economic growth.
“Our emerging creative economy can play a vital role in the economic growth of North Central Massachusetts,” said Roy Nascimento, President & CEO of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce. “It is important that these future leaders understand that our cultural assets are helping to shape our region’s unique identity and appeal, contributing to our quality of life and helping to revitalize our downtowns.”
This was the second to last meeting of the nine month long program. Next month will conclude the program with the wrap up session and graduation ceremony at the North Central Massachusetts Chamber’s 2017 Annual Business Meeting & Luncheon held on June 15, 2017 at Great Wolf Lodge New England. For more information on the Community Leadership Institute contact Maria McCaffrey, Events and Programs Manager, at 978.353.7600 ext. 235 or at .
The Community Leadership Institute was started in 1989 by the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce who recognized the significance of effective leadership to a community’s vibrancy. The Chamber set out to develop a community leadership program that could cultivate a diverse network of regional leaders who are prepared and motivated to strengthen and improve the region. Over 250 business and community leaders have graduated from the Community Leadership Institute since its inception.
The North Central Golf Tour: Friday on the Fairway at Templewood Golf Course
July 31, 2026
Friday on the Fairway at Templewood Golf Course
July 31, 2026
Templewood Golf Course
Event Start at 1:00pm View
Event
Fore Then Pore: Golf Clinic, 9 Hole Play & End of Summer Bash
August 21, 2026
Golf Clinic, 9 Hole Play & End of Summer Bash
August 21, 2026
The Woods of Westminster
Event Start at 1:00pm View
Event
Sponsors Reception: Old Mill
August 26, 2026
Thank you to all our sponsors who help sponsor this past 2025-2026 program year! We are truly honored by your continued support and efforts to continue to make our community thrive! View
Event
bankHometown kicks off its 14th Annual Neighbors Helping Neighbors Campaign on November 1st with a challenge to local residents to help support local food pantries and a way for the bank and its customers to make a real difference in the lives of local residents.
Customers of the bank and community members are invited to be a “Hometown Hero” for a $1 donation or a “Hometown Superhero” for a $5 donation. bankHometown then matches donations dollar for dollar and splits the funds among food pantries that serve the areas surrounding each of its thirteen offices in Massachusetts and Connecticut. In addition to the in-branch fund drive, Hometown Bank also sends a letter to business customers inviting their help and contributions, which the bank also matches dollar for dollar.
Neighbors Helping Neighbors donations benefit the Oxford Ecumenical Food Shelf at the United Methodist Church in Oxford; Food Share, a Southbridge-based program that serves residents of Sturbridge, Charlton and Southbridge; the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry at Sacred Heart Church in Webster; the Athol Salvation Army Food Pantry; CARE Food Pantry in Clinton, the Auburn Youth and Family Services, Inc. Food Pantry and Ginny’s Helping Hand in Leominster. The Connecticut pantries being served are Daily Bread in Putnam; Friends of Assisi in Killingly and Thompson Ecumenical Empowerment Group (TEEG) in Thompson.
Last year’s campaign concluded with a total donation of $17,500.00, with individual checks in the amount of $2,500.00 were presented to each of the seven participating food pantries. To date, more than $117,500.00 has been distributed through this program.
Hometown Bank is a $400 million mutual bank with offices in Massachusetts (Athol, Auburn, Leominster, Oxford, South Lancaster, Sturbridge and Webster) and Connecticut (Putnam, Brooklyn, Killingly, Thompson, and Woodstock).
The Devens Eco-Efficiency Center announces a calendar of educational programs that can help area manufacturers strengthen operational processes. The non-profit’s EHS Roundtable is a forum where area professionals with environmental, health, and/or safety related responsibilities learn from guest speakers, share best practices, discuss challenges, exchange resources, and build partnerships.
Confirmed topics for the monthly meeting include:
OSHA Inspections – Be Prepared, November 3: Area Director for OSHA Hartford, CT, Paul Mangiafico will present what an employer can expect from an OSHA inspection, how and why OSHA targets facilities, the Compliance Officer’s scope, citation process, updated OSHA penalty structure, and process to contest.
Worst Plant Tour, December 1: Corey Briggs from Ramboll Environ will guide participants thorough a virtual tour of the worst plant, using digital renderings of real-world EHS compliance issues. This presentation will provide insight to dangers that can happen in your facility.
Let’s Fix This, January 12: Participants will share and collaborate on environmental, health and safety challenges in their facilities. This will be a great opportunity to network and interact with local peers.
Electrical Safety, February 2: Dean Vanasse, President of Boston Safety Training will address arc flash and basic electrical safety for employees.
Energy Conservation, Efficiency Strategies, March 2: Dr. Beka Kosanovic from UMASS Amherst’s Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy will speak on common energy efficiency opportunities and steps to conserve energy in manufacturing facilities and review the free services the Center provides.
The EHS Roundtable has been benefiting businesses throughout Central Massachusetts since 2008 by providing a unique opportunity to learn and network with local colleagues. Meetings take place 8:00-9:30a at 33 Andrews Parkway, Devens. Registration is $30 for non-members; refreshments are served. To RSVP, visit http://tinyurl.com/EHSRT-RSVP or contact Tracy Pierce at or 978-772-8831.
The Devens Eco-Efficiency Center helps commercial, industrial and service establishments make better use of natural, material, human and economic resources. To learn more about this 10 year old non-profit visit https://devensecoefficiencycenter.wordpress.com.
The Fitchburg Historical Society will offer its Annual Holiday House Tour on Saturday, December 2, 2017 from 11 am to 4 pm. This fundraiser will welcome visitors into fourteen of Fitchburg’s architecturally significant buildings, beautifully decorated for the holidays. The Fitchburg Historical Society House Tour is one of Fitchburg’s biggest holiday events: it celebrates Fitchburg and its architecture while supporting the educational and preservation mission of the Fitchburg Historical Society, a 125-year old nonprofit on Main Street.
Some of the homes showcase architecture from the Victorian era in Fitchburg. Others date from the height of Fitchburg’s first “Golden Age,” the years from 1900 to 1920, when industrial production and population grew explosively, making Fitchburg the most important cultural center in central Massachusetts. These buildings were designed by important regional and national architects like Richard Upjohn, Henry M. Francis (based in Fitchburg), Solomonsky Architects of New York City, Boston’s Oscar Thayer, landscape designer Herbert J. Kellaway and architect James A. Britton, who was also celebrated for his restoration architecture at Old Sturbridge Village.
In addition to nine private residences, other participating venues include: Applewild School, the Boulder Art Gallery, Gerry’s Martel’s Classic Carriages, the Fitchburg Historical Society, and the Fay Club. The Fay Club is a magnificent mansion designed by American architect Richard Upjohn (famous for the Trinity Church on Wall Street). It will serve as the “Tea Room” for the day, where House Tour participants can stop for tea, coffee and desserts.
Tickets for the December 2, 2017, House Tours are $25.00 each and can be purchased starting on Monday, November 13, at Shack’s Clothing, Mill #3, Elliot’s Jewelers, Homestead Primitives, Windmill Florist, the Mayor’s Office at 166 Boulder Drive, DeBonis & Davin Florist, Slattery’s Restaurant and at the Fitchburg Historical Society. Charles Sternaimolo (photographer), Anne Giancola (graphic artist) and to Miles Press (printers) created the posters, brochures, and tickets for the House Tours.
The Fitchburg Historical Society is located at 781 Main Street, Fitchburg in the historic Phoenix building. There is abundant on-street parking near the Historical Society and free parking behind the building. The building is handicapped accessible. For more information, call 978-345-1157, email , visit www.fitchburghistoricalsociety.org or https://www.facebook.com/FitchburgHistoricalSociety.
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.
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