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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We are reaching out to gather information about any artifacts, paintings, murals, or upcoming exhibits your museum possesses that highlight the Revolutionary War period. This information will be used to create a comprehensive list of historical assets, including your museum, which may potentially be incorporated into a digital map to enhance visitor experiences throughout the Massachusetts 250th anniversary celebration in 2025 and 2026.
By showcasing the breadth and depth of Massachusetts’ historical treasures, we aim to inspire visitors to explore the state’s rich revolutionary heritage. Your participation in this initiative is crucial to the success of the Massachusetts 250 commemoration.
We would greatly appreciate it if you could respond with a list of relevant artifacts, exhibits, or programs. To ensure maximum visibility during this anniversary, please consider uploading information about any Massachusetts 250-related events directly to their website.
Please feel free to contact Sheila Green at with any questions or to provide additional information.
Chamber of Commerce | Massachusetts 250 | American Revolution | Massachusetts | Massachusetts Business | New England Town | Historic New England, | Worcester County | Rural Economy | Chamber of Commerce near me | Historic Artifacts | Historical Treasures | Massachusetts History | Massachusetts 250 Anniversary
Nineteen of the area’s brightest, up-and-coming leaders were honored by the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce for completing the Chamber’s annual Community Leadership Institute (CLI) program. The Class of 2024 were recognized during the Chamber’s Annual Meeting held on June 20 at Great Wolf Lodge in Fitchburg.
CLI is a nine-month program focused on providing local, high-potential professionals who are nominated for participation to enhance individual leadership skills, obtain a stronger understanding of the region, and grow deeper connections to business and community leaders.
“The Chamber developed CLI to inspire a new generation of community leaders to enthusiastically assume important roles in their communities while motivating participants from diverse backgrounds to be influential in our region’s future,” said Roy M. Nascimento, president and CEO, North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce.
Mike Greenwood, Ph.D., professor of business at Fitchburg State University and chairperson of the CLI Steering Committee, was impressed by the caliber of this year’s class. “I am amazed with the dedication, creativity and motivation of our participants,” said Dr. Greenwood. “Programs like CLI are important to our community and help ensure a continuity of leadership, engagement and service as our region’s current leaders pass the baton to the next generation”
The program runs from October through June and includes an orientation and eight, day-long sessions on various topic areas, including Personal Leadership; Non-Profit Governance/Volunteerism; Media and Crisis Communications; Healthcare; Law and Justice; Arts and Culture; Legislation/Public Policy; Manufacturing; and Economic Development.
In addition, participants complete a community project with a goal of positively impacting the community while managing and executing the project before the end of the program year. This year’s class worked on five service projects to help teens, veterans, and immigrants.
One of the projects, “Tech for Teens,” consisted of a holiday gift drive for teens who are sometimes overlooked during holiday toy drives. The drive resulted in well over a hundred gifts to local teens, including computers, speakers, headphones, tablets, and hair tools. “Skillful Teens Building Strong Communities” was a three-part program hosted in collaboration with Mount Wachusett Community College. A group of teens received valuable training in life skills that are critical to future independence and success – including lessons on around-the-home maintenance, financial education and more.
A survey of the Class of 2024 revealed the program was a high value experience. When asked about their favorite part of the program, program participants indicated that site visits, community connections, leadership lessons, forming relationships with fellow classmates, learning more about the local community, and working on community projects were all highly valued components.
Graduates of the CLI Class of 2024 and their sponsors are as follows:
Jennifer Armentrout, Rollstone Bank & Trust
Maureen Babcock, North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce
Lindsay Carpenter Connors, Fitchburg State University
Erin Carr, AIS, Inc.
Aimee Cotnoir, Fitchburg Art Museum
Sonia Demelo, Bemis Associates
Jessica DeRoy, City of Gardner
Joeci Gilchrest, You Name It Creatives
Taylor Healey, Foster-Healey Real Estate
Ralph Hogan, Mount Wachusett Community College
Bob Jumper, Leominster Credit Union
Autumn Kelly, Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School
Ethan Lin-Schwartz, Burkart-Phelan, Inc.
Kat McLellan, Fitchburg State University
Patrick O’Connell, Enterprise Bank and Trust Company
Rosa Rivera, Workers’ Credit Union/UMass Memorial
Nathalie Rivera-Castro, Workers’ Credit Union
Gissaury Rodriquez, IC Federal Credit Union
Shawn Tolf, Fidelity Bank
To learn more about the Community Leadership Institute, please visit www.northcentralmass.com/CLI or contact Maureen Babcock at 978.353.7600, ext. 222 or for more information.
Fitchburg | Chamber of Commerce | North Central Massachusetts| Chamber of Commerce near me | Community Support | Community Leadership | Chamber of Commerce Member Benefits |Business Resources | Community Development | Personal Leadership
The North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation (NCMDC), the economic development arm of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce, recently approved $70,000 in financing to Butler Machine and Prototype, located at 400 Matthews Street in Gardner. The funding will support the purchase of various pieces of equipment, tooling and working capital while also creating one job with two additional jobs planned within the next year. NewVue Communities of Fitchburg assisted with the development of the company’s business plan.
Founded by David Butler, Butler Machine and Prototype is a custom machine shop for small lots and prototype design for machine shops. A graduate of Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical High School, Butler earned a two-year apprenticeship certificate and has worked at various machine shops gaining professional and leadership experience over the past 30 years. Most recently, he worked for a machine company prototyping and fixturing for medical devices.
“With over 30 years of experience as a Class A Machinist and more than 15 years of experience as a tool and die maker in metal stamping and cold metal framing, I am excited to bring my years of knowledge and experience to my customers,” said Butler. “With the collaboration of the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation and NewVue Communities, I am able to do what I love to do while achieving the dream of entrepreneurship.”
As a microloan lender, NCMDC can provide loans to small businesses up to $250,000 for working capital, real estate, equipment, inventory, expansion and working with our banking partners to provide gap financing for the final piece of a project.
For more information about the NCMDC loan programs, please call 978.353.7607 or visit NorthCentralMass.com or ChooseNorthCentral.com.
Gardner | Chamber of Commerce | North Central Massachusetts| Chamber of Commerce near me | Economic Development | Community Support | Business Development | Community Support | Business Development | Business Loans | Business Technical Assistance | Small Business Loans | Small Business Technical Assistance | Business Development Corporation | Business Resources | Microloan Lender
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
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
LUK, Inc. Invites You to the 12th Annual Kids at Heart Mentoring Gala! Join us at Devens Common Center to enjoy dinner, live and silent auctions, balloon pops, entertainment, and dancing in support of LUK’s Mentoring program! Learn more at LUK Mentoring’s 12th Annual “Kids at Heart” Gala.
Bidding on auction items will be available both at the event and virtually. If you cannot attend but are interested in supporting and bidding on auction items, you may sign up to create an account and bid on items through the Gala website as well.
LUK Mentoring pairs caring, concerned role models with youth who will benefit from additional support. The mission serves the cities and towns in Worcester County to strengthen our community through high quality, life-enriching, professionally supported one-to-one relationships between volunteer mentors and children in need. Learn more and become a mentor at Mentoring.LUK.org
Date: Thursday, February 13th, 2025 Time: 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM Location: Devens Common Center
Gardner Mayor Michael Nicholson has been unanimously elected as the President of the Massachusetts Mayors’ Association.
Mayor Nicholson, who has served as the Mayor of Gardner since 2020, and had served as the Massachusetts Mayors’ Association District 2 Representative, brings a wealth of experience and a strong track record of leadership to his new role.
Mayor Nicholson has been instrumental in bringing significant developments to Gardner, including the Gardner Elementary School project that came in $8 million under budget, the creation of two vacant storefront revitalization districts, an increase of double the amount of grant awards over the last two years, and increased private investment across the city. Mayor Nicholson’s dedication to improving the City of Gardner and creating lasting partnerships that will lead to increased investments in the future have earned him respect among his peers and widespread recognition across
the state.
As President of the Massachusetts Mayors’ Association, Mayor Nicholson will lead advocacy efforts around housing, economic development and other issues facing municipalities across the Commonwealth. In this role, Mayor Nicholson will work with state leaders, industry experts and his colleagues to advocate for the needs of municipalities and to promote efficient, effective and thriving
local government.
“I am honored to have been elected by my peers as the President of the Massachusetts Mayors’ Association,” said Nicholson. “I look forward to continuing a collaboration with my fellow mayors and state leaders as we continue to advocate for the many pressing issues facing municipal government. Local government plays a significant role in increasing the quality of life for residents throughout the Commonwealth and I look forward to working together to ensure our cities thrive.”
The Massachusetts Mayors’ Association, established in 1945, provides opportunities for mayors to network and share ideas, pursue educational opportunities, meet with state leaders and subject-matter experts, and participate in the advocacy work of the Massachusetts Municipal Association. Its membership is made up of the 48 mayors of the cities of Massachusetts.
Mayor Nicholson was nominated by Mayor Dean Mazarella of Leominster and Mayor Nicole LaChapelle of Easthampton at the association’s annual business meeting held in Boston on January 25, 2025.
Left to right Front row: Jeannette McCarthy of Waltham, Ruthanne Fuller of Newton, Outgoing MMaA President Nicole LaChapelle of Easthampton, Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, MMaA President Michael Nicholson of Gardner, Breanna Lungo-Koehn of Medford, Katjana Ballentine of Somerville Middle Row: Kassandra Gove of Amesburty, Gine-Louise Sciarra of Northampton, Virginia Desorgher of Greenfield, J. Christian Dumais of Marlborough, Dominick Pangallo of Salem, Patrick Keefe of Revere, Melinda Barrett of Haverhill, Michael McCabe of Westfield, Jared Nicholson of Lynn, Dean Mazarella of Leominster Back Row: Paul Coogan of Fall River, Robert Sullivan of Brockton, John Vieau of Chicopee, Carlo De Maria of Everett, Gary Christiansen of Malden, Joshua Garcia of Holyoke, Charles Sisitsky of Framingham, Samantha Squalia of Fitchbug, Greg Verga of Gloucester, Peter Marchetti of Pittsfield, Michael Concannon of Woburn *Note other mayors attended the association’s annual meeting but were unable to attend when the picture was being taken.
Agreement is the product of months of advocacy and partnership between stakeholders and state leaders, will provide a sustainable solution to lack of Satellite Emergency Facility (SEF) services in the region
State Representative Margaret Scarsdale (D – Pepperell) is pleased to announce that the search for a healthcare provider to operate a Satellite Emergency Facility (SEF) in the Nashoba Valley Region has come to a successful conclusion.
“Today’s announcement that UMass Memorial will be the new operator of a Satellite Emergency Facility (SEF) in our region is welcome and critical news for our region,” said Scarsdale. “I made a promise to my constituents when Nashoba Valley Medical Center closed that I would not stop fighting until access to this essential care was restored. Our region has struggled mightily to access emergency medical services and access to routine healthcare since the collapse of Nashoba Valley Medical Center at the end of August and today, our advocacy, and the stakeholders we helped bring to the table, has opened a new path forward for restored healthcare access in our region. I am grateful to UMass Memorial for their commitment and partnership and eager to work with them to achieve that shared goal.”
From the onset of this crisis, caused by Steward Healthcare’s summer 2024 collapse, Representative Scarsdale served as the primary liaison between state leaders, local first responders and healthcare providers, and constituents throughout the region. She was instrumental in the formation of the Nashoba Valley Medical Center Working Group and co-chairs the Emergency, Outpatient, and Healthcare Services (EOHS) Sub-Committee with Ayer Town Manager Robert Pontbriand.
“Since the closure of the Nashoba Valley Medical Center, we have been diligently focused on rebuilding access to healthcare in the Nashoba Valley Region”, said Robert Pontbriand, Town Manager of Ayer and co-Chair of the Governor’s Nashoba Valley Working Group. “The announcement that UMass Memorial Health will establish a freestanding emergency department is a significant step toward stabilizing our local health care landscape and a critical step in our ongoing commitment to strengthening health care in the Nashoba Valley.”
EOHS was tasked with investigating, analyzing, and proposing viable options which will: a) sustainably address the lack of critical services in the Nashoba Valley region, including emergency, outpatient, and related healthcare services; and b) explore and report on potential funding sources to responsibly and equitably establish those needed services for the communities in North Central Massachusetts, which were left in a healthcare desert after Steward disastrous management and disruptive closure. Representative Scarsdale and EOHS will continue to work with UMass Memorial directly to address these concerns.
“Today’s news does not mean our work is over,” said Scarsdale. “The members of EOHS – which include area Fire Chiefs, the Massachusetts Nurses Association, physicians affected by the closure, Congresswoman Trahan’s office, and the Executive Office of Health and Human Services – remain committed to supporting this transition, including continued investigation of, and recommendations for, services and infrastructure. We look forward to partnering with UMass Memorial on their next steps.”
“I have never doubted the restoration of critical services for this region,” said Scarsdale. “There has been a steadfast commitment to restoring care in this region from Governor Healey and members of her team, who understood the dangers of the healthcare desert that Steward created, and have been attentive, supportive, and responsive to this region’s crisis, and from members of EOHS, who have been in daily communication throughout the past six months. Today marks the beginning of a new path forward for healthcare access in the Nashoba Valley and for our communities to have access to the care they deserve.”
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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