E-Newsletter
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.
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
POSTPONED DUE TO WEATHER: New Date – Thursday, March 2, 2023 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
River Styx Brewing in Fitchburg will partner with the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce to host the Chamber’s February edition of the Business After Hours series. The event will take place on Thursday, February 23, 2023 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at River Styx Brewing located at 166 Boulder Drive in Fitchburg.
River Styx is a popular brewery founded in 2017 by craft beer-lovers Scott and Jackie Cullen. Their main priority is to create flavorful malt beverages. The brewery is a family and pet-friendly destination in the heart of Fitchburg.
Complimentary appetizers and a cash bar will be provided by River Styx as guests connect with old friends and meet new contacts.
“River Styx is really excited to host the Chamber and welcome business and community leaders to our brewery,” said Jackie Cullen, Co-Owner. “We are a small family owned and operated business that is very proud to be a part of the community. We look forward to showcasing our brewery and hope that local business leaders will be able to join us for this fun business event.”
“We are excited to partner with the River Styx Brewing to offer members and their guests the opportunity to network in this wonderful venue,” said Roy M. Nascimento, President and CEO of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce. “One of the goals of the Chamber is to offer these types of programs that offer members the opportunity to network with their peers and that also showcase the unique attractions that call North Central Massachusetts home.”
The cost to attend is $15 for chamber members and $25 for non-members, with registration available online at www.northcentralmass.com.
Fitchburg, MA | Chamber of Commerce | North Central Massachusetts | North Central Massachusetts Chamber | Chamber Events and Programs | Business After Hours
Clinton Savings Bank is much more than a community bank. With 6 branch locations (Berlin, Bolton, Boylston, Clinton, Sterling, West Boylston) and a seventh opening next year in Shrewsbury, Clinton Savings has a major impact throughout Central Massachusetts.
Clinton Savings Bank also has a rich history in the business community, opening its door 171 years ago in 1851. With 104 employees, the Bank takes great pride in its banking team.
“We are fortunate to have employees that believe in our mission and possess the skill set of reliability, problem-solving, willingness to learn and to ask questions and most importantly teamwork,” said Robert J. Paulhus, Jr., President & CEO. “Our average tenure is nine years with our longest employee being with us for 43 years.”
Paulhus added that Clinton Savings Bank’s work place culture is a collection of attitudes, beliefs and behaviors that make up the regular atmosphere in a work environment. “We know that a healthy workplace aligns employee behaviors and company policies with the overall goals of the Bank, he said. “After almost two years of disruption and social fragmentation we continue to create an environment that our employees can be happy and engaged in when working.
Since COVID, Paulhus noted the Bank has adapted to a more flexible hybrid work model, created new personal employee experiences – expanded the employee recognition programs and invested in new technology to help every employee feel more connected and inspired.
Recognizing the past two years have been rough for the business community, however Paulhus is very optimistic about the future. “Clinton Savings Bank is well-positioned for continued growth and success,” he said. “We will continue to enhance the customer experience, improve capabilities, and create opportunities for future growth. Our vision and mission statements keep us aligned to what’s most important — the well-being of our customers and the communities that we serve.”
Paulhus added that working in a diverse mix of towns in North Central Massachusetts helps represent a “community feel and bind which is what community banking is all about — having the best interest of others in mind and forming personal relationships with customers.”
He feels the Bank’s longevity and trust it has built with its customers is what sets Clinton Savings Bank apart from its competition. “We have shown our commitment to the people we serve by giving back, whether, it’s monetary or our employees volunteering at non-profit organizations or town events,” Paulus said. “We’ve never closed any of our locations and continue to invest in the towns we serve.”
He also echoed a great sense of pride in how Clinton Savings Bank supports the communities it serves. “We think of ourselves as ‘relationship’ bankers as opposed to ‘transactional’ bankers, said Paulhus. “We are an integral part of downtown and we know what it takes to be a community bank. Being a part of the local neighborhoods for over 170 years we have that specialized knowledge of our local neighborhoods and our customers.” A great example of that support is the Bank’s two full-service branches at Tahanto Regional High School and Nashoba Regional High School operated by the students in the banking program and managed by a CSB Relationship Banker.
While Clinton Savings uses multiple marketing channels to promote itself, Paulhus said “Word of mouth is marketing that you cannot beat.” “We are fortunate to have dedicated employees and a corporator body made up of some great local business people that are on the streets talking about the Bank and encouraging folks to try us,” he added.
Like many businesses today, Clinton Savings Bank relies heavily on digital marketing, as well. “Since the onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic there has been a shift from using mostly traditional marketing to using mostly digital marketing.” Paulhus noted. “Tools like our website, email, social media, and web-based advertising, along with text and multimedia messages allow us to send more personalized offers and services to match people in different stages of their lives and needs, in real time with a lower cost per lead and higher conversion rate.”
Paulhus said the Bank’s customers are by far its strongest influence. “They have a huge influence on the success of the Bank or any business in today’s digital age,” he concluded. “They can share their experience either good or bad within seconds using online tools. Having a customer base that is loyal and engaged will drive revenues; without them, businesses cannot continue to exist.”
Clinton, MA | Clinton Savings Bank | Chamber of Commerce | North Central Massachusetts | North Central Massachusetts Chamber | Chamber Member | Massachusetts Business | Worcester County | Member Spotlight
Work continues as extension of Chamber’s Community Leadership Institute program
The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce recently collaborated with InTown Fitchburg to continue the work of improving the downtown Fitchburg business district which began shortly prior to the pandemic shutdowns.
In early 2020, Project Maintain, was created under the guidance of eight reputable organizations and businesses in North Central Massachusetts as part of the Chamber’s annual Community Leadership Institute program (CLI). Following the completion of one project at 655 Main Street, the project was paused due to the pandemic until the Chamber began collaborating with InTown Fitchburg to continue the project work this year.
Projects are designed to improve the appearance of vacant business windows in the downtown area to create interest in future business development and community inclusion. The organizations involved in Project Maintain include the Chamber, NewVue Communities, North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation, Rollstone Bank & Trust, Leominster Credit Union, MassHire and the Arc of Opportunity.
“The Project Maintain team was made up of members working for businesses and organizations with a vested interest in attracting new business to downtown Fitchburg, creating a vibrant place for people of the region to live, work and play, and we were fortunate to have support of the project from the Mayor’s Office and Main Street landlords,” said Melissa Kuehl, Vice President, Marketing, Rollstone Bank & Trust. “Although we did not see our vision come to fruition due to the onset of the pandemic, we are thrilled that our fundraising and other efforts are able to assist in the work that InTown Fitchburg is doing.”
With the financial support provided for Project Maintain, the Chamber granted the funds to InTown Fitchburg to continue the work improving Main Street.
“We are very thankful to the North Central Massachusetts Chamber and the Community Leadership Institute for their contribution and active involvement in our efforts to enhance the downtown business district in Fitchburg,” said Joe Ferguson, Executive Director, InTown Fitchburg. “The contribution from the Chamber’s Leadership Institute helped fund the purchase and installation of commercial self-watering planters to help beautify and improve the atmosphere of downtown. You will see additional self-watering planters along the sidewalks of Main Street in the Spring of 2023.”
The Chamber developed the CLI program to inspire a new generation of community leaders to enthusiastically assume important roles in their community while motivating participants from diverse backgrounds to be influential in the region’s future. Previous CLI projects included the creation of a non-profit organization, The Russell Brooks Foundation, to help with holiday gifts for families when a parent or loved one is undergoing cancer treatments. Most recently, the CLI participants led a holiday drive to raise funds and personal care items for economically, socially and educationally disadvantaged youth through My Turn, Inc., a non-profit that helps people develop their skills, goals, and self-confidence through alternative education, post-secondary career planning, career exploration and employment training.
To learn more about the CLI program, please contact Kat Deal, Events & Program Manager, at 978-353-7600, ext. 235, or at .
Chamber of Commerce | North Central Massachusetts | North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce | Community Leadership Institute program | InTown Fitchburg
Leominster Credit Union (LCU) announces they have hired Michael Hawkes, Vice President of Commercial Lending.
Hawkes’ 25 years of banking experience positions him well to lead and grow Leominster Credit Union’s commercial lending portfolio. Hawkes will report to Craig Madonia, Senior Vice President, Lending.
Hawkes advanced lending experience, coupled with his desire to help others achieve their financial goals, supports LCU’s commitment to assist our members’ commercial lending needs. In his career, he has held roles in all areas of lending including Credit Analyst, Portfolio Manager, and Relationship Manager. In these roles, he has successfully assisted small and large businesses secure a variety of commercial loans.
Hawkes is a graduate of Babson College located in Wellesley, MA. Prior to joining LCU, Michael was the Vice President, Commercial Loan Officer at Franklin Savings Bank.
“We know Michael will make a positive impact for our members and future members and we are excited to have him join the LCU team,” stated Craig Madonia, SVP, Lending, Leominster Credit Union.
Founded in 1954, Leominster Credit Union (LCU) is a member-owned, not-for-profit financial cooperative with a full range of deposit, lending, and other financial services. Headquartered in Leominster, Massachusetts, LCU is proud to claim nearly 40,000 members and more than $800 million in assets. LCU has seven branch locations in Leominster, Clinton, Holden, North Leominster, Sterling and Worcester with ATM services at all branch locations. LCU also provides 24-hour banking via Mobile and Online services. Visit leominstercu.com or call 800-649-4646.

The Day of Caring brings community members together for 4 hours—from 9am-1pm—to assist agencies with tasks they may not otherwise have the resources to complete. This year, due to factors including reduced staffing and increased community needs, agencies have submitted a record number of 65 projects. More than 400 volunteers have already signed up, but UWNCM needs an additional 150 volunteers to ensure all projects are filled.
Projects are located throughout the North Central Massachusetts region and include indoor and outdoor opportunities, ranging from repainting a school playground to cleaning up a community park, sewing book bags for babies, helping English-language learners with literacy by playing board games, and taking event photos.
All Day of Caring Volunteers are invited to kick off breakfasts being held in both Fitchburg and Athol as well as an end-of-day Thank You Barbecue at the Polish American Citizens Club in Gardner.
Several local companies also support the Day of Caring by sponsoring the event and enabling their employees to volunteer during work hours. Randi Vincent, UWNCM Senior Manager of Data & Technology and lead staff member of the Day of Caring, notes that the event is a true community effort.
“We are so grateful to everyone who helps bring this amazing day to life, including our many volunteers, corporate partners, and event steering committee members,” says Vincent. “Right now, the need in our region is greater than ever, which means we also have an opportunity to make a bigger impact than ever.”
Learn more about the Day of Caring and sign up as volunteer.uwncm.org.
The United Way of North Central Massachusetts serves the communities of Ashburnham, Ashby, Athol, Ayer, Devens, Fitchburg, Gardner, Groton, Harvard, Hubbardston, Leominster, Littleton, Pepperell, Lunenburg, Petersham, Phillipston, Royalston, Shirley, Templeton, Townsend, Westminster and Winchendon.
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.
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.
CapEx Facility Services & Construction · Leominster, MA
TaraVista Behavioral Health Center · Harvard, MA
DRS Power Technology, Inc. · Fitchburg, MA
AIS · Leominster, MA