Chairman of the Board
*Dana Bottorff
G.T. Reilly & Co.
Past Chairman of the Board
*Peter McFarland
The Allied Group
Chair-Elect
*Brian Johnson
Doc Shredding Corp.
Treasurer
*Michael Ferrara
Blue Hills Bank
General Counsel
*Thomas Flaherty
Bacon Flaherty LLC
President/CEO
*Thomas O'Rourke
NVCC
Previous Past Chairman
*Mike Moran
Dedham Institution for Savings
Shawn Alexander
Universal Technical Institute
Kim Bassett
Norwood Hospital
Todd J. Chipman, MST
John T. Chipman & Co., CPAs
James Donellon
Gray, Gray & Gray, LLP
Deborah Ellis
QRGA, LLP
*Robert Ferrini
NAPLIA - The Murphy Insurance Group
*Alisia St. Florian
Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane, LLP
Adam Goodrich
Marathon Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine
Rhonda Kale
Bank of Canton
Nancy Levine
Residential Mortgage Services
Jon Levy
American Holt Corporation
*Mary Long
Kit Clark Senior Services
Najwa Murphy
Residence Inn by Marriott
*Cynthia Peterson
Brigham and Women's/Mass General Health Care Center
Patrick Powers
Liberty Mutual Insurance
Deb Vona
Dedham Medical Associates/Atrius Health
*Member of the Executive Committee
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Goldman Sachs Small Business Program Accepting Applications
Are you the owner or co-owner of a business that has been in operation for at least two years? Does your business have a minimum of $150,000 in revenues? Do you employ at least 4 people? Are you passionate about growth?
Apply today!
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 A few random thoughts while watching the snow melt, because I refuse to shovel snow in April...
6 million steps! That's how many steps were recorded by those participating in the Chamber's Health and Wellness Alliance "Steps to Wellness" challenge after just three days. The competition, which kicked off on April 1st is designed to create a fun incentive for people to get up and walk, or run, or do anything to become more active. During the planning of the challenge, our expectation was that we would have between 50 and 100 participants. In fact, we have more than 300. Congratulations to those who have taken the challenge. We will be monitoring the results throughout April. The challenge ends May 1st and winners will be recognized at a Lunch and Learn seminar on May 18th at the Bank of Canton.
200 students! That's how many students from area high schools attended our Student Success Seminar at Universal Technical Institute (UTI) in Norwood. The Chamber's Education and Business Committee in cooperation with the School To Careers Partnership organized the program at which students heard stories and advice from a dozen Chamber members regarding the decision making process that goes into making college and career choices. When people ask, "what does the Chamber do?" I find it's nice to remind them that our members provided a positive experience for 200 young students who are on the verge of deciding what path to choose in life. Many thanks to Shawn Alexander and UTI for hosting and providing pizza for 200 hungry students.
35 vendors! That's how many food and beverage providers will be providing samples of their finest food and drink next week at Flavors of the Neponset Valley. The tastiest event of the year is upon us and I, for one, can't wait. If you have never attended this event, I encourage you to do so. It is a fun and inexpensive night out at which you can sample a wide variety of food, beer, wine and spirits. With music and a silent auction included, it's also lots of fun. It's not your typical chamber networking meeting. Bring along your friends, co-workers and colleagues and taste all that the Neponset Valley has to offer.
Walking outdoors, students preparing for life beyond high school and Flavors of the Neponset Valley. All of these say the same thing to me, spring is here! So why is my car covered in snow?
Tom O'Rourke
President & CEO
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FLAVORS EVENT NEXT THURSDAY
Buy a Pack of 10 Tickets and Save $50!
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The YP's taking in a cooking demo and wine tasting at Whole Foods in Dedham
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BAH at VINOvations in Sharon
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Noon Networking at Bertucci's in Canton
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Young Professionals Boxing Class
On Friday May 13th the Young Professional group will be visiting Title Boxing Club for a 30 minute boxing class to learn about one of our newest members.
As a fitness club, Title Boxing Club offers both boxing and kickboxing classes, but don't worry - you won't have to get punched! This event will be a great class for beginners to learn about the unique fitness classes offered at the Club.
After the event the group will head over to the Castle Island Brewing Company for their open tasting and to refuel from the class (please note: the Castle Island Brewing tasting is an event open to the public).
Title Boxing Club is located at 1200 Providence Highway in Norwood. The cost is only $10 for General Admission and $5 for NVCC members.
As always, all of our NVCC events are open to everyone.
Sponsored by:
Business After Hours
Join us for a night of food, fun and friends at the Residence Inn Norwood's Business After Hours Event. This Business After Hours will be held in conjunction with the Light it Up
Blue Campaign, which the Residence Inn Norwood and Hersha Hospitality are hosting in conjunction with our event to raise money for Autism Speaks.
The Light it up Blue Campaign will benefit autism awareness and those affected by autism. The Residence Inn's event aims to raise vital funding for Autism Speaks and has a company goal of $150,000.
The NVCC's Business After Hours events provide a laid-back environment for businesses to networking with other businesses. The cost is $25 for General Admission and $15 for Chamber members. The Residence Inn Norwood is located at 275 Norwood Park South.
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Meet the Board: Mike Ferrara, Blue Hills Bank
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Name:
Michael Ferrara
Company Name: Blue Hills Bank
Occupation: Team Leader/VP of Commercial Lending
Years in current position: Since May of 2012
What town do you live in? Easton
Where did you grow up? Needham
What is the most enjoyable part of your job?
Closing loan transactions that help business owners grow their businesses, improve cash flow, or acquire assets.
What is your background?
I grew up in Needham, lived in Canton for eight years and have resided in Easton for the past 19 years. My wife, a native of Italy, operates a home-based business utilizing her cooking , sewing, and craft talents. Our daughter is a junior at Stonehill College majoring in Biology and Criminology. Our son is a freshman at Worcester State University where he plays baseball.
I am a member of the Neponset Valley Sunrise Rotary Club and my hobbies include backyard farming. I typically grow over 100 tomato plants each year and I have raised chickens in the past. We also grow a variety of grape vines and fruit trees.
What is one thing people may not know about you?
My first job was delivering kitchen appliances. Also, I have spent time in Italy living and working on my wife's family's farm, tending sheep, and harvesting olives and grapes.
If you weren't doing your current job, what would you be doing?
Operating an Italian specialty food store or a family farm.
What does the Chamber mean to you?
The Chamber enables me to make important connections and build relationships with entrepreneurs and professional service providers in our region. It also helps me become better informed about economic factors and governmental matters that can impact our region.
What is your favorite spot in the Neponset Valley region?
I have fond memories of hiking with my family in the Blue Hills (Canton) and in Borderland State Park (Sharon).
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| Chamber Members Share Career Path Stories |
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The Neponset Valley Chamber of Commerce's Education and Business Committee, along with the Schools to Careers Partnership, held its annual Student Seminar last Tuesday at Universal Technical Institute in Norwood.
The hugely successful event was attended by 200 local high school students. The keynote speaker for the Seminar was Brandon Boyd, Founder of Society Brand Clothing. Following the main presentation, students were split into three different breakout sessions, each of which featured three to four NVCC members as panelists. Each Chamber member shared their stories of their career paths which led them to where they are today in hopes of offering motivation to the soon to be college/work-bound students.
Thank you again to Universal Technical Institute (UTI) for hosting and to all of our Chamber panelists for taking time out of your day to inspire our students!
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| Keynote Speaker Brandon Boyd of Society Brand Clothing |
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| Kim Kelley of Norwood Hospital |
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| League School to Host Race for Autism This Saturday |
To register for the Walk/Run, please visit
this link. If you have any questions, contact Tim McCabe, Head of Development for the League School, at
[email protected].
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| Canton High Encourages Businesses to Participate in Externship Program |
About the Program
Canton High School's Senior Project is a program that enables qualified seniors to spend 4th term working on a career exploration project of their own choice, with the support and collaboration of the staff at Canton High. These internships are work based activities in which students engage in learning through practical and relevant experiences in a career path that is of interest to them. The Senior Project is a six-week unpaid independent study program offering seniors an opportunity to learn in an educational environment not previously available to the student.
The Senior Externship Program sets high expectations for the students to experience not only a specific career for 30 days, but also to learn the transferable skills that will follow the student beyond their years in high school.
Sponsor's Responsibilities
- Assist student intern in setting realistic goals and activities for the internship.
- Assure student is able to do tasks necessary to reach goals of internship.
- Help make the internship as challenging as possible, and where possible, give the student an active role. Increase student's responsibilities when student indicates he/she is capable and willing to assume more.
- Provide intern with a broad view or your organization's entire operation, spectrum of the jobs possibilities, and education requirements.
- Confer with, and provide honest feedback to intern regarding his/her strengths and areas in which he/she needs to improve.
- Complete an evaluation for the student intern to be reviewed with him/her and return to the Career Center of Canton High School by Friday May 28nd.
- Notify the Internship Director if student intern is not attending his/her internship regularly or meeting professional obligations.
If you are interested in sponsoring a student in your workplace, please reach out to Ed Amico, Director of the Career Center and Community Service Department at Canton High School. Ed can be reached at
[email protected] or by calling 781-821-5050 ext. 2115.
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SBA Workshop Aims to Improve Bottom Line
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The Education Cooperative Sets Build Date for A Place for Everyone to Play in Walpole
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Can you believe it? After months of designing, fundraising, and planning, the day is finally here! We have more fundraising to do to reach our goal, but we've raised enough to set the date.
We couldn't have gotten here without you!
Get ready for Father's Day Weekend 2016. Celebrate Father's Day by creating play for all students. So tell your Dad and bring him to Build Day.
Here's what you need to know about a community playground build:
- You DON'T have to be skilled, trained, or have any special tools
- You DO need to be enthusiastic, energetic, a team player, willing to work, and have fun, fun, fun (and be at least 18)
- The build will happen RAIN OR SHINE
We need 70 Volunteers for our Playground Build Weekend, but there will be plenty of opportunities to help before June 16 if you can't make it.
10 volunteers
for Thursday June 16, 2016 from 9:00 am - 11:00 am
- This group will unload the playground equipment from the truck and unpack it. These volunteers MUST be able to lift heavy objects (at least 75 lbs).
20 volunteers
for Friday June 17, 2016 from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
- This group will work on laying out the playground equipment, preassembling the equipment, mixing concrete, etc. Most of the jobs will involve lifting, but not all.
40 volunteers
for Saturday June 18, 2016 from 7:00 am to finish
- These volunteers will build the playground and plant the sensory garden. There will be jobs that have to lift and dig and jobs that don't (such as childcare and serving food).
20 standby volunteers
for Sunday June 19, 2016
- If we don't finish on Saturday, the playground will be completed on Sunday. Volunteers will be emailed on Saturday to confirm volunteering on Sunday.
Sign up to be part of our community build at the link below
--The Education Cooperative Playground Committee
About the Education Cooperative (TEC)
According to their website, The Education Cooperative provides an engaging and supportive learning environment that offers students opportunities to grow as individuals and become productive members of society. The goal for the playground is to build an accessible place where children of all abilities can explore and discover the world together through play. Children with and without disabilities can play together on a colorful, exciting structure that inspires movement and exploration. The playground surface of poured rubber will be smooth on wheels, gentle on falls, as well as highly durable.
The Neponset Valley Chamber of Commerce's Health & Wellness Alliance kicked off their Steps to Wellness Challenge this month, with plans to donate a portion of proceeds to
help support the Education Cooperative of Walpole's playground.
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