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Chamber Celebrates Bedford's Finest
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The Bedford Chamber of Commerce held its Annual Dinner & Celebration last week at the Doubletree Bedford Glen Hotel. It was a jam packed room as they honored several business people and residents for their contributions in 2018. Business of the Year winner, Instrumentation Laboratory was honored for a program they put on for JGMS last fall. Over 40 students spent the afternoon touring the manufacturing facility at IL and
learning about opportunities in the healthcare field.
Julie McCay Turner was recognized as Business Person of the Year for her work and dedication in starting The Bedford Citizen 6 years ago. In her acceptance speech, Julie said "How in telling Bedford stories, it's all about the many people together who make the Citizen, we are all inextricably linked and the Citizen is so proud to join you as part of this amazing community" One of the highlights of the evening was the presentation of the Chambers newest award, Outstanding Service to the Community. Longtime resident and BHS Alumni Jeff Hoyland was recognized for his photography of thousands of Bedford Athletic events over the past 7 years. Other awards winners were Miriana Spencer- Ray of Hope, Callahan's Karate - Diversity Award and Josh Franklin - Outstanding Service to the Chamber.
Judge Bill Barrett gave an outstanding talk on the process on how one becomes a Supreme Court judge as well as insight and responsibility of the job. If you missed the dinner, here are a few comments from those attended and why you should put it on your calendar for next year
"Good job putting together a nice event last night. I, as well as my co-workers, had a great time. The guest speaker was fantastic and it was interesting to hear about his job and his perspective."
PJ Hefferen - Instrumentation Laboratory
"Thank you for putting together such an enjoyable evening filled with positive stories and passionate people. Being around that atmosphere helps motivate me. "
John Devine - ServPro Lexington/Bedford
Proud to be part of the Bedford Chamber. It's nice to meet so many wonderful people & Businesses in the community"
Bopha Malone Enterprise Bank
Many thanks to him and our Sponsors Bedford Florist and the Doubletree Bedford Glen Hotel.
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Funding for the Police Detail of The
Barrett Sotheby's Sr. Prom Stroll
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It has been 23 years since the first Bedford Chamber of Commerce Senior Prom Stroll happened on our our beautiful town common. Over the years, it has grown from a small gathering of 60 students to the entire class and dates of over 350 students and their families. For many years, the Bedford Police generously donated their time to help run this event safely. Unfortunately with their new contract, they are no longer allowed to offer their services without payment. Due to this we are now soliciting help to help defray the $2000.00 detail cost (the Chamber is donating $500.00 ) and keep the stroll on the common. Please consider making a donation either to the Chamber's
VENMO ACCOUNT (@Bedfordchamber) or by sending a check to the Bedford Chamber of Commerce 12 Mudge Way Bedford, MA 01730.
2018 Barrett Sotheby's Senior Prom Stroll
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Are you interested in raising your profile
around town?
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Getting involved with the Chamber is a great way to show your customers and clients that you are committed to the community. We can always use help on our events and committees, including:
- Vision Committee - help set the direction of the Chamber
- Flavors of Bedford - our signature food-tasting event
- Membership - share the value of the Chamber with others
- Summer or Winter Walkabout - increasing participation every year by residents and businesses
- Advocacy - help give businesses a voice with the Planning Board, the Selectmen and the town's Economic Development team
- Bedford Community Partnership - attend this once-a-month meeting of organizations and departments from around town to know what's going on
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Multi Chamber After Hours Networking
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Please join us on Thursday, March 7th at the beautifully renovated Crowne Plaza Boston/Woburn Hotel for the first Regional Multi-Chamber Networking Event of 2019.
Presentation: 4:30-5:30
Networking: 5:30-7:30
This Annual Multi-Chamber event draws over 200 participants from the 12+ chambers along the Route 128, 3 and 93 corridors so mark your calendars, gather your business cards and make your reservation.
Although this is not a 'Business Expo', there will be table space for Chamber Members made available on a First-Come-First Serve basis. Tables are shared by three vendors with the goal of providing a 'place holder' for marketing materials.
There is no additional charge to members for use of the table space. Members can begin set-up starting at 4:30 PM.
Al Wilson, founder and Executive Director of Beyond Walls, a creative agency whose mission is to activate public space to strengthen communities.Inspired by projects in Brooklyn, New York; Philadelphia, PA; Kings Cross, London; and Wynwood, Miami, Al recognized Lynn's rich history, distinctive architecture, and burgeoning arts and cultural district as the perfect landscape in which to test the creative economy.
Al and a robust volunteer committee launched a grass-roots effort to implement four inaugural large scale public art installations in downtown Lynn.
In the summer of 2017, the initial Beyond Walls Mural Festival brought international artists to create murals on buildings in Lynn's newly designated Downtown Cultural District. This enormously successful effort generated 4.5 million impressions on social media. A post festival study and survey found local business owners citing increased foot traffic in their establishments and residents returning to the downtown area, deeming it a safer environment to buy a coffee, go on a date, and generally work, shop, and play.
Al now leads a team of three who have backgrounds in city planning, arts administration, and fundraising. Building on the Beyond Walls model, Al and his team will continue to better the public realm and increase safety and economic vitality through the implementation of major art installations and programming that reflect the interests and cultural make up of communities served
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Business Development Updates
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1. Jeff Cohen mentioned they will bring a few small housekeeping zoning tweaks for Spring Town Meeting. He also discussed how the new Great Road Zoning limits restaurants to 5,000 square feet. This is becoming an issue since Posto which is planning to replace Comella's in the Bedford Marketplace, would like to expand in to the available space next to it which would increase the square footage to over 5,000 square feet. Some existing restaurants such as Red Heat are already over 5,000 square feet. The Planning Board is looking at the issue and will likely propose for Spring Town Meeting to either; increase the square footage to a higher number (i.e. 6,000 square foot) or enable a restaurant over 5,000 square feet with a special permit. Proposed changes to Accessory Dwellings will likely be delayed until Fall Town meeting.
2. The group then had a discussion on the importance of Restaurants driving foot traffic to other stores in shopping center and was very supportive of allowing Restaurants over 5,000 square feet. Adding a popular restaurant to Bedford Marketplace should be beneficial to other business in the center and may make it easier to fill the existing vacant storefronts.
4. Alyssa Sandoval had some feedback from a few restaurants in Bedford who also had trouble finding enough workers. The program could be expanded to include transportation to Bedford in the future. Maureen Sullivan will contact Chamber Restaurants to get an idea of the interest level.
5. Alyssa Sandoval gave an update of how the town is looking in to Expedited Local Permitting aka Chapter 43D. It was thought being 43D Compliant would help promote additional economic development by making it more attractive for companies to do business in Bedford. More details on Chapter 43D can be found here:
https://www.mass.gov/service-details/chapter-43d-expedited-local-permitting
6. Alyssa Sandoval also expects to hear back soon on an application for a Massachusetts Downtown Initiative Grant for Small Business Support. More info:
7. Alyssa Sandoval mentioned that she expects to submit an application to create a Cultural District in Bedford. One of the goals of this district is attracting more visitors to Bedford which will also increase business revenues. More info: http://www.massculturalcouncil.org/services/cultural_districts.asp
8. The group then had a discussion on suggestions for improving the efficiency of the permitting process. Some examples were given such as having the ability for a developer to set up informal meetings with all the department heads to get some feedback before submitting a formal plan. It was though the next step would be to get a discussion going with local landlord and developers. Alyssa Sandoval to check with Sarah Stanton about setting up a business forum/open house in the coming months.
9.. Small Business Guide - Pam Brown provided an update via email: "I've marked up a copy with new categories and businesses. Now working on checking numbers, addresses and making it look good." The group then had a discussion on a new Town Planner Calendar that would be produced by the Chamber. It was recommended that the Small Business Guide should be included as part of the Town Planner.
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Leadership Luncheon
THE IDEA OF YOU: A framework for CLARITY of self
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Our Leadership Lunch brings unique value to business owners and managers by providing a speaker each and a round-table discussion This round-table series will provide the environment to do so with our monthly educational talks, and the ability for your to learn from your peers.
Format for the meeting is:
brief networking
lunch/seminar at the same time
March 20
Waxy O'Connors
94 Hartwell Road
Lexington, MA
THE IDEA OF YOU: A framework for CLARITY of self
Do you know what you want? Do you know where you are going? Many times we struggle with our current situation and yet we do not know how to change it. Why? We simply don't know what we want, let alone how to get there. The IDEA OF YOU is a framework that guides you, layer by layer, through the exploration of who you TRULY are, what you are uniquely designed to do in this world, and how to design the life and work you desire.
Speaker: Dolores Hirschmann, ACC, CPCC is an internationally recognized strategist, coach, speaker,T TEDxOrganizer, and author.
She has over 20 years experience in helping clients realize their potential through clarifying their vision, message, and market to design the strategies and road maps needed to succeed. Utilizing her extensive background in strategic planning, pitch and message design, marketing and communications, executive coaching, event planning and speaker coaching-- Dolores founded Masters in Clarity, a Strategy & Coaching boutique practice where she and her team work with CEOs, Founders, Thought Leaders, Speakers, and Entrepreneurs by guiding them through the Clarity of vision,message and market and developing the strategies and initiatives needed for their next level of growth.
Registration is $20 which includes lunch provided by Waxy O'Connor's Irish Pub!
Register today by clicking here
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From the Chamber Office
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The Board of Directors hosted the three candidates running for Selectman in March. Here are their names and bios
Is your Business looking for volunteer opportunities for your employees?
Click
HERE for a list of organizations that need help, Certificates of Achievements are provided to all Chamber business members along with photo ops and social media outreach. An optional short video showing your employees doing the volunteer work can be added.
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What the Chamber did in February
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Board of Directors Meeting
Annual Dinner & Celebration
Women in Business Breakfast Series
Business Development/Advocacy Meeting
Vision Commitee
Hosted the candidates running for Selectman
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| Callahan's Karate - Diversity Award winners |
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| Jeff Hoyland - Outstanding Service to the Community & Miriana Spencer - Ray of Hope |
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| Keynote speaker Judge William Barrett |
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WHO WANTS TO BE ON TV?
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We are so excited to offer our members
a monthly show called CHAMBER CONNECTIONS
. In addition to promoting our events/activities, Chamber members will be interviewed providing great exposure for their business. The show will be broadcast on Public channel and also through their website. Contact the Chamber if you are interested in learning more.
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Check out your fellow Chamber members
Yoga Nova
Bedford Pediatrics
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CHAMBER CALENDAR
March 1 & 2
Fire & Ice
Doubletree Bedford Glen Hotel
44 Middlesex Tpke
Bedford, MA
6:00 PM
$20.00 per person
March 7
Multi Chamber After Hours
Crown Plaza
Boston/Woburn Hotel
15 Middlesex Canal Park
Woburn, MA
5:30 - 7:30 PM
$10.00 members
March 9
Town Elections
JGMS
50 McMahon Rd
Bedford, MA
8:00 AM -6:00 PM
March 12
Women In Business
Aloft Hotel
727 Marrett Road
Lexington, MA
8:00 AM
Speaker
Joanne Scianna
Click here to register
March 20
Leadership Luncheon
THE IDEA OF YOU: A framework for CLARITY of self
Waxy O'Connors
Hartwell Road
Lexington, MA
11:30 AM
$20.00
includes lunch
March 27
Vision Committee
starbucks
186 Great Road
Bedford, MA
7:00 - 8:00 AM
March 28
Business Development /Advocacy Meeting
Town Hall
10 Mudge way
Bedford, MA
2nd floor Conference Room
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AFC Urgent Care
AMETEK INC.
Assisting Hands
Atlantic Capital
Baldwin Insurance
Barre 3
Barrett Sotherby's Realty
Baudanza Electric
Bedford Car Wash
Bedford Childrens Center
Bedford Citizen
Bedford Dental Associates
Bedford Family Connection
Bedford Farms
Bedford Florist
Bedford Funeral Home
Bedford Historical Society
Bedford Pediatrics
Bedford Research Foundation
Bernardo Faria Academy
Bernstein Development LLC
Brightview Concord River
Brookline Bank
Brown & Brown, P.C.
Buono Pest Control
Callahan's Karate Studio
Cambridge Savings Bank
Carlton & Duran, CPAs
Carlton Willard Village
Chestnut Dental
CouponSurfer.com
Daydreamers Consulting
Design 1 Kitchen & Bath
Diane Bridgeman, DDS
Diane Cadogan Hughes
Davidson Law
Dsousa Electric
Doyon's
DSA Printing
EDCO Collaborative
Edward Jones Investments
EMD Millipore
Enterprise Bank
Express Pizza
First Parish Church
Formulatrix, Inc.
Fujifilm Microdisks
Great Meadow Dental
Great Road Gallery & Framing
Hanscom Federal Credit Union
Nichols Insurance Agency
Holi
Huntington Tax Partners
Instrumentation Laboratory
Jessie's Pet Care
Ken's NY Deli
Law Office of Rebecca Neale
Leary Auto
Lexington Symphony
Live Life Well
Mead Brothers
Merrill Lynch
Mettler Toldeo
Middlesex Community College
Middlesex Savings Bank
Organix Spa
New England Nurseries
Patriot Pediatrics
Primrose School
Red Heat Tavern
Salem Five
Salon OZ
Sean Tierney Construction
SERVPRO
St. Michael's Parish Center
Suzanne & Co.
TD Banknorth
Techex
The Armed Forces Retirees
The Goddard School
The Spencer Group
Yoga Nova
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