MetroWest495 Biz

MetroWest495 Biz | May 2014 13 10 To wATCH By eMily Micucci i t's a simple concept: Matching at-risk youth with responsible adult mentors. But numbers show that results of such efforts are intricately impressive. For example, a 2009 survey conducted for Big Brothers Big Sisters shows 77 percent of adults men- tored as children set higher goals than they would have on their own. They also steered clear of dangerous behaviors and were more likely to help others. Locally, more than 1,200 children were served by Chin's agency in 2013. Chin, who has been CEO for just over a year — was a very new face for the organization. Before that, Ben Ticho had headed the agency for 34 years. Chin unveiled a three-year stra- tegic plan this past January to better chart the agency's course. Calling adult mentors "Bigs" and the children "Littles," one main focus is addressing what Chin calls "the backbone of our agency" — Bigs. "We're excited to cultivate a renewed culture of professional development and emphasis on providing the best support we can," Chin said of Bigs in the pro- grams, with ramped-up training, safety protocols and best-practice standards. As for Chin — a previous mentor with Wayside Youth in Framingham — he's seen the impact of seemingly simple matchups with children in need. "Often times," he said, "the most vulnerable and at-risk children need nothing more than a consistent and reliable presence to help support and believe in them." Offering him a wider scope of perspective, Chin is making changes as close to home as he is abroad. His service as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Naval Reserve takes him to the Middle East periodically. BBBS's work continues with a competent staff he leaves behind when he travels. Members of the agency's board of directors, whom Chin calls "some really talented people," are build- ing new connections with area businesses, broadening the network. This goal is also being accomplished with a new President's Council, a bigger board of corporators and the new Alumni and Friends Association, geared toward get- ting younger professionals involved as mentors. n Jeffrey CHin CEo, Big Brothers Big sisters of Central Mass/MetroWest By SuSan ShalhouB a s her high school graduation approached, Karen Chapman faced a dilemma: attend college or enter the workforce. The now 52-year-old Corridor Nine Area Chamber of Commerce president told her father she wanted to skirt college and start working when an opportunity at the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce opened. Her father told her the secretary job would be a stepping stone, but it turned into a career in chamber leadership. "I fell in love with the work; I fell in love with the people," Chapman said. That was in 1980. Chapman, a Worcester native who now lives in Oxford, worked her way up and by her 30s was managing the Worcester chamber's Westborough-Northborough affiliate program. The affiliate became independent in 2002, and assumed the Corridor Nine name in 2003. Chap- man was named vice president while her longtime colleague — Barbara Clifford — became president. And when Clifford announced her retirement in January, the chamber board offered Chapman the job, which she called "an honor." "I'm very committed to this work; I love what I do and they just believe I was the right candidate for the job," Chapman said. Chapman is proud of the fundraising she did in her previous role, generating roughly $500,000 in sponsorships for the Corridor Nine chamber, scholarships for area students and grants to support local teachers. But as president, one of her chief interests is increasing value to chamber members through online programming, which will include professional development train- ing in countless areas, according to Chapman. These offerings — to be launched in the coming months — cater to busy professionals who don't have time to complete training outside the office, she said. Meanwhile, Chapman looks forward to leading Corridor Nine as new develop- ment continues to unfold in the chamber's five core member towns of Westbor- ough, Northborough, Shrewsbury, Southborough and Grafton. She believes the decision for Corridor Nine to become independent was an appropriate one, given the evolution of the retail, hospitality and commercial office space landscape over the last dozen years. "It was just really good timing," Chapman said. n KAren CHApmAn President, Corridor nine area Chamber of Commerce

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