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104 Worcester Business Journal • Book Of Lists 2016 www.wbjournal.com Top chambers of commerce Ranked by total membership as of April 2016 Name Membership Full-time equivalent employees Head of chamber Board chairman/ company affiliation Year founded 1 Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce 446 Main St., Suite 200, Worcester 01608 508-753-2924 • www.worcesterchamber.org 2,500 10.0 Timothy P. Murray president & CEO Robert Johnson Becker College Worcester 1875 2 North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce 860 South St., Fitchburg 01420 978-353-7600 • www.northcentralmass.com 900 11.0 Roy Nascimento president Douglas Petersen Workers Credit Union Fitchburg 1984 3 MetroWest Chamber of Commerce 1671 Worcester Road, Suite 301, Framingham 01701 508-879-5600 • www.metrowest.org 639 3.0 Paul Joseph president & CEO Sean Kimball MathWorks Natick 1895 4 Marlborough Regional Chamber of Commerce 11 Florence St., Marlborough 01752 508-485-7746 • www.marlboroughchamber.org 540 3.0 Susanne Morreale- Leeber president & CEO Robert Gustafson RKG Financial Marlborough 1924 5 Corridor Nine Area Chamber of Commerce 30 Lyman St., Suite 6, P.O. Box 1555, Westborough 01581 508-836-4444 • www.corridornine.org 520 3.0 Karen J. Chapman president Bette O'Reilly Commerce Bank Westborough 1979 6 Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce 670 Linwood Ave., Suite 5, Whitinsville 01588 508-234-9090 • www.blackstonevalley.org 500 2.0 Jeannie Hebert president & CEO William Kerrissey Millbury Savings Bank Millbury 1979 6 Nashoba Valley Chamber of Commerce 2 Shaker Road, Shirley 01464 978-425-5761 • www.nvcoc.com 500 2.0 Melissa Fetterhoff president & CEO Wally Dwyer North Middlesex Savings Bank Ayer 1984 6 The United Regional Chamber of Commerce 42 Union St., Attleboro 02703 508-222-0801 • www.unitedregionalchamber.org 500 2.0 Jack Lank president John Sullivan Wheaton College Norton 1917 9 Milford Area Chamber of Commerce 258 Main St., Suite 306, P.O. Box 621, Milford 01757 508-473-6700 • www.milfordchamber.org 450 2.0 Siobhan Bohnson president & CEO Michael Murphy Mirick O'Connell Attorneys at Law Worcester, Westborough 1922 10 Assabet Valley Chamber of Commerce 18 Church St., 2nd Floor, Hudson 01749 978-568-0360 • www.assabetvalleychamber.org 355 1.8 Sarah Cressy president & CEO James McGowan Baystate Financial Services Hudson 1986 11 Greater Gardner Chamber of Commerce 29 Parker St., P.O. Box 1381, Gardner 01440 978-632-1780 • www.gardnerma.com 300 2.0 Jim Bellina president & CEO Ryan McGuane Advent Financial Planners & Advent Benefit Consultants Ashburnham 1889 11 Middlesex West Chamber of Commerce 179 Great Road, Suite 104B, Acton 01720 978-263-0010 • www.mwcoc.com 300 2.0 Kathleen McDonald executive director Amanda Scribner The Homesteader Acton 1989 13 Chamber of Central Mass South 380 Main St., Sturbridge 01566 508-347-2761 • www.cmschamber.org 287 2.5 Alexandra McNitt executive director Michael Checkosky Southbridge Savings Bank Southbridge 1945 14 North Quabbin Chamber of Commerce 80 Freedom St., Athol 01331 978-249-3849 • www.northquabbinchamber.com www.visitnorthquabbin.com 210 3.0 Mark C. Wright executive director Brian Hunton MBA Mortgage Athol 1982 15 Wachusett Area Chamber of Commerce * 1174 Main St., Holden 01520 508-829-9220 • www.wachusettareachamber.org 185 1.0 Jennifer Stanovich executive director Iain McKinlay McKinlay's Liquors Holden 1991 16 Auburn Chamber of Commerce 446 Main St., Suite 200, Worcester 01608 508-753-2924, ext. 224 • www.auburnchamberma.com 169 0.5 Eleanor Frances Houbre director of chamber services Carrie Cross Life Care Center of Auburn Auburn 1962 17 Webster Dudley Oxford Chamber of Commerce 446 Main St., Suite 200, Worcester 01608 508-943-9700, ext. 224 • www.wdochamberma.com 135 0.5 Eleanor Frances Houbre director of chamber services Emily DeGray Southbridge Savings Bank Charlton 1945 18 Hopkinton Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 55, Hopkinton 01748 508-922-2302 • www.hopchamber.com 71 1.0 Tim Kilduff executive director Scott Richardson Gorman Richardson Lewis Architects Inc. Hopkinton 1990 Source: Each chamber via survey * Previously named the Holden Area Chamber of Commerce - Compiled by: Stephanie R. Meagher, smeagher@nebsuinessmedia.com By Sam Bonacci The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce has rebranded itself under the direction of President and CEO Roy Nascimento (pictured below) to reflect its ongoing commitment to the community but also the forward-facing approach to business in the northern part of the region. "We're an org that has been around for some time, and our look is changing; but we are the same chamber that the businesses and organizations have relied on for leadership," Nascimento said. "We are well positioned to take advantage of some of the opportunities that will arise." Nascimento took on the role in 2015, succeeding David L. McKeehan, the chamber's only leader since it was founded 32 years ago. In the role, he has taken to advocating for the region and its businesses through innovative programs, Nascimento said. These include helping manufacturers and other businesses go solar, "Meet the Buyer" sessions where smaller businesses are connected with local institutions, and "CEO Unplugged" where younger professionals are able to connect with area leaders. The rebranding emphasizes this ongoing commitment to the community's future while honoring the organization's past, Nascimento said. A lot of businesses from the area have been able to tap into the network provided by the chamber, and there is a huge benefit to being a part of this business network. Ultimately, it is the dynamic nature of the organization that has both helped it be the second largest chamber in the area and serve the local community. In addition to the more traditional business focus, the organization is also an economic development and tourism organization as well as being an educational fund that provides $50,000 in scholarships every year. North Central Chamber rebrands under new leadership