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Annual Gala 2024: A Night to Remember

We are thrilled to announce that this year’s Annual Gala was a tremendous success! The evening was filled with inspiring stories, heartfelt moments, and a strong sense of community that brought everyone together to celebrate the mission we hold so dear.

A Night of Inspiration

Our keynote speaker, Marc Fucarile, captivated the audience with his powerful journey, reminding us all of the resilience and strength within the human spirit. His story moved us and left an everlasting impact on everyone in attendance.

Honoring Our Heroes

We took the time to honor some exceptional individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to our community:

  • Brian Grace, recipient of the Board Member of the Year award, presented by John Casey.
  • Connor Wright, awarded Humanitarian of the Year, gave a touching speech dedicated to his grandmother, Sharon.
  • Rob Toro and Toro Construction received the Business of the Year award, presented by Rob Klein.

A Special Thanks

We are incredibly grateful to Winchester Hospital, our Legacy Sponsor, for their ongoing support. A gracious toast led by Matt Hinkle reminded us of the strength of partnerships and the impact we can make together.

Fundraising Success

The silent auction was one of the highlights of the night, helping us raise essential funds for Connor’s Kindness. A standout moment was the collaborative gift of scratch tickets and gift cards, which was auctioned off for an incredible $1,000!

Teamwork in Action

Events like these wouldn’t be possible without the hard work and dedication of our team and board members. A special shout-out to:

  • Jodi Crowley, who went above and beyond to help with setup and guest registration.
  • Joe Feriolito, who jumped in to assist with registration without hesitation.

It’s this spirit of teamwork and collaboration that makes our Board and our organization so special.

Looking Ahead

As we celebrate the success of this year’s Gala, we’re already planning for next year. With fresh ideas and improvements in the works, we’re committed to creating even more impactful events in 2025.

Thank you to everyone who attended, contributed, and supported this event. Together, we’re building something extraordinary.

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Celebrate the WOW and the Give Back Lunch!

Get grateful with us!

The Women of Woburn will be hosting their annual Give Back lunch on November 20th from 12 to 1:15 at Woburn Memorial High School.

The Women of Woburn are a vibrant networking community of professional women doing business in the Woburn area. Our annual Give Back lunch is a time when we encourage everyone to attend. The more the merrier as this year we meet at Woburn Memorial High School, meet principal Jessica Callanan and learn about the great things happening at Woburn High. Including the Tanner Closet. The school’s very own food bank and clothing resource for students.

Please bring grocery store gift cards for their Thanksgiving Baskets or other non-perishable food items. Learn More

Many Thanks to our generous WOW sponsors: Jodi Crowley & Jean Cullinane of LaMacchia Realty and Northern Bank

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Speed Networking with the Women of Woburn

The Women of Woburn return from their summer hiatus with our second annual Speed Networking lunch.

This was such a hit last year that we decided to make this an annual event. One attendee last year said, “this was great! We could do this every month.”

Join us at the Black and Orange Bar & Grill and bring LOTS of business cards. Enjoy lunch and networking. Our whole table system means your introducing yourself to an entire table at once rather than just one woman at a time. Join our welcoming group of professional women for our kick off to the 2019-2020 WOW Season.

See event details here.

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Waste Management Scholarship

Mayor Scott Galvin reminds qualifying residents to apply for higher education scholarships sponsored in conjunction with Waste Management. Qualifying residents are invited to apply for the scholarship. In order to qualify, applicants must be a Woburn resident, be enrolled in a two year or four year university or college, a trade school or the U.S military. The application deadline is August 21st, 2019. To apply send your name, address, contact phone number, and confirmation of enrollment into any of the above enrollment qualifications to Waste Management Scholarship, c/o Mayor Scott Galvin, 10 Common Street, Woburn, MA 01801.  Winners will be drawn at random on Thursday, August 22, 2019.

For more information contact Mayor Galvin’s office at 781-897-5901.

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Emerging Leaders Mentor Program

The Woburn Chamber of Commerce is proud to offer our members access to the Emerging Leaders mentor program. The program allows seasoned professionals to mentor the rising stars in our business community by sharing their experience and knowledge.

All member business employees who are approximately 3 to 7 years into their careers are invited to apply as mentees. 

The Emerging Leaders Program is a 9 month program pairing mentors and mentees who will meet both independently and for monthly workshops. The workshop intensives are held in September, October, November, April, May and June. The goals of the program are to form supportive relationships, apply program materials, and acquire tools for growth within their companies.

These goals will be met by cultivating a safe environment for early professionals to connect with more experienced professionals and navigate to the next level of their careers. Mentees will also benefit from peer to peer mentoring. You are creating a comfortable support network that is easily accessible.

Our fall 2018 session dates are:
Welcome Lunch: September 4th
Workshops:
September 18th, Managing Up
October 16th, Networking and Relationship Building
November 20th, Pushing Past Your Fears

This program is a Woburn Chamber of Commerce member benefit! The Woburn Chamber of Commerce is proud to provide this opportunity for our member businesses and their employees. Thanks to our Emerging Leader sponsors, the Woburn Municipal Federal Credit Union, the Woburn Chamber of Commerce is able to provide this valuable programming at no charge to our members.

Mentors and Mentees are matched on a best fit basis. Anyone not matched is strongly encouraged to reapply for the next session.

Mentors and Mentees are encouraged to apply now for the Spring 2019 Session which will begin in April.

[gdlr_heading tag=”h2″ font_weight=”bold” ]Mentor Application[/gdlr_heading]
Mentoring is an enriching experience which allows you to leverage your professional and personal knowledge to support a younger professional to advance in their career. Our mentor should be professionals with approximately 10 to 15 years of experience in their field. Mentors must be willing to commit to attending the workshops as well as a minimum of once a month check ins with your Mentee. Mentor commitment is 3 to 5 hours per month for the length of the program.

[gdlr_button href=”https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfgYb8LQPBhaWVI5axMLEc9DJJeG8FQBoZJXQYTKqVvH1YnbQ/viewform?usp=sf_link” target=”_self” size=”medium” background=”#000000″ color=”#ffffff”]Mentor Application[/gdlr_button]

[gdlr_heading tag=”h2″ font_weight=”bold” ]Mentee Application[/gdlr_heading]

The Emerging Leaders program is designed to offer professionals with 3 to 7 years in their field the opportunity to develop the skills they need to move forward within their companies. To be eligible for participation, professionals must be an owner or employee of a Woburn Chamber of Commerce member business. Mentees must commit to attending the three workshops and meeting with their mentor a minimum of once a month outside of the workshops. Each workshop will include pre and post work, the latter to be reviewed and discussed with Mentors. The time commitment for Mentees is 3 to 6 hours per month including the workshop in which they will gain skills to support their career growth:

  • Tools to advance within their company
  • Advanced skills to network and cultivate relationships
  • Advice to deal with business issues and overcome professional hurdles
  • Answers to questions they currently have no one to ask

[gdlr_button href=”https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdDRfUr2_BhGj_XYwHc8fKyd84z67cGb-xSPdROMebRovDRGA/viewform?usp=sf_link” target=”_self” size=”medium” background=”#000000″ color=”#ffffff”]Mentee Application[/gdlr_button]

Thanks to our sponsors:

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Emerging Leaders Mentor Program

[gdlr_heading tag=”h2″ font_weight=”bold” ]Application Window Opens February 12th for Emerging Leaders Mentor Program[/gdlr_heading]
The Woburn Chamber of Commerce will begin piloting their Emerging Leaders Mentor Program on April 17th. Application window for Mentors and Mentees will be February 12th to March 16th.

[gdlr_heading tag=”h2″ font_weight=”bold” ]About the Program[/gdlr_heading]
The Emerging Leaders Program will be a three-month collaboration with Mentor/Mentee pairs attending monthly workshops and meeting privately. The goals of the pilot program are to form supportive relationships, apply program materials, and acquire tools to grow within their companies. These goals will be met by cultivating a safe environment for early professionals to connect with more experienced professionals and navigate to the next level of their careers. The platform will form symbiotic relationships for now and later. In addition to the three monthly two-hour workshops presented by experts in their field, Mentor-Mentee teams will be expected to meet monthly for follow-up and discussion. Workshops will be devoted to discussing aspects of Personal Branding and Difficult Conversations.

This program is a Woburn Chamber of Commerce member benefit and is being offered at no cost to our Mentors and Mentees. The Woburn Chamber of Commerce is proud to provide this opportunity for our member businesses and their employees. Mentors and Mentees will be matched on a best fit basis. Everyone is encouraged to apply with the understanding that this is a pilot program with limited spaces. Anyone not matched is encouraged to reapply for the fall program.

 

[gdlr_heading tag=”h2″ font_weight=”bold” ]Mentees[/gdlr_heading]

To be eligible for participation, professionals must be an owner or employee of a Woburn Chamber of Commerce member business. Professionals with three to seven years of experience within their field will be paired with more seasoned professionals. Mentees must be available to attend the three workshops on 4/17, 5/15 and 6/19. Mentees will also be expected to meet with your Mentor a minimum of once a month outside of the workshops. Each workshop will include pre and post work, the latter to be reviewed and discussed with Mentors. The time commitment for Mentees is 3 to 6 hours per month including the workshop in which they will gain skills to support their career growth:

  • Tools to advance within their company
  • Advanced skills to network and cultivate relationships
  • Advice to deal with business issues and overcome professional hurdles
  • Answers to questions they currently have no one to ask

[gdlr_button href=”https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdDRfUr2_BhGj_XYwHc8fKyd84z67cGb-xSPdROMebRovDRGA/viewform?usp=sf_link” target=”_self” size=”medium” background=”#000000″ color=”#ffffff”]Mentee Application[/gdlr_button]

[gdlr_heading tag=”h2″ font_weight=”bold” ]Mentors[/gdlr_heading]

To be eligible for participation Mentors should have 10 to 15 years of experience within their field. Pairs will be matched based on Mentor/Mentee expectations and desired areas of growth. Mentors must be available for all workshops on 4/17, 5/15 and 6/19 as well as a minimum of one meeting a month outside of the workshops. Mentors are responsible for supporting their Mentees in work-shopping the material presented, fostering a safe and comfortable relationship, and be available to Mentees to discuss issues or questions that arise. Including the workshop, this is a commitment of 3 to 5 hours per month.

[gdlr_button href=”https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfgYb8LQPBhaWVI5axMLEc9DJJeG8FQBoZJXQYTKqVvH1YnbQ/viewform?usp=sf_link” target=”_self” size=”medium” background=”#000000″ color=”#ffffff”]Mentor Application[/gdlr_button]

The ultimate goal of the Emerging Leaders program is to foster relationships that support Mentees to master new skills and move forward in their company.

 

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Beer & Bocce BBQ

[gdlr_heading tag=”h2″ font_weight=”bold” ]2nd Annual Beer & Bocce BBQ[/gdlr_heading]

The Woburn young Professionals are hosting their 2nd Annual Beer & Bocce Barbecue. They will be serving award winning IPA from the Lord Hobo Brewery, outstanding burgers and dogs off the grill from Dole & Bailey. Participate in the bocce tournament or enjoy the beautiful Tocci campus. They have amazing raffle prizes with baskets from each our event sponsors including: Tocci Building Corp., Dole & Bailey, Lord Hobo Brewery, Cummings Properties, Chowdaheadz and Liberty Bay Credit Union.

The Young Professionals events are a great place for area YP’s to meet and mingle. All Woburn Chamber of Commerce member business employees and invited to attend as well as their guests. If you would like to attend and are not a Woburn Chamber of Commerce member, please contact our office at (781) 935-0345 or wba@woburnbusinessassociation.com. These events always draw a crowd and are open to young professionals and professionals who are young at heart!

[gdlr_button href=”https://beer-bocce-bbq.eventbrite.com” target=”_self” size=”medium” background=”#000000″ color=”#ffffff”]Tickets[/gdlr_button]
Beer & Bocce BBBQ

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[gdlr_heading tag=”h2″ font_weight=”bold” ]Your Network, Your Secret Weapon[/gdlr_heading]According to Heather R. Huhman, founder and president of Come Recommended in her article on BusinessInsider.com, your network is your secret weapon! She lists the top seven benefits of establishing a strong network as: Guidance, Opportunities, Support, Discovery, Growth, Status and Resources.

Heather says, “Let your network be your secret weapon when it comes to your career. It’s never too late to begin building a vast network of beneficial relationships.”

[gdlr_button href=”http://www.businessinsider.com/7-career-benefits-of-a-strong-network-2014-9″ target=”_self” size=”medium” background=”#000000″ color=”#ffffff”]Read Full Article[/gdlr_button]

 

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Increase Your Business with LinkedIn

Interested in learning how to increase your business with LinkedIn? Join the Woburn Chamber of Commerce as the kick off their newest networking group, Lunch and Learn on June 8th.

Increase Business with Linked In – Find and Communicate Effectively with your Ideal Prospects

 Stop being a ‘me too’ competitor and get in front of more prospects while creating a steady stream of leads & appointments.  Make it daily part of your activities and learn how to correctly communicate with your target audience with effective messaging and insights based on their profile characteristics.

You know that Social Media is vitally important to developing new business opportunities and Linked In is the TOP B2B platform to Identify and target IDEAL prospects.  Learn how to ID your bulls-eye prospects.  Find & Connect with them and begin to Message & Nurture them to a SALE!

  • ID your Top Prospects
  • Develop a bullseye target list
  • Find & Connect to begin a relationship
  • Message & Nurture contacts to establish a Know*Like*Trust relationship
  • What that photograph really says
  • How bullets speak a different language than sentences
  • How to best convey your Expertise & Competence

Lew Sabbag of Web.com and Dr. Nancy Zare of RapportBuilderz will take you through a 30 minute workshop on how to effectively INCREASE new business using Linked In.  We’ll cover what works and what makes you more effective using this powerful social media platform.

 

[gdlr_heading tag=”h2″ font_weight=”bold” ]Lunch and Learn[/gdlr_heading]
The Lunch and Learn program offers a comfortable and ongoing networking opportunity as well as valuable business content. Presenters are always welcome to apply by emailing wba@woburnbusinessassociation.com

[gdlr_button href=”https://www.eventbrite.com/e/how-to-increase-your-business-with-linked-in-tickets-34158641416″ target=”_self” size=”medium” background=”#000000″ color=”#ffffff”]RSVP[/gdlr_button]

New faces are always appreciated. We welcome you to join us and invite a friend or colleague as well.

We would greatly appreciate a few minutes of your time to help us determine the topics and format that are of interest to you.

[gdlr_button href=”https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Woburn Chamber of CommerceLunch” target=”_self” size=”medium” background=”#000000″ color=”#ffffff”]SURVEY[/gdlr_button]

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Update on Baker/Polito Administration’s Economic Plans

[gdlr_heading tag=”h2″font_weight=”bold” ]Policy and Public Affairs Speaker Series[/gdlr_heading]

On June 8th at McLane Middleton’s Woburn office,  Massachusetts’ Secretary of Housing and Economic Development, Jay Ash will provide an update on the economic plans and priorities of the Baker/Polito Administration.

There will be time for questions at the conclusion of his presentation. There is no cost to attend, but registration is required.

[gdlr_button href=”https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07ee2qlre1e856bbae&oseq=&c=&ch=” target=”_self” size=”medium” background=”#000000″ color=”#ffffff”]REGISTRATION[/gdlr_button]

[gdlr_divider type=”solid” size=”50%” ]

[gdlr_heading tag=”h2″ font_weight=”bold” ]Presenter[/gdlr_heading]

Secretary Jay Ash to provide update on the Baker/Polito administration.

Jay Ash
Secretary of Housing and Economic Development

Jay Ash serves as the Secretary of Housing and Economic Development for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Secretary Ash is responsible for directing and executing Governor Charlie Baker’s agenda on housing and community development, job creation, business development, consumer affairs, and business regulation. Since joining the Baker-Polito Administration, Secretary Ash has prioritized efforts to grow jobs, help communities realize their economic development priorities, connect citizens to new economic opportunities, and build prosperity across Massachusetts.

Under Secretary Ash’s leadership, the Commonwealth has substantially increased its commitment to public infrastructure that unlocks economic development, to the revitalization of Brownfields, to workforce training equipment, and to the development and commercialization of emerging technologies. He has led efforts to increase affordable housing production, to redevelop and modernize public housing communities, and to substantially reduce the number of homeless families sheltered in motel rooms. Secretary Ash has played a leadership role in the recruitment and expansion of major employers, including Amazon, General Electric, IBM Watson Health, Kronos, and Siemens.

Secretary Ash previously served as the city manager in his native Chelsea, a position he held from 2000 to 2014. In Chelsea, Secretary Ash’s leadership produced both economic expansion and fiscal stability. He grew the city’s housing stock, expanded its commercial base, developed 10 new parks, secured five credit rating increases, and won two All-America City designations for Chelsea. He previously served as the staff director to the Massachusetts House Majority Leader, as co-founder and vice-chair of the Metropolitan Mayors Coalition, as past president of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, as a board member of the public policy think tank MassINC, and as an elected trustee of his alma mater, Clark University.

[gdlr_row]
[gdlr_column size=”1/3″] WHERE
McLane Middleton
300 Trade Center, Suite 7600
Woburn, MA 01801
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[gdlr_column size=”2/3″]WHEN
June 8th
Registration/Networking 7:30am
Program 8 to 9am
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here hosts a “Transportation Conversation” Breakfast

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[gdlr_heading tag=”h2″ font_weight=”bold” ]Join us for our Transportation Conversation Breakfast[/gdlr_heading]

The Woburn Chamber of Commerce’s Hospitality Entertainment and Restaurant Exchange or here will be hosting a networking breakfast on April 6th from 7 to 9:30 am at the Crowne Plaza. The breakfast will feature a panel discussion of transportation issues facing the citizens and businesses of Woburn. On the panel will be Travis Pollack from MAPC presenting findings of a recent mobility study compiled on behalf of NSPC. We will also have Jeff Bennett from the 128 Business Council and Andrea Leary of Northeast Transit Planning and Management Corp.

This is an opportunity to learn more about the issues facing Woburn. We welcome businesses and residents to bring questions, concerns and comments about local transportation. It is a complex issue but we will have the experts to help us find answers.

[gdlr_heading tag=”h2″ font_weight=”bold” ]Who is here?[/gdlr_heading]

The Hospitality Entertainment and Restaurant Exchange is a group formed under the umbrella of the Woburn Chamber of Commerce to provide networking, promotional opportunities and support to here businesses. Many of our members are facing staffing difficulties due to a lack of regional transportation. We have organized the Transportation Conversation Breakfast in part to help them find solutions to the problem. We are also offering free table space to businesses who are attending the breakfast. The space is limited. Please contact Heather at (781) 935-0345 or wba@woburnbusinessassociation.com to claim your spot.

[gdlr_button href=”https://www.eventbrite.com/e/transportation-conversation-breakfast-with-the-woburn-business-association-tickets-32553563585″ target=”_self” size=”medium” background=”#000000″ color=”#ffffff”]RSVP[/gdlr_button]

Download and Print Your Registration

 

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