 Chamber Awards

Honoring Boston’s Best and Brightest

The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce hosts a variety of awards programs throughout the year that recognize and celebrate the inspiring individuals and organizations who are making an impact in their workplace and communities.

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Danielle Dorey

Senior Director, Programs

Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce

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Pinnacle Awards

The Pinnacle Awards is the premier event for women in business, and honors incredible leading women for their outstanding contributions to the workplace and commitment to enhancing the quality of life in the region.

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2024 Honorees

Donna Levin

CEO, Arthur M. Blank School for Entrepreneurial Leadership, Babson College

Achievement in Arts & Education Donna Levin is the CEO of the Arthur M. Blank School for Entrepreneurial Leadership at Babson College. The Blank School…Read more

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Lucy Pérez

Senior Partner, McKinsey & Company

Achievement in the Professions Lucy Pérez is a Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company’s Boston office, advising CEOs and teams at leading global…Read more

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Caitlin Dodge

CEO, ThinkArgus

Emerging Executive As CEO, Caitlin Dodge drives the vision and growth of ThinkArgus. In this role, she leads operations, directs client relationships,…Read more

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Kimberly S. Budd

Chief Justice, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court

Achievement in Management – Government Kimberly S. Budd is the 38th Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. She was appointed as…Read more

Nancy Huntington Stager

President & CEO, Eastern Bank Foundation

Achievement in Management – Nonprofit Nancy Huntington Stager leads Eastern’s philanthropy, volunteerism programming, and civic advocacy as President…Read more

Achievement in Management – Nonprofit
Nancy Huntington Stager leads Eastern’s philanthropy, volunteerism programming, and civic advocacy as President & CEO of the Eastern Bank Foundation (EBF). Partnering with fellow change-makers across non-profit, for-profit, and government sectors, she has actively shaped the Bank’s corporate social responsibility culture and reputation in the communities of eastern Massachusetts, southern New Hampshire, and Rhode Island, to become one of the Top 10 Most Charitable Companies as noted by the Boston Business Journal for the eleventh time. She is dedicated to creating and supporting robust initiatives that lift up and advance our communities, encouraging colleagues to volunteer their time and talents with non-profit organizations addressing community needs, and serving as a strong advocate for social justice and economic inclusion aimed at creating a better, fairer, more sustainable world. Now at over $200 Million in assets, the Eastern Bank Foundation (EBF) remains focused on the communities within Eastern’s market area, annually providing over $12MM in grants to more than 1,000 local organizations, including Impact Grants focused on creating systemic change and progress. Nancy co-founded the Foundation for Business Equity (FBE), a private foundation incubated at EBF with more than $15MM in grants, which advances equity in the small business ecosystem. FBE has served 100+ BIPOC-led businesses with authentic technical assistance from entrepreneurs who have led their own companies, access to growth capital, and access to networks of procurement officers and contracts. After 5 years of incubation, FBE recently merged with Mill Cities Communities Investments (MCCI) in Lawrence, and Nancy has joined this combined board. Nancy is a founding sponsor of the Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce, and has served as its Treasurer since inception. She has been, and continues to be, a strong advocate for the LGBT community around marriage equality, protecting the rights of people who are transgender, and most recently for the Massachusetts Parentage Act. She has received numerous honors for her leadership and work in Corporate Social Responsibility and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, such as: Top 100 Women-Led Companies in Massachusetts from The Women’s Edge, Power 50 Movement Makers in Massachusetts from the Boston Business Journal; the Community Commitment Award for Economic Inclusion from the American Bankers Association; the Founder’s Award from Conexión; a Leaders in Diversity Award for Corporate Social Responsibility, and the Lifetime Achievement Award as a Leader in Diversity from the Boston Business Journal.The YWCA Boston has also inducted her into its Academy of Women Achievers and she has received the Medal of Honor from the National Center for Race Amity. Nancy is a Director of Philanthropy Massachusetts and serves on the boards of a number of community organizations across the Greater Boston area. Her published thought leadership has focused on social justice and economic inclusion and mobility.

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Rudina Seseri

Founder & Managing Partner, Glasswing Ventures

Achievement in Entrepreneurship Rudina Seseri is Founder and Managing Partner of Glasswing Ventures, leading the firm’s investments in Artificial Intelligence…Read more

Achievement in Entrepreneurship
Rudina Seseri is Founder and Managing Partner of Glasswing Ventures, leading the firm’s investments in Artificial Intelligence (AI) enabled enterprise software as a service (SaaS), cloud, Information Technology (IT) software, and vertical markets. Rudina has led investments and/or served on the Board of Directors of ChaosSearch, CloudTruth, Inrupt, Plannuh (acquired by Planful), Reprise, Talla (merged with Seva), Verusen, Zylotech (acquired by Terminus), Celtra, SocialFlow, CrowdTwist (acquired by Oracle), and Navigant Consulting (acquired by Veritas). Rudina has 19 years of investing and operational experience in high-growth companies in IT software, cloud and enterprise SaaS. Before venture capital, Rudina was a Senior Manager in the Corporate Development Group at Microsoft Corporation. In this role, she led a number of successful acquisitions including iView Multimedia, Massive Interactive, Bungie Studios restructuring (creator of the Halo franchise), Deep Metrix, and Lionhead Studios. Prior to Microsoft, she was an investment banker in the Technology Group at Credit Suisse, responsible for multibillion-dollar acquisitions. Rudina was appointed by the Dean of the Harvard Business School (HBS) for four consecutive years to serve as Entrepreneur-In-Residence for the Business School and was named to the HBS inaugural group of Rock Venture Capital Partners. Most recently, she was appointed to faculty and staff at Harvard Business School as an Executive Fellow, and to the Board of Directors of the New England Venture Capital Association. In addition, she is a member of the Business Leadership Council of Wellesley College and a former member of the Digital Advisory Board for GSK Consumer. Rudina serves on the board of directors of M&T Bank and MSC Industrial Supply. Previously, Rudina has served as Chair of the Board of Overseers for the FutureM, a conference with 2,500 technology innovators and digital executives. Her philanthropic work includes serving on the Boston Children’s Hospital Philanthropic Board of Advisors as Chairwoman and Trustee for the Meadowbrook School of Weston. Rudina has been named to Entrepreneur Magazine’s Top 100 Women Entrepreneurs List, Startup Boston’s 2022 Investor of the Year, Boston Business Journal Power 50: Newsmaker, a Women to Watch honoree by Mass High Tech, a Business Insider Most Important VC in Boston, and Top VC investing in AI and Machine Learning, and a Boston Business Journal 40-under-40 honoree for her professional accomplishments and community involvement. She graduated magna cum laude from Wellesley College with a BA in Economics and International Relations and holds an MBA from HBS. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Omicron Delta Epsilon honor societies.

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Christine Schuster, RN, MBA

President & CEO, Emerson Health

Achievement in Health Care & Life Sciences Before joining Emerson Health, Christine served as President/CEO of Quincy Medical Center and Athol Hospital,…Read more

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Julie Kim

President, U.S. Business Unit and U.S. Country Head, Takeda

Achievement in Management – Private Julie Kim is President of the U.S. Business Unit, U.S. Country Head and member of Takeda’s Executive Team. The U.S. Business…Read more

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Yvonne Garcia

Chief of Staff to Chairman and CEO, Ron O’Hanley & Global Head of Internal Communications and CEO Experience Program, State Street Corporation

Achievement in Advancement of Women Professionals Yvonne Garcia serves as Chief of Staff to State Street’s Chairman and CEO, as Global Head of Internal…Read more

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Gail Goodman

Former CEO, Constant Contact, Board Member, EforAll, Shopify, Jobber,

Lifetime Achievement Former CEO (Constant Contact) and Board Member (EforAll, Shopify and Jobber) Gail spent 17 years as CEO of Constant Contact,…Read more

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Annual Meeting

Our Annual Meeting is the top Greater Boston business convening of the year, and we are committed to bringing our community together again. The Annual Meeting convenes more than 1,300 business and civic leaders from across the region to induct new members into the Academy of Distinguished Bostonians, hear from a prominent keynote speaker, and connect with each other across companies and industries.

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2024 Distinguished Bostonians

Robert Lewis, Jr.

Nicholas President and CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston

Robert Lewis, Jr. is a nationally recognized thought leader, public speaker, and social innovator. With a long history of nonprofit and community leadership, Robert…Read more

Robert Lewis, Jr. is a nationally recognized thought leader, public speaker, and social innovator. With a long history of nonprofit and community leadership, Robert is known as a catalyst for collaboration between diverse business, civic and public sectors and a tireless advocate for urban youth. Robert joined the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston in 2022 and has since set the organization on a new strategic course with a broad focus on health, education, and workforce readiness, all essential components to a child’s holistic development.

Prior to joining BGCB, Robert launched The BASE in 2013 to shift the national mindset about what it takes for urban youth to succeed. The BASE leverages their passion for sports to create pathways to higher education and meaningful careers. His previous roles include serving as Senior Vice President of City Year’s National Operations, Executive Director of City Year Boston, President of the National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ), and Executive Director of the Boston Centers for Youth and Families (BCYF). As Vice President for Program at The Boston Foundation, he directed the distribution of more than $18 million in discretionary grants annually and was the chief architect of the ground-breaking initiative, StreetSafe Boston, the country’s only privately funded anti-gang violence prevention program.

Robert’s leadership and advocacy has been recognized with numerous awards and honors, including: New England Streetworker Inaugural Legacy Award (2023); NonProfit PRO’s Lifetime Achievement Award (2022); King Boston’s Embrace Award (2022); The Boston Business Journal’s Power 50 (2019, 2020, 2021 and 2023); The Associated Industries of Massachusetts’ Gould Education Award (2020); Eastern Bank’s Social Justice Award (2020); Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Breakfast 50th Anniversary Awardee (2019); Boston Municipal Research Bureau’s Henry L. Shattuck Public Service Award (2019); and Robert F. Kennedy Action Corps’ Embracing the Legacy Award (2019). He serves as executive in residence at the Institute of Social Innovation at Babson College, sits on the Board of Directors for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, is a Trustee for the University of Massachusetts, and serves on the Advisory Committee for National Grid, NE. Robert received an Honorary Doctorate degree in Humane Letters from Assumption University; Cambridge College; Franklin Pierce University; and William James College; and an Honorary Doctorate in Public Service from Simmons College and New England Law.

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Dusty Rhodes

President, Conventures, INC.

It all started with $200 and a borrowed desk on Newbury Street. There were no special event firms—only a smattering of advertising and PR agencies—and very few…Read more

It all started with $200 and a borrowed desk on Newbury Street. There were no special event firms—only a smattering of advertising and PR agencies—and very few women entrepreneurs. The year was 1977 and Dusty Rhodes had a new idea—to use special events as a marketing medium. Fresh from a stint as the first and only female general manager in professional football (the World Football League’s New York Stars), Dusty created one of the first companies of its kind in the country—Conventures.

Building her core philosophy around the concept of “teamwork,” she and her Conventures team educated New England’s companies and institutions about the potential of special events to achieve business and fund-raising objectives. Her leadership for non-profit events included the injection ideas and programming that yielded prolific results, and are now industry standards. As the running boom of the mid-70’s began, Dusty built the largest women’s running event in the United States—the Boston 10K for Women. Under her leadership, Conventures has since produced hundreds of road races, walks, and sporting events around Boston and beyond. To commemorate the 400th Anniversary of Columbus’s voyage, she created the original Sail Boston Tall Ships Festival in 1992. As the executive producers of Sail Boston 1992, 2000, 2009 and 2017, Conventures produced the largest maritime events in New England’s history with an economic impact of nearly $1 billion. Currently, she’s planning the Tall Ships return to Boston for the U.S. Semiquincentennial in 2026. Conventures annually produces First Night, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the Boston Marathon Expo, and Harborfest, among many other corporate, non-profit, and community events.

For the past 46 years, Dusty’s community spirit, relentless hard work, toughness, and generosity have helped make Boston better. From festivals for millions, to conference for hundreds, Dusty’s vision, attention to detail, drive, and high standards continue to bring excellence to everything she touches. She has mentored hundreds of young people over the years who have gone on to become leaders in their fields. Among her many awards, she was honored as the first civilian woman recipient of the Distinguished Public Service Medal from the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard. Dusty is a graduate of Penn State University where she excelled in three varsity sports and is the proud mother of six children.

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John F. Fish

Chairman & CEO, Suffolk

John F. Fish is the Chairman and CEO of Suffolk, a national contractor and real estate enterprise that invests, innovates and builds. Under his vision and leadership,…Read more

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Small Business of the Year Awards

The Small Business of the Year Awards ceremony honors 10 small, high-growth businesses that demonstrate achievement in management, workplace excellence, product innovation, and social responsibility, with a commitment to growing in Greater Boston.

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2024 Honorees

OnyxGroup Planning, Development, & Brokerage

INNOVATION & GROWTH

Established in Early 2021, the OnyxGroup Development & Realty is Boston based minority women-owned and operated limited liability company specializing in creating…Read more

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X Agency

CULTURAL EXCELLENCE

X Agency stands out as a specialist in delivering digital marketing services in our region whose ethos revolves around consistently challenging the boundaries of…Read more

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Privé Parking

COMMUNITY IMPACT

Privé Parking is a pioneering force in the parking and transportation industry, driven by a mission to revolutionize the sector with unparalleled service and innovative…Read more

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Studio Luz Architects

DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

Studio Luz Architects is a forward-thinking architectural practice that links responsible design and sustainable construction with built material expression. They…Read more

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RoseMark Productions

CEO LEADERSHIP

RoseMark Productions is a boutique mid-sized event firm led by a seasoned event and White House Advance Lead with over 15 years of experience in the fast-paced political/non-profit…Read more

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L.J.V. Development, LLC

SMALL BUSINESS CHAMPION

LJV stands as a solution-focused construction management firm, placing a premium on collaboration and the incorporation of technology-driven processes to ensure…Read more

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Ten Outstanding Young Leaders

The Ten Outstanding Young Leaders (TOYL) Awards are about Boston’s present, and more importantly, Boston’s future. Honorees represent the region’s emerging young leaders from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors who have demonstrated a commitment to improving the civic and business environment and the quality of life in Greater Boston.

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2024 Honorees

Anita Yip

Founder and Creative Director, Project Asian Joy

Anita Yip is a purpose-driven technologist with a diverse background spanning the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. Emerging as a social practice artist, she…Read more

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Rev. Art J. Gordon

Senior Pastor/Director of Community Engagement, St. John Missionary Baptist Church/Office of Governor Maura Healey

Rev. Art J. Gordon is a fourth-generation pastor. After graduating from Savannah State University with a degree in History, he moved to Boston to attend the Boston…Read more

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Brandon Teixeira

Founder & CEO, Mental Health Declassified Inc

Brandon Teixeira is the CEO and founder of Mental Health Declassified Inc., a passionate mental health advocate, and a dynamic storyteller. Born and raised in Stoughton,…Read more

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Jessica Pires Brown

Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging Leader, Brown & Brown Insurance

Jessica is the Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Leader for Brown & Brown, Inc. where she develops and executes the enterprise DIB strategy throughout all aspects…Read more

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Julie Eaton Ernst

Climate Resilience Practice Leader, HNTB Corporation

Julie Eaton Ernst is HNTB’s Climate Resilience Practice Leader based out of Boston, MA. She is a licensed professional civil engineer (MA #54968), and her background…Read more

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Liz Powers

Co-Founder & CEO, ArtLifting

Liz Powers is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of ArtLifting, a business that champions artists impacted by housing insecurity and disabilities. ArtLifting…Read more

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Michel Bamani

Assistant General Counsel and Assistant Vice President, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston

Michel arrived to the United States at the age of 14 as a refugee. Having lived through a war zone and leaving his country of birth, Michel has a deep admiration…Read more

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Monica Adwani

CEO, Breezy Seguros

Monica Adwani is a highly accomplished insurance industry leader with over 18 years of experience across diverse roles, guiding organizations through strategic growth…Read more

Monica Adwani is a highly accomplished insurance industry leader with over 18 years of experience across diverse roles, guiding organizations through strategic growth and innovation. As CEO of Breezy Seguros, formerly BRZ Insurance, Monica focuses on empowering Latino and immigrant entrepreneurs by providing tailored insurance solutions and financial literacy resources. Known for her expertise in operations, strategic planning, and financial oversight, she brings a deeply community-oriented approach, particularly to underserved markets.

Monica began her career in the insurance industry with a strong foundation in data analysis, risk management, and operational safety, progressing through roles in claims, operations, customer service, and sales. Her experience spans both the agency and carrier sides of the business, where she has continuously demonstrated a keen ability to align business objectives with client needs, particularly for minority and immigrant-owned businesses.

As CEO of Breezy Seguros, Monica has established a proprietary AMS/CRM platform in English, Spanish, and Brazilian Portuguese, driving an impressive 200%-300% annual sales growth rate and achieving over 105% client retention. Her leadership has positioned Breezy Seguros as a trusted, community-focused brand that prioritizes education, wealth-building, and generational success.

Throughout her career, Monica’s contributions have been recognized with numerous accolades, including Liberty Mutual Group’s Agent of the Future, recognition as one of America’s Top Latino-Owned Businesses, and inclusion among the Top ALX100 Influential Latinos in Massachusetts. She has also been celebrated as one of the Top 50 Women Leaders in Massachusetts and as Young Agent of the Year by the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents.

A dedicated advocate for diversity and inclusion, Monica serves on the board of the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents (MAIA) and frequently speaks at industry events, addressing sustainable business practices, minority representation, and the impact of insurance education on community empowerment.

Monica holds a B.S. in Information Management and Coding from the InterAmerican University of Puerto Rico and a B.S. in Management from Fisher College in Boston. Fluent in English, Spanish, and Brazilian Portuguese, she leverages her trilingual skills to build strong relationships across markets, helping her clients and community achieve financial security and lasting success.

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Patrick Lucey

Executive Vice President, Division Manager, Suffolk Construction

As Executive Vice President of Suffolk, Patrick Lucey leads Suffolk’s Northeast office, proudly based here in Boston. Lucey “grew up” at Suffolk, starting…Read more

As Executive Vice President of Suffolk, Patrick Lucey leads Suffolk’s Northeast office, proudly based here in Boston. Lucey “grew up” at Suffolk, starting his career as an intern while in college. Over the past two decades, Lucey has held almost every operational role in the building life cycle, from project engineer up to Chief Operating Officer of the Commercial sector. Lucey has successfully managed some of the largest, most iconic projects throughout the Northeast, such as Encore Casino and Winthrop Center, as well as some of the most sensitive and complex, including occupied k-12 schools. No matter the size of the project, Lucey has earned a reputation for being a true partner to his clients and a coach & motivator to his team. His consistent track record for earning repeat business speaks to the importance he places on building long-term and trusted relationships with developers, owner’s project managers, organized labor, architects, engineers, and the communities in which he builds.

Prior to his current role, Lucey was most recently Chief Operating Officer of Suffolk’s Commercial sector in the Northeast. He also played a critical role in the creation of Suffolk Design and the implementation of their services on Suffolk’s design-build projects across the country. With Suffolk’s national focus on Operational Excellence, Lucey has led the charge on bringing Suffolk’s proven processes and technologies, Plan and Control, Virtual Design and Construction, and Lean construction methodologies to every job.

Lucey is a proud Board Member of Heading Home, a non-profit organization that provides emergency shelter, transitional, and permanent housing for children, families, and adults experiencing homelessness. He also serves on the board of NAIOP, a commercial real estate advocacy organization. Lucey participates in several of Suffolk’s volunteer programs and led a company initiative where 75 employees built a playground for the Boys & Girls Club of Boston in Roxbury. A Massachusetts native, Pat grew up in Plymouth and is a graduate of Williams College, where he met his wife, Kate. They live in the Boston area with their two sons. When Pat isn’t working, he is happily coaching his boys’ flag football team.

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Ryan Gordon

Project Manager, Nitsch Engineering

Ryan is a registered professional Civil Engineer, Project Manager, and shareholder at Nitsch Engineering, an employee-owned land development and engineering consulting…Read more

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Pacesetters Awards

Our Pacesetters Awards highlight the critical efforts being taken in procurement and supplier diversity to achieve economic inclusion for minority business enterprises and the communities from which they are born and operate. Launched in 2022, categories include Deal of the Year, Champion of the Year, and Pacesetters Company of the Year.

Read the 2023 Recap

2023 Award Winners

Company of the Year

Manulife/John Hancock

Champion of the Year

Rosanna Molinaro, Director of Procurement and Contracts Management, Department of Planning, Real Estate, and Facilities, Northeastern University

Partnership of the Year

Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) and Casablanca Services

Events

Special Event

2025 AI Advantage: Building an AI-Ready Workforce in Higher Education

Public Policy

Massachusetts Business Outlook 2025

Pinnacle Awards

2025 Pinnacle Awards

Learning & Development

Creating an Inclusive Workforce: LGBTQIA+ Identities

Transformational DEI Certificate

Women’s Leadership Program

Boston’s Future Leaders

Economic Inclusion

Economic Inclusion

City Awake

Economic Inclusion

Pacesetters

Fierce Urgency of Now Festival

2024 Fierce Urgency of Now Festival

Policy & Impact

GET INVOLVED IN OUR POLICY FOCUS AREAS

Business Climate

Climate & Energy

Health Care

Housing & Development

Talent

Transportation

GBCC’s Networks

OUR NETWORKS

City Awake

BIMA

Women’s Network

Massachusetts Apprentice Network

Pacesetters

Small Business

Membership

About Us

Our Impact

Membership Directory

Not sure if you’re a member?

For our members

Events

Special Event

2025 AI Advantage: Building an AI-Ready Workforce in Higher Education

Public Policy

Massachusetts Business Outlook 2025

Pinnacle Awards

2025 Pinnacle Awards

Learning & Development

Creating an Inclusive Workforce: LGBTQIA+ Identities

Transformational DEI Certificate

Women’s Leadership Program

Boston’s Future Leaders

Economic Inclusion

Economic Inclusion

City Awake

Economic Inclusion

Pacesetters

Fierce Urgency of Now Festival

2024 Fierce Urgency of Now Festival

Policy & Impact

GET INVOLVED IN OUR POLICY FOCUS AREAS

Business Climate

Climate & Energy

Health Care

Housing & Development

Talent

Transportation

GBCC’s Networks

OUR NETWORKS

City Awake

BIMA

Women’s Network

Massachusetts Apprentice Network

Pacesetters

Small Business

Membership

About Us

Our Impact

Membership Directory

 Chamber Awards