2024 Annual Meeting - Boston Chamber

Event Details

Thank you for joining us for the highly anticipated Annual Meeting, Greater Boston’s top business convening of the year.

Our Annual Meeting attracts 1,500 business and civic leaders who come together to induct new members into the Academy of Distinguished Bostonians and connect with each other.

Tickets

Individual Ticket: $500
Silver Sponsorship: $5,000
Gold Sponsorship: $10,000
Platinum Sponsorship: $25,000
Presenting Sponsorship: $50,000

2024 Annual Meeting | Strengthening Our Competitive Edge

On May 2 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce hosted the Annual Meeting, celebrating this year’s theme: Strengthening Our Competitive Edge.

The people and businesses of our region are recognized for their collective revolutionary spirit and relentless innovations. When we compete together, we win for our families, communities, workplaces, economy, and future. Our competitiveness is agile, dynamic, and bold. Now, we must fortify our competitive edge, broadening our efforts to ensure that our region remains a place of immense impact where all people and all businesses can Start, Stay, and Succeed.

The Chamber’s Annual Meeting is the most anticipated celebration of commerce in New England, convening more than 1,500 business, civic, and nonprofit leaders from across the Commonwealth. Join us for a dynamic keynote speaker, musical performance, and the induction of the 2024 honorees into the Academy of Distinguished Bostonians. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to network with industry and government leaders, and more importantly, commemorate our collective success at Greater Boston’s largest and most impactful business event!

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Questions? Contact us.

Danielle Dorey

Senior Director, Programs

Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce

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Watch 2024’s Annual Meeting Theme Montage

Boston Chamber Networking Event Annual Meeting Graphic

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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Featured Speakers

Karen S. Lynch

President & Chief Executive Officer, CVS Health

FEATURED SPEAKER | Karen S. Lynch is president and chief executive officer of CVS Health®, the Fortune 10 leading health solutions company. Karen leads…Read more

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Corey Thomas

Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Rapid7

MODERATOR | Corey Thomas is the CEO of Rapid7, as well as the chairman of its board of directors. In 2023, Corey was appointed to the National Security…Read more

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Host Committee Co-Chairs

Reshma Kewalramani, M.D., FASN

Chief Executive Officer and President, Vertex Pharmaceuticals

Reshma is the Chief Executive Officer and President at Vertex, a Fortune 500, global biotechnology company. She trained in internal medicine and nephrology before…Read more

Reshma is the Chief Executive Officer and President at Vertex, a Fortune 500, global biotechnology company. She trained in internal medicine and nephrology before entering the biopharmaceutical industry, where she has dedicated her career to discovering and developing new medicines. She joined Vertex in 2017, served as Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President of Global Medicines Development and Medical Affairs and became CEO in 2020. In this period, Vertex expanded its success in treating cystic fibrosis (CF), with medicines that hold the potential to treat patients as young as one-month old and as many as 90 percent of all patients diagnosed with CF. Building on that work, Vertex’s R&D pipeline has treatments in multiple disease areas and across multiple modalities including small molecule, mRNA, cell and gene therapies. Since 2017, Vertex has doubled its employee base and the number of medicines it offers, significantly expanded its clinical-stage pipeline, and augmented its footprint in Boston’s Seaport and around the world. All the while, Vertex continues to foster its strong culture of belonging, diversity and equity. Continuing the tradition of excellence in the workplace, Vertex has consistently been recognized as a best place to work, including by Science magazine, The Boston Globe, Newsweek and Fortune. Reshma is committed to supporting biomedical innovation, the next generation of scientists, and her community. She serves on Year Up’s national board of directors, the Biomedical Science Careers Program’s board of directors, the Massachusetts General Hospital board of trustees and the Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine Dean’s Advisory Board. She also serves on the Ginkgo Bioworks board of directors, where she chairs the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. She completed her internship and residency in internal medicine at the Massachusetts General Hospital, and her fellowship in nephrology at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital combined program. She received her medical degree, with honors, from the seven-year medicine program at the Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, and is a Fellow of the American Society of Nephrology. She is an alumna of the Harvard Business School, having completed the General Management Program. Reshma has received a number of distinguished honors and awards for her leadership and contributions to science and innovation, including the Harvard Business School Alumni Achievement Award, the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Boston University School of Medicine, the International Institute of New England Golden Door Award, the New England Council New Englander of the Year award, and the Asian American Business Development Center Pinnacle Award. She has been named one of Fortune’s Most Powerful Women, one of Boston Business Journal’s “Power 50,” one of Boston magazine’s most influential Bostonians, and one of Business Insider’s “10 People Transforming Healthcare.”

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Paul J. Ayoub

Nutter

Paul J. Ayoub is chair of Nutter and a partner in the firm’s Real Estate Department and a member of the Nonprofit and Social Impact practice group. Paul represents…Read more

Paul J. Ayoub is chair of Nutter and a partner in the firm’s Real Estate Department and a member of the Nonprofit and Social Impact practice group. Paul represents clients in the financing and development of commercial real estate projects in Greater Boston, New England and throughout the country. He also advises for-profit and non-profit organizations on corporate governance. Paul represents major North American banks and local lending institutions in construction, permanent, and mezzanine loans, as well as developers and private equity investors in the acquisition, sale, permitting, and leasing of all property types. Additionally, he has extensive experience representing clients in complex debt reorganizations. He is involved in several civic, professional, and charitable organizations. Paul chaired the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors from 2018 – 2020 and continues to serve on the Executive Committee and as co-chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee. He also is on the Chamber’s Regional Real Estate Development Leadership Council, having served as co-chair. Paul is a past president of the Board of Directors and a member of the Real Estate Finance Association, and served as co-chair of the Real Estate Finance and Workout/ Foreclosure Section of the Massachusetts Bar Association’s Real Estate Section. Nationally, Paul serves on the Board of Governors of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, as well as on the Board of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude. He previously served as chair of both Boards. Locally, Paul is a founding member of Small Business Strong, an organization that continues to help small businesses without charge, over 4,000 to date, cope with the COVID-19 crisis and its aftermath, and is on the Board of Incorporators of the Boston Local Development Corporation. During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Paul served on the Mayor’s Reopening Advisory Board for the City of Boston. Prior to his career as an attorney, Paul worked in Massachusetts state government in various capacities, including as assistant press secretary to the Governor. During law school, Paul was editor-in-chief of the Boston College International and Comparative Law Review. Paul and his daughter have published Inspire Me! A father-daughter book of quotations to motivate, teach and inspire, an Amazon best seller, the proceeds from which are donated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. For the past several years, Paul has been recognized as a leading U.S. real estate attorney by Best Lawyers in America and Chambers and Partners for the past several years. He was recently inducted into inaugural class of Hall of Fame by Massachusetts Lawyer’s Weekly. The Boston Business Journal recognized Paul among the “Power 50 – Extraordinary Year Extraordinary People” in 2020 and “Power 50 – Movement Makers” in 2023. He has received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Boston Real Estate Times in 2021 and the Swain Distinguished Service Award from REFA in 2022.

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What to Expect

Attire:

Semi-formal / Business attire.

4:30 p.m. | Annual Meeting Registration and Reception Begins!

Grab a cocktail and network with Boston’s best and brightest members of the business community.

6:00 p.m. | Program Begins

We have many surprises up our sleeves, but prepare to be inspired! We will induct 3 inspiring business leaders to the Academy of Distinguished Bostonians.

6:45 p.m. | Dinner

Attendees will enjoy a seated dinner.

8:00 p.m. | Event Concludes

COVID-19 POLICY

The Department of Health and Human Services lifted the Presidential Declaration of a National Public Health Emergency arising from the COVID-19 pandemic on May 11, 2023. Therefore, COVID-19 will no longer be considered a national health emergency. The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce will continue to monitor trends and act accordingly based on Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidance.

Your health and safety remain our top priority while attending programs, events, and meetings. COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters are strongly recommended. The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce still follows exposure guidelines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control.

If you feel ill or learn of an exposure before an event or meeting, whether with COVID-19 symptoms or others, please stay home and contact your healthcare provider.

*Please note -If the venue or host of the program has additional policies or protocols, we will adhere to them and notify attendees in advance.

Presenting Sponsors

Boston Convention and Exhibition Center

415 Summer Street, Boston, MA 02210

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Cancellation Policy: All individual ticket cancellations and refund requests must be received by Wednesday, April 17, 2024 to avoid being charged or to receive a refund. There are no cancellations permitted for any table sponsorships. There are no exceptions.

The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce encourages persons with disabilities to participate, and engage fully, in its programs and events.

If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation, including but not limited to, listening devices, closed captioning, large print, wheelchair access, allergies and environmental sensitivities, or if you have any questions about the venue, event format, or anything else please contact us at [email protected].

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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