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          2026 Government Affairs Forum | Ronald J. Mariano, Massachusetts Speaker of the House

          Hear from the Massachusetts Speaker of the House, Representative Ronald J. Mariano (D-Quincy), at the Chamber’s Government Affairs Forum.

          04/09/2026

          9:45am - 11:00am

          Fairmont Copley Plaza Boston

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          Management Crash Course: Core Skills for Modern Supervisors

          Boost your leadership skills with this three‑module professional development series covering adaptive supervision, conflict management, and inclusive decision‑making — with a Certificate of Completion for those who finish the full program.

          Read More
          Massachusetts Apprentice Network

          The Massachusetts Apprentice Network convenes employers, training providers, and talent sources interested in developing and implementing apprenticeship programs in occupations across industries and statewide in fields such as tech, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, financial services, and more.

          Read More
          Strategic Communication for Better Collaboration

          Level up your leadership and communication in this Boston Chamber workshop for professionals—gain essential skills in team alignment.

          Read More
          Partnership with Boston Public Schools 

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Behind the Scenes of an MBE:
The Urban Grape and Arka HR Solutions

March 24, 2025 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm The Urban Grape

Event Details

  • Join us for the first Behind the Scenes of an MBE of 2025 featuring The Urban Grape and Arka HR Solutions!
  • Attendees will have the opportunity to have an open dialogue with Founder TJ Douglas and CEO & Co-founder Marcela Aldaz-Matos!

Tickets

  • This event is FREE for Members and Non-Members!
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  • Overview
  • Event Speakers
  • FAQS
  • Series Funder
  • Location

Get to Know an MBE

This in-person event offers buyers and diverse businesses a unique opportunity to explore the challenges that Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) face and the benefits of partnering with them. Attendees will engage in an open dialogue with CEO & Founder TJ Douglas and CEO and Co-founder Marcela Aldaz-Matos, gaining insights into how they transformed their businesses into their successes.

ABOUT THE BUSINESSES

The Urban Grape
In 2008, TJ and Hadley Douglas were sitting in the late afternoon sun in the Italian countryside near Colle di Val d’Elsa when Hadley handed TJ a glass of wine, tucked herself into a porch chair, and asked, “So what’s your five-year plan?” She never imagined that TJ’s answer – to build a new kind of wine store focused on hospitality and access, a well-trained, restaurant-style staff, and a giant tasting table in the middle where people could gather – would change both of their lives. Two years later, that dream was a reality. The Urban Grape opened its doors in Boston and became the first store in the country to utilize TJ and Hadley’s proprietary Progressive Scale, a revolutionary way of categorizing wine by its body instead of by varietal or region.

Arka HR
Arka HR offers a unique approach to human capital management. They assist organizations in optimizing their HR practices to effectively manage risk, enhance company culture, and boost employee performance and engagement. What differentiates Arka HR Solutions is its ability to align business objectives with talent strategy. As a bilingual, multicultural, women-owned company, they specialize in diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Their dedicated team is focused on helping businesses unlock the full potential of their workforce.

Questions? Contact Us.

Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Staff
Kaija Chalmus

Program Manager

Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce

Email Kaija

Event Speakers

Headshot of a Hispanic woman in a black blazer, and black undershirt. Her hair is brown hair curly shoulder-length
Marcela Aldaz-Matos

CEO & Co-founder,
Arka HR Solutions

Marcela Aldaz has over two decades of experience as a visionary business executive, a champion of talent management, and advocate for diversity and inclusion. Throughout…Read more
Marcela Aldaz has over two decades of experience as a visionary business executive, a champion of talent management, and advocate for diversity and inclusion. Throughout her career, she has delivered substantial growth in highly competitive industries, leaving a trail of success in financial services, healthcare, and corporate and nonprofit organizations. With a keen eye for strategy and collaborative approach, Marcela has managed both U.S. and international teams, leaving a lasting impact on businesses across the globe.

As the Co-Founder and CEO of Arka HR Solutions, Marcela’s focus is on empowering business leaders to address strategic and operational challenges, unlocking greater scale, efficiencies, and better business performance. Her expertise in organizational design, value-based performance management, and diversity, equity, and inclusion drives transformative human capital initiatives that directly impact core business strategies.

One of Marcela’s significant contributions was as the Inaugural Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion for MassGeneral Brigham, Massachusetts’s largest private employer with 80,000 employees, and an affiliate of Harvard Medical School. In this role, she spearheaded initiatives that fostered a more inclusive and diverse workplace making a positive impact on employee’s life and the organization’s culture.

Marcela’s commitment to serving her community extends to her role as Immediate Past National Chairwoman at ALPFA, the country’s leading Latino professional association. Under her leadership during the pandemic, the organization underwent a historical transformation, strengthening its governance, digital presence, and fundraising efforts. With over 100 thousand members and 130 chapters across the U.S., ALPFA has become a powerful force for empowering Latino professionals and advocating for their representation in the corporate world. Marcela’s dedication to service extends to various boards and commissions. Appointed by Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, Marcela served on the State’s first Latino Advisory Commission, channeling over $20 million to support Latino and Black communities. She is a member of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, the Cambridge College Board of Trustees, The Partnership Board of Directors, The Trustees of Reservations Advisory Board, and the Women’s International Forum Network. Marcela earned an MBA from Simmonds University and her accomplishments have not gone unnoticed, as she has been featured in Fortune magazine, the Boston Business Journal, and Hispanic Executive

See on LinkedInarrow-go
Headshot of Founder and CEO TJ Douglas. The image is of a black man with a bald head and, navy blue suit with a yellow background.
TJ Douglas

CEO & Founder,
The Urban Grape

In 2010, TJ, along with his wife Hadley, founded The Urban Grape, a ground-breaking wine store in the South End neighborhood of Boston which expanded to Washington,…Read more
In 2010, TJ, along with his wife Hadley, founded The Urban Grape, a ground-breaking wine store in the South End neighborhood of Boston which expanded to Washington, DC in 2024. The store concept is simple  – Drink Progressively.

The store’s proprietary Progressive Scale system organizes wine by its body, instead of by varietal or region. The Urban Grape has become the most successful Black-owned wine store in the country and was named the United States Small Business of the Year in 2021. The Urban Grape is also a 4-time Top 100 Wine Retail Store in America winner,  a 5-time ICIC Inner City 100 winner, and a 6-time Best of Boston winner. The store has been nationally profiled in Food & Wine,

The New York Times, NPR, Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, Axios, and Men’s Journal, among others. In 2022, TJ and Hadley founded Progressive Wine Company, a new wine brand dedicated to creating access to the wine industry for BIPOC consumers, as well as others who have previously felt like the industry was not accessible. In 2023, they founded the Drink Progressively Group, a Boston-based management company that oversees the work of the Douglas’ business ventures. TJ is also a founder of The Urban Grape Wine Studies Award for Students of Color.

See on LinkedInarrow-go
Erika Gibson

Assistant Vice President & Director of Responsible Sourcing,
Liberty Mutual Insurance

Erika joined Liberty Mutual in 2020 and leads the advancement of Supplier Diversity, with a focus on developing and enhancing a strong pipeline of diverse supplier…Read more
Erika joined Liberty Mutual in 2020 and leads the advancement of Supplier Diversity, with a focus on developing and enhancing a strong pipeline of diverse supplier talent and connecting that pool of supplier partners into Liberty’s supply chain.

Prior to joining Liberty, Erika worked at Hilton leading their Supplier Diversity, Responsible Sourcing and Marketing Procurement functions. She is a seasoned professional with legal and procurement backgrounds and has worked in both direct and indirect sourcing.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from James Madison University, and an MBA from George Washington University, as well as a certificate of Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University

See on LinkedInarrow-go

FAQs

  • Is this location handicap accessible?

    The Urban Grape is handicap accessible. If you have any requests, please email our team at [email protected]

  • Is there parking available?

    There is limited street parking available at The Urban Grape. If you plan to drive in, it is recommended that you use the nearby garages. The Clarendon Street Garage is a 3-minute walk from the venue.

  • What should I wear?

    Please come dressed for your day!

  • Is this location accessible by pubic transit?

    The Urban Grape is a 5-minute walk from the Back Bay Station. You can get to the station via the Orange Line, Commuter Rail Lines, as well as many bus lines.

Series Funder

Liberty Mutual Insurance Logo

The Urban Grape

303 Columbus Ave, Boston, MA 02116

Get Directions

All cancellations must be received at least three (3) business days prior to the event to avoid being charged or to receive a refund.

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 virtual platform, please contact us.

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