SPECIAL EVENT

Empowering Cities:
Small Business Disaster Resilience in Boston

September 29, 2026 2:45 pm – 4:30 pm Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce

Overview

Be in the room for a special event in partnership with Verizon.

Join local business, civic, and resilience leaders for a timely conversation on how small businesses can better prepare for, respond to, and recover from disruptions.

Gain practical insights, resources, and partnership opportunities that help strengthen business and community resilience.

Hear from experts including Brian Swett, Chief Climate Officer for the City of Boston, Rob Glenn of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, and Courtney Schoon from Verizon as they share strategies for fostering cross-sector collaboration and building a more connected, prepared, and resilient Boston.

Tickets

Free and open to the public.

Building a More Resilient Boston

In partnership with Verizon, the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce is proud to convene local business, civic, and community leaders for a conversation focused on strengthening small business resilience and preparedness. As communities face increasingly complex disruptions, helping small businesses prepare, adapt, and recover is essential to building stronger, more resilient communities.

This event will bring together disaster resilience experts and community leaders, including representatives from the Verizon, City of Boston, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, to explore how businesses, nonprofits, and the public sector can work together to better equip local businesses before, during, and after a disaster. Attendees will learn more about the resources, partnerships, and tools that can help protect businesses, residents, and communities.

Beyond preparedness, the discussion will examine the role that cross-sector collaboration can play in building long-term community resilience. Drawing on Verizon’s Community Disaster Resilience initiative and the expertise of local and national partners, the conversation will highlight practical approaches to empowering small businesses and creating a more connected, prepared, and resilient Boston.

Questions? Contact us.

Angelica Medina

Senior Program Manager

Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce

Email Angelica

Speakers

Rob Glenn

Vice President, Global Resilience, U.S Chamber of Commerce Foundation

Rob coordinates the U.S Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s efforts to connect government and private sector capabilities and expertise, enabling readiness for all…Read more

Rob coordinates the U.S Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s efforts to connect government and private sector capabilities and expertise, enabling readiness for all hazards and advancing resilience.

Before joining the U.S. Chamber Foundation, he spearheaded several initiatives at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to align the efforts of private and public sectors before, during, and after disasters. After the historic 2017 disaster season, his efforts solidified U.S. Government incident planning and coordination with industry by creating Emergency Support Function #14 – Cross Sector Business and Infrastructure in partnership with the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).

Starting the Office of Business, Infrastructure and Integration just as the COVID-19 pandemic began, he led the longest activation of the National Business Emergency Operations Center (NBEOC) to assist America’s businesses navigating the pandemic, formalized supply chain stabilization coordination, and implemented the only Voluntary Agreement under the Defense Production Act with active plans of action to help ensure effective distribution of healthcare resources in coordination with the White House Covid Team and HHS.

In consulting, he advised clients in the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, and FEMA at Booz Allen Hamilton. At the state level, Rob served as Homeland Security Advisor to Ohio’s Governor and Executive Director, Ohio Homeland Security initiating the state’s cybersecurity program, in addition to executive, operations, and public affairs roles at the Ohio Emergency Management Agency.

Rob served in the U.S. Army as an Infantry Officer where he led search and relief missions during Hurricane Katrina and was awarded the Bronze Star during Operation Iraqi Freedom for innovative counterinsurgency operations disrupting Al Qaeda.

Rob earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Kent State University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Maryland. He is a graduate of the Emergency Management Institute Executive Academy. He has guest lectured at the National Defense University, the Georgetown McCourt School of Public Policy, and The Risk Institute at The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business.

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Courtney Schoon

Senior Manager, Responsible Business, Verizon

Courtney Schoon serves as Senior Manager of Responsible Business at Verizon. In this role, she focuses on community resilience and developing initiatives including…Read more

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Brian Swett

Chief Climate Officer, City of Boston

Brian Swett is the City of Boston’s first Chief Climate Officer. In addition to overseeing the Environment, Energy and Open Space Cabinet (EEOS), as Chief Climate…Read more

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Become a Member

About Us

Get to Know the Chamber

Member Benefits

Grow Your Business

Membership Directory

Not sure if you’re a member?

Events & Networking

WHAT’S NEXT

Upcoming Events

Engage & Learn

FEATURED EVENT

Special Event

Empowering Cities: Small Business Disaster Resilience in Boston

EXPLORE OUR PROGRAMMING:

Member Engagement

Series

Maximize Your Membership | December 2026

Membership Directory

Discover fellow Chamber members.

Upcoming Events

Stay Involved

Talent & Workforce

Young Bostonians Collective

Women’s Leadership Program

Massachusetts Apprentice Network

Boston’s Future Leaders

Partnership with Boston Public Schools

Leadership Accelerator: Building Trust, Influence, and Presence

Policy & Impact

GET INVOLVED IN OUR POLICY FOCUS AREAS

Business Climate

Climate & Energy

Health Care

Housing & Development

Talent

Transportation

Empowering Cities:
Small Business Disaster Resilience in Boston