How the Commonwealth Competes

Year 3 of the MTF
Competitiveness Index

October 8, 2026 9:30 am – 11:00 am Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce – Hybrid

Event Details

Hear from Doug Howgate, President of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation (MTF), and a panel of business and civic leaders on the strengths, challenges, and opportunities shaping Massachusetts’ economic future.

Gain insights from MTF’s 3rd Annual Competitiveness Index and Competitiveness Poll, exploring how housing, energy, transportation, affordability, health care, and education are impacting the Commonwealth’s ability to compete for talent, jobs, and investment.

Tickets

Free and open to the public.
In-person registration for this event is officially sold out.

Virtual registration remains available and is now the only option for attending this event.

Measuring our Competitive Edge

Join the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and the Massachusetts’ Taxpayers Foundation for an engaging discussion on the key findings from MTF’s 3rd Annual Competitiveness Index and what they mean for the future of Massachusetts. The report examines some of the Commonwealth’s greatest strengths and most persistent weaknesses, providing a data-driven look at the factors influencing economic growth, business competitiveness, and quality of life.

This year’s Index takes a closer look at housing production, energy affordability, and transportation infrastructure, while also highlighting areas where Massachusetts continues to stand apart, including health care quality and education investment. The report is complemented by MTF’s annual Competitiveness Poll, which connects economic data with resident perspectives on affordability, opportunity, and the state’s future direction.

Following presentations on the Index and Poll findings, business and civic leaders will explore what these trends mean for employers, residents, and policymakers, and discuss the actions needed to strengthen Massachusetts’ long-term competitiveness and economic success.

Why Attend

Be among the first to hear the findings from MTF’s latest Competitiveness Index and Competitiveness Poll.

Gain a deeper understanding of the issues shaping Massachusetts’ economic future, including housing, energy, transportation, workforce competitiveness, health care, and education.

Learn how business leaders, policymakers, and community stakeholders are thinking about the Commonwealth’s biggest opportunities and challenges.

Walk away with data, insights, and context to help inform strategic decisions and understand the evolving business climate in Massachusetts.

Questions? Contact us.

Angelica Medina

Senior Program Manager

Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce

Email Angelica

Speakers

Doug Howgate

President, Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation

Doug Howgate is President at the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation. Doug began as President in January of 2023, after two years as the Foundation’s Executive…Read more

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Travis A. McCready

Head of Industries, Leasing Advisory Chair, Global Life Sciences Advisory Board, JLL

Travis McCready is the head of industries leasing advisory in the Americas for JLL, one of the largest commercial real estate advisories in the world. In this capacity,…Read more

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James E. Rooney

President & CEO, Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce

James E. Rooney is President & CEO of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, the region’s most influential business association. With Rooney’s…Read more

James E. Rooney is President & CEO of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, the region’s most influential business association.

With Rooney’s commitment and leadership, the Greater Boston Chamber is now the leading convener, voice, and advocate for the region. Strategizing with government leaders, private companies, and public institutions to strengthen the state’s competitiveness, Rooney advances the future of commerce with public policies and legislation that champions dynamic and resilient people, communities, and workplaces.

Before leading the Chamber, Rooney served as executive director of the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority (MCCA), overseeing the development and construction of the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center (BCEC) while leading the management teams of four MCCA-owned facilities. Prior, Rooney served two years as Chief of Staff to Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino, chairing the Mayor’s cabinet to move forward all aspects of city governance.

Rooney started his public career at the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), starting as a track laborer and ending as Deputy General Manager. He served one year as the MBTA’s Acting General Manager during a gubernatorial transition. Using his transportation financing expertise, Rooney led one of the nation’s largest transportation projects, the $15 billion “Big Dig” Central Artery highway project, and he served as Chief Financial Officer at the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority.

Rooney serves in leadership positions on several boards of directors, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors and the Committee of 100, Immediate Past Chair of the Association of Chambers of Commerce Executives (ACCE), Co-Chair of the Madison Park Steering Committee, and Member of the Boston Private Industry Council (PIC). Rooney continues to be recognized for his professional and civic contributions, including being named to the list of 100 Most Influential Bostonians by Boston Magazine numerous times, receiving the City of Boston Lifetime Achievement Award for advocacy of the immigrant community, and he was honored with the PCMA Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to the global meetings industry.

Born and raised in South Boston, Rooney attended the prestigious Boston Latin School, where he served as President of his graduating class. He graduated from Harvard College with a bachelor’s degree in economics and attended the Boston University Graduate School of Management.

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President Stephen Spinelli - Babson College

Stephen Spinelli Jr.

President, Babson College

Stephen Spinelli Jr. MBA’92, PhD is the 14th president of Babson College. A successful entrepreneur, academic leader, and scholar, he assumed the role of president…Read more

Stephen Spinelli Jr. MBA’92, PhD is the 14th president of Babson College. A successful entrepreneur, academic leader, and scholar, he assumed the role of president in July 2019.

Dr. Spinelli has spent his career at the intersection of academia, business, and philanthropy. Under his leadership, Babson was named the No. 2 best college in the United States by The Wall Street Journal and has retained its long-standing place atop U.S. News & World Report’s undergraduate and graduate entrepreneurship rankings.

In collaboration with the Babson community, Dr. Spinelli launched a strategic planning process in 2019 aimed at ensuring the College’s continued success and financial stability amid market headwinds. The plan, centered on the strategic belief that Babson empowers entrepreneurial leaders to impact communities everywhere, continues to yield positive outcomes from the College and its 48K+ alumni around the world.

As a self-made entrepreneur with an innovative vision for creating and scaling successful business models, he co-founded Jiffy Lube International and was chairman and CEO of the American Oil Change Corporation, helping to pioneer the quick-lube industry across the United States and turning Jiffy Lube into the America’s dominant competitor with more than 1,000 service centers.

Dr. Spinelli is a long-standing member of the Babson community. He spent 14 years of his career as a member of the College’s faculty, as vice provost for entrepreneurship and global management, and as director of The Arthur M. Blank Center for Entrepreneurship.

In 2007, he became president of Philadelphia University, which later merged with Thomas Jefferson University to form the new Jefferson, where he was named chancellor in 2017.

His entrepreneurial spirit and successful business acumen have led him to numerous leadership roles as a board member, investor, advisor, and educator. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of Planet Fitness and a member of the board of directors for Fyzical Therapy and Balance Centers and board of advisors for the Berwind Corporation.

Dr. Spinelli earned his PhD in economics from The Management School, Imperial College, University of London, his MBA from Babson College, and his BA in economics from McDaniel College.

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Brooke Thomson

President & CEO, Associated Industries of Massachusetts

Brooke Thomson is the President & CEO of AIM. Prior to assuming the presidency, Brooke led the Government Affairs team where she was responsible for designing…Read more

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Public Policy

2026 Government Affairs Forum | Congresswoman Lori Trahan

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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

Foundation

Our Mission

Expanding Opportunity

Upcoming Events

Get Involved

EXPLORE OUR INITIATIVES:

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

Public Policy

2026 Government Affairs Forum | Congresswoman Lori Trahan

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

Year 3 of the MTF
Competitiveness Index