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          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.

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Bostonchamber
Boston Chamber
  • Events
        • Events

          • Overview
          • Events Calendar
          • Chamber Awards
          • New Chamber Event Series
        • ...
          Pacesetters
          Doing Business with Columbia Construction

          This virtual event gives small business owners the chance to hear directly from procurement officers about opportunities to work with them.

          05/29/2025

          12:00pm - 1:00pm

          Virtual

          arrow-go
          Read More
        • ...
          City Awake
          Art of Connection: An Evening at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

          Join us for an exclusive networking event at the Museum of Fine Arts and enjoy self-guided tours of John Wilson and Van Gogh, showcasing the deep bond of family, friendship, and community.

          06/05/2025

          5:30pm - 8:30pm

          Museum of Fine Arts

          arrow-go
          Read More
        • ...
          Series
          Transportation First | State of the Airport

          The Transportation First Series offers a platform to discuss the challenges faced by our region, with the input of experts and changemakers.

          06/12/2025

          2:45pm - 4:30pm

          Hybrid | Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce

          arrow-go
          Read More
  • Learning & Development
        • Learning & Development

          • Overview
          • Call for Nominations
          • Insights
        • Transformational DEI Certificate

          This program is in redevelopment. Click this page for DEI resources.

          Read More
          Women’s Leadership Program

          Our Women’s Leadership Program enables you to take your leadership to the next level by arming you with the most in-demand leadership toolkit.

          Read More
          Boston’s Future Leaders

          Our Boston’s Future Leaders (BFL) program provides emerging leaders with a socially conscious and civically engaged leadership toolkit, as well as the opportunity to apply their knowledge through experiential assignments.

          Read More
          Authentic Professionalism for Early Career Professionals

          Join us on June 12 for a highly interactive virtual workshop with Strategic Career & Leadership Coach Carole-Ann Penney.

          Read More
  • Economic Inclusion
        • Economic Inclusion

          • Overview
          • Pacesetters
          • Resources
        • ...
          Economic Inclusion
          City Awake

          City Awake empowers young professionals in a variety of ways that encourages these rising leaders to stay invested in the region’s future success.

          arrow-go
          Read More
        • ...
          Economic Inclusion
          Pacesetters

          We are developing an ecosystem of corporations and partners with the influence and buying power to transform economic inclusion for minority business enterprises (MBEs).

          arrow-go
          Read More
        • ...
          Small Business
          Small Business

          Small businesses are the backbone of the Boston economy. Learn more about the resources available through the Chamber.

          arrow-go
          Read More
  • Policy & Impact
        • Policy & Impact

          • Overview
          • Leadership Councils
          • Amicus Advisory Board
        • GET INVOLVED IN OUR POLICY FOCUS AREAS

          Business Climate
          Read More
          Climate & Energy
          Read More
          Health Care
          Read More
          Housing & Development
          Read More
          Talent
          Read More
          Transportation
          Read More
  • Our Networks
        • GBCC’s Networks

          • Overview
        • OUR NETWORKS

          Small Business

          Small businesses are the backbone of the Boston economy. Learn more about the resources available through the Chamber.

          Read More
          City Awake

          City Awake empowers young professionals in a variety of ways that encourages these rising leaders to stay invested in the region’s future success.

          Read More
          BIMA

          BIMA (the Boston Interactive Media Association) serves a vibrant community of like-minded professionals from agencies, brands, publishers, and ad-tech companies with business interests in the New England market.

          Read More
          Women’s Network

          For over 30 years, the Chamber’s Women’s Network has connected female professionals of all background and career levels. Today, our Women’s Network is the largest in New England, strengthening the professional networks of women each year.

          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
          Pacesetters

          We are developing an ecosystem of corporations and partners with the influence and buying power to transform economic inclusion for minority business enterprises (MBEs).

          Read More
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          Explore our mission and values to better understand how we are leading the business community forward.

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          Our member directory is your resource to discover, connect, and engage with Boston’s businesses from every industry and sector.

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What You See You Can Be

February 11, 2020

Each year we are proud to host our Annual Pinnacle Awards, where we honor eight leading #BosBizWomen who are paving the way for women in business and beyond.

This year was certainly no exception as our honorees left us feeling inspired, empowered, and even a few shedding tears.

Particularly, our Emerging Executive honoree, Rita Germán, who kicked off our program with a heartwarming tribute to her mother.

The mother of Rita Germán,reacts as her daughter addresses her during the Pinnacle Awards ceremony.

My mother is an example of hard work, resiliency and hope. And please indulge me a second as I address her directly here today: Mami, eres la otra mitad de mi alma, y todo lo que logro es para ti y por tu ejemplo y apoyo. Te amo de todo corazon.- Rita Germán

Our Emerging Executive award represents a leading woman in the Boston business community who demonstrates strong leadership potential, and as the Director of Community Investments at John Hancock, Rita demonstrates just that. From overseeing the company’s grants portfolio, working to create a healthier more equitable Boston, or supporting several Boston non-profits, Rita is a leader on the rise—and she’s just getting started.

The impact of representation.

As our 2019 Pinnacle Honoree, Deborah Hughes of the Brookview House said, “what you see, you can be.” From a young age, Deborah was surrounded by women in charge and recognized that the possibilities for her own success were endless. Seeing women nurturing and fostering leadership in all realms of her life, she was able to become a strong leader herself.

Each year our Pinnacle Awards selection pool becomes more diverse and representative of our region’s talent, and this year was no exception.  

From left to right: Women’s Network Chairwoman, Yvonne Garcia; Rita Germán, Shari Nethersole MD; Vanessa Calderón-Rosado, PhD; Phyllis Yale; Jane Steinmetz; Ashley McCown; Attorney General Maura Healey; Jennifer Tseng, MD, MPH; and Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, President and CEO, Jim Rooney.

Built by Boston.

As the daughter of immigrants from the Dominican Republic, Rita’s journey to her Pinnacle award was inspiring not only for the young professionals in our sell-out crowd of over 1,300 guests, but particularly for all our first-generation immigrants and young professionals of color in the room. 

 As Rita noted in her remarks- it takes a village to reach the pinnacle of one’s career, “Through it all, I have been so fortunate to have a consistent constellation surround me throughout my entire life’s journey.”

Without a strong foundation of role models, mentors, and support systems, these landmark achievements would not be possible. It is no surprise that each of our honorees credited their success to the women who paved the way for them.

Empowered women, empower women.

There is immense power in hearing the genuine stories of struggles and successes of other women.

As our Achievement in Nonprofit honoree, Vanessa Calderón-Rosado, PhD of Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción (IBA), reminded us, the path to success is not always easy, especially when navigating a new country, language, and even climate.

The most challenging adjustment for me when I came to Boston was to face racism and micro-aggressions. I am very proud of being a Puerto Rican woman. But coming here made me think about hiding my identity and trying to lose my accent; I just wanted to fit in. -Vanessa Calderón-Rosado, PhD

Through sharing these experiences, these stories serve as an inspiration to others and as a much-needed reminder that their dreams are possible and infinite. 

While our Pinnacle Awards may be over, here at the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce we’re celebrating women in business each and every day.

Check out the photos from our Annual Pinnacle Awards and be sure to join us as we carry the inspiring momentum from our Pinnacle Awards into the rest of the new year at our Women’s Network events.

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