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Home > Press Release > Chamber Announces Nine Greater Boston Leaders as Pinnacle Award Honorees
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Boston Chamber
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          • Overview
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          • New Chamber Event Series
        • ...
          Women's Network
          A Fireside Chat with Dr. Melissa Gilliam, Boston University

          This Women's Network event will offer an insightful conversation with Dr. Melissa Gilliam, the 11th President of Boston University and both the first woman and the first Black woman to lead the institution since its founding in 1869.

          06/18/2025

          11:30am - 1:00pm

          Fairmont Copley Plaza

          arrow-go
          Read More
        • ...
          Special Event
          Talent and Competitiveness in 2025: Finding Opportunity in Uncertain Times

          Join the Chamber and Massachusetts Business Roundtable for a deep dive into employer insights, featuring analysis from McKinsey and a panel of experts.

          06/26/2025

          11:00am - 12:00pm

          Virtual

          arrow-go
          Read More
        • ...
          Pacesetters
          Doing Business with Mass General Brigham

          Join us for our installment of the Pacesetters Doing Business series featuring Mass General Brigham on June 26, 2025.

          06/26/2025

          1:00pm - 2:00pm

          Virtual

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

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          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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Chamber Announces Nine Greater Boston Leaders as Pinnacle Award Honorees

December 7, 2020

The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce (GBCC) Women’s Network is pleased to announce the 2021 Pinnacle Awards, honoring nine remarkable female professionals in Greater Boston for outstanding achievement in business and management. The Pinnacle Awards were formed 27 years ago by the Chamber’s Women’s Network to honor leading women for outstanding achievement in the workplace, demonstrated leadership that has made a difference, and a commitment to enhancing the quality of life in the region. The award is the most prestigious honor for female professionals in the region.

This year’s honorees will be recognized on Friday, January 29, 2021, 12:00pm – 1:00pm, at the annual Pinnacle Awards held virtually on the Chamber’s Women’s Network platform. Lisa Hughes News Anchor for WBZ-TV will serve as the event’s Master of Ceremonies. Past honorees include Anita F. Hill, Sandi L. Fenwick, Vicary Graham, Chief Justice Margaret Marshall, Diane Hessan, Liz Cheng, and Courtney Scrubbs. View all past honorees by achievement here.

“Our Pinnacle Awards are always extraordinary, and this year, the celebration acknowledges the tremendous leadership of the honorees as they led their companies and industries through a time of crisis,” said James E. Rooney, President & CEO of the GBCC. “As we begin the 27th year of the Chamber’s Women’s Network, it is even more important that we amplify the voices and accomplishments of women in the business community as they lead us forward.”

“Now more than ever, we must celebrate and magnify the accomplishments of our leaders in the Greater Boston business community. Congratulations to the illustrious 2021 Pinnacle Award honorees, and I look forward to applauding your tremendous achievements at the virtual event,” said Micho Spring, Chair of Weber Shandwick’s Global Corporate Practice and New England President and Chair of the Chamber’s Board of Directors.

“Congratulations to the 2021 Pinnacle Award honorees. Each leader is a source of inspiration for all of us,” said Yvonne Garcia, Chair of the GBCC’s Women’s Network Advisory Board and Chief of Staff to the Chairman & CEO and Global Head of Communications at State Street. “As we reflect on the challenges this year presented, I am encouraged by the perseverance and accomplishments of these leaders and their intense commitment to our community.”

The 2021 Pinnacle Award honorees are listed below:

Entrepreneurship Jennifer Harrington President, HATCH
Management – Private Kathy Horgan EVP, Chief Human Resources and Corporate Citizenship Officer, State Street Corporation
Management – Government The Honorable Karen E. Spilka Senate President, Massachusetts State Senate
Management – Nonprofit Arlene Fortunato Senior Vice President of Advancement, Greater Boston Food Bank
Professions Marianne Harrison President and Chief Executive Officer, John Hancock
Excellence in Health Care & Life Sciences Jessie M. Gaeta, MD Chief Medical Officer, Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program
Excellence in Arts & Education Pam Y. Eddinger, Ph.D. President, Bunker Hill Community College
Emerging Executive Nia Grace Owner and Operator, Darryl’s Corner Bar and Kitchen
Lifetime Achievement Pamela D. Everhart Senior Vice President, Head of Regional Public Affairs and Community Relations, Fidelity Investments

Learn more about each of our 2021 honorees here.

The Pinnacle Award for Lifetime Achievement is awarded annually to an honoree who has not only demonstrated an exemplary career of outstanding leadership within her organization and industry, but who has also worked to advance women in the workplace. This year’s Lifetime Achievement Honoree is Pam Everhart, Senior Vice President, Head of Regional Public Affairs & Community Relations at Fidelity Investments. In addition to Everhart’s contributions to Fidelity, she is an integral member and voice within the broader statewide business community. Most recently, Everhart co-founded the New Commonwealth Racial Equity and Social Justice Fund to fight systemic racism and create equity. Everhart serves as the Co-Chair of the Chamber’s Public Policy & Government Relations Leadership Council, and she is a member of the Chamber’s Economic Opportunity Committee.

The Greater Boston Chamber’s Women’s Network was founded in 1994 to promote and expand economic opportunities throughout the Greater Boston region for all women in business through shared leadership and expertise. The Women’s Network offers programs that provide career enrichment and development opportunities for women at all professional levels, spotlight the accomplishments of women, and promote the positive influence that women have upon the Greater Boston region.

Members of the press wishing to cover the 2021 Pinnacle Awards should RSVP to Casey Baines at [email protected].

Casey Baines

Director, Policy & Communications

[email protected]
617-557-7320

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