The Transportation First Series offers a platform to discuss the challenges faced by our region, with the input of experts and changemakers.
02/12/2025
2:45pm - 4:30pm
Hybrid | Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce
Hear from James E. Rooney about the state of the economy, and how it all matters to businesses, residents, and policymakers.
02/13/2025
10:00am - 10:30am
Virtual
Join us for our first Words of Wisdom dinner of the year featuring Callie Crossley, host & commentor at GBH.
02/20/2025
5:00pm - 7:00pm
Dorchester Brewing Company
Go deeper than basic DEI training to achieve higher productivity, satisfaction, and revenue growth with our new corporate workshop.
This program is in redevelopment. Click this page for DEI resources.
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.
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.
City Awake empowers young professionals in a variety of ways that encourages these rising leaders to stay invested in the region’s future success.
We are developing an ecosystem of corporations and partners with the influence and buying power to transform economic inclusion for minority business enterprises (MBEs).
Small businesses are the backbone of the Boston economy. Learn more about the resources available through the Chamber.
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.
For 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.
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.
Explore our mission and values to better understand how we are leading the business community forward.
Our member directory is your resource to discover, connect, and engage with Boston’s businesses from every industry and sector.
Boston, MA – The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce today
announced that Chamber President and CEO James E. Rooney will be honored with a 2016
Lifetime Achievement Award by the Professional Convention Management Association
(PCMA) Education Foundation.
Rooney will be recognized for his contributions to the meetings industry in North America and
across the globe and as Executive Director of the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority
(MCCA), where he spent a total of 14 years and led Boston to top-tier status in a very
competitive marketplace, before leaving to become head of the Greater Boston Chamber in July.
He will receive the award, together with two other honorees, at the PCMA Education
Foundation’s Visionary Awards event in Washington, D.C. next April.
In announcing the award, the PCMA Education Foundation said, “In addition to his work leading
a top 10 meetings and conventions city, Jim is also an international thought leader in the study of
the benefits of meetings and conventions beyond the traditionally measured tourism metrics,
including economic development. Jim is also a leader in Corporate Social Responsibility,
including the creation of Boston’s successful and renowned Conventions C.A.R.E. program
which encourages planners and exhibitors to donate unused event materials and supplies to local
nonprofits, instead of paying to ship them back to the office”
“Our Honorees each have career paths and accomplishments that both inspire and guide their
peer communities. We are honored to recognize Jim Rooney in this prestigious group and his
many contributions to PCMA and the industry”, said PCMA President & CEO, Deborah Sexton.
“I cannot think of anyone more deserving than Jim Rooney for a lifetime achievement award,”
said Charles Starks, President & CEO, Music City Center, Nashville. “He is truly a visionary
and has personally inspired me every day to advance not only our commitment in Nashville to be
the very best convention facility that we can be, but to work within our community and exceed
expectations of meeting planners and their attendees.”
“I am deeply honored to receive this recognition especially from PCMA, the leading global
convention association,” said Rooney. “I hope that during my time at the MCCA, I was able to
contribute to a broader understanding of the role that the meetings industry plays in regional
economic development, city building, destination branding, business activity and in bringing
people together to break down barriers, learn, exchange knowledge and information. And
finally, I share this recognition with an outstanding MCCA team of industry professionals who
have put Boston on the global conventions industry map over the past decade.”
PCMA is the multi-channel professional resource and premier educator for leaders in the
meetings, conventions, events and trade show industries. PCMA provides their 6,500+ members
with a community of likeminded colleagues, innovative education and creative global solutions
to enhance both their professional development and their organization’s face-to-face and virtual
connections. Headquartered in Chicago, PCMA has 17 chapters throughout the United States,
Canada and Mexico with members in more than 35 countries. For additional information, please
visit the PCMA Web site at pcma.org.
The role of the Education Foundation of the Professional Convention Management Association
(PCMA) is to support the mission of PCMA through fundraising and grant giving focused on
scholarships, education and research that will advance the meetings and conventions industry.
Established in 1985, the Foundation fuels advancement, nurtures professional development and
shapes tomorrow’s meeting and convention leaders. Learn more at pcma.org/foundation.
Katie Hauser
Vice President, Marketing & Communications
[email protected]617-557-7354
Popular Resources