FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 8, 2026

Charles River Regional Chamber Puts Higher Ed's Future in the Spotlight at 111th Annual Fall Business Breakfast

Panel with leaders from UMass Amherst, MassBay Community College and Lasell University; John Fogarty to receive RL Tennant Award

The Charles River Regional Chamber will focus its 111th Annual Fall Business Breakfast on the challenges and opportunities facing higher education in Massachusetts, a sector that is critical to the state's economy and to businesses across the region.

The breakfast takes place Friday, Nov. 13, from 7 to 9:30 a.m. at the Newton Marriott, with the formal program beginning at 8 a.m.

Massachusetts colleges and universities generate more than $70 billion per year in economic activity and support nearly half a million jobs, according to figures from a 2025 Econsult Solutions study commissioned by the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce. They also train the workforce that employers across the state depend on, and are a key driver of the statewide research and innovation enterprise.

But the sector faces mounting pressure: a shrinking pool of college-age students, federal funding cuts, immigration restrictions affecting international students, rising costs and an AI revolution reshaping what it means to be prepared for the jobs of the future.

"Higher ed isn't just a campus issue. It's a business issue," said Greg Reibman, President & CEO of the Charles River Regional Chamber. "What happens at our colleges and universities will shape our workforce and our economy for decades. That's why we've made it the focus of our biggest event of the year."

The panel will feature:

Fouad Abd-El-Khalick, Provost, UMass Amherst
David Podell, President, MassBay Community College
Eric Turner, President, Lasell University
An additional panelist to be announced

Hilary Burns, higher education opinion writer for The Boston Globe, will moderate.

The Chamber will also present John Fogarty, retiring President & CEO of Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital–Needham, with its RL Tennant Award. The award is presented annually to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the businesses and communities of Greater Boston's inner western suburbs.

Fogarty has led the hospital since 2011, guiding it and the community through some of the toughest years in modern health care. Along the way, he oversaw major growth, expanding breast screening, outpatient and surgical services and building a comprehensive cancer center.

Location: Newton Marriott Ballroom, 2345 Commonwealth Ave, Newton
Date: Friday, November 13, 2026
Time: 7:15 AM – 9:00 AM
Admission: Tickets are on sale now at charlesriverchamber.com/fallbreakfast

For more details and ticket reservations, visit the event webpage or contact the Charles River Regional Chamber at info@charlesriverchamber.com.

About the Charles River Regional Chamber
The Charles River Regional Chamber is the leading voice for businesses in Boston's inner western suburbs, representing more than 1,300 organizations across Newton, Needham, Watertown, Wellesley, Brookline and surrounding communities. Our mission is to champion our community's economic and cultural vitality through education, advocacy and networking.

This event is sponsored by: Needham Bank, Insource Services, Newton-Wellesley Hospital, The Village Bank, Umass Amherst Charles River Campus, Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital Needham, Boston Children's Hospital, Boylston Properties, North Hill , CMIT Solutions and The Street.

For press inquiries, please contact:
Max Woolf: Charles River Regional Chamber
Email: mwoolf@charlesriverchamber.com
Phone: 617-244-5300