By Katherine Herer

With 118 events held in 2017, your chamber has been busier than ever. Yet, with a growing membership base both in terms of location and diversity of professions, we’re committed to continuing to increase our programming in order to provide valuable networking and educational opportunities across our region.

 

• Our 2018 calendar strikes a balance between larger marquee programs and smaller targeted offerings curated to serve key industries and to showcase stunning venues across our geographic footprint. We’re maintaining the core annual events and monthly networking staples you’ve come to expect– but are adding new series and special events sure to impress. Following is a preview of what’s to come this year.
• We're launching a new monthly Small Business Seminar series, presented by Wellesley Bank and sponsored by William James College. Happening the morning of every third Friday at William James College, the series will feature industry experts presenting on topics, such as marketing, HR and leadership coaching, designed to help you grow your small business. The program launched Feb. 16 with a workshop titled "Who says your marketing can't be better, faster and cheaper?" with guest speaker Louis Gudema. On March 16, employment law experts Elizabeth Adler and Nancy Perlman of Beacon Law Group will present a timely discussion about harassment in the workplace and highlight what employers can do to insure they are following appropriate procedures. The April seminar will outline how to make your business’ website more accessible and ADA compliant, led by Bruce Howell from The Carroll Center for the Blind.
• You can look to the chamber for no less than 5 social networking events each month at rotating locations throughout Newton, Needham and surrounding communities. Coffee Connects, presented by Century Bank, are by far the most popular of these regular offerings, regularly drawing over 70 members and future members for fast paced networking and lots of coffee. Upcoming venues include Your German Kitchen in Newtonville (Feb. 22), Champ Internet Solutions in the Charles River Mill District (March 15) and the Needham Golf Club (April 4).
• For those who aren’t early risers, we offer networking events at lunchtime (Women in Networking Lunches), after work (Business After Hours and Young Processionals Networking Happy Hours) as well as in the afternoon at smaller retail venues through our Shop & Schmooze series, sponsored by Wellesley Bank, The Street and Hillman Homes.
• Additionally, look for guest speakers, casual networking nights and innovative workshops tailored to the real estate, nonprofit, health and wellness, legal, marketing and innovation economy sectors, curated by the chamber’s numerous programming committees.
• Our restaurant members host a variety of events throughout the year at their respective locations but there is only one night where the area’s best food and beverage establishments are on display under one roof and that’s Spring Seasonings: A Taste of our Towns happening Mon. April 9 at the Newton Marriott. The 24th annual event is presented by Newton-Wellesley Hospital and is by far our most popular community event of the year – so get your tickets early and come ready to sample lots of delicious bites from local chefs.
• Later this spring, mark your calendars for our annual Spring Business Breakfast (Thurs. May 17 at the Needham Sheraton) presented by Eastern Bank, featuring a keynote speaker and the Green Business Awards. On June 22, we’re once again teaming up with the Brookline Chamber for Breakfast at Fenway Park. And, on June 29 we’ll be on the banks of the Charles River at the Newton Marriott for our Members Celebration – an annual event recognizing longstanding member milestone anniversaries.
• We’ll stay outdoors as much as possible over the summer – with our uber-popular pool deck party at Hotel Indigo, presented by The Bulfinch Group, on July 18; our Children’s Charitable Golf Tournament presented by The Village Bank (returning to Woodland Golf Club Aug. 6;) and with a second annual Cornhole Tournament Aug. 8 on the gorgeous lawn at MIT Endicott House (a partnership between our nonprofit and young professionals committees).
• Fall is back to business, and you won’t want to miss our largest annual gathering of 500 local business and civic leaders – our Fall Business Breakfast – presented by Needham Bank Thurs. Nov. 8 at the Newton Marriott.

You can find more information about our upcoming events on our website. We’ll continue to announce new offerings throughout the year – so visit our website, nnchamber.com, for the most up-to-date information and to register.

We’re always looking for new venues for networking events and workshops in addition to partners to help us execute some of our bigger functions – please give me a call at 617-916-9064 if you would like to get involved as a host or volunteer – or if you have any questions at all about our programming calendar.