On June 24, Microsoft hosted an alumni reception for past and present members of the Chamber's Boston's Future Leaders program at their new Cambridge headquarters.  Members from each class dating back to 2004 came together to network and enjoy the food generously donated by 2008 Small Business of the Year honoree Bakers' Best Catering.

Click here for images from the evening. For more information on the Boston's Future Leaders program, visit bostonchamber.com.

Photos from this morning's Financial Services Forum with Brian Moynihan of Bank of America are now available online. Click here to view the image library.

For images of previous Financial Services Forum breakfasts, click here.

And remember to save the date for the next Financial Services Forum in the fall. On October 2nd we are pleased to welcome featured speaker Eric Rosengren, president & CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. Registration will be open in September.

Speaking before a sold out crowd of Chamber members at this morning's Financial Services Forum, Brian Moynihan, president of Global Banking and Wealth Management for Bank of America, covered a wide array of topics from the state of the economy to the future of Bank of America to the bank's footprint in the Greater Boston region.

You can find coverage of the event here,  here and here. Check back later today for photography from the event.

Today, the Chamber released the Massachusetts May 2009 Massachusetts Jobs Update, showing the first monthly job gain since May 2008. You can access the Jobs Update by clicking on the link below:

May 2009 Massachusetts Jobs Update

The Greater Boston Chamber works to improve the region’s economy and drive job growth, focusing on four goals— strengthening the workforce; making the business climate more competitive; enhancing critical industries; and fixing infrastructure. The Chamber's agenda includes the following priority issues:

• Transportation:  Closing the transportation financing gap by supporting the enactment and implementation of recent structural reform and funding measures.
• State Fiscal Policy:  Strengthening long-term state budget planning by supporting, and working to further expand, the transfer of substantial capital gains revenue growth to the Rainy Day Fund.
• Health Care Costs:  Working to advance cost-containment measures that improve health care system efficiency while preserving access to care.

Headlines from the May 2009 Massachusetts Jobs Update include:

• Massachusetts added 4,900 jobs last month; first monthly job gain since May 2008
• Massachusetts remains 195,000 jobs below previous peak; lowest employment since February 2008
• State leisure & hospitality jobs ranked 31st among states last 12 months

You can find all of the 2008-2009 monthly Massachusetts Jobs Update documents archived on the Chamber’s website, bostonchamber.com.

In the 'Briefing Room,' Guzzi and Nikitas talk with Cubist CEO Michael Bonney about being named #1 in the Globe 100, and the company's future plans.

On 'The Business Beat' with Peter Howe, Guzzi, Nikitas, and Howe discuss Obama's efforts to overhaul health care, transportation reform in Massachusetts, the state's recent job numbers, and the Comcast takeover of NECN.

BU economics professor Mark Williams joined Paul Guzzi and Mike Nikitas on yesterday's edition of 'This Week in Business.'  Williams shared his perspective on the financial regulations proposed by the Obama administration last week.

 

 

The Chamber supports several measures included in the conference committee budget released by House and Senate negotiators, including the designation of $275 million for transportation and the dedication of capital gains revenue to the Rainy Day Fund.

 

Coupled with the transportation reforms enacted by both branches of the legislature yesterday, the designation of $275 million for transportation will help alleviate the system’s immediate budget troubles.  These funds will help secure the state’s obligation to bondholders, while also delaying toll hikes and MBTA fare increases.  The Chamber will continue to work with administration officials and legislative leaders on further system reforms and a more permanent solution to the revenue shortfall.

 

The Chamber believes that the budget proposal transferring a significant portion of new capital gains revenue growth to the Rainy Day Fund is a step in the right direction.  This measure will strengthen the reserve fund, and lessen our reliance on volatile capital gains revenue to fund general expenditures.  The more capital gains revenue that can be deposited into the Rainy Day Fund in the years ahead, the better equipped we will be to preserve critical programs, avert tax increases, and weather future recessions.
 
Learn more about the Chamber's public policy initiatives at bostonchamber.com.

 

Chamber president & CEO Paul Guzzi went on the record with NECN anchor RD Sahl last night.  Topics included the transportation reform plan enacted by the Massachusetts legislature, the state budget and sales tax, positive job numbers, and Sail Boston.

The transportation legislation agreed upon by House and Senate leaders is a major step forward towards addressing our transportation challenges.  The Chamber supports the significant reforms included in the conference committee report, including: structural reorganization for a more logical, and less cumbersome, state bureaucracy that eliminates duplication of agencies; pension and health care reform; and progress on the issue of tort reform.

Now that significant reform has been enacted, the state can and should move forward on the issue of transportation financing.  The dedication of sales tax dollars in the House and Senate budget bills will solve some of our most immediate transportation financing needs.  It is important that those needs be addressed right away. 

Restructuring the state’s transportation system and identifying and devoting new revenue is critical as Massachusetts looks to address the $20 billion financing gap revealed by the Transportation Finance Commission. 

The Chamber will continue to work to achieve a well-funded and efficient transportation system that is crucial to ensure economic growth throughout the Commonwealth.

On the 'Business Beat' with Peter Howe, Paul Guzzi and Mike Nikitas get Peter's take on the Globe and discuss the Federal Reserve's latest Beige Book.

On yesterday's edition of 'This Week in Business,' our Boston Business Editors Roundtable discussed the latest developments in the Boston Globe saga and the repayment of TARP funds.

In the 'Briefing Room,' Dr. Christina Lampe-Onnerud, CEO of Boston-Power, discusses the latest developments in environmentally friendly batteries and the company's new plant in Massachusetts.

Click here to view images from Monday's luncheon with Congressman Edward Markey.

You can view images from all of the Chamber's Government Affairs Forum events on our Flickr page as well, including breakfasts with Governor Patrick, Speaker of the House Robert DeLeo, Senate President Therese Murray, and Massachusetts Treasurer Timothy Cahill.

Throughout the Chamber's 100 year history, there has been a small, special group of legendary leaders who have come to epitomize the soul and the spirit of Boston. 

They have come from both the public and private sectors, and made an enduring mark on our community.  

At the Centennial Celebration on May 19,2009, the Chamber honored two of these leaders who have brought business and government together for the benefit of Boston.

In the private sector we recognized Jack Connors, co-founder and chairman emeritus of Hill Holliday, chairman of Partners Healthcare, and a towering figure in the business community. 

And in the public sector we honored Mayor Tom Menino – soon to be Boston’s longest serving Mayor, a champion of education, and one of the great political figures in the city’s history.

Jack and Tom are iconic figures, not only for what they have accomplished in business and government, but for their continued leadership in our community.

The Chamber applauds Mayor Menino’s support for increasing the number of charter schools in order to change the status quo in education.  The Mayor proposed the creation of “in-district” charter schools in Boston, and said that if such a proposal was not authorized he would support lifting the cap on charter schools.  Increasing the number of charter schools has long been supported by the Chamber and the employer community as vital to development of the state’s workforce.

Charter schools offer new educational opportunities and provide encouragement to parents and educators seeking greater creativity and flexibility.   They have also proven to be an effective tool in closing the achievement gap between low-income and minority students and their peers, a critical issue for schools in urban areas throughout the state. 

The Chamber will continue to work with the Mayor and legislative leaders in the coming weeks and months to ensure continued support for and expansion of the charter school model.

Read more about the Chamber's recent work on charter schools here.

In recognition of the critical need for collaboration in order to advance Greater Boston's economic and community priorities, The Chamber presented its first Collaborative Leadership Award at the Centennial Celebration. 

There aren’t many individuals who can serve in a Republican Governor’s cabinet, and on a Democratic Governor’s transition team;

Who can be part of a Republican administration in Washington, and be on the host committee for a Democratic National Convention in Boston;

Who can work as an attorney at one of Boston’s most prominent law firms, and become president of one of its most prestigious universities.

But such is the bridge-building talent of Gloria Larson. 

In her various roles in government, law, and academia, Gloria has achieved great success for Greater Boston by working with leaders from all points of view. 

And some of Boston’s other business leaders told us more…




For her unique capacity to bring people together – the Chamber presented Gloria Larson with its very first collaborative leadership award.

Peter Lynch is known throughout the world for his tremendous success at Fidelity’s Magellan Fund. 

For 19 years under Peter’s leadership, Magellan leveraged the strength of average people and transformed the way that working class Americans viewed investing. 

At its peak, one in every 100 Americans was a Magellan investor, and Peter’s two books on investing, “One Up on Wall Street,” and “Beat the Street” have each sold more than a million copies.

And yet, for countless organizations in Greater Boston, Peter’s greatest achievements came after he retired from Magellan in 1990, and devoted himself to providing educational opportunities for inner-city students. 

Over the past 20 years, the Lynch foundation has raised more than $125 million in endowments and scholarships for countless organizations including the Catholic Schools Foundation, Boston College, Teach for America, Partners in Health, First Night, and the Special Olympics. 

And those who have worked with Peter in these efforts told us more…




In honor of his passion for education and all he has done for Boston’s youth, the Chamber welcomed Peter Lynch into the Academy of Distinguished Bostonians.

Earlier today at the Chamber's Government Affairs Forum, Congressman Ed Markey discussed the Waxman-Markey bill and its impact on jobs in Massachusetts. 

You can find coverage of the event here and here.

For more than a decade, Linda Whitlock was focused on one goal: helping Boston’s youth realize their full potential.

She succeeded on a level that few could have imagined, raising the Boys & Girls Club of Boston to a new level of effectiveness and impacting the lives of countless thousands of children.

During her decade at the helm of the Club, Linda nearly doubled the number of youths served by its programs to more than 14,000. 
And she increased the endowment from less than $2 million to more than $20 million. 

Linda created a more open, outward looking organization, with key supporters throughout the ranks of business and government. 

And, perhaps most importantly, those leaders continue to believe in her vision for the future of Boston’s youth.

Those who are close to Linda told us more…




For her passionate commitment to future generations of Bostonians, the CHamber welcomed Linda Whitlock into the Academy of Distinguished Bostonians.