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.

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.

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.

The Chamber has set-up an online group where members can access and download images from yesterday's Centennial Celebration. We will be updating the online album throughout the week, so be sure to check back frequently!

More than 1,500 business and civic leaders turned out last night at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center for the Chamber's Centennial Celebration! Centennial speaker Colin Powell captivated the audience with an inspiring keynote address.

Congratulations once again to each of the evening's deserving honorees:

Centennial Award:

• Mayor Thomas M. Menino, City of Boston
• Jack Connors

 Collaborative Leadership Award:

• Gloria C. Larson, president, Bentley University

2009 Academy of Distinguished Bostonians:

• Peter S. Lynch, vice-chairman, Fidelity Management & Research Company
• Linda Whitlock, Former Nicholas President & CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston

The Boston Herald was in attendance and featured the event in today's issue.

Thank you to everyone who supported the event. Be sure to check the Chamber blog throughout the week as we post photos and videos from the evening.

On Monday, June 8, the Chamber will host a Government Affairs Forum luncheon with Congressman Ed Markey.

The Dean of the Massachusetts congressional delegation, Congressman Markey works to harness the energy and focus of his colleagues on behalf of the entire Commonwealth. A national leader on energy and the environment, Markey chairs the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming.  Under his leadership, this critical new committee has held more than 50 hearings and contributed to the advancement of smarter energy and climate policies, including the first increase in fuel economy standards in three decades.  He also chairs the newly created Energy and Environment subcommittee, which will have unprecedented jurisdiction over national energy policy and play a central role in drafting energy and climate legislation in a new era of change.

To register for this event, click here.

On Friday, June 26, the Chamber's Financial Services Forum will feature Bank of America's Brian Moynihan.

Moynihan is president of Global Banking and Wealth Management for Bank of America.  Moynihan joined Bank of America in 2004, and has held several management positions including his most recent role as general counsel in the merger of Bank of America and Merrill Lynch & Co.  Under his leadership, Global Banking and Wealth Management deliver industry leading services to individuals, institutions, corporations, and institutional investors in more than 150 countries.  Bank of America currently has a leading commercial and investment bank, the largest wealth management business in the world, and serves 100 percent of the Fortune 500 corporations.

Moynihan came to Bank of America through the bank’s merger with FleetBoston Financial.  During his stay at Fleet, Moynihan served as deputy general counsel, leading Brokerage & Wealth Management.  He currently chairs Bank of America’s Global Diversity and Inclusion Council and serves on the board of directors for YouthBuild Boston and the Boys and Girls Club of Boston.  Moynihan is a graduate of Brown University and the University of Notre Dame Law School.

To register for this event, click here.

On an evening when we pay tribute to 100 years of leadership in the Greater Boston business community, we are proud to hear from our Centennial Speaker, General Colin L. Powell. One of the most admired and respected leaders in America today, General Powell will offer his thoughts on leadership and vision for tomorrow.

A man of supreme intelligence, versatility, and presence, General Powell served as the first African-American chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and was appointed Secretary of State by President George W. Bush, becoming, at that time, the most powerful African-American ever to hold public office. He previously served as a key aide to the Secretary of Defense and was National Security Advisor to President Reagan. Powell is a retired four-star general in the United States Army, and his numerous awards include two Presidential Medals of Freedom, the President’s Citizens Medal, the Congressional Gold Medal, the Secretary of State Distinguished Service Medal, the Secretary of Energy Distinguished Service Medal, and the Ronald Reagan Freedom Award. He is the author of My American Journey, a best-selling autobiography.

Since returning to private life, General Powell has become a strategic limited partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, the renowned Silicon Valley venture capital firm. He is the Founder of the Colin Powell Policy Center at his alma mater, the City College of New York, and he is helping to raise funds for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Washington, DC, and for the construction of an education center at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

As someone who has crafted and articulated U.S. policy on the world stage, Powell provides insight on efforts to stabilize a troubled world and the diplomatic and leadership skills needed to transform unstable regions into areas where societies and cultures flourish.

To register for this event, please visit the Centennial Celebration online registration page on bostonchamber.com.

On May 19 the Greater Boston Chamber will host our Centennial Celebration - our 100th Annual Meeting and Dinner.

Every year since 1983, the Chamber has had the privilege of inducting some of Greater Boston's most accomplished leaders into the Academy of Distinguished Bostonians. At our Centennial Celebration on May 19, 2009, we will add two more members to this remarkable group.

Peter S. Lynch is considered one of the most successful money managers in Wall Street history.   From 1977 to 1990, he was the portfolio manager of Fidelity's Magellan Fund. By the time he retired, Magellan had grown from $20 million to more than $14 billion, with over 1 million shareholders, making it the largest and best-performing equity fund in the world.  Lynch currently serves as an advisory board member of the Fidelity Funds and vice chairman of Fidelity Management & Research.  He left the Magellan Fund in 1990 in order to devote more time to non-profit work. He serves as president of the Catholic Schools Foundation (CSF), an organization devoted to supporting the educational mission of the Catholic Church.  Over the past 19 years, Lynch has helped raise more than $60 million for CSF’s Inner City Scholarship Fund, which grants scholarships to children living in Boston’s inner city and attending Catholic schools. In 1999 Lynch and his wife donated $10 million to the Boston College School of Education – the largest gift in the history of the school.  BC has since rededicated the school as the Carolyn A. and Peter S. Lynch School of Education. Lynch is the author of three books, One Up on Wall Street, Beating the Street and Learn to Earn. His works have been touted as some of the most successful books ever written about the stock market and investing. 

Linda Whitlock is the immediate past Nicholas President and Chief Executive Officer of Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston, one of the most highly regarded youth institutions in Greater Boston.Whitlock brought her passion for excellence and inspired leadership to an organization whose high-impact programs enable more than 14,000 children and teens from low income neighborhoods in Greater Boston to become responsible citizens and leaders. During her decade at the helm of the Club, she nearly doubled the number of youths served by its programs, increased the endowment from less than $2 million to more than $20 million, and significantly broadened the giving base during one of the region’s largest fundraising campaigns. Whitlock served in the administrations of Governor Dukakis and Governor King, and has taught at MIT, Tufts, and the University of Michigan. She is a frequent lecturer on topics related to strategic leadership, effective governance, civic engagement, and skilled philanthropy, and most recently served as senior advisor to Harvard Business School Professor Michael Porter in his role as CEO of the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City. Whitlock has been named one of the Most Powerful Women in Boston by Boston Magazine, and currently serves on the boards of Cambridge Trust Company, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Brandeis University, Boston World Partnerships, the Boston Museum, and Boston Afterschool and Beyond.  

We will also recognize to the spirit of collaboration that continues to guide our business and government communities by honoring one truly extraordinary leader with the Chamber's first ever Collaborative Leadership Award.

Gloria Cordes Larson is president of Bentley University, ranked by U.S. News and World Report as one of America’s best universities and graduate business programs.  A public policy expert, lawyer and business leader, Larson has outstanding leadership in both the public and private sectors during the course of her career.  She has compiled an outstanding track record as an effective bridge-builder – working to bring together opposing sides on divisive issues. 

Larson joined Bentley from the leading law firm Foley Hoag, where she co-chaired the Government Strategies Group. Widely influential in economic policy, Larson led a business advisory cabinet for Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, and co-chaired his transition team. In the administration of former Massachusetts Governor William Weld, she served as secretary of economic affairs and secretary of consumer affairs and business regulation. Larson also served as a senior official of the Federal Trade Commission for more than 10 years.  Since 1998 she has chaired the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, overseeing the renovation of the MassMutual Center in Springfield and construction of the $800 million Boston Convention and Exhibition Center.  An advocate for economic growth and job creation, Larson has chaired or served on the boards of the New England Council, MassINC, Boston Center for the Arts, Roger Williams University School of Law, Massachusetts Women’s Forum, Rosie’s Place, and The Dimock Center.  As befitting her collaborative leadership and reputation for bipartisanship, she was appointed by Governor Romney to the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway Conservancy Board and appointed to the Host Committee for the Democratic National Convention by Mayor Thomas Menino.
 
We hope you will join us for this remarkable evening, as we pay tribute to the powerful legacy of the Chamber’s past and lay the groundwork for developing the leaders of our future.

To register for this event, please visit the Centennial Celebration online registration page on bostonchamber.com.

Today, the Chamber hosted a Clean Tech Forum with moderator Ian Bowles, Secretary of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, and panelists Tim Healy, chairman & CEO of EnerNOC; Dr. Christina Lampe-Onnerud, founder & CEO of Boston-Power, Inc.; and Hemant Taneja, managing director of General Catalyst Partners and chairman of the New England  Clean Energy Council. Among many topics of discussion were renewable energy, energy regulations, the role of strong state and federal energy legislation, and the importance of reducing waste.

To view images from today’s event, click here.

The Clean Tech Forum was covered by the Boston Business Journal.
 

On May 19 the Chamber will host our Centennial Celebration - our 100th Annual Meeting and Dinner.

This extraordinary evening will be dedicated to leadership. As part of this celebration, we will present Jack Connors and Mayor Thomas M. Menino with the Chamber’s Centennial Award. For nearly two decades they have worked together to make Greater Boston a better place to live and work. They have played a defining role in our region, and will continue to guide our future.

Mayor Thomas M. Menino is the longest serving mayor in Boston’s illustrious history, and continues to be a champion for the neighborhoods he serves. Since his election in 1993, Menino has also been a strong advocate for the business community, providing critical leadership through periods of financial growth as well as slowdowns. He continues to prioritize education, affordable housing, public safety, health care, and neighborhood revitalization – all issues that are extremely important to the business community. Menino served his neighborhood of Hyde Park as a city councilor for nine years prior to becoming mayor.
 
Jack Connors is a founding partner and chairman emeritus of Hill, Holliday, Connors, Cosmopulos, Inc. Under his leadership, Hill, Holliday evolved from a one-room shop to one of the top 20 advertising firms in the U.S. Boston Magazine named him one of the most powerful people in Boston, and he’s been a major force behind initiatives such as Camp Harbor View, The Campaign for Catholic Schools, and The Edward M. Kennedy Institute. Connors is a strong advocate for Boston’s world-class hospitals, and serves as chair of Partners HealthCare, one of the nation’s leading hospital systems and the largest private employer in Massachusetts. 

We hope you will join us for this remarkable evening, as we pay tribute to the powerful legacy of the Chamber’s past and lay the groundwork for developing the leaders of our future.

To register for this event, please visit the Centennial Celebration online registration page on bostonchamber.com.

In the spirit of Earth Day, next week the Chamber will host a a special forum on Clean Tech: Fueling Innovation and Growth in Massachusetts.

The clean technology industry is a driver of innovation and job creation here in Massachusetts, even during this time of economic downturn.  Governor Deval Patrick and President Barack Obama have both made ‘green jobs’ an economic priority and the Commonwealth seems particularly well positioned to benefit.  Already, clean energy firms in Massachusetts account for more than 14,000 jobs – with an annual job growth rate of 20 percent.

The region’s colleges and universities are increasing their research in renewable energy, and the state could see an infusion of federal stimulus money for wind power and efficiencies. 

This unique clean technology panel with focus on the future of this industry in Massachusetts and offer Chamber members the opportunity to hear directly from some of the key players in government, development, and venture capital funding. The panel will be moderated by Ian Bowles, Secretary of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, and will feature:

• Tim Healy, chairman & CEO of EnerNOC
• Dr. Christina Lampe-Onnerud, founder & CEO, Boston-Power, Inc.
• Hemant Taneja, managing director of General Catalyst Partners and chairman of the New England Clean Energy Council  

We hope you will join us for this unique event.

To register, please click here.

The Greater Boston Chamber will honor five outstanding leaders and hear from one of the nation’s most accomplished generals and statesmen at the Chamber’s Centennial Celebration on May 19, 2009, at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center.  The Chamber will present the following awards:

Distinguished Bostonian Award

• Peter S. Lynch, vice-chairman, Fidelity Management & Research Company
• Linda Whitlock, immediate past President & CEO, Boys & Girls Club of Boston

Collaborative Leadership Award

• Gloria C. Larson, president, Bentley University

Centennial Award

• Thomas M. Menino, Mayor, City of Boston
• Jack Connors, founding partner, Hill Holliday

In addition, former Secretary of State General Colin L. Powell, USA (Ret) will be the keynote speaker, delivering remarks on leadership.

“For 100 years the Chamber’s success has been driven by the region’s talented government and business leaders,” said Paul Guzzi, president & CEO of the Greater Boston Chamber.  “These five individuals have accomplished a great deal for Greater Boston.  They have lived up to the ideal of this Chamber, set forth by our first president J.J. Storrow, that the business leaders of Boston could come together to ‘accomplish some good for the welfare of our city and state.’

“We look forward to honoring their significant contributions to our community and the leadership they have demonstrated throughout their careers,” Guzzi continued.  “And on an evening dedicated to leadership, we are delighted to hear from one of the greatest military leaders and statesmen of our time – General Colin Powell.” 

The event is being chaired by John Fish, CEO of Suffolk Construction Company. 

“I am absolutely honored to chair the Chamber’s special Centennial Celebration, which will pay tribute to the importance of leadership in business and our surrounding neighborhoods,” said Fish.  “The individuals we will honor at this year’s Centennial Celebration, along with keynote speaker General Colin Powell, all represent the kind of strong leadership and commitment to giving back that can have the most significant and long lasting impact on our communities. This event will surely be an inspirational and memorable evening for everyone.”

To register for the Centennial Celebration, click here.

Earlier today, Dr. JudyAnn Bigby, Secretary of Health & Human Services for the Commonwealth, spoke at a Women’s Network Breakfast.  Click here to view images from the event.

Don’t miss the next Women’s Network Breakfast with Sandra Fedwick, president and COO of Children’s Hospital Boston, on May 14.  For event details and registration, click here.

At tomorrow's Government Affairs Forum, Massachusetts Speaker of the House Robert DeLeo will deliver his first major address to the boston business community.

Click here to register for this event.

Senator Therese Murray, president of the Massachusetts State Senate, will be the featured speaker at the Chamber's Government Affairs Forum on April 15.

Since being overwhelmingly elected by her colleagues to lead the Senate in March of 2007, Murray has succeeded in driving a number of legislative initiatives.  She was the sponsor and key driver of a health care cost control bill enacted in 2008 that will hold health care providers and insurers to new standards of transparency and modernize the state’s health care delivery system.  Murray has also driven passage of laws addressing renewable energy sources and efficiency, the biotech and life science industry, and improvements to our housing, education, and transportation infrastructure.  Thanks to her leadership, the Commonwealth benefits from a top bond rating and health Rainy Day and unemployment trust funds.

First elected to the Senate in 1992, Murray has long worked to protect the industries of her South Shore and Cape Cod district.  She has been a strong advocate for the promotion of local tourism, protection of the environment, and enhanced security at Pilgrim Nuclear Plant and other important facilities throughout Plymouth and Barnstable Counties.  Murray previously served as director of the Municipal Women’s Project, community relations consultant for Times Mirror Communications, and founder and treasurer of South Shore Cablevision.

To register for this event, click here.

Robert DeLeo, speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, will be the featured speaker at the Chamber's Government Affairs Forum on March 31.

DeLeo was elected Speaker of the House on January 28, 2009.  He comes to the position after more than four years as chairman of the House Committee on Ways & Means – a critical experience that has prepared him to navigate the state budget through a challenging economy.  An 18-year veteran of the House, DeLeo’s knowledge of the legislative process and respect among his fellow lawmakers will help create a smooth transition and allow legislative leaders to focus on addressing the state’s many challenges.

DeLeo is a graduate of Northeastern University and Suffolk University Law School.  He served as chair of the Town of Winthrop’s Board of Selectmen for nine years and as a Town Meeting member for more than 30 years. DeLeo previously chaired the Committees on Bills in Third Reading, Local Affairs, and Ethics.

To register for this event, click here.

Michael Bonney, president and CEO of Cubist Pharmaceuticals, will be the featured speaker at the Chamber's Life Science Forum on March 26.

Cubist is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the research, development, and commercialization of pharmaceutical products that address unmet medical needs in the acute care environment. 
Cubist developed and commercialized CUBICIN®, which has experienced the most successful IV antibiotic launch, in dollar terms, in U.S. history, and is expected to eventually achieve sales of greater than $1 billion annually in the U.S. alone.

Michael Bonney joined Cubist in 2001, after serving in a variety of positions at Biogen, including vice president of sales & marketing.  While at Biogen, he built the commercial structure for the launch of Avonex.  Bonney also spent eleven years at Zeneca Pharmaceuticals, ending his career there as national business director.  Bonney is a director NPS Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and serves on the Board of Trustees of the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Bates College.  He is also a member of the Biotechnology Industry Organization.

To register for this event, click here.