North Shore Chamber of Commerce Impact Magazine - December 2021

Impact NORTH SHORE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Being a local business ourselves, we know what it takes to succeed in a crowded, competitive market. Whether you’re small or mid-sized, a wholesaler or manufacturer, a real estate investor or developer, we have the products and services to help your business thrive.

Call us at (978) 573-1300 or visit northshore-bank.com/business.

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2022 LEGAL

OUR REGION AT WORK

REAL ESTATE

Member FDIC Member DIF Equal Housing Lender

HEALTH CARE TECHNOLOGY

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CONSTRUCTION

EDUCATION

Commercial & Industrial Lending | Commercial Real Estate Lending Construction & Development Lending | Cash Management Services

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DECEMBER 2021

RETAIL

North Shore Chamber of Commerce  IMPACT MAGAZINE  December 2021 • Volume 1, Edition 3

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THE CHAMBER

FROM THE CEO

Connect with us Reader and advertiser services  Tell us your story 

Impact Magazine is focused on highlighting the work of The Chamber’s member businesses through articles written by our team to columns penned by our members themselves. Contact Editor Sonya Vartabedian with your story ideas at 978-774-8565, ext. 103.

 Share news and photos 

Launching a new product? Introducing a new service? Celebrating a milestone or achievement? Welcoming a team member? Send your press releases, along with high-resolution (300-dpi, jpgformat) photos, to sonya.vartabedian@ northshorechamber.org to feature in an upcoming issue and on our website.

 Advertise with us 

Impact Magazine is distributed in print to Chamber members and others across the North Shore. It’s also available online to thousands more as an e-edition. We offer a variety of advertising opportunities, and can create a focused campaign that best suits your needs. Contact Cheryl Begin, director of sales and marketing, at 978-774-8565, ext. 101, or cheryl.begin@ northshorechamber.org.

 Join our membership 

The Chamber is the hub of the North Shore business community and stands to be your organization’s voice in all arenas. Contact Cheryl Begin at cheryl. begin@northshorechamber.org to join.

 Give us your feedback 

If there’s something you’d like to see in our pages, let us know. If there are areas we can improve on, we want to hear that, too. Your input will ultimately drive our future and allow us all to make an impact together.

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NORTH SHORE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 5 Cherry Hill Drive, Suite 100 Danvers, MA 01923 978-774-8565 northshorechamber.org

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Fueling a powerful economic engine W

e are blessed to live here on the North Shore of Boston, among the vibrant downtowns, outstanding restaurants, and top-notch educational institutions and health care facilities.

We can make a visit to the worldclass Peabody Essex Museum, catch a show at the North Shore Music Theatre, or shop at the mall or neighborhood boutique.

We have it all, and after what we’ve been through over the past 20 months, we’ll never take it for granted.

Despite the many challenges of 2021, our North Shore continues to thrive, solely because it is fueled by an economic engine that just won’t quit — our robust and diverse business community.

We are fortunate to have this economic engine driven by dedicated business leaders who are willing to do whatever necessary to operate during a worldwide pandemic, notwithstanding costly COVID protocols, hiring droughts, supply-chain shortages and increasing fuel costs.

As I reflect on 2021, and my first year at the North Shore Chamber, I am reminded of the collective accomplishments of the business community and the Chamber staff, and how our teamwork has impacted the region over the past year.

I am grateful for the support and dedication of the Board of Directors, our energized members and the talented Chamber staff, all of whom worked tirelessly on behalf of our North Shore business community.

I am proud to lead this Chamber, which prides itself on setting priorities for the region, working to influence and implement positive change and giving back in so many ways.

The Chamber got back to business

in 2021. We returned to a full schedule of in-person events — from our 350-person annual dinner featuring Gov. Baker, to a 60-person after hours on the deck of the Beauport, to monthly 12-person B2B leads groups.

We launched Impact, the region’s premiere business magazine, which publishes quarterly to promote our membership and our work. We created the THRIVE initiative for women in business; celebrated patriotism with a new Salute to Veterans event; and honored outstanding women leaders with new Chamber President Diamond Awards. and CEO We advocated for workforce training funding, as well as for reform to the state’s broken unemployment system.

I am thrilled to report that more than 100 businesses of all sizes and sectors joined the Chamber as new members this year. We are honored that these leaders have put their trust in the Chamber to work on their behalf.

Looking ahead to 2022, this Chamber will be busier than ever — advocating, educating and collaborating.

We will do so with a laser focus on you, our members, and the needs of the North Shore’s economic engine — the business community.

It is my honor to work on your behalf as president and CEO of the North Shore Chamber of Commerce.

Karen Andreas

I

Karen Andreas is president and CEO of the North Shore Chamber. Call her anytime at 978-774-8565, Ext. 105, or email karen. andreas@northshorechamber.org.

IMPACT MAGAZINE

Impact DECEMBER 2021 President and Chief Executive Officer

KAREN E. ANDREAS karen.andreas@ northshorechamber.org Editor

SONYA VARTABEDIAN sonya.vartabedian@ northshorechamber.org

FOCUS

2021 DISTINGUISHED LEADERS Celebrating excellence and achievement Meet the six professionals striving to improve life on the North Shore, earning them a spot this year in the North Shore Chamber’s Academy of Distinguished Leaders. Page 27

DEVELOPMENT: Forces are at play for a commercial real estate boom. By Thaddeus Minshall. Page 17 WORKPLACE: Empathy is essential to staving off burnout. By Hannah Ginley.

Page 22

FEATURING Designing Influence

THRIVE: Energy, enthusiasm propel women in business initiative. Page 46

Nod to the Past

Monotasking is the new tool for success. By Chris Vasiliadis. Page 48

History, culture play an important role in supporting the region’s future. Page 44

Honoring Service Pride and patriotism take center stage for Salute to Veterans Breakfast. Page 54

Operations Manager

FORECAST 2022

ROBYN PREGENT robyn.pregent@ northshorechamber.org Administrative Coordinator

KAY EISENSTEIN kay.eisenstein@ northshorechamber.org Creative Design

DIANE CARNEVALE ART dianecarnevale.com Contributing Writer

ELLEN SMALL DAVIS

Contributing Photographer

MIKE DEAN

NORTHSHORECHAMBER.ORG

CHAMBER VOICES

Montserrat College of Art has become a creative force on the North Shore. Page 40

Director of Sales & Marketing

CHERYL BEGIN cheryl.begin@ northshorechamber.org

WORKFORCE: Attractive benefits are key to wooing top talent. By Tracey Westcott.

Page 23

VISION: A defining purpose

will guide North Shore Chamber forward. By Joseph Riley. Page 6

CAREER: Inspiring resolutions

for the year ahead from our Chamber members. Page 9

ECONOMY: Riding the North Shore Blue Economy wave. By Katherine Kahl. Page 12

TIME MANAGEMENT:

WELLNESS: Supporting the family caregiver. By Joan Hatem-Roy. Page 50 THE LAW: Make your mark and protect your brand. By Peter J. Caruso II. Page 52

CHAMBER DEPARTMENTS

PLANNER: Mark your 2022 calendar for a host of Chamber happenings. Page 4

NEW MEMBER WELCOME: Look who is joining our

growing network. Page 60

BRIEFCASE: Check out the latest news from our Chamber members. Page 62 FACES & PLACES: Take a look back at highlights from the Chamber’s past season. Page 64 YOUR IMPACT: Faith, persistence fuel Harborlight Community Partners’ Andrew DeFranza. Page 72 3

THE CHAMBER

For a complete Chamber calendar and details on signing up for any of our events, visit northshorechamber.org.

PLANNER

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JANUARY

Energy Forum

WEDNESDAY

Experts discuss the importance of the energy industry to our economy and how infrastructure is modernizing and adapting toward a more sustainable and lower-carbon future.

Danversport 161 Elliott St., Danvers 7:30-9 a.m.

Tickets: $50 members, $70 nonmembers

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FEBRUARY

WEDNESDAY

17 MARCH

THURSDAY

2022 Business Expo Connect with more than 2,000 potential customers at the largest B2B Expo north of Boston.

Reserve your booth now.

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel 50 Ferncroft Road, Danvers 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Breakfast forum: 8-9:30 a.m.

Luncheon: 11:30-1 p.m.

Free to walk floor; call to exhibit

Business Insight Breakfast Forum Details to come.

Culinary Bistro, Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical High School 562 Maple St., Danvers 7:30-9 a.m.

Tickets: $50 members, $70 nonmembers

17 FEBRUARY

THURSDAY

Business After Hours at Montserrat College of Art Network with business colleagues while viewing student artwork in the gallery of Montserrat.

Montserrat College of Art 23 Essex St., Beverly 5-7 p.m.

Tickets: $25 members, $35 nonmembers

Zeynep Yurtsever, student artist

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IMPACT MAGAZINE

12 MAY

THURSDAY

2022 Honors Scholars Celebration Celebrate the region’s top graduating high school seniors at this premier North Shore event.

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel 50 Ferncroft Road, Danvers 6-8:30 p.m.

18 JULY

MONDAY

Annual Summer Golf Outing Enjoy a day on the links with coworkers and colleagues. This afternoon outing will feature a round of golf at one of the region’s top private courses, as well as lunch, dinner, prizes and awards.

Ipswich Country Club 148 Country Club Way, Ipswich

Chamber Annual Dinner

NORTHSHORECHAMBER.ORG

Mike Dean photo

The Chamber recognizes its Distinguished Leaders, celebrates the year’s accomplishments and highlights plans for 2023.

Danversport 161 Elliott St., Danvers 5-8 p.m.

17 NOVEMBER

THURSDAY

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2022 FORECAST

Keeping it simple

A DEFINING PURPOSE WILL LEAD THE NORTH SHORE CHAMBER INTO THE NEXT ERA

By Joseph Riley Chairman, Board of Directors North Shore Chamber of Commerce

A

friend and executive that I admire likes to point out that the Ten Commandments contains 179 words and The Gettysburg Address has 286 words, but the U.S. government's regulations on the sale of cabbage contains a mind-boggling 26,911 words.

His point? Less is more when it comes to the written word.

This is not only a best practice in communication. It’s a best practice for any organization looking to have the greatest impact.

As the Chamber looks to the future, that journey must start with greater clarity of mission. What is our purpose?

Given the times, distractions abound. So as we define our purpose, our imperative is to remain focused — culling out that which leads to “mission creep” and a resulting diminishment in effectiveness caused by too few resources spread too thin.

In answer to the question, Wikipedia informs us that “A chamber of commerce ... is a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of business. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community.”

Pretty simple. Let’s go with it.

Moving forward, that which is in the best interest of the business community will shape our agenda. The North Shore

Mike Dean photo

Joseph Riley, executive vice president of Salem Five Bank, assumes the chairmanship of the North Shore Chamber’s Board of Directors at the annual Dinner Meeting in November at Danversport.

Chamber of Commerce will be a “go-to resource” supporting our membership across a spectrum of needs to include: Government policy analysis and legislative advocacy.

Education on issues impacting businesses large and small.

Entrepreneurial startup guidance.

Networking connections.

Marketing opportunities.

Joseph Riley is executive vice president of Salem Five Bank. He was installed as the new chair of the North Shore Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors at the Annual Dinner Meeting in November.

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IMPACT MAGAZINE

Joseph Riley

Hannah Ginley

Paul Kurker

John Colucci

Darren Ambler

Karen Andreas

North Shore Chamber of Commerce Our inevitable success will fuel momentum and expand our reach.

Through living our purpose, our ranks will surge as business owners realize the value of being part of a meaningful organization that rewards membership in ways qualitative and quantitative.

We already see this dynamic playing out.

From the feedback on the first issue of Impact to the quality of networking events to the enthusiasm for the new THRIVE initiative to the heartwarming pride evident during our Salute to Veterans Breakfast, the North Shore Chamber of Commerce is fast becoming a difference-maker — a group that’s garnering much attention, and an organization in which you just have to belong. Hey, there’s something going on there!

The discipline of focus on purpose will have broad and welcome repercussions that extend beyond a narrow definition of the business community.

Economic vibrancy speaks directly to quality of life, with consequences that positively infuse lives with opportunity — some of which may even have been unforeseen.

From job growth to philanthropy to civic pride, our dedication to the health and vitality of the North Shore business community will have far-reaching effects on the whole of the community.

For all of us affiliated with the North Shore Chamber, realizing our mission will require ongoing commitment and effort. Our work will emphasize that which we can control and, in so doing, we’ll make a difference for our membership.

We will say what we mean and do what we say. Our accomplishments will not surprise. They will be the fulfillment of our promise. Membership growth and associated trust and confidence will be a byproduct, and we will realize it all because we kept it simple. I NORTHSHORECHAMBER.ORG

MANAGING BOARD

OFFICERS Joseph Riley, Chair; Executive Vice President, Salem Five Bank

Hannah Ginley, Chair Elect; Chief People Officer, Windover Construction Paul Kurker, Treasurer; Senior Vice President, Eastern Bank John Colucci, Clerk; Managing Director, McLane Middleton Darren Ambler, Past Chair; Managing Principal, One Digital Health & Benefits Karen Andreas, President & CEO, North Shore Chamber

Patricia Beckwith, Branch Manager, Constitution Financial Partners Bernadette Butterfield, Vice President of Business Development, Groom Construction George Carey, Owner, Finz Restaurant and Sea Level Oyster Bars Kate Hearns, Director, Strategy & Performance, National Grid Greg Klemmer, Executive Vice President, Colliers International Tom Sands, President and CEO, Beverly and Addison Gilbert hospitals Janet Santa Anna, President and CEO, The Resource Connection Kevin Tierney, President and CEO, North Shore Bank John Webb, President and CEO, Webb Transportation

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Tara Bassett, Boston Marriott Peabody Max Bergeron, ENBRIDGE Alan Berry, C.P. Berry Homes Gloria Bouillon, Beverly Regional Airport Carolyn Campot, CM&B Construction Management & Builders Dennis Cataldo, Cataldo Ambulance Service Mary Anne Clancy, Institution For Savings Jay Connolly, Connolly Brothers Inc. Joseph Correnti, Correnti & Darling LLP Brian Cranney, Cranney Self Storage, Inc. Derek Davoli, TD Bank David Eidle, People’s United Bank William Faria, MilliporeSigma Beth Francis, Essex County Community Foundation Lloyd Hamm, Newburyport Bank Nick Harron, Rev Kitchen and Bar Joan Hatem Roy, AgeSpan William Heineman, North Shore Community College Jeanne Hennessey, Beauport Hospitality Group John Keenan, Salem State University Paul Lanzikos, Living Right Along

MaryAnn Levasseur, Profile Research Robert Lutts, Cabot Wealth Management Inc. David Morales, UniCare Karen Nascembeni, North Shore Music Theatre Kristin Noon, Wenham Museum Rob Pellegrini, ENCON Heidi Riccio, Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School James Rudolph, Rudolph Friedmann LLP Jo Ann Simons, Northeast Arc Bradley Small, Solomon Private Wealth LLC Michael Sperling, Sperling Interactive Dr. Kurt Steinberg, Montserrat College of Art Laura Swanson, Enterprise Center at Salem State University Douglas Thorpe, Johnson O’Connor LLP William Tinti, Tinti & Navins Scott Trenti, SeniorCare Inc. Chris Tuttle, Bridgewell Thomas Wheeler, EBCSO Information Services Marc Whittaker, Eagle Bank Maureen Woodman, Woodman’s 7

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IMPACT MAGAZINE

2022 FORECAST

New year, fresh start SETTING A COURSE FOR 2022

Step 1. Begin with a clean slate.

The new year brings a renewed sense of optimism and opportunity. We take stock, evaluate priorities and chart a course for our future — or at least the next 12 months. We set goals — big and small — that will hopefully excite, challenge and inspire us throughout the year.

As you create your own plan for the new year, here is a look at what some North Shore Chamber members will be striving for in their careers in 2022.

“One of my business resolutions for 2022 is to learn something new every month. I have a passion for learning new information, mastering new skills and committing to incorporating new processes in my practice.

Learning invigorates my outlook, both professionally and personally. I find that the North Shore Chamber will help me achieve this goal. I look forward to the many different Chamber programs in store in 2022.”

PATRICIA BECKWITH, CFP Branch manager Constitution Financial Partners Chamber Board of Directors

“Change in the workplace will continue into 2022. My resolution is to embrace change and accept and work on finding ways to make things better wherever possible. For example, I hope to establish new goals related to productivity, while working in a hybrid model of home and office for all staff. Also, I intend to offer new incentives and ask staff for new ideas.”

JANET SANTA ANNA President The Resource Connection Chamber Board of Directors

NORTHSHORECHAMBER.ORG

“Every day, I plan to do one thing that improves business, like doing something that encourages our people to be motivated and engaged. I hope to focus on organizing the workload so projects are built more efficiently, with less material and labor delays. I want to implement better ideas to improve the final product so it lasts a lifetime. I also plan to follow up more intensely with customers to improve their satisfaction and our reputation.”

ALAN BERRY President C.P. Berry Homes Chamber Board of Directors

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“2022 will be about calming the chaos and bringing my life into focus.

By focus, I mean actively pursuing meaningful goals, doing less multitasking and placing more emphasis on optimal performance, and embracing my inner vitality.”

CAROLYN CAMPOT Senior vice president CM&B

“My goal for 2022: Improve my work/ life balance managing the complexities of modern life and running my own business. How? By asking myself the question: ‘What am I personally looking forward to this week?’ My resolution is to make sure I make time for at least one personal enrichment pursuit every week, beyond the satisfaction of my professional activities doing work that I love and enjoy.”

JIM OGNIBENE Workplace talent development Visioneer Consulting

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“As I look to 2022 after reflecting on the past 20 months, one of my resolutions — and one that I actually hope to keep — is to recalibrate my work/ life balance. I want to reenergize my social life and put down the laptop. Oh, and I want to run another marathon, but train this time!”

Kathleen Walsh President and chief executive officer YMCA of Metro North

“I believe in the expressions ‘paying it forward’ and ‘a rising tide lifts all boats.’

So, during the year ahead, I will measure my business success by the number of North Shore Chamber members with whom I am able to connect and help move their business initiatives forward. By doing this, I know they will think of my company first when they or someone they know requires professional in-home care.”

SCOTT MUIR Vice president of client services HouseWorks

“The CEO of iCorps, Michael Hadley, not only takes pride in helping clients achieve their business goals, he also genuinely wants his employees to succeed in their life goals.

Working for a company that promotes growth and development is incredibly inspiring and motivating. As a new employee of iCorps, I look forward to contributing to its success in 2022 by continuing to network and build relationships with clients that I will be able to reference for years to come.”

SHERRI FIORE Director of sales iCorps Technologies Inc.

IMPACT MAGAZINE

A North Shore Business Since 1992

It is our belief that organizational success is dependent on the success of individuals. It’s all about our people and the relationships we have built over the years.

CM&B is, and always will be, People.Building.

NORTHSHORECHAMBER.ORG

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2022 FORECAST

Creating a sustainable future

PIONEERING VISION STEERS THE NORTH SHORE BLUE ECONOMY INITIATIVE FORWARD

By Katherine Kahl UMass Amherst Gloucester Marine Station

I

magine a North Shore where in 10 years: “Millions of dollars in public and private investment, along with access to capital, spark new blue economy enterprises for entrepreneurs.”

“A Northeast Center for Coastal Resilience provides leadership in climate resilience and serves as a hub for ideas, research and application for regional businesses and communities.”

“A revolutionized sustainable seafood supply chain reinvigorates our ports, processing capacity and prosperity.”

“Workforce training and education programs retain the talent we grow.”

These were just a few of the statements made in October at the release of the North Shore Blue Economy Phase I: Findings and Vision Forward report.

The comments highlight the potential opportunities that exist on the North Shore, where the blue economy now accounts for roughly 8 percent of the jobs in 21 communities. That’s an estimated 16,485 jobs — a number that has grown by 19.5 percent since 2004.

The blue economy is defined by the World Bank as “the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods and jobs, and ocean ecosystem health.”

It includes businesses focused on marine science and technology, sustainable seafood, coastal tourism and recreation, and marine transportation.

For the North Shore, the concept reflects a new, coordinated approach that views our ocean not just as a resource to generate economic growth, but as a powerful

Katherine Kahl is the extension assistant professor of coastal resilience and sustainable fisheries at UMass Amherst and a faculty member in the Department of Environmental Conservation working out of the school’s Gloucester Marine Station. Her role bridges the university with sustainable fisheries, coastal resilience and blue economy research needs.

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IMPACT MAGAZINE

North Shore’s leading and emerging industry clusters. It also provides a profile of the region’s current population and workforce and a description of the composition and growth opportunities for blue economy businesses.

Nearly 300 people participating in focus groups and meetings across sector-specific supply chains have laid out a deeper understanding of what a thriving North Shore Blue Economy could look like and the specific actions needed to get there.

WHY IS THIS EFFORT VITAL TO THE REGION?

Kirk Williamson photo

The North Shore Blue Economy team gathers in October at the Cape Ann Museum in Gloucester with Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, fourth from right, for the release of the North Shore Blue Economy Phase 1: Findings & Vision Forward report.

tool to improve the health of our ocean and coastal ecosystem, on which so many jobs depend.

The goal over the next 10 years is to grow and implement a resilient, sustainable, equitable and integrated network — one that builds on the region’s heritage, culture and regional strengths

and positions the North Shore to capitalize on emerging opportunities in the blue economy.

Over the last several months, a foundation of understanding has been created to set the stage for what lies ahead.

It includes a comprehensive baseline economic assessment detailing the

The North Shore Blue Economy initiative offers opportunities to develop strategies at the intersection of an evolving sustainable seafood sector, a developing marine science and technology cluster, potential offshore wind projects, and increased financial investment in coastal resilience science and planning.

Alone, each of these sectors has millions of dollars of potential. But when viewed together with innovation, job creation and strategy development, it represents the North Shore’s “sweet spot” to capitalize on.

Every journey needs a guide.

When you’re facing something new, it helps to have experience and wisdom at your side. Wherever you go, we’ll be there with you.

NewburyportBank.com 10214_NBP_Guide_7.25x4.75_Impact Mag_Ad-1.1.indd NORTHSHORECHAMBER.ORG

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Learn more

WHO’S INVOLVED?

This early Phase I baseline data collection was spearheaded and funded by a team of regional partners from UMass Amherst, Essex County Community Foundation, Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce, the City of Gloucester, North Shore InnoVentures, Gloucester Economic Development & Industrial Corporation, the North Shore Tech Counci l and the Commonwealth.

But it is only the beginning. Moving forward, growing the network across the region’s communities and blue economy sectors is a top priority.

WHAT’S NEXT?

An immediate effort is underway to further the initiative through fundraising and team development.

Phase II of the initiative will look to: Grow the North Shore Blue Economy network.

Develop targeted workforce training and education.

Brand and market a vision for a resilient, sustainable and equitable blue economy.

To read the report or sign up to stay informed on the North Shore Blue Economy initiative, visit umass.edu/ nsblueeconomy.blueeconomy/.

Kirk Williamson photo

Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito touts the benefits that a blue economy initiative could have on the future success of the North Shore.

Increase access to capital that will foster entrepreneurship and incubate blue economy enterprises and institutions.

Critical to the success of the initiative will be the focus on sustainability and integration of ideas from all corners.

This isn’t just economic development “writ large.” This is economic development derived from a reliance on our ocean and coast.

To be successful, we have to build in efforts to protect the very resources that sustain this region and make it

attractive and special to us — the people who live and work here — as well as to the visitors who flock here to appreciate it seasonally.

The UMass Amherst Gloucester Marine Station’s unique role is to harness local expertise and provide research support to inspire creative thinking that can impact the economic landscape.

We offer a hub for convening the tremendous stakeholder network that will drive this North Shore Blue Economy initiative.

Realizing the full potential of the blue economy means the inclusion and participation of all social groups and sectors.

The future is a place we get to create.

The time to collaboratively mobilize as a North Shore region is now. I

Building dreams…One home at a time.

11 Sylvan St., Suite 2, Danvers, MA 01923 ~ 978.887.1188 ~ CPBerryHomes.com

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IMPACT MAGAZINE

ENDICOTT COLLEGE SAMUEL C. WAX ACADEMIC CENTER

Academic & Institutional | Corporate & Commercial | Life Science & Healthcare Senior Living | Multi-Unit | Custom Homes www.windover.com Beverly, MA

NORTHSHORECHAMBER.ORG

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GOOD

PARTNERS

Eastern Bank is committed to recognizing the good in our communities and celebrating the work of the

NORTH SHORE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Congratulations to 2021 Distinguished Leader Award honorees Jonathan Blodgett, Robyn Burns, Dennis Cataldo, Mary Anne Clancy, John Keenan and Jim Rudolph

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Member FDIC

IMPACT MAGAZINE

2022 FORECAST

Innovative opportunities

NORTH SHORE POISED FOR A COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE BOOM

By Thaddeus Minshall Connolly Brothers Inc.

M

assachusetts was recently declared by U.S. News & World Report to have the No. 1 business climate in the United States. And the North Shore — a hotbed of biotech, microelectronics, cleantech and industrial tech — is firmly positioned to capitalize with a surge in development around innovative new companies.

The innovation economy lives in our backyard, and many businesses are realizing that breakthrough ideas are born and funded here. As U.S. News notes, Massachusetts has “the highest amount of venture capital investment and the highest patent creation rate of any state.”

Meanwhile, business tax incentives have helped to promulgate the growth of synergistic clusters. For instance, on the North Shore, the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center’s tax-incentive program has provided support to enterprises ranging from the well-known, such as medical device company Abiomed in Danvers, to the startup, such as the Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute.

Thaddeus Minshall is vice president of real estate/development at Connolly Brothers Inc., a construction management, planning, design and development firm based in Beverly serving commercial, industrial and institutional clients since 1880.

NORTHSHORECHAMBER.ORG

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Bolstered by renowned academic institutions and a knowledge-driven economy, our region has attracted many companies that can choose to do business from anywhere, with the rebirth of Boston’s Seaport District as perhaps the most noticeable example.

Now, a similar influx of businesses is occurring on the North Shore — evidenced by the swath of companies signaling a need for new corporate or North American headquarters in the region.

In many cases, these companies are drawn to our area for the same reasons that peer organizations were — opening up opportunities for mutually beneficial collaboration as well as supply-chain efficiencies.

One example is the proximity of North Shore-based biotech companies such as New England Lab and MilliporeSigma to medical device suppliers such as Medtronic and HighRes Biosolutions.

At the same time, semiconductor and circuitry companies like Rochester Electronics and Axcelis Technologies stand alongside international manufacturing and industrial-process solutions companies, such as KROHNE and

Harmonic Drive, in being attracted by the area’s bounty of technical workers with specialized skills. The local supply of high-quality precision machinists is a major advantage for many of these businesses.

The North Shore’s growing appeal is also driven by the commercial real estate market. As COVID-19 has nudged many companies to rethink their physical locations, businesses can achieve significant cost savings if a Boston zip code is not required.

That said, the North Shore’s upward trajectory is not predicated on a mass exodus from Boston. Rather, employers mindful of top talent’s desire to spend less time commuting may be inclined to initiate or expand upon the “huband-spoke” office model, with Boston remaining the hub and the North Shore a growing spoke.

In addition, startups may be drawn to the region’s dynamic support system, including business development incubators and connectors such as the North Shore Chamber of Commerce, North Shore InnoVentures and the North Shore Technology Council.

What our construction management,

planning, design and development firm hears from businesses that are considering locating themselves north of Boston is that, beyond all the metricsbased positives, the North Shore’s principal allure remains the quality of life it offers. This includes a stellar public education system, acclaimed cultural institutions and restaurants, and a deep-seated sense of place, not to mention engaging recreational and leisure options across four seasons.

The industries migrating to our area demonstrate an impressive growth curve. The biotech sector in the U.S., for example, grew 37 percent between January 2020 and January 2021 — even during the darkest days of COVID-19, according to data from McKinsey & Company.

Absent a crystal ball, when you survey such growth in fields already clustering in our area along with the various contributing factors, it is far from a wild prognostication to suggest that the North Shore is on the cusp of a commercial real estate boom.

If so, the age-old challenge ahead will be to assist that growth while retaining the qualities that have made our region desirable in the first place. I

Proud to be part of the North Shore Chamber Business Community Commercial . Retail . Residential

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2022 FORECAST

Employers: Are you listening?

EMPATHY PLAYS A KEY ROLE IN STAVING OFF WORKPLACE BURNOUT

By Hannah Ginley Windover Construction

A

s employers, we all want a happy, engaged and productive workforce. Yet, as most of us have experienced, there can be significant challenges to realizing that goal.

Burnout is now being officially recognized by the World Health Organization as an occupational phenomenon, and the responsibility for managing it has started shifting away from the employee and more toward the employer.

This shift can be viewed as critical given the very troubling statistics coming out of the research on burnout.

Most disturbing is the research from Stanford University in California, which reveals that nearly 120,000 deaths annually are caused by workplace stress in the United States alone.

Without systems in place to support the well-being of their employees, companies also experience higher turnover, lower productivity and higher health costs, according to the American Psychological Association.

Christina Maslach, the foremost expert on burnout, offers a profound visual of organizational burnout: Picture a canary in a coal mine, she suggests. They are healthy birds, singing away as they make their way into the cave. But, she says, when they come out full of soot and disease, no longer singing, can you imagine asking why SEE BURNOUT PAGE 24

Hannah Ginley is chief people officer at Windover Construction in Beverly, where she brings several years of administrative, marketing and human resources experience to the role of evaluating and supporting the team’s operational needs. Ginley is chair elect of the North Shore Chamber Board of Directors.

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IMPACT MAGAZINE

Wooing your workforce AN ATTRACTIVE BENEFITS PACKAGE IS ESSENTIAL TO RECRUITING EMPLOYEES

Tracy Westcott MP: Wired for HR

T

he best way to recruit employees, particularly remote employees, in 2022’s competitive job market is to offer an attractive benefits package.

Here are some key elements of a desirable benefits package to win over prospective hires in the coming year.

1. PAID FAMILY LEAVE

Some states are beginning to offer some form of paid family leave. Employers will set themselves apart if they offer workers some amount of paid time off to: Welcome a newborn baby.

Adopt a child.

Foster a child.

Care for a sick relative Employers should consider working with a human resources provider to develop a policy for paid family leave. HR experts can help ensure the policy complies with relevant state laws.

Beyond attracting top talent, paid parental leave programs also assist employers with improving employee retention. Employees will stay in their positions longer if they can temporarily leave work for major life events, then return without negative consequences.

2. HEALTH BENEFITS

Health benefits attract employees who are working fully in the office or fully remote. Employers may also reduce SEE WORKFORCE PAGE 24

Tracy Westcott is head of recruiting services at MP, a human resources and payroll solutions company based in Beverly. She’s passionate about assisting businesses in attracting and hiring the talent they need to reach their goals.

NORTHSHORECHAMBER.ORG

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BURNOUT, from Page 22

the canaries made themselves sick? No, because the answer would be obvious: the coal mine made the birds sick.

Employers need to be aware that some organizational practices can make people sick. If we truly want a healthy workforce, we must create strategies that avert burnout. And these strategies needn’t be complicated.

At Windover Construction, our “why,” or the reason we exist, is to “build great things with great people.” Of course, we build buildings, but we also build relationships, careers, opportunity and value.

To do so, we lean into the core values that govern our behavior: 1. Stand in their shoes.

2. Earn and preserve trust.

3. Drive results collaboratively.

4. Take intelligent risks.

5. Act with a long-term view.

The essence of the core value — “stand in their shoes” — underscores the need for empathy in the workplace. If properly employed, it becomes an effective measure to guard against burnout.

Empathetic leadership requires

WORKFORCE, from Page 23

their own costs for health insurance, sick days and other expenses when employees are healthier.

Employees value such health benefits as: Health assessments and biometric screenings for reduced health insurance costs.

Access to or contributions for health coaching services.

Discounted or free gym and workout equipment and gear.

Gym membership discounts and reimbursements.

Memberships to online fitness programs.

3. MENTAL HEALTH BENEFITS

Mental health is a priority for all employees, but especially remote workers. Working remotely sometimes feels isolating, which may exacerbate mental health challenges.

Employers are also likely to find an advantage in supporting their workers’ mental health. Happier employees are more engaged, productive and experience fewer issues with absenteeism.

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stepping outside your own needs, assessing and removing bias, actively listening to your people and then taking action.

Meet Zoe. Held in very high esteem by peers and executives alike, she is one of the most capable project managers on staff for a renowned construction management firm.

She and her manager have had several discussions where an exasperated Zoe expressed complete and utter physical and mental fatigue, feelings of cynicism and a sense of inefficacy. Despite good intent, her manager struggles to understand why she is so stressed and burnt out.

What should he do?

He should dig deeper and listen more intently. And when he does, he is going to grow to understand that Zoe does not have an “off” switch. She gives 150 percent at work, trying to maintain her foothold in a male-dominated industry, and as the primary caregiver for two young children, she delivers at about 200 percent, with little to no separation between home and work.

In fairness, it may be difficult for the manager to fully grasp the situation because his personal life is structured

differently than Zoe’s and he can power down when he gets home. But he must stand in her shoes and hone his ability to live and experience her story as if it were his own.

Fortunately, empathy is a learnable skill, but it does take effort and practice to build. The capacity to empathize can be developed by listening, asking instead of telling and expanding our own frame of reference.

Zoe’s story has a great ending. The manager actively listened to her and then escalated the issue to leadership.

Together, they came up with a sustainable role for Zoe — one that allowed for clear differentiation between home and work.

When we were catapulted into our own silos during the pandemic, it was easy for empathy to get sidelined because we were simply interacting less.

Today, even if your workforce is fully remote, empathetic leadership has its place and can prevent burnout from rapidly escalating.

By creating a culture of empathy, you will feel the substantial positive impact on morale, engagement, productivity and loyalty. I

Mental health benefits to consider include:

Discounts or reimbursements on counseling and psychiatric services.

Access to or discounts for meditation programs.

Organized volunteer opportunities.

A charity donation-matching program.

4. PET BENEFITS

American culture places a strong emphasis on pet parenting today and many job candidates would likely appreciate benefits for their pets, such as: Pet insurance.

Paid time off for caring for pets.

Paid time off for pet bereavement.

5. COMMUNITY SERVICE BENEFITS

Social justice is a significant priority, especially among the younger generations.

Remote employees might find community service benefits especially appealing because it’s often easier for them to set aside time to volunteer.

They may also appreciate the opportunity to leave home and interact within the community through volunteering.

Candidates may enjoy: Paid time off to volunteer.

6. FINANCIAL BENEFITS

Employers will be more successful in their recruiting efforts if they offer various financial benefits. Employees at all income levels can benefit from: Identity theft protection.

Student-loan repayment programs.

Training (especially remote) from professionals in their fields on debt reduction, asset management or saving for future needs such as retirement, home ownership and children’s education.

Retirement savings programs.

6. REMOTE WORKSPACE STIPENDS

When positioning to attract remote employees, it’s effective to offer funds for improving their remote workspace.

Some companies provide up to $1,000 for employees to purchase items they’ll use during their workdays. These could include a desk, chair, computer, coffeemaker, headphones or other technology. I IMPACT MAGAZINE

There’s only one thing that’s unique about People’s United Bank.

Everything.

A bank is a bank until you walk into our bank. At People’s United Bank we take pride in being leaders in the communities where we live and work. Whatever your business goals may be, People’s United Bank can help you go even further. We’re a full-service bank with the resources of a large bank and the personalized service of a local bank.

We welcome the opportunity to talk to you about how your business could benefit from our relationship-based approach and share insightful information about your industry.

Let’s Talk. www.peoples.com 800 772 1090

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Equal Housing Lender

25

Making an IMPACT in our Communities.

The Open Door Chief Execu�ve Officer Julie LaFontaine presents the Outstanding Community Partner award to Bank President & CEO Michael Jones (center) and EVP/COO Kimberly Rock (le�).

The Institution for Savings is deeply committed to doing what’s best for our communities - not only because we work here, but because we live here too.

That’s why we have donated more than $1.7 million to date in 2021 to area nonprofits and more than $200,000 of that is to food pantries and shelters, including The Open Door, Beverly Bootstraps, Salem Food Pantry, Ipswich Caring and more.

For information about our charitable giving along with our full menu of personal and business banking products and services, call us at 978-462-3106 or visit us online at institutionforsavings.com.

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978-462-3106 • institutionforsavings.com

Member FDIC Member DIF

Mike Dean photos

RAISING THE BAR THE CHAMBER’S 2021 DISTINGUISHED LEADERS BRING PRESTIGE TO THE NORTH SHORE

T

hey hail from varied backgrounds.

They dedicate themselves to diverse fields and causes.

Yet, this year’s class of North Shore Chamber Distinguished Leaders share a commonality of being role models and mentors, setting a lofty example for others to strive for.

The Distinguished Leader Award was created 10 years ago

by John Hall, the past chairman of the Chamber’s Board of Directors, to recognize professionals who are making a significant impact on the North Shore through their leadership, creativity, innovation and proven economic and social impact.

Since 2011, almost 60 professionals representing a range of industries and sectors have been inducted into the Chamber’s Academy of Distinguished Leaders.

They are joined this year by six new honorees, who were honored at The Chamber’s Annual Dinner Meeting in November at Danversport.

They are: Jonathan Blodgett, Essex District Attorney Robyn Burns, executive director of The Salem Pantry Dennis Cataldo, president and CEO of Cataldo Ambulance Service Inc. Mary Anne Clancy, senior vice president of marketing and communications for the Institution for Savings NORTHSHORECHAMBER.ORG

John Keenan, president of Salem State University James Rudolph, founder and managing partner of Rudolph Friedmann LLP A recurring thread is woven into the honorees’ individual stories on the pages that follow. Each of them places a high value on giving back to their communities and improving the lives of others — perhaps best defining what it means to be a distinguished leader. I — Sonya Vartabedian, The Chamber 27

DISTINGUISHED LEADER AWARD

‘Leadership is what you do when people aren’t watching’ ESSEX DISTRICT ATTORNEY JONATHAN BLODGETT IS A DEDICATED SERVANT OF THE PEOPLE

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o u c o u l d s ay c o m m u n i t y involvement is in Jonathan Blodgett’s DNA, courtesy of his grandparents.

His grandmother was the first female visiting nurse in Peabody. His grandfather ran a small insurance office in the city and was involved in civic affairs, including the local Chamber of Commerce.

Early in his career as a lawyer, Blodgett served on the Peabody Parks Commission and later spent 16 years on the Planning Board. He went on to serve as chairman of the School Building Committee for two school projects in the city.

As a lifelong resident of Peabody, Blodgett says he has never considered community service a sacrifice. Nor has he sought attention for his work.

“Leadership is what you do when people aren’t watching,” he says. “Service just makes sense to me.”

They were watching when Blodgett was on the baseball field for Peabody High’s Tanners and later at Princeton University in New Jersey, where he was a three-time letterman. He firmly believed he would go on to play left field for the Red Sox. But when a professional baseball career didn’t pan out, he decided to give law school a try. Married with young children, he enrolled in Suffolk Law School at night so he could keep his day job and support his family.

He began his legal career as an assistant district attorney in Essex County under Kevin Burke, before going on to spend 16 years as a partner in his own private law practice in Peabody Square.

IMPACT MAGAZINE

When Burke chose not to seek reelection, Blodgett ran for the district attorney’s office and won election in 2002.

He is now in his fifth term tackling a range of issues affecting the region, including the opioid epidemic, domestic violence, human trafficking, auto insurance fraud and gun violence.

Blodgett has been applauded for his commitment to approaching solutions through successful partnerships with the schools, the police and community leaders.

“As a district attorney, you have an absolute obligation to be a good listener,” he says. “You have to collaborate with other decision makers and people in authority. It’s not hard to do, but it’s essential to do.”

He hosts an annual school safety conference every year with the region’s police chiefs, first responders, superintendents and legislators to address issues of concern.

He meets with the county’s superintendents every October and works to fashion programs that will help the schools.

He instituted an adult drug diversion program in 2007, which has worked with 1,200 people in lieu of prosecution. He has expanded juvenile and youthful diversion programs, which have aided 20,000 young people during his tenure.

His office has also led efforts to better protect victims of domestic violence and hold batterers accountable. “ My statutory obligation as district attorney is to investigate and then prosecute, if it’s necessary, unattended deaths and homicides,” he says. “But we do so much more than that. We do our best to adapt and pivot.”

Blodgett says he cannot do his job in a vacuum. He says he’s made sure to surround himself with an outstanding professional team who provide him with unfiltered advice, which greatly contributes to his leadership. He is credited by his staff with always being willing to hear out the opinions of others, a quality that makes him appreciated by his team.

“Having good people around you makes you a better leader,” he says in response.

He continues to serve outside the district attorney’s office. He is the current chairman of the Board of the Addiction Policy Forum and is past president of the National District Attorneys NORTHSHORECHAMBER.ORG

Courtesy photos

Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett, left, attends a graduation of the Breed All-Stars Program in Lynn, which teaches students about substance misuse, prevention and leadership.

Blodgett poses with Peg and Tom Ritzer at the Step Up for Colleen Road Race in Andover, held in memory of their daughter, a Danvers school teacher murdered by her student in 2013.

Association. He sits on the Board of the Massachusetts Office of Victim Assistance and has served on the board of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals.

Blodgett and his wife, Judy, have passed down their sense of commitment to community to their three grown children and now four grandchildren.

He advises young people to align themselves with a mentor, someone they can rely on to help them make better decisions in life.

“We’re all going to make mistakes,”

he says. “But you’re going to cut down on the mistakes you make if you have someone you can trust.”

As district attorney, Blodgett says he is committed to holding criminals accountable, securing justice for victims of crimes, providing services and treatment to nonviolent offenders, and making Essex County a safer place to live.

“I try very hard to make a difference,” he says. “I really have the best job a lawyer can have. I get to help people every day.” I — Sonya Vartabedian, The Chamber 29

DISTINGUISHED LEADER AWARD

‘Do not be afraid of using your own voice’ ROBYN BURNS DRIVES ACCESS TO FOOD TO CULTIVATE HEALTHY COMMUNITIES

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early 20 years ago, a friend asked Robyn Burns for a ride to his job at an organic farm in Pennsylvania. Quite unexpectedly, she found a career.

“I fell for it,” says the avowed foodie.

“Working hands-on with food appealed to me.”

Burns, who had majored in film studies and communications in college, turned her focus to community food endeavors, whether addressing issues of food sustainability or food security.

Today, as executive director of The Salem Pantry, the Pennsylvania native continues to enjoy her work connecting food, community and education.

“Food is a powerful convener of people,” she says. “I have always been a cook myself. I enjoy preparing food.

Personally, I like the connection of preparing food for family and friends.

“I realized I could have a meaningful career working to bring food to the marketplace or into people’s lives for consumption.”

Inspired by her experience on the organic farm, the University of Pittsburgh graduate enrolled in Slippery Rock University’s Sustainable Systems master’s program.

In 2006, she arrived in New England to become the North Shore urban agricultural manager at The Food Project. The organization brings together youths and adults from different backgrounds for the common good of community farming. After close to 10 years there, she says she was invested and committed to the nonprofit community food world.

By 2015, she had earned an executive certificate from Boston University in nonprofit management and leadership.

IMPACT MAGAZINE

Courtesy photos

The Salem Pantry Executive Director Robyn Burns aims to build community around food.

“This brought me deeper into the nonprofit world,” she says. “I learned I could stay true to community food while building leadership skills.”

Burns spent the next five years as director of programming for CitySprouts, where children learn to cultivate an interest in urban farming through active engagement.

In February 2020, Burns accepted the position as the first, full-time executive director of The Salem Pantry. The organization had just hired its first staff member a few months earlier, after operating for years as an all-volunteer organization.

Burns was scheduled to begin her new role that March — just as the world began shutting down in response to the global pandemic.

So, she and her team worked quickly and strategically to address the crisis.

Almost overnight, The Salem Pantry transitioned from hosting one weekly market to 12 a week. She says her previous experience running food markets with various community partners helped guide her response.

From the start of the pandemic through this past July, The Salem Pantry distributed more than 1.25 million pounds of food through a mobile distribution program. More than 3,000 households and 10,000 individuals received groceries through their efforts.

But as importantly, Burns says, the pandemic brought the issue of food security to the forefront.

“Food security is very unique in that it’s sometimes hard to define. It’s almost invisible sometimes in society, and it’s a little different than our classic understanding of what hunger is,” she says. “There’s a real chronic need NORTHSHORECHAMBER.ORG

ABOVE: The Salem Pantry has enjoyed the support of Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll, third from right. BELOW: Burns moves a pallet of eggs at the group’s warehouse in Shetland Park.

around food insecurity in our communities. It was here before COVID. It’s going to be here for some time.”

The chronic need for food is what Burns and her team are invested in for the long term.

A big piece of that, she says, is creating and maintaining partnerships and collaborations with other community organizations like Salem State University, which has hosted Salem Pantry mobile markets, and North Shore Community Development Coalition, which will provide a home for Salem Pantry’s first retail storefront in 2022.

She credits The Salem Pantry’s small staff — along with its dedicated Board of Directors, countless volunteers, and various city and public entities — for striving to find solutions and make a difference together.

“I like to think we have an open approach. We don’t have all the answers,” she says. “But we listen and adapt.”

What advice does she have for young professionals?

“Be a good listener, while not being afraid of making mistakes,” she says. “Be willing to take risks. Do not be afraid of using your own voice.”

Burns — who lives in Salem with her wife, Rachel Eisenberg, an elementary art teacher, and 10-year-old son — accepted the Distinguished Leader Award in the spirit of her grandfather, James Burns, who worked for the Department of Civil Defense in Washington, D.C., in the 1970s.

In addition to coordinating international food distribution to areas of need around the world, he worked to support a grassroots organization called So Others Might Eat (SOME) helping food-insecure people in the nation’s capital.

Burns hopes by continuing her grandfather’s work connecting people with food, she’s ultimately helping to strengthen the bonds that bring communities together. I — Ellen Small Davis, Impact contributor 31

DISTINGUISHED LEADER AWARD

A commitment to aid and to care A

DENNIS CATALDO BELIEVES THERE IS NO CEILING ON WHAT ONE CAN ACCOMPLISH

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Mike Dean photo

sk Dennis Cataldo when he became aware of his family’s ambulance business, and he will easily share strong memories of eating his fruity cereal each morning waiting for the telephone in their Malden kitchen to ring.

The call would mean someone needed an ambulance.

Looking over the rim of his cereal bowl, he would observe the mechanics of operating an ambulance company from his parents, Bob and Diana, who founded Somerville Ambulance in 1977.

Young Dennis was a quick study. He had a tabletop view as his parents grew their company from just two ambulances and three employees.

It was the beginning of his informal education as he learned the vernacular and nuances of the ambulance business.

“It’s a 24-hour business. My parents worked crazy hours,” Cataldo, who now lives in Lynnfield, says.

Ambulances became the backdrop of Cataldo’s childhood. He spent considerable time visiting the company’s Somerville headquarters. When he was off playing baseball, it wasn’t unusual for his father to arrive at his Little League games driving — that’s right — an ambulance.

By the time Cataldo was 14 and ready to enter Malden Catholic High School, he was washing the ambulances, filing paperwork and completing other tasks to help out and put a few dollars in his wallet. Eventually, he became second attendant on a wheelchair van, because he was still too young to drive.

Then, he experienced the health care industry from the perspective of a patient when he was diagnosed with Stage 4 Hodgkin’s Disease. He spent his IMPACT MAGAZINE

Cataldo Ambulance Service President and CEO Dennis Cataldo placed his company at the forefront of testing and vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Courtesy photos

senior year of high school and freshman year at Suffolk University receiving radiation and chemotherapy.

With a compromised immune system, he was forced off the ambulance and into the office, where he became familiar with yet another aspect of the business — accounts receivable.

“Joining the military was the only other thing I briefly thought about doing. This was what I wanted to do,” he says today as president and chief executive officer of Cataldo Ambulance Service Inc. “I was exposed so heavily to the business. I was always part of the conversation, even if I wasn’t a contributor. The entire time I was in college studying business management and marketing, I would think, ‘How can I apply this to make the company better ... more successful?’”

If success was his goal, Cataldo has achieved it.

Today, his breakfast of yogurt and a banana is healthier and more robust than it was years ago. So, for that matter, is Cataldo Ambulance, which has grown under his more than 30 years of leadership.

Cataldo has navigated the multi-million-dollar company through a number of business endeavors, including the NORTHSHORECHAMBER.ORG

A young Dennis Cataldo poses with his parents, Bob and Diana Cataldo, in front of the Somerville headquarters for the family’s ambulance business, which they founded in 1977.

acquisition of Atlantic Ambulance Service in 2003, Northshore Ambulance in 2008 and Lyons Ambulance in 2017.

He also led the design and creation of SmartCare Mobile Healthcare, which proved to be a critical resource during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The company’s fleet of emergency vehicles has swelled to more than 200 today, and the combined staff of more than 800 employees serves over 160,000 patients each year from 21 communities.

During the pandemic, the company pitched in, adding 1,000 more workers to support testing for more than 2.5 million people and the vaccination of another 2.1 million individuals.

Cataldo is not content to rest on his accomplishments and is always striving toward innovation and the elevation of the role of emergency medical services.

“Nobody should ever be satisfied that they have achieved all that they are capable of accomplishing,” he says.

“A successful person understands that they can always accomplish more.”

By that measure, Cataldo has been as successful in the community as he has been within his company.

He has been heavily involved, for

obvious reasons, with the American Cancer Society, serving in multiple leadership roles.

In 1993, he launched the annual “Swing for Hope” golf tournament which, to date, has raised more than $850,000 for the Cancer Society. In 2014, he was awarded the Cancer Society’s St. George National Award for outstanding volunteer service.

He is the current president of the Massachusetts Ambulance Association, a member of the Eastern Bank Board of Advisors, and a director and board member of several business groups, including the North Shore Chamber Board of Directors.

He and his wife, Christine, are the parents of triplet boys, who are seniors in high school.

In accepting his Distinguished Leader Award, Cataldo referenced the words “innovative” and “caring” in describing what a true leader can be, particularly during the recent trying times.

“It’s not about what you take with you,” he said in closing, “it’s what you leave behind.” I — Ellen Small Davis, Impact contributor 33

DISTINGUISHED LEADER AWARD

‘Leadership is a team sport’ S

MARY ANNE CLANCY BELIEVES SUCCESS COMES WHEN YOU DO WHAT YOU LOVE

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Mike Dean photo

ervice has been at the forefront of every facet of Mary Anne Clancy’s diverse career.

Whether serving as mayor, marketing professional, activist, volunteer or in her current role as senior vice president at the Institution for Savings, Clancy is driven by a conviction to make her community of Newburyport and the North Shore a better place to live and work.

Clancy’s father was a 40-year educator in the Newburyport public schools, including serving more than two decades as superintendent. Her mother led their family of six children. Clancy would naturally embrace their dedication to kindness, compassion, family and service.

An idealist by nature, Clancy found herself working on the Students for Kennedy presidential campaign while at the University of New Hampshire, where she began cultivating political contacts.

By the time she earned her degrees in communications and political science, she was living in Washington, D.C., and working for the late U.S. Sen. Paul Tsongas until he declined to seek re-election.

Her years with Tsongas left an indelible mark. He taught her the importance of being “the voice for people who don’t have voices” and “to fight for what is right and what is good in the world.”

Tsongas also instilled in her what he called the “obligation of survival.”

“He believed we all have an obligation to leave this world better than when we came into it,” she says, “and I hope that I live that all the time.”

Clancy returned to the Bay State after Tsongas left office, working first for IMPACT MAGAZINE

Mullen Public Relations and then as an assistant to Massachusetts Secretary of Energy Sharon Pollard.

Then, while her three children were young, she turned her attention to marketing — as an assistant vice president for First & Ocean National Bank and then as the head of her own freelance company.

It was during this time that Clancy entered local politics, serving for 10 years on the elected Newburyport School Committee.

In 2004, she made the leap to City Hall as the mayor of Newburyport for one, two-year term. She is credited with launching Newburyport Youth Services, which continues to offer recreational opportunities and programs that promote personal empowerment.

She returned to marketing after leaving the mayor’s office, joining the Institution for Savings in 2006.

Today, she is the bank’s senior vice president of marketing and communications — overseeing its advertising, media outreach, customer communications and promotions.

Not unlike politics, she says, the Institution for Savings “has a vision to have a positive effect on the lives of individuals as well as the community.”

One such vision was of her own design — the bank’s financial literacy program, which offers high school students school credit following the completion of an online program that challenges them to create and live within an imagined budget.

The program has been so successful it attracted the attention and participation of eight Massachusetts banks.

She has also collaborated with Massachusetts legislators to make financial education mandatory in public schools.

Clancy is omnipresent in the greater Newburyport community. She is the chair of the board of the Firehouse Center for the Arts in Newburyport and a commissioner on the Essex National Heritage Commission.

She is a founding board member of the Newburyport Education Foundation and on the board of the Putnam Free School. She led the Restore World War Memorial Stadium campaign in the city, seeing its work to completion in 2015.

She is a former corporator and board member of the Anna Jaques Community Health Foundation in Newburyport.

Clancy serves on the Board of Directors of the North Shore Chamber and is a founding co-chair of the new THRIVE NORTHSHORECHAMBER.ORG

Courtesy photos

Institution for Savings Senior Vice President Mary Anne Clancy, left, lends a hand to numerous causes, including volunteering to clean up the trail at Bakers Island in Salem.

Clancy, second from left, gets ready to tee off for the Play for P.I.N.K. Golf Tournament. She’s been an ardent supporter of breast cancer fundraisers through the years.

initiative dedicated to empowering business women to succeed both professionally and personally. She also sits on the board of the Greater Newburyport Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

Throughout her professional and volunteer careers, Clancy says she has learned the value of being a good listener and supporter “You need to listen while leading. Listen to what people say. Weigh all opinions and be an empathetic leader,” she says.

“Bolster people up. Make everyone around you better by empowering them. Trust people around you to do their jobs and then reward them, even if it’s just with a few kind words.”

Clancy is a true believer that success

naturally follows when you are doing what you love.

She advises young professionals to advocate for themselves “because no one else will,” get involved in the community where you live or work, and “volunteer in whatever way makes you happy.”

She also emphasizes the importance of relationships.

“You don’t get to be a leader unless you have somebody walking next to you; people walking behind you, pushing you sometimes; and people walking in front of you helping you,” she says.

“Leadership is a team sport, and I have the greatest team ever.” I ­— Ellen Small Davis, Impact contributor 35

DISTINGUISHED LEADER AWARD

‘Try hard, be polite and don’t be afraid to fail’ J

SALEM STATE PRESIDENT JOHN KEENAN LIVES BY THE VALUES HE INSTILLS IN OTHERS

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Mike Dean photo

ohn Keenan has always made his desire to give back together with his lifelong pride for his hometown of Salem the cornerstone of his career.

Among the first generation of his family to go to college, Keenan is now combining both passions as he leads Salem State University as its 14th president.

It’s not a role he ever intended to fill. But he considers the opportunity to provide students with the tools to pursue their dreams and realize their potential the capstone of a very rewarding professional life.

“I’ve had a series of jobs that I think anyone wanting to be in public service would dream of,” he says.

While Keenan’s parents were not able to go to college, they instilled the value of an education and giving back to the community in their three children.

Keenan and his older brother and sister not only earned their undergraduate degrees, but also completed graduate school.

Keenan graduated from Harvard University and later obtained his law degree from Suffolk University in Boston after realizing early careers in banking and sales were not a good fit.

Following law school, he worked as an assistant district attorney in Essex County and was a member of that office’s first Domestic Violence Unit. He then served as city solicitor for Salem through two administrations, from 1996 to 2004.

From there, Keenan entered state politics — representing the Seventh Essex District as state representative from 2005 to 2014.

He was a leading proponent of gaining university status for Salem State in 2010. He also championed social justice IMPACT MAGAZINE

Salem State University President John Keenan checks in on volunteers participating in the school’s “First Year Day of Service” program, where they assembled food kits at The Salem Pantry. “We do expect all of our students to give back to their community,” Keenan says.

issues, voting to preserve marriage equality, address schoolyard bullying and protect transgender employees in the workplace. While the bill ultimately did not pass, one of his proudest votes was in support of the DREAM Act, to provide in-state tuition for undocumented students.

Keenan arrived at Salem State in 2014 as its general counsel and vice president for administration. Three years later, he was named its president.

By all accounts, it’s been a successful career. But Keenan says it’s not been void of setbacks and obstacles along the way.

In high school, he says, he lost all 11 matches his first year on the wrestling team, including being pinned in 19 seconds in his first competition. By senior year, he was undefeated on the mat in regular matches.

Later, he was twice defeated in his early attempts at public office before being elected to the Legislature.

The word “failure,” however, is not in Keenan’s vocabulary. He prefers to view humbling experiences as learning opportunities that make him stronger.

“I try to speak with students about NORTHSHORECHAMBER.ORG

not being afraid to fail,” he says. “Being able to take a risk helps you grow, whether you’re in high school, college or your professional career.”

There are two rules in the Keenan household: Try your hardest and be polite. Keenan and his wife, Kara McLaughlin, stress both values with their two children. They’ve also served him well professionally, he says.

Keenan is a proponent of leading by example and living by your values — two qualities he saw in many of his own role models, including the late Judges David Doyle and Samuel Zoll.

“I don’t just talk about that,” he says.

“It’s how I’ve spent my life.”

He believes successful leaders are those who know how to surround themselves with people more talented and smarter than they are.

“I’m very rarely the smartest person in the room, and I appreciate that,” he says.

Being a leader also means making decisions without having all the information one might like.

“Review the best information available at the time, be decisive about it and move on,” he advises young

professionals. “Have no regrets about it.”

A lifelong Salem resident whose family history in the city dates to the Salem Witch Trials, Keenan also encourages his students to be actively engaged in their communities.

Keenan sets an example as vice president of The Salem Partnership and as a director of the North Shore Chamber.

He is also on the board of the Salem Award Foundation for Human Rights & Social Justice and on the North Shore Advisory Committee of the Anti-Defamation League.

Inspired by his mother, who passed away from lung cancer at the age of 56, Keenan also participated in the PanMass Challenge for 26 years, raising over $160,000 for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Keenan says it’s the honor of his life to be leading Salem State, which he calls “the great equalizer” because it provides a trajectory for success to anyone who chooses to further their education.

“Find what you enjoy doing and it’s not like going to work,” he says. “I truly love what I do.” I — Sonya Vartabedian, The Chamber 37

DISTINGUISHED LEADER AWARD

‘Find what you’re passionate about and commit to it’ JAMES RUDOLPH HAS MADE SERVICE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF HIS LAW CAREER

J

38

Mike Dean photo

im Rudolph borrows from Sir Winston Churchill’s words when he reflects on his career.

“You make a living by what you get,” Rudolph says in quoting the British statesman. “But you can make a difference by what you give.”

All through his life, Rudolph has supported causes and organizations he believes in — from his alma mater, The Governor’s Academy in Byfield, of which he is board vice president; to the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination and the Anti-Defamation League.

“What I do is not just practice law,” he says. “I do look to be involved and give back.

“I tell people starting out to get involved in something that you’re passionate about and commit to it and assume a leadership role, if possible.

You will get a lot of pleasure in doing it. It’s worked out well for me.”

It was a business law class in college at the University of Denver in Colorado that led Rudolph to decide to explore the legal profession.

The Beverly native went on to graduate from Boston College Law School and joined the firm where he started his career soon after graduating.

Today, Rudolph Friedmann LLP is a full-service business law firm with 18 attorneys, having offices in Boston and Marblehead.

Rudolph and his partners have been leading the firm together for over 30 years. The office has expertise in real estate law, construction law, business litigation and all types of corporate and business matters.

IMPACT MAGAZINE

Rudolph originally focused his own career on litigation, before turning his attention to business law, real estate law and construction law. He regularly assists in the purchase and sale of businesses and the resolution of business disputes.

More than four decades later, he hasn’t lost the desire to take on new cases or the ability to stand out in his profession. He was recently named to the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America for real estate law and construction law. This year, he was also named by Lawyers Weekly as a Go To Lawyer for business.

“Every day is different,” he says. “I like the stimulation of having different challenges daily and meeting different people and helping them solve their problems if I can.”

Rudolph believes a good leader must be a strong communicator, while at the same time being open to ideas from others. He also sees great value in being a mentor to younger professionals.

“You have to have a vision of what you want to accomplish,” he says. “You have to try to be a good mentor and motivate and encourage other people as well.”

Rudolph has served on countless business, legal and community organizations over the years, and remains on eight boards today.

He learned early on from his father and grandfathers to be proud of his Jewish heritage. As a result, he has directed some of his volunteer efforts to the Jewish community as well as civil rights and social justice causes.

He spent several years as chairman of the New England Regional Board of the Anti-Defamation League, and he is currently co-chair of the ADL’s Board of Overseers. He was very involved as a board member and president of the Jewish Rehabilitation Center for the Aged of the North Shore.

In addition, he is a past president and board member of the Associated Builders and Contractors and is also on the board of the Massachusetts Restaurant Association and the Board of Directors of the North Shore Chamber of Commerce.

He was appointed by Gov. Charlie Baker to the Advisory Board of the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination.

He has been a corporator, trustee and director of several Boston-area banks and currently sits on the Advisory Board NORTHSHORECHAMBER.ORG

Courtesy photo

Attorney James Rudolph is seen at the wheel of his sailboat, Forever Young. Sailing is one of his favorite pastimes when he’s not at work or busy with his volunteer commitments.

of Eastern Bank. He is also on the board of the Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation, which last year awarded close to $20 million in grants.

Rudolph has also been involved in local government, serving as a selectman in Swampscott for three terms and on the Zoning Board of Appeals in both Swampscott and Marblehead.

Rudolph and his wife, Susan, raised their three children in Swampscott, before moving to Marblehead 10 years ago.

Both of Rudolph’s sons have become lawyers, including one who is a partner at Rudolph Friedmann LLP. His daughter is a physician assistant.

Rudolph says he is getting to an age where he is seeing some of his contemporaries retire. While he has tried to pull back on some of his community involvements, he says he’s nowhere near ready for retirement.

He has, however, made more time in recent years to pursue his hobbies. He has owned a sailboat since he was a boy, is an avid skier, plays golf and enjoys time with his two grandchildren.

Perhaps the name of his boat, Forever Young, explains it best. He still wakes up every day wanting to continue making a difference and intends to do so as long as he is able. I — Sonya Vartabedian, The Chamber 39

DESIGNING

FOR THE FUTURE

Montserrat College of Art photos

Montserrat College of Art in Beverly still teaches the classic arts, such as painting, right, but also digital animation, video and graphic design.

MONTSERRAT COLLEGE OF ART DRAWS FROM ITS PAST AS IT CELEBRATES GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY

By Jo Broderick Montserrat College of Art 40

Montserrat College of Art reached a major milestone in 2020 as it marked its 50th anniversary educating the next generation of visual artists, designers and artist educators.

Today, there are 2,500 Montserrat alumni across the country leading inspired lives and contributing to the growing creative economy.

Dr. Kurt T. Steinberg, who has led the Beverly college since 2019, now sees Montserrat in a unique and strong position for future growth.

“Montserrat has successfully weathered the COVID-19 pandemic with the strongest retention in the college’s history and record fundraising growth,” he says.

“We are poised for the next 50 years as we continue to prepare Montserrat students for the entrepreneurial, technologically based world they will lead after they graduate.”

That’s not simply good news for Montserrat. It’s promising for the North Shore, too.

According to the National Endowment for the Arts, the value of arts and cultural production in America in 2019 was $919.7 billion, amounting to 4.3 percent of the gross domestic product.

The arts contribute more to the national economy than do the construction, transportation and warehousing, travel and tourism, mining, utilities and agriculture industries.

In New England, workers in the creative economy earn more than $17 billion per year. Creative problem-solving is now considered a vital skill sought by employers in nearly every industry.

Today’s changing workplace supports the innovative work that has been happening at art colleges for decades.

Since 1970, Montserrat has embraced this role. It has grown from a small, fine arts school to a four-year, independent college of art and design offering a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and provisional art education certification.

Montserrat is now a residential college with a student body that is 76 IMPACT MAGAZINE

A freshman participates in the annual Paint Wars on the Beverly campus.

percent female. Seventy percent of the curriculum is focused on the media arts and design.

What has remained consistent is the emphasis on critical thinking and problem solving, which has enabled students over the school’s 50 years to be successful in any profession — inside or outside of the arts proper.

The founders planted these seeds when they formed Montserrat and manifested their vision in 1970. Today’s faculty continue their early objective to provide an educational environment where individuals are valued for their unique creative aspirations.

The college was started by the North Shore Community Arts Foundation, the parent company of the former North Shore Music Theatre. It was organized by several community leaders, including Steven Slane, C. Henry Glovsky and Caleb Loring. Its original building at Dunham Road is now part of the current Bill Hanney’s North Shore Music Theatre.

In the mid-1990s, the two organizations split. Montserrat formed its own governance to become an accredited institution with access to federal financial aid and a foundation that allows graduates to go on to pursue further education at graduate schools across the nation.

Montserrat is now fully accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education and the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, under whose standards the NORTHSHORECHAMBER.ORG

Dr. Kurt T. Steinberg, who has been leading Montserrat since 2019, says the college has been experiencing its strongest student retention rate and financial growth in its 50-year history.

41

An artful timeline 1970: Montserrat School of Visual Art is chartered.

1970: First classes are held at Crane Estate Barn. (The campus building was not completed in time for the first semester.)

1971: Montserrat campus building on Dunham Road is completed. Classes are held there in January.

1976: Montserrat achieves New England Association of Schools and Colleges candidacy status.

1984: New curriculum adds 30 liberal arts credits and accreditation by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.

1985: College is officially named Montserrat College of Art and receives authorization from the Massachusetts Board of Regents to offer a four-year Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and fouryear diploma.

The founders of Montserrat College of Art are seen as the school is launched in 1970.

college operates.

When the two organizations separated, Montserrat began the quest to move to its current headquarters in the

Hardie Building at 23 Essex St. in downtown Beverly Since then, the campus has grown to a walkable assemblage of 20 leased and owned spaces in and

42

1986: First scholarship benefit auction is held, paving the way for the annual Artrageous! fundraiser.

1987: First Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees are awarded 1989: Autonomous Board of Trustees is created.

1991: Sister-school relationship is formed with Niigata College of Art & Design in Japan.

1992: Montserrat begins its move downtown and starts to build its campus.

1994: Acquisition of the Hardie Building, 23 Essex St., is completed.

1994: College becomes residential with the addition of rented apartments.

1995: Montserrat is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

1996: Study-abroad program in Italy begins.

2005: Montserrat adds an internship requirement for graduation.

2009: Student Village, Montserrat’s new student residence hall, opens.

2017: Montserrat launches STEAM summer program for grades three to eight and Art Educator’s Summer Program.

2021: Center at Montserrat opens at newly purchased 9 Dane St. to include student life, admissions and wellness offices. Montserrat leases a large, newly renovated residence hall at 275 Cabot St.

Source: Montserrat College of Art

around the center of Beverly.

Today, Montserrat has an economic impact of $28.75 million on the greater Beverly area. Future plans will include

IMPACT MAGAZINE

greening the campus with the addition of solar power.

Beyond bachelor’s degree studies, Montserrat offers continuing education classes and workshops, weeklong summer master classes with a residential option, a weeklong Art Educators Institute for art teachers of any grade level, a residential Pre-College Program in which high school students can earn three college credits, and study abroad programs.

Additionally, the college leads a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) Institute for four weeks each summer for students in grades three through eight.

The college also hosts free public lectures and art receptions in its many galleries, which showcase national, regional and local artists. Dr. Lynne Cooney, formerly of Boston University, was recently hired to lead its ambitious galleries programs.

A new strategic plan will continue to strengthen Montserrat into the future, says Dr. Steinberg, who sits on the North Shore Chamber’s Board of Directors.

The priorities outlined in the plan include providing new opportunities for students in art and design education; emphasizing diversity and

Montserrat moved its headquarters into the Hardie Building at 23 Essex St. in downtown Beverly in 1994 and has since expanded its campus to encompass more than 20 properties.

inclusion while growing the student body, faculty and staff; strengthening the college’s community involvement; enhancing and expanding its campus facilities; and pursuing a proactive approach to planning, “which puts people first.”

Many 50th anniversary celebrations at the college were put on hold due to the pandemic. But Montserrat’s commitment to furthering the arts through its students’ success marches on.

“We thank the many individual

contributors — be they faculty, students, staff, trustees, alumni or supporters — for the part they played in keeping this noble experiment alive and thriving, during lean times to now,” Dr. Steinberg says, “and hope to celebrate throughout the year as we spend the next academic year ‘drawing from our past and designing for the future.’” I Jo Broderick is the chief of staff and dean of college relations for Montserrat College of Art in Beverly.

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The Wenham Museum will mark 100 years in 2022.

simple joys The

await

WENHAM MUSEUM DIRECTOR LEADS CALL TO CONNECT WITH REGION’S ATTRACTIONS

Tracey Westgate Photography

A young visitor is captivated by a model train on display at the Wenham Museum.

By Kristin Z. Noon Wenham Museum 44

“I used to have one of those!”

It’s a popular sentiment heard in the train gallery of the Wenham Museum.

While our youngest visitors enjoy the motion, colors and lights of our museum’s model trains, the adults remember trains around the Christmas tree, a parent or grandparent with a basement full of model railroad tracks, or their own experiences in tinkering with trains.

These simple joys have been mainstays of the Wenham Museum experience for generations. The COVID-19 pandemic has reminded us that simple joys are valuable, and that time with friends and loved ones is precious.

Now, as always, the best reason to visit a museum is to spend time with the people you care about. Like many of the cultural and historical attractions on the North Shore, the Wenham Museum provides a wonderful place to foster quality time among all generations of the family.

We strive to create exhibitions that are engaging and playful for children and interesting and informative for adults. As the first teachers our children encounter, caregivers play an important role

in talking with them about what they see in the museum and in sharing their memories. These multigenerational conversations are at the heart of our Kristin Noon mission.

While the Wenham Museum is certainly a destination for families, a solid 20 percent of our audience is adults who enjoy local history and culture. From our diverse permanent collections to tours of the Patton Family Archives and popular events like our annual Sleigh Bell Artisan Fair, there truly is something for everyone at the Wenham Museum.

Visiting a local attraction like the Wenham Museum in the coming year will not only benefit you and your family, it will also help preserve our futures.

The pandemic has challenged many businesses and organizations to reinvent operations and to develop new ways for the community to engage with them. Despite successes in many of these areas, it has been difficult to IMPACT MAGAZINE

About the Wenham Museum In 1921, the Claflin-Gerrish-Richards House at 132 Main St. in Wenham was purchased by the philanthropic Wenham Village Improvement Society for the purpose of preservation and exhibition.

The next year, Elizabeth Richards Horton, a former resident of the house, donated her international doll collection to the improvement society, marking the beginning of the Wenham Museum as it’s known today.

The museum was incorporated as a separate entity in 1952. Adeline P. Cole presided as president over the grand opening in 1953, when the Pickering Library and Burnham Hall meeting room were added.

The Wenham Museum was accredited by the American Association of Museums in 1973 and underwent a major renovation and expansion from June 1996 to August 1997.

It will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2022.

Learn more about what’s happening at the Wenham Museum and how to help it recover from the challenges of COVID-19 at wenhammuseum.org. replace all of the revenue lost from state-mandated closures and the related drop in visitors.

As public health continues to improve, we ask everyone to consider visiting the many historical and cultural institutions located right in your backyard.

All of these North Shore destinations are here to serve you, and we need your support through visitation to fulfill our missions and to remain viable organizations.

The Wenham Museum is 99 years young this year. Many of the attractions in the region boast similarly long histories. Visit them for the first time — or rediscover them — and experience simple moments of joy, spark new happy memories and spend time with those you love.

We’ll keep an eye out for you in our train room. I Kristin Z. Noon is executive director of the Wenham Museum, a commissioner on the Essex National Heritage Commission, and a member of the Board of Directors of the North Shore Chamber.

NORTHSHORECHAMBER.ORG

Images courtesy Wenham Museum’s Benjamin H. Conant Collection

The Wenham Museum’s extensive collection of archival photos and glass-plate negatives from Benjamin H. Conant, including these images of an electric trolley, left, and horse trolley, provide a glimpse of life in Wenham from the late 19th century to early 20th century.

Tracey Westgate Photography

The Wenham Museum’s train gallery is one of its most popular attractions.

Tracey Westgate Photography

A Wenham Regimental Band uniform is among the local artifacts on display.

The museum’s quilt collection includes this radiating stars-pattern textile, circa 1850, donated by Lynne and Paul Weaver.

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Gaining momentum THRIVE READIES TO LAUNCH ROBUST CALENDAR IN 2022

By Mary Anne Clancy THRIVE co-chair

Chamber Board of Directors member Patti Beckwith, right, chats with the featured panelists for THRIVE’s workshop on reducing stress and achieving balance on Oct. 21 at Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School in Danvers.

Mary Anne Clancy is senior vice president of marketing and communications for the Institution for Savings. She sits on the Board of Directors of the North Shore Chamber and is co-chair of THRIVE. 46

B

y all accounts, it has been a good first year for THRIVE, the Chamber initiative with a mission of empowering businesswomen on the North Shore to succeed both professionally and personally.

A prelaunch cocktail party in June, a networking event in August, blockbuster kickoff luncheon in September, and a successful first roundtable discussion in October cumulatively engaged more than 350 attendees, with a year-end Chamber holiday party at The Cabot in Beverly rounding things out for 2021.

In addition, the THRIVE Steering Committee comprised of Chamber President and CEO Karen Andreas and myself as co-chairs, Bernadette Butterfield of Groom Construction, Hannah Ginley of Windover Construction, Betsy Merry of Merry Fox Realty, and Gia Page of Davio’s announced the formation of a THRIVE Advisory Council.

The Advisory Council will be charged with providing advice, feedback and new ideas regarding THRIVE’s activities and offerings; assisting in the development, delivery and implementation of our programs; and serving as ambassadors for THRIVE in the community.

We are thrilled to announce the following members of the Council: Patti Beckwith, Constitution Financial Partners; Alan Berry, C.P. Berry Homes; Bethany Blake, Harborlight Community Partners; Christine Boncore, U.S.-1 Ventures; Sarah Burke, tonneson + co; Erin Calvo-Bacci, CB Stuffer; Deb Flohr, The Hellenic Center; Melisa Gillis, Gillis Consulting; Kasia Loor, Goldman & Partners; Bill Luster, Charing Cross Realty Trust; Dr. Raminder Luther, Salem State University; Jessica McLaughlin, Fairway Independent Mortgage; Kristen Menzone, Topline Performance Solutions; Nicole Mitsakis, CM&B Construction; Samanda Morales, Ahora Inc.; Dianne Palter Gill,

Amy Sweeney photo

Virginia Buckingham, the head of MassPort on Sept. 11, was the keynote speaker for the THRIVE kickoff luncheon on Sept. 9 at Spinelli’s in Lynnfield.

North Shore Community College; Joe Riley, Salem Five; Sara Stanley, HAWC; and Kathleen Walsh, YMCA of Metro North.

What is on the horizon for THRIVE in 2022? THRIVE plans to launch a full schedule of activities that will be a mix of speaker events, panel discussions, mentoring activities and networking opportunities on a variety of topics identified as important and relevant to Chamber members. Advisory Council members have divided up into three subcommittees along these lines: Education and Personal Development; Mentorship; and Events/Networking with a Cause.

The group hopes to announce a schedule of events in early 2022 and welcomes ideas for inspiring and poignant speakers, panelists, topics and programs along these lines. Ideas can be sent to me at mclancy@ifs.bank or to Karen Andreas at karen.andreas@ northshorechamber.org. I IMPACT MAGAZINE

THRIVE ‘Take Back Control’ workshop

THRIVE kickoff with Virginia Buckingham Amy Sweeney photos

NORTHSHORECHAMBER.ORG

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CHAMBER VOICES

TIME MANAGEMENT

Want to get more done?

Quit multitasking MONOTASKING IS THE NEW TOOL FOR SUCCESS

By Chris Vasiliadis Priority Wellness

M

any folks feel they have perfected multitasking.

The term often appears in job descriptions and performance reviews.

If we’re discussing having multiple projects on your plate, delegating tasks to others or even running several machines at once (for example, starting the washer, dryer and dishwasher and then preparing a meal), sure. I’m all for background tasking and efficiency in how we manage people, tools and resources that boost our productivity.

It’s the “switchtasking” — a term used by Dave Crenshaw in his book, “The Myth of Multitasking” — that I discourage. Crenshaw defines switchtasking as attempting to do multiple attention-requiring tasks at the same time.

We know about distracted driving and the risks of that behavior. How about limiting distracted living?

Studies have consistently found that only 2 percent to 2.5 percent of people can successfully multitask. So, chances are, you fall into the majority without this skill.

Consider how often you’re distracted during your typical workday. A University of California study found that after each interruption, it takes over 23 minutes to refocus. (How frequently have you fallen into the email “black hole”?)

Further, if the interruption takes you onto an unrelated task, this can diminish your brain power to the equivalent of dropping 10 IQ points!

We should treat multitasking as a form of distraction and interruption. Overall, multitasking has the following pitfalls, according to Crenshaw: Tasks take longer to perform.

It causes more stress and anxious feelings.

We make more mistakes. (A study out of Michigan State found that a 2.8-second interruption results in the likelihood of mistakes doubling.)

We know about distracted driving and the risks of that behavior.

How about limiting distracted living?

As an alternative, monotasking opens the door to more order and even increased creativity. As Eckhart Tolle, author of “The Power of Now,” states, “There is great depth in doing one thing at a time.”

“Don’t treat a moment, activity or task as a stepping stone,” Tolle writes. “When you do that, it reduces the aliveness of the moment. Peace then flows into what you do. Avoid reducing each moment to a means to an end.”

When companies identify multitasking as a desired skill, I truly believe that’s not what they are seeking. The reality is they want an individual to take responsibility for multiple tasks and complete them in an efficient way to produce quality results. Research shows multitasking is not the way to make this happen.

How do you effectively monotask? Be present with what’s in front of you and create the environment that enables you to give your full attention to that task. Here are some ideas to get you started: For your high-priority tasks, block dedicated time to perform that task. Don’t respond to emails, messages or calls during that block. Only have the apps open on your computer or the papers on your desk necessary to perform the current task. Inform others that you are to be interrupted only for true emergencies. Clearly state your criteria for what constitutes an emergency.

When communicating with others, deeply listen.

Look them in the eye when in person (or into the

Chris Vasiliadis is a burnout-buster, speaker, author and solo proprietor of Priority Wellness, which she launched in 2008 after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. She specializes in helping overstressed and overbusy individuals and teams elevate their focus and vitality with systems of sanity, so they can run their days without running themselves into the ground. She has been relapse-free from MS for over 14 years.

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IMPACT MAGAZINE

camera when on Zoom). Put your phone out of sight, ideally on “do not disturb” or “airplane mode,” and remove other distractions. Note tone, pace, what’s being said and what’s not being said. Listen to hear and understand their point of view, rather than reacting with yours.

Bu i ld m i nd ful ne s s mus c le s through both mindful meditation and using your life as a lab to be mindful. Mindful meditation is a form of attention training. Some apps that are great for beginners include Headspace, Healthy Minds and Balance. To use your life as a lab, experiment with placing your singular attention on an activity, from hand-washing dishes to your next task on a project.

Think you’re wired to multitask and can’t change? Neuroscience says otherwise. Our brain’s neural pathways and past conditioning are not fixed. You can decide in any moment to create different patterns by repeating the newly desired behavior.

Just think what might be possible if we monotask more often? I

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CHAMBER VOICES

WELLNESS

Supporting the employee caregiver A GROWING WORKFORCE IS TENDING TO THE NEEDS OF AGING PARENTS

By Joan Hatem-Roy AgeSpan

C

aregiving, whether provided by a family member or paid employee, has an impact on all of us. Caregivers are in our communities, in our families and are working for our companies.

Nationally, about 40 million people provide unpaid care to older adults and adults with disabilities — the majority of whom also juggle a job or other responsibilities, according to the National Council on Aging.

As an industry in Massachusetts, caregiving employs more than 180,000 community-based human services workers serving 1 out of 10 state residents, according to the Providers’ Council. The council is an association of more than 200 community-based human services agencies, including AgeSpan — the recently rebranded organization formerly known as Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley and North Shore.

The high demand for caregivers, both paid and unpaid, will continue well into 2022. A recent article in The Boston Globe highlighted the workforce crunch of these paid care workers, describing it as a staffing crisis.

The pandemic has been crushing for family caregivers, and with so many people working from home while providing care, they often have no break from either. At the same time, the demand for paid, in-home care services has not abated, and is exacerbated further by a shortage of these critical workers.

Care work is at the heart of AgeSpan’s mission. We hear from caregivers every day and understand their vital importance in our families and communities.

Our care managers help individuals determine what supports they need and act as a liaison between the person in

need of care and those support services. These managers continually monitor these services and intervene when necessary.

Family caregivers have also been under a tremendous burden through the pandemic, and the need for that informal type of care is not lessening. As our population ages, more and more of us will find ourselves in a position to provide care.

AgeSpan wants to make sure informal caregivers have a variety of programs and services available to assist them in caring for family members. One of those programs is the Savvy Caregiver, which is for people caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or related dementias.

Kate is a recent graduate of the Savvy Caregiver program.

An attorney, she is an example of the sandwich generation — a working adult caring for both a parent and young children.

Kate and her husband are a good team, but they live 90 minutes away from her mom, whose health has deteriorated. Kate was able to take our Savvy Caregiver program remotely and connected with people going through situations like hers. People understood her feelings, and she came away from it with new knowledge, tools and action steps to help not only her mother, but herself.

In addition to the Savvy Caregiver program, there are other supports, including counseling; information and referral services; respite care; scholarships; family meeting facilitation; Alzheimer’s and dementia education and support; and events for caregivers, including the Memory Café. In some cases, family members may be eligible for programs that pay them for caring for a relative.

Caregiving affects us all, across all generations and communities, as an industry and as part of our families. As we look to 2022, the work of family caregivers will continue.

Employers must find ways to acknowledge the role their employees play as they incorporate caregiving responsibilities into their days. I

Joan Hatem-Roy is chief executive officer of AgeSpan, formerly known as Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley and North Shore. She has worked in the aging services field for over 35 years, improving the lives of older adults across Massachusetts, and she is passionate about advancing collaborations with health care systems to address the social determinants of health.

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IMPACT MAGAZINE

Strong Lines. Strong Ties.

Connolly Brothers, Inc. is a construction management firm serving private commercial, industrial, and institutional clients. A five-generation family business established in 1880, Connolly is based in Beverly, Mass. and operates throughout the New England region. For more than a century, clients have turned to Connolly to handle all aspects of their construction projects, from planning and design to real estate development. More at ConnollyBrothers.com.

152 Conant St., Beverly, Mass. 01915

■

978-927-0053

■

connollybrothers.com

Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley and North Shore has a NEW NAME!

Our name has changed.

Our commitment to you has not.

We’re here for you, throughout your life.

AgeSpan.org • 800-892-0890

280 Merrimack St., Suite 400 , Lawrence, MA 01843 300 Rosewood Dr., Suite 200, Danvers, MA 01923

Our Service Area includes: Amesbury, Andover, Billerica, Boxford, Chelmsford, Danvers, Dracut, Dunstable, Georgetown, Groveland, Haverhill, Lawrence, Lowell, Marblehead, Merrimac, Methuen, Middleton, Newbury, Newburyport, North Andover, Peabody, Rowley, Salisbury, Salem, Tewksbury, Tyngsboro, Westford, W. Newbury NORTHSHORECHAMBER.ORG

51

CHAMBER VOICES

THE LAW

Create your mark PROTECT YOUR BRAND FROM YOUR WILD SUCCESS

By Peter J. Caruso II Caruso & Caruso LLP

I

magine designing the first wall-mounted automatic washing machine or the first automatic ascending staircase only to lose your brand name? The Laundromat and Escalator companies have felt that pain.

Or what about using branding you assumed was available only to find someone else had priority for its use?

Twitter almost experienced that pain with the word “Tweet.”

Properly selected and maintained trademarks can protect your brand and become a most valuable asset to your company. Here is what you need to know.

CHOOSE CAREFULLY

Trademarks operate along a “spectrum of distinctiveness,” which helps to rate how distinguishable a mark is.

Your goal: Avoid becoming generic (see Laundromat or Escalator).

Generic marks, which are never open to trademark, identify a specific product or service offered. Even if a mark is initially eligible for trademark status, failure to protect the mark can lead to “genericide,” an awfulsounding term with an equally awful result — ­ death of protection. More on that later.

Descriptive marks, which merely describe services or products, are marginally better. American Airlines and Boston Magazine — now very strong and protected marks — once started as descriptive marks with very thin protection.

Each describes its products — an American-based airline and a magazine focused on Boston. But protection required “secondary meaning,” through protracted and consistent use, to allow the public to associate the brand with a single source. That takes time. And during that time, deviant competitors can take advantage of your thin protection and erode your brand’s power.

Stronger still are suggestive marks (Burger King, for example). They suggest products that you purchase.

Trademark disputes can be more likely here, as suggestive marks often use descriptive terms and open the door to copy-cat users.

The final two categories to strive for are arbitrary or fanciful marks, which are the strongest of all categories.

Peter J. Caruso II is a partner at Caruso & Caruso LLP in Andover and Marblehead. He focuses on protecting client assets through lifetime planning and estate planning, including protection and monetization of intellectual property rights.

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IMPACT MAGAZINE

Think Apple and Domino’s (arbitrary) and Starbucks and Verizon (fanciful).

Arbitrary marks are words that have common understandings, but are used with unrelated products; Apple (computers and not fruit) and Domino’s (pizza, not a game).

Fanciful marks are generally made-up words with no relation to the product.

What does the word Starbucks have to do with coffee? (Some would argue, everything.) A brand that is fresh and new will create a strong market presence. And given the fanciful nature, any straight-faced denial of infringement would be difficult.

SEARCH

Selecting a strong mark is just the beginning. A complete trademark search is important. Such a search should be comprehensive enough to give you comfort that your use is unique to your offering.

Know the universe in which your mark will exist before investing in signage, websites, labels and other items. It will not only save money and embarrassment, but it may save your brand.

Searches can be as simple or as

comprehensive as your budget will allow.

A basic Google-type search may provide insight, but it is by no means reliable.

Search state and federal trademark registrations to add further guidance.

Should your budget allow, a comprehensive 50-state and federal review, domain name registration search, and internet review will provide the most comfort.

Give yourself peace of mind.

REGISTER

Once you have that peace of mind, register your mark. A federal registration provides priority over others and opens the door to federal enforcement of your mark.

Twitter almost lost the use of the word “Tweet” due to a prior third-party federal filing. Twitter’s rights dangled in the balance until the company filed, and ultimately settled, a lawsuit against the previously filed registration. Register early to protect your brand.

POLICE

Finally, police your mark. You have thoughtfully selected and searched your mark. Now, make sure others do not usurp your hard work.

Here are some tips:

If federally registered, use the ® mark. Otherwise, attach the TM or nonregistered marks to your name.

Send cease-and-desist letters to infringers. Do not ignore them.

Create a formalized watch protection program to monitor registrations and internet searches.

All will help stave off trademark trolls, competitors and brand hijackers looking to take control of your name and trade on your name to sell their products.

It will also help stave off genericide — loss of your brand to the public by becoming the generic name for a product (remember Laundromat and Escalator).

Google avoided genericide thanks to a 9th Circuit ruling that, despite the pervasive use of Google to define an internet search, Google was still protectable (a decision I’m not convinced is right).

Today, consumers are overstimulated by our digital world. Images and brands fly across our screens at a dizzying pace.

Make certain your brand stands out. Be unique. Be fanciful. And most of all, be diligent. I

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NORTHSHORECHAMBER.ORG

giblees.com

53

IN HONOR

AND GRATITUDE

CHAMBER, UNICARE JOIN FORCES FOR MOVING SALUTE TO VETERANS BREAKFAST

UniCare General Manager David Morales

54

The North Shore Chamber and UniCare united this fall to celebrate patriotism, service and the nation’s military community at the inaugural Salute to Veterans Breakfast on Nov. 9 at the Boston Peabody Marriott.

A crowd of more than 250 guests was on hand for the program that paid tribute to the sacrifices the men and women of the military have paid for generations.

Honored guests included veterans from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War, Afghanistan and Iraq, with all branches of the military represented.

Generous sponsorship by UniCare and the business community enabled all service members and veterans to attend the breakfast for free.

The program featured the presentation of two Minuteman Service Awards recognizing remarkable acts of selfless dedication and outstanding leadership on behalf of the nation’s military through volunteering, advocacy, community projects and other actions.

Command Sgt. Major (ret.) Kim Emerling, the director of veterans’ services for the city of Salem, was honored for his work to aid and improve the lives of veterans in the community and

increase awareness of the role they have played in defending the nation’s freedom.

Abiomed, a leading medical device company based in Danvers, was recognized for its efforts to provide jobs for veterans and the military. The company is led by Chairman, President and CEO Michael Minogue, a U.S. Army veteran.

U.S. Army Sgt. Major Kyle Lamb, who retired after 21 years of service, including 16 years with 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment — Delta, was the keynote speaker.

U.S. Army Reserve Lt. Col. Marisol A. Chalas, the first Latina National Guard Black Hawk helicopter pilot, shared her story of rising through the ranks of the military as an immigrant.

U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, a decorated U.S. Marine Corps combat veteran who sits on the House Armed Services Committee, also spoke of his commitment to the military.

Members of the Massachusetts Army National Guard supplied the honor guard and an ensemble of musicians for the program. The Danvers High School Chamber Singers, under the direction of Alexander Grover, performed the national anthem. U.S. Army Col. Paul IMPACT MAGAZINE

Major Gen. Gary Keefe, adjutant general of the Massachusetts National Guard

Minor, senior chaplain of the Massachusetts National Guard, delivered the invocation.

The Host Committee, working together with North Shore Chamber President and CEO Karen Andreas and UniCare General Manager David Morales, included: Jennifer DeLuca, executive director of the Fisher House of Boston U.S. Army Sgt. (ret.) Gumersindo Gomez, executive director of the Bilingual Veterans Outreach Centers of Massachusetts and president of the Massachusetts State Council of the Vietnam Veterans of America U.S. Army Lt. Col. (ret.) John Hall, former chairman of the North Shore Chamber’s Board of Directors Chief Warrant Officer Robert Hallinan of the Massachusetts National Guard Major Gen. Gary Keefe, adjutant general of the Massachusetts National Guard Brigadier Gen. (ret.) Joseph Milano, president and chief executive officer of the Union Oyster House in Boston Adrienne Mitchell, former National G u a r d av i a t i o n o p e r a t i o n s specialist Joanne Patton, daughter-in-law of Gen. George S. Patton and widow of Major Gen. George S. Patton IV Retired Col. Cheryl Lussier Poppe, secretary of the Massachusetts Department of Veterans’ Services Brigadier Gen. (ret.) James Vallee, Esquire, a partner in Nixon Peabody LLP I NORTHSHORECHAMBER.ORG

Mike Dean photos 55

MINUTEMAN SERVICE AWARD

Abiomed

A COMMITMENT TO SAVING LIVES AND SUPPORTING VETERANS

By Sonya Vartabedian The Chamber

T

he principles of the military are embedded in everything that encompasses Abiomed.

That’s due to Michael Minogue, Abiomed’s chairman, president and CEO, who has built an environment that actively recruits, trains and supports the hiring and advancement of veterans in the medical technology arena.

Abiomed is a leading maker and provider of groundbreaking health care innovation, including the Impella heart pump, the world’s smallest heart pump. Headquartered in Danvers, the company employs over 1,900 people worldwide.

Abiomed Chairman, Named among the fastest-growing President and CEO medical technology companies in the Michael Minogue world by Fortune Magazine in 2017, Abiomed is driven by four principles — recovering hearts and saving lives, leading in technology and innovation, growing shareholder value, and sustaining a winning culture by putting patients first.

Karen Mahoney, head of global human resources, who accepted the Minuteman Service Award on behalf of Abiomed, credits Minogue’s heart and leadership for the company’s commitment to the veterans community.

Minogue is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, where he received his Bachelor of Science in engineering management. He went on to earn his Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago.

He served as an infantry officer in the U.S. Army, earning multiple honors and distinctions, including Airborne, Ranger, Desert Storm veteran and Bronze Star recipient.

Today, Minogue is active in the Massachusetts veterans community and has previously served as the chairman of the Governor’s Advisory Council on Veterans’ Services for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

At Abiomed, Minogue and his team are consistently working to draw the talents and experience of veterans into their growing workforce.

The company offers a Commercial Junior Military Officer Leadership Program. The program enrolls junior military officers who excelled in their military careers and are now seeking to jumpstart their professional lives in the cardiovascular medical device industry.

Minogue is also the founder of Med Tech Vets. The national, nonprofit organization assists and prepares transitioning service members and military veterans for meaningful employment in medical device and life science companies.

Since its launch in 2012, Med Tech Vets’ network has grown to 56

Karen Mahoney of Abiomed accepts her company’s Minuteman Service Award from Chief Warrant Officer Robert Hallinan, left, and Brigadier Gen. (ret.) James Vallee.

A few of the many veterans employed by Abiomed stand to be recognized at the breakfast.

include nearly 100 companies and hundreds of mentors, who have signed on to assist thousands of veterans with their careers.

Abiomed shows appreciation for its employees who are veterans in numerous ways. That includes recognizing each of them with a letter and a luncheon on Veterans Day to thank them for their service.

“Abiomed is a special company because we save lives and veterans are drawn to our organization for that reason,” Mahoney says. “But what truly makes Abiomed special, in my opinion, are the people.

“The people who join our company are mission based and service (minded). They want to do something greater than themselves, and they are able to do that at Abiomed.”

Yet with all that Abiomed strives to do in support of veterans, Mahoney says there’s always the opportunity to push further with its work.

She challenges businesses in the region to join Abiomed in making a commitment to the future success of veterans.

“We can do more,” she says. I IMPACT MAGAZINE

INNOVATION. COMMUNITY. HEART.

Serving the health insurance needs of GIC members for over 30 years Introducing the UniCare heart — a reminder of what matters most. unicaremass.com NORTHSHORECHAMBER.ORG For self-funded plans, claims are administered by UniCare Life & Health Insurance Company. © 2000-2020 UniCare.

129541MAMENUNC 12/20

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MINUTEMAN SERVICE AWARD

Command Sgt. Major Emerling A PROUD ADVOCATE FOR SALEM’S VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES

By Sonya Vartabedian The Chamber

C

ommand Sgt. Major Kim Emerling has built a distinguished 40-plus-year career serving his country and its veterans in the Army, Army Reserves and, for the last decade, as the director of veterans’ services for the city of Salem.

A native of Connecticut, Emerling joined the service straight out of high school.

He began his 42-year career in the Army with the 2nd Ranger Battalion in Washington state and then served as a Green Beret with the 10th Special Forces Group at Fort Devens. In 1984, he spent six months in Lebanon with a special Command Sgt. Major (ret.) forces unit.

Kim Emerling, director of It was his wife, Catherine, who veterans’ services for Salem encouraged him to join the Army Reserves in 1986. She was already a member of the Reserves, eventually retiring as a sergeant major.

In 1991, Emerling was activated to Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Desert Storm. He was appointed command sergeant major in 2000 and held several senior command assignments with various military intelligence commands. In 2004, he was mobilized again in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

He began his final, two-year duty assignment with the Reserves in 2019, which culminated with his retirement from the Army earlier this year.

Emerling’s appointment as Salem’s director of veterans’ services wasn’t quite as carefully orchestrated.

He knew very little about the position when he started working part-time for the city driving veterans to medical appointments. But he soon became aware of the director’s vital role in advocating for Salem’s more than 3,800 veterans and their widows and families.

In 2012, he was hired to replace retiring director Jean-Guy Martineau.

“On the face of it, it is a pretty straightforward job helping ensure all veterans are taken care of,” he says. “The biggest challenge is making veterans aware of the services available and encouraging them to take advantage of what they’re entitled to.”

Emerling is credited with helping to enroll hundreds of veterans into the VA health care system and with tripling total VA claim payments to Salem since 2014.

He has worked with agencies to help reduce veteran homelessness and unemployment in the city, while serving as a mentor to numerous veteran scholars.

At the same time, he has been committed to raising awareness of the history surrounding Salem’s veterans, along with 58

Kim Emerling shows off his Minuteman Service Award alongside UniCare General Manager David Morales, left, and Chamber President and CEO Karen Andreas.

Emerling poses for a photo with his wife, Catherine, at the Salute to Veterans Breakfast.

gaining recognition for the sacrifices they have made for generations.

Emerling is proud to have led the designation of Salem as a Vietnam Veteran War Commemorative partner and as a Purple Heart City.

He is an active member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Salem Veterans Council, and a longstanding member of the Advisory Council at the Bedford VA. Emerling says he is fortunate to have a team of veteran advocates working with him and a wide network of support to draw from.

He especially credits his wife for her understanding and support of his successful military career. They live in Salem with their two college-age sons, Jack and Will.

In receiving the Minuteman Service Award, a humbled Emerling thanked “all the veterans who at one point sacrificed of themselves so that we could enjoy the freedoms and liberties we enjoy every day.”

“I love hearing the stories of the veterans that came across my path,” he says. “It is a very rewarding job.” I IMPACT MAGAZINE

NORTHSHORECHAMBER.ORG

59

THE CHAMBER

NEW MEMBER WELCOME

AvalonBay Communities

Real estate investment Tony Sanchez, director of construction, Boston region 600 Atlantic Ave., Boston

617-654-9575 tony_sanchez@avalonbay.comwww. avalonbay.com

Herrick Lutts Commercial

Commercial real estate agency Richard Vincent, commercial broker

5 Briscoe St., Beverly 978-927-1959 rich@herricklutts.com

herrickluttscommercial.com

Certified Energy Ratings

Contractor Richard Brown, owner

P.O. Box 2033, Hamilton 978-500-7104 rickbrown@certifiedenergyratings. com certifiedenergyratings.com

HouseWorks LLC

Home health care services Year founded: 1998 Number of full-time employees: 50 Scott Muir, vice president of client services Essex County and the Merrimack Valley 617-340-3446 smuir@house-works.com house-works.com connectedhomecare.com

Fisher House of Boston

Charity foundation Year founded: 1990 Number of employees: 25 Jennifer DeLuca, executive director P.O. Box 230, Walpole 781-362-1127 jdeluca@fisherhouseboston.org fisherhouseboston.org

Abiomed

Medical device company Year founded: 1981 Number of employees: 1,536 Michael Minogue, CEO 22 Cherry Hill Drive, Danvers 978-646-1400 mminogue@abiomed.com abiomed.com

CM&B/Construction Management & Builders

Construction company Carolyn Campot, senior vice president/sales and marketing 75 Sylvan St., Building C, Danvers 781-246-9400 ccampot@cmbteam.com cmbteam.com

Aberthaw Construction Company, Inc.

Construction company Year founded: 1894 Allistair Former, director of business development 672 Suffolk St., Suite 200, Lowell 978-654-4500 allistair.former@aberthawcc.com aberthawcc.com

Visioneer Consulting LLC

Largest Selection of Brand Name Appliances

0% FINANCING AVAILABLE

See store for details.

HUGE SAVINGS IN OUR SALEM STORE Clearance Annex, on all Scratch & Dents, One-of-a-kinds, Closeouts, Floor Models and Overstock Appliances.

Organizational and talent development consulting James Ognibene, career coach/ consultant/owner 259 Lafayette St., Suite 8, Salem 978-766-8042 jim@visioneerconsulting.com visioneerconsulting.com

Signarama

Advertising company Year founded: 1986 Number of employees: 200 David Dockham, president 184 Broadway, Suite 11, Saugus 781-941-2066 david@signarama-saugus.com signarama-saugus.com

Tidal Wave Productions

Storytelling Judith Black, storyteller/owner 33 Prospect St., Marblehead 781-631-4471 storiesalive@gmail.com storiesalive.com 60

IMPACT MAGAZINE

Alden C. Goodnow Insurance

Insurance agency Year founded: 1953

Brian Giordano, owner 16 Park St., Danvers 978-774-2620

bgiordano@goodnowins.com goodnowins.com

NF Northeast

Nonprofit organization Lisa Leger, director of fundraising and innovation 9 Bedford St., Suite 1505, Burlington 781-272-9936

lleger@nfnortheast.org nfnortheast.org

Priority Wellness

Health and wellness Year founded: 2008

Chris Vasiliadis, founder P.O. Box 1069, Medford 781-791-7642

chris@prioritywellness.com prioritywellness.com

Silver Lining Solutions Inc.

Consulting Darcia Tremblay, owner

461 Boston St., Unit B1, Topsfield 978-887-1100 darcia@silverliningsolutionsma. com silverliningsolutionsma.com

Herzog Dental

North Shore Juneteenth Association

Dentist Dr. John Herzog, general dentist 49R Maple St., Suite 2C, Danvers 978-777-5111 drjohn@herzogdental.com herzogdental.com

YMCA of Metro North

Health and wellness Kathleen Walsh, president and CEO 2 Centennial Drive, Peabody 978-548-4443 kwalsh@metronorthymca.org metronorthymca.org

Zellik Insurance

Insurance agency Angela Turpin, owner/founder 37 Bridge St., Salem 978-594-0815 aturpin@zellikinsurance.com www.zellikinsurance.com

All-Pro Electric

Contractor Mike Harrington, CEO 640 Boxford Road, Haverhill 978-469-0100 Mikeh@allproelectric.com Allproelectric.com

Nonprofit organization Nicole McClain, founder P.O. Box 8049, Lynn 781-315-2077 nsjuneteenth@gmail.com north-shore-juneteenth-assoc.constantcontactsites.com

Withum

Advisory, tax and audit services Nicole LaRusso, marketing coordinator 500 Unicorn Park Drive, Suite 100, Woburn 781-321-6065 nlarusso@withum.com withum.com

Rockafellas Restaurant/ Colonial Hall

Restaurant and function hall David McKillop, owner 231 Essex St., Salem 978-745-2411 dave@rockafellasofsalem.com rockafellasofsalem.com

LEADS

Leadership development Derek Mitchell, co-founder/ president P.O. Box 1531, Lawrence 978-804-6989

dmitchell@leadsma.org leadsma.org

Berry Mechanical Services Inc.

HVAC contractor Allan Berry, president

3 Milton Way, Georgetown 978-352-5500 berry@berrymechanical.com

berrymechanical.com

L.W. Bills Co.

Fire and security alarm systems Year founded: 1925

Roland Brewer, director of purchasing P.O. Box 7, Georgetown

978-352-6660 rbrewer@lwbills.com lwbills.com NORTHSHORECHAMBER.ORG

Huge Congratulations

North Shore Chamber of Commerce 102nd Annual Distinguished Leader Recipient

Jim Rudolph

Founder and managing partner at Rudolph Friedmann LLC Well deserved.

- Ihsan and Valerie Gurdal Boston - Cambridge

61

THE CHAMBER

BRIEFCASE

Salem Five Insurance, a subsidiary of Salem Five Bank, has expanded with the acquisition of Elliot Whittier Insurance Services LLC of Danvers and Winthrop.

“This partnership will provide Elliot Whittier customers with more choice while maintaining the same great service that they have always enjoyed,” says Andrew Drayer, senior vice president of strategic growth for Salem Five Insurance.

Founded in 1882, Elliott Whittier is a five-star agency deeply committed to the communities it serves.

With the addition of Elliot Whittier employees, Salem Five Insurance now boasts more than 75 professionals in eight locations across greater Boston.

Coastal Windows & Exteriors of Beverly joined forces with Habitat for Humanity recently to provide a free roof to a veteran from Lynn.

The donation was part of Coastal Windows & Exteriors’ Roof for Heroes

SV Design, Siemasko + Verbridge won gold at the Boston Remodelers Association of Greater Boston for its design work on the Glen T. MacLeod Cape Ann YMCA project in Gloucester.

The design firm based in Beverly and Chatham was honored for Excellence in Community Design — Best Commercial Project at the association’s 2021 Prism Awards Gala in October.

The Glen T. MacLeod Cape Ann YMCA community and fitness building had two major design goals: reflect the community it serves and create an inspiring welcome for members and new patrons. The building’s design program, designed to provide a full GAF Roofing System without charge to those who protect the community. The total donation to Vincent Gunning and his family is valued at $21,290.

“Our Roof for Heroes mission is to provide comfort and safety with a gift of a free roof to those who have worked

FOUNDED IN 1919

TRUSTED LEGAL ADVISORS CLIENT BY CLIENT, CASE BY CASE CORPORATE / TAX / TRUSTS & ESTATES LITIGATION / EDUCATION / EMPLOYMENT HEALTH CARE / INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PRIVACY & DATA SECURITY / ENERGY ENVIRONMENT / REAL ESTATE & LAND USE PERSONAL REPRESENTATION / BANKRUPTCY GOVERNMENT & CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS & REGULATION Woburn, MA / Boston, MA Manchester, NH / Concord, NH / Portsmouth, NH

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McLane.com

Marshall Dackert photo

To submit a news item for The Chamber Briefcase, please email sonya.vartabedian@northshorechamber.org.

pulls inspiration from Cape Ann’s rich maritime history For three decades, SV Design, Siemasko + Verbridge has built a reputation for creating residential, commercial, nonprofit, academic and community spaces of character and integrity. and continue to work on the front lines,” Coastal Windows & Exteriors owner Stephanie Vanderbilt says. “We need to protect those who protect us, and a roof is a promise of protection, security and stability. It’s our way of giving back with a big thank you.”

Johnson O’Connor Feron & Carucci LLP has named Patrick J. Bevington, CPA, MST, of Tewksbury, as a partner in the Wakefield-based CPA firm. ​Bevington, who joined the firm in November 2019, works as a tax principal specializing in the real estate industry and partnership taxation. He has over 14 years of experience providing consulting, business and Patrick Bevington tax advice, along with creative and strategic solutions, to his clients, using his knowledge of the real estate industry and tax laws. His diverse experience lies with early-stage businesses, family and legacy businesses, and institutional investors.

North Shore Community College is one of only three colleges in the state to receive a prestigious federal, twoyear $1,081,338 grant to expand dual IMPACT MAGAZINE

enrollment/early college opportunities and to increase postsecondary education on the North Shore.

Funding comes from the federal Office of Postsecondary Education’s Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education: Institutional Resilience and Expanded Postsecondary Opportunity.

The grant seeks to provide more opportunities for students, particularly those impacted by COVID-19, to gain college experience, college course credit and exposure to career pathways.

The new initiative will allow North Shore Community College to expand its successful 15-plus year Early College/Dual Enrollment program to serve five additional areas of Peabody, Salem, Gloucester, Beverly and Revere — where interest in the program currently exceeds the existing capacity.

The Early College/Dual Enrollment program provides access to high school juniors and seniors who represent the first generation to go to college or who are interested in exploring college academics in a supportive, academically challenging environment.

Adam Cutler, NSCC’s dean of strategic partnerships, will be the project director, with support from Stacey Rogers, coordinator of early college.

Salem Hospital, a member of Mass General Brigham, has again been awarded an ‘A’ grade for patient safety by the Leapfrog Group, an independent national watchdog organization committed to health care quality and safety.

The fall 2021 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade national distinction program recognized Salem Hospital’s achievements protecting patients from harm and providing safer health care.

The Safety Grade reflects a hospital’s performance on more than 30 national measures, including medical errors, injuries, accidents and infections as well as the systems hospitals have in place to prevent harm. Leapfrog assigns grades to more than 2,600 U.S. acutecare hospitals twice a year.

David J. Roberts, M.D., president of Salem Hospital, says, Even in this demanding year, the team at Salem Hospital has “remained steadfast in their commitment to quality, safety and kindness.”

NORTHSHORECHAMBER.ORG

Susan Ring Brown has joined Northeast Arc in the newly created role of director of foundation and corporate engagement.

Ring Brown will be responsible for all grant proposals for foundation and corporate requests to support the Danversbased nonprofit organization that helps children and adults with disabilities.

She will be making funders aware of

how Northeast Arc’s Center for Linking Lives and other initiatives are assisting its clients.

This is a return to Northeast Arc for Ring Brown, who previously worked for the organization in a variety of roles, including development project manager, chief development officer, director of development and grants manager. I

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patricia.beckwith@raymondjames.com ConstitutionFinancialPartners.com

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THE CHAMBER

FACES & PLACES

102nd ANNUAL CHAMBER DINNER MEETING The Chamber welcomed Gov. Charlie Baker, celebrated its 2021 Distinguished Leaders, and installed its new Board of Directors, Managing Board and slate of officers for the coming year at its 102nd Annual Dinner on Nov. 17 at Danversport. More than 350 guests were on hand for the evening, which was supported by many Chamber member businesses, including presenting sponsors CM&B Construction, Management & Builders, Inc; Eastern Bank; and Groom Construction.

Photos by Mike Dean

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OCTOBER BUSINESS INSIGHT BREAKFAST FORUM Massachusetts Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Mike Kennealy updated the Chamber on the state’s economic relief and recovery efforts at the Oct. 14 Business Insight Breakfast Forum at the DoubleTree in Danvers. Through a new Chamber initiative, more than a dozen students from Endicott College in Beverly and the Bertolon School of Business at Salem State University attended the breakfast for free. People’s United Bank was the title sponsor, and All-Pro Electric and Harborlight Community Partners were presenting sponsors.

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STATE OF THE REGION BREAKFAST The area’s municipal leaders outlined their administration’s priorities at the Chamber’s annual State of the Region breakfast on Sept. 15 at the DoubleTree in Danvers. The program featured Beverly Mayor Michael Cahill, Danvers Town Manager Steve Bartha, Peabody Mayor Edward Bettencourt Jr., Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll, Gloucester Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken, Lynn Mayor Thomas McGee and Newburyport Mayor Donna Holaday. Title sponsors were Beth Israel Lahey Health and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts; presenting sponsors were All-Pro Electric, Cataldo Ambulance Service, ENCON Commercial Services, The Resource Connection, Solomon Private Wealth, and UniCare.

NORTHSHORECHAMBER.ORG

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2021 DIAMOND AWARDS The Chamber celebrated the achievements of six extraordinary businesswomen at its inaugural Diamond Awards Breakfast on Sept. 21 at Kernwood Country Club in Salem. The 2021 honorees, pictured below, from left, were Judy Cranney, retired vice president and chief operating officer of Care Dimensions; Nancy Palmer, chairman of Northeast Hospital Corporation’s Board of Trustees; Laura Kurzrok, retired executive director of Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation; Sara Stanley, executive director of Healing Abuse Working for Change (HAWC); Jo Ann Simons, president and chief executive officer of Northeast Arc; and Hannah Ginley, chief people officer for Windover Construction. Title sponsors were Eastern Bank and Windover Construction, and presenting sponsors were Century Bank and TD Bank.

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FALL BUSINESS AFTER HOURS Chamber members enjoyed opportunities to network with colleagues new and old at successful Business After Hours hosted by Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse at MarketStreet Lynnfield on Oct. 20 and Millwork Masters in Topsfield on Oct. 28.

Davio’s, MarketStreet Lynnfield

Millwork Masters, Topsfield

NORTHSHORECHAMBER.ORG

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YOUR IMPACT

ANDREW DEFRANZA

‘We’re all interconnected’

By Sonya Vartabedian

nonprofit sector. Integrity and character are essential. You must be prepared to say what you mean and do what you say you’re going to do and to hold up your end of the bargain. The third is persistence. Be prepared to endure and keep moving, even when it is difficult.

The Chamber

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ndrew DeFranza, the executive director of Harborlight Community Partners, learned very young the value of looking out for people more vulnerable than himself.

Raised in a working-class family on the New Jersey Shore, his parents — Angelo, a carpenter, and Barbara, a hairdresser — were very serious in their faith commitment, an attribute they passed on to their three sons.

DeFranza was in the third grade when he accompanied his parents to South America to adopt his middle brother.

There weren’t a lot of working-class people adopting internationally in 1980, he says, and the experience left an indelible mark.

Later, while working the second shift in a men’s shelter in Atlantic City, he witnessed the harsh realities of homelessness. It became the first seed that manifested his professional pursuits.

DeFranza came to New England to attend graduate school, first at GordonConwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton and then Southern New Hampshire University, earning master’s degrees in theology and social ethics as well as community economic development.

After six years as community outreach director at Beverly Bootstraps, from 1998 to 2004, DeFranza spent three years in the Midwest serving the homeless as executive director of the Guest House of Milwaukee.

He returned to the North Shore for good in 2007 and assumed the helm of Harborlight Community Partners.

Over the course of his 14 years with the nonprofit organization, DeFranza and his team have succeeded in advancing Harborlight’s mission of creating opportunities for quality, service-enriched, affordable housing on the North Shore.

Harborlight’s current housing 72

Andrew DeFranza

portfolio encompasses 421 units, providing homes for close to 600 people in communities north of Boston. There are almost 500 additional housing units in the development pipeline, with another 200-plus units in active negotiation.

Much of DeFranza’s efforts are rooted in social justice and challenging the systems that create barriers to housing equity and access.

“I think a huge part of what we’re here for in the world is to look out for each other,” he says. “There are a lot of different ways to do that.

“Our avenue to making the world better is to offer opportunities for more hope and less pain, more opportunity and less fear, and to create homes for people to live in that are safe, that they can access economically and that they can get access to other needs that they have.”

Who has inspired you in your career?

My earliest mentor was Tom Gifford, the executive director of Beverly Bootstraps.

He was the first person to show me what running a nonprofit was like. Both my parents are my role models. They taught me how to live up to your commitment to the world and to manifest that. And my wife and ally, (Beverly School Committee member) Dr. Kenann McKenzie, inspires me to be better every day.

What professional skills do you consider most important?

You have to be able to have a lot of relational skills and make a lot of friends, especially working in the

What would surprise people to learn about you?

Considering I’m a social person, it might be surprising to know that if I had my choice, I’d rather read by myself than do anything else. I read a variety of material: things pertinent to my work and social justice issues, old Martin Luther King Jr. sermons. I recently read Ibram Kendi’s book on antiracism.

I read a lot of Wendell Berry. I’m a big Tolkien fan.

What brings you the greatest joy?

Seeing my and my wife’s four daughters thriving physically and educationally, emotionally and spiritually is a big source of joy and grounding. They are all very aware of the world and their role and responsibility in it and are very eager to help people.

How do you make an impact?

Individually, I make an impact investing in my children to be forces of good in the world in the future. That’s the deepest, broadest, most powerful impact you can make.

Professionally, it’s less about the projects that we do, though that’s important, and what people think about you.

It’s about being in a relationship with a lot of people in the community and trying to affect the collective mind and soul in the region so people are more aware of how symbiotic our relationships are.

We’re all interconnected; we make the error to pretend that we’re not.

Trying to get the idea of our interconnectedness out to the wider community is what inspires me. I IMPACT MAGAZINE

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