By Rod Lee

As Joshua Lee Smith passes the chairmanship of the Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce to Kevin Hayes, he does so with appreciation for having witnessed “an amazing metamorphosis, which has taken the BVCC from a small rural Chamber to one that is a national leader” in introducing programs and projects that other chambers across the country are now emulating.

Mr. Smith’s message was a highlight of the Chamber’s 43rd annual meeting and awards ceremony at Pleasant Valley Country Club in Sutton on November 17th, as was the keynote address given by Gov. Charlie Baker. In his remarks, the governor compared guiding the Commonwealth through the COVID-19 pandemic as “a three-act play” consisting of a scramble when the supply chain “froze,” implementing testing procedures and vaccination plans to deal with the virus when it hit full force, and helping the state reopen when it eased.

Both Mr. Smith, a land use and real estate lawyer for Bowditch & Dewey, and Chamber President and CEO Jeannie Hebert spoke of 2020-21 as “groundbreaking” in terms of how the organization had to “shape shifting ways” of addressing the needs of the businesses and municipalities it serves, as the pandemic took hold.

“The BVCC has been a steadfast partner throughout,” Mr. Smith said. “A guiding light and positive influence, meeting the challenges by keeping abreast of cutting-edge opportunities to keep businesses afloat and distributing information throughout the region and beyond.”

The Chamber never turned anyone away who was in need of assistance, in the Blackstone Valley, “or out of our quote ‘service area,’” he said.  In fact, “we never closed,” Ms. Hebert noted in her welcoming remarks, as she pointed the room toward in-place upcoming events including “our Home & Business Expo on March 12, with a St. Patrick’s Day theme.”

That “business is back!” as Ms. Hebert put it, was reflected in her observation that “Prime Metals had a facility built during Covid-19 in Sutton,” in recognition of Indian Ranch for the entertainment venue’s seventy-five years as host to camping and music and Clear Vision Alliance for fifteen years in operation, and with a salute to retiring officers and directors Daniel Crossin of Homefield Credit Union and Robin LeClaire of the Lampin Corporation.

Ms. LeClaire received the Women’s Success Network’s Exceptional Woman of Business Award. Since taking on the role of president of Lampin Corp. four years ago, she has hired additional employees, incorporated new machinery and increased sales. During the pandemic, her team secured two Paycheck Protection Program loans that ensured Lampin would be able to continue operating and secure jobs for her employees. While at Lampin, she also oversaw the purchase and integration of Johnson & Bassett and Howard Precision Products.

Hers is one of many of Lampin’s long-term employee retirements.

Kevin Hayes, a senior vice president of Millbury Federal Credit Union, is the Chamber’s incoming chairman, succeeding Joshua Lee Smith.

At the meeting, Christopher Robert received the Chamber’s Cornerstone Award for creating the Samuel Slater Experience in Webster, and Charlie Thompson received the Gerry Gaudette Extra Mile Award for his long and illustrious career as former executive director of the Whitin Community Center in Whitinsville.

From drop-in zoom meetings and e-blasts “to inform our businesses and the community at large of financial opportunities, grants and concrete assistance” available to them to facilitating and assisting with applications for help to creating “industry-specific peer groups (open to the public),” the Chamber “did it,” Ms. Hebert said.

“These groups,” like the Food, Beverage and Hospitality Network, and the HR and Business Roundtables, “still exist and meet on a regular basis,” Ms. Hebert said. “We strengthened the work of our committees, the Valley Business Network and the Women’s Success Network through greater outreach, taking the lead on funneling grant applications from MGCC, CARES Act, PPP and ARPA funding, LRRP funds to our municipal partners, EIDL info and connecting our banking and Central MA Regional Planning Commission partners to help aid in the process.”

Later in the program, Ms. Hebert pointed out that the Chamber’s work would not have been possible without the contributions of the region’s state legislative delegation. In presenting Sen. Michael O. Moore, Sen. Ryan C. Fattman, Rep. Paul K. Frost, Rep. David LeBoeuf, Rep. Joseph D. McKenna, Rep. David K. Muradian Jr., Rep. Brian W. Murray and Rep. Michael J. Soter with the Chamber’s Economic Development Award, she said “they were invaluable to us.”

No better example of the Chamber’s commitment to serving its members and the region during the pandemic can be cited than “the important work of the BV Ed Hub, never missing a beat to provide important workforce training in tune to the needs of our manufacturers,” Ms. Hebert said. Collaboration with the Worcester County Sheriff’s Department, remake, MassHire, Grafton Job Corps, state apprentice programs and with superintendents and local high schools pointed students toward a viable career path while also providing companies with skilled workers “so desperately needed across the Commonwealth,” she said.

In her message, Ms. Hebert reminded members that the Chamber is “the region’s oldest and leading economic development and business advocacy organization. Everything we do, from our involvement in government affairs, education, destination marketing, community leadership, membership services and business expansion initiatives is to create a climate where business can grow and thrive, where a skilled workforce is available and where residents want to live and work.”

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Contact Rod Lee at [email protected] or 774-232-2999.