Chambers are known for events and the Worcester Regional Chamber is no exception. They serve a variety of purposes and are a great way to get to know your fellow members and become engaged in the business community.
The Chamber plans events based on the needs of the members and they vary widely. From sole proprietors and small neighborhood businesses to midsize companies to corporations with thousands of employees, the Chamber works hard to provide valuable programming to all of our members. Some topics span all industries while others are very specific to one sector. While not every event is suitable for every member, the Chamber works hard to ensure that there’s something for everyone on our event schedule.
Many types of offerings include educational workshops, industry specific roundtables, networking opportunities, recognition and awards events, legislative forums, referral groups for lead generation, mentoring programs, professional development, and many others. And, the number of attendees ranges from a 10-person gathering to day-long events with more than 800 attendees.
So, it’s no wonder that planning for the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce’s 2019 event calendar started months ago, last October to be precise, when the Chamber team met to outline the lineup of more than 200 programs and events.
Credit for the planning and execution of the event schedule is spread across the Chamber staff who each own specific events related to their area of expertise. And it is a team effort. Scheduling, obtaining speakers and locations, securing sponsors, creating marketing materials, and logistics such as nametags and ordering food are all pieces of the planning process that come together through a team effortby a small but dedicated staff.
During the course of the year, the Chamber adds events as needed and as opportunities arise. For example, our Business & Government Forums are still under development as we assess the issues and develop the Chamber’s legislative agenda for the year. So, it’s important to subscribe to our e-newsletter and check our website and social media regularly for events that are scheduled during the year. Remaining nimble and responding to fluid situations is important to us as we service our members.
While many hands play a part in our programs and events, one staffer – Lili Zannotti – is responsible for pulling it all together into, we hope, a seamless program that supports our member’s goals. This dynamic force of nature holds the title, programs and events coordinator, a huge understatement given her responsibilities. If you haven’t met her yet, be sure to find her at one of our monthly Business After Hours or other event and introduce yourself.
This year, rather than organizing the calendar by event, we listed them by month to help you plan your schedule. While the summer months are a bit lighter on events, we are again delighted to present Worcester’s Independence Day fireworks celebration with presenting sponsor Fallon Health. To take advantage of the good weather, we also hold our two golf tournaments in the summer creating a relaxed atmosphere of friendly competition and camaraderie.
The Chamber relies on the support of our members in the form of sponsorships and program fees to provide the breadth of events. And, many generous sponsors have stepped up to the plate. A few sponsorships are still available for 2019, so if you want to get your organization out in front of a business audience, we’d be happy to share the remaining opportunities with you.
Watch your mail for our annual calendar and be sure to mark your calendars for those events that are of interest to you. Finally, if you have ideas, the Chamber team would love to hear them. Reach out to Lili Zannotti at lzannotti@worcesterchamber.orgor 508.753.2924 and tell us what event you’d like to see on next year’s calendar.
