 Chamber Awards

Honoring Boston’s Best and Brightest

The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce hosts a variety of awards programs throughout the year that recognize and celebrate the inspiring individuals and organizations who are making an impact in their workplace and communities.

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Danielle Dorey

Vice President, Programs

Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce

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Pinnacle Awards

The Pinnacle Awards is the premier event for women in business, and honors incredible leading women for their outstanding contributions to the workplace and commitment to enhancing the quality of life in the region.

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2025 Honorees

Grace Cotter Regan

President, Boston College High School

Achievement in Arts & Education – Grace Cotter Regan is a mission-driven leader dedicated to advancing Jesuit, Catholic education. Since 2017, she…Read more

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Kim Driscoll

Lieutenant Governor, Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Achievement in Management – Government – Kim Driscoll is the 73rd Lieutenant Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. She was sworn in on January…Read more

Achievement in Management – Government –
Kim Driscoll is the 73rd Lieutenant Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. She was sworn in on January 5, 2023, joining Governor Maura Healey in an historic series of firsts: Governor Healey is the first woman and first openly LGBTQ person elected Governor of Massachusetts, and together, Healey and Driscoll are the first all-women executive team to lead Massachusetts. Driscoll was elected the City of Salem’s first woman Mayor in 2006, taking office at a time when the community was struggling with record deficits, poor financial management, and a declining bond rating. As Mayor, she turned deficits into record surpluses and saved taxpayers’ money by strengthening city services, revitalizing Salem’s downtown, leading a vast improvement in Salem’s k-12 schools, reforming city pensions and health insurance programs to protect employee benefits, bidding public contracts, and bringing transparency to City Hall. Working collaboratively with state officials and local partners, Driscoll secured sizable public and private investments, including a new MBTA train station, a state courts complex, senior center, ferry and waterfront port at Salem Wharf, and positioned Salem as the primary marshaling port for the forthcoming Commonwealth Wind project that will serve residents across Massachusetts and New England, establishing the City as a national leader in the offshore wind sector. From passing one of the first fully-inclusive LGBTQ non-discrimination ordinances in Massachusetts, to securing major investments in veterans’ benefits, standing up for immigrants’ rights, and enacting one of the first age-friendly action plans certified in the Commonwealth, Salem under Driscoll’s leadership has been – first and foremost – an inclusive community that welcomes everyone. A proud mother of three children who attended Salem Public Schools, Driscoll chaired the Salem School Committee as Mayor. She helped push for collaboration and strategies to improve Salem’s schools and for added investments to support teachers and students. Under her leadership, Salem became one of the first communities in Massachusetts to adopt the expansion of free, high-quality early education opportunities starting at age four. The daughter of a Navy chef from Lynn and an accountant’s assistant from Trinidad, Driscoll spent her childhood in a number of states, before attending Salem State University where she studied government and became a stand-out athlete on the women’s basketball team. Like so many Salem State students, she fell in love with Salem and made it her home after graduation, pursuing a career in municipal government, and married her college sweetheart, a second-generation union bricklayer. Beginning with a position as the City of Beverly’s Community Development Director after college, Driscoll embarked on her long career of service to municipalities and went on to earn her law degree from the Massachusetts School of Law. Before becoming the Mayor of Salem, Driscoll served as the City of Chelsea’s Chief Legal Counsel and Deputy City Manager, and also served on the Salem City Council. Exemplified by her extensive and successful career in local government, Lieutenant Governor Driscoll is focused on working with Governor Healey to create a forward-looking Commonwealth and communities that work for, empower, and include all who call Massachusetts home, as well as those who aspire to do so.

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Avana Epperson-Temple

President, Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association

Emerging Executive – Avana Epperson-Temple serves as the President of the Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association (MBLA), a non-profit organization dedicated…Read more

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Rachel Felix

SVP, Chief Marketing & Growth Officer, Boston Medical Center Health System

Achievement in Health Care – Rachel Felix has spent her twenty-five year career as a brand strategist across various roles in healthcare, media, and…Read more

Achievement in Health Care –
Rachel Felix has spent her twenty-five year career as a brand strategist across various roles in healthcare, media, and consumer packaged goods. Rachel currently serves as the first SVP and Chief Marketing & Growth Officer at Boston Medical Center Health System, where she is focused on growth across all audiences from patients to community partners to donors, which all intersect at BMC’s equity mission. Rachel works to more holistically understand and communicate with these audiences, strategically build deeper relationships and advance critical initiatives such as the Health Equity Accelerator, and ultimately deliver greater impact, access, and outcomes to patients. She brings expertise from her previous role as the Vice President and Head of Brand Management at Mass General Brigham where she led integration, rebrand, and awareness efforts across the largest healthcare system in New England. Informed by her marketing insights research, Rachel launched MGB’s first global and local brand awareness and service line campaigns to position the new brand. Rachel led the visual identity roll out across all fifteen hospitals, entities, and additional outpatient centers, and spearheaded brand architecture and policy work to further define and protect the system brand. She also led enterprise-wide marketing solutions and creative services supporting the 80K employee system and largest private employer in the state of Massachusetts. Prior to healthcare, Rachel was Senior Vice President, Marketing, Content Distribution & Business Development at ViacomCBS (now Paramount). In this role, Rachel was responsible for ViacomCBS’s portfolio strategy and messaging, new business, communications, client experience, internal culture, post-merger operations, and DEI. In her fifteen-year career at ViacomCBS, Rachel marketed brands with a broad spectrum of audiences including Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central, BET, and CBS, and navigated an ever-evolving content distribution landscape consisting of traditional, virtual, digital, social, mobile and direct-to-consumer platforms. Rachel spent her early career in consumer packaged goods for both Kraft Foods and Procter & Gamble where she held various roles in brand management and sales. Throughout her experiences, Rachel has proven to be an agent of change, leading visionary transformation at large scale. She takes a consumer-first approach and is passionate about serving diverse audiences in particular. Rachel received a B.B.A. from the University of Michigan and her M.B.A. from Columbia University. She is also an alumni of NAMIC’s Executive Leadership Development program at UCLA’s Anderson School of Business. An NYC transplant, Rachel is on the Board of Directors at The New Commonwealth Fund, PRX, and Women’s Lunch Place, and she co-founded Boston’s most diverse, and Dorchester’s first porch music festival, Dorchfest. She resides in Dorchester, Boston, with her husband, two children, and father.

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Grace Lee

MA Regional President, EVP, M&T Bank

Achievement in Management – Private Sector – Grace Lee has more than twenty-five years of public and private sector leadership experience. In her role…Read more

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Margaret Low

CEO, WBUR

Lifetime Achievement – Margaret Low is the CEO of WBUR in Boston — an award-winning producer of high-quality journalism on-air, online, on demand…Read more

Lifetime Achievement –
Margaret Low is the CEO of WBUR in Boston — an award-winning producer of high-quality journalism on-air, online, on demand and on stage at CitySpace. WBUR has one of the strongest local newsrooms in America, with dozens of journalists covering the most pressing issues in the city and the region. WBUR reaches nearly seven million listeners across the country each week with its two national programs, On Point and Here & Now — a midday newsmagazine produced with NPR. WBUR is also a pioneering podcaster, with critically acclaimed shows like The Gun Machine, Violation, Endless Thread, Circle Round, Anything for Selena, Last Seen, Modern Love and The Common — WBUR’s daily local on demand show. Before joining WBUR in January 2020, Low was president of AtlanticLIVE, The Atlantic’s events division, which during her tenure produced more than 100 conferences a year across the country. Low joined The Atlantic in the fall of 2014 and in a short time transformed the events business into a live journalism juggernaut that set the standard for the news industry. Prior to The Atlantic, Low enjoyed a storied career at NPR, spanning decades. She first walked through the doors as an overnight production assistant on Morning Edition and rose through the ranks to become senior vice president for news — NPR’s top editorial job. In that role, she oversaw the work of some 400 journalists worldwide and coverage of major news events from The Arab Spring and the wars in Syria and Libya to the reelection of Barack Obama and the Boston Marathon bombing. She opened new foreign bureaus, launched new shows, developed new beats and led the digital transformation of the newsroom, steering the audio strategy for digital platforms and quickening the response to breaking news. Earlier at NPR, Margaret was vice president for programming with responsibility for all non-news shows. Among Margaret’s most notable accomplishments was the reinvention of Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me! — transforming a studio-based radio quiz show into a live, award-winning road show and business success story. During her tenure, NPR earned some of the most prestigious honors in journalism, including multiple Peabody Awards, duPont-Columbia Awards and an Edward R. Murrow Award. Margaret serves on NPR’s Board of Directors. She is on the board of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce. She is vice chair of the board of The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and a board member of Wallace House Center for Journalists at the University of Michigan, home to the Knight-Wallace Journalism Fellowships. The University of Michigan is also her alma mater. In 2017, she was the commencement speaker for U of M’s School of Communications. She lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts with her husband Kinsey Wilson.

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Josiane Martinez

Founder & CEO, ASG

Achievement in Entrepreneurship – Josiane Martinez, the founder and CEO of ASG, brings almost two decades of expertise in public policy, cross-cultural…Read more

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Eneida Román

President & CEO, Amplify LatinX

Achievement in Management – Non-Profit Eneida Román is the President & CEO of Amplify LatinX, a business organization that is advancing Latino…Read more

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Laura Wood

EVP Patient Care Operations & System Chief Nurse Executive, Boston Children’s Hospital

Achievement in the Professions – A lifelong pediatric executive nurse leader with a sustained commitment to strengthening health care delivery environments…Read more

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Annual Meeting

Our Annual Meeting is the top Greater Boston business convening of the year, and we are committed to bringing our community together again. The Annual Meeting convenes more than 1,300 business and civic leaders from across the region to induct new members into the Academy of Distinguished Bostonians, hear from a prominent keynote speaker, and connect with each other across companies and industries.

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2025 Distinguished Bostonians

Anne Klibanski, MD

President and Chief Executive Officer, Mass General Brigham

Anne Klibanski, M.D., is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Mass General Brigham, a Boston-based integrated healthcare system that includes internationally…Read more

Anne Klibanski, M.D., is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Mass General Brigham, a Boston-based integrated healthcare system that includes internationally known Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, three nationally recognized specialty hospitals, including Mass Eye and Ear, McLean, and Spaulding Rehabilitation, seven community hospitals, a health insurance company, physician networks, community health centers, home-based care, and long-term care services. 

Appointed to her role as President and CEO in 2019, Dr. Klibanski’s vision for Mass General Brigham is to build the integrated academic healthcare system of the future with patients at the center, by transforming care, improving outcomes, and expanding impact locally, nationally, and globally. 

As the largest private employer in Massachusetts with 82,000 employees and annual revenue of $20 billion, the non-profit healthcare system is a principal teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School, establishing its position as a national leader in medical research and education. 

Dr. Klibanski has led the clinical integration of services across Mass General Brigham and is responsible for the development of new technologies that improve both patient and clinician experience. Platforms including virtual urgent care make it easier for patients to access the system’s world-class care, while new artificial intelligence tools help clinicians keep patients at the center and reduce the administrative burden of writing clinical notes.

Dr. Klibanski has overseen increased investment in leading-edge research that has the potential to revolutionize treatments, such as gene and cell therapy. The system’s innovation team has created more than 300 companies that are making broad impacts on human health, from therapeutics to diagnostics and research.

Under Dr. Klibanski’s leadership, Mass General Brigham has also committed significant resources to community health, with a particular investment in mental health programs. She is dedicated to supporting a workforce that is best able to meet the healthcare needs of Mass General Brigham’s diverse patient population.

Dr. Klibanski served as the healthcare system’s Chief Academic Officer from 2012 to 2019 and as Chief of Neuroendocrine at Massachusetts General Hospital. She is recognized internationally for her high-impact research in neuroendocrine disorders and pituitary tumors. 

Dr. Michael A. Curry, Esq.

President and CEO, Massachusetts League of Community Health Center

Michael Curry, Esq. is President & CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, which represents 52 health centers, serving over one million…Read more

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Jane Steinmetz

Boston Office Managing Principal and Atlantic Market Lead, EY

As the Atlantic growth market leader, Jane collaborates with EY managing partners across the Atlantic region to connect our clients with 9000 EY professionals who…Read more

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Small Business of the Year Awards

The Small Business of the Year Awards ceremony honors 10 small, high-growth businesses that demonstrate achievement in management, workplace excellence, product innovation, and social responsibility, with a commitment to growing in Greater Boston.

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2024 Honorees

OnyxGroup Planning, Development, & Brokerage

INNOVATION & GROWTH

Established in Early 2021, the OnyxGroup Development & Realty is Boston based minority women-owned and operated limited liability company specializing in creating…Read more

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X Agency

CULTURAL EXCELLENCE

X Agency stands out as a specialist in delivering digital marketing services in our region whose ethos revolves around consistently challenging the boundaries of…Read more

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Privé Parking

COMMUNITY IMPACT

Privé Parking is a pioneering force in the parking and transportation industry, driven by a mission to revolutionize the sector with unparalleled service and innovative…Read more

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Studio Luz Architects

DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

Studio Luz Architects is a forward-thinking architectural practice that links responsible design and sustainable construction with built material expression. They…Read more

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RoseMark Productions

CEO LEADERSHIP

RoseMark Productions is a boutique mid-sized event firm led by a seasoned event and White House Advance Lead with over 15 years of experience in the fast-paced political/non-profit…Read more

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L.J.V. Development, LLC

SMALL BUSINESS CHAMPION

LJV stands as a solution-focused construction management firm, placing a premium on collaboration and the incorporation of technology-driven processes to ensure…Read more

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Ten Outstanding Young Leaders

The Ten Outstanding Young Leaders (TOYL) Awards are about Boston’s present, and more importantly, Boston’s future. Honorees represent the region’s emerging young leaders from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors who have demonstrated a commitment to improving the civic and business environment and the quality of life in Greater Boston.

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2025 Honorees

Award Category: Finance and Banking
Adriana Moschella

Senior Vice President, Business Banking Team Lead, Eastern Bank

Adriana is a dynamic leader in the financial/ banking industry, known for a people-first approach, a strong commitment to community, and a career defined by steady…Read more

Adriana is a dynamic leader in the financial/ banking industry, known for a people-first approach, a strong commitment to community, and a career defined by steady growth and meaningful impact. Her professional journey began in an entry-level role, where a combination of hard work, curiosity, and resilience set the foundation for rapid advancement. Today, Adriana is one of the youngest Senior Vice Presidents in her organization, leading a high-performing team of Business Banking Relationship Managers.

In her role, Adriana oversees a portfolio that supports businesses, commercial real estate clients, and real estate investors. She and her team provide essential financial solutions including working capital, equipment financing, expansion loans, commercial mortgages, and deposit strategies that help companies operate, grow, and plan for the future. Their work ensures that both emerging and established businesses have the resources they need to hire, invest, and strengthen local economies. Adriana’s leadership has helped position her team as a trusted partner to entrepreneurs and property owners throughout the region.

A core part of Adriana’s career has always been developing others. She has mentored colleagues at every stage of their careers, championed internal promotions, and demonstrated that leadership is not defined by tenure or background, but by empathy, accountability, and the ability to bring out the best in people. This philosophy has shaped her team culture and earned her a reputation as a leader who builds leaders.

Her contributions have been recognized across the industry. Adriana has earned honors including Rookie of the Year, Leader of the Year, the Core Value Award for Diversity and Inclusion, the Core Value Award for Commitment to Colleague Development, the Community Service Award, and the Outstanding Professional Award, in addition to being a multiple-time Pinnacle Club recipient. She was also inducted into the Boys & Girls Club of Lynn Hall of Fame, reflecting her long-standing dedication to improving opportunities for young people.

Adriana is also deeply committed to public service. She serves as President of the Board of Directors for the Boys & Girls Club of Lynn, where she helps lead a historic capital campaign focused on expanding access, improving programming, and strengthening resources for future generations. The campaign continues to gain strong momentum, driven by community partners and donors who share a vision for long-term impact. Adriana’s leadership in this effort highlights her belief in transformational, community-building work.

Her civic involvement extends across several organizations. Adriana serves on the boards of LEO Inc., Education Comes First, and Coastal Community Capital, contributing to missions focused on early education, economic development, and community support. She has coordinated initiatives that have provided thousands of holiday gifts to families in need and has supported countless small businesses through educational workshops that help entrepreneurs access capital. Several of the businesses she has guided have gone on to receive prestigious recognition.

While she is among the younger leaders in her field, she views this as a strength. It fuels her willingness to challenge outdated norms, stay open to learning, and advocate for what is right. Her mission remains clear: empower colleagues, support clients, uplift communities, and continue proving that meaningful leadership is rooted in service.

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Award Category: Entrepreneurship
Collette Divitto

CEO and Founder, Collettey’s Cookies Corp

Collette Divitto is a pioneering entrepreneur, disability rights activist, and thought leader to anyone who has ever been told they are not good enough nor intelligent…Read more

Collette Divitto is a pioneering entrepreneur, disability rights activist, and thought leader to anyone who has ever been told they are not good enough nor intelligent enough to pursue their dreams.

After being rejected from many job opportunities, likely due to her disability (Down syndrome), Collette decided to launch her own cookie company. Before she knew it, the company, and her story, blew up to national status. Today, Collettey’s has sold over 900,000 cookies, and stays true to her mission of creating employment for people with disabilities!

Though Collettey’s (Collette’s nickname) began with selling cookies exclusively online, Collette has recently developed a shelf-stable cookie that is taking her business to the next level via retail stores and markets. Collette’s story was developed into documentary which was given an Academy Award this year for short film! This documentary is called 17 Percent, representing only 17% of people with disabilities have employment. Her story has been in the media over 16 countries and brings hope and inspiration to improve the lives of people with disabilities.

On top of running a successful national company, Collettey’s Cookie Corp., Collette also operates a nonprofit organization, called Collettey’s Leadership. This nonprofit offers workshops, webinars, and mentoring for the neurodiverse community. The leadership organization has built a coalition this year 2025, with tan advisory board of many leaders in the City of Boston. This coalition is focused on neurodiversity and employment and creating a filmed project program to help other companies hire this community. Collettey’s Cookies donates a % of profits each year to this goal.

Collette has been a magnet for media attention. To date, she has been in People and Forbes Magazine, appeared on shows like Fox and Friends, CNBC Make It, NBC First Look, David Muir, News Nation, and many more including a Ted Talk. She stars in Shopify Studio’s reality show, “Born for Business,” which is available to stream on Peacock and Crave Canada. Recently, Collette deployed a new web series on YouTube entitled “Underestimated.” And started a podcast.

Collette Divitto is a mogul in the making, has a heart of gold, and wants to spread her message far and wide. She hopes her journey and successes can affect great change for people with neurodiversity, especially for employment opportunities.

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Award Category: Nonprofit
Connor Schoen

Co-Founder & Executive Director, Breaktime

Connor Schoen is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Breaktime, a Boston-based nonprofit that is working to break the cycle of young adult homelessness. Born…Read more

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Award Category: Government
Corean Reynolds

Director, Nightlife Economy, City of Boston

Corean Reynolds is the pioneering Director of Nightlife Economy for the City of Boston, making her the youngest in this role nationally. With a strong commitment…Read more

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Award Category: Education and Arts
Dr. Ed-Dee Williams

Assistant Professor, Boston College School of Social Work, & Director, Black Mental Wellness Research Lab

Dr. Ed-Dee Williams is an Assistant Professor of Social Work at Boston College School of Social Work, a faculty affiliate at the Vivian and James Curtis Center for…Read more

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Award Category: Professional Services
Erica Blonde

Senior Planner and Associate Vice President, HNTB

Erica Blonde, AICP is a Senior Planner and Associate Vice President in HNTB’s Boston Office with 10 years of experience. She leads mobility equity and public engagement…Read more

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Award Category: Nonprofit
Javier Juarez

Executive Director, Latino Equity Fund, The Boston Foundation

Javier A. Juarez is a philanthropic leader, strategist, and storyteller dedicated to advancing equity and opportunity for Latino communities across Massachusetts….Read more

Javier A. Juarez is a philanthropic leader, strategist, and storyteller dedicated to advancing equity and opportunity for Latino communities across Massachusetts. He currently serves as the Executive Director of the Latino Equity Fund at The Boston Foundation, the largest Latino-focused philanthropic fund in New England. In this role, he oversees strategy, fundraising, grantmaking, and community engagement, working to ensure that Latino-serving organizations have the resources and visibility they need to thrive.

Since assuming leadership, Javier has helped double both the Fund’s endowment and its annual grantmaking, distributing over $2.9 million in grants, sponsorships, and commissioned research. Under his guidance, the Fund has launched multi-year grant cycles, built new partnerships with corporations and foundations, and established more transparent and community-driven grantmaking processes. His leadership has positioned the Fund as a trusted and innovative model for how philanthropy can center equity while amplifying the voices of the communities it serves.

A hallmark of Javier’s tenure has been the creation of ¡Pa’lante!, the Fund’s flagship annual event. Far more than a fundraiser, ¡Pa’lante! is a cultural and civic gathering that blends art, music, and community pride with philanthropy and advocacy. In a few short years, the event has become one of Boston’s most visible celebrations of Latino culture and leadership, attracting hundreds of supporters and raising significant resources to strengthen the Latino nonprofit ecosystem.

Javier has also prioritized research as a tool for advocacy. Collaborating with partners such as the Gastón Institute at UMass Boston and Boston Indicators, he has helped produce studies mapping the landscape of Latino-serving organizations, documenting barriers to economic mobility, and highlighting philanthropic gaps. These reports provide vital data that informs public policy, guides funders, and strengthens the advocacy efforts of nonprofits.

Beyond his work at the Latino Equity Fund, Javier serves on the board of 826 Boston and Philanthropy MA. Recognized as a Boston Business Journal 40 Under 40 honoree, an Amplify Latinx ALX100 leader, and a TEDx speaker. His leadership is defined by a balance of vision and pragmatism, by his ability to build coalitions across sectors, and by his unwavering commitment to equity.

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Award Category: Professional Services
Melanie Woodward

Partner, Nutter, McClennen & Fish LLP

Melanie V. Woodward is a partner in Nutter’s Litigation Department and a member of the firm’s Business Litigation, Securities Enforcement and Litigation, and…Read more

Melanie V. Woodward is a partner in Nutter’s Litigation Department and a member of the firm’s Business Litigation, Securities Enforcement and Litigation, and Labor and Employment Litigation practice groups. Clients frequently engage Melanie for legal advice in complex commercial litigation matters, government investigations, and internal investigations.

Clients appreciate Melanie’s creative approach to each case, considering the client’s goals and the unique facts of the case to develop a customized strategy. With significant courtroom experience, Melanie has successfully tried cases in Massachusetts state and federal courts. Clients value Melanie’s willingness to pursue a case to trial, while also giving candid advice along the way about risks and opportunities for settlement.

Melanie is committed to the firm’s proud legacy of pro bono representation. She successfully represented a former prisoner pursuing a civil rights action before the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. She has represented a special needs student for many years, including securing the student a placement at a private school better suited to meet the student’s educational needs. Melanie also represented a veterans’ organization defending against a First Amendment challenge to a VA Hospital display honoring prisoners of war. Melanie is also actively involved in immigration pro bono work, including applying for humanitarian parole on behalf a family fleeing Afghanistan and securing lawful permanent residency for minors who had been neglected and abandoned in their home countries. Melanie was recognized for her efforts in Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly’s Pro Bono Spotlight.

Melanie is also a member of the Litigation Section of the American Bar Association. In addition to her summer associate work at Nutter, her professional experience includes serving as a legal extern for the Honorable LeRoy F. Millette of the Supreme Court of Virginia, a legal intern at the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, Child Protection Unit in Boston, and an intern at the Office of Senator John Kerry in Boston and Washington, D.C.

During law school, Melanie served as senior articles editor for the William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal and as a member of the National Trial Team.

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Award Category: Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals, and Lifesciences
Natalie Johnson

Administrative Director, MGH Equity and Community Health, Massachusetts General Hospital

Natalie Johnson is a skilled public health leader and strategist dedicated to transforming health outcomes through equity-focused care, community representation,…Read more

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Award Category: Energy, Climate, and Construction
Yi Zheng

Associate Professor, Northeastern University, & Founder, Planck Energies

Yi Zheng is a tenured Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at Northeastern University, where he also serves as Director…Read more

Yi Zheng is a tenured Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at Northeastern University, where he also serves as Director of the Nano Energy Laboratory and Faculty Fellow at the Center for Emerging Markets at Northeastern’s D’Amore-McKim School of Business. He has been elected as a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and has held the NASA Faculty Fellowship.

With expertise spanning sustainable energy, clean technology, and nanoscale engineering, his research addresses global challenges in renewable energy, climate change mitigation, and water scarcity. His work integrates experimental physics, materials innovation, and systems engineering to develop transformative technologies in renewable energy harvesting, thermal management, and solar-driven water purification.

Prof. Zheng received his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Columbia University. Over the course of his academic career, he has published more than 100 peer-reviewed journal papers and filed 9 U.S. patents, contributing to both the scientific community and the translation of fundamental discoveries into practical applications. His research has been continuously supported by competitive grants totaling more than $4 million from federal agencies such as the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), NASA, DARPA, and the U.S. Air Force, as well as state programs and industry partners.

Prof. Zheng has received numerous awards recognizing both his scientific contributions and leadership. Among these are the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award, NSF CAREER Award, NIH RI-INBRE Early Career Development Award, NASA Glenn Faculty Fellowship, and ASTFE Early Career Researcher Award. His innovations in clean energy technology have also been honored with the Soleeva Energy Innovation Award, MassVentures Acorn Innovation Award, Raymond Viskanta Award, Constantinos Mavroidis Research Award, MassCEC AmplifyMass Award, and NSF Spirit of I-Corps Award. Beyond academic recognition, he has been celebrated by civic organizations with honors such as the NECAA Year of the Scientist, the United Chinese Americans Outstanding Community Service Award, the APAPA Outstanding Civic Engagement Award, the Los Angeles Post Top Ten Outstanding Chinese Americans distinction, and the Massachusetts AAPI Commission Leadership for Inclusion and Diversity Award.

In addition to his academic role, Prof. Zheng is an entrepreneur and thought leader in energy innovation. He is Founder and President of Planck Energies, a Northeastern University spinout focused on passive cooling and sustainable thermal management technologies. His entrepreneurial activities complement his academic mission of translating research into scalable solutions that can impact society at large.

Prof. Zheng is deeply engaged in civic and community service. He is the Boston Cultural Council Grant Advisory Board member appointed by the Boston Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture, Vice President of the Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs (Boston Chapter) and serves on the Board of the New England Chinese American Alliance. Through these leadership roles, he advocates for diversity, equity, inclusion, and civic participation, extending his commitment to societal impact beyond the laboratory.

With a career that bridges pioneering scientific research, entrepreneurship, and community service, Prof. Zheng continues to inspire through his dedication to advancing sustainable technologies and empowering diverse communities.

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Pacesetters Awards

Our Pacesetters Awards highlight the critical efforts being taken in procurement and supplier diversity to achieve economic inclusion for minority business enterprises and the communities from which they are born and operate. Launched in 2022, categories include Deal of the Year, Champion of the Year, and Pacesetters Company of the Year.

Read the 2023 Recap

2023 Award Winners

Company of the Year

Manulife/John Hancock

Champion of the Year

Rosanna Molinaro, Director of Procurement and Contracts Management, Department of Planning, Real Estate, and Facilities, Northeastern University

Partnership of the Year

Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) and Casablanca Services

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2025 Government Affairs Forum | State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg

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Become a Member

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Grow Your Business

Membership Directory

Not sure if you’re a member?

Events & Networking

WHAT’S NEXT

Upcoming Events

Engage & Learn

FEATURED EVENT

Series

2025 Government Affairs Forum | State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg

EXPLORE OUR PROGRAMMING:

Member Engagement

Maximize Your Membership

Unlock Value

Membership Directory

Discover fellow Chamber members.

Upcoming Events

Stay Involved

Talent & Workforce

City Awake

Boston’s Future Leaders

Massachusetts Apprentice Network

Strategic Communication for Better Collaboration

Partnership with Boston Public Schools

Policy & Impact

GET INVOLVED IN OUR POLICY FOCUS AREAS

Business Climate

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 Chamber Awards

Award Category: Finance and Banking
Adriana Moschella

Award Category: Entrepreneurship
Collette Divitto

Award Category: Nonprofit
Connor Schoen

Award Category: Government
Corean Reynolds

Award Category: Education and Arts
Dr. Ed-Dee Williams

Award Category: Professional Services
Erica Blonde

Award Category: Nonprofit
Javier Juarez

Award Category: Professional Services
Melanie Woodward

Award Category: Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals, and Lifesciences
Natalie Johnson

Award Category: Energy, Climate, and Construction
Yi Zheng