The Powderhouse ca 1703 - From Pawtucket natives and Puritan settlers, the Somerville area has a rich prehistory and history. One historical example is the oldest industrial building in greater Boston -- The Old Powder House. Built orginally as a windmill and for decades serving as a center for colonial commerce and society, this structure was later used to store gun powder before the Revolution. The Powderhouse is the center of the Chamber's symbol.
The Somerville Chamber of Commerce is the pre-eminent voice of the local business community and the leading network of employers, business owners and managers.
21st Century Achievements [pdf doc click]
To learn more about the Chamber's approach and how we have:
· promoted Somerville;
· advanced Somerville development, transportation, & innovation;
· buttressed Somerville's city government and its leaders;
· supported Somerville public schools;
· responded to special moments with special events and actions;
· improved Somerville's environment and urban quality of life;
· discouraged uncompetitive business costs and regulations;
· introduced signature events; and
· made thousands of one-on-one connections.
The Chamber's mission is to serve the membership while enhancing Somerville's quality of life. Somerville is a place to visit, live, work and play.
Founded in 1946, the Chamber is an independent, private, non-profit 501 c 6 business association with 380 members companies and organizations.
Somerville is a small business haven. The average private employer has less than ten employees.
Chamber member companies and organizations come from every local industry and they range from individual consultants, sole proprietors, and shop owners to the largest non-profit and for-profit employers. The Chamber is funded by the voluntary annual dues investments of its members and by income from events and publications. Additional financial support is provided by the Chamber's New Group -- a special group of economic leaders who make voluntary contributions to enable a strong economic development agenda. With hundreds of members but only two staff, the strength of this organization is the membership. From the governance of the organization, to business and economic issues work, to individual case work, members play an integral role in the vitality of chamber.
"Pound for pound, the membership of the Somerville Chamber of Commerce is as generous with its time and money as any business community in greater Boston." ~ Stephen Mackey, President/CEO
* = Executive Committee member
'06 = Expiration of term
Robert H. Arnold Past Board Chair
Bob brings 50 years of Somerville business experience. He is a former: Ames Safety Envelope Company President; Envelope Manufacturers Association Director; Somerville Hospital Chair; Cambridge Health Alliance vice chair; Homefirst Charitable Corporation director; and Kiwanis Club President. He is a director and former vice chair of Associated Industries of Massachusetts. Bob -- a World War II infantry officer, Bronze Star and Combat Infantry Badge recipient -- attended Boston University Evening School of Business and was commissioned at the Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia. Bob received the Chamber's 2004 John W. Fitzgerald Lifetime Achievement Award.
Tom is the owner/president of the full service IBEW Local 103 shop serving greater Boston's leading commercial, industrial, educational, and healthcare institutions. He is a member of the: Associated General Contractors of Massachusetts; National Electrical Contractors Association; National Fire Protection Agency; and Illuminating Engineering Society of North America. He is the: Somerville representative to the Metropolitan Planning Organization; Somerville Vocational High School Advisory Board Chair; St. Catherine's Church Restoration Committee Chair; City of Somerville's Municipal Compensation Board Chair: Municipal Property Review Committee Chair; and a former Cambridge Health Alliance Joint Hospital Board Director and Somerville Housing Authority Board of Commissioners Chair. A youth hockey and soccer team sponsor, Tom and his wife Roseanne live in Somerville in a National Historic Register home. Their two daughters are graduates of Harvard, Tufts and Georgetown.
*Joseph R. Bianco ’08 Central Bank
New Group Member
Joe is Vice President of Business Development for Central Bank, a full service community bank headquartered in Somerville. Joe is responsible for establishing and maintaining relationships within the business community. With more than thirty years of banking experience, Joe has the knowledge and expertise to meet your banking needs. His office is located in Davis Square. You can reach him at 617-628-4000. Established in 1915, Central Bank, the bank subsidiary of Central Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: CEBK), is a Massachusetts chartered co-operative bank operating nine full service branches in the communities of Somerville (Main Office), Arlington, Burlington, Chestnut Hill, Malden, Medford, Melrose and Woburn (two branches). Central Bank is a full service community banking operation that provides a variety of deposit and lending services—including savings and checking for retail and business customers, mortgage loans for constructing, purchasing and refinancing residential and commercial properties, and loans for small and medium size businesses and home improvements. Central Bank is a publicly traded company and has been named by the Boston Globe as one of the ‘best 100 Massachusetts Businesses’ for the years 2006, 2005 and 2004. Central Bank is a member of FDIC, Member of SIF and is an Equal Housing Lender.
David is the owner/president of the company that manages residential, commercial and retail buildings in the Boston Area. He is a proud member and Past President of The Somerville Kiwanis Club, Member of The Greater Boston Real Estate Board and an active resident of the city. He is a graduate of Syracuse University and lives in Davis Square.
*Ronald Bonney, Jr. ’08, Bonney Automotive Chamber Board Chair, Education Committee Chair, New Group Member
Ron is the President/CEO of Bonney Automotive, a cutting edge automotive concern. Bonney Automotive maintains and repair high value automobiles and light trucks using state of the art equipment and training. Our ASE Master Technicians use carbon reduction systems for your auto emission system, nitrogen tire fills, high speed computer tire balancing and two or four wheel alignments to improve your auto’s efficiency and make your vehicle more earth friendly. We offer all regularly scheduled maintenance services as well as general automotive repair. We also offer fleet services running scheduled maintenance programs and general repair services for area fleets of vehicles. Ron is also the principle operating Yellow Cab Association as well as ARLEX Transportation that provide courier and special needs education transportation services, as well as the Commonwealth's largest Dial-A-Ride service for the elderly and disabled. He also founded B.F.T., Inc., a realty trust, for commercial and residential property. Ron serves as Massachusetts State Chair for the Association of Community College Trustees and Co-Chair of the Bunker Hill Community College Board of Trustees. Ron is a U.S. Army veteran, and a Commissioner of the Somerville Housing. He graduated from the School of Management at Boston College and resides in Somerville with his wife Dr. Iwona Bonney and their two sons.
Irene is a full time Massachusetts licensed professional realtor working for a family owned business with ties to the Somerville community for over the last 75 years. She has over 20 years experience and is known as a top listing agent with a solid reputation for fairness and strong negotiating skills. Irene has taught and hosted informational seminars for first time buyers, condominium conversions, landlord/tenant law and estate planning for her company as well as the city of Somerville. She has been a guest lecturer for entrepreneurial studies at Boston University, has been quoted and featured as a guest speaker regarding the real estate market, values and trends for local newspapers (Boston Business Journal, Somerville Journal, Boston Globe,) local cable, and local news, and has served as an expert witness for clients and legal counsel in court. She is a member of MLS (The Multiple Listing System), The Greater Boston Real Estate Board, The National Association of Realtors, and a notary public. She is a member of the Somerville Rotary club and an honorary member of the Somerville Lion’s Club. Irene has obtained the following professional designations: the Relo Certified Coordinator, Senior Residential Specialist, Certified Buyer Representative, Accredited Seller Representative, and most recently completed her requirements for her Certified Residential Specialist. In addition to this, Irene has served on the Board of the American Cancer Society, the Somerville Hospital, The Greek Orthodox Church, and was the Co-founder and President of the Dreams for Youth Foundation which in two years raised over $100,000 in funds which were disbursed to Somerville Youth Programs and charities. Irene resides in Somerville and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from the Boston College School of Management.
Richard Brenner ’09, Central Bank Davis Square Group Chair
Rich is a Vice President of Commercial Lending for Central Bank at 399 Highland Ave. Somerville. He has been in the lending arena for 22 years, having worked for an asset based lender in midtown Manhattan for three years prior to moving to the Boston area. He was a commercial asset based lender in Burlington, Mass for four years, a credit review analyst in Waltham, Mass for two years and a credit officer/lender in Norwood, Mass for nine years prior to joining Central Bank as a commercial lender four years ago. He has analyzed and provided loans of $10,000 to $10,000,000 to a variety of retail, wholesale, construction, manufacturing and service businesses. He has served as the BIG chair for Davis Square since 8/06.
The President of Busnach Associates, Nancy is a goal-oriented, real estate professional with more than 25 years' experience in facilities/asset management and construction. She has a proven track record as a creative negotiator and effective manager. Nancy is a Certified Property Manager, IREM, licensed Mass. Real Estate Broker, Chair of the Somerville Redevelopment Authority, Member of Cambridge Health Alliance Board of Trustees, St. Clement Schools BOT, and member of CoreNet Global, New England Women in RE (NEWIRE). Former member of the Board of Somerville Boys & Girls Club, Past Chair of Ground Works Somerville., and Aquinas College. Nancy is a graduate of Suffolk University and was the recipient of the Chamber's 2003 Powderhouse Award for Distinguished Service.
Dennis is an Associate Principal in Somerville's international award-winning architecture and planning firm located in Davis Square. Dennis has helped Arrowstreet build consensus among diverse stake holders on complex projects by working with the people they affect. Dennis' work emphasizes finding the appropriate design balance between commercial necessities and environmental and community needs. His projects are local, national, and international. They cover a wide range of project types, including mixed-use communities, retail, housing, office, hotels, theaters, and concert halls. He has led projects for IKEA both in Somerville and in Iceland. His commitment to sustainable design began early in his career at the Solar Energy Research Institute where he conducted research on the use of daylight in commercial buildings to reduce energy consumption and improve occupant productivity. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture from the University of California at Berkeley and a Master of Architecture degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
John is a principal in the international award-winning firm in Davis Square that has designed locally: Cambridge's CambridgeSide, Hotel Marlowe, University Park and Hotel @ MIT; Boston's Artists for Humanity Epicenter and the Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel; Wellesley's Jewitt Arts Center and Davis Museum; Chestnut Hill's Chestnut Hill Mall; and Nantucket's The White Elephant. John specializes in planning and architecture for commercial development. His goal is to add value to his clients' properties and to enhance the communities in which they are built. Many of his projects have been cited for innovative solutions by national publications and design awards. He has led much of Arrowstreet's work abroad in South America, Europe, and Iceland. Prior to joining Arrowstreet, he was a former professional ice hockey player. He holds a B.A. from Yale and a Master of Architecture from Washington University. John received the Chamber's 2001 Powderhouse Award for Distinguished Service.
Anthony is a second generation funeral director at Cota-Struzziero McKenna in Union Square and Cota Funeral Home in North Reading. A licensed funeral director/embalmer in Massachusetts and Florida, he is a member and past president of the Massachusetts Funeral Director's Association and a former policy board member of the National Funeral Director's Association. He is a member of: Reading/North Reading Chamber of Commerce and Wilmington Sons of Italy. Anthony is also a past president of the North Reading Businessman's Association and the Somerville Lions Club. He attended Boston University, graduated from New England Institute of Applied Arts and Sciences, and attended Miami Dade County Community College. Anthony was recipient of the Chamber's 2005 John W. Fitzgerald Lifetime Achievement Award.
Pat is the Site Administrator and Senior Nursing Director at the Somerville Hospital Campus of the Cambridge Health Alliance. She is a Master's prepared Nursing Professional with over 20 years of progressive experience in nursing, hospital operations and quality improvement. She holds a certification as a case management administrator and has advanced training in healthcare delivery improvement. She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society of Nursing. Pat is a member of Mass Organization of Nurse Executives, having served as an executive board member for 2 terms. She also served as president for The Northeast East Council of Nurse Executives. She is a member of the Somerville Hospital Ladies Aide and the Winthrop Improvement and Historical Society. She received both her graduate and undergraduate degrees from Salem State College She lives in Winthrop with her family.
Adam is the principal attorney at the Davis Square law firm where he is in general practice, predominately in the areas of small business law, residential and commercial real estate law, divorce, zoning and permitting. He is a member of the Massachusetts and Middlesex County Bar Association. A recipient of the Somerville Community Corporation's Hazel Hughes Award for distinguished community service, Adam is a past president of the Somerville Homeless Coalition and a member of the Davis Square Task Force. He has taught and lectured throughout greater Boston. Adam holds B.A. degrees in Economics and in Fine Arts from Brandeis and a J.D. degree from George Washington. He lives in Somerville with his wife and 2 daughters.
Pauline is the Bank's Sr. Vice President/Chief Lending Officer with over 30 years of experience in lending and banking. Her area of expertise focuses on Multi-family, Construction and Residential Lending. She is also responsible for full Regulatory Compliance regarding lending. She is a member of the Massachusetts Bankers Association; Massachusetts Mortgage Bankers, Risk Management Association (RMA), America's Community Bankers and the American Bankers Association. She is Past President of the Financial Managers Society, Past Board Member of the Chelsea Neighborhood Housing and Past Treasurer of the Somerville Chamber. Pauline is a Somerville Kiwanis board member and Distinguished Past President. She was recipient of the Chamber's 2002 Powderhouse Award for Distinguished Service.
Bill has over 30 years of business and philanthropic experience as an entrepreneur. He currently co-owns and serves on the Board of Directors of Watermark Donut Company, one of the largest Dunkin’ Donuts Franchisees operating 40 units in the downtown Boston area. Bill also owns Lyndell’s Bakery, one of the oldest retail bakeries in the country. Bill began his career at PricewaterhouseCoopers, an international public accounting firm and since then has held several senior executive positions with major companies including XTRA Corporation, Wang Laboratories and West Lynn Creamery. Other highlights of Bill’s career include his tenure as the Executive Director of the Sports Museum, Co-Chairman of the Athens 2004 Baseball Organizing Committee. He currently serves as an active trustee with The Sports Museum and Anatolia College in Greece. Bill is an Adjunct Professor at Boston University School of Management teaching Franchising and Entrepreneurial Studies. In 2001, he was selected as an Ellis Island Medal of Honor Recipient for his contributions to humanity and his Greek heritage.
Nora founded and operated the Academy of Movement Dance Studios and was certified to teach the Pilates Method through the Physicalmind Institute and became a Teacher Trainer for NYC's Power Pilates. She is also a member of The Pilates Method Alliance and IDEA. Nora provided Ballet and Pilates instruction to Boston Ballet School, Boston Ballet Company, and Massachusetts Youth Ballet. Nora is also certified for instruction of Resist-A-Ball. Further advancing her Pilates knowledge, Nora continues to train and attend seminars all over the country. Some of her most recent specialized training includes; appropriate exercises for clients with Osteoporosis, Knee or Low back injuries and neuromuscular reprogramming. has over 20 years of dance experience and over 7 years of certified Pilates instruction experience. She obtained a B.S. in Physical Education & Dance from the University of Wisconsin and participated in graduate studies in Dance Movement Therapy at Antioch University.
Rui is the Chief Executive Officer for the 78 year old, full service financial institution, with offices at 493 Somerville Avenue in Somerville and 251 Hampshire Street in Cambridge. He is also a member of the credit union Asset Liability Management and Investment Committee. Rui has been with the credit union for 15 years and has previously held the positions of VP of Lending, VP of Operations and VP of Finance. He is also the Vice President of the Credit Union Boston Metropolitan Chapter. Rui holds a Bachelor Degree from Bentley College and is currently enrolled in a Masters of Management at Cambridge College.
George Donnelly has been the editor of the Boston Business Journal since November 2000, leading the paper to several national and regional journalism awards. He has been in the Boston journalism scene for 21 years, including a stint at CFO magazine, where he was a senior editor, and the Tab newspaper group, where he was editor-in-chief of a group of 15 community newspapers. He began his journalism career as a reporter for the Somerville Journal in 1985, and he was editor of the Somerville Journal from 1987 to 1991. Donnelly came to Boston in 1981 after getting a degree in English Literature at the State University of New York at Binghamton.
Jim is the hotel's General Manager. Over the past decade Jim has managed hotel properties in Newton and Cambridge. He is a member of the Cambridge Hotel Association, the Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau and a supporter of the Cambridge Tourism Office. A graduate of Michigan State University, Jim is a member of the School of Hospitality Business Alumni Board. He is involved with mentoring students and promoting the growth of the Hospitality industry.
Bill is President of the general contracting/construction management firm headquartered in Union Square since 1929. J.J. Vaccaro's clients include major retailers, hospitality groups, and commercial developers with projects locally and throughout the northeast. Bill is also a Principal and Manager of Boynton Yards Associates, LLC, owners and developers of the Boynton Yards Technology Park. Working in Somerville since 1977, Bill operated a small woodworking shop in Union Square until he moved across the Square to work with Joe Vaccaro, Jr.. Bill holds a BA from New College in Sarasota, Florida and an M.Ed from University of Hartford, West Hartford, Connecticut.
Ian is the Director of Operations and General Manager for F.E.I. Theatres, the family-owned chain that operates the Somerville Theatre in Davis Square and the Capitol Theatre in Arlington. He planned and supervised the interior renovation of the historic auditorium of the Somerville Theatre. Ian is an active member of the National Association of Theatre Owners and the Theatre Owners of New England. He graduated from Keene State College with a B.A. and resides in Davis Square one block over from the street he grew up on.
John is the Executive Director of Walnut Street Center, Inc. (WSC). WSC provides residential, employment, day and social supports to individuals with Intellectual Disabilities and their families. The agency employs approximately 300 people. John has worked at WSC for twenty-two years. He is a past-president of the Somerville Rotary. He is currently President of SCM Transportation’s Board of Directors and a member of the Association of Developmental Disabilities Providers Board of Directors. He holds a BS in Human Service Management from Umass Boston and an MBA from Salem State College.
Ken is the owner of The Independent, and Toast lounge, both located in Union Square. He is the owner of Vitalsite Services, a consulting company that leases and zones property for wireless communication equipment, cellular antennas & towers throughout New England. He is Vice President of Union Square Main Streets which is charged with creating a vibrant neighborhood by enhancing the business district and surrounding neighborhoods through active community collaboration. Ken was born in Ireland, hold a BS in Accounting from St. Peters College, New Jersey and lives in Somerville.
Arnold J. Knox, Jr. "Chair, President & CEO Emeritus,” Past Board Chair
Bud brings over 50 years of experience as a resident and business owner. He is a former: Somerville Hospital trustee; Somerset Bank director; Greater Boston Family Services Treasurer; and Somerville Public Safety Commission Member. Bud is the: Somerville Home Treasurer and past president; Somerville YMCA Treasurer; a Somerville Kiwanis Treasurer; and a Reading Art Association Director. A U.S. Navy Veteran, he is a Bentley College grad. After many years of outstanding service during which he served as Chamber Chair, Clerk, or Staff, Bud's contributions to the Chamber and Somerville were acknowledged with the Chamber's first honorary title.
Peter is a founding principal of the consulting firm that has worked for over 20 years in the field of economic development analysis and strategy. The firm's scope of work includes both broad-based economic development planning and focused: workforce development; commercial revitalization; small business development, and industry “cluster” development. Peter has particular expertise in formulating targeted strategies to address economic inequalities. Working at the intersections of regional and community-based economic development, he designs strategies that create economic opportunities for distressed communities and disadvantaged populations by linking them more closely to regional industries, markets, and institutions. Active in Boston's community development for over 25 years, Peter played a long-term leadership role for one of Boston's leading community development corporations, and is currently serving as president of Groundwork Somerville, a recently established public-private partnership that supports Somerville's economic development through environmental and recreational initiatives. Peter graduated from Brown and holds a Masters Degree in City and Regional Planning from Harvard's JFK School of Government.
Rod, a financial advisor, is a community-based investment representative, helping individuals and small businesses with their investment and retirement needs. He is a licensed broker of stocks, bonds, mutual funds, annuities, insurance, unit trusts, college plans and various other financial instruments. Rod also serves as the president of Somerville Rotary and on the board of directors of the Somerville Kiwanis, Dreams for Youth Foundation, and Somerville Home. He is a deacon at University Lutheran Church and supports many local organizations and charities. Rod lives and Somerville and graduated magna cum laude in Biosystems Engineering and earned an MBA in Finance and Value Chain Management from Michigan State University.
Isaac is an attorney with the firm of Epstein, Lipsey & Clifford located at 255 Elm Street in Davis Square. Prior to joining the firm, Isaac spent over ten years with the Massachusetts Highway Department. As part of his practice, Isaac advises and represents clients in the areas of construction law, negotiating and drafting public and commercial contracts, bidding, real estate, business development and litigation. Isaac is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts and Seton Hall University Law School. His community service includes serving as a Trustee of the Cambridge Health Alliance, Board member of the Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers and the Cambridge Portuguese Credit Union, and member of the Somerville Kiwanis. Isaac, who is a resident of Somerville, also serves as an Election Commissioner for the city.
*Sandra L. McGoldrick, Winter Hill Bank New Group member, Golf Committee Chair, Past Board Chair
Sandra is President and CEO of Winter Hill Bank, a community bank headquartered in Somerville and celebrating its 100th Anniversary here. In addition to the Bank's corporate headquarters on Broadway, Winter Hill Bank has offices in Davis Square, Ball Square, Chelsea and North Reading. Sandra serves on the Bank's Board of Directors and Executive Committee. Nationally, she is on the Board of Directors of Pentegra Retirement Services and is a member of the American Banker's association and America's Community Bankers. She also served as Past President of the Financial Managers Society and Board of Director of the Massachusetts Bankers Association. Locally, Sandra currently holds numerous positions in community affiliations that include the Somerville YMCA Board and Building Committee Member; Somerville Home Executive and Renovations Committee Member; Winter Hill Community School Council Member; and a Past Corporator of the Somerville Hospital. She holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Northeastern. Sandra was the recipient of the Chamber's 2004 Powderhouse Award for Distinguished Service.
Charles J. McKenzie, CPA '09, Hamlen & Company New Group Member, Inner Belt Group Chair
Charlie has over 20 years of commercial real estate experience as the Chief Financial Officer for Hamlen & Company. Charlie is an Owner and Treasurer of Northmoor LTD. Construction Company, Inc. and Premier Worldwide Travel LLC. He has served as past executive board member of the Somerville City Club. Also he served as the Club's Treasurer and Secretary. He is a former Long Rang Planning Committee member for the Boys & Girls Club of Middlesex County. Current and past member of the City of Somerville's Municipal Property Review Committee. Charlie is an avid golfer and ardent supporter of Boys & Girls Clubs. He is a Graduate of the University of Massachusetts.
Michelle is an associate with the law firm and represents clients in estate planning, probate administration, asset protection and guardianships. She also works with the elderly and their families regarding long term care and Medicaid planning. She has conducted seminars on the topics of estate planning for individuals and businesses, long term care and Medicaid planning, and asset protection for small businesses. Michelle holds a B.A. in Political Science from Arizona State University and a J.D. from New England School of Law. In 2006, Michelle was the recipient of the Chamber’s Powderhouse Award for Distinguished Service. Starting in 2007, she has been the co-host of Talking Business on CityCable 13/16.
Gail has 15 years in the financial services industry. She is a financial planner with Waddell & Reed and helps individuals, families and small businesses untangle the often complicated issues of retirement savings, investments, taxes, debt reduction, risk management and educational funding. She is licensed to sell investment securities and insurance products. Prior to joining Waddell & Reed, Gail was a financial writer at Putnam Investments, Boston. In 2004, Gail passed the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards exam, and is currently completing the work requirement necessary to obtain her CFP designation. She continues to write on a freelance basis. In addition, she is a professional vocalist with 20 years experience performing throughout New England at numerous parties, fundraisers and receptions. Gail is a member of the Mystic Chorale. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University.
Gilda is the Executive Vice President of Retail Banking. She is clerk of the East Cambridge Savings Charitable Foundation Clerk; Somerville Rotary Club President; Cambridge YMCA Board Member; Massachusetts Bankers Association, Legal & Regulatory Committee Member; MBA Risk Management Task Force Member; Eastern Compliance Network Member; and Matignon High School Parent Group Treasurer. Gilda holds B.S. in Management from Lesley University and is a graduate of the National School of Banking - America’s Community Bankers at Fairfield University.
John has been in banking for 15 years in the City of Somerville. He is currently Assistant Branch Manager and Branch Operations and Compliance Liaison for Century Bank in Somerville, a full service commercial bank with 22 branches in the surrounding communities. Century Bank was founded in 1969 and established its first office in Somerville and specializes in small business lending and services. John has resided in Somerville for the past 32 years and is currently on the Executive Board of Directors for Society of Anzano an Italian-American non-profit organization in Somerville. He volunteers at various community events in Somerville and speaks at different
*Timothy O'Malley '09, Winter Hill Bank Broadway Group – Winter Hill District
Tim is the Bank's Business Development Officer. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Boys & Girls Club of Middlesex County and the Walnut Street Center. He is: the past chair of the Chamber's Union Square BIG and past region chair, past president and current treasurer of the Somerville Lions Club. Tim and his wife Kathryn live in Melrose with daughter, Stephanie, who attends the Newman School in Boston.
Michelle is the Assistant Vice President, Banking Center Manager, of the Porter Square office at Cambridge Savings Bank (CSB). With more than 18 years of Retail Banking experience, all of which have been at CSB. Michelle delivers a wealth of innovative products and services to a wide range of personal, small business, and commercial banking customers. Michelle is also a Board Member of the Women in Business Connection, a metro Boston-based community of professionals.
Kirk is the Chairman, President and CEO of AMES Safety Envelope which operates a 300,000 square foot manufacturing plant in Somerville. The company’s divisions include AMES Color-File, the dominant supplier of medical record products; AMES Specialty Packaging, a manufacturer of stock and custom packaging products for the software and print publishing markets; AMES On-Demand, a leading provider of custom publications for diverse industries, and ASE Dealer Source, a supplier of filing, mailing, packaging, and presentation products for dealers and distributors. With over 400 employees, AMES is the community’s largest employer. Kirk serves on the Boards of The Boston Conservatory and Associated Industries of Massachusetts. He is a lawyer by training, having graduated from Harvard Law School, a member of the American Bar Association, Massachusetts Bar Association, and Boston Bar Association, and is admitted to practice law in Massachusetts and before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Barbara Rubel '08, Tuft University New Group member, Nominating Committee and Powderhouse Awards Committee Chair
Barbara is the University's Director of the Office of Community Relations. She has represented Tufts to Somerville, Medford and Chinatown for more than thirty years. She acts as the liaison to local government, agencies and organizations in this capacity addressing community concerns and building partnerships between the university and its communities. She is also responsible for neighborhood relations on the Medford/Somerville campus. She has served on the boards of many Somerville youth, senior, and cultural organizations. She currently serves the Community Action Agency of Somerville and SCM Transportation, Inc. as vice president of the respective boards. She is a co-founder and board member of Groundworks Somerville. She has reviewed Community Development Block Grant proposals for the city, served on the advisory board of the vocational high school and assisted with several searches in the school department. Barbara has degrees from Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and Tufts. Barbara received the Chamber's 2004 Powderhouse Award to Tufts University for Excellence in Economic Development.
Rebecca is a financial advisor whose goal is to provide families and business owners with assistance in building their financial freedom. She has the skills, knowledge and experience required to help meet my client’s established goals. Her personal goal is to become a lifetime resource for each and every client. Licensed to sell Life & Health Insurance in Connecticut, New York and Massachusetts, she is Series 6 and 63 licensed. Rebecca is a member of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Marathon Team. She is also an avid bike-commuter whose passions include: hiking, camping, rowing, sailing, swimming, yoga, windsurfing and cross country skiing. Rebecca has a B.A. from Tufts University. She lives in Somerville with her husband Frank Moore.
Paul is Principal Consultant at Telecommunications Insight Group (TIG). TIG is a recognized national leader in telecommunications. From an owner/builder of a large metropolitan fiber optic network to negotiating cable television licenses to serving as an expert witness on telecommunications, Paul has been involved in all aspects of the modern telecommunications industry. He and TIG's client list includes some of the most recognizable names in biotechnology, government, higher education, hospitality, land development, retail, technology, telecommunications and many other market sectors. He has provided expert testimony to the United States Congress, the Federal Communications Commission, the Massachusetts Legislature, Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Energy, The New York Public Service Commission and the Rhode Island Department of Public Utilities. In addition, Paul has appeared before hundreds of municipal legislative bodies in nine states. He frequently provides comments to major media outlets. He has appeared on National Public Radio, Bloomberg Radio, CBS Sunday Morning and has been quoted extensively on telecommunications in The Boston Globe, Boston Magazine, The Boston Herald, The Boston Business Journal, The Los Angeles Business Journal, Multichannel News, Cable World, Wall Street Journal and many other trade publications. In 1997, Paul Trane was called the "father of cable television competition" for breaking the cable television monopoly and negotiating the nation’s first competitive cable franchise.
Bob is Vice President - Development for Federal Realty Investment Trust. In this capacity, he is responsible for the execution of all property development strategies in the Northeast region and has a proven track record of planning, negotiating and executing complex development and redevelopment projects. Prior to joining Federal Realty in 2005, Bob spent over thirty years in the real estate industry working with both public and private firms. He holds a MBA from the University of Michigan, a bachelor’s degree from the University of Toronto, and is a member of the Urban Land Institute and National Association of Industrial and Office Properties.
Patricia is the Owner and CEO of Princeton Printing, LLC, a Davis Square printing business offering digital and offset printing as well as high-speed copying. Before joining the print industry Patricia practiced law for more than twenty years. She served as the Deputy Chief Counsel of the Private Counsel Division of the Committee for Public Counsel Services, CPCS, the statewide public defender agency of Massachusetts, for ten years. At CPCS Patricia was responsible for private court appointed counsel programs and policy. Her legal career included private practice as a sole practitioner specializing in criminal defense and bankruptcy. In addition, Patricia served as Chief Counsel to the Massachusetts House Committee on Ways and Means, Assistant District Attorney in Plymouth County and staff attorney with the Solicitor’s Office of the United States Department of Labor. She is a graduate of Princeton University and Suffolk University Law School and holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Boston University.
Ray has over twenty years experience in the restaurant industry. He earned his Food Service Management Professional designation from the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation. He has been a Certified Instructor and Proctor for the National Restaurant Educational Foundations Serve Safe Program & The National Registry of Food Safety Professionals Food Safety Program. He was recently appointed a Relationship Manager for Heartland Payments Systems, one of America's largest full-service financial transaction processing companies. A Massachusetts Restaurant Association & National Restaurant Association member, Ray is the Chair of the: Somerville Cares about Prevention Coalition; Environmental Strategies Sub Committee; Coordinating Committee and Executive Committee. Ray lives in Somerville and over the past ten years has been involved in making over 100 local charitable events successful. As the Chamber's Dining & Nightlife Group Chair, Ray was the recipient of the 2004. 2005 and 2006 Powderhouse Award for Business Interest Group of the Year.
Ari is a Junior, class of 2009, at Tufts University pursuing a bachelor’s in economics and fulfilling premedical requirements. Ari graduated from St. Louis Park Senior High School in Minnesota with Highest Honors and an International Baccalaureate. At Tufts he is on the Tufts baseball team and Tae Kwon Do teams. In the summer 2007, Ari worked as the New Group’s summer intern for the Somerville Chamber of Commerce. He continues to offer assistance and advice as his college life allows.
Meredith A. Marks, Administrative Assistant
Meredith is the Chamber’s part-time Administrative Assistant (9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. weekdays). She is a former administrative assistant at a veterinarian hospital and a former office manager for a specialty foods distribution company. Meredith graduated cum laude from Suffolk University and was inducted into two honor societies. She resides in Winthrop. You may reach Meredith by phone 617-776-4100 or
© 2005-2008 Somerville Chamber of Commerce - Somerville, Massachusetts | Terms Of Use
The Chamber is funded by the voluntary annual dues investments of its members and by income from events and publications. Additional financial support is provided by the Chamber's New Group -- a special group of economic leaders who make voluntary contributions to enable a strong economic development agenda. With hundreds of members but only two staff, the strength of this organization is the membership. From the governance of the organization, to business and economic issues work, to individual case work, members play an integral role in the vitality of chamber.
*Thomas P. Bent, Jr. 
*Joseph R. Bianco
*Ronald Bonney, Jr. 
Irene Bremis 
Richard Brenner
*Nancy Busnach 
*John W. Cole, 
Anthony R. Cota Sr. 
*Patricia Crombie RN,
Nora Gomez-Dears 
*Rui Domingos,
George Donnelly 
*James J. Harvey
Kenneth K. Kelly 
Peter Kwass 
*Rod Laurenz 
Isaac Machado 
*Sandra L. McGoldrick, 
Charles J. McKenzie, CPA 
*Michelle M. Mulvena, Esq. 
Gail Nickse 
Gilda M. Nogueira
*Timothy O'Malley 
*Kirk L. Ramsauer 
Patricia A. Wynn 
Ray Zonghetti 
Ari N. David, 
Meredith A. Marks,