Chamber Staff
Jen Lawrence
Executive Director
Jen is an organizational leader with experience across government, nonprofit, philanthropy, and community-led planning. Her work sits at the intersection of leadership, systems change, and the built environment, with a consistent focus on equity, community-led impact, and institutional effectiveness.
Jen spent a decade with the City of Cambridge, where she managed complex, citywide initiatives. Her public-sector experience gave her deep insight into regulatory environments, budgetary constraints, and stakeholder engagement. This experience enabled her to work in deep partnership with community, facilitating processes that built upon history and bridged technical expertise with lived experience. She also served as the Executive Director of Groundwork Somerville, working alongside residents, youth, schools, and city officials to design and implement programs rooted in sustainability and justice.
Jen lives in Somerville and remains engaged in civic, nonprofit, and philanthropic ecosystems, serving as secretary on the Board of Naveo Credit Union, as a member of the Board of Built Environment Plus, and on the PTA of the Capuano Early Childhood Center.
Contact Jen at jennifer@somervillechamber.org.
Joanne Haley
Bookkeeper/Office Manager
Joanne directs and oversees office operations and systems including accounts payable/receivables, database, and purchasing. Joanne also helps design, produce and manage print and electronic marketing materials and assists with the development and implementation of programs and activities. Joanne brings twenty years of experience as an office manager and bookkeeper in a variety of small business industries. Throughout her career, Joanne has served various organizations and associations connected to the Somerville Public Schools. A graduate of Somerville High School with advanced courses bookkeeping and accounting courses at Bentley College, Joanne and her husband, Rick, live in Somerville and have a daughter, Susan, and son, Daniel.
Contact Joanne at joanne@somervillechamber.org
Cristina Félix
Membership & Communications Manager
Cristina Félix leads member recruitment and outreach, including bilingual engagement with Somerville’s Latino-owned businesses. She is dedicated to building strong connections, and oversees member relations, strategic communications, and engagement initiatives.
Cristina holds a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering and an MBA. After moving from Mexico to the Boston area, she spent several years working closely with local families, an experience that gave her deep roots in the community and a firsthand understanding of the people behind Somerville’s businesses.
Cristina connects businesses to their membership benefits, leads outreach at community events, and is developing new resources for members. She is fluent in Spanish and English, and is passionate about making the Chamber a welcoming home for every business owner in Somerville.
Contact Cristina at cristina@somervillechamber.org