Chamber’s First Women’s Conference to Feature Lt. Gov. & Panel of CEOs

The keynote speaker for the Charles River Chamber’s first Women’s Conference will be Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll. Attendees will also hear from a panel of female CEOs and company presidents, as well as participate in power sessions. See more information in the announcement from the Chamber. MOMENTUM: Women in Business Celebrating & Creating Change

Friday, June 13, 2025 (8:00 AM – 3:00 PM) (EDT)

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Connect. Empower.

Chamber Breakfast: Time to Join “Team Massachusetts,” Despite Sobering Economic Numbers

Former Secretary of Economic Development Yvonne Hao, right, and Interim Secretary Ashley Stolba spoke at the Charles River Regional Chamber Spring Business Breakfast. (Photo by Leise Jones)

NEEDHAM — Statistics and trends shared by an economist from the Federal Reserve Bank in Boston painted a sobering picture for the Boston Metro region, but the former Mass. Secretary of Economic Development gave a pep talk for the attendees of the Charles River Regional Chamber’s Spring Business Breakfast. Employment has not reached pre-Pandemic levels, some of the regions key areas — life sciences and higher education — have fared poorly or faces challenges, cost of living is high, and opinions about prospects for the future are negative, said Mary Burke, principal Economist and Policy Advisor for the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. Also at the Business Breakfast at the Needham Sheraton was Interim Secretary of Economic Development Ashley Stolba, as well as her predecessor, Yvonne Hao.

Chamber’s Spring Business Breakfast to Focus on the Region’s Economy

The following announcement was provided by the Charles River Regional Chamber:

The Charles River Regional Chamber’s May 14th annual Spring Business Breakfast, presented by Eastern Bank, will focus on the current challenges facing the region’s economy and what the Healey-Driscoll administration is doing to support economic growth. The program will feature comments from Ashley Stolba, interim Massachusetts Secretary of Economic Development, making her first public comments to any chamber or business organization since Healey appointed her to the position in April. Also speaking will be the state’s former Secretary of Economic Development, Yvonne Hao, who will also be making her first public comments to a business group since she stepped down after two years in the role to focus on family issues. The May 14 program begins with a data-driven presentation by Dr. Mary Burke, a principal economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, offering critical insight into how employment growth in Massachusetts has stalled, the effects of uncertain federal policies, and several downside risks that could have an outsized impact on our state. The Charles River Regional Chamber’s “Spring Business Breakfast: 2025 Economic Outlook,” presented by Eastern Bank, is happening Wednesday, May 14, at the Needham Sheraton Hotel.

33 Open Houses Around Watertown Over the Weekend

Check out the properties hosting home seekers this weekend. 56 Bigelow Ave. APT 15, $699,000, 2 bedroom 2 bathroom 1,100 sq. ft. Condo, Open houses: Saturday, May 10 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM Sunday, May 11 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

17 Commonwealth Road #1, $770,000, 2 bedroom 2 bathroom 1,273 sq.