Connections
The newsletter for members and friends of the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce
Vol. 72, No. 3
July/August 2009


859 Massachusetts Avenue
New sign
859 Mass Ave has new signage! We’ve said good-bye to our 1970s relic, replacing it with a more classic design, and added a banner over the front door, as well as interior signage to help visitors find their way. This sign project has been in the works for many months and we are happy to finally have a sign that represents this Chamber and the quality of our members. We invite you to stop by and see it when you’re in the neighborhood.

LinkedIn
Connect with your fellow Chamber members! Increase your visibility, grow your network or ask for advice. Take advantage of the CCC’s page on LinkedIn. Log on and search for the group Cambridge (MA) Chamber of Commerce. If you’re not already on LinkedIn, sign up today! This page and exposure tool is only available to CCC members.


Photo of Excellence in Business Award winners
Caption: Winners of the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce Excellence in Business Awards posed with CCC Board Chairman Michael O’Connell (front row, center) of Mount Auburn Hospital: (front row) Ambassador of the Year Lori Cowles from HMFH Architects. Inc.; New Member of the Year Terry Cappuccio from Move Smart Senior Move Management; Carol Rego from Corporate Citizen of the Year Camp Dresser & McKee Inc.; Connie Chow, Executive Director of Nonprofit of the Year Science Club for Girls; (back row) Mike Bavuso, President of Small Business of the Year winner Big Foot Moving & Storage, Inc.; Business Person of the Year James C. Mullen from Biogen Idec; and James O’Marra representing Leading Edge winner Ironwood Pharmaceuticals.


Excellence in Business Awards presented
he Cambridge Chamber of Commerce presented the annual Excellence in Business Awards at the Hyatt Regency Cambridge on Wednesday, June 3, 2009. Over 350 business representatives gathered to celebrate achievements and community involvement by Cambridge-area businesses.

Following a festive cocktail hour, the formal portion of the evening began with a brief introduction by CCC Board Chair Michael O’Connell of Mount Auburn Hospital. He invited the Executive Director of the Yarmouth Area Chamber of Commerce, Bob Dubois, to the podium to present to the CCC’s very surprised President & CEO Kelly Thompson Clark a ceremonial chair to thank her for serving as President of the Massachusetts Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (MACCE) for three years.

Cambridge Mayor E. Denise Simmons delivered greetings from the City and introduced her colleagues in attendance. She said of the Chamber, “They are your eyes, your ears and your hands to local government.”

Kelly Thompson Clark spoke briefly about the Chamber. She recognized the members of the Chamber Board of Directors and staff. She introduced Nephthalie Bernard, a student at the Community Charter School of Cambridge, who spoke about how her experiences as an intern opened her eyes to new experiences and allowed her to interact with people she never would have met otherwise. She encouraged the CEOs of other companies to work with youth.

Kelly then presented Lori Cowles from HMFH Architects, Inc. with the Ambassador of the Year award. Lori was selected by her fellow Ambassadors as the recipient in recognition of her years of involvement and support of the CCC. Lori said, “It’s a great group of people that I get to be an Ambassador with.”

After dinner, Aaron Davis presented a lively talk on the importance of listening, teams and never forgetting why you do what you do. A member of the 1994 National Championship Nebraska football team, Aaron orchestrated an entertaining mock football play using audience members to demonstrate the importance of every member of the team.

Six awards were then presented to exemplary CCC members. Joseph V. Roller II, President & CEO of event sponsor Cambridge Trust Company presented New Member of the Year. Senior Director of State Government Affairs Brian Burke from event sponsor Microsoft presented Small Business of the Year and Nonprofit of the Year. Steve Young, Executive Director of Research & Massachusetts Site head for lead event sponsor Amgen awarded the Leading Edge and Corporate Citizen of the Year. Joan Y. Reede, MD, MPH, MS, President & Chair of the Biomedical Careers Program, Dean for Diversity and Community Partnerships at Harvard Medical School presented the Carl F. Barron Business Person of the Year award.

New Member of the Year—Move Smart Senior Move Management
This award, recognizing a business or individual new to the CCC who demonstrates outstanding commitment to the Chamber and the community, was presented to Move Smart Senior Move Management Services. The company provides comprehensive move management services for the senior community and their families. Services include onsite project management, organizing, sorting and downsizing of household items, floor plans and furniture placement, arrangement of services including utility appointments, cleaning services, trash disposal, landscaping, packing and unpacking services and the selection of a mover. Move Smart founder Terry Cappuccio has invited hundreds of guests to various Chamber events. Approximately 25 to 30 of those guests have become members, most having renewed their memberships beyond one year. Upon accepting the award, she said, “I am so speechless and for all of you who know me that’s really rare,” adding, “I didn’t get anyone to join the Chamber—you guys did. You were so warm and embraced my guests.” Complya Consulting Group, LLC and Healthassist were the other finalists in this category.

Small Business of the Year—Big Foot Moving & Storage Co.
The Small Business of the Year award honors a company with fewer than fifty employees that demonstrates excellence and professionalism in its industry. It was presented to Big Foot Moving & Storage, Inc., a full-service moving and storage company with 20 employees, providing local and long distance services for residential and commercial clients. Since 2002, they have moved over 4,500 customers, tripling their workforce and truck fleet and doubling their warehouse space each year. Big Foot is environmentally-conscious, supportive of the community and has received top ratings with the Better Business Bureau and Angie’s List. AGENCY 3.0 and ePlace Real Estate were also finalists for this award.

Nonprofit of the Year—Science Club for Girls
This award, which recognizes a Cambridge-area nonprofit organization that demonstrates superior performance, quality and consistency in the pursuit of its mission, was presented to the Science Club for Girls. The organization provides free, after school programs designed to spark and nurture the curiosity of young girls from K-7th grade through hands-on explorations guided by volunteer mentor-scientists and adolescent assistants. By teaching the sciences with simple materials, especially in the younger grades, they demystify what science is, and who can do science. Executive Director Connie Chow exclaimed, “We are celebrating our 15th anniversary this year so this is the sparkling candle on top of our cake.” The other finalists were North Cambridge Catholic Corporate Work Study Program and James F. Farr Academy, Inc.

The Leading Edge—Ironwood Pharmaceuticals
Ironwood Pharmaceuticals was honored with the Leading Edge award, which recognizes a business that demonstrates leadership and innovation in the technology or biotechnology industries. Ironwood is an entrepreneurial pharmaceutical company dedicated to creating, developing and commercializing innovative medicines focused on important human needs. They intend to be a fully integrated pharmaceutical company that develops and markets its own products, a strategy that has almost disappeared from the biotech playbook. Ironwood has a novel therapeutic agent, linaclotide, in Phase 3 clinical development for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with constipation and chronic constipation (IBS-C). Nine million patients in the US have been diagnosed with IBS-C and as many as 15 million suffer from it. Patients can be affected physically, psychologically, socially and economically. Currently with 160 employees, Ironwood intends to be a significant Cambridge employer in Cambridge for many years to come. James O’Marra accepted the award on behalf of Ironwood.

Corporate Citizen of the Year— Camp Dresser & McKee Inc.
The Corporate Citizen of the Year award, which honors a company that demonstrates significant contributions, involvement and distinguished community service, was presented to Camp Dresser & McKee Inc. (CDM), a consulting, engineering, construction and operations firm serving public and private clients worldwide. While a global firm, the company is involved in the communities where employees live and work. CDM employees have participated in many community events that help make Cambridge the great city it is, such at the annual Earth Day Charles River Clean-Up and the Run of the Charles Canoe and Kayak race. Carol Rego accepted the award, saying that the company was founded in 1947 by two MIT professors and although today they have 4,500 employees around the world, CDM’s roots are here in Cambridge. Cambridge provides a dynamic, exciting workplace that is attractive to new hires. “We just love being part of Cambridge.”

Carl F. Barron Business Person of the Year—James C. Mullen of Biogen Idec
Named after Carl F. Barron of Putnam Furniture Leasing in 2000 to celebrate his 65 years in business and as a Chamber member, the Business Person of the Year award honors an individual who demonstrates professional excellence and outstanding leadership in the community. Jim Mullen was honored for his dedication to the City of Cambridge and the life sciences industry. Jim Mullen has served as President and CEO and a member of the Board of Directors of Biogen Idec since the merger of Biogen and IDEC Pharmaceuticals in November 2003. Patients in more than 90 countries benefit from Biogen Idec’s significant products that address diseases such as lymphoma, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis. The company employs 4,700 people worldwide, including over 1,600 in Cambridge.

Jim Mullen has been a leading voice for the biotech industry and actively promotes the importance of science education as critical to building the pipeline of human talent for Cambridge. In accepting the award, he noted the honor of being recognized in Carl Barron’s name. He spoke about the company’s founding in Geneva and how it quickly became evident that Cambridge was the place to build the company.

Jim recognized City Manager Bob Healy, Councillor Ken Reeves, State Senator Anthony Galluccio, Mayor Simmons and Joe Tulimeri for their efforts in converting Kendall Square from a wasteland taken by eminent domain into what is had become today. He also spoke about Biogen Idec’s volunteer-staffed Community Lab, which lets kids come into their facility to see what’s going on and find out that scientists “are not all geeks, they’re real people.” He emphasized that it was only made possible with the cooperation of the city. “Cambridge is a unique place. There’s nowhere like it in the world and it will continue to flourish for many years.”

Thank you to our sponsors for making this event possible, lead sponsor Amgen and contributing sponsors Cambridge Trust Company and Microsoft, as well as our hosts the Hyatt Regency Cambridge. Crystal awards were provided by Sandor Goldstein of Adventures in Advertising and photography by Mark Wilson of Mark Wilson Images. Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16