Stoneham Chamber of Commerce
Annual Minutes
October 2018-Sept 2019
Advocacy & Education
Bodyworks Regulations
Stoneham Chamber members Karyn Millerick (The Dirty Doodle) and Amy Poirier (Collective Healing Center) worked with Stoneham Police Chief Jim McIntyre, Board of Health Agent, John Fralick and Planning Board Member, Gus Niewenhous to enact regulations around facilities that offer bodyworks to restrict illicit activities. The regulations were approved by the Board of Health and will take effect on January 1, 2019.
Grand Bargain Legislation Education
The Stoneham Chamber partnered with the Melrose Chamber and the Wakefield Lynnfield Chamber to host Grand Bargain Legislation Workshop and two Paid Medical and Family Leave Seminars. In addition, Chamber member Cheri Crow drafted a memo outlining the changes for distribution among membership.
Health Connector for Small Business Breakfast
In September, the Stoneham Chamber partnered with the Melrose Chamber to offer a educational breakfast about affordable health care coverage for employees through the Health Connector for Business.
Chamber Business Roundtable
In September, the Chamber hosted the first quarterly Business Roundtable featuring Stoneham Town Administrator Dennis Sheehan.
Downtown Banner Initiative
In September, new banners were hung in Stoneham Square through a partnership between Chamber President Chris Senna (C & S Properties), Member Anne Damphouse (Stormship) graphic design students from Northeast Technical Vocational High School, Select Board Member Raymie Parker, Town Administrator Dennis Sheehan, Town Planner Erin Wortman and the Stoneham Department of Public Works. Students presented storyboards to Chamber members and town officials who selected the “Fun for Everyone” concept from which six banners featuring Stoneham landmarks were created. Signverse printed the signs and the DPW hung them.
Stoneham TV Content Production Workshops & Stoneham Compass
Chamber members Laura Olifiers (RE/MAX Andrew Services,) Dr. Badrieh Edalatpour (Children’s Dental Care) and Chip Larzerlere (Anova Cleaning Corp.) spent several evenings at Stoneham TV learning how to produce a television show. The result, Stoneham Compass, which is now offered monthly and features members of the business community being interviewed by Chip.
2019 Scholarship Awards
In June, the Scholarship Committee, comprised of Anthony Guardia (Boys & Girls Club of Stoneham and Wakefield), Cynthia Mead (Zoo New England), Dave Kurdzionak (The Watchmaker) and Dr. Bruce Doyle (Dr. Bruce M. Doyle, D.M.D.) awarded $3000 to three area seniors. Sarah Penzona was awarded the Katherine Bray Scholarship, Matt Larzelere, the John F. Mahoney Scholarship and Teagan Parker, the Chamber Business Scholarship. Attendees were recognized at first concert.
Chamber Events
Annual Chamber Barbecue
This year’s annual Chamber Barbecue was title sponsored by Eastern Bank in celebration of Small Business Month and again hosted by the Stone Zoo. On May 30, more than 130 members and their guests joined the Chamber to kick of summer with food, music and fun. The event was organized by the Chamber Barbecue Committee, Andy Hackett (TeamLogic IT), Cynthia Mead (Zoo New England) and Laura Olifiers (RE/MAX Andrew Realty).
Stoneham Chamber Golf Tournament
On June 10, the Golf Committee welcomed more than 100 golfers at the Andover Country Club for the 29th annual tournament. The event was title sponsored by Salem Five Bank and featured a new date and venue, as well as new challenges on the course. Members of the committee were Chip Larzelere (Anova Cleaning Corp.), Andy Hackett (TeamLogic IT), Dr. Bruce Doyle (Dr. Bruce M. Doyle, D.M.D.) and Denise Ciampa (Stoneham Ford).
Networking Breakfasts
Over the past year, a bi-monthly networking breakfast has been held to showcase a Chamber business, as well as provide opportunities for other members to meet and network before business hours. This year’s breakfast hosts were Collective Healing Center, Ameriprise Financial, SEEM Collaborative, Century 21 Celli and the Courtyard by Marriott Woburn.
Multi-Chamber Networking Events
The Stoneham Chamber partnered with several area chambers to host events including Multi-Chamber Networking and Socials at the Greater Boston Stage Company, the Crowne Plaza Woburn, Tewksbury Country Club, Austin Preparatory School, Boston Marriott Burlington
The Stoneham Chamber teamed up with the Melrose, Reading, Wakefield-Lynnfield and Wilmington-Tewksbury Chambers to offer the popular Women in Business Series that included the Structured Networking Social at The Arbors at Stoneham, Work Smarter Not Harder at the Belleview Country Club, Simplify with Eileen at Brightview Senior Living and Speed Networking at Tezmecal.
Other events the Chamber participated in included ribbon cuttings for Ceramica, Namaste Restaurant and The Presti Group, Networking After Hours at The Arbors at Stoneham, Polcari’s and Joe Turner Photography Studio, and Young Professionals events at Boston Appliance and Public Kitchen
Community Events
Halloween Stroll
The Chamber partnered with Stoneham TV and the Stoneham Recreation Department to offer the popular 9th Annual Halloween Stroll.
Tree Lighting on the Common
Residents filled the Common for annual Tree Lighting on the Common held on November 25 and hosted by Dr. Mickey’s Pediatric and Orthodontic Specialists. The event featured Santa Claus, Trolley rides to Zoo Lights at the Stone Zoo, a kiddie train, hot chocolate, food samples, games, music and activities. The event was organized by committee members Christine Murphy (Cassidy Landscaping) and Georgette Bezos (Courtyard by Marriott Boston Woburn).
Local Eats Week
Local Eats Week was held from March 4-10 and title sponsored by Salem Five Ban. The week is designed as a celebration of all things culinary in Stoneham and featured specials, discounts and prix fixe menus at 16 local eateries.
Health & Wellness Expo
Title sponsored by Winchester Hospital and Melrose Wakefield Healthcare, the 9th annual Health & Wellness Expo relocated from the Stoneham Middle School to the Stoneham Town Hall Auditorium. The new venue offered a central location with better parking and access to downtown businesses. Also, new this year was a 5K run/walk and fun run for the kids before the Expo. Held on April 6th, vendor space was at capacity and the event experienced large numbers of attendees throughout the day. The Health & Wellness Expo Committee was Rob Brogna (MelroseWakefield Hospital)
Summer Concert Series
The Chamber Summer Concert Committee offered six concerts in June, July an August featuring music of various genres including big band and classic rock. Additions to this year’s concerts included food trucks, ice cream and slush nights, photobooths and activities for kids on the Common
The Summer Concert Committee was comprised of Bob Palumbo (C Clear Copies), Debbie Catalano (Catalano Creative), Mark Sampson (Giglio & Sampson) and Christine Murphy (Cassidy Landscaping).
Community Clean-Up Day
Offered in partnership with the Stoneham Select Board and sponsored by StonehamBank, the second annual clean-up day brought together residents, elected officials and Chamber members to tidy up many parks, fields and open spaces in Stoneham.
Stoneham Town Day
The 36th Annual Town Day was held on Sept. 14 and title sponsored by MelroseWakefield Hospital and Winchester Hospital, a member of Beth Israel Lahey Health. This year, Town Day featured more than 140 vendors stretching to all ends of the Common. Despite the rain later in the afternoon, attendance remained high throughout the day. The Town Day Committee was led by Chamber Board Members Jeff Buxton (BIZ ID), Marylou Hardy (Winchester Hospital), Karyn Millerick (The Dirty Doodle) and Laura Olifiers (RE/MAX Andrew Realty).
We finish our fiscal year with 231 members in good standing.
Presented by:
Megan Day
Stoneham Chamber of Commerce
Executive Director
9/25/19
Stoneham Chamber of Commerce Staff
Megan Day, Executive Director
Marie Smith, Membership Coordinator
Stoneham Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors (2018-2019)
Chris Senna, President
Marylou Hardy, Vice President
Christine Murphy, Treasurer
Diane Bonnani
Jeff Buxton
Bruce Doyle
Friday Epka
Anthony Guardia
Andy Hackett
Dave Kurdzionak
Chip Larzelere
Amy Morin
Cynthia Mead
Karyn Millerick
Laura Olifiers
Rhonda Sabbio
Mark Sampson