Wellesley Chamber Joins Newton-Needham Regional Chamber

WELLESLEY, MA — The Wellesley Chamber of Commerce is joining the Newton-Needham Regional Chamber of Commerce starting Jan. 4.

In a letter to chamber members, the Wellesley Chamber Board told members of the plan to "join forces" with the regional chamber and urged them to join the NNRC. The move is a means to increase members' reach and give Wellesley businesses and nonprofits a louder voice, the Wellesley Chamber Board said.

The board said the move had been an idea in the works for "many months" and that the time is right to join forces and allow Wellesley businesses and nonprofits a chance to reinvent themselves on a larger scale in the face of the pandemic.

"The pandemic acted as a catalyst to our decision-and it is a silver lining to these challenging times," the board said in a statement, "Business transactions do not stop at a municipal border — The union will create a more powerful voice on Beacon Hill, across the region, and even in media, advocating for resources and attention for our communities."

As part of the move, Wellesley businesses will retain their unique connections and voice through a Wellesley subcommittee devoted exclusively to Wellesley interests and ultimately participation on the NNRC's board.

The NNRC is forming a transition team to seamlessly guide this transition and onboarding. The team includes:

• Greg Hoffman, Hoffman Insurance Services
• Gillian Kohli, Wellesley Books
• John Looney, Newton-Wellesley Hospital
• Susan Maggioni, Mass Bay Community College
• Ivette Mesmar, Brookline Bank
• Eleanor Uddo, Feigenbaum & Uddo