South Shore Chamber Announces Formal Affiliation with the South Shore Young Professionals

ROCKLAND, Mass. - March 25, 2015 - PRLog -- The South Shore Chamber of Commerce (www.southshorechamber.org), the region’s largest Chamber, today announced that the boards of the South Shore Chamber of Commerce and the South Shore Young Professionals voted independently to approve a formal affiliation of the two organizations as of February 25, 2015.  The affiliation will enhance both organizations’ missions to empower business leaders on the South Shore (across all geographies and demographics) and advocate for a better business climate for our region.

Both organizations anticipate that this affiliation offers opportunities for all members.  Some benefits include:

An entrée into young professional/Chamber populations for employment/mentorship (respectively);

An enriched governance structure through sound leadership development and succession planning;

Aligned resources to implement initiatives that come out of the Chamber’s regional development plan, which will serve as a blueprint for the South Shore for the next 10 to 15 years;

Improved efficiencies in back office, marketing, communications, and financial systems efforts through the Chamber’s proven management model made possible through its investment over the last three years in upgraded systems and operational efficiencies – and proven through affiliations with the Rockland (2012), Braintree (2013), Weymouth (2014) and Marshfield (2015) Chambers;

The addition of South Shore Young Professionals (currently numbering 192 members; approximately half of whom represent Chamber businesses) to existing member rosters, thereby enhancing communication, programming, and leadership development opportunities.

Already, both organizations have been furthered through the affiliation.  This holistic leadership development approach has resulted in the build-out of local Chamber boards, including the Rockland Chamber, where Brilene Flaherty serves on the Chamber board, is a member of the South Shore Young Professionals, and is now a member of the Rockland Chamber of Commerce.  In addition, Shannon Hoeg is an active member of both organizations, serving as the voice of the South Shore Young Professionals at the Regional Development Steering Committee, and bringing the ideas and concerns of one group to the other.

“We are very excited about this affiliation coming together after many months of working toward a common goal,” said Gregory Deems, chairman of the South Shore Young Professionals board and vice president at Rogers & Gray Insurance. “This affiliation is going to allow us to capitalize on the overlapping missions to create a stronger South Shore from an economic and political perspective, while at the same time catering to the needs of our individual members through program offerings that continue to be geared toward the young professionals in the same atmosphere, look, and feel that they have become accustomed.

“It will be a great way to combine the generational forces on the South Shore toward some shared goals in the years to come and give companies in the area resources for every aspect of their life cycle,” he added.

Peter Forman, chief executive officer of the South Shore Chamber, said, “This affiliation will truly positively impact the business climate in our region, and make our regional development study that much more comprehensive and richer.  We look forward to our work together.”

Laurel Egan Kenny, chief operating officer of the South Shore Chamber, added, “The more formal collaboration between our groups will be invaluable, enriching members of both organizations and the greater South Shore community as well.  We are thrilled at this affiliation.”

About the South Shore Chamber of Commerce

The South Shore Chamber of Commerce has long been recognized throughout the state as one of the most active and forceful advocates for the business community, and numbers among the larger Chambers of Commerce nationally. The South Shore Chamber is a not-for-profit association of businesses in the communities south of Boston. It is committed to helping its members grow their businesses and to improve the business climate in the region. Members range in size from major international corporations headquartered on the South Shore to small local firms and sole proprietorships. For additional information on the Chamber, please visit www.southshorechamber.org or call 617-479-1111.