WORCESTER—The Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce marked its 150th annual meeting on Friday, drawing more than 700 attendees for a program that highlighted several milestones in the region’s economic and civic landscape, according to the event announcement.
The chamber presented the inaugural Timothy P. Murray Business Leadership Award to Robb and Madeleine Ahlquist for their decades of work in Worcester’s restaurant and hospitality sector. In his remarks, Murray said the couple has “set the standard for exceptional service, meticulous training, and big-city culinary experiences,” and noted their involvement on local nonprofit boards.
The keynote address was delivered by The Honorable Bernadette Jordan, Consul General of Canada in Boston and former Canadian Minister of Rural Economic Development. According to the announcement, her remarks focused on collaboration, innovation, and the long-standing economic ties between the United States and Canada, particularly in trade and manufacturing sectors.
During the meeting, Murray also announced that the Worcester Regional Scholarship and Opportunity Fund had reached its $3 million fundraising goal. The fund, established in anticipation of the chamber’s 150th anniversary, is designed to support future economic development and workforce initiatives through a permanent restricted endowment. The fund has been named in honor of Linda Salem Pervier, a 50-year chamber employee who is retiring at the end of the year.
As part of the program, Murray shared an anecdote from a recent ribbon cutting at Norton/Saint Gobain’s new North American headquarters. He noted the company’s 140-year history in Worcester and described it as an example of the region’s long-term industrial and economic evolution, according to the release.
The announcement also cited the event’s presenting sponsors, including UniBank, Hanover Insurance Group, Worcester Railers, and UMass Memorial Health. In a gesture highlighted in the release, UniBank CEO Michael Welch placed stamped envelopes under attendees’ chairs inviting them to donate $150 to a charity of their choice.
A reception at Mechanics Hall followed the program. A 150th commemorative book was also unveiled and is expected to be available digitally in the coming weeks.
