The Worcester Economic Club opens its 2026-27 season next week with a new president and a speaker lineup that includes political strategist Mark McKinnon and former Massachusetts economic development secretary Jay Ash.
Mike Lavoie, executive vice president and senior commercial officer at Cornerstone Bank, has been named president of the Worcester Economic Club, succeeding Bill Mack, the organization announced.
The club begins its season with a networking event Wednesday, Sept. 23, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at Off the Rails in Worcester before beginning its dinner speaker series in October.
McKinnon, a political strategist and commentator who co-hosted Showtime’s The Circus, is scheduled to speak Oct. 5. The club said his appearance will focus on politics, leadership and issues facing the country.
Ash will speak Dec. 8 about economic development, business growth and opportunities facing Massachusetts communities. Ash served as Massachusetts secretary of Housing and Economic Development under former Gov. Charlie Baker and is now president and CEO of the Massachusetts Competitive Partnership.
Additional speakers and dates will be announced during the season.
Lavoie has more than three decades of experience in commercial banking and financial services and has been executive vice president and senior commercial officer at Cornerstone Bank since April 2024.
Before joining Cornerstone, he held leadership positions at M&T Bank and People’s United Bank and worked in relationship management roles with Sovereign Bank, RBS Citizens and Deutsche Financial Services, according to the Worcester Economic Club announcement.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in marketing from Southern New Hampshire University and an MBA from Bentley University’s McCallum Graduate School of Business.
“We are excited to welcome Mike Lavoie as president of the Worcester Economic Club,” Mack said in the announcement. “His extensive background in commercial banking, deep understanding of the business community, and commitment to building strong relationships make him an excellent choice to lead the Club into its next season.”
Founded in 1903, the Worcester Economic Club brings together business and community leaders for programs focused on economic, business and civic issues. Membership includes five dinner meetings and one networking event annually.
“The Worcester Economic Club has a long history of bringing together leaders from across the region,” Lavoie said in the announcement. “I am honored to serve as president and look forward to building on that tradition while creating new opportunities for our members to connect, learn, and engage with the important economic and business issues affecting our community.”
