Business & Tech
MassChallenge Founder to Address Somerville Chamber of Commerce
John Harthorne, a Somerville resident, founded one of the country's most notable startup accelerators. Also, Tom Bent will receive the Chamber of Commerce's lifetime achievement award.
John Harthorne, founder and CEO of MassChallange, will give the keynote address at the Somerville Chamber of Commerce's 67th Annual Dinner & Powderhouse Awards night.
MassChallenge is a non-profit startup accelerator that runs an annual startup competition and advises burgeoning businesses as they grow. Startups participating in MassChallenge in 2010 and 2011 raised $250 million and created 2,000 jobs, according to the organization's website.
Harthorne, a Somerville resident, has also been named one of Boston's most influential business leaders by the Boston Business Journal, and Barack Obama called MassChallenge one of the country's most effective startup accelerators.
Also at the Annual Dinner & Powderhouse Awards night, the Chamber of Commerce will give the John W. Fitzgerald Lifetime Achievement Award to Tom Bent of Bent Electrical Contractors.
The award is named after the founder of the Ames Safety Envelope Company and the Chamber of Commerce's first chair.
Fittingly, the former Ames Envelope property along Somerville Avenue has been re-branded as Ames Business Park, which has become a magnet for innovation businesses, such as Greentown Labs.
Bent was chair of the Chamber of Commerce from 1990 to 1997, and he's served as Somerville's representative to the Metropolitan Planning Organization since 2007, where he's been instrumental in brining the Assembly Square Orange Line stop and the Green Line Extension to the city.
Other people and organizations receiving awards include:
MassChallenge is a non-profit startup accelerator that runs an annual startup competition and advises burgeoning businesses as they grow. Startups participating in MassChallenge in 2010 and 2011 raised $250 million and created 2,000 jobs, according to the organization's website.
Harthorne, a Somerville resident, has also been named one of Boston's most influential business leaders by the Boston Business Journal, and Barack Obama called MassChallenge one of the country's most effective startup accelerators.
Also at the Annual Dinner & Powderhouse Awards night, the Chamber of Commerce will give the John W. Fitzgerald Lifetime Achievement Award to Tom Bent of Bent Electrical Contractors.
The award is named after the founder of the Ames Safety Envelope Company and the Chamber of Commerce's first chair.
Fittingly, the former Ames Envelope property along Somerville Avenue has been re-branded as Ames Business Park, which has become a magnet for innovation businesses, such as Greentown Labs.
Bent was chair of the Chamber of Commerce from 1990 to 1997, and he's served as Somerville's representative to the Metropolitan Planning Organization since 2007, where he's been instrumental in brining the Assembly Square Orange Line stop and the Green Line Extension to the city.
Other people and organizations receiving awards include:
- Green Business Award—GreenTown Labs
- Business Neighbor of the Year—Flatbread
- Small Business of the Year—Brooklyn Boulders
- Non-Profit of the Year—Walnut Street Center
- Excellence in Public Service—Somerville Fire Department
- Excellence in Dining & Nightlife—Johnny D’s
- Distinguished Service to the Chamber—Rod Laurenz, Laurenz Financial
- Excellence in Economic Development—John Harthorne, MassChallenge
The Annual Dinner & Powderhouse Awards take place Nov. 6 at the Holiday Inn, 30 Washington St. The reception begins at 6:30 p.m., and dinner begins at 7:30 p.m.
For more information, visit somervillechamber.org or contact Joanne Haley at (617) 776-4100 or joanne@somervillechamber.org.
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