Quaboag Hills Chamber of Commerce welcomes its next CEODate: 7/25/2023 Robert Lavoie was named the new chief executive officer of the Quaboag Hills Chamber of Commerce earlier this month. Before becoming CEO, Lavoie spent the last few decades as a sales consultant for many companies in the state and greater New England area.
From Verizon to auto sales, he has a vast wealth of experience in the business world and plans to keep these business relationships as the chamber’s CEO. As a resident of Palmer for over 20 years, Lavoie is passionate about helping local businesses succeed and is excited to join the team at the chamber.
Lavoie plans to attend the National Night Out that will take place at the Palmer Police Station on Aug. 2 from 5:30-8:30 p.m.
“This is a great opportunity for local businesses to connect with one another. I will be at the chamber’s table to answer anyone’s questions,” Lavoie said.
He noted that the chamber’s table at the event will be a great opportunity to get more involved with the community. The chamber has lost nearly 30% of its members between the coronavirus pandemic and the rising cost of doing business. He wants to use this night as a way to remind citizens what the chamber is there for.
“Not only do I want to get our numbers to where they were, I want to double them,” Lavoie said.
He is confident that the chamber can surmount the challenges and remain a valuable resource for businesses in the region.
Lavoie is excited to work with the chamber’s board of directors and staff to strengthen the chamber. He hopes that the growth of the region’s economy and the increasing demand for local businesses will help strengthen the chamber’s reputation in the community.
Lavoie wants the chamber to become the go-to resource for businesses in the Quaboag Hills region.
“I want members to be able to tell me what they want to see that hasn’t been seen before,” Lavoie said.
Lavoie aims to give businesses the support they need to grow and succeed. One of the plans he was considering was to offer tutorial sessions for new and existing members.
“These tutorials would help members stay more active, allow them to ask questions, and keep them in the loop with all the updates the chamber is doing,” he said.
Modernization is Lavoie’s primary focus at the moment. He said his 19-year-old son keeps him updated in the forever-changing technological world.
“I want people to be able to notice a difference. We’ve updated the website and we’re working on rebranding our image. We want to be mobile-friendly and accessible to all,” Lavoie said.
The Quaboag Hills Chamber of Commerce covers Monson, Palmer, Ware, Belchertown, Hardwick, Warren, Brimfield, Wales and Holland. The chamber is a nonprofit organization that provides a variety of services to businesses in the region, including networking opportunities, educational programs, and advocacy.
To see the new website and stay updated visit qhma.com.
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