Our History

A Short History of the Greater Beverly Chamber of Commerce

Originally formed just weeks after the conclusion of World War I in November of 1918, the Beverly Chamber of Commerce began as a consolidation of the Beverly Board of Trade and the Beverly Business Men’s Association.  The Beverly Times reported that “both organizations bid fair to mark a new era in the civic, commercial, and industrial activities in the city.”

Our Chamber thrived through most of the 20th century though in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s its Board of Directors felt a need to expand and work with other business leaders from neighboring communities.   The Beverly Chamber of Commerce officially regionalized and reformed as the then new North Shore Chamber of Commerce in the mid 1980’s.

As the North Shore Chamber of Commerce grew and expanded its footprint even further, many Beverly business people ironically once again felt the need for more localized representation.   A group of local business leaders formed Beverly Downtown Inc. which then, to be welcoming to businesses in all areas of the city, morphed into a rebirth of the Beverly Chamber of Commerce.

Approximately 10 years ago the Chamber’s Board of Directors voted to expand its representation into Danvers, Hamilton, and Wenham.  The Chamber had a small base of members from each of these communities.  Our name was changed to the Greater Beverly Chamber of Commerce and with that membership in those neighboring towns began to grow.

Today the Greater Beverly Chamber of Commerce is thriving due to strong programming, an increasingly active Government Affairs Committee, and numerous networking opportunities for its nearly 300 members.

Past Presidents

2013 - Present

2022

Kelly DeFelice

Eastern Bank

2021

Jill Michaud

Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty

2019 - 2020

Robert W. Mitchell Jr

Beverly Bank

2018

Al Temkin

Temkin Financial LLC

2017

Susan Weeks

Vesey & Weeks PC

2016

Matthew Schroeder

Great Point Wealth Advisors

2015

Karen Nascembeni

North Shore Music Theatre

2014

Doreen Lucido

Eastern Bank

2013

Gerald MacKillop Jr

Beverly Hospital

 

2003 - 2012

2012

Jason Maxwell

MassPay Payroll Services

2011

Robert Mangan

Danvers Bank

2010

Johnathan Arst

Merchant Consulting Group

2009

Brad Hunt

Salem Five Bank

2008

Michael Harrington

The Entrepreneur Source

2007

Al Dichner

R&L Associates, LLC

2006

Rich Weissman

Endicott College

2005

David Ray

Leslie S. Ray Insurance

2004

Jo Broderick

Montserrat College of Art

2003

Carla Cox

Handly & Cox, PC

1991 - 2002 Beverly Downtown, Inc

2002

John Colucci

McLane & Middleton Law

2001

Deborah Rosser

Beverly National Bank

2000

Thomas Trudel

Beverly Glass

1999

Chuck Zarba

Zarba Financial

1998

Chuck Zarba

Zarba Financial

1997

Nancy Politis

Century Bank

1996

Nancy Politis

Century Bank

1995

Paul Simms

Beverly National Bank

1994

Paul Simms

Beverly National Bank

1993

Peter Sharon

Sharon LLC

1992

Jack Good

Beverly National Bank

1991

Jack Good

Beverly National Bank