Christopher McCarthy to Chair North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors

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Christopher W. McCarthy, president and COO of Fidelity Bank has been elected Chair of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors for 2022-2023.  The announcement was made at the chamber’s Annual Meeting on June 9, 2022.

McCarthy was named president and COO of Fidelity Bank in 2015, after more than twenty years of experience in community banking.  Headquartered in Leominster, Fidelity Bank is one of the oldest and continually growing independent, local community banks in Central Massachusetts.  Fidelity offers a full range of banking, investment and insurance products and programs, and operates full-service branches in Leominster, Worcester, Fitchburg, Needham, Gardner, Shirley, Barre, Millbury, Paxton, Princeton and Winchendon.

McCarthy earned both a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing and a Master of Business Administration degree from Nichols College.  He also holds a post-graduate degree from the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado. 

In addition to his involvement with the chamber, Mr. McCarthy also serves on a number of boards and charitable organizations, including the Greater Worcester Community Foundation, the Worcester Business Development Corporation and Saint Vincent Hospital.  He is also active in his alma mater, Nichols College, serving as a member of the College’s Board of Advisors.  

He succeeds Rachel Lopez, president of Resource Management Inc. (RMI) who now moves to the position of Immediate Past Chair of the Board of Directors.

“It is an honor and privilege to have been elected Chair of this dynamic and respected organization that plays such an important role in North Central Massachusetts,” expressed Mr. McCarthy, “I am excited to continue Rachel Lopez’s efforts and make sure the Chamber remains a strong resource for the local business community.”

McCarthy was first elected to the Chamber’s Board of Directors in 2016 and has held several leadership positions including Vice Chair, Treasurer and has served on the Chamber’s Leadership Council, the One North Central leadership committee and the executive committee. As the Chair of the Chamber’s Board of Directors, Mr. McCarthy will work with the Board, Chamber staff, and membership to champion the Chamber in its mission to serve the region’s business community. 

“As Chair, Chris will play a significant role in advancing the Chamber’s goals and initiatives,” noted Roy Nascimento, Chamber president & CEO. “We are fortunate to have his respected leadership. We look forward to working with him to advance the interests of our members and promote North Central Massachusetts.”

In the same election, James L. Vander Hooven, Ed.D., president of Mount Wachusett Community College in Gardner was elected Vice-Chair and director Barbara Mahoney, president & CEO of Leominster Credit Union was elected to the position of Treasurer; and Dr. Richard Lapidus, president of Fitchburg State University was elected to the position of Assistant Treasurer.  Board members elected for new terms were Winfield Brown, president & CEO of Heywood Healthcare in Gardner; Jackie Cullen, Owner of RiverStyx Brewing in Fitchburg; Melissa Glenny, founder and CEO of Franklin Professional Associates in Leominster; Michael Johansen, president of Bemis Associates in Shirley; and Lori Richardson, president & CEO of Aging Services of North Central Massachusetts; 

Continuing current terms on the Board of Directors are Allie Catlin, co-owner of Smith’s Country Cheese in Winchendon; Tony Fields, president and owner of Cleartech Group in Leominster; Matthew Fournier, president of Elite Construction & Design in Fitchburg; Bruce Platzman, president of AIS, Inc. in Leominster; Steve Rocheleau, president of Rocheleau Tool & Die in Fitchburg; Rodrigo Souza, owner of Comeketo Brazilian Steakhouse in Leominster; Henry Tessman, general manager of Great Wolf Lodge in Fitchburg; and John Zarrella president of Research Results, Inc. in Fitchburg.