By Bonnie Adams, Managing Editor
Region – The Honorable Denise L. Meagher was the guest speaker at the June 9 meeting of the Corridor Nine Area Chamber of Commerce’s Business Forward Females (BFF) meeting held at the Courtyard by Marriot in Marlborough.
Meagher is a First Justice in the commonwealth of Massachusetts Probate and Family Court Department, Worcester County Division. During her presentation she shared stories of her journey from her first job as a young lawyer working at a corporate firm to being appointed by Gov. Mitt Romney to the bench in 2005. As a judge she hears cases involving all age groups regarding custodial, support and abuse.
The BFF group was created two years ago by co-chairs Corridor Nine members Denise Kapulka, sales manager for Knight’s Airport Limousine Service, and Pam Stevens, an attorney with Seder & Chandler, LLP, as a way for local women business leaders to network and share their expertise with each other.
According to Karen Chapman, the chamber’s president, the group has grown from 65 attendees at the first meeting held in May 2013 to a record 120 at the May 2015 meeting. Each meeting offers an opportunity for informal networking as well as guest speakers. Past speakers have included Mary-Meg Walsh, an employment and training specialist with Veterans Inc., Col. Marian McGovern, the former head of State Police, and Victoria Waterman, CEO of Girls Inc.
In April, BFF launched its pilot mentoring program with 17 female high school students at Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School. Chapman said BFF hopes to continue that initiative in the next school year.
The group will take the summer off before commencing again in September. For more information visit www.corridornine.org or call the chamber at 508-836-4444.