Newton-Needham Chamber graphic
A new initiative by the Newton-Needham Regional Chamber of Commerce has identified several prominent members of the banking and real estate industries as being among the 50 most influential businesspeople of color in the MetroWest area.
The initiative, the brainchild of the chamber and communications expert Collette Phillips’ Get Konnected! networking group, is intended to celebrate the many talented professionals and executives of color in Boston’s suburbs who are also making positive contributions to their communities. But, a cover letter from Phillips and chamber President Greg Reibman said, the list is also intended to “spark conversations about where we fall short too, and how we can and must do better.”
“We also hope this list will serve as a strong statement to our businesses, nonprofits and social institutions to replace the phrase ‘we can’t find qualified candidates of color’ with the names here and the many other exemplary people of color working and seeking opportunities here,” Phillips and Reibman wrote.
Complaints about the lack of qualified candidates of color have historically been a not-infrequent explanation offered by white executives when pressed about failures to diversify their firms’ management ranks, with Wells Fargo CEO Charles Scharf’s much-criticized statement that “there is a very limited pool of Black talent to recruit from” in corporate America being the latest example.
The Newton-Needham Chamber received over 200 nominations, Phillips and Reibman wrote.
The chamber’s list includes:
- Century Bank Executive Vice President Gerald Algere
- Needham Bank Director Lenox Chase
- STUDIO ENÉE founder and principal Natasha Espada
- Northland Investment Corp. Vice President of Development Kent Gonzales
- UNION Real Estate President and CEO Elena M. Lau
- MBTA Fiscal and Management Control Board vice chair and 128 Business Council Executive Director Monica Tibbits-Nutt
- Catalyst Ventures Development President and Managing Partner Darryl Settles
