The Charles River Regional Chamber's annual Spring Business Breakfast, presented by Eastern Bank, returns on Friday, May 15, 2026, gathering 200+ business, nonprofit, and civic leaders from Newton, Needham, Watertown, Wellesley, Brookline and the broader region.

This year's keynote speaker is Jeff Taylor, a Needham High School graduate and serial entrepreneur best known as the founder of Monster.com — one of the first internet companies to transform how people search for jobs. Thirty years later, Taylor argues the system is broken: flooded with applications, driven by keyword matching, and disconnected from what actually makes a great hire.

As founder and CEO of Boomband, Taylor is building what he sees as the replacement: an AI-native talent marketplace that replaces the static resumé with dynamic "Dossiers" designed to put human discovery back at the center of hiring.

The program will also feature a panel of Greater Boston nonprofit leaders discussing how the region is navigating growing strain on the safety net — from federal funding cuts to inflation and other economic headwinds. Panelists include Ashley Stanley, Founder and CEO of Spoonfuls; Larry Seamans, President & CEO of FamilyAid; and Alicia Kabir, Executive Director of Cradles to Crayons.

The Charles River Regional Chamber's "Spring Business Breakfast," presented by Eastern Bank, is happening Friday, May 15, at the Needham Sheraton Hotel. Coffee and networking begin at 7:00 a.m. in the Sheraton courtyard. The speaking program will begin promptly at 8 a.m. Tickets are available at www.charlesriverchamber.com. Event sponsors are Insource Services, Inc., Rockland Trust Bank, and The Village Bank. Event supporters are Boylston Properties.

Spring Business Breakfast: 2026
Location: Needham Sheraton Hotel, 100 Cabot St, Needham, MA 02494
Date: Fri. May 15
Coffee and networking begin at 7:00 a.m.
The speaking program will begin promptly at 8:00 a.m.

Tickets are on sale now: 85$ through April 30th, then $100 for chamber members and $125 for non-members.
Register here

General Event Questions: contact info@charlesriverchamber.com or call 617-244-5300