Microsoft Joins Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce

File photograph. (Image licensed by Ingram Image.)

Microsoft is the newest member of the Haverhill Chamber, CEO and President Dougan Sherwood tells WHAV. (File photograph)

Just in time for Black Friday, the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce has a new member in Microsoft. Chamber President and CEO Dougan Sherwood tells WHAV the retail outfit based at the Salem, N.H. Mall at Rockingham Park signed on as the small business organization’s newest member, kicking off outreach efforts locally with Haverhill’s Hackathon competition on Nov. 16-17.

As a sponsor of the city’s first-ever civic technology competition, Microsoft showed off new products and allowed participants a space to decompress and play video games while they worked on software as part of the 24-hour hacking competition.

Sherwood is thrilled to keep the Haverhill community plugged in to Microsoft. “The cool thing is that it doesn’t end with the Hackathon—this isn’t the end of Haverhill’s relationship with Microsoft,” Sherwood told WHAV, adding that the partnership builds on his previous work with the tech giant as the co-founder and managing director of the Cambridge Innovation Center.

Haverhill’s Assistant Director of Economic Development Nate Robertson echoes Sherwood’s sentiments, and is hopeful the partnership can spur the local economy.

“Microsoft’s involvement in Haverhill is really exciting, especially considering the growing trend of young tech workers moving to the city,” Robertson said. “Haverhill’s desirable urban living attracts talent and that talent attracts industry.”