Greater Haverhill Chamber President Dougan Sherwood is one of this year’s recipients of Gateway City Champion and Innovator Awards.
Sherwood is receiving the award for small business inclusivity and diversity from the Massachusetts Institute for a New Commonwealth. He is one of three recipients and will address MassINC’s Eighth Annual Gateway Cities Innovation Awards and Summit, presented over three virtual sessions next month.
“As president of the Greater Haverhill Chamber, Dougan has demonstrated exemplary leadership in advancing diversity, equity and inclusion within the small business community in the City of Haverhill. Through his efforts, he has raised awareness and made inclusive economic growth a core component of the Chamber’s strategic plan, working to bring the different people and parts of Haverhill more closely together,” according to a MassINC statement.
Sherwood will address the third session in the virtual series, “Strategies to Support Small Business Diversity and Equity Diversity,” Thursday, Oct. 22, from 10:30 a.m.-noon. He will be joined by fellow innovation award recipient Ivette Olmeda, a TDI fellow with MassDevelopment.
“Pro-inclusivity values are consistent with talent and businesses in high growth markets, namely technology, life sciences and advanced manufacturing. We’re lucky to be so diverse in Haverhill. It’s our competitive advantage,” said Sherwood.
Over the course of three digital sessions in October, leaders share how they went from ideas to actions. Each session features a keynote address followed by case study presentations from the Gateway City Innovation Award recipients. To register, visit massinc.org.