WORCESTER, MA — The Worcester Economic Club has a new president heading into its next season, and a lineup of speakers that includes a national political commentator and a former state cabinet secretary.
The club announced that Mike Lavoie will serve as president for the 2026-2027 season. Lavoie is Executive Vice President and Senior Commercial Officer at Cornerstone Bank, a position he has held since April 2024. Before that, he worked in commercial banking leadership roles at M&T Bank and People’s United Bank, and earlier held positions with Sovereign Bank’s Asset-Based Lending group, RBS Citizens, N.A., and Deutsche Financial Services’ wealth management group. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a marketing concentration from Southern New Hampshire University and an MBA from Bentley University’s McCallum Graduate School of Business.
“We are excited to welcome Mike Lavoie as president of the Worcester Economic Club,” said Bill Mack, the club’s immediate past president. “His extensive background in commercial banking, deep understanding of the business community, and commitment to building strong relationships make him an excellent choice to lead the Club into its next season.”
Founded in 1903, the Worcester Economic Club brings together business and community leaders through dinner meetings and networking events built around economic and civic topics. Membership includes five dinner meetings and one networking event each year.
The new season begins with a Season Kickoff Networking Event on Wednesday, September 23, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at Off the Rails. From there, the club moves into its dinner meeting series. The first, on October 5, will feature Mark McKinnon, a political commentator and media strategist who co-hosts “The Circus.” The second, on December 8, will feature Jay Ash, a former Massachusetts Secretary of Housing and Economic Development who has worked extensively in economic development.
According to the club, additional speakers and dates for the rest of the season will be announced later in the year.
For Lavoie, the role carries a sense of continuity. “The Worcester Economic Club has a long history of bringing together leaders from across the region,” he said. “I am honored to serve as president and look forward to building on that tradition while creating new opportunities for our members to connect, learn, and engage with the important economic and business issues affecting our community.”
Residents interested in membership or the upcoming season can contact Kristen Luna, Director of Membership Sales and Services at the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, at (508) 753-2924 x226 or kluna@worcesterchamber.org.
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- Project / Topic: Worcester Economic Club’s 2026-2027 season and new club presidency
- Current Status: Mike Lavoie has assumed the role of president; the season’s schedule has begun with two dinner meetings confirmed
- Key Dates or Decisions: Season Kickoff Networking Event, September 23, 2026, 5-7:30 p.m., Off the Rails; dinner meeting with Mark McKinnon, October 5, 2026; dinner meeting with Jay Ash, December 8, 2026
- Estimated Cost: The press release does not include membership pricing or event costs
- Timeline: The 2026-2027 season runs through the year, with additional speakers and dates to be announced
- Immediate Next Steps: The Season Kickoff Networking Event on September 23 is the club’s first scheduled event of the new season
- Primary Sources: Worcester Economic Club press release, dated September 15, 2026, provided by Kristen Luna, Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce
- What We Do Not Yet Know: The club has not announced the remaining speakers or dates for the 2026-2027 season, nor has it released membership costs
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