How and when did the company get started? It was March of 1998 when Jim Farrell opened the doors to PRfirst. With a career that included editor and publisher of two weekly newspapers on the South Shore of Massachusetts, and vice president of a public relations firm, Jim’s solid reputation as a journalist and public relations specialist was well established. Starting with just a handful of accounts – several that remain as clients to this day – it didn’t take long for Jim to build a customer roster that represents a wide range of industries, from financial institutions to health services, property management companies to construction/architectural firms. What products or services do you offer? Public relations campaigns, comprised of strategies such as press releases, thought leadership articles, interview opportunities, organizational profiles, and events including ribbon-cuttings and anniversary celebrations. What’s the one thing your business is known for, over your competitors and why? Four of us came from the newspaper/journalism/ publishing world prior to PR, so we understand the difference between news and advertising – which greatly benefits our clients. We’ve been told by many writers and editors, “You really understand our industry.” Tell us an interesting and fun tidbit about your business. We work with a wide range of clients, which provides us the opportunity to help promote really good people making a difference throughout the South Shore and beyond. Additionally, we learn a lot of fun things about a wide range of industries and services along the way! Why did you decide to become involved with the Chamber?
The chamber is completely dedicated to making the South Shore a better place to live, work, and play every day! That is a mission we are proud to contribute to and an organization we are proud to be a part of!
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How and when did the company get started? Our team is comprised of veterans of some of the world's leading marketing and PR agencies. Our team intentionally parted ways with those big agencies beginning in 2020 in order to be closer to our craft and more deeply embedded with clients as they tackle their most pressing challenges. What products or services do you offer? We are a one-stop marketing and communications agency offering unparalleled expertise across multiple disciplines. Our specialist-led offerings include media relations, crisis and issues management, video production, marketing strategy, social media management, and content development. What’s the one thing your business is known for, over your competitors and why? Comsint is a new kind of agency. Guided by the simple promise of providing clients with seasoned, world-class talent who deeply understand their business, our team of communications strategists is relentlessly focused on protecting our clients’ brands and driving business results. In fact, we built our business model based on interviews with more than 100 agency clients. From crisis communications to video production to full-stack marketing, Comsint brings the expertise of a global firm paired with the service and transparency of a boutique agency. Tell us an interesting and fun tidbit about your business. In today’s world, change is constant and complexity is ever-growing. Organizations need partners to provide senior counsel and data-driven solutions to protect their brands and drive business results. Comsint’s award-winning agency model was created to do just that. We bring the expertise of a global firm paired with the service and transparency of a boutique agency. Why did you decide to become involved with the Chamber? At Comsint, we strive to meet clients where they are and where we can provide the greatest positive impact. The Chamber provides our team an opportunity to understand the business environment holistically and to bring those learnings back to continually refine and improve our offerings. Nicholas Puleo
![]() How and when did the company get started?
I started Empowering Athletes after spending six years touring with Broadway shows, including the Radio City Rockettes, Lord of the Dance, Burn the Floor, and Heart Beat of Home. Radio City closed their Rockettes’ touring cast in 2015 and it was time for me to start a new chapter. I began teaching at Dean College and did outreach at Dunleavy Boyle Academy of Irish Dance, South Shore Ballet Theatre, and South Shore Gymnastic Academy. Finally, in 2018, I opened up my own space and loved every minute of it! What products or services do you offer? Empowering Athletes offers one-on-one injury prevention, Injury evaluations, rehabilitation and sports specific training. Small group trainings focusing on sports specific needs for all athletes, including but not limited to, dancers, gymnasts, figure skaters and field players (soccer, lacrosse, etc.). We also offer group strength training and injury prevention classes for all levels and ages including adults. During individual treatment sessions, we may use modalities, including but not limited to, IASTM (Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization), Cupping, Blood Flow Restriction Therapy, Electrical Stimulation, Ultrasound, Theragun vibration therapy, Myofascial and Muscle Energy work as well as Normatec which is a graduated compression system for recovery. What’s the one thing your business is known for, over your competitors and why? My business is known for its individual attention to each and every client. I work with athletes at every stage in their careers and at every level of athleticism. The model behind Empowering Athletes is to be able to support you for all your needs as an athlete while teaching stretching, mobility and injury prevention techniques. Empowering Athletes does injury evaluations, injury rehabilitation and recovery, working with orthopedic doctors of Boston Children's Hospital and other healthcare providers. Tell us an interesting and fun tidbit about your business. Empowering Athletes trains and rehabilitates a large range of athletes from gymnasts, figure skaters and all forms of dancers to traditional sports such as basketball, soccer and lacrosse to equestrians (athletes who ride horses!) These athletes often find it difficult to find good sports specific treatment. I have worked not only with performing artists, but I spent two years working with D1 college athletes and have been a certified Athletic Trainer for over 15 years. Why did you decide to become involved with the Chamber? I am looking to network with other companies. I also want to get into the community more and see how I can help spread knowledge about youth and performing artist sports that are sometimes overlooked in traditional settings. ![]() How and when did the company get started?
Howard Stein Hudson started 1987 by Jane Howard and Kathy Stein in Dorchester. Now we are 100 employees located in 3 regional offices throughout Massachusetts. What products or services do you offer?
What’s the one thing your business is known for, over your competitors and why? Howard Stein Hudson (HSH) is a full-service planning and engineering firm that improves communities through inclusive engagements and creative solutions. Our collaborative approach with clients relies on sound technical, planning, and engineering expertise and combines it with knowledge of community/stakeholder issues and needs. Driven by our mission and underpinned by our values, we address engineering and planning challenges and aspire to deliver a better world. Tell us an interesting and fun tidbit about your business. HSH is a growing firm of recognized industry leaders in planning and engineering. We’ve cultivated a friendly and collaborative environment where experts can make a difference in the community. HSH encourages every employee to feel comfortable enough to bring their whole self to work. Our vision guides all of our work, our decisions, and our people. We strive to:
Why did you decide to become involved with the Chamber? Opening a Southeastern Massachusetts office. Did you miss one? You can hear their stories and get to know these women leaders through our YouTube channel (don't forget to subscribe!). What are the challenges for women in leadership today? "We need to be careful that we are not inadvertently creating more roadblocks for more women. I think that is a unique challenge as we get into positions of power. We need to be careful not just to take on the persona of the status quo... women were expected to look like men and to act like men. You were successful if you did that and you rose through the ranks. But how crazy is that? If I look like the guy in power, dress like the guy in power and I do all the things like the guy in power, I must get power. I think it's easy to forget that that's a really bad thing. You need to show up as yourself. And if you can't, it's not the right company for you."
How and when did the company get started?
New England Truck Solutions (NETS) originated in North Smithfield RI in 2011. In January 2020 we acquired our Avon MA location through a buy sell agreement. What products or services do you offer? We are a medium and heavy-duty commercial truck dealership. Our franchises include Hino Trucks, SEA Electric and Green Power Electric vehicles. Through 2 locations, we provide Trucks Sales, Truck Repair and Parts for all makes. We have our own in-house body shop and graphics department. We also offer commercial truck rentals. What’s the one thing your business is known for, over your competitors and why? We are your one stop truck shop, providing uncompromised personal service that is unmatched in the industry. We pride ourselves as becoming our customers strategic partner to help them focus on their business, while we take care of all their commercial truck needs. Tell us an interesting and fun tidbit about your business. We are committed to keeping our communities green. We recently acquired 2 Electric Vehicle (EV) franchises. While we feel the commercial truck EV market is in the infant stages, we wanted to be a part of this exciting growth and help offer our customers an alternative transportation option. Why did you decide to become involved with the Chamber? We wanted to be a part of the South Shore business community fabric. We have a lot to bring to the table for local businesses that operate commercial trucks. We hope to network and grow our business, so other businesses can benefit from our industry experience. How and when did the company get started?
Valanzola Law Group opened its doors in 2015 with an office in Mansfield and has since expanded to Boston and Hingham. What products or services do you offer? We specialize in residential and commercial real estate conveyancing, lender representation, leasing, condominium law, zoning and land use and development, business law, probate and estate planning. What’s the one thing your business is known for, over your competitors and why? We consider our firm to be "boutique", in that we provide direct communication and support to our clients throughout any given transaction. It is common for firms to shift responsibility from one lawyer or paralegal to the next. A client may hire one attorney but end up communicating primarily with a paralegal at the firm. At Valanzola Law Group, the attorney you hire is the attorney you will work with until your matter is completed. We pride ourselves on this streamline approach which enables us to effectively meet the demands of any real estate transaction. Tell us an interesting and fun tidbit about your business. Attorney Matthew A. Valanzola is the managing attorney of Valanzola Law Group. He has over 15 years of residential and commercial real estate experience, 8 years of which he worked as Owners’ Representative for the largest commercial real estate development company in the Country. His extensive experience in real estate managing all phases of the development process affords him a unique opportunity to understand clients’ goals and needs. Why did you decide to become involved with the Chamber? The firm opened an office in Hingham in 2021 after Matthew Valanzola and his wife, Sarah Belanger (also an attorney at the firm) relocated from Boston to the South Shore. They now reside in beautiful Scituate, MA with their 3-year old son, Theo.
Winners & Runners-up: Boston Bowl Hanover
Pinehills South Shore Music Circus The Trustees (World's End) Starland Sportsplex & Fun Park WATD 95.9 Stellwagen Beer Company Alba on 53 The Tinker's Son Lucca South Shore Tosca Previte's Marketplace Mamma Mia's Burtons Bar & Grille Sarcastic Swine BBQ Restaurant & Catering The Range Bar & Grill The Parrot Clandestine Kitchen The Barker Tavern The Fours North River Family Chiropractic A Healthy Balance Hearing Healthcare Professionals South Shore Hearing Center NVNA and Hospice South Shore YMCA Emilson George Washington Toma TV & Appliance The Rug Merchant Seoane's Landscape and Design Chapin Sheds Granite City Electric Supply Co. Hingham Lumber Company Curry ACE Hardware Dependable Cleaners McNamara Financial Rockland Trust South Shore Bank Jack Conway Linden Ponds The Village at Duxbury Derby St. Shops Fruit Center Marketplace Miltons Granite Links Golf Club If you joined us on the 22nd, you know we had a fun afternoon celebrating! If you missed it, you’re in for a treat. We have a recap below AND a “must see” list of places to visit on the South Shore this summer, crafted by your fellow Chamber members! See below for list. The HighlightsCelebrating accomplishments... Learn all about our Hello! South Shore Project and how it's connected to our broader mission in this video! ![]() How and when did the company get started?
Side by Side is a personalized pet nutrition company that approaches pet health through the healing power of whole food. Side by Side was started in 2018 to deliver a portfolio of healthy diets. treats and supplements with options available for all health needs. Utilizing the time-tested science of Eastern Food Therapy (EFT) in the formulation of its foods, What products or services do you offer? Side by Side offers and assortment freeze dried dog food, tetra stews and treats in yummy recipes that your pup will love. We also offer supplements like Belly Balance , So Hip and Wag not Drag . Side by Side created a technology enabled pet health assessment, available on our website, that allows you to customize the proper diet and nutrition for your pet. All Side by Side products are made using human grade, whole food ingredients, veterinary and nutritionist formulated to meet the nutritional needs of your adult dog. What’s the one thing your business is known for, over your competitors and why? We know that real food can make a real difference in your pet’s life – that’s why every single one of our products has been carefully crafted & intentionally made. We utilize Eastern Food Therapy, whole food ingredients & a gentle cooking process to bring you the absolute best food possible. This combination is how we help nourish healthy pets & heal sick ones. Our online Pet Assessment easily identifies the proper diet and nutritional needs for each individual pet, allowing you to customize your pet's diet for optimal health. Tell us an interesting and fun tidbit about your business. The images that are on our newest product, Mini Meals and Bowl Boosters - just launched March 2022 are local south shore pups and their people! We are excited to be more involved in the South Shore. Just real food and Just Real People! Why did you decide to become involved with the Chamber? The South Shore Chamber of Commerce provides a unique opportunity to connect with businesses and the communities of the south shore. Side by Side is looking forward to providing opportunities to introduce the SSCC members to the benefits of freeze dried dog food and why Side by Side's wide array of freeze dried pet food, treats and supplements are the best products for their pet to live a longer healthier life side by side with them. |
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