What they reported doing
- #1 primary $206KPEOPLE/WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT - SUPPORT BUSINESSES TO ATTRACT AND DEVELOP THEIR HUMAN CAPITAL; THIS INCLUDES EDUCAITON/WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION, YOUNG PROFESSIONALS NETWORL, AND LEADERSHIP CAPITAL REGION.
- #2 $294KBUSINESS GROWTH - PROVIDE RESOURCES TO FUEL GROWTH INCLUDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, LOAN PROGRAMS AND ENTREPRENEURIAL START-UP SUPPORT.
What they call their work
What they do
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Women Entrepreneurs Grant Programs 1 activity
- Awarding grants and resources through business plan competitionFunds entrepreneurial talent by awarding cash grants of $3,000 and $1,500, Chamber membership, office equipment, college credits, and coworking space to top participants in its annual business plan competition.
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Regional Economic Development Initiatives 1 activity
- Developing strategic resources for workforce and business developmentDevelops resources to support workforce development, upskilling, and expanded labor market access for regional businesses, aligned with core strategies in its 2022–2026 strategic plan developed in collaboration with the Center for Economic Growth.
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Startup Acceleration & Business Growth Support 1 activity
- Entrepreneurial support and business growth servicesProvides resources, technical assistance, loan programs, and entrepreneurial start-up support—including the Entrepreneur Boot Camp and a 60-hour small business training program in Albany—to help entrepreneurs launch, operate, and grow businesses.
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Organization Website and Online Platform Management 1 activity
- Operating regional event calendar and community engagement toolsProvides a complimentary online community calendar that enables businesses, organizations, and community members to post, search, and avoid scheduling conflicts for past and future events.
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Membership Program Administration 1 activity
- Processing online payments for membership and invoicesProvides online payment processing services for Chamber membership renewals and invoice payments.
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Annual Impact and Evaluation Reporting 1 activity
- Producing annual impact and research reportsPublishes an annual Impact Report (e.g., 2025 edition) that documents progress and outcomes in workforce development, entrepreneurial support, business growth, advocacy, and community impact.
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High School Dual Enrollment Programs 1 activity
- Providing college credit and educational partnershipsEnables participants in its training programs to earn 3 college credits through a partnership with SUNY Schenectady County Community College upon completion.
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Business Community Advocacy 1 activity
- Representing regional businesses in advocacy and economic developmentRepresents 2,400 businesses and organizations across the Capital Region—Albany, Saratoga, Schenectady, and Rensselaer Counties—that collectively employ over 150,000 residents, advocating for policies and conditions that support regional growth and prosperity.
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Business Member Promotion Services 1 activity
- Supporting BIPOC-owned businesses through directory and visibilityCreates and maintains a public BIPOC-Owned Business Directory to showcase and support businesses owned by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color in the Capital Region.
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Leadership Development Programs 1 activity
- Workforce and leadership development programsSupports workforce development and leadership capacity through initiatives including the Young Professionals Network, Leadership Capital Region, Leadership Tech Valley, and diversity and inclusion programs designed to attract, develop, and retain talent for regional businesses.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Organizing international and small-group cultural travel for membersOrganizes international travel excursions in partnership with travel companies, offering small-group experiences (12–24 participants) with multi-day itineraries that include scheduled meals such as 10 breakfasts, 1 lunch, and 5 dinners over 12 days.
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Who runs it
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARK N EAGAN | PRESIDENT & CEO | 27 | $523K |
| CHRISTINE A HOLLE | VP, FINANCE & OPERATIONS | 17 | $150K |
| PETER P BARDUNIAS | SENIOR VP, MEMBERSHIP & CO | 39 | $133K |
| THOMAS J O'CONNOR | VP, GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS | 36 | $127K |
- ANDREA CRISAFULLI — IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR
- ANTHONY CARNEVALE — DIRECTOR
- ANTHONY HAYES — DIRECTOR
- ANTONIO CIVITELLA — DIRECTOR
- BRIAN SANO — DIRECTOR
- CARMINE DECRESCENTE III — DIRECTOR
- CHRIS SPRARAGEN — DIRECTOR
- CHRISTOPHER CANNUCCIARI — TREASURER
- CHRISTOPHER DOWD — DIRECTOR
- DARIA MALLIN — DIRECTOR
- DARRIN JAHNEL — DIRECTOR
- DAVID DEMARCO — CHAIR-ELECT
- DAVID HANNOUSH — DIRECTOR
- DAVID R HARRIS — SECRETARY
- DAWN ABBUHL — DIRECTOR
- DEAN SKARLIS PHD — DIRECTOR
- DENNIS MCKENNA MD — DIRECTOR
- ERIC LACOPPOLA — DIRECTOR
- FRANCES O'ROURKE — DIRECTOR
- GUY MADDALONE — DIRECTOR
- HEATHER A PETERSON — DIRECTOR
Who they work with
- Albany Business Review Partner — Collaborates with member organizations such as Albany Business Review through Chamber programs and initiatives.
- Albany Chamber of Commerce and Public Improvement Partner — Original organization from which the Capital Region Chamber of Commerce evolved, established in 1819.
- Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber Partner — Affiliate chamber providing local issue advocacy and locally-focused programs; integrated with Capital Region Chamber membership offerings.
- BIPOC-Owned Businesses in the Capital Region Partner — Features and supports BIPOC-owned businesses through inclusion in a regional directory to expand their visibility and business relationships.
- Bonacio Construction Partner — Engages with member businesses like Bonacio Construction to support regional economic advancement.
- Business Services Corporation Partner — For-profit subsidiary (dba Benefit Choices) that sells health insurance to individuals and small businesses and provides micro-enterprise loans, advertising, affinity programs, and travel opportunities.
- CardX Partner — Payment processing partner for credit card transactions.
- Center for Economic Growth Partner — Collaborates with the Chamber on the implementation of the 2022–2026 strategic plan.
- Center for Economic Growth Partner — Regional economic development affiliate that develops and implements strategies to attract, expand, and create businesses and jobs in collaboration with the Capital Region Chamber.
- Center for Economic Growth (CEG) Partner — Collaborates with the Center for Economic Growth on economic development initiatives and co-publishes the annual Impact Report.
- Chamber of Schenectady County Partner — Affiliate chamber providing local issue advocacy and locally-focused programs; integrated with Capital Region Chamber membership offerings.
- Chamber of Southern Saratoga County Partner — Affiliate chamber providing local issue advocacy and locally-focused programs; integrated with Capital Region Chamber membership offerings.
- Clifton Park & Halfmoon Emergency Corps Partner — Supports community organizations such as Clifton Park & Halfmoon Emergency Corps through visibility and relationship-building opportunities.
- Community Bank Partner — Sponsors all ribbon cuttings of the Capital Region Chamber and its affiliates.
- Empire State Development Government — Partial funder of the Entrepreneur Boot Camp program.
- Plaza Travel Center Partner — Partner organization collaborating with the Chamber to organize and present international travel excursions.
- Precision Valve & Automation Partner — Provides advocacy and representation for member businesses including Precision Valve & Automation.
- Repeat Business Systems Partner — Provider of office equipment awarded to top participants in the Entrepreneur Boot Camp.
- SUNY Schenectady County Community College Partner — Academic partner enabling participants to earn college credit for completing the Entrepreneur Boot Camp.
- Sunmark Credit Union Partner — Presenting sponsor and funder of a $3,000 cash grant for top participants in the Entrepreneur Boot Camp.
- Tech Valley Center of Gravity Partner — Provider of a two-month membership awarded to top participants in the Entrepreneur Boot Camp.
- Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP Partner — Funder of a $1,500 cash grant for top participants in the Entrepreneur Boot Camp.
- Xpress-pay Partner — Payment processing partner for e-check/ACH transactions.
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Collective Advocacy for Economic Influencemethodology: collective-advocacyBy uniting member businesses into a unified voice, the organization amplifies influence on policy and economic conditions, because collective action produces greater political and systemic impact than individual firms can achieve alone.
- Comprehensive Entrepreneur Training with Practical Applicationmethodology: comprehensive_business_trainingBy delivering hands-on business training and requiring full business plan development, the organization increases entrepreneurial readiness, because practical, applied learning reduces startup risk and builds real-world capacity.
- Cross-Sector Convening to Align Regional Systemsmethodology: cross-sector_collaborationBy convening stakeholders across business, government, education, and workforce sectors, the organization drives regional economic development, because sustained collaboration breaks down silos and aligns talent, policy, and investment with economic needs.
- Economic Inclusion Through Visibility of Marginalized Businessesmethodology: economic-inclusion-through-visibilityBy increasing public visibility of BIPOC-owned businesses through a centralized directory, the organization strengthens inclusive economic growth, because visibility drives connection, procurement, and market access that counter systemic exclusion.