On May 8, the Metro South Chamber of Commerce hosted the 34th Annual Small Business & Entrepreneur of the Year Awards at Thorny Lea Golf Club in Brockton. More than 130 local business leaders, elected and selected officials, and community partners gathered to honor innovation, leadership, and the entrepreneurial spirit that fuels the Metro South region.
This year’s program featured a keynote address by Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, who spoke directly to the challenges small businesses face – from permitting delays and rising costs to workforce development and infrastructure needs.
“We can’t keep doing things the way they’ve always been done,” Governor Healey said, emphasizing her administration’s push to reform outdated regulations and improve permitting timelines. She shared the story of a salon owner who paid rent for two months before opening-held up only by inspection delays, pointing to a need for common-sense solutions that support business owners instead of slowing them down.
The governor also discussed her new initiative to identify and eliminate bureaucratic barriers within state agencies, calling on leadership to return with tangible, end-user-informed changes. Her message: the state must become more responsive, more efficient, and more entrepreneurial in how it supports business.
Honoring Local Excellence
🏆 Entrepreneur of the Year: Dr. Ellie Paris Social Bookstore & Ice Cream Cafe
Founder of the Dr. Ellie Paris Social Bookstore & Ice Cream Cafe, Dr. Paris-Miranda was recognized for building a community-driven business that promotes literacy, economic empowerment, and cultural connection. A Cape Verdean immigrant, college professor, and small business owner, she opened her downtown Brockton bookstore-cafe in 2024 with a mission to uplift through education and opportunity. Her heartfelt acceptance speech touched on the challenges many microbusinesses face (including lack of access to capital) and the courage it takes to pursue entrepreneurship with limited resources. Visit the Dr. Ellie Paris Social Bookstore & Ice Cream Cafe at 278 Main Street in Brockton, Monday – Saturday 7AM-8PM, and Sunday 8AM-6PM.
🏆 Small Business of the Year: RevT (RENVisioning Technology LLC)
Canton-based RevT, co-founded by Michael Cardoza and Broderick Flenry, began in a condominium selling AV adapter rings online. Today, the company designs and installs full-scale audiovisual systems for clients across New England—from conference rooms to broadcast studios. RevT was honored for its impressive growth, client-first service model, and commitment to helping businesses and institutions communicate more effectively through technology. Check out REV-T in person at 607 Neponset Street in Canton, open Monday – Friday 8AM-5PM.
A Region on the Rise
The awards also included a conversation with Eastern Bank (our premier event sponsor) Executive Chair Bob Rivers and HarborOne Bank President Joe Casey, who discussed their upcoming merger and a $20 million joint commitment to support affordable housing, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship across Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Chamber President & CEO Chris Cooney underscored the importance of regional partnerships and infrastructure investment, citing ongoing intermunicipal agreements and development-ready sites as key to long-term growth. “Growth is essential – it brings with it more prosperity. It brings opportunity for our children to stay and build careers locally, find housing. For residents to enjoy better schools and amenities, and for our cities and towns to share an expanded commercial tax base; revenue that’s important and reinvested in public safety, public spaces, and pubilc services…This all comes down to working together. We can diversify our business base, protect and grow jobs for our residents, and position the Metro South as a model of public and private partnerships both in the state and nationally.”
Congratulations to Dr. Ellie Paris-Miranda and Michael Cardoza and Broderick Flannery, RevT for their vision, perseverance, and contributions to our community. Your success stories are proof that business and impact can grow hand in hand in Metro South.
View more photos on flickr! Photos courtesy of Ben Ross Photography, Marc Vasconcellos (The Enterprise), and Governor Maura Healey Team. Couldn’t make the event? Don’t worry, we recorded it for you – thanks BCA!
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