February 2026
Worcester Business Journal and Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce hosted their annual Central Massachusetts Economic Forecast & Real Estate Forum on Thursday, February 24, bringing together regional business leaders for an in-depth look at the economic landscape and what lies ahead in the coming year.
The well-attended event featured keynote remarks from Shruti Mishra, U.S. Economist at Bank of America. Mishra shared timely insights on the labor market, GDP outlook and consumer trends, drawing from her work on the widely read “BofA on USA” card data report and other real-economy research.
Representing Kelleher & Sadowsky, President Jim Umphrey joined a distinguished panel of regional leaders to discuss the current economic climate and the trends shaping Central Massachusetts. Jim provided perspective on the commercial real estate sector, highlighting how evolving capital markets, shifting tenant demand, and long-term demographic trends are influencing today’s business environment.
He also addressed the challenges facing the industry—from interest rate volatility to construction costs—and how firms are navigating economic shifts while positioning themselves to capitalize on emerging opportunities that will help propel future growth.
Joining Jim on the panel were:
- Joshua Lee Smith, Partner, Bowditch
- Jackson Restrepo, Founding Partner, Restrepo Properties LLC
- Justin Precourt, President, UMass Memorial Medical Center
- Brooke Thomson, President & CEO, Associated Industries of Massachusetts
- Darnell Dunn, Director of Business Recruitment, Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce
Kelleher & Sadowsky, Bowditch and Bank of America were proud corporate sponsors of this important annual event, which continues to serve as a leading forum for dialogue around Central Massachusetts’ economic vitality and long-term trajectory.
As Worcester and the broader region continue to demonstrate resilience and momentum, events like this underscore the collaborative leadership driving sustainable growth across industries.
