Agenda

James Kitchen Art Exhibit

April 8-25: Like the unusual and disparate metal objects from which they are forged, James Kitchen’s thought-provoking sculptures stand at the intersection of art, science, technology, business, literature, pharmacy, mathematics, physics, history, sustainability, and the human desire to create. His goal is to integrate art into public life with works that evoke emotion or inspire innovation. Kitchen’s sculpture “Einstein’s Onion” will be exhibited outdoors on the campus of Western New England University as the featured piece of his WNEU Art Gallery exhibit; it is the first large Kitchen sculpture to be displayed at a college or university in the region. The unveiling of “Einstein’s Onion” is slated for April 8 at 12 noon on the Campus Mall area, near the gazebo. The Art Gallery exhibit of Kitchen’s work will follow on April 14-18. A related Art Gallery talk is slated for April 25 at 7 p.m. at Sleith Hall, Room 100. For more information about Kitchen and his work, visit www.jameskitchen.com.

 

HRU Fund-raiser

April 11: Human Resources Unlimited (HRU) will stage its annual recognition and fund-raiser event at Springfield Country Club in West Springfield from 7:30 to 9 a.m. This breakfast event is by invitation only and is limited to the first 200 registrants. HRU will recognize local employers that have distinguished themselves this past year through their commitment to hire individuals with a disability. In addition, the organization annually honors a special volunteer who has given of their time and talent to help advance HRU in achieving its mission. Two employers will be honored: the Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Westfield is receiving the agency’s Employer of the Year Award, and the Sturbridge Host Hotel is being recognized with the Rookie Employer Award. Jeff Lander of Appilistic will receive the Armand Tourangeau Volunteer of the Year Award for his efforts on behalf of HRU’s Westfield Service Forum House. Gold Sponsors for the event include FieldEddy Insurance and Meredith Management. The media sponsor is BusinessWest. Sponsorships for this event are still available and welcome. Annually, Human Resources Unlimited assists more than 1,200 individuals living with developmental disabilities, mental illness, or other disadvantages to increase their skills, return to work or school, and become productive, contributing members of the community. Sponsorships and donations assist the organization in advancing its mission. For further information or to make a reservation, contact Lynda at (413) 781-5359 or [email protected]. The suggested minimum donation is $100.

 

STCC Diversity Series

April 11: Steven Pemberton, business leader and child advocate, will speak at Springfield Technical Community College at 11 a.m. in Scibelli Hall (seventh floor). Pemberton is the chief diversity officer and divisional vice president for Walgreens and was named one of Fortune’s top 20 chief diversity officers in corporate America, as well as one of Savoy’s top 100 influential African-Americans in corporate America. He is the author of a memoir, A Chance in the World: An Orphan Boy, a Mysterious Past, and How He Found a Place Called Home, which chronicles his difficult path through foster care and determined search for his family. According to author and educator Stedman Graham, “Pemberton’s beautifully told story is a rags to riches journey — beginning in a place and with a jarring set of experiences that could have destroyed his life. But Steve’s refusal to give in to those forces, and his resolve to create a better life, shows a courage and resilience that is an example for many of us to follow.” The event is free and open to the public, and copies of Pemberton’s book will be on sale. For more information, contact Myra Smith at (413) 755-4414 or visit www.stcc.edu/diversity.

 

DevelopSpringfield Gala

April 12: DevelopSpringfield will be hosting its 2nd annual gala in celebration of Springfield, the many accomplishments the community has achieved over the past year, and the exciting new initiatives underway. The gala will take place at the MassMutual Center in Springfield. Festivities will include a cocktail reception, silent auction, dinner, dancing, and more. All proceeds will support DevelopSpringfield’s redevelopment initiatives, projects, and programs. An anticipated 400 attendees — including federal, state, and city officials; leaders from the business and nonprofit communities; and local residents — will come together in support of ongoing efforts to advance development and redevelopment projects, stimulate and support economic growth, and expedite the revitalization process in the city. Sponsorship packages as well as individual ticket opportunities are available. For more information, visit www.developspringfield.com, or contact Diane Swanson at (413) 209-8808 or [email protected].

 

Bankruptcy Seminar

April 16: As part of its series of free information sessions on business-law basics, the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Western New England University will present a session on bankruptcy, featuring attorneys George Roumeliotis of Roumeliotis  Law Group, Justin Dion of Bacon Wilson, and Kara Rescia of Eaton & Rescia. The event will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. at the WNEU School of Law, in the Blake Law Center. It is free and open to the public, and light refreshments will be provided. To learn more about upcoming events hosted by the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, visit www.wne.edu/cie.

 

STCC Open House

April 18: The public is invited to Springfield Technical Community College’s open house slated for 1-4 p.m. in the Scibelli Hall gymnasium.
The open house is the perfect opportunity to learn about the variety of career and transfer programs available at STCC. This event is free and open to the public, and registration is not required. Guests will have an opportunity to meet with representatives from academic programs, admissions, athletics, financial aid, and student-support services.
The open house will feature a variety of career-exploration demonstrations from programs including architecture, automotive technology, biotechnology, computer information technology, energy-systems technology, engineering, fine arts, law enforcement, massage therapy, nursing, occupational therapy, and many more.

“Our hope is to give prospective students an opportunity to not just see the campus but explore career pathways and options,” said Dean of Admissions Louisa Davis-Freeman.
Founded in 1967 and located on 35 acres of the Springfield Armory National Historic Site, STCC is the only technical community college in Massachusetts, with an annual enrollment of more than 9,000 day, evening, weekend, and online students. For more information about open house, call (413) 755-3333 or visit www.stcc.edu.

 

Human Service Forum Breakfast

April 18: Michael Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, will provide an overview of state finances in the wake of the global recession and efforts to close the federal deficit when he delivers the keynote address of the Human Service Forum Breakfast, from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the Log Cabin in Holyoke. Widmer will comment specifically on Gov. Deval Patrick’s tax proposal and the House Ways and Means budget that will be released the week prior to the breakfast. The foundation’s analysis of Patrick’s tax proposal shows that the elimination of the personal income-tax exemptions and the additional corporate taxes account for most of the $1.9 billion in new revenues. The analysis also summarizes the 44 personal income-tax exemptions and deductions that he has proposed to eliminate. Widmer has been president of the foundation since 1992. The event cost is $25 for Human Service Forum members and $35 for non-members. Those interesting in attending may register online at www.humanserviceforum.org.

 

Creating Better Organizations

April 19: Disorganized, unproductive meetings … unclear roles and accountabilities … politics and poor decision-making. Does this describe your workplace? Is there an alternative? Experience and explore a real-world-tested social technology for agile and purposeful organizations at a ‘taster event’ sponsored by Leadership Pioneer Valley, UMass Family Business Center, and Bredenberg Associates, from 1 to 5 p.m. at the UMass Continuing and Professional Education classroom at 100 Venture Way, Hadley. This thorough and experiential introduction to ‘Holacracy,’ by the pioneer of the method, Brian Robertson, is a fast-paced, concise ‘taste’ in a single session. Holacracy is an organizational operating system that concretely embodies the new capabilities called for by many organizational thought leaders today. It radically changes how an organization is structured, how decisions are made, and how power is distributed. In this half-day training — designed for business leaders, consultants, boards of directors, and community organizers — participants will experience a transformative governance process that creates clear roles and accountabilities, even when dynamically evolving. Learn more by visiting holacracy.org.

 

EANE Management Conference

April 25: The Employers Association of the NorthEast will hold its ninth annual management conference, “Leadership and Mentorship in Action,” at the Holiday Inn in Enfield, Conn. The conference will address the direct impact of mentoring and leadership development on the growth and success of organizations. Keynote speaker Doug Dvorak, a contributing author to the bestselling book The Masters of Success, will present his popular program “The Magic of Mentoring.” Additional presenters include Ravi Kulkarni and Lynn Turner of ClearVision Alliance. A panel of representatives from area companies will discuss next-generation mentoring. Conference breakout sessions include “Leadership Behavior and Employee Engagement,” “Building Effective Teams,” and “DiSC Work of Leaders.” For more information about the conference, contact Karen Cronenberger at (877) 662-6444 or [email protected]. To register, call (877) 662-6444 or visit www.eane.org.

 

EASTEC 2013

May 14-16: EASTEC, the premier manufacturing exposition in the Northeast will be held at the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield on May 14 and 15 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on May 16 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event will offer a variety of exhibitors, educational offerings, tours of nearby facilities, and much more. For more information and to register to attend, visit www.easteconline.com.

 

40 Under Forty

June 20: BusinessWest will present its seventh class of regional rising stars at the annual 40 Under Forty gala at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House in Holyoke. The event will feature music, lavish food stations, and introductions of the winners. Look for event details in upcoming issues of BusinessWest — including the must-read April 22 issue in which the class of 2013 will be profiled — or call (413) 781-8600, ext. 100 for more information.