BusinessWest

Jews and Food in America

Through Oct. 3: The Yiddish Book Center in Amherst is currently displaying “Esn! Jews and Food in America” as part of a new, region-wide promotion by Museums10 entitled “Table for 10: The Art, History and Science of Food.” The exhibition explores a quintessential Jewish activity, eating (or, in the Yiddish, ‘esn’). The exhibit includes store signs, product packaging, and advertisements from the early to mid-20th century, including spice tins in Yiddish, Chinese restaurant menus, and the memorable Levy’s Rye Bread ads. For more information, visit www.yiddishbookcenter.org  or call (413) 256-4900.

Legends of the Game Series

July 21, Aug. 6, 7: The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame will sponsor a summer series of appearances and basketball clinics by former NBA, WNBA, and college basketball stars. The Legends of the Game series will feature some of the game’s star players, including Cynthia Cooper, a member of the Hall of Fame’s incoming Class of 2010. Highlights of the programs include Q&A sessions, autograph signings, and basketball skills clinics. The series is designed to be fun for basketball fans of all ages. Guests include: July 21, Spencer Haywood, former NBA All-Star and 1968 Olympic gold medalist; Aug. 6, Gail Goodrich, Hall of Fame guard who won titles with the Lakers and UCLA; and Aug. 7, Chris Webber, NBA All-Star and collegiate star at Michigan, now with NBA TV. For more details, visit www.hoophall.com .

Public Summer Lecture Series

July 21, 28: Cambridge College in Springfield will sponsor a summer lecture series to educate working adults about resources and opportunities to help advance one’s career in a changing economy. Programs include: July 21, “Keys to Starting Your Own Business,” by Joseph DeFazio, J.D., and July 28, “Effective Grant Writing,” by Rick Turner, Ph.D. DeFazio will educate entrepreneurs about available federal resources, address small-business legal considerations, and provide tools to starting and sustaining a business. Turner’s lecture will help individuals understand the process of grant and proposal writing, as well as learn to identify resources that fit program needs. Both lectures begin at 6 p.m. and will be conducted at 570 Cottage St. For more information, call (800) 829-4723, ext. 6622.

Advanced Manufacturing Competition & Conference

Sept. 23: The first highly concentrated, cluster-centric, regional manufacturing conference of its kind will be held at the MassMutual Center in Springfield. The event, called the Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Competition & Conference (AMICCON), is being staged in response to growing recognition among area manufacturers and supply chain members that there is an urgent need to find and meet one another. “AMICCON was formed to identify who’s here in manufacturing, expose them to OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) and procurement, and to make these introductions,” said co-founder Ellen Bemben. “The ultimate goal is to be the advanced manufacturing region in the U.S., where exotic manufacturing, such as micro, nano, and precision, meet higher specifications and tighter tolerances, and short runs are the norm.” Industry sectors to be represented at the event will include plastics and advanced materials, precision machining, paper and packaging, electronics, ‘green’/clean technology, and medical devices. Business opportunities in defense and aerospace will also be highlighted at the event. OEMs and their supply chains are being invited personally to participate. “AMICCON is a new consortium on innovation that also delivers manufacturers to innovators and new markets in order to cause new business,” said Gary Gasperack, vice president and general manager (retired) of the Spalding Division of Russell Corp. “We are very excited about introducing it to our region.” The Mass. Export Center has already produced two programs for AMICCON: an Export Experts Panel, and a seminar, “International Traffic in Arms Regulations for Defense and Aerospace Export.” For more information, visit www.amiccon.com .

Esn! Jews and Food in America

Now through Oct. 3: The Yiddish Book Center in Amherst is currently displaying “Esn! Jews and Food in America” as part of a new, region-wide promotion by Museums10 entitled “Table for 10: The Art, History and Science of Food.” The exhibition explores the quintessential Jewish activity of eating (or, in the Yiddish, ‘esn’). The exhibit includes store signs, product packaging, and advertisements from the early to mid-20th century, including spice tins in Yiddish, Chinese restaurant menus, and the memorable Levy’s Rye Bread ads. For more information, visit www.yiddishbookcenter.org or call (413) 256-4900.

Legends of the Game Series

July 9, 17, and 21; Aug. 6 and 7: The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame will sponsor a summer series of appearances and basketball clinics by former NBA, WNBA, and college basketball stars. The Legends of the Game series will feature some of the game’s star players, including Cynthia Cooper, a member of the Hall of Fame’s incoming Class of 2010. Highlights of the programs include Q&A sessions, autograph signings, and basketball skills clinics. The series is designed to be fun for basketball fans of all ages. Guests: July 9, Cynthia Cooper, a member of the Hall of Fame’s incoming Class of 2010; July 17, Felipe Lopez, former NBA star from St. John’s University; July 21, Spencer Haywood, former NBA All-Star and 1968 Olympic gold medalist; Aug. 6, Gail Goodrich, Hall of Fame guard who won titles with the Lakers and UCLA, and Aug. 7, Chris Webber, former NBA All-Star and collegiate star at Michigan, now with NBA TV. For more details, visit www.hoophall.com.

Construction Course

July 14: The Home Builders & Remodelers Assoc. of Western Mass. will sponsor a six-session course starting July 14 to help individuals prepare for the Massachusetts Construction Supervisor’s Licensing Exam. Sessions are planned at the Home Builders & Remodelers Assoc. headquarters, 240 Cadwell Dr., Springfield, for six Wednesdays from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The exam is authorized by the State Board of Building Regulations and Standards and administered by Thomson Prometric. Registration forms to enroll for the exam will be distributed at the first session of the program. The fee is $250 for a member of the Home Builders Assoc. of Western Mass. and $350 for non-members. All course participants must bring the 7th Edition One & Two Family Dwelling Building Code book and the 7th Edition Basic Building Code book to each class and to the open-book examination. There is an additional charge to order the code books through the association. For more information or to register, contact Sandra Doucette at (413) 733-3126. Enrollment is limited.

Public Summer Lecture Series

July 14, 21, and 28: Cambridge College in Springfield will sponsor a summer lecture series to educate working adults about resources and opportunities to help advance one’s career in a changing economy. Programs are: July 14, “Careers in Health Care,” by Christine Shirtcliff; July 21, “Keys to Starting Your Own Business,” by Joseph DeFazio; and July 28, “Effective Grant Writing” by Dr. Rick Turner. All lectures begin at 6 p.m. and will be conducted at 570 Cottage St. For more information, call (800) 829-4723, ext. 6622.

Advanced Manufacturing Competition & Conference

Sept. 23: The first highly concentrated, cluster-centric, regional manufacturing conference of its kind will be held at the MassMutual Center in Springfield. The event, called the Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Competition & Conference (AMICCON), is being staged in response to growing recognition among area manufacturers and supply chain members that there is an urgent need to find and meet one another. “AMICCON was formed to identify who’s here in manufacturing, expose them to OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) and procurement, and to make these introductions,” said co-founder Ellen Bemben. “The ultimate goal is to be the advanced manufacturing region in the U.S., where exotic manufacturing, such as micro, nano, and precision, meet higher specifications and tighter tolerances, and short runs are the norm.” Industry sectors to be represented at the event will include plastics and advanced materials, precision machining, paper and packaging, electronics, ‘green’/clean technology, and medical devices. Business opportunities in defense and aerospace will also be highlighted at the event. OEMs and their supply chains are being invited personally to participate. “AMICCON is a new consortium on innovation that also delivers manufacturers to innovators and new markets in order to cause new business,” said Gary Gasperack, vice president and general manager (retired) of the Spalding Division of Russell Corp. “We are very excited about introducing it to our region.” The Mass. Export Center has already produced two programs for AMICCON: an Export Experts Panel, and a seminar, “International Traffic in Arms Regulations for Defense and Aerospace Export.” For more information, visit www.amiccon.com.

40 Under Forty Gala
June 24: BusinessWest will celebrate its 40 Under Forty Class of 2010 at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House with a gala to begin at 5 p.m. The event, which has become a spring tradition in Western Mass., will feature fine food, entertainment, and special presentations of the Class of 2010. Tickets for the event are $60. To order tickets or for more information, call (413) 781-8600, ext. 10, or e-mail marketing@businesswest.com.

The Coming Demographic Storm
June 30: The 2010 census statistics will prove it out over the next few years, but Kenneth W. Gronbach already knows what the stats will mean to America. A demographic storm of epic proportions is upon us, and if America’s businesses, regardless of size, are ready, they can plan for amazing success. But if they are not ready, they could be washed away in the giant generational wave. Gronbach, a gifted public speaker and a nationally recognized expert in the field of demography and generational marketing, will be the keynote speaker at the noon luncheon for the Advertising Club of Western Mass. at Longmeadow Country Club. Gronbach makes the science of the census results and shifting demography come alive with real-life examples that make it relevant to today’s culture, business climate, and economy. His presentation is based on the effects of shifting demography. He is an accomplished author with a new, bestselling book, The Age Curve: How to Profit from the Coming Demographic Storm. The demographic landscape in the U.S. is made up a series of waves that are about 20 years in duration. It would follow that business will rise and fall according to the critical mass of customers heading toward it. What is different about this wave is the extraordinary amount of population it includes compared to the past two generations. Businesses will enjoy extraordinary success if they are prepared and in front of the wave. Ad Club members are invited to bring a business associate and join the Ad Club for this presentation and network with the top advertising, marketing, and design talents in Western Mass. To make a luncheon reservation, contact the Ad Club at (413) 736-2582, or online at www.adclubwm.org. The cost for the luncheon is $25 for members, $35 for future members, and $15 for students.

Construction Course
July 14: The Home Builders & Remodelers Assoc. of Western Mass. will sponsor a six-session course starting July 14 to help individuals prepare for the Massachusetts Construction Supervisor’s Licensing Exam. Sessions are planned at the Home Builders & Remodelers Assoc. headquarters at 240 Cadwell Dr. in Springfield for six Wednesdays from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The exam is authorized by the State Board of Building Regulations and Standards and administered by Thomson Prometric. Registration forms to enroll for the exam will be distributed at the first session of the program. The fee is $250 for members of the Home Builders Assoc. of Western Mass. and $350 for non-members. All course participants must bring the 7th edition of the One & Two Family Dwelling Building Code book and the 7th edition of the Basic Building Code book to each class and to the open-book examination. There is an additional charge to order the code books through the association. For more information or to register, contact Sandra Doucette at (413) 733-3126.

Advanced Manufacturing Competition & Conference
Sept. 23: The first highly concentrated, cluster-centric, regional manufacturing conference of its kind will be held at the MassMutual Center in Springfield. The event, called the Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Competition & Conference (AMICCON), is being staged in response to growing recognition among area manufacturers and supply-chain members that there is an urgent need to find and meet one another. “AMICCON was formed to identify who’s here in manufacturing, expose them to OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) and procurement, and to make these introductions,” said co-founder Ellen Bemben. “The ultimate goal is to be the advanced-manufacturing region in the U.S., where exotic manufacturing, such as micro, nano, and precision, meet higher specifications and tighter tolerances, and short runs are the norm.” Industry sectors to be represented at the event will include plastics and advanced materials, precision machining, paper and packaging, electronics, ‘green’/clean technology, and medical devices. Business opportunities in defense and aerospace will also be highlighted at the event. OEMs and their supply chains are being invited personally to participate. “AMICCON is also a new consortium on innovation that also delivers manufacturers to innovators and new markets in order to cause new business,” said Gary Gasperack, vice president and general manager (retired) of the Spalding Division of Russell Corp. “We are very excited about introducing it to our region.” The Mass. Export Center has already produced two programs for AMICCON: an “Export Experts Panel,” and a seminar, “International Traffic in Arms Regulations for Defense and Aerospace Export.”

Book Reading
May 26: Betsy Loughran, retired president and CEO of the Center for Human Development, will read from her new book, Finding Home: Replacing Institutions with Community Care, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at the Center for Human Development on Birnie Avenue in Springfield. Loughran will tell the story of the closings of Belchertown State School and Northampton State Hospital, and the development of CHD and other nonprofits that now provide those services. For more information, call (413) 733-6624.

Cosmos for Charity
May 27: RockStars and RoleModels presents a Sex and the City party from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Onyx in downtown Springfield, beside the Basketball Hall of Fame. Come order a cosmo for charity. Proceeds support the YWCA Domestic Violence Shelter Services. The cover charge is $5. For more information, call Jackie Sarkis at (413) 224-1484.

Mock Trial
June 9: No employer wants to face a court case involving an employee issue, but they need to be prepared. The Employers Assoc. of the NorthEast (EANE) and the law firm Skoler, Abbott & Presser, P.C. will conduct a mock trial — a case involving social networking and sexual harassment — from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Western New England College School of Law. They will walk through common arguments and issues that employers should know, demonstrate the typical motions that lawyers and judges consider, and share insight into the strategies of plaintiffs and defendants. Attendees will weigh the testimony and participate as jury members. The cost is $225 for EANE members and $315 for non-members. Register online at www.eane.org, or call (877) 662-6444. The program earns 4.5 general recertification hours.

Green Remediation
June 15-17: The Environmental Institute at UMass Amherst, the U.S. EPA Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation, U.S. EPA New England, and the Mass. Department of Environmental Protection will host the International Conference on Green Remediation: Environment – Energy – Economics, in the UMass Campus Center. The conference will address the full range of environmental, energy, and economic aspects of green and sustainable remediation, taking into account the energy requirements of treatment systems, air emissions, water-use requirements, impacts on water resources, land and ecosystem use and impacts, energy use and renewables, material composition, reuse, and waste generation. The conference is expected to attract more than 400 attendees, including a wide variety of representation from state and federal agencies, academia, various industries and utilities, and the environmental-engineering and consulting community. Booths cost $1,000, and tables cost $600. For more information or to register, visit teiconferences.com/greenremediation, or call (413) 545-2842.

Hot Topics Breakfast
June 18: “Convergence: How Five Trends Will Reshape the Social Sector” is the focus of the upcoming Hot Topics in Philanthropy Breakfast hosted by Bay Path College. Nonprofit professionals are invited to attend the free event, which will examine a recently published study by La Piana Consulting, a national firm dedicated to strengthening nonprofits and foundations. The breakfast will be held in the Blake Student Commons from 7:30 to 10 a.m. From generational and other demographic shifts to the rise and impact of social media, there are several trends driving the future of the nonprofit sector. La Piana Consulting examined these various developments as part of its research initiative NonprofitNext, funded by the James Irvine Foundation. Written by Alex Hildebrand, David La Piana, Melissa Lendes Campos, and Heather Gowdy, the report describes the growing importance of networking as a means for effecting change and the role of volunteerism and civic engagement in society, among other movements, and their impact on the nonprofit industry. The first to bring La Piana Consulting’s report to the region, Bay Path will feature Gowdy as the keynote speaker. A panel discussion will follow her address. The breakfast is free, but registration is required. By visiting www.baypath.edu or calling (800) 782-7284, ext. 1056. The event is co-sponsored by the Graduate School at Bay Path College’s master’s programs in Nonprofit Management and Philanthropy and graduate-certificate programs in Fundraising Management and Nonprofit Management.

40 Under Forty Gala
June 24: BusinessWest will celebrate its 40 Under Forty Class of 2010 at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House with a gala to begin at 5 p.m. The event will feature fine food, entertainment, and special presentations of the Class of 2010. Tickets for the event are $60. To order tickets, or for more information, call (413) 781-8600, ext. 10, or e-mail marketing@businesswest.com.

Advanced Manufacturing Conference
Sept. 23: The first highly concentrated, cluster-centric, regional manufacturing conference of its kind will be held at the MassMutual Center in Springfield. The event, called the Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Competition & Conference (AMICCON), is being staged in response to growing recognition among area manufacturers and supply-chain members that there is an urgent need to find and meet one another. “AMICCON was formed to identify who’s here in manufacturing, expose them to OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) and procurement, and make these introductions,” said co-founder Ellen Bemben. “The ultimate goal is to be the advanced manufacturing region in the U.S., where exotic manufacturing, such as micro, nano, and precision, meet higher specifications and tighter tolerances, and short runs are the norm.” Industry sectors to be represented at the event will include plastics and advanced materials, precision machining, paper and packaging, electronics, ‘green’/clean technology, and medical devices. Business opportunities in defense and aerospace will also be highlighted at the event. OEMs and their supply chains are being invited personally to participate. “AMICCON is also a new consortium on innovation that also delivers manufacturers to innovators and new markets in order to cause new business,” said Gary Gasperack, vice president and general manager (retired) of the Spalding Division of Russell Corp. “We are very excited about introducing it to our region.” The Mass. Export Center has already produced two programs for AMICCON: an Export Experts Panel, and a seminar, “International Traffic in Arms Regulations for Defense and Aerospace Export.”

Deliver Perfect Pitch

May 12: Learn concrete and easy-to-master tools to help you in every sales situation no matter what the environment or what you sell during “Deliver the Perfect Pitch,” 9 to 11 a.m., at the Scibelli Enterprise Center, 1 Federal St., Springfield. Sheldon Snodgrass of www.steadysales.com in Williamsburg will be the presenter. The program is sponsored by the Mass. Small Business Development Center Network. Cost is $40. For more information, call (413) 737-6712 or visit www.msbdc.org/wmass.

AIM Annual Meeting

May 14: John Ratzenberger, best known for his role as Cliff in the television comedy Cheers, will deliver the luncheon address at the Associated Industries of Massachusetts’ 95th annual meeting at the Westin Hotel in Waltham. Ratzenberger is a passionate advocate for the future of American manufacturing and the need to teach young people to work with their hands. He will discuss the foundation he started to help young people learn the rewards of fixing things themselves, building something useful, and inventing products that create economic opportunity. AIM’s annual meeting is planned from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will bring together some of the brightest business and academic minds in Massachusetts to answer the pressing economic questions of the day. For more information, visit www.aimnet.org.

Wine Tasting and Auction

May 14: The Chicopee Chamber of Commerce will host its annual beer/wine tasting and auction at the Castle of Knights on Memorial Avenue in Chicopee from 6 to 9 p.m. The event, a fund-raiser to support the chamber and its many initiatives, is being sponsored by Chicopee Savings Bank. The event will feature fine food, a large variety of wines and beers to sample, and myriad auction items to bid on. Back by popular demand is the Collectibles Road Show. Representatives from Antiques Roadshow will be on hand to appraise attendees’ valuables. Those with items such as old coins, jewelry, or collectibles are encouraged to bring them to the show. Tickets are $20 each. To reserve tickets, call (413) 594-2101, or visit www.chicopeechamber.org.

Pancake Breakfast

May 15: The Spirit of Springfield will once again serve up what is reputed to the world’s largest pancake breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m. on Main Street in downtown Springfield. The event, marking Springfield’s 374th birthday, is the 25th edition of the annual pancake breakfast. It will also feature entertainment and activities. Tickets are $3 for adults and $1 for children. For more information, call (413) 733-3800 or visit www.spiritofspringfield.com.

13th Annual Rays of Hope Survivors’ Day

May 15: Breast-cancer survivors and their friends are invited to attend the 13th annual Rays of Hope Breast Cancer Survivors’ Day, from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Sheraton Monarch Place Hotel, One Monarch Place, Springfield. Breast cancer activist Geralyn Lucas, author of Why I Wore Lipstick to My Mastectomy, will serve as keynote speaker at the annual event, sponsored by the Comprehensive Breast Center at Baystate Medical Center and Rays of Hope. Lucas will discuss what it was like being diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 27 just after landing her dream job as an editorial producer with ABC television’s 20/20 news program. A graduate of Columbia University School of Journalism, she later became director of public affairs at Lifetime Television and left the network in 2008 to work on the screenplay for Why I Wore Lipstick.  The television movie premiered on Lifetime in October, starring Sarah Chalke of the hit TV show Scrubs. In addition to the keynote address, participants will be able to select from two workshops on a number of topics, including ‘The Fat Factor,’ ‘Yoga and Healing,’ ‘Breast Cancer Therapy and the Heart,’ ‘Oncoplastic Surgery,’ ‘Fashion Do’s and Don’ts,’ ‘A Good Night’s Sleep,’ ‘Hooping Harmony,’ and ‘Acupuncture and Oncology.’  There will also be a special Creative Coping Art Workshop offered only in Spanish. Rays of Hope founder Lucy Giuggio-Carvalho and Dr. James Stewart, chief of the Division of Hematology/Oncology at Baystate Medical Center, who co-authored the recently published The Everything Guide to Living with Breast Cancer, will be on hand to sign their book, which will also be available for purchase at the event. Throughout the day, participants can visit with several exhibitors who will sell a variety of breast-related products, as well as vendors selling arts and crafts. A continental breakfast and buffet luncheon will be served. Registration is required. The cost is $25 per person, with the remaining cost underwritten by Rays of Hope. For those unable to afford the fee, scholarships are available through Sandy Hubbard at the Rays of Hope Community Outreach Office at (413) 794-2828. Parking will be validated. For more information or to request a registration form, call (413) 794-9556 or visit www.baystatehealth.org/raysofhope.

Business Plan Basics

May 20: The Mass. Small Business Development Center Network will host “Business Plan Basics” from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Amherst Town Hall, first-floor meeting room, 4 Boltwood Walk, Amherst. The workshop will focus on management fundamentals from start-up considerations through business-plan development. Topics will include financing, marketing, and business planning. The cost is $35. For more information, call (413) 737-6712 or visit www.msbdc.org/wmass.  

Food for Thought

May 25: Learn how social-media marketing can help grow a business at the next Food for Thought luncheon, sponsored by BusinessWest and The Healthcare News. The event will be held at Samuel’s at the Basketball Hall of Fame from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. John Garvey, president of Garvey Communications Associates, and Mary Fallon, the agency’s media director, will present a talk about “Online Impact and Social Media for Small Business.” The $20 cost includes lunch. RSVP by May 21 with Melissa Hallock at (413) 781-8600, ext. 10, or marketing@businesswest.com.

Joomla! Workshop

May 26: Tamar Schanfeld of TnR Global Joomla! Services of Greenfield will present a daylong boot camp on creating an interactive Web site for small businesses. The workshop is planned from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Scibelli Enterprise Center, 1 Federal St., Springfield. Attendees will learn to plan a site, enter and edit content and menus, and install extensions. Comfort with Microsoft Word and an Internet browser is required. The workshop does not include e-commerce or shopping-cart features. Cost is $75. For more information, call (413) 737-6712 or visit www.msbdc.org/wmass.  

Green Remediation Conference

June 15-17: The Environmental Institute at UMass Amherst, the U.S. EPA Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation, U.S. EPA New England, and the Mass. Department of Environmental Protection will host the International Conference on Green Remediation: Environment – Energy – Economics, in the UMass Campus Center. The conference will address the full range of environmental, energy, and economic aspects of green and sustainable remediation, taking into account the energy requirements of treatment systems, air emissions, water-use requirements and impacts on water resources, land and ecosystem use and impacts, energy use and renewables, material composition, reuse, and waste generation. The conference is expected to attract more than 400 attendees, including a wide variety of representation from state and federal agencies, academia, various industries and utilities, and the environmental, engineering, and consulting community. Booths cost $1,000, and tables are $600. For more information or to register online, visit: www.teiconferences.com/greenremediation  ,  or call (413) 545-2842.

Hot Topics in Philanthropy

June 18: “Convergence: How Five Trends Will Reshape the Social Sector” is the focus of the upcoming Hot Topics in Philanthropy Breakfast hosted by Bay Path College. Nonprofit professionals are invited to attend the free event, which will examine a recently published study by La Piana Consulting, a national firm dedicated to strengthening nonprofits and foundations. The breakfast will be held in the Blake Student Commons from 7:30 to 10 a.m. From generational and other demographic shifts to the rise and impact of social media, there are several trends driving the future of the nonprofit sector. La Piana Consulting examined these various developments as part of its research initiative NonprofitNext, funded by the James Irvine Foundation. Written by Alex Hildebrand, David La Piana, Melissa Lendes Campos, and Heather Gowdy, the report describes the growing importance of networking as a means for effecting change, as well as the role of volunteerism and civic engagement in society, among other movements, and their impact on the nonprofit industry. The first to bring La Piana Consulting’s report to the region, Bay Path will feature Gowdy as the keynote speaker. A panel discussion will follow her address. The breakfast is free, but registration is required. To register, visit www.baypath.edu  or call (800) 782-7284, ext. 1056. The event is co-sponsored by the Graduate School at Bay Path College’s master’s in Nonprofit Management and Philanthropy program and its graduate certificate program in Fundraising Management and Nonprofit Management.

40 Under Forty Gala

June 24: BusinessWest will celebrate its 40 Under Forty Class of 2010 at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House with a gala to begin at 5 p.m. The event, which has become a spring tradition in Western Mass., will feature fine food, entertainment, and special presentations of the Class of 2010. Tickets for the event are $60. To order tickets or for more information, call (413) 781-8600, ext. 10, or e-mail marketing@businesswest.com .

Architecture Exhibition

Through May 9: For the first time in the region, a landmark exhibition on sustainable, contemporary architecture and environmentally sensitive building practices will take place at the University Gallery, Fine Arts Center, UMass Amherst. The exhibition is designed to deepen the public’s understanding and use of ‘green’ design, while demonstrating that the key elements of sustainability can be accessible to all. Through models, photographs, and virtual tours, the exhibition unites diverse works from large-scale science buildings to private residences, low-income housing, and intimate gardens of natural inspiration. For more information, visit www.umass.edu/fac/universitygallery .

Deliver Perfect Pitch

May 12: Learn concrete and easy-to-master tools to help you in every sales situation no matter what the environment or what you sell during “Deliver the Perfect Pitch,” 9 to 11 a.m., at the Scibelli Enterprise Center, 1 Federal St., Springfield. Sheldon Snodgrass of www.steadysales.com in Williamsburg will be the presenter. The program is sponsored by the Mass. Small Business Development Center Network. Cost is $40. For more information, call (413) 737-6712 or visit www.msbdc.org/wmass .

AIM Annual Meeting

May 14: Actor John Ratzenberger, best known for his role as Cliff in the television comedy Cheers, will deliver the luncheon address at the Associated Industries of Massachusetts’ 95th annual meeting at the Westin Hotel in Waltham. Ratzenberger is a passionate advocate for the future of American manufacturing and the need to teach young people to work with their hands. He will discuss the foundation he started to help young people learn the rewards of fixing things themselves, building something useful, and inventing products that create economic opportunity. AIM’s annual meeting is planned from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, visit www.aimnet.org .

Business Plan Basics

May 20: The Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network will host “Business Plan Basics” from 9:30 to 12:30 p.m. at the Amherst Town Hall, 1st floor meeting room, 4 Boltwood Walk, Amherst. The workshop will focus on management fundamentals from start-up considerations through business plan development. Topics will include financing, marketing and business planning. The cost is $35. For more information, call (413) 737-6712 or visit www.msbdc.org/wmass .

Joomla! Workshop

May 26: Tamar Schanfeld of TnR Global Joomla! Services of Greenfield will present a daylong boot camp on creating an interactive Web site for small businesses. The workshop is planned from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Scibelli Enterprise Center, 1 Federal St., Springfield. Topics: learn to plan your site, enter and edit content and menus, and install extensions. Comfort with Microsoft Word and Internet browser required. The workshop does not include e-commerce or shopping cart features. Cost is $75. For more information, call (413) 737-6712 or visit www.msbdc.org/wmass .