Business Talk Podcast Special Coverage

We are excited to announce that BusinessWest, in partnership with Living Local, has launched a new podcast series, BusinessTalk. Each episode will feature in-depth interviews and discussions with local industry leaders, providing thoughtful perspectives on the Western Massachuetts economy and the many business ventures that keep it running during these challenging times.

Episode 54: Mar. 1, 2021

George O’Brien talks with Aaron Vega, the former state representative who is now director of Planning and Economic Development in the city of Holyoke

Vega

BusinessWest Editor George O’Brien talks with Aaron Vega, the former state representative who is now director of Planning and Economic Development in the city of Holyoke. The two discuss the city’s efforts to recover momentum lost to the pandemic, and zero in on efforts to expand a budding cluster of cannabis-related businesses in this former mill town. New operations are opening soon, said Vega, and many more are on the drawing board. It’s must listening, so join us on BusinessTalk, a podcast presented by BusinessWest in partnership with Living Local.

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Daily News

NORTHAMPTON — Vince Jackson, executive director of the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce, was recognized last week with the Black Excellence Award, given by the Massachusetts Legislature’s Black and Latino Legislative Caucus.

Jackson was nominated by state Sen. Jo Comerford to receive the award as part of the third annual Black Excellence on the Hill event, a celebration of black culture, excellence, and achievement in the Commonwealth organized by the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus.

As executive director of the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce and the Hampshire County Regional Tourism Council, Jackson brings nearly two decades of experience in business, including as the founder, president, and CEO of Marketing Moves Inc., as well as a successful career at PepsiCo, Kraft, and Procter & Gamble. His background also includes an appointment as lecturer of marketing courses at the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst.

“Vince has led the chamber and council throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis with grace and grit,” Comerford said. “I am humbled by his generosity and passion to help Main Street businesses, his unparalleled willingness to collaborate, and his commitment to and leadership focused on equity. I am beyond proud to honor Vince and celebrate his impact on our community.”

Jackson has diversified the chamber’s board of directors, which now more closely reflects the broader community. Under his leadership, the chamber revised its mission statement based on a diversity training by Human in Common. The chamber is also conducting a survey to identify businesses that are owned by black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC), intending to maintain a listing and encourage the community to increase their support of these businesses.

Jackson has an MBA in marketing and finance from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor’s degree in information systems and accounting from Grambling State University.

Daily News

WEST SPRINGFIELD — The Advertising Club of Western Massachusetts invites the community to apply for its 2021 Creative Awards. Entries are open through April 18.

The Ad Club, the premier organization for marketing and communications professionals in Western Mass. and Northern Conn, is encouraging the community to join it in celebrating the region’s best creative projects of the past year. The club has simplified the rules and eliminated physical entries entirely, due to COVID-19 restrictions. As always, Ad Club members will receive a discounted rate; members will receive a personalized discount code via e-mail. Participants will have the opportunity to virtually meet the agencies, marketing departments, and freelance artists behind the work. Award winners will be announced at the Ad Club’s Creative Awards show scheduled for Thursday, May 20.

Categories that qualify participants for entry include advertising, copywriting, design, interactive and web media, photography, video and motion, and student work.

“We are super-excited to see all of the submissions for this year’s award show and are beyond excited for our virtual celebration to highlight and honor all of the hard work and dedication that went into projects of the past year,” said Susie Howard, Creative Awards co-chair.

Visit www.adclubwm.org/events/creativeawards2021 for the guidelines and application form, or contact the Ad Club at (413) 342-0533 or [email protected].

Daily News

ENFIELD, Conn. — Asnuntuck Community College announced that, for the 14th year, the college has earned the 2021-22 Military Friendly School designation.

Institutions earning this designation were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey. More than 1,200 schools participated in the 2021-22 survey, with 747 earning the designation.

“This designation confirms that we are providing our student veterans with valuable services as they continue their education. We appreciate the sacrifices these students and their families have given to our country,” said James Lombella, North-West regional president of the Connecticut Community College System. “I am proud to support ACC’s Veteran Oasis Center on campus. This center provides our veterans with a space to connect with their peers and find specialized services and programs to support their academic success.”

Michelle Coach, CEO of Asnuntuck Community College, added that “we are honored that our active-duty students and veterans choose Asnuntuck for their education. These individuals have served our nation, and we are committed to providing them a supportive and enriching educational environment. Our Veteran’s Oasis provides them with a location to work and spend time with fellow military members and veterans. We are proud to attain the 2021-22 Military Friendly School designation for the 14th year.”

Asnuntuck has had nearly 300 active-duty and/or veteran students enrolled during the last three years. The college offers a multitude of services to these students. Asnuntuck and other campuses in the North-West Region worked with Resilience Grows Here to each offer a “No Wrong Door” training at the campuses last year.

Asnuntuck, in partnership with Tunxis Community College, has done community outreach by sponsoring the Hartford Yard Goats Military Family of the Game for each of the baseball team’s home games.

“I’m pleased, once again, that we received Military Friendly status,” said Beth Egan, Asnuntuck’s veterans coordinator. “Our veteran students and active military are an important part of our Asnuntuck community. Anything we can do to ease the transition from boots to books, we strive to do.”

Daily News

EAST LONGMEADOW — Shawna Gutowski and Heidi Pafumi, founders of Team 413, announced their move to the East Longmeadow office of William Raveis Real Estate. Team 413 finished 2020 top five in sales volume for all real-estate transactions in Hampden County.

When asked why they decided to move their team, Gutowski noted that, “as we quickly grew from two to 16 agents, we realized a partnership with a name and reputation like William Raveis was the next step. Using their structure, technology, and years of experience, we plan to continue to exponentially grow.”

In the previous four years, Team 413 has consistently ranked in the top 1% of Hampden County teams, with more than 500 transactions and $100 million in closed volume. The team has sold homes in more than 30 towns across Western Mass. and Northern Conn. Team 413 prides itself on its cultural diversity, as well as its extensive resources, spanning from contractors to interior designers.