Agenda Departments

Agenda

Celebrate Springfield Dinner Event
March 12: DevelopSpringfield will host its third annual dinner event in celebration of Springfield and the many accomplishments the community has achieved over the past year, along with the exciting new initiatives underway. The event will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. at the MassMutual Center in Springfield. Festivities will include a reception with live music by the Eric Bascom Trio and a silent auction, followed by dinner, a brief program, and presentations. Specifically, DevelopSpringfield will present its Partner in Progress Award to recognize the outstanding contributions of three individuals toward revitalization in Springfield: Colleen Loveless, executive director of Rebuilding Together; Terry Powe, principal of Elias Brookings Elementary School; and Mark Tolosky, president and CEO of Baystate Health. Platinum sponsors of the event are MassMutual Financial Group, Baystate Health, and Health New England. All proceeds will support DevelopSpringfield’s redevelopment initiatives, projects, and programs. Registration information is available at www.developspringfield.com or by contacting Paige Thayer at (413) 209-8808 or [email protected].

Wine & Food Tasting
March 14: The 29th annual WGBY Wine & Food Tasting, the largest event of its kind in Western New England, returns to the Springfield Marriott with extended hours this year, from 5 to 9 p.m. In addition to the opportunity to sample from more than 300 wines, participants will also be treated to a huge variety of bite-sized specialty foods from local chefs and food artisans, including smoked fish from Rachael’s, Pioneer Valley’s white hulless popcorn popped in olive oil and sprinkled with sea salt, selections from Chandler’s Restaurant, sweet and savory bite-sized treats from Barstow’s Dairy Store and Bakery, pasture-raised pork liverwurst from Simple Gifts Farm, and much more. Back again this year, by popular demand, are selections of the region’s best artisanal brews, craft beers, and ciders. Wine aficionados may also choose the upgrade ticket for entry into the Wine Connoisseur’s Room, where they can savor a special selection of top-caliber wines and champagnes, as well as artisanal cheeses and charcuterie supplied by Provisions. Tickets to the Wine & Food Tasting are $49 per person ($75 per person for the tasting and Connoisseur’s Room). The presenting sponsor for the event is Provisions in Northampton. For more information, visit www.wgby.org/wine.

Planning Strategies for Estates Under $10M
March 17: “Protect, Position, Prepare: Planning Strategies for Estates Under $10M” is an advanced-level presentation being offered for the benefit of practicing accountants, attorneys, trust officers and financial-planning professionals. This program will provide an overview of technical topics related to the importance of planning for clients with estates under $10 million, including how to protect assets, how to position assets, and how to integrate planning for the next generation. The event takes place at the Business Growth Center at Scibelli Hall, One Federal St., Springfield, from noon to 4 p.m.
Personalized invitations, along with an informational brochure, have been mailed.
The program, part of the 2014 Feldman Forum, will be presented by the Nautilus Group,  a service of New York Life Insurance Co. This presentation is for educational purposes and qualifies with NASBA for four hours of CPE credits in the taxes category. For more information, visit nyla.wpengine.com/marchff or call (413) 785-1100.

Difference Makers 2014
March 20: The sixth annual Difference Makers award program, staged by BusinessWest, will be held at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House, honoring these five individuals and organizations: the Gray House; Colleen Loveless, executive director of the Springfield chapter of Rebuilding Together; the Melha Shriners, Paula Moore, teacher at Roger L. Putnam Vocational Academy and founder of YSET Academy; and Michael Moriarty, attorney and director of Olde Holyoke Development Corp. Their stories are told in the Feb. 10 issue of BusinessWest and online at www.businesswest.com. Tickets cost $60, and tables of 10 are available. Difference Makers is a program, launched in 2009, that recognizes groups and individuals that are, as the name suggests, making a difference in this region. Event sponsors include Baystate Medical Center, Health New England, First American Insurance, Meyers Brothers Kalicka, Northwestern Mutual, Royal LLP, Sarat Ford, and Six-Point Creative. For more information, call (413) 781-8600.

Management Conference
April 2: Accountability is a hot issue in today’s business world. At the Holiday Inn in Enfield, Conn., the Employers Association of the NorthEast (EANE) will hold its 10th annual management conference, called “It’s All About Accountability.” The conference will address personal accountability and responsibility in achieving organizational results, based on Linda Galindo’s bestselling book, The 85% Solution. EANE is bringing to the area Kathleen Kelly, a master certified facilitator in ‘the Accountability Experience.’ She will teach supervisors and managers how to develop accountability and learn to accept no less than 85% responsibility for the outcomes of their actions. Conference breakout sessions will include: “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team,” “Taking the ‘Difficult’ out of Difficult Conversations,” “Tom’s Fired: Where Did Things Go Wrong?” “Taking Ownership for Your Own Professional Development,” “Digging Deep: Performance Improvement Through Real Coaching,” and “Ethical and Legal Obligations of Managers in Solving Workplace Issues.” 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.

40 Under Forty
June 19:
The eighth annual 40 Under Forty award program, staged by BusinessWest, will be held at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House, honoring 40 of the region’s rising stars under 40 years old. Judges recently chose this year’s class from more than 150 nominations, a record. They will be announced, and their stories told, in the April 21 issue. More details on the gala will be revealed in upcoming issues, but tickets cost $65, and they typically sell out quickly. For more information or to order tickets, call (413) 781-8600.