AMHERST — The Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce announced that its executive committee has concluded its search for the chamber’s new executive director and selected Jacob Robinson, who brings more than 15 years of experience in building coalitions, fostering partnerships, and promoting business-driven leadership for sustainable impact.

In his most recent role as the West Roxbury Main Streets program director, Robinson concentrated on local economic development, offering technical assistance to small businesses, facilitating pandemic recovery efforts, leading community events, and championing inclusive commercial planning efforts. His commitment has extended to serving on municipal planning committees and nonprofit boards and contributing to Belchertown’s Climate Resilience and Sustainable Growth Plan.

His past work includes building regional and national networks of business leaders working together to develop and share best practices in energy management and strategy. He is also a skilled researcher and educator on the topics of corporate environmental, social, and governance leadership. He holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental management from Indiana University and lives in Belchertown.

“I am honored to step into the role of executive director at the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce and eager to contribute to the community in this new capacity aimed at maintaining our region as a vibrant place to live, work, and build prosperous businesses,” Robinson said. “By leveraging the strengths of the Amherst area’s diverse business mix, I’m excited to lead the chamber’s mission and collaborative efforts to address immediate small-business needs, while enhancing a thriving and sustainable local economy that truly works for everyone. I’m looking forward to working closely with the chamber’s board leadership, our members, and the broader community to ensure we all flourish here in this incredible part of Western Massachusetts.”

Heidi Flanders, chamber board president, added that “the mission of the executive committee was to find a candidate that could continue the incredible work the chamber has been providing to the business community, while seeking a candidate who was rooted in the Amherst area. The board is excited about Jacob’s proven track record in working with business communities and governments and happy that he resides within our Amherst area. We feel his commitment to Belchertown will carry over to all the towns we serve to foster our continued growth. We look forward to seeing what new innovative, collaborative, sustainable, and inclusive ideas he will bring to our area.”

AMHERST — The Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce announced the return of its 43rd annual A+ Awards celebration to be held on Thursday, Nov. 16 at the UMass Student Union Ballroom, celebrating “Rooted in Community” in recognition of the region’s agricultural roots.

Each year, the chamber bestows A+ Awards to individuals and organizations that enrich the life of the community through their work in education, business, and civic engagement across its service area: Amherst, Belchertown, Hadley, Leverett, Pelham, Shutesbury, and Sunderland.

Nominations for the 2023 A+ Awards are open and can be made online only through Friday, Sept. 8 at amherstarea.com. The categories are:

• Lifetime Achievement/Legacy Award, recognizing an individual or business for their outstanding contributions to the Amherst area over their career and the lasting impact their work will have on future generations;

• Leader in Innovation Award, recognizing entrepreneurs who craft creative solutions and redefine the way Amherst lives, works, and learns;

• Leader in Sustainability Award, recognizing a business, organization, or individual for their contribution to creating a sustainable Amherst, preserving and ensuring its vitality for future generations;

• Young Professional Award, honoring a young professional who has a positive presence and has made a significant impact in the Amherst area;

• Community Service Award, honoring a business, nonprofit, or individual whose volunteerism has benefited the lives of the Amherst-area community through their work and outreach; and

• Chamber MVP, an individual who truly embodies the mission of the Amherst Area Chamber as a convener, connector, and catalyst for business and community development.

PeoplesBank returns as presenting sponsor, and is an Amherst Area Chamber platinum chamber champion partner. BusinessWest continues as media partner for this annual event.

A+ Awards celebration sponsorships and ads are available. Email Executive Director Claudia Pazmany at [email protected] with any inquiries.

HADLEY — The Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce announced the return of its Launching Women series with a pair of workshops collectively titled “Beyond COVID: Leadership Self-assessment Tools,” set for Friday, Oct. 14 from 8:30 to 11 a.m. at Venture Way Collaborative.

“Your Amherst Area Chamber is honored by the partners making the return of Launching Women possible,” msaid Claudia Pazmany, the chamber’s executive director. “COVID had a disproportionate impact on women in the workforce. Let’s hit reset together.”

The morning will include the following workshops and discussion:

The first workshop, “The Whole Woman and Her Impact on the World,” will be presented by Leslie Saulsberry, CEO of the Whole Institute. An executive coach of senior global, academic, government, political, and executive leaders, she teaches visionary women how to shift their mindset, establish lifestyle practices, and dive deep into reflective work so they know intuitively what it feels like to live and lead in joy.

The second workshop, “Building TRUST in the Workplace,” will be presented by Jessi Kirley, founder of Jkirley Collective and a strategic thought partner who helps leaders and organizations discover what’s possible and helps to create workplaces of dignity and high performance. She will discuss different scenarios of trust in the workplace, identifying key conditions that foster it and the leadership competencies needed to create a culture of trust and accountability.

Launching Women Workshop sponsors are Applied Mortgage and Encharter Insurance. This is a two-in-one workshop. The pricing is $25 for members and $35 for non-members. Fee support is offered, and all are welcome. Registration is open at amherstarea.com. Email Pazmany with any inquiries at [email protected].

AMHERST — The Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce announced the return of the 19th annual A+ Awards celebration to be held on Thursday, Nov. 17 at the UMass Student Union Ballroom, celebrating “This Is What’s Next.” Each year, the chamber bestows A+ Awards to individuals and organizations that enrich the life of the community through their work in education, business, and civic engagement across its service area of Amherst, Belchertown, Hadley, Leverett, Pelham, Shutesbury, and Sunderland.

Nominations for the 2022 A+ Awards are open for one more week and can be made online only through Sept. 9 at amherstarea.com. The A+ Award categories are:

• The Lifetime Achievement/Legacy Award recognizes an individual or business for their outstanding contributions to the Amherst area over their career and the lasting impact their work will have on future generations.

• The Leader in Innovation Award recognizes entrepreneurs who craft creative solutions and redefine the way Amherst lives, works, and learns.

• The Leader in Sustainability Award recognizes a business, organization, or individual for their contribution to creating a sustainable Amherst, preserving and ensuring its vitality for future generations.

• The Young Professional Award honors a young professional who has a positive presence and has made a significant impact in the Amherst area.

• The Community Service Award honors a business, nonprofit, or individual that has benefited the lives of the Amherst area community through their work and outreach.

• The Chamber MVP is an individual who truly embodies the mission of the Amherst Area Chamber as a convener, connector, and catalyst for business and community development.

PeoplesBank returns as the presenting sponsor of the program and is an Amherst Area Chamber Platinum Chamber Champion partner. BusinessWest continues as media partner for this annual event.

Sponsorships and advertising opportunities are still available for the celebration. Email Claudia Pazmany, the chamber’s executive director, with any inquiries at [email protected].

HADLEY — Curran & Keegan Financial of Hadley is leading the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce’s inaugural Holiday Gift Card Match with a $5,000 investment in the program. BankESB has also joined the effort with an additional $1,000 match.

“Now more than ever, we need to support our local businesses by encouraging local patronage,” said Molly Keegan, CPA and co-owner of Curran & Keegan. “Forget the big mail-order internet retailers and embrace the joy of shopping in our friends’ and neighbors’ stores. Local jobs matter; local commerce matters. Shop early and shop local.”

Beginning on Friday, Dec. 3 (not before), the community will be able to purchase $25 gift cards (with an additional $1 processing fee) that will be doubled in value due to this match. There is a limit of two per person. The match is available only on $25 gift cards purchased. Thus, for a $26 purchase, the buyer receives a $50 gift card. The match will be sold exclusively at the chamber’s Visitor Information Center at 35 South Pleasant St., Amherst.

“Our Amherst-area businesses continue to experience financial challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Claudia Pazmany, the chamber’s executive director. “The Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce launched the gift-card program at the height of our pandemic in an effort to buoy them and help them keep their doors open. As severe understaffing continues to plague our businesses, we knew we had to activate the purchase power of buying local. There was no better time than the holiday season to reinforce our call to support local all season long than announcing two generous businesses who have joined together to create a $6,000 match — Curran & Keegan Financial and BankESB. We could not be more grateful for their leadership support.”

Curran & Keegan demonstrated its support of small business as a leader in supporting the Amherst Area Chamber’s Winter Pivot Micro-Grant program at the beginning of 2021, and is building on that commitment to support the local economy’s emergence from the pandemic.

The Amherst Business Improvement District is also hosting the return of the Red Ticket event. For every $25 gift card purchased while the match lasts, the buyer will receive two red tickets toward the Red Ticket drawing for one of four cash prizes of $250 or one for $1,000, on Saturday, Dec. 18 at 3 p.m. at Kendrick Park.

HADLEY — Hampshire Mall and PiNZ are partnering with the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce to host the chamber’s September After Five networking event at PiNZ on Wednesday, Sept. 29 from 5 to 7 p.m.

Everyone is invited to come out for a night of networking and team building by engaging in some friendly competition with social activities like ping-pong, billiards, axe-throwing, bowling, and arcade games. Attendees will also be able to sample food from PiNZ’s new holiday menu and book their holiday parties at a discounted rate. A cash bar will be available.

“Our Amherst Area Chamber is thrilled to be able to return to PiNZ to host an evening of networking after nearly a year of closure,” said Claudia Pazmany, executive director. “Together, we will celebrate reconnection, reopening, and rebuilding.”

The featured local nonprofit for the evening will be Community Action Pioneer Valley. Tickets are $10 for chamber members and $15 for non-members. Advanced registration is available by clicking here.

CHICOPEE — The Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce will team up with the Mill District and host Mercedes-Benz of Springfield to present a family-friendly drive-in movie, Toy Story 4, at the Mercedes-Benz of Springfield dealership on Friday, May 21. Gates open at 7 p.m., and the movie begins at 8:30 p.m.

“This is an opportunity to bring people from across Western Mass. together for an evening of fun for the whole family, all with safe distancing measures in place,” said Claudia Pazmany, executive director of the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce.

Proceeds from the event will benefit UMass For The Kids (FTK), which encourages collaboration between students, UMass Amherst, and the Amherst community by working to raise awareness and funds for local patients and families at Baystate Children’s Hospital, in connection with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

“It is our pleasure to host the Amherst Chamber benefiting UMass FTK for our first event in over a year,” said Mercedes-Benz of Springfield owners Peter and Michelle Wirth. “Hampden and Hampshire county coming together once again.”

Click here to purchase tickets online. Tickets cost $15 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under.

AMHERST — The Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce 2020 A+ Awards Show will be held virtually and broadcast live from Hadley Farms Meeting House on Thursday, Nov. 12, with PeoplesBank serving as presenting sponsor.

Each year, the chamber gives A+ Awards to individuals and organizations that enrich the life of the community through their work in education, business, and civic engagement in Amherst, Belchertown, Hadley, Leverett, Pelham, Shutesbury, Sunderland, and the Pioneer Valley as a whole.

“In this year, it feels more important than ever to recognize our leaders who have led differently and pivoted to create new economic opportunities during the most challenging of times we will likely experience in our lifetimes,” said Claudia Pazmany, executive director of the Amherst Area Chamber. “These are the heroes of the time, and they deserve our recognition.”

The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes Betsey McInnis for her leadership of 19 years as a board member and lead volunteer of Family Outreach of Amherst and the lasting impact her volunteer work will have on future generations.

The Leader in Innovation Award recognizes Phoenix Fruit Farm of Belchertown for being instrumental in cultivating relationships with other local businesses to improve the economic climate of Belchertown.

The Leader in Sustainability Award recognizes Kestrel Land Trust of Amherst for its work to create a sustainable Amherst area by preserving 583 acres while celebrating 50 years serving as a major force in forest land protection, farmland conservation, and expanding outdoor recreational space in Amherst and throughout Hampshire County.

The Young Professional Award honors Ash Crawford for being defined as the ‘epitome of innovation and entrepreneurship’ in the Amherst area. As director of Operations at Amherst Coffee, Crawford helped the business adapt to the new reality of COVID-19 through an online marketplace, a safe and efficient takeout service, and a weekly sidewalk bar.

The Community Service Award honors Mercedes-Benz of Springfield for its outreach efforts through its Driven by Community platform, through which the lives and jobs of the Amherst-area community benefited greatly, especially at this difficult time.

The Chamber MVP is Lisa Eugin of Encharter Insurance and an Amherst Area Chamber ambassador, who embodies the mission of the chamber as a convener, connector, and catalyst for business and community development.

New this year is the COVID Hero, a nonprofit or individual who provided essential support services, went above and beyond, and took initiative to put others before self to benefit the greater good. Live voting will take place to choose a winner from the following organizations and individuals: Amherst Survival Center, Arizona Pizza, Bistro 63, Mary Beth Ogulewicz of the Amherst Senior Center, Rebekah Demling of ARPS PGO, and Wheelhouse Catering.

Also new this year, David Jeffway, owner of Sharper Vision, will create video tributes for each awardee.

A virtual access pass to the view the live awards show costs $20, or a $50 VIP package includes the virtual access pass, a $25 Amherst-area gift certificate, a hard copy of the 2020 A+ Awards Journal, and sponsor gifts. Registration is open, and A+ Award dinner sponsorships and ads are still available for the virtual extravaganza; for more information, visit amherstarea.com. E-mail Pazmany at [email protected] with any inquiries.