BusinessWest

FREE WEBINAR Women Who Count! - Numbers that Tell Stories
2016-12-05 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York)
Take a closer look at women successfully using numbers to tell stories that drive organizational success.
The difference between an interesting story and one that others can embrace is the data that provides a foundation for the ‘reason to believe’. Women who can use numbers to substantiate their ideas, have a better chance of being involved in organizational decision making.
This session is for women in, or exploring, careers in accounting, fundraising, strategy and data analysis.Co-sponsored by Bay Path University and The Alliance for Nonprofit Growth and Opportunity.

AUTHOR SIGNING/BOOK LAUNCH “TALK TO ME”
2016-12-03 13:00 - 15:00
Tumblehome Learning is very pleased to present the second edition of Sonia Ellis’ TALK TO ME, a middle-grade adventure about Sadina, a strong female protagonist who uses teamwork and engineering to solve a mystery and help her little sister overcome struggles with selective mutism.
Sonia Ellis is an author of middle grade and young adult fiction. She is a former chemical engineer who now haunts libraries, rescues stray dogs, and believes that every young person has the potential to save the world. Sonia lives in Massachusetts with two unruly dogs named Chase and Bleu.
The second edition of TALK TO ME (USD$9.95) has full color, new layout and supplemental materials. Meet the author on Saturday, Dec. 3rd, 1pm to 3pm, at Barnes & Noble, Holyoke (7 Holyoke St. Holyoke, MA 01040, tel: 413-532-3200).

FREE WEBINAR: Millennials as Managers
2016-11-30 12:00 - 13:00
Millennials are the organizational leaders of tomorrow. Research shows that companies with women leaders yield higher performing companies.
This webinar allows attendees to hear from Millennial managers about their experiences as organizational leaders early in their careers. They will share their stories of success, challenges and advice for those in new management positions or those looking to move from the front line to roles with more responsibility.
Co-sponsored by Bay Path University and The Alliance for Nonprofit Growth and Opportunity.

A Spa Day for the Sole: Rediscovering Yourself Through Play.
2016-11-30 08:00 - 14:30
Spend a day polishing your communication skills, rediscovering who you are, and building the future YOU! The day is designed to have fun and rediscover what is important for your personal journey going forward. Use your learnings for your upcoming annual review, for building your resume or creating your development plan.
We will use facilitated exercises & hands-on play with LEGO® bricks to unlock your potential. No LEGO® building experience required. Let’s have some fun rediscovering your creativity, remembering how to laugh, collaborating with others and building the future YOU!

FREE WEBINAR Peer Problem Solving-Curiosity Before Solutions
2016-11-29 12:00 - 13:00
Participants will get a brief introduction on how to craft problems that are manageable to solve, how to ask questions that uncover the underpinnings of a situation, how to move from curiosity to solutions and how to commit to action. Session will be led by Dr. Stephen Brand, Executive Director of Global Learning and Development at Bay Path University.

U.S. Premiere Event of "The Answer" (which was filmed in the Valley)
2016-11-25 18:30 - 21:30
This Thanksgiving season, honor the men in your life by seeing a locally-made, award-winning film about them…and the friendships they have…
6:30pm: Red Carpet / Meet the Cast & Crew
7:30pm: Film
PLEASE JOIN OUR CAST AND CREW for the U.S. Premiere of “The Answer”, a film about friendship. Northampton was home base for the production, so local writer/director Wade Wofford wanted its U.S. Premiere to be in the community that made it possible. From Noho-based fundraising, to shooting on location in the area, the Pioneer Valley played a pivotal role to the making of the film. Winner of the Rising Star Award at Canada International Film Festival, this red-carpet event marks the first time the film will be shown on U.S. soil.
The Story:
Gavin loses his wife to a sudden car accident. He falls apart, and finds his teaching career in jeopardy. His younger brother Harry organizes five of Gavin’s closest friends from different eras of his life – and the ensemble sets off to hike a 60-mile leg of the Appalachian Trail. Personalities clash. These men, after all, have only one thing in common: their friendship to Gavin. As they get deeper into the forest, each man finds his own inner demons rising to the surface.
Trailer:
http://www.aomtheatre.com/event/the-answer-u-s-premiere/
Our cast and crew will be gussied up, but feel free to dress casually. Bring your mother, your cousins, your friends. This is a film filled with humanity to conclude your giving of thanks with art, humor and humanity.
Local Landmarks Featured in the film:
Smith College
UMass Amherst
South Street & Bridge Street Neighborhoods
Amherst Books
Pasta E Basta
Mount Tom
Czelusniak Funeral Home
…and featuring countless Pioneer Valley residents as extras!

Western Mass Business Expo
2016-11-03 09:00 - 17:30
Join us for this year’s Western Mass Business Expo!
The region’s best one-day business event! More than 150 exhibitors and 2,500 attendees are expected for a show that is packed with a number of special programs, speakers, and learning opportunities. Be a part of this incredible day!

Date: Thursday, November 3, 2016

Time: Show Floor OPEN 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. & Expo Social 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Location: MassMutual Center, 1277 Main St, Springfield, MA 01103

Cost: FREE ADMISSION with a Business Card

Show Parking – only at Civic Center Garage.

$7 to park. Come and go throughout the day.

http://springfieldparkingauthority.com/event/western-mass-business-expo/

Sheraton Springfield Hotel is offering a rate of $139 plus parking & taxes for exhibitors. Identify yourself as an exhibitor of the Western Mass Business Expo. Call 413-781-1010 by 10/16/16 for discounted reservations.

http://www.sheratonspringfield.com/

Baldrige Conference Can Help Your Organization Go From Average to Excellent
2016-11-03 07:00 - 16:15
Learn the stories of how award-winning organizations were able to become more competitive and effective at the “Charting the Path to Excellence” conference, offered by Partners in Performance Excellence. With many presenters who are Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award recipients, you will gain insights and ideas from diverse industries that you can apply right away. Our speakers represent the healthcare, banking, education and retail sectors, and their stories will inspire your own journey to performance excellence.
The conference will be held on November 3, 2016, from 7 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. at Bryant University, Smithfield, RI. For registration information, including session descriptions and pricing, please visit www.partnerspex.org or email info@partnerspex.org.

Halloween Brew-Haha
2016-10-29 13:00 - 20:00
Kick off your Halloweekend with a spooky celebration at Fort Hill Brewery! Featuring:
*Live music by brewery band fave Tone.Wolf *Delicious food from Wheelhouse Farm Truck *Special cask offerings *Costume contest – 1st prize wins a $50 gift certificate to the brewery *More tricks and treats to come!
Free admission. Children under 21 allowed when accompanied by adults. Don’t forget your costume!

Poet Sandra Simmods to Give Reading at The Blue House
2016-10-25 19:00 - 21:00
The Blue House at the College of Our Lady of the Elms will host a reading by poet Sandra Simonds at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25. A pre-reading reception with the poet will begin at 7 p.m. The Blue House is located at 147 Grape St.
Simonds is the author of five books of poetry: Further Problems with Pleasure, Steal It Back, The Sonnets, Mother Was a Tragic Girl, and Warsaw Bikini. Her poems have been included in the Best American Poetry anthologies in 2015 and 2014, and have appeared in many literary journals, including Poetry, the American Poetry Review, The Chicago Review, Granta, Boston Review, Ploughshares, Fence, Court Green, and Lana Turner.
Further Problems with Pleasure won the 2015 Akron Poetry Prize. In 2013, Simonds won a Readers’ Choice Award for her sonnet “Red Wand,” which was published on Poets.org, the Academy of American Poets website. She lives in Tallahassee, Fla., and is an assistant professor of English and Humanities at Thomas University in Thomasville, Ga.

Lectures Series: How to Leverage Technology to do More with Less
2016-06-15 07:15 - 09:00
Sponsored by Comcast Business
Join us and learn “How to Leverage Technology to do More with Less”
Influential minds in the field will talk about a topic that every business IT department is being forced to deal with:
• Increased demands to make changes to existing systems
• Increasing efficiency and improving security
• How budget restrictions impact IT
7:15 a.m. Registration
7:30-9:00 a.m. Breakfast and Panel Discussion
RSVP by: Tuesday, June 7th
Register online at https://businesswest.com/lecture-series/lecture-series-wednesday-june-15-2016/
Complimentary Admission. Pre-Registration Required

A Night of Laughter
2016-04-30 17:00 - 22:00
Come join us for “A Night of Laughter,” featuring Chris Zito and Tony V – brought to you by Smith & Wesson! The proceeds from this wonderful evening full of fun and entertaining comedy benefit Shriners Hospitals for Children and the Ronald McDonald House, both located in Springfield, Massachusetts.
Chris Zito has spent his entire adult life making people laugh all over the country. He became a mainstay of the Boston Comedy scene and made quite a few appearances on Comedy Central, USA Network, A&E and NESN. He has been listened to on a New England radio station for over 20 years, and currently Zito and Kera can be heard on weekday mornings on Mix 93.1 FM. His clean, funny and upbeat approach will have you constantly laughing out loud.
Tony V started his comedy career in 1982 in Boston. His street-wise humor and genuine feel for the human condition quickly got him the headliner status on the national comedy club circuit. In 1986 he was named “Funniest Person in Massachusetts” by Showtime television. He also had several performances on HBO, the Arts and Entertainment Network, Comedy Central and MTV. Tony’s big screen performances include State and Main, Celtic Pride, Housesitter, One Crazy Summer and Shakes the Clown.
Tickets are on sale now at a cost of $35 per person, which includes an evening of laughs, cash bar, raffles and more! Make sure to arrive early and enjoy the hot and cold hors d’oeurves. Doors will open at 5 p.m. and the show will begin at 7:15 p.m.
To purchase tickets, please visit Eventbrite.

Leadership 2.0: The Art of the Shmooze
2016-03-29 17:30
This event held by Leadership Pioneer Valley featuring presenter Robbie Samuels, will teach the valuable skill of successful networking, and how to fix common pitfalls while connecting with potential partners, donors and collaborators.
The event will include dinner.

Loomis Lakeside -Open House
2016-03-19 10:00 - 14:00
Enjoy special creations prepared by our in-house chef. Tour new model apartments in both independent and assisted Living
RSVP to 413 355 5803

Visiting Writers Series: Glaser, Landman, Powers
2016-03-15 19:00 - 21:00
The Blue House at Elms College will present a reading by writers Rachel B. Glaser, Seth Landman and Ted Powers at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 15. A reception will precede the event at 7 p.m. This free event will be held at the Blue House, located at 147 Grape St., and the public is invited.
Glaser studied painting at Rhode Island School of Design and fiction at UMass Amherst. Her books include the novel Paulina & Fran, the story collection Pee On Water and the poetry collection MOODS. Her work has appeared in journals including McSweeney’s and American Short Fiction, and in the anthologies 30 Under 30 and New American Stories. She lives in Northampton, Mass.
Landman is the author of Confidence (2015) and Sign You Were Mistaken (2013). His work can be found in Boston Review, iO, Jellyfish, Lit and elsewhere. He received his Ph.D. in creative writing and literature from the University of Denver (2013) and an MFA from the University of Massachusetts (2008).
Powers is the author of Please Light Up (2015). He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts-Amherst MFA Program for Poets and Writers. He is a contributing editor for jubilat. He edits Basketball. His work can be found in Jellyfish, Big Lucks, Sixth Finch, Vinyl and elsewhere.

7th Annual Leprechaun Plunge
2016-03-13 10:30 - 15:00
In the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day, teams of fearless individuals will take a chilly dive into the frigid waters of the Connecticut River at Brunelle’s Marina in South Hadley, Massachusetts, for the 7th Annual Leprechaun Plunge. Participants raise pledges for their selected charity in the weeks leading up to the event, and last year over $85,000 was raised to support Shriners Hospitals for Children — Springfield! Once the brave participants complete their task, they can warm up in a hot tub and enjoy a delicious Irish dinner, which includes raffles, music and fun for the whole family!
The Springfield Shriners Hospital is thrilled to yet again be one of the charities represented by the Leprechaun Plunge. Thank you to those who participate, plunge, pledge and cheer us on each year! GO TEAM SHRINERS!
To learn more about the Leprechaun Plunge, please visit: http://leprechaunplunge.org/

Successfully Starting Your Own Business
2016-03-08 18:00 - 21:00
HOLYOKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE Non-Credit Course Offering
Successfully Starting Your Own Business
Course Number: BUSN 001.51
CRN Number: 15046
Price $209.00
5 Tuesday sessions; Time: 6:00 p.m.- 9:00 p.m.
Dates: Mar 8, Mar 15, Mar 22, Mar 29, April 5
Description: Starting a business isn’t for the faint of heart…now learn what it takes. We’ll cover core issues of planning, legal structures, start-up, financing, marketing, advertising and building your venture. You’ll develop a business plan which will give you direction, focus, credibility and demonstrate to lenders that you’ve done your homework. Instructor David Litchfield is the owner of two wildly successful, large businesses and is a certified SCORE mentor.

"Selma" Film Screening
2016-02-29 19:00 - 21:00
In honor of Black History Month, the Elms College Office of Diversity and Inclusion will hold a free screening of the movie “Selma” at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 29, in the Alumnae Library Theater.
The Oscar- and Golden Globe-winning 2014 film, directed by Ava DuVernay and written by Paul Webb, is based on the 1965 Selma-to-Montgomery voting rights marches: In 1965, James Bevel, Hosea Williams, Martin Luther King Jr. and John Lewis set out from Selma, Ala., marching toward the state capital of Montgomery. They were leading more than 600 peaceful protesters; their goal was to demonstrate the need for voting rights in Alabama. But as the protesters started across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, state troopers halted them with an attack so brutal it became known as Bloody Sunday. Worldwide media coverage, including broadcasts and published photographs of the attack, led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Jericho Brown Poetry Reading
2016-02-25 19:00 - 20:00
The Elms College Blue House Visiting Writers Series will present a reading by poet Jericho Brown at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 25, in the Alumnae Library Theatre. A reception will precede the event at 7 p.m. The public is invited to this free event. An associate professor in English and creative writing at Emory University in Atlanta, Brown has received a Whiting Writers Award, and fellowships from the Radcliffe Institute at Harvard University and the National Endowment for the Arts. His poems have appeared in The New Republic, The New Yorker and The Best American Poetry. His first book, Please, won the American Book Award, and his second book, The New Testament, won the Anisfield¬-Wolf Book Award.

Black History Month Lecture: "Be True to Myself"
2016-02-23 12:15 - 17:00
Rev. Warren Savage, a lecturer in the religious studies department at Elms College, will give a talk titled “Be True to Myself” at 12:15 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 23, on the first floor of the Alumnae Library. The lecture, part of the Black History Month events series at Elms College, will be followed by a reception at 1 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.
Father Savage, a priest in the Springfield Diocese, is a professor in the permanent diaconate formation and lay ministry program at Elms. He is also the president of Project Reach Out in Westfield, a community-based diversity training and race relations program. Father Savage was a participant in the northeast seminar of the Pastor Theologian Program sponsored by the Center of Theological Inquiry in New Jersey. He is chaplain at Westfield State University, and a member of Spiritual Directors International, Academy of Homiletics and the Society of Christian Spirituality. He holds a certificate of African studies from the University of Legon in Ghana, West Africa; a bachelor of arts degree from Assumption College in Worcester; and an M.A., S.T.B., degree from Gregorian University in Rome. He also has conducted advanced study at The Center of Theological Inquiry in Princeton, N.J.

Cultivate & Nest Grand Opening
2016-02-13 09:00 - 12:00
Come celebrate the Opening of Cultivate & Nest – the area’s first family forward co-working space. Located conveniently in Hadley on route 9, just over the bridge from Northampton, Cultivate offers creative, comfortable and professional office space with innovative extras – like on site enriching childcare!
Join us for a fun morning of connection, family friendly activities, and community support! Take a tour of our new space and catch several presentations and activities from other local partners like the Center in Amherst, the Flexible Farmer and many others. Tabletop exhibits will be held by many other local businesses in support of families.
There will be light breakfast and lunch available and the event will of course be family friendly! Little ones of all ages are welcome.

SCORE Workshop: Get Your Business on Google: Search and Maps
2016-01-27 17:30 - 20:00
Join Western Massachusetts SCORE and the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce to get your business on Google Search and Maps.
Research shows that 97% of consumers search the web to find local goods and services, but only 37% of businesses have claimed a local business listing on a search engine.
When your business is on Google, it’s easier for potential customers to find important information, including hours, contact information, and directions.
“Google My Business” doesn’t replace your business website – it complements it by giving your business a public identity and presence on Google.
Start a fire under your business! Get better search results from your existing web presence. Join us at the Hadley Farms Meeting House – sample their fantastic appetizers. Cash bar available.
Then listen to our presentation, receive printed step-by-step instructions so you can complete your online registration yourself or work with one of our technicians to get REGISTERED and VERIFIED on the spot!
Attendees receive a FREE Google SWAG t-shirt, tote bag, and more!
HURRY. SPACE IS LIMITED AND YOU MUST REGISTER IN ADVANCE.

The Montessori School of Northampton Open House
2016-01-23 10:30 - 12:00
Join the Montessori School of Northampton on Saturday, January 23, 2016, from 10:30 AM to 12:00 noon for an exciting open house! All parents of toddler, preschool, elementary and middle school students interested in September 2016 admission are strongly encouraged to attend. This year’s open house will be focused on science!
The morning will feature science activities from the Montessori curriculum for students of all ages. Families will have an opportunity to tour the school, meet teachers and speak with the Director of Admissions and the Head of School.
The Montessori School of Northampton offers a Little Children’s House program for toddlers beginning at age 2, a Children’s House (preschool/kindergarten) program for ages 2 years 9 months through 6, and an Elementary program for ages 6 through 12. New this year is our Middle School program. We are currently enrolling adolescents through age 14 for the fall of 2016.
MSN is currently in its 39th year of fostering independent learners in a welcoming community. The school is accredited by both the American Montessori Society (AMS) and the Association of Independent Schools of New England (AISNE).
For information, please call (413) 586-4538 or visit www.northamptonmontessori.org

SCORE Workshop: Starting Your Business
2016-01-14 08:00 - 17:00
This 3-hour workshop will help you clearly understand the details, challenges, opportunities and rewards of owning and operating your own business.
This workshop is a suggested prerequisite to our 2-Session Business Planning Workshop.
Starting a small business requires more knowledge, skills, perseverance and planning than meets the eye. Save valuable time and money starting here! It’s a must for new business owners. You can build upon this workshop by following up with our free one-on-one counseling.
The step-by-step practical workshop covers:
• Foundations for Starting Your Own Business
• Developing the proper “Mind Sets” For entrepreneurial success
• Components of Business Ownership
• Which legal structure is right for you?
• Insuring your business
• Introduction to Business Planning
• Resources For Getting Started In Your Own Business
The #1 secret to success in starting and growing a business is having a clearly thought out business plan. If you are considering starting a business or have recently started a business and require additional guidance and support, this is a perfect opportunity for you!

Wilbraham & Monson Academy Open House
2016-01-10 13:00 - 17:00
Families interested in the WMA Middle School (Grades 6-8), Grades 9-12 and postgraduate are invited to learn about Wilbraham & Monson Academy’s academic and athletic offerings at an Open House on Sunday, Jan. 10 at 1 p.m. Students will be able to learn more about art, travel and leadership offerings, meet current students, faculty and coaches, tour the campus in Wilbraham, Mass., and visit the new Innovation Lab, Binney Art Gallery, Founders Theater and more!

SCORE Workshop: "The Power of the Inbox: Tips and Tricks for Successful Email Marketing"
2016-01-08 13:00 - 15:00
Event Description

This seminar will give you the keys to the most effective email marketing techniques available – from revealing why regular email doesn’t work, to insider tips and techniques like automated list building tools, and design elements that really work (and those that don’t!). Join us at any one of three locations!
Start 2016 with SCORE and Constant Contact for an event you won’t want to miss!
PRESENTER: Liz Provo is a digital marketing specialist and owner of Mass Marketing Resources. Since 2001 she has been helping individuals, small businesses and organizations throughout Western Massachusetts develop and execute effective digital marketing strategies. An early adopter of blogging, email marketing and social media, she has taught hundreds of small business owners and non-profit organizations how to effectively use today’s marketing tools to grow their organizations.
SCORE provides local workshops and events to connect small business owners with the people and information you need to start, grow, and maintain your business. Western Massachusetts counseling locations: Amherst, Greenfield, Holyoke, North Adams, Northampton, Pittsfield, Springfield, and West Springfield. Visit www.WesternMassachusetts.SCORE.org to request counseling services and for more information about SCORE.
Constant Contact believes in the power of educating small businesses to become confident marketers. In fact, they have educated OVER 1-MILLION SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS through local workshops throughout the country.
Join us at one of these workshops to find out how YOU can use email marketing to grow your business in 2016.

Christina's House 3rd Annual Ball
2015-12-05 18:30 - 22:00
This elegant event will include great food, music, dancing, raffles and a silent auction. It is your chance to support this unique Christ-Centered ministry that helps homeless women and children in the Springfield MA area by giving them a place to call home.
All money raised at this event directly benefits Christina’s house and the women and children who reside there. It is their largest fundraiser of the year. If you cannot attend the ball, monetary donations, or purchasing raffle tickets for the ‘Ring Raffle’ are welcome (winner of the diamond ring will be announced at the ball). Any and all support helps. Christina’s House is also looking for local businesses to become sponsors for the event. To purchase tickets for the event or the ring raffle, or for more information please visit: http://www.christinashouse.org
More information about Christina’s House:
Christina’s House
38 Madison Avenue
Springfield, MA 01105
(413) 372-5087
Email: info@christinashouse.org
https://www.facebook.com/ChristinasHouse.org
http://www.christinashouse.org

Leadership 2.0- Become a Superhero Board Member
2015-11-18 08:00 - 10:00
Becoming a Superhero Board Member- Dr. Louis Abbate*, President Emeritus Willie Ross School for the Deaf, Kirk Smith*, President & CEO, YMCA of Great Springfield, and YPS Presenter
Are you on a board of directors or are thinking about joining a board? Many boards are filled with well-intentioned folks that are just taking up space. Our organizations need leaders on boards who know how to be effective board members. Learn what it takes from professionals who have built stellar boards and serve on boards. Cape and tights not included, but breakfast is.

Employment Law & HR Practices Conference
2015-11-05 08:00 - 17:00
EANE announced today its Annual Employment Law & HR Practices Update conference to be held on Thursday, November 5, 2015 at the Springfield Marriott in Springfield, MA. The full-day conference — which draws more than 100 attendees from Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island –will address the ever-changing employment law landscape in today’s workplace.
“We cover the vital developments in state and federal employment law and best-practices with an array of experts.” said Meredith Wise, President of the Employers Association of the NorthEast. “Participants gain practical guidance on day-to-day employment issues and strategies for big-picture planning.”
Featured keynote speakers will be Mike Hess and Rich Trombetta. Mike is a legally blind IT professional who has bucked mainstream trends and has been employed as a technology professional since 1996. He will present the “Art of Blinders,” demonstrating that most obstacles in business can be overcome using the sightless principles of communication.
Rich Trombetta, of The Innovation Company, will present “The New Diversity – A Resource To Be More Effective As A Business,” explaining how biases can impact decisions, team work and the overall work environment. Rich uses improvisational comedy, high-energy fun and thought-provoking exercises.
The fee is $285 per person with discounts for three or more. Register at http://eane.org/employment-law-hr-conference/ or via phone at 877-662-6444. The program will offer 5.5 credits by the HR Certification Institute and SHRM.
