Massachusetts Renaissance Faire
2019-07-27 10:00 - 2019-07-28 17:00, 2019-07-28 10:00 - 2019-07-29 17:00, 2019-08-03 10:00 - 2019-08-04 17:00, 2019-08-04 10:00 - 2019-08-05 17:00 (America/New_York) | Cummington Fairgrounds, 97 Fairgrounds Road, Cummington, MA
CUMMINGTON – This summer, enter the realm between worlds for a weekend full of fairies, fantasy, and fun.
The Massachusetts Renaissance Faire is coming to the Cummington Fairgrounds for its third season July 26-27 and Aug. 3-4.
The festival promises to transport patrons from the midsummer Berkshires into a magical realm of the past.
With all-day entertainment across five stages, there is never a dull moment. Guests will cheer for their favorite knight at the joust, gasp as ladies dance with fire, laugh with the fairies, be amazed by the magic and enjoy the sweet sounds of Renaissance music.
There are plenty of activities for children and adults to create memories together. They may test their strength against a real knight, listen to stories from a vegetarian zombie, or learn how to write with a quill. Patrons may want to try their hand shooting an ancient missile weapon with sponge ammo, practice their fencing skills with foam swords, or shoot a real bow and arrow.
Guests may visit an encampment from the end of the Hundred Years War, watch a blacksmith turn iron into nails, and cheer for armored knights as they wail on each other with swords.
They may also shop over 50 mystical vendors, discover handmade goods, and meet local artisans.
Whether they be a fearsome knight, a flighty fairy or a scurvy pirate, patrons are invited to show off their best costumes, or buy new pieces from the many talented vendors. Although the many costumed characters make the faire come alive, many guests visit in their 21st-century garb.

2019 Sunset and Vines
2019-07-27 18:30 - 20:30 | Glendale Ridge Vineyard, 155 Glendale Rd, Southamapton, MA, 01073, United States
Come to the Glendale Ridge Vineyard to celebrate summer and the Northampton Survival Center’s 40th Anniversary! Kate Lorenz & The Constellations will be performing. Food trucks include the Bistro Bus, Little Trúc, Local Burgy and Chill Out. Bring your chairs, a blanket or even a picnic and all of your friends. And be sure to bring your dancing shoes! Tickets will be available soon.

Cider Pairing Dinner ft. Artifact Cider Project & Headwater Cider
2019-08-04 17:00 - 20:00 | Apex Orchards, 225 Peckville Rd., Shelburne, MA, 01370, United States
Dine al fresco while enjoying the breathtaking views at Apex Orchards. Farm fresh dinner prepared by Wheelhouse and paired with local hard ciders from Artifact Cider Project and Headwater Cider. Live music & tractor tours of the orchard. 21+ Only. All proceeds benefit The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts. Every $1 raised can purchase 3 meals for our neighbors in need.

Basics of Starting a Business (in Spanish) Primeros Pasos Para Emprender Un Negocio Propio
2019-08-20 16:30 - 18:30 | Scibelli Enterprise Center
Descripción: Este taller te dará información essential para orientarte en como emprender un negocio propio. Comenzar un negocio es una aventura y verás que al principio te abrumarás muy fácilmente, sin embargo la clave para seguir en pie es contar con un plan de trabajo a seguir, un mapa que te debe guiar a lo largo del camino de tu negocio.
Se requiere registración antes del taller. Regístrese en nuestra página de la internet. http://bit.ly/SpanishNewBusinessBasics
Si tiene alguna pregunta ó no puede registrarse por computadora, comuníquese con Samalid Hogan al smhogan@msbdc.umass.edu o al 413-577-1762.

Great River Challenge Off-Road Triathlon
2019-08-21 08:00 - 14:00 | Northfield Mountain Rec & Envir Ctr, 99 Millers Falls Road, Northfield MA, 01360, United States
The Great River Challenge (GRC) Off-Road Triathlon is a non-traditional race, consisting of paddling on the Connecticut River, running and mountain biking on the trails at the Northfield Mountain Recreation Center. The event promotes the outdoor recreational assets of the Upper Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts,
highlights the importance of outdoor recreation for overall health and wellness and supports the signature programs of the Northfield Kiwanis Foundation for area children, teens and families. Growing each year, the GRC attracts racers and their supporters. Short and long course options entice and challenge novice to elite athletes of all ages, participating individually or in a team. The race utilizes professional timing services to help racers measure their own performance and qualify for prizes in each of several categories. Corporate teams welcome for an outstanding team-building experience.
Visit the race website, www.greatriverchallenge.com, to learn more, register, and make the most of your time in the scenic Upper Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts.

Running Out of Summer 5k Charity Race
2019-08-24 08:00 - 13:00 | Rapscallion Brewery, 195 Arnold Road, Sturbridge, MA, 01518, United States
The Running Out of Summer 5k is a charity race to benefit Second Chance Animal Services, with locations in Central and Western Massachusetts. The race will start and finish at Rapscallion Brewery and is expected to sell out with a 500 runner cap this year. The event features live music, giveaways, and food and beer after the race. Taking place on August 24, 2019, the last weekend before Labor Day, this race is sure to be a fun and festive event. Register today at https://racewire.com/register.php?id=10501.

Basics of Starting a Business
2019-09-09 01:00 - 15:30 | Scibelli Enterprise Center
Who should attend? Anyone wanting to start a business and existing business owners looking for guidance on creating a business plan and securing financing to grow their business.
Workshop Facilitators: Springfield – Allen B. Kronick, Senior Business Adviser, MA Small Business Development Center. Greenfield – Anita J. Eliason, Senior Business Adviser, MA Small Business Development Center. Oreste Varela, U.S. Small Business Administration Branch Manager, Springfield, MA, is a scheduled presenter in both Greenfield and Springfield. The presentation will help you gain a better understanding of the various SBA programs and services available to prospective or current entrepreneurs who need assistance in starting or expanding their businesses, and will include capital, counseling and contracting information.
This FREE workshop will focus on business fundamentals; from startup considerations to business plan development and funding sources.
Learn the whole nine yards of starting a business. The presentation will help entrepreneurs start a business plan and provide structure to starting/managing their venture. Topics will include:
• Introduction and need for planning
• Basic business plan format
• Choosing your legal form of organization
• Marketing, market planning and research
• Cash flow projections
• Financial Statements
• Financing

Small Business Roundtable Discussion With Massachusetts Senator, Eric P. Lesser
2019-09-09 09:00 - 10:00 | Scibelli Enterprise Center
Monday, September 9, 2019 – 9:00 am – 10:00 am
STCC Technology Park—Scibelli Enterprise Center
1 Federal St, Springfield – 3rd Floor
The Massachusetts Small Business Development Center will be hosting a Small Business Roundtable Discussion featuring Senator Eric Lesser.
Small business owners are invited to attend and discuss opportunities and obstacles to growth for their companies in Massachusetts. This event is co-sponsored by the SBA and SCORE.
Eric P. Lesser was elected to the Massachusetts Senate on November 4, 2014. He represents nine communities in the First Hampden & Hampshire District.
Senator Lesser has quickly earned a reputation as one of the hardest working public servants in the Commonwealth. During his first term in office, Senator Lesser helped pass significant new laws related to substance abuse treatment and prevention, job training, and promotion of tourism and the arts.
Senator Lesser’s legislative agenda focuses on the fight for greater economic opportunity and quality of life for Western Massachusetts, with initiatives around high-speed rail, a high-tech economy, job training, and innovation in government.
Senator Lesser holds several leadership positions in the Legislature. He is Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, Senate Vice-Chair of the Joint Committee on Financial Services, Senate Vice-Chair of the Joint Committee on Transportation, and Senate Chair of the Joint Legislative Manufacturing Caucus, the Gateway Cities Caucus, and the Libraries Caucus.
This event is free but space is limited. Please RSVP online @
http://bit.ly/MeetSenatorEricLesser
Questions? Call Lynn Shedd @ 413.577.1768 ext. 0

INTRO Linking Digital Advertising to Business Growth
2019-09-10 09:00 - 12:00 | Scibelli Enterprise Center
Presented by: Presented by Mark Firehammer, founder Attract More Clients and the 3 W.I.N.s Project. Sponsored by Common Capital Inc. Co-Sponsored by the MSBDC.
This strategic and motivating presentation was developed to get people ready for the local digital advertising 12-week marketing training series.
This introductory workshop is FREE.
With new technologies emerging, businesses are finding it harder to use the internet to market, communicate and effectively brand their organization. In this presentation, Mark lays out a “Leading Edge” understanding of marketing strategies that any organization or professional can use to position themselves as the expert, instantly engage the marketplace, create top of mind brand recognition, and sell more products and services.
The presentation will cover the following topics:
• How success at digital marketing requires F.O.C.U.S.
• Easy to understand formula for business growth
• The importance of being organized and knowing your numbers
• An exploration of Eugene Schwartz 5 levels of awareness used by champion marketers for decades in successful marketing.
• And how it all fits into the game of moving perfect strangers through the necessary steps to becoming repeat customers and promoters of your business.
The week starting September 16 the 12 week sessions will start for a more in depth study of these topics. These sessions are being held in both Springfield and Northampton. For questions, please contact Lynn at 413-577-1768 ext.0.

Basics of Starting a Business
2019-09-12 09:00 - 11:30 | Franklin County Community Development Corporation, 324 Wells St., Greenfield, MA, 01301-1628, United States
Who should attend? Anyone wanting to start a business and existing business owners looking for guidance on creating a business plan and securing financing to grow their business.
Workshop Facilitators: Springfield – Allen B. Kronick, Senior Business Advisor, MA Small Business Development Center. Greenfield – Anita J. Eliason, Senior Business Advisor, MA Small Business Development Center. Oreste Varela, U.S. Small Business Administration Branch Manager, Springfield, MA, is a scheduled presenter in both Greenfield and Springfield. The presentation will help you gain a better understanding of the various SBA programs and services available to prospective or current entrepreneurs who need assistance in starting or expanding their businesses, and will include capital, counseling and contracting information.
This FREE workshop will focus on business fundamentals; from startup considerations to business plan development and funding sources.
Learn the whole nine yards of starting a business. The presentation will help entrepreneurs start a business plan and provide structure to starting/managing their venture. Topics will include:
• Introduction and need for planning
• Basic business plan format
• Choosing your legal form of organization
• Marketing, market planning and research
• Cash flow projections
• Financial Statements
• Financing

Fighting For A Slice Of The Pie: Business Workshop Series
2019-09-12 17:30 - 18:30 | Valley Venture Mentors
How does mindset affect how we see opportunity?
9 to Thrive provides group and individual training to help organizations increase happiness through innovative tools and frameworks.
Do you need to attract investors, clients, or other engagement to your business? Is there just not enough—money, interest, people? Right now you’re wasting time and missing opportunities you don’t even know were there, and it’s not your fault. Our brains have hidden biases that work against us. And worse, our negativity is contagious.
But this doesn’t have to be the case. We can learn to recognize how we’re undermining ourselves and our organizations. There are tools, frameworks, and resources we can use to spot red flags, and respond to them, making our businesses stronger and more attractive. This workshop will include hacks, skills, and resources to start improving immediately.
The state of the workforce is dire. The most recent Gallup poll on working life found that 77% of workers are unengaged and 16% are completely miserable. More than half are actively looking for another job, and it’s the truth that employees quit because of management, not because of the work. Most managers have no leadership training. Retaining and attracting talented employees is a competitive edge. Creating a high-quality company culture from the top-down is the secret to a sustainable, purposeful workforce.
Janet McKenna Lowry has been an adult educator for twenty years. She has worked with several hundred schools, circuses, and theaters, and has a masters degree from Trinity College Dublin, concentrating on business leadership. Her company, 9 to Thrive, is dedicated to creating a world where the workplace doesn’t suck.

Business Legal Primer
2019-09-16 09:00 - 11:00 | Scibelli Enterprise Center
Presented by Attorney Sarah K. Willey, Esq., Bulkley, Richardson and Gelinas, LLP. Sponsored by the MA Small Business Development Center.
This presentation will help you gain a better understanding of the core legal concepts impacting your business.
• Choice of Entity – What does it mean to be a sole proprietor, partnership, limited liability company or corporation; which type is right for your business?
• Employee vs. Independent Contractor – Avoiding the steep risks of misclassification — the basics of determining whether you are hiring an employee or engaging an independent contractor.
• Trademark, patent or copyright – What’s the difference, when and how you need to get one.
Sarah K. Willey is Counsel in the firm’s Business and Finance Department, and is also a member of the firm’s Intellectual Property Practice Group and Employment Law Practice Group.
She has experience advising clients in the areas of business formation, mergers and acquisitions, business succession planning, and corporate structuring of businesses in regulated industries. Sarah counsels’ clients in protecting and maximizing their intellectual property via trademarks, copyrights, and licensing agreements. She also assists businesses with designing, implementing and auditing corporate compliance programs under International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).
FEE: Free
REGISTER: http://bit.ly/BusinessLegalPrimer

Attracting the Best Candidates in Possibly the Worst of Times
2019-09-20 08:00 - 11:30 | Springfield Innovation Center, 276 Bridge St., Springfield, MA, 01103, United States
Attracting the Best Candidates in Possibly the Worst of Times
Friday, Sept. 20, 2019
8 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
Springfield Innovation Center (Valley Venture Mentors)
276 Bridge St, Springfield, MA 01103
Continental Breakfast Provided
Cost: $20 donation to Valley Venture Mentors
Every HR person knows that finding talent these days is harder than ever! Learn how the HR experts are winning the battle to attract A-listers in a full employment economy.
Part One: HR Leadership Panel
Presenters: Carol Fitzgerald, Vice President of Human Resources, Center for Human Development;
Sarah McCarthy, Senior Human Resources Business Partner, Commonwealth Care Alliance;
Amy Roberts, Chief Human Resources Officer, PeoplesBank;
Moderator: Allison Ebner, Director of Membership & Partnerships, Employers Association of the NorthEast
HR leaders discuss their challenges and how they are overcoming them
Part Two: How to Ensure Your Hiring Process Stinks!
Presenter: Tiffany Appleton, Director, Accounting & Finance Division; Recruiter, Johnson & Hill Staffing Services, Inc
How to Ensure Your Hiring Process Stinks! Or not…If you are not getting the quality of hires you are ultimately seeking, you need to take an honest look at your hiring process.
Part Three: Increase Results: Digital Marketing for Recruiting & Hiring Success
Presenters: James Garvey, Digital Marketing Analyst, GCAi;
Darcy Fortune, Digital Public Relations Analyst, GCAi
Marketing for Recruiting & Hiring Success. Learn how HR leaders are engaging their marketing teams to create attractive employer brands and harness the power of Social Media Marketing.

7th Annual Cruise for Critters Car Show
2019-09-21 10:00 - 15:00 | Westview Farms Creamery, 109 East Hill Road, Monson, MA, 01057, United States
The 7th Annual Cruise for Critters Car Show is an event to benefit animals in need at Second Chance Animal Services hosted by Al Widlan’s Service Connection. It will take place on Saturday, September 21, 2019, at Westview Farms Creamery. There will be plenty of food and several fun activities for families to enjoy, including raffles, a corn maze, pumpkin picking, and a vendor fair. Entering a car into the show costs $20, and all spectators can enter for free. Bring the pups! All dogs must be leashed.

You Make Today Better: A Candid Conversation on Mental Health
2019-09-28 18:00 - 19:00 | Springfield Symphony Hall, 34 Court St., Springfield, MA, 01103, United States
In 2006, Jamie Tworkowski began his quest to end the stigma of mental health. Since then, his global non-profit movement has offered relief to thousands struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide. He is the author of The New York Times Bestseller “If You Feel Too Much” and runs the nonprofit “To Write Love on Her Arms.”
Jamie will join forces with friend and mental health ally Chris Sullivan, best known as “Toby” on NBC’s top rated drama, “This Is Us.” Chris’ acclaimed portrayal of depression and anxiety has empowered a national conversation on these urgent issues.
Together, they will offer a lively conversation on self-care, recovery, and hope and will be available to speak to attendees after the talk.

Envisioning a Sustainable Future for Your Organization
2019-10-02 08:00 - 17:00, 2019-10-09 08:00 - 17:00, 2019-10-16 08:00 - 17:00, 2019-10-23 08:00 - 17:00 | online
Smith Executive Education invites you to leverage your organization’s unique mission and function to align with the growing knowledge base for sustainability practices in the workplace. Four weeks of online learning and a one-hour virtual live session with expert Dano Weisbord, Executive Director of Sustainability and Campus Planning at Smith College. This course is designed for your busy schedule, with four weeks of online learning and a one-hour virtual live session with faculty. Take advantage of this special introductory pricing

2019 Inaugural Lexington Group Aeron-Chair Hockey Tournament
2019-10-02 17:30 - 20:00 | MA
Wednesday, October 2, 2019
5:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Lexington Group, 380 Union St, West Springfield, MA 01089
2019 marks the 30th anniversary for Lexington Group.
In celebration of this milestone, we are proud to host the inaugural Lexington Group Aeron-Chair Hockey Tournament benefiting Thomas J. O’Connor Animal Control & Adoption Center. This will be a after 5 anniversary celebration and networking event. We have invited area college and university hockey teams to battle it out in a friendly competition on the rink. The winning team of the battle rounds will play against the Springfield Thunderbirds!
We hope you will join us as a spectator or as a sponsor to insure that we raise much needed funds for Thomas J. O’Connor Animal Control & Adoption Center. Admission is complimentary. Donations to Thomas J. O’Connor Animal Control & Adoption Center are appreciated!

Hoop City Marathon
2019-10-05 08:00 - 2019-10-06 17:00 | City of Springfield, Main St, Springfield, MA, United States
Join us for the inaugural running of the Hoop City Marathon & Half Marathon as we run through beautiful parks, pass by historical landmarks, and share in the community spirit that is Springfield, Massachusetts. Springfield, known to some as “Hoop City”, is the city of firsts, the birthplace of basketball, and the revitalized urban center of the Pioneer Valley. There’s so much more to this city than meets the eye and you really need to get out there on foot to appreciate it! Not up for a full or half marathon? Round up some friends and create a marathon relay team or join us on Saturday for a picturesque 5k through Forest Park. Just like the city of Springfield, there’s something for everyone in this event – even a kid’s race and activities to keep spectators entertained while they wait for their beloved finishers!

Second Chance Animal Services 20th Anniversary Celebration
2019-10-05 16:00 - 22:00 | Southbridge Hotel & Conference Center, 14 Mechanic Street, Southbridge, MA, 01550, United States
Second Chance Animal Services is commemorating their 20th Anniversary of helping pets in need on Saturday, October 5th at the Southbridge Hotel & Conference Center. Starting at 4 pm, there will be several activities, including casino games, live music, and a raffle/auctions. Enjoy appetizers, salad and pasta stations, baked potato and cheesecake bars, make your own s’mores to enjoy by a fire, and signature drinks brought to you by Tito’s Handmade Vodka. Tickets are $60, and you can purchase them at https://www.secondchanceanimals.org/. We are also welcoming many sponsors or auction/raffle donations to help us celebrate this milestone!

Basics of Starting a Business
2019-10-07 13:00 - 15:30 | Scibelli Enterprise Center

Art of Business & Setting Prices
2019-10-16 09:00 - 12:00 | Scibelli Enterprise Center
Apple never discounts. Clothing stores build in a series of discounts to their initial price. Consulting companies use various techniques to avoid quoting an hourly rate. Law firms typically quote an hourly rate and stick to it. How do you determine what rate you should charge for your time? Too high and you scare clients away. Too low and your clients undervalue your work. There is an art to setting a price for your work. On one hand, what is a livable rate for your work? On the other, what is the range of rates for your work in your market? Do you discount? How do you price a job and how do you cover add-ons and other changes? Do you have separate rates for different types of clients? What about donating services? How do you negotiate rates with a potential client? This workshop covers the process of determining your rate and sticking to it.
Don Lesser, of Pioneer Training, Inc. has been in business for 30+ years. His companies have grown and shrunk, and the nature of his business has changed, but he is still thinking and working on his business. And, he is successful at it. The Art of Business is a collection of some guiding principles that sum up the lessons he has learned over the past 30 years. For Don, running a business is as much an art as it is a science. This session will cover various parts of running a small business with an emphasis on what is involved in setting prices.
Fee: $30 (Payable in Advance – Checks made out to UMass) Free Parking

North East Real Estate Investor Summit
2019-10-19 08:00 - 17:00 | MassMutual Center
The Western Mass Real Estate Investors group is excited to announce that we are hosting our first annual Real Estate Investors Summit here in the Greater Springfield area on Saturday October 19th, 2019. Join other North East Real Estate Investors at the Mass Mutual Center in Springfield, MA for the REI event of the fall. Whether you are a seasoned investor or just starting out, this event will bring the value and change that you may be looking for to succeed in real estate and your business.
This is a fully educational and networking type event and will not be a pitch fest of services. For more info and to grab a ticket, head over to our site we recently launched at https://nereisummit.com/. Hope to see many of you there!
Buy Tickets here!: https://nereisummit.com/register/
Ticket Prices : $75
Agenda: https://nereisummit.com/agenda/
Travel/Parking: https://nereisummit.com/travel/

The Northeast LEAN Conference
2019-10-23 - 2019-10-24 | The Connecticut Convention Center, 100 Columbus Boulevard, Hartford, CT, 06103, United States
This year the GBMP conference turns its focus on recognizing the re-emergence of Total Employee Involvement (TEI) as the key to unlocking the full benefits of Lean transformation. In the early days of Lean implementation, company involvement of all employees at all levels was identified as the keystone to Lean. TEI recognized the innate capabilities and desire of employees to always make things better.
But, in the early 90’s, as Lean tools were popularized, the focus on broad employee involvement diminished and was replaced by subject matter experts and swat teams. New jobs were created to concentrate the tasks of problem solving and improvement in the hands of just a small segment of employees. But now, organizations seeking to change their culture are recognizing that this must involve everyone.
The Northeast Lean Conference was created by the non-profit GBMP to provide information and inspiration to Lean practitioners – from those just starting out to seasoned Lean leaders from the manufacturing, healthcare, service and other vital industry sectors. ​The practical learning format features exceptional keynote and breakout presentations, interdepartmental panels, peer-to-peer discussions, hands-on simulations, interactive learning and sharing, and unlimited networking opportunities. Meet more than 500 passionate Lean, Six Sigma and Continuous Improvement professionals just like you.

The Problem We All Live With: The Achievement Gap
2019-10-23 18:00 - 19:00 | Springfield Symphony Hall, 34 Court St., Springfield, MA, 01103, United States
Nikole Hannah-Jones is an award-winning investigative reporter covering racial injustice for The New York Times Magazine. A MacArthur “Genuis” Award recipient, she investigates the way racial segregation in housing and schools is maintained through official action and policy. Nikole has written extensively about school resegregation across the country and the utter disarray of hundreds of school desegregation orders. She has also chronicled the decades-long failure of the federal government to enforce the landmark 1968 Fair Housing Act and wrote one of the most widely read analyses of the racial implications of the controversial Fisher v. University of Texas affirmative action Supreme Court case.
