Page 62 - BusinessWest February 19, 2024

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Keiter
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its students into the company through its co-op program, with several of them eventually being hired by the firm.
“We try to get them out to do everything that we do,” he explained. “We try our best to get them out on our projects, where they can work side-by-side with our staff. In fact, we’ve hired a number of them; they’re some of our best employees.”
Keiter’s involvement also extends to Look Park, which he described as a “treasure,” one of the city’s best assets.
But it’s with the Keiter Card that he is making a greater name for himself in the community, literally and figuratively.
And he said it came about through twin desires — to help small businesses in the community and build his brand.
“I had an epiphany one day,” he recalled. “We were comtemplating how to allocate some marketing money, and I wanted to find a way to create a win-win, or what Vince [Jackson] calls a ‘win-win-win.’
“What this card does is give Keiter some good exposure, but it’s also supporting our community, and it’s also supporting the local economy and retailers,” he said, adding that the idea was to build on the chamber’s existing gift-card program, which was “keeping the money local.”
Douglas Gilbert, vice president of Commercial Lending at Florence Bank, another of those who nominated Keiter for the Difference Makers award, put the initiative in perspective, noting that “Scott’s generous support of the Northampton gift-card program has been vital to the program’s success and provides purchasers with a significant financial incentive to support participating area merchants.”
Jackson agreed, adding that the program’s impact has grown each year.
“In 2023, the GNCC experienced year-over year growth of 10% in Northampton gift-card sales, 13% growth in gift-card units, and 22% growth in redemptions — all driven primarily by the excitement and impact of the Keiter Card promotion,”
he said, noting that the cards have sold out in a matter of
days each year. “That growth in redemptions in significant and signals immediate spending, giving an exceptional boost to small businesses during a traditionally slow sales period.”
Summing up Kieter’s involvement in the community, as well as his success in business, Jackson started by saying the chamber no longer refers to those who join its ranks as members. Instead, it calls them ‘investors.’
And some businesses have earned the designation ‘prestige investors,’ he went on, adding that these are the ones creating jobs, getting involved — in the chamber and in the community — and making an impact.
Keiter — both the company and its owner — have certainly earned that designation, said Jackson, adding that his involvement in the region prompted the chamber’s leadership to present him with a Community Service Award in 2023.
“They’re doing all the right things, practicing good citizenship and promoting economic development along the way,” he noted. “They’re sharing the wealth and rewards that they’ve been blessed to have, and that’s admirable.”
Playing His Card
Jackson told BusinessWest that Keiter cycled off the chamber’s board of directors recently, and that it’s a tradition to give departing board menbers a gift, usually something of the ‘gag’ variety.
In this case, those at the chamber wrapped up a Keiter Card and presented it to him, imploring him to spend it wisely and spread the wealth around.
While that card was a gift to him, the Keiter Card program has been a gift to the community —both its residents and its businesses. It is a gift that has become, as Jackson said, a true win-win-win. DW
“What this card does is give Keiter some good exposure,
but it’s also supporting our community, and it’s also supporting the local econom”y and retailers.
1350 Main Street, Springfield, MA 01103 413-781-8000 | NAIPlotkin.com
Commercial Real Estate Services, Worldwide
Congratulations to the 2024 Difference Makers!
Matt Bannister
Senior Vice President, Marketing and Corporate Responsibility, PeoplesBank
Delcie Bean
CEO, Paragus Strategic I.T.
Linda Dunlavy
Executive Director, Franklin Regional Council of Governments
The Staff of Rock 102
Dr. Fred and Mary Kay Kadushin
Co-founders, Feed the Kids
Scott Keiter
CEO, Keiter
Springfield Symphony Orchestra and Springfield Chamber Players
Shannon Rudder
President and CEO, Martin Luther King Jr. Family Services
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Visit this link to nominate someone today:
A42 2024
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