Page 13 - BusinessWest September 30, 2024

As an intern with the ERC5 Chamber of Commerce, high- school senior Brady Suomala is gaining unique insight into Wibraham’s business community.
“We reached out to businesses
at the mall and were successful in bringing a few here.”
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Wilbraham
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successful, efforts to balance its rural character with needed busi- ness growth.
Getting Down to Business
Brady Suomala is a senior at Minnechaug High, captain of the soccer team, and ... an intern with the East of the River Five Town Chamber of Commerce, which counts Wilbraham among the five communities it serves.
Since coming aboard just after school started, Suomala, who is focusing his internship on marketing and graphics, has been visiting many businesses in town with chamber Executive Director Grace Barone. He’s been talking with their graphics and marketing people about their work and possible career paths, while also, in some cases, gauging their marketing needs and whether the chamber might be of any assistance.
He’s stopped by a few banks, and recently visited with Sandy Polom, owner of the Scented Garden Gift Shoppe, located in the Wilbraham Shops on Route 20, who is coming up on her five-year anniversary of buying the business and is planning a celebration.
Suomala’s work to date relates the importance of internships like his to introducing young people to the world of work, while also introducing them to businesses and possible careers. It also helps tell the story of Wilbraham’s business community, which, as noted, is both diverse — with a blend of local companies and regional and even national chains (like Home Depot) — and deep, with many businesses, like Trombley Associates, the Scented Garden, Rice’s Fruit Farm, and many others having well-established roots.
Indeed, the Scented Garden has been a mainstay in the commu- nity, and region, for more
than 30 years now. Polom, who had been
Wilbraham
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Hit the Road with a New Set of Tires and Support a Good Cause.
For every set of four tires purchased between September 1st and October 31st, Balise will make a donation to Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts.
For more information or to make a donation, visit baliseauto.com
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