SPRINGFIELD — The Vann Group and Epstein Financial Services will present “Building Your Exit: The Owner Succession Planning Process Defined,” part of the BusinessWest/HCN Lecture Series, on Wednesday, June 22 at the Student Prince/the Fort in Springfield, and Thursday, June 23 at Hadley Farms Meeting House in Hadley.

Registration both days will begin at 7:15 a.m., followed by breakfast and a panel discussion from 7:30 to 9 a.m.

One of the largest challenges facing business owners today is the question of how to get out of their business. These seminars will present a step-by-step breakdown of the succession-planning process and what to expect along the way, including the many benefits to transitioning business ownership.

Panelists include Kevin Vann and Michael Vann of the Vann Group and Charlie Epstein of Epstein Financial Services and Epstein Financial Group.

Admission is free, but RSVP is requested for both seminars. Register online here, or call (413) 781-8600 for more information.

EASTHAMPTON — The White House Council on Women and Girls invited Elizabeth Barajas-Román, CEO of the Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts (WFWM), to participate in the United State of Women Summit, the first-ever large-scale effort to bring together advocates of gender equality to highlight what they’ve achieved, identify the challenges that remain, and chart the course ahead.

On Tuesday, June 14, Barajas-Román will join national partners during the main-stage lunch plenary, which will be streamed live across the globe at www.theunitedstateofwomen.org. Expected speakers and presenters include President Obama, Kerry Washington, and Oprah Winfrey. A full list can be found at www.theunitedstateofwomen.org/summit-details. The summit is a collaboration of the White House Council on Women and girls, the Department of State, Department of Labor, the Aspen Institute, and Civic Nation.

“We are eager to bring the voices of Western Massachusetts to the global conversation on women and girls and the problems we can fix together, in our lifetimes,” Barajas-Román said. “Our Women’s Fund was founded after another historic gathering, the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, almost 20 years ago. Being at the table when history was made had a profound impact on local women and their families then, and we expect to return from the upcoming summit with equally game-changing innovations, connections, and a framework for change.”

The WFWM is a public foundation that connects donors with women and girls through strategic grant making and leadership development. Its signature, non-partisan program, the Leadership Institute for Political and Public Impact (LIPPI), is designed to provide women with the tools, mentors, and confidence they need to become powerful and effective civic leaders and elected officials.

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Community College’s (HCC) Gateway to College program, which in 2014 was ranked number one among all the Gateway programs in the U.S., is the recipient of the first-ever Gateway Program Excellence Award.

The inaugural award from the Gateway to College National Network recognizes HCC’s program for exceeding all four of the network’s benchmarks for success in 2014-15: GPA, one-year persistence, two-year persistence, and graduation rate.

“Recognitions like this make us feel more important and shiny,” said coordinator Vivian Ostrowski said at Gateway’s June 1 graduation ceremony in the Leslie Phillips Theater, “but we know, we so know, that these numbers really mean that some kids with complicated and messy lives decided time and time again to show up and do their work.”

Gateway to College is a dual-enrollment program for students who have either left high school or are at risk for dropping out. Gateway students take classes at HCC, collecting transferable college credits while also earning their high-school diplomas.

Since 2008, 204 Gateway students at HCC have graduated from high school, and more than half have continued on to college. Twenty-nine were enrolled at HCC this spring and HCC’s Gateway graduates have so far earned 19 associate degrees and three bachelor’s degrees.

Twenty students from six school districts earned their high-school diplomas through HCC’s Gateway program his spring: from Springfield, Korcan Atmaca, Amena Cooke, Melinda Diaz, Deikwon Duke, Ciara Garcia, Jamilee Gomez, Denisse Rivera, Mercedes Robare, Elmer Rodriguez and Jonte Toro; from Belchertown, Casey Beaudry, Christopher Chaffee, Shauna Driscoll, and Summer McLauglin; from Westfield, Emma Cowhey and Jacob Hartley; from Holyoke, Alexander Escalante; from Palmer, Bailey McDowell and Dylan Tallman; and from Agawam, Sarah Wyckoff.

Gateway to College was founded in Portland, Ore. in 2000. There are now 41 Gateway programs in 21 states. The spring 2014 report from the national Gateway network listed HCC’s Gateway program number one in both persistence, or fall-to-fall retention (87% compared to a network average of 53%); and graduation rate (80% compared to a 27% network average).

“Holyoke’s program is poised to build on its successes and can serve as an example for the rest of our network,” Emily Froimson, president of the Gateway national network, wrote in a congratulatory letter to Ostrowski. “You have not simply made a difference for students in Holyoke, Massachusetts; the work that your school district and college partnership has accomplished is a model for how we solve these persistent problems as a nation.”

Ostrowski will collect the award on behalf of HCC at the Gateway to College National Network Peer Learning Conference in Minneapolis on June 28.

PITTSFIELD — Berkshire Theatre Group (BTG) announced it received a prestigious $45,000 grant from the New York-based Shubert Foundation, which provides grant support to theatres throughout the country.

“We’re deeply thankful to the Shubert Foundation for its grant to BTG,” said Artistic Director and CEO Kate Maguire. “The special aspect of support from the Shubert Foundation is that their grants go directly to helping underwrite the work we produce on our stages. As leaders in the national theatre scene, they recognize the fundamental economics of the theatre business. We will put the Shubert Foundation grant to good use as we prepare to launch our 2016 summer season.”

EASTHAMPTON — The Leadership Institute for Political and Public Impact (LIPPI), a non-partisan initiative of the Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts, is designed to provide women in this region with the training and support needed to become powerful and effective civic leaders. Now, LIPPI is calling for new applicants.

Applications may be found at www.womensfund.net/advocacy/apply.htm and must be completed and submitted by 5 p.m. on Friday, June 17. Class size is limited. Leadership grants and childcare reimbursements are available. Applicants will receive notification by Aug. 31. To learn more about LIPPI, visit www.womensfund.net/advocacy/about.htm.

SPRINGFIELD — The Vann Group and Epstein Financial Services will present “Building Your Exit: The Owner Succession Planning Process Defined,” part of the BusinessWest/HCN Lecture Series, on Wednesday, June 22 at the Student Prince/the Fort in Springfield, and Thursday, June 23 at Hadley Farms Meeting House in Hadley.

Registration both days will begin at 7:15 a.m., followed by breakfast and a panel discussion from 7:30 to 9 a.m.

One of the largest challenges facing business owners today is the question of how to get out of their business. These seminars will present a step-by-step breakdown of the succession-planning process and what to expect along the way, including the many benefits to transitioning business ownership.

Panelists include Kevin Vann and Michael Vann of the Vann Group and Charlie Epstein of Epstein Financial Services and Epstein Financial Group.

Admission is free, but RSVP is requested by June 14 for the first seminar and by June 15 for the second. Register online here, or call (413) 781-8600 for more information.

HAMPDEN — The East of the River Five Town Chamber of Commerce (ERC5) board of directors announced it will hold its annual meeting at the Starting Gate at GreatHorse in Hampden on Friday, June 17 from noon to 1:30 p.m.

Tickets for the event are $55 per person, and both members and non-members are invited to attend. Lunch will be served. Keynote speaker Seth Stratton, MGM Springfield’s vice president and general counsel, will discuss the rich opportunities within business sectors of the ERC5. Master of ceremonies and government-relations consultant Anthony Cignoli will provide insight as the ERC5 showcases its services to the business and service sectors of East Longmeadow, Hampden, Longmeadow, Ludlow, and Wilbraham. Upon conclusion of the program, tours of the facility will be provided.

“We are thrilled to be invited to GreatHorse and welcome them to our organization as a new business, community partner, and board member of the ERC5,” said Dennis Lopata, ERC5 board president.

Tickets and sponsorships are still available. Contact Nancy Connor, ERC5 executive director, at (413) 575-7230 or [email protected].

WESTFIELD — The 19th annual Westfield Woman’s Club Garden Tea will be held on Wednesday, June 22 at 1 p.m. at Stanley Park. This event is a major fund-raiser for the Westfield Woman’s Club and helps carry out the club’s mission in the community.

Allison Gearing-Kalill will be the 2016 honoree. She is currently vice president of Fund Development for Noble Hospital, and has been active in the Greater Westfield area in many ways. She is a founding and current board member of the Westfield Woman’s Club Foundation, a board member with Westfield on Weekends, and for the past four years has served as a fund-raiser committee member for the Massachusetts and Rhode Island chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. She is a past board member of the Westfield chapter of the American Red Cross and the Westfield Business Improvement District.

The Garden Tea will begin with registration and served beverages, followed by light sandwiches, scones, and trifle desserts. There will also be a hat contest and introduction of the honoree.

This year, the judges for the hat contest will be Maureen Sullivan, president and chief creative officer of Maureen Sullivan Media Group and founder of Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, an event series and monthly publication in the Republican that brings women together through ideas, inspiration, and resources that enrich their lives; Kevin O’Connor, senior vice president of Retail Banking, Marketing and Retail Lending for Westfield Bank; and Lisa McMahon, director, Advancement and Major Gifts for Westfield State Foundation.

Tickets cost $20 and may be purchased through Friday, June 10 by calling Josie at (413) 568-0876 or by visiting the Woman’s Club at 28 Court Street in Westfield on June 10 from noon to 6 p.m.

By providing scholarships to local high-school students, supporting area veterans through the Soldier On program, participating in Community Table efforts, providing time and talent by volunteering at local nonprofits, entertaining its neighbors through Westfield Theater Group productions, and more, the Westfield Woman’s Club has been an integral part of Westfield and neighboring communities since 1914.

PITTSFIELD — All Berkshire Bank locations will close at noon on Tuesday, June 7 to allow all employees the ability to participate in volunteer projects from noon to 4 p.m.

So far, 1,133 Berkshire Bank employees across all regions are scheduled to participate in work assignments as part of the bank’s Xtraordinary Day. This number is still growing, and is anticipated to reach 95% total employee engagement.

Employees will volunteer at Stanley Park, Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity, YMCA of Westfield, ReGreen Springfield, Southwick Rail Trail, West Springfield YMCA, Amelia Park Children’s Museum, Birthday Wishes, Children’s Study Home, YMCA of Greater Springfield, Community Survival Center, and Girls Inc. of Greenfield.

The bank will also host a contest called Catch Us in the Act, through which it encourages customers to take a photo of bank employees performing a volunteer service and post the photo to social media using the hashtag #xteam. Each submission will be entered to win $100 for the nonprofit of their choice; two winners will be selected per region.

SPRINGFIELD — For years, small businesses have been told they have to be on social media. The unasked and unanswered question is, ‘why?’

James Garvey, social-media marketing analyst, and Darcy Fortune, SEO public-relations analyst, at GCAi will answer that question and much more on Wednesday, June 22 with a presentation called “The Power of Social Media Marketing and Online Video” at Bulkley Richardson and Gelinas, LLP, 1500 Main St., Springfield.

Fresh off their appearance at the Digital Marketing Innovation Summit, where they presented along with companies like Google, Brandwatch, and Carbonite, Garvey and Fortune will reveal how top brands are increasing their return on investment (ROI) through objective-driven digital marketing campaigns that incorporate video.

“For many years, social media has escaped the sharp eye of ROI,” Garvey said. “Not any longer. Objective-driven campaigns are designed to have measurable impact on brand and sales.”

Added Fortune, “digital marketing campaigns must not only be targeted to be effective; they also have to be relevant to the customer. That’s where video comes in. People want to view content online; they don’t necessarily want to read.”

The presentation is free, but attendance is limited. To register, e-mail attorney David Parke at [email protected].

SPRINGFIELD — Shriners Hospitals for Children – Springfield will welcome the Old Post Road Orchestra for a free summertime pops performance on the hospital lawn on Wednesday, June 15 from 7 to 9 p.m.

The Old Post Road Orchestra (OPRO) is enjoying its 30th concert season as a volunteer community orchestra based in Wilbraham. OPRO’s mission is to provide quality symphonic music at convenient locations in and around Western Mass., and to offer people of all ages the opportunity to play their instruments in a friendly, community-based orchestra.

This summertime pops performance will feature a guest vocalist, Anita Anderson Cooper. Trained at Westminster College and Boston University, she has worked as a professional musician, conductor, and teacher. Career highlights include solo performances at Carnegie Hall; leading roles with various opera, Broadway, and regional theater companies, and solo appearances through the Hampshire Choral Society. Recent conducting roles were with the Green Mountain District in Vermont and the Quabbin Valley Music Festival.

Cooper has been a recipient of a National Endowment for the Humanities grant and studied Mozart’s music in Vienna, Austria. She currently teaches three choirs, music theory, and jazz at Amherst Regional High School; conducts the New Valley Singers in Holyoke; and is the soprano soloist for South Church, Springfield. Her Chorale recently won the WGBY television series Together in Song, and WGBY produced a special about the group.

Light refreshments will be available at the concert. Lawn chairs are permitted, but alcohol, smoking, and pets are not. For more information, contact Lee Roberts at (413) 755-2307 or [email protected]. For more information about OPRO, visit www.opro.org/content/about-us.

LONGMEADOW — van Schouwen Associates, LLC (vSA) announced the addition of Tyler Leahy to its business-to-business marketing team. In his new role as strategic communications manager, Leahy’s work will involve account management, writing, social media and content development, public relations, and business development.

Leahy arrives at vSA with unique experience as a communications professional in the Pioneer Valley, working in the media as well as the nonprofit sector. He most recently served as staff writer for two local newspapers, the Chicopee Register and the Ludlow Register.

“Tyler has a knack for tailoring communications to the demands of individual projects. His strategic and tactical marketing aptitude will be invaluable to our clients,” said Michelle van Schouwen, vSA president. “He already has a proven track record of pitching fresh ideas and fostering collaboration, and we look forward to building on that as a team.”

Leahy graduated from Springfield College with a bachelor’s degree in 2015, majoring in communications and English.

LONGMEADOW — JGS Lifecare held its annual meeting on May 24, providing membership the opportunity to thank all who provided service, to honor talented and caring leaders, and to elect officers and directors of JGS Lifecare and all subsidiaries.

Martin Baicker, president and CEO of JGS Lifecare, presented highlights of the past year, including a new program of daily activities in the Leavitt Family Jewish Home that focuses on residents’ strengths; the introduction of Reiki and reflexology at Ruth’s House, JGS Lifecare’s assisted-living residence; and a national best-practice home-health agency award for Spectrum Home Health & Hospice. Baicker then introduced three nursing-home resident family members who shared heartfelt examples of how JGS Lifecare has impacted their lives and the lives of their loved ones.

Members then voted on the appointments of corporators, board members, and officers, as required by corporate bylaws. Michele Feinstein, Maxine Goldsmith, and Michael Swirsky were elected to new three-year terms on the JGS Lifecare board of directors. New appointments included the election of Stuart Anfang as clerk and the addition of Michael Hirshberg and Gary Rappaport as directors for Genesis House. Seven board members were thanked and recognized for fulfilling their service, including David Katz, Mark Katz, David Shrair, Gary Rappaport, Michael Hirshberg, Alan Bullock, and Carol Kantany Casartello, who had served as clerk.

Dr. Robert Baevsky, chair of the JGS Lifecare board of directors, awarded Susan Kline the annual Chairman’s Service Award for her tireless advocacy and high-energy support of JGS Lifecare.

Her father’s admission to the Jewish Nursing Home as a resident in 1978 launched Kline’s volunteerism at what is now JGS Lifecare. Along with her role in initiating the Chesed Committee, the Ruth’s House newsletter, and the family council, Kline was elected to the board and executive committee. She also chaired the JGS future vision task force. As chair of the board from 2012 to 2014, she led JGS Lifecare to embrace transformational change through the adoption of the person-centered, small-house model of care. Along with attorney Stephen Krevalin, she currently chairs the campaign to fund JGS Lifecare’s Project Transformation and its signature project, the Sosin Center for Rehabilitation.

Deeply involved in the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts, Kline is a past president (2006-09) and currently serves on the executive committee. She recently completed a six-year term on the board of National Women’s Philanthropy, a branch of the Jewish Federations of North America. In the 1990s, she was the first female president of Kodimoh synagogue, now B’nai Torah. Long associated with Harold Grinspoon Foundation, first as a trustee (1993-2004) and then as an employee (2005-15), she directed significant programs related to legacy giving, camping, and initiatives in western Massachusetts.

Also at the meeting, Krevalin provided an update on the $9 million Project Transformation Campaign in support of five campus initiatives that will enhance person-centered care across all life-care services. For more information about the campaign, contact Susan Kimball Halpern, vice president of Philanthropy, at (413) 567-6211 or [email protected].

HOLYOKE — The Greater Holyoke and Greater Easthampton chambers of commerce have joined forces for the third year to host a “Move the Mountain” networking event on Monday, June 6 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Holyoke Country Club, One Country Club Road.

The event, sponsored by Easthampton Savings Bank, Northeast IT Systems, Paychex, and Taylor Rental of Holyoke, will offer guests an evening of networking among chamber members as well as an opportunity to meet up with old friends and build new business relationships.

The event entertainment is sponsored by Simmer Music with Interplay Jazz Band featuring Tom Tisdell on saxophone. In addition to an evening filled with music, food, and networking opportunities, a 50/50 raffle, door prizes, and a cash bar will be offered. The networking event is open to all professionals, small-business owners, and entrepreneurs, as well as the general public.

The cost is $10 for members in advance and $15 for all others. To sign up, call the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce at (413) 534-3376 or the Greater Easthampton Chamber of Commerce at (413) 527-9414.

SPRINGFIELD — Have you ever been asked to present in front of a group of people and replied, “nope! No way! Never!” Many charismatic speakers started out that way, and Thom Fox is one of them.

Almost 20 years ago, Fox (a card-carrying introvert) was shoved on a stage and told to “figure it out” — so he did. Since then, he has conducted more than 1,200 workshops and keynote addresses nationwide. In a workshop on June 8 titled “Nope, No Way, Never! How to Overcome Your Fear of Public Speaking,” Fox shares how he overcame shyness and gained the confidence to speak in front of more than 43,000 audience members throughout his career.

Attendees will learn how to manage the fear of public speaking, develop a compelling story, navigate the three most important parts of a presentation, and win the crowd over. The free event will run from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at the UMass Center at Springfield, 1500 Main St., Suite 260. To register, click here.