WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Williamstown Chamber of Commerce's annual meeting will be a fundraising event for the Community Fund for the Spruces and for Higher Ground.
The meeting is Tuesday, Nov. 29, from 5 to 7 at the Orchards. It is open to the public and the cost is $30 per person for members and nonmembers with 100 percent of the proceeds being donated.
Because of the devastation that happened during Hurricane Irene, and the holiday season upon us, chamber members did not want to forget about the residents of Spruces Mobile Home Park, many of whom will never be able to go back to their homes. Representatives from the Community Fund and Higher Ground will be on board to give an update on what we as a community have been doing along with what we see happening in the coming future.
Higher Ground was established as a nonprofit group on Oct. 21 and is dedicated to providing immediate relief for those affected by Irene, preparing for future disasters, and creating more affordable housing in the area. Higher Ground is providing services and raising money to meet long-term physical, emotional and spiritual needs associated with the disaster, which is perhaps the greatest in Williamstown's history.
The Orchards has graciously donated use of its ballroom and Gala Restaurant chef Chris Bonnivier, with his many contacts, is getting donations from various Berkshire County restaurants for a wide array of food for the evening. There will also be chefs from Mezze, Wild Oats, the Williams Inn, McCann Technical School and Williams College
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pittsfield's two mayoral candidates will be the joint keynote speakers of the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce's final Good News Business Salute breakfast of the year.
Daniel Bianchi and Peter Marchetti will each be afforded an opportunity to address the chamber membership regarding issues they believe are relevant to the business community. Daniel Bosley of the MountainOne Financial Partners board of directors will emcee the event.
The breakfast will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel from 7:45 to 9. The cost to attend is $25 for chamber members and $35 for nonmembers and includes a breakfast buffet. The event is sponsored by MountainOne Financial Partners.
The chamber's Good News Business Salute Breakfasts seek to showcase "good news" in the Berkshires to create a positive environment for business while promoting quality jobs and celebrating the spirit of success. Businesses to be honored with "good news" recognition at the final celebration of 2011 include Berkshire Graphics, Mark Joseph Jewelers and Partnerships in Employment.
The event will also include a special community recognition of the Berkshire Leadership Program, currently soliciting applications for and celebrating 15 years with the class of 2012.
To register, contact 413-499-4000, Ext. 10, jlavigne@berkshirechamber.com or www.berkshirechamber.com.
June Business Events
By: Staff Reports On: 10:52AM / Monday May 30, 2011
Networking events, workshops and seminars for the month of June are listed below. Got an upcoming business event? Send it to info@iberkshires.com.
The Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce will hold a breakfast on Friday, June 3, from 7:45 to 9:15 a.m. at the Comfort Inn, Stockbridge Road. The meeting will celebrate Great Barrington's 250th anniversary; special guests include Great Barrington Board of Selectmen and 250th Committee Co-chairs Ed McCormick and Betsy Andrus, state Sen. Ben Downing. Register at 413-528-4284 or sbcc@rnetworx.com. Admission is $25 per person.
Berkshire Young Professionals will throw a networking social on Thursday, June 9, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Hancock Shaker Village, Route 20, Pittsfield. Admission is $5 for nonmembers, free for members. Register here.
The Lenox Chamber of Commerce will hold an after hours mixer on Thursday, June 9, at Dr. Lahey's Garden Center, 1032 South St., Pittsfield. The event begins at 6 p.m. and includes light seasonal fare and a cash bar. RSVP to 413-637-3646 or info@lenox.org.
The Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce will hold an after hours event on Thursday, June 9, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Gould Farm's Roadside Cafe, 100 Gould Road, Montery. RSVP to 413-528-1510 or sbcc@rnetworx.com.
The Zonta Club of Berkshire County will meet on Monday, June 13 at 5 p.m. at Patrick's Pub, Park Square, Pittsfield. The meeting will include the installation of new officers; the guest speaker will be this year's winner of the Berkshire Community College Scholarship. The meeting includes a brief networking time, business meeting, speaker and dinner. Reservations required for dinner. Email berkshire@zontadistrict1.org for more information.
The Berkshire Chamber of Commerce will hold a Chamber Nite event on Wednesday, June 15, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Devanny-Condron Funeral Home, 40 Maplewood Ave., Pittsfield. Complimentary hors d'ouevres will be served; bring business cards for a door-prize drawing. Open to chamber members only; register here.
The Berkshire Chamber of Commerce puts on a Good News Business Salute on Wednesday, June 22, from 7:45 to 9 a.m. at the Berkshire Hills Country Club, 500 Benedict Road, Pittsfield. Admission is $25 for chamber members, $35 for nonmembers. Registration is open until June 21; register here.
Northern Berkshire Professional Women will meet at the Williams Inn, Williamstown, on Wednesday, June 22, at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will have a baby shower theme; items brought to the meeting will be donated to a local charity. The cost of dinner is $25; for meal choice and to make a reservation, contact Sherrie Thompson at 413-458-1914.
Berkshire Creative will hold a Spark! networking event on Thursday, June 30, at the town of Adams Armory Court and Topia Arts Center, Adams. The free event runs from 5:30 to 7 p.m.; RSVP here.
Pittsfield Job Fair Draws Hundreds
By: Andy McKeever On: 08:00PM / Thursday April 14, 2011
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Hundreds of job seekers perused job offerings Thursday from more than 45 local businesses.
The annual job fair at the Berkshire Hills Country Club, sponsored by the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce, is considered a huge success after the near-future's workforce filled the ballroom all day.
While the troubled economy has lowered hiring rates in the county in recently, this year was different. Employers filled the available spots quicker than ever before, according to Christine Hoyt, director of programs and events at the chamber.
By noon more than 200 people browsed a range of company booths – ranging from manufacturing to health care to banking – for jobs running the whole gambit of levels.
Companies included General Dynamics, which is planning to add 200 jobs this year, LTI Smartglass and Interprint, Onyx Specialty Papers, Wave Systems and InterTech and Dunkin' Donuts as well schools, training centers and career placement organizations.
Sponsors are BerkshireJobs.com, a sister site of iBerkshires, BerkshireWorks Career Center, Interprint Inc., Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, Partnerships in Employment and New England Newspapers.
GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — The Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce has announced its new board of directors for 2011. Daniel Kinney, VP regional market manager, Legacy Banks will leads the board as president. Kate McCormick, partner at McCormick, Murtagh and Marcus is vice president. Edith Gilson, owner of Cupboards and Roses in Sheffield is the treasurer and Scott Rote of Wheeler & Taylor Realty's Sheffield office is the new secretary of the board.
Other members of the chamber board include: Janet Dohoney, Fairview Hospital; Rich Edwards, Catamount Ski Area; Robin Hare, Shopper’s Guide; Pat Melluzzo, Wheeler & Taylor Realty; Cheryl Raifstanger, Kwik Print; Richard Aldrich, Lee Bank; Dan Burke, Iredale Mineral Cosmetics; Carrie Herrington, WearHouse; Bruce Howden, Howden Farm and Kevin Schmitz, Marketplace Kitchen.
Other new members to the board are: Vijay Mahida of the Comfort Inn; Georgann Farnum of Salisbury Bank; Karin Watkins of the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center; and Karen Climo of Karen Climo Real Estate.
Said Christine Ludwiszewski, chief executive officer of the chamber, “The Chamber is working hard to extend its reach and to include members from a variety of businesses in South County. By engaging new leaders, we can continue to advocate on behalf of the business community as well as provide the networking and educational opportunities that our members need.”
At the chamber's recent annual meeting, Kinney reviewed the chamber’s accomplishments in 2010, including new welcome signs at both entrances to Great Barrington; successful workshops on social media, Excel and QuickBooks; two breakfasts featuring state Sen. Benjamin Downing, D.-Pittsfield, and state Rep.William "Smitty" Pignatelli, D-Lenox; an updated website; the September raffle annual fundraiser; the Business Person of the Year event which honored the Ward Family; and a very successful Holiday Stroll.
The Chamber’s first Business After Hours of the year will be held on Thursday, Jan. 13, at the Stagecoach Tavern in Sheffield. More information can be found here.
