PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Small-business development organizations and U.S. Rep. Richard Neal are sponsoring a forum on how local companies could benefit from exporting their products.
The Pittsfield Export Forum on Tuesday, Jan. 29, will run from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at the Crowne Plaza will feature two panel talks, followed by a luncheon with the congressman.
The forum sessions are free and open to all area businesses.
Neal will join the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce for a luncheon following the forum at the Crowne Plaza at noon in the ballroom; the cost is $35. Register for the luncheon here.
Neal will address the current fiscal situation, tax reform, exports, the recent AMT fix and energy independence.
The Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network is encouraging those who currently export and those who are considering exporting to attend the event.
The panels will include business exporters from Western Massachusetts who will share their success stories. The forum also will feature an overview of a broad range of programs available to help companies with their international business efforts, including the opportunity of grant money available to small businesses to export. Following the presentations, participants will have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with government officials and local businesses to answer specific export questions.
Agenda
Welcome Remarks - Congressman Richard E. Neal
Panel One
Tom Gradel, Massachusetts Office of International Trade and Investment
Paula Murphy and Ann Pieroway, Massachusetts Export Center
John Joyce, Small Business Administration
Melissa Branzburg, U.S. Department of Commerce
Keith Girouard, Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network
Panel Two
Mike Supranowicz, President & CEO, Berkshire Chamber of Commerce – Moderator
Mike Tweed-Kent, Vice President & General Manager, General Dynamics
Virginia DuBois, Inside Sales Manager, Interprint
Josh Levine, President, LympheDIVAs
Lyn Biasin, Supply Chain Manager, Onyx
Michael Hopsicker, President & CEO, Ray Murray, Inc.
Sponsors are Neal, Berkshire Chamber of Commerce, U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce, Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network's Mass Export Center, Associated Industries of Massachusetts, CONECT, Massachusetts Office of International Trade and Investment and the Small Business Administration.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Chamber of Commerce will host Chamber Nite at Lenox Commons and Lenox Woods located at 55 Pittsfield Road, Lenox, on Wednesday, May 16. Networking will be from 5 to 7.
Chamber members are invited to join the Berkshire Chamber for its popular monthly after-hours event. Guests will enjoy complimentary hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar. Don't forget your business cards for networking and to be eligible for the door prizes. Guests will check in at the registration table located at the condo model and main office for Lenox Woods at Kennedy Park. Networking will take place throughout the Lenox Commons plaza.
The Berkshire Chamber offers monthly networking opportunities as a free benefit to its members. Chamber Nite events are open exclusively to members and their employees. To register, visit www.berkshirechamber.com, call 413-499-4000, Ext. 126, or email choyt@berkshirechamber.com.
Williams Chamber Meeting Raising Funds for Irene Victims
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
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A small group of business owners is hoping to establish a merchants association in the city.
Working in conjunction with Develop North Adams and the city's Office of Tourism, the group will hold a networking event on Monday, Oct. 3, from 6 to 7:30 at Desperados on Eagle Street.
The topic will be how local businesses and shop owners can work collectively to promote business and shopping here in North Adams, particularly during the holiday season. The group encourages participants bring along ideas of how to market the city or about organizing events.
While many of establishments here are part of the larger Berkshire Chamber of Commerce, the city's been without a formal merchants group for years. DNA was started more than a year ago to more broadly bring businesses and community together to benefit the city. It positioned itself not so much as a business group, but an umbrella under which a merchants association could develop.
Those planning to attend the meeting should RSVP by noon on Friday, Sept. 30, to Veronica Bosley in the Office of Tourism at 413-664-6180 or vbosley@northadams-ma.gov. Anyone wishing to bring up specific topics at the meeting is asked to send them to Bosley as soon as possible.
Chamber Drive Nets Donation for Shelter
By: Tammy Daniels On: 07:18PM / Monday August 22, 2011
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Allen Harris of Berkshire Money Management is pledging to donate thousands to the Eleanor Sonsini Animal Shelter as part of the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce membership drive.
Harris, a member of the chamber and an advocate for the care of abandoned animals, combined his two philanthropic interests by promising to donate $1,000 to the shelter for every person who joins the Chamber of Commerce through Berkshire Money Management.
"In my business you try to create synergy and leverage in investments. I thought I would try it on the non-profit side," Harris said. "The Sonsini Shelter needed improvements and when we heard about the chamber's membership drive, we wanted to do something different."
Harris, founder and president of Berkshire Money Management, said he has been able to get the community involved in two worthy causes that could provide a blueprint to all nonprofits in the area.
He will present a check to the shelter on Wednesday, Aug. 24, during a chamber night at the investment firm's offices on Merrill Road.
Berkshire Money Management's membership fund drive continues until Sept. 7. If you are interested in joining the chamber through Berkshire Money Management, call 413-997-2006.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Allen Harris of 
