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JANUARY 2012 - Happy New Year!
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Annual Meeting To Honor:
2011 Chamber Annual Award Recipients -
Elect New Board Members - Recognize Business Milestones
The Greater Easthampton Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting & Elections will take place Thursday evening, January 26, 2012 at the Southampton Country Club.
Along with our Annual Elections, we will be be presenting our 2011 Annual Chamber Awards. As voted by the members, we are proud to announce the following as the 2011 award recipients:
Community Service Member of the Year
Easthampton Community Center
Business of the Year
Mantis Graphics, Inc.
Business Person of the Year
Susan Lapointe - TurningLeaf Design
President's Award
Fire Chief David Mottor - Easthampton Fire Department
The evening will also mark the beginning of a new annual program recognizing Chamber of Commerce members who have reached five year increments of their being in business as of 2011. Each of the members will receive a certificate honoring them on being a vital part of the Greater Easthampton community and reaching a milestone in the success of their enterprise!
Please keep an eye out in your mail and email for all the details of what will be an excellent evening of friendship and honoring our members!
Eric Snyder, Executive Director
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Member Spotlight: Innovative Business Systems
I nnovative Business Systems (IBS), located at 161 Northampton St. in Easthampton, was founded in 1987 by Bill Tremblay and incorporated in 1990. In 2003, five IBS employees purchased the business from Bill, and on January 1, 2010, IBS celebrated its 20th corporate anniversary. Under the guidance of Dave DelVecchio, IBS provides the full range of IT services to businesses of all sizes and types. View this video to meet Dave and his key staff, and to learn more about IBS values and services:  | | Easthampton Chamber Spotlight - Innovative Business Sytems - IT Specialists - January 2012 |
IBS employs a team of 22 engineers, technicians and managers with backgrounds in computer technologies, software development, engineering, manufacturing/production, project management and business. Their qualifications include advanced degrees and a wide range of technical certifications, and they stay up-to-date on the latest changes in technology. Some of IBS's more notable clients include United Bank, Finck & Perras Insurance, and Girls, Inc. of Holyoke. Visit the IBS website at www.for-ibs.com for more detail about their mission, staff and services. IBS can be contacted at 413-584-4274, or by email at sales@for-ibs.com .
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Would you like your business to be featured in a future Member Spotlight? Contact the Chamber office and we will put you on the list.
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Member News: Pioneer Valley Ballet Begins Season
On December 9-11, the Pioneer Valley Ballet began its 2011-2012 season with its 33rd annual production of the Nutcracker, under the artistic direction of Maryanne Delisle Kodzis and Thomas Vacanti. Held at the Academy of Music Theatre, this event included over 250 dancers from towns throughout western Massachusetts in six performances attended by more than 3800 in audience.
The Pioneer Valley Ballet season runs from December through June. Auditions have begun for their next performance, Cinderella, scheduled for March 31 and April 1. Tickets for Cinderella will go on sale in February.
The school associated with the Pioneer Valley B allet has been in existence since 1972. Directed by Thomas Vacanti and Maryanne Delisle Kodzis, the school is dedicated to providing all children with the opportunity to experience the joys of movement through the study of classical ballet.
In November 2011, Pioneer Valley Ballet announced that three of its high-school-age students, Lucas Klinge, Cassidy Hall and Marikate McConnell, were invited to train with ballet schools and companies across the country. Pioneer Valley Ballet dancers have also participated in summer programs at Ballet Austin, the American Ballet Theatre, Boston Ballet, Carolina Ballet, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Juilliard, Miami Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, the School of American Ballet, the San Francisco Ballet, and Walnut Hill.
For more information about Pioneer Valley Ballet, whose studio is located at 116 Pleasant St, Easthampton in the Eastworks building, go to www.pioneervalleyballet.org or call 413-527-6363. Tickets to performances can be purchased online, at the studio or at the Academy of Music.
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Member News: Quintessence Easthampton Unites Five Businesses
Five businesses located in downtown Easthampton have joined together to form the unique group Quintessence Easthampton. All five businesses offer related services for the home: Eastmont Custom Framing at 43 Main Street, and Harry King Rug and Home, Nash Gallery, KW Home, and White Square Fine Books & Art on Cottage Street. Quintessence Easthampton describes the group as "five independent shop owners working collaboratively to enrich your life and home with complementary artistic, cultural and home design products and services." Their new website and Facebook page contain links to the five businesses and describe events and promotions to be held throughout the year. The group has also placed large color ads in several prominent print publications. Quintessence Easthampton's first collective event was a progressive soiree on November 26, to celebrate Small Business Saturday. Participants received a printed menu highlighting the fare being served at each location. The event began with appetizers at Eastmont Custom Framing and proceeded to each of the four other shops, concluding with dessert, live music, and a raffled gift basket valued at $500 (won by Mary Cadorette) at White Square Fine Books & Art. "Given the huge success of the "soiree," we are all excited about our next event," said Marlies Stoddard, Owner of Nash Gallery. However, Stoddard refused to provide any more details at this time. "Just expect to be Wowed!" 
To help raise awareness for The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts' ongoing need for food donations, KW Home is participating in Gus* Modern's Keep on Giving event. Customers will receive 15% off Gus* Modern Essentials (includes upholstery, dining, storage, lighting, and accessories) when they bring 3 non-perishable food items into the store. The event ends January 31, 2012.
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