Monday, March 5, 2012

8:00 am to 9:00 am

Tighe & Bond

53 Southampton Road

Westfield, MA 01085

The Chamber invites you to come and visit with Mayor Dan Knapik. This coffee hour will keep you updated on our great City of Westfield!

To register, please call Carrie at 568-1618 or email info@westfieldbiz.org.

March WestNet Plus One!

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

5:00 pm to 7:00 pm

PeoplesBank

281 East Main Street

Westfield, MA 01085

We invite you to enjoy an evening of networking and connecting to Chamber businesses. Chamber members are $10 and non-members are $15 cash.

Free hors d'oeurvres and cocktails will be available.

To register, please call Carrie at 568-1618 or emai info@westfieldbiz.org.

Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce

51st Annual Golf Tournament

Monday, June 18, 2012

East Mountain Country Club

1458 East Mountain Road

Westfield MA 01085

Register early for this popular event. Sponsorships are currently available. Contact Dave Felty for details at dfelty@fivestarcorp.net 

See the full GWCC Calendar

The GWCC Executive Committee meets on the second Wednesday of every month. The full GWCC Board of Directors meets on the third Wednesday of the month. Your Board of Directors is listed here: http://www.westfieldbiz.org/directors-officers.html

Fund Development Committee

(Meetings are held the first Wednesday of every month at 8:00 am at Air Compressor Eng.)

We would like to welcome three new members to the FD Committee: Bill Rhodes (Hampshire Fire Protection), Chuck Kelly (Flowers by Webster), and Mary Ann Dennis (All Events Realized). If you would like to be a part of this committee, please contact Dave Felty at dfelty@fivestarcorp.net.

The Fund Development Committee is working very hard on increasing the attendance at our Chamber's WestNets by adding a DJ and having a photographer there to record the events.

The Golf Tournament to be held on Monday, June 18th at East Mountain Country Club is moving forward. Bruce Turcotte has agreed to Chair the event with many of the FD Committee members also assisting. Please contact Carrie Dearing at 568.1618 or email at info@westfieldbiz.org for sponsorship opportunities.

Membership Committee

The Membership Committee has been out in full force for the last three Friday's pounding the pavement in Westfield. Teams of two have been visiting businesses with sunglasses in hand and asking them to join. We will know the fruits of their labor very shortly. If you would like to be a member of this committee, please contact Sean Hogan at sean@teamhogan.com.

Here is a list of our committees and contact names. We welcome current and new members to get involved. Please feel free to contact the chairpersons below if you would like to participate on a committee.

• Feasibility Study: 20 consultants are looking to bid on the PVTA project. The final environmental report is in. Sitting down with Mass Dev. to start cleanup. Early 2013 for demolition; slight chance for end of 2012.
• Mayor will be asking the City Council for $25,000.00 to begin surveys and appraisals for the Airport Industrial Park Road improvements for future development.
• City is meeting with Mass Dev. on a $25,000 grant for urban renewal plan for Turnpike Industrial Road area.
• City officials, local chamber executives, state elected officials and other dignitaries met with Lt. Governor Tim Murray at the 104th Fighter Wing at Barnes Regional Airport regarding pending DOD budget cuts and base realignments. The state government and base officials want to be proactive in communicating the economic impact and security value our base provides well in advance of any budget cuts.
• State grant money available for Twilight High School workforce development.
• $1M grant received for Friends Of the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail to pave from the Southwick line to 700 ft before the Tin Bridge; funds include creating 60 parking spaces at Shaker Farms Country Club.
• Mayor launching new cable TV Channel 15 Show: "Working in Westfield." First guest will be McNairn Packaging. He is looking for businesses to showcase.

Correction from last month:

• Washington Street School renovations are underway and on schedule to open in the fall of 2012 for a 116 bed student housing facility. The building is not being demolished as stated in last month's newsletter.

You can profile and advertise

your company here for $75.00

Help Support the Airmen from the 104th Fighter Wing

Many members from the 104th Fighter Wing will be deploying in the spring of 2012. The Unit's Airmen and Family Readiness Office is collecting personal hygiene items for 300 travel kits and need the following travel size items:

Deodorant, Shampoo, Mouthwash, Tooth Brush, Hand Sanitizers, Baby Wipes (travel size), Body Wash, Tissues, Chap stick, Sunscreen, Razors (disposable), and Shaving Cream.

Help support our troops by contacting Ms. Sandy Wakefield at Sandra.Wakefield@ang.af.mil or 568.9151 ext. 6981183.

Westfield Bank Announces Two New Appointments

Westfield Bank President and CEO James Hagan is pleased to announce the promotion of Cathy Jocelyn to the position of Assistant Vice President/Marketing Manager. Cathy has worked at Westfield Bank for three years, previously serving as Marketing Manager.

In this new role, Cathy is responsible for the Bank's day-to-day marketing, promotion and public relations, along with coordinating community outreach and the Future Fund. She brings 27 years of banking experience, along with six years working as the Advancement Director for St. Mary's Schools in Westfield. Cathy is a graduate of Bay Path College in Longmeadow, Mass. In her spare time, Cathy serves on the Advancement Board for St. Mary's Schools, volunteers at Grandmothers' Garden, and is a past wish granter for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. She resides in Westfield with her family.

Westfield Bank President and CEO James Hagan is pleased to announce the appointment of Carole Desroches to the position of Assistant Vice President/Investment Officer. Carole has 16 years of experience in the banking industry, and will work primarily out of Westfield Bank's corporate office.  In this role, Carole will work with Westfield Bank's investment portfolio to develop new strategies and provide on-going analysis. Carole earned her bachelor's degree in Marketing and Management from Western New England University, and an MBA from Nichols College.In her spare time, Carole serves as the Treasurer for the Belchertown Service Unit with the Salvation Army. In the past, she has volunteered for the Pioneer Valley Girl Scouts, the Belchertown Public Schools, and served on the board for the Belchertown-Granby Eagles. She resides in Belchertown with her family.

United Way Of Pioneer Valley Celebrates New Office Location

United Way of Pioneer Valley relocated from its long-time home at 184 Mill Street to 1441 Main Street in Springfield on the first floor of the TD Bank building on January 17, 2012.  

"Our new location provides us with the space needed to support all of our work, and allows us to forge and support new partnerships and collaborations," said Dora D. Robinson, President & CEO.    The new location enhances United Way's work and broadens its reach and impact in the community. The main floor location at 1441 Main Street in Springfield also accommodates professional development, training and volunteer opportunities in the non-profit sector.

Stanley Park of Westfield is proud to announce the Friends of Ozzie Webcam is now live on their website!

The link is on the right hand side of the Park's home page at www.stanleypark.org. The website will offer four vantage views of the duck pond area. One view is live while the other three are 30 second refresh views.

We, at Stanley Park would like to thank Mobius Works, Westfield Bank and all the Friends of Ozzie within the community and beyond for their thoughtful donations. Your generosity and love of Ozzie made this possible.  Ozzie touched many people in the years that he was at Stanley Park.  Ozzie will keep a watchful eye on his fellow ducks and now you too can stay connected with the Park's ducks and ponds from wherever you are. Enjoy the view!

Donations can be made to Friends of Ozzie

Stanley Park

400 Western Avenue

Westfield, MA 01085

All donations made to the Friends of Ozzie Memorial Fund are tax deductible.

Creative Machining & Molding Corp

Creative Machining & Molding Corp has moved to:

300 Union Street, Westfield, MA  01085

Their telephone and fax numbers have not changed!

Helen McCormack

Administrative Assistant

helen@creativemmc.com

413-562-3884 tel.

413-562-4692 fax

Congratulations on your new location!

104th Fighter Wing - Air National Guard

I had the privilege of being invited by the 104th Fighter Wing at Barnes Regional Airport for a strategic planning meeting and base tour.  With the recent announcement of pending DOD budget cuts, I want to share with you the cost benefits of having The Air National Guard in our community.

Lenny Weake, Executive Director, Quabog Valley Chamber of Commerce, General Gary Keefe, Colonel Edward Gunning, Kate Phelon, Executive Director, GWWC 

Each month a Chamber member has the opportunity to submit a write-up on their company and the profile will be under the "Member Spotlight" section for a fee of $75. Please submit images no wider than 440px.

All members are encouraged to submit their upcoming events to be published at no cost! The deadline for submission is the third Thursday, 5:00 pm of every month - no exceptions!

Sponsorships and/or advertising are available to you in our newsletter. Please contact the Chamber office at 568.1618 for more information.

The Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce serves the communities of Blandford, Chester, Granville, Huntington, Montgomery, Russell, Tolland, Southwick, and Westfield.