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Welcome to Our New Executive Director: Maureen Belliveau
 After an extensive search, the Chamber is happy to announce its new executive director, Maureen "Moe" Belliveau. Maureen will begin work at the Chamber office on October 6.
Maureen had 20 years of small business and entrepreneurial experience, prior to starting her most recent position as executive director of the Westfield Business Improvement District. She worked for the Westfield BID for two years and contributed to the enhancement of the downtown Westfield area, through planning and her management of Community Development Block Grant programs. Maureen developed and coordinated major events such as the MusicFest, a broadcast of Team USA's soccer match against Belgium on Westfield Park Square Green with vendors and hundreds of spectators, restaurant and pub tours, and a farmer's market. She also took the lead on local downtown beautification services and created Westfield's first "Bag Day" event for Small Business Saturday.
During the time she was executive director, Maureen served on many community boards and committees, including the Westfield Women's Club Foundation, Westfield on Weekends, Shurtleff Children's Services Foundation, Pioneer Valley Planning Commission Brownfield Advisory Committee, and Friends of the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail.
As an entrepreneur, Maureen cofounded and co-owned a massage business, Optimum Health Therapeutic Massage in downtown Westfield, with her former partner for six years, and was store manager for Eastern Mountain Sports for five years. She was also an instructor at Stillpoint Center of Massage Therapy and a designer and project manager for Aetna Life and Casualty. Maureen expressed her artistic side with early training in architectural and civil drafting and design.
The Chamber board was impressed by Maureen's high energy and can-do approach to her work, and her excellent management, interpersonal and social media skills. Says Chamber President Vicky Puza-Allen, "We are very excited to begin working with Maureen and having her leadership in the Chamber. We were struck by Maureen's energy and passion for her work. When she speaks about the projects she has chaired in the past, her enthusiasm is contagious."
Maureen will be at the Chamber's next Networking by Night event on October 9 at Eastworks, so plan to attend the event ( see details) and welcome her.
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We would like to help you get followers, likes or subscribers. The Chamber website allows for links to your YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter pages. Give the office a call or shoot us an email and we can add the links to your Directory page.
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Member News: Western Mass Business Expo is Oct. 29
 The 2014 Western Mass Business Expo will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 29 at the MassMutual Center, 1277 Main St., Springfield. The day-long business marketing and networking event will feature more than 150 exhibitors and a host of informational seminars and programs.
The event schedule will be: breakfast, 7:30 - 8:45 am; Expo floor open 9 am - 4 pm; Expo Social 4:00 - 6:30 pm.
Attendance to the show is free and open to the public. To avoid long lines, pre-registration is recommended at http://www.wmbexpo.com/registration/ . There are costs associated with attending the Chamber Breakfast, to feature keynote speaker Gov. Deval Patrick, and the Expo Lunch; pre-registration for these events is required and can be completed online. Exhibitors are welcome and encouraged to register early. Business sponsorships are also still available as of this date. Contact (413) 781-8600, ext. 100 to register as an exhibitor or sponsor. In previous years, 2,000 to 3,000 visitors attended the Expo, a majority them high-level executives from a wide variety of local industries.
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Area News: "Roll on Down" to the Westhampton Fall Festival on Oct. 19
 There's no better way to enjoy the autumn season than going to a local fall festival. The 9th annual Westhampton Fall Festival and Great Pumpkin Roll will be Sunday, Oct. 19, running from 10:15 a.m. to 7 p.m. It will take place in the town center at 1 North Road.
The festival is sponsored by the Friends of the Westhampton Public Library, the Westhampton Elementary PTO, the Fire Dept., and other civic groups, offering food, games, music and more. This year's event includes including a 5K benefit Walk/Run, "Cow Pie Bingo," church steeple tours, a classic car show, live music, cider making and farm animals. Admission is free and parking is available.
The race is a 5K run and 2 mile fun walk to benefit the Westhampton Public Library, with prizes for the top 3 runners in all age groups. Suggested donation to participate in the Walk/Run is $10.00. Registration before October 16 can be done by emailing phil@northeastpaint.com , and onsite registration is also available starting at 11:30. The race begins at 12:30.
More information about the festival can be found at www.whamplib.org or by calling Janice Tracey at 527-1731. Contact phil@northeastpaint.com for more information about the race.
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Don't Miss These Two Special Chamber Events!
--Workforce Training Funds breakfast, Oct. 23
Want to make your taxes work for you as a business? Come to the next event in our Chamber Speaker Series, a breakfast and presentation by Johanna Hall on Workforce Training Funds you can qualify for, on Oct. 23 from 7:30 to 9:00. Find more information about the Workforce Training Funds program here.
The event will take place at Southampton Country Club and is co-sponsored by Franklin-Hampshire Career Center and Batchelder Associates.
 
--Forum for Businesses on Cyber Security, Nov. 5
With the upcoming holiday season, local merchants may want to know more about how to ensure credit card security and information privacy. The Greater Easthampton Chamber, in conjunction with Chamber members Easthampton Savings Bank and Florence Bank, is holding a "Cyber Security Forum" on Wednesday, November 5, at the Eastworks building from 6 pm-8 pm.
There will be a panel of speakers talking about what you can do as a business owner to protect not only your information, but also your customers. Refreshments will be provided. Stay tuned to the Chamber website and Facebook page for future information about this timely forum about cyber security.
 
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Board Member Profile: Meet Beth Rossi
 NAME: Beth (Duseau) Rossi JOB TITLE, COMPANY: Owner/manager of Duseau Trucking in Hatfield YEARS WITH CHAMBER AND POSITIONS/OFFICES HELD: I have been a proud Easthampton Board of Directors member since 2009. YEAR YOUR BUSINESS STARTED: Ours is a local, family-owned and -operated business started in 1947 by my grandfather, Armand senior. WHAT YOU DO: My working title is "Trash Girl," but it's not glamorous! EXPERIENCE OR BACKGROUND: I graduated from UMass Amherst in 1981 as an Economics major and have been actively involved in our family business since 1992. SOMETHING THAT OTHERS MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU (HOBBIES, ETC.): I have a husband and two daughters, who take much of my time! I'm a "lake girl," not an ocean girl. And I have been an aerobics instructor for over 30 years. 
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Newsletter Sponsor
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NEW MEMBERS
Zina Publishing Direct Mail Magazines
Capital Bankcard- Hometown Merchant Solutions, Inc.
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October 9
Eastworks Building
October 20
Opa Opa Steakhouse and Brewery
October 23
Southampton CC
October 29
Mass Mutual Center, Springfield
Bowl a Thon
November 1
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These member benefits are in addition to those Member to Member benefits already detailed online and in our MembershipDirectory.
LEARN MORE
If your business would like to offer a new Member to Member benefit, contact the Chamber. Your business will appear in this newsletter and, if your offer renews each year, it will appear in the Membership Directory.
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
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NEW Free Speaker Series for Hampshire County Businesses Sept. - Oct. TechCavalry / Innovative Business Systems Fee Waiver
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EYE ON POLICY & POLICY MAKERS
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Visiting the Area?
Greater Easthampton offers a wide range of activities - arts, food, shopping, the outdoors - for you and your family. To find out more of what is happening in the valley go to visithampshirecounty.com!
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