Greetings from the Executive Director
Now is the time that Mike and I are plotting and planning our vegetable garden. Seed-starting time is always exciting for me. As with spring, those trays are full of potential. Imagine you plant one squash. One plant grows; however, did you know that from that one squash plant, you can get, on average, 40 squash? Then, from each squash, you could get hundreds more seeds. And the cycle continues... this is so amazing to me!
The same is true for your business. One seed, or, idea, creative impulse or action could cascade into success and potential that is simply amazing. So often we find ourselves caught up in either our own self-doubt or the negative spiral of others. It typically falls within these two categories. I have come to realize that I just do not have the time to get bogged down with any of this. I do not want to hear the 10 reasons why it can't be done. I want to hear the one reason why it should, and then we can work on how we can!
I believe that together, through the Chamber, there's a whole lot of why we should and how we can yet to be realized! What seeds are you planting this spring? We'd like to know.
info@easthamptonchamber.org
Ciao for now!
Moe
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Member Spotlight: Sven Kielhorn, eTown Videos
Congratulations to Sven Kielhorn of eTown Videos, Southampton, for winning the Chamber's 2014 Business Person of the Year award. Sven has owned and operated eTown Videos for nine years. He both lives and works in the Greater Easthampton area and has been an entrepreneur since he arrived in this country from Braunshweig, Germany, and completed his MBA at AIC. His first business was in telecommunications sales, followed by eTown Videos. In 2006, Sven turned his personal interest in photography and video into a business, working as a team with his wife, Denise. Gradually, he has grown his business to the point that he now has one employee and 10 subcontractors and offers full-service video production, from concept to finished product, including set design, scripting, voice-over, animation and editing, using the best digital and hi-definition equipment available. Sven serves the whole New England area and can advise businesses on how to use social media to effectively market their products. Sven's most recent accomplishment is a series of public information videos about the Knowledge Corridor for the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (see article below), which will eventually be televised. View this video to meet Sven and find out more about his business. The Chamber is grateful for the time Sven volunteers producing videos for our Member Spotlights, which he has done since 2011, providing these business marketing opportunities free of charge to our members. Sven can be reached at 413-324-1130. Visit his website to learn more about eTown Videos services, and his Facebook page to see samples of his work. Contact the Chamber to request a Member Spotlight video.
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News
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Do you have news to share or have an interest in the "Member Spotlight"? Contact us at the Chamber office 413.527.9414 to learn more.
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Member News: Genevieve Brough is New President of Finck & Perras Insurance Agency
 The Chamber sends warm congratulations to Genevieve Brough on her purchase of Finck & Perras Insurance Agency, 6 Campus Lane, Easthampton., with a second office in Florence.
Gen bought the agency from founders Roger and Joanne Finck and Richard Perras in a deal that closed Jan. 1. The company's 27 employees-including her husband, Patrick-serve over 10,000 customers. Roger Finck and Richard Perras retired in December, and Joanne Finck remains on as company vice president, running the Florence office.
Gen emphasizes the value of the personalized service her business can offer to customers. She believes the insurance business is "all about building relationships...You want to be in front of the customer or on the phone with the customer as much as possible."
Gen was born and raised in Easthampton, where she lives today on Briggs Street with Patrick and their two children.
 With a BA from Simmons College and an MBA, Gen worked as a customer service representative and office manager at Finck & Perras until she became partner in 2004. Now, as president and owner, she hopes to keep the business in her family and see it grow in the future.
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Member News: Riverside Auction on April 10
This year's Riverside Auction is Friday, April 10, from 6-9 p.m. at One Cottage Street in Easthampton. It is a premiere community event you will not want to miss! There is something for everyone to Taste the Arts, Taste the Eats, & Taste the Beat.
One Cottage Street will be transformed into a gala venue for the Riverside Auction, with plentiful displays of entertainment, travel, sports memorabilia and spa packages to place your bids, while enjoying the food, friendship and good cheer. This festive gala attracts more than 400 guests who come from every sector of our community, including local business people; civic leaders, town government officials, teachers and school staff, artists and musicians...AND THEY WANT YOU.
Riverside Industries supports hundreds of individuals living with developmental disabilities, and their families, from 33 towns in the Western Massachusetts region. With community support like the auction, Riverside is successfully thriving and innovative in its approach to ensure that its participants continue to be active and contributing members of our society in everyday life, learning, culture, volunteering and work opportunities. This community integration allows each one of us to live a more rich and meaningful life.
 To find out more about the Riverside Auction, go to http://www.rsi.org/support-us/riverside-auction.html. Call Nisa Joy Zalta, Director of Community Relations; she will be delighted to talk with you about the event, a tour of Riverside, or volunteering, at 413-527-2711 ext. 155, or email her at nzalta@rsi.org.
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Area News: Introduction to the Knowledge Corridor
We've heard all about the "Knowledge Corridor" in the news. We have seen the new Amtrak Vermonter train moving through Northampton on its way to Vermont and Hartford. What is the Knowledge Corridor all about, and what does it mean for our towns?
What is the Knowledge Corridor? Over the last 10 years, Connecticut and Western Mass. planning agencies have defined the Central Connecticut and Western Mass. regions, including the cities of Hartford and Springfield, as a single economic unit tied together by a wide range of regional assets, such as educational facilities, transportation, and natural, historic and cultural resources. The Corridor consists of a total of 80 communities, which all stand to benefit from coordinated planning.
What is the Sustainable Knowledge Corridor Consortium? It's a collaboration of the Pioneer Valley Regional Planning Commission, the Capitol Region Council of Governments, and Central Connecticut Planning Agency, partnering with 30 other agencies. Their mission is "to preserve, create and maintain a sustainable, economically competitive, and equitable bi-state region." Using a three-year HUD grant, the consortium developed and published a work plan in 2014,
View this video, produced by eTown Videos, to learn more about the Knowledge Corridor and the Consortium's goals.
What does this mean for Greater Easthampton? As local businesses and residents, we hope to see such benefits as increases in economic development; increased demand for housing and related services; more investment in existing buildings, neighborhoods and critical infrastructure; improvements in public transportation; revitalization of urban centers; and greater access to local sources of food.
What's next? One of the major goals in this plan, the rerouting and opening in December of the Amtrak Vermonter train service, has been achieved, and expanded commuter rail service between Springfield and Hartford is in the planning stage. The Pioneer Valley Regional Planning Commission also offers the Pioneer Valley Sustainability Toolkit, to be used by 43 Pioneer Valley communities in the Corridor to work toward sustainability goals.
For more information, go to the Consortium's website at http://sustainableknowledgecorridor.org/site/.
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Board Member Profile: David Boyle
 NAME: David Boyle
COMPANY: A-Z Storage and Properties
YEARS WITH CHAMBER AND POSITIONS/OFFICES HELD: Board member, 2015.
YEAR YOUR BUSINESS STARTED: 1988
WHAT YOU DO: I work with my brother and sister operating a real estate company that develops and manages apartments, office space and self-storage units.
EXPERIENCE OR BACKGROUND: I started as a teenager mowing lawns for my father's real estate company. After college, I joined his company and became involved in all aspects of property management and new home construction. Two and a half years ago, my brother, sister and I formed our own company.
SOMETHING THAT OTHERS MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU: Outside of real estate, I treasure time with my family and like to play hockey and golf. Additionally, I like to study leadership and strategy.
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Monday Morning with the Mayor, March 9
Getting Down to Business about Business
Monday, March 9, from 8 to 9 a.m.. This month's event will be hosted by the Finck and Perras Insurance Agency, 6 Campus Lane, Easthampton. Come with your questions for Mayor Karen Cadieux in an informal setting. Please RSVP to 527-9414 asap if you plan to attend.
Interested in hosting a future Monday Morning? Contact the Chamber at 527-9414.
Save The Dates: Chamber Speaker Series 2015
The Chamber is pleased to announce the dates for our 2015 Speaker Series, These are events to promote the success of our members through increasing business skills and knowledge. Events are also open to the business community at large. Save these 2015 dates, and watch for individual announcements!
April 2: Legisl ative Luncheon with Speaker DeLeo and Senate Pres. Rosenberg; collaboration with Holyoke Chamber. See more info here.
April 23: "Small Business Startup Roundtable," with City Planner Jessica Allan, Municipal Building, Easthampton.
June 18: Panel, "North-South Rail Transportation Project: What It means for Easthampton," hosted by Williston Northampton School.
Fall 2015 (date TBA): Creative Manufacturing Tour of Easthampton, with City Planner Jessica Allan.
November 6: "Checkpoint 2015: Legislative Summit," a daylong conference with legislative leaders, co-sponsored with other chambers.
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No Networking in March
See you April 9 at
One Bar & Grill
Pleasant St, Northampton
MONDAY MORNING with the MAYOR
March 9
Finck & Perras
Insurance Agency, Inc.
April 13
Burger King, Easthampton
___________
St. Pat's Luncheon
March 20
Southampton CC
Sponsored by
Finck & Perras
___________
Table Top Expo
March 25
Log Cabin
___________
Speaker Series
April 2
Legislative Luncheon
featuring Speaker DeLeo and
Senate President
Stan Rosenberg
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One of the benefits of membership in the Chamber is the opportunity to
take advantage of great discounts and "Member2Member"
benefits, those
discounts and special
offers
that are provided by
Chamber members, to
Chamber members.
Have you taken advantage
of these offers? Do you
have an offer of your
own for fellow Chamber
members? Let us know,
and we'll list your offer
in our monthly newsletter
all year 'round
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Our Members Currently Participating in Member2Member Offers
Constant Contact
Wireless Zone
Tech Calvary
Innovative Business Systems
Tunnel 7
Fran's Fine Editing
Jo Landers Business Services
Manhan Bicycles
Nash Gallery
StarView Events
Riff's Joint
Learn More
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| | How to get a complimentary Easthampton Chamber marketing video |
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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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