SPRINGFIELD REGIONAL CHAMBER

WHAT’S INSIDE:

LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE 2020 DEVELOPS MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS

BARTENDERS WANTED FOR FIRE & ICE

RISEUP SPRINGFIELD GRADUATES SECOND COHORT

NANCY CREED’S ‘A VIEW FROM THE HILL’

NEWS ABOUT OUR FOCUSING ON BUSINESS GROWTH: MEMBERS MICHAEL EPAUL‘S RISEUP SPRINGFIELD EXPERIENCE

CONNECT 2 COMMERCE SPRINGFIELD REGIONAL CHAMBER | DECEMBER 2019 CHAMBER NEWS NEW MEMBERS ANNIVERSARY MEMBERS Companies and organizations listed here have made an important Every month the Chamber honors those members who have investment in their business and in the community by joining the continuously supported our mission throughout the years. Chamber. Do business with Chamber members. It’s good business! The following members joined in the month of October. Happy Anniversary!

Alton E. Gleason Paving Co., Inc. 10 Year Anniversary A family-owned and operated, third Dakin Humane Society generation paving business located in Springfield and established in 1938. 5 Year Anniversary Dave’s Truck Repair Louis & Clark Pharmacy Millennium Press Long-term care pharmacy, founded in 1963 UMass Center at Springfield and headquartered in Springfield. 1 Year Anniversary New Valley Bank and Trust Frances Richardson (PWC)

CHAMBER STAFF & XXXV111 . NO. 3 THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES CHAMBER CHANNELS (USPS681-850)

President: is published bimonthly with $5 of Chamber dues Nancy Creed • 413-755-1309 covering subscription costs. Director – Marketing and Communications: Postmaster: Maureen Sullivan • 413-755-1312 Send address changes to: Chamber Channels, 1441 Main Street, Manager – Events and Program Administration: Springfield, MA 01103-1449 Grace Szydziak • 413-755-1310 Telephone: 413-787-1555 Director – Membership Development: James Majka • (413) 266-9145 Fax: 413-755-1322

Staff Accountant: Email: [email protected] Urszula Cook • 413-755-1308 Accounts Payable Clerk: Website: www.springfieldregionalchamber.com Carrie Dzialo • 413-755-1307 Chief Financial Officer: News & Advertising Deadline: 10th of every month Lynn Kucejko • 413-755-1306 Send any staff member email: Publisher: Springfield Regional Chamber [email protected] Editor: Maureen Sullivan

MISSION STATEMENT The Springfield Regional Chamber represents the region and its geographic hub of Springfield and more than 600 businesses of all sizes, industries and professions, providing leadership to promote, support and enhance the economic health of the business community and the region.

2 WWW.SPRINGFIELDREGIONALCHAMBER.COM | 413-787-1555 CHAMBER NEWS NANCY’S VIEW FROM THE HILL As you know, the Legislative Session began in January with nearly 6,000 bills filed. The Chamber and its Legislative Steering Committee identified more than 600 pieces of legislation that could impact your business. We will be monitoring these throughout the session, take positions as appropriate, Board of Directors 2019-2020 communicate our concerns, advocate on your President: Gillian Amaral, behalf and keep you informed of our progress. Vice President: Madeline Landrau, MassMutual Treasurer: Caron LaCour, Burkhart Pizzanelli, PC The first session of a two-year session is primarily information gathering, Assistant Treasurer: Lauri Lavell, Westfield Bank with most of the work completed in the second year. Here’s a quick recap of Secretary: Jeannie Filomeno, Marcotte Ford what has happened on your behalf in 2019: Directors: Mary Akers, Work Opportunity Center Paid Family/Medical Leave. While the new Paid Family and Medical Jenny MacKay, USI Insurance Services, LLC Leave program was passed in June of 2018, the Chamber continued Amie Miarecki, Sunshine Village to be very active on this issue, providing counsel to the Department Lidya Rivera-Early, Springfield Technical on the drafting of the regulations; securing the necessary delay to the Community College implementation