Southern Berkshire Chamber Seeks Nominations for Business Person of the Year

The Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce is seeking nominations for "business person of the year."

If you know someone who fits the criteria, send the Chamber the person's name, along with a few paragraphs about why you've nominated him or her (the Chamber won't accept a nomination without explanation), to ed@rnetworx.com by Friday, April 30.

The criteria are:

Personal Qualities: integrity, entrepreneurial ability, personal contributions outside of immediate business interest, role model to other business people;  leadership and vision

Managerial Skills: leadership quality, productivity, maintaining a positive work  environment, successful performance, fullfilling organization's goals and mission

Contribution to the Southern Berkshires: policies and projects that have a positive impact on the community, collaboration between business and community, business support of the community.

Last year the Chamber Board selected David J. Bruce, president and chief executive officer at Lee Bank. Bruce has held his current position at Lee Bank since 1989 and is responsible for all aspects of the operation of the bank and its holding company Berkshire Financial Services.

Excelsior Offering 'Flip' Technology

A local custom printer is partnering with a technology startup to offer customers in Berkshire and Hampden counties a new way to publish their printed material online.

Excelsior Printing Co.  in North Adams will be the exclusive provider of Flip Page Publishing's 3D publishing technology. Excelsior will be able to offer customers a three-dimensional version of printed collateral on their Web sites through a plug-in created by Flip Page and delivered through Excelsior.

It will allow customers to "effectively communicate in cross-media channels," said David Crane, Excelsior's owner and president.

The technology allows the read to zoom in and out, print and share documents as well as, of course, "flip" the pages. Flip Page Publishing is based in Branford, Ontario.
 
"The Massachusetts marketplace is a new venture for Flip Page Publishing and we feel it is full of opportunity," said Flip Page's President Brent Palmer.

Excelsior has been in business for 118 years and is a provider of custom and innovative print and distribution programs throughout North America. Excelsior became Berkshire County's first Forest Stewardship Council certified "green" printer in 2008.

Social Media Marketing is Focus of Upcoming Visitors Bureau Conference

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Visitors Bureau wants to help the local travel industry harness the power of social media. On Thursday, April 8, the organization will host its "Eye on Travel 2010" conference at the Crowne Plaza, with the theme "Social Media Marketing."

The program, which runs from 1 to 5 p.m., includes a keynote by Ethan Zuckerman, senior researcher at the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University, and sessions on social media as it relates to customer service, how to use social media effectively, and emerging trends. For a full program, click here.

Conference fees are $69 for bureau or area chamber of commerce members; $99 for nonmembers. The registration deadline is Thursday, April 1.

For more information or to register, click here.

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Network with Berkshire Young Professionals

Berkshire Young Professionals, a program of the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce, will host a Networking Social at Rouge Restaurant and Bistro, 3 Center St., West Stockbridge, next Thursday, March 25, from 5 to 7 p.m.

Young professionals from around the county are invited to enjoy complimentary hors d’oeuvres and networking. The event will include a cash bar and attendees are encouraged to bring business cards in order to enter into a free gift drawing.

The event is open to anyone who lives or works in Berkshire County; registration is required. To register, call 413-499-4000, extension 26, e-mail byp@berkshirechamber.com or register at www.berkshirechamber.com.

Berkshire Young Professionals’ events are open to all professionals and students living and/or working in Berkshire County. Events are hosted at popular venues throughout Berkshire County to foster networking opportunities for young professionals to build their careers, build friendships and enrich the community.

Berkshire Chamber 'Eggs & Issues' Features Alcombright

New North Adams Mayor Dick Alcombright's a popular guy at chamber breakfasts. If you missed him at the Williamstown breakfast last month, he'll be speaking next Wednesday, March 24, at a Berkshire Chamber of Commerce "Eggs & Issues" event at the Bounti-Fare in Adams.

The Berkshire Chamber hosts the informal breakfasts to allow members to hear about topical issues with local and regional experts and officials. The last breakfast was held at Hillcrest Educational Centers with Sen. Ben Downing (also a frequent favorite lately at area chamber events).

Wednesday's event, sponsored by MountainOne Financial Partners, will run from 8 to 9:30 and feature a light but we'll bet tasty breakfast, based on past experience.

The cost to attend the event is $10 for Berkshire Chamber members and $15 for nonmembers. Sign up by contacting Christine Hoyt at 413-499-4000, Ext. 26, or choyt@berkshirechamber.com or at www.berkshirechamber.com.

We'll see you there.