Aggie Commissioner Speaking at Chamber Breakfast

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Have breakfast down on the farm with the state's agriculture commissioner this May.

Scott Soares, who came to the Berkshires to be sworn in last April, is the guest speaker for the latest Berkshire Chamber of Commerce "Eggs & Issues" breakfast on Friday, May 7, from 8 to 9:30 at Crissey Farm, 426 Stockbridge Road.

The mini-chamber breakfasts are designed to focus on local issues in more intimate settings than the full chamber breakfasts. Soares has been recognized as a strong advocate for agricultural interests here in Massachusetts.

Cost: $10 for Berkshire Chamber members or $15 for non-members.
 

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.

Berkshire Chamber Job Fair Draws Hundreds

About 250 people attended the job fair sponsored by the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce at the Berkshire Hills Country Club in Pittsfield on Thursday. That figure was lower than last year — during the depths of the recession — but  the good news was that the number of employers and employment resource services was up.

Christine Hoyt, the chamber's director of programs and events, said the turnout was good on both sides. "We had more than 40 employers, a little more than last year," she said. "Employers were satisfied with the good quality of the job seekers."

The excellent weather, along with the economy's slow emergence from the financial crisis, may have played a factor in the about average attendance, said Hoyt.

Employers ranging from LTI Smartglass, Interprint, Williams College and Norman Rockwell were on hand offering opportunities for the right candidates. iBerkshires' sister site, BerkshireJobs.com, also had a booth.

Lenox Chamber to Open New Visitor Center

LENOX, Mass. — The Lenox Chamber of Commerce is working on a new visitor information center, to be located in the Town Hall, 6 Walker St.

According to the Chamber, the new center is due to open mid-spring and will have a "half price" ticket agency for some of the area's attractions, and will provide "the usual lodging, restaurant, shopping referrals and informational services" the Chamber office currently provides. In addition, there will be a guest phone for local area calls and a computer display of the county's attractions. The center will be open seven days a week during the high visitor season, with hours to be determined during the off season.

Vickie Salvatore from the Lenox Historical Society is helping with the decor.

If you'd like to volunteer with the project, contact Ralph at the Chamber (413-637-3646), Peggy Roethel at the Garden Gables Inn (413-637-0193) or Judie Culver at the Purple Plume (413-637-3442), or email info@lenox.org.

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.