Robin Helfand to speak at New York retail convention
Great Barrington — Robin Helfand, owner of Robin’s Candy, will speak at Retail’s BIG Show, the annual convention of the National Retail Federation (NRF), at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York City on Sunday, Jan. 15. Helfland will participate in a panel focusing on ways in which small businesses can successfully navigate growth.
Said Helfand, “As Great Barrington navigates a transition on our Main Street, retailers are challenged to find opportunity amidst the changes. The health and vitality of our ‘Main Street’ is inherently linked to the willingness of each small business to participate in shaping the future of our commercial district. Speaking at the National Retail Federation conference this weekend presents an opportunity to highlight Great Barrington’s attributes and hopefully lead to further growth with the opportunity to shine a national ‘spotlight’ on our beautiful ‘spot’ in the Berkshires!”
The NRF’s annual conference is attended by more 35,000 retailers and those in related fields.
–E.E.
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Event workshop to focus on inclusivity of people with disabilities
Great Barrington — Laura Grunfeld, founder of Everyone’s Invited LLC, will present a workshop titled “Is Everyone Invited? Including Fans with Disabilities at Your Outdoor Festival or Event” on Wednesday, Jan. 25, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Berkshire Community College South County Center. The workshop is tailored toward event planners and festival producers who are interested in making their events accessible to people with disabilities in order to be more inclusive and to help protect against litigation.
Grunfeld grew up locally but has provided event accessibility consulting, training and production services to festivals around the nation since the late 1990s. Some of the events she has worked with include Bonnaroo, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Outside Lands, TomorrowWorld and others.
“I will be walking workshop attendees through a step-by-step process to create their own comprehensive Access Plan. We’ll cover the bigger picture well beyond ramps and accessible toilets…such as website access, staff training, accommodating persons with nonapparent disabilities and much more,” said Grunfeld.
Registration for the workshop is $30. For more information, contact Laura Grunfeld at (413) 717-0283 or laura@everyonesinvited.com.
–E.E.
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WAM Theatre receives two grants
Lenox — WAM Theatre has announced that it has recently received of two substantial grants: an unrestricted grant of $5,000 from the Massachusetts Bankers Association (MBA) Charitable Foundation and a $2,000 grant from the Dramatists Guild Fund in support of the WAM’s 2017 Fresh Takes Play Reading Series.
The MBA Charitable Foundation is supported by its 155 member banks throughout Massachusetts and New England. In 2016, 37 year-end community grants totaled $155,000 and were distributed over eight geographic regions to deserving social service agencies.
Each year the Dramatists Guild Fund provides grants to nonprofit theaters and theatrical institutions across the country that develop and/or produce contemporary American plays and musicals in support of the American writer. WAM’s Fresh Takes Play Reading Series, which will launch its fourth season in 2017, introduces Berkshire audiences to groundbreaking works by established women playwrights who are contributing to the international conversation throughout the English-speaking theatre.
–E.E.
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Fill-the-Basket campaign a success
Lakeville, Conn. — Salisbury Bank has completed another successful seasonal food drive helping food pantries feed those in need.
For its ninth annual Fill-the-Basket campaign, the bank collected food throughout the months of November and December at all 13 of its branches in Litchfield County; Berkshire County, Massachusetts; and Dutchess and Orange Counties in New York. Forty-two food baskets were filled and branches also received cash donations totaling $250. The monetary contributions collected will be donated directly to local food pantries serving each area.
–E.E.
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Greylock Insurance Agency announces promotions
Pittsfield — Greylock Insurance Agency (GIA), a subsidiary of Greylock Federal Credit Union (GFCU), has announced the following promotions: Lori Goodell to vice president responsible for the personal lines business; Jay L. Marion to vice president responsible for the commercial lines business, and Rebecca Kelly to insurance processing and systems manager.
Lori Goodell, LUTCF, CPIW, was previously assistant vice president, personal lines sales manager. She been with GIA for 11 years and has 25 years of experience in insurance sales. Goodell is a native of Pittsfield and serves on the board of Berkshire County Kids’ Place.
Jay Marion, CPCU, AINS, was previously assistant vice president of commercial lines. He has over 30 years of commercial insurance experience and has worked in several capacities. Marion is a licensed property and casualty agent. He holds the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter designation with a current focus in general liability, worker’s compensation and automobile fleet insurance. He is a long-time volunteer with the United Way as well as a member of the Rotary Club of Pittsfield. He lives in Pittsfield with his wife, Kelly.
Rebecca Kelly, CISR, was previously insurance processing supervisor. Kelly has worked for GFCU for over seven years and, most recently, with GIA for the last five years. She is an active member with the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Women and serves on its scholarship and auditing committees. Kelly has an associate’s degree in business administration from Berkshire Community College. She lives in Dalton with her two children.
–E.E.
