ignite Innovation | Education | Transformation

ignite Your Business, Growth and Success!

ignite is a Chamber-driven conference that provides opportunities for professional development, relationship building and thought-provoking discussion. During this conference we will build our Emotional Intelligence muscle through the power of story. As Seth Godin points out, each day we write a story when we decide what to focus on, what we rehash and what we worry about.

Whether you are an employer, employee, entrepreneur or business owner, EI drives how we interact with our co-workers, our decision making and ultimately our success. 

Join us and learn how you can stand out from the competition, connect with your customers and draw in passionate employees and clients.  

Who is editing your story?

November 16
11:00 - 11:15    Registration
11:15 - 1:15     Session 1: Why Story Telling: Andrew Shelffo, Cheryle Hamilton Story telling plays an important role in human evolution, so much so that some argue that humans are storytelling animals.

In this session you will learn how to harness the power of storytelling to more effectively tell you story and the story of your organization. you will learn about:

- The elements that make a story
- The critical difference between a story and an anecdote 
- That you do have a story to tell
- The best way to tell your story

1:15 - 2:00       Lunch
2:00 - 4:00       Building Your Story Brick by Brick: Lynn Turner During this session, the Lego Serious Play (LPS) methodology will be used to move you from Story-telling (of the past) to Story-making (of the future) where you will walk away with; 

- A fresh perspective about the story you've been telling, to the story you want to create for the future
- A process of 'thinking by building" that taps into your deep creative energies and emotions
- A model that creates better understanding for more meaningful learning, change and discussion. 

LSP takes your abstract thoughts and ideas and turns them into a visual, tangible model that will help you to imagine your future story without limits and communicate in a way that is better understood and easier to remember by others - employees, customers, etc. 

4:00 - 5:00       Networking

November 17
11:00 - 1:00     The Great Reframe | Emotional Intelligence and the Future of Work: Elizabeth Solomon Last year 47M Americans left their jobs. En Masse, employees struggled with burnout and reevaluated their priorities, including how and where they derive a sense of purpose and meaning. What does Emotional Intelligence have to do with the future of work?

According to people, just about everything. A recent article in the Harvard Business Review analyzed 5,000 postings for managerial and executive positions. More than technical experience, IQ or advanced degrees, Emotional Intelligence (EI) is one of the the most sought after skill sets in the job market. From leaders to front-line employees - the most successful teammates are adept communicators, relationship builders, and people-oriented problem solvers.

But emotional intelligence - self-awareness, managing yourself, empathy and social effectiveness - isn't just a collection of soft skills... its a set of foundational LIFE SKILLS. The job market isn't the only place where our emotions (and the emotions of others) influence our outlook, our behavior, and out outcomes. When we learn to cultivate EI in one are of our lives, we see it ripple into ever other area too. 

In this session we will look at the basics of emotional intelligence, including what it is, what it isn't and how it relates to key findings in the brain. through experiential exercises and storytelling, we will work on developing some of the key competencies of EI in real time. 

EI is the key to outstanding leadership, personal well being, flourishing teams and organizational cultures marked by high levels of trust, belonging, and engagement. Leave with insight into the social and emotional skills that sustain positive relationships and how to begin building them on your own and your organization. 

1:00 - 1:45       Lunch

1:45 - 2:45       Panel Discussion: Connecting the Dots | Why  Our Story Connections Matter
In this panel we will explore the themes of how you make sense of and communicate your story especially in dynamic times, and how emotional intelligence and empathy can help you connect more authentically and effectively. We will offer reflections on how you move from story telling to story making, and how to connect the dots in your own life and career.  
Panelists: 
Shweta Bhatt, The Ancient Way
Lennie Appelquist, Cider House Media
Tiffany Espinosa, Teal Executives

2:45 - 3:45       Story Slam Prep​
Participants will be working with Andrew Shelffo, Storytelling Coach, spending time to hone and practice their story while gaining confidence and having fun practicing the art of storytelling!

4:00 - 5:00       Business Story Slam: From Story-telling to Story-making
What is a story slam? It?s a gathering of people to hear storytellers tell their true, first-person stories! And then the judges crown a winner! (But who are we kidding?we?re all winners because we?ll get to hear wonderful tales!). For this slam, tellers will tell the stories they?ve worked on over the course of Ignite.

Meet Our Speakers:

Andrew Shelffo is a writer, teacher and storyteller, and for his day job is Cheif Technology Officer, Williston Northampton School. Andrew, without a doubt understands the power of story. He is also keenly aware of the connection between the individual's story, their businesses story and that their employees as well as all those others within their orbit. 

Andrew has taken the stage as storyteller locally and not so local. Unbuttoned , Luthiers Co-Op, 99 Second Story Grand Slam, Bunker Hill Community College Arts Festival, Moth StorySlam and Ask the Expert: The Art of Storytelling to name just a few. 









Cheryl Hamilton is Founder and Executive Director of Stellar Storytelling Company. Cheryl has devoted her career to advancing more inclusive communities and storytelling, from her first job managing the unexpected migration of 2,500 Somali migrants to her hometown in Maine, to her current role directing curation and coaching for Stories from the Stage, a national media program produced by WORLDChannel in partnership with GBH events. 

She Brings more than 20 years of experience directing local and national nonprofit programs, including as the national coordinator for RefugeeWorks where she advised companies on how to welcome immigrants into their workforces. More recently, she was the curator and director of Suitcase Stories, a program that featured stories of refugee and immigrant life. 

In addition to the trainings and events she leads for institutions, Cheryl has coached over 400 people from 80 countries to tell their stories. Her personal stories have been featured on national podcasts and she routinely performs on stages throughout the U.S. 






Lynn Whitney Turner is a formally trained business coach, facilitator, and people analyst with over 20 years of experience. During this time, she has helped businesses and boards facilitate strategic planning and thinking sessions, Innovation and Change Management initiatives, and High-Performing Teams utilizing her certifications within Virtual Collaborations, Graphic Facilitation the Lego Serious Play Methodology and Innovation Management and Strategy through WOBI (World of Business Idea) and the Kellogg School of Management. 

In her business, CORE XP Business Solutions, Lynn focuses on the CORE of businesses - People and Culture - making them stronger and more agile so that they can stay competitive in today's ever-evolving landscape and lead in Change, Innovation and creating better Experiences for all stakeholders. Lynn believes that without a strong CORE, the best strategies and action plans will be difficult to execute wasting precious time, money, and energy. Her many years working with a variety of businesses in  different industries and unique approach helps organizations build a strong foundation so they can not only survive but thrive in these unusual times. 







Liz Solomon is a certified Emotional Intelligence Coach, communications expert, systemic constellations facilitator, and workshop strategist invested in equity and positive social change. Bridging business-oriented strategy and intuition-guided development, she has spent close to two decades at the intersection of organizational culture, storytelling, and leadership development - a place where transformation happens. Influenced by neuroscience, psychology, sociology, mindfulness, and a dash of the mystic, she helps individuals and organizations clarify their purpose, communicate authentically, and redefine "business as usual." The founder of New Realm Coaching and Consulting, her approach is both data-driven and intuitive - grounded in the facts while embracing our humanity. 

In addition to on-on-one coaching, Elizabeth often consults with entrepreneurs and organizations on the overlap between brand and culture. A systems thinker and expert in human behavior, her work spans human centered design, workshop facilitation, communications strategy and team building. She is also the co-host of Daniel Goleman's podcast, First Person Plural: Emotional Intelligence and Beyond; a former researcher and evaluator for the Great Place to Work Institute; and an inaugural member of The Teal Team - a group of like-minded professionals exploring new ways of being, working and organizing. 






Our Panel:

Dr. Tiffany Espinosa has been working with business owners, emerging leaders and professionals in transition for the past 21 years. Her areas of expertise and depth of experience, along with her unique combination of systems thinking, strategy and empathy helps her support the organizational changes and personal transformations that help people level up and thrive. 
 
As an executive leader, executive coach and in her community work, she is focused on contributing to the vitality and growth of those she is working with, and helping them build their skills and vision for how they can use their passion and gifts to make a difference. A frequent public speaker, panel moderator and facilitator, she enjoys educating, motivating, inspiring and connecting people. She is the founder of Teal Executives, and currently serves as the Executive Director for the Professional and Graduate Education Division at Mount Holyoke College, as a Business Advisor for the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program, and on the Board of Directors of Girls Inc of the Valley to help the next generation of leaders be strong, smart and bold. 

Shweta Bhatt is and award-winning speaker and professional writer. Shweta unlocks the power of storytelling as a tool to communicate who we are, through how we speak, how we write, and how we share. 

Lennie Appelquist is the co-owner and creative director of Cider House Media in Easthampton MA. which specializes in visual branding, web design and web development. Under his creative direction, Cider House has launched over 150 websites for local businesses and non-profits and individuals.

Before launching Cider House Media with his wife and partner Elizabeth, Lennie worked as an assistant director in the film industry in Los Angeles for over 20 years. His credits include A-list movies, music videos featuring top artists, and over 250 commercials. It was his work on commercials that was a stepping stone to his building his own creative agency. Lennie is still and active member of the Directors Guild of America and locally serves on the Cottage Street Cultural District Committee.

The Chamber is committed to a safe environment for our members and guests. The Chamber abides by all guidance from the City of Easthampton and The Commonwealth. We invite you to wear a mask but masks are optional. We encourage our attendees to be vaccinated or to have a negative PCR COVID test 24 hours prior to the event. If you are feeling sick or have flu or cold like symptoms please stay home. We appreciate your understanding and flexibility during these times.