Chamber to Hold Third Annual SheLEADS Women's Conference

EASTHAMPTON, Mass., July 9, 2024 – The Chamber of Greater Easthampton (Chamber) will host its third annual sheLEADS women’s conference series this fall in the PeoplesBank Conference at the Kittredge Center of Holyoke Community College, 303 Homestead Avenue, Holyoke MA, sponsored by Training and Workforce Options at Holyoke Community College and Reminder Publications.

The sheLEADS Women's Conference series is designed to empower women in all stages of their careers by providing them with the tools, knowledge, and connections they need to achieve their professional goals. The experience offers numerous opportunities over the course of several sessions to build networks and relationships and share insights with like-minded professionals from around the region.

Sessions will run September 13, September 19, September 26 and September 27 from 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Each session will kick off with breakfast and network building.

Dr. Tiffany Espinosa of Teal Executives will lead a World Café. World Café is a global movement to support conversations that matter in corporate, government, and community settings around the world. The method makes use of an informal café setting for participants to explore an issue by discussing it in small table groups. Participants will discuss topics such as managing conflict during change, leading people/staff through change, managing burnout through change, vulnerability during change and authenticity during change.

Each session will then end with a guest panelist one-on-one interview and discussion facilitated by Chamber Executive Director Moe Bellliveau.

“We are thrilled to evolve our women's professional development conference into a series, amplifying opportunities for our female leaders to forge connections and glean insights from the tapestry of successful women within our region,” said Belliveau. “With each installment, the series becomes a roadmap for professional advancement, empowering them to thrive in every facet of their careers."

The series will kick off September 13 and feature Class A LPGA Professional Marissa Kulig Crow. Owner of Marissa Golf Movement and creator of the Golf Fore Women program, Kulig Crow’s accolades include the 2024-2025 LPGA Top 50 Best Teachers, 2022 Professional of the Year by the LPGA, 2021 LPGA National Teacher of the Year, and LPGA Northeast Teacher of the Year in both 2019 and 2021. She also received the 2021 Golf Range Association of America Top 100 Growth of the Game Teaching Professionals and the 2021 Golf Fitness Association of America Award Winner.

The second program in the series will be held September 19, 2024 with guest Burns Maxey. In addition to owning and operating her small business, BurnsMax Creative, Maxey is also an artist, illustrator, designer and social entrepreneur. When she’s not making art or consulting with organizations on their strategies and design, Burns serves as president of CitySpace, a nonprofit located in Easthampton MA, that restores and manages the historic Old Town Hall as a vital and affordable center for the arts. With CitySpace, she has managed capital projects, campaigns, grant development, strategic planning, and launched programs that give artists who most need it, access to space to create. In 2023, she was named a Difference Maker by Business West.

September 26 will see Gen Brough, president of Finck & Perras Insurance Agency in Easthampton and Florence, MA. Brough began her career in the insurance industry in 1994 as a customer service representative for Gifford & Perras Insurance Agency, Inc. Just three years later, she was promoted to office manager and began handling all accounting, human resource management, operations, and IT services. Over the years, she has worked predominantly in the sales and servicing of personal insurance lines. In 2004, she became a partner of Finck & Perras and in 2015, she purchased the agency from the three other partners to become the sole owner of Finck & Perras Insurance Agency, Inc. She was named the Business Person of the Year in 2016 by the Chamber of Greater Easthampton.

The sheLeads conference series will end September 27 with featured guest Mary Hamel, owner of Glendale Ridge Vineyard in Southampton, MA. Hamel, and her husband Ed who manages the vineyard, started Glendale Ridge Vineyard in 1992 after purchasing the Sankey Farm. In 2017, the Glendale Ridge Vineyard brand was born, featuring a variety of estate wines including Cabernet Franc, Vidal, Traminette and Corot Noir, as well as producing unique wines using grapes that carefully sourced from the best vineyards on Long Island and in the Finger Lakes region.

Attendees can purchase a package of all 4 sessions in the conference series or customize their professional development and purchase sessions individually. The series package is offered at $119 for members of the Chamber ($199 for future members) and individual sessions are $35 for members ($55 for future members).

A Business Showcase Sponsorship opportunity is also available at $350 for members ($600 for future members), affording participants the opportunity to showcase their products and services to attendees. The sponsorship is available per session and includes 3 complimentary tickets to that session.

For more information, visit www.easthamptonchamber.org or email opps@easthampton chamber.org.

About the Chamber
The Chamber of Greater Easthampton is a dynamic organization dedicated to promoting local  businesses, fostering economic growth, and building a strong sense of community in Easthampton, MA.  Through collaborative initiatives, innovative programs, and advocacy efforts, the Chamber strives to create an environment where businesses and residents can thrive. For more information, visit www.easthamptonchamber.org.