The Chamber of Greater Easthampton to Host ignite 2024 Learning Opportunity

EASTHAMPTON, Mass., September 5, 2024 – The Chamber of Greater Easthampton (Chamber) will host ignite 2024 professional learning opportunity October 22, 2024 at Abandoned Building Brewery, 142 Pleasant Street, Suite 103, Easthampton, MA, sponsored by CoreXp Business Solutions and Reminder Publications.

This year’s program, ignite:SPEED will be a fun, fast-paced learning opportunity designed to empower leaders, business owners, professionals, entrepreneurs, employers, and employees with the knowledge and skills required to thrive in the ever-evolving landscape of work. The program will focus on three key areas critical to the success of any organization: technology, marketing and talent.

“In today’s business world, change is the only constant, said Chamber Executive Director Moe Belliveau. “To ensure success, all levels of employees must not only keep pace but anticipate and adapt, turning the momentum and speed of change into a catalyst for growth."

Sean Hogan, president of Hogan Technology, will kick off the first cluster of presentations with an overview of safety in the dark web. Participants will learn how businesses can be protected from attacks such as Web site hacking, security breaches, cyber attacks, ransomware, and phishing schemes.

Michael Lareau, vice president of solution engineering for SourcePass, will discuss artificial intelligence (AI) governance in the workplace. In a recent blog by Marsh McLennan, the firm wrote that, while the explosion in AI usage by businesses has driven innovation, efficiency, and profitability, it can also expose businesses to organizational, reputational and regulatory risks. Lareau will explore how businesses can appropriately govern the use of AI oversight to address risks such as bias, privacy infringement and misuse while fostering innovation and trust among customers and employees.

Pat Brough, head of sales and marketing for Finck & Perras Insurance Agency, will review cyber insurance. According to CyberCrime Magazine, sixty percent of small businesses go out of business within six months of falling victim to a data breach or cyber attack. Cyber insurance covers a business’ liability for a data breach involving sensitive customer information such as Social Security numbers, credit card numbers, health records and more.

The second cluster of presentations will focus on the changing landscape of marketing.

Jeff Uzzel of Uzzel Design Co., will focus on telling a “brand story.” A brand story is a way to communicate a mission, values and purpose in a way that that creates an emotional connection between an organization and its customers. Uzzel will discuss how to successfully tell a brand story and how it can build an organization’s reputation, customer base and bottom line.

“Building Networks for the Long Game” will be the focus of Bob Burch, owner of Bright Cloud Studio. Burch will explore how to understand and process what is changing with networking and relationship-building, how people can nurture customer relationships and how to curate marketing to keep pace with it all to build lasting, trusted relationships resulting in repeat, long term customers.

Blair Winans, president of Rhyme Digital, will end the cluster with a focus on the ever-changing social media algorithms. Social media platforms utilize algorithms to keep users engaged and ensure users are seeing relevant content. Winans will talk about the various platforms and their algorithms and how businesses can adapt their social media content to maximize each algorithm to reach a wider audience, increase consumer engagement and boost their brand.

The final cluster of the program will highlight change in the workplace.

With a tight labor market, top talent is in high demand and talent recruitment, assessment and retention are critical success factors which can yield a competitive advantage.  Allison Ebner, president of the Employers Association of the NorthEast, will discuss how businesses can adapt to the future of work, embrace generational diversity, better engage employees and reskill and upskill to support retention.

Shannon Mumblo of Shannon Mumblo Consulting will close the cluster focusing on cultivating robust agility around change. Mumblo will help participants discover how to stay confident and resilient in times of uncertainty by embracing discomfort and cultivating a supportive network, and how to expand potential beyond a job description by thinking creatively and continuously adding new skills to one’s personal toolbox.

Registrations for ignite:SPEED are $75 for members of the Chamber ($110 for future members) and includes a casual dinner provided by Vegan Pizza Land.

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