This week’s guest is Pam Victor, founder and Head of Happiness at Happier Valley Comedy. On this episode: 

• Find out about the experiment that started it all
• Learn who is famous for this quote, “Say yes then figure it out.”
• Pam does an improv exercise with Jill (how do you think Jill does??) 
• Hear the BIG announcement!!!

MORE INFORMATION:

Happier Valley Comedy 

Let's Make the Happy Valley HAPPIER! 

Improv Shows *  Classes * Professional Development

www.happiervalley.com

Check out Pam’s TEDx Talk - an overview of the founding of Happier Valley Comedy 

Contact Pam at [email protected]

We are joined by Lindsay LaBonte, Branch Manager at Applied Mortgage Team. We’re chatting about their new initiative, Love Local Days. She shares what it’s all about, plus a little background on the company and what it was like taking over the reins from her father. 

To learn more about Love Local Days click here > appliedmortgageteam.com/local-love-days

And to learn more about Lindsay or to connect: 

• Applied Mortgage Team website
• Her LinkedIn 
• Email> [email protected] 

Our guest is Michael Weber, Founder of North Star Technology Leadership

Together we discuss Artificial Intelligence (aka AI). We chat about:  

• A 30K foot explanation of what it is?
• How does it affect local businesses?
• How can small businesses benefit from it?
• What should businesses do now or be aware of about AI?

We also…

• Define SaaS (which I had no idea what it stood for LOL)
• Share an AI tool for making a PowerPoint
• Explain what a hallucination is in the tech space

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• A link to a copy of the blog I wrote for Massachusetts Business Network
• Employers Association of the NorthEast (EANE) 

It’s our VERY first ‘Behind the BIZ Card’ series guest!!! 

Today we chat with the amazing Meghan Rothschild, President & Chief Bad Ass at Chikmedia (and full disclosure, I’m the Associate Dir. of Marketing at Chik).

A couple things that come up during our chat… 

• Can two strong women work together?
• Why did I eat humble pie?
• Where the heck does her company name come from???

Meghan will share briefly about what Chikmedia does and then, as promised, we dive in ‘Behind the BIZ Card’ and she shares answers to these questions and more:

• Describe herself in three words
• Best of the 413:
  • Who’s someone she admires and why?
  • Favorite 413 spot to grab a bite or relax?
• More about her family
• When not bad-assing it up… what’s she up to? 
• Something people are surprised to learn about her
• Biggest lesson learned
• What’s next?

Plus, we have fun with a RAPID FIRE round too. 

From the episode:

• Meghan's Instagram @outwithmeghan
• Chikmedia's IG: @chikmedia_
• Link to the Springfield YPS blog mentioned

Episode 6 is a TWO part episode! (this is part 2)

Special Guest: Scott Graves, Funding & Programs Director at Living Local 413 and  founder of SMGraves Associates.

We’re chatting about “Powering the New American Dream: a $100 billion wealth creation strategy for the Pioneer Valley” - a white paper he co-authored with Dominic Endicott 

We share BIG news about a development project that Living Local is spearheading in the 413, including:

• Where is it happening? 
• Why did you choose that location?
• How can you get involved?

We also discuss the importance of interconnected strategies and Scott shares about some opportunities for YOU… including a brand new equity campaign and info about bringing a national accelerator program to operate in the region

You can reach Scott at:

• [email protected] 
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/smgraves
• https://www.smgravesassociates.com (info about his company & podcasts)

Resource:

• “Knowledge Towns” by Dominic Endicott - available on Amazon

Episode 6 is a TWO part episode! (this is part 1)

Special Guest: Scott Graves, Funding & Programs Director at Living Local 413 and  founder of SMGraves Associates.

We’re chatting about “Powering the New American Dream: a $100 billion wealth creation strategy for the Pioneer Valley” - a white paper he co-authored with Dominic Endicott 

We share BIG news about a development project that Living Local is spearheading in the 413, including:

• Where is it happening? 
• Why did you choose that location?
• How can you get involved?

We also discuss the importance of interconnected strategies and Scott shares about some opportunities for YOU… including a brand new equity campaign and info about bringing a national accelerator program to operate in the region

You can reach Scott at:

• [email protected] 
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/smgraves
• https://www.smgravesassociates.com (info about his company & podcasts)

Resource:

• “Knowledge Towns” by Dominic Endicott - available on Amazon

In this episode, host Jill Monson talks with Kimberly Crosta, Sustainability Advocate at Conklin Office Furniture in Holyoke. Yeah, if you didn’t know that is actually a job title. LOL! 

Join us for this fascinating conversation that explores how many tons of office furniture ends up in a landfill each year (wanna take a guess), an understanding of the concept of a linear versus circular economy, trends in office design, and more. 

Notes about items mentioned in the podcast: 

• PFAS Explained by the EPA > https://www.epa.gov/pfas/pfas-explained 
• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) explained by the EPA > https://www.epa.gov/pfas/pfas-explained 
• Cyntex > a company Conklin works with on sustainability efforts > https://www.cyntex.com
• What can be done with all that plastic shrink wrap? Trex is a solution Conklin uses. https://www.trex.com

To reach Kimberly Crosta - email [email protected]

Visit the sustainability section on Conklin Office Furniture’s new website > https://www.conklinoffice.com/sustainability 

You can also find them on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.

PART TWO: Jill continues the conversation with Tom Kegelman, Executive Director of Home City Development, Inc. about housing in Western Mass. They talk issues, but also ideas for solutions. 

Links for items mentioned in the show: 

• Home City Development, Inc.
• Western Mass EDC INDUSTRY INSIGHT on Housing
• Amherst Brook project in Pelham, MA - video
• ArchitectureEL, Inc. 
• Valley Community Development (Valley CDC)
• Massachusetts Housing Partnership
• CHAPA - Citizens Housing and Planning Association
• Affordable Housing Trust (Amherst)
• FRCOG's 2024 Franklin County Housing Plan
• A Home For Everyone: A Comprehensive Housing Plan for Massachusetts 2025-2029

Jill talks with Tom Kegelman, Executive Director of Home City Development, Inc. about housing in Western Mass. They talk issues, but also ideas for solutions. 

Links for items mentioned in the show: 

• Home City Development, Inc.
• Western Mass EDC INDUSTRY INSIGHT on Housing
• Amherst Brook project in Pelham, MA - video
• ArchitectureEL, Inc. 
• Valley Community Development (Valley CDC)
• Massachusetts Housing Partnership
• CHAPA - Citizens Housing and Planning Association
• Affordable Housing Trust (Amherst)
• FRCOG's 2024 Franklin County Housing Plan
• A Home For Everyone: A Comprehensive Housing Plan for Massachusetts 2025-2029

Host, Jill Monson, sits down with Allison Ebner, President of the Employers Association of the NorthEast (EANE), to discuss the challenges with the workforce in the region, but MORE importantly the look at some ideas for solutions. They also unravel the mystery of "conscious unbossing" as well as discuss outmigration. Don't miss it. 

In addition to hosting BIZ BUZZ 413, Jill Monson is the founder of POP!more - confidence coaching and training for employers and employees - done differently!

This episode brought to you by Tiger Web Designs, Cloud 9 Marketing Group, and Living Local 413.