Four join Dollars for Scholars board

NORTHAMPTON — Northampton Dollars for Scholars announces the appointment of four community members to its board of directors. They include:

Michelle Cayo, vice president/credit risk manager at Florence Bank. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in communications and information management from Bay Path University.

In 2013, she was recognized by Western Mass Women magazine as Volunteer of the Year for her work on behalf of children with pediatric cancer. She was also recognized by BusinessWest as a member of the 40 Under Forty Class of 2011.

Anna Zadworny, the assistant vice president, employee development manager for Greenfield Savings Bank. Zadworny has a business management degree from Holyoke Community College and completed Babson College Financial Studies.

A Florence resident for over 30 years, Zadworny and her husband raised a son and daughter, both Northampton High School graduates. Their daughter received a Northampton Dollars for Scholars scholarship.

Valerie Harlow is a learning advisor and facilitator for the Employers Association of the Northeast. Harlow holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Westfield State University and a master’s of science in training and development from Lesley University.

Harlow lives in Florence, has two adult children.

Patricia Mahar works as an area manager in dining services at Smith College. Mahar is a graduate of University of Saint Joseph. She has three children who have been recipients of Dollars for Scholar awards. Her family has been involved with Dollars for Scholars for over 30 years and has scholarships honoring her siblings.

Since its founding in 1974, Northampton Dollars for Scholars has awarded more than $1.4 million in scholarships to Northampton High School and Smith Vocational High School graduates.

Keiter donates $25K to Chamber

NORTHAMPTON — Keiter Corporation will donate $25,000 to the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce for a promotion that will allow consumers to purchase a $25 Northampton Gift Card and receive $50 in actual spending power.

This is the third consecutive year Keiter has launched the initiative, donating $10,000 in 2021 and doubling the investment in 2022. A $5,000 gift from the chamber’s Neighborhood Revitalization Fund will be added to Keiter’s contribution to continue stimulating the local economy beyond the pandemic.

The 2023 gift card promotion, “Building Our Community Together,” launches on Wednesday, Aug. 9, and runs while supplies last. The $25 Keiter Gift Cards will be sold at the chamber office at 99 Pleasant St., Northampton, during the hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Consumers must mention that they want a Keiter Gift Card, and the promotion applies only to $25 Northampton Gift Card purchases. There is a limit of one card per customer, per transaction.

Last year’s “Strengthen the Community” promotion was a huge success. In three days, the cards sold out , and the program infused $50,000 into the local economy.

The Northampton Gift Card is accepted at more than 100 local businesses, including restaurants, shops and spas.

Based in Florence, Keiter has provided general contracting and construction management services in the Pioneer Valley since 2010 for its commercial and residential projects.

50-plus job seekers networking group

AMHERST — The Jones Library is launching a program to help job seekers over the age of 50. The biweekly program will show people how to build a job search tool kit with free skill-building and networking group meetings held via Zoom.

The series begins in August and runs through December. Job seekers can join at any time. Learn more and register at www.joneslibary.org/jobseekers.

Join a virtual professional forum for networking with peers in a safe and comfortable environment, conducive to developing new relationships and developing skills and strategies to help in your career transition. Each biweekly meeting features a new topic. There are both morning and evening sessions that will meet twice each month. Participants can attend whichever session is most convenient.

More than 60 Massachusetts public libraries have partnered to offer the 50+ Job Seekers Networking Group program to support people 50 years and older looking for a new job, a new career direction, or a second-act career.

Each biweekly meeting is facilitated by Deborah Hope, an experienced executive career coach.

Employers recognized by MassHire
as ‘pillars of the community’

HOLYOKE — Ten employers were presented with certificates to recognize their commitment to the community by the MassHire Holyoke’s Pillars of the Community Workforce initiative. The organization held a first annual employer appreciation breakfast on June 27.

Employers recognized for their commitment to their communities and exceptional contribution to the workforce include Holyoke Veterans Home, Helix Human Services, The Loomis Companies, Holyoke Pediatrics Associates, J Polep Distribution Services, Springfield Housing Authority, PeoplesBank, Clean Crop Technologies, Edaron LLC and Valley Malt.

The employers were nominated by MassHire Holyoke and MassHire Springfield’s Business Solutions Teams.

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