By ROD LEE

The month of March has come roaring in like a lion for the Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce.

For starters, the Chamber announced on March 6th formation of a partnership with the Chamber of Greater Easthampton in bringing Easthampton’s successful Ignite professional development conference to the Community Harvest Project on Wheeler Road in North Grafton April 4-5.

The conference is aimed at professionals who want to improve their emotional intelligence and learn how to interact with co-workers, customers or donors more effectively. Through the power of storytelling, attendees will learn how to hone their decision-making skills and improve their chances for success in business.

The two-day conference will include keynote speeches from industry leaders, interactive workshops and network building opportunities. Attendees will gain insights into the latest trends and best practices in emotional intelligence, leadership, and communication.

“We are excited to partner with the Chamber of Greater Easthampton for this conference,” BVCC President and CEO Jeannie Hebert said. “We believe that storytelling is a powerful tool for building and developing leadership skills. We look forward to sharing our expertise and insights with the attendees and helping them achieve their professional goals.”

Tickets for Ignite Blackstone Valley are available through the Chamber’s website, www.blackstonevalley.org.

Then on March 10th, Joscelyn Young and her sister Ashley Bregman headlined an Open House hosted by the Blackstone Valley Education Foundation and the Education Foundation’s Hub at the Chamber’s offices in the Linwood Mill in Whitinsville. Both are new in their positions, as executive directors of the BVEF and the Hub, respectively.

Talking about her new job several days later, Ms. Young said the has experience working with nonprofits including as coordinator of Innovation Pathways and with the Green Bean Project in Sutton with its emphasis on social and emotional learning and mental health through the performing arts.

The BVEF’s mission of expanding and strengthening business alliances in and around the Blackstone Valley “is right up my alley,” she said.

In addition to efforts she has undertaken to provide professional development for teachers, collaborating with Blackstone Valley Tech and Mendon-Upton on construction of a tiny house and building relationships with various partners, Ms. Young is looking forward to working with her sister in delivering technical and educational training through the Hub.

“We are playing the role of connector,” she said. “My focus will be on grants and Ashley’s will be on the science. We are the ying and yang.”

The month’s culminating event for the Chamber is the annual Home & Community Expo from 10:00 am. To 2:00 on Saturday, March 25th at Northbridge High School. Hundreds of businesses and organizations will showcase their products and services.

Contact Rod Lee at [email protected] or 774-232-2999.