Greenfield Cooperative Bank to host networking workshop in Northampton
GREENFIELD — Greenfield Cooperative Bank will host “Building Your Business Community: Networking That Feels Authentic,” featuring Colleen DelVecchio from Maxady. The interactive conversation with DelVecchio will help local small business owners learn how to build relationships that lead to referrals, collaborations, new opportunities and lasting support. The workshop will be held on Thursday, Sept. 3 at GCB’s Northampton Branch located at 67 King St. Northampton from 9 to 10:30 a.m.
In this workshop, business owners will explore practical networking strategies, ways to stay connected without feeling salesy and how to intentionally cultivate a community that helps both you and your business thrive. The complimentary workshop is open to small business owners and entrepreneurs in the community. To learn more and register, visit greenfieldcoopbank.com/events.
Applications are open for Franklin County CDC’s Fall Entrepreneurship Accelerator program
GREENFIELD — Applications are open for the Franklin County Community Development Corporation’s 12-week Fall Entrepreneurship Accelerator, designed to help new and established business owners scale. The program runs from Sept. 9 through Dec. 2, meeting Wednesdays from 5 to 7 p.m. in a hybrid format at the Greenfield Venture Center and via Zoom. The course concludes with a live business pitch opportunity. Applications are due by Aug. 31. Acceptance notifications will be sent on Sept. 4. To apply, visit bit.ly/4wWQmBG.
BusinessWest seeks Women of Impact award nominees
SPRINGFIELD — BusinessWest is accepting nominations for the ninth annual Women of Impact awards. In 2018, the western Massachusetts-based publication created the Women of Impact program as a way to honor women in the region who are making an impact and creating positive change. Nominations for the class of 2026 are due by Thursday, Sept. 3 at 5 p.m., and the honorees will be announced in the Oct. 26 issue of BusinessWest.
Nominations should be written with one basic underlying mission: to explain why the individual in question is, indeed, a woman of impact. Visit businesswest.com/women-of-impact-nominations for additional information and a nomination form.
MassWildlife names first woman to lead the agency
WESTBOROUGH — The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) has announced that Everose (Eve) Schlüter, Ph.D., will serve as its next director. Schlüter, who has served as acting director since January, brings nearly two decades of experience at MassWildlife and a distinguished record of leadership in wildlife conservation, endangered species protection, public policy and strategic planning.
As director, she will oversee the agency’s work to conserve the Commonwealth’s fish and wildlife, protect and restore habitat, expand opportunities for wildlife-dependent recreation and strengthen partnerships with communities and conservation organizations across Massachusetts. Schlüter’s appointment marks a historic milestone for MassWildlife, making her the first woman to serve as director.
Before becoming acting director, Schlüter served as MassWildlife’s deputy director from 2023 to 2025, helping establish and implement agency priorities and overseeing major program areas, including fisheries, wildlife, endangered species, operations and land and habitat conservation. She also helped lead the development of Massachusetts’ statewide biodiversity conservation goals and worked to strengthen coordination across the agency’s land acquisition, stewardship and habitat-management programs.
Schlüter, who lives in Maynard, holds a doctorate in biology, with a research focus in conservation biology, from Tufts University and a bachelor’s degree in biology and literature from Claremont McKenna College. Her public-service recognitions include a Governor’s Citation for advancing the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s climate and resiliency goals and the Commonwealth’s Manuel Carballo Governor’s Award for Excellence in Public Service for her work on the Biodiversity Executive Order project.