We're Not Just a Chamber of Commerce;
We're a Chamber of Connections
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We are very thankful for this many things this Thanksgiving season, and our members are at the top of the list.
Sending warm wishes your way and hoping you and your family have a fantastic Thanksgiving Day.
We will be closed Thursday and Friday this week. Please keep this in mind if you are going to visit or call us.
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Welcome New Member
Kristine Pasto, Realtor
200 Lowder Brook Drive
Westwood, MA
Cell: 312-593-4969
Welcome to the chamber, Kristine. Kristine is a member of our Extreme Networking group that meets every other week at URCC member Springhill Suites/Townplace Suites in Wrentham.
Kristine knows that the role of a realtor is to help clients make decisions about where and how they live while at the same time reducing the stress of those decisions by guiding clients through the whole process with knowledge and integrity.
She loves selling real estate. She gets joy from seeing her clients get excited about their new home and the impact it will have on their lives. Her more than 15 years of sales, marketing, and branding experience combined with her background in real estate appraisal has her uniquely positioned to help both sellers and buyers.
Her background in real estate appraisal allows her to accurately determine the value of a property, which helps sellers sell their home faster and ensures buyers pay a fair price. Since Kristine is certified in Residential Construction and is a New Home Specialist, buyers can feel confident in her ability to help guide their decisions to the home that is right for them.
Welcome to the chamber, Kristine. We are looking forward to introducing you to our members.
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Welcome New Member Norcom Mortgage
228 County Street
Attleboro
Welcome to the chamber Norcom Mortgage and Vise President and Branch Manager Meg Kenyon. Meg is a member of our Extreme Networking group that meets every other week at URCC member Springhill Suites/Townplace Suites in Wrentham.
Norcom Mortgage is a down-to-earth, Connecticut-based company that is fast expanding in the United States! Meg’s goal is to always have a “yes!” answer. Be it a first-time home buyer, an individual looking into another investment property, or a senior citizen with questions on the reverse mortgage lending process, Norcom has invested in programs that make the push to get the deal done. If you're looking for a welcoming, safe, and educational experience for your lending needs, allow Meg to give you the service you deserve with a personalized feel!
Meg is also looking for motivated and dedicated loan officers to join their team! Norcom offers their Loan Officers incredible support to drive each and every individual to be the best they can be! If you or someone you know is interested in having a conversation, feel free to e-mail Meg at Megan.Kenyon@Norcom-USA.Com.
Welcome to the chamber, Meg. We are looking forward to introducing you to our members.
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Join Us at Our Upcoming Events
Mark Your Calendars
Cancelled
Wednesday, November 22, 11:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Extreme Networking
Springhill Suites/TownPlace Suites
65 Ledgeview Way
Wrentham
Wednesday, December 13, 11:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Extreme Networking
Springhill Suites/TownPlace Suites
65 Ledgeview Way
Wrentham
Cancelled
Wednesday, December 27, 11:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Extreme Networking
Springhill Suites/TownPlace Suites
65 Ledgeview Way
Wrentham
Host an Alive After Five Networking Event
in 2024
Interested in getting your name out there or generating more business connections? Consider hosting an Alive After Five with the Chamber in 2024! We'd love to help you
network with local business professionals at your place of business.
Hosting an Alive After Five event gives you the opportunity to open your doors to fellow Chamber members and showcase your business and services. You supply the light refreshments, and we'll invite the guests.
Contact URCC President Jack Lank at jack@unitedregionalchamber.org to schedule an event.
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Check Out Our Job Board
Our Job Board, an exclusive benefit for our member companies, is a valuable tool for hiring managers looking to attract and find new talent. Recently, we posted jobs available at URCC member KARL STORZ Endoscopy.
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Send your job postings to us and we'll add the information to our Job Board.
And for the past couple of months, we have been offering a new service. Each week, we'll post new job listings on our Facebook page.
Your posting will be seen by many potential job candidates.
Send your job postings to jack@unitedregionalchamber.org.
We're looking forward to helping you fill your open positions.
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URCC Member Personal Best Karate's Turkey Brigade
Last Saturday, our President Jack Lank participated in the annual turkey brigade sponsored by Chris Rappold of URCC member Personal Best Karate. This yearly event takes place at the charter school in Foxboro. More than 2,000 meals were packed to give local families in need Thanksgiving this year. Senator Paul Feeney participated along with more than 300 volunteers.
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Here are some pictures from the day. Take a look at all of those shopping bags. Jack addressed the crowd, and he took a picture with Chris Rappold and Pat Patriot. It doesn't get any better than this. | |
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A Message from Michelle Carlow of URCC Member CTS Services,
An Important Cybersecurity ‘Heads Up’
The Below IT Cybersecurity Strategy DOES NOT WORK!
(It never has!)
Cybersecurity threats (especially sophisticated AI-driven phishing schemes) are causing even the most vigilant companies agita, stress, sleeplessness, and unnecessarily high anxiety.
Old strategies (and even your current strategy) are no longer delivering the cyber protection you think you have in place!
I hope that you are not relying on the desperate “Guatemalan Worry Doll Business Protection Strategy” to protect your company assets!
Dear Friend,
A while ago you may have received a package of Guatemalan worry dolls as our way to get your attention about the importance of vigilance and having a smart, robust cybersecurity strategy in place. Or, maybe you saw our recent postcard.
We had joked about the worry doll strategy, but there’s really nothing funny about being hacked by an ever more sophisticated cyber-criminal who is now using AI strategies to phish for opportunities in your company, hoping to catch email users off guard!
I want to make sure you are aware about the emerging threat of AI phishing schemes and why you need new levels of protection.
With the rapid advancements in AI, hackers are discovering new ways to trick users. We can help you stay ahead of them with a cybersecurity strategy that protects your company from the latest schemes and scams. If you are worried about security breaches (and you should be), put the worry dolls aside and let’s make sure you are protected with the latest cybersecurity strategy and tools.
AI Phishing is Here and Getting Worse!
Cyber-creeps are getting a whole lot smarter and much more sophisticated, and thanks to AI tools, they are getting better at tricking your email users to click on disguised links that can hurt your business!
· AI is making it harder to detect and stop phishing attacks, and "smart" phishing attacks are trending upwards at an alarming rate!
· Cyber-creeps can quickly test, measure and adjust their phishing schemes using AI tools to improve their efforts - and fool employees more easily.
· Phishing scammers are using AI tools to scan employees social media and crawl the Internet - making it easy to highly personal a phishing email.
· There's more... there always is more to learn and apply.
The really good news?
The good guys in cybersecurity are also using AI to combat the bad guys in cyberspace.
Let's make sure you are safe, compliant, and protected.
Call us at 508-528-7720 to schedule a cybersecurity review. Let's look at the big picture and at what you need to have in place!
You can also go here (at our website) to request an appointment to talk.
Shields up. Stay vigilant!
Michelle Carlow
President
CTS Services, Inc
508-528-7720
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Four Promoted to
First Vice President
at URCC Member Bristol County Savings Bank
URCC member Bristol County Savings Bank (BCSB), headquartered in Taunton, Massachusetts, announces it has recently promoted Kathleen (Kathy) Mulhern, William A. Muto, Nancy Pimentel and Dawn Young to the position of 1st Vice President.
As First Vice President/Senior Marketing Officer, Kathy Mulhern is responsible for the management of the Bank’s Marketing Department. Prior to her promotion, Mulhern held the positions of VP/Senior Marketing Officer, VP/Marketing, and AVP/Marketing at the Bank. Active in the community, she currently is on the Board of Directors at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro South, serving as the Chair of the Advancement Committee, and also serves on the board of the Old Colony History Museum in Taunton as Vice President/Executive.
William Muto’s new position as First Vice President/Senior Business Intelligence Officer involves providing direction and technical guidance on data standards and governance, as well as analysis of current marketplace trends and existing analytics to identify opportunities and improve efficiencies and deliverables. Prior to his new position, he served as VP/Senior Business Intelligence Officer for the Bank. Previously, Muto held a number of related positions, including Senior Manager of Market Research and Business Intelligence for AAA Northeast in Providence, Rhode Island; Director of Market Research at Delphian Consulting Group, Warwick, Rhode Island; Market Research Manager with Archer Market Research Technologies, also in Warwick; and Senior Market Research Analyst for Citizens Financial Group in Providence.
As First Vice President/Indirect Lending Officer, Nancy Pimentel is responsible for the planning and organization of the department, as well as managing the underwriting and credit quality of all indirect loans from the Bank’s Main Office at 29 Broadway in Taunton. Prior to her promotion, she served as VP/Indirect Lending and AVP/Indirect Lending for the Bank. Previously, Pimentel held the position of Consumer Loan Officer in the Indirect Loan Department at CompassBank in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Pimentel is a member of the Women’s Leadership Organization.
Dawn Young, First Vice President/Lending Operations, is responsible for conducting various department assessments and audits, implementing operational policies and procedures to ensure compliance with state and federal regulations, applying new technologies to enhance the origination effort of the lending team and training. Prior to her promotion, she served as VP/Lending Operations and Lending Operations Manager for the Bank. Previously, Young held the position of Vice President of Residential Lending at BankFive in Fall River, Massachusetts.
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Plainridge Park Casino's Holiday Sip & Shop Craft Fair
Support Small Business and Shop Local This Holiday Season
Saturday, December 2
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
The Loft at Plainridge Park Casino
General Admission is FREE!
Get into the holiday spirit at Plainridge Park Casino's Holiday Sip & Shop Craft Fair! This festive event features local artisans selling their handmade crafts while you enjoy holiday cookies, carols, and champagne. Support small businesses and shop local this holiday season.
With a wide variety of products from home goods to jewelry and fashion, you'll be able to find just what you're looking for at Plainridge Park Casino's Holiday Sip & Shop Craft Fair.
Visit The Loft for a day of shopping local craft vendors, enjoying live Christmas music, decorating cookies, and sipping champagne. Find unique handmade gifts for everyone on your list. This family-friendly event will get you ready for the holidays!
All General Admission ticket holders who provide their PENN Play ID # will be automatically entered into a $500 PENN Slot Play raffle! The winner will be announced on Plainridge Park Casino's Twitter Page
The New Sportsbook, The Loft, the Revolution Lounge, Entertainment, and, of Course, Slots and Table Games
Wow!
If you're looking for excitement and winning at a New England casino, URCC Chairman's Circle member Plainridge Park Casino, the hometown casino, is for you. You can play at over 1,200 slots or electronic table games, enjoy live local entertainment, choose from seven outstanding dining outlets, or hold your meeting or reception at one of their event venues. And they simulcast horse races around the country. You'll find an exciting experience and hometown hospitality every time you visit.
Plainridge Park Casino is proud of its PENN Heroes program and is excited to keep growing. The PENN Heroes rewards program gives our nation’s active-duty military, veterans and first responders access to special discounts, promotions, and events. It’s PENN National's way to offer thanks for their commitment to our country and communities.
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Check out all the dining options here.
You can make reservations on the Plainridge Park Casino home page.
New, New, New
The sportsbook you've been craving is here - and it's about to change the game day scene forever. At Plainridge Park Casino's new Sportsbook Bar and Restaurant, every play is intensified by pure adrenaline. With a massive 49-foot video wall delivering action in crystal clarity, you'll feel like you're on the field surrounded by giants. Their jumbotron is unmatched. It is the largest indoor restaurant display in all New England!
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The Loft features a wide variety of entertainment from stand-up comedians and comic hypnotists to live swing bands and musicians. Looking for an intimate night out? Come to The Loft and see what everyone is talking about. Friday and Saturday from 8:00 p.m. to midnight, the Revolution Lounge features the area's best live bands and DJs. Whether you want to dance the night away or relax and hang out with friends, the Revolution Lounge is a great place to unwind after a long week. Best of all, all shows at the Revolution Lounge are completely FREE with no cover charge. No ticket or reservation required! | |
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Here's the lineup for the Revolution Lounge for the rest of the year.
- Friday, November 24: Zero Drift Band
- Saturday, November 25: Played Out
- Friday, December 1: The Far
- Saturday, December 2: The Midnight Callers
- Friday, December 8: Front & Center
- Saturday, December 9: Be Kind Rewind
- Friday, December 15: Mugsy
- Saturday, December 16: Thirty 6 Red
- Friday, December 22: Petty Larceny
- Saturday, December 23: Northeast Groove
- Friday, December 29: Swipe Right
- Saturday, December 30: Cover Story Band
- Sunday, December 31: Silver Arrow Band
The Revolution Lounge's hours are 11:00 a.m. - 12:45 a.m. daily
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URCC Corporate Partner
An Unlikely Story
Visit their home page for upcoming events.
An Unlikely Story
111 South Street
Plainville
(508) 699-0244
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Shop and Sip Nights
December 7, 14, and 21
The staff at An Unlikely Story is so excited to announce that they will be hosting three Shop and Sip nights this December! On December 7, 14, and 21, the store will be open until 9:30 p.m. to assure that everyone has time to get their holiday shopping done. They will have beer, wine, and soft drinks available for purchase in their Holiday Market starting at 6:00 p.m., and their cafe will be open for hot beverages and snacks to enjoy while you shop!
No reservations required, just come in to shop and sip to your heart's content!
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Sign up for their weekly enewsletter on their home page.
Check out their Staff Picks section and take advantage of the expertise of their amazing booksellers.
Be sure to visit the Unlikely Café for a hot chocolate or delicious hot soup!
Café: 10:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. daily
Kitchen: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. daily
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Massachusetts Small Business Development Center
Meetings Conducted via Phone and Conference Call
Call 508-673-9783 for a virtual appointment
The MSBDC is committed to helping your business succeed in Massachusetts. They provide free, confidential, one-to-one business assistance, and free or low-cost educational training programs to prospective and existing small businesses throughout the Commonwealth. The MSBDC fosters the start, growth, and sustainability of small business by providing high-quality, in-depth advising, training, and capital access.
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JOIN US
URCC MONTHLY MEETINGS
Our Extreme Networking group, hosted by Marcie Rappa of URCC member Better Living Real Estate, meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of every month at 11:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., at member Springhill Suites/Townplace Suites in Wrentham. This exclusive group focuses on providing referrals so only one person from each profession is invited to attend.
Executive Express-O, hosted by URCC Chairman of the Board Josh Vanada, meets in our office the first Wednesday of every month.
Small Business Advising with the Small Business Administration is available remotely.
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Help Us Thank Our Chairman's Circle Member | |
Help Us Thank Our Corporate Partners | | | | |
