Chamber lauds individuals, businesses for community giving

Dec. 1, 2022 | Miasha Lee

Bill Parks, Alice Buckner from United Way of Pioneer Valley, Basia Belz, Cathy Langlois and Harlene Simmons stand with their awards from the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce.
Photo credit: Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce

WESTFIELD — Five individuals and groups were honored at the annual meeting and banquet of the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce on Nov. 16, at Tekoa Country Club.

Vivid Hair Salon and Spa was named the Chamber’s business of the year, United Way of the Pioneer Valley was named nonprofit of the year, Bill Parks, formerly of the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Westfield, received a Lifetime Achievement Award, Cathy Langlois of ServiceMaster of Greater Springfield was named member of the year and Harlene Simmons of All Natural Reiki was given the new “Sixth Woman” award.

“The night was well received,” said chamber Executive Director Eric Oulette. “We had over 100 people that attended. Everybody was humbled and honored by those who had received awards.”

He continued, “The awards are to say thank-you to businesses, businessmen and -women who’ve went above and beyond this past year. We’re not here just as a chamber to support businesses, but also recognize them for everything they do in the community and for themselves, so it was a great event.”

The Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce represents a combined workforce of over 10,000 employees in Westfield, Southwick, Russell, Granville, Blandford, Chester, Huntington, Montgomery and Tolland. Its mission is to develop and nurture a prosperous business environment by serving, protecting, and promoting their members through advocacy, education, information, marketing and networking programs and activities.

Langlois, general manager at ServiceMaster, is a Westfield resident who’s been involved with the chamber since ServiceMaster of Greater Springfield joined in 2008. Oulette described Langlois as a silent backbone who has gone above and beyond expectations to ensure the chamber’s success.

“Member of the year is not so much what you do for its businesses, but what else you’ve been able to do within the chamber,” Oulette said.

Langlois said she never expected anything like this and was overwhelmed that the Chamber even thought of her.

“It feels wonderful,” Langlois said. “I was actually at the Legislative Luncheon when Eric Oulette announced it. I was flabbergasted and dumbstruck. I was totally unexpecting anything like that. I help the chamber whenever I can with whatever is going on.”

Harlene Simmons, owner of All Natural Reiki at 16 Union Ave., Suite 1E, in Westfield, is a member of the chamber. She found out that night she was going to be recognized as the “Sixth Woman.”

“I never expected it,” Simmons said. “I was shocked and surprised at the same time. I was absolutely speechless. I had no idea.”

The Sixth Man or Sixth Woman is a new award for the chamber this year. It’s a basketball term used for somebody who isn’t a starting player but comes off the bench as a key contributor. Oulette said the analogy fits Simmons.

“She is somebody who embodies the chamber,” Oulette said. “Whether it was getting raffles for us or soliciting memberships, Harlene was always the silent partner just off the bench and we wanted to honor her for all the hard work that she did for us this past year, as well.”

Simmons and her husband moved to Westfield in December of 2015. By February of 2016 she had already joined the chamber. Simmons thought it was a great way to meet people and get involved in the community. She needed a place for her office and needed someone she could trust to put her in the right direction.

“I’m contributing myself, my craft and who I am as a person to the Westfield community. Knowing that I can do work for the chamber, run my business and be successful,” Simmons said. “I want to continue with my Reiki and get more people exposed to a healthier way of living.”

Owner Basia Belz of Vivid Hair Salon & Spa at 99 Elm St., Westfield, is part of the chamber’s marketing committee. She found out about her award at what she thought was going to be a meeting about Small Business Saturday.

“I am so grateful to be a recipient of business of the year by the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce,” Belz said. “I am so honored and humble. It means a lot to me. Vivid does what we do for our community because we love what we do. We are here to not only provide great beauty services, but we also care for everyone.”

One of the reasons the chamber selected Vivid Hair Salon & Spa was its community outreach programs, which see a new cause adopted each month. Vivid is currently running a toy drive to help local kids in the community for this holiday season. The salon hosts a big event each October for breast cancer awareness, serving up to 50 women with hair, makeup, Reiki, photos, raffles and prizes, at no costs to the recipients. Vivid also take a lot of pride in its efforts to work with Unify Against Bullying. With fundraising for Unify, Belz has collaborated with many other businesses to help promote and raise money to give back to children. As an executive board member of Unify, Belz host an event every year called Beautify for Unify where hair salons, boutiques or any type of hair, fashion or beauty industry get involved. This year, their grant application process is open and they’re able to give out up to $25,000. in grants.

“The chamber has helped me grow in so many ways,” Belz said. “It’s allowed me to become more vocal and give my voice as well as give back to the community and be a part of the community. We want to let the community know that we are a voice to speak and a shoulder to lean on.”

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