Getting employers HR resources they need

Member-based group works with 1,000 firms

By C ORI U RBAN

Republican

Special to The

The Employers Association of the NorthEast has come out of the COVID-19 pandemic stronger, more flexible and creative.

That’s because, to thrive and be the resource members need, the agency developed new ways of working and delivering services to meet the changing landscape.

“We’re much more agile in how we approach our work, and this has created new business opportunities and a high level of engagement from our members,” said Meredith F. Wise, president.

For more than 100 years, the association has been the go-to resource for employers seeking practical solutions to help build engaged, well-managed and low-risk workplaces through human resources and management advice, survey data, readyto-use human resources templates, training and consulting. It is a member-based organization with more than 1,000 member companies of all sizes. With about 17 full- and 15 part-time employees, the association generally works with businesses with under 100 employees but with larger employers as well. Members are from a variety of industries including manufacturing, health care, nonprofit, human services, education, financial services and professional services.

“Our member benefits, services and team are the partners employers can rely on for HR expertise,” Wise said.

Members have unlimited access to experienced, local HR professionals through the agency’s HR Hotline resource. Team members respond to questions ranging from the Family and Medical Leave Act to compensation, terminations to compliance, best practices and HR trends.

“We provide expertise for compensation planning, recruiting, engagement surveys and tools, retention

LEARN MORE

Business: Employers Association of the NorthEast

Where: 67 Hunt St., Agawam For more info: Online, eane.org; call, 877-6626444 tools, sample policies, toolkits, checklists and organizational design, to name just a few,” Wise said.

The Learning & Development options provide skill-building opportunities for leaders, future leaders, individual contributors and HR professionals.

“Every employee in an organization can benefit from the skills development and coaching services we offer,” Wise said.

On an annual basis, the Leadership and Inspire HR full-day conferences expose participants to national and regional keynote and breakout session presenters who motivate and educate. And roundtables — peer networking and learning sessions — take place monthly so members can discuss challenges, best practices and learn from one another.

Like many organizations,

EANE was significantly impacted by the pandemic.

“Knowing that our members, and other employers, were now faced with challenges and questions they hadn’t dealt with before, we doubled down on offering guidance, analysis, resources and tools to assist employers in the region with the information they needed to manage through the pandemic,” Wise said. The employers association opened its resources to all employers, not just members. The focus shifted from providing leadership and personal development learning opportunities to offering weekly webinars to update employers on the ever-changing regulations, public health guidance and employee safety information they needed. “It seemed like, almost daily, we

With about 17 full- and 15 part-time employees, the association generally works with businesses with under 100 employees but with larger employers as well.

Monty’s landed second spot for growth in the Springfield Regional Chamber’s Super 60 Awards for 2022. (HOANG ‘LEON’ NGUYEN / THE REPUBLICAN)

SMALL BUSINESS

Now, in the face of possible recession, owner Monty Greer said there’s nothing to be done but showing up and putting in the work.

“Honestly, there’s nothing I can do about it,” he said.

Located at 1 Arch Road, the business houses a vast storeroom with brands such as Gas Gas, Beta, Suzuki, CFMOTO, SSR, Kayo, One Wheel, and Hisun. It sells dirt bikes, ATVs, side-by-sides and other merchandise.

Prior to owning Monty’s Motorsports, Greer worked at a car dealership as a business manager, but a lack of happiness and desire to spend more time with family led him to shift to power sports vehicles. Greer said he saved enough money to live off of for a year and said that even if he didn’t make it, that would be one year not being unhappy in the dealership.

He opened the business in March 2017 in a 2,500-square-foot building that once housed a convenience store. That space was so small, Greer recalled, that he had to keep some ATVs in a semi-trailer out back. He had learned that the Westfield area has a huge demand for power sports vehicles, recalling a show he attended with more than 1,000 people. When a 13,000-square-foot site just 2 miles away became available, everything was moved in July 2020, just as the economy was beginning to reopen

rom early days in a repurposed convenience store to a location more than five times as large, Monty’s Motorsports in Westfield has shown that a small, local business can truly succeed even amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. SEE RESOURCES, PAGE K18 SEE THROTTLE, PAGE K18 %%SATFOL-%%3MONTH%%2DATE THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM SUNDAY FEBRUARY 19 2023 | K 3 OUTLOOK 2023 It depends! Ask us why, then apply at westfieldbank.com/apply LOAN LINE What better banking’s all about Should I choose a Home Equity Loan or Line of Credit? Member FDIC westfieldbank.com 3180920-01