Month: October 2005

Five Attributes of Best-in-class Mentors

As a young consultant I really thought I had it all together. I was getting great ratings, great raises, and wonderful accolades from clients. Because I (in my own mind) thought I was such hot stuff, I was not active in seeking out advice from more experienced colleagues. After all, what could they teach me?

As I matured from an inexperienced hot-shot to an experienced manager, I developed a much stronger appreciation for the wisdom my more experienced colleagues could impart. This appreciation didn’t happen naturally; I had to get my butt chewed off a bunch of times to realize that a wiser and more experienced colleague could help me get through the tough times and learn from my mistakes. I also needed a wiser colleague to hold a mirror up to my face to help me see my weaknesses. I needed (and still need) a mentor to help me be more effective as a leader.

Whether for personal or professional reasons, having a mentor to turn to for advice and counsel is a very effective means of transforming knowledge into wisdom. Before I go any further, let’s get a definition of wisdom in place:

Knowledge + Experience = Wisdom

In a mentoring relationship, a mentoree, or person being mentored, typically brings a lot of knowledge to the table. The mentoree has learned the fundamentals of how to do his or her job and can probably do the basics well. The mentor, or the person doing the mentoring, provides experience. The mentor provides perspective on what to do when things aren’t optimal or when difficult situations crop up. When the experience from the mentor is transferred to the mentoree, it accelerates the wisdom building process because the mentoree now doesn’t have to learn solely through his or her own mistakes. The mentoree is able to learn from a combination of his own mistakes and the mentor’s advice.
For mentoring relationships to work well, I’ve found several items to be very important:

The mentor should not have a direct reporting relationship with the mentoree. The mentoree can feel free to speak about issues which may be plaguing him without fear of retribution from a boss;

Whether for personal or professional reasons, having a mentor to turn to for advice and counsel is a very effective means of transforming knowledge into wisdom.

The mentor must want to be a mentor. Mentoring is an incredibly important responsibility that is likely over and above any other existing responsibilities. If the leader doesn’t want to be a mentor, she is going to view the time spent mentoring as a nuisance.

The mentoree should have a desire for a mentor. The mentoree needs to see the value in the relationship and have a desire to benefit from the relationship, otherwise both parties will just go through the motions until their time is over.
Be a best-in-class mentor by zeroing in on these five attributes:
Be available for your mentoree: You need to define how much time you are able to spend in a mentoring relationship and commit the time to do it. If you’re just too busy to mentor, don’t do it;

Make listening a priority: A mentor who listens will understand the struggles and issues a mentoree experiences and can better help him with a solution. The best listening mentor assumes little when talking with the mentoree; she lets the mentoree communicate his struggles and issues, then targets what is most important. Just as important, a listening mentor builds trust with the mentoree;
Keep confidences: Any particulars about the mentoring relationship are between the mentor and the mentoree, period. As a mentor, assume that everything about the relationship is off limits for others and ensure that if anything about the relationship is found out it is because the mentoree has divulged it, not you as the mentor;

Tell it straight: Mentoring relationships where the mentor and mentoree can have direct and constructive discussions are highly beneficial to the mentoree’s growth. Telling it straight means discussions are constructive, respectful, and specific. Just remember to build trust in the relationship first by being a good listener and keeping confidences;

Have the courage to stop if the relationship isn’t working: If you’re having a difficult time connecting on common interests, if meetings with the mentoree feel like more of an obligation versus something you look forward to, or if mentorees don’t pursue meeting, it may be time to call it quits. Some relationships just aren’t meant to be, so accept it and move on. Do look at the reasons the relationship didn’t work out and look for patterns you as a mentor should address that maybe you can work on with your mentor.

Put these five attributes into action to help you be a best-in-class mentor. Do this well and you give something priceless to your mentoree: wisdom.

Lonnie Pacelli has over 20 years experience at both Accenture and Microsoft, is the creator of Leading on the Edge™ Action Guides (www.leadingonedge.com) and is the author of The Project Management Advisor – 18 Major Project Screw-Ups and How to Cut them off at the Pass;www.lonniepacelli.com.

Dorothy Varon

Making A Case for an Effective Career Change

Dorothy Varon

Dorothy Varon says that when one makes a career change, that individual tends to feel older and younger at the same time.

“It’s a paradox; many of your new colleagues are on their first career, so they would be younger, and sometimes much younger, than you,” she told BusinessWest, in reference to the first part of that equation. “At the same time, though, you feel energized by the change, so you feel younger.”

Varon experienced both phenomena as she transitioned from work in the health insurance field and later as a consultant within that industry to a career in law that has seen her move from private practice to the attorney general’s office to the Springfield firm Robinson Donovan. She’s also transitioned from New York City to Springfield, and there are no regrets about that decision.

Since moving to Western Mass. and entering the legal community, Varon has encountered many colleagues younger than her — she didn’t graduate from WNEC Law until she was 43 and didn’t arrive at Robinson Donovan until she was 48 — but she’s also witnessed that burst of adrenaline she described.

“There is a learning curve to be a lawyer that only another lawyer would understand.”

“You are energized when you start something new,” she said. “It doesn’t feel like the same old thing, day in and day out. You’re doing something new — and you’re learning.”

At Robinson Donovan, Varon has developed a diverse practice in civil litigation and appellate cases, as well a growing volume of work for area non-profit agencies. Her efforts recently earned her designation as an ‘Up and Coming Lawyer’ from Mass. Lawyers Weekly, in the category of individuals who have been members of the Bar for 10 years or less.

‘Up and Coming’ is not a phrase usually applied to professionals 53 years of age, but, in this case, Varon believes it is appropriate.

The Dorothy Varon File

Education:Western New England College, J.D., 1995; City College of New York, B.S., Psychology and Pre-med, 1974
Current Position:Associate with the Springfield firm Robinson Donovan
Areas of Practice:Civil Litigation
Professional and Community Activities:Board member, Women’s Bar Assoc. and Women’s Bar Foundation; Board of Directors, Sunnyside Child Care Center at Smith College; former member of the Board of Directors of All Out Adventures

“I’ve had some good success in recent years, and I’m going to be practicing for many years to come,” she said, noting that she recently adopted a young boy from Cambodia. “I have to.”

Transitioning to a new career has its rewards, as well as its challenges, especially when that new career is in law, said Varon, who said her personal experience could serve as inspiration to those who have considered changing their professional course, but then thought that advancing years would or should prohibit them from doing so.

“I never thought I was too old to do this — that never entered my brain,” she said. “I don’t think you’re ever too old to do anything, with the possible exception of me being a ballet dancer.

“If you use the brains you were given, and work hard, you can do pretty much anything.”

Changing Course — and Courses

When asked if law school is any more challenging for someone in their 40s than for individuals much younger, Varon offered a telling laugh.

“Obviously, law school is difficult by its very nature,” she said, “but I remember that first day of classes; they described what our typical day would be, and I kept waiting to hear what would happen after our three classes. I thought, ‘that’s it?’

“When you’ve worked for 20 years, going to school, even if it’s law school, as grueling as it is, is not the same as putting in 9-, 10-, or 12-hour days,” she continued. “So I thought it was easier in that regard, but I wasn’t trying to raise a family at the same time, either. Some of the older students had many different responsibilities.”

Indeed, Varon stressed that neither her years at WNEC, nor her transition into the legal profession were a snap. She told BusinessWest that the route she took to that classroom was long and circuitous.

“There is a learning curve to be a lawyer that is one that only another lawyer would understand,” she said of her career shift. “You find out you have a lot to learn; it’s exhilarating, but, at the same time, scary.

“It’s shocking how much you need to learn after you get out of law school,” she continued. “You say to yourself, ‘I just passed the bar exam — or two bar exams — and I must know a lot.’ But when you get out, you realize you have a lot to learn.”

Varon actually majored in Psychology and Pre-Med at City College of New York, and then went to Paris to study medicine. She knew, however, that a medical career was not in the cards. “I grow faint at the sight of blood.”

She eventually went to work for Mercer Computer Systems in New York, where she consulted on- and off-site for major health insurance companies. She also opened new consulting markets within the health insurance industry and recruited consultants for those markets.

In 1989, she opened her firm, JAHM Consulting (the name was drawn from the first initials of family members), which provided consulting and management services to the health insurance industry in the areas of system design, project management, indemnity, and managed care product design and development.

Her seven-year stint as consultant and entrepreneur were marked by financial success and professional growth, she said, but changes to the health insurance and her private life prompted her to seek a new career path.

“When the health insurance programs became more managed care oriented, I became less interested in staying in that business,” she said. “I didn’t particularly like the direction; meanwhile, I had always liked the legal aspects of what I was doing, and my dad was an attorney for many years.

“At that point in my life, I was examining where I wanted to be 15 or 20 years down to the road,” she continued. “Do I want to be in this business or some other business? I always wanted to be a lawyer, so I thought this was the time to do it.”

Varon said her financial success from her years at the helm of JAHM put her in the enviable position of being able to essentially take three years off and focus exclusively on school. And she took full advantage of that opportunity.

“I was very fortunate to be able to do it the way I did it,” said Varon, who ranked third in a class of 230. “I would have stayed a student forever if the economics permitted it — which they didn’t, of course.”

Upon graduating from WNEC, Varon worked briefly, and on a part-time basis, for the Springfield firm Cohen Rosenthal, P.C., where she had clerked while attending law school. Part-time work was desired because her father had taken ill, and she needed flexibility in her schedule. She found it, and also a unique chance to blend her wide range of skills in a position with the Northampton publishing company Kitchen Sink Press. There, she served as director of Legal Affairs and Human Resources, a role that saw her take on everything from negotiating license agreements to handling compensation and benefits for employees.

After a short stint in private practice, Varon served as judicial law clerk for Mass. Appeals Court Judge Elizabeth Porada, and, later, became an assistant attorney general in the Springfield-based Western Mass. Division. She came to Robinson Donovan in 2001, and has specialized in plaintiffs’ and civil defense litigation.

Like her mostly younger colleagues, Varon has the twin challenges of growing a legal practice and balancing work and her life outside it. Her adopted son keeps her busy, as does her work with the Women’s Bar Association and other groups, as well as pro bono work for some of the region’s starving artists and other constituencies.
She recently helped stage a program organized by the Women’s Bar about the complex track to a judgeship.

“We wanted to help them understand the process, or de-mystify it, if you will,” she explained. “This means both the application process, and the process of deciding if this is what you want to do, and if you can do it.”

When asked if that was one of her ambitions, she hedged, and said, “I don’t know, I’m still pretty new in this career.”

Bronx Cheer

Summing up her career to date — as well as what may happen in the future — Varon told BusinessWest, “life has a way of running the show.”

It does, and it has taken her on an intriguing journey, from successful entrepreneur to the courtroom; from the Bronx to Northampton. Many things have changed, but some things haven’t — she’s still a die hard Yankees fan.

And she’s in a new career, where she feels older and younger at the same time.

George O’Brien can be reached at[email protected]

Brandnew 2005

Features

Symposium Is All About the Message

John Bidwell,president of Bidwell ID, said ‘branding’is an oft-used term that he hopes to better define for the region·s business professionals.

John Bidwell has always incorporated an educational component into his work.
Indeed, Bidwell, founder and president of Florence-based Bidwell ID, has employed a number of means to educate clients and prospective clients about the many aspects of marketing and brand-building. Topics covered by so-called white papers downloadable from his Web site include everything from logos to copyrights; capital campaigns to naming a company.

“I find that an educated client or potential client turns out to be a better client,” said Bidwell, who said his white papers are what he considers an objective approach to answering common questions about the often-complex world of branding.

Recently, he sought to take this educational component to a higher plane. This was the genesis of a symposium, created in conjunction with the Mass. Small Business Development Center Network, to be staged Nov. 1 at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst. The museum will serve as not only the site, but also one of five case studies — in this instance, a not-for-profit group — that will, according to event planners, help attendees gain an appreciation for the nuances of marketing.

As Bidwell explained to BusinessWest, not-for-profits have seen traditional sources of funding — foundation grants and allocations from local, state, and federal organizations — dwindle, leaving them under increasing pressure to raise more revenue. One key to this, of course, is marketing.

“This is a time of great change for not-for-profits; they have to reach out and do a lot more development work than ever before,” he explained. “Part of that development work is branding, and this is something that many of these organizations never had to look at before. They have to look at who they are and how they define themselves in a way that wasn’t an issue only a few years ago.”

A similar focus will be put on other industry sectors and specific marketing challenges though case studies involving Amherst College (education); the Amherst Nursing Home (health care); Banana Publishing (a small, relatively new business); and Cooley Dickinson Hospital’s Way Cooley brand of coffee (a new product).

The purpose of the symposium, said Bidwell, is to take what many business owners consider a buzz word — branding — and give it some workable definitions that they can apply to their companies and agencies.

Getting the Word Out

Bidwell told BusinessWest that, originally, the letters I and D incorporated into his company’s name stood for illustration and design.

“I’ve always been into graphics and design,” he said, adding that he did work for a number of newspapers and magazines earlier in his career. Later, those letters stood for identity and design, he said, and today, they’re used to convey the fact that the six-year-old company specializes in helping clients create and shape an identity, or ID.

Bidwell, who studied Theology at McGill University and did a stint for the Peace Corps in Africa before moving into the marketing field, has done such ‘identity’ work for clients ranging from Mount Holyoke College to the National Yiddish Book Center, to DramaWorks, the Northampton-based company that uses theater to help companies understand workforce issues.

These are among the ‘educated’ clients he described, noting that the more individual business owners know and truly understand about the need for branding and the many components of that assignment — the better he will be able to partner with them to achieve positive results.

This fall’s symposium (for information, visit www.brandnew2005.com) was designed to offer working examples of how branding works — and how it can work better, said Bidwell, noting that the program will include several aspects.

There will be presentations on the branding strategies for each company or product, he explained, and also questions from a panel of marketing experts and then more questions from the audience.

The panel of experts will include Lee Phenner, vice president of Hill Holiday Design in Boston, Cheri Cross, partner and communications professional with Slate Roof Studio in Northampton, and Rick DeBonis, senior vice president and director of Marketing for Hampden Bank. As for the audience, Bidwell said he expects it to include everything from marketing and public relations professionals to business owners.

The case studies were chosen, he said, to spotlight the different kinds of challenges faced by various industry sectors and types of businesses. As he mentioned, non-profit groups like the Eric Carle museum are under mounting pressure to reach broader audiences, and thus boost revenue.

“A lot of not-for-profits are taking more interest in branding because they’re being forced to,” he explained. “Many of them are struggling to survive and they’re having to address development and branding issues.”

Springfield-based Banana Publishing, which has created cross-border telephone books, including one for Longmeadow and Enfield, Conn., was chosen to highlight the many challenges faced by emerging small companies, said Bidwell. He told BusinessWest that this case involves both a new business and a new product, and that branding efforts must be designed to raise awareness for both.

Amherst College, meanwhile, was selected to focus attention on higher education and its unique issues, he said. The discussion will likely focus on whether such a well-known institution needs to market itself — and how it goes about that mission.

Cooley Dickinson’s Way Cooley Coffee was chosen to spotlight the branding of a new product, said Bidwell, noting that the hospital began to brew its own brand and use proceeds to help bring health care services to those who are uninsured or underinsured. That talk is expected to focus on how the hospital is getting word out about its coffee, and how effective these efforts have been at building awareness.

“These are all successful ventures,” Bidwell said of the case studies he’s assembled. “What we want to do at this symposium is examine the various ways that effective branding contributed to their success.”

Name of the Game

Bidwell said he expects some business owners to attend not because they know what branding is and why it is important — but because they don’t.

“To many people, this is just a buzz word and they don’t really know what it means,” he said. “Some people thinking branding is just a new name for marketing. I happen to think it’s goes beyond that, but that’s a matter for discussion.”

There will be many of those at the symposium, which, if it is as successful as Bidwell believes it will be, could be the first of many.

As he said, educated clients ultimately become better clients.

George O’Brien can be reached at[email protected]

Make Investments in a Healthy Community

Opinion

Neal Lane, an advisor to President Bill Clinton, once commented in a speech, “It is only by building a sense of teamwork and community that we can overcome the unexpected detours and hurdles we encounter on our own journey and gain satisfaction that ought to derive from such achievements. Those organizations that prepare themselves for the unexpected and help to build a sense of community will become the leaders of the 21st century.”

The United Way is one of those organizations.
Recently, our community has responded well to the unexpected. More importantly, a strong sense of community has emerged from all the efforts to assist the Hurricane Katrina victims. We are proud of our Red Cross chapters, our Salvation Army Corp., and the many other organizations and individuals that responded so passionately to this human crisis.

A crisis of this magnitude captures everyone’s attention, as it should. But it’s important to remember that the same organizations that responded so well to Katrina are working hard every day in our community, alleviating the individual crises we all have in our lives. United Way of Pioneer Valley is helping to lead that network of agencies and programs. Many of those agencies depend on the success of our annual fund drive to run the programs that serve our community.

Our mission has always been to strengthen our community by empowering every individual. United Way’s goal is to create a community where all of our citizens are valued; where diversity becomes a strength; where the voiceless are heard; where children have opportunities to grow into productive, responsible adults; where we can all live in a community that is safe.

A healthy community requires a healthy partnership between the United Way and its 57 partner agencies and we’re proud to foster that partnership every day. We want people to know that our service area may include 23 cities and towns, but we serve every citizen that reaches out for help.

Our United Way campaign kicked off on Sept. 9 with a goal of $6.5 million. We know this is not nearly enough to meet all the pressing needs that our community faces. Still, together we have a responsibility to provide the financial resources necessary to create a strong, healthy, and secure community in order to be able to respond to the concerns and needs of our larger community.

Your individual and corporate gifts to the United Way campaign are the single best investments you can make toward reaching the goal of a healthy community.

United Way will provide you, the donor, the accountability and the assessment of how your investment is working. It can also provide the information you need to make prudent decisions about how to distribute your financial resources. But most importantly, this campaign can and will help unite us in a worthy cause; the wellbeing of our community and our children’s community.

The Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation has generously offered to match every new and increased leadership donation of $1,000 or more to the annual campaign. Please help us reach our goal by doubling your gift this year through this wonderful matching grant.

What we do know is that we must throw aside everything that is dull, motionless, and backward looking. Together, as partners, we need to see and embrace new ways and new solutions to our needs and problems. We need to understand that, if we do business today as we did yesterday, we are bound to lose; if we do business tomorrow as we do today, we will surely be doomed.

If you own or manage a local business that does not participate in United Way, we hope you will consider joining our community of business partners. It will strengthen our community and your business. We can’t thank you enough for your generous support in past years and hope that you will join us in a successful campaign this year.-

Joel Weiss is president & CEO of United Way of Pioneer Valley; (413) 737-2691.

Bra None

Unique Program Offers A New Kind Of Support To Breast Cancer Survivors

Show Us Your Bra

Since its inception in the early ’90s, The Breast Form Fund has been bolstered by the generous contributions of the Western Mass. business community and by one unique, far-reaching fundraiser: the Show Us Your Bra event held every two years in October. This year, the continued support of businesses, organizations, and individuals alike has provided for an even
larger month-long celebration of art, community involvement, and, most importantly, women’s health.

Pine cones, pennies, red sequins, ketchup bottles, Wonder Bread bags, fake fur, fishing line, and plenty of underwire.

This laundry list of materials seems strange and random at first. It’s downright absurd when put into context — as the materials used to create one-of-a-kind, and often wild and wacky, pieces of art that all share one common trait: they’re bras.
Indeed, the Show Us Your Bra event, held biennially to benefit the Breast Form Fund, a non-profit that began at Gazebo, a lingerie and post-mastectomy shop in Northampton, is a one- (or shall we say two) of-a-kind event. But kidding aside, its also one of the most effective and imaginative fund-raising activities devised to assist survivors of breast cancer in living and feeling well.

“It’s an artsy, humorous, light way of addressing a serious issue,” said Judith Fine, owner of Gazebo and co-founder of the Breast Form Fund, along with Gazebo manager Emma Dostal. “It’s also all-inclusive — all are welcome to submit a bra they’ve created — boys, men, children, the elderly, everyone. I think that’s one thing that has made us so successful.”

BraStory

Show Us Your Bra has become the defining aspect of the Breast Form Fund, which supplies funding for uninsured and underinsured women who have had mastectomies to allow them to purchase breast prostheses and post-mastectomy bras. Fine explained that, for many years, the American Cancer Society supplied grant money for women in need of breast forms. But in 1992, that funding dried up, and Fine and Dostal saw an opportunity to help breast cancer survivors by creating a fund derived from a percentage of all of Gazebo’s sales.

“We addressed the issue by taking a percentage of sales and immediately saw that start to help people,” she said.

The Breast Form Fund functioned in that way for several years, essentially as a separate bank account operated by Gazebo that supplied $400 grants to breast cancer survivors for a breast form, which costs about $300, and two bras.

Soon, though, said Fine, the Breast Form Fund concept began to grow, and take on a life of its own, making its biggest leap on the occasion of Gazebo’s 20th anniversary in 1997. A unique celebration was planned that put the creative mettle of Western Mass. residents to the test, charging people of all ages and walks of life to create an artful rendition of a bra, and give it a clever moniker.

“The event was only meant to be held once,” Fine explained. “It was devised to commemorate our 20th anniversary and we were happy to see it become such a hit, but the next year, when we began telling people that it wasn’t going to happen again, they started demanding it.”

Thus, the Show Us Your Bra fundraiser was born. The following year, the event garnered 30 entries, and the year after that, it received 40. The most artful and cleverly named bra creations were chosen to create a Show Us Your Bra calendar, which raised additional funds for the Breast Form Fund and remains a large part of the event. Shortly thereafter, the fund became an official 501C-3 non-profit, merging with Tapestry Health.

Support System

As Show Us Your Bra continued to grow, Fine said she and fellow coordinators made the decision to hold it only every other year, as the number of entries was actually getting too large. The off-year also provides time to plan the event and to concentrate on marketing and promoting the Breast Form Fund.
But that’s not to say the event’s popularity waned. Since 1998, Show Us Your Bra has added a gala auction to its fundraising repertoire, at which visitors bid on their favorite bras.

“That was the year we went really big,” Fine said, noting that it was also the year that specific dates marking the event’s gradual growth and success began to get hazy, as positive momentum made the Breast Form Fund and Show Us Your Bra less a free-standing event and more a regional fixture.

The fund ended its partnership with Tapestry Health in the early years of this decade and formed a new one with the Cancer Connection in Florence, and now functions as an independent non-profit.

“It’s an artsy, humorous, light way of addressing a serious issue. It’s also all-inclusive — all are welcome to submit a bra they’ve created — boys, men, children, the elderly, everyone. I think that’s one thing that has made us so successful.”

The 2003 show displayed a staggering 240 bra creations, many from local artists, cancer survivors, support organizations, schools, and individuals, but others from as far away as California or Colorado.

Fine said the expansion of Show Us Your Bra has allowed the Breast Form Fund to help a greater number of women, and to assist them more efficiently. In the past, she said, women had to come directly to Gazebo to be helped, but now women within a 50-mile radius of downtown Northampton can easily apply for a grant through the fund and receive assistance and information due to the fund’s expanding resources, now hovering around the $40,000 mark. Fine and the Breast Form Fund’s Board of Directors are currently at work extending that radius to 100 miles, with the goal of reaching across New England and, eventually, the country.

And Show Us Your Bra continues to grow in its splendor, too. This year, several major sponsors are involved, including Baystate Health System, Cooley Dickinson Hospital, Florence Savings Bank, Gazebo, Paradise City Arts Festival, State Street Fruit Store, the Valley Advocate, AM Lithography, Lathrop Retirement Communities, Whole Foods Market, and countless businesses that have contributed time, funding, and services to augment the Breast Form Fund’s account balance through Show Us Your Bra activities, which will span the month of October (also Breast Cancer Awareness Month).

Sandra Hubbard, a nurse practitioner with Baystate’s Regional Cancer Program and Comprehensive Breast Center, said Baystate has been involved on some level for many years, and sees the importance of the Breast Form Fund first-hand everyday.
“I’ve been personally involved for some time,” said Hubbard, “sending clients to the fund since it began. It’s important to work with and fundraise for the Breast Form Fund because it is the only service of its kind in the area.

“I see newly diagnosed patients all the time that do not have adequate insurance coverage to purchase mastectomy bras or prostheses,” she continued. “Our staff became aware of the Breast Form Fund early on because it was one way for us to address the many needs of our patients.”

Hubbard added that representatives from the D’Amour Center for Cancer Care or the Comprehensive Breast Center are routinely on hand at Show Us Your Bra events, which this year will include the original contest and display of art-bras, to be located at the Northampton Center for the Arts throughout the month with an auction on Oct. 22, the auction, and a black-tie kick-off celebration to be staged on Oct. 6 in conjunction with the Paradise City Arts Festival at the Hotel Northampton.

At the gala, eight artful bras, created by juried Paradise City ‘bratistes,’ such as Josh Simpson of Shelburne Falls who is famous for his intricate glass planets, will be auctioned off.

Cups Runneth Over

“It’s the twist this year that is going to help us continue to ‘raise the bra’ on the artistic merit of this event,” Fine quipped.

“A lot of the bras that people contribute are funny, but many are poignant, too,” she continued. “And the fact that Show Us Your Bra just keeps getting bigger and bigger is proof that everyone knows someone who has had breast cancer, and everyone’s lives are touched by it. But gradually, we’re addressing a real need here with the help of many, many people.”

Jaclyn Stevenson can be reached at[email protected]

Meeting of the Minds

Holyoke Community College Gets Down to Business with New Facility

Community college is a two-word phrase. Geoff Little doesn’t want to forget that.
“We’re a community college, which says we have expectations and responsibilities beyond the campus walls to support growth and quality of life in the communities around us,” said Little, acting vice president for business and community affairs at Holyoke Community College.

Little will apply that philosophy as executive director of the college’s $18 million, five-story Kittredge Business Center, set to open to students and area companies in January.

“The intent was not to create a building that’s isolated from the campus,” Little said. “This building and its resources are intended to be accessible to both students on campus and the business community in general. So it serves a number of purposes.”

Indeed, HCC’s vision has been to create a one-stop business center that regional employers could use for workforce development and training, conferences, internships, and support for domestic and international trade – a vital resource, in other words, for current businesses and new ventures alike.

The center’s namesake, Michael Kittredge, who launched the project with a $1 million donation, knows a few things about business ventures. Over a few decades, the HCC alum turned a homemade candle enterprise into Yankee Candle, one of the Pioneer Valley’s most celebrated entrepreneurial success stories.

Little wants to see other stories like that emerge at this new facility near the intersection of Routes 90 and 91 – and at the crossroads of academia and business.

Science and Aesthetics

That physical location, near the juncture of two major highways, is a crucial part of marketing the Kittredge Business Center, said Michael Giampietro, HCC’s vice president for administration and finance. Like Little, he recognizes that the college plays a role in the economic vitality of the entire Knowledge Corridor region, from Hampshire County to Hartford.

“Part of the college’s mission, in addition to educating the region’s youth and people who want to come back for additional degrees, is to educate the incumbent workforce and to provide retraining opportunities for people who are changing careers or simply want to upgrade their skills,” Giampietro said. “The college has been short on space to provide that kind of training, and there is certainly a need for it.”

The Kittredge Business Center answers that space need, providing 55,000 square feet of academic and business resources, including 4,000 square feet of conference and meeting spaces for use by area businesses, all equipped with high-speed Internet connections, videoconferencing, and cutting-edge light and projection.

The building will also house the college’s Center for Business and Professional Development, dedicated to workforce training, as well as a career center that will provide a central location for employers to find interns and recruit new employees.
Two organizations dedicated to helping companies develop wider client bases will also make the business center their home: the World Institute for Strategic Economic Research (WISER), home to the nation’s leading online database for international trade statistics; and the Western Mass. office of the Mass. Export Center, which offers market research, export training, and international business development services.

Resources such as these will benefit not only area companies, Little said, but the school’s business students, who will attend many of their classes in the new facility. Non-business students will still find themselves in the building from time to time, as it was designed with the flow and connectivity of the entire physical campus in mind.

“It’s integrated into the campus nicely,” Little said. “It will draw people through the building who might not otherwise have a reason to be there. So we want this to be a resource for the business community, but also accessible for students.”
Giampietro said two main goals of the project have been to incorporate computer and wireless technology into every facet of the building, and to provide study and meeting areas for students.

“Over the years, as the college has grown, we’ve really consumed much of the informal gathering space for study and social gatherings,” he said. “One goal of this building is to bring that back.”

Another student-oriented feature is the building’s third-floor “green roof,” a 2,500-square-foot space that will be populated with native ground cover, grasses, and plants – a modern design concept that students in the environmental science program may incorporate into their program of study.

Giampietro added that the roof should attract some of the birds and insects native to the area, as well as reducing water runoff from the building and lessening the environmental impact on a neighboring brook.

“We wanted to introduce as many environmentally friendly components to the building as we could, and this is obviously one of them,” he said. “Our campus is very rural and surrounded by woodlands, so the green roof helps to preserve some of that.”

Investing in the Future

At its heart, however, the Kittredge Business Center is meant to grow area businesses and be a bridge between students and those companies.

That’s a relevant goal, considering that more than 80% of HCC’s students stay in Massachusetts after they graduate, and 65% stay within the Pioneer Valley region, said Erica Broman, vice president for institutional development. And those statistics help explain community support for the college; a $4 million capital campaign ($3 million of which is earmarked for the business center) has raised more than $3.6 million to date, including more than $500,000 from alumni.

“When businesses give a gift to a community college, they see a return on it. It’s not like they’re giving a gift to a larger, private institution where graduates might go off to all regions of the country,” Broman said. “Our alumni, by and large, stay nearby and become employees and customers of these corporations. That’s the strategy we’ve used when approaching businesses, and they’ve responded to it.”

Even though the center’s opening is a few months away, Little and other administrators are moving forward with efforts to market its services to area businesses.

“We’re shaping the message and information now, and we’ll be holding some focus groups to start drawing some feedback from the community,” he said. “Out of that, we’ll deliver the message in a way that will best explain to people the reason for the center and the resources within it.”

The goal of making area businesses stronger and more competitive, while giving HCC’s own students an edge as they enter the work world, is a message that resonates, Little said.

“There will be many opportunities for internships and co-ops, and that experiential learning is critical for students,” he explained. “But it can be just as beneficial to businesses. We’re interested in outcomes.”

Bringing together faculty, students, and business people under one roof – and supplying them with state-of-the-art resources – is the first step to bringing about those positive outcomes, he added.

“There’s no definitive map to this – we’re developing it as we go – but we are centering on the idea of collaboration and cooperation. We are looking to be the resource for area businesses that want to expand their customer base.”

That would mean a brighter future for companies throughout the Pioneer Valley. And if the Kittredge name is known for anything, it’s making the world a little brighter.

AIC Forges Admissions Program With Community Colleges

Vincent Maniaci, president of American International College, took a look at the application forms for Springfield Technical Community College and Holyoke Community College shortly after assuming his post in August.

He noted that by checking a box, students accepted at one of the two institutions were given the option of seamlessly transferring to Westfield State College or UMass Amherst after the successful completion of coursework at one of the two-year colleges.

He then approached STCC president Ira Rubenzahl and HCC president William Messner with a simple request: “I want AIC to have its own box,” he said.
And four weeks later, it did.

HCC and STCC announced this month that they have entered into a dual admissions agreement with AIC, creating the first such arrangement with a private, four-year institution in the area. Under the new admissions agreement, students who are accepted to one of the two community colleges can opt to continue their education at AIC after the successful completion of two years of coursework.

“Many students are already well-served by the dual admissions agreements with WSC and UMass,” Maniaci said, “but there are still many students who would be well-served at AIC, and we felt a program like this would benefit all three institutions. Students with direction are more likely to graduate from college, and increasing the number of college graduates in our area is a civically-conscious goal that we will continue to focus on in the future.”

The partnership creates a number of incentives for students during their college career, according to Pauline Mortenson, director of international and transfer admissions at AIC. Students who sign up for dual (or joint) admissions when applying to STCC or HCC will have access to a variety of AIC services, including academic advising, mentoring, financial aid counseling, the college’s library, and all student functions including social and athletic events. That will help those students achieve the grade point average needed to continue at AIC after two years at STCC or HCC, Mortenson said, adding that the requirements vary from major to major. But it will also allow those students to integrate themselves into the AIC community early on.

“Students will receive a special ID card that gives them access to the campus right away,” Mortenson said. “And it also allows us to get to them sooner. We can help them choose courses that will transfer to AIC or help them to be more prepared when they get here, and it lets us guide them through the process and make the entire experience better for them.”

Mortenson added that upon entering the joint admissions program, students are automatically allocated a $4,000 scholarship that goes into effect when they begin classes as AIC after completing two years at STCC or HCC. That scholarship can be coupled with additional transfer scholarships to AIC, often awarded to transfer students with high grade point averages, and with all government-funded financial aid.

HCC President William Messner concurred that the agreement has clear benefits for students who wish to transfer to a four-year college, streamlining the process and providing specialized guidance along the way.
“The scholarship and student activities components should engage students and further smoothen the transition,” he said.

Stephen H. Keller, vice president for academic affairs Springfield Technical Community College said the new partnership will offer added opportunities to the region’s college-bound residents.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for our students who are planning to complete a bachelor’s degree,” he said. “Traditionally, many of our graduating students have transferred on to pursue a bachelor’s degree at AIC, particularly in their business programs which mesh well with ours. This new agreement will allow the students to learn more about AIC’s campus and services while they’re still studying at STCC, to determine if AIC is a good fit for them.”

The program went into effect on Sept. 22, after Maniaci, Messner, and Rubenzahl simultaneously signed the paperwork finalizing the agreement. Mortenson said students have already begun to enroll.

The following bankruptcy petitions were recently filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Readers should confirm all information with the court.

Aguirre, Felix Alejandro
PO Box 5672
Springfield, MA 01101
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/28/05

Allen, Russell H.
2661 Boston Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/24/05

Anderson, Donald G.
208 Bay Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/30/05

Andis-Hamlett, Nora C.
101 Fowler St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/30/05

Anziano, Anthony C.
P.O. Box 191
West Springfield, MA 01090
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/26/05

Arnold, Jenelle E.
116 N. Lake Ave.
Southwick, MA 01077
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/26/05

Aubuchon, Richard P.
43 West Summit St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/30/05

Bak, Felicia L.
Bak, Heather D.
98 Skyridge St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/24/05

Banach, Michelle M.
25 Berwyn St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/19/05

Barber, Maria R.
155 Carroll St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/26/05

Bates, Larry J.
Bates, Joya D.
3 Fenwick St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/22/05

Beaulieu, Amanda L.
Beaulieu, Luke J.
1430 Russell Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/23/05

Bergeron, John A.
P.O. Box 591
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/30/05

Bergstrom, Diane T.
86 Alvin St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/17/05

Bertelli, Dennis John
Bertelli, Nancy Ann
41 Margaret St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/20/05

Bigda, David M.
62 White St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/30/05

Bouchard, Alice M.
93 East Pheasant Hill Dr.
Feeding Hills, MA 01030
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/16/05

Bouche, Kimberly A.
241 Jackson St., Apt. 4D
Northampton, MA 01060
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/29/05

Bousquet, Donald F.
62 South Park Ter.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/18/05

Briggs, Marilyn L.
106 Wood Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/18/05

Bruso, Donald J.
Bruso, Laureen R.
129 South St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/26/05

Buendia, Patricia A.
182 Hampden St.
Indian Orchard, MA 01151
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/24/05

Butler, Marcus Calvin
35 Fruit St., A22
Northampton, MA 01060
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/16/05

Calabrese, Lori B.
30 Bel Air Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/25/05

Caloon, Pamela A.
37 Drexel St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/18/05

Canady, Jo-Anne
327 Beacon Circle
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/19/05

Carter, Cara J.
44 Warrenton St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 09/01/05

Cedrez, Wilber A.
23 Noel St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/17/05

Chamberlain, Brian E
90 Debra Dr. – Apt. 4F
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/30/05

Chicklowski, Christina R
69 Roy St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/31/05

Clayton, Sandra J.
24 Cyran St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/23/05

Closser, Edward W.
l64 Eddywood St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/31/05

Closser, Kelly A.
55 Old Farm Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/31/05

Collins, Craig Allen
16 Camp Jahn Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/28/05

Colon, Miguel A.
Colon, Lourdes M.
37 St. Jerome Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/31/05

Comtois, Raymond L.
Comtois, Mary L.
55 Farnum Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/17/05

Connell, Donna M.
2 Geryk Court
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/23/05

Connolly, Carolyn Louise
1103 Liberty St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/23/05

Connor-Fusco, Pamela Jane
130 Crosspath Road
Northampton, MA 01060
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/20/05

Cote, Kelly E.
67 Manchonis Rd.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/30/05

Couture, Robert A.
Couture, Carolyn A.
124 Joan St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/30/05

Crescione, Doreen Yvonne
46 Newbury St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/20/05

Crichlow, Bessie M.
12 Florida St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/01/05

Cruz Alvarez, Jose
Cruz, Gladys E
15 Prew Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/16/05

Cyranowski, Jane
567 Dickinson St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 08/16/05

Dasso, Ramona A.
1358 Bay St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/19/05

Davila, Jovanni
P.O. Box 2511
Holyoke, MA 01041
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/26/05

Delaney, Luke W
261 Arcade St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/25/05

Devins, Arthur R.
Devins, Karen A.
79 Howard St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/23/05

DiAugustino, Eric J.
29 York St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/23/05

Dowd, Thomas L.
Dowd, Jean C.
98 Arthur St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/01/05

Dragon, Lisa L.
47 King St., Apt # A
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/25/05

Drainville, Paul Henry
120 Derryfield Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/26/05

Duprey, Daniel P.
58 Calumet Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/18/05

Dygon, Suzanne M.
9 Thaddeus St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/29/05

Elliott, Sonya R.
16 Main Blvd.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/16/05

Fernandes, Brenda A.
312 James St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/23/05

Florentino, Teresa M.
16 Carriage Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/26/05

Foley, Joseph Vincent
10 Lamb St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/26/05

Fonseca, William M.
Fonseca, Darlene A.
31 Van Dyke Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/31/05

Foote, Christopher J.
Foote, Jennifer A.
56 Dwight Road
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/18/05

Fournier, Ross W.
P.O. Box 337
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/24/05

Frey, Tammy Ann
P.O. Box 284
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/18/05

Gahres, Sylvia A.
132 E. Main St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/25/05

Gamidov, Samir N
19 Sessions Dr.
Hampden, MA 01036
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/17/05

Gesell, Carol Ann
28 Clinton St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/19/05

Giroux, Christine M.
696 Britton St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/01/05

Gonzalez, Judy
81 Drexel St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/24/05

Gouger, Steven L.
Gouger, Susan M.
61 Eskett St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/26/05

Green, Carrie Ann
1607 Main St.
Springfield, MA 01103
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/17/05

Greenberg, Stephanie Lyn
188-A Rocky Hill Road
Florence, MA 01062
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/20/05

Griffin, Janis M.
67 Labelle St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/26/05

Hall, Latasha M.
86 Pheland Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 08/25/05

Hamlett, Daniel J.
101 Fowler St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/30/05

Hanjack, Lorie L
117 Leonard St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/25/05

Harrigan, Michael J.
320 Maple St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/17/05

Hatfield, Jeremy
14 Royalton St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/25/05

Hayden, Patricia L.
513 Parker St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 09/01/05

Hernandez, Dario
68 Tokeneke Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/29/05

Holbrook, Ella B.
3 Mobile Home Way
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/25/05

James, Lorna Claralee
985 Roosevelt Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/28/05

Johnson, Thomas E.
32 Governer St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/25/05

Krstyen, Amy A.
611 Narragansett St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/24/05

Lafrenaye, Irene Rose
58 Crescent Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/01/05

Kane, Thomas J.
66 Forest Hills Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 08/31/05

Kelly, Cheryl A.
430 Pleasant St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 08/25/05

Kenyon, Nancy K.
Kenyon, Robin A.
93 Orpheum Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/22/05

Kowal, Daniel M.
116 Narragansett St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/25/05

LaRussa, Thomas J
LaRussa, Irene B.
27 Kingman Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/26/05

Lee, Nicholas D.
4 Devonshire Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/26/05

Loddo, Jennifer M.
541 Nassau Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/31/05

Lorion, Carolynn M.
27 Champlain St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/30/05

Lorion, Jeffrey R.
27 Champlain St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/30/05

Marcial, Evilin
22 Massreco St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/28/05

Marcoullier, Ronald Paul
30 East Street Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/20/05

Marie, Lee
92 Fairview Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/30/05

Marsche, Judith Antoinette
74 Paul Revere Dr.
Feeding Hills, MA 01030
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/01/05

Martin, Michael R
272 Sargeant St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/26/05

Martin, Richard M.
10 Fairview St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/24/05

Matthews, Yvonne R.
59 Edendale St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 08/24/05

McGuill, John P.
33 Greenwood St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/31/05

McMaster-Marcelina,
Eunice F
16 Driftwood Road
Springfield, MA 01128
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/19/05

Monahan, Kevin C.
47 Broad Street, Apt. B31
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/22/05

Morancy, Patricia M.
7-B Kasper Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/28/05

Morgado, Marco A.
Morgado, CathyAnn
38 Fisher Road
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/24/05

New England Food Distribution, Inc.
1158 East St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/17/05

Nunez, Myrna
123 Brown Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/20/05

Page, Lucille A.
60 Forbes Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/18/05

Palka, Martin R
Palka, Debra C.
126 Summer St
Thorndike, MA 01079
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/22/05

Parslow, Michele M.
384 Nichols Road
Barre, MA 01005
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/25/05

Pepe, Denise M.
17 Manor Court
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/31/05

Perez, Andres
PO Box 6345
Springfield, MA 01101
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/29/05

Perreault, Michael G.
Perreault, Robin A.
491 McKinstry Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/26/05

Perry, LaShawne
4 Fanwood St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/19/05

Pettico, Michael T.
3 Harrison Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/16/05

Pinto, Migdalia
41 Central St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/30/05

Plante, Tonya L.
43 Hope Farms Dr.
Feeding Hills, MA 01030
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/17/05

Poirier, James E.
Poirier, Carmen M.
23 James Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/16/05

Radomski, Benjamin
49 Loretta St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/26/05

Rathbun, John Michael
20 Lori Lane
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/28/05

Ravenscraft, Paul M.
48 Evergreen Road #214
Leeds, MA 01053
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/30/05

Raymond, Lezime
Raymond, Theresa M.
38 Thomas St., Apt 302
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/20/05

Reichsman, Laura J.
94 Pratt Corner Road
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/25/05

Reyes, Angel M.
Reyes, Nelly
332 Maple St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/01/05

Ringer, Richard K
198 Mill St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/17/05

Rivera, Ruben
21 Ormond St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/01/05

Roberts, Scott A.
PO Box 327
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/29/05

Rodriguez, Miguel A.
90 Newfield St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/29/05

Rumore, Gino J.
33 Norman Ter.
Feeding Hills, MA 01030
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/25/05

Russo, Robert
210 Walnut St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/19/05

Saluk, Patrick Edmond
17 Bushwick Place
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/30/05

Santamaria, Jodi L.
42 Stratford Ter.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 08/16/05

Santiago, Carmen S.
163 High St., Apt. # 203
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/16/05

Slate, Kenneth P.
11 Catherine Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/18/05

Small, Debra A.
57 Minechaug Heights
Ludlow, MA 01057
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/01/05

Sorokin, Nikolay P
372 Granby Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/31/05

Spear, Gerald E.
Spear, Laurel A.
14 Pennsylvania Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/25/05

Specht, Paul Vernon
87 Prospect St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/30/05

Staccato, Maureen L.
60 Elmdale St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/26/05

Stamm, Supanee
73 Silver St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/30/05

Stanfill, Phyllis R.
34 Ina St.
Springfield, MA 01108|
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 08/18/05

Swearingen, David W.
54 Loomis Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 08/30/05

Symington, Kenneth James
43 Craig Dr., Apt. R-1
West Sp
ingfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/20/05

Taliceo, Kim E.
75 Bluebird Circle
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/18/05

Theriaque, Arthur J.
127 Ambrose St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/26/05

Thibault, Gilles A
67 Labelle St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/26/05

Thrower, Brian
180 Moss Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/18/05

Tiffany-Teece, Gail E.
485 South St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/22/05

Toledo, Carmen M.
24 Cameron St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/25/05

Torres-Fernandes, Diana I
12 Pine Grove
Amherst, MA 01002
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/19/05

Tosado, Maria C.
834 Parker St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 08/17/05

Turgeon, Sandra L.
24 Water Lane
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/30/05

Van Beek, Holly G.
3 Park Ave., #1
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/29/05

Vanasse, Peter C.
Vanasse, Pamela J.
13 Point Grove Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/01/05

Voyik, Jennifer L.
113 Geneva St.
Indian Orchard, MA 01151
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/25/05

Weatherbee, Thomas C.
77 Davis St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/01/05

White, David J.
314 St. James Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/23/05

Widun, Mitchell R.
2 Iroquois Dr.
Southwick, MA 01077
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/24/05

Wiezbicki, Steven M
80 Paradise St., Unit 3
Springfield, MA 01129
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/22/05

Williams, Marion Matthew
20 Easthampton Road K-11
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/25/05

Wyda, John M.
Wyda, Joan M.
23 Pearl St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/30/05

Young, Kerry Ausa
159 B. Montague Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/23/05

Zygarowski, Robert J.
159 Casey Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 08/19/05

The following building permits were issued during the month of September 2005.

AMHERST

Amherst College Trustees
280 Main St.
$1,900 — Install four signs

Amherst College Trustees
Johnson Chapel
$21,474 — Structural repairs and renovations

Charles DeRose
55 University Dr.
$3,500 — Erect sign – The Hanger

Kamel R. Hassan
660 West St.
$17,000 — Re-roof

EAST LONGMEADOW

Coleman Cable
50 Industrial Dr.
$94,012 — Foundation for three silos

HOLYOKE

Albert LaFluer
399-403 Hillside Ave.
$30,300 — Construct garage

Holyoke Mall Co.
50 Holyoke St.
$37,550— Remodel GNC

South Street Plaza
209-235 South St.
$40,000 — Interior renovations

NORTHAMPTON

Bennett and Lilly Gaev
94 King St.
$$16,400 — Create offices in basement

Lieberman Gallery
34 North Maple St.
$34,000 — Relocate bath door, construct office/reception area

Michael Gormely
92 Main St.
$5000 — Erect wall sign – Murduff’s Jewelry

Northampton Veterinary Clinic
227 South St.
$7,825
— Construct handicap ramp

SPRINGFIELD

Baystate Health
759 Chestnut St.
$827,489 — Renovations and small addition

C & W Breckwood Realty
1060 Wilbraham Road
$40,000 — Add office space

Dominican Nuns
1430 Riverdale St.
$50,000 — Enlarge meeting room

Freedom Credit Union
1976 Main St.
$32,000
— Interior renovations

NEFWC
1628-1640 Main St.
$29,000 — Interior renovations

Salamon Realty
42 Myron St.
$100,000
— Addition

Syed Absar
2645 Main St.
$218,340 — Create retail business

WESTFIELD

Devcon Shops
433E Main St.
$2,000 — Interior renovations-

The following is a compilation of recent lawsuits involving area businesses and organizations. These are strictly allegations that have yet to be proven in a court of law. Readers are advised to contact the parties listed, or the court, for more information concerning the individual claims.

NORTHAMPTON DISTRICT COURT
Rugg Lumber Co. Inc. v. Federal Management Co. Inc.
Allegation: Breach of contract — Failure to pay for goods sold and delivered: $14,400.68
Date Filed: Aug. 31

HOLYOKE DISTRICT COURT
Carrier Nationwide Trucking Systems Inc. v. Specialty Loose Leaf Inc.
Allegation: Breach of contract — Failure to pay for services: $8,075
Date Filed: Sept. 9

SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT
David Collins d/b/a Collins Insurance Agency v. James A. Velis d/b/a Velis Insurance Agency
Allegation: Breach of promissory note: $14,622.80
Date Filed: Aug. 23

Standard Tools & Equipment Co. v. America’s Pride Inc.
Allegation: Breach of contract — Failure to pay for goods sold and delivered: $5,281.27
Date Filed: Sept. 2

Network Employment Services Inc. v. The Holyoke Card & Paper Co.
Allegation: Breach of contract — Failure to pay for services: $3,548.16
Date Filed: Sept. 7

Medical Diagnostic & Rehab LLC d/b/a MVA Center for Rehab v. Hanover Insurance Co.
Allegation: Breach of contract — Failure to pay for services: $4,639.30
Date Filed: Sept. 12

Webster Architectural Woodworking Inc. v. Comcolor Photographics and Imaging Inc.
Allegation: Breach of contract — Failure to pay for goods sold and delivered: $14,070
Date Filed: Sept. 14

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT
Westover Building Supply Co. v. Andrew Mitchell d/b/a Mitchell Drywall & Plaster
Allegation: Breach of contract — Failure to pay for goods sold and delivered: $66,477.89
Date Filed: Aug. 24

The following Business Certificates and Trade Names were issued or renewed during the month of September 2005.

AMHERST

American Loss Mitigation Agency of Amherst
57 Olympic Dr.
Philip Brady

Everyday Enchantments
33 Kellogg Ave.
Heather Lowing, Antonio Landati

Grace Bodywork
196 North Pleasant St.
Mary Grace Farley

Royal Technical Services
37 Tamarock Dr.
Raymond Frankel

Sun Day Greetings
55 Chesterfield Dr.
Alan and Brenda Kellman

AGAWAM

All Clean Powerwash
90 Alhambra Circle North
Cynthia Hutcheson

Omega Transportation of Western MA
104 Regency Park Dr.
Steven Cagan

Packaging Service
168 Elm St.
Vincent Zucco

Shepard Renovations
45 Southwick St.
Michael Shepard

Tower Electric
578 North Westfield St.
Johnathon Tower

CHICOPEE

C.A.S. Services
141 Grape St.
Cassandra Salvador

Comforte Contracting Co.
31 Moore St.
Anthony Comforte III

Marshalls
591 Memorial Dr.
Marshalls of MA Inc.

New England Aquatic Designs
297 Broadway St.
Mark Johnston

Perfect Fit Dental Lab
44 Blanche St.
Yuri Murzin

EAST LONGMEADOW

Erin Chrusciel Photography
29 Country Club Dr.
Erin Chrusciel

MKR Fleet Washing & Maintenance
13 North Main St.
Mark Rogensky

HOLYOKE

ABC Sales & Service
621 South Canal St.
Robert Celi

Abbondanza! Personal Chef Service
21 Dexter St.
Cindy Pierce

Davans
245 Main St.
David Rodriguez

Holyoke Works
100 Front St.
Doris Ransford

MA Academy of Ballet
4 Open Square Way
Rose and Charles Flachs

South Summer Auto Repair
525 South Summer St.
Jose Burgos

U-Haul of Holyoke
250 Appleton St.
Matthew Pepin

LONGMEADOW

Creation World-Art and Design Studio
226 Franklin Road
Tatyana Glukhovsky

Animal Instincts Pet Sitting & Dog Walking
P.O. Box 60581
Jennifer L. Burgess

NORTHAMPTON

Currant
33 Hawley St.
Hamenth Swaminathan

Gallery 55
18 Strong Ave.
John Mottern

House to Home Staging
66 Willow St.
Pam Rose Eden-Cox

Meridian Acupuncture
52 Center St.
Jonathos Kapsted

Unlikely Aesthetics
19A Market St.
John Courtemanche

SOUTH HADLEY

College Consulting
25 Charon Terrace
Joanna Brown

Karen’s Place
59 High St.
Karen Archambault

SPRINGFIELD

Acupuncture & Chinese Herbal Medicines
1502 Allen St.
Stanley Baker

Angie & Blanca Ceramic
36 Winnipeg St.
Angela Rodriguez

Bliss Ceramics
29 Leitch St.
Trevis Wray

Comfort Zone Heating & Air
180 Laurelton St.
Richard Barry

Daniel Gomez Cable Service
33 Nathaniel St.
Daniel Gomez

Diamond Cut Barber Shop
616 Belmont Ave.
Osagie Ekhorytomwen

En Motion Dance Theater 156 Main St.
Shire Brown

Jose Stripping & Waxing
927 Worthington St.
Jose Santiago

Kinder Rides Transport
65 Morgan St.
Deona Rivera

Lids
1655 Boston Road
Robert Dennis

Metindu
225 Rosewell St.
Bryan St. Amand

Peoples Pawn & Jewelry
363 Worthington St.
William Miller

Photo Technique
30 Montgomery St.
Marek Tracz

Scope Spot 2
451 State St.
Francis Okyere

Stan & Fran’s Flooring & Carpeting
5 Paramount St.
Michael Burelle

Tony’s Place
739 Liberty St.
Hector Diaz

Walnut Soda & More
136 Walnut St.
Maxwell Phan

WEST SPRINGFIELD

The Advertising Club
of Western MA
104 Brookline Ave.
Richard DeBonis

Canterbury Masonry
72 Kings Hwy.
Darcie Lee Canterbury

Comfort House Cleaning
198 Labelle St.
Lyudmila Zubik

Dot’s Hair Care
975 Elm St.
Dorothy Dougherty

Kar-Needz Auto
811 Union St.
Stephen Scott

Kim’s Cleaners
935 Riverdale St.
Sun Na Kim

R.G. Management
425 Union St.
Robert Guarente

TBR Auto Reconditioning
21 Sumner St.
Anthony Cecchetelli

WESTFIELD

Apex Claims Services of N.E.
125 North Elm St.
Tom Abel, Ron Pike, Marion Guzik

Ed’s Handyman & Home Improvement
51 Robinson Dr.
Edward Daley

Global Engineering
97 Paper Mill Road
Gary Drenzek

Lampson Construction
318 City View Blvd.
Jon Lampson

Paul’s Picture Framing by Keith
22 Cherry St.
Keith Browning

Stephen M. Quink has returned to the Lending Department of North Brookfield Savings Bank as Vice President/Lending.

•••••

Ernestine “Tini” Sawicki, a broker and owner of Realty World Sawicki in Amherst, has been named recipient of the Mass. Association of Realtors® (MAR) Milton H. Shaw Distinguished Service Award for 2005. The award is presented annually to one Realtor® member or staff executive who has demonstrated leadership abilities and volunteered countless hours of personal time to serve on state association committees and participate in MAR activities.

•••••

The Bank of Western Massachusetts in Springfield announced the following:
• Tracy L. Fleming has been promoted to Business Services Officer, with responsibility for the development of new business services accounts, including payroll, merchant processing and cash management and the servicing of existing accounts.
• William A. Fontes has been promoted to Senior Vice President/Commercial Loan Officer, with responsibility for administering an existing portfolio of commercial loan accounts as well as acquiring new business in Hampshire County.
• Gail A. Goraj has been promoted to Business Services Officer, with responsibility for the development of new business service accounts, including payroll, merchant processing and cash management and the servicing of existing accounts, and
• Antonios D. Liberopoulos has been promoted to Senior Vice President/Commercial Loan Officer, with responsibility for administering an existing portfolio of commercial loan accounts as well as acquiring new business in Hampden County.

•••••

Nathan Winstanley, founder and president of Winstanley Associates in Lenox, was the guest speaker at the Western Mass. Ad Club’s Sept. 28 luncheon. Winstanley is also president and founder of Lenox SoftWorks, a software development company.

•••••

Gary E. Rosentreter, Ed.D., has been appointed Executive Director, Connecticut Quality Council (CQC), located at Rensselaer’s Hartford (Conn.) campus. CQC is associated with Rensselaer’s Centers for Professional Development.

•••••

Moriarty & Primack, P.C., Certified Public Accountants, in Springfield announced the following:
• Melissa English has been promoted to Senior Associate, and
• Stacey St. Pierre has been promoted to Senior Associate.

•••••

Attorney Dorothy Varon of Robinson Donovan, P.C., with offices in Springfield and Northampton, has been selected by the Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly as an “Up and Coming Lawyer.” She joined the law firm in 2002 and concentrates her practice in the areas of federal litigation, civil rights, health insurance law, publishing law and civil litigation.

•••••

Jeremy Redmond has recently joined Innovative Business Systems, Inc. in Easthampton. Redmond holds CompTIA A+, Network+, and Security+ certifications, as well as being a Microsoft Certified Professional, Systems Administrator, and Systems Engineer (MCP, MCSA and MCSE).

•••••

Bobbi Pitkin has joined Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage of New England as a Realtor in the Longmeadow office.

•••••

Jill T. Lyons has been appointed an Associate at Morrison Mahoney in Springfield. She will concentrate her practice in health law and defense of medical malpractice claims.

•••••

Matthew McDonough, formerly of Holyoke, has joined Yale-New Haven Health System as Administrative Fellow for the 2005-2006 program year.

•••••

Richard T. O’Connor has been named Legal Counsel at Holyoke Medical Center.

•••••

Karen E. Eaton has joined Martinelli, Discenza & Hannifan in Longmeadow as an Associate. She will practice in estate planning, real estate development and finance law, municipal law, and general business practice, securities law, and investment management law.

•••••

Jacqueline McNinch has joined the Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency’s Home Ownership Business Development Group as a regional Business Development Officer for Western Massachusetts.

•••••

Jane E. Fountain has joined the faculty of the UMass Amherst in its Center for Public Policy and Administration and the Department of Political Science.

•••••

Christopher Camerlin has been appointed Manager of William Raveis Real Estate and Home Services in East Longmeadow.

••••••••••

Banana Publishing Inc. of Springfield announced the following:
• Christine Cox has been named Art Director;
• Bruce Beard has been named Sales Manager;
• Samuel O’Connor has been named to the Sales Team;
• Ronny Sinn has been named to the Sales Team;
• Mark Villano has been named to the Sales Team;
• Sarah Clark has been named Office Manager, and
• Donna Fein has been named Sales Representative.

An Energetic Course