A chart of the region’s computer network/IT services
Click HERE to download the PDF chart
Month: February 2015
Insurance Companies Enlist Help from Homeowners to Prevent Losses
When recalling the bizarre weather that descended on Western Mass. in 2011 — tornadoes in June, midsummer flooding, the freak pre-Halloween snowstorm — it’s easy to forget that, even absent all of that, the year would have been a challenging one for home insurers.
The reason? A January and February riddled with ice dams and roof collapses, thanks to snow that seemed to fall every other day for weeks on end, gradually building up the weight on houses and damming under the eaves, causing water to pour into homes.
“We paid a lot of claims. That was a big deal,” said Kevin Ross, vice president of Ross Insurance in Holyoke. But while the past few weeks have brought a similar onslaught of snowstorms, he doesn’t expect nearly as many claims this year.
“A lot of people are absolutely more attuned to this; everywhere I go, people are talking about getting a roof rake and cleaning off their roof,” he told BusinessWest. “People are well aware of ice dams and the problems they can cause. I just contacted a roofer to clean off my roof because ice is starting to build up in the gutter. In general, the population understands what can happen, and everyone is cleaning off the roof now.”
It’s a learned behavior being observed across the industry.
“We’ve had a couple of claims come in,” said Corey Murphy, president of First American Insurance in Chicopee. “Fortunately, it’s not as bad as it has been in the past, even with some of these strong storms we’ve had.”
John DiStefano of Preferred Mutual Insurance agreed.
“As I drive around, I see homes where people have used roof rakes to get some snow off around the edges, or they have people going up on the roof shoveling for them. That’s always a proactive approach,” said the personal-lines territory manager for Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
That’s good news for both homeowners and insurers, he said, considering that such events are covered by most basic plans. “Roof collapses and water damage, where water seeps into the home, is covered under most forms. That is a pretty common thing.”
Therefore, it’s good news for insurance companies — which implemented rate increases of 5% to 15% regionally after the 2011’s series of unfortunate events — that customers are increasingly taking matters into their own hands by keeping their roofs and gutters as clear of snow as possible.
But when it comes to winter home hazards, they say, roofs are only part of the picture.
Peak Problems
Typically, Ross said, homeowners facing winter roof damage don’t have to scramble to see if they’re covered.
“The standard policy doesn’t have to change to provide coverage of interior or exterior dmage caused by an ice dam, or even the collapse of a building,” he noted. “However, there are certain exclusions for the collapse of a fence, a patio, a swimming pool — those are not covered. Collapse of foundations or retaining walls, bulkheads, are not covered.”
Kevin Ross says homeowners have become more proactive about preventing roof damage during the winter, and insurance companies have become better at educating them.
The immediate drama of an ice dam, pouring water into interior spaces, can panic policyholders, Ross added. “They’re wondering, ‘what should I do?’ Call the insurance agent right away; they will only take one deductible until all the snow is gone from roof.”
That could encompass the entire winter, he noted. “Don’t be afraid that a week later you might have more water coming in. It’s considered one event until all the snow is off the roof. So, once it starts, once you notice water inside the house, call your agent right away.”
As for roof-collapse concerns, that’s a tricky area to navigate, because the weight of the snow isn’t always clear from a visual check, forensic meteorologist Steve Wistar noted at accuweather.com.
In the Northeast, he explained, roofs are generally designed to support 30 pounds per square foot, but some are built to support 40, 50, or even 100 pounds per square foot. Further complicating matters, that weight is determined by water content, not merely depth.
Specifically, dry, powdery snow weighs less than wetter snow, and its flaky texture makes it prone to drifting, which is ideal for roofs designed to handle drifting snow. But, over time, snow compacts and settles down, meaning the snow won’t be as deep, but the weight will be the same, Wistar said.
Finally, when temperatures rise and snow becomes rain, the snow already coating rooftops can become saturated with moisture, weighing it down. And even when the snow does begin to melt, it can refreeze around gutters and drains, trapping more melting water on the edges of the roof — which, of course, can cause ice dams.
Columbia Gas of Massachusetts recently issued yet another concern for homeowners regarding rooftop snow accumulation — specifically, a number of incidents involving large icicles and snow accumulation falling from rooftops onto natural-gas meters, causing gas-line ruptures and gas leaks.
The company noted that it’s important that natural-gas meters and exhaust vents for heating equipment and other appliances are free of snow and ice, as gas equipment requires adequate airflow for safe combustion — and proper venting of appliances — to prevent dangerous carbon-monoxide situations.
Recent winters in Massachusetts have seen brisk sales of roof rakes as homeowners try to prevent ice dams from forming.
Cold Snap
When protecting their homes from cold-related damage, Ross said, customers shouldn’t look outside only.
“Losses can occur if you don’t keep adequate heat inside the home,” he noted. “Sometimes, when you leave for a week in Florida, you figure, ‘I’ll just turn my thermostat down and save on energy costs,’ and you come back to find that a pipe froze and burst. That’s something else from a loss-control standpoint. You need to keep adequate heat in home to keep things from freezing. It’s important to maintain the heat at 60, 62 degrees so they don’t have that problem.”
DiStefano agreed. “Do everything you can to maintain temperature,” he told BusinessWest. “Also, if you’re going away, shut off the water. That way, if a pipe breaks, it’s not a major problem. It’s easy to do, but so many people don’t do that.”
Because home insurance covers personal liability in addition to property damage, he also encourages customers to keep sufficient ice melt handy to prevent slips and falls by the mailman, UPS driver, or neighbors.
“The policy does provide personal liability coverage for slip-and-fall types of claims,” Ross added. “The owner of the property has a responsibility to keep their walkways and driveways, safe for pedestrian traffic. That’s definitely another area people really need to be cognizant of right now.”
It’s not like winter necessarily poses more weather-related insurance hazards than the rest of the year; damage from warmer-weather events, like tornadoes and hurricanes, are typically covered, Ross said, although policyholders might want to check on whether they’re in a covered flood zone and, if not, whether they’d like to add that to their plan as well.
But cold-weather threats are typically slower-developing, DiStefano said, giving insurance clients a chance to prevent them with tools as simple as roof rakes and sidewalk salt.
“More and more companies, like Preferred Mutual, have our websites set up with information for the general public to look at,” he said, “and we talk about what to do during the winter months to prevent losses.”
That pleases Ross, who clearly recalls the surge of claims in early 2011, when roof collapses and ice dams caught too many Western Mass. residents off guard.
“It was huge,” he said. “But it’s not going to be quite the same this year from a claim perspective, because people are more proactive; they’ve learned from it. A lot of people are raking the snow off already, getting the snow out of the gutter before the next storm. You have to stay on top of it. It’s a big maintenance issue.”
And one with no end in sight, Bryant added. “With record snowfall over the past month,” he said, “this winter season continues to be a challenge for us all.”
Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]
United Personnel announced the promotion of two staff members, as well as the addition of a new senior staffing consultant:
Jennifer Atwater
Becky Ramah
Halina Dumas
•••••
Dr. Charlotte Boney, a nationally recognized pediatric endocrinologist and physician educator, has been named to the position of Tufts University School of Medicine chair of Pediatrics at Baystate Health and vice president of the Pediatric Service Line at Baystate Children’s Hospital. Before coming to Baystate Children’s Hospital, Boney was director of the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology in the Department of Pediatrics at Hasbro Children’s Hospital in Providence, and professor of Pediatrics at Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. “I am thrilled to be joining Baystate. Baystate Children’s Hospital has a proven track record in delivering state-of-the-art clinical care, but it is the department’s commitment to serving the community’s children and their families, and to training future pediatricians, which really attracted me to this position,” she said. Boney attended the University of the South in Sewanee, Tenn. and the University of Tennessee College of Medicine in Memphis, where she was a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. She completed her internship and residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore and a fellowship in pediatric endocrinology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She joined the faculty at Brown University in 1994 and became program director of the fellowship in Pediatric Endocrinology in 2003 and director of the Division of Endocrinology in 2005. She received numerous teaching awards at Brown, including the Dean’s Teaching Excellence Award every year from 2004 to 2011 and again in 2013. Boney also has a distinguished research career, supported by National Institutes of Health funding, during which she focused on the biology of adipocyte (fat-cell) development. She has also conducted clinical research in pediatric obesity and diabetes. Additionally, she has served on numerous hospital, university, regional, and national committees. Boney’s professional memberships include the Endocrine Society, the Pediatric Endocrine Society (for which she served on the board of directors), the Society for Pediatric Research, the Obesity Society, and the American Pediatric Society. She recently joined the sub-board in pediatric endocrinology at the American Board of Pediatrics. She has also authored some 40 scholarly publications, including peer-reviewed journals and abstracts, and is the author of several textbook chapters. She also serves as a member of the editorial board of the American Journal of Physiology, Endocrinology and Metabolism. “It is my hope in my new role at Baystate Children’s Hospital to expand clinical programs, strengthen education programs, and generate new knowledge in pediatric medicine,” she said.
•••••
Kevin Joyce
•••••
Mark Goggins has joined Ostberg & Associates, the Northampton-based financial-services and insurance firm. Goggins brings more than 20 years of experience in the mortgage business with Mortgage Master and Applied Mortgage Services, as well as earlier work history with John Alden Insurance and Goggins Real Estate. “We couldn’t be more thrilled to bring Mark to our team,” said company President Robert Ostberg. “Mark’s integrity, his reputation for building and maintaining personal and professional relationships, and his deep commitment to the community will help Ostberg & Associates continue to provide exceptional service to our clients and our community.” Goggins graduated from UMass with a degree in political science. He has served as a coach with the Northampton Recreational Department and the Suburban Basketball league, and is currently on the board of Nonotuck Resource Associates.
•••••
Monson Savings Bank has announced the following:
Carolyn Weeks
• Anthony Jianaces has been promoted to Branch Manager of the Hampden office. Jianaces joined the bank in 2012, also as a part-time customer service associate. He has since been promoted to assistant branch manager and now branch manager. He is a registered financial representative and holds his series 7, series 66, and insurance licenses. He is a graduate of Stonehill College with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. “I am extremely pleased to announce these promotions,” said Steve Lowell, president of Monson Savings Bank. “Carolyn and Anthony are both very talented and impressive young professionals who have already made significant contributions to the success of Monson Savings.”
Anthony Jianaces
Send photos with a caption and contact information to: ‘Picture This’ c/o BusinessWest Magazine, 1441 Main Street, Springfield, MA 01103 or to [email protected]
Driving for the Cure
For six years, the Tom Cosenzi Driving for the Cure Charity Golf Tournament has raised more than $480,000 to support Dr. Patrick Wen (left) and his team of researchers in the Neuro-Oncology Department at Dana Farber Cancer Institute. This year, the four-player scramble held at Crestview Country Club included 144 golfers and 175 banquet guests, raising $76,300. The annual tournament was started by Carla and Tommy Cosenzi (right and center) in memory of their father, Tom Cosenzi, who succumbed to a glioblastoma brain tumor in 2009.
HOLYOKE — Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C. announced the hiring of three new associates — Kayla Helitzer, MSA, Joseph Vreedenburgh, MSA, and Brandon Mitchell, MSA, CPA.
Helitzer began her career at MBK as an intern before acquiring her current position. She holds a master’s degree in accounting from the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst. In her free time, she participates in the Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield, volunteers at the Knesset Israel synagogue, and enjoys skiing and snowboarding.
Vreedenburgh comes to MBK with a background as a corporate accountant and experience with small to medium-sized businesses, as well as government entities. This experience provides him with a unique perspective as an auditor at the firm. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Washington and a master’s degree in accounting from UMass Amherst. He is a member of Northampton Area Young Professionals and enjoys hiking and mountain biking.
Mitchell specializes in audits of commercial and not-for-profit entities, reviews and compilations of financial statements for small businesses and individuals, and tax-return preparations. Before joining the firm, he worked as a business manager for a locally owned business. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business management and a master’s degree in accountancy from Westfield State University and devotes much of his spare time to his alma mater’s Mentoring Program.
“Kayla, Joseph, and Brandon each bring unique experience and expertise to their positions at the firm,” said MBK partner Howard Cheney. “But among the things they have in common are integrity, professionalism, and a strong dedication to customer service.”
GREENFIELD — Luis Santamaria has been chosen as Greenfield Community College’s new director of Campus Public Safety. He will oversee GCC’s Campus Public Safety department and serve as GCC’s chief of police.
Santamaria leaves his position as associate director of Public Safety for Curry College in Milton. Prior to his work at Curry College, he served as a sergeant for Tufts University for nine years and as a campus police officer at Simmons College and officer in charge at Western New England University.
Santamaria graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a master’s degree in criminal justice administration from Western New England University. He served as vice president of his class at the Special State Police Academy. He holds EMT certification and has certification as a MCJTC sexual assault investigator, defensive tactics instructor, and rape aggression defense instructor. He is bilingual in English and Spanish.
BOSTON — As the number of deaths from opioid-related overdoses rises, Gov. Charlie Baker is taking is appointing a 16-member working group assigned the task of putting together “specific, targeted, and tangible recommendations” by May to stem the tide. The group will be led by Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Healey, and include individuals working in government, law enforcement, and addiction treatment.
As he made the announcement, Baker stood in front of a display bearing alarming statistics, including the 978 deaths attributed to opioid-related overdoses in 2013, a 46% increase from the year before. Baker, who pledged to provide quarterly data on overdoses, said the 2014 death toll would be available in April. The working group will hold public meetings, assess the resources devoted to the problem, and make specific recommendations.
CHICOPEE — Elms College President Mary Reap has appointed Dr. Elizabeth Hukowicz dean of the newly established School of Graduate and Professional Studies.
Hukowicz has been the associate academic dean of the Division of Graduate Studies and Continuing Education since 2005. Under her leadership, the number, scope, and complexity of programs in her department has increased tremendously. In recognition of this growth, the division has been restructured into a school, with Hukowicz appointed as the first dean.
“The new school will serve our non-traditional and adult learners, and also highlight the importance of these programs to the strength and vitality of the institution,” said Walter Breau, vice president of academic affairs.
Added Hukowicz, “this restructuring will allow the school to offer a broader array of degree options and services for adult learners on and off campus. The adult learner is at the core of what we do, and we will provide increased opportunities to better serve the adult learner in and out of the classroom, wherever and however that may be. We will continue to find new and better ways to make students successful.”
Elms College offers graduate-degree programs in accounting, applied theology, autism-spectrum disorders, education, healthcare leadership, management, and nursing. The college also offers certificates of advanced graduate study in autism-spectrum disorders, communication sciences and disorders, and education.
“I am humbled as I assume this position, and grateful to our Elms administration, staff and faculty who work so hard to serve our students on campus, off campus and online,” Hukowicz said. “We have a culture of service at the core of what we do in and outside the classroom. I look forward to working with Elms faculty and staff to provide more convenient, affordable degree options for adult learners at all levels.”
NORTHAMPTON — Cooley Dickinson Hospital recently went live with the operation of its expanded pharmacy, which is the first visible and tangible part of the Massachusetts General Cancer Center at Cooley Dickinson Hospital.
“Renovations to the pharmacy are an essential underpinning to the future of cancer care at Cooley Dickinson,” said Dr. Mark Novotny, chief medical officer.
An expanded pharmacy with new oncology pharmacy staff allows Cooley Dickinson to offer people living with cancer the same treatment regimens, protocols, and safety for chemotherapy and radiation that Mass General Cancer Center physicians use. “This is about getting Mass General Cancer Center quality at Cooley Dickinson Hospital,” said Dr. Sean Mullally, medical oncologist and medical director of the CDH cancer center.
In addition, the oversight of the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center means people newly diagnosed or living with cancer no longer need to decide if they should go to Boston for care. “They can come here, and their team will help them decide what care they should receive and where,” Novotny said.
The renovated pharmacy includes a new sterile-preparation space with separate rooms for chemotherapy and intravenous compounding. Chemotherapy is drug treatment given in pill, injection, and intravenous forms to kill cancer cells. The sterile-prep area has positive air pressure and hoods that filter air to prevent possible contamination while preparing the drugs.
The chemotherapy prep area has negative air pressure to reduce the risk of chemotherapy exposure and specialized chemotherapy hoods that filter air to prevent contamination and preserve negative pressure to protect staff. Improved storage, more automation, and fail-safe technologies reduce the risks of introducing errors when dispensing medications from the pharmacy. Chemotherapy regimens will be reviewed and approved by on-site oncology clinical pharmacists and prepared by chemotherapy pharmacy technicians dedicated to the cancer center.
The renovations to the pharmacy were needed to provide the right chemotherapy hoods, space, sterile prep areas, and ventilation for mixing chemotherapy according to best practices. In addition, the renovations and expanded space increase the standard of care for all Cooley Dickinson patients with an increased focus on quality and safety.
Cooley Dickinson and the Massachusetts General Cancer Center have collaborated on cancer care since 2009. In 2013, CDH became an affiliate of Mass General and Partners HealthCare System. This fall, the Mass General Cancer Center at Cooley Dickinson will relocate to a new facility in the North Building of Cooley Dickinson’s Locust Street campus.
WESTFIELD — New England Dermatology & Laser Center announced the opening of the Spa, a med spa located at 57 Union St. The new med spa at New England Dermatology & Laser Center boasts a peaceful, rejuvenating atmosphere and a complete menu of services designed to relax and revitalize.
“The Spa provides restorative and nourishing treatments, including your favorite spa services and products, in addition to a complete line of medically supervised esthetic procedures,” said Dr. Stanley Glazer, a board-certified physician with over 40 years experience in dermatology. “The Spa offers guests an escape from the rigors of the day-to-day by focusing on inner and outer wellness.”
Glazer is joined at the Spa by Dr. Michael Loosemore, a board-certified physician with nearly 10 years of experience in dermatology and dermatologic surgery; aesthetic nurse specialist Mary Jo Devlin; aesthetic supervisor Laurie Circosta; and clinical operations manager Shannon Page.
The Spa’s full menu of services include customized clinical skin care, massage and body treatments, facials, manicures, pedicures, makeup, and waxing. Also available are laser treatments including hair removal and fine-line treatment, and medical esthetics like microneedling, microdermabrasion, Botox injections, dermal fillers, and laser treatments. The Spa provides restorative and nourishing treatments for both men and women, as well as teens. For more information, visit westfieldspa.com.
SOUTH HADLEY — The region’s premier economic luminaries, employers, and Mount Holyoke students will converge at Mount Holyoke College today, not for a career fair, but for a meeting of the minds.
Among the planned attendees at Career Jam are Suzanne Beck, executive director of the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce; Dianne Doherty, regional director of the Massachusetts Small Business Center; Dawn Creighton, Western Massachusetts director of Associated Industries of Massachusetts; and Lora Wondolowski, executive director of Leadership Pioneer Valley. Employers including Bay Path University, Arise for Social Justice, Peoples Bank, and Paragus Strategic IT will also be represented.
“Career Jam is different than an ordinary career fair,” said Josepha Martin, director of Employer Relations at Mount Holyoke’s Career Development Center. “We wanted to bring employers and students together to talk about a real problem in a meaningful way.”
To that end, Career Jam asks students and employers alike to brainstorm together about a pressing question facing this area: how do we recruit and retain talented graduates in Western Mass.? “The idea is that we’re doing something more like a hands-on workshop, and getting these people together in a room to solve a problem in real time,” said Martin. “It’s going to be about brainstorming and creative problem solving with employers.”
Career Jam will feature economic leaders from the region, including representatives from the Greater Northampton Area Chamber of Commerce, small-business-development groups, and leadership organizations. Large, regional employers will also be present to engage with students. The half-day event will take place from 2:30 to 7 p.m. in the Willits-Hallowell Conference Center on the Mount Holyoke College campus.
HOLYOKE — The seventh annual Difference Makers award program, staged by BusinessWest, will be held at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House on March 19.
Difference Makers is a program, launched in 2009, that recognizes groups and individuals that are, as the name suggests, making a difference in this region. The class of 2015 — Katelynn’s Ride, MassMutual Financial Services, Judy Matt, Valley Venture Mentors, and the new ownership group of the Student Prince and the Fort — was profiled in the Feb. 9 issue and on businesswest.com.
Tickets cost $60 per person, and reserved tables of 10 are available. To order tickets, call (413) 781-8600, ext. 100, or e-mail [email protected].
AMHERST — The Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce announced the release of its 2015-2017 Relocation Guide, the go-to source for new residents to become familiar with Amherst-area businesses and resources. With 5,000 copies, the guide can be found at area real-estate professionals, hotels, campus residential-life programs, and at the chamber office, as well as several offices around the Amherst area.
The Relocation Guide serves as a convenient directory for town offices, churches, schools, transportation, and senior services. New additions have been made to this year’s guide. It features a new, 4-by-8-inch, easy-to-use format. In addition, area businesses which have underwritten the cost of publishing the guide are featured throughout the publication.
“The Relocation Guide is one of our most popular print pieces, both for our sponsors and for new residents to our area,” said Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Don Courtemanche. “This publication is a handy and convenient piece that gives newcomers a special welcome to the community.”
LUDLOW — The Butler Carpet & Upholstery Cleaners has earned the service industry’s coveted Angie’s List Super Service Award for the second year in a row. This award reflects an exemplary year of service provided to members of the consumer-review service in 2014.
Founded in 1980 by Carl Mesheau, the Butler Carpet & Upholstery Cleaners has provided service throughout the Western Mass. region, offering the guarantee, “if this is not the finest cleaning method you have experienced and you feel that you cannot honestly recommend us to a friend, the job will cost you nothing.”
Mesheau called it “an honor for the company to be receiving this award for the second year in a row. We always try to provide excellent service to our wonderful customers. We could not have done it without their positive reviews and our amazing team.”
Angie’s List founder Angie Hicks noted that only about 5% of the companies the Butler competes with in the Springfield area earn the Super Service Award. “It’s a mark of consistently great customer service.”
Angie’s List Super Service Award 2014 winners have met strict eligibility requirements, which include an ‘A’ rating in overall grade, recent grade, and review period grade. The company must be in good standing with Angie’s List, have a fully complete profile, pass a background check, and abide by Angie’s List operational guidelines.
For more information on the Butler, visit www.butlercarpetcleaners.com.
SPRINGFIELD — The roots of Baystate Medical Center date back to the formative years of the modern American hospital, when, under the name of Springfield City Hospital in 1873, it was one of only 178 acute-care hospitals in the country. Today, that number has grown to more than 5,000, and along with it can be counted a number of contributions from Baystate Medical Center, which are now considered critical elements of everyday healthcare, including fast-track cardiac surgery and an innovative chronic-care floor.
Now those accomplishments and more are highlighted in a newly published history book, titled Baystate Medical Center. It traces the people, buildings, and events that form the basis of Baystate Medical Center and the important role it has played in the evolution of the healthcare industry from the 19th century through today.
Written by Dr. Thomas L. Higgins, vice chair of the Department of Medicine at Baystate Medical Center, and Linda Baillargeon, manager of the hospital’s Internal Medicine Residency Programs, the book features vintage images and facts that capture bygone times and help bring to life the people, places, and events that defined Baystate Medical Center and the Springfield community.
Published in December by Arcadia Publishing — the leading local history publisher in the U.S., with a catalog of more than 9,000 titles in print — the book is part of its Images of America series. Since its inception in 1993, the series has preserved and shared the history of hundreds of individual communities throughout the country. The Baystate Medical Center history book features more than 200 images, beginning from the late 1800s, gathered from hospital archives at the Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History and at Baystate Medical Center.
“The book was originally envisioned to be only about the Department of Medicine at Baystate. It was going to be a gift that we would give to our medicine residents to remember us by,” said Higgins. “As our research delved deeper into the department and the hospital, we discovered there were so many more stories worth telling, and the book grew in scope.”
He added, “during our research, I was inspired by the philanthropic history behind the establishment of Springfield Hospital, with major donations by Chester and Dorcas Chapin and monies from Daniel and Cynthia Wesson to support both the Hampden Homeopathic and Wesson Maternity hospitals. I was also fascinated with the architectural history of the buildings that make up Baystate, including the fact that the original Springfield Hospital is still standing as part of the medical center.”
Baystate Medical Center was established in 1976 with the merger of the Medical Center of Western Massachusetts and Wesson Memorial Hospital. Baystate’s long history can be traced back to its earliest origins as Springfield City Hospital, which was renamed Springfield Hospital in 1883 and later moved to its current location on Chestnut Street in 1889.
The book, priced at $21.99, is available at the Marketplace at Baystate Medical Center, as well as on amazon.com, or directly from the publisher at www.arcadiapublishing.com. All proceeds will benefit the hospital’s Internal Medicine Residency Education & Research Fund. For more information about Baystate Medical Center, visit baystatehealth.org/bmc.
MONSON — Monson Savings Bank announced the following promotions:
• Nancy Dahlen has been promoted to senior vice president, residential lending and servicing officer. She joined the bank in 1996 as a commercial loan processor and was promoted to loan operations manager in 1997, to loan operations officer in 2006, to assistant vice president in March 2009, and to vice president in October 2009. She oversees the bank’s residential and personal loan portfolio, which has seen explosive growth under her leadership. She also oversees the servicing of the bank’s entire loan portfolio. Dahlen is a 2006 graduate of the Massachusetts Bankers Assoc. School of Financial Studies at Babson College, earned her commercial-lending diploma from the American Institute of Banking, and her consumer-lending diploma from the Center for Financial Training;
• Nancy Velozo has been promoted to assistant vice President, collections and fraud officer. She joined Monson Savings in 2014 as collections & fraud officer. She is an expert in the field of risk management, collections, and fraud with more than 20 years of experience in this increasingly complex area. She holds several certifications from the Risk Management Assoc., of which she is a member, and she has completed numerous professional-development courses through the Institute of Banking; and
• Clare Ladue has been promoted to retail banking officer. She joined Monson Savings in 2012 as branch manager of the bank’s Hampden branch. In 2013 she was asked to be the branch manager of the bank’s newest branch in Ware, which has seen enormous growth under her leadership. She is a graduate of the Mass. Bankers New England School of Financial Studies and holds numerous professional certifications.
“We have an incredible team here at Monson Savings,” said Steve Lowell, president of Monson Savings Bank. “I am very pleased to publicly congratulate Nancy, Nancy, and Clare on their well-deserved promotions.”
SPRINGFIELD — Tracy Noonan, co-owner of Wicked Good Cupcakes, will keynote the Headline Luncheon of the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield’s affiliate, the Professional Women’s Chamber (PWC), on Wednesday, March 18, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Carriage House at Storrowton Tavern, 1305 Memorial Ave., West Springfield. Noonan and her daughter, Danielle Vilagie, took their Cohasset-based cupcake baking company national after appearing on the ABC hit show Shark Tank.
Wicked Good Cupcakes began when the mother-daughter team took cake-decorating classes as a way to spend quality time together. After posting their work online for friends and family, they found themselves being asked to create cupcakes for various events. The demand for their product became so high that they opened their first retail location in Cohasset in October 2011.
As the reputation of their product grew, they found themselves getting hundreds of requests to ship their product across the country. However, they could not find a way to effectively ship cupcakes and have them arrive intact and fresh. That’s when they came up for the idea of a cupcake in a jar. Filling jars with freshly baked layers of cake, frosting, and filling, they were able to create a product that would stay fresh up to 10 days without refrigeration and could be easily shipped.
The company’s popularity quickly grew, and, in 2013, Noonan and Vilagie appeared on Shark Tank, striking a deal with Boston-based shark Kevin O’Leary of O’Leary Ventures, and expanding their business by more than 600%, including a new retail location in Faneuil Hall in Boston and expanded facilities to handle online orders. In addition to cupcakes, the company’s product line now also includes gluten-free options, as well as pies, cheesecakes, and brownies in a jar, as well as French macaroons.
Advance reservations for the luncheon are suggested and cost $25 for PWC members and $35 for general admission. Register online at www.myonlinechamber.com or by e-mailing [email protected]. PWC members who are season-pass holders must pre-register for the event by emailing [email protected].
SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) Foundation’s Not Just Business as Usual (NJBAU) event is one of the premiere networking events for business leaders in Western Mass. This annual celebration, in its sixth year, is a celebration of innovative thinking which gives participants the opportunity to learn from business experts while raising significant funding for the STCC WORKS scholarship program.
The event will be held at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on April 30. A cocktail and networking reception will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m., with dinner and the keynote speaker, Google Engineering Director Steve Vinter, to follow from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Vinter has overseen the growth of Google’s Cambridge site from 15 software engineers in 2007 to more than 900 today. He is responsible for developing digital-publishing products such as Google eBooks, Google Play Newsstand, and Play for Education, and has over 20 years of industry experience working in the Boston area, focusing on building products and services for hundreds of millions of users of mobile and cloud computing. He also is the co-founder of MassCAN, a partnership of organizations which collaborate to inspire and educate students in Massachusetts to learn computing and prepare them to lead and innovate the future economy, which will be driven by computer technology.
This year, NJBAU will feature interactive workstations featuring the STCC Mobile SIM and Engineering program. Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are now available. Tickets are $100 each, and sponsorships begin at $1,500. For additional information or to become a sponsor, contact Christina Tuohey, STCC director of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations, at (413) 755-4475 or [email protected]. To purchase tickets online, visit www.stcc.edu/njbau.
HOLYOKE — Holyoke Community College, in collaboration with Springfield Technical Community College, is offering a free manufacturing production technician training program beginning Monday, March 16.
The 10-week, accelerated manufacturing training program is being offered through Training and Workforce Options (TWO), a joint effort between HCC and STCC, with support from Massachusetts Community Colleges and the Workforce Development Transformation Agenda, which is funded through a $20 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration.
The program runs Monday through Thursday, 3:30 to 8:30 p.m., through May 28. All classes will be held at Dean Vocational High School, 1045 Main St., Holyoke. Students must arrange their own transportation.
To find out more and to see if you qualify, attend one of the following information sessions:
• Monday, Feb. 23, 2 p.m., CareerPoint, Paper City Room, 850 High St., Holyoke; or
• Tuesday, Feb. 24, 9:30 a.m., noon, or 3 p.m., Kittredge Center, Room 226, HCC, 303 Homestead Ave., Holyoke.
To register, contact Ana Sanchez at (413) 755-4789 or [email protected]. If selected, students must attend a mandatory orientation day on Thursday, March 12. Students will spend 150 hours in the classroom learning subjects such as machining, workplace math, measuring, instrumentation, communication, and production. Those who successfully complete the program will receive a certificate as a manufacturing production technician.
SPRINGFIELD — Work Opportunity Center Inc. (WOC) announced that Mary Akers has joined the company in the newly created position of assistant executive director. She will oversee all programmatic and business operations for the company.
Work Opportunity Center is a private, nonprofit corporation that provides vocational training, employment, and community experiences to the developmentally disabled. WOC has been in business since 1969 and currently has offices in Springfield, West Springfield, and Agawam.
Akers joins WOC from American International College, where she most recently served as associate director of Athletics for Internal Operations and was the senior woman administrator. She brings more than 15 years of experience in operations, budgeting, management, and customer service. She holds both a bachelor’s degree in business administration and an MBA from American International College.
WESTFIELD — In honor of Black History Month, Westfield State University will collaborate with UMass Libraries, St. John’s Congregational Church, Beta Sigma Boule, and Springfield Public Schools to hold a tribute for W.E.B. Du Bois at St. John’s Congregational Church in Springfield on Sunday, Feb. 22 at 3 p.m.
William Edward Burghardt (W.E.B.) Du Bois was born in Great Barrington on Feb. 23, 1868. He grew up to become a pioneering civil-rights leader and visionary of equality and democracy. He was the first African-American to earn a doctorate from Harvard University and a pioneer in the fields of sociology and history. A founding member of the NAACP, Du Bois was also a playwright, poet, novelist, and cultural critic.
The event includes a performance of the play W.E.B. Du Bois: A Man for All Times, by the Pulse Ensemble Theater group from New York City.
Event organizer Brooks Fitch, consultant to UMass Libraries, said the tribute and the play share a message. “Knowledge is not enough, we must act. There are a lot of lessons that W.E.B. Du Bois gave. Du Bois is a man of all times. That template of what he did and how he did it is relevant to today.”
In addition to St. John’s Music Ministry and the play, there will be performances by WSU’s Chorus, Gospel Choir, and So Seductive Step Team. Each performance will reflect the theme of W.E.B. Du Bois’s life and elements of Black History Month.
Fitch said the event will appeal to adults and kids alike. “We hope to provide aspirational modeling for young people in particular to encourage them to go to further their education. The tribute lets adults see all that all aspects of the community, college students, etc., have a common focus.”
The event will be held at St. John’s Congregational Church because of its significance to Du Bois and what he stood for. Abolitionist John Brown was a member of the church when he lived in Springfield, and Springfield became a hub of the Underground Railroad due to the activities of St. John’s. Du Bois also attended the church on occasion. The W.E.B. Du Bois event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.westfield.ma.edu/bhm.
CHICOPEE — The Greater Chicopee Chamber of Commerce will pay tribute to the recipients of the prestigious Shining Stars Awards on Friday, March 6, from 6:30 to 10 p.m. at the Castle of Knights, 1599 Memorial Dr., Chicopee.
Starting, initially, with the Citizen of the Year, the Shining Stars Awards have grown to include Business of the Year and Volunteer of the Year. This year, the chamber has added a new category, Nonprofit Organization of the Year, and is also paying special tribute to Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM).
This year’s honorees are:
• Business of the Year: DeJordy, Dugre, Croteau & Co., P.C., a full-service accounting, tax-planning, tax-preparation, and business-advisory CPA firm;
• Citizen of the Year: Andrew Crane of A. Crane Construction;
• Nonprofit Organization of the Year: Elms College;
• Chamber Volunteer of the Year: Jason Reed, Boys & Girls Club of Chicopee; and
• Shining Stars Tribute 2015: Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM).
Sponsors for the Shining Stars Gala, thus far, include diamond sponsors Chicopee Savings Bank and Holyoke Medical Center; platinum sponsor PeoplesBank; gold sponsors Polish National Credit Union, Hampton Inn, Dave’s Truck Repair Inc., LaQuinta Inns & Suites, NUVO Bank, and Baystate Restoration Group; and silver sponsors Sidall & Sidall, P.C., and Boys & Girls Club of Chicopee.
To become a sponsor, e-mail event coordinator Lynn Morrissette at [email protected]. For more information or to purchase tickets, call the chamber at (413) 594-2101 or visit www.chicopeechamber.org and click ‘Upcoming Events.’
LEEDS — An open house at Linda Manor Assisted Living in Leeds has been postponed to Saturday, Feb. 21 due to weather concerns. The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 345 Haydenville Road (Route 9). Those wishing to attend are asked to RSVP to (413) 387-3155.
The open house will include tours of the Northampton area’s newest assisted-living community and refreshments, including Linda Manor’s favorite recipes. Linda Manor offers all-inclusive assisted living and memory care adjacent to the award-winning Linda Manor Extended Care, a provider of quality senior care for more than 25 years.
Linda Manor Assisted Living offers spacious monthly rentals with no entrance fee, personal-care assistance for one all-inclusive monthly fee, on-site amenities, and a self-contained, secure Life Enrichment Memory Care neighborhood. Linda Manor Assisted Living and Linda Manor Extended Care are members of Berkshire Healthcare, an affiliate of Berkshire Health Systems, the leading provider of comprehensive healthcare services in the Berkshires.
SPRINGFIELD — Jessica Collins has been appointed interim executive director of Partners for a Healthier Community (PHC).
Collins is an eight-year veteran of the Springfield-based public-health institute, where she has been serving as deputy director. She is an advocate for social justice and health equity. To that end, she worked, in collaboration with Dr. Kathleen Szegda and others, to develop Springfield’s inaugural Health Equity Report, released in 2014. The report identifies poverty as one of the prime factors contributing to health inequity among vulnerable populations. It also provides data and context for dialogue around racial and ethnic health inequities that exist throughout the region.
“Health inequities are now well-documented among vulnerable populations, including people of color, members of the LGBT community, and people with disabilities.” said Collins. “It’s important to distinguish equity from equality. Health equity means treating everyone fairly.”
According the Rev. Karen Rucks, the PHC board president, “Jessica is a known and trusted public health figure in the Pioneer Valley and throughout the state. During her tenure at PHC, she has provided leadership for a number of high-profile initiatives, such as the Health Equity Report and Live Well Springfield.”
Partners was recently named a member of the National Network for Public Health Institutes. “Membership in this prestigious health network provides opportunities for Partners to strengthen our research and evaluation expertise, as well as access national funding sources in order to create sustainable solutions for the many health disparities that plague people in our region,” said Collins.
Prior to coming to PHC, Collins’ experience included leading community-based participatory research projects focused on the prevention of childhood obesity in Cambridge and Somerville. First Lady Michelle Obama lauded the success of Shape Up Somerville. Other nationally recognized community health initiatives led by Collins include efforts to address substance abuse and suicide prevention, as well as preschool oral health. She also served as a community health practitioner in West Africa as a Peace Corps volunteer.
HADLEY — The Five College Consortium has signed an agreement to purchase 46 acres of land in Hadley as the site of a 2.5 million-volume Library Annex that will provide shelving to supplement the capacities of the collaboration’s on-campus libraries. Most of the land, which lies between North Maple Street and Rocky Hill Road in an area of mixed retail, residential, and light industrial uses, will be preserved as open space, with about 20% of the site used for the project.
The initial phase of the annex is a 38,000-square-foot facility that includes 30,000 square feet for shelving and approximately 8,000 square feet for processing intakes and retrievals. The consortium is pursuing approval for a shelving facility that might grow to 150,000 square feet — a size not expected to be reached for several decades.
Five Colleges has selected Cutler and Associates of Worcester as the project’s design-build firm. Groundbreaking is planned for July, with the facility expected to open in May 2016. The annex will address space requirements identified in the master plan of the UMass Amherst Libraries and the projected needs of Smith College during an anticipated major renovation of its Neilson Library.
The annex will also be available to serve the shelving needs of all Five College libraries for print materials. Primarily intended to house infrequently used print materials, the annex will benefit from climate-controlled conditions that are better for long-term preservation of print materials than the conditions in the on-campus library stacks.
The next stages in the project are for the land’s current owner to pursue removing the property from the state’s agriculture program and for Five Colleges to develop a conservation-management plan to protect endangered-species habitats on the site.
SPRINGFIELD — DevelopSpringfield will host its fourth annual dinner event in celebration of Springfield and the many accomplishments the community has achieved over the past year, along with exciting new initiatives underway. The event will take place on Thursday, March 12 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the MassMutual Center in Springfield.
Festivities will include a reception with live music by the Eric Bascom Trio, auction activities, a cash bar, and hors d’oeuvres, followed by dinner, a brief program, and presentations. Platinum sponsors this year are MassMutual Financial Group, Baystate Health, and Health New England. Many other local businesses and organizations are also supporting the organization’s work as sponsors and participants at the event.
DevelopSpringfield will once again present its Partner in Progress Award to recognize the outstanding contributions of three individuals toward revitalization in Springfield. Honorees are selected for their leadership and ability to motivate and inspire others. This year’s honorees are Jerald Griffin, co-founder of Harambee and the Stone Soul Festival; Kevin Kennedy, chief development officer for the city of Springfield; and Evan Plotkin, president and owner of NAI Plotkin.
In addition to the program and award presentations, greetings will be provided by Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno and Jay Ash, newly appointed secretary of the Commonwealth’s Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development.
All event proceeds will support DevelopSpringfield’s redevelopment initiatives, projects, and programs. More than 450 attendees — including federal, state, and city officials; leaders from the business and nonprofit communities; and local residents — are expected to come together in support of ongoing efforts to advance development and redevelopment projects, stimulate and support economic growth, and expedite the revitalization process within the city.
Registration and sponsorship information is available at www.developspringfield.com or by contacting Paige Thayer at (413) 209-8808 or [email protected]. Tickets cost $75 per person, and RSVP is required by Monday, Feb. 23.
SPRINGFIELD — In an effort to create a strong pipeline of qualified women professionals in the rapidly growing field of data science and related subjects, MassMutual announced it is partnering with Mount Holyoke College and Smith College to pilot a groundbreaking, higher-education initiative: the MassMutual Women in Data Science program.
Aimed at providing a deep undergraduate education in an increasingly in-demand specialty, the partnership furthers MassMutual’s efforts to create and implement a comprehensive data-science curriculum, and underscores the company’s commitment to developing a strong core of data-science capabilities in the Pioneer Valley. The field of data science draws on statistical methods to answer questions in an array of disciplines in the sciences, social sciences, and humanities. Graduates work in fields ranging from medicine and environmental science to actuarial professions and statistics.
“This initiative speaks volumes to the importance we place on developing smart, new talent in the emerging field of data science,” said Roger Crandall, chairman, president, and CEO of MassMutual. “MassMutual is proud to partner with these two outstanding colleges to further the advancement of women in this exciting and important discipline.”
The $2 million, four-year program, which will begin in the fall of 2015, will be funded exclusively through MassMutual, and will provide Mount Holyoke and Smith with resources to hire five visiting faculty positions, as well as support the development of a data-science-focused curriculum. The faculty would teach in such areas as natural language processing, machine learning, behavioral economics, applied statistics, and various computer science specialties. Additionally, students in either of the two colleges will be able to take courses with any of the associated professors.
Instructors at both Mount Holyoke and Smith noted that students at liberal-arts colleges who are pursuing studies and research in fields such as computer science, mathematics, and statistics are increasingly seeking to connect their technical skills directly to real-world challenges and events.
“Mount Holyoke College is committed to educating a talented and diverse group of future women leaders, and to innovation in this emerging field, a field that is all about asking the right questions, identifying patterns, generating narratives from those patterns, and responding ethically to the challenges posed by data,” said Sonya Stephens, Mount Holyoke’s vice president for Academic Affairs and dean of Faculty. “This partnership with MassMutual offers a tremendous opportunity to connect liberal learning and the Data Science initiative at the college to opportunities that exist in both the academy and the workforce.”
Added Smith College Provost Katherine Rowe, “Smith has long been known for educating women who lead in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields. This collaboration will enable Smith to explore new directions in an emerging discipline where we are seeing increasing excitement among students. It creates opportunities for Smith students and will significantly expand the pool of talented women leaders in this field.”
The MassMutual Women in Data Science program follows closely the August 2014 creation of the Amherst-based MassMutual Data Science Development program. The cutting-edge effort furthers the company’s commitment to the advancement of data science, with a particular emphasis on building a critical mass of this talent in the five-college area, which, in addition to Smith and Mount Holyoke, includes Amherst College, Hampshire College, and UMass Amherst.
The current MassMutual data science program looks to hire between five and 10 recent graduates annually from top colleges in the fields of math, computer science, and statistics. Over a three-year period, the new employees are provided a combination of coursework, applied projects within MassMutual, and training, all of which are the equivalent of a post-graduate degree. Professors sponsored as part of the Women in Data Science program will support this program by teaching various related courses to the development group.
“Our long-term goal is to develop a team of data scientists in the region, leveraging the already-strong programs these schools have in place in math, statistics, and computer science,” said Sears Merritt, chief data scientist for MassMutual. “Through our partnership with Mount Holyoke, Smith, and other schools in the region, we are confident that the Pioneer Valley will be a tremendous source of young, talented data scientists.”
AMHERST — The Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce announced its call for nominations of individuals, businesses, and organizations throughout the Amherst area that have made a positive difference. The Annual A+ Awards are set to be given at the A+ Awards Dinner, presented by PeoplesBank, on Oct. 1 at the Hadley Farms Meeting House. In 2010 the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce introduced the A+ Awards.
The awards — formerly the Millicent H. Kauffman Distinguished Service Awards and the Janet & Winthrop Dakin Community Service Citations, and renamed to extend the chamber’s new branding initiative — are designed and named to reflect the chamber’s mission “to create, maintain, and promote a vital, thriving business climate throughout the Amherst area, and to initiate and support the civic, education, recreational, and economic well-being of the Amherst area.”
A+ Awards are given in the following categories: Legacy, Most Valuable Player, Community Service, and Lifetime Achievement in Business. The Legacy Award is given to an individual that has made an outstanding contribution to the Amherst area and has changed the lives of its citizens and for future generations. The Most Valuable Player Award is given to an individual that has gone above and beyond the call of service in aiding, assisting, and promoting the chamber. The Community Service Award seeks to recognize an individual, nonprofit, or business that has made a positive change in the lives of the citizens of the Amherst area through community work and outreach. Finally, the Lifetime Achievement in Business Award seeks to honor and recognize a chamber-member business that has made a truly exceptional difference in the Amherst community. Additional award categories are periodically added as needed.
“The A+ Awards are the most prestigious honor the chamber can bestow upon its recipients,” said Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Don Courtemanche “As you look through the list of past winners, you get an overwhelming sense of just how special this community is. This year’s crop of nominations will be no exception.”
Nominations may be made by e-mailing Courtemanche at [email protected]. Nominations must include the nominee’s name, short bio, and relevant facts that the awards committee should know regarding the nominee. Nominations are due to the chamber office by March 13.
NORTHAMPTON — Mark Goggins has joined Ostberg & Associates, the Northampton-based financial-services and insurance firm. Goggins brings more than 20 years of experience in the mortgage business with Mortgage Master and Applied Mortgage Services, as well as earlier work history with John Alden Insurance and Goggins Real Estate.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled to bring Mark to our team,” said company President Robert Ostberg. “Mark’s integrity, his reputation for building and maintaining personal and professional relationships, and his deep commitment to the community will help Ostberg & Associates continue to provide exceptional service to our clients and our community.”
Goggins graduated from UMass with a degree in political science. He has served as a coach with the Northampton Recreational Department and the Suburban Basketball league, and is currently on the board of Nonotuck Resource Associates.
GREENFIELD — The Baystate Health Blood Donor Mobile will host a blood drive on Tuesday, Feb. 17, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Medical Office Building parking lot, 48 Sanderson St. All blood types are needed. All eligible donors will receive a soup mug.
“With the frequent snow storms this winter, we have had to cancel many of our scheduled blood drives,” said Saudra Rose, blood donor recruiter for Baystate Health. “We are asking for your help to build our blood supply back up again. All of our blood donations are used within our local communities. Donors can make a difference in the lives of their own families, friends, and neighbors.”
Blood donations take approximately one hour to complete, including the interview, donation, and refreshments. Donors must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds, have a valid photo ID, be in good health (no colds or sore throat and no antibiotics within 48 hours), and not have donated blood within the past eight weeks. People who have had the flu vaccine or flu mist are allowed to donate.
“Be sure to drink plenty of fluids and eat well prior to your donation,” Rose said. “For those of you low in iron, include lots of leafy greens.”
Appointments and pre-registration are recommended; however, walk-ins are also welcome. To make an appointment, call the Blood Donor Center at (413) 794-4600 or e-mail [email protected]. Donors should indicate the approximate time they wish to donate, birthdate, phone number, and whether or not this will be their first donation within Baystate Health. Anyone with questions about their health history, medications, or ability to donate, or would like to inquire about hosting a blood drive at their business or civic organization, should also contact Reinholz.
GREENFIELD — Pediatrician Dr. Ariel GallantBernstein has joined the staff of Baystate Medical Practices – Greenfield Family Medicine.
GallantBernstein is a graduate of Wellesley College, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in music. However, pivotal experiences during a college-related trip to West Africa changed her career path from music to medicine.
“During that trip, the traditional midwives in rural areas of Ghana showed me how important the health of women and children truly is in helping create positive change in the world,” she said.” When she returned to the U.S., she focused on acquiring the skills needed to “join that crusade.” She added, “I always have enjoyed working with children; their innocence and resilience is inspiring. I couldn’t imagine serving a more worthy group.”
Following her newfound mission, GallantBernstein continued her education at the University of Vermont’s post-baccalaureate premedical program, then earned her doctor of medicine degree in 2011 from the University of Vermont College of Medicine. She completed her pediatric residency at Baystate Children’s Hospital in July 2014.
GallantBernstein practices a policy of “inclusion and completeness” in her patient care. “I do my best to actively listen and be present to the needs of my patients and families, and I use any tool I can to help address their concerns,” she said. “Wellness is achieved by establishing a sincere and honest relationship that allows the real issues to be addressed and opens the door for creative solutions in which everyone — including my patients, their families, and me — is included.”
GallantBernstein is currently accepting new patients at her office at Baystate Medical Practices – Greenfield Family Medicine, 48 Sanderson St., Greenfield. For more information or to make an appointment, call (413) 773-2022.
BOSTON — Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Matthew Beaton recently announced that Massachusetts has been ranked fifth in the nation for 2014 sustainable-building design, construction, and transformation by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).
“This recognition is another example of Massachusetts’ commitment to strengthening our economy, shaping our energy future, and protecting our environment through clean-energy jobs and technology,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Matthew Beaton. “Designing and constructing our buildings with an awareness towards energy and the environment protects our natural resources while saving money for businesses, institutions, and residents.”
Massachusetts added 99 new Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) certified projects in 2014, ranking behind only Illinois, Colorado, Maryland, and Virginia. The rankings are calculated by dividing square footage certified in 2014 by state population. Massachusetts has ranked in the top five for the past three years.
“LEED has become an important benchmark in the transformation of the nation’s built environment,” said Rick Fedrizzi, CEO and founding chair of USGBC. “LEED-certified buildings and the innovations they have driven contribute substantially to our national economic growth, create jobs, and improve the quality of life in the communities where they are found. Massachusetts business and community leaders, policy makers, and green-building professionals understand how to create a healthier, more sustainable future.”
Massachusetts remains a leader in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and economic benefits from the clean-energy industry. The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) has named Massachusetts number one in energy efficiency for four years in a row. Solar installations have grown from 3 megawatts in 2007 to 752 today. Clean energy is yielding significant economic benefits, with 10.5% job growth in the last year and 47% growth since 2010. Massachusetts boasts more than 88,000 clean-energy workers and nearly 6,000 clean-energy businesses.
NORTH HAVEN, Conn. — William Crawford IV, CEO of United Financial Bancorp Inc. and United Bank of Glastonbury, Conn., joined by community and business leaders as well as members of the United Team, cut the ribbon to the company’s newest banking center at 117 Washington Ave. in North Haven.
The North Haven Banking Center is a two-story, approximately 5,000-square-foot, standalone building that provides customers convenient access to full-service banking, including retail banking specialists, mortgage and commercial lending, financial-advisory services, and private banking. The location also provides double drive-up lanes, along with a drive-up ATM.
North Haven is United’s second retail banking location to open in Greater New Haven over the past 12 months. The bank opened a branch in Hamden at 2290 Whitney Ave. in February 2014. Also, in July 2011, United Bank opened a loan-production office at 2319 Whitney Ave. in Hamden with a team of lenders responsible for covering the Greater New Haven market.
“Our newest location in North Haven is another exciting opportunity for us to enhance our retail banking and lending presence in Greater New Haven,” said Crawford. “We’re doing it with reputable bankers and lenders from the industry who are also very visible and admired in the communities we serve. Our North Haven team is not only focused on winning new business and retaining the customers we already serve in Greater New Haven, but they are also dedicated to providing the exceptional service and financial balance our customers deserve from United Bank.”
SPRINGFIELD — Due to sustained growth, United Personnel announced the promotion of two staff members, as well as the addition of a new senior staffing consultant.
Jennifer Atwater, assistant vice president of Operations for Hampshire and Franklin counties, has been promoted to vice president of Operations for these regions plus Berkshire County. A graduate of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, her duties will include staff management, client and candidate relations, recruitment, and business development. As a member of the United Personnel team for 15 years, Atwater brings a wealth of human-resources knowledge and recruiting expertise to her new role. In addition to her work at United Personnel, she serves as an ambassador to the Holyoke Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the Human Resources Roundtable for Associated Industries of Massachusetts.
In addition, Assistant Vice President of Information Technology Becky Ramah has been promoted to vice president of Information Technology and Communications. Ramah has been with United Personnel for 21 years in a wide variety of progressively responsible roles, including recruitment, placement, and on-site project management. Ramah’s new role encompasses all information-technology operations as well as social media and marketing. She is a graduate of UMass and serves on the board of directors of Womanshelter/Companeras.
United Personnel’s newest member, Halina Dumas, joins the team as a senior staffing consultant. Dumas, a graduate of UMass Amherst, has 15 years of staffing-industry experience in professional, accounting, and administrative placement for a national firm. She will be overseeing placements for both large and small clients in Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties.
“We are pleased to announce that our continued growth has resulted in the promotion and hiring of staff who will bring great results to our clients and candidates throughout Western Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut,” said company President Tricia Canavan.
EASTHAMPTON — At Easthampton Savings Bank’s recent quarterly meeting, President and CEO Matthew Sosik reported that the bank’s total assets surpassed $1 billion at the end of 2014.
Also, Bozena Dabek, senior vice president and CFO, reported that the bank’s assets were up $37 million from a year ago, an increase of 3.7%. “Easthampton Savings Bank continues to be one of the most highly capitalized banks in the area, with a capital ratio of 12.9%,” she added.
Dabek noted that total loans increased $47 million over the last quarter and now stand at just over $773 million, and that the bank’s deposit growth was more than $40 million, or 5% from a year ago. Deposits were up $18 million for the quarter, and total deposits are now $869 million, she added.
Said Sosik, “2014 was another in a long line of profitable and successful years for the bank. We met and exceeded all of our goals for asset growth and earnings, as well as our goals for charitable giving within the communities we serve. Overall, 2014 was just a great year and was the result of a lot of hard work and dedication from our board and staff.”
WESTFIELD — The Division of Graduate and Continuing Education at Westfield State University will offer a class called “Acting Skills for Real Life: How to Connect and Communicate” on Thursday nights, March 19 through April 16, from 6 to 8 p.m.
Students will learn about basic acting skills and theories, and how they can be applied to everyday situations such as job interviews and social settings, in addition to performances and public speaking. Course content includes vocal, movement, and imagination warmups and theatre games; improvisations around a specific set of circumstances, including real-life situations and role reversal; developing stage presence; and, if the class chooses, rehearsal and class performance of a brief scene or monologue as a rehearsed reading or ‘off book.’
The course will be taught by Nadia Creamer, who has a long career as a performer and a teacher of performing arts. Creamer was co-artistic director of Impulse Theatre and Dance for 28 years in New York, where she received more than 60 grants for her work. She was also a faculty member at New York University, Russell Sage, College of St. Rose, and Columbia-Greene Community College.
The cost of this course is $80. Registration will be accepted until the first night of class. For more information and to register, contact Brandon Fredette at (413) 572-8033 or [email protected].
SPRINGFIELD — Back by popular demand, the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield (ACCGS) will hold an afternoon of speed networking on March 11 at Frank Webb’s Bath Center, 145 Performance Blvd., Springfield, followed by an evening of informal networking at its After 5.
The combination of events will provide attendees the opportunity to meet new contacts in a formal manner, then continue conversations in an informal and casual setting. The core concept to speed networking is the ‘elevator speech,’ a short summary of an individual, business, organization, product, or service that a person could deliver in the time span of a short elevator ride.
Attendees will be divided into groups A and B. Members of each group will be seated across from each other. Each member of Group A will have 60 seconds to give his or her elevator speech to a member of Group B. A bell will ring, signaling the 60-second time is up, and each member of Group B will then get a chance to speak. The facilitator will signal when the 60 seconds are up again, and members of Group A will then move one seat to the right and begin the process again with a new partner. The round-robin format of networking will continue until the event is over.
The event begins at 3:30 p.m. with registration and instructions. To accommodate the event, no admittance will be allowed after 3:55 p.m. The event ends at 5 p.m., and the After 5 runs from 5 to 7 p.m.
Reservations are $20 in advance, $25 at the door, and only members of the ACCGS, Springfield Chamber of Commerce, or East of the River Five Town Chamber of Commerce are eligible to participate. Reservations include a complimentary ticket to the After 5. Reservations for the After 5 only are $5 for members, $10 for general admission. The After 5 is open to the general public. Reservations may be made online and in advance at www.myonlinechamber.com or by contacting Sarah Mazzaferro at [email protected].
SPRINGFIELD — Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker will give his first major address to the Greater Springfield business community at the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield’s (ACCGS) Outlook 2015 on Friday, Feb. 27, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the MassMutual Center, 1277 Main St., Springfield.
Outlook is the area’s largest legislative event, attracting more than 700 guests and presenting expert speakers on local, state, and federal issues. Area elected officials will also be in attendance to participate in this discussion of front-burner issues.
The event is presented by Health New England and sponsored by the Eastern States Exposition, MassMutual Financial Group, and United Personnel. Program/reception sponsors include the Sisters of Providence Health System, Comcast, Western Massachusetts Electric Co., and the Republican, with support from Chicopee Savings Bank and BusinessWest.
Baker was inaugurated on Jan. 8 as the 72nd governor of the state. Over the course of his career, he has been a highly successful leader of complex organizations in business and in government. As a cabinet secretary under Gov. William Weld and Gov. Paul Cellucci, Baker helped lead efforts to reform and modernize state government. During his time as CEO of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Baker turned a company on the brink of bankruptcy into the nation’s highest-ranked healthcare provider for six straight years.
As a member of the Weld and Cellucci administrations in the 1990s, Baker helped turn a billion-dollar deficit into a surplus, create a half-million jobs, and enact an ambitious education-reform agenda. First asked to serve as Secretary of Health and Human Services in 1992, Baker led efforts to make Massachusetts’ social-service system more humane, cost-effective, and responsive to the needs of the Commonwealth’s residents. In 1994, Baker was appointed Secretary of Administration and Finance, overseeing a number of cost-saving reforms, modernizing state government, and making it more efficient.
Baker will be joined at the Outlook program by U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, who will remark on events at the federal level, including his thoughts on the 114th Congress and the topics that the new Congress may review. “As a senior member of the powerful House Committee on Ways and Means and ranking member of its Select Revenue Measures subcommittee, Congressman Neal serves in a critically important capacity in Washington for our area, our state, and the entire country,” said ACCGS President Jeffrey Ciuffreda.
Tickets are $50 for ACCGS members and $70 for general admission. Reserved tables of 10 are available. Reservations must be made by Feb. 20, and may be made online at www.myonlinechamber.com or by contacting Member Services Director Sarah Mazzaferro at [email protected]. No walk-ins will be accepted, and no cancellations will be accepted once the reservation deadline has passed.
Greenfield Crafts Detailed Road Map for the Future
Mayor William Martin says a new rail platform will help Greenfield attract residents and allow businesses in Springfield to draw from a larger pool of employees.
That’s a word Mayor William Martin uses frequently, and a goal he has set for Greenfield that the city is well on its way to achieving, in his estimation.
“Synonyms are ‘sustainability’ or ‘resiliency,’ and that is where we have focused our economic-development efforts,” he said. “We want Greenfield and its residents to become as independent as possible.”
To that end, an important initiative kicked off last month when Greenfield Light and Power began operating as a municipal aggregation plan to provide electricity. The town gained final approval and certification for the plan from the Department of Public Utilities in October.
Greenfield has a contract with Peregrine Energy Group to develop the innovative initiative, which will not only bring lower-cost electricity to the community, but includes measures to procure it from renewable sources.
“Our price is fixed and is about .0125 per kilowatt hour,” Martin said, adding that the variable rate from Western Mass. Electric was about .014 per kilowatt hour at the time of the interview. “Although it may not seem like much of a difference, it adds up when you factor in millions of kilowatt hours,” he explained.
The mayor said it’s important for the town to be able to offer competitive pricing because reports from the U.S. Small Business Bureau show small businesses account for 60% to 80% of the jobs in the U.S., and the top obstacle they face in New England and Massachusetts is the cost of electricity.
“We want to continue to help existing companies in Greenfield expand as well as facilitate and accommodate the Yankee ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit of businesses that are an idea in someone’s garage,” said Martin as he outlined steps taken over the past three years to bring the municipal aggregation plan to fruition.
Greenfield Light and Power also plays into Greenfield’s commitment to a green economy and environment, because power purchased will be generated from renewable energy sources.
“We were the first city in the state to be designated as a green community,” Martin said. “We worked hard for this and can only get better. We already have a 2.5-megawatt solar farm and can create new solar and hydroelectric projects. We will eventually produce all of the electricity that we need and move it into our aggregation plan.”
The successful establishment of the municipal aggregation plan, coupled with the Green Communities Act of 2008, which gave municipalities the opportunity to seek independent telephone and Internet service, laid the groundwork for a telecommunications or (fiber-optics) light plant also designed to further Greenfield’s independence.
“I want us to have our own Internet provider and phone company,” Martin told BusinessWest, noting that he conceived the idea three years ago.
Steps to establish what’s known as Greenfield TelNet were enhanced in 2012-13 when the Mass Broadband Institute laid seven miles of fiber-optic line in the town as part of a project to increase broadband access to communities along Interstate 91 (more on that later).
Other projects designed to make Greenfield a more attractive place to live, work, and own a business include the town’s new, handicapped-accessible rail platform located behind the John W. Olver Transit Center. It was completed in December, and in addition to stops by Amtrak on its reconfigured Vermonter line, commuter rail service has been proposed that would run between Springfield and Greenfield four times a day, with stops in Holyoke and Northampton as well as Springfield.
Martin said a state transportation-funding bill passed last year includes $30 million to acquire and retrofit older MBTA commuter-rail locomotives for the line.
He hopes the new rail service will entice people to live in Greenfield and commute to jobs in Springfield, or travel to the town from Vermont, park there, and use the train to get to work. “People hired for the MGM casino could avoid congestion on I-91. Plus, it will give businesses in Springfield options to hire people out of the immediate job pool,” he said.
Net Gains and Concrete Results
Martin’s telecommunications proposal received approval from the Town Council two years in a row, and the town is waiting to get the legislative approval necessary to hold a special election for voters on April 14. Martin hopes the approval will come through and residents will approve Greenfield TelNet at that time.
However, steps have already been taken in an effort to shrink the time frame to implement service while following the process. The town partnered with Holyoke Gas and Electric to ultilize its fiber-optics network to create voice over IP telephone service and also contracted with Crocker Communications to install and maintain it. As a result, the phone service was changed over to VoIP in Town Hall several weeks ago, which Martin said will save about $158,000 a year. After wrinkles are worked out in the system, the town’s schools will also be outfitted with the new phone system.
“The next step will be Internet access, and we hope to develop strong partners to provide and service it for the city and for our residents and businesses at a future date, which could result in a huge cost savings for everyone. We want to guarantee the future use of fiber optics and make sure that bandwidth is not reserved for those who can afford higher rates,” Martin said. “Our plan includes installing wireless Internet access downtown in the future, which would be free to housing authorities. It would also guarantee the existence of Greenfield Community Television, and the possibilities would be unlimited.”
However, he added that the town is in discussions with Comcast to renew its contract, because it wants to leave all its options open.
Meanwhile, Martin said Greenfield has a number of other significant projects underway to spur economic growth. Construction of a new, $66 million Greenfield High School is expected to be complete in August, and the new $60 million Franklin County Courthouse is slated to be finished in two years.
“There is also a lot of private investment taking place,” the mayor told BusinessWest, noting that the owner of the block downtown that houses Wilson’s department store is putting together a proposal for a hotel and banquet hall that would occupy the upper stories of the building over the store and include new construction on the Chapman Street side of the property, which abuts a parking lot.
It would recreate the 19th-century hotel that once existed there, Martin said. “It served the bustling economic activity in the area, and was supported by industry and businesses. We haven’t seen the proposal yet, but a new boutique hotel would be important, as it would give people a place to stay overnight and would be another asset to our downtown.”
Patriot Care, a licensed and experienced medical-marijuana company, is also nearing the permitting phase for rehabilitating a historic building on the western part of Main Street.
“The $1 million project is expected to begin in the spring,” Martin said. “We are focusing on rehabilitating buildings from the early 1900s of Greenfield’s heyday.”
He added that the state has accepted a proposal to conduct a feasibility study for a new library, the school administration office is moving from Davis Street to Main Street, and the public safety commission has selected a site and formed a committee to move forward on a new public-safety complex that would house the fire and police departments.
In addition, “the Ford Toyota dealership on Main Street is building two new showrooms behind its present structure, which will separate the brands and showcase them in larger, more modern facilities. In addition, a new $2.5 million Cumberland Farms on Federal Street will be finished in a few weeks, and there is a proposal for a new Dunkin’ Donuts and Sunoco Convenience Store on Federal Street, which is the second-largest commercial area in the city.”
Baystate Franklin Medical Center is also adding a new, $23 million surgical wing to the hospital, which is expected to be open next year. In addition, Baystate purchased the former Holy Trinity School and convent across the street and has plans to demolish them and erect a medical professional building on the property.
Another project that has ties to the city’s history involves the Wiley and Russell Dam. It was scheduled to be demolished years ago, but the town requested that the Department of Conservation and Recreation Office of Dam Safety conduct a new review last November. As a result, it has been reclassified from a significant-hazard-potential dam to a low-hazard-potential dam, which means a failure would not be likely to result in any loss of life or significant damage to property.
The dam, which has a V-shaped waterfall just upstream of the Meridian Street Bridge, does need some repair. But in addition to making plans for that work, Greenfield officials are exploring the possibility of constructing a fish passage at the site with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries.
Martin said the dam speaks to the town’s history, and in the 1800s, two businesses existed at its base, which include a company whose genesis led to the development of Kennemetal Inc.
Last July, that firm announced plans to expand its Greenfield operation with a $5 million investment in infrastructure, new equipment, and machinery. The expansion will result in 50 new jobs, which will be added over the next five years. Martin said the company’s decision to invest in the town is particularly significant because Greenfield was pitted against a site in South Carolina that Kennemetal considered after it closed its factory in Vermont.
Argotech is another Greenfield business that employs skilled workers and has plans to expand. “The company is based in our industrial park and is investing $20 million over the next 10 years in new equipment,” the mayor said.
He explained that the city is working with Greenfield Community College, Franklin County Technical School, and the Regional Employment Board to make sure both of these companies will have access to a pool of people trained in the specific job skills required in their industries.
“We talked about this and about our utility plan during our pitch to Kennemetal, and told them what we could provide in terms of training and power savings,” Martin said. “It’s the type of accommodation and collaboration we facilitate to help large businesses move to Greenfield or expand here.”
The town has also taken over a 100-year-property on an 11-acre site on Federal Street, and put out a request for proposals to redevelop 75,000 square feet of former factory space in a commercial condominium on the site obtained in December through the Bankruptcy Court. Greenfield also purchased the undeveloped half of the property from the court, which contains three playing fields on 6.62 acres the city had been leasing for $1 a year from Lunt Silversmiths.
“The entire property has been rezoned,” Martin said.
He added that Greenfield’s location and affordable housing also make it an attractive place to live and work. “We are the junction between Routes 2 and I-91 and have been known as The Crossroads since the Village of Deerfield was established,” he said. “Businesses are expanding here and are coming to Greenfield because they see it as a safe investment. We have shown that we can maintain a stable tax base of $1.36 million, and we are very competitive when it comes to the cost of electricity.”
Secure Future
Martin believes the measures that Greenfield is taking to become independent will bear fruit and make the town more resilient.
“Some people are guessing that the future will be different. But we guess we will be prepared for whatever it holds; we’ll have as many options as possible,” he told BusinessWest.
And that’s a solid blueprint for a sustainable economy.
Greenfield at a glance
Year Incorporated: 1753
Population: 17,456 (2010)
Area: 21.89 square miles
County: Franklin
Residential Tax Rate: $22.51
Commercial Tax Rate: $22.51
Median Household Income: $33,110 (2010)
Family Household Income: $46,412 (2010)
Type of government: Mayor; Town Council
Largest Employers: Baystate Franklin Medical Center; Town of Greenfield; Greenfield Community College
* Latest information available
Early Education Is a National Priority
By JOAN KAGAN
All of us in the broad field of early-childhood education and care were elated to hear our vital services underscored as a priority in President Obama’s State of the Union Address late last month.
As executive director of Square One, which has been providing these services since 1883, I believe the president’s remarks to a joint session of Congress shows us that our leaders are willing to spend political capital to acknowledge the value of investing in our young and vulnerable citizens.
The president stressed that child care is something that’s not merely good to have, but something that middle-class and low-income families must have. It is a message that Square One, together with our colleagues in the field, has been sharing for years, and we are ecstatic to know that the most powerful people in Washington have decided it is worthy of discussion on a national stage.
Universal child care is not a new idea. During World War II, the young men went off to war. Having women in the workforce was a national priority, and this country responded by providing universal child care. Today, in much the same way, enabling middle-class and low-income parents with young children to work and support their families has to become a national economic priority. Even as our economy continues to recover and grow stronger, families where both parents work are more prevalent than ever. And in the case of single-parent households, every parent in the family works.
A stronger economy has been good news for ‘Mary,’ who was overjoyed at finding her first professional job. Mary, who had been homeless and on welfare, first came to Square One as a participant in our Mom Squad program. This innovative model helps mothers who receive aid from the Department of Transitional Assistance engage in volunteer service at community agencies, including Square One. By performing a minimum of 30 hours per week of community service, participants can get voucher assistance to enroll their children in high-quality early-education and care programs.
While Mom Squad members work without pay to gain on-the-job training in a supportive, nurturing environment, their child is cared for at Square One. It is a great model. However, there is a problem that arises when someone like Mary ‘graduates’ from the Mom Squad and applies the skills she learned to get a real job earning a decent wage. She lifted herself and her family out of homelessness and dependency on welfare. So what is the problem? Now that she has a job, she is no longer eligible for a child-care subsidy, and she needs child care in order to work. Mary has confided in her Square One social worker that, if she cannot find a child-care solution, she may end up back on welfare.
Quality child care for five days a week often costs more than a month’s rent. Over a year, quality child care can cost as much as it costs to attend community college. A quality early-education and care experience for our children is costly when quality is (and should be) maintained. Research-based materials, professional development for teachers, a stimulating learning environment supplemented with developmentally appropriate supplies, and activities to support a child’s early learning do not come cheap.
It is a labor-intensive industry, despite the fact that child-care workers are among the lowest-paid professionals nationwide. The cost of care is particularly difficult for low-income working parents, like Mary.
Access to affordable, high-quality early education and care is a national priority if we want to help more middle-class and low-income families get ahead or avoid welfare assistance, and if we value giving every child an opportunity to enter kindergarten ready to learn. In the president’s words, child care is no longer nice to have; it’s a must-have.
Joan Kagan is executive director of Springfield-based Square One; (413) 732-5183.
