Month: October 2015

HADLEY — The UMass Donahue Institute has been awarded a five-year,
$6 million per-year cooperative agreement to direct the Head Start
National Center on Program Management and Fiscal Operations
(NCPMFO). This new cooperative agreement has been awarded in
collaboration with the institute’s partners, Family Health International 360,
Zero to Three and UCLA Anderson School of Management.

The NCPMFO will disseminate clear, consistent messages on Office of
Head Start priorities for the development and implementation of sound
management systems and strong internal controls with each Head Start
funding grantee. The center’s work will include, but is not limited to,
topics such as risk management; governance; data collection and analysis;
budgeting; management of multiple funding sources; and leadership
development including the Head Start Management Fellows Program
conducted at UCLA.

The work of the National Centers will reach approximately 1,700 grantees
of Early Head Start and Head Start programs through enhanced networks
of grantee specialists that can work directly with Early Head Start and
Head Start grantees located in all states including American Indian and
Alaska Native tribes and Migrant and Seasonal. The NCPMFO is one of
six national center cooperative agreements recently awarded. The other
centers cover early childhood development, teaching, and learning; early
childhood health and wellness; early childhood quality assurance; parent,
family, and community engagement; and afterschool and summer
enrichment.

“After many years as a leader in providing Head Start training and
technical assistance in the New England region, UMass, and the Donahue
Institute have clearly earned this award as one of the Head Start National
Centers,” said UMass President Marty Meehan. “Along with other
National Centers and our partners we look forward to providing quality
services in leadership, governance, management, and fiscal systems across
the country.” Said Dr. J. Lynn Griesemer, Executive Director of UMass Donahue
Institute, “we are honored by the award of the NCPMFO by the Office of
Head Start. Having provided national and significant regional services to
Head Start and Early Head Start for the past 12 years including the recent
award of the Region 1 (New England) Training and Technical Assistance
5-year contract, the award of this national center builds upon our
reputation for providing quality service in support of children and their
families.”

The University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute is the public service,
outreach, and economic development group of the University of
Massachusetts President’s Office. Established in 1971, the Institute strives
to connect the Commonwealth with the resources of the University,
bridging theory and innovation with real world public and private sector
applications.

Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art Presents ‘Magic, Color, Flair: the World of Mary Blair’

By BusinessWest Staff October 30, 2015

AMHERST — The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst
will present Magic, Color, Flair: the world of Mary Blair. On view from
Nov. 10 to Feb. 21, this comprehensive exhibition explores the artistic
process and development of one of Walt Disney’s most original and
influential designers and art directors, Mary Blair (1911–1978).

Blair’s joyful creativity ― her appealing designs and exuberant color
palette ― endure in numerous media, including the classic Disney
animated films Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, and Peter Pan, as well as
theme park attractions at Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World
Resort, most notably “It’s a small world.”

Magic, Color, Flair: the world of Mary Blair is organized by The Walt
Disney Family Museum in San Francisco.

John Canemaker — an Academy Award, Emmy Award, and Peabody
Award-winning animator, historian, teacher, and author — organized the
exhibition to reflect the arc of Blair’s remarkable career before, during,
and after her years at The Walt Disney Studios. He relays her story
through original artwork, photographs, and ephemera.

Magic, Color, Flair: the world of Mary Blair explores her boldly colored,
stylized concept paintings for classic Disney animated features during the
1940s and 1950s, and her successful freelance career in New York where
she became a popular illustrator for national advertisements and magazine
articles, as well as a designer of clothing, window displays, theatrical sets,
and children’s books.

The exhibition showcases The Walt Disney Family Museum’s extensive
collection of Blair’s conceptual artwork in gouache and watercolor —
some of which have never been displayed outside of California. Also
featured are original illustrations from Blair’s five beloved Golden Books,
including I Can Fly (1951) and The Up and Down Book (1964).

An imaginative colorist and designer, Blair helped introduce a modernist
style to Walt Disney and his studio, and for nearly 30 years, he touted her
inspirational work for his films and theme parks alike. Animator Marc
Davis, who equates Blair’s exciting use of color with Henri Matisse,
recalls, “She brought modern art to Walt in a way that no one else did. He
was so excited about her work.”

Disney played a significant role in Blair’s creative growth. His overall
vision of the world and values (optimism, humor, love of tradition,
families, and an avid interest in technology) were interpreted and
complimented by her creative contributions. He continually championed
her in his male-dominated studio, giving her free rein to explore concepts,
colors, characters, and designs that were outside of The Walt Disney
Studios’ mainstream animation style.

New England Unemployment Rate Unchanged in September

BOSTON — The New England Information Office of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has released New England unemployment numbers for September, gleaned from data supplied by the Local Area Unemployment Statistics program.

The New England unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.6% in September, lower than the national rate of 5.1%. One year ago, the New England jobless rate was 5.7%. Three New England states posted jobless rates that were significantly different from the U.S. rate of 5.1% — New Hampshire (3.4%), Vermont (3.7%), and Maine (4.4%).

Over the past year, all six New England states recorded statistically significant unemployment-rate decreases, with declines ranging from 1.8% in Rhode Island to 0.5% in Vermont. In fact, Rhode Island posted the largest jobless-rate decline nationwide between September 2014 and September 2015.

Springfield Regional Chamber to Hold Government Reception Nov. 19

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Regional Chamber will hold its annual Government Reception on Thursday, Nov. 19 from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Carriage House at Storrowton Tavern, 1305 Memorial Ave., West Springfield.

Sponsored by Baystate Health and Comcast with support from Columbia Gas of Massachusetts and Westfield State University, the reception provides business and community leaders with the opportunity to meet socially with local, state, and federal officials following the end of the formal legislative session. Last year, more than 200 people attended the event, including members of area select boards and city councils, as well as state representatives and senators.

Reservations for the event are $50 for chamber members and $70 for general admission. To reserve a spot, visit www.springfieldregionalchamber.com or e-mail Sarah Mazzaferro at [email protected].

EANE Announces Findings from Tri-State Salary & Budget Survey

AGAWAM — The Employers Assoc. of the NorthEast announced its findings from the 2015-16 Salary & Budget Survey, with close to 100 companies participating from Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.

The survey results include numerous breakout reports to meet employers’ diverse data requirements for compensation planning, including salary and pay increases based on industry segment, job category, and more. The survey addresses salary increases for the period of July 2014 to June 2015, and also forecasts salary changes for July 2015 to June 2016.

Overall, manufacturing employers participating in the survey indicated employees received, on average, a 2.7% increase for 2014-15, while non-manufacturing participants averaged a 3.0% increase. Both categories are holding steady with the forecast for pay raises. Manufacturing participants projected an overall 2.8% increase for 2016, while the non-manufacturing group forecasted a 2.6% increase, on average. Factored into the data are companies that reported there would be no increase or decrease.

“Given the multitude of other factors competing for funds — from healthcare and other benefit costs to capital investments — it is not surprising to see limited increases,” said Mark Adams, director of HR Solutions for the Employers Assoc. “That said, we know that employers want to give raises to keep top talent.”

For a full summary of results, visit eane.org/salary-budget-survey-results.

Ayre Real Estate Welcomes Chris Martin, Tom Roberts

AGAWAM — Chris Martin recently joined Ayre Real Estate Co. Inc. as a licensed sales associate. He earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Western New England University, served in active duty for eight years in the Army, and is now a current member of the U.S. Army Reserve. He has a strong background in investment properties, formerly working as a senior partner in a real-estate investment group in Memphis.

In addition, Tom Roberts has joined Ayre Real Estate as a full-time real-estate sales associate. An Agawam native who started his real-estate career in 2003, he moved to the Myrtle Beach, S.C. area before returning to Western Mass.

Berkshire Hills Reports 17% Increase in Third Quarter Core EPS

PITTSFIELD — Berkshire Hills Bancorp Inc. reported $0.54 in core earnings per share in the third quarter of 2015, which was a 17% increase year over year and a 6% increase over the prior quarter. GAAP EPS totaled $0.49 in the most recent quarter, including net non-core acquisition related charges. For the year-to-date, core EPS increased by 17% to $1.55 and GAAP EPS increased by 33% to $1.20. Berkshire completed the acquisition of Firestone Financial, a commercial equipment finance company, on August 7.

Third-quarter highlights (comparisons are to prior quarter) include:
• A 6% increase in core earnings per share compared to prior quarter;
• A 14% annualized organic increase in loans;
• A 9% annualized organic increase in commercial loans;
• A 3% increase in deposits;
• A 3.37% net interest margin; and
• A 60.4% efficiency ratio

CEO Michael Daly stated, “we are producing strong quarterly core EPS growth, including margin expansion and core profitability improvement. We continue to post solid organic loan growth while maintaining our financial and risk management disciplines. Our team is delivering on the promise of our franchise, and this was reflected in our recent leadership promotions as we empower our leaders to further expand our market presence and bottom line results.

“Berkshire completed its acquisition and integration of Firestone Financial in the most recent quarter,” he went on. “I am very pleased at the prospects for increased scale and cross sales in Firestone’s lending markets. The third quarter was also our first complete quarter with the integrated operations of our Springfield area team from Hampden Bancorp and we are seeing financial and market benefits there. Our growing SBA lending volume has positioned us as a leading regional originator of SBA 7(a) loans to small businesses. In the third quarter, we recruited a team leader for our auto lending operation, which is expanding across our region. I’m proud of the growth in banking solutions that we are providing to our markets.”

Robert Gilbert Jr. Named Chair of HCC Board of Trustees

HOLYOKE — The Dowd Insurance Agencies today announced that its chairman of the board, Robert Gilbert Jr., has been appointed by Gov. Charlie Baker as the new chair of the Holyoke Community College (HCC) Board of Trustees.

Gilbert has served on the HCC Board of Trustees in various capacities since April 2011. Most recently, he served as chair of the Audit Committee and member of the Finance Committee. Gilbert has long been active in other community and civic groups, including the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce, on whose board he has served as past chairman.
“With his background in the insurance industry, Bob will prove to be an asset to the Holyoke Community College Board of Trustees,” said President and CEO of The Dowd Agencies, John E. Dowd, Jr. “We congratulate him on his well-deserved appointment.”

Said HCC president Bill Messner, “Bob has been an integral member and an important voice on the HCC board for the past four years. His many years’ experience in the insurance industry, particularly his expertise in the area of risk management, have served HCC very well, and we look forward to his stewardship as chair.”

Gilbert succeeds Helen Caulton-Harris as chair of the board. Caulton-Harris, commissioner of the Springfield Department of Health and Human Services, had been a member of the board since 2006 and the chair since 2012.

VVM Is Accepting Applications for 2016 Accelerator

SPRINGFIELD — Valley Venture Mentors (VVM) is now accepting applications for the 2016 VVM Accelerator. The Accelerator is designed to help participating startups and early stage companies speed up the growth and success of their businesses.

The deadline to apply is Nov. 15.

Participants engage in a four-month commitment, featuring three-day weekend boot camps in Springfield. These sessions include intense training and “lovingly critical support.” Startups must have at least one member at all four sessions and commit one member to working at least 20+hours per week on the business. Participating startups must have earned less than $250,000 during the past 12 months and be passionately committed to growing their business.

“The Accelerator is an intense, immersive experience designed to empower startups to strategically grow their business fueled by the powerful VVM network of mentors, industry experts and fellow entrepreneurs,” said VVM General Manager Liz Roberts. “In addition to training and network access, startups are awarded up to $50,000 in equity-free, no-strings-attached funding for their ventures. The VVM Accelerator structure is designed to go beyond the pitch, giving startups the opportunity to create real relationships with a diverse set of deep pocketed investors.”

There are only 30 spots available. Qualified startups can apply online at http://www.vvmaccelerator.com.

Local Attorney to Discuss Transgender Rights in the Workplace

SPRINGFIELD — Transgender identity and gender transition have taken center stage in the media in recent weeks, but the rights of transgender individuals in the workplace are still unclear to many. Several federal agencies — including the Equal Employment Opportunity Council (EEOC) — have created or revised policies to protect transgender individuals from discrimination in the workplace. These policies set forth what business owners must know to protect themselves and their employees, according to local employment law attorney, Marylou Fabbo.

A partner at Springfield-based Skoler, Abbott & Presser, P.C., attorney Fabbo has been selected to discuss transgender discrimination in the workplace during the 20th annual Advanced Employment Issues Symposium (AEIS) in November.

“Employers are required to provide equal opportunity to people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT),” said Fabbo.” There is absolutely no excuse for not treating transgender employees with dignity and respect. It is especially important with the recent stance of various federal agencies that employers take proactive measures to insure that employees transitioning and those who have transitioned are treated in the same manner as all other employees. Human resource management should draft transition policies and educate employees accordingly.”

Just days after the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published “A Guide to Restroom Access for Transgender Workers” to advise employers on ways to accommodate transgender employees, four federal government agencies with roles in ensuring fairness in the federal workplace — the Office of Personnel Management, the EEOC, the Office of Special Counsel, and the Merit Systems Protection Board — released a guide on the rights of employees who allege sexual orientation or gender identity discrimination. The guide, which was reissued after more than a decade, has been substantially revised to reflect major recent developments in the law.

“The guide from OSHA addresses a very specific area of the workplace: the restroom,” said Fabbo. “Among the concerns of employers are the reactions of coworkers regarding a transitioning employee’s restroom use. The core principle of the OSHA guide is that transgender employees should have access that corresponds to their gender identity. Restroom access for transgender individuals has generated controversy — especially in recent weeks — and led to claims of discrimination.”

Employers that don’t respect a transgender worker’s restroom choice, for example, could run the risk of potential liability under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Among the best practices for providing restroom access for transgender employees are:
• Single-occupancy gender-neutral (unisex) facilities, and
• Use of multiple-occupant, gender-neutral restroom facilities with lockable single-occupant stalls.

According to a 2013 study by Fenway Health, 65% of Massachusetts’ transgender population have experienced discrimination in public settings — including being denied access to public restrooms. On July 11, during Boston Pride Week, a celebration of the LGBT population, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh signed an executive order to immediately establish gender-neutral restrooms outside his office in Boston City Hall.

“State and federal agencies are speaking out and changing policies,” said Fabbo. “OSHA has stated that failure to provide appropriate restrooms for transgender employees might be an OSHA violation because it is a health and safety hazard. In the past five years – and especially within the last few months – the topic of transgender equality has been steadily on the rise and employers should be prepared to address it.”

The Advanced Employment Issues Symposium will be held Nov. 4-6 in Las Vegas, bringing together employment law attorneys and human resource experts to deliver compliance guidance and strategic HR solutions. Fabbo will present Gender Identity and Expression: Accommodations and Conversations Related to Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Employees at the symposium Nov. 6. The presentation will highlight the proactive approach employers should take to ensure policies and practices related to dress, use of bathroom facilities and other issues are handled in a legally compliant and respectful manner.

Holyoke Redevelopment Authority Gives Green Light to Two Proposals

HOLYOKE — The Holyoke Redevelopment Authority (HRA) Board reviewed and accepted two private investment proposals at its Oct. 21 meeting, directing Planning & Economic Development staff to negotiate and finalize agreement terms over the next few weeks in accordance with the City’s Urban Renewal Plan (URP) titled “Connect. Construct. Create. — A plan for the revitalization of Center City Holyoke.”

The first proposal, by WinnDevelopment, would create approximately 100 units of mixed-income housing for rent at 216 Appleton St., with on-site parking on the first level of the building, community space and on-site leasing offices for tenants. The development concept for the property will seek funding through historic preservation and housing tax credits over the next two years, which Winn has abundant experience in securing for similar mill redevelopment projects throughout Massachusetts. The project is estimated to represent an approximate $38 million investment.

The second proposal, submitted by Bueno y Sano/Good & Healthy Inc., intends to temporarily lease land between Main and Race streets along the second level Canal Walk to establish a mobile- food-truck operation that would produce a new line of smoked meat menu items, both for sale on-site and for sale at its stores in Northampton, Springfield, West Springfield, Amherst and Acton in Massachusetts, and in Burlington, Vermont. Bueno y Sano is a local, family-owned restaurant business based in Western Massachusetts serving burritos, tacos, quesadillas and salads. The operations are expected to be set up during the Spring of 2016.

“We’re happy to be part of the excitement in Holyoke,” said Bob Lowry, owner of Bueno y Sano/Good & Healthy Inc. “There is a strong sense of possibility and purpose. That is a great combination.”

Mayor Alex Morse praised the Redevelopment Authority for its actions, saying that “the success in attracting a projects like these isn’t a coincidence. It takes many years of aggressive marketing and hard work to make sites ready for private interest and successfully execute the City’s Urban Renewal Plan. I thank WinnDevelopment and Bueno y Sano for their interest to invest here and look forward to welcoming them to Holyoke.”

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampden County Slates  Holiday Auction, Craft Beer Tasting

SPRINGFIELD — Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampden County is staging a holiday auction and craft beer tasting on Nov. 5 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Log Cabin in Holyoke.

The cost of admission is $20 in advance, or $25 at the door. Proceeds from the event, which is being presented by St. Germain Investment Management, will be used to support one-to-one matches of adult volunteers with at-risk Hampden County youth in the agency’s community-based mentoring program.

Representatives from eight of the region’s best craft breweries, as well as from two award-winning home brewers, will be on-hand to pour samples and answer questions. The event will also feature live and silent auctions, with more than 50 items for guests to bid on. Debbie Wright, fashion stylist and owner of Project Closet, and JJ Valentin, host and star of the popular Youtube show “My Not So Red Carpet Life” will co-host the event.

“The auction is back — and this time we’re bringing craft beer,” explained David Beturne, executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampden County. “The event is going to be a lot of fun and is an important source of funding for the agency. So many Hampden County kids, who are among the most at-risk youth in the nation, just need a little extra support.”

Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased through the agency’s website at www.bigbrothers-sisters.org/auction or by calling (413) 781-4730.

McGovern Promoted to Executive Vice President at Country Bank

WARE — Country Bank President Paul Scully recently announced that Mary McGovern has been promoted to executive vice president. McGovern has been with Country Bank since 2012 as the senior vice president and chief financial officer.

McGovern earned her MBA in Finance from Babson College and a bachelor of arts in Math from Emmanuel College. She previously worked for Danversbank as its chief accounting officer, and has held positions at Capital Crossing Bank and Boston Private Bank & Trust.

“We are delighted to recognize Mary for her outstanding leadership over the last few years,” said Scully. “Her strong background in the financial services industry along with her commitment to our mission has provided exceptional service to our customers and our staff. McGovern serves on the Baystate Health Foundation and WGBY Boards. Her involvement in the community and with our staff has made her an exemplary leader for our organization.”

Helen Davis Blake Honored by Springfield College

SPRINGFIELD — On Oct. 23, Helen Davis Blake, G’67, was honored with the first-ever President’s Philanthropy Award for her nearly 40 years of dedicated service to Springfield College.

Also on that day, the conference room in Marsh Memorial was dedicated and renamed the Helen Davis Blake Conference Room.

“Springfield College has been blessed to have such an advocate as Helen Davis Blake,” said Springfield College President Mary-Beth Cooper. “We are delighted to recognize her, sincerely thank her, and formally dedicate the room in her name.”

Davis Blake’s service on the Board of Trustees includes: Vice chair, secretary, executive committee and the committees on Trustees, Audit and Compliance, Academic Affairs, Business Affairs, Development and Institutional Advancement, Investment, and Student Affairs. 

She was the co-chair of Leadership for the 21st Century: The Campaign for Springfield College, which raised $44.5 million and became the most successful campaign in College history. 

“I truly appreciate this honor from Springfield College,” said Blake. “I have always believed in the College’s mission in educating students in spirit, mind, and body, in leadership and service to others.”

Monson Savings Kicks Off School Banking at Quarry Hill Community School

WARE — Monson Savings Bank and Quarry Hill Community School have teamed up to help Quarry Hill students learn how to bank and save with the introduction of school banking.

Monson Savings staff will set up their “bank” right at Quarry Hill School every Thursday while school is in session. Students may open accounts and make deposits while they’re at school. The program includes several incentives to save. Specifically, students will receive a free gift when they open their account. Then, each time they make a deposit on school banking day, they’ll get a punch on their Superhero Saver Card. All students who fill up their card by the end of the year will receive 20 entries into a drawing for a Kindle Fire.

There are 34 school banking days during the year and 20 “punches” on the card, so 20 deposits of any amount will make a student eligible for the drawing.
“We’re very pleased to be able to offer this program,” said Jennifer Beaudry, Principal of Quarry Hill School, “because it involves real life learning and the opportunity for students to start saving and managing their money early in life.”

School banking is part of Monson Savings’ overall Dollars & Sense program, said Steve Lowell, President of the institution. “We have become increasingly concerned about financial literacy and the fact that many people lack the money management knowledge and skills they need to ensure long-term stability for themselves. We’re convinced that teaching kids about banking and saving at a young age will help them to become good money managers throughout life.”

Colony Hills Capital Acquires Georgia Property

WILBRAHAM — Colony Hills Capital (CHC), a real estate investment management firm based in Wilbraham, has completed the acquisition of Pointe South Apartments located in Jonesboro, Ga.

It is Colony’s second acquisition in the Atlanta area. Colony has renamed the community Canterbury Townhome Apartments and will invest significant capital to upgrade the common area facilities and the interiors of the apartments.
Canterbury was built in 1996 and contains 160 apartment homes.

According to Colony’s President, David Kaufman, this acquisition represents a wonderful opportunity to take a tired, undermanaged asset and reinvigorate it with strategically placed capital investments, and best-in-class property management.

Colony Hills Capital was founded in 2008 by Glenn Hanson. Since then, it has established itself as a leader in sourcing, structuring, and closing off-market multi-family transactions worth nearly $500 million.

WNEU Receives Funding to Advance Skills in Computing Education

SPRINGFIELD — Dr. Heidi Ellis and Dr. Stoney Jackson of the Computer Science and Technology Department at Western New England University recently received a grant of $389,569 from the National Science Foundation program titled OpenPath — Improving Student Pathways to Computing Professions via Humanitarian Free and Open Source Software.
This funding is part of a nearly $1 million collaborative grant initiative with Nassau Community College in New York and Drexel University in Pennsylvania.
The OpenPath program will improve undergraduate computing education by developing a shared pathway through the computing curriculum. It will encourage input and feedback from students and faculty to address key challenges of computing education, by using proactive online learning in small groups with an authentic and exciting framework.
The pathway will consist of course materials and activities that require the students to utilize Humanitarian Free and Open Source Software (HFOSS), throughout their entire undergraduate education. This intention and collaborative effort builds on collaborative relationships with the Red Hat University Outreach team, the GNOME Accessibility team, and the OpenHatch project, all of which promote and support the use of educational open-source software.
“OpenPath will connect students directly with many Humanitarian Free and Open Source Software professionals from around the globe,” remarked Ellis. “These professionals have already developed an effective academic-industry collaboration that many students do not have the opportunity to experience. OpenPath will help close that gap.”
As it unfolds, OpenPath will help build a globally competitive workforce by exposing students to a unique community of international developers, and allow them to experience computing as a social activity with societal benefits. By giving students opportunities to positively impact society, OpenPath can also engage and motivate traditionally underrepresented minorities and women to pursue careers in computing.”

VVM’s Expo Pitch Contest to Feature Debut of InnovateHER

SPRINGFIELD — A popular tradition will continue at the 2015 Western Mass. Business Expo on Nov. 4, with a Pitch Contest presented by Valley Venture Mentors (VVM). And this year’s competition will have a new and intriguing twist.

The contest, which represents a partnership between VVM, the Economic Development Council of Western Mass., and the Small Business Administration, will feature the debut of the InnovateHER pitch competition. The InnovateHER Challenge is a national prize competition aimed at unearthing products and services that impact and empower women and families through local business competitions.

The winner of the Nov. 4 VVM Pitch Contest will advance to the next round of the national InnovateHER competition, with a chance to compete for $70,000 in prize money. The five contestants at the VVM competition, who will have booths at what’s known as Startup Row and thus can be visited by Expo attendees throughout the day, are:

• AuthenFOOD, which enables customers to order food online and reviews local chefs and bakers who have unique and authentic culinary backgrounds for home delivery or take-out;
• Bhlue Publishing, LLC, which provides career guidance for young people that focuses on success without a four-year degree;
• Do+Make Business District, an online community and school for what it calls “solopreneurs escaping the 9-5”;
• Hot Oven Cookies, which promises to “deliver comfort in a cookie”; and
• Wonder Crew, a toy company that “offers boys a more expansive play experience, one where they can be strong and emotionally connected.”
Expo attendees will have the opportunity to choose which of those five they think will prevail in the competition. Those who guess correctly will win a door prize.

Country Bank Contributes $7,250 to Local Schools

WARE — Country Bank surprised 29 local schools that participate in the bank’s Savings Makes Sense School Banking Program with $250 gift cards to Staples. Each school received the donation to help cover the cost of back-to-school supplies.

“We know how difficult it is for the schools to have the supplies they need when budgets become tight. They are truly so grateful and appreciative of this gift,” said Jodie Gerulaitis, Financial Education officer at Country Bank, adding that teachers typically spend about $250 of their own money annually to purchase items for their classrooms.

Country Bank serves Central, Western, and Eastern Massachusetts with 15 offices in Ware, Palmer, Brimfield, Belchertown, Ludlow, Wilbraham, Paxton, Charlton, Leicester, West Brookfield, and Worcester. It sponsors the Savings Makes Sense program and the award-winning Credit for Life program in its communities. For more information, visit www.countrybank.com.

Single-family Home Sales Up in Pioneer Valley

SPRINGFIELD — The Realtor Assoc. of Pioneer Valley reported that single-family home sales in September were up 19% across the Valley compared to the same time last year. The median price is up 4.1% from $191,750 last year at this time to $199,700 this year.

In Hampden County, sales were up 12.2% and median price up 7.1%  from September 2014, while in Hampshire County, sales were up 45.2%, and median price was up 1.9%. In Franklin County, sales were up 15.4%, but median price was down 8.8%.

Edward Garbacik Joins Team at Private Financial Design, LLC

SOUTH HADLEY — Edward Garbacik has joined the team at Private Financial Design, LLC in South Hadley. For more than 30 years, he has been providing individuals and small-business owners with comprehensive financial planning as an advisor and planner, including investment-advisory services, retirement planning, estate planning, and other wealth-management needs.

He earned the certified financial planner designation through the CFP certificate program at Boston University and has also been awarded the accredited investment fiduciary (AIF) designation, widely considered the fiduciary standard for business retirement planning and plan-sponsor services.

Prior to joining Private Financial Design, Garbacik held the title of partner at a boutique investment firm specializing in retirement-income planning. He was also vice president and managing partner of investments at FSB Financial Group, where he led the group’s financial-planning and wealth-management team.

Private Financial Design offers comprehensive financial planning for both personal and business needs, including fee-based investment-advisory services, retirement plans, and other wealth-management services.

UMass Donahue Institute Announces Nonprofit Support Services

HADLEY — UMass Donahue Institute announced the formation of a new business group that will focus on supporting the financial strength of nonprofit organizations.

Led by Sharon Vardatira, who boasts 19 years of nonprofit consulting experience, the Nonprofit Funding & Fiscal Solutions group will provide customized consultation, coaching/mentoring, and hands-on intervention for clients to strengthen and expand their financial capacities, manage their finances, and respond to funding crises.

“I have been privileged to spend the better part of my career building the capacity of nonprofit organizations to bring about positive change in their communities, help vulnerable and disadvantaged populations, improve quality of life, and establish long-lasting, positive social change,” Vardatira said. “We look forward to significantly increasing the financial stability of a wide variety of nonprofits working on a range of critical issues.”

Added J. Lynn Griesemer, executive director of the UMass Donahue Institute, “the addition of Nonprofit Funding and Fiscal Solutions to the Institute broadens and deepens the scope of services we provide to the Commonwealth, New England, and across the country. Ms. Vardatira is well-known to the Institute as a highly experienced grant-writing and fund-development consultant. She brings a wealth of expertise and experience assisting organizations that possesses a wide range of missions and populations served.”

The new group will complement the Institute’s other services, including applied research and program evaluation, economic and public policy research, early-childhood services, organizational development, and democracy education and international programs.

Dukes Tree Service Expands Through Acquisition

SUNDERLAND — Ben White, president of Dukes Tree Service, acquired Pittsfield-based Tony’s Tree Service on Oct. 13, allowing the firm to expand its service area into Berkshire County and grow its fleet of vehicles.

Newly acquired equipment, including bucket trucks and plowing equipment, brings the business’ fleet of vehicles to a total of 10 and will allow Dukes Tree Service to expand the services it offers in Hampshire County, White said. Tony’s Tree Service was formerly owned by Tony Verchot, who has retired.

White’s business provides tree trimming and removal services and snow removal in the Greater Amherst area, covering a 40-mile service region. The firm employs a certified arborist, several tree climbers, and many veteran tree-care professionals. For more information, call White at (413) 535-9808.

Curry Printing Changes Logo to Reflect Shift in Business

WEST SPRINGFIELD — Curry Printing in West Springfield is changing its logo to better reflect its core business.

Since opening in 1976 as Curry Copy Center, the printing business has experienced a paradigm shift. “Ninety-eight percent of what we do today is print, and not copy,” owner Stephen Lang said. “In the old days, customers would come in with their camera-ready originals. We would make a plate and then run off copies. Today, those originals are electronic files sent directly as e-mail attachments or uploaded on our website. No plates need to be made; we print direct to different devices depending on the job. Blueprints, full-color brochures, reports, manuals, newsletters, banners, signs, and all kinds of collateral material go direct to print.”

To reflect this change, Curry has updated its logo. “It’s still OK to call us Curry Copy if you want; we really don’t mind,” Lang said. “But we are so much more than copies these days.”

Nine Bacon Wilson Attorneys Named Super Lawyers or Rising Stars

SPRINGFIELD — The law firm Bacon Wilson announced that five attorneys have been named to the 2015 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list of top attorneys in the Commonwealth, and four have been named to the 2015 Massachusetts Rising Stars list of up-and-comers.

Identified by a research team at Super Lawyers, the attorneys are selected for background, professional experience, achievement, and peer recognition. There is no opportunity to pay for a listing, and only 5% of New England’s lawyers are Super Lawyers. The following Bacon Wilson attorneys were honored for 2015:

• Gary Fialky, business/corporate, banking, real estate;

• Michael Katz, business/corporate, business bankruptcy, consumer bankruptcy;

• Paul Rothschild, general litigation, employment and labor, personal injury;

• Hyman Darling, estate planning and probate, elder law, tax; and

• Gina Barry, estate planning and probate, elder law, residential real estate.

Rising Stars are under 40 years old or have been practicing law for no more than 10 years. Fewer than 2.5% of New England lawyers were named as Rising Stars, including the following Bacon Wilson attorneys for 2015:

• Adam Basch, construction Litigation, business litigation, personal injury;

• Benjamin Coyle, business/corporate, state/local/municipal, estate and trust litigation;

• Kevin Maltby, employment and labor, general litigation, criminal defense; and

• Thomas Reidy, land use/zoning.

Super Lawyers, an attorney-rating service, compiles annual rosters of lawyers with high degrees of peer recognition and professional achievement. Selections are determined by a process that includes independent research evaluation of candidates, peer reviews, and a statewide survey of lawyers.

Bacon Wilson, P.C. is one of the largest firms in Western Massachusetts, with a total of 42 lawyers and approximately 60 paralegals, administrative assistants, and support staff. The firm’s main office is located in Springfield, with regional offices in Northampton, Amherst, and Westfield. For more information, visit www.baconwilson.com.

International Container Co. Plans Holyoke Facility Expansion

HOLYOKE — In an effort to accommodate a growth in production, International Container Co., LLC will build an expansion to its facility and operations headquartered at 110 North Bridge St. in Holyoke. The expansion is planned with the assistance of both local tax incentives and tax credits provided through the Commonwealth’s Economic Development Incentive Program (EDIP).

International Container Co. (ICC) purchased its 150,000-square-foot facility in Holyoke in 2001 and has since made many improvements to the property. Since moving to Holyoke, business has increased each year for the company. The tax-increment financing (TIF) agreement lasts for five years and allows for a property-tax exemption on the newly created real-estate value. In return, ICC has agreed to create a minimum of five new jobs and invest between $900,000 and $1 million in the project.

The agreement has been submitted to the Holyoke City Council for approval. In addition, ICC will receive state investment-tax credits, pending review and approval of the application by the Mass. Economic Assistance Coordinating Council, based on the amount of sales generated from the expansion.

“The expansion of International Container is another indicator that manufacturing is alive and well in Holyoke,” Mayor Alex Morse said. “Our city’s manufacturers are a vital part of the community and our economy. This local incentive will ensure that this project can be brought to completion to retain and create dozens of employment opportunities in our own backyard.”

Over the last two years, ICC has made substantial efforts to expand, now servicing all of New England and selling products across the U.S. ICC currently employs 45 people, noting a growth in employment since 2013 when there were 24 employees at the facility.

“We are very excited to be working with the city of Holyoke on our expansion project,” said Joseph Searles, general manager of International Container. “We are a family business that has been manufacturing in Holyoke for 14 years and are looking forward to our future growth and success here in Holyoke in the years to come.”

ICC was founded in 1996 by William Searles Jr. The company, now operated by brothers Joseph, Kenneth, Sean, and Daniel Searles, serves the New England and Mid-Atlantic areas with products for the solid-waste industry. The company specializes in roll-off, hook-lift, and front- and rear-load containers, as well as a wide variety of special-application containers, including rolling roofs, square- and octagon-style breakaway boxes, self-contained and stationary compactors, recycling containers, flat beds, and custom containers.

Increased State Oversight of Fantasy Sports Likely

BOSTON — Massachusetts legislative leaders and gambling regulators say state oversight of the fantasy-sports industry — and increased scrutiny of the operations of companies such as Boston’s DraftKings — is becoming more likely, the Boston Globe reported.

The Mass. Gaming Commission has launched a review of the legal and regulatory issues posed by the surging popularity of online fantasy sports, including whether the games are allowed under state law. Chairman Steve Crosby said the commissioners would discuss whether fantasy sports are legal, whether they should be regulated, and, if so, who should regulate the companies, and how.

The commission will discuss the issues at its next public meeting, on Oct. 29. Attorney General Maura Healey is conducting a similar review through her office.

Aer Lingus Flights from Bradley to Dublin to Begin Next Year

WINDSOR LOCKS, Conn. — Aer Lingus announced that trans-Atlantic flights from Bradley International Airport to Dublin will begin in September 2016, a move aided by a state guarantee to cover possible losses in the first two years of service.

“As an Irish-American, I’m happy to say this day has come,” Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy said Wednesday afternoon at a press conference, according to the Hartford Courant. “There were moments we weren’t sure this day would arrive.”

The state offered a $4.5 million guarantee against losses in each of the first two years, plus $5 million in other inducements. Financial inducements to Aer Lingus could reach $14 million: up to $9 million in loss protection from the Department of Economic and Community Development and $5 million from the state Airport Authority, including $3.8 million in marketing over three years and about $1.2 million in waivers of various fees over two years, according to the Connecticut Mirror.

Delcie Bean to Speak at Bay Path’s Entrepreneurship Lecture

LONGMEADOW — Bay Path University’s 12th Annual Innovative Thinking and Entrepreneurship Lecture will feature Delcie Bean, Founder and CEO of Paragus Strategic IT.

Bean, a serial tech entrepreneur, will speak to the lens of innovation and also discuss the role it has played in his successes and failures during his presentation, “Innovation: The Great Differentiator,” on Thursday, Oct. 29 at 7:30 a.m. on the university’s Longmeadow campus.

Having started his first company at age 8 and a nonprofit at the age of 13, Bean is a born entrepreneur who thrives on coming up with ideas, building businesses, and having fun in the process. His mission is to use business and technological innovation as a positive force to impact the lives of clients, employees, colleagues, and the community as a whole. A frequent speaker at local and regional events on technology and entrepreneurship, Bean was named BusinessWest’s Top Entrepreneur for 2014, and received the Continued Excellence Award at BusinessWest’s 2015 40 Under 40 Gala.

Inc. magazine has acknowledged Paragus as one of the 5,000 fastest-growing privately held companies in America four years in a row. In 2013, CRN Global ranked Paragus the 30th-fastest-growing IT company in the U.S. In 2014, the company was awarded the coveted Employer’s Choice Award by the Employers Assoc. of the NorthEast and the Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce.

“Innovation: The Great Differentiator” is sponsored by the Bay Path University Advisory Council and the School of Science and Management. This event is free and open to the public, but registration is strongly recommended. To register, visit www.baypath.edu.

Commentary: MGM Must Adjust to Doing Business in Massachusetts

“I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.”

That was Dorothy’s famous and endlessly requoted (usually incorrectly) comment to her dog, Toto, upon surveying the scene in Oz upon their arrival there.

Mike Mathis hasn’t said ‘I’ve a feeling we’re not in Vegas anymore’ yet (at least not publicly, anyway) but maybe he should, or at least acknowledge that fact.

The president of MGM Springfield certainly needs to do that after what could only be described as a turbulent few weeks during which his company has announced many changes to the planned $800 million casino planned for Springfield’s South End, and announced itself surprised by the reaction.

These changes include plans to scrap a proposed 25-story hotel tower and replace it with a six-story structure designed, the company says, to better fit Springfield’s downtown and make street-level activities part of the experience at MGM Springfield. They also include a 14% reduction in the overall footprint for the project, 90% of which is “back-end” space, according to Mathis.

He made that statement at a press conference Tuesday called about an hour after one staged by Domenic Sarno, at which the Springfield mayor said it was “incomprehensible” that MGM wouldn’t mention that planned reduction in the size of the project at a meeting staged recently to explain the change in plans for the hotel.

An obviously upset Sarno felt blindsided, and let those at MGM know it.

Mathis, meanwhile, at his press conference, said the changes proposed to date are all part of a “tweaking process” that is still very much ongoing. He also said he and other MGM officials didn’t tell the mayor about the 14% reduction in the project’s size because, well, they didn’t see a need to — at least at that time — given where the changes were going to come.

Perhaps, but he has to remember that he’s not in Vegas anymore. He’s in Massachusetts, which is still cutting its teeth in the casino game, and where every bit of news — from the planned changes to the Springfield project to the announcement that revenues at the Plainridge slots parlor are down since its grand opening over the summer — is going to be greeted with surprise, skepticism, and, in the case of the hotel change, a request for a referendum question on the matter from Springfield’s City Council president.

Moving forward, Mathis implied that MGM will strive to be more transparent and communicate better with elected officials when they can.

That’s a good idea, as is the notion of never forgetting that he’s certainly not in Vegas anymore, and responding appropriately.

Eleven Robinson Donovan Attorneys Earn Recognition

SPRINGFIELD — Robinson Donovan, P.C. announced that eight attorneys have been selected to the 2015 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list, and three attorneys have been selected to the Rising Stars list.

Super Lawyers, part of Thomson Reuters, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The annual selections are made using a patented, multi-phase process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates, and peer reviews by practice area. No more than 5% of lawyers in Massachusetts are selected by Super Lawyers, and no more than 2.5% of lawyers in Massachusetts under the age of 40, or in practice for 10 years or fewer, are selected to Rising Stars.

• Kevin Chrisanthopoulos was selected to the 2015 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list in the field of general litigation. He practices litigation.

• Richard Gaberman was selected to the 2015 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list in the field of estate and probate law. His practice focuses on corporate and business counseling, commercial real estate, tax, and estate-planning law.

• James Martin was selected to the 2015 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list in the field of closely held business law. He practices corporate and business counseling, litigation, and commercial real-estate law.

• Jeffrey McCormick was selected to the 2015 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list in the field of general litigation. He practices litigation.

• Carla Newton was selected to the 2015 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list in the field of family law. She practices divorce and family law, litigation, corporate and business counseling, and commercial real estate.

• Nancy Frankel Pelletier was selected to the 2015 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list in the field of civil litigation (defense). She exclusively practices litigation.

• Patricia Rapinchuk was selected to the 2015 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list in the field of employee litigation (defense). She practices employment law and litigation.

• Jeffrey Roberts was selected to the 2015 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list in the field of estate and probate law. His practice focuses on corporate and business counseling and estate planning and administration.

• David Lawless was selected to the 2015 Massachusetts Rising Stars list in the field of state, local, and municipal law. He practices municipal, business, and employment law and litigation.

• Michael Simolo was selected to the 2015 Massachusetts Rising Stars list in the field of estate and probate law. He practices corporate and business counseling, estate planning, and litigation.

• Jeffrey Trapani was selected to the 2015 Massachusetts Rising Stars list in the field of personal injury (defense) law. He practices litigation and employment law.

Two O’Connell & Plumb Attorneys Honored

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield-based law firm O’Connell & Plumb, P.C. announced that attorney Daniel J. O’Connell was named to the 2015 New England Super Lawyers list in the area of plaintiff employment litigation, and attorney Sarah Ornelas has been named to the 2015 New England Rising Stars list in the area of plaintiff employment litigation.

Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The selection process includes independent research, peer nominations, and peer evaluations. Super Lawyers selections are made annually using a patented, multi-phase process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates, and peer reviews by practice area. Only 5% of lawyers in each state are selected to the Super Lawyers list annually, and only 2.5% of lawyers under the age of 40, or in practice for 10 years or fewer, are named a Rising Star.

Earlier this year, both O’Connell and Ornelas also received the Martindale-Hubble Client Distinction Award. Martindale-Hubbell gives the award to lawyers whose clients give the lawyer a 4.5 average rating (out of 5.0) in the following areas: communications ability, responsiveness, quality of service, and value for the money. Less than 1% of the more than 900,000 attorneys listed on the martindale.com and lawyers.com websites receive the Martindale-Hubbell Client Distinction Award.

Banquet Facilities in the Region

Holiday Party Planner Sections

Special Occasions: A chart of the region’s Banquet Facilities

Click HERE to download the PDF

Building Permits

Building Permits Departments

The following building permits were issued during the month of October 2015.

AMHERST

Amherst Colonial Village
81 Belchertown Road
$3,000 — Exterior renovations

CHICOPEE

HIS Land Associates, LLC
672 Fuller Road
$14,000 — Install sprinkler system

Knights of Columbus
460 Granby St.
$27,000 — Strip and re-roof

Our Lady of Elms College
291 Springfield St.
$9,000 — Renovations at Berchman’s Hall

GREENFIELD

409 Federal Street, LLC
377 Federal St.
$8,500 — New shingles

Federal Realty
277 Main St.
$363,000 — Install wireless communications facility on existing building

Greenfield Co-Op Bank
63 Federal St.
$10,500 — Install suspended ceiling

Rosenberg Property, LLC
311 Wells St.
$44,000 — Subdivide existing space into office area

Salvation Army
72 Chapman St.
$114,000 — Renovate kitchen and two bathrooms

LUDLOW

Colvest Wilbraham, LLC
450-456 Center St.
$295,000 — New commercial building

SPRINGFIELD

988 Main Street, LLC
994 Main St.
$10,000 — Renovations for hair salon

City of Springfield
1170 Carew St.
$13,000 — Convert classroom to office and conference room

Mass Mutual
1500 Main St.
$1,870,000 — Tenant fit-up of three floors for office space

Titeflex
603 Hendee St.
$164,000 — Renovations

Western New England University
1215 Wilbraham Road
$53,9000 — New roof

WESTFIELD

Anthony Rotticello
Root Road
$38,000 — Pre-engineered metal building

Stanley Park
400 Western Ave.
$1,691,000 — 1,500-square-foot bathroom and kitchen facility

Westfield Housing Authority
12 Alice Burke Way
$602,000 — Construct elevator shaft with lobby

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Jennifer Demerski
52 Park St.
$4,500 — Exterior renovation to storefront

KQuad, LLC
312 Memorial Ave.
$55,000 — Antennas installed to existing roof

Enfield Registers Growth Across Several Sectors

Community Spotlight Features

Community Spotlight

Courtney Hendricson spends a moment with Sean Vaccarella in the newly opened Vitamin Shoppe on Elm Street.

Courtney Hendricson thinks of herself as a matchmaker.

Although it’s an unusual way to describe the job of a town official, she is doing all she can to strengthen and facilitate the growth of Enfield’s key industries by introducing people to each other and keeping them informed about opportunities via networking events and social-media platforms.

“Some of our key industries are really strong, and others are burgeoning, but we’re taking a very proactive approach to growth, and I have relationships with builders, developers, site selectors, property owners, and brokers,” said the assistant town manager of development services. “It’s my job to connect them and let them know what is happening in town.”

Retail business is among the community’s key industries, and it is home to 3,000 stores. “Enfield is a regional retail destination, and many people spend their Saturdays here,” Hendricson said, pointing to the presence of industry giants such as Sears, Home Depot, and Costco, as well as a plethora of other stores and eateries found in the mall, shopping centers, and business corridors easily accessible off Interstate 91.

She added that the retail corridor — which starts immediately after vehicles exit from 91, runs along Elm Street, and connects to Freshwater Boulevard — continues to grow.

“Starbucks and the Vitamin Shoppe opened in late August in a renovated building on Elm Street that used to be an Arby’s restaurant, Asian Grille and OMI Grocery are opening this month on Enfield Street, and a new, 14,500-square-foot Goodwill store is under construction on Palomba Drive,” Hendricson said. “Hannoush Jewelers put up a new building on Elm Street, expanding from a much smaller space in the Stop & Shop Plaza, and Chick-fil-A built a pad site and opened in the parking lot of an existing shopping center on Hazard Avenue.

“We rarely have vacancies in our retail corridors, and when they occur, the space is filled very quickly,” she continued, adding that the town is working with a food franchiser who hopes to move into the former Rockville Bank building, which sits on 1.1 acres and has been empty for several years.

One of the town’s many retailers, Vitamin Shoppe Manager Sean Vaccarella, views Enfield as an ideal location.

“We’re really excited to be here; the economy is thriving in terms of retail, and there are acres of stores in Enfield,” he said. “We’re looking to penetrate the market and develop a footprint here.”

Advanced manufacturing is another thriving industry, and a pipeline of employees is continually being created, thanks to the strong program at Asnuntuck College.

“They’re known as the leader in Connecticut for this type of education. In fact, the governor took their model and replicated it in other community colleges across the state. Enfield students are exposed to the program in middle school, and every grade from that point on has a program for interested young people,” Hendricson said. “The advanced-manufacturing industry here is robust. ”

The third key industry in town is logistics and distribution. “We’re very strong in this area,” she told BusinessWest. “Advanced Auto Distribution Center moved to Enfield after completing a major renovation of a former 400,000-square-foot Lego warehouse and brought more than 200 jobs here in the last year, and Brooks Brothers Distribution Center is in Enfield and is thriving in our industrial park.”

Hallmark Cards Distribution Center plans to close next June, but town officials are working to connect Hallmark’s commercial real-estate team with interested brokers. “It’s critical to fill all of our buildings to their best use, and we are very proactive in this area,” Hendricson said.

The town is also looking for an interested manufacturer or tenant to occupy a 235,000-square-foot building on 19 acres at 35 Manning Road. “It’s zoned industrial and is part of the commercial real estate that is available,” she told BusinessWest.

Meanwhile, growth is occurring in residential real estate, and revitalization efforts continue in the Thompsonville section of town.

For this, the next installment in BusinessWest’s Community Spotlight series, we look at the many forms of progress being recorded in this community just south of the Massachusetts state line.

Raising Awareness

While existing, traditional sectors of the economy are thriving in Enfield, town officials want to build even more diversity into the equation.

For example, while there are some biomedical-related companies in Enfield, officials want to increase their number.

“The industry is growing, and we’re trying to cultivate it here. Johnson Memorial Hospital has a campus in Enfield, and we have companies that are thriving,” Hendricson said, mentioning Davita Enfield Dialysis on Palomba Drive as an example. New zoning was created about 18 months ago within a few industrial sites to spur growth and facilitate the use of properties for biomedical manufacturing, which include Metro Park North on Route 5, a 135-acre site that could be subdivided.

Town officials are encouraged by the decision by Cirtec Medical Systems, LLC to move from East Longmeadow into a new, 35,000-square-foot plant in Enfield. It will have a 5,000-square-foot clean room and a 6,000-square-foot, controlled-environment assembly space, in addition to a machine shop and laboratory. The company provides outsourced services for the medical-device industry that are used in stroke recovery and heart-disease treatment.

“The move will bring 100 jobs to Enfield, and they have told us they plan to add another 50,” Hendricson said. “We’ve made a concerted effort in the past year to do more outreach to spur additional economic growth. We have also strengthened our revitalization efforts in Thompsonville, and continue to foster an environment that provides new ways to unite our business community.”

To that end, the city’s Economic Development Commission held its first Business Development Summit on Sept. 23, and the 150 available slots were filled quickly.

“It highlighted all of our key industries, and people came from both the Greater Hartford and Springfield areas,” Hendricson said, adding that there were breakout sessions with panels composed of experts who discussed the town’s main industries: advanced manufacturing, logistics and distribution, healthcare and the environment, and the future of retail.

“These are areas where we are really strong, and our goal was to showcase them,” she told BusinessWest, adding that each participant received a booklet with photos and detailed information about every available commercial property in town. “The properties range from 600 to 235,000 square feet; from small, rentable spaces downtown and in Thompsonville to an available building in our retail corridor that was a car dealership. We worked hard on the summit in hopes that, by bringing players to the table together, they could make deals.”

She added that copies of the booklet, which contain photos and detailed information about available property, were given out last year during a breakfast for commercial real-estate developers.

Hendricson also records quarterly video news clips called “V-News,” which can be seen on YouTube and keep viewers up to date on economic development.

She just finished her third video, and a link to each broadcast is e-mailed to more than 3,000 of what she refers to as “key players,” who range from commercial and residential real-estate developers to businesses and CEOs of leading companies.

Efforts have also been made to streamline the town’s permitting process and make sure it is consistent and predictable. To that end, Enfield recently purchased new, customer-friendly software that is being customized and will allow people to apply for a permit online, 24 hours a day, then check its status.

“It’s exciting. We’re really trying to serve developers and businesses and figure out what we need to do to get people to invest and grow their companies,” she explained.

Growth is also being recorded in residential real estate. A 340-unit, luxury apartment community called Mayfield Place is under construction, and will contain 10 two-story buildings.

“There is a real demand for this type of housing. Bigelow Commons is completely filled, and these units are likely to appeal to professionals,” Henricson said, referring to the former carpet mill that was renovated and converted to apartments.

In addition, revitalization efforts continue in Thompsonville, which include infrastructure improvements. “We’ve been very proactive; we have formed partnerships with building owners and continue to work with state officials to make sure a new transit center there becomes a reality,” she went on, explaining that the vision for Thompsonville is to turn it into a vibrant, walkable village centered around the transit center, as a commuter rail line between New Haven, Hartford, and Springfield is slated to begin operating next year.

Moving Forward

Town officials urge business owners and investors to visit www.thinkenfield.com, a site established a year ago devoted entirely to news and opportunities related to economic development.

“It contains demographics on all of our commercial properties,” said Hendricson. “There is also a calendar of current events and information about revitalization work being done.”

In addition, Enfield offers space for business classes and meetings free of charge, and employees in its information-technology department help new businesses with tasks ranging from creating Excel spreadsheets to establishing websites.

“We continue to show investors and developers the potential of Enfield,” she went on. “The town is on the move, and we are making things happen. There is room to grow and open a business here.”

Enfield at a glance

Year Incorporated: 1683 in Massachusetts; annexed to Connecticut in 1749
Population: 44,654 (2010)
Area: 34.2 square miles
County: Hartford
Residential Tax Rate: $29.89 (plus fire district tax)
Commercial Tax Rate: $29.89 (plus fire district tax)
Median Household Income: $68,356
Type of government: Town Council; Town Manager
Largest Employers: MassMutual; Hallmark Cards Distribution Center; the Lego Group
* Latest information available

Companies Get Busy Booking Holiday Parties

Holiday Party Planner Sections

Work and Play

For companies large and small, the annual holiday party is a highly anticipated event — a chance to reward employees while celebrating the season (and another year in business). It’s also a massive opportunity for restaurants and banquet halls, which report a very healthy pace of bookings for 2015. The style of party varies from one event to the next — with lunchtime and January bookings up along with more traditional times — but all are aimed at providing good food, relaxation, and healthy profits for the area’s culinary industry.

After a year of dedicated service to their employers, a holiday party isn’t too much to ask for, is it?

Increasingly, companies are agreeing, and with the holiday-party-booking season in full swing at area restaurants and banquet halls, 2015 is shaping up to be a particularly strong year.

“We have maybe one or two days left on weekends to book events,” Abaz Cacunjanin, manager of Terrazza at Country Club of Greenfield, said of his December schedule, adding that each holiday season since opening the restaurant — this will be its third — has been better than the last for bookings. “Last year was one of the best for the restaurant industry, and we’re doing well this year.”

Erin Corriveau, catering and events manager at Lattitude in West Springfield, has become accustomed to a holiday rush — a rush that often ends in disappointment for late callers.

“I started booking holiday parties last year; some companies, at the end of their party, sealed the deal on the date for the following year,” she said. “I booked a few more in February and March, and by early August, every single Thursday, Friday, and Saturday in December was booked for holiday parties on site, and we were booking into January as well. Right now, we’re working on filling up the Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays and the few Sundays that are left.

“People call in the summer and say, ‘I know I’m early, but I want to get ahead,’” she went on. “But you’re not early, even though it’s 90 degrees out and no one is thinking about Christmas. Companies that want a particular date are upset if they can’t get it, and one actually booked with us for December 2016 instead, which is incredible. You can never be too early in thinking about your holiday party.”

Joe Stevens, owner of Hofbrauhaus in West Springfield, also knows the value of repeat business around the holidays. “A lot of people come year after year after year,” he said. “They want a certain Friday, or a certain room. They’ll change their menus on occasion, but for the most part, they come back every year, or every two years. Others come in because we’ve won them over at the restaurant.”

That said, “the holidays are always good here,” he added. “The place decorates so well. I’ve been here 21 years, and we look forward to the holiday season every year. We’re going strong with party bookings this year, like we do every year.”

For this issue’s focus on holiday party planning — which also features profiles of three restaurants in unique settings — BusinessWest visited several establishments across the Valley to talk about what is turning out to be a merry season indeed.

’Tis the Season

Terrazza is one of the newer establishments in the region, opening in 2013 after a fire destroyed the clubhouse at the country club two years earlier. Cecunjanin and his brothers, who had previously operated Bella Notte in Bernardston, brought their Italian culinary sensibilities to the new eatery and opened it to the public for both regular dining and events.

“People don’t have to be so fancy here; it’s somewhere in the middle between fine dining and a nice restaurant you can go anytime,” he said. “We serve filet mignon along with wraps, sandwiches, and burgers, so it’s appealing to many people. A lot of people said an Italian restaurant would not be able to succeed here, but I beat my own expectations and certainly everyone else’s.”

Terrazza, which hosts gatherings from under 20 people up to 180, welcomes events ranging from weddings and class reunions to corporate events and holiday parties, he went on. “Much of my business is repeat. And, personally, I don’t take them for granted. We want to make a living through good food and kind service. We’re very people-oriented.”

That serves him well during the holiday party season, which introduces many first-timers to the restaurant, a benefit for any facility that welcomes company gatherings.

Terrazza’s Abaz Cecunjanin says holiday bookings were strong last year and remain healthy in 2015.

That’s also true at Hofbrauhaus, where the party trend is toward sit-down dinners, which begin with a cocktail hour and passed hors d’oeuvres, followed by a three- or four-course meal and wine, then dessert, Stevens explained. “Some of them have gift giving; there are a couple of companies I really look forward to because their gift giving is so much fun. It’s a very festive atmosphere with music.”

At other establishments, like Lattitude, the trend is toward stand-up events.

Go HERE for a listing of the region’s banquet facilities

“Last year, we had a lot of plated events. This year, we’re booking a lot of cocktail stations with fun food, and employees are not necessarily sitting down for a formal dinner,” Corriveau said. “They want food stations and passed hors d’oeuvres and signature cocktails. For one green-energy company, we created a green cocktail. The trend is fewer formal sit-downs and more cocktail stations. It’s fun.”

That said, she added, buffets have become passé unless a company has a party catered on their premesis, in which case they’re more common.

One growing trend has seen restaurants host one event for numerous companies, giving small businesses an opportunity to experience a big-party atmosphere, with copious food choices and entertainment, on an affordable budget.

“That’s a great way to go for small businesses, and that’s what we mostly have around here,” said Deborah Snow, co-owner of the Blue Heron in Sunderland (see story, page 40), which hosts such a party each holiday season, in addition to individual gatherings for large and small groups in its various rooms.

“Most businesses in the Valley don’t have huge budgets for parties; they’re Yankees, and they’re frugal, which is great,” Snow said. “But business owners still want to give something to their employees in the way of a big holiday party, and this is one way to do it. We’ve also gone to other people’s locations to cater parties; that’s a big part of our success, too.”

Corriveau said Lattitude also brings the party to companies that prefer not to leave the office, or find it difficult to agree on a time for everyone, but still want to celebrate the season.

Erin Corriveau says Lattitude’s prime December party dates were largely booked by August.

In addition, “a lot of people can’t do evenings or weekends, so they’re booking lunches, taking the staff out to lunch. They’ll either close early or take a big chunk out of the day to celebrate with staff,” she explained. “Work-life balance is a big thing, and a nighttime event might not work for all employees; they’re taking those needs into account and making a party work for as many people as possible.”

Giving Thanks

At their heart, Corriveau said, company holiday parties are a way to express gratitude.

“A lot of employers want to celebrate with employees and thank them,” she told BusinessWest. “Typically, the holiday season is considered the year end, so they’re thanking them for a job well done and their hard work throughout the year.”

For Cecunjanin, who took a chance on a new restaurant in 2013, the concept of gratitude takes on a different meaning — a more personal one — as he heads into a busy holiday season.

“You can work as hard as you want,” he said, “but any business needs a little luck, and so far, we’ve had luck on our side.”

That’s as good a reason as any to make merry.

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

WMBExpo Preview 2015

Events Features WMBExpo

Wednesday, November 4, 2015
MassMutual Center, Springfield

Since it was launched in 1984, BusinessWest, known back then as the Western Mass. Business Journal, has been on a mission — not only to hold up a mirror to the region’s business community, but to serve it through editorial content and programming that’s informative, thought-provoking, and often entertaining.

The process of fulfilling that mission has changed with the times, and involved new avenues for communicating with, and engaging, the business community of Western Massachusetts. Examples of this evolution include everything from doubling the magazine’s frequency from monthly to bimonthly to launching a separate publication, the Healthcare News, devoted entirely to that sector; from putting content online to launching recognition programs, including 40 Under Forty and Difference Makers.

The latest step in this evolutionary process came in 2011, when BusinessWest determined that, despite ample evidence to the contrary, the era of the large-scale, business-to-business trade show wasn’t over.

Rather, we decided it was time to enter a new era — one where the show would become bigger, broader, and even more focused on providing value for exhibitors and attendees alike. Thus, BusinessWest created the Western Mass. Business Expo, and has spent the past four years refining and enhancing a quality product.

The fifth edition of the show reflects these efforts. The day-long event is crammed with programming designed to promote awareness of the depth and breadth of the region’s economy and help business owners and managers better navigate the myriad challenges they face.

The day will get off to an entertaining start with the Springfield Regional Chamber’s October breakfast and keynote speaker Dan Kenary, CEO and co-founder of Harpoon Brewery, who will engage in a “casual conversation” with BusinessWest Editor George O’Brien.

Later, at the luncheon hosted by the Professional Women’s Chamber, Alison Lands, senior manager in Deloitte’s Strategy & Operations practice, will present a program based on a report she co-authored and edited titled “Advanced to Advantageous: The Case for New England’s Manufacturing Revolution.” She will discuss the challenges facing this resilient, innovative sector, particularly a persistent skills gap and a lack of brand awareness, and how they present real opportunities for workforce development in New England. If you’re invested in manufacturing, you’ll want a seat at this event.

Throughout the day, there will be informative seminars across four tracks: Sales & Marketing, Workforce Development, Hottest Trends, and Entrepreneurship. Also slated are robotics and machine-tooling demonstrations, a Technology Corridor, a Business Support Center, the ever-popular Pitch Contest staged by Valley Venture Mentors, the day-capping Expo Social (always a great networking opportunity), and much more.

This show was created for you, the hardworking people who shape the region’s business community. We hope you will join us for what will be a memorable day.

George O’Brien, Editor
John Gormally, Publisher
Kate Campiti, Associate Publisher

WMBExpo Schedule

Available Commercial Properties

Commercial Real Estate Sections

A list of Available Commercial Properties for Sale, for Lease

Click HERE to download the PDF chart

2015 Super 60