Month: October 2016

LONGMEADOW — Cybersecurity is no longer just a technology problem — it has become a business differentiator. As the topic is discussed around the table of company boards and government task forces, the face of cybersecurity professionals is changing as well.

At Bay Path University’s fourth annual Cybersecurity Summit, “The Business of Cybersecurity,” Jillian Munro will share her experiences and observations from throughout her career of the different facets of that new face, highlighting how non-traditional skills now apply in the area of cybersecurity. The summit takes place Friday, Nov. 4 in Blake Student Commons on the university’s Longmeadow campus. Breakfast will be offered at 7:30 a.m. followed by the presentation at 8 a.m.

Munro is senior vice president of Resiliency & Business Engagement for the Enterprise Cybersecurity (ECS) organization at Fidelity Investments. Fidelity is a leading provider of investment management, retirement planning, portfolio guidance, brokerage, benefits outsourcing, and other financial products and services to more than 20 million individuals, institutions, and financial intermediaries. Munro joined Fidelity in 2015 and is responsible for ensuring alignment between the firm’s business priorities and the cybersecurity agenda, as well as leading the enterprise technology resiliency program.

The summit is presented by Bay Path’s Master of Science in Cybersecurity Management program, which was launched October 2013 as the first of its kind in New England. The summit is free and open to the public. To register, visit www.baypath.edu and click on ‘Events.’ For more information, e-mail Ann Cantin at [email protected].

Western Massachusetts Baseball Hall of Fame Accepting Nominations

SPRINGFIELD — The Western Massachusetts Baseball Hall of Fame steering committee needs the public’s help.

The committee recently met in preparation for its fourth annual banquet and induction ceremony, scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 26 at La Quinta Inn & Suites, 100 Congress St., Springfield. Inductees will be on hand to be recognized for their contributions to the game and the region.

The committee is seeking input from the public on nominees for the class of 2017. Nominations and biographies should be submitted to Ron Chimelis, longtime sportswriter for the Republican and MassLive, at [email protected], or to Hunter Golden, general manager of the Valley Blue Sox, at [email protected]. The deadline for nominations is Friday, Nov. 11. Categories for nominees include:

• Resident or non-resident professional. A resident professional is a player or coach who resided at least three years in Western Mass. and went on to success in high levels of professional baseball as a player, coach, or manager. A non-resident professional is a player or coach who spent at least one season in Western Mass. and went on to success in high levels of pro baseball as a player, coach, or manager;

• Resident amateur player, which is someone who was successful in youth, high-school, and/or adult baseball in Western Mass. and may have also played in a lower level of minor-league baseball;

• Amateur coach or manager, who must be a Western Mass. native or longtime resident who achieved great success at the local, state, or national level; or

• Non-uniformed person, who must be a Western Mass. native or longtime resident who has achieved great success as a supporter or administrator of baseball at the local, state, or national level.

In its first three years, the committee has selected from a wide range of Western Mass. baseball talent, including former major leaguer Mike Trombley, local sportswriting legend Garry Brown, longtime high-school coach Dan Dulchinos, the team representing American Legion Post 21 for standing up for a teammate against racism in 1934, and others. Special guests have included former Red Sox great Bill “Spaceman” Lee, Red Sox broadcaster Joe Castiglione, and Red Sox beat writer Rob Bradford.

The banquet also has featured a silent auction of baseball memorabilia, including autographed photographs and baseballs, to benefit nonprofit baseball organizations throughout Western Mass.

Pride Markets Thanks Customers for Donations to Coats for Kids

SPRINGFIELD — With one week left in the annual Salvation Army Coats for Kids campaign, Pride Markets has seen a remarkable outpouring of support from the community in its recent participation, which includes stores in Longmeadow, Agawam, Ludlow, Springfield, and other Western Mass locations. Last year, more than 300 coats were collected. This year’s donations look to be even greater.

Pride Markets is a long-time sponsor of the Salvation Army Coats for Kids campaign, which was established in 1980. Over the last 30 years, tens of thousands of winter coats have been collected and given to Western Mass. children in need. Each year, dozens of local businesses and organizations take part in the initiative to keep kids warm by collecting gently used or new winter coats.

The initiative asks members of the community to donate new or gently used winter coats that have been outgrown or simply not worn. Belmont Laundry, with several other locations throughout greater Springfield, has pledged to clean every donated coat before it is distributed to a child in need.

Three Skoler, Abbott & Presser Attorneys Named to Super Lawyers

SPRINGFIELD — Skoler, Abbott & Presser, P.C. announced that three of its attorneys were honored by Super Lawyers for 2016. Each year, no more than 5% of the lawyers in the state are selected by the research team at Super Lawyers to receive this honor.

Ralph Abbott, Jr. was listed in Super Lawyers in the categories of employment and labor law. A partner since 1975, Abbott is known throughout the legal community for his work representing management in labor relations and employment-related matters, providing employment-related advice to employers, assisting clients in remaining union-free, and representing employers before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). He also has numerous credits as an author, editor, and teacher, and a record of civic and community involvement. Since 2010, he has been ranked as one of the top labor and employment attorneys in the state of Massachusetts by the prestigious Chambers USA rating firm.

Susan Fentin was listed in Super Lawyers in the categories of employment and labor law. She has been a partner at the firm since 2004. Her practice concentrates on labor and employment counseling, advising large and small employers on their responsibilities and obligations under state and federal employment laws and representing employers before state and federal agencies and in court. She speaks frequently to employer groups, conducts training on avoiding problems in employment law, and teaches master classes on both the FMLA and ADA. She has also been ranked as one of the top labor and employment attorneys in the state of Massachusetts by the prestigious Chambers USA and was named one of the Top 50 Women in the Law in 2015.

Jay Presser was listed in Super Lawyers in the categories of employment and labor law. Presser has over 35 years of experience litigating employment cases. He has successfully defended employers in civil actions and jury trials and handled cases in all areas of employment law, including discrimination, sexual harassment, wrongful discharge, wage hour, FMLA, ERISA, and defamation. He has won appeals before the Supreme Judicial Court and the First and Second Circuit Courts of Appeals, and represented employers in hundreds of arbitration cases arising under collective-bargaining agreements.

Robinson Donovan Attorneys Named to Super Lawyers, Rising Stars

SPRINGFIELD — Robinson Donovan, P.C. announced that eight attorneys have been selected to the 2016 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list, and two 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. The result is a credible, comprehensive, and diverse listing of exceptional attorneys.

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 less, are selected to Rising Stars.

Managing Partner Jeffrey Roberts was selected to the 2016 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list in the field of estate and probate law. He has been selected to the Super Lawyers list repeatedly for more than a decade.

Partner Jeffrey McCormick was selected to the 2016 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list in the field of general litigation. In addition to selection to the Super Lawyers list, on which he has been included for more than a decade, he was also selected to the 2016 Massachusetts Top 100 List and the 2016 New England Top 100 List.

Partner James Martin was selected to the 2016 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list in the field of closely held business law. He practices corporate and business counseling, litigation, and commercial real-estate law.

Partner Nancy Frankel Pelletier was selected to the 2016 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list in the field of civil litigation (defense). She has been selected to the Super Lawyers list for more than 10 consecutive years and has also been selected to the 2016 Massachusetts Top 50 Women List, the 2016 New England Top 50 Women List, the 2016 Massachusetts Top 100 List, and the 2016 New England Top 100 List. She exclusively practices litigation.

Partner Patricia Rapinchuk was selected to the 2016 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list in the field of employee litigation (defense). She was also selected to the 2016 Massachusetts Top 50 Women List. She practices employment law and litigation.

Partner Carla Newton was selected to the 2016 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.

Partner Jeffrey Trapani was selected to the 2016 Massachusetts Rising Stars list in the field of employment litigation (defense) law. He practices litigation and employment law.

Partner Michael Simolo was selected to the 2016 Massachusetts Rising Stars list in the field of estate and probate law. He practices corporate and business counseling, estate planning, and litigation.

Richard Gaberman, of counsel, was selected to the 2016 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list in the field of estate and probate law. He has been included in the Super Lawyers list for more than 10 years. His practice focuses on corporate and business counseling, commercial real-estate, tax, and estate-planning law.

Associate Kevin Chrisanthopoulos was selected to the 2016 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list in the field of general litigation. He practices litigation.

Gaudreau Group Welcomes Matt Roberts

WILBRAHAM — Matt Roberts recently joined the Gaudreau Group Insurance and Financial Services Agency of Wilbraham as a business insurance service & sales assistant. He specializes in helping identify gaps in commercial insurance coverage, as well as areas in which a business may have been overinsured, which results in better control over costs while achieving more solid coverage.

“Matt delivers real value to our clients by helping them understand their insurance cost drivers, especially workers’ compensation. He utilizes our industry-leading technology, including forecasting tools and predictive budget analysis, to help our clients stay proactive and have better control over their insurance dollars,” said Jules Gaudreau, president of the Gaudreau Group.

Roberts has been in the insurance industry since 2011, when he started his career with a large national carrier. He is a graduate of Lasell College in Newton, with bachelor’s degrees in both accounting and business management.

O’Connell & Plumb Attorneys Among New England Super Lawyers

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield-based law firm O’Connell & Plumb, P.C., announced that attorney Daniel O’Connell was named to the 2016 New England Super Lawyers list in the area of Plaintiff Employment Litigation, and attorney Sarah Ornelas has been named to the 2016 New England Super Lawyers’ Rising Stars list in the area of Plaintiff Employment Litigation. This is the second consecutive year that both O’Connell and Ornelas have been included on these lists.

According to the webpage for Super Lawyers, it 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. The result is a credible, comprehensive, and diverse listing of exceptional attorneys. Only 5% of lawyers in each state are selected to the Super Lawyers list annually. Only 2.5% of Massachusetts attorneys are named a Rising Star. A candidate for the Rising Star distinction goes through the same vigorous reviewing process as the Super Lawyers selection and also must be either under 40 years old or in practice for less than 10 years.

O’Connell and Ornelas both focus their practice in the areas of employment-based discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, and wrongful termination.

Berkshire Theatre Group Festival Receives Grant

PITTSFIELD — Berkshire Theatre Group (BTG) announced that its Made in the Berkshires Festival is the recipient of the Massachusetts Cultural Council’s Festivals Program grant.

In November, BTG will host the sixth annual Made in the Berkshires Festival, which will utilize both Pittsfield and Stockbridge locations throughout the November 11-13 festival weekend. Made in the Berkshires is a locally grown festival of new works including theater, film, dance, poetry, music, short stories, performance, and visual art.

“We’re proud to be included on the list of fall and winter festivals supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council’s Festivals Program,” said Artistic Director and CEO Kate Maguire. “Since ticket sales only cover half of our expenses, outside funding is vital to maintain our educational and transformative programs. We are grateful that the MCC supports the valuable work we do.”

MCC’s Festivals Program is designed to provide funding to help festival programmers meet the needs of producing, promoting, and developing audiences. In the program’s first round, 125 grants of $500 were awarded. Grant recipients also receive technical support from ArtsBoston in social media and best practices in data collection to create a framework to deepen the marketing and data-collection capacity of festivals across the Commonwealth.

Anne Thomas Named President, CEO of Glenmeadow

LONGMEADOW — Paul Nicholson, chair of the board of directors for Glenmeadow, announced that Anne Thomas has accepted the position of president and CEO and will begin work with the nonprofit on Tuesday, Nov. 1.

Thomas most recently served as vice president of residential health at JGS Lifecare in Longmeadow, and she has over 25 years of experience working with seniors.

“She has strong operational, interpersonal, team-building, and financial-management skills,” Nicholson said. “Most importantly, though, her career has been devoted solely to older adults, and she is passionate about the people she serves, including the staff members she leads. She has demonstrated that she is a driven leader.”

In the brief interim until Thomas begins her new position, Glenmeadow Controller David Leslie and Assistant Administrator Anne Miller will share the responsibilities of former President and CEO Timothy Cotz, who retired on Oct. 5.

Cotz announced his retirement in March to “give our board the opportunity to seek my successor in a thoughtful, planned way.”

Witt/Kieffer, an executive search firm with a specialty in senior living, conducted a national search, which narrowed the field to three finalists. Each spent a day at Glenmeadow meeting with residents, board members, and staff.

Thomas holds a bachelor’s degree in social work from Providence College in Rhode Island and a master’s in social work from Hunter College in New York.

“I am truly excited about the opportunity to lead Glenmeadow as its next CEO,” Thomas said. “Glenmeadow has earned its stellar reputation by its deep dedication to improving the lives of older adults. As a core value, I have always believed later life should be the best part of life. This philosophy is embedded in the Glenmeadow community, so I was immediately attracted.”

Throughout the interview process, Thomas said she talked with many residents, employees, and board members, all of whom expressed their genuine love for Glenmeadow. “Having always worked in elder care, I know the difficulty of achieving this level of confidence,” she said. “My initial goal will be to develop strong relationships with residents, employees, and board members. It will be my true pleasure and honor to guide the team. I cannot wait to get started.”

Glenmeadow is a life-plan community known for its holistic mission and innovative programs and outreach to the wider community. Once offering services only to residents, the organization now provides services to people living across the Greater Springfield area. Through such innovations as Glenmeadow at Home, the Lifestyle Pass, and Glenmeadow Learning, area residents have access to services from transportation and care management to education. The organization employs a staff of 200.

Diverse Growth Enhances Easthampton’s Vitality

Community Spotlight Features

Community Spotlight

Michael Sundell and Mayor Karen Cadieux say the new Mill 180 Park is a unique venue that provides people with a place to relax, have fun, and enjoy nature free of charge.

It’s a park like no other.

To begin with, it’s inside an old mill building and filled with a seemingly endless array of large, leafy edible plants that are used to prepare foods in the open restaurant that sits in the park’s center. The plants are grown hydroponically, or without soil, and are nourished with lights and a special mineral solution.

There are spaces inside the park’s 14,000 square feet to suit every mood: private and communal seating areas, a mushroom house designed to be an enclosed area for meetings and other gatherings, an amphitheater built for lounging and conversation, and the multi-level Hamptonaeum, which park owner Michael Sundel says is a modern version of space set aside centuries ago by towns and cities to promote learning.

The park, which opened Sept. 7, has already put down roots in the community, and on a recent day families were enjoying the golf putting area, ring toss, bocce, and two cornhole games in a space where Sundel hopes to start cornhole leagues this winter.

To make things even better, the park is open seven days a week, there is no admission charge, and everything — except the food in the restaurant — is free.

Indeed, Mill 180 Park in Easthampton is a new concept and pilot that Sundel created to give children and adults a place to do things they would normally enjoy in an urban yard on a year-round basis.

“I wanted to give people the sense that they are in nature in a place that is educational, fun, and relaxing,” he told BusinessWest, adding that his background is in software and he hopes he can sell the idea and expand the park in the future.

It’s a quiet place filled with relaxing sounds, created through a process known as weatherbending; the sounds change constantly according to elements such as the local weather, the time of day and time of year, and the cycles of seeding, growing, maturing, and harvesting in the hydroponic gardens.

Visitors have been treated to live music on Friday nights, birthday parties have been held there, and so has a Democratic Committee meeting, among other meetings. And the park has applied for one of the eight new all-alcohol liquor licenses Easthampton has granted to stimulate business downtown and in the Mill District.

Mayor Karen Cadieux loves the park, has attended events in it, and sees it as an exciting addition to a multitude of projects that have been taking place in Easthampton.

“We are just buzzing with economic growth and have had eight ribbon-cuttings in the last month alone,” she said, noting that the grand-opening events took place at diverse businesses ranging from Mill 180 Park to a new club where people can play table tennis, an interior-design studio, an art studio, a laser and cosmetic-surgery center, and a manufacturing facility.

Some of the businesses are new ventures, others chose to move to the city, and still others changed their location within Easthampton because they needed room to expand.

But they all speak to the vitality of a city that has transformed its mills, created a thriving arts district, and become a destination, thanks to public and private investments and partnerships thoughtfully forged between the city and its business community.

For this edition, BusinessWest continues its Community Spotlight series with a look at what is happening in Easthampton and the factors that have led to what Cadieux calls “a whirlwind of economic activity.”

Reinventing Space

Developer Mike Michon, who is responsible for the revitalization of Mill 180, purchased it after deciding in 2008 to move his family to Western Mass.

They were living on the South Shore, and he looked at sites in Springfield and Holyoke before finding Mill 180, which he purchased largely due to its location.

“I did a demographic study before I moved here, met people in City Hall, and thought it was a nice place to do business. Everyone in town has been very supportive,” he said.

The mill was in really bad shape when he bought it, but the fact that it faces Mt. Tom and has a pond, bike path, and park behind it appealed to him.

“I thought it would be a great place for mixed-use development,” Michon said, adding that it took a year to put the deal together, but he found the city “very developer-friendly” as he obtained the permits needed to move forward.

Today, in addition to the new indoor park, Mill 180 is home to the Conway School of Landscape Architecture, a number of software and advertising companies, a machine shop, and an insurance company, all of which occupy the first two floors.

The mill’s third floor contains 24 high-end, market-rate apartments with beautiful views. The final units were completed in June, and although rents are as high as $2,400 per month, they were all pre-rented before they were finished.

Phase 3 of the six-mile section of the Manhan Rail Trail that runs through Easthampton behind the mills was recently completed and is expected to bring foot and vehicular traffic to tenants, include new breweries with outdoor patios facing the bike path, and all types of businesses.

Phase 3 included a new, 1.4 million-square-foot, lighted parking lot that runs behind all of the mill buildings; walkways that provide access from the bike path to the parking lot; and a retaining wall that separates the parking area from the rail trail.

Michon said the changes and new parking lot are a wonderful example of a very successful public-private venture that was funded by three major MassWorks grants.

Cadieux noted that the Pleasant Street Mills Project started with work by the city so the fire department could access the back of the building.

But it quickly morphed into a larger project: the mills were rezoned for mixed use, and the city worked closely with the Pleasant Street owners.

Michon played an important role, as he recognized in 2010 that more parking was needed, and after talking with legislators, he and another mill owner spent a significant amount of money upgrading their spaces.

The magnitude of the project also led Eversource (formerly WMECO) to upgrade the electric lines going into the buildings.

“It’s something they had not planned to do for 10 years, but they were inspired by the project and the fact that the mill owners invested money to do renovations at the same time,” Cadieux said.

Today, thanks to three substantial MassWorks grants, three of the revitalized, 19th-century brick mill buildings have been connected, there is a main public entryway behind them, and the expanded parking lot that ties the back of the mills to the Manhan Rail Trail, Lower Mill Pond, and CCC Park, on the other side of the rail trail behind the mills, was finally finished several weeks ago.

“It’s incredible to get grants for three years from the state, but it’s because of our success story,” Cadieux said. “It’s an example of state dollars put to use at their best.”

Diverse Growth

The majority of change taking place in Easthampton is occurring in the Mill District and the Cottage Street Cultural District, which was one of the first cultural districts approved by the state.

Cadieux said three grand openings were staged over the past month in the Keystone Mill Building at 122 Pleasant St., where ongoing renovations have been made to suit tenants.

Design House 413 Kitchen Showroom recently held a grand opening in the building, and so did New England Felting Supply and KW Home, which both moved from the former Majestic Theater building on Cottage Street because they needed room to expand.

Cadieux said the space they had occupied was filled immediately by Off the Map Tattoo, another Easthampton business which had outgrown its space, but wanted to stay in the city and was able to consolidate its operations under one roof in its new location at 82½ Cottage St.

“We were really excited that Off the Map found the space they needed because we didn’t want to lose the business,” Cadieux said, noting that, in addition to offering tattoos and tattoo removal, the business hosts guest artists, offers a wide array of special events and educational seminars, and has other locations in Colorado and Italy.

Another unusual new business — Zing! Table Tennis Club — also opened in the past few weeks in a 3,800-square-foot space at 122 Pleasant St.

Cadieux told BusinessWest that the ribbon cuttings are expected to continue, because an entirely new business is waiting to open in the Keystone Mill Building.

Easthampton officials approved a 27,000-square-foot medical-marijuana cultivation and dispensary/retail store in March that will be operated by Hampden County Care Facility Inc. and is expected to create 50 new jobs. At this point, the company is waiting for state approval to open.

However, the mills are not the only area where growth is occurring. A ribbon cutting was held several weeks ago at the Button Building on 123 Union St. when Dr. William Truswell, a board-certified facial plastic surgeon, moved his Aesthetic Laser & Cosmetic Surgery Center from Northampton to Easthampton.

“The Button Building was purchased several years ago by Five Star Building Corp., has been completely renovated, and is almost filled to capacity,” Cadieux said.

In addition, on Sept. 23, two artists opened Spot 22 in the Cottage Street Cultural District. Amy Johnquest, who makes custom-painted banners under the BannerQueen moniker, is sharing the space with photo dealer Stacy Waldman, who collects and sells vintage snapshots, photographs, and ephemera under the name House of Mirth, and the business is expected to bring a new element to the thriving area.

“We’re very lucky to be able to maintain our economic diversity,” Cadieux said.

She attributes the accelerated growth that has taken place in the city over the past few years to the single tax rate, the vibrancy of the community, and the unusually strong partnerships that exist between the city and its businesses.

But they have been carefully forged, and the mayor is doing all she can to facilitate growth.

For example, whenever a business is interested in moving to Easthampton she sets up a meeting with city officials, that include the fire and police chiefs, the city planner, a health agent, and representatives from the Building Commission and Department of Public Works, who sit down with the business owner and let them know what they need to do before they go in front of the regulatory board.

“It has worked out very well; businesses are attracted to a thriving community, and that’s what we are,” Cadieux said.

The city also updated its website several months ago, making it more user friendly as well as comprehensive, and published a Small Business Permitting Guide in June.

And in June, the mayor staged a so-called ‘Listening Session’ for the entire business community, and their concerns were taken into consideration in a review undertaken by the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission to determine if ordinances need to be changed to keep the city competitive with surrounding communities.

“I wanted to find out if we are over-regulated, under-regulated, and if we are really competitive,” Cadieux said, adding the report was just completed.

Moving Forward

Dramatic changes that have occurred in Easthampton in recent years include the revitalization of the mill area and the fact that the city has become a place known for the arts, thanks to Cottage Street’s designation by the Mass Cultural Council as a Cultural District.

“That area is thriving and filled with artists, restaurants, and businesses. We’ve been working on the downtown area for many years and it’s an amazing build out,” Cadieux said, noting the addition of three breweries and the $945,000 Nashawannuk Pond Promenade Park which was finished last year and boasts a boardwalk, three handicapped boat ramps, and an area for fishing, have made Easthampton a destination location.

“It’s all a continuum of how we have been rebuilding the community; there is so much going on here that it is difficult to focus on any one thing,” Cadieux said.

Which makes Mill 180 Park even more important, because it provides residents with an unusual place to relax, have fun and enjoy the beauty of nature — albeit, inside.

Easthampton at a glance

Year Incorporated: 1809
Population: 16,036
Area: 13.6 square miles
County: Hampshire
Residential Tax Rate: $15.59
Commercial Tax Rate: $15.59
Median Household Income: $57,134
Family Household Income: $78,281
Type of government: Mayor, City Council
Largest employers: Berry Plastics; Williston Northampton School; National Non Wovens; October Co.

* Latest information available

Yankee Candle Village Continues Its Evolutionary Process

Sections Travel and Tourism

Scent-sational Attraction

Wade Bassett says more than a half-million people visit Yankee Candle Village every year, and many return to make new memories.

There aren’t many flagship stores on people’s bucket lists of places that they want to visit before they die.

But the Yankee Candle’s flagship location, which is also known as Yankee Candle Village, is one of them, and visitors from a wide variety of countries have planned trips and flown overseas just to see and experience the ‘scent-sational’ offerings in the 90,000-square-foot South Deerfield building that was designed to create memories, bring back the past, and inspire family traditions that have lasted for generations.

Indeed, the flagship is far more than a place where candles are sold; it’s filled with a number of unique areas where magic seems to come to life.

Animated figures sing and perform on stages year-round, and families stroll through diverse settings that include a Bavarian Christmas Village where it snows every four minutes on everything, including a 25′ tall indoor rotating Christmas tree; a Black Forest area that offers Christmas collectibles and a large selection of ornaments year-round; a Nutcracker Castle that contains Yankee Candle Toy; Santa’s Workshop, where he can be found almost every Wednesday through Saturday; a moat area with a 20-foot cascading indoor waterfall; a ‘Dept. 56’ section with fascinating displays of collectibles; and a fully outfitted Home Store where items for sale include candles, foods, cookbooks, kitchen accessories, clothing, designer bags, and jewelry.

Many of the activities, offerings, and merchandise are changed seasonally, so new experiences await guests of all ages who flock to South Deerfield on repeat visits.

“We see more than a half-million visitors a year at this location,” said Wade Bassett, director of Sales and Operations. “We opened in 1983, and since that time, our flagship has become a true destination. We understand that people’s experiences here have to be unlike anywhere else. Santa Claus is here year-round, we create new events all the time, and we make sure there are plenty of hands-on, interactive things to see and do.”

Although return visits are not tracked, many guests tell employees they visit frequently, especially during the holiday season, which has become an annual outing for families whose children have photos taken with Santa and Mrs. Claus, while parents shop for gifts to suit everyone on their list.

Santa Claus is in Yankee Candle Village year-round, but his arrival on a helicopter at the end of November draws about 5,000 guests each year.

Activities for children include a candle-making area called Waxworks where the small set can dip their hands in wax, make wax figurines and colored candles, and get a Glitter Too, which is the company’s version of a temporary, glittery tattoo.

There’s also a café and area to enjoy goodies such as homemade fudge, gourmet popcorn, or Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream, a treat which was recently added; and for those who prefer a full meal, Chandler’s Restaurant fits the bill, only a short distance away on the property.

“This location is our birthplace. It’s the platform to our brand, and what we do here translates to all of our other stores,” Bassett said, adding that families often spend two to three hours in the village.

Candles are the primary attraction, however, and the store contains more 400,000 in 200 original fragrances that change with the seasons. They come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes — jars and glass holders with multiple wicks, votives, wax melts, and scented accessories such as car jars, car vent sticks, room sprays, and more.

Eight to 10 new fragrances are added every season, and older ones are often retired, although scents such as Balsam Cedar, McIntosh Apple, Clean Cotton, and Home Sweet Home are traditional standbys.

“Our factory in Whately produces more than 200 million candles each year, and we have made more than a billion in the past five years,” Bassett said. “It’s a staggering number; we use 64 million pounds of wax each year, which equates to more than 175,000 pounds per day.”

The average guest spends $70 to $100 during each visit, but some purchases total in the thousands, and sales have come a long way from the company’s early years.

In the past, a small handbasket could accommodate the needs of most shoppers, but today, full-size, grocery-style shopping carriages are needed to hold a multitude of purchases.

For this issue and its focus on travel and hospitality, BusinessWest takes a look at one of the leading attractions in Western Mass., and examines not only what draws people to the flagship store, but what is done to ensure that visitors have new experiences that make them want to return time and time again.

Waxing Nostalgic

Yankee Candle’s history began in 1969 when 16-year-old Michael Kittredge decided to make a Christmas candle for his mother because he didn’t have money to purchase a gift for her.

A neighbor saw it and asked to buy the luminary before he gave it to his mother, and a new business was born that has grown to encompass more than 575 retail stores and 35,000 authorized dealers across the world.

Kittredge opened his first store in South Deerfield and eventually sold his company in 1998 to New York-based Forstmann Little, a private equity firm.

The company has had several owners since then; the newest is Newell Rubbermaid, which purchased the company from Jarden Corp. in July.

But despite changing hands, the way business is approached in terms of the customer experience hasn’t varied.

Yankee Candle’s busiest season begins when the leaves start changing color in the fall and runs to the end of December; the fourth quarter accounts for 65% to 70% of annual sales.

“We employ about 180 people in the store at this time of year, as well as another 70 in Chandler’s Restaurant,” Bassett noted.

Employees are carefully chosen, and personality plays a definite role in who gets hired, as the goal is to make guests feel so welcome they share their experiences with employees and feel free to make suggestions, which are written down and perused each week by executives in the firm.

“We encourage our employees to get to know our guests and feel a connection with them,” Bassett said, explaining that they hear many tales of joy as well as difficulties that lead visitors to South Deerfield for the warmth they find in the store.

To that end, employees have the option of choosing a visitor or group who seems especially deserving each day to receive what they call a ‘Golden Key.’

This newly created living room on a 10-by-10-foot platform was designed to add interest to the store and show visitors how to use Yankee Candles to enhance their holiday decorating.

For example, last year a family told an employee they had saved for several years for a trip to Disney World, and in the excitement of leaving for the airport, the father left his wallet on top of the car. When they arrived at the airport, it was gone, so they didn’t go on the vacation, but ended up at Yankee Candle Village, where they had a fun-filled day.

All experiences inside the village are free to Golden Key recipients, which range from eating ice cream to making candles, and Santa does his part by making special origami Christmas ornaments for them to take home.

“It’s an incredible experience, and people have talked about it and thanked us via social media,” Bassett said, as he continued relating stories about Golden Key recipients.

But the Golden Key is only one of many things Yankee Candle does to entice guests to return to the flagship store. In addition to a seemingly endless array of scented candles, special fragrances are created that are collectibles and sold only in the South Deerfield location.

In addition, members of the company’s Visual Team create displays that change with the seasons; three weeks ago they launched a new living-room display on a 10-by-10-foot platform that was designed to inspire guests to use their candles to enhance their holiday decorating in an elegant setting.

“We try to create the feeling of home and bring it to life in the store with candles and accessories that people can purchase here,” Bassett told BusinessWest.

A professional photographer is brought in during every holiday season to take children’s pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and an hour-long show leads up to the Santa’s arrival in a helicopter after Thanksgiving.

Other recent events created to draw traffic include fall photo shoots, pumpkin decorating, a Halloween Bash, and a concert by children’s musical artist Mister G planned for Nov. 5.

Two years ago, the village began hosting an after-hours event called Girls Night Out that includes local vendors, raffle prizes, and other incentives, including the opportunity to shop at a time when the store is not busy. It proved so popular, it is now held four times a year.

“We change continuously with the seasons; in summer there are displays with palm trees, sand, and beach-scented candles, and in the fall we bring trees into the store and build a scene around them,” Bassett noted.

Roughly 60% of the flagship’s merchandise consists of candles and fragrance-related items, and three buyers are employed to purchase the remaining inventory of gift items that make shopping in the store so interesting.

There is something to suit almost everyone, including sports memorabilia and Harley-Davidson signs inside a man cave that features a large, flat-screen TV, so men who don’t want to shop can enjoy their visit while their families take part in activities.

“A lot of people come here to find unusual gifts, and some get all of their Christmas shopping done in one weekend,” Bassett said.

Burning Brightly

When the flagship store opened, it consisted of 5,000 square feet that included space for the corporate offices, the store, the factory, and the loading docks.

Today, they are all separate — the manufacturing is done in Whately, while the corporate office, distribution facility, and store are in South Deerfield.

But a trip to the village is truly a sensory experience. On a recent day, adults picked up jarred candles, smelled them, then closed their eyes and inhaled deeply again; children’s eyes grew large with wonder as they peeked around a corner and saw Santa in his workshop; and cooks marveled at items they found in the Home Store.

As the holidays draw closer, business will continue to pick up, and new and old visitors alike will visit Santa and enjoy a day of merriment and wonder.

“We want to continue to evolve, so whether someone comes back once a month or every year, they will see and feel something entirely different,” Bassett said.

Such experiences have continued to generate a history of memories and traditions that people want to repeat in different seasons and different ways.

Haunted Attractions Are Scaring Up Huge Crowds

Sections Travel and Tourism

The Fright Stuff

Brennan McKenna says Warner Farm aims to provide scares for all ages each October.

Haunted houses and other Halloween attractions are nothing new, but they’re enjoying somewhat of a renaissance in America today, generating, by one estimate, more than $1 billion in revenues annually. Some are kid-friendly, while others are extreme enough to issue guests a safe word in case they need an early exit. But they all feed off people’s natural attraction to an often-intense adrenaline rush that’s totally safe — even though it might not feel that way at the time.

Brennan McKenna started working at Warner Farm at age 14, manning the strawberry stand. He returned every summer during high school and college, and started helping out with the farm’s renowned, artistic corn mazes in 2004; that year’s design was George W. Bush and John Kerry.

He’s had other jobs since, but he takes pride in his current role — pressed for a title, he came up with ‘haunted events manager’ — at the Sunderland farm.

“I tell people, ‘my job this week is to figure out how to scare people in the most efficient way, using some piece of farm equipment.’”

He’s not kidding — one scene in the haunted cornfield depicts an executioner’s chamber, where one poor character (not real, fortunately) is being chopped apart by — well, McKenna isn’t sure what it is, except that it’s an old farm implement stamped with the year 1875.

Adjoining this walk-through attraction is Mike’s Maze, an annual corn-maze attraction first created by farm owner Mike Wissemann and an artist neighbor 16 years ago; the theme for this year’s maze is “See America,” a tribute to the National Park Service. That remains a draw throughout each fall for visitors who enjoy navigating it by day and, with flashlights in hand, by night.

The neighboring haunted maze is a more recent addition, first developed three years ago. The farm has since added Zombie Night Patrol, where guests ride a wagon through a creepy village and shoot mounted paintball guns at the zombies who charge the vehicle.

“That’s a thrill,” McKenna said as he gave BusinessWest a tour of the village — like the haunted maze, silent during the day but ready to spring to life (or at least some undead state) thanks to a gaggle of paid actors in costumes and makeup. “Kids can do this and not get overly scared. The haunted corn maze is much scarier because walking through corn thinking someone’s going to pop out is inherently scary.”

See: Area Tourist Attractions

The Halloween attractions at Warner’s, collectively called Mike’s at Night, have been a boon for the farm, which aims for a complete family experience, complete with concessions, live music, and a children’s play area with slides, a jump pad, and pedal cars.

It’s also an example of how Americans have increasingly embraced the fun and pageantry of Halloween in recent years, evidenced by a proliferation of haunted houses and other spooky attractions.

Jeremie LaPointe and David Spear recognized that trend when they launched DementedFX in Easthampton two years ago. The haunted house they created drew 19,000 visitors over two seasons, and now they’re aiming higher with a new, much larger space on Main Street in Holyoke, with more room for the walk-through and an indoor bar area, serving beer and wine, that wasn’t possible before. But it wasn’t simply the need for more space that brought them to the Paper City.

“We went into this business venture thinking we wanted to get as close to the Five College area as possible,” LaPointe said. “We thought this was our demographic, but we came to find out, it really wasn’t.”

David Spear, left, and Jeremie LaPointe say they don’t forbid kids from entering DemetedFX, but the intense scares are geared for adults.

The reasons aren’t totally clear, but he suggests a lack of money — today’s high-school and college students are struggling with a very difficult market for the kinds of jobs people their age used to have — may be a factor. Whatever the reason, the post-college crowd dominated the queue in Easthampton, with more sales to 36- to 50-year-olds than to the 14-to-18 crowd.

As a result, the revamped DementedFX is geared more toward adults, with some strong language, violent scenes, and ‘anatomically correct’ props, though nothing that could be considered sexual content. Children aren’t turned away, but their parents are warned, and refunds aren’t given if they decide to cut short their trip (which runs about 18 minutes, on average) by using a safe word.

“We don’t want to pander to the kids because we realized they’re not our demo,” LaPointe said. “My son’s 9, and I wouldn’t let him come here. But I’m not going to parent for people. We had a group of 5-year-olds go through with their parents the other day — and we’ve also had grown men cry.

“A lot of it has to do with your own level of anxiety, what your own fears are,” he went on. “We try to hit a lot of those fears. We use smells, which a lot of people find unpleasant. We use temperature changes, claustrophobia, light sensitivity — and it’s really loud. By the time you’re done, your anxiety level is high, so when you finally finish, it’s a moment of celebration, which is fun to watch.”

In other words, he said, getting scared is fun. Increasingly, people seem to agree.

Catching Fire

The Haunted House Assoc., an industry group, draws a distinction between Halloween attractions (hayrides, corn mazes, pumpkin patches) and haunted houses, but reports that, together, these destinations bring in more than $1 billion in revenue per year — and help keep many family farms afloat.

McCray’s Farm in South Hadley offers both types of attractions, thanks to Dan Augusto, a man who, a quarter-century ago, turned a love of Halloween and a collection of holiday-themed props into one of the region’s true seasonal success stories.

Seeking a place to display his collection, Augusto approached farm owner Don McCray, who was intrigued with the concept — originally, a simple hay-wagon ride out to the fields, into a heavily wooded area, where about 15 scary scenes were laid out, populated with both props and actors. “We probably had 30 volunteers — friends and friends of friends,” Augusto said.

There was only one problem — what was then a very limited parking area. “I told Don, ‘we need more parking; we’ll have vehicles up and down Alvord Street.’ He laughed and said, ‘settle down, city slicker.’ By the third weekend, I hopped off the wagon, and he came over and hugged me, smiling, saying, ‘Dan, I don’t know where we’re going to put these cars. You were right.’ But, at the time, it was a good problem to have.”

The second year, Augusto was paying the actors, and the event became more of a real business, with a payroll and workers’ compensation and liability insurance. Animatronic displays were added as well, and the path expanded as well to include more displays. “Every year, we said, ‘let’s try to put more and more into this space.’”

In the late 1990s, Augusto converted a large carport into the property’s first haunted walkthrough, which in recent years has become known as Massacre Manor, a full-blown haunted house, filled with animatronics and actors. This year, he added a second walk-through attraction, cheekily called DON — in reference to Don McCray, and also an acronym for Diagnostics Operation Nexus. “It’s a genetic research facility that’s had…” — here he paused for effect — “…some issues.”

DON is important in the evolution of what collectively has become known as Fear on the Farm, he explained, because now there’s truly something for everyone. The hayride aims to scare, but there’s security to be found in a big group aboard the wagon (and for those too young even for that, the farm offers milder daytime attractions for children). Massacre Manor increases the fright with a more close-up experience, and DON, aimed squarely at an adult audience, ramps up the intensity even higher.

Even the hayride is customizable depending on the crowd, and the actors will occasionally, and discreetly, break character to comfort a child or, better yet, give him a glowstick and tell him lighting it is the only way to keep the monsters at bay and save his parents — essentially, giving a sense of control back to a kid who might otherwise feel overwhelmed. Older riders don’t get the same treatment; the actors delight in targeting obviously frightened adults.

“I’ve seen some attractions where, if they see a kid crying and screaming, the actors will attack that poor kid,” Augusto said. “There’s nothing creative there; you’re terrorizing a little kid. We try to entertain that kid by going after his parents and the other people on the wagon.”

Rising Terror

As Halloween attractions have gained a greater following across the country in recent years, a strain of extreme terror experiences have popped up as well, like the popular Blackout haunted houses in New York and California, where guests are handled — often roughly, sometimes with a sexual connotation — and subjected to actual abuse. (One year, Blackout actually waterboarded people.)

Others have taken the concept further. Blackout requires a liability waiver, but also issues a safe word for those who want out immediately (and many do). San Diego’s McKamey Manor offers no safe word — and is known to last several hours, inflicting, by some accounts, real trauma on people who begged to be set free.

Dan Augusto, creator of the Fear on the Farm attractions at McCray’s, says he has long loved Halloween, a time when anyone can be anything they want.

The traditional haunted-house industry frowns on this trend, Augusto said. “It’s not creative. We might have a prop brush your leg, and your imagination runs with it. But physical touch is something I’m not interested in doing.”

LaPointe agrees, noting that DementedFX also has a no-touching policy.

“I want to classically scare you without physically touching you. It’s a lot harder. If I wanted to scare the s— out of you, I’d bind you up, take you to the basement, and throw you in a hole. That’s not what we’re trying to do here. We’re trying to get a clean scare out of you without going down that road.”

Augusto is also appalled that clowns have become associated with terror of the not-so-fun kind, thanks to myriad sightings in recent weeks that have law enforcement on edge. “One of the guys in the industry said it best: ‘if you want to dress up and scare people, come see us, and we’ll give you a job, rather than risk getting shot or arrested.’”

To maintain safety inside DementedFX, cameras are positioned in every area, constantly monitoring and recording. But there’s a second rationale behind those cameras.

“It deters people from doing malicious things, but we also watch the scares. We see if they’re successful or not. And if they’re not successful, we’ll demo out the whole thing and change it all. Using this scare knowledge, it keeps getting better and better,” said LaPointe, adding that he and Spear plan on adding another 2,000 square feet of currently unused space to the walk-through next year. “I never want to get stagnant. I’m not going to change everything out, but I want to continuously grow, bigger and better.”

Spear recalled the ‘spider house’ from DementedFX’s first year in Easthampton, a room that featured a mechanized spider that came shooting across a table. “The concept was incredible — it looked real — but it didn’t scare a lot of people,” he said. “So we got rid of it and changed the whole room over. That’s why we have the cameras, to see if people are getting bang for their buck. If we don’t like what we see, we change it. That kind of sets us apart. We’re not going to throw something together and just be happy with it. We always want to improve and be better.”

LaPointe, who noted that he and Spear conceptualize and build many of the props and animatronics (others are purchased), said they’re not making money off the undertaking — all revenues, after paying the actors, security, and other staff, are reinvested into the attraction — but they expect to be profitable within a few years. Meanwhile, they hope this year, with the big move complete, will allow them a little more family time away from what is, essentially, a year-round enterprise on top of their day jobs. “I can’t tell you how many soccer games, dance classes, dinners, Saturday and Sunday nights we missed because we were here.”

McKenna said improving Mike’s at Night each year is his goal as well, and he attends the TransWorld Halloween & Attractions Show, an annual trade event, to learn about trends and gather ideas. He also encourages changes mid-season if something isn’t providing the necessary scare. “We trust our actors to improvise and adapt to different groups. If something doesn’t work, change it and try to make it scarier.”

October Surprises

LaPointe and Spear make no bones about their goal to scare every guest, and they don’t tone it down for kids — they simply discourage them from coming. “I’ve seen kids leaving, and they’re just traumatized, and I feel bad for them,” Spear said. “But we ask them up front, ‘do you really want to do this?’”

For most guests, though, scary equals fun. Traditionally, about 1.5% of DementedFX ticket buyers opt for the safe word and an early exit — the percentage is running a touch higher this year — but most crave the adrenaline rush of facing their fears, making it all the way through, and exiting into the chill October air with smiles and shouts of relief.

“People don’t come to haunted houses looking for problems,” LaPointe said. “They’re here to have a good time.”

Augusto has also spent a lifetime embracing the fun of the season. He grew up poor in Holyoke, he said, but it never mattered on Halloween, the one day anyone could be anything they wanted for a few hours. That love of the holiday stayed with him into adulthood, when he wanted to give people a richer experience than the haunted houses that proliferated in the 1970s, “just black walls and no fire safety and cheap rubber masks. But it was still fun to do.”

Many of the actors have worked at McCray’s each October for the past 15 to 20 years, and have become a sort of family — and appreciate being able to provide an experience and memories that will stick with the families who dare to be scared.

“Every year, we lose more and more Americana,” Augusto said, adding that he hopes haunted houses and hayrides don’t go the way of the drive-in theater. He is encouraged, though. “Halloween, every year, is gaining on Christmas. Christmas is still the biggest money-generating holiday, but Halloween is right there. You see more houses decorated than ever before. America’s embracing it.”

McKenna agreed, adding that families regularly drop $30 or more on movies and popcorn, and welcome something a little different.

“Here, it’s real; it’s in person,” he said. “I think it’s the nature of the human psyche — they want the thrill, and knowing it’s a thrill that’s safe.”

Well, except for that poor guy caught in the antique farm implement. He didn’t look particularly thrilled. Or safe. Sweet dreams.

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Incorporations

Departments Incorporations

The following business incorporations were recorded in Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties and are the latest available. They are listed by community.

AGAWAM

Sanctuary Room Inc., 525 Springfield St., Suite K, Agawam, MA 01001. Nicholas J. Ruell, 275 North Road, Westfield, MA 01085. Nonprofit organization social meeting club.

EASTHAMPTON

Telecom Fusion Inc., 74 Plain St., Easthampton, MA 01028. Lindsay McGrath, same. Telecom consulting.

EAST LONGMEADOW

Portico and Greenwich Services LTD, 48 Greenwich Road, East Longmeadow, MA 01028. Richard James Condon, same. Computer technical support services.

MONSON

Springfield Photographic Society Inc., 22 May Hill Road, Monson, MA 01057. Kevin Fay, 44 Tanglewood Dr., Springfield, MA 01129. Nonprofit organization that provides and fosters a photographic social club for pleasure and recreation and other similar nonprofit purposes.

NORTHAMPTON

Northampton Neighbors Inc., 12 Bixby Ct., Northampton, MA 01060. Leigh M. Bailey, same. Nonprofit organization that provides access to services and programs assisting seniors to live independent, engaged lives at home.

SOUTHAMPTON

Quigley Road Homeowners Association Inc., 76 Crooked Ledge Road, Southampton, Ma 01073. Daniel Pellegrini, same. Nonprofit organization whose purpose to preserve and maintain the common open space areas and subdivision ways of an approved subdivision known as “Quigley Road.”

SPRINGFIELD

Resilience Trucking Inc., 19 Gold St., Springfield, MA 01107. Kereen Rennis, same. General freight trucking.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Sparkle of Hope Inc., 66B Irving St., 3rd Floor, West Springfield, MA 01089. Rachel Anne Heinzelman, same. Nonprofit organization dedicated to helping children with life threatening illnesses by raising money that will be given to families to help them pay for bills, housing, food, supplies, clothing and activities for the children.

Ted & Barbara Hebert Charitable Ventures Inc., 75 Pease Ave., West Springfield, MA 01089. Theodore G. Hebert, same. Nonprofit organization whose purposes is to donate money to facilities that provide and promote various methods, educational programs and facilities designed to enhance the bond between animals and people and prevent animal abuse, neglect and overpopulation.

Real Estate Transactions

Departments Real Estate

The following real estate transactions (latest available) were compiled by Banker & Tradesman and are published as they were received. Only transactions exceeding $115,000 are listed. Buyer and seller fields contain only the first name listed on the deed.

FRANKLIN COUNTY

ASHFIELD

1301 Conway Road
Ashfield, MA 01330
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Merlina A. Nova-Brown
Seller: John L. Roske
Date: 09/15/16

350 March Road
Ashfield, MA 01330
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Adam Tobin
Seller: Michael Levine
Date: 09/08/16

BERNARDSTON

46 Gill Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $264,000
Buyer: Richard M. Couture
Seller: David P. Tetreault
Date: 09/13/16

216 Martindale Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Jody A. Coleman
Seller: Shannon E. Voudren
Date: 09/16/16

25 Raymond Dr.
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $705,929
Buyer: Deutsche Bank
Seller: Mark J. Raymond
Date: 09/12/16

Teawaddle Hill Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $216,800
Buyer: Yellow Brick Rogue LLC
Seller: Timothy H. Hiebert TR
Date: 09/08/16

BUCKLAND

11 Crittenden Hill Road
Buckland, MA 01338
Amount: $174,500
Buyer: Keith H. Orcutt
Seller: Vicki L. Vanzee
Date: 09/16/16

CHARLEMONT

200 Avery Brook Road
Charlemont, MA 01339
Amount: $243,000
Buyer: Justin H. Maynard
Seller: Bryan R. Harvey
Date: 09/14/16

CONWAY

150 Hamilton Dr.
Conway, MA 01341
Amount: $236,000
Buyer: Adria A. Elskus
Seller: Tina L. Baronas
Date: 09/14/16

DEERFIELD

3 Steam Mill Road
Deerfield, MA 01342
Amount: $163,000
Buyer: Mark Novak
Seller: Azure Forte
Date: 09/12/16

GILL

140 North Cross Road
Gill, MA 01354
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Michael Gauthier
Seller: Baltzer, Leila E., (Estate)
Date: 09/12/16

47 South Cross Road
Gill, MA 01354
Amount: $219,000
Buyer: David P. Tetreault
Seller: C. Hansen-Klosson
Date: 09/13/16

GREENFIELD

16 Arnold Lane
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $127,900
Buyer: Michael K. Newell
Seller: Bank New York
Date: 09/16/16

315 Barton Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $341,900
Buyer: Keith D. Streeter
Seller: Robert A. Muro
Date: 09/09/16

13 Dickinson St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $174,900
Buyer: J. Dreeszen-Bowman
Seller: Ronald E. Wisenski
Date: 09/09/16

205 Fairview St. W
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $239,000
Buyer: Nicole A. Williamson
Seller: Thomas A. Gray
Date: 09/15/16

15 Green St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Vladimir Cobileanschi
Seller: Roland G. Brunell
Date: 09/16/16

278 Main St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $2,175,000
Buyer: 278-302 Main Street LLC
Seller: PDV Inc.
Date: 09/06/16

131 Montague City Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Edward Hogan
Seller: Old Runner NT
Date: 09/12/16

220 Munson St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $217,000
Buyer: Kelly A. Lamp
Seller: Daniel D. Reid
Date: 09/09/16

55 Riddell St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Stephen A. Koziol
Seller: Beth M. Reynolds
Date: 09/16/16

45 Russell St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $177,000
Buyer: Martin L. Cleaver
Seller: Todd B. Clark
Date: 09/16/16

HAWLEY

19 Forget Road
Hawley, MA 01339
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Bruce Eastwood
Seller: R. Kring Herbert
Date: 09/09/16

LEVERETT

Teawaddle Hill Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Amount: $216,800
Buyer: Yellow Brick Rogue LLC
Seller: Timothy H. Hiebert TR
Date: 09/08/16

106 Teawaddle Hill Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Amount: $238,000
Buyer: Deutsche Bank
Seller: Stephen A. Nagy
Date: 09/15/16

MONTAGUE

342 Federal St.
Montague, MA 01351
Amount: $170,750
Buyer: Cody-Joy Tringali
Seller: Benjamin J. Eddy
Date: 09/14/16

40 Millers Falls Road
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $166,350
Buyer: Lori A. Hall
Seller: Alfred I. Martin
Date: 09/08/16

158 Old Sunderland Road
Montague, MA 01351
Amount: $308,000
Buyer: Justin D. Killeen
Seller: Robert J&A C. Weaver TR
Date: 09/09/16

ORANGE

50 East Main St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: M. Jemms LLC
Seller: Merit RT
Date: 09/12/16

45 East Myrtle St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Lawrence E. Chunga
Seller: Michael W. Calcari
Date: 09/09/16

146 Horton Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $137,500
Buyer: Robert F. Rae
Seller: Terry Tibbetts
Date: 09/12/16

30 Meadow Lane
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $149,000
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Cheryl R. Susen
Date: 09/14/16

SHUTESBURY

457 Wendell Road
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Arpad Stamusz
Seller: Stephen G. Rideout
Date: 09/06/16

SUNDERLAND

50 Reservation Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Chad M. Stockwell
Seller: Fydenkevez, Edward F., (Estate)
Date: 09/16/16

WARWICK

809 Wendell Road
Warwick, MA 01378
Amount: $138,000
Buyer: Benjamin Wonsey
Seller: Ronald M. Meuse
Date: 09/09/16

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

38 Albert St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Evangiline O. Kammerer
Seller: Ayre, Cynthia E., (Estate)
Date: 09/16/16

61 Arbor Lane
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Katherine M. Gendron
Seller: Keith R. Davis
Date: 09/16/16

54 Charles St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $127,000
Buyer: Andrea M. Davis
Seller: Sausville, Ruth J., (Estate)
Date: 09/13/16

38 Deering St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $209,800
Buyer: Ronald A. Digby
Seller: Stephen M. Gonyea
Date: 09/16/16

17 Lango Lane
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $398,000
Buyer: James V. Cauley
Seller: PBI Inc.
Date: 09/16/16

113 Lealand Ave.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Allan H. Burrage
Seller: Riley, Geraldine, (Estate)
Date: 09/16/16

123 Main St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Hang Le
Seller: Jason B. Puzey
Date: 09/12/16

648 Main St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Leonora RT
Seller: Timothy T. Ayre
Date: 09/16/16

151 Mallard Circle
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $284,900
Buyer: Marnie T. Budreau
Seller: Aubrey A. Neil
Date: 09/15/16

131-137 Moore St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $132,000
Buyer: RAK Realty Associates LLC
Seller: Vanderbilt Mortgage & Finance
Date: 09/08/16

681 River Road
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $186,000
Buyer: Albert Kallock
Seller: Mary E. McCormack
Date: 09/08/16

47 Rosie Lane
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Jeffery A. Salamon
Seller: Jean A. Ziemba
Date: 09/14/16

57 Valley Brook Road
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $252,000
Buyer: Kim O’Connell
Seller: Scott R. Stratton
Date: 09/16/16

BRIMFIELD

81 Cubles Dr.
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $256,000
Buyer: James Burnes
Seller: Donna Blanchard
Date: 09/07/16

294 Little Alum Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Seth Z. Davis
Seller: Joseph L. Avallone
Date: 09/15/16

CHICOPEE

51 Arthur St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $272,000
Buyer: Christine Gloster
Seller: Hamel, Raymond J., (Estate)
Date: 09/15/16

144 Broadway St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: Natasha M. Quiles
Seller: Edgeland Partners LLP
Date: 09/07/16

510 Burnett Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: J&N Salema Family LP
Seller: Peter D. Lake
Date: 09/07/16

1080 Burnett Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Alexis Cornier-Perez
Seller: Rachel A. Lindsay
Date: 09/13/16

12 Burton St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Alyssa M. Henderson
Seller: 253 Center Street Properties
Date: 09/09/16

13 Charpentier Blvd.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $128,569
Buyer: Bank New York
Seller: David M. McGale
Date: 09/14/16

16 Dallaire Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Shawn M. Gervickas
Date: 09/13/16

101 Davenport St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Lukasz T. Klosowski
Seller: Kelly A. Dawson
Date: 09/16/16

574 East St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: John Garcia
Seller: 576 East St. Realty Corp.
Date: 09/15/16

146 Farnsworth St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $178,000
Buyer: Daniel Ledoux
Seller: Glenn R. Brault
Date: 09/09/16

23 Hilton St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Nathan R. Lepage
Seller: Luis A. Maldonado
Date: 09/15/16

41 Irene Court
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $269,000
Buyer: Gregorio Maldonado
Seller: William W. Motyl
Date: 09/15/16

59 Leona Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $198,000
Buyer: Adam C. Bassett
Seller: Jonathan D. Cavallo
Date: 09/15/16

33 Manning St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $172,000
Buyer: Srivalli Injeti
Seller: Linda A. Barden
Date: 09/15/16

55 Maple St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Valley Opportunity Council
Seller: Sandra Velez
Date: 09/15/16

63 Maryland Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Stanley Ferris
Seller: Kowalczik, Chester V., (Estate)
Date: 09/16/16

847 McKinstry Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Mandi Libby
Seller: Christopher L. Bradway
Date: 09/16/16

225 Murphy Lane
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $228,000
Buyer: Karen R. Foster
Seller: Michael E. Fregeau
Date: 09/16/16

66 Muzzy St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $179,900
Buyer: Songqiu Chen
Seller: Kristen L. Parker
Date: 09/08/16

64 Rzasa Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Riverbend 2 Properties
Seller: Regina Popielarczyk
Date: 09/07/16

26 Sachem St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $209,500
Buyer: Tatiana M. Salgado
Seller: Mitchell J. Kulig
Date: 09/14/16

27 Szetela Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Ryan J. Franczek
Seller: Deborah L. Duncanson
Date: 09/13/16

78 Warwick Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $169,900
Buyer: Joseph Caetano
Seller: Mark Hines
Date: 09/16/16

151 Wheatland Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $162,000
Buyer: Ciaranette Gonzalez
Seller: Gallacher, Richard, (Estate)
Date: 09/13/16

EAST LONGMEADOW

8 Acorn St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Jason Wade-Berselli
Seller: William J. Berselli
Date: 09/07/16

84 Colony Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Reza S. Noori
Seller: Michael A. Jarry
Date: 09/12/16

97 Evergreen Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $396,900
Buyer: William R. Bedell
Seller: Celeste A. Ziemba
Date: 09/12/16

172 Maple St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $224,500
Buyer: Katelyn Manley
Seller: William R. Bedell
Date: 09/09/16

14 Mayfair St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $187,750
Buyer: Nicole Tannen
Seller: Bart D. Blow
Date: 09/09/16

218 Shaker Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $138,682
Buyer: USA VA
Seller: Grant Tallman
Date: 09/06/16

6 Somersville Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: H. Thomas Wolfenden
Seller: Peter Bose
Date: 09/07/16

134 Stonehill Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Steven L. Graham FT
Seller: William H. Coyne
Date: 09/07/16

50 Timber Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $445,000
Buyer: David H. Otte
Seller: Paul H. Paulette
Date: 09/08/16

53 Timber Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $428,000
Buyer: Michael A. Jarry
Seller: Patrick E. Tigue
Date: 09/12/16

10 Vineland Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $146,000
Buyer: Kyle A. Ecker
Seller: Patricia A. Aleks
Date: 09/16/16

3 Wellington Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $424,000
Buyer: Matthew W. Dunne
Seller: Linda Honecker
Date: 09/16/16

17 Wellington Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $515,000
Buyer: Jared Lozo
Seller: Mary R. Whelihan
Date: 09/09/16

HAMPDEN

14 Raymond Dr.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $169,500
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Leonard N. Cousins
Date: 09/16/16

HOLLAND

2 Stony Hill Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $237,000
Buyer: Mark Galiano
Seller: David M. Joy
Date: 09/12/16

126 Wales Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Amber R. Rand
Seller: Michele Keller
Date: 09/16/16

HOLYOKE

18 Bayberry Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $217,500
Buyer: Dennis R. Lacourse
Seller: Nancy D. Ayers
Date: 09/15/16

52 Fairfield Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $152,000
Buyer: David Kruta
Seller: Vitek J. Kruta
Date: 09/16/16

159 Homestead Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $187,000
Buyer: True Assets LLC
Seller: Elizabeth A. Moriarty
Date: 09/06/16

219 Homestead Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $170,500
Buyer: Samantha T. Scanlan
Seller: Grazyna A. Marczak-Szarek
Date: 09/09/16

10 Longfellow Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Stephen W. Sullivan
Seller: Kathy J. Labombard
Date: 09/15/16

227 Ontario Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $173,900
Buyer: Robert E. Burghardt
Seller: Susan H. Hunter
Date: 09/13/16

98 Ridgewood Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Jeffrey O. Correa
Seller: Michael A. Chatel
Date: 09/16/16

14 Upland Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Deutsche Bank
Seller: Donna M. Camilleri
Date: 09/13/16

LONGMEADOW

81 Benedict Terrace
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $475,000
Buyer: Geordie S. Kinnear
Seller: Paula E. Fahey
Date: 09/14/16

84 Birchwood Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $292,000
Buyer: Matthew A. Pooler
Seller: Louis M. Russell
Date: 09/07/16

8 Colony Acres Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $358,900
Buyer: Francis J. Wheeler
Seller: Stefne A. Lynch
Date: 09/08/16

85 Dunsany Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $268,500
Buyer: Juliana Serafini
Seller: Holly J. Denis
Date: 09/15/16

791 Frank Smith Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: John McKee
Seller: Michael E. Youngblood
Date: 09/16/16

697 Laurel St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Louis M. Russell
Seller: Catherine M. Connery
Date: 09/08/16

796 Longmeadow St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $578,000
Buyer: Weijen W. Chang
Seller: Terrence A. Low
Date: 09/16/16

148 Shaker Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $830,000
Buyer: Todd M. Volk
Seller: Ronald J. Abdow
Date: 09/15/16

29 Terry Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $426,000
Buyer: Mashrafi Ahmed
Seller: Matthew C. Tyson
Date: 09/09/16

17 Woolworth St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Brendan Burke
Seller: Cynthia Rodolakis
Date: 09/07/16

LUDLOW

485 Center St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Ludlow Center LLC
Seller: John J. Smolinski
Date: 09/16/16

67 Hill Terrace
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Raphael Marrero
Seller: Alex D. Goncalves
Date: 09/16/16

130 Lavoie Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $141,000
Buyer: Krystal L. Santos
Seller: K. L. Laramee-Laporte
Date: 09/15/16

5 North Arthur St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Bradford J. Tierney
Seller: Kris L. Tierney
Date: 09/15/16

65 Wood Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $227,000
Buyer: Kathleen M. Bergeron
Seller: Gary P. Leecock
Date: 09/08/16

MONSON

3 Homer Dr.
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $127,900
Buyer: Joseph Manduke
Seller: FHLM
Date: 09/09/16

77 Lakeshore Dr.
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: John E. Henchey
Seller: Mary A. Gioscia
Date: 09/12/16

13-B Oak St.
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Donna J. Giles
Seller: Jonathan J. Galarneau
Date: 09/09/16

39 Paradise Lake Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Nazih Zebian
Seller: Richard T. Bissaillon
Date: 09/15/16

15 T Peck Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $219,300
Buyer: Stephen Bruch
Seller: Joretta S. Hall
Date: 09/06/16

PALMER

2287 Baptist Hill Road
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $207,000
Buyer: Ronald A. Altieri
Seller: Ryan T. Minns
Date: 09/15/16

1734 North Main St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $137,000
Buyer: Clifford R. Barber
Seller: David L. Smith
Date: 09/15/16

52 Olney Road
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Adam J. McLarey
Seller: Raul Octaviani
Date: 09/16/16

1397 Ware St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $184,000
Buyer: David C. Darling
Seller: Theodore Mendrala
Date: 09/09/16

RUSSELL

20 Moss Hill Road
Russell, MA 01071
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Matthew Castro
Seller: Mark F. Castro
Date: 09/14/16

195 Woodland Way
Russell, MA 01071
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Pavel Mosijchuk
Seller: Corey R. Underwood
Date: 09/08/16

SOUTHWICK

28 Davis Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Russell Anderson
Seller: Terrence J. Welch
Date: 09/09/16

Gillette Ave.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $181,000
Buyer: William W. Motyl
Seller: Jill L. Dalton
Date: 09/15/16

44 North Longyard Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $379,000
Buyer: Joseph Iarrusso
Seller: Susan M. Sawa
Date: 09/15/16

307 North Loomis St.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $273,000
Buyer: Robert L. Knapp
Seller: Cornelia R. Jacquier
Date: 09/08/16

369 North Loomis St.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $188,000
Buyer: Scott F. Arris
Seller: Laura I. Ferrentino
Date: 09/15/16

284 South Longyard Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $203,500
Buyer: Kathleen A. Graczewski
Seller: Stephen Shea
Date: 09/16/16

38 Sam West Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Shane A. Maki
Seller: Joseph A. Iarrusso
Date: 09/15/16

6 Tammy Lane
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $236,000
Buyer: Casey R. Davidson
Seller: Ronald W. Michonski
Date: 09/14/16

SPRINGFIELD

49 Abbott St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $196,000
Buyer: Louis F. Graham
Seller: William R. Dover
Date: 09/14/16

1201 Allen St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $125,500
Buyer: Joseph C. Hannon
Seller: Reza S. Noori
Date: 09/12/16

35 Anne St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $122,500
Buyer: William E. Casseles
Seller: Meghan M. Kelliher
Date: 09/12/16

104 Appleton St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $186,000
Buyer: Nicole L. Benjamin
Seller: Giovanna M. Izzo
Date: 09/15/16

30 Arden St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Patrick Moran
Seller: Richard J. Bianchi
Date: 09/16/16

76 Audley Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Bryan C. Hamill
Seller: Barbara C. Hamill
Date: 09/08/16

6 Berkshire St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Travis T. Moran
Seller: Luisa M. Pagnoni
Date: 09/16/16

27 Biella St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $149,000
Buyer: Vennisha N. Johnson
Seller: Nicolas C. Costa
Date: 09/15/16

1343 Bradley Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Carroll Comstock
Seller: Lindsay R. Botticello
Date: 09/16/16

21 California Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $121,500
Buyer: Lisa M. Bates
Seller: Deborah A. Mayhew
Date: 09/15/16

92 Carol Ann St.
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: David J. Almeida
Seller: Almeida, Elizabeth A., (Estate)
Date: 09/07/16

16 Chapel St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $273,305
Buyer: Deutsche Bank
Seller: Gary Lynch
Date: 09/06/16

4 Cuff Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Julissa Arias
Seller: Jeffrey E. Jean-Charles
Date: 09/07/16
171 Dartmouth Terrace
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $228,000
Buyer: Jill C. Monson-Bishop
Seller: Mary C. Akers
Date: 09/09/16

19 Denwall Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $129,500
Buyer: Angel M. Echegaray
Seller: Wilbraham Builders Inc.
Date: 09/14/16

95 Dickinson St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $134,400
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Latasha M. Hall
Date: 09/08/16

121 Dorset St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $118,000
Buyer: Todd Lefebvre
Seller: Timothy Nguyen
Date: 09/12/16

320 Dwight Road
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $116,500
Buyer: Rebecca Kossman
Seller: Richard T. Rudolph
Date: 09/07/16

138 Endicott St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Brianna M. Ocasio
Seller: Onota Rental LLC
Date: 09/14/16

1 Factory Road
Springfield, MA 01101
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Burke Hendee Realty LLC
Seller: Anjen Corp. Inc.
Date: 09/09/16

112 Fair Oak Road
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: John R. Ferrindino
Seller: Judy A. Bergdoll
Date: 09/08/16

90 Feltham Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $162,000
Buyer: Mydalis Vera
Seller: Shu Cheng
Date: 09/12/16

59 Firglade Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Dominique J. Fryar
Seller: Wolter D. Witholt
Date: 09/08/16

100 Flint St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $189,900
Buyer: Eugene W. Simmons
Seller: Minhaj Moushum
Date: 09/16/16

Green St.
Springfield, MA 01101
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Hancock RT
Seller: Michael Bergdoll
Date: 09/07/16

96 Harkness Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $159,000
Buyer: Melvin J. Mattei
Seller: Dmitriy Temchenko
Date: 09/14/16

72 Harvard St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $149,000
Buyer: Mary C. Araica
Seller: William Gibson
Date: 09/16/16

14 Irvington St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $196,000
Buyer: Mashawn Jones
Seller: R2R LLC
Date: 09/07/16

268 Island Pond Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $128,000
Buyer: Hannah Ketchum
Seller: Michael K. Parent
Date: 09/16/16

44 Jordan St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Jose C. Cabrera
Seller: Bretta Construction LLC
Date: 09/13/16

123 Kerry Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $117,000
Buyer: Audrey Amo
Seller: Borrello, Dorothy M., (Estate)
Date: 09/08/16

10 Labelle Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Laura M. Mendes
Seller: 21st Mortgage Corp.
Date: 09/12/16

193-195 Laconia St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: James E. Purtle
Seller: Stella O. Akharoh
Date: 09/16/16

42 Leyfred Terrace
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Alexis Gonzalez
Seller: Saw Construction LLC
Date: 09/06/16

345 Main St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: National Loan Investors
Seller: Paul G. Heafy
Date: 09/16/16

55 Malden St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $129,900
Buyer: Ysabel Santana
Seller: James W. Fiore
Date: 09/12/16

180 Maple St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $124,000
Buyer: Deutsche Bank
Seller: Audrey Reed-Batiste
Date: 09/13/16

80 Martel Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Delno Clark
Seller: Lakeyshya N. Harvey-Brown
Date: 09/09/16

115 Northampton Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $145,900
Buyer: Morse Properties LLC
Seller: Hallerin Realty LLP
Date: 09/08/16

96 Parker St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $146,000
Buyer: Pamela J. Martell
Seller: Soja, Emily R., (Estate)
Date: 09/16/16

43 Pearson Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Azizah P. Yasin
Seller: Sarah A. Williams
Date: 09/16/16

26 Pennsylvania Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $177,000
Buyer: Mariah E. Sweeney
Seller: Loretta A. Pulsford
Date: 09/16/16

259 Pheland St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Anna M. Parrilla
Seller: Denis J. Augustus
Date: 09/16/16

1321 Plumtree Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $239,900
Buyer: Timothy J. Mickiewicz
Seller: Kara M. James
Date: 09/15/16

43 Prentice St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $204,900
Buyer: Jonathan Harris
Seller: Nu-Way Homes Inc.
Date: 09/16/16

Quaker Road
Springfield, MA 01101
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Judith A. Shea
Seller: Carrie A. Allard
Date: 09/06/16

16 Rosella St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $135,900
Buyer: Diane M. Laporte
Seller: William F. Dougherty
Date: 09/09/16

83 Saint Lawrence Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $129,900
Buyer: Gina M. Lombardi
Seller: Carol A. White
Date: 09/08/16

145 Samuel St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $189,900
Buyer: Gilbert Rodriguez
Seller: Raphael Marrero
Date: 09/16/16

107 Sherwood Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Salwan Aljuboori
Seller: Eusebio I. Bravo
Date: 09/16/16

68 Sparrow Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $136,000
Buyer: Jose Colon
Seller: Dianisy Jackson
Date: 09/15/16

382 Springfield St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $182,000
Buyer: Daniel Laguerre
Seller: Rafael Rivera
Date: 09/09/16

305 State St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Avneet LLC
Seller: Dickinson-Streeter Funeral Home
Date: 09/14/16

691 State St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: 691 State Street LLC
Seller: MS Homes LLC
Date: 09/12/16

1268 Sumner Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $1,200,000
Buyer: JSEC Holdings LLC
Seller: Magnolia Enterprises LLC
Date: 09/14/16

75 Terrace Lane
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Paul J. Bonavita
Seller: Margaret R. Scanlon
Date: 09/09/16

75 Undine Circle
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Jennifer K. Sokol
Date: 09/07/16

15-17 Watling St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $128,709
Buyer: V Mortgage REO 2 LLC
Seller: Mary A. Mitchell
Date: 09/08/16

63 West Crystal Brook Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $235,900
Buyer: Dominic L. Arillotta
Seller: Gerald L. Maleckas
Date: 09/16/16

61 Woodmont St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $182,500
Buyer: Ayad Mehdi
Seller: London Realty LLC
Date: 09/16/16

WESTFIELD

3 Angelica Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $430,000
Buyer: Nathaniel J. Brown
Seller: Angelica Development LLC
Date: 09/16/16

47 Bailey Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: John White
Seller: Sean D. Keane
Date: 09/15/16

52 Egleston Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Daniel J. Kaminski
Seller: Thomas E. Balise
Date: 09/16/16

72 Fowler Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $272,000
Buyer: Richard J. Asselin
Seller: Denis J. Gaido
Date: 09/16/16

23 Lozier Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $148,500
Buyer: Marcelino Lopez-Cruz
Seller: Richard J. Popko
Date: 09/15/16

3 Mary Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $210,500
Buyer: Rebecca Morytko
Seller: Daniel J. Kaminski
Date: 09/16/16

37 Mechanic St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Armand C. Girard
Date: 09/13/16

13 Myrtle Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $141,033
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Jennifer Mastello
Date: 09/16/16

145 Putnam Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Martin W. Zielenski
Seller: Heather L. White
Date: 09/15/16

140 Rachael Terrace
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $297,600
Buyer: Bank New York
Seller: Arthur C. Cranshaw
Date: 09/12/16

48 Riverside Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $189,000
Buyer: Taryn Hagar
Seller: James C. Redfern
Date: 09/09/16

29 Sabrina Brooke Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $316,000
Buyer: Shaun R. Trant
Seller: David Garcia
Date: 09/09/16

130 Sackett Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Nikolay Grigorash
Seller: John Spano
Date: 09/15/16

96 Skyline Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Stephen E. Wippert
Seller: Yuriy Solokhin
Date: 09/15/16

25 Squawfield Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Corey W. Connelly
Seller: Shaun R. Trant
Date: 09/09/16

468 Western Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $279,900
Buyer: Panagiotis Economopoulos
Seller: Gary L. Gover
Date: 09/16/16

24 Wilson Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $141,000
Buyer: Irina Velikiy
Seller: Christine E. Smith
Date: 09/08/16

70 Yeoman Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Danielle A. Loiko
Seller: Lydia G. Pomeroy
Date: 09/16/16

WILBRAHAM

27 Carla Lane
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $403,750
Buyer: Jack Lapomardo
Seller: AC Homebuilding LLC
Date: 09/07/16

29 Carla Lane
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $373,500
Buyer: James A. Dirico
Seller: AC Homebuilding LLC
Date: 09/15/16
370 Glendale Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $635,000
Buyer: Sarah A. Williams
Seller: Jeffrey L. Buck
Date: 09/16/16

43 Main St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Mariusz M. Koziol
Seller: Michelle Cove
Date: 09/09/16

729 Monson Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $405,000
Buyer: Morning Dew RT
Seller: Kevin J. Moriarty
Date: 09/15/16

7 Peak Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: George A. Prince
Seller: Tremble, Robert F., (Estate)
Date: 09/06/16

520 Springfield St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $352,500
Buyer: Jeffrey M. Choinski
Seller: Rebecca Knobel-Milliken
Date: 09/14/16

8 Stirrup Lane
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $420,000
Buyer: Benjamin Lepage
Seller: Richard J. O’Donnell
Date: 09/16/16

1183 Tinkham Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $171,000
Buyer: HSBC Bank USA
Seller: Roy D. Wilkinson
Date: 09/13/16

896 Tinkham Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Jason A. Rambharose
Seller: Adam J. McLarey
Date: 09/16/16

WEST SPRINGFIELD

73 Armstrong St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Danine M. Ritucci
Seller: Christopher K. Phillips
Date: 09/12/16

129 Birnie Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Flagstone Properties Inc.
Seller: James T. Panageotopoulos
Date: 09/07/16

28 Buckingham Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Brandon P. Bryan
Seller: Edith M. Walker
Date: 09/09/16

26 Cataumet Lane
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $374,900
Buyer: Douglas J. Bunnell
Seller: Gary J. Tereso
Date: 09/14/16

216 Circle Dr.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Lisa A. Davis
Seller: Regina Stowell
Date: 09/16/16

628 Dewey St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $253,000
Buyer: Jason Babinski
Seller: Gary C. Kwasnik
Date: 09/07/16

24 Elm Circle
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $133,000
Buyer: April M. Gardner
Seller: Frank P. Maello
Date: 09/15/16

69 Ely Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Stephen P. Camberis
Seller: Rose M. Brazee-Spada
Date: 09/16/16

55 Harwich Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $228,500
Buyer: Roland A. Lemay
Seller: Mary M. Vanloan
Date: 09/16/16

21 Hemlock Hill Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $281,000
Buyer: Deutsche Bank
Seller: Lawrence H. Stevens
Date: 09/15/16

308 Kings Hwy.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $277,153
Buyer: Bank Of America
Seller: Gerald F. Hripak
Date: 09/14/16

66 Larchwood St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Hussein Jalil
Seller: John J. Leary
Date: 09/13/16

74 Larivee Lane
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Keith R. Davis
Seller: Tracy J. Crosby
Date: 09/16/16

47-49 Lathrop St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Kash Reddy LLC
Seller: John P. Messer
Date: 09/06/16

45 Laurence Dr.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $228,000
Buyer: Christopher K. Phillips
Seller: Douglas J. Bunnell
Date: 09/13/16

125 Orchardview St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Liam M. Browne
Seller: Nathaniel J. Brown
Date: 09/16/16

130 Pine St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $127,500
Buyer: MHFA
Seller: Kimberly R. Guiel
Date: 09/14/16

12 Piper Cross Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $161,000
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Kevin R. Stone
Date: 09/13/16

85 Poplar Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $227,500
Buyer: Marco G. Amato
Seller: David R. Beaulieu
Date: 09/16/16

110 Sawmill Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $216,500
Buyer: Robert G. Gordon
Seller: Scott Joubert
Date: 09/12/16

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

1050 Bay Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $262,750
Buyer: Jake T. Mazar
Seller: Susan M. Taylor
Date: 09/16/16

325 Montague Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Hai Tran
Seller: David W. Maxson TR
Date: 09/16/16

100 Pomeroy Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $338,500
Buyer: Kelly L. Harshbarger
Seller: Diana S. Cleveland
Date: 09/08/16

33 Red Gate Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Jason J. Weakley
Seller: Suzanne Deb Hopkins LT
Date: 09/16/16

Teawaddle Hill Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $216,800
Buyer: Yellow Brick Rogue LLC
Seller: Timothy H. Hiebert TR
Date: 09/08/16

BELCHERTOWN

90 Amherst Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $160,500
Buyer: Adam H. Frappier
Seller: William H. Johnson
Date: 09/13/16

534 Bardwell St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Kathryn M. Aghjayan
Seller: John C. Rutkowski
Date: 09/16/16

326 Cold Spring Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $363,000
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Donald J. Morissette
Date: 09/12/16

53 Deer Run
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Nancy R. Kurty
Seller: Michael J. Asselin
Date: 09/07/16

119 Federal St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Russell F. Gaj
Seller: Patrick Vassallo
Date: 09/13/16

716 Franklin St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $311,000
Buyer: Melissa Hammel
Seller: Robert C. Hammel
Date: 09/13/16

50 Hickory Hill
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $377,500
Buyer: Kwan-Jin Jung
Seller: J. N. Duquette & Son Construction
Date: 09/08/16

141 Kennedy Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Joseph E. Currier
Seller: Fred L. Holt
Date: 09/15/16

10 Lawrence Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $222,500
Buyer: Timothy Barclay
Seller: Jeffrey M. Choinski
Date: 09/14/16

23 Main St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $172,500
Buyer: 23 Main LLC
Seller: Cinmat LLC
Date: 09/13/16

245 North St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $174,000
Buyer: Christine E. Volonte
Seller: Nancy R. Kurty
Date: 09/16/16

165 Railroad St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $228,000
Buyer: Jeremy P. Landry
Seller: Gay, Ernest Morse Jr., (Estate)
Date: 09/09/16

Sabin St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Kevin E. Lynn
Seller: Moltenbrey Builders LLC
Date: 09/12/16

292 Springfield Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $364,000
Buyer: Ronald L. Johnson
Seller: Frederick J. Tenczar
Date: 09/16/16

147 Stebbins St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $216,900
Buyer: Samantha A. Capistrant
Seller: Edward Dice
Date: 09/16/16

Teawaddle Hill Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $216,800
Buyer: Yellow Brick Rogue LLC
Seller: Timothy H. Hiebert TR
Date: 09/08/16

CHESTERFIELD

25 Pynchon Road
Chesterfield, MA 01012
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Brian F. Miller
Seller: Claude P. Barnas
Date: 09/12/16

EASTHAMPTON

4 Clark Lane
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Sarah K. Huntington
Seller: April Realty Investments
Date: 09/16/16

2 Culdaff St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $3,050,000
Buyer: North Harlow 3 LLC
Seller: Pancione Assoc. Regional
Date: 09/15/16

157 Everett St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $208,000
Buyer: Jeremy K. Andersen
Seller: Jessica J. Allan
Date: 09/14/16

128 Ferry St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Foxy Properties LLC
Seller: Saletnik, Michael J., (Estate)
Date: 09/16/16

1 Industrial Pkwy.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $3,550,000
Buyer: Hilltown Coop Charter
Seller: Middle Franklin Development Group
Date: 09/15/16

3 Industrial Pkwy.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $3,550,000
Buyer: Hilltown Coop Charter
Seller: Middle Franklin Development Group
Date: 09/15/16

3 Knipfer Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Craig R. Davis
Seller: Kowacka, Wilma, (Estate)
Date: 09/14/16

10-12 Lincoln St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Kristin E. Gengler
Seller: Cathy D. Truehart LT
Date: 09/16/16

44 Maple St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $130,200
Buyer: Warren Jones
Seller: Alan M. Wiernasz
Date: 09/15/16

10 Mutter St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Anthony S. Sekula
Seller: Richard Lafreniere
Date: 09/16/16

40 Reservation Road
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $415,500
Buyer: Jennifer A. Chassman
Seller: Suzanne E. Scallion
Date: 09/15/16

37-39 Ridgewood Terrace
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $164,399
Buyer: Fiverobin LLC
Seller: James R. Brown
Date: 09/08/16

128 Strong St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Samuel L. Charron
Seller: Craig R. Davis
Date: 09/14/16

60 West St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $215,685
Buyer: Ora D. Gessler
Seller: Ronald Chaloux
Date: 09/12/16

9-29 West Lake St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $3,050,000
Buyer: North Harlow 3 LLC
Seller: Pancione Assoc. Regional
Date: 09/15/16

HADLEY

13 Hockanum Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Linda Freeman TR
Seller: Charles R. Ilnicky
Date: 09/16/16

14 Laurana Lane
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Christopher S. Lane
Seller: Pao L. Wu
Date: 09/15/16

HATFIELD

262 Old Stage Road
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $850,000
Buyer: Albert Neville-Orsmond
Seller: Robert L. Cole
Date: 09/16/16

HUNTINGTON

37 Church Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Alan M. Boissonneault
Seller: Margaret F. Jordan
Date: 09/16/16

21 Goss Hill Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $267,839
Buyer: Bank Of America
Seller: Edward J. Niejadlik
Date: 09/13/16

142 Pond Brook Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Davis M. Cote
Seller: Santopietro, Albert R., (Estate)
Date: 09/09/16

NORTHAMPTON

1250 Burts Pit Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $218,450
Buyer: Matthew J. Huse
Seller: Miller, George A., (Estate)
Date: 09/16/16

69 Day Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $489,000
Buyer: Bernard T. O’Connor
Seller: Kimberly F. Goggins
Date: 09/16/16

183 Emerson Way
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Bonnie Carhart
Seller: Emerson Way LLC
Date: 09/12/16

19-21 Ford Xing
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Sturbridge Development
Seller: Hospital Hill Development
Date: 09/13/16

23 Forest Glen Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $198,000
Buyer: Naomi Cairns
Seller: Patrick J. Ryan
Date: 09/09/16

49 Hubbard Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Mia A. Cabana
Seller: Jacob M. Reider
Date: 09/15/16

162 Main St.
Northampton, MA 01053
Amount: $423,000
Buyer: Peter W. Alcorn
Seller: Sven Huggins
Date: 09/06/16

115 Moser St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $437,075
Buyer: Tapan V. Pujara
Seller: Kent Pecoy & Sons Construction
Date: 09/14/16

15 Paquette Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $1,322,500
Buyer: Safe Journeys LLC
Seller: Gerard R. Wallace RET
Date: 09/07/16

842 Ryan Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $264,000
Buyer: Thomas P. Geha
Seller: Barbara Gomberg
Date: 09/14/16

30 Scanlon Ave.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Benjamin T. Fierst
Seller: Susan M. Bristol
Date: 09/15/16

Village Hill Road
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Sturbridge Development
Seller: Hospital Hill Development
Date: 09/13/16

19 Ward Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $540,000
Buyer: Carrie N. Baker
Seller: Jennifer Mark
Date: 09/16/16

142-144 West St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $1,322,500
Buyer: Safe Journeys LLC
Seller: Gerard R. Wallace RET
Date: 09/07/16

11 Whittier St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $406,000
Buyer: Soe Myint
Seller: Bernard T. O’Connor
Date: 09/14/16

SOUTH HADLEY

137 Amherst Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $542,000
Buyer: Andrew L. Addison
Seller: Bradford C. Gray
Date: 09/14/16

170 Brainerd St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $286,000
Buyer: Danyel K. Adams
Seller: Michael J. Evans
Date: 09/15/16

15 Fulton St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Renee Archambault
Seller: FNMA
Date: 09/13/16

5 Hunter Terrace
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $207,000
Buyer: Jennifer Lewis
Seller: Holden FT
Date: 09/09/16

65 Judd Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $196,000
Buyer: Elliott McClinton
Seller: Katherine J. Burns
Date: 09/12/16

220 Lathrop St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Michael R. Madara
Seller: Michaud, David R., (Estate)
Date: 09/12/16

61 San Souci Dr.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Edward K. Kostek
Seller: Charles A. Ramsay
Date: 09/13/16

15 Virginia Dr.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $291,000
Buyer: David R. Beaulieu
Seller: Daniel R. Moynahan
Date: 09/16/16

SOUTHAMPTON

18 Bissonnette Circle
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $427,000
Buyer: Daniel R. Moynahan
Seller: Kenneth P. Brown
Date: 09/09/16

5 Cook Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Christopher L. Bradway
Seller: Colleen M. Cameron
Date: 09/13/16

7 Glendale Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Scott Lent
Seller: Sandra M. Fasoli
Date: 09/16/16

Old Harvest Road #5
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Hamelin Framing Inc.
Seller: Dennis J. Aube
Date: 09/08/16

8 Old Harvest Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $459,000
Buyer: Christopher J. Jolicoeur
Seller: James F. Boyle
Date: 09/12/16

32 Russellville Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $164,000
Buyer: Mark Anthony
Seller: Ruth G. Fisher
Date: 09/16/16

WARE

47 Babcock Tavern Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $271,000
Buyer: Scott M. Fontaine
Seller: Charles W. Thomas
Date: 09/14/16

12 Cottage St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Kristine A. Vecchione
Seller: Scott M. Fontaine
Date: 09/14/16

39 Highland St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $119,000
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Deborah J. Frankton
Date: 09/12/16

268 Malboeuf Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Sean P. Condon
Seller: Kenneth W. Henderson
Date: 09/16/16

10 Maple Ave.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $132,885
Buyer: Bank Of America
Seller: Stacia A. Bzdula
Date: 09/16/16

23 Old Belchertown Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $192,500
Buyer: Patti-Lu Ouimette
Seller: Richard F. Verhaegen
Date: 09/06/16

23 Shoreline Dr.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $194,900
Buyer: Rebecca A. Berg
Seller: Yvonne P. Soares
Date: 09/12/16

3 Wildflower Dr.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $279,900
Buyer: Robert C. Hammel
Seller: Belco Construction Co. Inc.
Date: 09/13/16

WESTHAMPTON

269 Northwest Road
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Jeanette A. Rolin
Seller: Brenda A. Montague-Shafer
Date: 09/15/16

WILLIAMSBURG

1 Deer Haven Dr.
Williamsburg, MA 01039
Amount: $505,000
Buyer: Edith L. Dundon
Seller: Christopher E. Overtree
Date: 09/15/16

94-1/2 Old Goshen Road
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Amount: $342,000
Buyer: PNC Bank
Seller: Curtiss L. Moran
Date: 09/09/16

WORTHINGTON

199 Huntington Road
Worthington, MA 01098
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Edward L. Ferguson
Seller: Linda M. Vanguilder
Date: 09/09/16

MGM Forges Ahead with Building a Casino, a Workforce, and Its Brand

Cover Story

Getting Real

MGM Skyline and crane

Twenty-three months. That’s 100 weeks, and more than 700 days. Seems like a long time, and in most respects, it is. But not when you’re constructing a $950 million casino, recruiting, hiring, and training the 3,000 people who will operate and manage it, and building anticipation for all that the casino will bring. Mike Mathis, president of MGM Springfield, says his company will need to make all of the days between now and then count.

Mike Mathis says he and his family, transplants from Las Vegas — a city 2,700 miles, but really several worlds, away — have in most ways settled in here in Western Mass.

He said his children have made themselves and their bicycles at home on Longmeadow’s sidewalks, and are eagerly awaiting their first snow day — something they expected but never got to experience during the non-winter of 2015-16. And he is familiar enough with some of the area’s golf courses to talk about specific holes and their challenges. Meanwhile, he’s getting to know many players within the region’s business community, and has become involved with a few nonprofits.

He told BusinessWest that he’ll try to do as much of the above as possible over the next 12 to 14 months, because he knows (anecdotally and otherwise) that, once the calendar turns to 2018, there simply won’t be time for any of it.

By then, he will be neck-deep in the stretch run toward the opening of MGM Springfield, which he serves as president. He’s never opened a casino before (in this capacity, anyway), but he knows that the final nine months are an intense time devoted to details on a scale that most could not imagine.

“I’ll try to take advantage of all the great weather in Springfield over the next 12 months, because I suspect I won’t be able to play hooky or get out on the golf course very often starting in 2018,” he explained. “Nine months out, it starts to get pretty intense — make that very intense.”

The 14 or so months between now and then won’t feature large amounts of downtime, either, he noted quickly, adding that there is considerable work to do when it comes to building the casino itself, building the workforce that will operate it, building the MGM brand of entertainment, and building anticipation for this $950 million enterprise, which is expected to change the landscape in all sorts of ways.

I’ll try to take advantage of all the great weather in Springfield over the next 12 months, because I suspect I won’t be able to play hooky or get out on the golf course very often starting in 2018. Nine months out, it starts to get pretty intense — make that very intense.”

These various building projects comprised the subject matter for an in-depth interview with Mathis, the latest of several he has provided to BusinessWest since this project became reality more than two years ago.

Late last year, the conversation focused on a somewhat turbulent six months of admitted missteps (specifically when it came to communicating — or not — with Springfield officials and the public at large) about plans for the casino and changes to them, and moving on from those public-relations problems.

This year, with two huge cranes now piercing the sky in Springfield’s South End and a parking garage now becoming part of the skyline, the project is coming into focus both literally and figuratively.

But to hit the ground running in September 2018, the scheduled date for opening, hundreds of puzzle pieces need to come together effectively, said Mathis, who used the phrase ‘best practices’ early and often as he talked about the multi-faceted process of getting MGM ready for opening day and well beyond.

mathiswelcomeemploy16-launch-4-mmm

Above, Mike Mathis addresses those gathered at the first of several ‘career launches’ to be staged by MGM. Below, interested job seekers register at the event.

He deployed it with reference to everything from recruiting and hiring a workforce of 3,000 to investing in the Western Mass. community, to making the casino part of the community it’s located within.

It’s all part of what he called a template, one already being followed by another of the company’s properties, the $1.2 billion MGM National Harbor in Maryland.

That facility is set to open Dec. 8, and its website asks the question, “we’re almost ready. Are you?” It helps get people ready by hyping everything from career opportunities to upcoming shows (Bruno Mars will open the facility’s theater on Dec. 27); from rewards programs to the eclectic lineup of restaurants.

Such buttons will not be on the MGM Springfield website for maybe another 18 to 20 months, but the process of adding them will be an intriguing spectator sport unto itself.

For this issue, BusinessWest talked with Mathis about this template for opening a casino and what the region should expect as the calendar turns first to 2017 and then 2018.

Craning Their Necks

As he talked about those aforementioned best practices — or, more specifically, developments that might not be worthy of that descriptive phrase — Mathis referenced a long-established trend within the gaming industry and the hospitality industry in general.

That would be nametags that reveal not only an employee’s name, but where they’re from. Common in casinos and on cruise ships, these nametags and the information they provide often spark conversations and creates connections, he noted, adding that he believes that one mistake most facilities in Atlantic City have made is not having enough nametags with what would be considered ‘local’ cities and towns listed underneath the names.

“A lot of the employees come from outside of the city,” he said. “When you go to Atlantic City, you just don’t see ‘Atlantic City’ on the nametags very much. They’re working on it, but started behind the eight-ball, because there wasn’t that focus early on, and when you do that, the economic benefits don’t stay in the host community.”

That’s one mistake he’s intent on not replicating. “When we open MGM Springfield, we hope a third of workers have a nametag that says ‘Springfield, Mass.’ on it.”

But making that goal reality is an involved process, he explained, one that is already officially underway, a full two years before the casino is set to open its doors.

Indeed, one manifestation of that effort was the recent ‘career-launch’ session staged in one of the ballrooms at the MassMutual Center. As that name suggests, this program, the first of many to be conducted over the next several months, was crafted to inform attendees not so much about the various job opportunities to be created by the casino (although there was some of that), but instead about how to prepare oneself to be qualified for them.

Elaborating somewhat, the session introduced attendees — and there were more than 150 of them — to something called the ‘Skillsmart profile,’ something interested job seekers must build through an online portal. The profile tells them, in essence, what positions they’re already qualified for, if any, what skills they’ll need to be qualified for others, and, perhaps most importantly, how and where to attain those skills they’ll need.

As noted, the room was full of enthusiastic job and information seekers, and Mathis said MGM worked hard, and had some help from area workforce-related agencies and institutions, to make sure the seats and standing areas were fully occupied.

Construction crews are rapidly changing Springfield’s skyline in the South End, and will continue to do over the next 23 months.

Such efforts were necessary, he told BusinessWest, because too many people are still of the opinion that two years out is too early to start thinking about possible job and career opportunities. The reality is just the opposite, especially if specific training is needed, he went on, adding that, overall, the next 24 months will fly by very quickly.

And to be fully ready for opening day, MGM, the construction crews working in the South End, city officials, and job hopefuls themselves have to start with the September 2018 opening date, work backward, set hard deadlines for getting things done, and even anticipate that all will not go smoothly and build in some cushion — if and where that is even possible.

Indeed, while construction crews certainly benefited from the non-winter that deprived Mathis’s children of a cherished snow day or two, you won’t hear anyone even think of using the phrase ‘ahead of schedule,’ he noted, even if they might be tempted to do so, because much can change quickly. Moreso than in Las Vegas, for example, where high winds can pose a problem, but other than that, weather is not a factor and work continues all year.

“In New England, for us, it’s about the winters and managing to those construction milestones,” he said, referring to a set of deadlines that must be met to keep the project on track, schedule-wise. “And we’re in great shape going into this winter, because the groundwork is done, and now the garage is going up; it’s pre-cast concrete that comes from off-site, and it gets stood up and erected.

“And we’re now putting steel beams down for what we call the podium — the casino area leading to the hotel,” he went on. “Once the garage goes up, we’re all over the site, creating that first- and second-floor podium, and then, in the spring, you’ll start to see the hotel come up on Main Street.”

By the winter of 2017-18, the last one MGM will face, work will have moved indoors, he said. “So, knock on wood, we feel really good about the September 2018 opening, because of how we hit these winter milestones.”

Workforce in Progress

While the construction work is highly visible, especially to those occupying the high-rise office towers with southerly views, the work to build a workforce will be carried out mostly behind the scenes.

But like the construction efforts, the task of recruiting, hiring, and training a workforce faces stern deadlines, and the clock is certainly ticking, said Mathis, adding that, in many ways, staffing this casino will be much different than doing so in Las Vegas or other areas where there is a large hospitality workforce already in place, much of it with casino experience.

“There is no existing casino industry for us to pull from,” he said, adding quickly, however, that there are casinos outside the Hartford-Springfield area, and some individuals working at these venues may be drawn to Springfield by the MGM name and its reputation.

“We have such a great brand, and we don’t have a flag in the region,” he explained. “So I think there is a lot of pent-up excitement with some of the employees with our competitors, waiting for us to open and join the MGM family.

“How many Atlantic City dealers, Connecticut dealers, pit bosses, marketing analysts, and others will be interested in relocating? We don’t know the answer to that yet,” he went on. “But there’s going to be considerable interest, and we’re starting to get a lot of inquiries. Our job is to take some of those people, because you need experienced individuals, but also to remember our commitment, which is to provide opportunities locally, which is why we’re focused on early workforce development.”

Overall, this will be a competitive, detailed, and time-consuming process on many levels, he told BusinessWest, noting that roughly 3,000 jobs will be created, and, on average, at least seven people will be interviewed for each one.

Roughly one-tenth of the workforce, 300 or so jobs at the administration level, will obviously be filled by individuals with considerable casino-industry experience, Mathis noted, adding that most, if not all, of these employees will be moving into the area.

That will create a dynamic of its own, he went on, adding that these individuals and their families will need homes, schools, banks, doctors, country-club memberships, and much more.

“I’m excited by the prospect of a new crop of energetic, highly motivated, civic-minded professionals coming to the area — there will be a huge infusion of energy into the downtown,” he said, noting that many of these professionals will be Millennials, and therefore likely open to the idea of not only working in downtown Springfield, but living there as well.

As for the other 2,700 jobs, ones Mathis said individuals can be “trained into,” one-third of them will be targeted for Springfield residents, with another 55% destined for those living within a larger circle covering Western Mass. and Northern Conn., adding that, across the board, the company is seeking what it calls “best-in-class workers.”

A 200-foot crane now pierces the sky in Springfield’s South End, foreshadowing a new era in the region’s history.

To fit that description, most candidates will require training, some form of certification, or both, he noted, while explaining, again, that those with designs on working for MGM should set those wheels in motion soon, as in now.

Which brings him back to the SkillSmart profile and career launches like the one earlier this month. They are the key, he said, to fulfilling MGM’s commitment to the region and maintaining the company’s high standards for its workforce.

“Our team’s obligation, and our commitment to the shareholders and to the city, is to open a successful facility with best-in-class workers,” Mathis explained. “That we’ll do — there’s no question in my mind we’ll do that.

“The question is, where will those workers come from?” he went on. “If we’re not able to be successful — I believe we will be, but if we’re not — when it comes to sourcing them locally, then more and more we’ll have to tap into those outside markets.”

The workforce will be built gradually, he went on, adding there will likely be at least 50 people drawing paychecks from MGM Springfield in 2017 (many of whom will be those aforementioned managers recruited from outside the area), with that number growing steadily over the first few months of 2018 and then accelerating markedly, especially with dealers in training, security personnel, culinary staff, and others, three to six months out.

Anticipation…

While MGM goes about building the casino complex and its workforce, it will also be building the brand and anticipation for it, said Mathis, adding, once again, that two years out certainly isn’t too early for those efforts, either.

Elaborating, he said the company will do what it can to keep its efforts in the public eye and generate excitement for what is to come. Examples include everything from press gatherings, such as the one staged when the huge, 205-foot construction crane was maneuvered onto the site and then assembled, to the video shown at the career launch, footage depicting a fast-paced, highly energetic environment that had many in the audience ‘oohing’ and ‘aahing.’

Mathis refers to these as opportunities to “wow people,” and there will be plenty of them in the weeks and months to come, such as when retail establishments are inked or restaurants (there will be 10 of them, according to the latest count) are announced.

Like building the complex and creating a workforce, this work to build a brand is also a process, one with its own timeline and milestones, he said. For now, the news is mostly about SkillSmart and career opportunities, as well as developments in construction, but over time, the focus will shift toward the MGM brand itself and what it will bring to the region.

With that, Mathis returned to the Grand Harbor project, its template, and the ‘teaser campaign’ now in what would be considered overdrive.

“This is imagery about what this project is going to mean in terms of entertainment,” he explained, referencing everything from the website to billboards to TV commercials. “Their themes are, ‘this is going to be monumental.’

“This is a teaser campaign with a few representative images of brands within the resort, some of the chefs, some of the people who are going to be working at the resort,” he went on. “Then, 30 days out, we’ll get a lot more specific about restaurant names and shows that are coming and different promotions that will surround the opening. We want to convey the message: ‘this is getting real, here’s a date, start getting excited about it.’”

The same template will be followed in Springfield, Mathis went on, adding that the specific strategy is much different when a property is roughly 700 days out as opposed to 30, 60, or even 90.

Construction of the casino complex is only part of the challenge facing MGM. The company is also building a workforce — and anticipation for the company’s brand of entertainment.

For now, MGM is content to provide updates, offer limited renderings of what’s being built (not everything the company is doing is ready for public — and the competition’s —consumption), and build anticipation.

And the excitement shouldn’t be limited to simply the casino, he went on, adding that it is simply one of many developments (CRRC’s rail-car manufacturing facility being another) that will bring hundreds of young professionals, additional vibrancy, and greater attention to Springfield and the surrounding region.

‘Catalytic’ was the word Mathis used to describe the impact and its overall influence, which he believes stretches to the decision to open a Mercedes dealership in Chicopee and the city’s recent ranking among the nation’s “most overlooked cities for business opportunities.”

“We’re getting national recognition for the kind of investment we’re making,” said Mathis, referring specifically to that ranking, but also more positive press for Greater Springfield in general. “All that talk about this project as economic development and having ancillary benefits to the surrounding areas … it’s happening; it’s working.”

Date with Destiny

Mathis noted that, once Springfield’s casino opens, it will be like a 7-Eleven, meaning it will always be open.

“There are no locks on the doors because there’s no locking the door,” he said, revealing something else that most in this region probably didn’t know about gaming establishments.

To get this $950 million 7-Eleven ready for prime time will be a huge undertaking, he went on, adding that, while 23 months seems like a long time — 100 weeks, two more baseball seasons (plus the end of this one), and nearly half of someone’s first term as president — it really isn’t.

Not when the assignment is to build a casino complex, build a workforce, and build excitement for the brand. To do all that, time is of the essence.

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

Expo to Offer Insight into Some New Business Language

Features

From VR to IT to UAV

wmassbusinesslogo2016

Rik Shorten has an Emmy for Best Visual Effects sitting on his mantel.

It’s certainly a great conversation starter, he told BusinessWest, and, obviously, a serious point of pride. Mostly, though, he considers it a symbol, or mark, of excellence and accomplishment.

“Am I good at what I do? Yeah … I’m good at what I do — that’s what it means to me,” he said of the award he earned in 2010, before joking, “it’s better to have one than to not have one, let me put it that way.”

Shorten and the team he worked beside earned this hardware through their work on the hugely popular TV series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. To be more specific, they created visually intense, computer-generated content for the program that enabled the viewer to get a unique, up-close look at some of the myriad ways someone can die.

“What happens when a bullet enters the body and macerates a liver? What does that look like to someone? How do you create a compelling visual to tell a medical narrative?” he asked while summarizing how his team answered those questions and, in so doing, created what he called “content with context.”

This is the same general theme that lies at the core of a new business venture he and several partners launched roughly 18 months ago. It’s called BioflightVR, and as that name suggests, it’s a venture created to help businesses and institutions make full and effective use of the emerging, and in many ways transformative, technologies known as virtual reality and augmented reality.

At present, much of the work and products being readied for the market are focused on the healthcare industry. They include everything from platforms that enable doctors-in-training to perform complex surgical procedures in a safe environment that replicates the operating room in every way, to another platform that allows a patient to get an inside look at his or her damaged shoulder, heart, knee, or kidney, and also at what the physician plans to do to repair it.

But the applications for VR and AR certainly extend to other industries, said Shorten during a phone call to his offices in California, adding that his talk at the Western Mass. Business Expo on Nov. 3 at the MassMutual Center is designed (like this article) to inform but also whet the appetite.

“I want to talk about the pain points in your business that this technology could potentially alleviate,” he said of the seminar, titled “Enterprise Virtual Reality: From Concept to Deployment.” “I want to get them warmed up to the idea of the technology, getting them thinking about it, and, if they have the desire, what are the first steps in putting a pilot project together.”

This seminar is only one part of an intense focus on VR at this year’s Expo. Indeed, visitors will get a unique and unforgettable opportunity to experience this technology hands-on (or goggles-on, to be more precise) at two demonstration rooms at the MassMutual Center.

These demonstrations will be led by Link to VR, a local company created with the purpose of helping companies learn about and benefit from the latest VR and related technologies (www.linktovr.com).

Those curious about Shorten’s talk need to be at the Show Floor Theater at the Expo at 12:45 p.m. Actually, they should probably arrive sooner to make sure they get a good seat.

And, in reality, they may want to get there soon after 9 and plan to spend the whole day there, because in addition to VR and AR, programming on the Show Floor Theater will introduce them to an array of different acronyms, words, and phrases that are shaping a new lexicon in business today.

These include ‘the cloud,’ ‘big data,’ PCI (personal credit-card information, specifically as it pertains to your computer system’s ability to keep it secure), and much, much more.

And the theater is only one of many quadrants on the show floor that will warrant the attention of those visiting the Expo. Indeed, the floor is massive, and there will be exhibiting businesses and programming in every corner and every row.

BusinessWest will break it all down in a comprehensive guide to the show that will appear in the Oct. 31 issue of the magazine. For now, here are some of the many highlights:

• Insight on Innovation: Let’s begin, well, at the beginning. That would be the Springfield Regional Chamber’s November breakfast, which has served as the traditional kick-off for the Expo. The keynote speaker will be Laura Masulis, currently serving as MassDevelopment’s transformative development fellow for the City of Homes. She’ll explain everything that goes into that role, what has been referred to by some as ‘Assignment: Springfield,’ and talk in-depth about the concept of innovation districts and ongoing efforts to develop one in the city.

• Exhibiting Businesses: After breakfast, around 9 a.m. or so, the ceremonial ribbon will be cut on the show floor. Attendees can then begin to visit exhibiting companies representing every sector of the local economy, including healthcare, education, financial services, technology, professional services, tourism, and more.

• A Survivor’s Story: The Boston Marathon bombing left Adrianne Haslet Davis scarred in many ways — she lost her left leg below the knee, for example. But it didn’t rob of her of her will, determination, and perseverance. And she would need all three. Indeed, she quickly rose to meet her daily challenges head-on with a unique perspective. Being a full-time professional ballroom dancer at the peak of her career, she had to learn an entirely new meaning of the word ‘patience.’ Haslet Davis will tell this story as the keynote speaker at the Expo lunch, to be staged by the Professional Women’s Chamber.

• Educational Seminars: From the outset, one of the missions driving Expo planners has been to ensure that visitors leave the MassMutual Center better informed, and therefore better able to grow their companies, than they were before they entered. And this year is no exception. Seminars will focus on three realms — Sales & Marketing, Business & Tech Trends, and the Multi-generational Workplace — and will cover a wide array of topics.

These include UAVs (yes, another acronym, this one short for unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones) and how to use them safely and legally, SEO (search-engine optimization), using video to market your company, developing and retaining talent, motivating Millennials, handling multiple generations in the workplace, big data, the cloud, and much more.

• The Workforce of Tomorrow: That’s the name given to a large space, or hub, on the show floor dedicated to the all-important issues of workforce development, closing the skills gap, and introducing young people to career opportunities, especially in the manufacturing and STEM fields. This hub will feature a number of the agencies dedicated to workforce development, seminars focused on workforce issues and challenges, presentations from area vocational and technical schools, and …

• Robots: Back by popular demand, robotics teams will be at the Expo to demonstrate their creations and help explain how robotics programs are inspiring interest in STEM careers. In a ‘battlefield’ within the Workforce of Tomorrow hub, teams will recreate the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) competition called FIRST STRONGHOLD. In this Game of Thrones-like contest, teams of robots are on a quest to breach their opponents’ fortifications, weaken their tower with boulders, and capture the opposing tower.

• A Focus on Entrepreneurship: In addition to all of the above, the Expo will put a special emphasis on the many efforts locally to inspire entrepreneurship and mentor startup companies.

To this end, the Expo will feature a program called “Where Are They Now?” It should be called “Where Are They Now, and How Did They Get Here?” but that would be too long a title. It would be an accurate title, though, because the program, led by BusinessWest Editor George O’Brien and Valley Venture Mentors co-founder and Chief Innovation Officer Paul Silva will feature a panel of VVM accelerator program participants. They will be asked about their efforts to grow their companies and take them to the next level, and the myriad challenges they’ve faced along the way.

Also, the Expo will feature more of the region’s startups in a pitch contest to be produced by SPARK Holyoke. Always a crowd favorite, the pitch competition gives teams a chance to hone their message and compete for prizes.

• Time to Socialize: The Expo will not be all acronyms, VR, fun, and games. There will be also be time to socialize. For starters, there will be an ice-cream social sponsored by MGM Springfield. And the day of activities will climax with the popular Expo Social, one of the best networking events of the year.

The Western Mass. Business Expo will again be presented by Comcast Business. Other sponsors include Express Employment Professionals, Health New England, the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst, Johnson & Hill Staffing Services, MGM Springfield, Wild Apple Design, the Western Mass. Economic Development Council, Savage Arms, the Better Business Bureau, the Regional Employment Board of Hampden County, and Smith & Wesson. The event’s media partners are WMAS, WHMP, and Rock 102/Laser 99.3. Additional sponsorship opportunities are available.

Exhibitor spaces are also available; booth prices start at $725. For more information on sponsorships or booth purchase, call (413) 781-8600, ext. 100. For more Expo details as they emerge, visit www.wmbexpo.com.

The Clock Is Ticking

Opinion

Editorial

Mike Mathis, president of MGM Springfield, was talking about the company’s recently held ‘career launch.’ Conducted at the MassMutual Center, the event was staged to introduce attendees to possible careers at the company’s casino and, more importantly, how to become qualified to earn one.

While there was a decent crowd, Mathis said the company had to work hard with a number of workforce-development-related agencies to make sure the seats were full. The perception, or misperception, as the case may be, said Mathis, is that two years out (the planned opening for the casino is September 2018) is too far down the road to get serious about jobs now.

That’s a misperception, he said, because that time will go by quickly, and many individuals will need specialized training if they are to be wearing an MGM nametag on opening night. Getting ready will take some time and effort.

In many ways, the same can be said for the region and its business community. And that’s why two years out is certainly not too early to start thinking about all that the casino means — and moving accordingly.

For job seekers, as Mathis noted, that means determining what skills would be needed for a given position, finding out where and how to acquire those skills, and getting the training needed. That might take several months to a year or more.

For companies looking to do business with MGM — and the corporation is obligated to buy some products and services from the 413 area code — that means navigating a fairly complex course that will also take time. Some are already deciding for themselves that becoming an MGM vendor will be too difficult and too much work. That’s probably not the proper attitude. There are opportunities here, and companies should at least explore how to take advantage of them.

For companies that stand to benefit in some way from MGM and its 3,000 employees — and there are myriad businesses that fall in that category, from Realtors to tuxedo-shop owners to caterers to private golf clubs looking for members — the time is now to establish relationships, make their presence known, and position themselves to take full advantage of the opportunities that may await. Meanwhile, for businesses that may be adversely impacted by the casino — and there are many within the broad hospitality realm that certainly fall into this category — it’s time to be thinking about and undertaking a response.

It might come in the form of upgrades and renovations to become more competitive with the shiny casino in the South End. It might also come in the form of new products and services, and it could come in the form of entirely new business ventures aimed at mitigating that aforementioned impact on the bottom line.

In any case, the clock is ticking, and awareness of this reality is a must. In some cases, if not many of them, waiting for the South End skyline to make more dramatic changes will mean waiting too long.

Twenty-three months seems like a very long time, and for some businesses, it is. But for most, it’s not long at all, and those days, weeks, and months will go by very quickly.

That’s why the old saying, “those who fail to plan should plan to fail,” is certainly worth remembering in this case.

Nurturing a Key Part of the Workforce

Opinion

By John B. Cook and Ramon S. Torrecilha

At a time when the Institute of Medicine is pushing to increase the number of nurses with bachelor’s degrees by 80% nationwide by 2020, Springfield Technical Community College and Westfield State University are taking the lead with a recently announced partnership.

In Western Mass., nursing professionals with the Mass. Action Coalition (MAAC) are implementing the Massachusetts Nursing Workforce Development Plan. Their goal is to increase the percentage of nurses with bachelor degrees in Massachusetts to match the national goal of 80% by 2025.

In early October, after months of planning, our two sister public institutions made official the STCC-Westfield State University RN-to-BSN completion program. This accessible and affordable program will help fill the Massachusetts workforce with highly skilled nursing professionals.

Registered nurses who have obtained an associate’s degree from STCC’s accredited nursing program will then transition to the accredited Westfield State BSN (bachelor of science in nursing) program. Students will be guided by a streamlined, transfer-friendly ‘curriculum map.’ This ensures a student will maximize his or her time in transferable courses.

Aside from the benefit of helping to create a more highly educated workforce, the STCC and Westfield State partnership illustrates a shared commitment to nurturing this segment of the workforce. Not only will the program help to create more highly educated nurses in Massachusetts, it means countless benefits to the thousands of patients and families the future nurses will serve throughout their careers.

According to MAAC, the more than 143,000 nurses licensed in Massachusetts represent the largest segment of healthcare workers.

Graduates of the new STCC-Westfield State completion program will help MAAC as it works to increase the percentage of nurses with bachelor’s degrees. Enrollment in the STCC-Westfield State program begins in spring 2017.

The new program represents the type of program that both institutions seek to establish to fulfill their comparable high-access, low-cost missions. The partnership allows STCC and Westfield State to further put into action their mutual commitment to convenient pathways to accessible, affordable degrees. With a price tag of only $10,500, the RN-to-BSN program is the most cost effective in the area.

Massachusetts state colleges and universities are not necessarily lauded for their transfer-friendly articulation agreements, according to state Department of Higher Education Commissioner Carlos Santiago, who spoke at the Oct. 4 signing event to announce this new public-to-public partnership.

During the ceremony, Santiago also said nursing programs, in particular, are difficult to mesh, given the amount and caliber of requirements for nursing degrees. STCC and Westfield State’s partnership, however, breaks the mold and can serve as a model for other institutions to follow to ensure seamless transitions for nursing students seeking a bachelor of science in nursing degree.

The new partnership stands as the first hybrid RN-to-BSN, public-to-public completion program in Western Mass. Westfield State faculty will teach mostly online courses, but will be on site for select courses. Although taught by Westfield State faculty, the courses will be held on STCC’s campus, offering convenience and a familiar setting to the registered nurses with associate’s degrees from STCC who are eligible.

The program will allow students to transfer up to 90 course credits from STCC to Westfield State. Students will need to complete the last 30 credits for their bachelor’s degree, for a total of 120 credits.

Having both entered our presidencies within the past year, we see this program as the first of many innovative partnerships, as we collaborate to bring accessible and affordable education opportunities to the Western Mass. region.

John B. Cook is president of Springfield Technical Community College; he began his new role in August. Ramon S. Torrecilha is president of Westfield State University; he was appointed president in December 2015 and was officially invested earlier this month.

Wilcox Insurance Takes a Proactive Stance to Improve Customer Service

Insurance Sections

Mitigating Risk

Robert Wilcox says the Team Concept program within Wilcox Insurance Agency has proved beneficial to clients.

While acknowledging that all insurance agencies strive for solid customer service, Robert Wilcox, the fourth-generation owner of the family business that bears his name, says he takes such efforts seriously, whether it’s monitoring how claims are handled, closely assessing risk to determine what clients need (or don’t need), or even running out to house fires at night. The goal, he said, is to use his experience to help others — and, in doing so, to help his agency stand out in a crowded field.

The call came at midnight.

Robert Wilcox was in bed, but when he heard the Westfield Fire Department was battling a blaze in a client’s multi-family house, he got up, went directly to the scene, and worked with the Red Cross to find a hotel to house the displaced tenants and answer all of their questions.

“I wanted to be right there; when a tragedy occurs, it’s part of my job to help people find some sort of peace of mind and comfort, reassure them that everything will be OK,” said the fourth-generation owner of Wilcox Insurance in Westfield and Agawam, adding that a second major fire had occurred a few days earlier, and he also went directly to that home.

In another instance, Wilcox went to battle for a client when an insurance claim was denied in a highly unusual situation. He told BusinessWest a tenant had died on the second floor of a two-story building, and there was more than $30,000 of damage as blood and body fluids had ruined the floors and carpeting and the stench permeated the unit.

“The insurance carrier tried to deny the claim on a pollution exclusion in the policy,” Wilcox said. “But I argued that it wasn’t pollution and got them to pay the claim.”

He cited a number of other situations when he went to bat for clients and won, including times when auto insurers didn’t want to pay for expensive parts needed to repair a vehicle.

“My goal is to do the right thing. Fighting for a client can involve a lot of frustration, but it’s worth it when I can hand them a check that relieves their anxiety,” Wilcox continued.

The father of six children aged 5 to 17 is very active in both the community and the insurance industry, and when the interview began, he immediately acknowledged that all insurance companies work hard to provide excellent customer service.

See: Insurance Agencies in the region

But rather than focusing on competitors or what the market is doing, Wilcox takes a different approach to business by focusing on how things are handled within his own agency, which ranges from monitoring phone calls and how claims are handled to alerting customers when changes need to be made to their policies or things such as accident forgiveness come into play, to closely assessing risk for new commercial clients by taking the time to understand exactly what they do and their ensuing exposure to risk.

“The ultimate purpose in life is to use your experience to help others. It’s all about being helpful, which is my goal,” Wilcox said.

For this issue and its focus on insurance, BusinessWest looks at the history of this family-owned company and the creative measures that have been instituted to ensure the agency continues to thrive in a time when polices sold via the Internet, or through TV ads generated by direct writers such as Allstate and Nationwide, have made competition especially fierce.

Storied History

Wilcox’s great grandfather, the late Raymond Wilcox, was a tobacco farmer before he founded Westfield Mutual Insurance Agency Inc.

The reason for his career change was devastation: his farm was hit by two hailstorms, and although he recovered from the first one, the second one marked the end of his business.

“At that point, he began knocking on doors and selling insurance,” Robert said, adding that Raymond opened his own insurance firm on Sept. 1, 1923.

In 1937, he was joined by his son, Malcolm Wilcox, and during the ’40s and ’50s, the agency underwent remarkable growth.

“My father, Scott Wilcox, came on board in 1962, and when I started in 1990, my grandfather was still working,” Robert recalled, adding that, when his dad retired in 2012, he bought the business from him.

His own entry into the firm came when he was a college student. He was living independently, and when he found he was $40 short of meeting his expenses each month, he called his father to ask for help and was told to show up at the agency on Monday morning.

Wilcox said he began working part-time, and has been at the agency ever since. He literally started at the bottom, sweeping the basement, and continued his college career while he worked, eventually earning an associate’s degree in business studies from Holyoke Community College and a bachelor’s degree in finance from Westfield State College.

Wilcox earned his license to sell insurance in 1993, and as his love for the business grew, he became active in the industry. Today, his history of service includes stints as president of the Independent Insurance Agents of Hampden County and the Massachusetts/Rhode Island User Group of Applied Systems.

In 1997, Wilcox and his father purchased Pomeroy Insurance Agency and Clem Insurance Agency, followed by Palczynski Insurance Agency in 2000. All three of these businesses were in Westfield, and in 2002, the name of the agency was changed to reflect how most of clients referred to the them, as well as the fact that they wrote so much business outside of Westfield.

“We didn’t want our image to limit our reach to Westfield only,” Robert said. “It also fit our goal to acquire other agencies outside of Westfield.”

Members of the Team Concept program get together each month and go over practices that need to be continued and others that can be improved in order to provide the best service possible to customers.

In 2005 he built a new office for the company at its present location on Broad Street. The following year he acquired Foley Insurance Agency in Feeding Hills, and four years later he built a new office in Agawam to provide service for his agency’s new customers.

“My focus is on growth through acquisition, and I hope to be able to acquire additional agencies,” he told BusinessWest, adding that he has great respect for the companies he’s purchased.

The cornerstone of his own success is based on applying knowledge gleaned from personal experience and certifications to make sure each client has the coverage they need to fit their individual situations.

To that end, Wilcox and his employees inform current clients about any changes they may need to make to their policies, and spend an unusual amount of time working to determine exactly what each new client needs, which is especially important for commercial accounts due to their differing operations.

“You need to understand everything a business does, in addition to conducting a survey of their equipment and property,” Wilcox said, adding that he is a certified insurance counselor and licensed insurance advisor, and although few people in Western Mass. hold that designation, he chose to pursue it to increase his knowledge of risk assessment.

To that end, he learns all he can about a business and how it operates to make sure policies don’t contain exclusions that could prove costly. For example, a business that cleans carpets on site and offers storage needs accident coverage that doesn’t exclude the property of others.

The goal is to serve the client in the best way possible, and in some cases a close investigation can result in lower premiums. For example, Wilcox gained a client after talking to him about the 20-plus buildings he owned that contained 127 residential units.

“He had been told that he had to carry insurance on all of the buildings and wanted to know if he could self-insure the structures he owned outright,” Wilcox said, explaining that, although he needed liability insurance for every rental property, he did not need to insure buildings without a mortgage.

Since the prospect wasn’t concerned about losing buildings he owned to fire or other catastrophic events, he was able to save thousands in premiums.

“We are not a hard-sell agency; our approach is to build relationships and protect assets by understanding the client’s exposures and tailoring coverage to meet those needs,” he explained.

Innovative Change

Eighteen months ago, Wilcox devised a pilot program based on leadership that he designed to increase responsibility, determine practices that work well and should be continued, and examine instances where change could result in better customer service.

The program is called the Wilcox Service Team Concept, and four key account managers take turns acting as the team leader through a monthly rotation process. There are guidelines that promote objectivity and prevent judgment from occurring as they review situations that occurred during the month.

“It’s easy for employees in a small office to focus on what others are doing instead of looking at their own work,” he explained. “But our team works together for the betterment of clients.

“We focus on excellence; everything that is discussed is considered a teaching moment and is brought up from the position of being helpful,” he went on, adding that he wants his team to continuously think of innovative ways to serve clients and stay relevant in today’s business world.

Wilcox doesn’t attend most meetings; he considers himself a leader but trusts his employees and wants them to become leaders themselves.

Account Manager Lisa Fox finds Team Concept beneficial, and enjoys the fact that account managers do all they can to help one another, which she finds significant, as she never received any help when she worked in the claims department of two large, multiline carriers before coming to Wilcox.

“We’re comfortable bouncing ideas off one another and asking each other for help; we all have our own strengths, and Team Concept has really given us a chance to see what has worked well and where we can do better,” she told BusinessWest, adding that sharing information is educational for everyone.

For example, a client recently wanted to get a homemade trailer registered. It was never a problem in the past; the Registry of Motor Vehicles had complied with similar requests after they saw store receipts listing parts purchased to create the trailer. But in this instance, the client used parts that he already owned, which included a chassis with a serial number that the Wilcox agent found had to be traced.

Fox said sharing information about how to handle similar requests in the future prove educational to everyone concerned. “The team approach really brings things to light and has benefittd the agency.”

Marylinda Kruzel agrees. “I have never worked for a place that had anything like the Team Concept,” said the commercial lines account manager. “It took time to structure our thinking and keep to the facts without judgment during meetings, but it has resulted in open communication throughout the month as we aim to provide unified service to clients. We strive to handle every scenario in a way that is best for the client.”

Mary Russell added that Team Concept has led the agents to trust each other’s knowledge and abilities. “We always focus on the positive and how we can help the client,” she noted, citing an instance where it was pointed out that the time a client spent at the agency might have been shorter if the application process had been completed during a phone interview.

Such changes can be accomplished in a matter of minutes, but Wilcox is happy with the outcome. “The team members are thinking on an entirely different level than they were when they were just doing the job in front of them,” he noted.

Legacy of Service

Wilcox describes his 26 years in the insurance industry as a “very rich experience” and is grateful for what he has learned from his customers, knowledge gained from acquiring other companies and during the building process, and the relationships he has formed on the job and in the community, as service has been a long-standing family tradition.

He was a member of the Rotary Club of Westfield from 1995 to 2009 and served several terms on its board of directors, and is treasurer for Sarah Gillette Services for the Elderly and a trustee to Noble Visiting Nurse and Hospice Services.

“All of this experience has led the company to where we are today; we are not here to sell people policies, but to share our experiences with others and be helpful,” he explained. “No one knows where a business will end up, but I believe independent insurance agencies will continue operating in the future, and I want to make sure I am one of them.”

Which seems likely as the team works with Wilcox to perpetuate a legacy that began almost 100 years ago when his great-grandfather set out to help others after suffering his own devastating loss.

“No one plans on having anything bad happen,”Wilcox said, “but if it does, we want to make sure they have the right coverage.”

Employers Grapple with New Overtime Rule

Employment Sections

On the Clock

overtimedpart-1016b

The income threshold under which workers are entitled to overtime pay, many argue, has been far too low for far too long. But raising it from $23,660 to $47,476, as the U.S. Department of Labor will do on Dec. 1, is a more significant jump than most businesses expected. With that deadline looming, employers are considering a number of strategies aimed at adhering to the new rule, keeping employees happy, and protecting the bottom line.

If employers are just starting now to grapple with the implications of the U.S. Department of Labor’s new rules regarding overtime pay, Mark Adams said, they’ve wasted a lot of time.

“That’s a lot to plan for in two months,” said Adams, who leads the HR Solutions team at the Employers Assoc. of the NorthEast, which has been helping EANE members navigate the change, which will dramatically increase the number of workers who qualify for overtime pay.

“Some of these proposed rules were being articulated back in 2015,” he noted, “so as we turned the page into 2016, we were saying, ‘don’t wait for some legislative bailout to happen. When Dec. 1 arrives, you want to have a plan in place that could work and minimize the impact as much as possible for your business.’ Frankly, much of this should have been done early in the game.”

Mark Adams

We’ve heard from our members, small businesses, nonprofits, and other employers that the salary threshold is going to result in significant new labor costs and cause many disruptions in how work gets done.”

In fact, a bill recently passed the U.S. House of Representatives aiming to delay implementation for six months, but even if it passes the Senate, it’s unlikely to overcome a promised veto by President Obama.

Currently, DOL rules grant overtime pay to people who gross a salary of less than $23,660 per year. On Dec. 1, that salary threshold will jump to $47,476, meaning employees who gross less than $913 per week would be eligible to claim time-and-a-half pay beyond 40 hours worked in a given week.

Between 4 million and 5 million workers are expected to be impacted within the first year of implementation, and employers in sectors including fast food, retail, colleges and nonprofits worry that the rule will drive up their costs and force them to cut employees’ hours and depress hiring. A lawsuit filed last month by a coalition of labor groups and state attorneys general claims as much.

See: Employment Agencies in Western Mass.

“We’ve heard from our members, small businesses, nonprofits, and other employers that the salary threshold is going to result in significant new labor costs and cause many disruptions in how work gets done,” Randy Johnson, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s senior vice president of labor, immigration, and employee benefits, said in a statement.

But lawsuits and legislation are question marks, and the Dec. 1 deadline is, for the time being, a sobering reality for employers, Adams said.

“We’re sitting here, it’s October, and people need to plan. It certainly isn’t a one-size-fits-all proposition for companies,” he said, noting that the EANE has conducted a number of briefings with members. The first step in developing a strategy to deal with the new rule, he explained, is identifying the population that will be affected.

“There are going to be some people not affected at all because they’re making more than the revised amount,” he said. “For those who are going to fall below the threshold that were previously above the threshold, how large is that employee population? What types of jobs are they? What is the gap between what they are making and what the threshold is?”

John Gannon, an associate attorney with Skoler, Abbott & Presser in Springfield, has also been communicating with employer clients on how to handle the new rule, which begins with whether to reclassify employees — from exempt, meaning salaried and not entitled to overtime pay, to non-exempt.

“The rule itself, unlike a lot of things in law, is pretty straightforward. If you’re not earning $913 a week in salary, you need to be reclassified,” he said. “And if we are going to reclassify people, how are we going to pay them? Are we going to convert them to an hourly rate, or keep them on salary and set them up so we still pay them overtime when they work more than 40 hours in a week?”

These questions are being asked in companies across the country. Hopefully, as Adams noted, the conversations started long ago.

Raising the Stakes

As he spoke with BusinessWest, Adams laid out a number of potential strategies for handling the new overtime rule.

“One strategy might be to bump salaries up to the minimum and nothing more,” he said. “But for some, the gap between where they currently lie and what the minimum is might be too much of a financial pill to swallow.

John Gannon says the new overtime rule is a good opportunity for companies to take a fresh, top-to-bottom look at how they classify, pay, and provide benefits to employees.

“A secondary strategy might be to keep the pay where it is, ‘but we’re going to acknowledge you’ll be non-exempt, and we’re going to make the effort to manage your workload so you don’t go above 40 hours a week and trigger overtime,’” he went on. “For some businesses, that might not be feasible, based on the workload and schedule and how they deliver services to clients. For example, there might be production schedules in the manufacturing world that make that impossible.”

A third strategy is to raise an employee’s salary to the new threshold, but add more to their plate to justify the pay raise.

“Again, how readily achievable is that? Are you talking about eliminating positions and rolling two roles into one?” Adams asked. “There are a lot of different strategies that can be employed, but to decide what strategy makes the most sense, you really need to take stock of the business and the culture, what you can afford to do financially, and what kinds of jobs will be affected, to know which strategy is going to work — or maybe a combination of those strategies.”

Gannon noted that the new DOL rule allows employers to include non-discretionary income to comprise up to 10% of the $47,476 threshold, meaning an employee making 90% of that figure in base pay and the rest in bonuses and commissions could still be considered exempt. The old threshold considered base pay only.

There are other ways to navigate the new rule creatively, he added.

“Some employers were surprised to learn they can still keep on paying employees a salary, even though they’re non-exempt,” he said. It’s a classification known as ‘salary non-exempt,’ he explained, and it’s currently uncommon, but the new overtime rule could lead more employers to consider that option.

Whatever the case, he went on, employers must deal with more than the financial challenges of expanded overtime; newly exempt employees moved from salary to hourly status will need to be trained in timekeeping practices they’ve never worried about before. There’s also the matter of status that many employees attach to being salaried.

“From an administrative standpoint, it’s easier to convert everyone to hourly; it makes everything cleaner,” Gannon said. “But from an employee-morale perspective, you might consider keeping them salaried.”

He concedes that just raising everyone’s pay to the new threshold is unlikely to be the best answer for anyone, so reclassifications will be necessary for countless businesses. Questions like whether to convert to hourly pay, keep salaries in place with the potential for overtime, or eliminating overtime altogether must be made on a company-by-company basis. In other words, “how do you implement this in such a way that doesn’t hurt employee morale?”

Role Players

However, pay isn’t the only test of whether a worker is exempt. There’s also the matter of job duties. An employee is considered exempt even under the $47,476 threshold if their job involves the responsibilities of an executive, administrative, professional, computer, or outside-sales employee. That part of the DOL rules is not changing.

That means raising someone’s pay by consolidating roles and giving them additional responsibilities might itself trigger an overtime exemption, Adams said.

“The duties test is the one that leads to the most litigation — those tests that say the employee has to do X, Y, and Z on a daily basis, or as part of their primary duties, in order to meet the exemption,” Gannon added. “Those aren’t impacted by the new rule. The only thing changing is the salary threshold.”

With that in mind, he’s encouraging employers to take a holistic look at whether some employees may be misclassified in regard to their job duties. “It’s a good opportunity to look at the company and its practices as a whole.”

Gannon noted that the overtime threshold has gone up several times before, albeit not to this degree, and the new law includes an automatic escalator provision that will increase it again every three years — so a strategy of simply raising someone’s pay to the threshold won’t work unless that pay will continue to rise along with the automatic updates.

The National Retail Federation, which is part of the lawsuit being spearheaded by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, has a different concern, arguing that the new rule will force businesses to limit hours or cut base pay for workers to offset added payroll costs.

“Retailers are already struggling to implement this new government mandate before the swiftly approaching deadline, and the automatic update included in the rule would make them do this same dance every three years,” David French, the trade group’s senior vice president for government relations, said in a statement.

Adams understands the myriad concerns surrounding the change, citing financial considerations, logistical considerations, even policy aspects that arise regarding the benefits offered to different classifications of employees.

“The dollars-and-cents part of it is not the end-all, be-all. You can’t think of it in a vacuum,” he told BusinessWest, noting that companies are also grappling with the rising costs of healthcare reform, new pay-equity and transparency laws, and ever-changing compliance rules in a host of areas, and the overtime change is one more significant hurdle.

“That’s not to say change wasn’t needed,” he went on. “The salary base was antiquated; if you were making minimum wage, you were almost at the federal threshold. People knew it had to change. But it’s quite a leap to make this quickly, and that’s why a lot of people are pushing back and expressing frustration.”

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Springfield Regional Chamber to Host Forum on New Labor Laws

SPRINGFIELD — Last spring, the U.S. Department of Labor released its much-anticipated rule regarding overtime exempt status, which raises the salary threshold and could extend overtime pay to more than 4 million workers who are currently ineligible. In addition, in August, Gov. Charlie Baker signed a new law aimed at strengthening pay equity in the Commonwealth, which imposes rigorous equal-pay obligations and prohibits certain pay-related conduct.

John Gannon, attorney with Skoler, Abbott & Presser, P.C., will explore the impact of both these issues at the Springfield Regional Chamber Lunch ‘n’ Learn on Wednesday, Nov. 9 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Colony Club, 1500 Main St., Springfield.

Gannon will break down the overtime rule and the pay-equity legislation to ensure businesses are in legal compliance. He will discuss the new salary thresholds for overtime exemptions; how companies can use bonuses, incentive payments, and commissions to meet the new threshold; how the new automatic update to the minimal salary threshold will impact a business in the future; what steps business leaders should take to ensure compliance; the new restrictions on pay and hiring practices required by the new pay-equity law; changes needed to job applications, interviewing techniques, and recruiting procedures; pay-equity protection for employers who audit pay practice; and more.

Gannon has defended employers against claims of discrimination, retaliation, harassment, and wrongful termination, as well as actions arising under the Family Medical Leave Act and wage-and-hour law, and has experience with lawsuits seeking to enforce restrictive covenants and protect trade secrets. He frequently assists employers in litigation-avoidance strategies and has reviewed numerous employee handbooks and related policies for compliance, as well as employment and non-compete agreements. He has conducted comprehensive wage-and-hour and employment-practices audits and regularly counsels employers on compliance with state and federal laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act, Fair Labor Standards Act, and Occupational Health and Safety Act.

Gannon is a regular contributor to business publications and to the Massachusetts Employment Law Letter. He is also a frequent speaker on employment-related legal topics for a wide variety of associations and organizations, including appearances on Western Mass News and the Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly podcast sessions.

Reservations for the Nov. 9 Lunch ‘n’ Learn are $25 for Springfield Regional Chamber members and $35 for general admission. Registration includes lunch and one-on-one discussions with Gannon. Reservations may be made online at www.springfieldregionalchamber.com.

Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation Launches Resident Survey

SHEFFIELD — Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation is conducting an online survey to deepen its understanding of the needs and priorities of residents in its four-county region. Full-time, part-time and seasonal residents of Berkshire County are encouraged to participate in the survey, which will be open through Oct. 28 at www.btcfsurvey.com.

Berkshire Taconic aims to reach as many residents as possible so that a wide variety of voices and opinions are considered. Respondents over age 18 who complete the survey will be eligible to enter a drawing for an iPad Pro.

The survey is part of a comprehensive community assessment by Berkshire Taconic, with research partner Mt. Auburn Associates, to examine the current issues, trends, and needs in the 70 towns and three cities the foundation serves. After a synthesis of existing research and constituent engagement through surveys and focus groups, assessment findings will be used to identify a set of critical issue areas where philanthropy can have an impact and the foundation can provide leadership to achieve results for all residents. The findings will be shared with the public in 2017.

Opinion: Massachusetts Lawmakers Should Support PUSH Act

By Holly Chaffee

Across Massachusetts, more than 110,000 senior citizens and individuals with disabilities receive healthcare services in their homes from skilled home-healthcare providers. These services help individuals recover from surgery, recuperate following a hospitalization, or manage a chronic health condition that needs frequent monitoring. Thanks to the Medicare home-health benefit, these patients receive timely, safe, and effective healthcare when they need it most and in the location they prefer — their own homes.

Home healthcare is an incredibly convenient delivery model for healthcare, but it is also far more. Skilled home healthcare has become an essential service that doctors depend upon to ensure their patients experience the best possible outcomes. These days, many doctors even require it before they will discharge a patient home from the hospital. It is also a valuable Medicare benefit that has been shown to save millions of dollars annually in reduced hospital readmissions and nursing-home stays.

Unfortunately, the ongoing availability of this trusted care here in Western Mass. and across the state could soon face incredible challenges. A new pilot program from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) threatens home-healthcare reimbursement as it requires a ‘pre-claim review’ before a patient’s care is approved for coverage by Medicare. Under new guidelines aimed at reducing fraudulent claims, care could be delayed while third-party government contractors — who are not healthcare providers and have never met the patient — review paperwork and decide whether or not care is actually ‘medically necessary.’

The program’s initial implementation in Illinois demonstrated that the pre-claim review demonstration is deeply flawed and should be halted before implemented in the other targeted states, including Massachusetts.

Over the years, Porchlight VNA has been fortunate to provide services to thousands of patients in our community. And our providers unequivocally know that care delays and denials like those seen in Illinois spell disaster for many vulnerable homebound patients who depend on us.

The days following an injury or hospitalization are often the most precarious and are when complications are most likely to occur. Without the readily available, medically necessary home care prescribed by a doctor, a patient is far more likely to experience readmission to the hospital. Oftentimes, this is due to unintended side effects from a new medication, an easily treatable infection which progresses to something far more serious, or even a dangerous fall because of decreased mobility. These are the types of poor healthcare outcomes that Porchlight VNA is vigilant about preventing, but that are certainly destined to increase if pre-claim review for care delays our ability to intervene. Helping local patients stay out of the hospital in their best state of health has always been, and will continue to be, our number-one goal at Porchlight VNA.

Therefore, I strongly urge our local and state lawmakers to stand up for those constituents in need of home health and support legislation to delay CMS’ pre-claim-review demonstration. The Pre-Claim Review Undermines Seniors’ Health (PUSH) Act of 2016, sponsored by Massachusetts state Rep. Jim McGovern, would pause the Medicare demonstration for one year to allow Congress, Medicare, and home-health stakeholders to work together to correct the program’s flaws. This would ensure patient care is not delayed and that individual beneficiaries are not unjustly denied coverage when they need it most.

I hope that residents of the Western Mass. — whether they have ever personally benefited from home-healthcare services or not — will urge our lawmakers to sponsor the PUSH Act. The well-being of our community’s home-health patients depends on it.

Holly Chaffee is CEO of Porchlight VNA/Home Care and chairman of the board of directors of the Home Care Alliance of Massachusetts.

Some Timely Advice on How to Get Back on Your Feet

Insurance Sections

Recovering from a Disaster

By John E. Dowd Jr.

John E. Dowd Jr.

Change in the business environment is expected. From regional landscape shifts and government regulations to emerging technologies, international competition, and more, it’s important to consider all the reasons why and how to insure your business.

And while some changes are predictable, others are not, but there are ways to plan for both.

What if you went to the office one morning to find nothing there? A flood, hurricane, tornado, or terrorist attack made it impossible to conduct business as usual. It’s not a purely academic question: thousands of business owners have confronted this very problem across the eastern seaboard in the wake of recent hurricanes, including Sandy, which devastated the New Jersey and New York shorelines with storm surges up to 20 feet high, and Matthew making headlines more recently. And it wasn’t hypothetical for New Orleans businesses in areas destroyed by the Katrina flooding, nor for dozens of businesses that had significant operations in the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. In the latter case, tragically, many businesses not only lost their offices, but people as well.

How would you get back on your feet? The odds, unfortunately, are against you.

According to research from the University of Texas, 43% of businesses affected by catastrophic disasters like 9/11, Sandy, and Katrina never open their doors again. Another 51% shut down within two years. Only 6% survive and go on to prosper.

The key, as with so many things, lies with preparation. Your chances of pulling your business out of a severe catastrophe are largely determined long before the catastrophe strikes.

Here are some of the types of insurance coverage business owners should consider to safeguard the future:

Liability Insurance: From medical or legal fees to damages a business may be held accountable for in the event of a disaster, liability insurance covers the day-to-day uncertainties of managing a business.

Workers’ Compensation Insurance: Employees who have sustained a work-related injury may be entitled to workers’ compensation. Not only is their contribution missed by your team, but the costs can be a burden if your business does not properly plan for their untimely absence.

Property Insurance: Did you skimp on flood or fire insurance? Do you store records in fireproof cabinets, or do you house them in a basement or low-lying, ground-floor storage that is prone to flooding? From weather-related disasters to fires and theft, property insurance is essential.

Life Insurance: Have you considered key-person insurance policies to have in place that could provide a cash cushion as your business deals with the death or disability of a partner or key employee? It’s important to consider the value that each staff member brings to your business and to have a plan in place if they were temporarily or permanently unavailable to continue work.

Cyber-liability Insurance: In the digital era, mother nature is not the only source of disasters. Most businesses handle some degree of sensitive customer information, and a data breach could be catastrophic. Cyber-liability insurance is essential to protect against a data breach and may help with legal defense, court-related costs, judgments, settlements, and costs involving crisis management, such as credit monitoring and public-relations services. Another type of cyber-liability insurance regards third-party defense and liability. This may produce liability coverage for electronic media, which could include copyright infringement, network security, and privacy liability issues.

An important note for small businesses is that they are frequently targeted for data breaches because they rarely have the resources such as a robust IT department to prepare and defend against cyber attacks. It is important to remember that general liability policies often exclude cyber liability and related costs. Any company that handles sensitive customer information must be aware of their vulnerability. If your company processes payments with credit cards, has access to customer bank-account numbers, Social Security numbers, or any medical data, you may be particularly at risk.

Have you gone through a formal process to determine your insurable risk in the event of a catastrophe? Generally, from the point of view of a business interruption insurance underwriter, your insurable risk is the amount of lost revenue due to the disaster, plus your monthly business overhead, times the number of months your business will be disrupted by a potential disaster. Whether your business is large or small, coverage choices can be complicated and intimidating. It makes sense to look to the experts in the field to make the process of examining your personal needs easier, and ultimately develop a plan that is customized and responsive to whatever may be in your future.

Finally, does your company have a formal overall disaster plan that would kick into gear after experiencing a serious catastrophic event? If not, your insurance agent/broker should be able to help you develop a plan that will make sure you are prepared for any situation that comes your way.

Taking the time to review this plan now before an event occurs makes very good business sense.

John E. Dowd Jr. is president and CEO of the Dowd Insurance Agencies, LLC. He represents the Dowd family’s fourth generation in the agencies, founded by his great-grandfather in 1898. Additionally, he holds several professional credentials and is an Accredited Advisor in Insurance (AAI) and a Licensed Insurance Advisor (LIA); (800) 542-0131; dowd.com

Berkshire Bank Receives National Recognition for Volunteerism

PITTSFIELD — Berkshire Bank announced it has been honored by the American Bankers Assoc. for its corporate volunteer efforts through its Community Commitment Awards program.

The annual program honors banks for their work in the community in categories ranging from affordable housing to volunteerism. The selection committee, made up of national experts in each category, choose recipients based on the creativity and thoughtfulness of the bank program. Each program must embody the ideals of corporate social responsibility and demonstrate success in measurable terms.

Berkshire Bank received recognition for its Xtraordinary Day, which took place on June 7, 2016. The bank closed all retail locations and operations centers to allow all employees the opportunity to volunteer in the communities they serve. Employees completed 56 group service projects, selected and planned by local employees. Ninety-five percent of Berkshire’s employees participated in this Day of Service, directly impacting more than 100,000 individuals.

While Berkshire Bank has held volunteer days in the past, this was the first time it closed down all operations to ensure every employee that wanted to participate had the opportunity to do so. Xtraordinary Day, the first of its kind across the country, highlighted the bank’s support of its local communities while empowering employees to champion the causes that were most important to them. By closing its doors, Berkshire Bank intended to show the true power of giving back on a grand scale.

The American Bankers Assoc. made the recognition possible through its ABA Foundation. The ABA is the voice of the nation’s $16 trillion banking industry, which is composed of small, regional, and large banks that together employ more than 2 million people, safeguard $12 trillion in deposits, and extend more than $8 trillion in loans.

Xtraordinary Day was just a piece of Berkshire Bank’s broader commitment to the community. Annually, Berkshire Bank and its charitable foundations provide more than $2 million to important community organizations, including scholarships to high-school seniors with a record of financial need and academic excellence and the environment through its AMEB Green Sustainability initiative. In addition to financial support, the XTEAM, the bank’s nationally acclaimed employee volunteer program, provides employees with paid time off to volunteer during regular business hours. Nearly 100% of Berkshire Bank’s employees have participated in the program in 2016, putting Berkshire on pace to achieve the highest volunteer participation rate of any company in the U.S. The company also plans to hold Xtraordinary Day again in 2017.

Super 60 Honorees Reflect a Region on the Rise

www.springfieldcollege.edu

Sections Super 60

Growth Engine

Now in its 27th year, the Springfield Regional Chamber’s Super 60 program celebrates the success of the fastest-growing privately-owned businesses in the region. This year’s class, which will be feted on Oct. 28 at Chez Josef, hail from 17 communities across the region and represent all sectors of the economy, including nonprofits, transportation, energy, healthcare, technology, manufacturing, retail, and service, with the winners in the Total Revenue category combining for more than $1.3 billion in revenues last year, and the Revenue Growth winners all posting gains in excess of 25% — and one-third recording more than 60% growth. It goes to show, says chamber President Nancy Creed, that “small business is the backbone of our region and our continued growth engine, and the success of this year’s winners is a clear indication that our regional economy is strong.”

Total Revenue

1. Stavros Center for Independent Living Inc.

210 Old Farm Road, Amherst

(413) 256-0473

www.stavros.org

Jim Kruidenier, Executive Director

Stavros helps people with disabilities develop the tools and skills they need to take charge of their own lives, through programs and services designed to meet the needs of individuals of any age or disability as they work to achieve the life goals that are important to them. Stavros also advocates to bring an end to discrimination in employment, healthcare, or anywhere else.

2. Springfield College

263 Alden St., Springfield

(413) 748-3000

Mary-Beth Cooper, President

Founded in 1885, Springfield College is a private, independent, co-educational, four-year college offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs guided by its Humanics philosophy — educating students in spirit, mind, and body for leadership in service to others.

3. Whalley Computer Associates Inc.

One Whalley Way, Southwick

(413) 569-4200

www.wca.com

John Whalley, President

WCA is a locally owned family business that has evolved from a hardware resale and service group in the ’70s and ’80s into a company that now focuses on lowering the total cost of ownership of technology and productivity enhancement for its customers. Whalley carries name-brand computers as well as low-cost performance compatibles.

Baltazar Contractors Inc.

83 Carmelinas Circle, Ludlow

(413) 583-6160

www.baltazarcontractors.com

Frank Baltazar, President

Baltazar Contractors has been a family-owned and operated construction firm for more than 20 years, specializing in roadway construction and reconstruction; all aspects of site-development work; sewer, water, storm, and utilities; and streetscape improvements.

Behavioral Health Network Inc.

417 Liberty St., Springfield

(413) 747-0705

www.bhninc.org

Katherine Wilson, President and CEO

BHN is a nonprofit community behavioral-health service agency that has been providing services to children, adult, families, and communities in Western Mass. since 1938. It offers comprehensive, outcome-driven, affordable, and culturally appropriate behavioral healthcare to people of all ages and income levels in multiple settings within its communities.

Braman Chemical Enterprises Inc.

147 Almgren Dr., Agawam

(413) 732-9009

www.braman.biz

Gerald Lazarus, President

Braman has been serving New England since 1890, using state-of-the-art pest-elimination procedures for commercial and residential customers. The company has offices in Agawam, Worcester, and Lee, as well as Hartford and New Haven, Conn.

City Tire Company Inc.

25 Avocado St., Springfield

(413) 737-1419

www.city-tire.com

Peter Greenberg, President

Brothers Peter and Dan Greenberg, the third generation of a family-owned business founded in 1927, have grown the business to 11 locations in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Vermont. The company offers one-stop shopping for tires of all shapes and sizes and a full compliment of maintenance and repair services.

Collaborative for Educational Services

97 Hawley St., Northampton

(413) 586-4900

www.collaborative.org

William Diehl, executive director

This nonprofit educational service agency is committed to reaching and educating learners of all ages, and is experienced in working with educators to help students learn and succeed. It partners with school districts and schools to help them assess their programs and improve services, instruction, student learning, and achievement, and trains teachers, administrators, and educational leaders seeking licensure or skill development.

Commercial Distributing Co. Inc.

46 South Broad St., Westfield

(413) 562-9691

www.commercialdist.com

Richard Placek, Chairman

Founded in 1935 by Joseph Placek, Commercial Distributing Co. is a family-owned, family-operated business servicing more than 1,000 bars, restaurants, and clubs, as well as more than 400 package and liquor stores. Now in its third generation, the company continues to grow through the values established by its founder by building brands and offering new products as the market changes.

Community Enterprises Inc.

441 Pleasant St., Northampton

(413) 584-1460

www.communityenterprises.com

Dick Venne, President and CEO

In 1972, some progressive staff members at Northampton State Hospital applied for and received a small grant to develop a program to train residents to live and work outside the hospital. In the 40 years since the creation of that original program, Community Enterprises has grown into a multi-faceted program that supports the employment, educational, and independent-living goals of people with disabilities in three states.

The Dennis Group

1537 Main St., Springfield

(413) 746-0054

www.dennisgrp.com

Tom Dennis, CEO

The Dennis Group offers complete planning, design, architectural, engineering, and construction-management services. The firm is comprised of experienced engineering and design professionals specializing in the implementation of food-manufacturing processes and facilities.

Filli, LLC d/b/a Con-Test Analytical Laboratory

39 Spruce St., East Longmeadow

(413) 525-2332

www.contestlabs.com

Thomas Veratti, General Manager

Established in 1984, Con-Test provides environmental consulting and testing services to a variety of clients throughout Western Mass. The laboratory-testing division originally focused on industrial hygiene analysis, but rapidly expanded to include numerous techniques in air analysis, classical (wet) chemistry, metals, and organics, and has the capability for analyzing nearly all water, air, soil, and solid materials.

Grand Prix International Inc.

34 Front St., Indian Orchard

(413) 543-8887

www.grandprixintl.com

Michael Fisher, President

Since 1978, Grand Prix International has grown to become a leading independent game manufacturer, offering a wide range of services, from graphic design to project management, manufacturing, and freight forwarding. GPI has extensive experience with custom product packaging, specializing in plastic molding, tins, clamshells, blister cards, set-up boxes, neck boxes, wood boxes, and displays.

HAPHousing (HAP Inc.)

322 Main St., Suite 1, Springfield

(413) 233-1500

www.haphousing.org

Peter Gagliardi, President and CEO

Over 40 years, HAPHousing has earned a reputation for providing innovative forms of housing assistance to tenants, homebuyers, homeowners, and rental-property owners. HAPHousing is the largest nonprofit developer of affordable housing in Western Mass., and a collaborative partner in urban neighborhood revitalization.

Holyoke Chicopee
Springfield Head Start Inc.

30 Madison Ave., Springfield

(413) 788-6522

www.hcsheadstart.org

Janis Santos, Director

Since 1965, HCS Head Start Inc. has been providing high-quality early-childhood-education services for children and families in in Western Mass., including Holyoke, Chicopee, Springfield, Ludlow, Palmer, and Granby. Head Start provides a solid foundation for children to gain necessary skills to enter kindergarten and to be successful in life.

Human Resources Unlimited Inc.

60 Brookdale Dr., Springfield

(413) 781-5359

www.hru.org

Don Kozera, President and CEO

HRU’s programs annually help more than 1,500 people with physical and mental disabilities or who are disadvantaged by poverty or homelessness, by providing a unique and holistic approach to skill building, job-readiness training, placement, and support. HRU works with area employers, providing them with a skilled, reliable workforce while simultaneously creating employment opportunities for its members.

Kittredge Equipment Co. Inc.

100 Bowles Road, Agawam

(413) 304-4100

www.kittredgeequipment.com

Wendy Webber, President

Founded in 1921, Kittredge Equipment Co.is one of the nation’s leading food-service equipment and supply businesses. It boasts 70,000 square feet of showroom in three locations, with in-stock inventory of equipment and smallware consisting of more than 7,000 different items. The company also handles design services, and has designed everything from small restaurants to country clubs to in-plant cafeterias.

Lancer Transportation & Logistics and Sulco Warehousing & Logistics

311 Industry Ave., Springfield

(413) 739-4880

www.sulco-lancer.com

Todd Goodrich, President

In business since 1979, Sulco Warehousing & Logistics specializes in public, contract, and dedicated warehousing. Lancer Transportation & Logistics is a licensed third-party freight-brokerage company that provides full-service transportation-brokerage services throughout North America.

Marcotte Ford Sales Inc.

1025 Main St., Holyoke

(800) 923-9810

www.marcotteford.com

Bryan Marcotte, President

The dealership sells new Ford vehicles as well as pre-owned cars, trucks, and SUVs, and features a full service department. Marcotte has achieved the President’s Award, one of the most prestigious honors given to dealerships by Ford Motor Co., on multiple occasions over the past decade. It also operates the Marcotte Commercial Truck Center.

Multicultural Community Services
of the Pioneer Valley Inc.

1000 Wilbraham Road, Springfield

(413) 782-2500

www.mcsnet.org

Paul Conlon, Executive Director

Multicultural Community Services of the Pioneer Valley is committed to providing culturally and ethnically responsive supports that enhance the capacities of individuals with developmental disabilities, and their families, to maximize their quality of life as individuals and as members of the larger community.

Northeast Treaters Inc.

201 Springfield Road, Belchertown

(413) 323-7811

www.netreaters.com

David Reed, President

Northeast Treaters was founded in 1985 as a manufacturer of pressure-treated lumber. In 1996, an additional facility was added in Athens, N.Y. to produce fire-retardant treated lumber and kiln-dried before- and after-treatment products.

PC Enterprises Inc. d/b/a Entre Computer

138 Memorial Ave., West Springfield

(413) 736-2112

www.pc-enterprises.com

Norman Fiedler, CEO

PC Enterprises, d/b/a Entre Computer, assists organizations with procuring, installing, troubleshooting, servicing, and maximizing the value of technology. In business since 1983, it continues to evolve and grow as a lead provider for many businesses, healthcare providers, retailers, and state, local, and education entities.

Pathlight Inc.

220 Brookdale Dr., Springfield

(413) 732-0531

www.pathlightgroup.org

Ruth Banta, Executive Director

For 60 years, Pathlight, formerly the Assoc. for Community Living, has been creating opportunities, building relationships, and improving lives of children and adults with developmental disabilities and their families. The agency’s caring and experienced workforce empowers individuals with developmental disabilities to live with dignity, bringing fulfillment, community, and valuable relationships into their lives.

Sarat Ford-Lincoln

245 Springfield St., Agawam

(413) 789-5400

www.saratford.com

Jeff Sarat, President

Founded in 1929 by John Sarat Sr., Sarat Ford has become the largest Ford dealership in Western Mass., and today, grandson Jeff Sarat leads the company. The full-service dealership includes a state-of-the-art body shop, and a recent expansion offers a 24-bay service center that houses a $1 million parts inventory featuring Ford, Motorcraft, Motorsport, and a variety of other specialty manufacturers.

Specialty Bolt & Screw Inc.

235 Bowles Road, Agawam

(413) 789-6700

www.specialtybolt.com

Kevin Queenin, President

Founded in 1977, Specialty Bolt & Screw (SBS) is a full-service solutions provider of fasteners, vendor-managed inventory (VMI) programs, and C-class commodities. Based in Agawam, it has locations in Valcourt, Quebec; Juarez, Mexico; Queretaro, Mexico; Rovaniemi, Finland; and Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

Tighe & Bond Inc.

53 Southampton Road, Westfield

(413) 562-1600

www.tighebond.com

David Pinsky, President

Founded in 1911, Tighe & Bond specializes in environmental engineering, focusing on water, wastewater, solid-waste, and hazardous-waste issues, and provides innovative engineering services to public and private clients around the country and overseas. It has expanded its footprint over the past several years to grow to more than 275 employees in several locations throughout the Northeast.

Troy Industries Inc.

151 Capital Dr., West Springfield

(413) 788-4288

www.troyind.com

Steve Troy, CEO

Troy Industries was founded on the principle of making reliable, innovative, over-engineered products that function without question when lives are on the line. The choice of special ops, law enforcement, and war fighters worldwide, Troy Industries is a leading U.S. government contractor that designs and manufactures innovative, top-quality small-arms components and accessories and complete weapon upgrades.

United Personnel
Services Inc.

1331 Main St., Springfield

(413) 736-0800

www.unitedpersonnel.com

Patricia Canavan, President

United provides a full range of staffing services, including temporary staffing and full-time placement, on-site project management, and strategic recruitment in the Springfield, Hartford, and Northampton areas, specializing in administrative, professional, medical, and light-industrial staff.

Valley Opportunity
Council Inc.

35 Mount Carmel Ave., Chicopee

(413) 552-1554

www.valleyopp.com

Stephen Huntley, Executive Director

The Valley Opportunity Council (VOC) is the largest and most diverse community-action agency in the region. It has a network of support and collaborative services that include energy assistance, nutrition, early education and childcare, adult education, senior services, housing, money management, and transporation.

WestMass ElderCare Inc.

4 Valley Mill Road, Holyoke

(413) 538-9020

www.wmeldercare.org

Priscilla Chalmers, Executive Director

WestMass ElderCare is a private, nonprofit agency with a mission to preserve the dignity, independence, and quality of life of elders and disabled persons desiring to remain within their own community. The agency offers services for elders, their families and caregivers, and people with disabilities. Programs and services include supportive housing, home care, options counseling, adult family care, nutrition programs, adult foster care, and group adult foster care.

Revenue Growth

1. Lavishlyhip, LLC

Feeding Hills

www.lavishlyhip.com

Rika Woyan, Owner

This online retailer of jewelry and accessories offers accessory collections from the latest top designers. By meeting with the designers in their showrooms and at industry events, it stays on top of what is trending. Shoppers will find hip and classic jewelry for women and men, cashmere, silk and blend scarves, and hair accessories.

2. City Enterprises Inc.

38 Berkshire Ave., Springfield

(413) 726-9549

www.cityenterpriseinc.com

Wonderlyn Murphy, president

City Enterprises Inc. offers skilled general-contracting services to the New England region. The company prides itself on custom design and construction of affordable, quality homes and the infrastructure surrounding each project.

3. 3BL Media, LLC

136 West St. #104, Northampton

(866) 508-0993

www.3blmedia.com

Greg Schneider, CEO

Founded in 2009, 3BL Media is a leading news-distribution and content-marketing company focused on niche topics including sustainability, health, energy, education, philanthropy, community, and other social and environmental topics. The company works with organizations including multinational corporations, SMEs, and nonprofits to distribute multi-format media assets through social, traditional, and new-media channels.

Aegenco Inc.

55 Jackson St., Springfield

(413) 746-3242

www.aegisenergyservices.com

Spiro Vardakas, President

Aegenco, an energy-conservation consulting firm and the manufacturing arm of Aegis Energy Services, has grown steadily since its inception in 2005.

Aegis Energy Services Inc.

55 Jackson St., Holyoke

(800) 373-3411

www.aegisenergyservices.com

Lee Vardakas, Owner

Founded in 1985, Aegis Energy Services is a turn-key, full-service provider of combined heat and power systems (CHPs) that generate heat and electricity using clean, efficient, natural-gas-powered engines. These modular CHP systems reduce a facility’s dependence on expensive utility power, reduce energy costs, and reduce one’s carbon footprint.

Bart Truck Equipment, LLC

358 River St, West Springfield, MA 01089

(413) 737-2766

www.barttruckllc.com

James DiClemente, Owner and Service Manager

Bart Truck Equipment, LLC offers a wide range of products including dump bodies, hoists, platform bodies, utility/service bodies, refuse equipment, hook lifts and roll-offs, snow plows, sanders, lift gates, truck-mounted cranes, central hydraulic systems and tractor wet lines, van equipment, pusher and tag axles, truck-mounted generators and compressors, strobe lights, toolboxes, snow- and ice-control equipment, enclosed trailers, leaf loaders, and much more.

Baystate Crushing
& Recycling

83 Carmelinas Circle, Ludlow

(413) 583-7856

Paul Baltazar, Owner

Established in 2002, Baystate Crushing & Recycling is in the business of heavy construction equipment rental and leasing.

Charter Oak Insurance & Financial Services Co.

330 Whitney Ave., Holyoke

(413) 374-5430

www.charteroakfinancial.com

Peter Novak, General Agent

A member of the MassMutual Financial Group, Charter Oak been servicing clients for 127 years. The team of professionals serves individuals, families, and businesses with risk-management products, business planning and protection, retirement planning and investment services, and fee-based financial planning.

Courier Express Inc.

20 Oakdale St., Springfield

(413) 730-6620

www.courierexp.com

MICHAEL DEVINE, CEO

Courier Express is committed to providing custom, same-day delivery solutions for any shipment. Its focal point is New England, but its reach is nationwide. The company strives to utilize the latest technologies, on-time delivery, customer service, and attention to detail to separate itself from its competitors.

Detector Technology Inc.

9 Third St., Palmer

(413) 284-9975

www.detechinc.com

Jay Ray, President and CEO

Detector Technology is a leading manufacturer of products and systems for OEM and equipment manufacturers, specializing in channel electron multipliers, glass extrusion and fabrication, and motion-control products. With a state-of-the-art fabrication and production facility, An ISO 9001-certified commapny, DeTech has been delivering for its customers for more than 20 years.

Environmental Compliance Services Inc.

588 Silver St., Agawam

(413) 789-3530

www.ecsconsult.com

Mark Hellstein, President and CEO

For more than 25 years, ECS has specialized in environmental site assessments; testing for asbestos, lead, indoor air quality, and mold; drilling and subsurface investigations; and emergency-response management.

Fletcher Sewer & Drain Inc.

824A Perimeter Road, Ludlow

(413) 547-8180

www.fletcherseweranddrain.com

Teri Marinello, President

Since 1985, Fletcher Sewer & Drain has provided service to homeowners as well as municipalities and construction companies for large pipeline jobs from Western Mass. to Southern Conn. From unblocking kitchen sinks to replacing sewer lines, this woman-owned company keeps up to date with all the latest technology, from high-pressure sewer jetters to the newest camera-inspection equipment.

Fun Dining Inc. d/b/a Center Square Grill

84 Center Square

East Longmeadow MA 01028

(413) 525-0055

www.centersquaregrill.com

Bill Collins and Michael Sakey, Owners

Collins and Sakey launched this ‘creative American grill’ in 2014, incorporating influences from South America, classic French cooking, New Orleans, Jamaica, Asia, and other cuisines. The restaurant features a few different dining areas, from a formal dining room to a small room for private events to a lively bar area, and boasts a well-regarded wine program.

Gandara Mental Health Center Inc.

147 Norman St., West Springfield

(413) 736-8329

www.gandaracenter.org

Dr. Henry East-Trou, CEO

Focusing on the Latino/Hispanic community, Gandara Center provides substance-abuse recovery, mental-health, and housing services for men, women, children, adolescents, and families throughout the Pioneer Valley.

GMH Fence Co. Inc.

15 Benton Dr., East Longmeadow

(413) 525-3361

www.gmhfence.com

GLENN HASTIE, OWNER

Serving the Western Mass. area for more than over 20 years, GMH Fence Co. is one of largest fence companies in the region. The fencing contractor offers quality service and fence installations from a selection of wood, aluminum, steel, and vinyl fencing that are durable and virtually trouble-free for residential, commercial, and industrial fencing requests.

Knight Machine & Tool Company Inc.

11 Industrial Dr., South Hadley

(413) 532-2507

Gary O’Brien, Owner

Knight Machine & Tool Co. is a metalworking and welding company that offers blacksmithing, metal roofing, and other services.

Jags Inc.

120 Interstate Dr., West Springfield

(413) 781-4352

Martin Jagodowski, President

Established in 2006, M. Jags Inc., doing business as Taplin Yard, Pump & Power Equipment, has sold and serviced outdoor power equipment to residential, commercial, and landscape companies; municipalities; and nonprofit organizations.

Maybury Associates Inc.

90 Denslow Road, East Longmeadow

(413) 525-4216

www.maybury.com

John Maybury, President

Since 1976, Maybury Associates Inc. has been designing, supplying, and servicing all types of material-handling equipment throughout New England. Maybury provides customers in a wide range of industries with solutions to move, lift, and store their parts and products.

Michael’s Party Rentals Inc.

1221 South Main St., Palmer

(413) 583-3123

www.michaelspartyrentals.com

Michael Linton, President

Michael’s Party Rentals was started as Party Tent Rentals in 2000 by Linton and his brother, Ryan, as a small, one-tent operation. In 2003, Michael bought Ryan’s half of the business, renamed it Michael’s Party Rentals, and expanded the inventory. Today, the company operates year-round, every day, and the 9,000-square-foot warehouse holds more than 100 tents of all sizes, tables, chairs, dance floors, staging, lighting, and other equipment.

MicroTek Inc.

2070 Westover Road, Chicopee

(413) 593-1025

www.mclabs.com

Don Slivensky, CEO

Since 1991, MicroTek has been an industry-leading, single-source provider of business training and meeting rooms, virtual training platforms, and instructor sourcing services. It boasts the resources and expertise to execute a total training delivery solution to any client of any size, anywhere in the world.

O’Connell Care At Home

One Federal St., Bldg. 103-1, Springfield

(413) 533-1030

www.opns.com

Francis O’Connell, president

For more than two decades, O’Connell Care at Home, formerly O’Connell Professional Nurse Service, has grown to deliver a range of home-health and staffing services across the Pioneer Valley. Services range from nursing care and geriatric healthcare management to advocacy and transportation.

Orthotics &
Prosthetics Labs Inc.

300 Birnie Ave., Suite 3, Springfield

(888) 432-5488

www.oplabs.com

Jim Haas and Blaine Drysdale, Owners

Orthotics & Prosthetics Labs provides physician-directed orthotic and prosthetic services to meet the personal needs and improve the health status of the area people. It offers a complete range of quality orthotic and prosthetic devices and services, specializing in custom-made braces and prosthetic limbs, but also stocking the most popular off-the-shelf braces.

Paragus Strategic IT

112 Russell St., Hadley

(413) 587-2666

www.paragusit.com

Delcie Bean IV, President

While still in high school, Delcie Bean founded Paragus IT in 1999, first under the name Vertical Horizons and then Valley ComputerWorks. Under the Paragus name, it has grown dramatically as an outsourced IT solution for area clients. Paragus provides business computer service, computer consulting, information-technology support, and other proactive services to businesses of all sizes.

Powervestors II, LLC

55 Jackson St., Holyoke

(413) 536-1156

www.aegisenergyservices.com

Spiro Vardakas, Owner

Powervestors, a division of Aegis Energy Services, provides services in power-generating equipment installation throughout the region.

Rediker Software Inc.

2 Wilbraham Road, Hampden

(800) 213-9860

www.rediker.com

Andrew Anderlonis, President

Rediker software is used by school administrators across the U.S. and in more than 100 countries, and is designed to meet the student-information-management needs of all types of schools and districts.

Rodrigues Inc.

78 Center St., Ludlow

(413) 547-6443

Antonio Rodrigues, President

Rodrigues Inc. operates Europa Restaurant in Ludlow, specializing in Mediterranean cuisine with an interactive dining experience, presenting meals cooked on volcanic rocks at tableside. Europa also offers full-service catering and banquet space.

Tech Roofing Service Inc.

267 Page Blvd., Springfield

(413) 737-5546

www.techroofing.com

Joe Narkawicz, President

Since its founding in 1975, Tech Roofing has installed, repaired, serviced, and maintained commercial, industrial, and residential roofs throughout New England and New York. A minority-owned business, Tech Roofing Service is nationally certified by the Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council.

Universal Plastics Corp.

75 Whiting Farms Road, Holyoke

(800) 553-0120

www.universalplastics.com

Joseph Peters, CEO

Since 1965, Universal Plastics has been a leading force in the custom thermoforming industry. It specializes in precision custom thermoforming, a plastic-manufacturing process that converts a sheet of plastic into a highly detailed finished product with less tooling investment than other plastic molding processes.

Webber & Grinnell
Insurance Agency Inc.

8 North King St., #1, Northampton

(413) 586-0111

www.webberandgrinnell.com

Bill Grinnell, President

Webber and Grinnell’s roots can be traced back to 1849, when A.W. Thayer opened an insurance agency on Pleasant Street in Northampton. The agency, which offers automotive, business, homeowners, employee benefit, and other types of products, serves more than 5,000 households and 900 businesses throughout Western Mass.

Yankee Home Improvement

36 Justin Dr., Chicopee

(413) 341-5259

www.yankeehomeimprovement.com

Ger Ronan, Owner

Ger Ronan’s decision to start a contracting business came after a bad experience with a local contractor in 2002. So he launched a home-improvement company with the goal of getting it right, in the realms of windows, bathrooms, roofing, siding, and more. Today, in addition to his main location, Ronan also operates eight satellite locations in BJ’s stores.

Chamber Corners: Upcoming Events

Chamber Corners Departments

AMHERST AREA
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.amherstarea.com
(413) 253-0700

• Oct. 19: Chamber After 5, 5-7 p.m., at the Hitchcock Center, 845 West St., Amherst. Sponsored by Encharter Insurance and UMassFive College Federal Credit Union. Join the chamber and celebrate the new, 9,000-square-foot Hitchcock Center opening. This will be New England’s first public environmental education center to meet the Living Building Challenge. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for non-members. Register online at www.amherstarea.com.

• Oct. 27: Chamber Legislative Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., at the Lord Jeffery Inn, 30 Boltwood Ave., Amherst. Sponsored by Eversource. The annual legislative breakfast brings together legislators, local officials, and business leaders to network and discuss current and upcoming policy issues. Guest speakers: Senate President Stan Rosenberg, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, and state Reps. Ellen Story and John Scibak. Cost: $15 for members, $20 for non-members. Register online at www.amherstarea.com.

FRANKLIN COUNTY
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.franklincc.org
(413) 773-5463

• Oct. 18: Free Legal Clinic, noon to 3:30 p.m., at the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, 395 Main St., Greenfield – Masonic Hall Condominium Building. The Western Mass Regional office of the MSBDC announced that the law firms of WMassBizLaw have offered to hold a free legal clinic. Individuals, entrepreneurs, and small-business owners will have the opportunity to meet one-on-one for 30 minutes with attorney Sarah Willey to discuss general legal questions such as corporate structure, leases, contracts, insurance, employment, franchising, and various other business-related issues. Cost: free. Register online at www.franklincc.org.

• Oct. 28: October Chamber Breakfast with Francois Nivaud, 7:30-9 a.m., at the Greenfield Community College Dining Commons, 1 College Dr., Greenfield. Nivaud was recently appointed executive director of the Mass. Office of Travel & Tourism. He has spent his career in the world of hospitality by operating hotels and consulting with groups and businesses in this field. He will share his plans for marketing Massachusetts to both domestic and international visitors, as well as new initiatives that his department will undertake. He is committed to partnerships and strengthening relationships with the 16 Regional Tourism Councils, as evidenced by his visits to all regions within weeks of his appointment. Cost: $13 for member, $16 for non-members. Register by Oct. 21 at www.franklincc.org or by calling (413) 773-5463.

• Nov. 18: November Chamber Breakfast with John B. Jurst, 7:30-9 a.m., at Greenfield Country Club, 171 Country Club Road, Greenfield. The speaker will be John Hurst, President of RAM, the Retailers Assoc. of Massachusetts. RAM is a trade association that represents some 3200 retail stores by advocating for them in this changing retail climate. RAM voices concerns about potential legislation, labor laws and rights, compensation, loss prevention, and other factors related to retailing, whether a megastore or the mom-and-pop shop downtown. What is the future of retailing? This discussion is a timely one just before holiday shopping begins. Cost: $13 for members, $16 for non-members Register by Nov. 11 at www.franklincc.org or by calling (413) 773-5463.

• Dec. 16: Annual Holiday Breakfast, 7:30-9 a.m., at Deerfield Academy, 7 Boyden Lane, Deerfield. A bountiful buffet will be presented by the Academy chefs. The program will be sponsored by the Recorder, and tributes will be offered to the recipient of its Citizen of the Year award. A selection committee pores over the many nominations that are received and makes the difficult choice just prior to the event. Awardees are recognized for their volunteer work in their community, as well as many acts of kindness during their lives. There are also gift bags for those attending. Register early at www.franklincc.org or by calling (413) 773-5463.

GREATER CHICOPEE
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.chicopeechamber.org
(413) 594-2101

• Oct. 19: October Salute Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., at Summit View Banquet & Meeting House, 555 Northampton St., Holyoke. Cost: $23 for members, $28 for non-members. Register online at www.chicopeechamber.org.

• Oct. 26: Business After Hours, 5-7 p.m., at the Arbors at Chicopee, 929 Memorial Dr., Chicopee. Oktoberfest theme with band, food, and cash bar. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for non-members. Register online at www.chicopeechamber.org.

• Nov. 1: Multi-Chamber Business After Hours, 5-7 p.m., at Mill 180 Park, 180 Pleasant St., Easthampton. Cost: $10 members, $15 for non-members.

• Nov. 16: Salute Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., hosted by Collegian Court restaurant, 89 Park St., Chicopee. Cost: $23 for members, $28 for non-members.

GREATER EASTHAMPTON
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.easthamptonchamber.org
(413) 527-9414

• Oct. 19: Medallion Speaker Forum Fall, noon to 1:30 p.m. Hosted by Innovative Business Systems, 161 Northampton St., Easthampton. State Rep. John Scibak joins the forum and gives his insight on how you can be most effective when you need to be. Cost includes boxed lunch from Riff’s Joint. Space is limited. For additional information, e-mail [email protected]. Cost: $20. Register online at www.easthamptonchamber.org or by calling the chamber at (413) 527-9414.

• Nov. 9: Hampshire County Business Bash, 5-7 p.m., at the Lord Jeffery Inn, Amherst. A tri-chamber business-expo networking event. Enjoy business building, networking, complementary appetizers, cash bar, and local brewery beer tasting. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for non-members. Register online at www.easthamptonchamber.org or by calling the chamber at (413) 527-9414.

• Nov. 10: Checkpoint Legislative Summit, 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Hosted by the Log Cabin, 500 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. The Chamber of Greater Easthampton joins in presenting a multi-chamber event with the Chicopee, Hadley, Holyoke, and Westfield chambers. Bring your questions or concerns to this open forum with area legislators, featuring keynote speaker Lt. Gov. Karen Polito. Cost: $45 for members registering before Oct. 31, $55 for non-members. After Oct. 31, all registration will be $55. For more information or to register, visit www.easthamptonchamber.org, or call (413) 527-9414.

GREATER NORTHAMPTON
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.explorenorthampton.com
(413) 584-1900

• Oct. 28: 2016 New Member Orientation, 3-4 p.m., at the chamber offices, 99 Pleasant St., Northampton. This is the chance to tell us more about your business and how the chamber can best serve you. Meet other new members and learn how to make the most of your chamber membership. Cost: Free. RSVP to (413) 584-1900 or [email protected].

GREATER WESTFIELD
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.westfieldbiz.org
(413) 568-1618

• Nov. 7: Mayor’s Coffee Hour with Westfield Mayor Brian Sullivan, 8-9 a.m., at Netlogix, 48 Court St., Westfield. This event is free and open to the public. Call Pam at the chamber office at (413) 568-1618 to register.

• Nov. 9: After 5 Connection, 5-7 p.m., at the Holiday Inn Express located at 39 Southampton Road, Westfield. Sponsored by It’s PAWSible! Dog Training Center. Refreshments will be served. Bring your business cards and make connections. Cost: free for members, $10 cash for general admission. To register, call the chamber office at (413) 568-1618.

• Nov. 16: 56th annual Meeting and Awards Dinner, 5:30 p.m., at East Mountain Country Club, 1458 East Mountain Road, Westfield. Congratulations to 2016 award winners: Firtion Adams, 2016 Business of the Year; Westfield Technical Academy, 2016 Nonprofit Business of the Year; and George’s Jewelers. Inc., 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award. The event sponsor is Staples, and the registration table sponsor is the Gaudreau Group. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. Cost: $50 for chamber members, $60 for general admission. RSVP by Nov. 11 appreciated, but no refunds after that date.

PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S CHAMBER
www.myonlinechamber.com
(413) 787-1555

• Nov. 3: PWC Expo Headline Luncheon, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., at the MassMutual Center, 1277 Main St., Springfield. Featuring Andrea Haslet-Davis, ballroom dancer, runner, and Boston Marathon bombing survivor. Cost: $40. Reservations may be made online at www.springfieldregionalchamber.com.

SOUTH HADLEY & GRANBY
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.shgchamber.com
(413) 532-6451

• Oct. 19: Economic Forum Breakfast, 7:30-9 a.m., at Willits-Hallowell Conference Center at Mount Holyoke College. James Hartley, professor of Economics, will speak on the economy. A buffet breakfast will be provided. Cost: $22 members, $27 for non-members. E-mail [email protected] to RSVP.

• Nov. 3: Spotlight on South Hadley Businesses, 7-9 p.m., at South Hadley High School. After leaving BusinessWest’s Western Mass. Business Expo, have dinner, then go to Spotlight on South Hadley Businesses. Know Your Town and the South Hadley & Granby Chamber of Commerce are partnering to host a free program featuring your business. It’s like a chamber table-top or craft-fair event, but it’s free to businesses and the public. It’s free to have a table with your business information and promotion (posters, takeout menus, job applications, handouts, business cards, etc.). E-mail [email protected] to RSVP or to have questions answered about this opportunity.

SPRINGFIELD REGIONAL CHAMBER
www.myonlinechamber.com
(413) 787-1555

• Oct. 28: Springfield Regional Chamber Super 60, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., at Chez Josef, 176 Shoemaker Lane, Agawam. Celebrating the 60 fastest-growing, privately held companies in the region. Presented by Health New England and sponsored by Farmington Bank. Presented in partnership with the East of the River Five Town Chamber of Commerce. Cost: $50 for members, $70 for non-members. RSVP deadline: Oct. 19. Reservations may be made online at www.professionalwomenschamber.com.

• Nov. 3: Springfield Regional Chamber Expo Business@Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., at the MassMutual Center, 1277 Main St., Springfield. Featuring Laura Masulis, MassDevelopment fellow, speaking on “The Rise of Innovation.” Cost: $30 for members in advance, $30 for general admission, and $35 for walk-in admission. Reservations may be made online at www.springfieldregionalchamber.com.

• Nov. 9: Springfield Regional Chamber Lunch ‘n’ Learn, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., at the Colony Club, 1500 Main St., Springfield. “The New Overtime Law and the Pay Equity Law — Their Impact to You” will be presented by John Gannon, attorney with Skoler Abbott & Presser, P.C. Cost: $25 for members, $35 for general admission. Reservations may be made online at www.springfieldregionalchamber.com.

• Nov. 15: Springfield Regional Chamber Speed Networking, 7:15-9 a.m. Location to be determined. Cost: $20 for members in advance ($25 at the door), $30 for general admission. Reservations may be made online at www.springfieldregionalchamber.com.

• Nov. 17: Springfield Regional Chamber Government Reception, 5-7 p.m., at the Carriage House, Storrowton Tavern, 1305 Memorial Ave., West Springfield. An evening of informal conversation with local and state leaders. Cost: $50 for members in advance, $70 for general admission. Reservations may be made online at www.springfieldregionalchamber.com.

WEST OF THE RIVER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.ourwrc.com
(413) 426-3880

• Oct. 18: Multi-Chamber Lunch & Learn, noon-2 p.m., at the Storrowton Tavern/Carriage House, West Springfield. Enjoy a buffet lunch while networking with fellow business people. John Regan, AIM’s executive vice president for Government Affairs, will discuss the matters that passed on Beacon Hill, those that didn’t, and what may be in store for the next legislative session that begins in January 2017. Cost: $35. For more information, contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880, or e-mail [email protected].

• Oct. 26: Food Fest West, 5:30-8 p.m., at Crestview Country Club, Agawam. The event will feature the foods of area restaurants including Chez Josef, Crestview Country Club, Partner’s, and many more. Proceeds raised by Food Fest West will go toward the Partnership for Education and the WRC Educational Fund, which provides grants to businesses for on-the-job training and continuing-education needs. Cost: $25 in advance, $35 at the door. Tickets may be purchased at www.westoftheriverchamber.com.

• Nov. 1: Coffee with Mayor Cohen, 8-9:30 a.m., at the Agawam Senior Center Coffee Shop, 954 Main St., Agawam. Join us for a cup of coffee and a town update from Mayor Richard Cohen. Questions and answers will immediately follow. For more information, contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880, or e-mail [email protected].

• Nov. 15: Coffee with Mayor Reichelt, 8-9:30 a.m., at the West Springfield Public Library Community Room, Park Street, West Springfield. Join us for a cup of coffee and a town update from Mayor Will Reichelt. Questions and answers will immediately follow. For more information, contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880, or e-mail [email protected].

Bankruptcies

Bankruptcies Departments

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

Anderson, Rebecca J.
28 Candlewood Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/15/16

Benetti, Jannette Z.
25 Flower St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/15/16

Brown, Jeanette E.
1259 Plumtree Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 08/31/16

Bush, Patricia A.
51 Yoeman Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/14/16

Chagnon, Jeffrey M.
159 Silvin Road
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/06/16

Chilson, Patricia R.
111 Larkspur St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/04/16

Clark, Denise Louise
a/k/a Desrochers, Denise Louise
42 Robinridge Road
Chicopee, MA 01022
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/12/16

Cook, Michael J.
35 Fruit St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/15/16

D’Amour, Gerard Marcel
10A Main St.
Sturbridge, MA 01566
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/08/16

Dehn, Jessica
86 Church St.
Lenox, MA 01240
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/09/16

Dugay-Brusky, Marie F.
7 St Clair Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/09/16

Dupont, Marie Annette
19 Echo Lane
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/15/16

Fickett, Sandra R.
28 Hadley Village Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/07/16

Gaudino’s,
Gaudino, Charles P.
PO Box 435
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 09/06/16

Gaudet, Cindy J.
234 Deland Road
Royalston, MA 01368
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 08/31/16

Gaylord, Mary E.
45 Off South St.
Hinsdale, MA 01235
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 09/06/16

Hermes Strategic Communication
Bayse, Shannon M.
Bayse, Cheyenne C.
a/k/a Poskey, Cheyenne
84 Fourth Street
Turners Falls, MA 01376
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/15/16

Hernandez, Daniel R.
Hernandez, Shannon M.
a/k/a Ouellette, Shannon M.
a/k/a Roman, Shannon M.
340 Amostown Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 09/09/16

Hnatow, Timothy
Hnatow, Sarah L.
132 Pondview Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/08/16

Jacobs, Jeffrey D.
217 Greenwich Road
Ware, MA 01082
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 09/14/16

Jacque, Tonia
31 Echo Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 09/07/16

Martineau, Shawn Patrick
Martineau, Anne E.
57 Rolling Green Dr.
Amherst, MA 01002
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/06/16

McCarthy, Kelly R.
a/k/a Dunbar, Kelly R.
60 West Belmont St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/14/16

McDermott, Robert J.
11 Smith Ave.
Granby, MA 01033
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/07/16

Miller, Joseph C.
80 Barrett St., Apt 15
Northampton, MA 01060
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/08/16

Modeste, Dianne L.
88 Miller St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/11/16

O’Neal, Daniel
PO Box 18
Lenox Dale, MA 01242
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/09/16

Paier, Josephine A.
30 Allison Lane
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 09/06/16

Rosenthal, David M.
46 Southview Dr.
Southwick, MA 01077
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/01/16

Semaski, Jason R.
58 Highland Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 09/02/16

Shubrick, Catrese
a/k/a Shubrick Tucker, Catrese
53 Palo Alto Road
Springfield, MA 01128
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 09/15/16

Tassinari, Ida G.
5 Crestview Dr.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/31/16

Taylor, Lisa A.
a/k/a Shea, Lisa A.
100 Hampden Street
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/04/16

Tirado, Evelyn
243 Southwick Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/31/16

Topitz Frozen Yogurt
Pinard, Michael Frederick
115 Park St., Apt. E
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/13/16

Trout, Maria A.
109 Rutherford Road
Oakham, MA 01068
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/09/16

Vidal, Sharon L.
52 East Alford Road
PO Box 288
West Stockbridge, MA 01266
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/15/16

Westside Design
Paier, Aldo A.
33 Clayton Dr.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 09/06/16

Whitehall, Brian S.
30 Kane Brothers Circle
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 08/31/16

Ziegler, Seth A.
Ziegler, Veronica A.
166 Greenacre Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/12/16

Doing Business as Certificates

DBA Certificates Departments

The following Business Certificates and Trade Names were issued or renewed during the month of September 2016.

AGAWAM

Ayre Investments
648 Main St., 1st Floor
Timothy Ayre

Brick Road Consulting
105 Autumn St.
Ryan Wood

Bussolari Landscaping
124 Mill St.
Christopher Bussolari

Feeding Hills Sunoco
2 South Westfield St.
NEC OPCO 1 Inc.

F.L. Roberts Agawam
6 Lealand Ave.
NEC OPCO 1 Inc.

The Gadgeteeria
499 Meadow St.
Lola Foote

Henry’s Painting
15 Melrose Place
Matthew Henry

Palazzi Painting
64 Barry St.
Aldo Palazzi

AMHERST

Amherst Associates, LLC d/b/a Hawkins Meadow Apartments
370E Northampton Road
JCSK Holdings, LLC, Jonathan Rosen, and JCSK Properties Corp.

Clearpoint Communications
72 Pelham Road
Eddy Goldberg

Equinox Video
145 University Dr., #2443
Leslie Mason

Quantum Breakthroughs
401 Main St.
Deborah Maclin

CHICOPEE

Agwood, LLC
17 Naomi St.
Arkadiusz Gajda

East St. Cleaners
423 East St.
Sun Choi

Joe’s Remodeling
36 Montvue St.
Joseph Smith Jr.

LulaRoe
142 Mountainview St.
Angela Taal

Murray Automotive
102 Old Fuller Road
Michael Murray

Holyoke

Hibiscus
427 South Elm St.
Yonghe Chen

RBW Painting
50 Sycamore St.
Bruce White

Rent-a-Center East Inc. d/b/a Rent-a-Center #01551
2253 Northampton St.
Felicia Jackson

NORTHAMPTON

Allies in Recovery
69 Prospect St.
Dominique Simon

Bellows Group
33 Longfellow Dr.
Michaela O’Brien and Nathaniel Reade

Pixel Shrub Bioinformatics
54 Audobon Road
Jessica Rain Grant

Sweeties Fine Chocolate
68 Main St.
Charles Burke

SPRINGFIELD

Acquisition Advisors, LLC
471 Trafton Road
Kathleen Zizik

Belliveau Home Improvement
906 Bradley Road
Marc Belliveau

Charron’s Hair Care Services
460 Main St.
Mabel Charron

Foreclosure Cleaning
24 Ellen St.
Crystal Quiles

G.H. Berlin Woodward
85 Carando Dr.
BWE LLC

Highland Farm
560 State St.
Iqbal Shahid

Hilltop Veterans Assoc.
1105 Worthington St.
Gilbert Dillard

J.C. Quick Supply
26 Kenwood Terrace
Julio Casado

Joe Potito Electrical
142 Shawmut St.
Joseph Potito

Make It Happen Maintenance
148 Benz St.
Ralph Manzi

My Wide World Productions
966 Sumner Ave.
Scott Coen

Pham Insurance Agency
433 Belmont St.
Hung Pham

South Bay Community Services
146 High St.
Michael Pelletier

Springfield Trampoline Sports
1250 St. James Ave.
Robert Doty

The Law Office of Thomas J. McCormick
293 Bridge St.
Thomas McCormick

Tito’s Barber Shop
855 Berkshire Ave.
Tito Lewis

WESTFIELD

Alex’s Auto Care
11 Bartlett St.
Aleksandr Yurovskih

A.R. Deliveries
18 Margerie St.
Anatolie Reznicenco

C & C Home Improvements
23 Day Ave.
Joshua Cotugno

Complete Lawn & Landscape
273 Prospect St. Ext.
Kyle Patrick

Controls & Integration
56 Overlook Dr.
Craig Brown

ENA Consulting
36 Loomis Ridge
Emily Nissen Amanti

Express Your Way To Wholeness
74 Putnam Dr.
Linda Coffin

Game City
77 Elm St.
Game City

Gomes Designing Homes
10 Harrison Ave.
Matthew Gomes

Martyn Transport
16 Squawfield Road
Vadim Martynyuk

Maura Bonavita Skin Care
154 Wild Flower Circle
Maura Bonavita

NE Christian Homeschool Academy
297 Russell Road
Samantha and Ron Gulsvig

Same Day 6
70 Court St., Suite 6
Dmitriy Shlemanov

WEST SPRINGFIELD

ADT Security Services
76-78 Capital Dr.
ADT LLC

Alex Auto Paint
74 Wayside Dr.
Alex Rudenko

Audi West Springfield
434 Memorial Ave.
Damon Cartelli

Convenience Mart
7 Chester St.
Mohammad Ishaq

DP Transport
105 River St.
Dmitriy Primakov

Marsupicool Design
14 Dewey St.
Katherine McClelland

Qualified Plans LLC
131 Wayside Ave.
John Massey

Riverdale Street F.L. Roberts
1130 Riverdale St.
Tony El-Nemr

Sherwin-Williams Co.
47 Roanoke Ave.
Cheryl Lebron

West Springfield F.L. Roberts
518 Memorial Ave.
Tony El-Nemr

Westfield Street F.L. Roberts
735 Westfield St.
Tony El-Nemr

Westfield Street Sunoco
2667 Westfield St.
Tony El-Nemr

Zenex Central Vacuum Systems
857 Elm St.
Jeffrey Novak

People on the Move

Departments People on the Move

Jay Presser

Skoler, Abbott & Presser, P.C. announced that, after 40 years of practicing law, Attorney Jay Presser has retired. “It has truly been an honor for me to be a part of the firm,” said Presser. “My career at Skoler Abbott has afforded me the distinct opportunity of working alongside some of the best lawyers in our region, and I know the firm’s legal reputation will continue on for many years.” Presser, who started with the firm in 1977, has more than 40 years of experience litigating employment cases in federal and state courts and before administrative agencies, including the National Labor Relations Board, the Mass. Commission Against Discrimination, and the State Labor Relations Commission. He has successfully defended employers in civil actions and jury trials and has handled cases in all areas of employment law. He has won appeals before the Supreme Judicial Court and the First and Second Circuit Courts of Appeals, and has represented employers in hundreds of arbitration cases arising under collective-bargaining agreements. In addition to his consistent track record in the courtroom, he has received numerous honors, along with more than 20 consecutive years on the Best Lawyers in America list. “As we reflect on Jay’s retirement, we look forward to the future of the firm,” said attorney Timothy Murphy. “With his help, we have assembled an excellent team of legal professionals — a legacy that Jay will leave behind for years to come.”
•••••
The Gaudreau Group Insurance and Financial Services Agency of Wilbraham welcomed Tracy Goodman, Personal Risk Specialist, to its personal insurance team. Using the agency’s access to dozens of carriers to ensure a customized experience for each client, Goodman designs personal risk-management plans for individuals and employer groups, helping protect what’s important to them. She specializes in coverages including life, home, auto, renters, and umbrella. “Tracy takes pride in completing a thorough coverage analysis with each client, helping them to understand their coverage, feel financially comfortable, and know what to expect if they ever have a loss. She’s a valuable addition to our remarkable personal insurance team, and our clients will benefit from her unique skillset and perspective,” said Jules Gaudreau, president of the Gaudreau Group. Goodman has been in the insurance industry since 2008, with prior experience in human resources and recruiting. She is co-chair of programs for the Women Business Owners Alliance, is a volunteer and mentor with Girls Inc., conducts community outreach for the Springfield JCC’s J-Art program, and is a member of the Professional Women’s Chamber. She is a graduate of the University of Delaware and completed a semester abroad at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Beersheba, Israel. She is continuing her insurance education in the prestigious Certified Insurance Counselor program.
•••••
Kate Phelon, executive director of the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce, was appointed by Gov. Charlie Baker to the Mass. Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative (AMC) in September. This appointment is one of three by the governor; the other two are representatives of advanced-manufacturing companies. Phelon will be part of a commission looking at the future of manufacturing in Massachusetts. “I am very honored and excited about this appointment and appreciate the state’s leadership in recognizing the role a chamber of commerce representative can have in not only formulating agenda’s for particular industries, but the outreach we have with our membership,” Phelon said. The purpose of the AMC will be to develop and implement the Commonwealth’s manufacturing agenda with the goal to foster and strengthen the necessary conditions to promote growth and innovation of manufacturing within Massachusetts. The AMC will focus on four areas: workforce development and education; technical assistance, innovation, and access to capital; enhancement of competitiveness, easing cost of doing business, and regulatory review of SMEs; and promoting manufacturing, which will include attracting a talented workforce, and expansion of in-state marketing of the supply chain. In addition, the AMC works in conjunction with President Obama’s Advanced Manufacturing Partnership, as well as with seven additional states through the National Governors Assoc. Center of Best Practices Policy Academy on Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation. Phelon attended her first full meeting of the collaborative in mid-September and learned first-hand what the subcommittees have been working on. “Right now, the subcommittees are working on a five-year strategic-planning process to develop a strategy to keep manufacturing growing, exciting, inclusive, and innovative,” she said. “I was amazed at the work that has been done by these subcommittees and am very excited to work with stakeholders in the public and private sectors.” As she gets more involved and acclimated to the work this collaborative is conducting, Phelon will share information as it becomes available and will be in contact with local manufacturers as necessary.
•••••
Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C. recently welcomed Emily Klassanos and Brian Benson to the firm as part of its next generation of talent.

Emily Klassanos

• Klassanos comes to the firm from Elms College, with previous experience as an accounting intern with a local public accounting firm. She earned a dual bachelor’s degree in accounting and marketing from Elms, where she graduated magna cum laude, with a foundation in both technical work and the creative and strategic applications of marketing and market development. Additionally, she is currently pursuing her master’s degree in accounting and financial planning, also at Elms. She is a member of Mass. Society of Certified Public Accountants (MSCPA) and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). In May 2015, she was the recipient of the William Donovan Award in Accounting Excellence at Elms College.

Brian Benson

• Benson began his career at MBK as an audit and accounting intern and has also earned a position as an audit and accounting associate. He also graduated from Elms College, with degrees in accounting and business management. He will begin his journey to an MBA at Elms this fall with a concentration in financial planning, followed by a graduate certificate in public accounting. His goal in pursuing a diversified graduate education is to position himself to offer a broad range of expertise to his clients as he progresses through his career. He is a member of the AICPA and MSCPA. “The culture of the firm grows and evolves with each new addition of talented young people such as Emily and Brian,” said MBK Partner Howard Cheney. “They bring vital energy to a staff that is on the precipice of evolution. As a partner, there is nothing more rewarding than seeing our next generation come into their own.”
•••••
At the recent 2016 Mid-Year Mortgage Conference, the Warren Group, publisher of Banker & Tradesman magazine, released its annual report on the top mortgage originators in Massachusetts. Beverly Orloski, Vice President and Mortgage Consultant at PeoplesBank, finished first among all Western Mass. loan originators in the report. She was also listed as the top loan originator in the market in 2015. “What makes Bev the number-one consultant in Western Massachusetts is her ability to get the customers comfortable with the process and work with the team in the background to make it all happen seamlessly,” said James Sherbo, PeoplesBank’s senior vice president, commercial lending. Orloski said the thing she likes most about her job is working with people. “You get a certain satisfaction because you take them all the way through the process, from the time they first sit with you through their closing. That can be typically 30 to 60 days, and you’re interacting with them the whole time.” Orloski has more than 30 years of financial and banking experience. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Elms College and is a graduate of the American Bankers Assoc. Residential and Commercial Lending School. She is a member of the Realtor Assoc. of Pioneer Valley.
•••••

Lee Dawn Daniel

Bacon Wilson announced that Attorney Lee Dawn Daniel has been selected to join the executive committee of the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys (MATA). She is currently serving her second term on MATA’s board of governors, having been appointed by MATA’s president for 2015-16, and then nominated and elected by former MATA officers to continue on the board of governors for another two-year term. “It is my privilege to continue my service to MATA by joining the executive committee,” Daniel said. “I am thrilled to be able to help promote the mission of this tremendous organization, which allows trial attorneys to gather together to share cutting-edge techniques, discuss the latest trends in the law, and improve skills so that we can continue to serve our clients and the justice system of the Commonwealth to the best of our abilities. It’s my honor to serve.” Daniel recently joined Bacon Wilson as of counsel. She is a litigator with more than 30 years of experience representing clients in matters of personal injury. She is a graduate of the Boston University School of Law and the State University of New York at Binghamton with honors, and has secured multiple million-dollar-plus settlements and verdicts throughout her career. She is based in Bacon Wilson’s Northampton location. MATA has operated since 1975, with its membership working to uphold and defend the Constitutions of the U.S. and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, to assure that the right to trial by jury will be secure to all, to help people whose rights may be in jeopardy, to protect the independence of the judiciary, to promote public safety and welfare while protecting individual liberties, and to uphold the honor of the profession of law.
•••••

Tara Cruz

DiGrigoli Salon announced that Tara Cruz has been promoted from a junior stylist to a senior stylist. She graduated from DiGrigoli School of Cosmetology in October 2014 and joined the DiGrigoli Salon Artistic Team as a junior stylist immediately after obtaining her cosmetology license. DiGrigoli Salon, located at 1578 Riverdale St. in West Springfield, has been offering professional beauty services to the public since 1987, is the official styling team for on-air personalities at WWLP-22News and 94.7 WMAS, and is a sponsor of Link to Libraries.
•••••
Ning Jia has joined the faculty of Bay Path University, School of Science and Management, as Director of the MS in Applied Data Science program. Prior to accepting this position, she was a statistician at Affinion Group based in Stamford, Conn., and has also worked at the Hartford Financial Group and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. She has also been an assistant professor at Virginia Tech and a teaching fellow at Harvard University. Jia received her bachelor’s degree in business from Fudan University, Shanghai, China, and a Ph.D. in pure mathematics from the University of Minnesota. Her specialties are in combinatorics, biostatistics, statistical modeling, and big-data analysis.
•••••

Timothy Cotz

On Oct. 5, the Glenmeadow community bid farewell to Timothy Cotz, who has served as president and CEO for the past 23 years. This week, in advance of the celebration, Cotz learned that $16,000 has been raised in his honor by staff, residents, and community members for the Glenmeadow Staff Education Fund, which makes scholarship funds available for employees returning to school. In addition, the largest gathering room, formerly known as Great Hall, has been renamed Timothy V. Cotz Hall. Reflecting on his time at Glenmeadow, Cotz said much has changed in the industry since he began, noting that residents are coming to the life plan community later in life, they expect more in terms of quality, and they are healthier and more active. Cotz also noted that the nonprofit itself, known for its holistic mission and innovative programs and outreach to the wider community, has greatly expanded. Once offering services only to residents, the organization now provides services to people living across the Greater Springfield area. Through such innovations as Glenmeadow at Home, the Lifestyle Pass, and Glenmeadow Learning — all programs Cotz helped found — area residents have access to services from transportation and care management to education.
•••••

Sara Bonakdar

Sara Bonakdar has been hired as group sales manager for Pioneer Valley Hotel Group. Her primary focus is the La Quinta Inn & Suites in Springfield and Holiday Inn Express in Ludlow. She brings three years of hospitality experience to the position, having previously worked at Homewood Suites in Holyoke and Residence Inn in Manchester, Conn. “I am excited to take on a new challenge by stepping away from hotel operations and entering into direct sales,” Bonakdar said. “I feel I understand what it takes to offer a group a successful stay, and that’s what they will experience with us. Our properties offer guests an excellent value and great quality. That’s a winning combination and should make my job easy.” Connie Foster, director of Sales for Pioneer Valley Hotel Group, added that “Sara’s energy and enthusiasm makes her an excellent addition to our stellar sales team. So far, she’s shown an unending willingness to jump in and tackle new projects and revitalize some older accounts, and she’s only been in the job a month.” Pioneer Valley Hotel Group is a private, local, family-run company that owns and operates La Quinta Hotel in Springfield, Holiday Inn Express in Ludlow, Hampton Inn in Hadley, Comfort Inn in Hadley, and Hadley Farms Meeting House.
•••••
John McClellan, Vice President of Tighe & Bond, received the 2016 Past Presidents’ Award from the New England Water Works Assoc. (NEWWA), the region’s largest and oldest not-for-profit organization of water-works professionals. The Past Presidents’ Award is presented to members of the association who authored the second-most-meritorious paper that appeared in the Journal of the New England Water Works Association during the previous year. McClellan was presented with this award for his article, “Biological Iron and Manganese Treatment: Five Years of Operating Experience in Cavendish, VT,” published December 2015. McClellan is responsible for overseeing projects for Tighe & Bond’s water-supplier clients. He is an active volunteer with NEWWA, serving on the scholarship and filtration committees. He is a member of the American Water Works Assoc. (AWWA) and the American Society of Civil Engineers. He is a former member of the AWWA academic achievement awards committee. He earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, his master’s degree in environmental engineering, and his Ph.D. from UMass Amherst. He is a registered professional engineer in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Connecticut.
•••••

Mark Batiste

Northstar Recycling announced the appointment of Mark Batiste to its new BDR (business development representative) team in East Longmeadow. His primary objective will be to secure qualified appointments for the sales team by identifying and reaching out to potential prospects throughout the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Batiste holds a bachelor’ degree in marketing from Bentley University in Waltham, Mass.  He spent the majority of his professional career working in the pharmaceutical industry in New York City and the past several years in Western Mass. in new-business development for a national advertising agency.
•••••
Holyoke Mall recently welcomed Kyle Hopkins as Assistant General Manager. Hopkins previously worked as a financial analyst at Pyramid Management Group’s Corporate Office in Syracuse, N.Y. before joining the Holyoke Mall team. He also served as an intern with the Finance/Revenue Department at Pyramid Management Group before graduating from St. Joseph’s University in 2014 with a BSBA degree in finance. “We are fortunate to have Kyle join our team at Holyoke Mall to help with our continued growth and commitment to providing an enjoyable shopping experience to our customers” said Bill Rogalski, the mall’s general manager.

Salvation Army of Greater Springfield Appoints New Majors

SPRINGFIELD — The Salvation Army of Greater Springfield, which has been delivering services and hope to the less fortunate in Massachusetts for more than 125 years, recently announced the appointment of new Majors David and Norma Moore.

Ordained and commissioned as Salvation Army officers in 1997, the couple served for 10 years as corps officers in Danbury, Conn., before serving in Red Bank, N.J., Nashua, N.H. and ultimately, Springfield. Both hail from families deeply rooted in the organization and believe they are following God’s will with each new appointment.

“We come to Springfield energized and excited to serve,” said David Moore. “Norma and I are committed to advancing the mission of the Salvation Army and building upon the successes of previous officers.”

The couple comes to the community during the Coats for Kids campaign drive, a community effort supported by the generosity of local residents and businesses with the goal of collecting coats for needy children in the Greater Springfield region.

“No child should go without a coat this winter,” Norma Moore said. “We are excited to meet members of the community at the Salvation Army on Pearl Street in downtown Springfield on coat distribution day, Saturday, Nov. 5. David and I will do all we can to make the drive a success before focusing our attention to the other fall and winter initiatives, including Thanksgiving meal baskets, Toy for Joy, Adopt-a-Family, and our annual Red Kettle Drive.”

Amanda Moyer, Springfield Salvation Army board member and director of account services for Market Mentors, added that “everyone on the board shares my excitement in welcoming the Moores to Springfield. We recognize the contributions they’ve made in their past assignments and look forward to working with them to advance initiatives locally.”

Elms, WNEU College of Pharmacy  Forge Admissions Partnership

CHICOPEE, SPRINGFIELD — A new linkage agreement between Elms College and Western New England College of Pharmacy will make it easier for Elms students to forge a career in pharmacy.

Elms College’s Janet Williams, professor of Biology, and WNE College of Pharmacy’s Evan Robinson, dean and associate provost for Academic Affairs, formalized the link between the two colleges by signing the agreement on the Elms campus. Going forward, qualified Elms students will be guaranteed admission interviews for WNE College of Pharmacy.

“Having a college of pharmacy in the vicinity of Elms College is a wonderful pathway for our students because a lot of our students are local. This will give them opportunities to not only get their education in pharmacy, but also possibly continue to practice in the area,” Williams said.

The agreement will directly impact healthcare in Western Mass. by helping to keep pharmacy students and graduates in the area, where they can work to improve the lives of local residents.

“One of the reasons an agreement like this makes so much sense and is so practical is that, when you look at where individuals want to practice healthcare, they always say, ‘I want to be local.’ Well, local isn’t where the school necessarily is — local is the hometown and the heart,” Robinson said. “If we can get Springfield-area students to stay in the Springfield area and be pharmacists, I think we’ve got a much better chance of trying to impact some of the care issues that are going on right in our yards. We need students to stay. We need to retain them in Western Massachusetts.”

Elms currently has a range of agreements in dozens of programs with more than six institutions throughout the region.

Country Bank Promotes Jennifer Bujnevicie, Laura Dennis

WARE — Country Bank announced that Jennifer Bujnevicie and Laura Dennis have been promoted to the position of regional managers of the bank’s Retail Banking division.

Bujnevicie has been in the banking industry since 2004 and has held several positions during her tenure at Country Bank, beginning as a teller, and just prior to this promotion as operations manager.

“I have a passion for customer service and a great love for helping people,” she said.

Bujnevicie holds a human resources certificate from the Center for Financial Training, and is currently enrolled in the New England College of Business & Finance, pursuing a degree in business administration. Jenn is a self-proclaimed animal lover and often volunteers her time at the Second Chance Animal Shelter.

Dennis joined Country Bank while still in high school as a part-time file clerk in 2000, and became a full-time staff member upon her graduation. She began her career in the Collections department, but then moved to retail banking to be with the customers, and has been there ever since.

“I am passionate about working with my team and helping them develop in their positions. The greatest reward for me personally is seeing them reach their professional goals,” she said.

Dennis graduated from the New England School for Financial Studies in 2015 and serves as the treasurer for both the Palmer and Belchertown units of the Salvation Army.

“I am very excited to work closely with Jenn and Laura as they lead our branch staff to continued success focused on excellence in customer service and product delivery,” said Brady Chianciola, first vice president of Retail Banking. “They bring with them a wealth of knowledge from the retail aspect of banking as well as a true sense of community, which is so important to Country Bank.”

DiGrigoli Companies Promotes Judi Real to Creative Director

WEST SPRINGFIELD — The DiGrigoli Companies (which includes DiGrigoli Salon, DiGrigoli School of Cosmetology, and DiGrigoli Seminars) announced that Judi Real has been promoted to Creative Director.

Real started with the company in February 2015 as executive assistant to the CEO, Paul DiGrigoli. From the beginning, her passion for marketing and advertising stood out, and she has been instrumental in many social-media and printed marketing campaigns for all three branches of the company. With her previous position successfully filled, she is now able to devote all of her time to marketing, brand development, and advertising.

DiGrigoli Salon has been offering professional beauty services to the public since 1987. DiGrigoli School of Cosmetology is nationally accredited and has been in operation since 2002. DiGrigoli Seminars, featuring Paul DiGrigoli, offers programs on professional development, team building, and life skills for businesses, schools, and conventions nationally.

Employers Challenged by Religious Discrimination, Appearance Issues

By BusinessWest Staff October 15, 2016

Employment Sections

Crosses to Bear

By Karina L. Schrengohst, Esq.

Karina L. Schrengohst

You have an employee, Jack, who says he belongs to the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. He practices the religion of ‘FSMism’ and, pursuant to this practice, he requests, as religious accommodations, an exception to the dress code and a schedule change.

Specifically, he wants to dress like a pirate and wear a ‘colander of goodness’ on his head. In addition, he wants every Friday off because every Friday is a religious holiday for ‘Pastafarians.’ Jack has been preaching to his co-workers that they should join his church because Pastafarian heaven has a stripper factory and a beer volcano.

What would you do?

The Nebraska State Penitentiary was faced with precisely this request from an inmate. When prison officials refused to accommodate the inmate’s purported religious beliefs, he filed a lawsuit. Because the plaintiff in this case was an inmate and not an employee, this case does not involve reasonable accommodations under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. But the case is an interesting illustration of how requests for religious accommodations can arise.

Title VII and Massachusetts state law prohibit discrimination based on religion in the workplace. In addition, state and federal law require employers to provide reasonable accommodations for sincerely held religious beliefs, unless doing so would create an undue hardship. Unlike disability discrimination law’s high burden, in the context of religious discrimination law, an accommodation constitutes an undue hardship if it would impose more than a de minimis cost on the employer. A reasonable accommodation is simply an adjustment to the work environment, such as an exception to dress code or schedule requirements, that will allow the employee to practice his or her religion.

But what exactly is religion for purposes of employment discrimination law? Defining ‘religion’ is difficult, as we have a growing, religiously diverse population. Title VII defines religion as including all aspects of religious belief, observance, and practice. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission defines religion to include moral and ethical beliefs that are sincerely held with the strength of traditional religious views.

Religious beliefs typically involve deep and imponderable ideas, including existential matters, such as humankind’s sense of being; teleological matters, such as humankind’s purpose in life; and cosmological matters, such as humankind’s place in the universe. Religious beliefs are typically comprehensive and broad in scope.

Religion typically has some formal or external signs, including, for example, services, ceremonies, and rituals; writings, structure, or organization; holidays; clothing; and propagation. However, beliefs grounded solely in political, economic, or social ideology are not religious.

For example, courts have found that the Ku Klux Klan is not a religion protected by Title VII, but instead is a political and social organization. In addition, personal preferences are not religious. For instance, a district court in Florida found an individual’s purported ‘personal religious creed’ that eating Kozy Kitten cat food was contributing significantly to his state of well-being and therefore his overall work performance by increasing his energy to be a mere personal preference and not a religion protected by Title VII.

With this in mind, is FSMism a religion? The Nebraska federal court came to the conclusion that FSMism is not a religion. The court found that FSMism is a satire, intended to advance an argument about science, the evolution of life, and the place of religion in public education. FSMism, which originated as a response to intelligent-design theory, argues that it is just as likely that God set the universe in motion as did a great Flying Spaghetti Monster.

The court, however, was not questioning the validity of the plaintiff’s beliefs. Religious beliefs do not have to be acceptable, logical, consistent, or comprehensible to others. In fact, religious beliefs can be preposterous to others.

Now consider you have an employee, Sally, who refuses a mandatory flu shot. She requests an exemption from the requirement. Sally says that, because she is vegan, it is against her religious beliefs to take the flu shot because it contains animal byproducts. What would do you?

An Ohio hospital was faced with this very request from an employee. After the hospital denied the request and terminated her employment for refusing the flu shot, this employee filed a lawsuit in an Ohio federal court arguing that she was denied a religious accommodation.

The employer argued that veganism is not a religion, but rather a dietary preference or social philosophy. The employee argued that her practice constitutes a moral and ethical belief, which is sincerely held with the strength of traditional religious views. The employer in this case ended up settling after the court denied its motion to dismiss.

Finally, consider you have an employee, Jill, who comes to work one day with facial piercings. Your dress code prohibits facial piercings. Jill’s supervisor sends her home for violating the company’s dress code. Jill tells her supervisor that she belongs to the Church of Body Modification. She requests a blanket exception to the policy. What would you do?

In our own backyard, Costco was faced with precisely this request. When Costco would not give the employee the requested accommodation, she filed a lawsuit in federal court in Springfield. In this case, the district court left the question of whether the Church of Body Modification is a religion unanswered. Costco argued, and, on appeal, the First Circuit found, that permitting the employee to display her facial piercings was an undue hardship because it would adversely affect Costco’s public image and efforts to present a professional workforce.

What if Jill had come to work with a visible tattoo on her arm? She does not express that her tattoo has any religious significance. She simply considers her tattoo to be an individual expression. What would you do?

Under these circumstances, you can require Jill to cover her tattoo while working, assuming that is consistent with your policies. Generally, private employers can set whatever dress, grooming, and appearance standards that they think are appropriate for their businesses as long as the standards are not discriminatory or based on religion or any other protected categories (sex, race, disability, etc.). The question remains, however — do you want Jill to cover her tattoo?

Some employers are adopting more flexible appearance standards. This is driven, in part, with an eye toward employee retention. There is a generation of workers currently in the workforce who value individual self-expression and who are changing workplace culture related to acceptable appearance. In fact, there is a growing trend across the country at large, with national companies allowing employees to visibly display tattoos.

Whatever the appearance standards you decide are appropriate for your business, whether you have a conservative dress code or you allow employees to dress like pirates with visible tattoos and facial piercings, it is important to remember that policies should be consistently and uniformly applied to all employees, and exceptions to these policies should be considered for religious accommodations on a case-by-case basis.

Karina L. Schrengohst, Esq. specializes exclusively in management-side labor and employment law at Royal, P.C., a woman-owned, boutique, management-side labor and employment law firm, which is certified as a women’s business enterprise with the Massachusetts Supplier Diversity Office and the National Assoc. of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms; (413) 586-2288; [email protected]

Don’t Be the Unfortunate Boss Who Shrugs Off a Food Allergy

By BusinessWest Staff October 15, 2016

Employment Sections

Tricks and Treats

By Stefanie Renaud, Esq.

Stefanie Renaud

October in Massachusetts is a beautiful time, filled with colorful leaves, bright orange pumpkins, and pleasant fall weather. For most of us, Halloween marks a time of fun and revelry, complete with costumes, good-natured pranks, and lots of candy.

Even workplaces get in on the fun, holding costume parties and providing candy to sugar-deprived employees. But for employees with food allergies — about 15 million people across the U.S. — Halloween can be full of increased exposure risk from holiday ‘treats’ and potentially life-threatening reactions to innocent ‘tricks.’

This Halloween, avoid having a holiday horror story of your own.

Dirty Tricks

Everyone loves a good prank, but what if that trick was life-threatening to an employee? The employer might be liable for discrimination. That’s what happened to Panera LLC last fall, when a former employee sued, alleging that Panera violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by allowing harassment against him based on his food allergies.

Plaintiff Dustin Maldonado alleged that his manager and co-workers taunted him about his allergy, intentionally exposed him to peanuts, tricked him into eating nut-laced food items, and teased him that his EpiPen would spread AIDS. One time the manager ‘pranked’ Maldonado by leaving peanut butter outside his office. Another time, the manager ‘tricked’ Maldonado, telling him that his co-workers had made dinner for him, then placed peanut-butter-filled treats into Maldonado’s uncovered hands, causing an allergic reaction. After the incident, Maldonado filed a formal complaint with the human resources department, which allegedly told Maldonado to have a better sense a humor about the situation.

Although liability in this case remains to be seen, employers should be aware that even innocent-seeming pranks can result in potential legal liability.

You might be thinking, who on earth would think it was OK to intentionally expose someone to an allergen, even as a prank? More people than you think, apparently. In the Sept. 29, 2016 edition of the Washington Post’s advice column, another employee with food allergies wrote in, seeking advice. According to the employee, she had repeatedly asked a co-worker to not bring or consume peanut products in the office, due to the employee’s severe allergy. A few months later, the employee sat at her desk and began to notice reaction symptoms. Finding a smear of peanut butter on her hand, the employee looked under her desk and found a large glob of peanut butter smeared on her desk. When the employee called her boss, he shrugged it off and told her he “didn’t think [the employee] should be able to dictate what others can eat.”

That’s the wrong answer. Be sure to keep an eye out for the forthcoming lawsuit!

Killer Treats

What about those candy bowls spread around the office? Obviously, it is easy enough to know that peanut-butter cups might be a trigger for a person with food allergies, but what about those deluxe Halloween cookies your co-worker makes each year? They can also pose an exposure risk, and possibly lead to litigation.

In March 2015, a family sued the grocery chain Publix after their son died after eating a mislabeled cookie. The family purchased the cookie from the bakery section of the store only after being told it was nut-free, as no ingredients were listed, and there was no allergen warning. Despite this assurance, the little boy had a severe reaction to the cookie, which contained walnuts, and he eventually died.

While there are no similar cases where an employer was found liable for exposure to treats brought in by another employee, it is plausible that such a suit could occur, particularly if the treats were shared as a part of company-sanctioned festivities. Thus, employers may need to be cautious when encouraging employees to share homemade treats during the Halloween season.

My Employee Has a Food Allergy, So What?

Depending on their severity, food allergies may be covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or similar state laws. The burden is on the employee to alert the employer to their food allergy. Once an employee has done so, management must treat the claim seriously.

If the employee is seeking accommodations because of their allergy, the employer should follow the ADA protocol the same as it would with any other potentially disabled employee. The employer may request documentation of the allergy before granting an accommodation. If the medical documentation shows that the employee in fact suffers from a disabling condition, the employer needs to engage in the interactive process and brainstorm accommodations that would allow the employee to perform the essential functions of the job.

If there are no such accommodations, then the employee is simply not qualified for the position. However, you should not simply dismiss a request as unreasonable until you have fully explored whether it would, in fact, be possible. Remember, showing that an accommodation is unreasonable because it would present an undue hardship is a very high burden. Finally, the ADA’s anti-retaliation provisions mean that you cannot fire someone just because they have a food allergy or because they asked for an accommodation for that food allergy.

Around the workplace, employers can take a few easy steps to reduce their employees’ risk of exposure to food allergens. Employers may wish to conduct training on the risks associated with food allergies and helping employees recognize the signs of an allergic attack in others. Employers should consider posting signage in kitchen areas and providing disposable plates, cups, and utensils for use by employees with allergies.

Finally, employers must treat employees with food allergies, and their related needs, seriously. Don’t be the boss who shrugs off a food allergy.

Stefanie Renaud, Esq., is an associate with the law firm Skoler, Abbott & Presser, P.C., which exclusively represents management in labor and employment matters; (413) 737-4753; [email protected]

Families Invited to Experience ‘Haunting of the Springfield Museums’

By BusinessWest Staff October 13, 2016

SPRINGFIELD — On Saturday, Oct. 29 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Springfield Museums will present a full day of Halloween-themed programming titled “The Haunting of the Springfield Museums,” featuring a combination of fun and spooky activities for a variety of ages, free with museum admission.

The day will feature a presentation at 3 p.m. by Agawam Paranormal, a locally based investigative team that has explored various spots around the region for signs of paranormal activity. The group has been investigating the George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum over the past few weeks, and will reveal their findings and answer questions about their process. The presentation will take place in the Davis Auditorium in the D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts, and is recommended for ages 12 and up.

Other highlights of the event will include a costume parade, with attendees encouraged to don their best costume and march to music by the Expandable Brass Band starting at 1 p.m. (meet next to the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden). The day will also feature performers from Ten31 Productions as they bring works of art to life (11 a.m. to 3 p.m., galleries of the GWV Smith Art Museum and the D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts). Visitors can also view wacky, decorated trunks and get treats from various community partners during Trunk or Treat on the Quadrangle from 11 a.m. to 2:45 p.m., and meet some of the creepy creatures that call the Springfield Science Museum home (11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Solutia Live Animal Center, Science Museum).

Rounding out the day will be Halloween-themed art projects in the Art Discovery Center of the GWV Smith Art Museum (noon to 4 p.m.) and gallery science demonstrations with the resident Mad Scientist at the Science Museum (11 a.m. to 2 p.m). The Seymour Planetarium will also present shows at 11:15 a.m., noon, 1 p.m., and 2 p.m. (extra fee for non-members).

“The Haunting of the Springfield Museums” is part of the Museums’ Family Fun series, which is supported by the TD Charitable Foundation. MassMutual is the 2016 season supporter of the Springfield Museums. Admission is $18 for adults, $12 for seniors and college students, $9.50 for children ages 3-17, and free for children under 3 and museum members, and includes admission to all four museums. General admission is free for Springfield residents with proof of address.

Tech Foundry Announces Partnership with Dress for Success

By BusinessWest Staff October 13, 2016

SPRINGFIELD — Tech Foundry has long understood the importance of stakeholder collaboration. As part of its growing list of stakeholder partners, the organization recently announced a partnership with Dress for Success of Western Massachusetts.

Both organizations have historically committed to providing opportunities for women to be successful in their careers, and have joined forces to empower more women in Western Mass. to be trained and prepared for a lucrative career in IT, giving women access to the pay and upward mobility that an IT career provides.

Board members and supporters from both organizations came to Tech Foundry on Sept. 21 to announce this strategic partnership designed to address the region’s (and the state’s) shortage of women in the IT sector. Stakeholders from both organizations committed to working together to help overcome the gender gap that currently exists in this rapidly growing field.

Valley Blue Sox Finish First in League Attendance

By BusinessWest Staff October 13, 2016