SPRINGFIELD — The Realtor Assoc. of Pioneer Valley reported that single-family home sales in November were up 33.2% compared to the same time last year. The median price was down 2.9% to $187,498.
In Franklin County, sales were up 44.7% over the year, and median price down 2.2%. In Hampden County, sales were up 29.9%, and the median price remained the same. And in Hampshire County, sales were up 35.2%, and the median price down 5.8%.
SPRINGFIELD — The Western New England University Small Business Legal Clinic is now accepting applications from entrepreneurs and small-business owners seeking legal assistance for the spring 2017 semester. Under faculty supervision, law students assist clients with legal issues, including choice of entity, employment policies, contract drafting, regulatory compliance, and intellectual-property issues relating to trademark applications and copyright.
This is a free service available to local businesses that would not otherwise have the resources to obtain these types of services. The Small Business Clinic at Western New England School of Law has assisted more than 300 small businesses.
“The clinic is a great resource for entrepreneurs who lack the finances to retain an attorney,” explained Law Professor Robert Statchen. “By using the clinic’s services, businesses can avoid problems by getting legal issues addressed early and correctly. It also provides students with a great opportunity to get real-world experience.”
Applications need to be submitted by Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017. Applications received after Jan. 5 will be considered if additional resources are available. Students will begin providing services in January. For more information, call the Small Business Legal Clinic at (413) 782-1469 or e-mail Marie Fletcher at [email protected].
The Western New England University Small Business Legal Clinic was established to provide law students with an opportunity to provide practical consultation to entrepreneurs starting new and building existing small businesses in the community. This initiative strengthens alliances within the community by using the resources of the university to foster new-business development.
SPRINGFIELD — CRRC MA announced a deal to manufacture new subway cars for the city of Los Angeles, the Republican reported. The Chinese-owned company will perform final assembly on those cars at a plant it’s currently building in Springfield.
The Los Angeles deal — which is not final, as other bidders have contested the result — is worth $178.4 million for the manufacture of 64 new subway cars for LA’s Red Line and Purple Line, with an option to buy 218 more cars. CRRC would start production on the LA cars in 2019.
CRRC is building its facility on Page Boulevard — scheduled for completion in the spring — to manufacture 284 subway cars for the MBTA’s Red Line and Orange Line. Production is expected to last five years. Two weeks ago, the MBTA awarded CRRC another $277 million contract to build 120 additional cars after the initial run is complete.
EAST LONGMEADOW — HUB International New England, a division of HUB International Limited, a leading global insurance-brokerage, risk-advisory, and employee-benefits firm, announced that Lynn Citarella recently accepted the position of account manager, small commercial accounts in the East Longmeadow office.
In her new position, Citarella is responsible for the day-to-day management and servicing of small-business accounts, including, but not limited to, processing renewals, preparing summaries of insurance, verifying policy and policy-change information, recommending appropriate coverage options and changes, and meeting sales goals.
Citarella has been an employee of HUB International for more than 22 years and is a designated certified insurance counselor. Over the course of her career at HUB, she has held positions in the fields of information technology and mergers and acquisitions and has worked in various HUB offices in Connecticut and Eastern Mass.
HUB International New England also announce that Monique Matz, a commercial lines account manager in the East Longmeadow office, recently earned her property and casualty licenses.
MONSON — For the seventh year in a row, Monson Savings Bank (MSB) is asking the community to help plan the bank’s community-giving activities by inviting people to vote for the organizations they would like the bank to support during 2017.
“Every year we donate over $100,000 to organizations doing important work in the communities we serve,” said Steve Lowell, president of MSB. “For several years now, we’ve been asking the community for input on which groups they’d like us to support, and we’ve been so pleased by how many people participate. We have learned of new organizations through this process, and we also just like the idea of asking our community for input. As a community bank, we think that’s important.”
To cast their vote, people can go to www.monsonsavings.bank/about-us/vote-community-giving. On that page, they can see a list of organizations the bank has supported in previous years, and provide up to three names of groups they’d like the bank to donate to in 2017. The only requirement is that the organizations be nonprofit and providing services in Ware, Hampden, Monson, or Wilbraham.
The voting ends at 3 p.m. on Jan. 18, 2017. The bank pledges to support the top 10 vote getters and will announce who they are by the end of January.
WARE — Community outreach has been part of the mission of Country Bank since its inception in 1850. Now, during this season of giving, the bank announced its support to organizations whose missions are similar — helping friends and neighbors in area communities.
Recently, donations were made to local senior centers and food pantries within the Country Bank market area, totaling more than $66,000. These donations are made without restriction for those necessary items that may not be met within annual budgets.
“We have been contacted by directors of the centers with comments such as, ‘now we can afford to get that new refrigerator we have been needing all year,’ or ‘now we can fill our shelves with items that so many local families are in need of,’” said Shelley Regin, the bank’s senior vice president, Marketing. “Supporting organizations such as the senior centers and food pantries is a way for us to reach many families in a meaningful way, and we are very pleased to be able to assist in this way.”
In addition to its monetary gifts that are made annually, Country Bank also sends teams of volunteers to help out at events such as the Ware Community Thanksgiving Dinner, or serving dinner at Friends of the Homeless and Trinity Episcopal Church’s monthly community dinner. In the coming weeks, they will also be seen throughout the area ringing the Salvation Army bell.
The bank’s volunteer team keeps busy throughout the year, Regin said, but during the holiday season, there is always an extra-special feeling for them when they give back to their towns.
HOLYOKE — Maureen Ross O’Connell, president of Ross Insurance Agency, was elected to serve on the board of directors for the Massachusetts Assoc. of Insurance Agents (MAIA). Her term begins Jan. 1, 2017.
O’Connell has worked with Ross Insurance Agency since 1978. She is a crtified insurance counselor and has previously served on the agents’ advisory panel for Encompass Insurance, including stints as vice chairperson and chairperson.
“MAIA is a member-driven association dedicated to preserving, strengthening, and promoting its members and the independent insurance agency system. Insurance agents in Massachusetts have experienced a lot of change in the past several years,” O’Connell said. “As an organization, MAIA is here to assist its members to traverse the ever-changing landscape and maintain market share. I look forward to advocating on behalf of the independent agents in Massachusetts.”
MAIA is a professional association for insurance agents throughout Massachusetts that offers continuing education opportunities for insurance professionals, advocates on behalf of independent insurance agents across Massachusetts, and keeps agents informed on current issues impacting insurance throughout the state and at the national level.
“MAIA is extremely pleased that Maureen has agreed to be a member of the board of directors of the association. Her experience as an agency owner and manager brings a perspective that will assist the board in better representing the association members,” said Frank Mancini, president and CEO of MAIA. “As a veteran of numerous insurance-company agency advisory councils, Maureen has a keen knowledge of the interactions between insurance agencies and companies that will bring an added value to her position on the board of directors.”
SPRINGFIELD — Committed to the latest advancements in orthotic and prosthetic technology, Orthotics & Prosthetics Labs Inc. announced its latest acquisitions: the revolutionary new Spectra 3D scanner and Canfit software from Vorum, and Create Orthotics and Prosthetics’ 3D printing system.
According to Canada-based manufacturer Vorum, Spectra digitally captures millions of measurements of the body’s surface and creates an ultra-accurate, three-dimensional computer model. This model is then adjusted within Vorum’s Canfit software for the proper fit and sent to a 3D printer for fabrication.
“Spectra and Canfit have given us a new way to enhance a patient’s experience,” said Jim Haas, certified orthotist and president of Orthotics & Prosthetics Labs. “A previously time-consuming process is now completed in just a few hours, translating into better patient care and superior outcomes.”
The Spectra scanner captures an extremely accurate image of the patient’s limb within minutes. That image is then quickly and easily manipulated within the Canfit software, eliminating the need for plaster modification. Once adjusted for optimal fit, the resulting customized model is ready for fabrication with the Create 3D printing system.
In addition to the enhanced accuracy, this innovative digital process means increased productivity, digital modifications instead of having to physically redo casting, a more consistent end product, and software storage of the scan, whereas casts are destroyed.
Orthotics & Prosthetics Labs has seen these advantages benefit many already, such as infants who need reshaping helmets and patients with severe spinal disorders who need custom braces.
BOSTON — Ten Massachusetts employers were awarded a total of $162,948 to help train employees in workplace safety and injury prevention, the state Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development announced.
“These grants continue to provide employees important training and education to help keep themselves and their co-workers safe on the job,” Gov. Charlie Baker said.
Added Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, “every year, thousands of workers in the Commonwealth receive training to make themselves and their work environments safer.”
The Department of Industrial Accidents administers and manages the Workplace Safety Training and Education Grant program to promote safe, healthy workplace conditions through training, education, and other preventative programs for businesses and employees covered by the Massachusetts workers’ compensation law.
This is the final round of grants in fiscal year 2016, which will train 460 employees. During the fiscal year, the Baker-Polito administration awarded a total of $696,000 to 44 companies to train nearly 5,000 workers.
Two Western Mass. organizations were among the grant recipients. Energía, LLC in Holyoke — an energy-services company that provides upgrades for residential, multi-family and commercial properties to reduce utility costs and energy use — received $14,274. Proposed training includes EPR renovation, OSHA 10, OSHA 30, confined space, office ergonomics, and CPR/first aid.
Medtronic, a medical-supply plant in Chicopee, received $8,795.40. The company’s training will include powered industrial trucks, CPR/FA/AED, job safety, and hazard recognition.
“This safety training increases a worker’s knowledge of their surroundings and job, bringing more opportunities for their growth and success,” Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Ronald Walker said.
The maximum grant amount per employer is $25,000. Businesses are awarded training grants through a competitive application process. The Department of Industrial Accidents will open another round of applications soon.
SPRINGFIELD — Tech Foundry volunteers, partners, business leaders, friends, and family from across the area came together on Dec. 15 to celebrate another round of graduates ready to enter the IT job world in the Pioneer Valley.
“The class we’ve had this time around is truly remarkable. Now it’s time to build on that momentum,” said Tech Foundry Director of Strategic Partnerships Jonathan Edwards.
Delcie Bean, Tech Foundry’s founder and board chair, challenged the graduating students to “live up to the expectations that everyone in the room has for you by helping the Springfield economy grow and thrive.”
Families, friends, and employers also heard insights from guest speakers Carol Leary, president of Bay Path University; and Andrew Anderlonis, president of Rediker Software. Leary spoke to the 27 graduates about the profound connections made in the program, saying, “this is an experience you’ll talk about for the rest of your life.”
In remarks about the impact Tech Foundry is making on the region’s talent pipeline, Anderlonis referenced two students from the current Tech Foundry graduating class that had turned from intern to employee at Rediker.
“Tech Foundry has helped solve the problem of finding passionate and committed individuals by preparing and training talented and quality candidates for the evolving local tech workforce needs,” Anderlonis said. “With the recent hire of two graduates, Carlee Navarro and Lulu Mitchell, and a third hired this past summer, Rediker Software is invigorated to partner with such a fantastic local organization like Tech Foundry.”
Edwards concluded the event by adding, “the 27 students have officially become Tech Foundry alumni and have made their mark on us, as represented in the ceremonial wall signing. Now prepped with the tools and knowledge to make it in IT, they will enter the IT workforce earmarked for success.”
BOSTON — Local unemployment rates decreased in 18 labor-market areas, increased in four, and remained the same in two areas in the state during the month of November, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported. Compared to November 2015, the rates were down in all areas.
Six of the 15 areas for which job estimates are published recorded seasonal job gains in November, with the largest gains in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton and Brockton-Bridgewater-Easton areas.
The Springfield, Worcester, Lawrence-Methuen-Salem, and Pittsfield areas had no change in job levels over the month, while seasonal losses occurred in the Barnstable, Haverhill-Newburyport-Amesbury, Framingham, New Bedford, and Lynn-Saugus-Marblehead areas.
From November 2015 to November 2016, 14 of the 15 areas added jobs, with the largest percentage gains in the Haverhill-Newburyport-Amesbury, Taunton-Middleborough-Norton, Worcester, and Barnstable areas.
In order to compare the statewide rate to local unemployment rates, the Bureau of Labor
Last week, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported the statewide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 2.9% in the month of November. Across the nation, Massachusetts experienced the largest over-the-year drop in the unemployment rate of any state, down 2.0% from November 2015, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The statewide seasonally adjusted jobs estimate showed a 5,800-job gain in November, and an over-the-year gain of 70,100 jobs.
CHICOPEE — The College of Our Lady of the Elms School of Nursing received $2,000 to fund a nursing scholarship from the veterans honor society called La Societé des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux (the Society of Forty Men and Eight Horses, or the Forty & Eight).
On Dec. 16, the society presented the Elms School of Nursing with a check to fund a nursing scholarship for five years. The scholarship, called the La Societé des 40 Hommes et 8 Chevaux Honor Society for Veterans Nursing Award, will be given to nursing students attending Elms College. This award will grant $400 per year to support a sophomore or junior student’s nursing education. Preference will be given to veterans, children of veterans, or active military.
“We are so very grateful to the Forty & Eight society for this generous scholarship,” said Kathleen Scoble, dean of the School of Nursing at Elms College. “The society’s commitment to the education of nurses is both inspiring and greatly appreciated. It is not uncommon for our student nurses to be challenged with funding their education. Thus, every scholarship is important and removes one more obstacle they may face.”
This Forty & Eight scholarship program began in 1955. With 2,131 students receiving more than $1.1 million in scholarships this past year, the Forty & Eight has granted in excess of $20 million and graduated more than 23,000 registered nurses since the inception of this program.
This is the second time the organization has selected Elms for this scholarship; the first scholarship was presented in 2009. “We thought it would be great if we did it again, and let’s see if we can increase the amount a little bit,” said James Hoar, who holds the title of cheminot/chef de gare passé in the Forty & Eight.
SPRINGFIELD — On Thursday, Jan. 12, Mercy Behavioral Health Care will present a discussion of the issues surrounding the growing opioid problem and what can be done to reverse the trend.
Chris Herren, a former Boston Celtics player and recovering addict, will discuss his journey from addiction to sobriety. Massachusetts Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders will speak about the state’s efforts to address the opioid crisis. Dr. Robert Roose, chief medical officer and vice president of Addiction and Recovery Services for Mercy Behavioral Health Care, will provide information about the impact of the opioid problem in Western Mass. and explain how Mercy Behavioral Health Care plans to combat this disease. The event will take place at CityStage in Springfield from 6 to 8 p.m. Doors open at 5 p.m.
Herren has refocused his life to put his sobriety and family above all else; he attends meetings daily to support his substance-free lifestyle and often speaks before groups trying to overcome addiction to share his experiences and road to sobriety. Professionally trained as a social worker, Sudders leads the largest executive agency in state government, a $21 billion state budget with 22,000 public servants, and oversees critical services that touch one in four residents of the Commonwealth. Board-certified in both family medicine and addiction medicine, Roose’s expertise on addiction treatment is highly sought after, primarily in the area of medication-assisted treatment for opioid-use disorder.
The lecture is free and open to the public, but reservations are required, as seats are limited. Register by calling (413) 748-9935 or visiting mercycares.com/waystogive.
HOLYOKE — The Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce is donating a total of $1,000 to Margaret’s Pantry and the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Holyoke Inc. on behalf of Bryan Marcotte of Marcotte Ford.
“There are always going to be people in need of help, and Marcotte Ford is committed to supporting our local community, making it stronger and ensuring that we are a part of Holyoke’s success,” Marcotte said.
Marcotte was named the 2016 Chamber of Commerce Business Person of the Year. A portion of the proceeds from the event’s advertising sales was set aside for Marcotte to donate to the charities of his choice.
“It’s such a pleasure to help Bryan invest in the organizations he believes in,” said Kathleen Anderson, president of the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce, who personally delivered the checks to Marcotte Ford.
Marcotte has been a long-time volunteer and consistent supporter of Margaret’s Pantry and the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Holyoke. Margaret’s Pantry works to feed those in need of assistance throughout the year and depends heavily on monetary and volunteer assistance. “We are very grateful for Marcotte’s never-ending generosity,” said Brenda Lamagdeleine, program manager at Margaret’s Pantry.
The Boys and Girls Club of Greater Holyoke is another recipient of Marcotte’s goodwill, with an agency mission that aligns with Marcotte’s attention to youth development. “This donation goes a long way toward helping provide excellent programs for our kids,” said Eileen Cavanaugh, the organization’s president.
EASTHAMPTON — On Dec. 16, Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts CEO Elizabeth Barajas-Román and Program Officer Ellen Moorhouse joined stakeholders from the academic, private, government, and philanthropic sectors at the White House for a forum hosted by senior Administration officials.
The forum, “Advancing Equity for Women and Girls of Color: Continuing Progress and Building Toward Change,” focused on developing strategies that break down barriers to success and create more opportunity for all Americans, including women and girls of color.
“We are eager to bring the voices of Western Massachusetts to the national conversation on women and girls,” Barajas-Román said before the event. “The progress we’ve made toward gender equity is at risk. But together, we can stand our ground. Our goal is to return from the forum with additional dynamic partnerships that will help us address problems we can fix together, in our lifetimes.”
The forum built on President Obama’s efforts on behalf of women and girls, like the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, expanding fair pay and paid-leave protections, and convening the first-ever White House summit focused on building workplaces that support working families and business.
The White House Council on Women and Girls has identified five data-driven issue areas where interventions can promote opportunities for success at school, at work, and in the community. Continuing research in these areas and exploration of new efforts can help advance equality for women and girls of color.
“By representing Western Massachusetts at the White House, we can ensure that our collective voice is heard on important policy matters,” Moorhouse said. “Only by having a seat at the table can we work to safeguard the progress we’ve made, while simultaneously laying the groundwork for future policy and social change.”
NORTHAMPTON — Anne Stout was recently appointed director, Business Development for Webber & Grinnell Insurance. In this role, she will build market position by locating, developing, defining, and acquiring new clients.
Having previously worked at Toole Insurance and Pitney Bowes Inc., Stout has more than 20 years of success in marketing and consistently strives to maximize the reach, efficiency, and business impact of strategic relationships. She has also served as vice president, Membership for Berkshire Business and Professional Women and on the United Way Resource Development Committee.
SPRINGFIELD — Jennifer Garutti was recently named executive director of the American Red Cross of Western Massachusetts.
She joined the American Red Cross in 2015, bringing a wealth of volunteer-development, donor-development, and marketing and communications experience to her role as executive coordinator. When the executive director position became available in 2016, she was the choice of the Western Massachusetts chapter board of directors and her regional executive colleagues.
With a passion for the Red Cross, Garutti has pledged to build the local chapter’s capacity to serve Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire county families. She approaches this challenge as a mobilizer of disaster volunteers, armed-forces advocates, life-saving skills educators, blood donors, and financial contributors. She looks forward to working with these constituencies for a safe, healthy, and prepared Western Mass.
As a community volunteer herself, Garutti has long shared her marketing and photography skills with child-focused nonprofits including Angels Take Flight and Girls on the Run. She also contributes regularly to the BYO Blog, which promotes Springfield as a family-friendly city.
SPRINGFIELD — The Professional Women’s Chamber (PWC), a division of the Springfield Regional Chamber, will hold its 19th annual Tabletop Expo and Luncheon on Wednesday, Jan. 18 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Storrowton Tavern, Eastern States Exposition, 1305 Memorial Ave., West Springfield, sponsored by season advertising partner BusinessWest.
The tabletop expo provides business and community leaders opportunities to network and showcase area business products and services. Tabletop reservations are $75 for PWC members, $105 for non-members, and include a draped table and lunch for one. Reservations for the lunch only are also available for $25 for PWC members and $35 for non-members.
The deadline to reserve a tabletop is Wednesday, Jan. 11. Reservations may be made online at www.professionalwomenschamber.com or by e-mailing [email protected].
BOSTON – The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) today announced that the Commonwealth added 6,317 clean- energy jobs and has surpassed 100,000 clean energy jobs statewide for the first time, currently 105,212. The figures, released as part of MassCEC’s 2016 Massachusetts Clean Energy Industry Report, show the Bay State clean energy sector maintained a strong growth rate of six percent between 2015 and 2016. The report also found that the number of clean energy jobs in Massachusetts has increased by 75% since 2010.
“The Commonwealth’s highly educated and well-trained workforce makes it an attractive place for innovative industries, including clean energy companies,” said Gov. Charlie Baker. “Massachusetts’ recently passed comprehensive energy diversification legislation will continue to build on the recent success of the clean energy industry by increasing opportunities for growth and advancement.”
“The Clean Energy Industry Report clearly shows that the booming clean energy sector is a pivotal jobs creator within the Commonwealth and a driving force for diversifying our energy sources,” said Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito. “The Baker-Polito Administration is committed to continuing our support of Massachusetts’ robust clean energy sector and making these benefits accessible to residents throughout the Commonwealth.”
The report found that clean energy is an $11.8 billion industry in Massachusetts, and represents 2.5% of the Commonwealth’s Gross State Product. Clean energy jobs represent 2.9% of the overall workforce in the state, the report found. The clean energy industry employs residents of every region in Massachusetts. Jobs grew over the past year in each of the state’s regions, with the largest growth coming in Northeastern Massachusetts (8.8%) and Southeastern Massachusetts (8.2%).
“The continued strength of Massachusetts’ clean energy industry continues to bring innovation, energy savings and environmental benefits to communities across the state,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Matthew Beaton. “The Baker-Polito Administration will continue to work with our partners in the clean energy industry to reduce costs to ratepayers, usage and emissions as we work to achieve our Global Warming Solutions Act goals.”
“The clean energy industry in Massachusetts continues to see strong job growth while helping to drive the state’s vibrant innovation economy,” said MassCEC CEO Stephen Pike. “The clean energy sector is fueled by the economic activity of small businesses, universities, nonprofits, technologists and entrepreneurs hard at work on addressing our most pressing energy challenges.”
The report found that Massachusetts installed 25,390 renewable energy projects in 2016, adding an additional 374 megawatts (MW) of electric capacity in the process, enough to power 56,040 homes. The Commonwealth also remains first in the United States for per-capita early-stage clean energy venture investment, beating out California. Early stage investment in Massachusetts clean energy companies grew 166% over the previous year.
The report, prepared for MassCEC by BW Research Partnership, also found Massachusetts to be the national leader in early-stage clean energy investment. Overall, public and private investment in the industry exceeded $658 million.
BOSTON — The state’s total unemployment rate dropped to 2.9% in November, marking the fifth consecutive month the rate declined, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported Thursday.
The last time the state’s unemployment rate was at 2.9% was in January 2001. The unemployment rate in October was 3.3%.
In November, preliminary estimates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate Massachusetts added 5,800 jobs over the month. BLS slightly revised the October job estimates, reporting the state loss 5,400 jobs as opposed to the previously reported 5,500 job loss estimate. Year-to-date, December 2015 to November 2016, Massachusetts has added 67,200 jobs.
Massachusetts’ unemployment rate has remained lower than the national rate since April 2008. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the national rate at 4.6% in November.
At 2.9%, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is down 2.0% over the year from 4.9% in November 2015. There were 68,100 fewer unemployed residents and 108,400 more employed residents over the year compared to November 2015.
“We are very pleased to see the unemployment rate consistently go down month after month,” said Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Ronald L. Walker, II. “Not only is the unemployment rate declining, but we have continued job growth in key sectors that drive the Massachusetts economy.”
In November, over-the-month job gains occurred in the financial activities; professional, scientific and business services; construction; information; ‘other services’; education and health services; and local government sectors.
The state’s labor force participation rate — the total number of residents 16 or older who worked or were unemployed and actively sought work in the last four weeks — is 64.7%, down 0.2 of a percentage point over the month. Over the year, the labor force participation rate has increased 0.1 of a percentage point compared to November 2015.
WESTFIELD — Robert Magovern, president of Agawam-based Neighbor to Neighbor, has been re-appointed to serve on Westfield State University’s Board of Trustees. The appointment marks Magovern’s third term of service on the board, following an initial term from 1997 to 2002 and a second from 2005 to 2009. Magovern’s current term will continue through 2021.
“Board oversight is critically important, especially at our public institutions, and we are confident these appointees will bring extensive leadership, professional and academic experiences to the benefit of the schools and their students,” said Gov. Charlie Baker in the fall when he announced Magovern and other board appointments for public colleges and universities in Massachusetts.
“Our students and full campus community will again benefit from trustee Magovern’s keen business sense and his veteran perspective as an incumbent board member at Westfield State,” said Westfield State University Board of Trustees Chair Steven Marcus. “Trustee Magovern’s appreciation for and intimate understanding of the impact of public higher education is critical in the governance of the university.”
Magovern started his own business in 1975, which grew to become Neighbor to Neighbor, a regional “new resident” welcoming company serving customers in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Prior to Neighbor to Neighbor, he was vice president of the Magovern Company—a retail company that sold golf course equipment with stores throughout Western Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York. Magovern earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Boston University.
Aside from running his business, he is highly engaged in his hometown community of Agawam, where he is the current chair of the Republican Town Committee. As the former City Council president, Magovern formed the Financial Oversight and Industrial Relations committees. He was also president of the Agawam Rotary Club, was a co-founder of both Agawam’s St. Patrick’s Day Committee and the Longmeadow Historical Society’s Long Meddowe Days event. In addition, Magovern was a co-founder of the Society of the 17th Century, a group that promotes 17th Century New England history and performs reenactments in the area. On the state level, Magovern was a member of the Massachusetts Republican State Committee and served on its executive board.
“As a firm believer in public higher education, I am thrilled to rejoin the Westfield State board,” said Magovern. “Westfield State is one of the finest state universities within Massachusetts.”
SPRINGFIELD — Melanie Gagnon, a working student who is in real estate sales, sees a new program at Springfield Technical Community College as a terrific opportunity to take her career to a higher level.
“I personally don’t want to devote my life 100% to just selling houses,” said Gagnon, 36, of Springfield. “I don’t want to be residential. I want to be a part of bigger things, and this helps.”
What types of bigger things? That could mean possibly working as a community or regional planner, or taking a job that requires emergency planning such as when a city is devastated by a natural disaster.
Gagnon is one of four students currently pursuing a degree through a new STCC major called Real Estate Planning and Sustainable Development. Professor Warren Hall, department chair in the Architecture and Building Technology program at STCC, developed the option for students like Gagnon and others who have an eye on a career in sustainable community development, architectural design or a related field.
Real Estate Planning and Sustainable Development provides students with necessary training and an affordable path to a bachelor’s degree, or even a master’s degree, said Hall, who served for seven years on the Planning Board in Pelham and also was Pelham’s commissioner to the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission.
Hall said the new program was designed in response to changes in the building and planning industry.
“The fact is with so much of what we do today we need to look through that lens of sustainability,” Hall said. “That’s something the industry has been stressing.”
“Sustainability” in community development refers to the concept of planning to meet not only the current needs of residents, but to ensure adequate resources are available for future generations. Hall teaches students to consider factors such as the environmental impact of community development. Sustainable development also considers the social impact involved with urban growth and sprawl.
Real Estate Planning and Sustainable Development is one of three options in STCC’s Architecture and Building Technology program. The others are Architecture and Project Management. The new option officially starts in fall 2017.
The Real Estate Planning and Sustainable Development major was created for students who plan to complete at least their bachelor’s degree after earning their associate degree from STCC. After earning a bachelor’s degree, students may choose to explore career options, but they also might decide to continue their academic studies in a variety of graduate-degree programs, such as Master of Architecture, Master of Design Studies or Master of Regional Planning.
Hall highlighted one of the exciting and affordable options his students can choose: They can continue to earn their master’s in regional planning through a unique “2+2+1” agreement between STCC and the UMass at Amherst.
Students complete two years at STCC and then transfer to UMass or Westfield State University for another two years to receive a bachelor’s degree. After earning the bachelor’s degree, they would enroll in a one-year master’s in regional planning program at UMass.
“These students can have a master’s degree in regional planning in five years. That’s amazing,” Hall said.
HOLYOKE — Holyoke Mall and Autism Speaks will host sensory-friendly holiday shopping on Sunday, Dec. 18 from 8 to 10 a.m., allowing children with special needs to be welcomed into an environment designed to support them.
“We were approached by representatives from Autism Speaks,” said Lisa Wray, Holyoke Mall’s marketing director. “Shopping malls can be overwhelming for children with special needs, which is why we are working with them to offer a special time for shopping with minimal distractions.”
During the event, Holyoke Mall will turn off overhead music in the shopping center and encourage individual stores to do the same. There will be a designated quiet area for families as well as an informational table staffed by volunteers from Autism Speaks on the lower level near Sears.
HOLYOKE — Holyoke Community College (HCC) is using a $190,000 grant from the state’s Workforce Competitive Trust Fund to train unemployed and underemployed people for new jobs in the culinary and hospitality industry.
The program is free to participants, who must commit to attend classes every day for nine weeks, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The course teaches them fundamental culinary skills and exposes them to a wide variety of careers in hospitality, including hotel operations.
“It’s a hands-on opportunity to try out a lot of things and find out what their interests and aptitudes are,” said Kermit Dunkelberg, HCC’s assistant vice president of Adult Basic Education and Workforce Development. “Another key part of the program is that, when it ends, they have to let us help them find a job.”
The Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development announced the grant earlier this year. Commonwealth Corp., a quasi-public state agency that fosters partnerships between industry, education, and workforce organizations, administers the Workforce Competitive Trust Fund.
Students graduate from the program with four key credentials: ServSafe and OSHA-10 certifications, which show they have been trained in safe food handling and workplace safety; TIPS certification, which allows them to serve alcohol; and a National Career Readiness certification, which demonstrates they possess fundamental workplace skills.
The first cohort of students started in October and will celebrate their graduation today, Dec. 15, as they prepare and serve a noontime meal for family and friends at Food 101 Bar & Bistro in South Hadley. The restaurant is owned by chef Alan Anischik, who serves as the main instructor for the program.
Most of the classes meet at Dean Technical High School in Holyoke. Last week, in preparation for the graduation celebration, the class met at Food 101.
In addition to cooking techniques, the program offers lessons in customer-service etiquette, workplace communication, conflict resolution, product purchasing and receiving, and food and wine pairing.
During the course, students had the opportunity to attend a job seminar with representatives from MGM Resorts to learn about future employment opportunities at the casino now under construction in Springfield. They also participated in speed interviews with local employers from the restaurant and hotel industry.
The next program cohort begins March 23. Anyone interested should contact Milissa Daniels at (413) 552-2042.
WESTFIELD — Splash Marketing and Creative, a full-service marketing agency located in Westfield, announced its recent hire of Andrea Gauvin, who has joined the team as digital marketing manager. In this role, Gauvin will manage the digital assets for business clients, including, but not limited to, websites, SEO/SEM, blogging, social media, and digital ad campaigns.
Gauvin has been in the marketing and communications field for more than seven years within the nonprofit, retail, and healthcare industries. Prior to assuming this role with Splash Marketing and Creative, she was marketing and communications manager at HealthyCT, a nonprofit health-insurance company located in Wallingford, Conn. She also held marketing positions at the United Way of Pioneer Valley and EcoBuilding Bargains, both located in Springfield.
She graduated summa cum laude from Bay Path College with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and has been involved with several community organizations, including the United Way of Pioneer Valley Women’s Leadership Council, the Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield, the Westfield Chamber of Commerce, and Cub Scouts.
BOSTON — State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg recently unveiled a one-year progress report on her Office of Economic Empowerment’s financial-education initiatives. The review highlighted the advancements resulting from the 2015 Financial Literacy Task Force Report.
The task force consisted of a diverse group of policymakers, educators, bankers and advocates, and convened last year to develop an action plan for Massachusetts residents to have access to the financial skills they need to attain economic stability. The report culminated with the release of 22 recommendations aimed at empowering residents with an understanding of how to budget their money, save for retirement, and understand the impact of economic decisions.
“I am thankful for the many partners that share our vision and commitment to expanding economic security in Massachusetts,” Goldberg said. “We will continue to innovate and expand our programs through a digital delivery of financial education and partnerships throughout the state.”
In one year, Goldberg’s Office of Economic Empowerment initiated 14 of the 22 policy recommendations provided by the task force, including: establishing $eedMA, a pilot program designed to help kindergarten families save for post-secondary education and training; creating the Women’s Economic Empowerment Series, a free financial-empowerment workshop series for women; ande the relaunch of Operation Money Wise as a grant program for organizations to provide financial education and programming to the military, veteran, family, and survivor community.
SPRINGFIELD — Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. announced that seasoned corporate social-responsibility executive Dennis Duquette has been appointed head of Community Responsibility and president of the MassMutual Foundation.
Duquette, who has more than 30 years of financial-services industry experience, including oversight of community relations and brand development, is based in the company’s Springfield headquarters and reports to MassMutual Head of Brand and Advertising Jennifer Halloran. Duquette will lead all aspects of MassMutual’s community-engagement efforts, including the recently established MassMutual Foundation. This includes such initiatives as the FutureSmart program, which is helping to address the critical need for youth financial literacy; LifeBridge, which provides income-eligible families with free term life insurance that protects their children’s education; and Mutual Impact, MassMutual’s employee-giving program.
“For 165 years, giving back to the community has been a part of MassMutual’s culture,” said Halloran. “We are thrilled to have Dennis, with his extensive industry experience, innovation, and passion for collaboration, help build on that rich history and drive MassMutual’s community-engagement efforts to a new level.”
Prior to joining MassMutual, Duquette was with Fidelity Investments since 1989, where he created groundbreaking sponsorship efforts, grew and expanded Fidelity’s corporate presence and sponsorships across the U.S., and managed FidelityCares, an employee-volunteerism program that also provides philanthropic support to nonprofit organizations. Joining MassMutual represents a homecoming for Duquette, who began his career with the company and held a variety of roles in community relations, human resources, and marketing communications.
Duquette earned a master’s degree in public policy and administration from Northwestern University and a master’s degree in administrative studies from Boston College, where he also earned his bachelor’s degree in English and communications.
LONGMEADOW — JGS Lifecare opened Michael’s Café at the Sosin Center for Rehabilitation on Dec. 12, the first day residents moved into the new rehab center. The kosher café offers classics like grab-and-go sandwiches on rye bread, bagels, baked goods, salads, and soup, as well as specialty items like ‘Converse Street potatoes,’ shakshuka, and slow-simmered corned beef, which will be available on Wednesdays.
“We hope it will be a community gathering space for residents, guests, and families to meet, enjoy a meal, and gather with friends,” said Alexis Girhiny, director of Food Services at JGS Lifecare.
The kosher café is dedicated to the memory of the late Michael Frankel, who was an outspoken advocate for Project Transformation, an initiative of reimagining and improving how care is delivered across the JGS Lifecare family of services.
“Naming the café in his honor is a permanent tribute not only to Frankel’s extraordinary commitment to the care of our elders at the highest standards, but also his vision for JGS Lifecare for generations to come,” said Susan Kimball Halpern, vice president of Philanthropy for JGS Lifecare.
The work of several local artists is displayed in the café and throughout the Sosin Center. Artists include Lewis Bryden, Diana Cote, Heidi Coutu, Laura Eden, Peiliang Jin, Cindy Lutz Kornet, Laura Radwell, and Jim Rosenthal.
Michael’s Café is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. On Saturdays, the café offers Help Yourself Snacks from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and on Sundays, breakfast is served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Rabbi Devorah Jacobson is also holding a free drop-in class called “Nosh & Learn: Greatest Hits from the Talmud” at the café on Thursdays from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. Call JGS Lifecare at (413) 567-6211 for dates and weather or other cancellations. For information about daily specials at Michael’s Café, call (413) 935-5000.
CHICOPEE — The Elms College School of Nursing, in collaboration with the Basilica of St. Stanislaus Sunday Sandwich Ministry, will hold a memorial service and dinner on Wednesday, Dec. 21 to honor homeless persons who have passed away in 2016 in Chicopee. The public is invited to join in remembrance.
The memorial will be held at 4:30 p.m. at Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen & Pantry, 170 Pendexter Ave., Chicopee, and will be followed by a dinner service at 5 p.m. Food-pantry donations of non-perishable food items or money may be made at the event. The memorial program will be held outside, so attendees should dress accordingly. The meal will be held inside the soup kitchen.
For 26 years, on or near the first day of winter and the longest night of the year, the National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH) has advocated this national day of memory to bring attention to the tragedy of homelessness and to remember friends who have lost their lives to homelessness.
Participants in the memorial program will include Chicopee Mayor Richard Kos; Sr. Mary Reap, president of Elms College; Dr. Kathleen Scoble, dean of the School of Nursing at Elms College; Rev. Joseph Benicewicz, pastor of St. Stanislaus; Br. Michael Duffy of the School of Nursing at Elms College; and Andréa Marion, executive director of Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen and Pantry.
The Basilica of St. Stanislaus Sandwich Ministry distributes food and clothing to people who are homeless or facing financial challenges in Chicopee each Sunday.
Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen & Pantry Inc. is a nonprofit organization serving the hungry and disadvantaged in the Greater Chicopee community. Lorraine’s serves an average of 100 meals each evening and approximately 500 families a month through the pantry.
Elms College School of Nursing operates the caRe vaN, providing free healthcare to the homeless and underserved of Chicopee and Holyoke.
SPRINGFIELD — American International College (AIC) has been awarded $186,400 over three years in support of the Center for Excellence in Teaching, Learning, and Scholarship. The grant was received from the Davis Educational Foundation, established by Stanton and Elisabeth Davis after Stanton Davis’s retirement as chairman of Shaw’s Supermarkets Inc.
In an effort to strengthen and bring together student support services in one accessible location on campus, AIC created the Center for Academic Success (CAS) in 2008 with support from Davis Educational Foundation and others. CAS offers a number of student-support programs, including mentoring and advising, a writing program, tutoring, and support for first-generation college students. The AIC Center for Excellence in Teaching, Learning, and Scholarship (CETLS) is designed to complement the efforts of CAS by enhancing a vibrant academic culture at AIC. The mission of CETLS is to provide all faculty members with opportunities to achieve and be recognized for teaching excellence, be supported in scholarship, and grow through collaboration and community.
When CETLS was created in 2014, a regular schedule of workshops and grants for travel to conferences on teaching and learning were offered to AIC faculty for the first time. CETLS now offers a variety of opportunities for faculty development.
“American International College is grateful for support from Davis Educational Foundation, which was key to the creation of the Center for Academic Success,” said Raj Parikh, AIC’s executive vice president for Academic Affairs. “As AIC is committed to robust student-support services, the college additionally makes a concomitant investment in faculty support and development, outcomes assessment, and technology tools. For faculty at AIC, whose primary focus is teaching, the next logical step is advancing the improvement of teaching, which will naturally impact student learning. By providing an accessible location, expertise, and resources, the Center for Excellence in Teaching, Learning, and Scholarship embodies AIC’s commitment to faculty development and student success.”
In addition to augmenting funding for faculty development, thereby supporting high-quality instruction for AIC’s diverse student body, the grant allows AIC to equip the faculty technology lab, providing cutting-edge technology training and teaching-outcomes assessment.
The following business permits were issued during the month of November 2016.
CHICOPEE
Briarwood Fourteen LLC
470 Memorial Dr.
$30,000 — Install new architectural shingles and siding
CEA Realty LLC
1247 East Main St.
$2.7 million — Renovate existing building to accommodate new business
City of Chicopee
27 Arcade St.
$1,434,600 — Construct new public pool and alteration to existing bathhouse
Chicopee Housing Authority
1 Volpe Dr.
$347,000 — Upgrade fire-alarm system at Volpe Apartments
David Carlos
486 Springfield St.
$25,140 — Minor renovations/alterations to existing pizza shop
Todd Russo
454 Grattan St.
$4,000 — Roofing
EAST LONGMEADOW
Charles Richard
40 Baldwin St.
$86,000 — New commercial warehouse
L.E. Blecher
227 Shaker Road
$734,065 — New gas station
L.E. Blecher
227 Shaker Road
$38,000 — Canopy over gas pumps
Pure Barre
432 North Main St.
$53,000 — Commercial fit out
Town of East Longmeadow
150 Somers Road
$35,000 — Replace antennas
GREENFIELD
409 Federal Street LLC
407-409 Federal St.
$411,104 — Construct addition
Byrne Everything LLC
286 Federal St.
$5,000 — Construct wood-frame wall, pour small section of foundation wall, damaged due to vehicle
Hobo Enterprises LLC
8-16 Federal St.
$60,000 — Masonry repairs to façade
Sander Greenfield LLC
367 Federal St.
$15,000 — Replace windows and add door
HADLEY
173 Russell St. LLC
173 Russell St.
$120,000 — Storage barn for bike shop
Pyramid Mall of Hadley Newco LLC
367 Russell St.
$1,362,505 — Improvements at existing space for PetSmart
LUDLOW
Burger King
419 Center St.
$1,900 — Alterations
C.A. Smith Lumber and Feed
84 Hubbard St.
$12,000 — Foundation, repairs
NORTHAMPTON
Coca-Cola Co.
45 Industrial Dr.
$57,000 — Plumbing replacement
Smith College
College Lane
$133,450 — Renovate four classrooms
Smith College
College Lane
$248,900 — Roof replacement at Ainsworth Gym
Smith College
146 Elm St.
$325,000 — Renovations to existing structure
Smith College
10 Henshaw Ave., Unit B
$575,000 — Miscellaneous interior and exterior renovations
Smith College
10 Henshaw Ave., Unit C
$345,000 — Miscellaneous interior and exterior renovations
Smith College
21 Henshaw Ave.
$365,000 — Miscellaneous interior and exterior renovations
Smith College
19 Round Hill Road, Unit D
$725,000 — Miscellaneous interior and exterior renovations
Smith College
83 West St.
$3,550 — Strip and shingle roof
Smith College
126 West St.
$89,350 — Remodel two rooms
PALMER
Angelica Properties LLC
1294 Ware Road
$57,300 — Remodel inside of existing business
Baystate Wing Hospital
40-42 Wright St.
$65,000 — Renovate existing office space
Breton Realty LLC
4 Boston Road
$1,015,000 — Solar field
Camp Ramah in New England
39 Bennett St.
$2,523,204 — New cafeteria
Frank Spelko
400 Peterson Road
$16,120 — Antenna swap
Neal Corp.
4279 Church St.
$815,000 — New variety store
Nenameseck Sportsman Club
150 Bacon Road
$10,700 — New pavilion
SOUTH HADLEY
South Hadley High School
153 Newton St.
Renovate two classrooms to kitchen and teaching café
SPRINGFIELD
Baystate Medical Center
$66,000 — 759 Chestnut St.
Alter shell space for conference room, gift shop, and storage area
Falcone Retail Properties LLP
40 Island Pond Road
$145,485 — Install roof-mounted solar array
HS Holdings, LLC
980 Bay St.
$16,000 — Installation of solar array, sistering rafters for extra support
Mercy Medical Center
271 Carew St.
$12,985 — Interior renovations for medical area
Orionls, LLC
428 Belmont Ave.
$13,000 — Replace three rooftop antennas and replace with three upgraded antennas
South Campus Group LLC
140 High St.
$37,500 — Combine office space
WARE
HTC Wireless
85 South St.
$19,761.43 — Verizon replacement of six antennas and addition of three remote radio heads to existing structure
O’Reilly Auto Parts
124 West St.
$25,000 — HVAC
By Christopher D. Marini, MSA, MOS
Christopher Marini
With an increased regulatory environment and constant pressures to maximize revenues, operating a fiscally successful nonprofit organization can be more challenging now than ever before. There are many actions, both big and small, that can be taken to ensure an organization is operating as effectively as possible.
I’ve selected seven keys to discuss that can help your organization in the years to come.
In an industry that’s so intently focused on varied sources and levels of funding, it’s good to remember that an important asset of any organization is its staff. Here are some points to consider:
• Having a solid management team is particularly important because their attitudes permeate through all levels of the organization. To aid them, look for trainings or webinars that can help management develop their leadership abilities. With motivated, inspiring, and knowledgeable leaders at the helm, staff are more likely to be inspired to work with passion.
• Any time is a good time to perform an analysis on your hiring process. Is your new-hire training standardized, and does it help introduce staff to the culture of the organization in addition to position-specific training?
• Keep an eye out for that shining star of an employee that shows aptitude for future growth and leadership. If you can provide him or her with an opportunity to develop their skills, you will develop a pipeline for strong leadership. This form of succession planning can help the future continuity of the organization.
• Keeping employees and staff engaged and motivated is always a challenge. Are your organization’s raises and promotions based on measurable merit, whereby those employees who best meet the desired criteria of success are rewarded for their efforts? Doing so will keep your best and brightest engaged and set an example for other employees. A consistent method of evaluating the success and performance of your employees is a great foundation.
Having a diverse and knowledgeable board of directors is a tremendous advantage. Be sure to tap into their unique skill sets and contact networks to maximize their value. Be open-minded about ideas they have, and assist them in organizing periodic meetings to discuss big-picture items such as programs, investments, budgets, legal issues, and other high-level or important items that may require attention.
Public image and recognition are crucial to obtaining donations, funding, and support from your local community. Consider evaluating your current marketing efforts critically to determine whether your approach is earning you the recognition needed to support your program. You likely have a wide range of tactics available to you — press releases, networking, speaking opportunities, social media, and a website.
However, simply having these things in place does not breed efficacy in and of itself, and, unfortunately, marketing is often the last thing on the minds of busy and inundated nonprofit leaders.
First, it’s important to clearly define your intended audience. All too often, organizations take a very broad approach without first considering the profile of their audience. It’s imperative to know who your audience is before engaging in public relations.
Next, consider whether your outreach initiatives are using resources effectively. Here’s an example: your organization is engaging in speaking events to garner support and find new volunteers for summer-camp programs your organization runs for area youths. However, your current speaking engagements at local Rotary clubs and chambers of commerce aren’t yielding the number of volunteers you’d hoped for. In this case, you might consider alternative audiences like church community-service groups, student organizations on college campuses, or other community-based groups whose mission better matches the profile of your ideal volunteer. The idea here is to think critically on every mode by which you communicate to determine if alternate approaches might be more efficient or effective.
An excellent method of keeping costs down, while still getting work done, is utilizing volunteers. In order to attract and retain volunteers, it is important that the community is aware of the existence of your organization and cares about its mission, as noted above. If either of these criteria is not met, obtaining volunteers will prove to be a challenge.
Once volunteers are on board, it is imperative to use their time well. When they arrive, ensure clear expectations are set, while at the same time making the process fun and convenient. If a volunteer has a good first experience, they are more likely to come back and even bring a friend.
Always show appreciation for their time and energy. Some organizations will even buy small gifts or hold an annual reception for volunteers.
Most people have heard the adage “don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” When nonprofits rely too heavily on one type of grant or donor, they create a concentration that could potentially be detrimental if they lost this key revenue source. Most nonprofits already have a good handle on garnering cash donations from individuals and businesses, but here are some other sources that may not have been considered yet:
• One way of giving that is becoming more popular is making a charitable donation from a retirement account. Amounts attributable as qualified charitable distributions will not be included as taxable income to the individual.
• Non-cash gifts or trade can also be helpful for certain organizations.
• Charitable gift annuities are a good way to gain immediate revenue while offering tax advantages to the donor.
• Encourage people to name your nonprofit as a beneficiary in their wills or through tax-beneficial methods such as charitable remainder trusts. A good public image and mission will make this easier.
• Special events are a great way to generate additional revenue in a fun setting. It is also an excellent way to have direct face time with donors. Examples of popular special events include golf tournaments and annual galas.
Nonprofits are highly regulated, and the rules are constantly changing. There are many annual filing requirements, and audits are a requirement for organizations with certain amounts or types of government funding. Regular communication with your accountants and attorneys is always a good place to start.
Additionally, consider sending certain staff to external trainings or seminars to help them stay on top of what they need to know to successfully perform their job. Further nonprofit information can be obtained at www.mbkcpa.com/category/non-profit.
While it is a word that some organizations dread, mergers can sometimes be a useful tool. Oftentimes, a region may have too much direct competition for resources, or a key executive director will retire or accept a position elsewhere. In instances where continuity seems troublesome, mergers can be an effective way for organizations of similar missions to come together for a common good.
Mergers can help centralize and combine resources, leading to a better financial position and the ability to spread the organization’s mission to a larger population.
Running a fiscally successful nonprofit organization ultimately comes down to the quality of the people involved and the programs it operates. With knowledgeable employees, involved board members, and motivated volunteers, your nonprofit will be able to keep a positive public image and be in a good position to maintain the proper funding and regulatory compliance necessary to ensure future continuity and fiscal success. u
Chris Marini is a senior associate with the Holyoke-based public accounting firm Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C.; (413) 322-3549; [email protected]
By Timothy M. Netkovick, Esq.
Timothy Netkovick
Many employers with employment-practices liability insurance (EPLI) and directors and officers liability insurance (D&O) policies know too well that they often face a frustrating struggle when reporting the fact that a lawsuit has been filed to their insurance company.
As an employer, being faced with employment litigation is challenging enough, but then being told that you have to work with an attorney you have never met, who may not be locally located, is extremely frustrating. Employers are frequently told they have to use the attorney their insurance company tells them to use. This, however, is contrary to Massachusetts law when an insurance company reserves its rights. In fact, under Massachusetts law, the insured can choose its own counsel in that scenario.
The insurance company will frequently reserve its rights upon initial receipt of a claim. It will then send a reservation-of-rights letter, advising its insured (you) that it will provide a defense of the claim while simultaneously reserving its right to deny coverage of the claim. This means that, while the insurance company will provide a defense right now, it is reserving its right to deny coverage of the claim after it learns additional information, which could leave you exposed to liability with little or no insurance coverage at a later date.
Many employers know that one issue that periodically arises with insurance companies is their insistence on having the insurance company’s attorneys defend a claim, even when the insurance company is reserving its rights. The insurance company you are dealing with could be located in another state, where the laws governing insurance companies may be different, and the insurance company could try to bully you into selecting an attorney that the insurance company selects. That attorney could be at a big firm in a big city, and you may prefer to be represented by a local attorney who knows your business.
If your attorney has been representing you in the matter prior to litigation being filed, it may also not be in your best interest for the insurance company’s attorney to become involved from the standpoint of cost and familiarity with the claim. In a reservation-of-rights scenario, you have the right to choose your own counsel. Massachusetts courts have ruled that an insurance company cannot insist on using its own attorneys to defend a case when it is reserving its right to deny coverage, as it has the potential to adversely affect the insured’s rights.
When an insurance company says it is going to fund a defense, it means it will pay the legal fees and costs associated with defending the claim. Depending upon the language of your individual insurance policy, your company will likely be responsible for paying legal fees until your deductible is reached. The insurance company would pay all legal fees once the deductible is exceeded.
Let’s assume your insurance company is providing you a defense under a reservation of rights, and then decides to deny coverage based upon facts it learns as the case develops. What happens to your company? In this scenario, timing is key. Massachusetts courts have ruled that an insurance company can be barred from denying coverage in a scenario where the insurance company learns of facts upon which it could deny coverage, then takes no action to inform its insured it will deny coverage until months, or years, later.
Many employers are also familiar with their insurance company trying to force the settlement of a claim during litigation. The insurance company recommends settlement of the claim based upon its bottom line by performing a financial analysis of the potential settlement amount against the cost of paying the legal fees and costs associated with the continued defense of the claim and the risk to its insured.
However, if the insured believes the claim is meritless, a settlement may not be in the insured’s best interest. If a settlement is paid, then the insured’s premiums will increase, whereas, if the claim was taken to trial and the insured prevailed, its premiums would not increase.
Often, employers think they are at the mercy of the insurance company when it comes to decisions made in litigation. As an employer, it is important to know your rights under EPLI and D&O insurance policies. Decisions made in litigation have an impact on your business, your employee relations, your reputation, and your bottom line.
Timothy M. Netkovick, 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]
Over the years, BusinessWest has worn out the ‘question-mark’ key when writing stories and headlines for its Economic Outlook sections each December.
Any why not? No one really knows what lies ahead, especially when it comes to the economy. And over the past 15-20 years, there have been some times — such as the months after 9/11 and the very darkest days of the Great Recession in the fall of 2008 — when trying to speculate what might come next was all but impossible.
This isn’t exactly one of those times, but it’s close, and all because of history. Actually, two kinds of it.
First, that election about a month or so ago, because it ushered in a presidency seemingly defined by unpredictability and speculation — about what will happen domestically and abroad. And second, the nation’s economic track record.
Indeed, not once in the full history of this country has it gone more than 10 years without a recession. Don’t look now, but that means, sad to say, that we’re just about due for one. And if it comes soon — we’ve had almost nine years of mostly unspectacular growth — we’ll likely be entering it without the two most common methods of fighting one: lowering interest rates (because they’re already at historic lows and just can’t get any lower) and tax cuts (especially if President Trump makes good on his pledge to almost immediately lower them after getting sworn in).
But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Sort of.
While it might be time to talk about that recession seemingly certain to come some time in Trump’s first term, the immediate future seems worthy of something else that gets typed often when writing about the year ahead — that phrase ‘cautious optimism.’
That’s especially true of the Western Mass. region, which, while it continues to lag maddeningly well behind most of the rest of the state in terms of growth and prosperity, is, for the most part, riding on an arrow pointed upward. Here are some reasons for the optimism:
• Springfield’s continuing climb. Last issue, we wrote about cranes and their uplifting abilities, no pun intended. It’s not hyperbole. Cranes do generate optimism and, well, more cranes. But it’s not just those machines at the casino site generating positive energy. It’s everything from new vibrancy downtown to the Thunderbirds; from Union Station to subway-car manufacturing. Springfield still has considerable work to do, but it is in what we believe are the early stages of a renaissance, which means there is more progress to come, and it will likely have a strong ripple effect throughout the region.
• Progress in other communities. As we’re written before, the process of reinventing a city — moving from a manufacturing hub to the proverbial ‘something else’ — is slow and often difficult. But many cities in this region, including Holyoke, Easthampton, Pittsfield, and Westfield, are making substantial progress in that regard, becoming centers for entrepreneurship, the arts, small business, tourism, and combinations of all of the above. This progress bodes well for the region, and it should continue in the year ahead.
• Promoting entrepreneurship. One of the most encouraging developments in this region in recent years, as we’ve noted, has been the efforts to not only promote and encourage entrepreneurship, but to create a population of smarter, more resilient entrepreneurs. Springfield has become the hub of this activity, but it’s happening region-wide. And while the landscape won’t change overnight, certainly, a stronger, more diverse economy will result.
• Eds and meds. Or is it meds and eds? While the region continues to diversify its economy, these two stalwarts continue to grow and become ever-more pivotal forces in overall economic development. Healthcare continues to be an ultra-steady source of jobs, and the region’s higher-ed institutions, led by UMass Amherst, are developing new degree programs and initiatives aimed at providing area businesses with their most important asset — qualified talent. These sectors are not only strong, but getting stronger, and the region will benefit accordingly.
While there are still many question marks regarding the economy and which way it will go in the year ahead, there are seemingly fewer of them. And this is a byproduct of the optimism (OK, guarded optimism) that is growing in intensity and bound to generate more progress in the year to come.
The following bankruptcy petitions were recently filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Readers should confirm all information with the court.
Albano, Donald V.
2014 North Brookfield Road
Oakham, MA 01068
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/10/16
Alpert, Vivian L.
101 Mulberry St., Unit 40
Springfield, MA 01105
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/01/16
Atwell, Betty Mae
53 Lincoln Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/11/16
Bartolomei, Robert Mark
14 Silva St.
Monson, MA 01057
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/11/16
Benson, Juanita Thelma
12 Avenue C
Turners Falls, MA 01376
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/10/16
Bernier, David E.
216 Locust St.
Florence, MA 01062
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/14/16
Bushey, James Raymond
55 Searles St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/03/16
Calabretta, Stacy L.
159 Village Park Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/08/16
Castrillo, Carrie A.
265 College St., Apt. A
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/09/16
Cerveny, Cynthia A.
40 Holcomb Road
Chester, MA 01011
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/11/16
Chicoine, Lynn Carol
37 Waid Road
Monson, MA 01057
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/14/16
Cialek, Edward Michael
Cialek, Michelle Ann
313 Hadley Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/11/16
Cooney, Justin
365 Dale St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/09/16
Curtis, Carolyn Graci
284 Abbott St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/14/16
Delgado, Marina E.
151 Lancashire Road
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/12/16
Duquette, William G.
91 Mulberry St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/10/16
Enterprise Farm
Jackson, David Foster
75 River Road
South Deerfield, MA 01373
Chapter: 12
Filing Date: 11/15/16
Franco, Andrea E.
17 Sumner Ave., Apt. 7
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/09/16
Gibbs, Sherry Ann E.
a/k/a Atwell, Sherryann
86 Norman St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/09/16
Glass-King, Jaleena Y.
17 Sunbrier Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/02/16
Grace, David Joseph
PO Box 2772
Amherst, MA 01004-2772
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/10/16
Green, April Marie
38 Madison Ave.
Springfield, MA 01105
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/02/16
Gregoire, Catherine G.
158 Horseshoe Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01022
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/09/16
Haagsma, Esther M.
385 Worthington St.
Springfield, MA 01103
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/03/16
Hamilton, Shawn E.
73 Barrett St., Apt. 2059
Northampton, MA 01060
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/15/16
Hawkes, Carol M.
220 Barry St.
Feeding Hills, MA 01030
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/09/16
Hennault, Shawn
13 North Road
Peru, MA 01235
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/15/16
Jacque, Ryan D.
31 Echo Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/09/16
Jerome, Jeffery J.
30 Brandon Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/09/16
Jones, Robert E.
58 McKinley Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/09/16
Kirby, John J.
Kirby, Holly A.
179 Country Road
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/10/16
Kirca, Ali H.
51 Grattan St., Apt. D
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/10/16
Kirkpatrick, Spencer J.
Kirkpatrick, Melissa J.
20 Benger Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/07/16
Kurdi, Ramsey
400 West St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/03/16
Lorenzi, Rosa J.
120 North Main St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/09/16
Martinez, Teodocia
119 Brunswick St., Apt. 1
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/10/16
Michaud, Mark Matthew
267 South Main St.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/31/16
Negron, Loanis T.
51 Fairhaven Dr.
Indian Orchard, MA 01151
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/02/16
Nimons, Scott William
4 Onota Lane, #1
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/31/16
Parenteau, Scott R.
Parenteau, Jasmine J.
929 Shaker Road, #15
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/01/16
Pittman, Timothy M.
Pittman, Kelly L.
90 Rochester St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/11/16
Prawlucki, Francis J.
57 Brigham Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/04/16
Professional Marketing
Talsky, Gene R.
PO Box 1040
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/02/16
Quintero, Juan A.
62 Charpentier Blvd.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/07/16
Rheaume, Glen E.
Rheaume, Deanne L.
45 Surrey Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/11/16
Ribeiro, Thomas M.
Ribeiro, Laurie A.
98 Vadnais St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/11/16
Rockwell, Dawn Marie
2 Cross St.
Shelburne Falls, MA 01370
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/15/16
Rowley, Linda Alice
14 Bluemer Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/03/16
Sanchez, Juan M.
134 Darlene St.
Indian Orchard, MA 01151
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/02/16
Segala, Krysten Kara
a/k/a Zocchi, Krysten K.
423 Walnut St.
North Adams, MA 01247
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/14/16
Stevens, David M.
Stevens, Melissa M.
a/k/a O’Connell, Melissa M.
27 Shoreline Dr.
Ware, MA 01082
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/31/16
Symiakakis, Nicholas
16 Partridge Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119-2128
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/10/16
Turnpike Acres Stove Shop
Dupuis, George E.
P.O. Box 374
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/07/16
Ugraz, Linda J.
9 Ruggles St.
Three Rivers, MA 01080
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/07/16
Wang, Chang Chi
91 Village Park Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/07/16
Wellington, Linda
135 Sunrise Terrace
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/14/16
The living room at the Sosin Center for Rehabilitation, like other areas of the facility, are meant to
evoke a home-like feel for residents preparing to return to their own homes.
The hallways in the Sosin Center for Rehabilitation are wide, allowing for freedom of movement for multiple individuals going about the business of regaining their independence.
The bedrooms, as BusinessWest observed on a recent tour, are simple but elegant, with mounted flat-screen TVs and adorned with paintings created by local artists. The bathrooms are large, well-appointed, and completely accessible to people with ambulatory challenges, and the spacious common living room is bathed in natural light.
Martin Baicker says the Green House model has been proven to improve rehab outcomes and reduce rehospitalization rates.
“When we show people the Sosin Center, it speaks for itself,” said Susan Halpern, vice president of Philanthropy for JGS Lifecare, which opened the Sosin Center to short-term residents this month. “It’s the kind of environment where you’d want your loved ones to be cared for.”
The facility is named after George Sosin, a JGS volunteer, family member, former resident, and supporter who left $3 million dollars to JGS Lifecare in support of the center, the largest contribution received in JGS’s 104-year history. It contains two households, each designed to accommodate 12 short-stay residents. All 24 rooms are private, with full baths, and each home has a shared living room, dining room, den, kitchen, and porch, which provides seasonal access to the outdoors.
JGS unveiled the Sosin Center and the neighboring Michael’s Café — which connects the short-term rehab facility with the Leavitt Family Jewish Home, the organization’s nursing home — as part of phase 1 of Project Transformation, a multi-pronged endeavor to, well, transform JGS’ many senior-care elements into facilities that truly reflect 21-st century healthcare.
Notably, JGS Lifecare partnered with the Green House Project to implement a small-house model of care at the Sosin Center that is slowly becoming recognized throughout the industry for its success in reducing medication use and rehospitalizations, while affording greater socialization and interaction with caregivers.
Martin Baicker, president and CEO of JGS Lifecare, noted that more than 64% of all short-stay residents at JGS are successfully discharged to the community, which is more than 10% above the national average, but he expects the percentage to rise further at the Sosin Center.
The Green House model extends well beyond aesthetics, Baicker said, encompassing a three-pronged philosophy — real home, meaningful life, and empowered staff.
The first element is an effort to make short-term residents feel at home, not on some institutionalized schedule. “You wake when you want, go to sleep when you want — and it also looks like your home, architecturally,” he said.
Meaningful life means giving people choices in their day, and the small number of units allows residents to build strong relationships with the staff, he went on. “They feel a real sense of engagement.”
As for empowered staff, this might be the most important element of all, Baicker noted. Typically, he noted, an organizational chart extends from the top down, but here, it’s a series of concentric circles with the resident at the center, and the certified nursing assistants representing the second circle. “They provide personal care, cooking, laundry, light housekeeping, activities — and this is given by the same person spending an awful lot of time with the resident, getting to know them.”
Susan Kline and Stephen Krevalin are co-chairing the $11 million capital campaign for Project Transformation.
The CNAs are supported by nurses; physical, speech, and occupational therapists; and perhaps a doctor, but still essentially make the day-to-day decisions about how the house is run, he explained. “That is totally, radically different than running a traditional nursing home.”
Of course, the Sosin Center isn’t a nursing home, which is why Halpern is happy that short-term rehab residents at JGS are no longer sharing space at Leavitt. “It’s not beneficial for someone to come in for rehabilitation and cohabitate with people in long-term care. They’re here short-term, getting ready to go home.”
Baicker agreed. “People in short-term rehab don’t want to feel like they’re in a nursing home.”
The Green House philosophy represents a stark change in the way the healthcare industry traditionally frames short-term rehab, Halpern added. “It’s person-centered care. You empower the residents to make decisions about how to model their daily lives and routines — when they get up, what food they eat. They have more say in their actual caregiving.”
Baicker said the outcomes of the Green House model have been impressive at other facilities that utilize it. Patients tend to need less medication, eat more food — because the scents of meals being prepared where they live activates their appetite — and engage in life in a more dynamic way, since they’re constantly engaged with the staff. “All those things combine to improve outcomes.”
Much of the rehabilitation incorporates activities residents will conduct once they’re back at home, from reaching shelves and preparing food to washing and bathing, said Susan Kline, who is co-chairing the $11 million capital campaign for Project Transformation with Stephen Krevalin. Both are longtime volunteers with the JGS Lifecare organization and former chairs of its board of directors.
Most Sosin residents will come from hospitals, but some from other settings, and while a small number may wind up in nursing homes, that’s rare; the idea is to prepare individuals to return to their homes and independence.
“The outcomes have proven to be much more successful in this setting than what occurs in other areas,” Kline added.
When Baicker came on board in 2012, JGS was already busy strategizing for the series of changes that would eventually become Project Transformation, including planned improvements to short-term rehabilitation and assisted living, as well as a revamp of the adult day health program to better serve a growing population of seniors in the early stages of dementia.
JGS Lifecare building committee members Frank Colaccino and Jeff Grodsky unveil the Sosin Center for Rehabilitation at the facility’s recent ribbon-cutting ceremony.
But he was one of the first in the organization to promote the Green House model, and when the board responded positively, team members started paying visits to other facilities that had incorporated it, from Mary’s Meadow in Holyoke to the Leonard Florence Center for Living in Chelsea.
“The board did their due diligence and decided this is the way we’re going to move,” he said. “And, ultimately, we want to expand this model to the long-term portion of the nursing home.” Indeed phase 2 of Project Transformation will turn to modernizing two 40-bed wings of the Leavitt Family Jewish Home in the Green House model.
Construction of the 24,000-square-foot Sosin Center and the adjoining kosher café began in June 2015, and both were dedicated at a ceremony last month shortly before their official opening.
The café is dedicated to the memory of the late Michael Frankel, who was an outspoken advocate for Project Transformation, Halpern said. “Naming the café in his honor is a permanent tribute not only to Frankel’s extraordinary commitment to the care of our elders at the highest standards, but also his vision for JGS Lifecare for generations to come.”
Krevalin hopes the café serves as a “beacon for the community,” noting that it connects the nursing home and the Sosin Center and is not only an ideal meal spot for residents, families, and staff, but for the public as well. “We’re hoping the community supports it.”
Project Transformation is far from the first time JGS leadership has moved away from traditional, stale facility design, Halpern said. As far back as the 1990s, the organization was renovating the nursing home and designing the Ruth’s House assisted-living facility to be more homelike and less institutional. “It’s all about making people feel comfortable in the environment where they’re living. The nursing home was built at a time when nursing homes were like hospitals, with nurses’ stations.”
Twenty years ago, a shift to a more home-like setting was still an innovative idea in healthcare, Baicker said. “You can’t underestimate the forward thinking of the leaders of this organization, making the common areas and dining areas less institutional. This [Project Transformation] is the continued evolution of that.”
“And believe me,” Kline added, “we’re already thinking about what’s next.”
Ruth’s House underwent some improvements as part of phase 1 as well, and phase 2, in addition to modernizing the nursing home according to the Green House model, will relocate and expand Wernick Adult Day Health Care to include a specialized Alzheimer’s program.
All this takes money — both phases were initially budgeted at $20 million but could eventually approach $23 million, Krevalin said — and more than 150 supporters have already contributed some $8.5 million to the capital campaign, which had an initial goal of $9 million but will be extended to $11 million.
“The initial response is heartening. It shows that many donors already understand the impact that our new facilities will have on the quality of life of our elders and others we serve,” Krevalin said. “Once people see Project Transformation, they will understand its impact, and they will want to be part of it.”
Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]
Karl Stinehart and Russell Fox say the new Rite Aid pharmacy on College Highway is one of many businesses that have made major investments in Southwick.
Sixteen years ago, Freda Brown inherited 120 acres of forestland in Southwick that her parents had purchased generations before.
“It’s a beautiful area that borders my backyard, and I wanted to preserve the open space and find something to do with it that was sustainable and that my children could inherit,” she told BusinessWest. “The last thing I wanted was to see it turned into a development.”
She came up with a viable option several years ago when she met Christopher Barden and Drew Gardner at an event in Southwick and they suggested turning it into a disc golf course, which, as the name suggests, is a facility in some ways similar to a golf track, where players throw flying discs at a series of laid-out targets.
They had developed other courses in the past, and today the three have become partners, with New England Disc Golf Center under construction and set to open on Brown’s land next spring with 18 holes that include tees for beginners and experts.
“It’s something affordable that the whole family can enjoy together,” Brown said, adding that plans are in place to add a nine-hole children’s course. “Southwick is a small, friendly town and a great place to live, and a disc golf course will enhance the recreational opportunities here.”
Russell Fox, chair of the town’s Board of Selectmen, says the disc-golf facility is just one of many ways in which the community has put recreation to use as an economic-development engine. Other examples include everything from four actual golf courses to the hugely popular Congamond Lakes, a boating haven for decades.
Overall, Southwick is resilient, and its property values have remained stable or increased during time periods when other towns saw a decline or were stagnant due to the economy, said Fox, who attributes this to the town’s desirable location; single tax rate; balance between commercial, residential, and open space; an excellent school system; and that wide range of recreational offerings that continues to grow.
“Disc golf has taken off, is fairly inexpensive, and offers a new way for young people to participate in a sport,” he said, adding that, in addition to the golf courses, the town is proud of its 6.5-mile rail trail, which gets more traffic every year as Westfield extends its adjoining rail trail.
Fox told BusinessWest that people travel along the trail from the center of Westfield to sites in Connecticut, and Southwick has some great restaurants accessible from parts of the trail.
“We’re working to improve the sidewalks that connect to it because they provide an entryway into our downtown as well as into smaller commercial areas,” he noted.
Still another major recreational attraction is motocross racing at the Wick, a world-class track built behind the American Legion. Last summer, the national Lucas Oil Pro. Motocross Championship returned there after a two-year absence and signed a new, three year contract.
“Having the nationals here again is a huge economic benefit not only for Southwick, but for the region,” Fox said, explaining that, although it’s a one-day event, it takes months to set up, which benefits local gas stations, eateries, hotels, and motels.
“The race attracts a wide range of fans and different categories of racers from all over the U.S., Europe, Australia, and Japan,” added Karl Stinehart, Southwick’s chief administrative officer.
Major improvements were made to the track and facility before the national race, and the promoter not only worked with the American Motocross Assoc. to meet its requirements, but created a strong social-media following and gained new affiliates. The event was held in July and broadcast live on NBC, and other races have been and will continue to be held there throughout the year.
In addition, Whalley Park has opened on 66 acres of land donated to the town by John Whalley III and Kathy Whalley, in honor of their son John Whalley IV. The new park increased the number of playing fields in Southwick, which is important as they didn’t have enough to accommodate demand.
“We’ve been approached by different organizations that want to rent our athletic fields, and we plan to begin letting outside groups use the facilities, which will help pay for the operating costs, expose people to our community, and add to our entertainment value,” Fox said.
The project is entering phase 2, and a $225,000 contract has been awarded to JL Construction Corp. in Agawam that will be paid for with Community Preservation Act (CPA) money and add lighting to two more fields.
“The townspeople voted to continue the CPA program, which allows us to continue investing in recreational and open-space pursuits,” Stinehart said.
For this edition, BusinessWest looks at the growth taking place in Southwick and other factors that continue to attract and stimulate economic development.
Rite Aid recently staged a grand opening for its new, $2.2 million, 11,000-square-foot building with a drive-thru on College Highway.
“They moved from the center of town and worked with the Mobil station next door to connect their driveways,” Fox said. “Good planning helped the traffic flow and makes it more convenient for customers of both businesses.”
The space that was occupied by Rite Aid filled quickly: it was leased to Dollar Tree, which opened a few weeks ago after a major renovation.
“Businesses have a strong desire to move here; we’re a growing community and get a lot of traffic from Northern Connecticut and the hilltowns via Route 57, as well as from Westfield,” Fox said, adding that the town’s industrial park has done very well.
One building that sat vacant for about a year will soon be occupied by Hudson Holding LLC, which manufactures filters and enclosures for the commercial aerospace market. Stinehart said the company outgrew its space in Connecticut and chose to relocate in Southwick, joining a number of businesses that have moved to the town from out of state as well as the local area.
“Nitor Corporation also expanded and received a special permit to sell guns and ammunition at its location on 5 Whalley Way,” Stinehart noted.
Infrastructure improvements are also underway. The Congamond Road sewer project is being extended to the Gillette Business District, which contains Dunkin’ Donuts, Ocean State Job Lot, and a new Pride station, and the improvements will allow them to grow help attract new ventures.
Residential growth is also occurring in town. High-end homes continue to be built around the Ranch Golf Course, and infrastructure work is underway for a 26-home development called Noble Steed.
“Our excellent school system is one of the reasons people want to live in Southwick,” Fox said, noting that a $69 million project was completed last fall that includes additions and upgrades to Woodland Elementary School, Powder Mill Middle School, and Southwick Regional School, which are all on one campus on Feeding Hills Road.
“The town has positioned itself to keep pace with the modern-day educational needs of youth in Southwick, Granville, and Tolland, which are part of the school district,” Stinehart added.
Town officials are also looking into net-metering credit arrangements with solar facilities to save money. They have an agreement with Nexamp solar farm in Hadley, which went online in October and is expected to result in a 15% savings, but hope to increase that amount.
“We’ve hired a consultant to find additional opportunities for net-metering credits,” Fox said, explaining that the work is being paid for by a $20,000 grant awarded jointly to the town and regional school district by the Mass. Department of Energy Resources.
Ongoing efforts to preserve open space are also gaining ground, as the town hopes to acquire a 144-acre parcel for sale on North Pond at Congamond Lakes.
The Mass. Department of Fisheries and Wildlife awarded Southwick money to help purchase it, and the Franklin Land Trust has embarked on a fund-raising effort to make up the difference in price.
Fox said the parcel is abutted by two different areas owned by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the state of Connecticut.
“If we’re able to purchase this parcel, the amount of preserved land here will total 800 acres that will be available for hunting, fishing, and hiking, as well as natural habitats which both states are trying to establish,” he told BusinessWest.
Stinehart added that the area is stocked for bird hunting, and the Congamond Lakes are stocked with fish and rated among the top freshwater fishing sites in the state.
Stinehart said the town’s location bodes well for further growth, and there is space for new businesses along the front of several parking lots in the Gillette area that would offer great visibility.
In addition, sand and gravel operations in the Hudson Road area, which is zoned industrial, will be forced to close within a few years as they will have removed the maximum amounts allowed, so that land will become available for reuse in the future.
“We feel encouraged by what is happening here. There are many things in our community that help us remain a desirable place to live, work, raise a family, own a business, and enjoy recreational activities,” he said.
With a location 20 minutes from Bradley International Airport, in close proximity to the Mass Pike, and a short drive to Springfield and Hartford, the town is likely to continue its forward progress as officials and department heads who have worked for the town for decades continue to help strike a balance between family farms, open space, small businesses, and its thriving industrial park.
Year Incorporated: 1775
Population: 9,563
Area: 31.7 square miles
County: Hampden
Residential Tax Rate: $17.10
Commercial Tax Rate: $17.10
Median Household Income: $73,555
Family Household Income: $83,314
Type of Government: Open Meeting; Board of Selectmen
Largest Employers: Big Y World Class Markets; Whalley Computer Associates; Southwick Regional School District
*Latest information available
PITTSFIELD — Berkshire Bank announced a new product, Teen Checking, its newest deposit product designed to promote financial responsibility and teach teens important money basics. As teenagers grow, they need to learn money basics, and that includes managing a checking account. Those skills might be more valuable today than ever before: 36% of college students at four-year institutions noted that overdrafting and managing a bank account are the leading causes of financial stress, according to the 2015 Money Matters on Campus survey by education technology firm EverFi and Higher One, a college financial-services company. Furthermore, 12% indicated they never check their balances because they are too nervous. The Teen Checking product is available to individuals aged 15 to 17 with an adult co-owner and is intended to provide teens the freedom to use their own debit card to make purchases and manage a checking account using online and mobile banking. The account has been tailored to meet the needs of teens, with a specific focus on immediate access. The convenience of account information is made possible through free online banking, e-statements, and mobile banking. In addition, the free debit card has a reduced limit for minors. Berkshire Bank’s website also provides financial-education resource options for teens and parents to explore and discuss. Starting a checking account early for teens is a key way to avoid pitfalls later. “It helps them learn concepts related to money and gives them valuable experience,” said Tami Gunsch, executive vice president, Retail Banking. “Remember that, while your child has watched you swipe a debit card for years, he or she may not fully understand how the transaction works.”
WESTFIELD — Dave and Karen Sweeney of Agawam recently purchased the assets of the former Extra Innings Westfield franchise from Nabil and Julie Hannoush of Westfield. On Nov. 1, they opened their own family-run baseball and softball training facility, Players Edge New England, in the same space at 99 Springfield Road, which they will lease from the Hannoushes. Like its predecessor, Players Edge New England will offer batting practice and player development to teams and individual baseball and softball players in the region, and the organization will also offer one-on-one coaching, practice space for the Players Edge Expos—a travelling youth baseball team—and group clinics for teams throughout the year. “We’re as committed to softball as we are to baseball,” said Dave Sweeney, co-owner. The facility is also open to the public daily from noon to 9 p.m., and is available to businesses and corporations as staff meeting, event, and retreat space. Additional hours are available upon request. Sweeney, a longtime entrepreneur and the owner of viz-bang! in Agawam, is excited to partner with his wife, Karen, in a venture that will also include their children, Jake Sweeney, 16, a pitcher and infielder on the Agawam High School varsity baseball team, and Julia, 13, who is active in swimming and music. Players Edge New England will offer tunnel rentals, or batting-cage rentals, for individual practice and player development; one-on-one coaching through the Coaches in Residence Program; practice space for the Players Edge Expos, a youth travelling baseball team that will compete in the NEAAU league this summer; ongoing group clinics for baseball and softball teams in the region; event space for area businesses and corporations; softball and baseball pitching machines for use by the public daily from noon to 9 p.m.; and video- and virtual-based baseball play via a Hit Trax machine.
NORTHAMPTON — For three weeks in November, employees of Webber & Grinnell Insurance Agency served meals to Friends of the Homeless clients and others in the community who would otherwise go hungry. Friends of the Homeless served more than 156,000 meals last year, he noted, and people suffering from mental illness or substance-abuse problems are highly visible on area streets and in parks, and of this homeless population, about 20% of are referred to as being chronically homeless. A profound economic transformation that has eliminated manufacturing jobs, coupled with a decline in the availability of low-cost housing, has contributed to the problem.
WESTFIELD — CJC Development Advisors, LLC has opened an office at 38 Elm St. in Westfield to support its growing client base in Western Mass. Local businesses that are growing and real-estate developers that are investing in projects have called on CJC Development Advisors to assist with tax incentives, development and permitting issues, and development management. CJC Development’s expertise is in land/real-estate development, construction project management, government relations, community relations, permitting, data, and financial analysis. Founder and Principal Jeffrey Daley has more than 15 years of experience in economic development, real-estate development, construction project management, government relations, and public-private partnership development. He has managed more than $500 million in private and public developments and program administration, and has managed projects ranging from $50,000 to $180 million.
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
203-215 Main St.
Ashfield, MA 01330
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Noah J. Decker
Seller: Scott A. Decker
Date: 11/01/16
BERNARDSTON
51 Fox Hill Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $282,400
Buyer: Joshua M. Mitera
Seller: Peck FT 2012
Date: 11/03/16
BUCKLAND
9 Laurel St.
Buckland, MA 01338
Amount: $152,000
Buyer: Lotus Yu
Seller: Christine Cusson
Date: 11/04/16
CHARLEMONT
127 Main St.
Charlemont, MA 01339
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: 127 Main St Realty LLC
Seller: Dennis C. Avery
Date: 11/02/16
COLRAIN
256 Thompson Road
Colrain, MA 01340
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Carl A. Purington
Seller: Purington, Myrtle L., (Estate)
Date: 11/01/16
DEERFIELD
196 Mill Village Road
Deerfield, MA 01342
Amount: $205,900
Buyer: Carl Davis
Seller: US Bank
Date: 11/01/16
GREENFIELD
36 Cleveland St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Michael D. Frank
Seller: Meehan, Elizabeth A., (Estate)
Date: 11/02/16
449 Country Club Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $119,000
Buyer: Bank Of America
Seller: Judith K. Boersma
Date: 11/08/16
645 Country Club Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Walter L. Williams
Seller: Robert P. Lafleur
Date: 11/01/16
58 Haywood St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $118,000
Buyer: Jordon Stempel
Seller: Wells Fargo Bank
Date: 11/09/16
172 Highland Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Lupinewood LLC
Seller: John G. Bailey
Date: 11/02/16
201 Munson St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $725,000
Buyer: Munson St. Properties LLC
Seller: Greenfield Savings Bank
Date: 11/04/16
40 Summer St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $177,000
Buyer: Lewis Zoey-Culver
Seller: David F. Bassett
Date: 11/02/16
HAWLEY
59 East Hawley Road
Hawley, MA 01339
Amount: $293,000
Buyer: Jonathan C. Schaefer
Seller: Eugene J. Tanguay
Date: 11/01/16
LEVERETT
346 Long Plain Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Daniel M. Levine
Seller: Donald R. Putnam
Date: 11/10/16
14 Richardson Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Amount: $314,000
Buyer: Jed Proujansky
Seller: Terry E. Gaberson
Date: 11/10/16
MONTAGUE
41 Court Square
Montague, MA 01351
Amount: $499,500
Buyer: Brittany J. Czarick
Seller: Janet G. Haas
Date: 11/10/16
NORTHFIELD
6 Ferncliff Ave.
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $163,000
Buyer: Angelica L. Beausoleil
Seller: Jennifer J. Newton
Date: 11/04/16
11 Lyman Road
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $136,833
Buyer: Wilmington Savings
Seller: Tamara L. Adams
Date: 11/02/16
54 New Plain Road
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $160,500
Buyer: Dawn M. Kazokas
Seller: Samuel J. Browning
Date: 11/04/16
ORANGE
72 Adams St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $124,500
Buyer: Matthew P. Hanks
Seller: John W. Griffiths
Date: 11/10/16
337 North Main St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $148,000
Buyer: Michael Gobeille
Seller: Kayla S. Rice
Date: 11/09/16
SHELBURNE
103 Mechanic St.
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Michael S. Bromberg
Seller: Susan M. Broadhurst
Date: 11/01/16
6 Warren Ave.
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Thomas P. Crean
Seller: Jeremy J. Schriber IRT
Date: 11/09/16
SHUTESBURY
294 West Pelham Road
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $545,000
Buyer: Rick B. Woodruff
Seller: William D. Kirtz
Date: 11/09/16
SUNDERLAND
109 East Plumtree Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $433,000
Buyer: Jorn Myre
Seller: Michael B. Stone
Date: 11/01/16
17 North Plain Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $253,500
Buyer: Eric S. Banach
Seller: Kevin W. Bernotas
Date: 11/09/16
HAMPDEN COUNTY
AGAWAM
387 Adams St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Daniel L. Welling
Seller: Sean P. Leahy
Date: 11/01/16
791 Barry St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $294,000
Buyer: Edward Rivers
Seller: Benoit L. Dion
Date: 11/10/16
31 Country Road
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $210,500
Buyer: Joshua A. Fournier
Seller: Marie T. O’Donnell
Date: 11/02/16
41 Debra Lane
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Ronald P. Brown
Seller: Gary T. Stone
Date: 11/02/16
37 Gunn Geary Lane
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $299,000
Buyer: Amy L. Boyd
Seller: Donna M. Christensen
Date: 11/10/16
71 Hall St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $187,900
Buyer: Susan M. Owen
Seller: Noel J. Girard
Date: 11/01/16
24 Highland Ave.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $193,000
Buyer: George Pascaru
Seller: Mikhail Taranenko
Date: 11/04/16
1129 Main St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Paulo A. Villegas
Seller: Claire O’Toole
Date: 11/09/16
437 South West St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Tatyana Kirilovich
Seller: Patricia L. Semanie
Date: 11/03/16
BLANDFORD
10 Maple Lane
Blandford, MA 01008
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Ryan J. Simmitt
Seller: Donald E. Blanchette
Date: 11/08/16
BRIMFIELD
34 Farmington Circle
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $458,000
Buyer: Michael A. Woytowicz
Seller: Hillside Development Corp.
Date: 11/09/16
CHESTER
114 Bromley Road
Chester, MA 01050
Amount: $292,500
Buyer: Michael T. Decker
Seller: Gary P. Marcoullier
Date: 11/03/16
7 Soisalo Road
Chester, MA 01011
Amount: $227,000
Buyer: Linda L. Malcovsky
Seller: Valerie A. Leone-Ragucci
Date: 11/04/16
CHICOPEE
165 Clarendon Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $149,197
Buyer: Wilmington Savings
Seller: Alexander Jovan
Date: 11/07/16
254 East Main St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $154,000
Buyer: Alejandro Marrero
Seller: Marie Tylek
Date: 11/04/16
1247 East Main St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $1,072,050
Buyer: DKRV Commercial Props. LLC
Seller: CEA Realty LLC
Date: 11/09/16
56 Fairview Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $151,453
Buyer: Citizens Bank
Seller: Darius J. Shepard
Date: 11/09/16
44 Gilmore St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $128,000
Buyer: Kenneth A. Allard
Seller: Dyan Viens
Date: 11/04/16
30 Leona Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Rebecca K. Stadnicki
Seller: Doris E. Mozdzanowski
Date: 11/10/16
854 Meadow St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Olatomide Ogunfeibo
Seller: Joshua A. Mozeleski
Date: 11/01/16
275 Moore St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $220,800
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Maryann Rogers
Date: 11/08/16
73 Sunflower Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $146,000
Buyer: Heather L. Huot
Seller: Michelle M. Cormier
Date: 11/08/16
EAST LONGMEADOW
154 Hampden Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: C&M Builders LLC
Seller: Household Finance Corp. 2
Date: 11/04/16
27 Maryland St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: C&M Builders LLC
Seller: Giuseppe V. Capua
Date: 11/04/16
59 Pioneer Circle
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Michael F. Collins
Seller: Nancy P. Jarvis
Date: 11/07/16
16 Sturbridge Lane
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $535,000
Buyer: Steven F. Tereso
Seller: Andrew D. Mees
Date: 11/01/16
17 Susan St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Kyle W. Barlow
Seller: Lloyd R. Hildreth
Date: 11/04/16
226 Westwood Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $252,000
Buyer: Daniel Leary
Seller: Sadia Kausar
Date: 11/04/16
HAMPDEN
70 Bennett Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $202,000
Buyer: Anna L. Marion
Seller: Michael J. Marion
Date: 11/04/16
576 Main St.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $155,900
Buyer: Mahlon Peterson
Seller: Stedman, Linda J., (Estate)
Date: 11/01/16
203 North Monson Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Anna Mascaro
Seller: Ellsworth M. Frey
Date: 11/07/16
6 Pinewood Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $259,900
Buyer: Beverly H. Hoekstra
Seller: Fresh Pinewood LLC
Date: 11/03/16
311 Wilbraham Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $137,600
Buyer: Wilson Wong
Seller: Deutsche Bank
Date: 11/02/16
HOLLAND
117 Butterworth Ext.
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $255,279
Buyer: George Markopoulos
Seller: US Bank
Date: 11/08/16
14 Union Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Antonia S. Young
Seller: Laurie E. Schlatter
Date: 11/10/16
HOLYOKE
17 Argyle Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $197,000
Buyer: Gina A. Mitchell
Seller: Curtis J. Hoye
Date: 11/04/16
881 Hampshire St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Kimberly M. Levy
Seller: Ducharme, Valda E., (Estate)
Date: 11/07/16
33 Mayer Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $272,500
Buyer: E. A. Delpilar-Morales
Seller: Bruno Taborelli
Date: 11/07/16
408 Southampton Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Mary Y. Xie
Seller: Seth R. Taylor
Date: 11/10/16
9-11 Thorpe Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $142,500
Buyer: Molly A. Smith
Seller: Thomas Ferrante
Date: 11/04/16
5 Upland Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $199,900
Buyer: John R. Wagner
Seller: Jean Griot
Date: 11/09/16
LONGMEADOW
1535 Longmeadow St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $189,900
Buyer: Patriot Living LLC
Seller: FHLM
Date: 11/10/16
99 Oxford Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $515,000
Buyer: Frances R. Cress
Seller: Wilbur M. Swan
Date: 11/04/16
LUDLOW
157 Carmelinas Circle
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $560,000
Buyer: Pio Real Estate LLC
Seller: Adelina Teixeira
Date: 11/02/16
22 Overlook Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $248,000
Buyer: Elias Colon
Seller: Eduardo Rego
Date: 11/07/16
106 Pine Cone Lane
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $259,850
Buyer: Richard J. Corsi
Seller: Elizabeth A. Gamache
Date: 11/08/16
26 Raymond St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $188,000
Buyer: Richard A. Belden
Seller: Kevin Czaplicki
Date: 11/03/16
MONSON
12 Macomber Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $303,000
Buyer: Gloria Rubin
Seller: Gregory S. Leighton
Date: 11/10/16
137 Munn Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Gregory S. Leighton
Seller: Craig R. Levesque
Date: 11/07/16
18 Wales Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $223,000
Buyer: Craig R. Peltier
Seller: David E. Mill
Date: 11/10/16
243 Wilbraham Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $349,000
Buyer: Mark Wegryn
Seller: Kenneth P. Barrepski
Date: 11/07/16
PALMER
90 Buckland St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Laura B. Yarbrough
Seller: Anthony A. Heropoulos
Date: 11/01/16
2030 Calkins Road
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: David E. Bachand
Seller: Christine F. Reim
Date: 11/04/16
1537 North Main St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: GR Properties LLC
Seller: Duda Realty LLC
Date: 11/08/16
1294 Ware St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $344,500
Buyer: PVU Palmer Realty LLC
Seller: Angelica Properties LLC
Date: 11/09/16
SPRINGFIELD
74 Aldrew Terrace
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $162,000
Buyer: Mark A. Fiore
Seller: Della Ripa Real Estate
Date: 11/04/16
34 Ashwood St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Raul Fraga
Seller: Bonnie E. Kiley
Date: 11/01/16
55 Bennington St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Dawn M. Amell
Seller: Angela Cosenzi
Date: 11/04/16
235 Bolton St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $123,711
Buyer: Elisa M. Ramos
Seller: Richard E. Eggleston
Date: 11/04/16
28 Cara Lane
Springfield, MA 01028
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Tajh Monroe-White
Seller: Dennis B. Chechile
Date: 11/01/16
233 Corcoran Blvd.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Timothy Harwood
Seller: Joshua A. Cusson
Date: 11/01/16
24 Crest St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $129,000
Buyer: Michelle Y. Sanabria
Seller: Dawn M. Amell
Date: 11/04/16
100 Cuff Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $123,500
Buyer: Margarita Cruzado
Seller: Sileski, Selma, (Estate)
Date: 11/07/16
71 Dearborn St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $125,450
Buyer: Deutsche Bank
Seller: Jessie Beckett
Date: 11/09/16
57 East Allen Ridge Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Manuel H. Medina
Seller: Shaun K. Allen
Date: 11/10/16
138 Gillette Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $163,400
Buyer: Julie-Ayn Montalvo
Seller: David P. Robillard
Date: 11/04/16
13-15 Groveton St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $132,000
Buyer: Yaritza Reyes-Colon
Seller: Victor F. Degray
Date: 11/10/16
142 Jasper St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Richard E. Rosado
Seller: Marques T. Stallings
Date: 11/10/16
185 Kerry Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $124,000
Buyer: North Harlow 4 LLC
Seller: Richard H. Brody
Date: 11/04/16
140-142 Laconia St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $171,000
Buyer: Francisco J. Miranda
Seller: Robert E. Wojtczak
Date: 11/02/16
106 Malden St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: London Realty LLC
Seller: Eric Marthinsen
Date: 11/07/16
47 Martin St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $167,900
Buyer: Tamika Rose
Seller: James Fiore
Date: 11/01/16
216 Mazarin St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $254,900
Buyer: Zadok Nwafor
Seller: Quetszy A. Melendez
Date: 11/10/16
59 Peekskill Ave.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $247,000
Buyer: Rosalia Esquilin-Santos
Seller: PCI Construction Inc.
Date: 11/01/16
117 Pennsylvania Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Donna Karam
Seller: Russomando, Mafalda A., (Estate)
Date: 11/10/16
156 Powell Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $167,000
Buyer: Jessica S. Alicea
Seller: Anthony T. Gamelli
Date: 11/10/16
241 Prentice St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $146,500
Buyer: Adam D. Bergeron
Seller: Gerrit M. Devries
Date: 11/04/16
11 Providence St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Massachusetts Mutual Life
Seller: Beth A. Washington
Date: 11/04/16
47-49 Somerset St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Ciaramar Vazquez-Collazo
Seller: Brian G. Bartish
Date: 11/09/16
192 Spikenard Circle
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $157,000
Buyer: Aletta N. Martinez
Seller: Peck, Linda M., (Estate)
Date: 11/01/16
39 Washburn St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $154,000
Buyer: Dionne Real Estate LLC
Seller: Dionne Real Estate LLC
Date: 11/04/16
8 Washington St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $131,000
Buyer: Jonathan A. Quinones
Seller: Francesco Lacopo
Date: 11/09/16
30 Wells St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $172,900
Buyer: Brenda Gonzalez
Seller: Christopher L. Edge
Date: 11/10/16
529 White St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $192,000
Buyer: Christian Negron
Seller: Jasmine Matta-Naylor
Date: 11/08/16
SOUTHWICK
296 Granville Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $383,000
Buyer: Joseph M. Coppa
Seller: David K. Recoulle
Date: 11/04/16
21 Lauren Lane
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Harry C. Lane
Seller: Ronald K. Vezina
Date: 11/10/16
352 North Loomis St.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $236,000
Buyer: Seth A. Lalli
Seller: Steven C. Girard
Date: 11/10/16
TOLLAND
28 Ona Road
Tolland, MA 01034
Amount: $653,125
Buyer: Linda M. Balicki TR
Seller: Robert Churchill
Date: 11/07/16
WALES
32 Main St.
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $229,900
Buyer: William B. Warren
Seller: Charles H. McKinney
Date: 11/04/16
WESTFIELD
211 Barbara St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $236,000
Buyer: Anthony J. Brignoli
Seller: Matthew J. Rinaldi
Date: 11/10/16
75 Brookline Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Nelya Balan
Seller: FHLM
Date: 11/04/16
5 Daylily Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $374,000
Buyer: Steven F. Exware
Seller: Bent Tree Development LLC
Date: 11/01/16
154 Glenwood Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $600,000
Buyer: Cui X. Lin
Seller: Brad A. Whitaker
Date: 11/09/16
162 Honey Pot Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Justin Dauplaise
Seller: Eric Dauplaise
Date: 11/03/16
174 Honey Pot Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Eric N. Dauplaise
Seller: Craig A. Kamps
Date: 11/03/16
8 Noble St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Luisa J. Sarabaez
Seller: Debra J. Barker
Date: 11/02/16
15 Oakcrest Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Erika Walas
Seller: Michael Foy
Date: 11/10/16
24 Pinewood Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Randy McGregor
Seller: V. Michael Clapper
Date: 11/10/16
261 Ponders Hollow Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $217,000
Buyer: Gerald L. Verardo
Seller: Ukrainian Selfreliance Credit Union
Date: 11/01/16
44 Sabrina Brooke Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Jason A. Lavallee
Seller: Jason A. Lavallee
Date: 11/04/16
169 Southwick Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $191,000
Buyer: Sarah G. Perreault
Seller: Amber M. Matos
Date: 11/04/16
50 Southview Terrace
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $227,500
Buyer: Christopher Morris
Seller: Michael L. Rickson
Date: 11/08/16
200 Southwick Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $2,700,000
Buyer: 2nd Oakwood Terrace LLC
Seller: Joseph F. Colette
Date: 11/04/16
25 William St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $119,000
Buyer: Deborah A. McLaughlin
Seller: FNMA
Date: 11/10/16
64 Woodside Terrace
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $143,000
Buyer: Anthony M. Fratamico
Seller: Marth-E LLC
Date: 11/09/16
WILBRAHAM
2525 Boston Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $3,708,000
Buyer: Prime Storage Boston Road
Seller: EBR LLC
Date: 11/09/16
26 Carla Lane
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $403,900
Buyer: Burt H. Fahy
Seller: Custom Homes Development Group
Date: 11/09/16
772 Main St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: Omar Ezziddin
Seller: Nazih Zebian
Date: 11/09/16
4 Monson Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $164,000
Buyer: Rachel M. Kellner
Seller: Deutsche Bank
Date: 11/04/16
10 Poplar Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $241,000
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Joyce Meiresonne
Date: 11/04/16
7 Ridgewood Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $124,900
Buyer: Moreland Realty LLC
Seller: Wilmington Savings
Date: 11/01/16
23 Ripley St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Karen D. Boisvert
Seller: Lynsey M. Cantalini
Date: 11/03/16
664 Stony Hill Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Ahmad A. Habboub
Seller: Carolyn J. Lacasse
Date: 11/10/16
WEST SPRINGFIELD
132 Bonair Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $131,000
Buyer: Maher Elkobersi
Seller: Prescott, Catherine E., (Estate)
Date: 11/03/16
56 Bonnie Brae Dr.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $199,000
Buyer: Heidi A. Gomez
Seller: Diana L. Marshall
Date: 11/08/16
243 Elm St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: A&R Cerrato LLC
Seller: Richard Gallerani
Date: 11/09/16
398 Elm St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Agnes Properties LLC
Seller: Maecar Realty Inc.
Date: 11/10/16
122 Highland Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01085
Amount: $214,000
Buyer: Home Equity Assets Realty
Seller: Home Equity Assets Realty
Date: 11/04/16
85 Jensen Circle
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $162,093
Buyer: Bank New York Mellon
Seller: Scott D. Ramsdell
Date: 11/02/16
255 Laurel Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Paul C. Shields
Seller: Lisa F. Reagan
Date: 11/04/16
27 Queen Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Abdul Majid-Rahmat
Seller: Marie A. Bovat
Date: 11/04/16
HAMPSHIRE COUNTY
AMHERST
20 Bridge St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Plumtree Real Estate LLC
Seller: Donald R. Morrow
Date: 11/08/16
177 Henry St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Kendra D. Weisbin
Seller: Patrick A. Ray
Date: 11/10/16
BELCHERTOWN
40 Autumn Lane
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Suzanne T. Jorey
Seller: Gary M. Martins
Date: 11/07/16
535 North Washington St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Brian L. Gendron
Seller: Piemonte, Peter T., (Estate)
Date: 11/10/16
94 Old Amherst Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $127,500
Buyer: Matthew J. Stone
Seller: Tolzdorf, Peter M., (Estate)
Date: 11/07/16
CHESTERFIELD
18 Soaker Road
Chesterfield, MA 01096
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Richard J. Labbee
Seller: Ellen J. Laroche
Date: 11/10/16
CUMMINGTON
73 West Main St.
Cummington, MA 01026
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Laura M. Goodspeed
Seller: Cynthia M. Volk
Date: 11/07/16
EASTHAMPTON
60 Division St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $349,900
Buyer: Kathleen McDade-Joss
Seller: Thomas M. Bacis
Date: 11/10/16
205 East St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Wendy S. Sawyer
Seller: Alexis J. Neubert
Date: 11/10/16
89 Holyoke St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Mary T. Martone
Seller: Leah P. Cartmell
Date: 11/01/16
26 Line St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $289,500
Buyer: Daniel D. Rist
Seller: Edward J. Gawle
Date: 11/04/16
298 Main St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $219,500
Buyer: K. Lesli Ligorner-Ritchie
Seller: Mai Stoddard
Date: 11/04/16
GRANBY
255 Carver St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Carl R. Parylak
Seller: Richard Ordynowicz
Date: 11/04/16
55 Ferry Hill Road
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Scott Family Properties
Seller: Henry, Dorothy L., (Estate)
Date: 11/04/16
107 North St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Samuel A. McClellan
Seller: John K. Rhicard
Date: 11/10/16
12 Woodside Terrace
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $235,901
Buyer: Citibank
Seller: Mark A. Dufault
Date: 11/02/16
HADLEY
117 East St.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: George J. Kermensky
Seller: Nelson P. & B. C. Lemay RET
Date: 11/01/16
24 Maple Ave.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $143,000
Buyer: Emerald City Rentals LLC
Seller: Timothy J. Porter
Date: 11/04/16
Spruce Hill Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Allards Farm Inc.
Seller: Westfield Bank
Date: 11/03/16
HATFIELD
161 North Hatfield Road
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Jerome J. Maczka
Seller: Jillian N. Minor
Date: 11/03/16
HUNTINGTON
154 County Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $243,500
Buyer: Joshua P. Driscoll
Seller: Rozanne L. Chouinard
Date: 11/10/16
MIDDLEFIELD
268 Skyline Trail
Middlefield, MA 01243
Amount: $162,000
Buyer: Louise M. Harlow
Seller: Peter Oligny
Date: 11/07/16
NORTHAMPTON
48 Blackberry Lane
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: J. R. Caldwell-O’Keefe
Seller: June W. Klaes
Date: 11/07/16
293 Elm St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $672,000
Buyer: Benjamin G. Steinberg
Seller: Harry G. Bertram
Date: 11/10/16
15 Garfield St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Philip R. Shumway
Seller: Pamela A. Parenteau
Date: 11/10/16
333 Prospect St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $444,500
Buyer: Sustaining Partners LLC
Seller: Thomas A. Porter
Date: 11/10/16
59 Sherman Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $311,500
Buyer: German Alvarado
Seller: Paula Chakravartty
Date: 11/07/16
41 Spruce Lane
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $395,000
Buyer: Marguerite A. Merrigan
Seller: Ivana Tonoff-Toone
Date: 11/04/16
PLAINFIELD
189 Prospect St.
Plainfield, MA 01070
Amount: $194,782
Buyer: Kim M. Vieira
Seller: Christine M. Brandon
Date: 11/01/16
SOUTH HADLEY
260 Amherst Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $292,000
Buyer: Brian M. Church
Seller: Richard M. Howe
Date: 11/03/16
29 Easy St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Jenny Malinowski
Seller: Zachary L. Stupak
Date: 11/09/16
325 Hadley St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $259,000
Buyer: Robert Stockton
Seller: Lindsay A. Berry
Date: 11/10/16
13 Hollywood St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $283,000
Buyer: Christina M. Ramos
Seller: James D. St.Hilaire
Date: 11/08/16
44 Judd Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Amanda Mackey-Desautels
Seller: Wallace J. Desautels
Date: 11/07/16
122 Main St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Anna M. Brick
Seller: Martin P. Zebrowski
Date: 11/04/16
14 Rivercrest Way
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $354,602
Buyer: Cathy A. Labrie
Seller: Rivercrest Condominiums
Date: 11/04/16
SOUTHAMPTON
61 Coleman Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $405,000
Buyer: Jonathan Jay
Seller: David Garstka Builders
Date: 11/08/16
10 Old Harvest Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $448,500
Buyer: Joel J. Haznar
Seller: Hamelin Framing Inc.
Date: 11/10/16
WARE
4 Coldbrook Dr.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Emmett Rooney
Seller: MRT Development LLC
Date: 11/04/16
44 Greenwich Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Shawn M. Kopec
Seller: David B. Poulin
Date: 11/10/16
197 River Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $212,000
Buyer: Cole R. Murphy
Seller: Francis M. Quinlan
Date: 11/10/16
WESTHAMPTON
79 Northwest Road
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $207,000
Buyer: Shayla R. Howe
Seller: Elizabeth G. Koziol
Date: 11/01/16
67 Pine Island Lake
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Daniel J. Letendre
Seller: Demers, Richard F., (Estate)
Date: 11/10/16
WILLIAMSBURG
8 Deer Haven Dr.
Williamsburg, MA 01039
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Polly F. McGrath
Seller: Jayne Benjulian
Date: 11/07/16
84 Goshen Road
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Pierre J. Belhumeur
Seller: Keith H. Snow
Date: 11/03/16
WORTHINGTON
57 Fairman Road
Worthington, MA 01098
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Eugene R. Labrie
Seller: Tompkins FT
Date: 11/10/16
Andrew Walmsley says VVM’s Manufacturing Accelerator has given him insights about how he can grow Volo Aero MRO in East Longmeadow.
Scott Decker recently had a five-hour meeting with a long-time customer, during which they discussed business in a way they never had done before.
“Communication is key, and it helped us bridge some gaps,” said the CEO of Decker Machine Works Inc. in Ashfield. “The customer had some expectations that hadn’t been verbalized, and the meeting helped us align our thinking and fill in blanks in our relationship.”
The dialogue was initiated as a result of Decker’s participation in Valley Venture Mentors’ Manufacturing Accelerator program, which is a pilot that launched in October. It’s a new type of venture for VVM, which historically has focused on matching entrepreneurs with mentors who help them avoid pitfalls and grow their fledging businesses.
The pilot is being run by Paul Silva, president of VVM, and Scott Longley, who owns Eidolon Consulting and has served as a VVM mentor for manufacturers.
“It’s an experiment because we’re not working with startups; some of these companies have been in business for three generations and have dozens of employees,” Silva said, noting that the average age of participants is 50.
One assignment each of the so-called ‘students’ received was to ask open-ended questions of existing and potential customers and continue these queries until they get to their bottom line in terms of need, expectations, and values, which is exactly what occurred in the recent meeting Decker had with a client.
The program has also helped students hone in on what they do best, because most ‘job shops,’ which is the term these small manufacturers go by, are generalists and don’t specialize in a specific type of product or offering.
Andrew Walmsley purchased Volo Aero MRO in East Longmeadow a year ago, and although his background includes business development, he says the course has been quite beneficial.
Paul Silva, left, and Scott Longley say VVM’s Manufacturing Accelerator is a pilot project to help local job shops define what they do best so they can focus on a specialty.
“It forced me to do outreach to a broad range of companies to understand what’s important to them,” he said, noting that he made more than 40 calls to supply-chain professionals, and if he hadn’t been accountable to the program, he would never have spent so much time defining exactly what they want, need, and value.
“The program makes you revisit beliefs. What was true 20 years ago isn’t necessarily true today, and one of the most important lessons I’ve learned is how important it is to focus and understand your core market,” he said, adding that there is a high cost to doing business in this region and participants have discovered they face the same challenges.
He likens running a business to tactical firefighting, and says it’s easy to get caught up in day-to day-problems. “But the program directs you back to the market and shows you where you can add value so you can be profitable,” Walmsley explained.
Longley told BusinessWest that it’s critical to ensure that manufacturing re-establishes the strong foothold it had generations ago when the Springfield Armory, Indian Motocycle, and other major companies were flourishing.
“Local job shops grew up around the Armory to support their needs as well as the needs of other large companies,” he noted, adding that hundreds of these small, local shops still exist, manufacturing components used in medical, aerospace, and other industries, and have tremendous capabilities due to expertise honed by decades of experience.
“Our goal is to help them find new customers and ways of doing business,” Longley said.
Silva noted that many small job shops were forced to close during the recession, and the focus for shops that remain open has often been simply to survive. “The world is getting more competitive, and they need to figure out how they can be the best in the world at something so they can thrive and add zeros to their bottom line.”
For this issue and its focus on manufacturing, BusinessWest talked with Silva and Longley to find out what the accelerator program involves and how its students — job-shop owners and executives — are integrating lessons honed from the syllabus into their operations.
VVM has a storied history of success in helping entrepreneurs, and its accolades have included participation in a White House initiative last fall as well as other prestigious honors.
Silva said the agency’s success prompted Vita Clark, executive vice president at MassDevelopment, to approach him last summer with the idea of starting a pilot to help local manufacturers develop an innovative mindset and synergistic approach to doing business. Silva thought it was a viable idea, and MassDevelopment gave VVM a $200,000 grant to fund the program.
Eight companies were selected to become students, and they have devoted a tremendous amount of time to the program, which consists of 10 six-hour sessions along with a great deal of homework they are held accountable for.
Sam Decker of Decker Machine Works Inc. in Ashfield says the VVM Manufacturing Accelerator has helped him gain new information about the needs of his customers.
Because it’s an experimental program, Silva noted, changes have been made along the way, and although initial sessions were scheduled on a weekly basis, they switched to every other week because the working professionals couldn’t afford to be away from their job shop for an entire day every week.
He told BusinessWest the program has been painful for students in some ways because it has exposed company weaknesses. But participants have discovered they share similar challenges that include problems such as not being able to afford a sales representative or being too small to get a good deal on health insurance.
Decker Machine has been in business for more than 30 years, and Decker admitted he was skeptical about the accelerator before he attended an audition night. But today, he feels honored that his company was selected to be part of the inaugural class.
“VVM is giving us the tools we need not only to survive, but to thrive,” he said. “It is really difficult today to be profitable and relevant in an ever-changing marketplace. We have lots of competition, especially overseas, and there are onerous regulations. But this program is offering us a different perspective by helping us to see different ways of looking at things. We have been doing business in the same way for so long that we are kind of myopic.”
Silva and Longley noted that many of the students were relying on 20th-century marketing tactics to generate business, included attendance at trade shows, cold calls, and word-of-mouth referrals. Most had not used social media before the accelerator began, and some didn’t have websites or only maintained very basic ones.
But that is changing, and new skills are being learned. The program requires students to make presentations to the class, which has not been easy because many were not used to speaking in front of an audience. They have taken on the challenge, however, and been able to tell their peers what they learned from calls and meetings with clients as well as from other assignments.
The purpose has been to grow and develop their comfort level on stage, and the participants have learned to include slides and other visuals to enhance what they have to say.
A few weeks ago, Decker said, program administrators staged a Shark Tank-like experience during which people were brought in to critique participants’ sales pitches. He joked that he was happy to be one of the first presenters to go before the “sharks got organized,” because the feedback was not always easy to hear.
“But they have learned, if they want to get a customer 10 times larger than any they currently have, they need to develop a good sales pitch,” Silva said.
Longley noted that constructive criticism is completely honest and direct. “We tell them what’s wrong in a non-hurtful way.”
But the larger goal is to work toward identifying what sets them apart from other local job shops.
“VVM wants us to specialize; it’s a way to survive and thrive in a market full of mediocre offerings,” Decker said.
Still, it has been difficult for them to define what makes them different from their local competitors, which is critical knowledge as it can help them focus on developing a specialized niche.
“There are different ways of specializing. For example, being able to turn something around in 24 hours is a very different skill than offering the cheapest price,” Silva noted.
However, detailed phone calls and meetings have led students to the realization that buyers have different priorities; some want things produced quickly, while others don’t need a part right away but are very appreciative when a manufacturer can store it for them or delay a shipment, because it helps them manage their own inventory storage cost.
“About 80% of what we teach them is talk, listen, and ask open-ended questions about what is important to their customers,” Silva noted. “In addition to probing questions, they’ve had to ask for referrals, and they have been able to branch out and build foundations as they move out of their comfort zones.”
The students have also been inspired by speakers from companies with histories of enviable growth, including the chief strategist at Yankee Candle and the CEO of FloDesign Sonics.
As a result of their shared experiences, new alliances have been forged between these competitors who often didn’t know each other well before the class; for example, Deckers’ son recently helped Walmsley with search-engine optimization.
“The group members have come to know each other and want to help each other,” Decker said. “We all have similar issues, and if we can bond together, we’ll be stronger as a group as well as individually.”
The pilot program will end Jan. 30, and putting lessons to work will not be easy.
“It’s almost human nature to fall back into old habits, but we believe our students can be successful, and we truly want that to happen,” Silva said.
The course, he added, has been aimed at helping them discover how they can add jobs and increase revenue by working differently, and it will take time to digest and implement the lessons. “It’s been painful for every single one of the participants to be in the class.”
But the ultimate goal is for them to use the skills and expertise gained from decades of manufacturing in a new way that keeps pace with today’s ever-changing marketplace.
