Month: February 2017

SPRINGFIELD — The Western New England University College of Pharmacy will hold its seventh annual Continuing Pharmacy Education and Preceptor Development Conference on Thursday, March 16 from 8:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Rivers Memorial Hall. The conference is one way the College of Pharmacy supports the educational needs of pharmacists in the region.

Hundreds of regional pharmacists from New England participate each year in the full-day training program, which will provide insight into legal issues impacting the pharmacy profession, preceptor development, and updates on clinical therapeutics.

The workshops this year include “Naloxone: How It Will Impact the Community,” with Victoria Celetti, PharmD; “Drug Therapy in the Elderly,” with Corey Laskey, PharmD, BCPP; “Annual Pharmacy Law Review,” with David Baker, BS Pharm, MBA, JD; “Patient-centered Care,” with Katelyn Parsons, PharmD, RPh; and “The Focus of Pharmacy Education,” with Kim Tanzer, PharmD.

Upon completion of the program, attendees will earn up to six contact hours of ACPE-accredited continuing pharmacy education. There is no charge to attend the conference, but advanced registration is required. To register, visit wnerxce.org. For more information, contact Joanne Moore at [email protected] or (413) 796-2046.

For more information about the other training opportunities at the Western New England University College of Pharmacy, e-mail Kim Tanzer, assistant dean, Experiential Affairs, and Continuing Education administrator, at [email protected].

Annual HCC Jazz Festival Celebrating 20th Year

By BusinessWest Staff February 28, 2017

HOLYOKE — Jazz icons have performed at the annual Holyoke Community College (HCC) Jazz Festival for 20 years, but, according to Robert Ferrier, the festival organizer and one of its founders, the two-day event has always been more about education.

Each year, eight to 12 high schools and some area colleges bring their music students to the festival to watch, play, jam, and attend clinics and workshops. It gives students an opportunity to meet other emerging musicians, form friendships, and exchange ideas. It’s also a lot of fun, he said. The only thing students don’t do is compete.

“I love it,” said Ferrier, a jazz guitarist and HCC music professor. “It’s educational. No one leaves thinking they lost.”

The annual festival will celebrate its 20th anniversary March 10-11 with jazz trombonist Steve Davis as guest artist. Davis, a renowned trombonist who has played with some of the greatest performers in jazz. A graduate of the Hartt School’s Jackie McLean Institute at the University of Hartford in Connecticut, he began his career with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, later playing with McLean’s group. He has taught alongside McLean at the Hartt School and Artists Collective.

The concept of a regional jazz festival began in 1998 with Ferrier kicking around ideas with Dan Oberholtzer, the former chairman of HCC’s Music Department, and Oberholtzer’s son Chris, a jazz trombonist who was also teaching at HCC.

At the time, nothing like it existed in the area. The concept of a jazz festival for high-school students was a novel idea. Right away, musicians from the Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter School and high schools in Westfield, Holyoke, Amherst, Easthampton, and Springfield, among others, joined in. Soon, local colleges began participating. This year, for the first time, middle-school students from Westfield will also take part.

“We started this, and a year later UMass started one, too,” Ferrier said of the larger festival that generally comes a month after the HCC event. “We start making plans in September.”

The structure of the festival has not changed significantly in 20 years. For the Friday-night kickoff concert, the guest performer plays with the Amherst Jazz Orchestra under the musical direction of David Sporny, in the Leslie Phillips Theater in the college’s Fine and Performing Arts building, beginning at 8 p.m.

“It’s a special event,” said Sporny, a former trombone professor at UMass who has brought his large jazz orchestra to the festival every year. “The festival is not an arts war. It’s not a competition. It’s all educational. The percentage of kids that go on to play professionally is small, but for the kids involved in music, it helps them learn discipline. And the ones who are really passionate about music find each other there.”

The festival continues on Saturday, March 11, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with big band and jazz combo performances by high-school and HCC students. Clinics, workshops, and jam sessions will be held throughout the day, with Davis participating in music clinics at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

All Saturday events are free and open to the public, including the closing concert from 4 to 5 p.m. in the Leslie Phillips Theater.

HMC Receives Lids for Love Donation from Eighth-grade Student

By BusinessWest Staff February 28, 2017

HOLYOKE — The Holyoke Medical Center (HMC) Oncology Department recently received a donation of more 150 hats from 14-year-old Holyoke resident Cameron Boucher.

Cameron, an eighth-grade student at Granite Valley Middle School in Monson, was assigned to complete a community-service project for school. He wanted to choose a project in memory of Danny Boyle, a Holyoke firefighter who worked with Cameron’s father, Mike Boucher. Boyle, who was often seen sporting a baseball cap, lost his battle to brain cancer in 2008.

With the connection between Boyle and baseball caps, Boucher launched Lids for Love as his community service project. Donation boxes were placed at Holyoke City Hall, Holyoke Fire Department headquarters, and Granite Valley Middle School in Monson.

“Danny was always a great big fan of baseball caps. Everywhere he went, he was usually informal and always had his hat on, especially Patriots and Red Sox,” said his widow, Debbie Boyle. “His affinity to hats was long before he was diagnosed, but it was so very important to him while he was going through treatment and losing his hair.”

The hats will be distributed to cancer patients in need. Helen Arnold, director of Oncology and Community Benefit at HMC, noted that “we have never received this type of donation of baseball caps before, and we have a lot of men and women patients who will benefit from this donation. We really appreciate the contribution.”

‘Is Sustainable Food Sustainable?’ Lecture Slated for March 2

LONGMEADOW — New York Times featured chef Franny Krushinsky will visit Bay Path University on Thursday, March 2, to present on the topic, “Is Sustainable Food Sustainable?” The lecture will take place from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in Breck Suite located in Wright Hall on the university’s Longmeadow campus.

Krushinsky is a certified holistic nutrition counselor at the Institute of Integrative Nutrition in New York City and will showcase how to make sustainable food approachable, comprehensible, and easily adaptable to people’s daily lives. Krushinsky has worked with celebrity chefs and catered for famous companies such as Martha Stewart, Ralph Lauren, and Diane von Fursteberg.

This event is part of Bay Path’s Kaleidoscope series, which fosters openness, curiosity, and dialogue concerning issues and topics in local and global communities, and is free and open to the public. Registration is strongly encouraged and available at www.baypath.edu/events-calendar.

Rick’s Place Receives $10,000 Grant from New York Life Foundation

WILBRAHAM — Rick’s Place recently received a $10,000 Grief Reach grant from the New York Life Foundation, which will enable the organization to make significant improvements to its technological capacities, including major website enhancements.

The New York Life Foundation created the Grief Reach program to help providers overcome barriers to bringing grief-support services to youth not served by existing bereavement programs. One hundred and ninety-five Grief Reach grants totaling nearly $6 million have been awarded since the program’s inception in 2011. The New York Life Foundation has been one of the leading funders in the childhood-bereavement field, investing more than $30 million to date in support of grieving children and their families.

Realtor Assoc. Inducts New Members, Presents Awards

SPRINGFIELD — The general membership meeting of the Realtor Assoc. of Pioneer Valley (RAPV) to induct new members and present the 2016 President’s Awards took place on Feb. 16 at the Login Cabin in Holyoke.

The 190 attendees enjoyed statements from President Richard Sawicki, immediate Past President Lou Mayo, CEO Ben Scranton, and guest speaker Jamie Moore, National Assoc. of Realtors Region I vice president. Six new Realtors were induced into membership by RAPV Secretary Susan Drumm.

The President’s Award is presented to those Realtors who have shown exemplary involvement in the association and outstanding sales activity throughout the year. A combination of participation in membership meetings, networking events, and service to various committees, along with overall sales criteria, contribute to qualification for the award. A total of 64 Realtors were recognized with a President’s Award.

Meyers Brothers Kalicka Announces Two Promotions and a New Hire

HOLYOKE — Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C. (MBK) announced the promotion of Kara Graves, CPA from audit and accounting senior associate to manager, and the promotion of Joe Vreedenburgh from audit and accounting associate to senior associate. Additionally, MBK welcomed Nathan Nicholson to the firm as a Tax senior associate.

Graves, who has been with MBK since 2011, has spent the last six years developing a diversified technical skill set with a focus in the company’s commercial audit niche. She has also had the opportunity to develop a leadership skill set, serving as the in-charge accountant on a variety of large-scale projects. During that time, she has demonstrated her ability to lead teams through challenging projects, all while delivering a quality client service experience. Before coming to MBK, Graves worked as an associate at a regional public accounting firm in Westwood. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Roger Williams University and a master’s degree from Western New England University.

Vreedenburgh, who was promoted to senior associate in the audit and accounting niche, has been with MBK since 2014. His promotion is the result of his continued commitment to technical development, excellent client service, and team-oriented approach. As a senior associate, he will be leveraging his 10 years of accounting experience to help lead teams in conducting the audit process. He specializes in commercial audits and accounting, employee-benefit plans, not-for-profit entities, and individual and business taxation. He earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of Washington and holds an master’s degree from UMass Amherst. He is a member of the AICPA and MSCPA and treasurer of the Hitchcock Center for the Environment.

Nicholson comes to MBK from the Ayco Company, L.P., a subsidiary of Goldman Sachs in Latham, N.Y., where he worked as a tax associate, handling individual, trust, and gift-tax returns for high-net-worth individuals. He has a range of experience working with governmental, nonprofit, and for-profit entities, including banking, manufacturing, healthcare, real estate, and small family-owned businesses. He holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Siena College. He has mentored high-school business classes on the basics of tax preparation and financial planning.

“Kara and Joe have worked hard to develop themselves technically and as leaders within our organization,” said partner Howard Cheney, CPA. “Our succession plan demands that our next generation be not only technically competent, but ready to deliver premier service and value our clients have come to expect. We are confident in Kara and Joe’s ability to provide that exceptional experience, and Nathan’s addition to our team only serves to strengthen our next generation.”

AIC Announces 100% Pass Rate for Occupational Therapy Program

SPRINGFIELD — American International College (AIC) announced that its master’s-level occupational therapy pass rate for 2016 is 100%, as designated by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy Inc. (NBCOT).

NBCOT is a not-for-profit credentialing agency that provides certification for the occupational-therapy profession, setting a world-class standard for certification of occupational-therapy practitioners. It also works with state regulatory authorities and employers, providing information on credentials and professional conduct. NBCOT develops, administers, and continually reviews its certification process based on current and valid standards that provide reliable indicators of competence for the practice of occupational therapy.

Occupational therapists are healthcare professionals, committed to providing safe and effective occupational-therapy services to children, adults, the elderly, and communities. NBCOT initial certification is a requisite for licensure in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. To be eligible for certification, the OTR (occupational therapist registered) or COTA (certified occupational therapy assistant) candidate must meet specific eligibility requirements, and to maintain certification, they must satisfy the professional-development requirement and agree to abide by the organization’s practice standards and code of conduct.

According to Cesarina Thompson, dean of AIC’s School of Health Sciences, “we are extremely proud of this accomplishment at American International College. Employment for occupational therapists is projected to grow by 29% through 2022, a much faster growth than the average for all other occupations. With the growing demand for rehabilitation and disabilities services, there is a need to prepare occupational therapists who will be equipped to practice in an evolving and complex healthcare system and advocate for the profession. As 2017 marks the 100th year of the existence of occupational therapy, this achievement underscores the centennial vision for the practice.”

In addition to the master’s-level OT program at AIC, the college launched a new online post-professional occupational therapy doctorate (OTD) program last fall. The online program, approved by the New England Assoc. of Schools and Colleges, is designed to create faculty and educator leaders for the future who incorporate their occupational-therapy knowledge with experience from clinical practice, research, education, and advocacy while integrating the core philosophy of the profession.

Dowd Insurance Agencies Promotes David Griffin Jr. to Vice President

HOLYOKE — The Dowd Insurance Agencies announced that David Griffin Jr. has been promoted to vice president. Griffin is based out of the Holyoke office and works with the other branches based in Hadley, Southampton, Ludlow, and Indian Orchard.

“The Dowd Insurance Agencies is the oldest family-owned agency in Massachusetts,” said David Griffin Sr., “and I am very proud that my son has chosen to continue that legacy of family leadership. We look forward to the future with a strong management team in place. Now a part of that team, Dave earned his place by honing in on his sales and customer-service skills and adding responsibilities that benefit our internal team and our customers.”

Griffin began his role as vice president this past December and looks forward to continuing to grow the organization through new-business development, strategic initiatives, operational efficiency, and managing the firm’s use of technology.

“Dave has grown considerably in his evolving role here at Dowd,” said John Dowd Jr., president and CEO of the Dowd Insurance Agencies. “While sales is his primary function, his aptitude and enthusiasm for technology has been a welcome skill set for our agency, and he is now in charge of IT here at Dowd. Dave has demonstrated a command of these responsibilities in a relatively short period of time. We decided it was time to make him an officer of the corporation where he can interact regularly with senior management and help manage the overall direction of the agency going forward.”

David Griffin Jr. has been a member of the Dowd team since June 2009. He began his career in the insurance industry as a property and casualty underwriter for Liberty Mutual with stops in Schaumburg, Ill. and Charlotte, N.C., before coming back to Western Mass. He is a 2007 graduate of Bentley University in Waltham, where he earned his degree in finance, and he received his designation as a certified insurance counselor in 2014. Currently, Griffin is an active member of the community, serving on the boards of directors for the Holyoke Rotary Club, the Sisters of Providence Health System (foundation board), and Wistariahurst. Additionally, he also supports the United Way of Pioneer Valley as a member of the resource development committee.

Pride Welcomes David Horgan as Director of Advertising

SPRINGFIELD — David Horgan was recently named director of Advertising for Pride Markets. His focus has been launching the Pride 100 anniversary celebration, with outreach through television, radio, and a newly launched website.

His experience includes creating the early Gary Rome and Marcotte Ford TV campaigns, as well as election commercials for more than 30 winners, including U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, and state Sen. James Welch.

Previously, Horgan was director of Marketing for 1st Alliance Lending in Hartford. As part of the ongoing Pride Gives Back program, he teaches media and filmmaking to inner-city children at the Springfield Conservatory of the Arts on Wednesdays.

Realtor Assoc. of Pioneer Valley Welcomes Ruby Pontbriand

SPRINGFIELD — Ruby Pontbriand has joined the Realtor Assoc. of Pioneer Valley as its marketing and communications director. She brings more than five years of experience, having previously served as a corporate marketing communications specialist at MAPFRE Insurance in Webster.

Previous positions include front office manager and sales director at the Hampton Inn in Sturbridge. For two years, she served as a peer advisor at the Worcester State University Academic Success Center. Pontbriand is a 2011 magna cum laude graduate of Worcester State University with a major in communications and a concentration in public communications, with a minor in theatre.

Additional staff changes announced by the 1,600-member trade association include the following title changes for current staff: Laura Herring from education coordinator to director of operations, and Kim Harrison from membership and outreach coordinator to membership and meetings coordinator.

United Personnel Promotes Sarah Knowlton, Molly Desroches

SPRINGFIELD — United Personnel announced the recent promotion of two staff members: Sarah Knowlton and Molly Desroches.

Knowlton, formerly a junior recruiter and administrative coordinator for the Professional Staffing Division in Springfield, has been promoted to the Light Industrial Staffing Division’s recruiter position. She has been with United Personnel for two and a half years. In her new role, she will work on the candidate pipeline for some of United Personnel’s largest clients. Knowlton is currently enrolled in the business administration program at Holyoke Community College in pursuit of her associate degree.

Desroches, formerly a Light Industrial Staffing senior recruiter, has been promoted to staffing consultant for United Personnel’s Professional Staffing Division. Desroches, hired the same day as Knowlton, will serve as a resource for United Personnel’s clients and candidates, overseeing contract and direct-hire placements. She holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Bryant University. She is captain of a Holyoke recreational soccer team and an ambassador for the Holyoke Chamber of Commerce.

Both Knowlton and Desroches serve on United Personnel’s social-media team, leveraging their human-resources knowledge to create content for various social-media platforms.

“The United team is proud to see two colleagues earn promotions as part of our ‘promote from within’ policy,” President Tricia Canavan said. “We look forward to the innovation and creativity they will bring to their new roles.”

DevelopSpringfield to Host Celebrate Springfield Dinner Event

SPRINGFIELD — DevelopSpringfield will host its sixth annual Celebrate Springfield dinner event on Wednesday, March 15 in celebration of Springfield and the many accomplishments the community has achieved over the past year along with exciting new initiatives underway.

The event will take place from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the MassMutual Center in Springfield. Festivities will include a reception with live music by the Eric Bascom Trio, networking, a cash bar, and hors d’oeuvres, followed by dinner and a fun, informative panel conversation and award presentations.

Panelists will include Secretary Jay Ash, Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development for the Commonwealth; Kevin Kennedy, chief Development officer for the city of Springfield; and Jay Minkarah, president and CEO of DevelopSpringfield. The panel will be moderated by Lisa Wong, former mayor of Fitchburg.

The platinum sponsor is MassMutual Financial Group. Many other local businesses and organizations are also supporting the event as sponsors and participants. Sponsorship opportunities are still available.

DevelopSpringfield will once again present its Partner in Progress Award to recognize the outstanding contributions of four individuals toward revitalization in Springfield. This year’s honorees are Gumersindo Gomez, executive director of the Bilingual Veterans Outreach Center; Sarah Page, senior vice president, Community Building and Engagement for HAPHousing; Timothy Plante, chief administrative and financial officer for the city of Springfield; and Gordon Pulsifer, president and CEO of First Resource Development Co. In addition to the program and award presentations, Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno will offer greetings.

The celebration is a benefit event; all proceeds will support DevelopSpringfield’s redevelopment initiatives, projects, and programs. More than 500 attendees, including state and city officials, leaders from the business and nonprofit communities, and local residents are expected to come together in support of ongoing efforts to advance development and redevelopment projects, stimulate and support economic growth, and further the revitalization process within the city.

Registration and sponsorship information is available on DevelopSpringfield’s website at www.developspringfield.com or by contacting Paige Thayer at (413) 209-8808 or [email protected]. The cost is $100 per person, and RSVP is requested by March 1.

Bay Path Signs Agreement with WNEU School of Law

SPRINGFIELD — Bay Path University and Western New England University’s School of Law recently signed a 3+3 articulation agreement that allows undergraduate students attending Bay Path to apply for admission to the law school and begin their legal education during their senior year. This could shorten the time for students to earn both their bachelor’s and JD degrees from seven years to six years.

“We are so proud to offer this opportunity for our students to pursue JD degrees,” said Bay Path Provost Melissa Morriss-Olson. “The 3+3 program not only enhances the strength of the existing partnership between our institutions, but provides our students with expanded access to the education they need to complete a cost-effective degree in law. I am very grateful for attorney Justin Dion’s leadership on Bay Path’s behalf in bringing this to fruition.”

Law impacts virtually every area of modern society. The 3+3 law program enables students to merge two passions — their primary major and an interest in law. Political science majors may use law as a stepping stone to holding political office. Accounting majors may find growing opportunities in tax law. Common majors through which students can develop legal skills include English, business, history, political science, economics, mathematics, and health sciences.

School of Law Dean Eric Gouvin explained that the program “will open up opportunities for undergraduate students who want to focus a law degree in the field of study they are passionate about, and save them precious time and money in the process. While many students will find this arrangement attractive, it may be especially appealing to students who are returning to school later in life following a military deployment or after devoting time to family matters.”

With an emphasis on the development of practical lawyering skills, the JD program provides extensive experiential opportunities in legal clinics and externships. The 3+3 program becomes effective beginning in the 2017-18 admission cycle for students planning to begin law school in the fall of 2018.

Tickets Available for Difference Makers Celebration on March 30

SPRINGFIELD — Seats are still available for the ninth annual Difference Makers award program, staged by BusinessWest, to be held on Thursday, March 30 at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House in Holyoke.

The winners, profiled in the Jan. 23 issue and at businesswest.com, are the Community Colleges of Western Mass. (Berkshire Community College, Greenfield Community College, Holyoke Community College, and Springfield Technical Community College); Friends of the Holyoke Merry-Go-Round; Denis Gagnon Sr., president and CEO of Excel Dryer Inc.; Junior Achievement of Western Mass.; and Joan Kagan, president and CEO of Square One.

Tickets to the event cost $65 per person, with tables of 10 available. To order, call (413) 781-8600, ext. 100.

Difference Makers is a program, launched in 2009, that recognizes groups and individuals that are, as the name suggests, making a difference in this region. Event sponsors include First American Insurance; Health New England; JGS Lifecare; Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C.; Northwestern Mutual; O’Connell Care at Home; Royal, P.C.; and Sunshine Village.

Cooper’s Mardi Gras Party to Benefit Parish Cupboard

AGAWAM — On Tuesday, Feb. 28 from 5 to 7 p.m., Cooper’s Gifts Apparel Home at 161 Main St. in Agawam will host a Mardi Gras event that will help fill the shelves at the Parish Cupboard while spotlighting unique local businesses.

“Cooper’s Parties with Purpose have become legendary. This event will allow other fine businesses here in our area to shine with us, and we can all have fun and do good for those in need,” said owner Kate Gourde.

Fat Tuesday is known to be a day of indulgence before Lent begins. The theme of this event is “Luxuries & Indulgences.” Cooper’s and the participating businesses will offer a variety of prizes for raffle. Guests will receive one drawing entry for every non-perishable food item they donate. Additional drawing entries may be purchased, with all proceeds going to the Parish Cupboard.

“This area is home to so many top-notch businesses, and this is a terrific opportunity to introduce our guests to what our neighborhood has to offer,” Gourde said. Guests will enjoy spa services by Massage Haven & Abella’s Skin, Lash & Nail Boutique, and wine and cheese.

Free childcare will also be provided. “We don’t want moms to feel like they have to miss this great event because they can’t find a sitter. Bring the kids, and we’ll have staff on hand to keep them busy while you enjoy yourself,” Gourde said.

Cooper’s will offer a spring chiffon top ($25 value) as a free gift with a $30 purchase, while supplies last (limit one top per customer). In the event of inclement weather, the Mardi Gras Party will be postponed to Wednesday, March 1.

FHREB Announces One-stop Career Center Service Provider

GREENFIELD — The Franklin Hampshire Regional Employment Board (FHREB) announced that the Franklin Hampshire Employment and Training Consortium (FHETC) in Greenfield has been selected to provide one-stop career-center services to Franklin and Hampshire counties and the North Quabbin region for the next four years, through June 2022.

The federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act requires that resources to serve disadvantaged adults, dislocated workers, and youth through public employment centers be put out to bid every four years. Prospective providers must submit a detailed plan for marketing, recruitment, assessment, training, and placement of job seekers, as well demonstrate solid and successful experience working with target populations including but not limited to veterans, people with disabilities, and those on transitional assistance.

A team of local partners and REB members from the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission, senior-employment-service programs, the Literacy Project, and several other organizations, as well as private-sector employers and state organizations, developed the request for proposals and conducted the review process. A final recommendation was made to the mayors of Greenfield and Northampton, the lead elected officials for the Franklin-Hampshire workforce region, who accepted the recommendation.

“FHETC has been providing related services for years and could have rested on their laurels and submitted a business-as-usual proposal,” said FHREB Director Patricia Crosby. “But the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act has a heightened emphasis on demand-driven services and customer-centered design. The FHETC management team took on the new challenges and responded with creativity and gusto. We think area employers and job seekers will continue to greatly benefit from their responsiveness.”

Meghan Avery Promoted at Unemployment Tax Control Associates

SPRINGFIELD — Unemployment Tax Control Associates Inc. (UTCA), a national unemployment-insurance service provider based in Springfield with an office in Boston, announced the promotion of Meghan Avery to director of Operations.

Avery draws expertise from her undergraduate studies at Hofstra University and brings nearly a decade of professional experience to UTCA, six of which were gleaned in-house. She joined the team as senior analyst in 2011, quickly advancing to lead analyst and then Client Services manager, before her most current promotion.

As director of Operations, she will oversee client services and all aspects of the claims department, management education, and sales functions. She will manage key areas of the operational budget and employee development. Additionally, liaising with the CEO and director of Finance, she will be tasked with deliverables related to the company’s financial objectives, profitability, and alignment of corporate strategic goals.

“Meghan’s promotion is certainly well-deserved. In addition to commendable qualifications and experience, she has demonstrated success in-house relative to operational performance,” said Tim Phelan, chief legal counsel and vice president of Client Services. “Drawing on her expertise in the cost-management area of our business, Meghan’s talents have supported the growth of UTCA, furthering the company’s ability to effectively speak to our value proposition. She is a rising star at UTCA and embodies our mission of providing the best service in the industry focusing on the client, first and foremost.”

Tanglewood to Launch $30 Million Expansion Project

LENOX — The Boston Symphony Orchestra plans to launch a $30 million expansion of its Tanglewood campus in Lenox, creating a new complex of performance, dining, and rehearsal buildings aimed at expanding the summer music festival’s offerings and improving facilities for musicians, the Boston Globe reported.

The 24,500-square-foot complex will house a new audience-engagement initiative called the Tanglewood Learning Institute and enhance the Tanglewood Music Center, the BSO’s summer academy, as well as upgrades to the rest of the 524-acre campus.

The Tanglewood Learning Institute will offer visitors up-close experiences with musical programming, including access to lectures, performances, master classes, rehearsals, panel discussions, films, and other activities.

Last year, some 350,000 visitors visited Tanglewood, where attractions included not only the symphony under music director Andris Nelsons, but also the Boston Pops and a range of guest artists in a variety of genres.

Chamber Corners

www.easthamptonchamber.org

Chamber Corners Departments

1BERKSHIRE

www.1berkshire.com

(413) 499-1600

• Feb. 22: Good News Business Salute, 4:30-6:30 p.m., at Country Curtains, 705 Pleasant St., Lee. Good News Business Salutes recognize major milestones including anniversaries, expansions, and new product lines. This salute is part of 1Berkshire’s Creative Economy Month celebration during the month of February. This event’s honorees include Annie Selke Companies, Pittsfield; Boyd Technologies, Lee; Big Elm Brewing, Sheffield; and Winstanley Partners, Lenox. Cost: $35-$45.

• Feb. 24: BYP Back in Time Bash, 7-11 p.m., at Berkshire Museum, 39 South St., Pittsfield. Berkshire Young Professionals is kicking off another great year with its annual museum party this February. Enjoy a dance party with DJ BFG, sing your favorite karaoke tunes, sample food, snap a picture in our photo booth, play some indoor lawn games, and much more. Cost: $10-15.

• Feb. 28: Spark! Creative Economy Networking Event, 5:30-7:30 p.m., at Kripalu Yoga Center, 57 Interlaken Road, West Stockbridge. Get to know others in the creative industries at our February Spark! creative economy networking event. Hear from Kripalu about all it has to offer as part of our Sparkplug speed-speaker series, then dive deep into icebreaker engagement with mini-workshops offered by key staff members of the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health. Cost: free.

• March 15: Chamber Nite, 5-7 p.m., at Community Health Programs, 71 Hospital Ave., North Adams. Join us for this popular event and remember to bring your business card so you can enter to win a door prize. Cost: free.

• March 29: Career Fair, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Berkshire Community College, Paterson Field House, 1350 West St., Pittsfield. Get in front of Berkshire-based businesses at this annual event. Connect with employers looking to hire someone like you. This event is open to the public and is free. No registration is required.

• March 29: Brown Bag Fundraising, noon-1 p.m., at 1Berkshire Central Station, 66 Allen St., Pittsfield. Cost: Free

EAST OF THE RIVER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.erc5.com

(413) 575-7230

• April 27: The Feast in the East, 5:30-7:30 p.m., at the Starting Gate at GreatHorse, 128 Wilbraham Road, Hampden. This event is open to the public. The ERC5 is preparing to host 30 of the finest restaurants in our area to serve delicious and decadent signature dishes to guests. Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available at www.erc5.com. Call Nancy Connor, executive director, at (413) 575-7230 with questions.

GREATER CHICOPEE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.chicopeechamber.org

(413) 594-2101

• March 3: Shining Stars Gala, 6-9:30 p.m., at the Castle of Knights, 1599 Memorial Dr., Chicopee. Honoring Business of the Year: Polish National Credit Union; Citizens of the Year: Werner and Chris Maiwald/Renaissance Advisory Services, LLC; Volunteer of the Year: Michael Epaul/Michael Epaul Photography; Nonprofit Organization of the Year: Holyoke Medical Center; and a Tribute to William Wagner/Westfield Bank. Cost: $60 per person. To register, please go to www.chicopeechamber.org.

• March 8: Salute Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., at the Delaney House, 3 Country Club Road, Holyoke. Salutes include Berkshire Bank/165-year anniversary; Chicopee Industrial Contractors/25-year anniversary; Chicopee Colleen and her court; and a Bow of Recognition to Clear Vision Alliance for a 10-year anniversary. Cost: $23 for members, $28 for non-members. To register, visit www.chicopeechamber.org.

• March 16: CEO Luncheon featuring Raymond Berry, president and general manager of White Lion Brewing Co., 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Collegian Court Restaurant, 89 Park St., Chicopee. Cost: $30 for members, $35 for non-members. To register, visit www.chicopeechamber.org.

• March 22: Business After Hours with the Springfield Regional Chamber, 4:30-6:30 p.m., hosted by Springfield Thunderbirds main office, 45 Bruce Landon Way, Springfield. Networking, raffle prizes, shoot-the-puck contest on the ice, Plan B Burger, and a cash bar available. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for non-members. To register, visit www.chicopeechamber.org.

GREATER EASTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

(413) 527-9414

• April 12: Business Expo, 4:30-7 p.m., at the Bartley Center at Holyoke Community College, 303 Homestead Ave., Holyoke. Sponsored by Florence Bank, Williston Northampton School, and Green Earth Energy PhotoVoltaic. The Greater Easthampton Chamber of Commerce is partnering with the chambers of Holyoke, Chicopee, and Northampton for a Business Expo. The chambers are now accepting reservations for tables. The cost is $150 if reserved by March 29, and $200 after that date. Table fee includes a 6’ x 30” skirted table, two entrance passes, a light supper, and free parking. Sponsorships are also available. For more information, call the chamber at (413) 527-9414 or e-mail [email protected].

GREATER WESTFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.westfieldbiz.org

(413) 568-1618

• March 6: Mayor’s Coffee Hour, 8-9 a.m., at Armbrook Village, 551 North Road, Westfield. Join us for our monthly Mayor’s Coffee Hour with Westfield Mayor Brian Sullivan. Free and open to the public. Call the chamber office at (413) 568-1618 to register for this event so we may give our host a head count.

• March 8: After 5 Connection, 5-7 p.m., at Shaker Farms Country Club, 866 Shaker Road, Westfield. Sponsored by Camp K-9 Doggie Day Camp. Refreshments will be served, and there will be a 50/50 raffle to benefit our CSF – Dollars for Scholars fund. Bring your business cards and make connections. Cost: free for members, $10 for general admission (cash/credit paid at the door). Online registration will be made available at www.westfieldbiz.org. For more information, call Pam at the Chamber at (413) 568-1618.

• March 15: St. Patrick’s Day Dinner, 6-10:30 p.m., at Tekoa Country Club, 459 Russell Road, Westfield. Sponsored by Westfield Bank, platinum sponsor; Savage Arms, gold sponsor; A Plus HVAC Inc., silver sponsor; NorthPoint Mortgage, beer sponsor; and Mercy Continuing Care Network, dessert table sponsor. Join us for our St. Patrick’s Day Dinner, 6-6:30 p.m.; cocktails and networking, 6:30-7:30 p.m.; dinner and program, 7:30-10:30 p.m.; music and dancing. Cost: $38 for singles, $70 for couples, and $300 for a table of eight. Featuring Band O’Brothers, an Irish/American band. For sponsorship opportunities, call the chamber office at (413) 568-1618. To register for this event, visit www.westfieldbiz.org.

• March 24: Employment Law Workshop, 8:30-10 a.m., at the Holiday Inn Express, 39 Southampton Road, Westfield. Topic: “Managing Employee Appearance and Religious Accommodations in the Workplace.” Join attorney Karina Schrengohst for a roundtable-style seminar to discuss appearance in the workplace and religious accommodations, including an overview of religious-discrimination law; dress and appearance standards; body modification (tattoos and piercings); an workplace culture, individual self-expression, and employee retention. Cost: free for members, $30 for general admission paid in advance.

Online registration will be made available at www.westfieldbiz.org. For more information, call Pam at the chamber at (413) 568-1618.

PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S CHAMBER

www.myonlinechamber.com

(413) 787-1555

• March 22: Professional Women’s Chamber Headline Lunch, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Location to be determined. Cost: $30 for PWC members, $40 for general admission.

SPRINGFIELD REGIONAL CHAMBER

www.myonlinechamber.com

(413) 787-1555

• March 1: Business@Breakfast, “The 8 Languages of Money,” with Liz Dederer, 7:15-9 a.m., at the Colony Club, 1500 Main St., Springfield Cost: $22.50 for members in advance ($25 at the door), $30 for general admission in advance ($35 at the door).

• March 2: Leadership 2017 session 4, “Leading with an Entrepreneurial Focus,” 1-4:30 p.m., at the TD Bank Conference Center, Springfield.

• March 6: Outlook 2017, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at MassMutual Center, 1277 State St., Springfield. Cost: $50 for members, $70 for general admission. Reservation deadline: Feb. 22. No walk-ins accepted. No cancellations after RSVP deadline.

• March 8: Lunch ‘n’ Learn, “Apprentices and Internships: The Real Deal,” 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Lattitude Restaurant, 1338 Memorial Ave., West Springfield. Presented by David Cruise, president of the Regional Employment Board of Hampden County. Cost: $25 for members in advance ($30 at the door), $35 for general admission ($40 at the door).

• March 14: Speed Networking, 3:30-5 p.m., at Lattitude, 1338 Memorial Ave., West Springfield. Cost: $20 for members in advance ($25 at the door), $30 for general admission in advance ($35 at the door).

• March 22: “Power Play” After 5, 4:30-7 p.m., hosted by the Springfield Thunderbirds, MassMutual Center, 1277 State St., Springfield. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for general admission. Special event presented jointly with the Springfield Regional Chamber and the Greater Chicopee Chamber.

• March 28: Pastries, Politics & Policy, 8-9 a.m., at TD Bank Conference Center, 1441 Main St., Springfield. Cost: $15 for members in advance ($20 at the door), $25 for general admission in advance ($30 at the door).

Reservations for all chamber events may be made online at www.springfieldregionalchamber.com.

WEST OF THE RIVER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.ourwrc.com

(413) 426-3880

• Feb. 22: Legislative Breakfast, 7-9 a.m., at Springfield Country Club, West Springfield. Attendees will include state Sens. James Welch and Donald Humason, state Reps. Nicholas Boldyga and Michael Finn, and Mayors Richard Cohen (Agawam) and Will Reichelt (West Springfield). Sponsorship opportunities are available. Cost: $30 for members, $35 for non-members. Register online at www.westoftheriverchamber.com. For more information on ticket sales, contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880 or [email protected].

• March 1: Wicked Wednesday, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Hosted by Music Speaks Feeding Hills. Wicked Wednesdays are monthly social events, hosted by various businesses and restaurants. that bring members and non-members together to network in a laid-back atmosphere. For more information about this event, contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880, or register at www.westoftheriverchamber.com.

• March 16: Networking Lunch, noon to 1:30 p.m., at Crestview Country Club, Agawam. You must be a member or guest of a member to attend. Enjoy a sit-down lunch while networking with fellow chamber members. Each attendee will get a chance to offer a brief sales pitch. The only cost to attend is the cost of your lunch. Attendees will order off the menu and pay separately that day. We cannot invoice you for these events. For more information, contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880 or [email protected].

• March 23: Business 2 Business Meet and Greet with West Springfield Mayor Will Reichelt. 7:30 a.m., hosted by Fathers & Sons, 989 Memorial Dr., West Springfield. A casual meet and greet with local businesses and the mayor.

People on the Move

Departments People on the Move

The Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts named experienced fund-raiser Monica Bogatti the foundation’s new Director of Philanthropy. Borgatti comes to the Women’s Fund with a strong fund-raising background, including experience creating and coordinating strategic fund-raising plans, special-event planning, and planned-giving campaigns. In addition, she has been a long-time volunteer for the Women’s Fund, serving on several of the organization’s committees, including the grant-making committee, which has awarded more than $3 million since 1997. “We are thrilled to welcome Monica to the organization,” said Elizabeth Barajas-Román, CEO of the Women’s Fund. “Her dedication to the fund’s mission is evident in her over eight years of volunteer service. Monica has outstanding fund-raising and partnership skills, familiarity with our donors, and a passion for our work. I’m confident all this will allow her to hit the ground running.” Prior to arriving at the Women’s Fund, Borgatti served as the Major and Planned Giving officer for WGBY. A native of Western Mass., she is the immediate past president of Women in Philanthropy of Western Massachusetts and currently serves as an at-large board member. She also volunteers as a team coach for Leadership Pioneer Valley. She is an alumna of Bay Path University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in nonprofit management and philanthropy. In 2011, she was named a 40 Under Forty honoree by BusinessWest. “It is with great excitement that I join the Women’s Fund team,” Borgatti said. “I look forward to connecting more people to this dynamic organization while helping to expand our impact and influence.”

•••••

Phillips Insurance Agency Inc. announced the following:

• Amber Dieffenwierth is the agency’s new Personal Lines Manager. Her responsibilities will include growing the agency’s client base for personal auto, homeowners, and related insurance lines. She has more than 15 years of experience in the personal insurance market and holds the AIC (associate in claims) designation as well as a Massachusetts broker’s license; and

• Sarah Whiteley Whiteley joins the agency as an Account Manger. She is a graduate of Elms College, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in business management. She previously worked in benefits administration for a regional payroll company.

•••••

Robert Fazzi, founder and managing partner of Fazzi Associates, announced that Tim Ashe has been promoted to chief operating officer and is now responsible for the firm’s day-to-day leadership. Ashe joined Fazzi in 2006 and became a partner in 2007. Since that time, he has led the firm’s Operational Consulting Division to provide organizational, operational, turnaround, and change-management services to home-care and hospice agencies across the country. Under his leadership, Fazzi has helped hundreds of agencies improve outcomes and profitability through best practices in organizational structure, clinical and operational processes, and new models for staffing, supervision, and care management. More recently, he also assumed responsibility for the company’s Outsourced Billing, Finance, and Information Technology divisions. Along-time leader in the field of home care and hospice, Ashe’s expertise and career has included a unique blend of clinical, operational, fiscal, and academic roles. He is a frequent presenter at national and state conferences and is often asked to contribute to industry forums. He is also the co-director of the 2016-17 National Home Care and Hospice State of the Industry Study. Dr. Robert Fazzi, the firm’s founder, will continue as Fazzi’s managing partner. But in transferring the leadership of the firm’s daily operations to Ashe, Fazzi will devote more time to the company’s future investments as well as to national and international community-based-care issues that are near and dear to his heart. “I want to say, at this milestone in Fazzi’s history, that I am extremely proud of what we have accomplished and contributed to our industry thus far, and I’m also incredibly excited about what the future holds,” Fazzi said. “Tim is an incredible leader. I am looking forward to working closely with him as we expand our national and international efforts.”

•••••

United Way of Pioneer Valley (UWPV) announced several changes and additions to its team:

Jennifer Fernandes

• The agency announced the addition of Jennifer Fernandes as the new case coach for Thrive Financial Success Centers in Westfield and Holyoke. Fernandes will coordinate the UPWV’s Thrive program, which serves to strengthen the financial capacity of community college students and residents. Through community collaborative efforts, Thrive promotes and supports activities related to financial literacy, including access to a one-stop financial resource center, workforce development services, and public benefit screening and enrollment. Fernandes has a B.A. in Psychology from UMass Amherst and a M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Lesley College. She has been working with the Adult Basic Education program in Holyoke, and has been involved in financial literacy, academic and career counseling;

• Chris Woods

• Chris Woods is the new part-time volunteer coordinator. Woods earned his B.S. in Marketing from Bentley University. Following graduation, he became an Americorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) member for a year and traveled across the country working on volunteer projects. For the past year, he has been a math tutor with Springfield Math Fellows, and he continues as an assistant swim team coach with the West Springfield Torpedoes. Woods will be coordinating volunteer activities for United Way Youth Generate, Stuff the Bus, and Day of Caring programs, among other projects; and

LaTonia Naylor

• LaTonia Naylor has been promoted of from community impact manager to senior manager of Community Investments. She will oversee grants management for the education, basic needs, small grants and emergency food and shelter programs. She’ll also provide technical assistance to United Way grantees and community partners and become the UWPV community liaison for education initiatives.

•••••

Berkshire Community College (BCC) announced new faculty and staff additions as well as recent promotions:

• Julia Curletti has joined BCC as staff assistant to the dean of enrollment management and student success. She previously worked at Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston as a program coordinator. She garnered a bachelor’s degree from UMass Amherst and attended New England Law;

• Alyssa Felver has been named assistant professor of practical nursing. A registered nurse in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, she previously worked at Berkshire Medical Center. Prior to that, she was a critical care registered nurse at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. She holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of South Florida and a bachelor’s in biology from Southeastern University in Lakeland, Fla.;

• Lori Moon has joined BCC’s faculty as an assistant professor of practical nursing. Prior to joining BCC, she was a case manager and education specialist at Berkshire Medical Center. She previously worked at HospiceCare in the Berkshires for approximately 20 years. She earned an associate’s degree from Springfield Tech Community College, an associate’s degree in nursing from BCC and a bachelor’s degree from UMass Amherst;

• Lawrence Stalvey has been promoted to academic counselor with BCC’s TRIO (Talents, Resources, Initiative, Opportunity) Program, a federally funded program designed to identify and provide services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. He previously was a learning specialist with TRIO. He holds an associate’s degree from BCC and a bachelor’s degree from Williams College;

• Charles Stephens has joined BCC as the coordinator of career planning and placement. He is responsible for providing counsel to students regarding career options. He previously held numerous positions at Philadelphia University, Saint Louis University, and Michigan State University. He most recently worked as area coordinator for residence education at Philadelphia University. A graduate of Michigan State University, he holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and a master’s degree in student affairs administration; and

• Peggy Williams has been promoted to academic coordinator with BCC’s TRIO Program. She previously worked for more than a decade as an academic counselor and learning specialist with TRIO. She has a breadth of experience working in administrative/management roles at human services organizations in Berkshire County. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Boston College and a master’s degree from the University at Albany’s Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy in Albany, N.Y.

•••••

Dr. Robert Roose has been named vice president of Mercy Behavioral Health Care. In this role, Roose oversees Providence Behavioral Health Hospital (PBHH) and leads the behavioral-health service lines, which include psychiatric and addiction and recovery services. He also represents behavioral health services as a member of the senior leadership team. Since his arrival at PBHH in 2013, Roose has spearheaded the expansion and renovation of opioid-treatment programs, secured the addition of an office-based practice utilizing all medication-assisted treatments, developed new partnerships with community providers, and gained DPH backing to open a new clinical stabilization service at Providence. He most recently served as chief medical officer and vice president of Addiction and Recovery Services at PBHH. In addition to his responsibilities at Providence, Roose is currently on the Quality Improvement Council of the American Society of Addiction Medicine, the Substance Use Disorder Prevention and Treatment Task Force of the Massachusetts Hospital Assoc., the Hampden County Addiction Task Force, and Gov. Charlie Baker’s Opioid Addiction Working Group. He has presented and published on various aspects of addiction treatment, focusing primarily on patients receiving medication-assisted treatment for opioid-use disorder. His work integrating hepatitis C treatment and a peer program into an opioid-treatment program is also featured in an award-winning documentary, The Fix: The Healing Is Mutual. Roose earned his doctor of medicine and master in public health degrees at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Washington D.C. and completed his residency training at Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, N.Y.

Agenda

Agenda Departments

Wheelchair-basketball Clinic

Feb. 20: CDH Disability Resources will offer a free wheelchair-basketball clinic from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at CHD’s gymnasium at 69 Capital Dr., West Springfield. There is no cost to attend, and all participants qualify for raffles, prizes, and giveaways. The clinic will be led by Paul Weiland, a certified health and physical education teacher with an adaptive physical education certification. Weiland, Adapted Sports Program coordinator for Chapter 126 Sports & Fitness, has coached wheelchair basketball at the high-school and college levels and was part of the USA Paralympics wheelchair-basketball selection committee in 2008. He will be supported by volunteer staff, including therapeutic recreation students from Springfield College and varsity basketball players from Springfield College and American International College. For people interested in getting more involved with wheelchair basketball, in addition to the Feb. 20 clinic, Disability Resources is offering a 10-week program on Friday evenings from March 3 through May 5, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., at the Pace Gym, 69 Capital Dr., West Springfield. Players will be taught fundamental skills and game-related strategies while focusing on the values of teamwork and respect. To learn more about wheelchair basketball or to sign up for programs, contact Levine at (413) 788-9695.

Real-estate Licensing Course

Feb. 22: Beginning Wednesday, Feb. 22, the Realtor Assoc. of Pioneer Valley will sponsor a 40-hour, 14-class sales-licensing course to help individuals prepare for the Massachusetts real-estate salesperson license exam. The course will be completed on March 23. Tuition costs $359 and includes the book and materials. For an application, call the Realtor Assoc. of Pioneer Valley at (413) 785-1328.

Estate Planning for Blended Families

Feb. 23: Linda Manor Assisted Living will host a discussion at 5:30 p.m. about meeting the estate-planning challenges of blended families. The event is free and open to the public, but those wishing to attend are asked to register by calling (413) 588-3316. A light dinner will be served. Attorney Valerie Vignaux of the law firm Bacon Wilson is a specialist in estate planning and elder law. Her discussion will focus on the unique challenges blended families can face. Common concerns are asset division, guardianship, long-term-care planning, and future decision making.

‘Create at the Carle!’

Feb. 27 to March 20: The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art will offer adult art classes for people 55 and over thanks to a new grant from Aroha Philanthropies. “Create at the Carle!” is a new program for adults interested in expressing themselves through visual art. The first of a series of three workshops, this one on printmaking, begins Feb. 27 from 10 a.m. to noon, and runs for eight weeks. The cost is $90, or $76.50 for members. Teaching artist Lynn Peterfreund, who concentrates on printmaking, painting, and drawing, is offering this class for beginners or more experienced students. The goals are to learn processes, become more aware of different art styles, and learn to identify and tell one’s own stories with visual tools. Enrollment is limited to 20 participants. The workshop includes a visit from artist Lyell Castonguay, who will share his woodcut technique and experiences as director of BIG INK, and concludes with an art show for friends, family, guests, and the general public to enjoy. “Create at the Carle!” is presented in partnership with Aroha Philanthropies to support the development and expansion of Artful Aging programs. The Carle was selected as one of only 15 nonprofit organizations throughout the U.S. to receive a grant from Aroha Philanthropies through its new national initiative, Seeding Artful Aging. Following printmaking, additional classes in 2017 will include guest artists teaching collage and bookmaking. For more information about the classes or to sign up, visit www.carlemuseum.org.

Whiskey & Cigar Night

March 2: It’s official: whiskey passed vodka as the number-one spirit of choice in the U.S. back in 2014, and the trend is more than a passing one. The Springfield Symphony Orchestra’s Whiskey & Cigar Night, slated for 6 p.m. at Nadim’s Downtown Mediterranean Grill, provides novice and connoisseur whiskey drinkers with a chance to savor a variety of vodkas, while raising funds for the SSO’s artistic, education, and community programs. For a $75 admission ticket, attendees will enjoy a variety of cigars on an outdoor patio, food-pairing stations to accompany the drink, and several stations to taste a wide variety of whiskey, from Scotch and Irish whiskey to bourbon and rye. Expert representatives from local distributors and distilleries will be on hand to answer questions and provide tasting notes. In addition to the whiskey, food, and cigars, a silent auction will be running throughout the event, featuring sports memorabilia, high-end experiences, and trips. Participation is limited to ensure the highest quality experience for all attendees. Nadim’s Downtown Mediterranean Grill is located at 1390 Main St., Springfield. To learn more or purchase a ticket, call (413) 733-0636, ext. 118, or e-mail [email protected].

Caritas Gala

March 11: Plans are underway for Mercy Medical Center’s first annual Caritas Gala at the MassMutual Center in Springfield. Themed “All You Need Is Love,” the inaugural gala will raise funds to expand and enhance Mercy Behavioral Health Care’s Opioid Treatment and Addiction Recovery programs. The major goal of the project is to create a new inpatient step-down treatment program for post-detox services, giving individuals a better chance at long-term recovery. John Sjoberg and Brenda Garton-Sjoberg are the Caritas Gala honorary chairpersons. Sjoberg serves as chairman of the board for Mercy and as vice chairman of the board for Trinity Health New England. Garton-Sjoberg has served as honorary chairperson of Mercy Gift of Light. “Brenda and I are inspired by the selfless work of the Sisters of Providence, and our family has made their legacy our personal mission,” said Sjoberg. The Caritas Gala will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a cocktail reception, live entertainment from the band Beantown, and a silent auction. Dinner will be served at 8 p.m., followed by a live auction and dancing until midnight. Pre-registration is required by Feb. 17. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.mercycares.com/caritasgala.

Mini Medical School

March 23 to May 11: Itching to get out of the house as the winter draws to an end? Consider signing up for a little dose of continuing education as part of Baystate Medical Center’s Mini Medical School, where you can broaden your knowledge of the field of medicine with professors from the teaching hospital. Mini Medical School, which begins its spring session on Thursday, March 23, offers area residents an inside look at the expanding field of medicine, minus the tests, homework, interviews, and admission formalities. The program continues through May 11. Baystate’s Mini Medical School program is an eight-week health-education series featuring a different aspect of medicine each week. Classes this spring will include sessions on various medical topics such as surgery, deep-brain stimulation, emergency medicine, dementia, pathology, and several others. For a full list of topics and instructors, visit www.baystatehealth.org/minimed. While it is not difficult to be accepted into the program, slots are limited, and early registration is recommended. Many of the students, who often range in age from 20 to 70, participate due to a general interest in medicine and later find that many of the things they learned over the semester are relevant to their own lives. The goal of the program, offered in the hospital’s Chestnut Conference Center, is to help members of the public make more informed decisions about their healthcare while receiving insight on what it might be like to be a medical student. Baystate Medical Center is the region’s only teaching hospital, and each course is taught by medical center faculty, who explain the science of medicine without resorting to complex terms. All classes are held Thursday nights starting at 6 p.m. and run until 8 or 9 p.m., depending on the night’s topic. No basic science knowledge is needed to participate. Each participant is required to attend a minimum of six out of eight classes in order to receive a certificate of completion. Tuition costs $95 per person and $80 for Senior Class and Spirit of Women members. To register, call (413) 794-7630 or visit www.baystatehealth.org/minimed.

Difference Makers

March 30: The ninth annual Difference Makers award program, staged by BusinessWest, will be held at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House. The winners, profiled in the Jan. 23 issue and at businesswest.com, are the Community Colleges of Western Mass. (Berkshire Community College, Greenfield Community College, Holyoke Community College, and Springfield Technical Community College); Friends of the Holyoke Merry-Go-Round; Denis Gagnon Sr., president and CEO of Excel Dryer Inc.; Junior Achievement of Western Mass.; and Joan Kagan, president and CEO of Square One. Tickets to the event cost $65 per person, with tables of 10 available. To order, call (413) 781-8600, ext. 100. Difference Makers is a program, launched in 2009, that recognizes groups and individuals that are, as the name suggests, making a difference in this region. Details on the event will be published in upcoming issues of the magazine. Sponsors include First American Insurance; Health New England; JGS Lifecare; Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C.; Northwestern Mutual; O’Connell Care at Home; Royal, P.C.; and Sunshine Village.

Education Fair & Expo

April 4: Jared James, a national real-estate speaker and trainer, will be the featured speaker at the 24th annual Education Fair & Expo taking place at the MassMutual Center in Springfield. The event is sponsored by the Realtor Assoc. of Pioneer Valley. The program features a day of educational presentations including two breakout sessions from James, three continuing-education classes, and two technology classes. A sellout trade show with more than 50 vendors is anticipated. Anyone interested in attending as a trade-show vendor should contact Kim Harrison, membership and meetings coordinator at the Realtor Assoc. of Pioneer Valley, at (413) 785-1328 or [email protected] by March 10.

‘Mini Golf in the Library’

April 7-8: Friends of the Holyoke Public Library will host its second annual “Mini Golf in the Library” fund-raiser on the weekend of April 7-8. Hole sponsors and event sponsors are now being recruited. Funds raised help the Friends of the Library support library programs and resources, especially those for children and youth. Sponsors will be publicized and thanked in local media, social media, and the library’s website in connection with this event. Logos of sponsors will be printed on the scorecard given to each player. Names of sponsors will be displayed in the library, ranked by level of sponsorship. Sponsors will be invited as guests to the Friday-evening cocktail party, with the opportunity to preview (and play through) the course. In addition to event sponsors and hole sponsors, the event planning committee, chaired by Sandy Ward, is seeking donors of in-kind services and items for a silent auction to be held during the Friday cocktail party. Hole sponsorships start at $250. Those who wish to sponsor (and decorate) one of the 18 holes are encouraged to act quickly, as holes are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Event sponsorships are available at five levels ranging from $250 to $1,000. An exclusive title sponsorship is possible at $2,500. For more information, visit www.holyokelibrary.org/aboutfriendsgolf.asp or e-mail Sandy Ward at [email protected].

Briefcase

Briefcase Departments

VVM Graduates Manufacturing Cohort

SPRINGFIELD — This week, Valley Venture Mentors (VVM) celebrated the graduation of participants in its Massachusetts Manufacturing Accelerator. The graduation ceremony took place at VVM World Headquarters at Tower Square in front of a crowd of nearly 100 friends, supporters, and members of the political and business communities. The Manufacturing Accelerator delivered intensive and immersive training sessions to seven small precision manufacturers over four months to help them identify new revenue streams and connect them with new industries and customers. “This program is unique because it takes startup methodology and applies it to established manufacturers,” said Paul Silva, VVM co-founder. “We encouraged these businesses to boldly question the way they’ve been doing business for decades and discover new markets and opportunities. We’re very excited about the results.” Funding for this program was provided by the Advanced Manufacturing Futures Program administered by MassDevelopment. “The manufacturers who participated in the Massachusetts Manufacturing Accelerator benefited from the creative and thoughtful approach Valley Venture Mentors and its partners took with this program, and MassDevelopment is pleased to support the accelerator with a grant from the Manufacturing Futures Fund,” MassDevelopment President and CEO Marty Jones said. “Congratulations to everyone on this accomplishment, which will help Western Massachusetts’ innovative manufacturing industry continue to grow.” Graduates of the program include BSS Additive, Boulevard Machine & Gear, Decker Machine Works Inc., Mitchell Machine Inc. and Precise Turning and Manufacturing.

Nominees Sought for Ubora, Ahadi Awards

SPRINGFIELD — The African Hall subcommittee of the Springfield Museums is seeking nominations for the 26th annual Ubora Award and the ninth annual Ahadi Youth Award. The African Hall subcommittee is a volunteer group comprised of educators, business people, and community leaders from the African-American community. The nomination deadline for both awards is March 31. The Ubora Award is presented to an African-American adult who has demonstrated a commitment to the Greater Springfield area and exhibited excellence in the fields of community service, education, science, humanities, or the arts. The Swahili word ‘ubora’ means ‘excellence.’ Named for the Swahili word for ‘promise,’ the Ahadi Youth Award is presented to a young African-American who has excelled in academics and performed admirable service to the Greater Springfield community. Eligible candidates must be age 19 or younger, live in or have strong ties to the Greater Springfield area, and be currently enrolled in grades 10, 11, or 12. The Ubora and Ahadi Awards will be presented at a ceremony at the Springfield Museums in September. Nomination forms can be downloaded by visiting springfieldmuseums.org/ubora. For additional information, call (413) 263-6800, ext. 325, or e-mail Valerie Cavagni at [email protected]. Nominations may be e-mailed to Cavagni or mailed to African Hall Subcommittee, c/o Valerie Cavagni, Springfield Museums, 21 Edwards St., Springfield, MA 01103.

Nominations Sought for Pynchon Award

SPRINGFIELD — The Advertising Club of Western Massachusetts is seeking nominations from throughout Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, and Berkshire counties for the Pynchon Award, which recognizes citizens of this region who have rendered distinguished service to the community. The Order of William Pynchon was established by the Advertising Club in 1915 to recognize and encourage individuals whose lives and achievements typified the ideals of promoting citizenship and building a better community in Western Mass. Past recipients include war heroes, social activists, teachers, volunteers, philanthropists, historians, clergy, physicians, journalists, public servants, and business leaders. A complete list of recipients since 1915 can be found at www.adclubwm.org/events/pynchonaward. To nominate an individual, submit a one-page letter explaining why the nominee should be considered. Include biographical information, outstanding accomplishments, examples of service to the community, organizations he or she is or has been active in, and the names, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses of at least three people who can further attest to the nominee’s eligibility for induction into the Order of William Pynchon. All nominees will be considered and researched by the Pynchon trustees, comprised of the current and five past presidents of the Advertising Club. Nominations must be submitted by Tuesday, Feb. 28 to William Pynchon Trustees, Advertising Club of Western Massachusetts, P.O. Box 1022, West Springfield, MA 01090-1022, or by e-mail to [email protected]. Pynchon medalists are chosen by unanimous decision of the Pynchon trustees. The 2017 recipients will be announced in June, with an awards ceremony scheduled for Oct. 19 at the Log Cabin in Holyoke. Recipients are presented with a bronze medal cast with the name and likeness of Springfield’s founder, William Pynchon, and bearing the inscription, “They honor us whom we honor.”

Court Dockets

Court Dockets Departments

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

CHICOPEE DISTRICT COURT

Hector Perez v. TD Bank, NA, USM Inc. and Gleason Johndrow Landscaping Co.

Allegation: Slip and fall causing injury: $3,437.60

Filed: 1/12/17

Halida Begovic v. Russell M. Merrill and Alert Ambulance Service Inc.

Allegation: Negligent operation of ambulance causing collision and injury to plaintiff: $8,939.21

Filed: 1/13/17

FRANKLIN DISTRICT COURT

Edward and Paula Mogelinski v. Patrick J. Jubb, personal representative of the estate of Lawrence Jubb

Allegation: Breach of contract, negligence, unjust enrichment related to construction services: $67,844

Filed: 1/20/17

FRANKLIN SUPERIOR COURT

Thomas Bardsley v. Bryan F. Barlow and Barlow Landscaping, Excavation, Paving and Construction Corp.

Allegation: Unpaid overtime, wages, and prevailing wage: $25,000+

Filed: 1/4/17

HAMPDEN DISTRICT COURT

Cassandra Emery v. CVS Pharmacy Inc.

Allegation: Slip and fall causing injury: $6,262.46

Filed: 1/17/17

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT

Robert Scott Serre v. Poly-Metal Finishing Inc. and Jason Kudelka

Allegation: Breach of agreement, unjust enrichment: $100,000

Filed: 1/30/17

Steven J. Malke Jr. v. R.H. White Construction Co. Inc.

Allegation: Negligence causing injury: $143,224.12

Filed: 1/30/17

Bernadine Smith v. Baystate Medical Center Inc. and Baystate Health Inc.

Allegation: Negligence causing injury: $1,325,000

Filed: 2/2/17

Jacqueline Young v. 110 Monastery Associates, LP and Simsbury Associates Inc.

Allegation: Negligence causing injury, resident left unattended after fall: $396,000

Filed: 2/3/17

Erykah B. McCracken v. Crosstown Courier Service Inc.

Allegation: Employment discrimination: $50,000

Filed: 2/3/17

HAMPSHIRE DISTRICT COURT

Computer Works v. Endurance Fitness 247 LLC d/b/a Snap Fitness

Allegation: Monies owed for work performed: $1,748.90

Filed: 1/10/17

HAMPSHIRE SUPERIOR COURT

Robert J. Holhut v. Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School

Allegation: Employment discrimination: $225,000

Filed: 1/11/17

Katherine Glatter v. Tina Furculo, MD; VMG-Amherst

Allegation: Medical malpractice: $75,000

Filed: 1/19/17

Russell Russo v. Scott Bellemore d/b/a Aaron’s Paradise Transportation

Allegation: Conversion, unjust enrichment, interference with business relations, emotional distress: $35,000

Filed: 1/17/17

Elms Adds MSN Track, Graduate Certificate in School Nursing

CHICOPEE — To expand opportunities for school nurses to fulfill Massachusetts state education requirements, the School of Nursing at Elms College announced a new master of science degree and a graduate certificate in school nursing.

In Massachusetts, school nurses are required to earn a board certification in school nursing or a master’s degree within five years of starting employment — but there is currently only one school-nursing-focused graduate program in New England.

“The addition of the school nursing track to our MSN program demonstrates Elms College’s commitment to addressing the needs of the surrounding communities, as well as the needs of nurses to continually develop themselves as professionals,” said Cynthia Dakin, director of graduate nursing studies at Elms.

School nursing is a multi-faceted role that includes assessment; diagnosis; outcomes identification; planning, implementing, and coordinating care; health teaching and health promotion; and consulting. The school nurse must work with school physicians, licensed practical nurses, health aides, counselors, and psychologists. School nurses often oversee the health of a large group of students with vastly different needs, and these students are sometimes spread over several schools.

The new school-nurse track at Elms College will include the college’s current MSN curriculum components, with a special focus on school nursing: four courses in the graduate nursing core, three courses in the direct-care core, four courses in functional-area content (in this case, courses focused on content specific to the role and practice of the school nurses, as defined by professional standards, plus two courses related to technology and informatics), and two school nurse practicum courses.

The graduate certificate in school nursing will be similar to the certificate programs Elms offers for the other MSN tracks. It will not fulfill the state American Nurses Credentialing Center board-certification requirement, but will benefit nurses who have completed a graduate degree in another area or discipline and want to update their knowledge base specifically related to school nursing.

All bachelor’s-level nurses will be eligible to enroll in the graduate certificate in school nursing. This program will consist of 12 credits, with four functional-area courses and one direct-care course from which the student could choose to complete the 12 credits. This track will offer multiple class options over the course of study: traditional classroom attendance, live stream, and archived videos.

The school nursing track is already enrolling students to start in required graduate core classes in fall 2017, and the first school-nursing functional-content courses will roll out starting in spring 2018. Elms College’s MSN program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), which encourages and evaluates programs for high-quality educational programming that plans and delivers academic excellence and innovation while fostering partnerships within the diverse healthcare setting.

Laura Fitch Continues to Be a Pioneer in the Cohousing Field

Architecture Sections

Come Together

By Joanna Smiley

The homes at the Pioneer Valley Cohousing community are tightly clustered around a pedestrian loop, fostering informal social interactions and preserving open space on the rest of the site.

It’s no understatement to say Laura Fitch has dedicated her life to the philosophy of cohousing — not only through her architecture career, but because she has lived in a cohousing community for nearly 20 years. The model, which encourages togetherness and elements of both private and communal living, is becoming more popular among young families, retirees, and students, making it an ideal opportunity for intergenerational connection.

It’s hard to miss Fitch Architecture & Community Design’s Amherst office.

The space is nestled inside a sun-drenched building at the entrance of Pioneer Valley Cohousing, a 22-acre stretch of private homes clustered around a communal space.

Laura Fitch, a principal with the company, helped design the community, which has garnered attention as the East Coast’s first cohousing development. Fitch herself has lived in Pioneer Valley Cohousing for nearly 20 years.

“I grew up in Concord, Mass.,” she explained. “We had Thoreau and Walden, and I lived in a sort of cluster subdivision where we shared green space and community land and resources. It left an impact on me.”

A past board member of the Cohousing Assoc. of the U.S., Fitch first learned about cohousing during a trip to Denmark in 1980, the country where the concept was first developed.

List of Architecture Firms in the region

That knowledge was followed by a stint with Peace Corps in Mali, West Africa in 1984, an experience that built in her a desire to seek out socially and ecologically responsible projects — and which partly explains why cohousing has become the heart and soul of her firm.

Laura Fitch (right, with intern architect Aviva Galaski) says cohousing builds community ties that can enhance the health and well-being of residents.

Houses in most cohousing communities range anywhere from 600-1,400 square feet. A complex typically includes a shared community room, where group meals are served several times a month, prepared by community members on a rotating basis. At Pioneer Valley Cohousing, members are encouraged to eat together twice a week. A 4,200-square-foot common house includes a communal multi-purpose room, commercial kitchen, children’s playroom, two guest rooms, and additional recreational space.

Cohousing members are expected to participate in the work that needs to be done to keep the community running smoothly, and Fitch relies on what is called an ‘affinity work system.’ That means she ensures every member pitches in by giving them the option to choose a task they’d like to complete that will benefit the community as a whole. Fitch’s husband, for example, helps with the members’ plowing each winter.

For this issue and its focus on architecture, BusinessWest talks to Fitch about why the cohousing model is an ideal choice for certain people, and how she has crafted a career around her long-time passion for community.

Welcoming Environment

Since the first cohousing community was completed in the U.S. — Muir Commons in Davis, Calif., which recently celebrated 25 years — more than 160 such communities have been established in 25 states plus the District of Columbia, with more than 120 in process. Most cohousing communities are intergenerational, with both children and elders; in recent years, senior cohousing focused on older adult needs have grown. Small and large, urban and rural, newly built and retrofits, these communities have consistently been at the forefront of environmental and socially sustainable neighborhoods, according to the Cohousing Assoc. of the United States.

Cohousing units are intentionally designed to feel welcoming and comfortable to surrounding neighbors, so they may freely stop by each other’s homes to converse, share resources, or help watch young children. That said, families living in such proximity also have the potential to conflict. Fitch preemptively mitigates potential arguments by encouraging open lines of communication with fellow neighbors and peaceful negotiation. The complex also designates a ‘community life issue member’ who can facilitate classes for non-violent conflict resolution.

Fitch calls her cohousing community, and others like it across the country, “community at your doorstep, with privacy at your home.”

Young families, single working parents, retirees, professionals, and even students are among the demographics typically attracted to cohousing. Fitch believes cohousing offers a desirable model, one that is universal for people from all walks of life who, simply put, seek togetherness.

“If you went to summer camps, enjoyed undergrad time in dorms, if those were things you liked when you were younger, then I always tell people, you can naturally understand what it’s like to live in cohousing,” Fitch said.

She sees the senior cohousing movement exploding across the U.S. and believes that this trend will continue to grow in the coming years as a better alternative to costly assisted-living facilities or elderly people living in isolation.

“There are studies that show community is healthy for you,” she told BusinessWest. “People age faster and have more problems when they’re aging alone. Senior cohousing is becoming a real phenomenon.”

In addition to the social issues central to the design of a cohousing community, the ecological concerns of sustainability are a primary focus for cohousing groups. Many groups include sustainability as part of their vision statement, and Fitch’s firm has helped them to reflect these goals in the built community.

In general, she explained, site design is sensitive to land use. The buildings have solar access, and energy-efficient construction practices are employed. Materials and systems are specifically selected to minimize ecological impact and maximize indoor air quality. Units have front porches, which provide a bridge between public and private spaces in a cohousing community. Meanwhile, the houses are scaled to ensure they’re friendly to pedestrians.

Earth Friendly

Fitch’s specialized focus on sustainable design has earned the firm a spot in Natural Home & Garden magazine as one of the top 10 green-architecture firms in North America.

“People are recognizing now that it makes business sense … if you invest enough to reduce mechanical costs, that’s where you get to the sweet spot,” she said.

The new theater studio at Smith College was created by capturing space from a large and underutilized lobby at the Mendenhall Center for Performing Arts.

Fitch and her team have led hundreds of residential, commercial, and institutional projects, including net-zero-energy homes, educational facilities, and deep-energy retrofits.

In 2013, the firm received a Historic Preservation Award from the Northampton Historical Commission for its work at Smith College’s Dewey House. The 1827 building needed significant upgrades, so, after completing an initial feasibility study, Fitch’s firm was asked to complete full services for energy improvements and a new exterior lift. Working with energy consultants, it ultimately achieved a 65% reduction in air infiltration.

Meanwhile, the Hartsbrook School, a Waldorf educational facility in Hadley, chose to work with Fitch and her team for a project focused on creating a new early-education building.

The new classroom building at the Hartsbrook School.

But cohousing remains Fitch’s calling card, and she has earned national accolades for her work in this field. Alice Alexander, executive director of the Cohousing Assoc. of the U.S., calls Fitch a “real pioneer” in getting the nationwide cohousing movement off the ground.

“Laura Fitch is one of our outstanding cohousing professionals,” Alexander said. “Not only is she an outstanding architect, but also she is adept at group process — at working collaboratively with large numbers of folks who can come to the table with diverse views. That takes talent. Laura is also committed to environmental sustainability and nurturing community for health and resilience.”

Fitch’s fusion of professional and personal interest in cohousing has proved to be an asset to her firm’s clients. “It enables me to understand what early cohousing groups are going through when it comes to making tough decisions about their money and the future,” she noted. “I can answer questions on the architecture, process, and what its like to live there as a resident.”

One of Fitch’s best ideas so far? An outdoor ping-pong table at the cohousing development she calls home.

“It reinvigorated our community life,” she said with a smile. “We all sit around the courtyard after meals egging each other on in ping-pong matches.”

It’s just one more way she has made a career — and a life — out of creating connections and community.

Incorporations

Departments Incorporations

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

ADAMS

Noah William Brown Scholarship Inc., 12 Beecher St., Adams, MA 01220. Kathleen Davis, same. Non-profit organized for civic, charitable, and educational purposes, including but not limited to expanding the educational opportunities for students residing in Berkshire County, with an emphasis on students in the Adams-Cheshire regional school district or its successors.

BRIMFIELD

Our Bright Future Inc., 254 Little Alum Road, Brimfield, MA 01010. Kwasi Acheampong, same. Non-profit organization, which teaches students how to be leaders, to better themselves and the communities where they live.

EASTHAMPTON

Northeast Artist Repository Digital Ltd., 62 Parsons St., Easthampton, MA 01027. James Roger Gehrt, same. Non-profit organized to provide digital access, organization, description and preservation of digital support material, documentation and creative works to a range of artists and artist groups based in the New England states as well as the New York area.

FLORENCE

New Pine Spa Inc., 176 Pine St., Florence, MA 01062. Enzhe Jin, same. Massage and bodywork services.

Paws Pizzeria Inc., 691 Westhampton Road, Florence, MA 01062. Peter Vogel, same. Manufacturing and selling of pet treats.

NORTH ADAMS

North Adams Bella Roma Corp., 117 Main St., North Adams, MA 01247. Ilyas Ozdemir, 202 Appleton Ave., Pittsfield, MA 01201. Restaurant, catering and delivery.

ORANGE

No Limit Real Estate Inc., 73 Stone Valley Road, Orange, MA 01364. Eric B. Gariepy, same. Asset management.

PALMER

Nicebox Inc., 25 Blanchard St., Palmer, MA 01069. Janet M. Callahan, 5 Highland Trail, West Brookfield, MA 01585. Non-profit organized to establish a charitable community betterment organization that develops and establishes partnerships with public and private social service agencies

PITTSFIELD

North End Auto Services Inc., 1249 North St., Pittsfield, MA 01201. Valery Porupski, same. Automobile repair and sales.

SOUTH HADLEY

New Main Moon Care Inc., 11 College St., South Hadley, MA 01075. Mei Young Lam, same. Restaurant/café services.

SPRINGFIELD

Precision Components Group Inc., 136Woodmont St., Springfield, MA 01104. Peter A. Elias, same. Machining of aerospace parts.

WESTFIELD

Pro and Local Detailing Inc., 16 South Maple St., Westfield, MA 01085, Paul Frasco, same. Automobile detailing, cleaning, and restoration.

Economic Development in Palmer Accelerates

Community Spotlight Features

Community Spotlight

Linda Leduc, Meena Patel, and Charlie Blanchard say the new Junction Variety store will include 1,800 square feet of space suitable for retail or office use.

A dozen years ago, Meena and Bharat Patel purchased Junction Variety store in Palmer. They established a loyal client base, but several years ago, the cost of operating the antiquated building, combined with the need for extensive repairs and inadequate parking, forced them to make a decision about whether to remain in town and build a new structure or move their business elsewhere.

“We decided to stay here; I love Palmer,” said Meena. “The people are very supportive, and we have good relationships with our customers.”

Last June, ground was broken on a new, 40,000-square-foot facility. It is expected to be completed within a few weeks, and once the store is moved, the old building will be demolished, and a parking lot with 20 parking spaces will take its place.

Junction Variety will occupy 2,200 square feet of the new structure, which will almost double its current size, and the remaining 1,800 square feet will be available for lease as office or retail space.

The project is part of a flurry of commercial activity that began last year and is rapidly accelerating, creating momentum in this community.

“It’s definitely a sign of the recovering economy. Things are happening a lot faster now than they did in the past, and we are very busy,” said Town Planner and Economic Development Director Linda Leduc, who explained that, a few years ago, projects were permitted that never moved forward, but today construction often begins months after the permitting process is complete.

The list of developments, moves, and expansions nearing completion or underway is lengthy, as Leduc and Town Planner Charlie Blanchard explained during a lengthy interview with BusinessWest. It includes four new solar farms (last year the town had five, which brings the total to nine), construction of a $17.2 million Emergency Department at Baystate Wing Hospital that will begin this year, a $2 million expansion of an advanced-manufacturing company that was recently finished, grassroots efforts in Three Rivers that are leading to change, and churches in residential neighborhoods being reused in creative ways.

Construction is also underway at Town Hall. A $400,000 heating and air-conditioning system was installed over the past two years and paid for with funds from the Green Community Act. And this year, renovations are being made to the entire building to make better use of space vacated by the Police Department when it moved into a new, $7.4 million facility several years ago.

Specifically, the public meeting room will be expanded and gain a new entrance; a new conference room and additional storage space will be created; the Board of Health, Conservation Department, Building Department, and Veteran’s Agent will move into larger offices; and new lighting, windows, and carpeting will be installed throughout the building.

“We have a lot of activity taking place for a town this size,” said Blanchard, attributing it not only to renewed confidence in the economy, but to the willingness of officials and the Town Council to work with businesses and make changes to accommodate their needs.

For this, the latest installment of its Community Spotlight series, BusinessWest takes a look at projects that were recently completed, underway, or on the drawing board throughout the four villages that make up the town of Palmer.

Diverse Undertakings

Change continues to take place in Depot Village, the first commercial district travelers pass through after they exit the Mass Turnpike.

Last year, Mark Baldyga of Baldyga Inc. stopped selling travel trailers and made the decision to focus on autobody work and used-car sales, which necessitated a move, because his 1221 South Main St. location didn’t provide the frontage and exposure he needed.

Finding a suitable property proved difficult, but he hoped to remain in Palmer because he grew up in the town, has spent more than 30 years on the Fire Department, and has an employee who is also a firefighter.

“I have a good reputation, and people here know me, which is one of the main driving forces for my business,” Baldyga said, adding that he has close ties with the community.

His search led to a two-acre parcel on Route 20 with the frontage he needed. However, before he purchased it, he petitioned the town to change the area from general zoning to highway business so he could move forward with his plan.

The petition was accepted, and Baldyga split up the acreage, which was needed because the rear portion of the plot contained a multi-family home.

Ground was broken last spring for a new, 5,500-square-foot building that is nearing completion; he expects to reopen in a few weeks.

He told BusinessWest that the neighbors were not only accommodating, but supported the zoning change, and it has worked out well for everyone involved.

“The town will get more taxes, businesses of a similar nature can move here now, and my tenants are happy because I made improvements to their apartments and cleaned up the property,” he noted, adding that, if the zoning change hadn’t been approved, he would have had to leave Palmer.

Michael’s Party Rentals purchased Baldyga’s former location, and President Michael Linton said the company moved from its Ludlow locations and did a substantial renovation of the 20,000-square-foot building, included the addition of a showroom, design center, and state-of-the-art tent-washing machine.

Other moves have occurred in Depot Village. Last year, the Fire Service Group purchased the former American Legion building on 1010 Thorndike St., which allowed the company to expand from a smaller location, and construction plans have been approved for a Dollar General store on the corner of Breckenridge and Park streets that will be built after the single-family home on the site is demolished.

Progress has also taken place at Detector Technology, a precision-manufacturing firm located in Palmer Industrial Park. Blanchard said the company needed room to expand and purchased a building from Wayne Buxton, who was using it to house his ShedWorks Inc. business.

“Wayne needed to downsize but wanted to stay in Palmer, so he kept half of the lot and is building a new, smaller structure on it,” Blanchard noted, explaining that Detector Technology recently finished a $2 million renovation of the former Shedworks.

Baystate Wing Hospital is also building a $17.2 million, 37,000-square-foot Emergency Department on its Palmer campus. Ground was broken in November, and the institution is meeting all its timetables.

“They are a major employer and are making a big investment that will be beneficial to our residents as well as the region,” Leduc said.

The town’s capped landfill on Emery Street is another property that has been given new life. Leduc said a request for proposals was issued for the site several years ago, but nothing came to fruition until Syncarpha Solar, which owns and operates a solar farm on the adjacent former Palmer Metropolitan Airport, made the decision to build a second facility on the landfill.

“We were happy they were interested in generating additional solar power on the site,” Leduc said, adding that the town had five solar farms, and, in addition to the new one on the landfill, Nexamp, Nextsun Energy, and Beaumont Solar also built solar facilities last year.

“Two are operating, and the other two are waiting to be interconnected, but once that happens, Palmer will be generating almost 25 megawatts of electricity on its nine solar farms,” she noted.

The facilities will bring in new revenue and result in energy savings. Palmer will receive $121,000 annually for the next 25 years in lease payments from the solar farm on the capped landfill, and will begin getting net metering credits this year from Blue Wave Solar on Baptist Hill in Three Rivers, which Blanchard estimates will save the town 30% to 40% of the generated cost of electricity.

New Life

Two other projects Leduc describes as “exciting” involve the conversion and reuse of former churches.

Artist Bruce Rosenbaum and his wife, Melanie, recently purchased St. Mary’s Episcopal Church on Main Street in Thorndike. It had been vacant for several years, and will become their residence and the new home for Mod Vic Steampunk Design when the couple moves from Sharon.

“It was a perfect situation,” Leduc said, explaining that churches often are located in the middle of residential districts, and although the town is willing to rezone whenever it makes sense, it’s not always possible.

The Rosenbaums created the first functional steampunk house in the world, and their business repurposes and infuses modern technology and gadgets into period, relevant antiques and salvage objects.

“We work with clients in the U.S. and internationally to design one-of-a-kind pieces, creatively combining eras and ideas to transform the ordinary into incredible steampunk functional art,” Bruce said, adding that the couple has clients all over the world and looked throughout the Commonwealth and in Connecticut before deciding that St. Mary’s Church was a great place to expand their business.

The 1876 gothic structure, with 30-foot ceilings and tall stained-glass windows, three wooded acres, and 30 parking spaces in the middle of a residential neighborhood appealed to them, especially since they have clients in Amherst, Holyoke, Northampton, and Springfield, including MGM.

They worked with the town to get a home-occupation permit before purchasing the home earlier this month, and are looking forward to relocating and creating a showroom and gallery in the historic space, as well as holding steampunk workshops for families.

In addition, Amherst Railway Society purchased the Crossroads Christian Church on South Main Street in Depot Village and plans to move there on June 16.

“It’s a nostalgic reuse of a historic church and very fitting since Palmer is known as the Town of Seven Railroads,” Leduc said.

Collaborative efforts to revitalize Main Street in Three Rivers are also bearing fruit, thanks to work by the consortium On the Right TRACK (the acronym stands for Three Rivers Arts Community Knowledge), which has been working to build a cultural and creative economy in the village.

The Quaboag Valley Community Development Corp. was awarded a $13,500 Adams Art Grant for fiscal years 2016 and 2017, and the town completed a market-assessment and business-recruitment tool as well as a feasibility study showing that a building on 2032 Main St. obtained through the tax-title process has potential for redevelopment.

“The town will put out a request for proposals as soon as we have grants in place for the building,” Leduc said.

A number of property and business owners also began meeting 11 months ago in a grass-roots effort to help the revitalization effort, which includes changing the perception of the area and filling vacant storefronts.

Community Development Director Alice Davey said Nancy Roy, of Interactive Schoolhouse, was instrumental in starting the group. The agency received $35,000 from MassDevelopment and used the money to hire Union Studio in Providence, R.I. to design a conceptual plan for the center. The consulting firm held a public presentation several weeks ago to get input from residents, and the final report is expected in the near future.

Davey said suggestions put forth during the meeting included making the downtown more pedestrian-friendly, building a walking path with river access around the perimeter of Laviolette Park and upgrading the parking there, and expanding Hryniewicz Park, which is used for movie nights, concerts, and other events staged by the town’s recreation department and the Quaboag Hills Chamber of Commerce.

“It’s an exciting time for Three Rivers,” she noted. “The public meeting was well-attended, and residents and property owners eagerly anticipate the final plan and development of a course of action to implement some of the recommendations.”

Forward Movement

Bruce Rosenbaum says steampunk is more than just art: it’s a way to creatively problem-solve, learn how to adapt to a situation, and be resilient.

“You look at an object, know the purpose it was designed for is obsolete, then find a way to give it new life and make it beautiful and functional,” he said, adding that the idea translates to people and cities, and he is excited to work with Palmer “as the town re-imagines itself.”

That certainly applies to Three Rivers, and progress is indeed underway that will put the Town of Seven Railroads on the map as it moves forward on a fast track that is attracting new businesses and helping existing ones to expand and grow.

Palmer at
a Glance
Year Incorporated: 1775
Population: 13,050 (2015)
Area: 32 square miles
County: Hampden
Tax Rate, residential and commercial: Palmer, $21.57; Three Rivers, $22.25; Bondsville, $22.06; Thorndike, $23.01
Median Household Income: $51,846
median family Income: $68,200
Type of government: Town Manager; Town Council
Largest Employers: Baystate Wing Hospital; Camp Ramah of New England; Big Y World Class Market
* Latest information available

Meet This Year’s Judges for 40 Under Forty

40 Under 40 Features

Editor’s Note: Again this year, five individuals have been chosen to score the nominations submitted for the 40 Under Forty competition. In keeping with past practice, BusinessWest has chosen two former winners to be part of this panel (and a third owns a 40 Under Forty plaque from the Worcester Business Journal). As always, BusinessWest has sought out individuals with experience in business and entrepreneurship.

Ken Albano

Attorney Kenneth J. Albano is the managing partner of Bacon Wilson, P.C., and a member of the firm’s corporate, commercial, and municipal practice groups.

In addition to his legal practice, he is very active in the local community. He is chair of the board of the March of Dimes Western Mass Division, and serves on the Board of the New England Chapter of the March of Dimes. Albano is also a board member with Behavioral Health Network, where he has served for more than 20 years. He also works with the American Cancer Society, Make-A-Wish, and the ALS Association.

In June of 2015, Albano was honored with the Mass. Bar Association’s Community Service Award in recognition of his exceptional volunteer work.

Jean Deliso

Jean Deliso, CFP is president and owner of Deliso Financial and Insurance Services. She focuses on financial preparation for retirement as well as times of transition such as divorce or widowhood.

Deliso has been working in the financial field for 30 years, her first seven in public accounting and the balance working in the financial-services industry. She has been a member of New York Life Chairman’s Council since 2012 and a qualifying Member of the Million Dollar Round Table for the past 18 years.

She currently serves as chairman of the board of the Baystate Health Foundation, and is immediate past chairman of the Community Music School of Springfield. She is also past chairman of the board of the YMCA of Greater Springfield, past board member of Pioneer Valley Refrigerated Warehouse, as well as past trustee of the Community Foundation of Western Mass. and the Bay Path College advisory board. She is a supporting member of the National Assoc. of Life Underwriters and the Hampden County Estate Planning Council.

Samalid Hogan

A 40 Under Forty winner in 2013, Samalid Hogan is director of the western regional office of the Mass. Small Business Development Center (MSBDC) Network. She has more than 12 years of economic-development and project-management experience.

In 2015, she was the consulting project manager for the Holyoke Innovation District on behalf of the MassTech Collaborative and Pioneer Valley Planning Commission. Previously, she was the senior project manager and brownfields coordinator at the City of Springfield’s Office of Planning and Economic Development. Hogan also served as a senior economic-development and policy analyst at the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, and founded CoWork Springfield, a networking organization and co-working space.

In 2016, Hogan was awarded a Grinspoon Entrepreneurial Spirit Award and recognized by the Massachusetts Latino Chamber of Commerce as a Woman Trailblazer and Trendsetter.

Patrick Leary, CPA

Patrick Leary

A member of BusinessWest’s inaugural 40 Under Forty class in 2007, Patrick Leary is a partner at Moriarty and Primack, an accounting firm with offices in Springfield and Lincoln, Mass., and Bloomfield, Conn., and directs accounting, auditing, and business-advisory services. His concentration is on closely held and family-owned businesses, as well as providing business-advisory services for a wide variety of industries.

He serves as the first vice chairperson of the Greater Springfield YMCA, chair of the board of directors of Human Resources Unlimited, a member of the of the board of directors and executive committee of the Springfield Regional Chamber of Commerce, treasurer of United Way of Pioneer Valley, and treasurer of the Colony Club.

Leary is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants. He is licensed to practice public accounting in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York.

Matt Sosik

Matt Sosik began his career in banking with the FDIC in Holyoke. In 1997, he became the CEO of Hometown Bank in Webster, Mass. After serving in that capacity for nearly 17 years and growing Hometown Bank almost 1,000%, he accepted the role as CEO and president at bankESB in 2013.

Since his arrival, he has overseen two mergers and has more than doubled the size of the parent holding company to more than $2 billion.

Sosik is a member or former member of numerous nonprofit boards, including United Way chapters, the Rotary, and hospital boards. He was a 40 Under 40 honoree in 2001 with the Worcester Business Journal.

Building Permits

Building Permits Departments

The following business permits were issued during the months of January and February 2017.

AGAWAM

NEU Corp.
1251 River Road
$27,325 — Remodel bar

CHICOPEE

Meadow Chicopee 425-521 LLC
425 Meadow St.
$329,627 — Shell work for future tenant

South Middlesex Non-Profit Housing Corp.
111 Springfield St.
$1,065,040 — Total renovation, including demolition, siding, windows, walls, ceilings, interior finishes, plumbing, heating, electrical, fire protection, and site work

EAST LONGMEADOW

Baystate Dental
250 North Main St.
$2.5 million — New commercial building

Eyesight & Surgery Associates
382 North Main St.
$14,980 — Commercial alteration

Powerclean Fitness
45 Baldwin St.
$70,000 — Commercial alteration

Powerclean Fitness
45 Baldwin St.
$20,625 — Fire sprinkler

LONGMEADOW

GPT Longmeadow LLC
746 Bliss Road
$12,000 — Add wall-mounted sign with halo-lit letters and one directional sign

The Longmeadow Mall LP
827 Williams St.
$20,000 — New facade

LUDLOW

MMWEC
327 Moody St.
$9,000 — Non-illuminated sign

Taxiway, LLC
84 Westover Road
$20,000 — Commercial alterations

NORTHAMPTON

City of Northampton
45 Gothic St.
$1,000 — Interior renovation to office area

Coolidge Center LLC
47 Pleasant St.
$16,000 — Divide existing space, construct three offices

Hospital Hill Development LLC
1 Village Hill Road
$16,500 — Create two new offices on second floor

Smith College
63 Belmont Ave.
$13,500 — Install new shower stall in bathroom, relocate washer and dryer hookups into kitchen

Smith College
23 Round Hill Road
$39,464 — Build new accessible restroom and custodial closet

PALMER

Baystate Wing Hospital
40 Wright St.
$12 million — Addition to existing hospital to accommodate Emergency Department expansion and shell space

Griswold Glass
1184 Park St.
$27,000 — Roofing

Sanderson MacLeod Inc.
1199 South Main St.
$2,600 — Relocate and add sprinklers to accommodate new ceiling layout

SPRINGFIELD

CMC Development Associates Ltd.
222 Carew St.
$100,000 — Renovate third-floor suite

Cottage St. LLC
604 Cottage St.
$2,600 — Move door, move existing reception window, install new door for adult day care facility

CVS Pharmacy
1500 Main St.
$7,000 — Modify photo counter and checkout area

Fontaine Investment Corp.
510 Cottage St.
$19,000 — Renovation of existing space to create additional offices

Joseph Hendricks
395-405 Dwight St.
$2,000 — Modify existing commercial space

Tom Mangan
1695 Main St.
$5,792 — Install 12 replacement windows in office building

Northgate Center, LLC
1985 Main St.
$22,000 — Increase vestibule size, change storefront to double-paned glass, install two interior sliding glass windows, remove portion of a wall

Picknelly Family LP
1414 Main St.
$132,500 — Interior office build-out, cosmetics, new finishes for tenant Doherty, Wallace, Pillsbury & Murphy

Wason Avenue Partners LLC
80 Wason Ave.
$22,110 — Remove wall to expand mammography room for Shields MRI Health Care

WARE

Frank DeSantis
250 West St., Building 1
$4,000 — Replacement windows

Ware on Earth Realty, LLC
388 Palmer Road
$3,500 — Signage

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Hearthstone Housing Foundation
215 Baldwin St.
$66,100 — Add two restrooms to existing space

Laurel Apartments
1343 Riverdale St.
$974 — Replace shingles

Riverdale Shops
935 Riverdale St., Suite C105
$108,150 — Rework retail space for a team sports retail store

Table & Vine
$14,500 — Roofing
1119 Riverdale St.

WS Trade Center Condos
233 Western Ave., Unit 243
$17,500 — Construct two storage rooms, cosmetic improvements to front office

WILBRAHAM

Chandler Holdings LLC
182 Monson Road
$20,000 — Demolish barn

Town of Wilbraham
318 Main St.
$7,950 — Demolition of modular classroom at Memorial School

Stony Hill Road Realty LLC
805 Stony Hill Road
$20,000 — Install three newer antennas and associated equipment alongside existing antennas

Real Estate Transactions

Departments Real Estate

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

FRANKLIN COUNTY

ASHFIELD

57 Bronson Ave.
Ashfield, MA 01330
Amount: $138,000
Buyer: Sandra McArthur RET
Seller: Eleanor Dodson
Date: 01/10/17

109 South St.
Ashfield, MA 01330
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Brian C. Franetovich
Seller: William G. Carr
Date: 01/18/17

CONWAY

332 Williamsburg Road
Conway, MA 01341
Amount: $174,240
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Robert E. Ahrensdorf
Date: 01/13/17

DEERFIELD

10 Crestview Dr.
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $565,000
Buyer: Edward J. Lichocki RET
Seller: Denis L. Emmett
Date: 01/17/17

27 Mountain Road
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Thomas F. Bakey
Seller: Frank R. Blajda
Date: 01/13/17

24 West St.
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $195,527
Buyer: Schechterle Properties
Seller: Peter B. Stone
Date: 01/20/17

HAWLEY

95 East Hawley Road
Hawley, MA 01339
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Harold F. Green
Seller: Nicole Patlin Miller RT
Date: 01/18/17

HEATH

13 West Branch Road
Heath, MA 01346
Amount: $166,000
Buyer: Tita Bersamira-Thompson
Seller: E. Una Cooper
Date: 01/20/17

LEVERETT

172 Long Plain Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Benjamin Solis
Seller: Fenna L. Bonsignore
Date: 01/09/17

MONTAGUE

218 Birnam Road
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $137,194
Buyer: Mark Pohlman
Seller: Deutsche Bank
Date: 01/19/17

7 Burnham St.
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $585,000
Buyer: Collura Realty LLC
Seller: James A. Andreas
Date: 01/10/17

NORTHFIELD

692 Mount Hermon Station Road
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Nicholas K. Christenson
Seller: Hollie Hunsicker
Date: 01/09/17

ORANGE

15 Canon Lane
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $174,900
Buyer: Antonio J. Desroche
Seller: FNMA
Date: 01/18/17

10 East River St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Honey Farms Inc.
Seller: Orange Commercial Properties
Date: 01/20/17

SHELBURNE

30 High St.
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $392,000
Buyer: Ricki Carroll
Seller: Theodore B. Merrill
Date: 01/12/17

SHUTESBURY

Sumner Mountain Road #3
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Kathleen R. Lugosch
Seller: Joan A. Antonino
Date: 01/13/17

WENDELL

125 Lockes Village Road
Wendell, MA 01379
Amount: $139,944
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Michael M. Sweeney
Date: 01/17/17

95 West St.
Wendell, MA 01380
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Sarah D. Greenleaf
Seller: Claire Stewart
Date: 01/12/17

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

62 Annable St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $168,000
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Raymond A. Bronner
Date: 01/12/17

92 Coronet Circle
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $268,500
Buyer: Tracey M. Lebeau
Seller: Chantal McGill
Date: 01/20/17

58 Kathy Terrace
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $287,000
Buyer: Richard M. Brock
Seller: Scott M. Rackliffe
Date: 01/17/17

705 Mill St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $224,900
Buyer: Glynn J. Beggs
Seller: Patricia A. Johnson
Date: 01/18/17

74 Ramah Circle South
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $186,000
Buyer: Chlastawa LLC
Seller: Pelter Inc.
Date: 01/20/17

495 Southwick St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $239,900
Buyer: Renee M. Malloy
Seller: Hubert A. White
Date: 01/12/17

152-154 Walnut St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $152,000
Buyer: Stephen M. Buynicki
Seller: Roberta Lafleur
Date: 01/17/17

BLANDFORD

29 Blair Road
Blandford, MA 01008
Amount: $372,500
Buyer: Brett D. Yvon
Seller: Stephen R. Gendreau
Date: 01/09/17

BRIMFIELD

30 Crestwood Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Southbridge Savings Bank
Seller: Stacey L. Dunn
Date: 01/11/17

1411 Dunhamtown Brimfield Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Dana A. Rouisse
Seller: Edward E. Tremblay
Date: 01/13/17

79 Sutcliffe Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $131,500
Buyer: Casey Williams
Seller: Gordon A. Moore
Date: 01/18/17

CHICOPEE

28 Amherst St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $202,100
Buyer: Alexus N. Emond
Seller: Robert G. Gordon
Date: 01/20/17

58 Boivin Terrace
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $199,278
Buyer: Wilmington Savings
Seller: Scott Kibbie
Date: 01/10/17

563 Broadway St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Jose Dasilva-Julio
Seller: Montgomery Chicopee Realty
Date: 01/20/17

15 Caroline St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Trisha Bouchard
Seller: Lisa M. Maloney
Date: 01/10/17

84 Cherryvale St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $173,500
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Jeffrey Chateauneuf
Date: 01/13/17

74 Chestnut St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $445,000
Buyer: Norwich Properties LLC
Seller: Maecar Realty Inc.
Date: 01/18/17

80 Chestnut St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $445,000
Buyer: Norwich Properties LLC
Seller: Maecar Realty Inc.
Date: 01/18/17

119 Claire St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $156,000
Buyer: Zachary W. Pelletier
Seller: Allen F. Cormier
Date: 01/17/17

95 Dale St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Saudy I. Hernandez
Seller: Anthony J. Biela
Date: 01/19/17

66 Daley St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Arnold C. Palmer
Seller: Aleksandr Izotov
Date: 01/18/17

36 Erline St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Emilio Gonzalez
Seller: JJS Capital Investment
Date: 01/17/17

24 Eton St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Maria C. Bulnes-Rozas
Seller: John E. Sheehan
Date: 01/10/17

268 Fletcher Circle
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $194,500
Buyer: Eric B. Stawarz
Seller: Robert J. Rehm
Date: 01/17/17

54 Kennedy St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Marco A. Morgado
Seller: John Scheehsher
Date: 01/09/17

218 Prospect St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $123,647
Buyer: Anthony Falcetti
Seller: Weldon, Augusta Mae L., (Estate)
Date: 01/13/17

44 Roy St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $152,000
Buyer: Dilepson Cruz
Seller: Maria J. Klos
Date: 01/09/17

29 Toronto St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Scott A. Franceschina
Seller: Phillip P. Paradis
Date: 01/20/17

33 Woodlawn St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $263,000
Buyer: Sonia Soto
Seller: David C. Labrie
Date: 01/10/17

EAST LONGMEADOW

99 Meadow Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $117,126
Buyer: Blueline Management LLC
Seller: US Bank
Date: 01/20/17

323 North Main St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Mark F. Maigret
Seller: Anebe Gracien
Date: 01/17/17

20 Ridge Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $285,900
Buyer: Anebe Gracien
Seller: ALWSLLC
Date: 01/17/17

42 White Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $219,000
Buyer: Hang Truong
Seller: Amy G. St.Germain
Date: 01/10/17

GRANVILLE

384 Water St.
Granville, MA 01034
Amount: $308,000
Buyer: Emerald City Rentals LLC
Seller: John B. Dejean
Date: 01/18/17

HAMPDEN

106 East Longmeadow Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $405,000
Buyer: David J. Henry
Seller: Peter S. Imler
Date: 01/18/17

135 Raymond Dr.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $202,000
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Candice K. Hunsucker
Date: 01/17/17

Somers Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Custom Homes Development Group
Seller: Ed Speight & Co. Inc.
Date: 01/13/17

47 Thresher Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $262,500
Buyer: James R. Damour
Seller: James R. Damour
Date: 01/09/17

HOLLAND

88 Sturbridge Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $264,000
Buyer: Niles N. Robbins
Seller: Gina Abysalh
Date: 01/12/17

HOLYOKE

51-53 Belvidere Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $242,600
Buyer: William Forest-Forest
Seller: Jamie T. Roy
Date: 01/13/17

Bobala Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: DFE LLC
Seller: Dinn Brothers Inc.
Date: 01/10/17

11 Brenan St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $184,000
Buyer: Reynaldo Martinez
Seller: Marcia Russell
Date: 01/18/17

53 Calumet Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $181,000
Buyer: Derek E. Kerns
Seller: Dorothy A. Reidy
Date: 01/13/17

163 Elm St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $167,257
Buyer: USA HUD
Seller: Shabnam Mashmasarmi
Date: 01/17/17

235 Elm St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Wanda I. Otero
Date: 01/09/17

473 Homestead Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $164,000
Buyer: Shawna E. Tobin
Seller: Joanne Orourke
Date: 01/17/17

1062-R Main St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Alan T. Velazquez
Seller: Amanda Bailey
Date: 01/13/17

100 Sheehan Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $188,000
Buyer: David J. Hutton
Seller: Lucille Y. Bellefeuille
Date: 01/12/17

39 Vernon St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Wilmington Savings
Seller: Julio Delesus
Date: 01/19/17

LONGMEADOW

65 Concord Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $395,000
Buyer: Fred S. Ligeiro
Seller: Throne, Janice S., (Estate)
Date: 01/13/17

11 Franklin Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Rodrigo A. Clement
Seller: James Jaron
Date: 01/12/17

48 Greenmeadow Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $487,500
Buyer: Courtney E. Wenleder
Seller: Stephen N. Krevalin
Date: 01/11/17

24 Lincoln Park
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Trisha D. Ripton
Seller: E. Earl Cranor
Date: 01/13/17

82 Merriweather Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Gene A. Bradshaw
Seller: Allan R. Shendell
Date: 01/20/17

63 Tanglewood Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Jami Wholesale LLC
Seller: Ethel S. Zimmerman
Date: 01/20/17

22 Williams Court
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $321,973
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Robert Nell
Date: 01/12/17

495 Williams St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Fojaz RT
Seller: Don A. Washington
Date: 01/13/17

LUDLOW

87 Americo St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Carlos Dossantos
Seller: Nancy G. Chaves
Date: 01/20/17

50 East Akard St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $192,500
Buyer: Paulo Martins
Seller: Lori A. Robbins
Date: 01/09/17

187 Higher Brook Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Jodi J. Nascimento
Seller: Warren R. Barrett
Date: 01/13/17

272-274 Winsor St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $190,484
Buyer: Diplomat Property Manager
Seller: David A. Martin
Date: 01/18/17

MONSON

18 Circle Dr.
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $224,900
Buyer: Jereme J. Tidwell
Seller: Henry J. Kosmider
Date: 01/18/17

22 Country Club Dr.
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $141,500
Buyer: Blythewood Property Management
Seller: USA VA
Date: 01/17/17

10 Fern Hill Road
Monson, MA 01069
Amount: $121,650
Buyer: Jeff D. Ladue
Seller: Linda M. Keery
Date: 01/18/17

110 Thayer Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Monson Savings Bank
Seller: Heather M. Wood
Date: 01/20/17

MONTGOMERY

Fuller Road
Montgomery, MA 01085
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Euler FT
Seller: Edward J. Healy
Date: 01/09/17

PALMER

10 Brown St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $194,000
Buyer: Gordon M. Merkel
Seller: Linda Coffey
Date: 01/20/17

4293-4295 High St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $189,819
Buyer: TD Bank NA
Seller: Paul W. Ollari
Date: 01/09/17

96 Rondeau St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Jared N. Jackson-King
Seller: Paul E. Rondeau
Date: 01/12/17

SPRINGFIELD

384 Abbott St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $158,000
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Jacqueline M. Forsman
Date: 01/17/17

41 Ardmore St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $149,000
Buyer: Carlos M. Colon-Lebron
Seller: Grady, Robert J., (Estate)
Date: 01/09/17

70-72 Ardmore St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Yandalis Reyes
Seller: Mars Real Properties Inc.
Date: 01/12/17

328 Arnold Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Dominique P. Fradette
Date: 01/09/17

9 Bellevue Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $124,000
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: John B. Dragone
Date: 01/19/17

41 Blodgett St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $132,000
Buyer: Camile Marsh
Seller: Khanh Nguyen
Date: 01/20/17

47 Brookside Circle
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $139,900
Buyer: Gracinda M. Goncalves
Seller: Thomas F. Carey
Date: 01/18/17

329 Central St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Rey X. Reyes-Rivera
Seller: Viva Development LLC
Date: 01/18/17

127 Cloran St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $131,000
Buyer: Carlos E. Monet
Seller: Patricia A. Ryan
Date: 01/20/17

90 Cuff Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $139,100
Buyer: Derek Fu
Seller: Thomas J. O’Connor
Date: 01/17/17

93 Curve St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $164,500
Buyer: Luis Carmona
Seller: Israel J. Rosario
Date: 01/13/17

193 Dayton St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $142,900
Buyer: Paul J. Bongiorni
Seller: Kimberly Ashton
Date: 01/13/17

142 Dwight Road
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Long Tran
Seller: Brian D. Baker
Date: 01/10/17

171 Dwight Road
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Anthony Medina
Seller: Bernard C. Reid
Date: 01/10/17

257-259 East St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $146,834
Buyer: WVUE REO 2015-1 LLC
Seller: Belinda N. Jackson
Date: 01/10/17

50 Ellery St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Saroeun Toum
Seller: Stratton Renovation LLC
Date: 01/19/17

14 Elmwood St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $1,000,000
Buyer: Bar South Land Holdings
Seller: Hap Inc.
Date: 01/18/17

70 Ferncliff Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Orange Park Management
Seller: Orange Park Management
Date: 01/13/17

66 Flint St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Santos Garcia
Date: 01/19/17

84 Fox Hill Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Michael Bridger
Seller: Guy B. Perry
Date: 01/09/17

63 Gerald St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Nathan E. Stevenson
Seller: Yekatherine Rasmussen
Date: 01/17/17

37 Gillette Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Alicia Dessereau
Seller: Richard F. Hansen
Date: 01/12/17

88-90 Groveland St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Carmen Valentin
Seller: Lisa Santaniello
Date: 01/12/17

200 Harkness Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $194,500
Buyer: Ram Tamang
Seller: Suzanne M. Dodson
Date: 01/13/17

21 Jennings St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $125,624
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Clover A. Martin
Date: 01/12/17

104 Lamont St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $204,900
Buyer: Therese E. Singleton
Seller: Bretta Construction LLC
Date: 01/13/17

21 Lawndale St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Licenia Cruz
Seller: Ivan Grechka
Date: 01/17/17

322 Main St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $1,000,000
Buyer: Bar South Land Holdings
Seller: HAP Inc.
Date: 01/18/17

Main St.
Springfield, MA 01101
Amount: $1,000,000
Buyer: Bar South Land Holdings
Seller: Hap Inc.
Date: 01/18/17

79 Marsden St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $146,000
Buyer: Wilson Y. Bedoya-Montoya
Seller: Lydia Santiago
Date: 01/20/17

57 Merrimac Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $117,670
Buyer: USA VA
Seller: Luis A. Adames
Date: 01/19/17

110-112 Methuen St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $209,900
Buyer: Maria I. Cruz
Seller: Gloria Otero
Date: 01/17/17

58 Methuen St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Peter K. Njoroge
Seller: Bretta Construction LLC
Date: 01/20/17

183-185 Middle St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Soraia Abdulbaki
Seller: Damaris Nyanjui
Date: 01/13/17

14 Nichols St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $128,000
Buyer: Luis Rodriguez
Seller: Sara Calo
Date: 01/13/17

310 Oakland St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $188,000
Buyer: Angelica Fermaintt
Seller: Benjamin Velazquez
Date: 01/19/17

242 Parker St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $149,900
Buyer: Tricia Bunns
Seller: Xiuyu Ma
Date: 01/10/17

40 Parkwood St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $127,000
Buyer: Deutsche Bank
Seller: Wanda Santana
Date: 01/13/17

46 Rochford Circle
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $163,000
Buyer: Anthony C. Torres
Seller: Timothy J. Moore
Date: 01/11/17

551 Roosevelt Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Aaron C. Zing
Seller: Smaida, Lucian A., (Estate)
Date: 01/13/17

30 Sachem St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Ally Bank
Seller: Paula A. Bernal
Date: 01/19/17

21-23 Santa Barbara St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $142,000
Buyer: Christopher O’Brien
Seller: Damion L. Daley
Date: 01/13/17

42-44 Shawmut St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Bimala Subedi
Seller: Leon Hutt
Date: 01/09/17

76 Sorrento St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: MNBC LLC
Seller: Monty LLC
Date: 01/13/17

153 Spikenard Circle
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $159,000
Buyer: Luis G. Morales
Seller: Melro Associates Inc.
Date: 01/20/17

37 Stratford Terrace
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Arlyana Dalce-Bowie
Seller: John J. Gullotti
Date: 01/17/17

69 Strong St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Deana L. Williams
Seller: Viviana Council
Date: 01/20/17

128 Webber St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Doreen Acheampong
Seller: Attaford LLC
Date: 01/19/17

227 West Allen Ridge Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $173,000
Buyer: Justin M. Vaniderstine
Seller: Ryan E. Corbett
Date: 01/12/17

28 Warrenton St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Agnes B. Akoto
Seller: George B. Fitzpatrick
Date: 01/10/17

137 Whittum Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Derek Chapdelaine
Seller: S&C Homebuyers LLC
Date: 01/13/17

559-561 Wilbraham Road
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $162,512
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Robert J. Paskins
Date: 01/10/17

8-10 Woodmont St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Sandra M. Jolly
Date: 01/18/17

SOUTHWICK

14 Berkshire Ave.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Michael J. Smith
Seller: Michael F. McCarthy
Date: 01/12/17

50 Berkshire Ave.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $282,500
Buyer: Thomas P. O’Donnell
Seller: Richard R. Labarre
Date: 01/19/17

156 Berkshire Ave.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Brian P. Callaghan
Seller: Diane D. Lazarin
Date: 01/20/17

8 Buckingham Dr.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Vladimir Gonchuk
Seller: Paul D. Musselwhite
Date: 01/09/17

WALES

32 Reed Hill Road
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Sandra A. Wilk
Seller: Michael Mariettos
Date: 01/09/17

WESTFIELD

20 Charles St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $169,500
Buyer: Kaybeth M. Fortier
Seller: William F. Barry
Date: 01/13/17

78 Court St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $223,999
Buyer: Richard T. Ryer
Seller: Larry A. Williams
Date: 01/09/17

89 Joseph Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Adrian Acevedo
Seller: Kathleen M. Petersante
Date: 01/17/17

34 South Maple St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $217,900
Buyer: Coy Chaney
Seller: Cynthia T. Levasseur
Date: 01/19/17

99 Springdale Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $202,150
Buyer: David Procopio
Seller: Paul Broderick
Date: 01/12/17

109 White St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Nathan R. Irwin
Seller: Alan W. Perzanowski
Date: 01/20/17

WILBRAHAM

28 Forest St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Michael K. Ryan
Seller: Nicholas M. Yarmac
Date: 01/13/17

863 Glendale Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Carla-Nicola RT
Seller: Samble, Avis M., (Estate)
Date: 01/13/17

8 Maiden Lane
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $134,434
Buyer: Ramon J. Alvarez
Seller: Jorge R. Figueroa
Date: 01/09/17

103 Manchonis Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $131,000
Buyer: Dustin E. Smith
Seller: FNMA
Date: 01/20/17

12 Oakland St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Dennis P. Donahue
Seller: Edward J. Chapman
Date: 01/13/17

144 Stony Hill Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $219,900
Buyer: Alexander P. Gendreau
Seller: Jillian T. Crowley
Date: 01/13/17

997 Tinkham Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Mark Graziano
Seller: Deutsche Bank
Date: 01/20/17

WEST SPRINGFIELD

125 Deer Run Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Richard P. Cieboter
Seller: Daniel R. Scully
Date: 01/17/17

25 Duke St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $178,000
Buyer: Pavel Baryshev
Seller: Darlene S. Lyko
Date: 01/09/17

77 Hanover St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $158,000
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Donald Wright
Date: 01/17/17

115 Nelson St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $229,000
Buyer: Jason A. Duffy
Seller: Richard Cieboter
Date: 01/13/17

110 Sawmill Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $282,000
Buyer: Krishna Kharel
Seller: Robert G. Gordon
Date: 01/19/17

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

77 Dana St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $492,000
Buyer: Katharine R. Sims
Seller: Amherst College
Date: 01/17/17

111 Logtown Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $220,800
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Luisa C. Cabrera
Date: 01/11/17

24 Montague Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $675,000
Buyer: Town Of Amherst
Seller: SAC Automotive Inc.
Date: 01/18/17

4 Stagecoach Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: William S. VanHeuvelen
Seller: Katharine J. Waggoner
Date: 01/10/17

BELCHERTOWN

14 Bardwell St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $428,000
Buyer: Patricia M. Lafore
Seller: Ronald J. Chiasson
Date: 01/17/17

326 Cold Spring Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $237,000
Buyer: Brandon M. Roy
Seller: US Bank
Date: 01/13/17

89 Dana Hill
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $256,155
Buyer: Dominic J. O’Connell
Seller: Joann C. Holmes
Date: 01/13/17

54 Edelcy Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Amanda L. Marley
Seller: Ryan J. Gray
Date: 01/10/17

10 Franklin St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $273,500
Buyer: Charles D. Allen
Seller: Christopher Lukes
Date: 01/18/17

481 Franklin St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $192,900
Buyer: JKP LLC
Seller: Patricia Moriarty
Date: 01/13/17

49 Hickory Hill
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $397,000
Buyer: Constantinos Anamisis
Seller: J. H. Duquette & Son Construction
Date: 01/13/17

205 North Washington St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Ryan J. Gray
Seller: Jerry Lalli
Date: 01/10/17

565 North Washington St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $385,858
Buyer: Kevin O’Brien
Seller: RGC LLC
Date: 01/18/17

11 Raymond Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $269,900
Buyer: Lamikco T. Magee
Seller: Raghavan Manmatha
Date: 01/09/17

BELCHERTOWN

87 Railroad St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Bryan Clough
Seller: John K. Murray
Date: 01/18/17

175 State St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $1,525,000
Buyer: Alden Credit Union
Seller: Pride LP
Date: 01/19/17

CHESTERFIELD

64 East St.
Chesterfield, MA 01012
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Phoebe E. Stewart
Seller: Lee N. Monroe
Date: 01/19/17

CUMMINGTON

5 Mount Road
Cummington, MA 01026
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Jesse L. Noel
Seller: Frank T. Noel
Date: 01/12/17

EASTHAMPTON

5 Coed Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Jeffrey S. Landfried
Seller: Grant E. Dawson
Date: 01/17/17

265 Main St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $394,000
Buyer: Josef P. Arnould
Seller: Alice M. Cook
Date: 01/20/17

238 Park St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Gerald F. Houle
Seller: Dennis R. Lacourse
Date: 01/18/17

30 Paul St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Arthur E. Lustenberger
Seller: David Garstka Builders
Date: 01/20/17

37 Peloquin Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Dawn E. Hibbert
Seller: Mark Hibbert
Date: 01/09/17

75-77 Pleasant St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Zachary R. Smith
Seller: Lionel A. Laprade FT
Date: 01/20/17

113 Strong St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $217,000
Buyer: Daryl Brosseau
Seller: Susan E. Thibodeau
Date: 01/18/17

10 Susan Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $174,900
Buyer: Kyle D. Murphy
Seller: Jameson T. Stahl
Date: 01/11/17

79 West St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Michelle Pelletier
Seller: Dolores M. Tower
Date: 01/11/17

GRANBY

107 Batchelor St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $166,000
Buyer: Scott Hooper
Seller: Donna M. Williams
Date: 01/20/17

112-R Cold Hill
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Steven K. Eckman
Seller: Macmonegle, Joan M., (Estate)
Date: 01/11/17

12 Pheasant Hill
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $246,500
Buyer: Thomas B. Stevens
Seller: Joseph L. Larrivee
Date: 01/13/17

HADLEY

82 Knightly Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Justin T. Serpone
Seller: David T. Simons
Date: 01/17/17

21 Moody Bridge Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $217,000
Buyer: Beth A. Pelletier
Seller: Cook, Warren F., (Estate)
Date: 01/17/17

2 Quinlan Dr.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $318,000
Buyer: Kevin J. Hannon
Seller: Judith F. Laprade
Date: 01/09/17

HATFIELD

122 Depot Road
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Grant E. Dawson
Seller: Shawn M. Robinson
Date: 01/17/17

NORTHAMPTON

390 Bridge St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Elizabeth A. Chandler
Seller: Justin Preftakes
Date: 01/18/17

380 Chesterfield Road
Northampton, MA 01053
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: David C. Atwell
Seller: UMassfive College Federal Credit Union
Date: 01/13/17

199 Emerson Way
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Eleanor C. Adams
Seller: Emerson Way LLC
Date: 01/20/17

31 Fairway Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Joseph Duncan
Seller: Brent J. Delano
Date: 01/20/17

21 Henry St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $311,376
Buyer: Deutsche Bank
Seller: Rhonda Cichy-Bombardier
Date: 01/19/17

29 James Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $655,000
Buyer: Jamie Messer
Seller: Frank M. Abrano
Date: 01/17/17

140 North Maple St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Lisa L. Jasinski
Seller: Lyons, Mary T., (Estate)
Date: 01/20/17

204 North Elm St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Nora M. Verni
Seller: Jay R. Ryan
Date: 01/19/17

137 Spruce Hill Ave.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $235,100
Buyer: Victoria Ahrensdorf
Seller: Magdalene Aulik
Date: 01/11/17

SOUTH HADLEY

40 Bridge St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Stephen M. Werenski
Seller: John E. Pietras
Date: 01/10/17

14 Bunker Hill
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $222,000
Buyer: Lindsay M. Clark
Seller: Stasia M. Ragoza
Date: 01/12/17

1 Greenwood Lane
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $282,500
Buyer: Kathleen Furnelli
Seller: Matthew R. McKeever
Date: 01/13/17

40 Prospect St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $198,000
Buyer: P&R Prospects LLC
Seller: Joan R. Benoit
Date: 01/20/17

26 Smith St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Heather Zapponi
Seller: Pawel L. Taraska
Date: 01/11/17

46 South St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $132,000
Buyer: Rachael K. Perkins
Seller: Donna M. Johnson
Date: 01/10/17

25 Woodbridge St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $625,000
Buyer: Ruth H. Todrin
Seller: Ann E. Furnelli
Date: 01/13/17

SOUTHAMPTON

8 Russellville Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $303,000
Buyer: Alan M. Wine
Seller: Alan Velazquez
Date: 01/13/17

19 Valley Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $350,300
Buyer: Steven Hermanson
Seller: JCP Capital Group LLC
Date: 01/20/17

WARE

42 Cummings Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $222,500
Buyer: Audra L. Chartier
Seller: Robert D. Giard
Date: 01/13/17

118 Glendale Circle
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $128,888
Buyer: V. Mortgage REO 2 LLC
Seller: Bernadine L. Ruell
Date: 01/11/17

290 Malboeuf Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Citibank
Seller: Cheryl A. Dejesus
Date: 01/17/17

17 Prospect St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Zachary T. Parent
Seller: Andrew M. Norton
Date: 01/18/17

181 Upper Church St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Joseph Kotowski
Seller: Louis Puliafico
Date: 01/13/17

1-5 Vernon St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Stephanie Rodriguez
Seller: James E. Roy
Date: 01/11/17

WESTHAMPTON

353 Northwest Road
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Marina Nelson
Seller: David R. Morin
Date: 01/17/17

WILLIAMSBURG

21 Cole Road
Williamsburg, MA 01039
Amount: $288,550
Buyer: Paul J. Dauteuil
Seller: Sturm, Carol A., (Estate)
Date: 01/20/17

3 East Main St.
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: James J. Piermarini
Seller: Timothy E. McElroy
Date: 01/17/17

8 North Main St.
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Jacob L. Bellone
Seller: James F. Lucey
Date: 01/13/17

Company Notebook

Company Notebook Departments

MassMutual Continues Support of Legal Clinic

SPRINGFIELD — MassMutual and the Hampden County Bar Assoc. (HCBA) announced MassMutual’s ongoing support for HCBA’s Hampden County Legal Clinic, including a $160,000 grant intended to support its expansion and continuation of legal services. The Hampden County Legal Clinic is a legal-aid program that provides pro bono services to individuals at no charge, most of whom have limited financial resources and who meet specific eligibility guidelines. The Legal Clinic provides services in the Housing, District, and Probate & Family courts in Hampden County. It also works with unrepresented individuals on issues regarding foreclosure, tenant, and consumer matters, and with regional attorneys to match their legal skills and expertise with pro bono opportunities. These opportunities provided by the Legal Clinic include general legal advice and services, limited-assistance representation, mentoring with students at local law schools, legal education programming, and other community outreach programs. MassMutual is continuing its support of the Legal Clinic at a critical time when a significant number of litigants in local courts are unable to afford legal representation. Currently, more than 85% of the cases in the Western Division Housing Court involve people who are without legal representation. The current grant brings MassMutual’s total financial support of the Legal Clinic to approximately $250,000. “MassMutual is proud to continue its support of the Hampden County Legal Clinic, which provides legal guidance and counsel for those in our community with low or no income,” said Michael O’Connor, MassMutual’s general counsel. “MassMutual has a long tradition of supporting the communities in which it does business, and this grant reflects our ongoing commitment to invest our time, talent, and resources to ensure access to legal services for all members of our community.” MassMutual began its association with the HCBA six years ago with grant funding, enabling the Legal Clinic to expand its lawyer-for-a-day programs and increasing the services it provided. The funding from MassMutual has enabled the Legal Clinic to become the centerpiece for pro bono services in Western Mass. Importantly, in addition to the financial support MassMutual has provided, its attorneys have participated in Legal Clinic programming for nearly 10 years. “We’re elated with MassMutual’s increased funding and their involvement in making the Legal Clinic an invaluable community resource,” said attorney Kevin Maltby, president of the Hampden County Bar Assoc.

Country Bank Supports QVCDC with $50,000 Donation

WARE — Country Bank announced it has donated $50,000 to the Quaboag Valley Community Development Corp., to assist the QVCDC in its commitment to economic development and helping small businesses grow and prosper in the Quaboag Hills region. The QVCDC offers many programs to help small businesses, including training programs such as computer courses, how to write a business plan, or individual consulting, in addition to offering small-business loans.

Berkshire Bank Foundation Awards Nearly $1.9 Million

PITTSFIELD — Berkshire Bank Foundation announced that it awarded a total of $1,862,265 in grants to nonprofit organizations operating in the bank’s footprint in 2016. The giving represents a 3% increase in contributions compared to 2015. The grants supported a variety of education and community-development initiatives, as well as health and human service and cultural programs. “Our philanthropic investments impacted millions of individuals in 2016, helping to enhance economic opportunities and improve the quality of life for members of our community,” said Lori Gazzillo, vice president and director of the Berkshire Bank Foundation. “We are so pleased to continue our support of so many community initiatives throughout our footprint.” In total, the foundation’s funding affected more than 5 million individuals who received programming support from nonprofit organizations in the areas of education, especially reading, as well as community and economic development, including affordable housing, downtown revitalization, and employment. In addition, the foundation also helped meet the basic needs of individuals through funding to various health and human services initiatives. Berkshire Bank Foundation recently announced changes to its philanthropic strategy, allowing it to continue meeting the growing needs of the communities it serves, while maximizing the impact of its contributions. As part of the transition, the foundation will continue to focus its funding in the areas of education and community/economic development, but will now seek specific outcomes associated with the programs it supports. In addition, the foundation plans to allocate a limited pool of funds to basic-need funding that will rotate each year to provide organizations doing good work, but that don’t necessarily fall within the foundation’s major focuses, the opportunity to receive funding.

Cambridge College Named a Best School for Latinos

SPRINGFIELD — Aside from purchasing a home, deciding where to attend college is one of the costliest, most long-term investments most individuals will make in their lifetime. Latino Leaders magazine identified the top 50 best colleges in the U.S. for Latinos, and two schools in Massachusetts made the grade, including Cambridge College. Increasingly competitive job markets demand the right academic credentials to more aptly begin a career track. Yet, for minorities like Latinos, only 15% have a bachelor’s degree or higher, according to recent data by the Pew Research Center. Yet, there are numerous reasons why some academic institutions better serve Hispanic students. They include the percentage of total Latino enrollment and the percentage of Latino faculty, the percentage of students who apply and receive financial aid, academic resources for minority students to acclimate to academic rigors of college life, and outreach efforts by schools to add to their overall diversity. Institutional information provided by universities, along with independent sources like the Hispanic Assoc. of Colleges and Universities, joined data by U.S. News and World Report and other reporting agencies to serve as the basis for the research methodology in compiling the top 50 universities for Latinos, institutions that have excelled in their performance, outreach, and academic level in their relation to the nation’s Latino student population.

STCC Offers Fast-track Customer-service Training

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Technical Community College will offer a 16-week ‘fast-track’ customer-service certificate training program this spring that is designed to help students develop a range of skills, from interview techniques to job-hunting strategies. The fast-track option allows students to earn 24 college credits over two eight-week sessions that begin March 20. They can apply these credits directly to an associate degree in business administration. Four courses are offered per session, and classes are held Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. An STCC fast-track customer-service certificate allows people to become eligible for jobs in a number of different industries, including call-center operations, financial services, sales, hospitality, customer service for manufacturing operations, and retail and other organizations. “Customer-service employees typically are considered the face of the companies they represent. They need to have good problem-solving skills,” said Lidya Rivera-Early, GPSTEM (Guided Pathways to Success in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) project director at STCC. “Customer service is a great starting point for a career in any company.”

Rivera-Early said someone working in customer service will need a good foundation of skills in marketing, computer literacy, communication, and business etiquette to support the needs of both the customer and employer. Requested by area industry partners, the fast-track customer service essentials certificate program will help students develop essential workforce-readiness skills. The program will include speed-interview networking sessions and job-placement assistance. Students will hear from guest speakers and go on company tours. To enroll in the program, call the STCC Admissions Office at (413) 755-3333 or visit www.stcc.edu/admissions. Space is limited. The program is not free, but financial aid is available for those who qualify.

BHN Awarded $100K Mutual Impact Grant

SPRINGFIELD — Behavioral Health Network Inc. (BHN) has been awarded a $100,000 Mutual Impact Grant by MassMutual through the company’s Mutual Impact community-investment program. BHN will use this grant to bring the Elizabeth Freeman Center’s Money School program model to Springfield. These Mutual Impact funds will offer Money School to survivors of domestic or sexual violence who are also in recovery from addiction. BHN will provide participants with the skills and supports necessary to move out of poverty. Participants will be given individually tailored financial and career mentoring as well as intensive advocacy and support for their addiction recovery and healing in the aftermath of domestic or sexual violence. One in four women report experiencing domestic violence. In addition to physical abuse, domestic-violence survivors also experience financial duress, and almost half of domestic violence victims struggle with substance-use disorder. Mutual Impact is funded by the MassMutual Foundation, a dedicated corporate foundation established by MassMutual. The Mutual Impact program is completely driven by MassMutual employees. Employees choose cause areas and nonprofit organizations to receive funding, make donations which are matched dollar-for-dollar by the MassMutual Foundation to fund grants, and volunteer in support of the organization they select. “Corporate responsibility and community involvement are part of our DNA, and we take great pride in helping people in the communities where we live and work secure a better future,” said Dennis Duquette, head of Community Responsibility with MassMutual and president of the MassMutual Foundation board of directors. “BHN tirelessly devotes time and energy in support of families in our local community, and we are pleased to support them through the Mutual Impact program.” Mutual Impact grants were awarded to 21 nonprofit organizations for programs that fit within specific cause areas, including early-grade reading proficiency, food security, violence prevention, family economic self-sufficiency, returning veterans, successful advancement in school, child hunger, and education.

College of Pharmacy Hosts Visitor from Chinese Hospital

SPRINGFIELD — Dr. Yongfang Hu, director of Clinical Pharmacy at Beijing Tsinghua Chang Gung Hospital, recently visited the Western New England University College of Pharmacy to learn about clinical pharmacy education and the program-assessment process from university faculty and students. During the visit, Hu had a variety of discussions with College of Pharmacy administration and faculty, toured the college facility, and observed didactic lectures. Beijing Tsinghua Chang Gung Hospital, a comprehensive public institution, is the affiliated teaching hospital of Tsinghua University. As one of China’s most renowned universities, Tsinghua has become an important institution for fostering talent and scientific research. In 2015, Tsinghua University established the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, which stemmed from Tsinghua’s strong foundation in biomedical-related disciplines, including life science, basic medical science, chemistry, biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, and material science.

We Need to do Better than ‘West Mass’

Opinion

Editorial

Critiquing marketing material is akin to analyzing a presidential debate or scoring a Saturday Night Live skit. It’s certainly easy to be critical and wonder out loud, ‘couldn’t they do any better than that?’

Just think back to the Super Bowl and how many times we all said words to that effect after almost every one of the commercials.

We bring this up because the Economic Development Council of Western Mass., via an Oklahoma-based marketing firm that specializes in branding regions, has come up with a new name, or brand, for this region: West Mass.

Let’s rephrase that: West Mass???

This is where we make like we’ve seen another of those Super Bowl ads or a hopelessly weak installment of Weekend Update, and say ‘really?’

It took a year, intensive questionnaires, and tens of thousands of dollars to come up with … this?

West Mass? This is the new brand for this region, the one that’s supposed to replace ‘Pioneer Valley,’ which, by the way, won’t be replaced simply because too many businesses and agencies are invested in it.

West Mass?

This is disappointing on a number of levels, but let’s start with the fact that the EDC decided that none of the excellent marketing firms in this region that submitted proposals for this rebrand were worthy of the task, so it instead hired that Oklahoma-based firm, Cubic Creative, to come up with something that an intern from one of the local colleges could have come up with while on lunch break.

OK, we’re being really cynical, but it’s hard not to be. A lot of time and resources were expended on this, and from our view, the region is no better off, marketing-slogan/brand-wise, than it was before. In fact, it’s probably worse off.

To be fair, we acknowledge that this region is not exactly easy to brand. Like the Blackstone Valley outside Worcester and the Merrimack Valley in the northeast corner of the state, it is named, sort of, for the river that runs through it — hence Connecticut Valley. But that’s also the name of a neighboring state, and we want people and companies to come here, not go there, so that’s not going to work.

Meanwhile, the two or three things this area is perhaps most identified with (we said ‘perhaps’) are Dr. Seuss, basketball, and the guns once made at the Springfield Armory. But all those are tied directly to Springfield, and we want to promote the region, not just its biggest city. Meanwhile, it’s not politically correct to use guns to brand anything.

How about ‘Knowledge Corridor’ — the brand we’re already using, sort of? It’s OK, but only for attracting businesses, and it doesn’t seem to be working well in that realm, either. From a tourism perspective, it probably will be hard to get people worked up to visit the Knowledge Corridor.

So, we admit, rebranding the area is not an easy assignment. But West Mass?

It’s nothing more than a geographic indicator. It basically tells people that we’re ‘Massachusetts, but not Boston.’

It is possible, we suppose, that smart marketers could take ‘West Mass,’ mix it with some other words, pictures, and fonts, and maybe convey a powerful message that will resonate with individuals, families, and businesses. After all, people don’t have to do anything more than say ‘South Beach’ to whet a lot of appetites.

For now, though, as with most all Saturday Night Live episodes and presidential debates, ‘West Mass’ leaves us yearning for more, and saying ‘couldn’t they do any better than that?’

Here’s hoping they prove all us critics wrong.

Moving Beyond Diversity to Inclusion

Opinion

By Janine Fondon

Where do we go from here? As we explore the future of diversity in this time of transition and change across our country and world, let us acknowledge that priorities might change, but inclusion will always matter to both individuals and organizations.

Inclusion is the asset that is hidden in plain sight. Today, the goal is to learn how to access it as a tool for success.

Over the years, priorities for diversity and inclusion have been different for each company, organization, educational institution, community, and individual — especially considering the geographic location or decade it existed. Yet, through it all, many companies and select groups of people continue to wrestle with equity, advancement, and retention issues. Milestones, over the years, signal the strides and struggles of advancement in diversity and inclusion. For example:

• In the Executive Order 9981 (1948), President Truman officially desegregated the armed forces;

• The Civil Rights Act of 1964 made it illegal for any business, private or public, to practice discriminatory hiring (and firing) practices; and

• Other milestones over the years have included work/life balance, equal pay, reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities, veterans’ preferences, and the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals.

Today, considering many of the strides and transitions over the years, research now shows that companies with more diverse workforces perform better financially. A recent McKinsey study shows that companies in the top quartile for gender or racial and ethnic diversity are more likely to have financial returns above their national industry medians. The bottom line is that, when companies commit themselves to diverse leadership, they are more successful.

Diversity can offer many benefits in today’s workplace, but not without working toward inclusion. As Korn Ferry reports, “diversity by itself is not enough: leadership in the 21st century demands that executives and their organizations move beyond diversity alone to capture the potential that comes from inclusion. If diversity is ‘the mix,’ then inclusion is making the mix work by leveraging the wealth of knowledge, insights, and perspectives in an open, trusting, and diverse workplace.” The key to success is how inclusive we are in balancing the mix in an effort to get the best possible advantage.

Here are some thoughts about making the mix work:

• Get beyond the single lens of identity and enter the world of ‘ultradiversity.’

According to Andres Tapia of Korn Ferry, the Los Angeles-based organizational-advisory and executive-search firm, diversity is no longer viewed via a single lens, so inclusion must incorporate some acknowledgement of the complexities of identity. He says, “what the scientists are witnessing at the genetic level is also taking place in society. Demographic changes have been so massive in the past generation — in nearly every country in the world — that, while diversity is more relevant than ever, the way we think about it is obsolete. The stalwart paradigms of group identity based only on race, gender, age, sexual orientation, or disability no longer cover the scope of our multidimensional identities. No one is just black. Or Latino. Or female. Or gay. Or blind. We are much more complex than that. We have entered the age of ultradiversity. This ultradiversity leads to intersected identities such as GayVeteranXer. Or an ElderlyPersonwithaDisability. Or a MillennialIntrovertedFemaleManager. Or BoomerAfricanAmericanGeneralManagerMalewithAdultKids. Or a LesbianSingleMother.”

This new time of ultradiversity calls upon us to accept the total self in a world that wants people to check a box. While we can still check boxes in the age of inclusion, self-expression includes one’s complete identity with more fluidity, while also incorporating a person’s changes over time.

• Explore the diversity of being ‘human’ in the world of artificial intelligence.

To value inclusion, business leaders focus on the traditional view of diversity (race, sex, gender, education, etc.), yet many people may not understand that what makes us truly diverse is also what makes us human. Our human ability to develop our authentic view of the world will offer many advantages to boost survival in a digital age where computers can triumph on Jeopardy!, do surgery, and assess our faults. While computers can quantify what has been already experienced, the data crunching will never uncover the uncertainties of human thought, potential, and innovation, where ideas and perceptions are based on the human response of emotion, not data.

According to a report by Deloitte, “With intelligence augmentation, the ultimate goal is not building machines that think like humans, but designing machines that help humans think better.” The key to diversity and inclusion is using all of an organization’s human assets to benefit that organization — in ways that extend the boundaries of the boxes we sit in. The true asset is not silencing sectors of our world, but designing a world for all to think about what actions should be taken for greater and more inclusive success.

• Diversity training – evolving our dialogue and actions.

Since 1950, many organizations — from private enterprise to education and government — have incorporated some form of diversity education to avoid lawsuits and prompt success and change in industry and government. In the late 1980s, the Hudson Institute prepared the Workforce 2000 report for the U.S. Department of Labor to project trends. In 2017, we see now that the trends were not only on target, but they remain issues to solve as we move toward the next marker, 2020:

• Trend 1: a skills mismatch or ‘gap’ was predicted to emerge between the abilities of new workers and the increasing skill requirements of new jobs.

• Trend 2: women, minorities, and immigrants were expected to dominate the small net growth of workers, altering traditional workforce demographic patterns.

• Trend 3: if the U.S. continues to prosper as it has since 1900, policy makers must find ways to (1) maintain the dynamism of an aging workforce; (2) reconcile the conflicting needs of women, work, and families; (3) integrate black and Hispanic workers fulIy into the economy; and (4) improve the educational preparation of all workers.

Again, all these proved true, and all remain important issues.

To meet the changing demands of our world, training is still needed, but the expectations are evolving. Dr. Amer Ahmed, director of Intercultural Teaching and Faculty Development at UMass Amherst, reminds organizations that a process of learning (with no end point) must be established, so diversity and inclusion training extends beyond the training session in formal and informal ways. He also suggests that “we must acknowledge the core competencies and skills that allow us to learn.”

These core competencies include self-awareness (understanding your worldview), communication style, empathy (how to validate someone else’s experiences), patience, flexibility, ambiguity, and curiosity.

Ahmed emphasized that we should all strive to be part of a learning organization as well as build our own individual learning plan. “Training alone will not get us to where we (our companies, organizations, or us as individuals) need to be, but it is one of the most important elements of our learning process that helps us progress.”

Toward 2020

As we move toward the magical year 2020, Oxford Economics cites that “people management” is not adequately represented in the C-suite and boardroom. It notes that many companies lack the culture and tools they need to engage employees, track their performance, and measure the effectiveness of HR initiatives. Oxford Economics’ key report on 2020 proposes the following key areas where businesses must take action in order to thrive in the future:

• The Millennial misunderstanding. There is widespread agreement that the generation entering the workforce is different in key ways — but research shows that executives do not really understand what those differences are.

• What matters most at work. Engagement and loyalty are vital to a successful workforce, yet there is a meaningful gap between the incentives and amenities companies offer and those that employees really want.

• The leadership cliff. Research shows that companies are ill-prepared for the leadership challenges of workforce 2020, and are not doing enough to meet future demands.

• Bridging the skills gap. Successful companies will create a learning culture that captures and perpetuates knowledge while empowering employees.

Companies should re-evaluate the success of their diversity and inclusion efforts and move to not only make a difference in the lives of their employees, communities, and business, but also consider some tough decisions and changes to their own corporate culture. Andres Tapia sums it all up when he says, “to have inclusion, we need to call out and manage our differences in a constructive fashion.” Also, he suggests that we do the following:

• Get to know the people you work with. “We cannot make interpersonal and group collaborations work effectively with people that we don’t know or understand. Relationships are built on trust and honest dialogue”;

• Bond with women of color, who may experience slower time to promotion and be less trusting;

• Understand how people with disabilities redefine what it means to be disabled;

• Embrace inclusive leadership and effectiveness; and

• Create new relationships with Millennials (understanding that experience and knowledge no longer correlate with age).

As you explore diversity and inclusion strategies, take the time to think about the limitations of your mindset and focus on how you will find opportunities to learn by engaging others. As Ahmed says, “every person has a story that people need to hear and learn from. The skill to master is being open, transparent, and willing to listen.”

Janine Fondon is president and CEO of UnityFirst.com.

Barron & Jacobs Continues Its Tradition of Melding Old and New

Construction Sections

Building on the Past

Chris Jacobs took the reins at Barron & Jacobs last year after more than 31 years with the company.

Chris Jacobs has construction in his blood.

“I’ve been with the company since it opened in 1986,” said Jacobs, who succeeded his father, Cecil Jacobs, last year as president of Barron & Jacobs Associates Inc. “I was 15 then, working summers, and I kept working summers through college.”

After graduation, he came on board full-time and worked his way up the chain, serving long stints as general manager of construction, then general manager of the whole company, before taking the reins from his father.

Growing up, he doesn’t recall a time when he didn’t want to work in the family business. “What young kid doesn’t like construction?”

But he also has an appreciation of history and tradition, and Barron & Jacobs is steeped in both, starting with its offices in an 1895 Victorian home in downtown Northampton, purchased from the city’s historical society and restored to its original look.

Behind that home sits a carriage house that once sheltered the first car-repair garage in Northampton — a garage visited frequently by Amelia Earhart early in her flight career, to learn about reciprocating engines.

That sort of history reflects the value that Cecil Jacobs, who’s known as “Jake,” places on the historical and architectural integrity of a building — a quality that has informed his company’s work and helped him forge a pioneering name in design-build construction — a tradition Chris Jacobs is excited to continue.

“We invented design-build back in the ’80s; previous to that, it was all general contractors,” he told BusinessWest. “Then everyone became design-build companies, even if they didn’t have designers and drafting people on their staff.”

Chart of General Contractors

His father established a philosophy at the company that whatever enhances a home should not take away from it — to have alterations and additions look like they’ve been there from day one, and to duplicate existing architecture and at the same time bring in modern conveniences.

“We’re doing a lot of the same: kitchens, additions, bathrooms, whole-house renovations,” the new president said. “The recession put a little slowdown on the bigger residential projects, but they are definitely coming back.”

Reconstructing History

Cecil Jacobs began laying the foundation for his future company in 1963 when he completed his tour of duty in Vietnam with the 6143rd Engineering Group, and went to work as a designer for the Architectural Building Products Division of Reynolds Metals Co. (also known as Reynolds Aluminum). In the mid-’70s, he was appointed vice president of the division, overseeing the development, sales, and marketing of energy-conserving building products.

He loved working there. But his future started to shift when, in the early 1980s, David Reynolds, the company’s president, asked a question: is there another market for us other than remodeling and building new homes? In other words, is there something remodelers weren’t doing because it was too big, and that homebuilders didn’t want to do because it involved existing structures?

This whole-house remodel in Longmeadow is an example of the way Barron & Jacobs updates homes while retaining their original character.

That was the birth of design-build. Jacobs was tasked with investigating the feasibility of a third major market that would encompass whole-home renovations and other major projects beyond the scope of smaller-scale remodeling. Over a two-year period, he conducted that study for Reynolds, establishing test locations in Springfield, Boston, and California, and became convinced there was a significant market.

However, Reynolds retired soon after, and the new president had virtually no interest in the project. Then, In 1986, the head of Jacobs’ division, Jim Barron, retired, and Jacobs, at age 45, felt that was a good time for him to leave as well. So after the company agreed that he could pursue and develop his design-build research on his own, Jake launched his own firm with his wife, Kathleen, putting Barron’s name on the door symbolically, to honor his mentor.

The company has benefited from the fact that Western Mass. isn’t a hotbed of new building, but there are plenty of older homes in need of renovation, meaning existing structures take on a higher value than they would in a more booming region for new construction.

As for individual projects, Chris Jacobs said, “it’s really up to the individual whether they want a European style or a traditional style. As full-service design-builders, we go shopping with them.”

That’s when many decisions are made, he went on. “The shopping is a crucial piece. Many homeowners don’t know a good cabinet from a bad cabinet, so the shopping is a crucial key to making sure the project goes correctly. We make sure they’re getting good appliances; the industry is plagued with bad appliances. We have people that we trust, that we’ve been shopping with for years.”

It takes not only skill to tackle whole-home remodels, he said, but also the personal touch and flexibility to interact with the homeowner, who may change their minds several times during a project. But, generally, detailed planning and productive shopping create a strong foundation for a successful remodel.

Steady Growth

In addition to home remodeling and whole-house renovations, Barron & Jacobs’ portfolio includes additions, add-a-levels, kitchen and bathroom remodels, screened porches and porch enclosures, three-season rooms, sunrooms and conservatories, garages and carriage houses, attic and basement conversions, as well as business renovations and expansions.

In the commercial realm, the firm recently did a rec-room project for Coca-Cola in Northampton, and is currently working on a financial building in West Springfield. While commercial building rebounded from the Great Recession quicker than residential construction, and most of Barron & Jacobs’ work is residential, the company managed to ride out those years successfully, thriving on its reputation. “It’s a tradition of building satisfaction,” Chris Jacobs said. “We’ve been doing it for over 30 years.”

In fact, the recession didn’t really hit the company until three or four years after it began in 2007,” he added. “We had a little bump in the road — as it turned out, bigger than a bump — but we could see it coming back last year, and this year is already looking good.”

As for new building, it’s not something the company pursues, although it recently built a house in New Hampshire for a past customer. “It’s usually a past customer who requests it. We don’t have our own building lots.”

Meanwhile, the firm has strived to develop a reputation as an environmentally friendly builder, both in its emphasis on energy-efficient insulation, windows, and other materials, and through an extensive focus on recycling building materials.

Through all of this, the company, which boasts 15 employees, continues to grow, with Jacobs and co-designer Adam Skiba — who comes from an architectural background and has been on board for a year and a half — looking to add another designer this year.

And, of course, the new president is already eyeing the third generation of leadership at the company, although that transition is far off — specifically, his 5-year-old adopted son.

“He’s already banged his first nail, and he’s good at it,” Jacobs said. “No pressure, though.”

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Nick Cocchi Inspired, Not Intimidated by His Predecessor

Cover Story

New Sheriff in Town

Nick Cocchi

Nick Cocchi called him the “Babe Ruth of corrections.” That’s one of the many ways the current sheriff of Hampden County paid respect to the former sheriff, Michael Ashe. Following the Babe Ruth of anything is an extremely daunting task, but Cocchi says he has the experience, the confidence, and, perhaps most importantly, the blueprint Ashe left him to succeed in that assignment.

Nick Cocchi says he can easily understand why someone would be intimidated by the prospect of succeeding Michael Ashe as sheriff of Hampden County.

After all, Ashe held that post for more than four decades, becoming a regional institution in the process. He won accolades on the local, regional, and national levels — including BusinessWest’s Difference Maker award in 2016 — and received phone calls and letters from correctional leaders across the country and around the world seeking to tap into his vast reservoir of knowledge and experience.

Meanwhile, his annual fund-raiser, known colloquially as the ‘clambake,’ drew a veritable who’s who of local and state elected officials — as well as those hoping to join those ranks. The coveted prize at those gatherings was getting one’s picture with the sheriff in the paper the next day.

Yes, Ashe’s tenure represents the quintessential hard (maybe impossible) act to follow.

And yet, Cocchi was more than enthusiastic about the prospect of being the individual to script the next one. In fact, he told BusinessWest during a very candid interview, he was far more intimidated by the possibility of losing the sheriff’s race — and therefore likely losing his job with the department — than he was by the prospect of being the next individual to wear the badge.

“For all the reasons most people wouldn’t want to follow him, I do,” he explained. “I’ve had the pleasure of working with him for 23 years; this is the Babe Ruth of corrections, and I’ve watched his policies, I watched how he carried himself, I saw how he did things. The former sheriff was all about giving people second chances and opportunities; he spent the taxpayers’ money wisely and appropriately, and he gave people the right tools to go back to our communities. I’ve learned from him.”

Nick Cocchi says his department’s goal is to give inmates at the county’s jails (the men’s facility in Ludlow is seen here) the tools they need to contribute to society.

Overall, there are many reasons why the new sheriff isn’t fazed by following such a giant in this profession. For starters, Cocchi, who started working for Ashe when he was a student at Western New England College and never left his employ, is certainly not lacking for confidence. Nor does he want for experience in virtually every aspect of corrections, as the résumé we’ll review shortly will make clear. And, perhaps most importantly, he’s also firm in his belief that he’s had more than a little to do with those aforementioned phone calls, letters, and awards.

“I’m excited about the prospect of following the sheriff because I’m prepared to do it,” said Cocchi, who credited Ashe with creating what would have to be called a blueprint for other correctional leaders, including himself, to follow. “When you look at the work the sheriff has done, we’re not a good facility, we’re one of the best facilities, not in the Commonwealth, but in the country. I’m not the one saying that, and it’s not Mike Ashe saying that; the National Institute of Corrections will tell you that, and the Large Jail Network will tell you that.

“The fact that people come from not only this country but around the world to see our correctional operations speaks to the work that we do,” he went on. “I’ve learned 23 years under Mike Ashe; he came in as a social worker from the outside, and look at what he’s done. Look at how much he’s progressed and advanced corrections around the country. Imagine what I can do after working side by side with Sheriff Ashe and being mentored by him.”

Looking forward, Cocchi displayed some of that aforementioned confidence by saying he doesn’t want to merely continue Ashe’s programs — all designed to rehabilitate inmates, not simply warehouse them — but instead intends to build upon them, improve them, and add to the portfolio.

“I see our future being very bright and very progressive,” he said. “We will continue to set benchmarks and continue to set the pace for corrections around the country, not because of me, but because of our staff.”

For this issue, BusinessWest talked at length with Cocchi about just how he intends to follow Ashe, and why he is not at all intimidated by the huge shadow cast by the man who held the job before him.

Complete Sentences

As mentioned earlier, Cocchi’s path to the sheriff’s office — both the post and his digs at the jail in Ludlow — started when he was a student at WNEC, majoring in government with a minor in criminal justice.

He was approaching the summer break between his junior and senior years and, like most of his classmates, looking for some gainful employment. The rest, as they say, is history in the making.

He applied for a job as a summer correctional officer at the recently opened jail in Ludlow, one of the individuals who would fill in for those on vacation. As you can no doubt gather by now, he was hired, and he came away with a lot more than that summer job.

“I was as low on the totem pole as you can get — I wasn’t even a full-time employee,” he explained. “And as bizarre as it might sound to some people, I absolutely fell in love with the work.”

When asked to elaborate on just what he fell in love with and how, Cocchi started with the teamwork aspects of the assignment.

“At Ludlow High School, I played soccer, hockey, and baseball, and in college, I played fall baseball and then put my focus on hockey; I played for three years,” he explained. “I had always been around teams and embraced the team concept. When you work at the jail as summer relief, you need a team more than ever.

“You went in and you were part of a team,” he went on. “You were told to get out and go home safe, and to make sure the place was safe; you had to act like a team for the eight hours you were there and beyond. That settled well with me. I enjoyed it.”

His specific assignment that summer was working in what’s known as the ‘special operations unit,’ which responded to incidents such as fights, assaults, and shakedowns, where officers go into cells looking for contraband, gang paraphernalia, tattoo guns, homemade weapons and brew, and other items — work he summed up as educational, eye-opening, and “exciting.”

So much so that he was apparently willing to at least suspend his educational pursuits and go to work at the jail full-time. But Ashe wasn’t about to let him do that.

“He said, ‘Nick, if I hire you, you have to graduate from college,’” he explained. “He said, ‘you’ll have two full-time jobs — college and here.’ I agreed, and I held up my end of the deal, going to school during the day and working the 4-12 shift at the jail.”

Thus began a career that would see the title on the business card (when he actually had one) change a number of times. Indeed, after serving as a correctional officer from 1993 to 1996, he was promoted to corporal of that same 4-to-midnight shift, and in 1998 was again promoted to sergeant of the 8 a.m. shift at the Davis Tower living unit.

From there, he went on to serve as a lieutenant in Special Operations, focused on training and staff development, and in 2004, he was named assistant superintendent of Training and Staff Development.

In 2008, he was promoted again, this time to assistant superintendent of Specialized Housing, where he was responsible for the care, custody, and supervision of pre-trial and newly sentenced inmates. And in 2011, he was named assistant superintendent and deputy chief of security, where he was responsible for overseeing the daily inmate operations, the health and safety of all staff and inmates, and the Standards and Compliance Department, as well as the Training and Staff Development Department.

It wasn’t until he was given that assignment in specialized housing, he recalled, that he really allowed himself to think about being Ashe’s successor — about as much as anyone in his department thought about that subject.

“It was at that point in my career that I thought I’d come full circle; I didn’t know it all, but I had an ability to witness and see all or most of what we do,” he said, adding that, while he was progressing through the ranks, as outlined earlier, he understood that he was amassing knowledge and experience, but didn’t feel fully ready until that juncture.

Learning Experience

Thus, when Ashe, who won yet another six-year term as sheriff in 2010, told staff members in February 2014 that it would be his last, Cocchi did some soul-searching and decided that he would, indeed, seek to succeed him.

And from the moment he announced that he was a candidate, Cocchi focused on the depth and diversity of his experience factor and how he understood all aspects of corrections, from day-to-day operations to the many fiscal matters. By doing so, he desired to separate himself from contenders such as former Springfield Mayor Michael Albano.

Nick Cocchi says he will follow Mike Ashe’s blueprint, but he will put his own stamp on programs carried out by his department.

When asked about the race, how it unfolded, and the experience of running against politicians with little or no knowledge of corrections, Cocchi paused for a moment as if he was deciding whether to go ahead and say what he wanted to say.

And, in keeping with his character, he did say it.

“It was very frustrating,” he said, referring mostly to Albano (Tom Ashe, the other main primary contender, possesses some experience in corrections). “He was so smooth during those debates, but nothing he said made sense to a corrections professional. It was bad correctional policy, things were fabricated, but man, was he smooth when he was delivering it.”

Cocchi told BusinessWest that he gained both inspiration and even more confidence from others now in what would be considered law-and-order positions who had themselves triumphed over career politicians at the polling booth.

That list includes Laura Gentile, clerk of courts for Hampden County (who also ran against Tom Ashe); Anthony Gulluni, district attorney for the same county; and Suzanne Seguin, who defeated long-time state Sen. Gale Candaras in 2014 to become Hampden County register of probate after serving in that role on an interim basis.

“Laura Gentile runs, and she was getting beat according to the polls four weeks out from the election,” Cocchi recalled. “When all was said and done, the professional in the office doing the job won.

“Then, Anthony Gulluni runs, and he runs against some people who may have more experience in the courtroom,” he went on. “But here was a guy who was in that office as an assistant DA; again, the professional won. And Suzanne Seguin … no one gave her a chance, but she came out on top. Why? Again, she was in the office doing the job, showing up to work every day.

“So when people said to me, ‘you can’t win,’” he continued, “I said, ‘the heck I can’t. I know how to do the job, and I’ll hit the ground running, just like Laura, Anthony, and Suzie.’ These are all county-wide positions, and the voters said, ‘we’re going to stop the politicians from taking soft landings.’ That energized me.’”

When you look at the work the sheriff has done, we’re not a good facility, we’re one of the best facilities, not in the Commonwealth, but in the country.”

As mentioned earlier, Cocchi said he was basically nonplussed about the prospects of having to follow Ashe, but was certainly concerned about his fate should he happen to lose to one of the politicians running against him and campaigning on a platform that serious change was needed. Indeed, he said he would certainly expect that individual to quietly nudge him out the door, a proposition that certainly motivated him as the Democratic primary race progressed.

“I thought about it every single day of the campaign — my wife never let me forget it,” he said, adding that, even with 23 years in, at his age his pension would be maybe 26% of what he was earning. “I would have been out of a job and out of a career; that was quite a motivator, believe me.”

Coming to Terms

As he talked about the primary role carried out by the Sheriff’s Department, Cocchi said it can be described in many ways, but in most respects, it’s a public-safety function.

Indeed, while the office is charged with incarcerating individuals, the primary assignment is making such individuals ready to return to the communities from which they came, and in a position to contribute, rather than be a detriment — a role Ashe fully understood, and Cocchi does as well.

“We take men and women at the lowest points in their lives, where they’ve proven over and over again that they just can’t get it right — they can’t conform to society’s rules,” he explained. “We take them, and we try to put them back into the community, because if you’re doing time in the county facility, your average stay is probably eight months.

“We take the men and women in, and we try to put them back into the community as better husbands, better brothers and sisters, better sons and daughters,” he went on. “And by doing that, we give them tools to be successful.”

By tools, he meant everything from housing to job skills to the ability to battle and hopefully overcome both addiction (nearly 90% of those who arrive at jail come with some kind of substance-abuse issues) and mental-health disorders (some 37% to 42% of inmates have been diagnosed with one).

“We have to do a lot of work in a very short period of time,” said Cocchi. “Our public-safety efforts are, very simply, taking people who come to us angry, violent, addicted, and mentally unstable at times, and putting them back into the community less violent, less angry, less likely to be dependent on substances, and much more able to make cognizant decisions; we want to return someone to their community far more likely to be productive, and less likely to be disruptive.”

When asked how all this is accomplished, Cocchi said a big part of it comes down to making people accountable — not just while they’re serving time, although that’s certainly part of it, but for what they do with their lives.

And it starts with those eight months, on average, that they spend at the Ludlow facility or the one for women in Chicopee.

“We hold our inmates accountable; they have to answer the bell,” he explained. “They get up in the morning, eat, shower, go to classrooms. It’s a 40-hour work week, for them and for us. We’re challenging them to be busy 40 hours a week — we’re not going to let them sit in a pod and watch Jerry Springer; that we don’t do.”

As for how he will go about doing all this and the style he will bring to the job, Cocchi said that, while he admires Ashe, learned a lot from him, and fully intends to follow the blueprint the now-former sheriff laid down, he will certainly put his own stamp on the Sheriff’s Department and the work it carries out.

“When you look at my overall philosophy and the way I’ll manage the department, I’m going to tweak it; I’m going to put my fingerprint and my thumbprint on it,” he explained. “It’s about refining things and moving things forward, being creative and trying new things.

“We never rested on our laurels here — every year, we’d go through our programming and rip it apart, and we’d all get frustrated,” he went on. “Here we are thinking we’re one of the best, and we are one of the best, and yet we tear ourselves apart from within to make it better. That’s not going to change.”

When asked about how he intends to measure success amid what will inevitably be comparisons to his predecessor, he said there will be many barometers, including everything from the funding to be received from the state (Cocchi said Ashe was “brilliant” when it came to bringing home the bacon, as he called it) to those aforementioned phone calls, letters, and visits from other correctional facilities. He fully expects them to continue at their current pace, and if they do, that will be one sign that things are being done correctly.

But on an even more practical level, he said overall success will be measured by the results to be generated at facilities like the setting for his interview with BusinessWest — the Addiction & Wellness Center.

This is the facility carved out of the former Ring Nursing Home on Mill Street in Springfield, where roughly 150 ‘residents’ are trying to turn around a life turned inside out by addiction, in many cases to the opioids that have become the most pressing public-health issue facing the region and the nation.

“With this issue, where the stigma of ‘addict’ has shifted to ‘disease,’ I think I’m going to be judged on our success rate here,” he noted. “And I know that. We must continue to provide aggressive and progressive substance-abuse education and treatment, coupled with mental-health services. That’s one way I’ll know I’ve touched every family in Hampden County, and hopefully around the Commonwealth.”

Food for Thought

Looking down the road, and not that far down it, actually, Cocchi answered the question that seemingly everyone is putting to him: yes, he will have an annual fund-raising get-together like his predecessor.

“We have a committee, and we’re starting to talk about things now,” he said. “It could be a clambake, it could be a barbecue, it could be a pig roast … we don’t know yet; we’ll do something.”

And although he’s not sure about this, he expects that his event will be like Ashe’s in that it didn’t really raise a significant amount of money, but it did bring people out, including governors and lieutenant governors, senators and congressmen, and a whole host of state officials, thus giving the area’s elected leaders and residents access to such people and, thus, a voice.

“They all come, whether they’re Republican or Democrat, office holders or candidates, and why wouldn’t they?” he asked, before answering his own question. “It’s great exposure for them, and it’s great for the people out here; I think it’s incumbent upon me as sheriff of Hampden County to continue to bring Boston to Western Mass.”

Thus, the clambake appears to be yet another part of the Ashe blueprint that his successor will look to emulate, improve upon if possible, but put his own stamp on.

It’s an assignment that would intimidate most, but not Cocchi.

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

Tech Foundry Recruits a More Diverse Student Body

Employment Sections

Shifting IT’s Focus

By Joanna Smiley

Keyla Centeno, team lead and graphic designer at Tech Foundry, teaches a class on soft skills.

When it was founded in 2013, Tech Foundry, a program conceived to create a steady pipeline of workers for the IT sector, focused primarily on area high-school students. But research — and experience — revealed that these young people were choosing other destinations (especially area colleges) rather than area technology firms. So today, the classrooms feature a much more diverse group of students.

Bruce Stoller is a 58-year-old displaced worker with aspirations to forge a new career in information technology. He holds a law degree, and has a background in facilities management.

Maura Kavanh, 29, used to study political science and women’s gender studies at UMass Amherst, but took a leave from college when she noticed an interesting trend: organizations she aspired to work at, like Planned Parenthood, had a far greater need for those with tech skills than policy work.

What do Stoller and Kavanh have in common?

Both are students in Tech Foundry’s class of 2017, a group far more diverse than those that came before it. And that’s by design and out of necessity.

Indeed, the Springfield-based workforce development program was launched in 2013 and designed to prepare job seekers — and not necessarily individuals like Stoller and Kavanh — for entry-level tech careers. But a year ago, the organization decided to shift its focus from a program designed for high-school students to one that has no age restriction. Tech Foundry’s current class is an eclectic mix of students ranging in age from 20 to 60.

Jonathan Edwards, director of Strategic Partnerships at Tech Foundry, notes that the organization’s shift was about responding to employers’ needs for a bigger pipeline of IT workers.

“We know that people in mid-career transition are the perfect candidates to expand that pipeline,” he explained. “They’re looking for something different; people who wake up and say ‘I want to do IT’ isn’t enough. Introducing people who already possess strong work backgrounds to a sustainable IT career is really a great match between the needs of employers and needs of our student population.”

Brandon McGee hopes to land a job in software sales once he completes the Tech Foundry program in May.

Ann Burke, vice president of the Economic Development Council of Western Mass., agreed.

“The good-news, bad-news experience from the first class was that these young people became excited about fields in technology, but instead of going directly into the workforce, many decided to continue their education in community college or college,” she explained. “This was great for the students, but not for tackling the issue of developing a pipeline for entry-level technology employees.

“Tech Foundry has been piloting different approaches to finding those individuals interested in tech job opportunities,” she went on. “The student body has evolved to include a much more diverse group, including veterans, people with some community-college experience, women, and others with some work experience but not necessarily in the tech field.”

Tech Foundry still welcomes 18-year-olds who would like to go into a job in the tech field, she went on, adding that the program’s leaders found that many employers are looking for candidates with at least some work experience and soft skills, even if they do not have past technology experience.

“Tech Foundry is an innovative program that will continue to evolve to meet the needs of this growing sector,” said Burke. “It actually is interesting and exciting to see the diversity of age, gender, experience, and ethnicity in the most recent graduating class. I’m excited about how the organization is continuing to scale and prepare more candidates to be a part of the technology workforce. We know that there is a need for qualified, entry-level technology workers across industry sectors in the region.”

For this issue and its focus on employment, BusinessWest takes an in-depth look at this change in focus for Tech Foundry and its implications for the workforce, job seekers, and area companies.

Technically Speaking

Tech Foundry prides itself on partnering with a broad range of companies in the region, and Edwards said he has noticed a cross-section of employer size and industry. Partners range from Bay State Health to Smith & Wesson to startups that seek the type of talent Tech Foundry is producing.

Its success in meeting its important mission is made clear by several testimonials from area business owners and one elected official.

Andrew Anderlonis, president of Rediker Software, has been partnering with Tech Foundry for more than a year, and says the organization has helped him solve a major problem — finding passionate, talented, and committed professionals who can meet the continuously evolving workforce needs of the region’s tech community.

“Rediker Software has now hired four graduates from Tech Foundry, and all of them are performing exceptionally well, a testament to the strength of the program,” he noted. “Working with Tech Foundry has been a wonderful experience as they have put together a terrific program for the students.”

Michael Arian, co-founder and CEO of Prophit Insight, says Tech Foundry not only provides him with talented IT employees, but the opportunity to give back to the Springfield community.

“We’ve been working with Tech Foundry since their beginning. It has been a very important program for us,” he told BusinessWest. “Tech Foundry has allowed us to acquire talented IT employees in a more cost-effective manner, and it has been very successful so far.

“It also provides us the opportunity to give back to the Springfield community and help out some fantastic people who just need an opportunity, this is very important to us,” he went on. “We’ve hired three employees from Tech Foundry and currently have another who is interning, and we hope to bring him on full-time shortly.”

State Sen. Eric Lesser agreed, and said Tech Foundry’s model is one he is working to replicate statewide.

“In just three short years, Tech Foundry has shown itself to be very nimble and responsive to our region’s employment needs. Western Mass right now faces a substantial ‘skills gap’ between the available jobs in growing fields like technology and advanced manufacturing, and workers looking for employment. There is a particular challenge facing older workers who are already out of school, who either need to update their training or learn new skills to stay competitive as our region’s economy continues to shift toward fields dependent on technology and innovation. I’m glad Tech Foundry is taking this on. Their model has already proven very successful at getting workers the specific training they need quickly and efficiently for younger students, so expanding to older members of the workforce is welcome and desperately needed.”

Edwards said Tech Foundry’s goal is to eventually have twice the number of employers seeking candidates as there are students in the program. Currently, the agency partners with 60 companies in the area. Starting salaries for graduates of the program can range from $30,000 to $50,000 per year.

On a recent afternoon at Tech Foundry’s space in downtown Springfield, Keyla Centeno was teaching a roomful of students gathered around ping-pong tables how to hone their professional communication and interpersonal skills. They were taking part in a team-building exercise that required careful listening and negotiation.

“This is one of our most diverse cohorts,” she noted. “It’s a pleasure to see them help each other and come out of their shells. This older demographic we have tells me a lot of people want to change their careers and break off from what they’re doing right now; some employers even require tech training now.”

Stoller, 58, is the oldest student in this cohort. The Springfield native lived in Boston for 20 years and recently moved back to Western Mass. He practiced criminal law before retiring from his legal career to work in facilities management.

Stoller was let go during his company’s “reorg,” and because his position was eliminated, he qualified to be what’s called a displaced worker, meaning any training or schooling he attends is paid for in full for up to one year. His end goal? To land a new job at a help desk, not necessarily doing programming, but using his sales skills.

Brandon McGee, 29, was born and raised in Springfield. He found his calling in technology at the age of 13, when he would sit in his bedroom at 3 a.m. tinkering on his Dell computer. Currently enrolled at Springfield Technical Community College, he said he “took advantage of anything his professors gave me a heads-up on,” and that included a recent suggestion to look into Tech Foundry.

After working in the telecommunications industry for a number of years, McGee knew he needed an additional skill set to advance to his dream career — software sales.

“I knew I wasn’t coming from a top school, I didn’t have the greatest GPA, and I wanted to immerse myself in a way where I could be competitive and acquire transferrable skills; I want to work for a company where staying relevant is a priority,” he explained. “I started out thinking printers and passwords were IT — now I know there’s so many more avenues in the field.”

Bottom Line

McGee says he’s a “little nervous to leave the coop” in May when he graduates from Tech Foundry.

“The people at Tech Foundry have been immensely supportive — it’s a free program with huge opportunity,” he noted. “We’re all in different aspects of our life, and every opportunity here is one to get your name out there and go for it.”

Today, there is a more diverse group of people ‘going for it’ thanks to Tech Foundry, a development that bodes very well for the region, its workforce, and companies struggling to find needed IT workers.

I-91 Viaduct Project Will Provide Concrete Benefits

Construction Sections

Driving Forces

An overhead view of work on the inner lanes of I-91’s Springfield viaduct.

In May 2015, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation signed a $148 million contract with the Joint Venture of JF White-Schiavone to overhaul the 1-91 viaduct in Springfield. The project is immense in scope, and although it has inconvenienced drivers, especially during peak hours, it is ahead of schedule and brings concrete benefits for the local economy and area businesses that manufacture or provide products needed for the repair and reconstruction of the 45-year-old section of highway.

Richard Masse says that, when the state Department of Transportation (or MassDOT, as it’s called) developed plans for reconstructing the 1-91 viaduct that runs through Springfield, it was well aware of the impact and inconvenience the project would have on drivers traveling north and south.

Indeed, state officials felt that completing the $148 million project on time or ahead of schedule was so critical that they built an attractive bonus into the contract to keep work moving along as quickly as possible.

“We established an incentive of $50,000 a day for up to 180 days to finish earlier than the contract specified,” said Masse, district project development engineer for MassDOT Highway Division District 2.

This equates to a potential bonus of $9 million for the Joint Venture of JF White-Schiavone if specific conditions are met. And those conditions are clearly outlined: the entire project does not have to be complete, but the ‘full beneficial use’ milestone has to be met, which means work on all lanes and ramps must be finished, and they must be open and functioning, before Aug. 6, 2018. This constitutes the majority of the work.

Such incentives are rare, and this is the largest ever offered by District 2, but it is tempered by a disincentive: There will be a penalty of $50,000 for every day the contractor is late in meeting the milestone.

But that’s not likely to happen. In fact, JF White-Schiavone, benefiting from mostly benign weather (the recent storm was a definite exception), is three months ahead of schedule, and workers continue to labor around the clock to get the project done.

The roadway under reconstruction is only eight-tenths of a mile in length, but the work involves far more than simply removing the old decking on the six traffic lanes and repaving them. There are 96 separate spans of bridge between the south abutment on State Street and the north abutment near the I-291 exit, and each span is supported by a pier that needs to be repaired.

Officials say the viaduct project is proceeding ahead of schedule, thanks to relatively mild winters and some attractive incentives.

In fact, the $148 million contract holds enormous weight — literally and figuratively — and area businesses are benefiting due to the materials that are needed and will be used by the time the project is complete.

Specifically, crews will replace 44,000 tons of concrete with the new bridge deck and barriers, use 7.2 million pounds (3,600 tons) of steel reinforcement, install 134 drainage inlets on the bridge, erect 2.5 miles of snow fence on the barriers, and paint 28 acres, or 1.2 million square feet, of steel.

Concrete is being purchased from Construction Service in Wilbraham, asphalt paving comes from Lane Construction Corp. in Springfield, the 600-plus feet of noise-control curtains mounted in front of downtown hotels were purchased from Sound Seal in Agawam, and gravel and stone is being provided by Ginmar Enterprises in Ludlow.

In addition, Commonwealth Guardrail in Westfield is furnishing that product, all catch basins and manhole castings will be purchased from E.J. Prescott Inc. in West Springfield, and CJ’s Towing Unlimited Inc. in Springfield is part of the safety plan to remove vehicles involved in crashes as quickly as possible, which is important because traffic is already squeezed between the barriers on the viaduct.

The project has also had a positive effect on employment. The Federal Highway Administration has done studies on the impact of major undertakings and reports that every $1 billion in spending supports 13,000 jobs for a year. “Since this project will cost $148 million, that translates to more than 1,900 job years of employment that are either created or supported,” Masse said.

For this issue and its focus on construction, BusinessWest takes an indepth look at the I-91 project — what’s been completed, what’s still to come, and what the long-term benefits will be for Springfield and the region.

Route Geometry

Although some people think the $950 million MGM Springfield resort casino has affected work that is being done on the viaduct or the way the on and off ramps will be configured in the future, it’s not true and simply a coincidence that construction on both projects is taking place simultaneously.

“We identified the need for the viaduct project late in 2011 before expanded gaming was even signed into law, and the project was approved and initiated prior to any casino proposals,” said Masse.

The viaduct was constructed and opened in 1971, and no improvements were made to it other than a few limited repairs that took place between 1999 and the early 2000s. As a result, the decking deteriorated as millions of vehicles passed over it and chemicals, salt, and sand were used to combat ice and snow during frigid winter months.

“It had reached the point where emergency repairs of potholes were becoming routine. We had to go out on the road in the middle of commuter traffic without warning, and it became clear that it was time for a long-term fix,” Masse said.

MassDOT did its best to identify challenges that might occur as it developed a plan for the project. The agency determined it was critical to keep the public informed about what was happening on a daily basis, so the contract contained language that mandated hiring a public-relations firm for that purpose.

Regina Villa Associates in Boston was chosen, and the company issues frequent notices and updates about the work in progress to all local media outlines. There is also a project webpage (www.massdot.state.ma.us/i91viaductrehab/home.aspx) where people can sign up to get e-mail alerts about daily or weekly changes.

In addition, work on the project is discussed at biweekly meetings that include officials from MassDOT, the Springfield Department of Public Works, the Springfield Parking Authority (two of its main facilities are under the viaduct), and MGM Springfield.

Masse noted that the casino has initiated its own street closings and plans to install a detection system at the end of the exit 6 ramp to facilitate traffic flow and help prevent accidents; if traffic starts to back up toward the highway, the stoplight will change to allow vehicles to move off the ramp. Other work is also being done on streets around the casino, but that has no bearing on the 1-91 viaduct project.

However, MGM’s presence at the meetings is important. “It gives us an opportunity to coordinate work and exchange schedule updates,” Masse said. “Their cooperation has been an important part of the project and helped to limit disruption.”

Although some media outlets have reported that a number of drivers have avoided the viaduct and will continue to do so until the project is complete, Masse said everything possible is being done to reduce the impact on local businesses.

“We understand that our projects are generally an inconvenience, and we certainly appreciate that there can be some negative impact on local businesses. But we haven’t had any feedback of that nature,” he told BusinessWest, adding that business owners as well as the general public are invited to send comments, suggestions, or inquiries to MassDOT via the project website, and feedback has already resulted in things such as adjustments to signage.

Richard Masse says that, when it’s completed, the reconstructed viaduct will help make Springfield an attractive destination.

Another change that went live Feb. 1 was made in response to input from drivers who expressed concern about safety where lanes on I-91 South are reduced from two down to one.

The feedback led MassDOT to implement a pilot program for a ‘dynamic lane merge system,’ which is designed to make merging safer and alleviate congestion.

It’s the first time this system has been used in the Commonwealth, and it will help to ensure that vehicles familiar with the lane closure don’t bypass others and cause them to wait for a longer period of time than those who use the roadway on a frequent basis. The system works by using computer sensors to monitor traffic and letting drivers know what the best merge strategy is via electronic signage.

Paving the Way

The viaduct project has many goals, including replacement of the reinforced concrete bridge deck, painting of all structural steel, replacing the bridge bearings, improving bridge drainage and highway lighting on and under the structure, miscellaneous structural steel repairs, improving traffic signage on the structure, and other safety improvements in the immediate vicinity, such as installing new sprinkler systems and LED lighting on the upper levels of the 1-91 North and South parking garages, which are run by the Springfield Parking Authority in space leased from the state.

Masse said the project was divided into two main phases so half the decks could be replaced at a time. Last year, work was concentrated on the inside decks, and traffic was moved to the outside, and now that phase I is complete, the process has been reversed, and construction is taking place in the low-speed travel lane and shoulder portions of the viaduct, and on the I-91 northbound on-ramp to I-291 East.

The same ramps that were closed during phase I will remain closed, and the only change is that the exit 9 off-ramp from I-91 North to Route 20 West/Route 20A East will be closed until phase II is complete.

About 100 people show up to work at the site every day, and in addition to day and evening shifts, construction efforts often continue throughout the night. The noisy work of demolishing the existing decks is done during the day, and debris is carried away after dark.

“The crews use very large jackhammers mounted to excavating equipment to break up the deck,” Masse said, noting that saws are also used to cut portions of the material.

Workers recently began painting the steel girders, which is no small task — again, there are 1.2 million square feet of steel to repaint. But when the job is complete, it will help enhance the perception of that section of the highway.

“The beige paint that had reached the end of its useful life is being covered with a blue-green hue that will be much more attractive visually,” Masse said.

In addition to aesthetics, safety will be improved. “When we finish the deck replacement, the shoulder on the median side in the high-speed lane will be wider,” he continued, explaining that, in the past, there were two feet between the guardrail and the edge of the road, but a narrower concrete barrier will allow the inside shoulder to expand to four feet in width.

Other safety improvements include the construction of a barrier to stop I-291 traffic from shooting across several lanes on I-91 South to exit 7 at the Memorial Bridge.

When the project was in the development stage, Masse noted, input about this dangerous maneuver led MassDOT to make plans to install the new jersey barrier.

The number of drainage inlets will also be increased, which will reduce the amount of water that collects along the shoulder of the roadway.

Passing Thoughts

After the roadways are fully open, the remaining work will commence, and by the time the project is finished, the structural steel will be painted, municipal street lights will be installed, all final paving and traffic markings on local streets will be finished, temporary traffic signals will be replaced with permanent ones, and the temporary off-ramp from I-91 South to Birnie Avenue will be removed.

There is no doubt that the project is an inconvenience to drivers who have to schedule additional time to get to their destinations. But the benefits will be concrete: sales of products used in construction will help local companies to flourish, and drivers will have a safer and more appealing roadway to travel on between downtown Springfield and the Connecticut River.

“When everything is newly paved and painted and a modern lighting system is installed, the viaduct should help to make Springfield a more attractive destination,” Masse said. “When people see a highway that is well-cared-for, it will provide a welcoming gateway not only to Springfield, but to Western Mass.”

Longmeadow Facility Continues to Grow and Evolve