Month: December 2017

BOSTON — The Mass. Department of Transportation announced that approximately $1 billion was invested in improving and upgrading roads, bridges, sidewalks, multi-use paths, and intersections across the state in calendar year 2017.

This $1 billion in capital investments included repairs and improvements to 386 bridges in 123 communities and improved road conditions in more than 155 cities and towns across Massachusetts. An additional $30 million was programmed through the Complete Streets and Municipal Small Bridge programs in order to support local transportation planning and community bridges not eligible for federal aid.

“The Baker-Polito Administration has focused on improving the reliability and resiliency of our transportation infrastructure to ensure that people throughout the Commonwealth are able to drive, walk, bike, or use public transit and reach the places they need to go,” said Transportation Secretary and CEO Stephanie Pollack. “By investing in our roads, bridges, sidewalks, multi-use paths, and intersections, we can provide better options to travelers and allow them to utilize their preferred mode of transportation to reach their jobs, homes, businesses, and places that improve their quality of life.”

Among the notable construction project highlights from 2017 include is reaching the full beneficial use milestone for the $148 million I-91 Viaduct Rehabilitation Project in Springfield approximately eight months ahead of schedule. The majority of the work has now been completed and the lanes and ramps on I-91 have reopened.

Davenport Acquires Property in Innovation District

By BusinessWest Staff December 29, 2017

SPRINGFIELD — Chestnut Acquisitions LLC, an affiliate of Davenport Properties, has acquired 151 Chestnut St. in Springfield.

The abandoned 70,000 SF building, severely damaged in downtown Springfield’s 2012 gas explosion, is part of the city’s planned Innovation District. Davenport, best known as MGM Springfield’s development partner, is also developer of Davenport Square on Main Street and owner of Springfield Plaza. Charles Irving, a principal of the company, began investing in Springfield in 1994.

The building at 151 Chestnut St. was built in 1916 for the Willys-Overland Motor Company and has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1983. According to Charles Irving, “our intent is to celebrate this unique property. Willys is a treasured automotive name in Springfield and US history.”

Willys-Overland built similar buildings in Detroit, St Louis, and Toledo. Davenport’s interest in Chestnut St. was prompted by successful redevelopment of the Detroit structure. “Willys Overland Lofts” in Detroit features mid-size residential units with street level retail.

“This will be a truly transformative development for our downtown,” said Mayor Domenic J. Sarno. “The addition of market rate housing at the Willys Overland building will be a catalyst to future development and Davenport has been a well-respected developer not only in Springfield but throughout the country.”

The Horton Group of Connecticut joins Davenport as a partner in Chestnut St. Ken Horton is known for development and construction of office and residential properties. The company’s most recent project (The Residences at High Street in Guilford CT) received the Home Building Industry (HOBI) Project of the Year Award, the highest honor the organization bestows.

The business plan for 151 Chestnut St. is in development. “Our hope is to create a project similar in scope and spirit to Detroit,” said Juan Prieto (Davenport). “The challenge is calibration of Springfield’s market rents with project cost.”

On Jan. 4, Davenport is scheduled to meet with Springfield’s Historic Commission. At that time, the company will review initial plans and request Commission support for historic tax credits. According to Davenport, feasibility of redevelopment, beginning in 2018, is dependent on tax credits and other forms of assistance.

Given proximity of the new train station and transformation of downtown by MGM Resorts International, Davenport believes the Innovation District is the next step forward.

“We’re starting to see developers building off of the blocks that we put in place with Union Station and MGM Springfield,” said Kevin Kennedy, Chief Development Officer. “The area that was affected by the gas explosion is really the next frontier of development in our downtown, and Willys Overland can be the jewel of the neighborhood.”

Mary Kay Hannon Joins St. Germain Investment Management

By BusinessWest Staff December 29, 2017

SPRINGFIELD — Michael R. Matty, President of D. J. St. Germain Investment Management, Co. Inc. announced the appointment of Mary Kay Hannon to client services associate.

Hannon has a strong working knowledge of client services and financial operations with over a decade of experience in those fields.

Prior to joining St. Germain, Hannon held similar duties and responsibilities at Pioneer Financial Group. She is also a working artist with creations in ceramics and watercolor. Currently she has been focusing on botanical watercolor projects. She has also been active as a volunteer with the Williamsburg Cultural Council.

A graduate of the University of Hartford, Hannon also earned her MFA from Mills College, a small, prestigious liberal arts institution for women. The college is noted as being the first all-women’s four-year college west of the Rockies.

St. Germain is a privately held company specializing in investment management for individuals and institutions. Founded in 1924, St. Germain services national and international clients from two offices, one in Springfield, MA, the other in Lee.

Bay Path Launches Healthcare Management Master’s Program

LONGMEADOW — Healthcare today requires multi-dimensional leaders whose knowledge spans professional leadership, healthcare, science, and information technology. Coupled with the dynamic complexities of the healthcare system, increasing compliance regulations, technical advances, and higher costs, the demand for professionals who have expertise in both healthcare management and organizational leadership is rapidly rising. Medical and health service managers have strong career prospects, with projected employment growth of 17% from 2014 to 2024, much faster than the average for all occupations.

To respond to this growing need, Bay Path University has launched a master of science (MS) degree program in Healthcare Management, now enrolling for February 2018.

“As with all of our programs, the curriculum for the MS in Healthcare Management supports the candidate in developing his or her skills in decision making, communication and presentations skills, interpersonal relations, and being an agent of change — all of which are needed for key level management positions,” said Liz Fleming, associate provost and dean, School of Education, Human and Health Sciences. “We are proud to add it to our increasing catalog of undergraduate and graduate certificates and degree programs in health-related fields that have been shown to result in immediate job placements upon completion.”

Healthcare administrators come from a wide variety of backgrounds. Some may have direct patient-care experience, while others may have specialized in business, administration, public health, or a specific area of healthcare, including human resources. This program is designed for individuals with or without a related undergraduate degree who hope to shape the future of healthcare.

Bay Path University’s MS in Healthcare Management, led by Terry DeVito, aims to prepare graduates for leadership roles in both traditional and non-traditional settings and industries including healthcare organizations and facilities, consulting, law, insurance and government agencies, pharmaceutical companies, and healthcare informatics and analytics. The program is designed to address the multi-dimensional complexities facing the 21st-century healthcare industry as it transforms into a business model while maintaining the humanistic needs of patients’ individual needs.

The curriculum is structured in a manner that embeds foundational information that prepares candidates for additional credentialing opportunities for professional career advancement. DeVito’s practice as a registered nurse, hospital administrator, and educator bring firsthand knowledge regarding quality in healthcare service delivery and the qualities required in leadership roles.

To learn more about this program, visit www.baypath.edu/healthcaremanagement.

Mass. Bankers Assoc. Foundation Awards Grant to the United Arc

PITTSFIELD — The Massachusetts Bankers Assoc. Charitable Foundation recently presented a grant for $5,000 to the United Arc in an awards ceremony in Pittsfield.

The Massachusetts Bankers Assoc. (MBA) announced that its foundation set new records in its annual year-end community grant season. The 43 grants in 2017 total $167,000, a record number and a record annual dollar amount. The foundation has now provided gifts totaling $2.3 million over its 21-year history.

The United Arc was nominated by Tony Worden, vice President of Commercial Lending for the Northampton Cooperative Bank Division of Greenfield Cooperative Bank, a member bank of the Massachusetts Bankers Assoc.

The United Arc supports people living with intellectual and developmental disabilities in achieving the universal goals of inclusion, choice, and independence. The organization provides services to individuals and their families in Franklin, Hampshire, Hampden, and Worcester counties, and has a history of providing quality services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities since 1951.

The foundation, supported by the 150 member banks of the MBA throughout Massachusetts and New England, is distributing the grants over eight geographic regions in the Commonwealth, giving awards to social-service agencies.

“We are thrilled to be able to give these gifts,” said William Parent, chairman of the MBA Charitable Foundation. “This foundation has done so much good work over the years, yet each gift-giving season we see more need. That’s why, each year, we rededicate ourselves to this effort to help in any way we can.”

In addition to the nearly $84 million a year given by Massachusetts banks to local charities, MBA member bank employees contribute thousands of volunteer hours across the Commonwealth.

Kimberly Santos Joins Realtor Assoc. of Pioneer Valley

SPRINGFIELD — Kimberly Santos of Springfield has joined the Realtor Assoc. of Pioneer Valley (RAPV) as membership and meetings coordinator. She joins the association with several years of managerial experience in customer-success roles and training in operations management at Bay Path University.

Santos said she is excited to leverage her experience and commitment to strong customer service to support RAPV members and produce a wide roster of events for members to enjoy. She invites prospective members to reach out to her to learn more about joining the association at [email protected] or (413) 785-1328.

PeoplesBank Announces Several Promotions and Appointments

HOLYOKE — PeoplesBank announced the promotions and appointments of several key associates.

Donna Charette was promoted to first vice president, Finance. She previously served as vice president of Finance. She has more than 28 years of banking experience, and earned a Leadership Certificate at the New England School of Banking.

Christine Phillips was promoted to first vice president, Human Resources. She previously served as vice president, Human Resources. She has more than 15 years of human-resources experience, and earned a bachelor’s degree from UMass Amherst.

Tammy Bordeaux was promoted to vice president, regional manager. She previously served as assistant vice president, regional manager. She has more than 20 years of banking experience, and earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Western New England University and an associate degree in business administration from Springfield Technical Community College.

Meghan Parnell-Gregoire was promoted to vice president, Business Lending Center manager. She previously served as assistant vice president, Business Lending Center manager. She has more than 15 years of banking experience, and earned an associate degree in mathematics from Holyoke Community College and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst.

Catherine Snow was promoted to vice president, commercial credit officer. She previously served as assistant vice president, commercial credit analyst. She has more than 30 years of banking experience, primarily in credit-related functions, and earned a bachelor’s degree in business management from Westfield State University.

Paul Hillsburg was appointed assistant vice president, PeoplesWealth Advisory Group. He has more than 30 years of financial, sales, and business-development experience, and earned an associate degree in business management from Springfield Technical Community College. He holds Series 7 and Series 66 licenses.

Xiaolei Hua was promoted to assistant vice president, portfolio manager II. He previously served as assistant vice president, portfolio manager I. He has more than 11 years of banking experience, and earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and an MBA from Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst.

Matthew Krokov was promoted to assistant vice president, portfolio manager II. He previously served as assistant vice president, portfolio manager I. He has more than eight years of banking experience, and earned an MBA from American International College, a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Westfield State University, and an associate degree in marketing from Holyoke Community College.

Timothy Wegiel was promoted to assistant vice president, electronic banking officer. He previously served as electronic banking officer. He has more than 12 years of financial-services and banking experience, and earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Western New England University.

Cherlynne Mills was promoted to Business Banking officer. She previously served as assistant vice president, Consumer & Business Banking Center manager at the St. James Avenue office in Springfield, and has more than 30 years of banking experience. She attended Holyoke Community College and Elms College and is presently pursuing a degree at UMass through its University Without Walls program.

Jeffrey Reinke was appointed to operational risk officer. He has more than 16 years of operations and financial-services experience, and earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration, with a concentration in finance, from Western New England University.

Victoria Thompson was promoted to internal audit officer. She previously served as internal auditor. She has more than seven years of auditing experience, and earned a master’s degree in accounting and a bachelor’s degree in business administration, with a concentration in accounting, from Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst.

UMass and Research Partners Aim to Improve Flu-season Forecasts

By BusinessWest Staff December 27, 2017

AMHERST — Research teams, including one led by biostatistician Nicholas Reich at UMass Amherst, are participating in a national influenza-forecasting challenge to try to predict the onset, progress, and peaks of regional flu outbreaks to aid prevention and control. This year, the Reich Lab is leading an effort to improve the forecasting by increasing the collaboration between groups.

“Every year, the Centers for Disease Control host a flu-forecasting challenge,” Reich said. “It’s the most organized and public effort at forecasting any infectious disease anywhere in the world. Our lab is now in our third year of participating, and we find that each year we get a little better and learn a bit more.

“This year, we wanted to take it to the next level, so we worked with other teams year-round to develop a way that our models could work together to make a single best forecast for influenza,” he went on. “This entire effort is public, so anyone can go to the website and see the forecasts.”

While this flu season has started earlier than usual in the northeastern and southern regions of the U.S., according to the most recent data, the forecasts are still showing a fair amount of uncertainty about how big a season it will be, Reich said. “The holiday season is a notoriously difficult time to forecast because typically fewer people go to the doctor, and yet everyone is traveling around spreading or being exposed to infections such as flu.”

Reich and colleagues at UMass Amherst’s School of Public Health and Health Sciences collaborate with teams at Carnegie Mellon University, Columbia University, and a group at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, in a group they have dubbed the FluSight Network. It issues a new flu season forecast every Monday for public-health researchers and practitioners that compares the flu trajectory this year to past years.

In a recent publication, Reich and colleagues state that their aim is to “combine forecasting models for seasonal influenza in the U.S. to create a single ensemble forecast. The central question is, can we provide better information to decision makers by combining forecasting models and, specifically, by using past performance of the models to inform the ensemble approach.”

Added Reich, “we are working closely with our collaborators at the CDC to determine how to improve the timeliness and relevance of our forecasts.”

To prepare for this flu season, he and colleagues spent many hours designing a standard structure that each team needed to use when submitting models. This allowed for comparison of methods over the past seven years of flu data in the U.S. They also conducted a cross-validation study of data from the past seven flu seasons to compare five different methods for combining models into a single ensemble forecast. They found that four of their collaborative ensemble methods had higher average scores than any of the individual models.

The team is now submitting forecasts from their best-performing model and are posting them once a week this season to the CDC’s 2017-18 FluSight Challenge. Reich estimates there are about 20 teams this year participating in the CDC challenge nationwide, who produce about 30 different models. Each model forecasts the onset of the flu season, how it will progress over the coming few weeks, when it will peak, and how intense the peak will be compared to other seasons.

In a heavy flu season, between 5% and 12% of doctor’s visits are for influenza-like illness, and that number varies regionally in the U.S. This metric is one of the key indicators for the CDC of how bad the flu season is, and it is the measure used in the forecasting challenges.

“Certainly for the CDC, there are policy decisions that could be impacted by these forecasts, including the timing of public communication about flu season starting and when to get vaccinated. Models can help with all of that,” Reich said. “Also, hospitals often try to have enhanced precautions in place during a certain peak period for the disease. If you do that too early, or for too long, you run the risk of individuals getting tired of taking the extra time to comply with the policies.”

Hospital epidemiologists and others responsible for public-health decisions do not declare the onset of flu season lightly, he noted. In hospitals, flu onset — a technical set of symptoms reported to physicians — triggers many extra time-consuming and costly precautions and procedures such as added gloves, masks, and gowns; donning and doffing time; special decontamination procedures; increased surveillance; and reduced visitor access, for example. There is also healthcare worker fatigue to consider. Hospitals want to be as effective and efficient as possible in their preparations and response to reduce time and money spent and worker burnout.

The public-health effort to improve flu season forecasts is relatively recent, Reich said. “There has been tremendous progress in how we think about infectious disease forecasting in just the last five years. If you compare that to something like weather forecasting, which has been going on for decades, we’re in the middle of a long process of learning and improvement. Someday, we might be able to imagine having a flu forecast on our smartphones that tells us, for example, it’s an early season and I’d better get Mom to the clinic to get her vaccination early this year. We’re close, but that’s not here quite yet.”

Massachusetts Employment Picture Shows Scattered Gains

By BusinessWest Staff December 27, 2017

BOSTON — Local unemployment rates decreased in four labor market areas, increased in nine areas, and remained the same in 11 labor-market areas in the state during the month of November, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported. Compared to November 2016, the rates were up in 24 labor-market areas.

Eight of the 15 areas for which job estimates are published recorded seasonal job gains in November. The gains occurred in the Springfield, Boston-Cambridge-Newton, Worcester, Brockton-Bridgewater-Easton, New Bedford, Taunton-Middleborough-Norton, Lowell-Billerica-Chelmsford, and Framingham areas.

From November 2016 to November 2017, all 15 areas added jobs, with the largest percentage gains in the Barnstable, New Bedford, Boston-Cambridge-Newton, Haverhill-Newburyport-Amesbury, Springfield, and Lynn-Saugus-Marblehead areas.

In order to compare the statewide rate to local unemployment rates, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the statewide-unadjusted unemployment rate for November was 3.3%.

Last week, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported the statewide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 3.6% in the month of November. The statewide seasonally adjusted jobs estimate showed a 6,700-job gain in November, and an over-the-year gain of 65,200 jobs.

The unadjusted unemployment rates and job estimates for the labor market areas reflect seasonal fluctuations and therefore may show different levels and trends than the statewide seasonally adjusted estimates. The estimates for labor force, unemployment rates, and jobs for Massachusetts are based on different statistical methodology specified by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Harvard Pilgrim Foundation Names Nancy Garrabrants to Board

By BusinessWest Staff December 27, 2017

AMHERST — The Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation, which serves communities in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire through programs, grants, and service, announced the appointment of Nancy Garrabrants to its board of directors.

Garrabrants is the former associate dean of the Center for Agriculture at UMass Amherst, where she was responsible for the Nutrition Education and 4-H Youth Development programs. She was previously director and assistant dean of the Stockbridge School of Agriculture at UMass. She is an award-winning education professional with 32 years of in-depth expertise in agriculture from the business, academic, and youth-development sectors.

“With Nancy’s experience in strategic planning, youth development, and nutrition education, she will bring a fresh perspective to our already robust board, helping us to further define and meet the needs of the communities we serve,” said Eric Schultz, president and CEO of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and chair of the Harvard Pilgrim Foundation board of directors.

Garrabrants holds an associate degree in floriculture from the State University of New York at Cobleskill, and a bachelor’s degree in vocational education and master’s degree in plant and soil sciences, both from UMass.

Incorporations

Departments Incorporations

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

AGAWAM

Circuit Coffee Co., 891 Main St., Agawam, MA 01001. Thaddeus Christopher Dobek, same. Cafe and food services.

CHESHIRE

Berkshire Mountain Bike Training Series Inc., 8 Fifth Ave., Cheshire, MA 01225. Garrett Z. Pulley, same. Promote and encourage bicycling and bicycle racing, and otherwise support the sport of cycling.

CHICOPEE

Chicopee Willimansett Flea Market Inc., 929 Chicopee St., Chicopee, MA 01013. Tracey Lee Bryson, 282 Schoolhouse Road, Chicopee, MA 01020. Flea market, auction house.

EAST LONGMEADOW

D & S Products Inc., 72 Prospect Hill Dr., East Longmeadow, MA 01028. Rita Caputo-Capua, same. Wholesale food product distributor.

EASTHAMPTON

DCP/SBI Inc., 24 Ashley Circle, Easthampton, MA 01027. Donald C. Poulin, same. Personal holding company.

LENOX

David F. Flynn, MD, P.C., 11 Maple St., Lenox, MA 01240. David F. Flynn, same. Medical and treatment.

ORANGE

Athol-Mahar Youth Sports Inc., 80 Airport Road, Orange. MA 01364. Steven Hardy, 250 Brookside Road, Orange, MA 01364. Promote and provide educational instruction in sports through the use of volunteers, for youth and parents or legal guardians residing in the North Quabbin area.

SOUTHWICK

ASignature Fence Inc., 22 Tannery Road, Southwick, MA 01077. Mark A. Arena, same. Sale and installation of fence items.

SPRINGFIELD

Candy Mini Market Inc., 106 Oak Grove Ave., Springfield, MA 01109. Robinson Betances, 91 Moorland St. 2nd floor, Springfield, MA 01104. Mini market.

WILBRAHAM

Design & Remodeling Corporation, 171 Manchonis Road, Wilbraham, MA 01095. Svetalana Archoulik-Moskvitch, same. Remodeling and sales.

Briefcase

Briefcase Departments

HCC, STCC Launch Gaming School, Open Registration for Classes

SPRINGFIELD — Holyoke Community College and Springfield Technical Community College officially launched the new MCCTI Gaming School, where area residents interested in working as professional card dealers or croupiers at MGM Springfield can start taking training classes early next year. HCC and STCC, through TWO, their Training and Workforce Options collaborative, and MCCTI, the Massachusetts Casino Career Training Institute, will run the gaming school on the ninth floor of 95 State St., Springfield. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission recently issued a certificate to MCCTI to operate the school. “MGM Springfield is inspired by our educational and workforce-development partners’ strong commitment to creating a healthier regional economy through career opportunities,” said Alex Dixon, general manager for MGM Springfield. “We are grateful for their willingness to learn about and adapt teachings for the gaming and hospitality industry. Today, we celebrate this milestone and look forward to hiring the first-ever table-game professionals in the Commonwealth.” The launch event also signaled the opening of registration for training classes, which will begin Feb. 26 in anticipation of the opening of the $960 million MGM Springfield resort casino in September 2018. Jeffrey Hayden, vice president of Business and Community Services for HCC, who also serves as executive director of TWO and MCCTI, noted that the MGM International website prominently features two new resort casinos MGM is building that are literally half a world apart, one in Springfield and another in Macau. “There will be a $1 billion facility one block from here,” he said. “The show is coming to Springfield.” A full schedule of training classes, along with course descriptions, prices, and school policies is available on the MCCTI website at www.mccti.org under ‘Gaming School,’ where job seekers can also register and explore other employment possibilities with MGM. “The citizens of the region want to work in positions that provide a livable wage and the potential for advancement,” said Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno. “MGM Springfield will provide both, right in the heart of our region in downtown Springfield. I want to thank the community-college presidents for their continued dedication to providing people with the education and skills they need to be successful in the job market.” Robert Westerfield, vice president of Table Games for MGM Springfield, said starting out as a dealer with MGM can truly open up career pathways with the organization. “I started off as a craps dealer,” he said. “I stand before you as vice president of Table Games. Anybody can do it. If you bring the attitude, we’ll give you the aptitude.” In 2012, the presidents of the state’s 15 community colleges signed a memorandum of understanding with the Massachusetts Gaming Commission to work collaboratively to provide training for casino jobs in each of the state’s three defined casino regions: Greater Boston, Southeastern Mass., and Western Mass. In the Western Mass. region, MCCTI is operated by TWO. “We know that economic development and workforce development are not separate efforts,” said STCC President John Cook. “It is imperative that economic and workforce development are integrated for the benefit of our region’s businesses and citizens. The investment of MGM Springfield will allow many of our citizens to begin the process of getting employed and establishing a career pathway.” Added HCC President Christina Royal, “I particularly appreciate HCC’s historic and continuing partnerships with STCC in support of the workforce needs of area businesses. Both colleges offer a wide variety of educational and training options for job seekers and incumbent workers in industries such as healthcare, manufacturing, engineering, hospitality, culinary arts, and many other fields. MCCTI and events like today reinforce the important role community colleges play in the state and regional economy.” The MCCTI Gaming School will provide dealer training in blackjack, roulette, craps, poker, and other casino games. Participants who successfully complete training programs for at least two different table games will be guaranteed an ‘audition,’ or tryout, for a job at MGM Springfield.

Report: Massachusetts Is Healthiest State in the Nation

BOSTON — Massachusetts is the healthiest state in the nation, according to the 28th annual America’s Health Rankings report. Among the state’s strengths are its low percentage of uninsured people, low prevalence of obesity, and high vaccination rates. The 2017 report also ranked Massachusetts first for the health of women and children. “This report highlights the notable progress that our state is making to improve the health and well-being of every individual living in the Commonwealth,” said Gov. Charlie Baker. “Massachusetts is proud to have the lowest number of uninsured residents in the country and robust public-health efforts, and our administration will keep working across all levels of government to ensure quality healthcare and a safe, healthy environment for our residents to live, work, and play.” The 2017 report analyzed 35 measures covering behaviors, community and environment, policy, clinical care, and outcomes data. The report serves as a benchmark for states — and the nation — to measure progress, identify emerging trends, and drive action for improving public health. Last year, Massachusetts ranked second, behind Hawaii. “This year’s findings demonstrate that our focus on improving health outcomes is making a real difference in the lives of Massachusetts families and communities,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders. “Today’s news is a testament to the hard work and dedication of many people working across state and local government, healthcare providers, and at the community grassroots level to make Massachusetts healthier.” Among other categories in which Massachusetts was ranked first were immunizations of children ages 19 to 35 months; immunization of adolescents ages 13 to 17 years with Tdap vaccine, a combination vaccine that protects against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough); percentage of the population that is uninsured; number of dentists per 100,000 people; and number of mental-health providers per 100,000 people.

Company Notebook

Company Notebook Departments

UMass Amherst Receives $1.1 Million Grant for Large Battery Project

AMHERST — UMass Amherst has been awarded a $1.1 million state grant from the Advancing Commonwealth Energy Storage (ACES) project to work with Tesla Energy to construct a large battery at the Central Heating Plant on the west side of campus. The project involves a 1-megawatt/4-megawatt-hour lithium ion battery storage system that will be designed and constructed by Tesla Energy adjacent to the campus power plant. Working with Tesla and the UMass Clean Energy Extension (CEE), the goal is to reduce peak energy demand on the Amherst campus and related costs. The battery storage system will provide power at times when it is purchased from the power grid, help optimize how the campus integrates its current mix of power generation, and provide a research site for clean-energy experts, researchers, and students. Gov. Charlie Baker announced the award of 26 grants totaling $20 million at an event in Marlborough. “The development and deployment of energy-storage projects will be vital to the Commonwealth’s ability to continue leading the nation in energy efficiency,” he said. “Funding these storage projects is an investment in our energy portfolio that will reduce costs for ratepayers and help create a clean and resilient energy future.” Shane Conklin, associate vice chancellor for Facilities and Campus Services at UMass Amherst, noted that “not only will we see utility budget savings, our project will provide on-campus data to support research, and Tesla will provide $80,000 of educational initiatives for our students.” To meet the research goals, Tesla is contributing the funding for educational initiatives during the life of the 15-year project to pay for a range of educational opportunities for UMass Amherst staff and students, including paid internships, career mentorships, lectures, and curriculum development related to solar and energy storage. CEE will also study the operations and maximize learning from the battery-system operations. The campus currently gets 15 megawatts of power from co-generation at the Central Heating Plant and about 5 megawatts from solar voltaic generation as part of one of the most sophisticated power microgrids in the state. The battery storage capacity will be used to balance constraints on those sources and reduce instances when power is purchased from the outside power grid, campus officials say. It will also demonstrate the role that energy storage can plan within a system that has multiple sources of power. The battery system will also bring a new level of resiliency to the campus power grid that can operate independent of the electrical power system in the event of a large-scale power outage. The campus power system hosts the Mullins Center, a regional emergency shelter for Hampshire County and its population of 160,000 citizens. By charging the battery system during off-peak periods and discharging at times peak demand, such as early evening hours during winter months and middle to late afternoon during the summer months, it will help replace less efficient generators, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and lower costs. The UMass Amherst physical plant will operate the battery system, and Tesla will manage the design, permitting, construction, and maintenance of the battery system. UMass CEE will provide operations analysis and support as part of its research.

The Yoga Shop Opens First Massachusetts Location

LUDLOW — A pair of local women entrepreneurs opened the Yoga Shop in Massachusetts on Dec. 23 at 185 Miller St. in Ludlow. Allison Gomes and Liz Salvador, who found a love for yoga and endeavor to share it with the local community, are partnering with Annie Simard and Kim Charbonneau to open the Yoga Shop’s fourth studio in its first Massachusetts location. Located just off the Mass Pike, the Yoga Shop will offer Vinyasa-style yoga classes for all levels as well as teacher trainings, workshops, and retreats under the LivFree Power Yoga brand. LivFree Power Yoga classes utilize heat and a dynamic sequence of Vinyasa poses, one of the most popular styles of yoga in the U.S., to teach fun, creative classes that leave participants feeling energized. “The Yoga Shop already has three great locations in Connecticut, and we couldn’t be more excited to grow our family and community in Ludlow,” said Simard, one of the the Yoga Shop’s founders. The Ludlow location is home to two spacious yoga studios and features a range of amenities including private changing rooms, yoga-mat storage, and a full retail boutique, Grace+GRIT, showcasing men’s and women’s activewear and a variety of accessories. A range of class package options are available.

Bradley Airport Recognized in Condé Nast Traveler

WINDSOR LOCKS, Conn. — The Connecticut Airport Authority (CAA) announced that Condé Nast Traveler has released the results of its 30th annual Readers’ Choice Awards, and Bradley International Airport has been recognized as the fifth-best airport in the U.S. with a score of 82.35. “We are very proud to have earned this prestigious recognition, and we thank not only the many travelers who voted for us, but all of the millions of passengers who choose Bradley for their travel needs on an annual basis,” said CAA Executive Director Kevin Dillon. “This distinguished award from the travel community is a testament to our continuous growth and commitment to top-quality customer service at Bradley Airport. It motivates us to keep up the momentum and continue finding creative and innovative ways to meet and exceed our travelers’ expectations.” More than 300,000 readers submitted millions of ratings and tens of thousands of comments, voting on a record-breaking 7,320 hotels and resorts, 610 cities, 225 islands, 468 cruise ships, 158 airlines, and 195 airports. The Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards are the longest-running recognition of excellence in the travel industry. They were announced in the magazine’s November issue and are available online at www.cntraveler.com/rca.

Bay Path Reports on Recent Charitable Activities

LONGMEADOW — In the spirit of the season, the students, staff, and faculty of Bay Path University have been hard at work giving back to the community. The university kicked off its charitable activities this fall with its 2017 Charitable Fund drive in support of the United Way of Pioneer Valley and Community Health Charities. The university’s partnership with these organizations dates back at least 14 years, and in that time, a total of nearly $200,000 was donated by Bay Path faculty and staff. For 2017, the most substantial sum to date was raised: $20,634. “The Bay Path community never ceases to amaze me with their generosity,” said Keith Sbriscia, associate director of Human Resources, who runs the United Way and Community Health Charities fund-raiser. Both Community Health Charities and the United Way are umbrella organizations that represent other nonprofits through partnerships and raise funds on their behalf through workplace giving campaigns and engagement opportunities. Partner charities also have the opportunity to receive funding through grants. Community Health Charities raises awareness and resources for health and wellness by connecting more than 2,000 of the most trusted health charities across the U.S., reaching 17 million donors every year, through workplace giving campaigns, causes, wellness programs, employee engagement, and strategic partnerships. United Way of Pioneer Valley creates opportunities and improves lives in 25 cities and towns through the United Way Community Fund, and mobilizes people and resources to strengthen area communities by tackling complex issues and driving sustainable change. The Bay Path students are equally committed to supporting the community and have coordinated many student-driven efforts this fall, including, but not limited to, book, diaper, toy, and food drives and several other donations to meet the needs of local organizations. The annual book drive, which benefits a different charity each year, generated close to 1,000 book donations for the Homework House. The university’s annual Giving Tree hosted by the Education Club to make the holiday season merrier for children from the Greater Springfield area just wrapped up collecting gifts for families in need this holiday season. The canned-food drive to assist in restocking local food pantries that run out of goods during the holiday season, hosted by the university’s Student Government Alliance, is also underway. Further, Bay Path University has selected New North Citizens Council of Springfield as its holiday charity. “The devastation in Puerto Rico from Hurricane Maria is overwhelming, and many of the families and loved ones of students, faculty, and staff have been impacted by the catastrophic damage caused by the storm,” said Kathleen Halpin-Robbins, assistant vice president and director of Human Resources. As more and more families are leaving Puerto Rico to find shelter with family and friends in the continental U.S., many cities in New England are welcoming these families. New North Citizens Council (NNCC) has been designated by Western Massachusetts United for Puerto Rico as a welcome center for Puerto Rican evacuees in Springfield.

Valley Health Systems Supports 13 Families over the Holidays

HOLYOKE — Employees of Valley Health Systems, which includes Holyoke Medical Center, the Holyoke Visiting Nurse Assoc. & Hospice Life Care, Western Mass Physician Associates, and River Valley Counseling Center, have joined together to help support 13 families in need of assistance this holiday season. The families consist of 40 children and 12 adults and are affiliated with the Holyoke Boys & Girls Club and WIC.

OMG Roofing Products Introduces RhinoBond Plate Marking Tool

AGAWAM — OMG Roofing Products has introduced a plate-marking tool designed to help roofers improve rooftop productivity by quickly locating and marking RhinoBond Plates installed under thermoplastic membranes. The new RhinoBond Plate Marking Tool is lightweight, simple-to-use, and easy-to-maneuver. Simply roll the marking tool over a row of installed RhinoBond Plates. Every time it passes over a properly installed plate, the tool leaves a temporary mark on the surface of the membrane to identify the plate location. Plate marks are made with standard blue construction crayons and typically fade away within a few weeks. The plate-marking tool is compatible with all thermoplastic membranes regardless of type or thickness. In addition, the tool’s handle is reversible for quick direction changes, and lies flat for rolling under rooftop pipes and raised equipment such as air-handling units. Other benefits of the new system include powerful sweeper magnets mounted on the front and back of the chassis that pick up any metal debris on the roof. The tool is provided in a protective carrying case for easy handling and storage. “Many roofers understand the tremendous productivity and performance benefits that RhinoBond offers,” said Web Shaffer, vice president of marketing for OMG. “In fact, some roofers have reported productivity-rate improvements of up to 30%. To enhance the systems’ overall productivity offering, we wanted to make it even easier for roofers not only to find, but also to clearly ‘see’ the installed RhinoBond Plates beneath the membrane. The new RhinoBond Plate Marking Tool makes this possible.” The RhinoBond System is designed for use with TPO and PVC roofing membranes. The system uses advanced induction-welding technology to bond roofing membranes directly to specially coated plates that secure the insulation to the deck. The result is a roofing system with improved wind performance that requires fewer fasteners, plates, and seams, and zero penetrations of the new membrane.

Jean Kelley, Joe Malmborg Attend National Conference

NORTHAMPTON — Jean Kelley and Joe Malmborg, advisors of Kelley and Malmborg Investment Consulting Group in Northampton, recently attended a national educational conference for independent financial advisors. Hosted by Commonwealth Financial Network, the nation’s largest privately held registered investment advisor – independent broker/dealer, the October event drew 1,641 affiliated advisors, staff, guests, and sponsors from across the nation. Participants gathered in San Diego, where they connected and collaborated with peers, colleagues, and industry partners to strengthen their leadership skills and enhance the high-end service they provide to clients. With the theme, “Personal Currency: Human Connections/Patterns for Success,” the conference encouraged attendees to explore how the relationships that they build, nurture, and sustain — both professionally and personally — influence their success. Keynote speakers offered topical remarks tailored specifically to an advisor audience. In an informal ‘fireside chat,’ former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, joined by Commonwealth’s Joni Youngwirth, managing principal, Practice Management, offered insights about effective diplomacy. Albright outlined the real keys to diplomacy as the ability to put oneself in another person’s shoes and to have a clear understanding of what the other person wants. Ken Blanchard, author, leadership expert, and co-founder of international management training/consulting firm the Ken Blanchard Companies, spoke about the innate leader in everyone. International portrait photographer Platon brought the conference theme to life, sharing powerful personal stories about connecting on a human level with his subjects, including Marissa Mayer and Mark Zuckerberg. The conference concluded on a continued high note, with a closing event held at Petco Park, the home of the San Diego Padres. The attendees were treated to live entertainment, a grand tour of the facility, a BBQ, and practicing their batting skills at batting cages placed throughout the park.

Bankruptcies

Bankruptcies Departments

The following bankruptcy petitions were recently filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Readers should confirm all information with the court.

Barscz, William B.
589 East St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/29/17

Brady, Peter J.
142 Bridle Path Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/20/17

Castro, Nafeeza
a/k/a Lexington, Nafeeza
80 Damon Road #3304
Northampton, MA 01060
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/22/17

Cookis, Laura A.
15 Ridge Ave.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/28/17

Cotto, Ana R.
Cotto, Nicholas
91 Oak Hollow Road
Springfield, MA 01128
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/27/17

Craig, Christine S.
P.O. Box 292
Huntington, MA 01050
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/29/17

Craig, Ronald G.
P.O. Box 292
Huntington, MA 01050
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/29/17

Crook, Jacqueline
3 Dell St.
Turners Falls, MA 01376
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/29/17

Cruz, Antonio M.
55 Hampden St.
Indian Orchard, MA 01151
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/29/17

Duchesne, Sherry L.
1350 Wilbraham Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/28/17

Fernandes, Karen A.
129 New Ludlow Road
Granby, MA 01033
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/16/17

Figueroa, Aida
246 Walnut St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/22/17

Fortuna, Timothy D.
131 East Brimfield Holland
Brimfield, MA 01010
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/29/17

Galanti, Jean H.
141 Branch Hill Road
Colrain, MA 01340
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/27/17

Gauthier, Glen R.
Gauthier, Christine
80 Kaveney St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/30/17

Groody, Sharon
134 Racha
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/30/17

Hamann, Robert
188 Apple Blossom Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/30/17

Harrop, Ronald L.
79 West St.
Granby, MA 01033
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/17/17

Hernandez, Lydia
546 Chestnut St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/30/17

Howe, Donald A.
Howe, Christina L.
a/k/a Brandon, Christina L.
8 Paige Hill Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/17/17

Julie Sonntag Photography
Moran, Julie
411 Jacksonville Road
Colrain, MA 01340
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/27/17

Kituyi, Joseph S.
9 January Hill Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/20/17

Kohlenberger, Lee A.
26 Harryel St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/27/17

Ladue, Dennis P.
370 Mill Valley Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/16/17

Malouin, Barbara R.
356 Hatfield St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/20/17

Mancini, Charlie
390 Brush Hill Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/22/17

Monterosso, Gail M.
1136 Barker Road, Unit 17
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/28/17

Muzyk, Robert Charles
PO Box 368
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/30/17

Ocasio, Gilbert Michael
100 Beech St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/29/17

Olson, Doreen Ann
524 South Main St.
Orange, MA 01364
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/17/17

Padellaro, Angela D.
a/k/a Davis, Angela Dawn
a/k/a Davis, Skye
64 Ridge Ave.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/16/17

Parente, Gary
Parente, Jessica
11 Homestead Ave.
Indian Orchard, MA 01151
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/30/17

Redding, Amelia S.
a/k/a Gonzalez, Amelia S.
a/k/a Redding, Amelia
PO Box 3564
Springfield, MA 01101
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/18/17

Rickson, Melissa M.
133 South St.
Granby, MA 01033
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/24/17

Rodriguez, Jessica
76 Maple St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/18/17

Rodriguez, Wanda L.
60 Wilson St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/17/17

Sakowski, David R.
33 Yamaska Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/19/17

Shepard, Bradley R.
44 Kenneth Lunden Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/27/17

Shepherd, Timothy Flynn
Shepherd, Donna Marie
PO Box 327
Wales, MA 01081
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/16/17

Shippee, William
184 Taylor St.
Granby, MA 01033
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/27/17

Smith, Vivian
137 High St., Apt. 110M
Florence, MA 01062
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/24/17

Solano, Felix L.
32 Manilla Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109-1717
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/27/17

Sowa, Nicole M.
145 Brien St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/16/17

Targonski, Walter F.
33 Holy Cross Circle
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/29/17

Therrien, Jeffrey A.
1268 Church St.
North Adams, MA 01247
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/27/17

Toolmans World
Crawford, Jonathan G.
9 Manners Ave.
Adams, MA 01220
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/28/17

Vreeland, Thomas Clark
Squalli, Lori Ann
19 Mattawa Circle
Orange, MA 01364
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/30/17

Way, Francis Edward
Way, Melissa Jean
56 Valentine Terrace
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/20/17

Area Construction Companies Say Business Is Strong

Construction Sections

Building Momentum

After years of slow recovery after the recession that struck almost a decade ago, area construction firms are reporting strong volume in 2017 and predicting the same, if not better, in 2018. Whether relying on diverse expertise, a widening geographic footprint, or repeat business from loyal customers, there are plenty of ways to grow in the current economic environment, and contractors are optimistic they will do just that.

Even during good times for the construction industry — which 2017 certainly was, to hear area contractors tell it — everyone still has to keep on their toes.

“We’re optimistic for next year, but there are a lot of smart people working in New England, and everyone’s trying to get their fair share of the pie,” said Jeff Bardell, president of Daniel O’Connell’s Sons. “It’s still very competitive, and it’s been that way for a long time.”

While O’Connell is based in Holyoke, the firm has branched out over the years to develop a significant presence in Eastern Mass., Connecticut, and Rhode Island, particularly with large utility projects, while closer to home, it has maintained strong activity at area colleges and universities, including work at Amherst College and UMass, not to mention Dartmouth College in New Hampshire and Marist College in New York.

We’re optimistic for next year, but there are a lot of smart people working in New England, and everyone’s trying to get their fair share of the pie.”

“We’re busy, but not out-of-control busy, in Western Mass. The projects we’re doing now aren’t as big as they were for awhile, but we’re still fairly busy.”

However, the heavy civil side has been a different story, featuring projects like upgrades to the Uxbridge Wastewater Treatment Facility, a runway rehabilitation at Hanscom Airfield in Bedford (one of many projects for MassPort), and a biogas co-generation facility at the Bucklin Point Wastewater Treatment Facility in Rhode Island — not to mention some MassDOT highway work in Worcester and a pedestrian bridge over the Providence River.

“Things are going fairly well for us,” Bardell said. “Everyone is working.”

Kevin Perrier, president of Five Star Building Corp. in Easthampton, had a similar outlook, noting that “2017 has proven to be one of our busiest years, with work from one end of the state to the other. Both public and private work has certainly kept our guys busy, and it looks like next year will be more of the same.”

While margins are still tight, workload has remained busy, including two large mechanical upgrade projects for MassPort and increasing work at Logan International Airport over the past several years.

While those two firms have broadened their reach, Chicopee-based A. Crane Construction recorded a strong 2017 mostly close to home, said partner A.J. Crane. “We do a lot of local, private commercial work, and it seems that sector is booming, with a lot of small to medium-sized businesses either building new facilities or renovating their existing facilities. It’s nice to see. And we’re helping as much as we can with that, which we really like to see.”

Recent projects include a remodel of the Sunshine Village offices in Chicopee, Arrha Credit Union’s new West Springfield branch, a new office for Ameriprise Financial in South Hadley, two renovations for Oasis Shower Doors, an office renovation for Noonan Energy, and ongoing work for Ondrick Natural Earth and AM Lithography.

Five Star Building Corp. opened its Boston office to handle a growing volume of business from the eastern part of the state.

“We’re in that sweet spot between small firms and huge commercial industrial contractors,” he told BusinessWest. “We’re a good size where we can serve a lot of those people that are upgrading and building new, local businesses. We’ve recently serviced quite a few financial-services offices, some retail, and, obviously, the whole legalization of medical and recreational marijuana is going bananas, and we’re doing quite a bit of that, too.”

Clearly, these are high times for area builders, and they expect to keep rolling in 2018.

Branching Out

Bardell said O’Connell’s broad geographic footprint — and its expertise in many different types of work — are both hedges against shifting economic tides.

“We see it rotate from place to place. I would say from ’09 to ’12 or ’13, we were really busy in Rhode Island, hundreds of millions of work there. Now we have maybe $20 million in work there. When we’re not busy in the Eastern Mass. region, we’re doing a lot of work for MDC in Hartford, redoing their treatment plant. It just rolls from one area to the other.”

As a result, he went on, “we pursue a lot of college work, and then we pursue heavy civil work. We do bridges, water and wastewater plants, drinking-water facilities — those have kind of become the bread and butter of our company.”

SEE: List of Architecture Firms

From a backlog standpoint, O’Connell is in pretty good shape, he told BusinessWest, but firms need to stay aggressive. “Talk to any contractor, and they’ll say they’re looking for more work; you burn it off quickly. But we’re here working through the holiday, with a lot of projects coming out in all kinds of places. There are projects in the Hudson Valley in New York out to bid right now, projects with Connecticut treatment plants, a very large university job in upstate New York, and some treatment-plant projects in Rhode Island.

Now boasting 50 employees, Five Star has developed a strong presence out east as well, opening a Boston office to support the “booming” seaport and commercial construction happening there. Long-term relationships with airlines like Southwest and Jet Blue have kept the firm busy at Logan, while projects like a new Westborough Town Hall, a library in Sherborn, a new charter school in Plymouth, and the Uxbridge fire station attests to the company’s diversity. Closer to home, major projects have included new life sciences laboratories at Holyoke Communtiy College and an ongoing upgrade of the entry at Noble Hospital in Westfield.

“Between healthcare and the airport and transportation sector, we’ve found ourselves all over, with a lot of long-time clients keeping us very busy this year,” Perrier said. “We’re fortunate enough to have another $30 million on the books for next year, so we’re happy about that.”

One goal has not to become too focused on one particular niche or industry, like some companies that focus almost all their energy on, say, healthcare or auto dealerships, he went on. “We’ve always been somewhat reluctant to do that, because it makes you more susceptible to shifts in the economy. We’ve been lucky to have some diversity and to be spread out across the state.”

That said, he added, “we’ve seen our fair share of the work. It’s safe to say the bad economy is behind us. Everyone has a pretty full plate.”

Crane has diversified in other ways, opening divisions in property management and condominium management, and taking on more and larger commercial jobs. And customer loyalty is important, because a construction job might lead to other jobs down the line. “We’re not just building someone a new, 5,000-square-foot facility. They’ll call us for everything else, which is nice.”

The benefits of a strong local construction market are twofold, Crane went on. “Businesses are spending money on their real estate here, which brings everybody’s property values up, and second, if they’re investing in property here, that means they’re not moving their business anywhere else, which is huge. Everyone knows construction drives the economy.”

Help Wanted

Perrier says contractors remember what the recent recession years were like — and how many years it took to return to something resembling normalcy — so everyone is a little gunshy, but they’re also optimistic that a strong 2017 will spill over into an even better 2018.

“The last two or three years, the economy has been strong,” he told BusinessWest. “We’re fortunate to stay busy. During the recession, most general contractors just wanted to keep people busy, try to see some growth and not lose their key players, and weather the storm. We made it out of that, and we continue to see growth. Last year was one of our best years.”

Bardell added that most operations professionals in construction will say they don’t have enough good, quality workers.

“It seems like things are picking up a little with availability of work to pursue, so we’re pretty optimistic, to be perfectly honest with you,” he said. “The biggest problem is finding people to do the work. That’s not getting any easier, and it’s going to be the biggest issue for us. We actively recruit at a lot of colleges; we’re trying to build a little farm team of guys and gals who can move up the ranks. We’ve been pretty successful doing that, but sometimes you can’t keep up with the volume.”

Not that high volume is a bad thing, of course.

“Things were good last year, and next year is looking great, too,” Crane concluded. “Hopefully it keeps rolling.”

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Business Trends Survey Reveals Optimism Tempered by Challenges

Employment Sections

Labor Pains

Angst.

You won’t see that colorful noun written anywhere in the National Business Trends Survey conducted by the Employers Associations of America (EAA), said Mark Adams, but there is quite a bit of that commodity lurking behind the words and especially the numbers that are contained in that document.

There is angst — or concern, or anguish, or anxiety (all quality synonyms) — when it comes to the labor market and what is becoming increasingly a labor shortage. There is more of it when it comes to wages — employers want to raise them, but there are hindrances to doing so, especially rising healthcare costs.

And there is more angst when it comes to the juxtaposition of wages and the labor market, said Adams, director of HR Services for the Employers Assoc. of the NorthEast (EANE). Indeed, he said that, as wages remain fairly stagnant (3% increases are the norm, as they have been for several years) and the increases amount to less amid the rising cost of living, many employees are exercising their right to pursue greener pastures. And they’re finding them, leaving employers to replace them in a job market where good help is increasingly hard to find.

“It’s definitely a buyer’s market,” said Adams, noting that employees are the buyers. “With unemployment being so low, and people looking to add bodies to their organization, either through new jobs being created or replacing existing workers that are going to leave, employees realize that now is the time to explore all their options if they haven’t been fully satisfied with what they’re been earning in their organization.

“The 2.8% to 3% increases they’ve been getting are being cannibalized by rising health costs and the cost of living in general,” he went on. “So they’re not advancing financially within the organization they’re in, and a lot of them are sitting there saying, ‘I’m going to start exploring other options.’ For companies, there are a lot of openings, and they’re not finding adequate replacement workers, which puts a whole premium on ‘are we paying people enough? Are we providing a workplace that’s engaging enough?’”

Like we said, angst. There’s enough of it to temper the considerable optimism reflected in the report, said Adams, adding that nearly two-thirds of respondents (62%, to be exact) expect their 2017 revenues to exceed those of 2016, and 73% project that 2018 will be better than 2017.

Meanwhile, more employers expect to be hiring in the year ahead than in 2017. In the Northeast region, 51% of the executives surveyed plan to increase staff in 2018, a sizable increase from a year ago, when 41% responded in such fashion.

But these positive numbers are couched in the reality that, for many employers across virtually every business sector, hiring is becoming a real challenge. Indeed, 42.3% of regional respondents (those in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states) identified the skilled labor shortage as a ‘serious’ challenge in the short term (up from 37.8%), while 52% identified it as a serious challenge long-term, up from 47% last year.

Adams noted that these numbers clearly reflect what he’s heard anecdotally and seen directly through EANE’s efforts to assist members with finding and hiring talent.

“We’re experiencing all that with the members we’re serving,” he explained, adding that many of the recruitment-and-hiring projects EANE has undertaken with members have taken much longer than anticipated, and some have been relaunched, simply because employers have not been satisfied with the response they’ve seen in terms of the quality of the job aspirants.

Elaborating, Adams said EANE will assist members with searches for managers or professional staff, providing services including ad placement, sourcing of candidates, prescreening, help with interview questions, actual interviewing, and more.

And, as he noted, many of these searches are taking much longer than they did even a year or two ago, and a growing number of them are not ending successfully, and for a host of reasons, ranging from lack of satisfaction with (or consensus on) finalists to disparity between what the candidate is seeking compensation-wise and what the company is willing to pay.

As the challenges to hiring and retaining good help grow, employers are responding, said Adams, adding that many are making investments in technology, equipment, benefits, training, recruitment, and other areas in an effort to navigate a job market increasingly defined by full employment or something close to it.

Indeed, the survey showed that 60% of respondents plan to invest in technology in 2018, up from 45% in 2017; 54% plan to invest in equipment, up from 45% a year ago; 41% intend to increase the training budget, up from 26% in 2017; 38% plan to heighten their emphasis on recruiting, up from 30% a year ago, and 35% intend to shift more healthcare costs to the employer, a huge increase from the 15% who responded in that fashion a year ago.

“Companies are realizing that, if they can’t go dollar for dollar to keep people in the organization or attract people, they’d better bring other things to the table to make them a company that’s going to be worthwhile to someone,” said Adams, adding that these numbers speak loudly about the extent of the problem and growing awareness of the need to do something about it.

And while it is still too early to gauge the full impact of MGM Springfield’s ongoing efforts to create its workforce of roughly 3,000 people on all of this, it’s to assume that it will only exacerbate the problem, Adams said, adding that employers are certainly expressing concerns about this development at EANE HR Roundtables.

As for wages, many companies are in a bind because, as much as they feel compelled to raise them and want to, strong forces, especially double-digit increases in healthcare insurance, act as considerable roadblocks.

“The rising benefit cost is a countermeasure that’s creating a barrier toward putting more on the table financially to induce people,” Adams explained. “And it’s becoming a paradox for companies; they want to pay people more to attract and retain them, but they have these rising benefits costs, and there’s only so much in the budget to cover both of those things.”

Meanwhile, the pay-equity act set to take effect July 1 becomes what Adams called a “wild card” when it comes to wages in 2018.

“The question becomes whether there will be additional needs to invest money into compensation budgets because of concerns employers may have about questionable difference in pay structures,” he noted.

— George O’Brien

Chamber Corners: Upcoming Events

Chamber Corners Departments Sections

1BERKSHIRE
www.1berkshire.com
(413) 499-1600

• Jan. 27: BYP Winter Ball, 7-11 p.m., hosted by Country Club of Pittsfield. Let’s take an evening to dress up and enjoy a ball together. It’s an inexpensive way to enjoy an elegant evening with music, heavy hors d’oeuvres, elegance, and an excuse to dress to the nines — and much more — with friends. Cost: $25 for members, $35 for non-members.

GREATER CHICOPEE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.chicopeechamber.org
(413) 594-2101

• Jan. 23: B2B Roundtable, 8-9 a.m., hosted by Polish National Credit Union, 923 Front St., Chicopee. Sponsored by CHH Engraving Inc. An opportunity to connect and increase your contacts, generate leads, and establish relationships with other businesses. Cost: free to chamber members, but limited to one representative per business industry. Call Sarah Williams at (413) 594-2101, ext. 103, for more information or to sign up.

• Jan. 31: ChamberMaster Training, 9-11 a.m., hosted by Hampton Inn Chicopee, 600 Memorial Dr. This is a brief presentation on how to use ChamberMaster for chamber members. This is a great tool for all chamber members for some free advertising. Cost: free to chamber members. Sign up online at chicopeechamber.org/events.

GREATER EASTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.easthamptonchamber.org
(413) 527-9414

• Jan. 18: Celebrate Success Event, 5-8 p.m., hosted by Delaney House, 3 Country Club Road, Holyoke. The evening will celebrate the successes of 2017, share what has been learned along the way, and examine where the chamber is headed in 2018. The event will honor winners of the Business, Business Person, and Innovative Entrepreneur of 2017. In addition, we will reveal winners of the President’s Award and the Ambassador of the Year. We will also celebrate member milestones. For more information, visit www.easthamptonchamber.org, or call the chamber office at (413) 527-9414.

• Feb. 8: Networking by Night, 5-7 p.m., hosted by the Boylston Rooms, 122 Pleasant St., Suite #112, Easthampton. Sponsored by Tanya Costigan Events. This is a great networking opportunity and an opportunity to tour the new Boylston Rooms.

GREATER HOLYOKE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.holyokechamber.com
(413) 534-3376

• Jan. 10: The Chamber Coffee Buzz Morning Networking, 7:30-9 a.m. Check the chamber website for location. The Coffee Buzz is a great way to jump-start your day with an opportunity to meet business and community leaders while enjoying coffee and a light breakfast. Coffee sponsored by Spradley Deluxe Coffee. Cost: free to the business community. Sign up online at holyokechamber.com or call (413) 534-3376.

• Jan. 17: Chamber After Hours, 5-7 p.m., hosted and Sponsored by Applebee’s, 225 Whiting Farms Road (at intersection of Holyoke Mall). Join us for a casual networking experience. Enjoy complimentary appetizers and drink specials. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for non-members. Sign up online at holyokechamber.com.

• Jan. 24: Candidate & Elected Officials Reception, 5-7 p.m., hosted by Gary Rome Hyundai, 150 Whiting Farms Road, Holyoke. Sponsored by bankESB, Dowd Insurance, the Republican, Marcotte Ford, Comcast Business, Holyoke Medical Center, and Ferriter Law. An enjoyable evening where local and state legislators, administrators, and dignitaries are celebrated. Mingle with this year’s candidates and elected officials in a casual setting. Ticket price includes appetizers, food stations, and drinks. Cost: $40. Sign up online at holyokechamber.com.

GREATER NORTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.explorenorthampton.com
(413) 584-1900

• Jan. 10: January Arrive @5, 5-7 p.m., hosted by Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 845 West St., Amherst. Sponsored by PeoplesBank. A networking event. Cost: $10 for members.

• Feb. 7: February Arrive @5, 5-7 p.m., hosted by Christopher Heights, 50 Village Hill Road, Northampton. A networking event. Cost: $10 for members.

• March 7: March Arrive @5, 5-7 p.m., hosted by 50/50 Fitness, 251 Russell St., Hadley. Sponsored by Applied Mortgage, a division of Merrimack Mortgage Co. A networking event. Cost: $10 for members.

GREATER WESTFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.westfieldbiz.org
(413) 568-1618

• Jan. 8: January Mayor’s Coffee Hour, 8-9 a.m., hosted by Western Massachusetts Hospital, 91 East Mountain Road, Westfield. Join us for our monthly Mayor’s Coffee Hour with Westfield Mayor Brian Sullivan. This event is 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.

• Jan. 10: January After 5 Connection, 5-7 p.m., hosted by Armbrook Village, 551 North Road, Westfield. Refreshments will be served. A 50/50 raffle will benefit the chamber scholarship fund. Bring your business cards and make connections. Cost: free for chamber members, $10 for potential members (cash or credit paid at the door). Online registration will be available at www.westfieldbiz.org. For more information, call Pam at the chamber at (413) 568-1618.

SOUTH HADLEY & GRANBY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.shgchamber.com
(413) 532-6451

Jan. 23: Annual Meeting, 5:30-8:30 p.m., hosted by Willits-Hallowell Center, Mount Holyoke College, 26 Park St., South Hadley. An opportunity for chamber members to socialize with old friends in the business community and make new ones. A cocktail hour will be followed by dinner. The brief meeting will introduce the board of directors, describe the chamber’s various committees and their functions, and open discussion of 2018 calendar/plans/suggestions for the coming year.

SPRINGFIELD REGIONAL CHAMBER
www.springfieldregionalchamber.com
(413) 787-1555

• Jan. 10: Professional Women’s Chamber Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., hosted by Carriage House, Storrowton Tavern, 1305 Memorial Ave., West Springfield. Featuring author Dr. Valerie Young on “The Imposter Syndrome.” Sponsored by the Eastern States Exposition. Cost: $35 for members, $40 general admission, $25 for students. To make a reservation, visit www.springfieldregionalchamber.com, e-mail [email protected], or call (413) 755-1310.

• Jan. 11: Lunch ‘n’ Learn, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., hosted by the Colony Club, 1500 Main St., Springfield. Panel discussion, “Workplace Sexual Harassment in the Wake of the Harvey Weinstein Scandal: What Employers Need to Know to Protect Themselves,” presented by Skoler, Abbott & Presser. Cost: $30 for members ($35 at the door), $40 general admission ($45 at the door). To make a reservation, visit www.springfieldregionalchamber.com, e-mail [email protected], or call (413) 755-1310.

• Jan. 23: C-Suite Conversations & Cocktails, 5-7 p.m., hosted by CityStage, One Columbus Center, Springfield. Members-only event. Cost: $25 in advance, $30 at the door. To make a reservation, visit www.springfieldregionalchamber.com, e-mail [email protected], or call (413) 755-1310.

WEST OF THE RIVER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.ourwrc.com
(413) 426-3880

• Jan. 18: Networking Lunch, noon to 1:30 p.m., hosted by Carrabba’s Italian Grill, West Springfield. Only members or guests of members may 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 lunch. Attendees will order off the menu and pay separately that day. We cannot invoice you for these events. Register online at [email protected].

• Feb. 13: Lunch & Tour at the Bistro LPVEC – West Springfield, noon to 1:30 p.m. Join fellow members and non-members for a networking lunch at the Bistro at Lower Pioneer Valley Educational Collaborative, followed by an informative discussion on the value of gaining skills in the trades industry and how we can promote to fill local jobs. Sponsorships are available for this event. Register online at [email protected].

YOUNG PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY OF GREATER SPRINGFIELD
springfieldyps.com

• Jan. 18: January Third Thursday, 5-7 p.m., hosted by Springfield Country Club, 375 Elm St., West Springfield.

People On the Move

Departments People on the Move

Marie Lafortune

Natalya Riberdy

Haley Pedruczny

Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C. recently welcomed Marie Lafortune, Natalya Riberdy, and Haley Pedruczny to the firm. Lafortune comes to MBK as a first-year audit associate. She is currently focused on pension and 401(k) plans, HUD engagements, and compliance testing for nonprofits. She also assists with tax preparation. She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and healthcare management from Elms College and is pursuing her master’s of accountancy at Westfield State University. Riberdy is a new associate focusing on the service and construction industries. Before joining MBK, she gained experience as intern at a regional firm and as a billing, AR, and AP associate in private accounting. She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance from Bridgewater State University and is on track to complete her MSA, with a concentration in forensic accounting, from Western New England University. She will then begin studying for the CPA exams. Pedruczny comes to the firm with accounting experience across the real estate, manufacturing, and consumer-product fields. As an associate at MBK, she works primarily on nonprofit clients and employee benefit plans, from small companies and schools to large corporations. She graduated from the Isenberg School of Management with a BBA in accounting and is currently pursuing her CPA license. “Each of these women represent the wellspring of young business and accounting talent we have right here in Western Massachusetts,” said MBK Partner Howard Cheney. “At MBK, we consider ourselves fortunate to tap into the vital resources of the next generation and bring them into the fold to grow and thrive along with the firm and our clients.”

•••••

Jeremy Lajoie

Charmaine Ramirez

Michael Tucker, president and CEO of Greenfield Co-operative Bank, announced the promotions of Jeremy Lajoie and Charmaine Ramirez to assistant vice president. Lajoie works in mortgage operations. He started with the bank in July 2015 and has been working as the loan processing supervisor, and is responsible for managing the loan-processing workflow within the bank. Prior to joining Greenfield Co-operative Bank, he worked for five years at another financial institution in the loan servicing/processing area. He has a bachelor’s degree in communications from UMass Amherst. Ramirez works in mortgage operations. She started at Northampton Cooperative Bank in 2012 as a teller/customer service representative and was promoted to loan underwriter and processor in 2013. After Northampton Cooperative merged into Greenfield Co-operative Bank, she became lead underwriter and was most recently mortgage operations supervisor. She is a 2017 graduate from the New England School for Financial Studies and is currently completing her bachelor’s degree in business management from Western Governor’s University.

•••••

Howard Sienkiewicz

Zasco Productions, LLC, an event-planning and production company, hired Howard Sienkiewicz as its new vice president and general manager, according to Zasco founder, president, and owner, Michael Zaskey. Sienkiewicz returns to Western Mass. after spending two decades as technical director for the international event-planning and production company Ellen Michaels Presents. “We’re so pleased that Howard Sienkiewicz agreed to return to Western Massachusetts to join the Zasco team,” Zaskey said. “His experience working globally in theatres, concert halls, convention centers, hotels, and non-traditional venues will help Zasco Productions and our other brand, Big Video Screen, to enhance the level of service we provide our customers throughout the region.” Sienkiewicz began his career in Springfield as production stage manager of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, coordinating production for its classical and pop-music series, operas, and dance programs at Springfield Symphony Hall, at the Summer Pops at Stanley Park, the Berkshire Choral Festival, and Springfield Symphony New England Tours, under the auspices of New England Presentors. He became technical director for Springfield Civic Center and Symphony Hall and general manager for Snow Sound, as well as owner of HCS Productions. At Ellen Michaels Presents, he traveled the globe working on events for CA Technologies, Oracle, Intuit, and many others. “Years ago, when Michael has getting Zasco started, we had crossed paths while I worked at Springfield Symphony Hall,” Sienkiewicz said. “Years later, when I needed a company to support a large corporate event in Boston, I was given his name. He and the company really impressed me. Going forward, I would use Zasco Productions for all our shows in the Northeast. I even brought them to Las Vegas, Chicago, and North Carolina to support various shows. When I decided to get off the road, Michael offered me this position, and I am thrilled to be returning to my hometown and have the opportunity to work with a great company like Zasco locally and nationally.”

•••••

Jessica Picard

The Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce bestowed its Chamber Ambassador of the Year Award to Jessica Picard, marketing director at Loomis House Retirement Community, a position she has held since 2012. Previous to that, she was the marketing and admissions liaison for Loomis Lakeside at Reeds Landing in Springfield. She graduated from Westfield State University with a degree in business management and a minor in marketing. “Our ambassadors play a pivotal role in allowing the Greater Holyoke Chamber to be able to execute on our programs and events. Jessica Picard has been a champion of the Greater Holyoke Chamber for several years, and her service as an ambassador to our chamber members is irreplaceable,” said Wanda Zabawa, events manager and ambassador leader. Chamber ambassadors are volunteers who make a commitment to help new members feel welcome and demonstrate to all members how to make the most of their chamber benefits. They also gather feedback from members to help the chamber improve its services. Other members of the chamber ambassador committee include Wendy Palmer of PeoplesBank, Julie Rochefort of United Personnel, Paula Auclair and Harry Montalvo of bankESB, Kate Buckley of Goss & McLain Insurance, Susan Concepcion of Homewood Suites, Molly Desrocher of United Personnel, Pauline Gove of deRenzy Document Solutions, James Brunault of Massachusetts Rehabilitation, Daniel Couchon of Fairfield Inn, and Tom Thacher of CareerPoint. “Jessica truly deserves the Ambassador of the Year award. Jessica has gone above and beyond her responsibilities as an ambassador toward our members and has demonstrated extraordinary dedication, involvement, and initiative to enhancing the partnership between the chamber and our members,” said Kathleen Anderson, chamber president. Picard was chosen for the award after receiving the most ambassador points in 2017. Ambassadors earn points by calling and visiting chamber members, attending monthly meetings and ribbon cuttings, recruiting other ambassadors, and participating in chamber events. Picard and her manager, Margaret Mantoni, will be honored at the chamber’s holiday business breakfast and pop-up retail event on Wednesday, Dec. 13 at the Log Cabin. The public is welcome to attend.

•••••

Tony Sanches

Michael Ostrowski, president and CEO of Arrha Credit Union, announced the promotion of Tony Sanches from branch manager and Business Development officer to assistant vice president of Retail Operations. “We are so pleased to promote Tony, who has always gone above and beyond the call of duty of taking care of his members and staff,” Ostrowski said. “He will continue to be located at the West Springfield branch location at 63 Park Ave. He will also continue to look for ways to serve our members and communities so we may provide additional conveniences and help people reach their financial goals in a meaningful way.” Sanches has more than 15 years of experience in the local financial industry and 10 years in residential lending. He began his banking career as a teller at Westbank, then moved to Country Bank as a head teller and worked his way up to customer service manager, assistant branch manager, and loan originator. He then moved to Florence Savings Bank as a loan originator at its multiple offices. He finished his career at Florence as assistant vice president of Lending before moving to Freedom Credit Union as a loan officer. Sanches has extensive knowledge of portfolio lending and secondary-market lending, including conventional loans, MHP, USDA, FHA, and MassHousing loans. He is fluent in Portuguese and English, a member of the Rotary Club of Ludlow, corporator at the Ludlow Boys and Girls Club, and a member of the Ludlow Youth Soccer Assoc., where he coaches youth soccer.

•••••

Jamie Convery

Stacey Pinardi

Glenn Welch, president and CEO of Freedom Credit Union, announced the promotion of Jamie Convery to branch officer of Freedom’s Sixteen Acres Branch, and the appointment of Stacey Pinardi as mortgage loan originator in Franklin and Hampshire counties. In her new position, Convery oversees the financial and lending operations of the branch, develops new business opportunities with individuals and businesses, and promotes financial literacy at area schools. She has been employed at Freedom for seven years and has 15 years of experience in the banking and financial-services industries. Prior to joining Freedom, she was a teller supervisor at PeoplesBank. Convery earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Westfield State University, and she currently serves on the membership committee of the Professional Women’s Chamber. Pinardi is responsible for real-estate origination throughout Franklin and Hampshire counties. As she helps expand Freedom’s mortgage services throughout that region, she will offer her expertise in conventional, MassHousing, MHP ONE Mortgage, FHA, USDA, and VA loans. She has more than 22 years of experience in the finance industry, including expertise in residential mortgage origination, first-time-homebuyer assistance, and secondary market sales. Most recently, she was a mortgage planner at Regency Mortgage. Currently, Pinardi is an affiliate member of the Realtor Assoc. of Pioneer Valley. She works at the Freedom branch at 191 Ave. A in Turners Falls.

•••••

Allison Gearing-Kalill, a fund-raiser and development professional, has been named vice president for Development and Planned Giving at Bay Path University, as announced by President Carol Leary. “I am delighted that Allison Gearing-Kalill is joining our leadership team,” Leary said. “She brings tremendous development and planned-giving experience to the position, and as vice president she will partner with areas across the university to support and advance our philanthropic culture that has been an important driver to the success of our students and academic programs. I look forward to working closely with Allison in the coming months.” At Bay Path, Gearing-Kalill will serve as a member of the executive staff. In this new role, she will manage a comprehensive planned-giving program, and also provide leadership in the areas of annual giving, alumni relations, stewardship, special events, advancement services, and major gifts. “It will be a privilege to work alongside the academic and staff leadership, as well as the alumni and friends of the university, to continue the fund-raising momentum that is already in place,” she said. “President Leary has brought Bay Path to new heights with her remarkable vision and energy, and I am thrilled to be part of that transformation.” Prior to joining Bay Path, Gearing-Kalill served as vice president of Fund Development at Sisters of Providence Health System and Mercy Medical Center, where she oversaw the areas of fund-raising and special events. Previously, she was the vice president of Community Development at Baystate Noble Hospital. Widely recognized for her fund-raising expertise, she received the 2017 Assoc. for Healthcare Philanthropy Higher Performers Award. She earned her bachelor’s degree in business with a specialization in marketing from UMass Amherst.

•••••

Frances Gomes Marthone

Frances Gomes Marthone has been named chief Nursing officer (vice president of Patient Care Services) for Mercy Medical Center. In this role, she is responsible for ensuring compliance with patient-care quality standards and ensuring that clinical and staffing standards are met, promoting best practices in nursing and patient care, and serving as a liaison for communication between leadership and the nursing staff. With more than 25 years of nursing-leadership experience, Marthone most recently served as chief Nursing officer and vice president of Patient Care Services at Piedmont Henry Hospital, a 215-bed facility in Stockbridge, Ga., where she was responsible for the coordination and monitoring of all nursing standards. Prior to that role, she served as vice president of Medical Services at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital in Albany, Ga., where she provided leadership in recruitment, retention, development, and continuing education for all units within the medical division. She also has experience as an administrative supervisor, as well as a background in the management of oncology-nursing services. Marthone holds a Ph.D. in nursing philosophy from Georgia State University in Atlanta, a master’s degree in nursing administration from Albany State University in Albany, Ga., and a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Simmons College in Boston. She also holds a quality and process improvement certification in Black Belt from the Stetson School of Business and Economics at Mercer University in Georgia. She is a member the American Organization of Nurse Executives, the American Nurses Assoc., the Georgia Nurses Assoc., and the American College of Healthcare Executives.

•••••

The Markens Group Inc., a Springfield-based association-management and business-consulting firm, recently welcomed Wil Rodriguez as director of Sales and Business Development. Rodriguez has more than 15 years of experience building relationships, cultivating target audiences, and managing accounts. He has worked for firms in Florida, Connecticut, and Western Mass., serving most recently as an account executive for Full Power Radio. He also has sales experience in the energy, job-placement, and graphic-arts industries. A longtime community steward, Rodriguez served as president of the Westfield Spanish American Assoc. from 2011 to 2016, leading the organization’s efforts to empower Latinos in the Greater Westfield area to create a visible presence in their local community. Under his leadership, the organization spearheaded several community projects, including the construction of a $50,000 playscape at Westfield’s Whitney Playground. He has also served on the board of directors of the Amelia Park Children’s Museum and has volunteered as a diversity consultant for the Massachusetts chapter of the Alzheimer’s Assoc. “I’m thrilled to begin my work with the Markens Group,” said Rodriguez. “I’m already getting a feel for the trade-association industry, and I have some great ideas for moving forward.” In his new role, Rodriguez will lead efforts to grow the Markens Group’s association-management business. The firm provides outsourced management services like strategic planning, marketing, and administration to national, regional, and local trade associations and professional societies. “Wil is an excellent addition to the team,” said Ben Markens, president and CEO of the Markens Group. “He not only has the right experience, he also champions community. At the end of the day, that’s what we foster in our association clients. We help communities of like-minded individuals make a real difference in their industries and broader society.”

•••••

The Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts (WFWM) named database expert Jorene Lomenzo as the foundation’s new development associate. Lomenzo comes to WFWM with more than 13 years of experience in nonprofit and higher-education development-database management. She has extensive knowledge around reconciling finances, assigning gift-crediting protocols, analyzing data for finance reports, preparing donor campaigns, supporting internal data evaluation, and more. Her most recent position was Advancement Services manager for American International College. Previous roles include Development and Marketing coordinator at the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center in Hartford, Conn. “I am very excited to join the Women’s Fund in the new role of Development associate,” Lomenzo said. “I look forward to working with the staff and volunteers to expand fund-raising efforts and broaden connections with supporters.” Prior to working in development, she worked with local communities in Georgia to preserve historic properties by writing grant applications, training volunteers, assessing historic resources, and advocating for preservation. She has a master’s degree in historic preservation. Lomenzo will work closely with WFWM Director of Philanthropy Monica Borgatti, maintaining donor and gift information, identifying new donor prospects, cultivating and stewarding WFWM program alumnae, and helping the fund analyze and manage next steps in successful fund-raising campaigns.

•••••

Lisa Palumbo, a Realtor in the Valley since March 2005, joined Delap Real Estate on Nov. 20 and will work as a buyer’s and seller’s agent, covering Hampshire, Franklin, and Hampden counties. A resident of Northampton for 25 years, Palumbo most recently worked as the top-selling agent at the Coldwell Banker office in Northampton from 2006 to 2017. In the past year, she sold more than $15 million in real-estate transactions in the tri-county region. In 2017, she was ranked among the top 10 Realtors for sales in Hampshire County. From 2006 to 2017, she has been presented annually with the President’s Platinum and Gold Awards from the Realtor Assoc. of Pioneer Valley in recognition of superior sales and service. “I work with clients ranging from first-time home buyers to those who are looking to downsize following retirement,” Palumbo said. “Some of my clients come from out of state and are relocating to the Pioneer Valley. I work to make the process smooth and stress-free. Giving honest advice for making sound real-estate choices is what I strive to do.” Palumbo holds a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts with a concentration in philosophy, religion, and Asian studies from Colgate University and a master’s degree in music and music education from Columbia University. Before working as a realtor, she was a music teacher at Granby High School in Connecticut and White Brook Middle School in Easthampton. Fascinated with homes and interested in working with people, she became a Realtor after poring over the real-estate study guide while on a maternity leave. “Being a realtor is being part lawyer, part negotiator and strategist, part photographer, part copy editor, part marketing manager, part teacher, and even, sometimes, part therapist,” she said. “Every day is different and challenging.”

•••••

At Freedom Credit Union’s annual holiday dinner at the Log Cabin, David Chase, vice president of Business Lending, was presented with this year’s President’s Award. A colleague nominated Chase for the award, which recognizes a Freedom employee for his or her commitment to professional excellence. The employee said Chase “has reinvented our Commercial Lending department to what it is today and is continuing to grow this sector of our business.” During the evening, several employees were recognized for their years of service. In addition, 11 employees were recognized for receiving a GEM Award as part of Freedom’s new GEM (Going the Extra Mile) program. C. Melin Menas and Lynne Wallace were honored for being named Credit Union Heroes by Banker and Tradesman magazine.

•••••

Enchanted Circle, a multi-service arts organization dedicated to engaging, enhancing, and inspiring learning through the arts, announced the appointment of Andrea Spak as director of Development. “We are absolutely thrilled to have Andrea join our creative education team,” said Priscilla Kane Hellweg, executive director of Enchanted Circle. “Her expertise and professionalism will enable us to expand our reach and deepen our impact as we serve the most vulnerable children and youth in the region.” Spak has dedicated the past 30 years of her professional life and volunteerism to the non-profit sector, supporting education, civil rights, and social-justice issues to improve the lives of children and families. She has raised millions of dollars from individuals, corporations, foundations, and public funding sources to support children’s rights, educational programs, historic preservation, legal advocacy, training and services, community development, and affordable housing. Most recently, she was director of Development at the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center in Hartford, Conn., where she successfully created, directed, and implemented multi-faceted strategies for comprehensive programs of philanthropy, sponsorship, special events, and membership to foster donor engagement and support mission delivery, resulting in organizational transformation. “I am excited to join Enchanted Circle and contribute to their work to improve the lives of children and families throughout the greater community,” Spak said. “Enchanted Circle offers the perfect opportunity to address ongoing community challenges and to apply my experience to expand Enchanted’s impact and support organizational growth.” Enchanted Circle works in partnership with public schools, on the professional stage, and with social-service agencies, providing programs that bridge arts, education, and human services for people of all ages and abilities.

•••••

Caroline Gear, executive director of the Northampton-based International Language Institute (ILI) of Massachusetts, was recently elected to the Greenfield Community College Foundation Inc. board of directors. Gear has been at ILI since 1986 as a Spanish teacher, ESOL teacher, teacher trainer, and administrator. She has published articles in the field of assessment and evaluation and presents on teacher training and the administration of programs both regionally and nationally. “Caroline’s passion for the mission of access to education is evident, and she brings a wealth of knowledge about the challenges facing those who struggle to change their lives through education,” said Michael Davey, GCC Foundation board president and vice president/commercial loan officer at Florence Bank. “As Greenfield Community College expands its programming into Hampshire County, we welcome the addition of this outstanding new member to our board.” Added Greenfield Community College President Bob Pura, “Caroline Gear is a longtime partner of the college. She has shared GCC’s passion for access and excellence in education. Her commitment to economic and social mobility for all in our community is a perfect fit for the work of the GCC Foundation. I welcome her heart, intelligence, and fierce courage to an outstanding board in service to students, college, and community.” The following individuals were elected as officers of the GCC Foundation board of directors for the coming year: Michael Davey, president, Leigh Rae, vice president, Nancy Fournier, treasurer, Katherine Cole, secretary, and Marina Goldman, member at large. Other members of the board are Carmen Bassett, Sharon Meyers, Mitch Anthony, Patricia Coffin, Charles Conant, Rich Fahey, Michael Smith, faculty representative Mary Phillips, student representative Maya Kazinskas, and GCC trustee representative Dylan Korpita. Board members emeriti are Robert Cohn, William Freeman, Lorna Peterson, and Robert Mugar Yacubian.

O&P Labs Steps Up Again to Fulfill Christmas Wishes

SPRINGFIELD — For many years, Orthotics & Prosthetics Labs Inc. of Springfield has been a Secret Santa to the children and youth of CHD. This year, Maria Burke of O&P Labs visited CHD’s main office in Springfield and left with a handful of ‘wish tags,’ each noting a specific holiday wish, that she took from the giving tree on display in CHD’s reception lobby. Following the company’s tradition, O&P gave their staff time to shop for the gifts together during work hours, then paid for the gifts and returned them to CHD.

“We are delighted to again be the Secret Santa for the kids of CHD,” said Maria Burke of O&P Labs. “Every single staff member agrees that this ‘work activity’ is their favorite. We are grateful to CHD for reaching so many in need during this season and throughout the year.”

Added Kimberley Lee, vice president of Development for CHD, “all the tags were hung by reception with care, in hopes that O&P Labs soon would be there … and they were there! It’s heartwarming to have O&P Labs return year after year to help make Christmas a happy occasion for children and youth by providing a holiday gift — everything from a teddy bear to a toddler bed. It’s fitting that a company whose business is helping people year-round makes a special effort during the holidays to help those most in need.”

O&P Labs provides high-quality, physician-directed orthotic- and prosthetic-related services, including custom-made braces and prosthetic limbs fabricated on site, as well as off-the-shelf braces.

Picture This

Departments Picture This

Email ‘Picture This’ photos with a caption and contact information to [email protected]

Bags of Cheer

Members of the Holyoke Community College (HCC) Military Club made a visit to the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home on Dec. 15 to deliver gifts purchased for the residents there as part of the college’s 18th annual Giving Tree campaign. This year, the HCC community fulfilled the holiday wishes of 343 individuals from four local nonprofit agencies: WestMass ElderCare, Homework House, the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, and the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home. Rather than have representatives from the Soldiers’ Home distribute the gifts to their residents this year, the HCC Military Club decided to do it themselves. “This event is so very meaningful to our community. It is a privilege to be able to support the wonderful work of our partners and friends,” HCC President Christina Royal said.

HCC student Ysabel Robles Ramos delivering holiday gift bags to Soldiers’ Home residents

HCC students Jonathan Jasmin delivering holiday gift bags to Soldiers’ Home residents

Worthy Cause

LUSO Federal Credit Union recently presented Dr. Steven Schonholz, Leonor Salvador, and Robyn Hersey of the Pink WAY and Michelle Graci of Baystate Health Foundation (for Rays of Hope) with a donation of $10,000 for breast-cancer community support and research. This donation was made possible due to generous business donors who helped provide calendar prize giveaways for 60 days, as well as the support of LUSO’s members. This year’s donations brings breast-cancer support and research donations to $40,000 over the last five years. picthispinkway

A Look into Tomorrow

Opinion

Editorial

The future.

It might just be the most difficult thing about being in business — although dealing with the present can also be daunting, as anyone who has ever attached their name to a venture knows.

Looking to the horizon and projecting what possibly lies beyond it is difficult, if not impossible. And the history of business and entrepreneurship is replete with examples of people not accurately reading the tea leaves.

Indeed, who can forget Digital Equipment Corp. co-founder Ken Olsen famously, or infamously, saying in 1977, “there is no reason for any individual to have a computer in their home.” Digital, as we all know, didn’t survive to see the end of the century.

And today, as the pace of technological advancement accelerates at previously unheard-of speeds, and with huge implications for business and society in general, anticipating the future and preparing for it is becoming that much more difficult.

It was with all this in mind that BusinessWest initiated a new series of breakfast lectures under the working title Future Tense, a name that certainly sets the tone (see story, page 10).

The first lecture, to be led by Paragus Strategic IT founder Delcie Bean, will be titled “An Unprecedented Technological Disruption,” and it will address a confluence of powerful forces and the ripple effects it will produce.

This program is certainly timely, and it coincides with a lively stream of commentary about technology and where it is taking the business world in the years to come.

Much of the speculation is about jobs and professions and what will happen to them as forces such as artificial intelligence, autonomous driving, and virtual reality rumble over the business scene like the glaciers rumbled over what is now North America millions of years ago. Only, glaciers moved very slowly; these forces will move at speeds we’ll have a hard time comprehending.

And this focus on jobs is understandable, especially as parents look not only at their own careers and how long they will be viable, but also at what their children should be thinking about as they mull possible career paths.

There is already widespread talk about how time-honored professionals such as doctors, lawyers, and, yes, even journalists, could soon be replaced by machines capable of doing their work. In fact, robots are already making their presence known in the operating room at many hospitals.

But beyond the obvious concerns about jobs and careers, there is the equally daunting issue of how businesses can anticipate change, operate in an environment of continuous and profound change, and even capitalize on some of this seismic activity.

Or, put another way, how do businesses avoid becoming the next supermarket parking-lot photo kiosks, Blockbuster Video franchises, and Digital Equipment Corporations?

Obviously, they must become flexible, cognizant of change, and fully aware that competition can come from virtually anywhere, and in the future, it probably will.

Beyond that, well, nothing is obvious.

That’s why the first lecture in the series, set for Feb. 22 at Tech Foundry, should be so intriguing — and also a little scary. The remaining quarterly lectures will be equally insightful, and equally important, for business owners looking toward tomorrow and what it might bring.

That’s why we called this Future Tense. As they say in the broadcast world, stay tuned.

Building Permits

Building Permits Departments

The following building permits were issued during the month of December 2017.

AGAWAM

HP Agawam Main, LLC
230 Main St.
$99,894 — Replace roof membrane and insulation

John Kudlic
491-505 Springfield St.
$6,500 — Frame and sheetrock office in basement

J + J Agawam Realty Associates, LLC Partnership
1282 Springfield St.
$220,000 — Replace roof membrane

CHICOPEE

Grace Slavic Pentecostal Church
5 Meadow St.
$38,000 — Remove interior concrete block wall, install beam, interior build-out

Griffith Road Ltd.
300 Griffith Road
$1,200 — Remove non-load-bearing partition to expand office floor area

Public Storage Properties XVII
31 Jamrog Dr.
$25,000 — Remove and replace existing AT&T antennas and related equipment

Reesg Properties
1594 Memorial Dr.
$13,000 — Repair leaking roof, paint sign on building, replace window, interior mud and paint, install vinyl flooring

Remzi Gok, Rodney Chaves
510 Burnett Road
$1,400 — Install suspended ceiling and double door in restaurant kitchen

Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield
56 St. Anthony St.
$73,000 — Roofing at St. Anthony of Padua Parish

Valley Opportunity Council
54 Center St.
$7,000 — Replace old store front metal panels with PVC

EASTHAMPTON

Williston Northampton School
37 Park St.
$180,900 — Install HVAC unit and associated ductwork for new dormitory

EAST LONGMEADOW

CVS
221 North Main St.
$8,600 — Roofing

East Longmeadow Center Village
68 Center Square Village
$102,095 — Commercial fit-out

GREENFIELD

Baystate Franklin Medical Center
164 High St.
$156,600 — Remove existing obstetrics unit, eliminate utility room and closet to expand birthing tub

Baystate Franklin Medical Center
164 High St.
$39,693 — Relocate FVC in connector corridors between original building and new surgery building to prevent freezing

Green River Cemetery Assoc.
56 Wisdom Way
$10,393 — Remove and replace siding

Alain Mollard, Donna Mollard
330 Leyden Road
$4,451.52 — Install insulation, air sealing

HADLEY

Amherst Development Associates, LLC
329 Russell St.
$5,000 — Add three antennas and associated equipment

Most Holy Redeemer Church
120 Russell St.
$4,000 — Install new trim and siding on accessory building

Parmar & Sons
340 Russell St.
$12,440,923 — Construct a 98-room hotel

Pride, LP
25 Russell St.
$405,000 — Construct a convenience store, mercantile building

Pride, LP
25 Russell St.
$50,000 — Construct a new fuel canopy

Pyramid Mall of Hadley Newco, LLC
367 Russell St.
HVAC system upgrade

Pyramid Mall of Hadley Newco, LLC
367 Russell St.
$495,000 — Demo space and renovate for new tenant, Pinz

Sandri Development, LLC
457 Russell St.
$280,000 — Tenant fix-up, including new walls, sheetrock, and paint

Shipman Realty Trust
142 Russell St.
$2,000 — Alter three signs at Dunkin’ Donuts

LONGMEADOW

GPT Longmeadow, LLC
720 Bliss Road
$38,781 — Install roofing system and insulation

Longmeadow Country Club
400 Shaker Road
$1,252,000 — New front entry, renovate kitchen, new bar and dining room, new elevator, new snack shack, new locker rooms, renovated living-room addition

St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church
335 Longmeadow St.
$11,850 — Selective removal of damaged upper portion of brick chimney

LUDLOW

The Yoga Shop
185 Miller St.
$50,000 — Commercial alterations

The Yoga Shop
185 Miller St.
$2,700 — Non-illuminated sign

NORTHAMPTON

Atwood Drive, LLC
23 Atwood Dr.
$6,475,000 — New commercial building

Congregation B’nai Israel
253 Prospect St.
$9,000 — Remove and dispose of shed destroyed by fire

Coolidge Northampton, LLC
243 King St.
$18,500 — Construct partition for bathroom

Global Tower Assets, LLC
Haydenville Road
$25,000 — Remove and replace three antennas; add six radios, one surge arrestor, and accompanying feedlines

PALMER

Hess Retail Stores, LLC
1411 North Main St.
$5,000 — Demolish canopy over fuel pumps

John Rahkonen
1516 Park St.
$19,000 — Roofing

SPRINGFIELD

Blue Tarp Development
29 Howard St.
$3,800,000 — Interior fit-out for mixed-use assembly, including new mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection; new concrete basement slab; new steel and concrete floor and roof structure; new main roof; new restrooms; and new finishes

Boston Post Road Group
1380 Boston Road
$278,260 — Fit out store

City of Springfield
18 State St.
$471,338 — Modify building to accommodate police kiosk, cosmetic exterior repairs to bathroom building

City of Springfield
75 Cadwell Dr.
$10,656,000 — Renovate existing warehouse/office space into new culinary and nutrition center

Dominic Kirchner
1344 Allen St.
$80,030 — Install solar array

Daniel Molta
355 Berkshire Ave.
$320,000 — Create office walls and recreational areas, upgrade heat and plumbing for new bathrooms

Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Inc.
1000 Hall of Fame Ave.
$2,187,215 — New finishes to theater and lobby, demolish existing finishes, new millwork and museum displays

Springfield College
263 Alden St.
$17,000 — Renovate classroom in Hickory Hall

Amy Zonder
525 Page Blvd.
$58,893 — Renovate existing reception center and employee bathrooms, install cabinets in lower-level room

WESTFIELD

City of Westfield
89 Sgt. Thomas Dion Way
$202,309 — Construct aircraft shelter

WEST SPRINGFIELD

84 Properties, LLC
38 Monterey Dr.
$250,000 — Remove existing offices and expand showroom, remodel storage area and bathrooms

Mary and Richard Gorecki
1446 Riverdale St.
$4,099.50 — Convert existing office space for use as travel agency

WILBRAHAM

O Ice, LLC
1855 Boston Road
$225,000 — Re-roof plant and main building

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

COLRAIN

171 Adamsville Road
Colrain, MA 01340
Amount: $287,000
Buyer: Jovey Liao
Seller: Michael S. Herzig
Date: 12/01/17

GREENFIELD

714 Colrain Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Thomas J. Meshako
Seller: Edward A. Winseck
Date: 11/27/17

16 Coolidge Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Sean M. Paper
Seller: Thomas W. Smith
Date: 11/30/17

34 Gold St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $126,000
Buyer: Jacob D. Skalski
Seller: Bowen IRT
Date: 11/30/17

11 Haywood St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Benegan 2 LLC
Seller: Kathryn Pittenger
Date: 11/20/17

17 High St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $270,500
Buyer: Molly M. Notestine
Seller: Daniel A. Brown
Date: 11/21/17

416 Leyden Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $169,000
Buyer: R. Thomas Boutelle
Seller: Robert N Richardson
Date: 11/30/17

403 Log Plain Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $242,500
Buyer: Trevor A. Boeding
Seller: Kenneth F. Pleasant
Date: 12/01/17

32 Long Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $174,000
Buyer: Margo P. Jones
Seller: Kimberly J. Nicholais
Date: 11/30/17

30-A Phyllis Lane
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $297,000
Buyer: Aaron A. McCloud
Seller: Carmen McCloud
Date: 11/22/17

56 Shattuck St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $234,000
Buyer: Keith T. Rollinson
Seller: Luke Strzegowski
Date: 11/28/17

98 South Shelburne Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Adam R. Martin
Seller: Brian D. Godin
Date: 12/01/17

HEATH

43 Swamp Road
Heath, MA 01346
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Thomas P. Paris
Seller: Andrew D. Musacchio
Date: 11/21/17

MONTAGUE

95 Federal St.
Montague, MA 01349
Amount: $221,600
Buyer: Gary S. Reich
Seller: Peter Hoffman
Date: 11/30/17

3 Linda Lane
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Steven J. Oldford
Seller: Donald H. Skole
Date: 12/01/17

113 Montague St.
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $238,000
Buyer: Artem A. Bagirov
Seller: James A. Gallagher
Date: 11/21/17

ORANGE

26 Bartlett Lane
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $279,000
Buyer: Emily R. Parker
Seller: Richard C. Blanchflower
Date: 11/30/17

56 Dewey Conrad Ave.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $179,000
Buyer: Loren Scott
Seller: David A. Gillis
Date: 11/27/17

12-R Eagleville Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Denny W. Teason
Seller: John J. Hachem
Date: 11/20/17

SHELBURNE

462 Little Mohawk Road
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Sidney Gerard
Seller: Edward R. Nouryan
Date: 11/29/17

SHUTESBURY

14 Great Pines Dr.
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $144,500
Buyer: Jennifer L. McCollum
Seller: David E. Oprava
Date: 11/30/17

134 Leonard Road
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Kerry E. Ratigan
Seller: Thomas F. Mitchell
Date: 11/30/17

SUNDERLAND

154 North Main St.
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: JELB Properties LLC
Seller: Beverly Mason
Date: 11/29/17

WARWICK

34 Dusty Lane
Warwick, MA 01364
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: John V. Ridgway
Seller: John Kiley
Date: 11/21/17

WHATELY

39 Laurel Mountain Road
Whately, MA 01093
Amount: $517,300
Buyer: Luke Strzegowski
Seller: Janet E. Korytoski
Date: 11/28/17

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

32 Belvidere Ave.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $174,000
Buyer: Amelia E. Dismukes
Seller: Nancy A. Muchmore
Date: 11/30/17

52 Christopher Lane
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Gregg Therrien
Seller: Lynn A. Chase
Date: 11/22/17

38 Debra Lane
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $278,000
Buyer: David R. Strickland
Seller: Donna M. Brown
Date: 11/30/17

17 Dyotte St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $209,000
Buyer: Aaron Bradway
Seller: Sharen A. Harris
Date: 12/01/17

299 Essex Dr. #299
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Longbrook Estates LLC
Seller: GFI Longbrook LLC
Date: 12/01/17

30 General Abrams Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $1,835,691
Buyer: Flying Colors Group LP
Seller: BFP Massachusetts LLC
Date: 12/01/17

79 Line St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $172,762
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Michael J. Gryszowka
Date: 11/29/17

179 Maynard St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Robert Bishop
Seller: Robert W. Horacek
Date: 11/28/17

969 Shoemaker Lane
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Andreanne Gosselin
Seller: Phillip A. Barlow
Date: 11/29/17

983 Shoemaker Lane
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $144,176
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: David Rodriguez
Date: 11/20/17

728 Suffield St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $267,500
Buyer: Thomas E. Hannon
Seller: Eunice B. Pomeroy
Date: 11/22/17

779 Suffield St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Salmar Realty LLC
Seller: Kevin J. Czaplicki
Date: 11/21/17

67 Taft St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Nathan Kibbe
Seller: John H. Goddard
Date: 11/30/17

103 White Fox Road
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $259,900
Buyer: Brian P. McCabe
Seller: Kathy M. Czerwiec
Date: 11/20/17

42 Windermere Dr.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $560,000
Buyer: Viet Q. Nguyen
Seller: Bretta Construction LLC
Date: 11/30/17

BRIMFIELD

29 Crestwood Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $209,000
Buyer: Byron Sontay
Seller: Southbridge RE LLC
Date: 11/24/17

CHESTER

509 Skyline Trail
Chester, MA 01011
Amount: $274,900
Buyer: Timothy J. Dastous
Seller: Alex Ivanov
Date: 12/01/17

CHICOPEE

48 Baltic Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Jenisa J. Figueroa
Seller: Thomas M. Robidoux
Date: 11/20/17

25 Bernard St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $181,000
Buyer: Tomas D. Biela
Seller: Matthew M. Trudel
Date: 11/30/17

170 Blanan Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $235,900
Buyer: Casandra A. Kreeger
Seller: Janet L. Stadnicki
Date: 12/01/17

73 Boulay Circle
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $174,500
Buyer: Robert J. Degray
Seller: Collin C. Edwards
Date: 11/21/17

771 Burnett Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $1,100,000
Buyer: S&H Country Post Realty
Seller: Carl D. Roy
Date: 11/22/17

307 Chicopee St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Alexander J. Leclair
Seller: Elias R. Navarro
Date: 11/21/17

40 Coakley Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $188,700
Buyer: Jeffrey Bobowiec
Seller: Daniel R. Hamel
Date: 11/27/17

126 Columba St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Maria A. Dean
Seller: Mary A. Mannix
Date: 12/01/17

201 Dale St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Betzaida Gonzalez
Seller: Cynthia C. Marr
Date: 11/30/17

24 Edward St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $186,400
Buyer: Andrea R. Corkins
Seller: Dorothy Scruton
Date: 11/30/17

140 Empire St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $182,310
Buyer: Ismael O. Santos
Seller: James P. McInerney
Date: 12/01/17

104 Fernhill St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $184,000
Buyer: Christopher Silva
Seller: Myra Iwanski
Date: 12/01/17

637 Front St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Cebula Electronics Corp.
Seller: Keybank
Date: 11/21/17

57 Frontenac St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Shannon Lynch
Seller: William J. Kennedy
Date: 12/01/17

556 Grattan St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: DAC Acquisitions LLC
Seller: Helder M. Pereira
Date: 11/20/17

424 Irene St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $127,000
Buyer: Vitaliy Volkov
Seller: FHLM
Date: 11/22/17

94 Lafayette St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $121,000
Buyer: Lyubov Titar
Seller: Brodeur, Marie T. J., (Estate)
Date: 12/01/17

44 Larchmont St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $115,00,
Buyer: Christopher Deslauriers
Seller: US Bank
Date: 11/29/17

50 Lorraine St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Waseem Ahmad
Seller: Jonathan E. Viens
Date: 11/30/17

26 Paderewski Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $249,000
Buyer: Anthony E. Gibbs
Seller: Robert Degray
Date: 11/30/17

114 Rimmon Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $157,000
Buyer: Tiffany Dyer
Seller: Nathan P. Hudon
Date: 11/20/17

38 Rzasa Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $182,000
Buyer: Robert Meulemans
Seller: Gerald J. Piegza
Date: 12/01/17

272 Skeele St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $174,695
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Randy Cayo
Date: 11/20/17

35 Valier Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $227,500
Buyer: Christian Boucher
Seller: Maisha N Craft
Date: 11/29/17

93 Wildermere St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Kelvin Martinez
Seller: Kowil FT
Date: 11/28/17

86 Willwood St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $176,000
Buyer: Ronald Sanchez
Seller: Cynthia A. Baker
Date: 11/22/17

EAST LONGMEADOW

170 Canterbury Circle
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: David M. Fugler
Seller: Dan Roulier & Associates
Date: 12/01/17

55 Deer Park Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $1,000,000
Buyer: T. Man Realty LLC
Seller: BMD Real Estate LLC
Date: 11/28/17

37 East Village Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Thomas L. Murca
Seller: Susan A. Kiely
Date: 11/20/17

43 Helen Circle
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $215,900
Buyer: Joyce M. Karwoski
Seller: Adam J. Winiewicz
Date: 11/30/17

55 Mapleshade Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $174,900
Buyer: Brian Tondera
Seller: Hiller, Dave H., (Estate)
Date: 11/30/17

68 Mill Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $308,000
Buyer: Andrew Normand
Seller: William Raleigh
Date: 11/30/17

18 Tamarack Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Cu T. Bui
Seller: Richard E. Moriarty
Date: 12/01/17

HAMPDEN

41 Allen Crest St.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $233,000
Buyer: Cynthia J. Horne
Seller: Anthony M. Giacomoni
Date: 11/29/17

45 Circleview Dr.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $181,220
Buyer: OCWEN Loan Servicing LLC
Seller: April S. Caldwell
Date: 11/28/17

9 Mohawk Dr.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Frank A. Calabrese
Seller: Maria Carvalho
Date: 11/27/17

278 Mountain Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $416,900
Buyer: Jacob R. Motyl
Seller: Bedrock Financial LLC
Date: 11/30/17

24 Wilbraham Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $167,000
Buyer: Dillon T. Moriarty
Seller: Kenneth R. Duby
Date: 11/20/17

HOLLAND

17 Island Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $625,000
Buyer: Robert Hellinger
Seller: Mark S. Mackenzie
Date: 11/21/17

164 Mashapaug Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Navillus RT
Seller: Mashapaug Road RT
Date: 11/28/17

6 Old Acres Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $337,500
Buyer: Kevin Palmer
Seller: Kenneth J. Denning
Date: 11/29/17

HOLYOKE

15 Anderson Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $167,000
Buyer: Rebecca K. Boucher
Seller: Brenna E. Murphy
Date: 11/27/17

30-32 Arlington St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $152,869
Buyer: David J. Soto
Seller: Deutsche Bank
Date: 11/28/17

87 Columbus Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $153,608
Buyer: Waldemar Rodriguez
Seller: Janine M. Galas
Date: 11/29/17

29 Dillon Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $198,000
Buyer: Jose L. Conti
Seller: Michael J. Rousseau
Date: 11/21/17

1255 Dwight St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Sharilyn Rivera-Garcia
Seller: Perry R. Dulude
Date: 11/29/17

970 Hampden St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $139,900
Buyer: Tiffany A. Besse
Seller: Mary A. Makara
Date: 12/01/17

145 Jackson St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Holyoke Housing Authority
Seller: Francisco Cruz
Date: 11/22/17

69 Jackson St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: 69&71 Jackson Street RT
Seller: Big Whale Realty LLC
Date: 11/20/17

71 Jackson St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: 69&71 Jackson Street RT
Seller: Big Whale Realty LLC
Date: 11/20/17

1 Magnolia Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $201,000
Buyer: Anna D. Kelly
Seller: Gilberto Sotolongo
Date: 11/30/17

18-20 Oakwood Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Boram Ha
Seller: David Wielgosz
Date: 11/30/17

56 Pine St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Aaron Soules
Seller: David Bellucci
Date: 11/20/17

6 Saint Jerome Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Luz Morales
Date: 12/01/17

74 Vermont St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $165,900
Buyer: Karen Burns
Seller: Nancy A. Gendron
Date: 11/29/17

344 West Franklin St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $187,000
Buyer: Hillary M. Sackett
Seller: Anne C. Pratt
Date: 11/27/17

LONGMEADOW

15 Bellevue Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $193,800
Buyer: HSBC Bank
Seller: Mary C. Robitaille
Date: 11/28/17

100 Brookside Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $530,000
Buyer: 100 Brookside Drive TR
Seller: Scott M. Poirier
Date: 11/29/17

195 Concord Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $426,500
Buyer: George Bamfo
Seller: Anne H. Keeney TR
Date: 11/28/17

247 Crestview Circle
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Jeffrey L. Martineau
Seller: Sarah E. Goetz
Date: 11/30/17

55 Fernleaf Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: PLS Realty Inc.
Seller: Earl A. Walrath
Date: 11/30/17

561 Frank Smith Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $346,900
Buyer: Mark H. Pohlman
Seller: Carl W. Homicki
Date: 11/20/17

20 Kimberly Circle
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: Sarah Hanson
Seller: Steven Danishevsky
Date: 11/21/17

212 Laurel St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $395,000
Buyer: Emily Martin
Seller: 212 Laurel Street Land TT
Date: 11/29/17

718 Laurel St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $229,000
Buyer: Baijun Li
Seller: Baiqing Li
Date: 11/22/17

187 Longmeadow St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $299,000
Buyer: Elizabeth Grajales
Seller: Elaine K. Brulport
Date: 11/30/17

663 Longmeadow St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $540,000
Buyer: Nicholas A. Barker
Seller: Arthur B. Leavens
Date: 11/20/17

311 Wolf Swamp Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $281,000
Buyer: Paul R. Bonin
Seller: David D. Duval
Date: 11/30/17

82 Wyndward Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $303,000
Buyer: Scott Poirier
Seller: Sheryl A. Bartolomei
Date: 11/30/17

LUDLOW

53 Bluegrass Lane
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $199,900
Buyer: Manuel D. Palatino
Seller: Richard K. Chamberlain
Date: 11/29/17

525 Chapin St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Saul Molina-Rivas
Seller: Robert A. Fernandes
Date: 11/30/17

313-319 East St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $264,500
Buyer: New England Equities LLC
Seller: Manuel Palatino
Date: 11/29/17

89 Lakeview Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Lawrence P. Rodrigues
Seller: Bras, Jose, (Estate)
Date: 11/29/17

18 Letendre Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $212,000
Buyer: Clyde Snow
Seller: Anthony J. Sarlan
Date: 12/01/17

70 Moody St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $139,000
Buyer: Douglas Roberts
Seller: Kenneth W. Metcalf
Date: 12/01/17

66 New Crest St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Jason Gagnon
Seller: Hopkinson, Rosemary, (Estate)
Date: 11/29/17

25 Old Coach Circle
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $277,000
Buyer: Federico R. Molinari
Seller: White FT 2017
Date: 11/30/17

Pine Lane #8
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Richard Henry
Seller: Grabowski, Antoni F., (Estate)
Date: 11/28/17

32 Reynolds St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $125,800
Buyer: Lasalle Bank
Seller: Jeffery S. Garbarino
Date: 11/28/17

Stanley St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Kenneth R. Duby
Seller: Anthony F. Desimone
Date: 11/20/17

15 Wood Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $249,000
Buyer: Steven J. Forcum
Seller: Diane L. Rhodes
Date: 11/22/17

MONSON

27 Harrison Ave.
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $164,500
Buyer: Alyssa J. Gainey
Seller: Keith F. Pierce
Date: 11/30/17

111 May Hill Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Jessy D. Shea
Seller: Thomas J. Walsh
Date: 11/28/17

15 Park Ave.
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Andrew Nothe
Seller: Thomas Russo
Date: 11/21/17

17 Reimers Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $253,000
Buyer: Adam A. Watkinson
Seller: David T. Grinnell
Date: 11/29/17

64 Woodhill Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Jeff A. Maclean
Seller: William A. McClellan
Date: 11/30/17

PALMER

18 Conant St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Andrew P. Oliver
Seller: Julia M. Pickul
Date: 12/01/17

17 French Dr.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Keith L. Boisvert
Seller: Erica E. Spelko
Date: 12/01/17

49 Fuller Road
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $229,900
Buyer: Jamie Assaf
Seller: David Comeau
Date: 11/28/17

5 New Hampshire Ave.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $211,000
Buyer: Erik Salstead
Seller: Gladys P. Buesing
Date: 11/24/17

9-11 Pearl St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $192,500
Buyer: Grant W. Hamilton
Seller: Cody R. Binette
Date: 11/30/17

1019 Ware St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Michael E. Boudreau
Seller: Gilman IRT
Date: 11/30/17

RUSSELL

30 Huntington Road
Russell, MA 01071
Amount: $133,000
Buyer: MTGLQ Investors LP
Seller: Paul A. Markewicz
Date: 11/29/17

SOUTHWICK

18 Oak St.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $186,000
Buyer: Robert H. Yarmesky
Seller: Alexander Goldberg
Date: 11/30/17

SPRINGFIELD

103 Albemarle St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $3,070,000
Buyer: BH EHT 2 LLC
Seller: Neighborhood Homes LP
Date: 11/21/17

1051 Allen St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $149,000
Buyer: Lucas Lora
Seller: Shawn F. Coughlin
Date: 11/22/17

54 Agnes St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $133,000
Buyer: CIG 2 LLC
Seller: Pius M. Kamau
Date: 12/01/17

20 Andrew St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Carlos J. Valdes
Seller: Roger W. Williams
Date: 11/29/17

143 Barre St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $193,000
Buyer: Darius M. Brown
Seller: Donald J. Ward
Date: 11/27/17

100 Benz St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $239,900
Buyer: Nicole M. Ward
Seller: Diane T. Hall
Date: 11/27/17

7 Beverly St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $3,070,000
Buyer: BH EHT 2 LLC
Seller: Neighborhood Homes LP
Date: 11/21/17

9 Beverly St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $3,070,000
Buyer: BH EHT 2 LLC
Seller: Neighborhood Homes LP
Date: 11/21/17

726 Bradley Road
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $127,500
Buyer: James Trubia
Seller: Jeffrey R. Peterson
Date: 11/27/17

18 Bristol St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $3,070,000
Buyer: BH EHT 2 LLC
Seller: Neighborhood Homes LP
Date: 11/21/17

24 Bristol St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $3,070,000
Buyer: BH EHT 2 LLC
Seller: Neighborhood Homes LP
Date: 11/21/17

33-35 Bucholz St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Massachusetts Mutual Life
Seller: Thomas E. Koetsch
Date: 12/01/17

111 Carando Dr.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $700,000
Buyer: Devine Holdings LLC
Seller: Mark M. McKie
Date: 11/22/17

95 Caseland St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Christopher Traficante
Seller: Cynthia D. Hashim
Date: 11/20/17

17 Chalmers St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $194,500
Buyer: Meghan A. Lynch
Seller: Matthew H. Leahey
Date: 11/20/17

666 Chestnut St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $157,500
Buyer: Mayra Cedeno
Seller: Hector L. Diaz
Date: 11/27/17

23 Chilson St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $182,000
Buyer: Alycya R. Cook
Seller: Jason M. Dieni
Date: 11/27/17

38-40 Claremont St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $197,500
Buyer: Luther H. Johnson
Seller: Firmino A. Sousa
Date: 11/21/17

123 Cloran St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Yazmin Torres-Ayala
Seller: Amit M. Khan
Date: 11/28/17

282 Corcoran Blvd.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Scott O. Saya
Seller: Mya Realty LLC
Date: 11/30/17

56 Cuff Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $117,000
Buyer: Terese L. Napoli
Seller: Luz M. Gonzalez
Date: 11/30/17

49 Dearborn St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $3,070,000
Buyer: BH EHT 2 LLC
Seller: Neighborhood Homes LP
Date: 11/21/17

51 Dearborn St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $3,070,000
Buyer: BH EHT 2 LLC
Seller: Neighborhood Homes LP
Date: 11/21/17

65 Dearborn St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $3,070,000
Buyer: BH EHT 2 LLC
Seller: Neighborhood Homes LP
Date: 11/21/17

67 Dearborn St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $3,070,000
Buyer: BH EHT 2 LLC
Seller: Neighborhood Homes LP
Date: 11/21/17

42 Denver St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $151,000
Buyer: Michael Nadal
Seller: Global Homes Properties
Date: 11/30/17

77 Derryfield Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $167,000
Buyer: Aaron T. Le
Seller: Emily A. Walsh
Date: 11/30/17

49 Dunmoreland St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $3,070,000
Buyer: BH EHT 2 LLC
Seller: Neighborhood Homes LP
Date: 11/21/17

51 Dunmoreland St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $3,070,000
Buyer: BH EHT 2 LLC
Seller: Neighborhood Homes LP
Date: 11/21/17

55 Dunmoreland St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $3,070,000
Buyer: BH EHT 2 LLC
Seller: Neighborhood Homes LP
Date: 11/21/17

57 Dunmoreland St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $3,070,000
Buyer: BH EHT 2 LLC
Seller: Neighborhood Homes LP
Date: 11/21/17

53 Eckington St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $184,900
Buyer: Jaime B. Margolis
Seller: Matthew J. Bahosh
Date: 11/29/17

46 Edgemont St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $122,000
Buyer: Eliezer Claudio-Adorno
Seller: Cara F. Clifford
Date: 11/28/17

450 Elmwood St.
Springfield, MA 01101
Amount: $1,000,000
Buyer: Bar South Land Holdings
Seller: MEY LLC
Date: 11/29/17

88 Fisher St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $124,900
Buyer: Randy Gonzalez
Seller: Junior Properties LLC
Date: 11/30/17

116 Fort Pleasant Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $233,000
Buyer: Youngs Realty Management
Seller: Wilcox Management LLC
Date: 11/20/17

225 Fountain St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $159,000
Buyer: Elaine Kenney
Seller: Fernando E. Mendoza
Date: 11/20/17

32 Freeman Terrace
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Jose M. Cabrera
Seller: Joyce E. Blanchard
Date: 11/30/17

178 Gillette Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $203,000
Buyer: Eric Fraser
Seller: Andrew J. Normand
Date: 11/30/17

139 Governor St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $132,500
Buyer: Kyanna L. Moure
Seller: Iglesia Pentecostal
Date: 11/28/17

10 Gunn Square
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $3,070,000
Buyer: BH EHT 2 LLC
Seller: Neighborhood Homes LP
Date: 11/21/17

14 Gunn Square
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $3,070,000
Buyer: BH EHT 2 LLC
Seller: Neighborhood Homes LP
Date: 11/21/17

20 Gunn Square
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $3,070,000
Buyer: BH EHT 2 LLC
Seller: Neighborhood Homes LP
Date: 11/21/17

41 Hampden St.
Springfield, MA 01103
Amount: $373,999
Buyer: Wilcox Management LLC
Seller: Silver P. Serra
Date: 11/21/17

33 Harper St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $136,000
Buyer: Thomas Capobianco
Seller: Richard W. Barrows
Date: 12/01/17

70 Hartwick St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Ryan A. Hess
Seller: Francesco Ferrentino
Date: 11/29/17

97 Hood St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $129,900
Buyer: Wanda R. Thomas
Seller: Richard Harty
Date: 11/30/17

71 Irene St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $142,489
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Alexis A. Ruiz
Date: 11/20/17

178-180 Main St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $153,000
Buyer: Standing Bear LLC
Seller: Carlos A. Porfirio
Date: 11/21/17

42 Marlborough St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $3,070,000
Buyer: BH EHT 2 LLC
Seller: Neighborhood Homes LP
Date: 11/21/17

44 Marlborough St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $3,070,000
Buyer: BH EHT 2 LLC
Seller: Neighborhood Homes LP
Date: 11/21/17

95 Marlborough St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $3,070,000
Buyer: BH EHT 2 LLC
Seller: Neighborhood Homes LP
Date: 11/21/17

97 Marlborough St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $3,070,000
Buyer: BH EHT 2 LLC
Seller: Neighborhood Homes LP
Date: 11/21/17

73 Melville St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Francisco A. Giraldi-Pena
Seller: Jeffrey W. Duda
Date: 11/30/17

41 Middlesex St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $3,070,000
Buyer: BH EHT 2 LLC
Seller: Neighborhood Homes LP
Date: 11/21/17

55 Middlesex St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $3,070,000
Buyer: BH EHT 2 LLC
Seller: Neighborhood Homes LP
Date: 11/21/17

56 Middlesex St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $3,070,000
Buyer: BH EHT 2 LLC
Seller: Neighborhood Homes LP
Date: 11/21/17

57 Middlesex St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $3,070,000
Buyer: BH EHT 2 LLC
Seller: Neighborhood Homes LP
Date: 11/21/17

58 Middlesex St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $3,070,000
Buyer: BH EHT 2 LLC
Seller: Neighborhood Homes LP
Date: 11/21/17

190 Mildred Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Justin T. Tomasini
Seller: Nathan J. Nietupski
Date: 11/30/17

87 Newton Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: George L. Quinn
Seller: Mark T. Quinn
Date: 11/30/17

789 North Branch Pkwy
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Cameo M. Restrepo
Seller: Thomas J. Cook
Date: 11/20/17

34 Norfolk St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $3,070,000
Buyer: BH EHT 2 LLC
Seller: Neighborhood Homes LP
Date: 11/21/17

36 Norfolk St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $3,070,000
Buyer: BH EHT 2 LLC
Seller: Neighborhood Homes LP
Date: 11/21/17

109 Northampton Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $3,070,000
Buyer: BH EHT 2 LLC
Seller: Neighborhood Homes LP
Date: 11/21/17

111 Northampton Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $3,070,000
Buyer: BH EHT 2 LLC
Seller: Neighborhood Homes LP
Date: 11/21/17

150 Northampton Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $3,070,000
Buyer: BH EHT 2 LLC
Seller: Neighborhood Homes LP
Date: 11/21/17

170 Northampton Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $3,070,000
Buyer: BH EHT 2 LLC
Seller: Neighborhood Homes LP
Date: 11/21/17

172 Northampton Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $3,070,000
Buyer: BH EHT 2 LLC
Seller: Neighborhood Homes LP
Date: 11/21/17

55 Northampton Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $3,070,000
Buyer: BH EHT 2 LLC
Seller: Neighborhood Homes LP
Date: 11/21/17

75 Northampton Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $3,070,000
Buyer: BH EHT 2 LLC
Seller: Neighborhood Homes LP
Date: 11/21/17

66 Notre Dame St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $129,900
Buyer: Natasha E. Marcano
Seller: Frank A. Amato
Date: 12/01/17

251 Nottingham St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Clarice Deliefde
Seller: Laurence Deliefde
Date: 11/30/17

160 Oak St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $170,900
Buyer: Serena Jiles
Seller: Artur Formejster
Date: 12/01/17

62 Osborne Terrace
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Sonia Maldonado
Seller: Teressa L. Deliefde
Date: 11/29/17

2191 Page Blvd.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Patrick J. Fitzell
Seller: Lascelles G. Marsh
Date: 11/22/17

23-25 Palm St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Miguel A. Cordones
Seller: Cordiano, Maria C., (Estate)
Date: 11/29/17

227 Parker St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Daniel J. Bessette
Seller: Dusza Richard A., (Estate)
Date: 11/30/17

1872 Parker St.
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Wilfredo Maldonado
Seller: MA Home Buyers LLC
Date: 12/01/17

75-77 Pinevale St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $207,500
Buyer: David D. Morais
Seller: Bethann Fox
Date: 12/01/17

80 Powell Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $171,000
Buyer: Aaron K. Smith
Seller: Meghan A. Lynch
Date: 11/20/17

13 Princess Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $173,500
Buyer: Robert W. Dill
Seller: Vivian G. George RET
Date: 11/30/17

39-41 Ralph St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $146,500
Buyer: Devin Cameron
Seller: Douglas C. Coombs
Date: 11/30/17

55 Reed St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $3,070,000
Buyer: BH EHT 2 LLC
Seller: Neighborhood Homes LP
Date: 11/21/17

57 Reed St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $3,070,000
Buyer: BH EHT 2 LLC
Seller: Neighborhood Homes LP
Date: 11/21/17

32 Rita St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Crystal M. Lanucha
Seller: Leilani Paniagua
Date: 11/27/17

14-16 Rochelle St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Kim Brown
Seller: MS Homes LLC
Date: 11/29/17

24 Rochelle St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $3,070,000
Buyer: BH EHT 2 LLC
Seller: Neighborhood Homes LP
Date: 11/21/17

26 Rochelle St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $3,070,000
Buyer: BH EHT 2 LLC
Seller: Neighborhood Homes LP
Date: 11/21/17

605 Roosevelt Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $203,000
Buyer: Bridget M. Haley
Seller: William E. Fahey
Date: 11/28/17

25 Rosemary Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Adesoji A. Thomas
Seller: Vivette J. Anderson
Date: 11/30/17

104 Signal Hill Circle
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $343,000
Buyer: Gladys L. Rivera
Seller: Grahams Construction Inc.
Date: 11/28/17

266 Stapleton Road
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $135,436
Buyer: Charles P. Warwick
Seller: Dana B. Candage
Date: 11/30/17

53 Sterling St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $214,000
Buyer: Emmanual D. Tejeda
Seller: Kenneth A. Pires
Date: 11/27/17

38 Sunrise Terrace
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Fabio G. Pedroso
Seller: Carlos A. Labella
Date: 11/21/17

21 Sylvan St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Angel Munoz
Seller: FHLM
Date: 11/20/17

30 Thornton St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $138,900
Buyer: Kimberly A. Carle
Seller: Investment Keys LLC
Date: 11/30/17

315 Tremont St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $158,000
Buyer: Ninoska T. Santana
Seller: John Martin
Date: 11/28/17

59-61 Tulsa St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Anthony C. Fowler
Seller: Richard A. Paglia
Date: 11/29/17

3 Turner St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Henry Alicea
Seller: Branco Construction LLC
Date: 11/30/17

102 Vincent St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Alfred Bradley
Seller: Neil R. Sullivan
Date: 11/30/17

67 Wayside St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $204,000
Buyer: Cherie L. Reynolds
Seller: Ryan A. Hess
Date: 11/29/17

64 Welland Road
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Linda J. Berrios-Scott
Seller: 2013 Goldsmith RT
Date: 11/30/17

124 Westford Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $3,070,000
Buyer: BH EHT 2 LLC
Seller: Neighborhood Homes LP
Date: 11/21/17

126 Westford Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $3,070,000
Buyer: BH EHT 2 LLC
Seller: Neighborhood Homes LP
Date: 11/21/17

318 Wilbraham Road
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $149,497
Buyer: Cornell Forbes
Seller: James W. Fiore
Date: 11/29/17

456 Wilbraham Road
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $3,070,000
Buyer: BH EHT 2 LLC
Seller: Neighborhood Homes LP
Date: 11/21/17

460 Wilbraham Road
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $3,070,000
Buyer: BH EHT 2 LLC
Seller: Neighborhood Homes LP
Date: 11/21/17

1600 Wilbraham Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $172,000
Buyer: Richard Duboise
Seller: Samuel Monroe-Duboise
Date: 11/22/17

2338 Wilbraham Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $182,900
Buyer: Fernando A. Lara
Seller: US Bank
Date: 11/21/17

24-26 Windsor St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Alejandro E. Villodas
Seller: Ismael Gonzalez
Date: 11/20/17

168 Winton St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $166,000
Buyer: Erica Hollot
Seller: Hayden Berard
Date: 11/30/17

1275 Worcester St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Alexis Martinez
Seller: Onota Rental LLC
Date: 11/30/17

WALES

15 Reed Hill Road
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $294,000
Buyer: Nicholas A. Flanagan
Seller: Brian Savage
Date: 12/01/17

WEST SPRINGFIELD

969 Amostown Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Ryszard M. Milewski
Seller: Justin M. Lynch
Date: 11/28/17

63 Armstrong St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Bhim B. Bhattrai
Seller: Robert J. Meulemans
Date: 12/01/17

112 Autumn Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $163,000
Buyer: Matthew A. Knorr
Seller: Walter Witaszek
Date: 11/28/17

74 Baldwin St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Purple Diamond Realty LLC
Seller: City View Property Services
Date: 11/22/17

134 Bear Hole Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $267,500
Buyer: Jennifer J. Allain
Seller: Richard E. Pilon
Date: 11/29/17

170 Boulevard Place
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $125,626
Buyer: Jamie J. Mitchell
Seller: Bushior, Ronald A., (Estate)
Date: 12/01/17

40 Bridle Path Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: David Duquette
Seller: Marlene M. Menard
Date: 12/01/17

121 Dorwin Dr.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $231,000
Buyer: Rajesh R. Patel
Seller: Anna M. Kelliher
Date: 11/29/17

68 Elmwood Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $178,500
Buyer: Nicole Corcoran
Seller: Jeremy A. Keough
Date: 11/30/17

179 Harwich Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Robin M. Parent
Seller: Vincent R. Borgatti
Date: 11/30/17

112 Hewitt St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $216,500
Buyer: Lynda S. Abel
Seller: John Gioranino
Date: 11/30/17

53 Highland Ln
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $357,500
Buyer: Brian P. Bessette
Seller: Gregory J. Fox
Date: 11/30/17

89 Janet St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $167,000
Buyer: Rachel E. Adams
Seller: Matthew A. Kirk
Date: 11/30/17

32 Paulson Dr.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $216,500
Buyer: Elida Gashi
Seller: Jeffrey A. Costello
Date: 11/29/17

24 Pine St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Scott A. Burlingham
Seller: Joseph P. Miller
Date: 11/29/17

965 Piper Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $440,000
Buyer: Daniel A. Franco
Seller: Yvan Larochelle
Date: 11/29/17

20 Smith Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $154,900
Buyer: Jeffrey M. Lawrence
Seller: Eleanor E. Cummings
Date: 11/28/17

22 Smyrna St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $214,450
Buyer: Jonathan A. Edwards
Seller: Henry R. Talbot
Date: 11/20/17

44 Southworth St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Yamuna Rai
Seller: Robert M. Leduc
Date: 11/30/17

WESTFIELD

203 Dry Bridge Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $238,000
Buyer: City Of Westfield
Seller: Peter Morizio
Date: 11/29/17

1062 East Mountain Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $195,500
Buyer: Ryan A. Lawson
Seller: Gloria G. Barnes RET
Date: 11/27/17

234 Falley Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Matthew M. Frazier
Seller: Paul S. Runge
Date: 11/30/17

344 Holyoke Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: City Of Westfield
Seller: Marcia J. Orlandi
Date: 11/29/17

75 Kane Brothers Circle
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: William A. Czupkiewicz
Seller: Albert S. Czupkiewicz
Date: 11/21/17

8 Lincoln St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $146,900
Buyer: HSBC Bank
Seller: Joann E. Davidson
Date: 11/29/17

366 Loomis St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Matthew P. Farnsworth
Seller: Charles Darling
Date: 11/22/17

65 Massey St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $172,000
Buyer: James Rizk
Seller: Bank New York Mellon
Date: 11/30/17

261 Montgomery Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Daniel Jaracz
Seller: Steven P. Beals
Date: 12/01/17

405 Montgomery Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Jeremy A. Keough
Seller: David W. Cote
Date: 11/30/17

53 Notre Dame St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Shawn Kingsley
Seller: John O. Martin
Date: 11/28/17

7 Raymond Circle
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: Cheryl L. Goudreau
Seller: Michael A. Barcomb
Date: 11/28/17

161 Root Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $324,000
Buyer: Thomas J. Grzelak
Seller: Joseph L. Calderella
Date: 11/27/17

24 Rosedell Dr., Ext
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $467,000
Buyer: Joseph L. Calderella
Seller: Leonard M. Weiss
Date: 11/27/17

57 Rosedell Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Avery J. Sheehan
Seller: Camp, Roger E. V., (Estate)
Date: 11/22/17

292 Sackett Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Adrian Welch
Seller: Ronald L. Tether
Date: 11/30/17

73 Shaker Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $369,900
Buyer: Daryl J. Russell
Seller: Joseph C. Karas
Date: 11/29/17

63 Squawfield Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Seth A. Arnold
Seller: Matthew M. Frazier
Date: 11/30/17

38 Sunrise Terrace
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Danielle Lee
Seller: Gary B. Hodge
Date: 11/22/17

82 West Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Derek Gibson
Seller: Paul J. Mason
Date: 11/30/17

24 Woodbridge Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Jacqueline Barcomb
Seller: Eric M. Patrick
Date: 12/01/17

WILBRAHAM

4 Arbor Lane
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Adam J. Winiewicz
Seller: Robert B. Gibb
Date: 11/30/17

18 Bittersweet Lane
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: Kristin A. Lynch
Seller: Farhad Navab
Date: 11/28/17

17 Eastwood Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $322,000
Buyer: John Shea
Seller: David J&S L. Mahoney IRT
Date: 12/01/17

603 Glendale Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Johanne G. Mahaffey
Seller: Thomas H. Adams
Date: 11/29/17

3 Nokomis Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $229,000
Buyer: Kenneth A. Depin
Seller: Leo J. Deshais
Date: 11/29/17

8 Raymond Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $266,000
Buyer: Christopher J. Peters
Seller: Tara L. Boudreau
Date: 11/27/17

9 Raymond Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: David R. Boudreau
Seller: Barbara D. Burnham
Date: 11/27/17

7 Ronald Circle
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $168,800
Buyer: Custom Homes Development
Seller: Wilmington Savings
Date: 11/28/17

161 Stony Hill Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $148,000
Buyer: Benjamin C. Hudnall
Seller: Sandra H. Starczewski
Date: 11/30/17

908 Stony Hill Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Alexandria M. Willett
Seller: Gerald S. Carhart
Date: 11/29/17

791 Tinkham Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: David J&S L. Mahoney IRT
Seller: Joseph L. Sarti
Date: 12/01/17

820 Tinkham Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $308,312
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Jesse L. Thomas
Date: 11/29/17

17 Warren Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Amy Hebert
Seller: Bruce S. Fieldman
Date: 11/20/17

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

1185 Bay Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $152,000
Buyer: John B. Gulbrandsen
Seller: Wilmington Savings
Date: 11/21/17

19 Foxglove Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $482,500
Buyer: Amin Danai
Seller: Eric N Berkowitz
Date: 11/21/17

235 Iduna Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $533,500
Buyer: Timothy Rohan
Seller: Peter W. MacConnell
Date: 12/01/17

25 Lantern Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: William Kennedy
Seller: Albert Chevan
Date: 11/29/17

462 Main St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: 462 Main LLC
Seller: Paul H. Hamel
Date: 11/29/17

30 Palley Village Place
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $420,000
Buyer: Stanton L. Eads
Seller: Matthias Kaindl
Date: 11/28/17

820 South East St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $515,000
Buyer: Mary E. Mcinnis
Seller: L. Whitmore Sep. Prop. TR
Date: 11/29/17

596 South Pleasant St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Shawn K. Roggie
Seller: Kelley, Larry, (Estate)
Date: 12/01/17

BELCHERTOWN

51 Chadbourne Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Kelly A. Slattery
Seller: Perry, Lawrence B. Jr, (Estate)
Date: 12/01/17

357 Federal St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Joseph J. Scruton
Seller: Raymond R. Couture
Date: 11/20/17

572 Federal St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Robert L. Hislop
Seller: Devin T. O’Neill
Date: 11/22/17

2 Forest Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Rene G. Ledoux
Seller: Ronald Akins
Date: 11/20/17

172 Ludlow St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $282,000
Buyer: Brian Mucha
Seller: Ruby Realty LLC
Date: 12/01/17

265 North Washington St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $378,561
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Angelina H. Dubovik
Date: 11/22/17

19 Old Pelham Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Timothy C. Thompson
Seller: Roger M. Lechenne
Date: 12/01/17

14 Prescott Hill
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $253,000
Buyer: Noah Pefaur
Seller: Jeremy R. Fontaine
Date: 11/30/17

98 Sabin St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Emily J. Dalberg
Seller: Loretta Lund
Date: 12/01/17

EASTHAMPTON

41 Ashley Circle
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $419,000
Buyer: Kristen S. Deschene
Seller: Joan Donah
Date: 11/30/17

17 Florence Road
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Frederick D. Royal
Seller: Bethany Powers
Date: 11/30/17

10 Howard Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $373,900
Buyer: Paul A. Donah
Seller: Thomas M. Bacis
Date: 11/22/17

11 Olympia St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Steven J. Fickert
Seller: Dombkowski, Peter A., (Estate)
Date: 12/01/17

53 Pomeroy St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $127,500
Buyer: Timothy P. Marquis
Seller: Bank Of America
Date: 11/27/17

25 Sandra Road
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Sandra L. Alton
Seller: Brendan K. McKinney
Date: 11/27/17

13 Sheffield Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $348,000
Buyer: Jason Scott
Seller: George Hosta
Date: 11/21/17

79 Strong St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $166,000
Buyer: Zadkiel RT
Seller: Wells Fargo Bank
Date: 11/22/17

29 Zabek Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Brendan K. McKinney
Seller: Kenneth P. Bachand
Date: 11/27/17

GRANBY

75 Easton St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $460,000
Buyer: Fazal U. Rehman
Seller: David M. Fugler
Date: 12/01/17

1 Meadow Glen Dr.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Karl R. Schmidt
Seller: June M. Pellerin
Date: 11/30/17

4 Porter St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $363,000
Buyer: Paul J. Mason
Seller: Peterson, John A. Jr, (Estate)
Date: 11/30/17

195 Taylor St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Johannah M. McCarthy
Seller: Philip T. Braese
Date: 11/30/17

HADLEY

13 Highland Circle
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $325,750
Buyer: Julia S. Rose
Seller: Joseph C. Bardin
Date: 11/30/17

41 Rocky Hill Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $549,900
Buyer: Elizabeth W. Neill
Seller: Jerome M. Mileur TR
Date: 11/21/17

HATFIELD

117 Linseed Road
Hatfield, MA 01088
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Jennifer A. Bogin
Seller: Thomas J. Meshako
Date: 11/27/17

128 Main St.
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $435,000
Buyer: Gregory T. Ludwiczak
Seller: Roger A. Walaszek
Date: 11/30/17

188 Old Stage Road
Hatfield, MA 01088
Amount: $800,000
Buyer: Michael Marantz
Seller: Delbert C. Glover
Date: 11/20/17

HUNTINGTON

10 Harlow Clark Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Nicholai J. Wykowski
Seller: Christopher M. Carbone
Date: 11/22/17

62 Harlow Clark Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Paul S. Runge
Seller: Dennis E. Nazzaro
Date: 11/30/17

15 Montgomery Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $339,000
Buyer: Keith A. Plant
Seller: Natalie F. Birrell TR
Date: 11/28/17

7 Pine St.
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Sarah C. West
Seller: Donald A. Bartley
Date: 11/22/17

MIDDLEFIELD

14 Arthur Pease Road Ext.
Middlefield, MA 01243
Amount: $154,000
Buyer: Douglas A. Savery
Seller: Nancy L. Farrar
Date: 11/29/17

Clark Wright Road
Middlefield, MA 01243
Amount: $442,500
Buyer: Nestor Mamounas
Seller: David A. Vreeland
Date: 11/21/17

NORTHAMPTON

20 Bridge Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $745,228
Buyer: James D. Frost
Seller: Bridge Road LLC
Date: 11/27/17

218 Drury Lane
Northampton, MA 01027
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Bethany Powers
Seller: Margaret L. Barrett
Date: 12/01/17

17 Fairview Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $410,000
Buyer: David R. Potter
Seller: CL FT
Date: 12/01/17

21 Ferry Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Jason H. Weeks
Seller: Andrew S. Pelis
Date: 11/20/17

48 Florence Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $210,627
Buyer: Lisa E. Andrews
Seller: Russell C. Reinke
Date: 11/22/17

37 Grandview St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $284,500
Buyer: Asante G. Chamberlin
Seller: Barbara J. Dreyer
Date: 11/29/17

156 Grove St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $214,000
Buyer: Kristine M. Baker
Seller: Wendy S. Gannett
Date: 11/28/17

59 Higgins Way
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $584,377
Buyer: John Goodnough
Seller: Stoneridge Dev. Group LLC
Date: 12/01/17

21 Longview Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Deutsche Bank
Seller: Kevin G. Keily
Date: 11/20/17

162 Main St.
Northampton, MA 01053
Amount: $410,000
Buyer: Jason M. Cohen
Seller: Peter W. Alcorn
Date: 11/20/17

237 Main St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $535,000
Buyer: Main St Leeds LLC
Seller: 237-239 Main St LLC
Date: 11/20/17

74 Milton St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $320,500
Buyer: Derek W. Fowles
Seller: Patricia H. Mangan
Date: 11/30/17

6 O’Donnell Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $416,000
Buyer: Dylan Boyd
Seller: Karen M. Barnes
Date: 11/20/17

45 Ridgewood Terrace
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $342,700
Buyer: Katherine McColl-Lukens
Seller: John C. McIntyre
Date: 11/30/17

12 Sylvan Lane
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $423,500
Buyer: Michael D. Robinson
Seller: Jonathan S. McFadden
Date: 11/30/17

32 Ward Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: Glenn Alper
Seller: John S. Petersson
Date: 11/22/17

SOUTH HADLEY

100 Alvord St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $293,000
Buyer: Michael P. Carleton
Seller: Bryan Giroux
Date: 11/30/17

13 Apple Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Jason M. Mainville
Seller: Adam&Eve Construction LLC
Date: 11/20/17

18 Grandview St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $276,000
Buyer: Yadollah E. Amirabadi
Seller: Cecile C. Hemingway
Date: 12/01/17

79-B Hadley St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $237,500
Buyer: Kurtis L. Eckman
Seller: Richard A. Frank
Date: 11/30/17

16 Helm St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $182,000
Buyer: Anthony A. Rodrigue
Seller: Joseph D. Desjeunes
Date: 11/30/17

1 Hunter Terrace
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $224,000
Buyer: Chelsea K. Barnicle
Seller: Michael P. Carleton
Date: 11/30/17

1 Normandy Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Colleen Cavanaugh
Seller: KBDM Properties LLC
Date: 11/21/17

42 Spring St. Ext.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Andrew Menard
Seller: UMassfive College FCU
Date: 11/27/17

71 Washington Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $167,500
Buyer: Richard Paradis
Seller: Neil K. Keen
Date: 11/30/17

WARE

45 Babcock Tavern Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: David Comeau
Seller: John Rivera
Date: 11/28/17

6 Barnes St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Brian A. Elmore
Seller: Oksana Young
Date: 11/29/17

118 Glendale Circle
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Michael Davis
Seller: Stewart A. Terrien
Date: 11/30/17

19 Lazy Fox Point
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Peter D. Shelburne
Seller: James Hunt
Date: 11/22/17

82 Osborne Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $286,000
Buyer: Deborah A. Jackson
Seller: Kelly A. Slattery
Date: 12/01/17

WILLIAMSBURG

57 Adams Road
Williamsburg, MA 01039
Amount: $481,500
Buyer: Richard P. Marsh
Seller: Jem Goethals
Date: 11/27/17

2 Hyde Hill Road
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Mary L. Gerken-Newcomb
Seller: Michael S. Connors
Date: 11/28/17

Accommodating Religions in the Workplace

Columns Law Sections

Law Column

By Marylou Fabbo

Marylou Fabbo

During the holiday season, employers may have been faced with a variety of religion-related requests such as whether they may display certain religious icons in their work areas. Throughout the year, employees may want time off to observe certain holy days rather than conforming to the employer’s holiday schedule, request breaks to pray, or seek an exemption from an employer’s dress or grooming standards so that they may express themselves consistent with their religious beliefs.

While employers do not question most requests, what should an employer do if it suspects that the requested accommodation is being made to upset a co-worker or that an employee is requesting certain days off to go shopping or take a long weekend?

What Constitutes a Religious Belief?

Both state and federal law prohibit discrimination against employees and applicants based on religion, and employers are required to reasonably accommodate bona fide religious beliefs.

A ‘bona fide religious belief’ means that the individual has a religious and sincerely held belief or practice. Title VII defines ‘religion’ very broadly. It includes traditional, organized religions as well as those that are new, uncommon, not part of a formal church or sect, or held only by a small number of people. Religious beliefs don’t need to be part of organized religion, and moral or ethical beliefs as to what is right or wrong could constitute religious beliefs. According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), however, “social, political, or economic philosophies, or personal preferences” are not religious beliefs.

What Religious Accommodations Must an Employer Provide?

Employers may not refuse to accommodate an employee or applicant’s sincerely held religious beliefs or practices unless accommodating them would impose an undue hardship.

Some examples of accommodations that an employer would have to provide, absent undue hardship, include excusing a Catholic pharmacist from filling birth-control prescriptions or permitting a Muslim employee to take a break schedule that will permit daily prayers at prescribed times. With the holidays approaching, an employee may request other accommodations, such as the ability to take certain days off (other than Christmas) or to display religious symbols in their work areas. What should an employer do in response? Read on.

When May an Employer Deny a Request for a Religious Accommodation?

Employers must grant a request for a religious accommodation unless doing so would pose an undue hardship on the employer. The ‘undue hardship’ burden is lighter when it comes to religious accommodation than it is when talking about disability-accommodation requests. For religious-accommodation purposes, an undue hardship exists if it would cause more than de minimis cost in terms of money or burden on the operation of the employer’s business. Generic co-worker complaints usually are not valid reasons to deny a request for religious accommodation.

What If an Employer Suspects the Employee Wants an Accommodation for Non-religious Reasons?

Certain behaviors may make an employer question an employee’s assertion that the employee sincerely holds a religious belief that forms the basis of a requested accommodation. The EEOC has suggested that these behaviors may include whether the employee has behaved in a manner markedly inconsistent with the professed belief, whether the accommodation sought is a particularly desirable benefit that is likely to be sought for secular reasons, whether the timing of the request renders it suspect, and whether the employer otherwise has reason to believe the accommodation is not sought for religious reasons.

The courts, too, have recognized that an employee might use ‘religious beliefs’ to obtain an accommodation for a personal preference rather than a religion. In a recent case, a hospital employee refused to receive a mandatory flu vaccination based on her religious beliefs, which included the notion that her body is a temple. The hospital excused the employee from the mandatory vaccine and instead required her to wear a mask. She claimed that the mask was not an acceptable alternative because it interfered with others’ ability to understand her. During the litigation, the employer sought a detailed description of the ways in which the employee adhered to her belief that her body is a temple, and, despite the employee’s protest, the court required her to answer the question.

It’s probably the best practice to ask the same questions to everyone who makes a religious-accommodation request, or question whether an employee has a sincerely held religious belief, when there is objective evidence that the request may have been made for ulterior reasons.

How Should Employers Handle Requests for Religious Accommodations?

When an employer receives a request for a religious accommodation, the employer should let the requesting employee know it will make reasonable efforts to accommodate their religious practices. Employers should assess each request on a case-by-case basis.

Remember, while an employer should consider the employee’s requested accommodation, employers are not required to provide an employee’s preferred religious accommodation if there’s another effective alternative. However, be wary of affording employees who practice certain religions different treatment than afforded to those who practice other religions. Employers should train supervisory personnel to make sure they are aware that a reasonable accommodation may require making exceptions to regular policies or procedures.

Marylou Fabbo is a partner and head of the litigation team at Skoler, Abbott & Presser, P.C. She provides counsel to management on taking proactive steps to reduce the risk of legal liability that may be imposed as the result of illegal employment practices, and defends employers who are faced with lawsuits and administrative charges filed by current and former employees; (413) 737-4753; [email protected]

BusinessWest Breakfast Series Focuses on What’s Next

Features

Future Tense

futuretense From the beginning, perhaps the hardest thing about being in business is trying to figure out what’s coming next, how to prepare for it, how, perhaps, to capitalize on it, and, well, how to stay in business.

And at the rate technology is advancing and society is changing, this assignment has probably never been more challenging. Just ask the former owner of a Blockbuster Video franchise — although that example is dated and almost cliché.

But this much higher degree of difficulty shouldn’t stop business owners and managers from trying.

And that is the message — actually, one of many — that Delcie Bean, founder of Paragus Strategic IT and one of the region’s most heralded entrepreneurs, intends to leave with attendees of a highly anticipated series of breakfast lectures being produced by BusinessWest and sponsored by Paragus and the Jamrog Group, with additional sponsorships available. The program is unique in that the audience will be capped at 40, and attendees must be the owners of ventures with at least $1 million in annual sales.

The first installment of the Future Tense series, set for Feb. 22 at Tech Foundry in downtown Springfield, is loosely titled “An Unprecedented Technology Disruption.” That name speaks volumes about what’s on the horizon and should get the attention of every area business owner.

Delcie Bean

What we think of as fast now would be twice as fast next year and twice as fast the year after that.”

If it doesn’t, some of these comments from Bean certainly will. He told BusinessWest there are four main drivers, if you will, of this technology disruption — a confluence of extremely powerful forces, as he called it. These include virtual/augmented reality, autonomous driving, 3-D printing, and artificial intelligence/machine learning. Each one is significant in its own right, he said, but all four of them coming at once? This will be historic in its influence on business and society in general.

“We have these 40-year cycles, and when you look at the Internet and the impact it had on the latest cycle … the experts, the people who make a living predicting these things are saying that the confluence of these four things coming together is going to have four times the impact on the world economy that the Internet did, and it’s going to have that impact over the course of a relatively short period of time,” Bean explained.

“We’re 10 years into the current 40-year cycle,” he went on. “So they’re saying that, over the next 30 years, the confluence of this is all going to happen. And what’s really interesting about this is not the technology, but the rate of change; we are going to see markets, technologies, companies, and work evolve at a rate of change we’ve never seen in the history of mankind. The rate of change is going to be exponential.”

To drive these points home, no pun intended, Bean focused, as he will during the breakfast program, on one of those aforementioned forces — autonomous driving.

As the technology advances and becomes mainstream, he noted, there will be a powerful ripple effect that will impact most all businesses related to the automobile and transportation, and economic tremors felt in communities of all sizes.

The lowest-hanging fruit when it comes to anticipating change is the trucking industry and the obvious impact on jobs, said Bean, adding that, a few years later, the next ripple would be car ownership and a sharp decline in the same.

“Most people would subscribe to a car service, like a Netflix, but they wouldn’t own a car,” he explained. “And you look at what that does; if people don’t own cars, the concept of car dealerships goes away. Then gas stations go away, because you won’t be concerned about finding a convenient gas station to fill up your car — fleets will have refueling stations.

Fast Facts

What: ‘Future Tense’ a BusinessWest breakfast lecture series;

When: Over the next year; the first program, is slated for Feb. 22

Where: Tech Foundry,
1391 Main St., Springfield

Sponsors: Paragus Strategic IT, The Jamrog Group, Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C.. Additional sponsorships available

For More Information or to purchase tickets:
Call (413) 781-8600.

“And if there’s no gas stations, there’s no convenience stores, because the convenience store loses a lot of its impact if it’s not attached to a gas station,” he went on. “And the further out you go … you look at the impact on parking and the impact parking has on real estate, and the impact that real estate has on where people live … the ripples get wider and wider, and the further out you go, the bigger the impact on the U.S. economy and the global economy as a whole.”

And that’s just autonomous driving. The same ripple effects will result from visual/augmented reality, 3-D printing, and artificial intelligence/machine learning, he noted, adding that the changes will come in everything from the how work is done to the relevance of professions up to and including doctors and lawyers.

Summing things up, Bean cited what’s come to be known as Moore’s law. Named after Gordon Moore, co-founder of Fairchild Semiconductor and Intel, it is the observation that processor power will double approximately every two years, and it holds true a half-century later.

Bean said that same formula, more or less, will apply to the rate of change taking place in society — and, indirectly, to the definition of the word ‘fast.’

“The rate of change will double every year,” he explained. “What we think of as fast now would be twice as fast next year and twice as fast the year after that.”

How do business owners and managers prepare for such abrupt, profound, and ongoing change? That is the $64,000 question, and Bean intends to provide some answers at the Feb. 22 presentation.

As for subsequent programs, they, too, will live up to that title Future Tense and provide attendees with deep insight into how to be ready for what’s coming next.

And for many (actually, everyone, eventually), what’s next is retirement. Amy Jamrog, financial advisor with the Jamrog Group, who will lead the second program in the spring, said many people are not preparing properly for that day, or those 30 or 40 years, to be exact.

Common mistakes she sees come in many categories, ranging from failure to anticipate how much one will need in retirement, to how to decide what to do with accumulated wealth, to survival of a family business.

“Having done this for 20 years, what I’m seeing more than ever before is business owners making decisions in silos,” she explained. “They think their business, their family situation, their succession plan is unique. In some respects it is, but I don’t feel that the information is getting disseminated to the business owner and the family structure in general when it’s a family-owned business, in a way that coordinates all the pieces.

“There are tax implications to consider, there are legal considerations, and there are family dynamics,” she went on. “And the big piece we’re working on with a lot of local companies getting ready to sell is the philanthropic side. Some of these companies are going to be selling for a lot of money, and these people aren’t even thinking about giving some of the proceeds back to the community.”

For more on that, well, stay tuned for more details on future installments of the lecture series.

Registration and tickets to the Feb. 22 program, and the for the entire series, can be ordered HERE or by calling (413) 781-8600. Tickets to each program are $25 each, with all proceeds going to Tech Foundry.

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

Things We’d Like to See in 2018

Opinion

Editorial

As we bid farewell to 2017, we can say it’s been a very interesting year on many levels. Locally, it was a time to see a number of projects, some of which had been in the works for years or even decades, as was the case with Union Station, come to fruition.

It was a also a year to put down some foundations, as they say in the building trades, and also for creating the proverbial framework for future progress, as was the case with MGM Springfield, I-91 reconstruction, and efforts to add new layers to the region’s entrepreneurial infrastructure.

Nationally, of course, it was a year of unprecedented divisiveness and discord on virtually every front, with the lone bright spot being the manner in which women finally — and forcefully — came forward on the matter of sexual harassment and literally changed the landscape on that topic.

As for 2018 … well, aside from the very obvious, including an end to headlines detailing mass shootings, more saber rattling, or worse, with North Korea, and endless discord on Capitol Hill, here are some of things we’d like to see in 2018:

• More progress on the opioid epidemic. We say ‘more’ because we believe some has been achieved when it comes to this brutal epidemic with regard to prescription-control measures, the addition of more treatment beds, and, most importantly, the number of overdose deaths.

It’s fair to say that no family, no street, and no business has been left untouched by this scourge. The cost has been enormous, in every way calculable, especially the most precious — human lives. Much of the talk now concerns whether we have turned a corner on this epidemic and whether the picture is brightening. In 2108, we would hope to, at the very least, end any doubt that this is the case.

• A smooth, strong start for MGM Springfield. In about nine months, the waiting and the anticipation will be over, and the casino era will officially begin in Springfield and this region. What will it be like? No one really knows, because this is something completely new for this region.

Some have doubts about whether the casino can deliver everything that backers promise it can. And the best advice we can give — and we’ve given it before — is to consider the casino a piece to a bigger economic-development puzzle. Just a piece.

However, no one wants — or no one should want — this $950 million venture to fail. It needs to succeed for Springfield and for the region as a whole. It needs to bring people here; it needs to spur new business opportunities; it needs to create additional momentum for the City of Homes.

• Even more entrepreneurial energy. We say ‘even more’ because there is already quite a bit. More is needed, though, because good jobs are the lifeblood of every city, region, state, and country. They are a precious commodity, and, in case you hadn’t heard, they are being imperiled by rapidly advancing technology and a host of societal changes.

In short, we’re going to need places for people to work beyond the casino and Amazon distribution centers. And the best hope we have for more jobs is the creation of new ventures right here in Western Mass.

• Still more innovation. We say ‘still more’ because a region noted as being a hub of innovation continues to live up to that name. Most recent examples aren’t as visible as the ice skate, the parking meter, and the monkey wrench, but it’s happening, with everything from wearable medical devices to coatings that will clear fog from eyeglasses, to bringing your dog to work.

Wait, what was the last one? Yes, bringing your dog to work (see story, page 6). It’s not just a matter of convenience and companionship, although it’s both of those. It’s also an innovative way to create a better, less stressful, probably more efficient workplace. And we need more of all of that.

With that, all of us at BusinessWest wish you a happy, prosperous new year.

Arrha Credit Union Members Make Holidays Brighter for Children

SPRINGFIELD — Arrha Credit Union thanks the community and members for donating more than $3,500 in new, unwrapped toys for local children in need. Arrha Credit Union joined forces with Toys for Tots to become an official collection site for new, unwrapped toys to donate to children in need, of all ages, this holiday season.

“Thank you all for coming together and helping us make the holidays brighter for local kids in need. Your donations put smiles on their faces,” said Michael Ostrowski, president and CEO of Arrha.

Last year, the Marine Toys for Tots Program collected and distributed 18 million toys to 7 million less fortunate children, allowing them to experience the joy of Christmas and receive a message of hope.

Agenda

Agenda Departments

Elms College MBA Classes

Starting Jan. 8: Elms College has opened registration for the spring 2018 start dates in its master of business administration (MBA) program. Classes will begin Jan. 8, and a second session of classes will begin on March 26. Elms College offers six MBA specialty tracks: accounting, management, entrepreneurship, financial planning, healthcare leadership, and the new healthcare innovation track. In each track, MBA students work with and learn from experts in these fields, and with experts in other industries, for a well-rounded learning experience. Elms’ MBA program offers a flexible, hybrid model of delivery, allowing students to participate in live classes both in the classroom and online. For students who did not major in business, Elms offers a Foundations program and an Excel for Business program. Another feature is the Pathways to Leadership program, an extension of the MBA curriculum that leads participants on a journey of self-discovery. The MBA program offers a strong understanding of business principles, plus the ability to apply those principles and create change. It was designed to give students the skills to navigate a global economy and contribute to their local communities.

Women’s Fund Mentor Match

Jan. 13: January is National Mentoring Month, and the Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts (WFWM) announced its second annual Mentor Match, a networking event that aims to engage emerging leaders with seasoned professionals. The event will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. at the UMass Center at Springfield, and is open to the public. Featuring Bay Path University Professor Janine Fondon, WFWM board and committee members, participants and alumni of the Women’s Fund’s Leadership Institute for Political and Public Impact (LIPPI), and community members, as well as members and supporters of the Young Women’s Initiative (YMI), the Mentor Match is designed to connect members of the Women’s Fund family as mentors and mentees to share resources, experiences, and work together in order to achieve professional and personal goals. All members of the Women’s Fund community are invited to attend. RSVP by Jan. 10 by visiting www.mywomensfund.org/event/mentor-match.

EMT Training, CNA Plus Programs at STCC

Starting Jan. 22: Springfield Technical Community College will again offer its popular Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Training Program, as well as the Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) Plus Program, both starting in January. The EMT program consists of about 171 hours of lectures, 15 to 20 hours of online instruction, an auto-extrication class, and an eight-hour clinical hospital emergency-room observation designed to prepare the student for the Massachusetts State Certification Examination. The program, based on the Department of Transportation curriculum for Basic Emergency Medical Technician, is approved by the Massachusetts Office of Emergency Medical Services. Daytime and evening classes start Jan. 22. Visit www.stcc.edu/wdc or call (413) 755-4225 to enroll. The CAN Plus Program at STCC is designed to provide participants with job skills that will allow entry into the healthcare field as well as preparation for the Massachusetts state board examination to become a certified nurse aide. Day classes, which start Jan. 22, will be held Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Students will receive clinical experience in a local nursing home under the supervision of registered nurse (RN) instructors. Major topics will include vital signs; moving and turning patients; personal-care basics; bed making; bed, bath, and feeding; record keeping; and responding to emergencies. This course will also include a Home Health Aide Training Certificate and an Enhanced Alzheimer’s Module. Students will attend a job fair scheduled at the conclusion of this program. Evening Classes for BASIC CNA start Jan. 28, and will be held Monday through Friday, 4-9:30 p.m. The Workforce Development Center at STCC offers a wide variety of entry-level health programs. Visit www.stcc.edu/wdc or call (413) 755-4225 to enroll.

EMT Training at HCC

Jan. 30 to April 28: Holyoke Community College is now enrolling students for its spring-term Emergency Medical Technician training program. The HCC EMT Training Program consists of 170-plus hours of in-class lectures and additional online study, training, field trips, and workshops that prepare students to take the state certification exam. The majority of the training takes place on Tuesdays and Thursdays fom 6 to 10 p.m. at HCC’s new, state-of-the-art Center for Health Education, home to the college’s Nursing and Radiologic Technology programs. Last year, HCC received a $127,741 state Workforce Skills Capital Grant to purchase new equipment to enhance its EMT training program. The course uses equipment identical to that found in modern ambulances. The program makes extensive use of the medical simulation labs in HCC’s Center for Health Education. Some of the grant money was used to purchase a patient simulator specifically designed for EMT and paramedic training that hemorrages and can be hooked up to a defibrillator. The course is taught by instructor Mike Marafuga, an EMT with the Southwick Fire Department. For more information or to register, contact Ken White at (413) 552-2324 or [email protected].

40 Under Forty Nomination Deadline

Feb. 16: BusinessWest magazine will accept nominations for the 40 Under Forty Class of 2017 through the end of the work day (5 p.m.) on Friday, Feb 16. The annual program, now in its 12th year, recognizes rising stars within the Western Mass. community, which includes Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire counties. This year’s group of 40 will be profiled in the magazine’s April 30 edition, then toasted at the June 21 gala at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House in Holyoke (see below). The nomination form, which can be found online at businesswest.com/40-under-forty-nomination-form, requests basic information and can be supported with other material, such as a résumé, testimonials, and even press clippings highlighting an individual’s achievements in their profession or service to their community.

Difference Makers

March 22: The 10th annual Difference Makers award program, staged by BusinessWest, will be held at the Log Cabin in Holyoke. The winners will be announced and profiled in the Jan. 22 issue. 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. Tickets to the event cost $75 per person, with tables of 10 available. To order, call (413) 781-8600, ext. 100 or visit www.businesswest.com. Sponsors to date include Sunshine Village and Royal, P.C. Sponsorship opportunities are still available by calling (413) 781-8600, ext. 100.

40 Under Forty Gala

June 21: The 12th annual 40 Under Forty Gala is a celebration of 40 young business and civic leaders in Western Mass. The lavish cocktail party, to be held starting at 5:30 p.m. at the Log Cabin in Holyoke, will feature butlered hors d’oeuvres, food stations, and entertainment — and, of course, the presentation of the class of 2017. Also, the third Continued Excellence Award honoree will be announced. Tickets will go on sale soon at $75 per person (tables of 10 available), and the event tends to sell out quickly. For more information, call (413) 781-8600, ext. 100, or e-mail [email protected].

Stockbridge Strengthens Role as Regional Draw

Community Spotlight Features

Community Spotlight

Danielle Fillio says recent projects will boost Stockbridge’s cultural and tourism draws.

The Elm Court Estate in Stockbridge was constructed in 1886 as a summer cottage for William Douglas Stone and Emily Vanderbilt, completed a series of renovations in 1919, and evolved into an inn in the ’40s and ’50s, hosting dinners, events, and overnight accommodations. It was eventually placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Nowadays, it’s getting a big boost from Travaasa Berkshire County, which plans to renovate, preserve, and add to the complex in order to create a new resort — and bring in the jobs and tourism that comes with it.

“Elm Court was approved three years ago and held up in land court in Lenox, but now it’s done and moving forward with development,” said Danielle Fillio, Stockbridge’s recently appointed town administrator. “It’s a big resort with a restaurant on site.”

The property sits on the border of Stockbridge and Lenox on Old Stockbridge Road and fits well into the destination marketing of both communities, smallish towns that rely heavily on visits from outsiders to grow their tax base.

“We’re excited about bringing some jobs here, and we’ll have the meals tax, room tax, and more tourists,” Fillio said.

Meanwhile, the Boston Symphony Orchestra broke ground over the summer on a $30 million construction project at Tanglewood, a four-building complex that will house rehearsal and performance space for the Tanglewood Music Center as well as a new education venture known as the Tanglewood Learning Institute — the first weatherized, all-season structure at Tanglewood, which the BSO plans to make available for events beyond the summer months.

“Those buildings will be used year-round, which will help extend tourism through the offseason,” Fillio said, noting that Tanglewood is one of Stockbridge’s main summer draws, but the colder months could use a tourism boost.

Indeed, those two projects are indicative of how much Stockbridge relies on tourism and visitorship for economic development. With a population of just under 2,000, the community doesn’t have a deep well of residents or businesses from which to draw tax revenue, but it does boast a widely noted series of destination attractions, from Tanglewood to the Norman Rockwell Museum; from the Berkshire Theatre Festival to Berkshire Botanical Garden.

The goal, Fillio said, is to complement those regional draws with the kinds of services and municipal improvements that will best serve an older population that values the town’s rural character. And town leaders are striving to do just that.

Full Speed Ahead

Although the issue has been a contentious one, the Select Board, earlier this year, approved the hiring of Fillio, who had been assistant to the previous town administrator for a decade, to her current role. She had been serving in an interim capacity while town leaders mulled a number of options, including partnering with neighboring Lee and Lenox on a shared administrator.

We want to preserve our natural resources while bringing more people here and helping businesses.”

In her now-permanent role, she’s involved with many critical areas of town administration, from budgeting to planning, and she’s pleased with some of the recent progress to improve municipal infrastructure and attract new business.

On the former front, Stockbridge has been successful winning grants to repair a number of bridges in town, including $500,000 from the state’s Small Bridge Program and $1 million from its Small Town Rural Assistance Program to replace the deteriorated, heavily traveled Larrywaug Bridge on Route 183, just north of the state highway’s intersection with Route 102. The project will commence in 2018.

The town’s voters had previously approved a $2.6 million, 20-year bond to finance repairs to eight bridges and roadways in need of restoration. Among them are the Averic Road twin bridges off Route 183, which were closed by MassDOT in the spring of 2016.

Meanwhile, the town is looking to replace its highway garage, which is “currently falling apart,” Fillio said, and is also considering options for the quirky intersection of Routes 7 and 102 at the Red Lion Inn. “We’re going to see if we can raise funds to be able to get an updated study to see what may help us with the traffic there. The last traffic study in that area was in 2004.”

Stockbridge at a glance

Year Incorporated: 1739
Population: 1,947 (2010)
Area: 23.7 square miles
County: Berkshire
Residential Tax Rate: $9.59
Commercial Tax Rate: $9.59
Median Household Income: $48,571
Median Family Income: $59,556
Type of government: Town Administrator; Open Town Meeting
Largest Employers: Austen Riggs Center; Tanglewood; Red Lion Inn
* Latest information available

On the planning front, a visionary project committee was formed several years ago to develop recommendations that could be implemented over the next 20 years. The committee issued a report in 2016 titled “Planning a Way Forward.”

That report noted that residents value the town’s cultural institutions and historic buildings; its open space, recreation sites, and walking trails; and its downtown (although many would like to see additional shops and services, as well as more parking). Meanwhile, they want to see smart housing growth that takes into account the community’s aging population, as well as additional transportation options and better accommodation of walkers and bicyclists.

As a result, the document envisioned a Stockbridge in 2036 that mixes the traditional strengths of tourism, culture, and creative economy with green- and technology-based businesses, food production from local farmers, and agri-tourism. The ideal community would also be less auto-reliant, expanding pedestrian networks, bicycle infrastructure, and regional bus and ride-sharing services.

The report also predicts a socially and economically diverse population that provides equally diverse housing options, from apartments and condominiums to smaller single-family homes, co-housing projects, and historic ‘Berkshire cottages.’ These include a mix of sustainable new construction and repurposed buildings, including the preservation of older homes, along with an increase of people living close to the town center, including mixed-use buildings with apartments over shops to support downtown businesses.

While the overall vision may be ambitious, it encompasses the sorts of goals a town of Stockbridge’s size can reasonably set when looking to move into its next era. To help bring new businesses into this plan, the Planning Board has formed a bylaw-review committee tasked with examining all the zoning bylaws to determine what needs to change to make the town a more attractive place to set up shop.

“We want to preserve our natural resources while bringing more people here and helping businesses,” Fillio said.

Positive Signals

Businesses are certainly cheering the cell-phone tower that Verizon erected on the southern end of the town landfill earlier this year. Previously, half the town had no cell service, and downtown tourists were surprised by the lack of a signal.

“The tower is up and running, and it makes a great difference — if you have Verizon. If you have AT&T, it’s still not a huge help, but there have been talks about possibly having AT&T go up in the tower,” Fillio said. “But you can actually get service at the Red Lion now, which for years was never the case.”

It’s just one way a small town is taking small steps to preserve its cultural character while adding the kinds of amenities demanded by a 21st-century population.

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Society of Women Engineers Conference Inspires STCC Students

SPRINGFIELD — Clair Yiting Gu was nearly 2,000 miles from Springfield Technical Community College, but she felt at home at the annual conference of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE).

Gu was one of eight STCC students who traveled to Austin, Texas, for the SWE conference to join 14,000 attendees, including college students, academic women, and professional women.

“It’s awesome,” said Gu, a computer science student who spoke from the STCC campus after returning from the conference. “You see a lot of women engineers there. You feel like you are not alone. It’s very exciting.”

Another computer science student who attended, Darya Bandarchuk, loved the opportunity to meet women who are interested in engineering. “It was great. It was my second time going to a SWE conference. There are not a lot of events like the SWE conference. You get completely immersed in engineering. You get to go to a career fair, which is a great opportunity,” she said.

The conference, which was held in October, is billed as the world’s largest conference and career fair for women in engineering and technology. STCC prepares students for careers in the STEM fields — science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

“As a technical community college, but also as a ‘STEMinist’ institution, I am thrilled our students had the opportunity to attend this important conference,” said STCC President John Cook.

Beth McGinnis-Cavanaugh, professor of Physics and Engineering at STCC and the SWE faculty advisor, helped raise money to bring a contingent of students and three faculty and staff to the conference. She said STCC was better-represented than any other community college in the country.

The conference provided an opportunity to attend workshops and meet with major employers from technology companies such as Google, Amazon, and Texas Instruments, among others. STCC students who want to transfer after receiving their two-year associate degree were able to meet with representatives from four-year engineering programs.

STCC students participated in presentations at the conference. McGinnis-Cavanaugh’s presentation focused on a proposal to form a SWE network among the 15 Massachusetts community colleges. STCC staff member Isabel Huff presented on gender stereotypes that can hold women back from pursuing careers in STEM.

“They’re exposed to students from all over the country, mainly from four-year schools,” said McGinnis-Cavanaugh. “They’re also exposed to a lot of professional women and professionals who are there recruiting. They have a huge career fair. They do on-site interviews and résumé reviews. For our students, it’s great exposure. They don’t generally have these kinds of opportunities.”

While the employers were mainly looking to hire students graduating with four-year degrees, STCC students received a tremendous opportunity to practice interview skills, obtain feedback on their résumés, and chat with professionals in the field, she added. As engineering is still a field dominated by men, most companies are seeking a more diverse workforce and are eager to hire qualified women.

SWE, a national professional society for women in engineering and related STEM fields, supports collegiate sections nationally and internationally. STCC is one of only 14 community colleges in the country affiliated with SWE. The chapter, formed in 2014, comprises about 20 women majoring in engineering and science transfer and engineering technologies.

“It was an unbelievable event, and it was great that the college supported their trip,” McGinnis-Cavanaugh said. “We had at least one student who had never been on a plane before. To have an opportunity to visit a city like Austin, which is a real tech hub, and then be with 14,000 women who are in STEM, is pretty incredible.”

PeoplesBank’s Culture Is a Big Key to Its Success

Employment Sections

An Engaging Topic

Janice Mazzallo

Danielle St. Jean

Elba Houser

PeoplesBank was in news again recently, bringing more ‘top employer’ honors, this time from both the Boston Globe, again, and the Employers Assoc. of the NorthEast, also again. While the awards are newsworthy, the real story is what’s behind them, a culture of employee engagement. In a roundtable discussion, some bank leaders talk about this culture and how other businesses can create one of their own.

They might have to start thinking about securing a bigger display case for the front lobby at PeoplesBank’s headquarters at 330 Whitney Ave. in Holyoke.

It was already crowded with various awards and commendations — many of them in the broad realm we’ll call ‘top employers’ — and now, it is even more so, with some recent additions. Indeed, for the sixth year in a row, the bank has been named a ‘top place to work’ by the Boston Globe, and for the second time, the institution has been named an ‘employer of choice’ by the Employers Assoc. of the NorthEast.

But while what’s in the trophy case is significant, it’s what’s behind all that ‘best employer’ hardware (and we don’t mean the wall) that is actually more important to the company.

When asked to talk about all that in the form of advice to other business and owners and managers, Janice Mazzallo, executive vice president and chief Human Resources officer at the bank, paused for a moment.

It was a poignant pause to be sure, and it essentially said what she was about to say before she even said it — that becoming worthy of these ‘best employers’ awards takes time, patience, energy, imagination, and much more than a flex-time policy and allowing people to wear jeans on Friday, although that helps.

It’s about creating an environment where people feel good to come to work every day; it’s not just a place to make a living, but it’s more of a family environment.”

“It’s sounds cliché, but it’s about walking the walk and talking the talk, and it all starts in the C-suite,” she said. “It’s about creating an environment where people feel good to come to work every day; it’s not just a place to make a living, but it’s more of a family environment.

“It’s a place where people don’t just come to do a job, but get involved in the community, get involved with each other,” she went on. “We have a lot of people here who do more work outside, in the community, than they do in their 9-to-5 work.”

It is impossible to sum all this up with one word, she said, but ‘engagement’ does the job as effectively as any other (see sidebar, page 16). There are many types of engagement, she went on — with others at the company, within the community, with mentors, with new team members, and more — and the bank works hard to ensure that employees have experience with all of them.

And this hard work goes a long way toward explaining not only all those plaques in the display case, said Mazzallo, but the bank’s continued growth and success in the local market.

In an effort to dive deeper into this discussion of culture and employee engagement, Mazzallo was joined in a broad roundtable discussion on this subject by Danielle St. Jean, Human Resources coordinator and training specialist at the bank, and Elba Houser, commercial banking credit analyst, both fairly recent additions to the team.

The stories about how and why they came to the bank and what they’ve experienced since help drive home the importance of culture to a company’s success — not in winning awards, but in building teams, promoting innovation, attracting and retaining talent, and, yes, gaining market share.

The three stressed that a culture of engagement starts at the top — in this case bank President Tom Senecal — and filters down to all levels, and all locations (the institution has 17 branches scattered across Hampden and Hampshire counties), within the company. And it also encompasses a number of other words and phrases, including communication, listening, connecting, mentoring, empowerment, volunteerism, even fun.

“It’s really a personal experience,” said St. Jean as she sliced through all those words and what they mean collectively. “When people feel supported from day one, they perform better and are more likely to be engaged in what they do.”

Houser agreed. “From day one, there have always been people I could reach out to who have guided me through the ropes,” she explained. “It’s a community here, and it’s a family; these are not only people you work with, but people you can depend on.”

Listen Up

To effectively get many of those talking points and bullet points across, Mazzallo recounted Senecal’s recent decision to visit many of the branches personally with the stated desire to meet with employers and listen to them about their work and any issues or concerns they may have.

She said some of the employees were initially intimidated by the notion of the boss coming for a visit, but soon, most fears evaporated.

Manager-employee Engagement Tips

Engagement Is a Word; Being Engaging Is Your Responsibility
Too often managers can develop the bad habit of saying what they want versus doing what they want. Nowhere is this more systemic than with employee engagement.

Managers can have ideals, but they also have to practice them. Here are some suggested strategies to create a true culture of employee engagement.

The Not-so-secret Sauce

Returning to the subject of retention, a key ingredient in any company’s success, Mazzallo said one of the main reasons why people leave an organization is a feeling that they’re not being heard, or that their input isn’t entirely welcome or appreciated.

“People get wooed by other companies because they’re getting attention, and often, they don’t feel they’re getting attention from their current employee,” she explained. “So it’s very important, especially with your higher performers, that you’re paying attention, and sometimes it’s just as simple as making time to listen to them and listen to their ideas.”

SEE: List of Employment Agencies

If that sounds like advice to other business owners and managers, it is. And those we spoke with at the bank had lots of it as they addressed the question of how other companies can become more engaging and, in the process of doing so, become better competition for ‘top employer’ awards.

For starters, they said, repeatedly, that a culture of engagement starts with those at the top setting the tone, walking the walk, and giving employees at all levels a voice.

“Ideas can come from anywhere, and they should be encouraged,” said Mazzallo. “And companies should look to not only implement them when it’s appropriate, but communicate that they’ve been implemented. We do that here, and it takes on a life of its own; people hear about these ideas, they get inspired, and that creates more innovation and involvement.”

But while listening and encouraging ideas and innovation, a company must also take the proper attitude when things don’t go as well as everyone would like. In other words, a company can’t be afraid of — or in any way punish — failure.

“Failure comes with the territory, and you have to be careful with it,”Mazzallo explained. “You don’t want to have too much, obviously, but here, when we work on a project and it runs off course, we take the opportunity to bring the team together, to course-correct, to find out what’s happened, and learn from those experiences.

“You embrace the problem and find out what out what’s happened,” she went on. “That way, people aren’t hesitant or afraid of making a mistake in the future. If you’re in an environment where you’re afraid to make mistakes, that’s where innovation gets squashed.”

Still another big part of the equation, she went on, goes back to that notion of a workplace being more than a place where people go to work.

“Just show people that you care,” Mazzallo said simply. “Show people that they’re more than just there from 9 to 5. Show people you value them as more than just a worker.”

As an example, she said the bank’s leaders, recognizing how stressful the holiday season can be and usually is, scheduled a lunch-and-learn (a healthy lunch) that addressed the many stress-inducing aspects of the holidays and how to deal with them head on.

There’s also that fun factor, which all those we spoke with said cannot be overlooked.

Which brings us to something the bank calls Employee Fest, which is a week, not a day, of what amounts to employee recognition and celebration.

Staged in September to coincide with the United Way’s Day of Caring, Employee Fest involves volunteerism, a luncheon, team games, visits to the branches, and more.

This year, there was a carnival theme, said Houser, adding that activities were designed, many with some assistance from the Internet, to bring the branches and the main office together.

This year’s festival was St. Jean’s first, and she was struck by its ability to connect people, even if they were working in branches separated by miles of asphalt.

“It really strengthens the community,” she told BusinessWest. “It connects different groups within the organization with friendly competition and provides insight into what different people are doing for the institution; it helps keep them productive and engaged.”

Bottom Line

There’s that word again. Engaged.

It’s a simple term, but it covers a lot of ground, said Mazzallo, reiterating that, ideally, employees should be engaged in everything from the community to innovation; from the well-being of their co-workers to the art and science of listening.

Creating such a culture doesn’t happen overnight, and there are absolutely no quick fixes.

But all the hard work that goes into creating and maintaining such a culture and making it part of the company’s DNA pays off in all kinds of ways.

And we’re not even talking about the those plaques in the display case.

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

More Companies See the Benefits of Dogs in the Office

Cover Story Employment Sections

Paws for Effect

Lauren Mendoza gets plenty of work done at Inspired Marketing, at least after Finn gives her mouse back.

To some employers, the very idea of having employees’ dogs roaming about the office every day seems absurd. How would anyone get any work done? Would they pester clients and other visitors? But many area businesses that welcome pets into the company culture say the benefits — reduced stress and a sense of lightness and fun leading to more productivity, not less — definitely outweigh any drawbacks.

Maxwell Vondogenburgen (Max for short) came into Jill Monson-Bishop’s life around the time she launched her company, Inspired Marketing, in 2009.

Right from the start, neglecting one for the other was out of the question.

“Since I got Max, we’ve had a dog culture here,” Monson-Bishop said, while Max came sniffing around to check out the reporter visiting the company’s Maple Street office in Springfield. “It was almost necessary because some of the staff have dogs, and I want them to give me their all; I want them to be present and be here, and it helps from a logistical standpoint for the dog parents not to worry about running home at lunch or getting home before 5 to let them out.”

When you’re stressed, there’s nothing like being able to sit on the floor and have this unfiltered love of a dog. He doesn’t judge your deadline or your creative work. A dog just licks you, and everything else just melts away.”

But the benefits extend far beyond that, she added.

“It grew into what the dogs did for us. When you’re stressed, there’s nothing like being able to sit on the floor and have this unfiltered love of a dog. He doesn’t judge your deadline or your creative work. A dog just licks you, and everything else just melts away. Everyone thinks creatives are super fun, and obviously, we have fun, but there are elements of stress to our jobs, too. And dogs are great for that.”

Max’s title on the Inspired Marketing website is ‘employee satisfaction manager,’ which implies a broad set of responsibilities for someone getting paid in food, treats, and ear scratches. He’s joined in the office by two other mixed breeds: Monson-Bishop’s second dog, Vinnie — the ‘customer experience associate’ — and Finn, the firm’s ‘siesta manager,’ who belongs to Operations Manager Lauren Mendoza. Other dogs have come and gone over the years as well.

Deb O’Brien has been bringing Fidelco dogs to work for well over a decade, providing educational opportunities for both the dogs and her fellow TD Bank employees.

As a result, when a client visits, they might be greeted by barking, but the dogs are behind a locked door, so no one gets jumped. Visitors are also asked if they have a problem with dogs before meeting any. “Almost everyone says no,” Monson-Bishop said. “Sometimes, during a meeting, a dog will try to get up on somebody, and we get them down, and most times the person is like, ‘oh no, it’s fine.’ It’s nice — sometimes meetings can be intense, and when we introduce a dog, it lightens the mood and can help us be more creative.”

Meghan Lynch didn’t have a dog when her advertising agency, Six-Point Creative, was getting off the ground, and one of the key considerations when adopting one was not having to leave the pet at home. “To me, there was no point in having a dog and bonding with him and then leaving him home alone for eight to 10 hours a day.”

So she talked to her partners about accommodating a dog at work, and everyone was willing to give it a shot. Five and a half years later, Dexter is a fixture in the office on Hampden Street in downtown Springfield. Meanwhile, he’s joined some of the time by Quincy and Goose, the fur babies of Senior Director Scott Whitney and Senior Designer Meghan Mason.

“It’s worked out really well, and it’s good for socialization because he’s coming into contact with different people all day long,” Lynch said. “Getting used to all the people coming in and out, and me going in and out, has made him a calmer, happier dog.”

And the feeling is reciprocal.

“From our standpoint, it means a lot having him around, especially if I’m having a tough day,” she said. “And for new employees, it’s a signal that we value work-life balance. We understand that you only have one life — you don’t have a work life and a home life; you have a life.”

When Blair Winans launched Rhyme Digital in 2011, he searched for a workspace that allows dogs, before finding one at Eastworks in Easthampton. When the digital-marketing company needed more space, he moved to an available building on Route 10 and brought the canine crew — four were in the office the day BusinessWest visited — with him.

“For me, it was the convenience of not leaving my dog at home, having to check on him, going back and forth. I had never worked in an environment that would have dogs at the office, but as employees came on here, I said, ‘my dogs are here; feel free to bring your dogs.’”

That’s why Winans’ lab, Butters, and pug, Flora, get to hang out with Design Master Ian Reed’s husky mix, Maggie, and Marketing Analyst Dan Taylor’s Aussie puppy, Ellie, instead of sitting quietly at home.

“I feel they supply so much comic relief,” Winans said. “When we’re in a meeting and Butters is trying to be the center of attention and barking at something going on outside the door, it’s just part of the environment here.

“And our clients get it,” he went on. “When I’m on a conference call and a dog is barking in the background, they ask, ‘which one is that?’ No matter how stressful things are, when these guys are begging for attention and trying to make you laugh, that’s an extension of what we want as a company culture. Our employees are part of a business, but they’re also part of a family.”

Tails to Tell

Businesses that are opening their arms to that concept of family and dog culture are a growing breed (pun intended). The Society for Human Resource Management’s Employee Benefits survey in 2015 found that 8% of respondents reported that their workplaces permitted pets, an increase from 5% in 2013.

A report published this year in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health cited a recent study on the effects of dogs in the workplace on stress and well-being. In the study, employees who did and did not bring dogs to work completed a perceived stress survey several times throughout the workday. Employees who did not bring dogs to work had significantly higher perceived stress than employees who did. To assess differences in stress, employees who brought their dogs to work were instructed to leave them at home two days a week during the one-week study period. On days when employees in the dog group did not bring their dogs to work, their stress levels increased throughout the day, matching the pattern of employees who never brought dogs to work.

Lynch is a believer in that effect, but conceded that the dogs themselves need to get along — which, in her office’s case, they do. “There’s never been a problem. They all have beds with their person, so they interact for a while, then go back and lie down in their people’s offices, then they might come back again and play a little later in the day.”

Meghan Lynch wasn’t going to adopt a dog if she couldn’t bring him to work with her.

She noted, however, that not every dog has the temperament for an office environment, and Whitney leaves his second dog home for that reason.

“You have to know your dogs, and which one would thrive in the office and which wouldn’t. It has to be the right dog fit. We’re not running a kennel here,” she told BusinessWest. “At the same time, they learn very quickly and pick up on each other’s behavior.”

For some dogs in the workplace, learning is the whole idea. Deb O’Brien trains German shepherds to be Fidelco service dogs for the blind; the puppies stay with her for 18 months, then it’s back to Fidelco in Connecticut for “college work,” learning seeing-eye and guide-dog skills.

“While we have them, our job is to raise them with basic obedience, manners, and tons of exposure to everything, so when they go into training and learning job skills, they’re already well-adjusted, well-behaved, and socialized in every social situation,” she explained.

That’s why O’Brien can be seen bringing a pup named Ray to work at TD Bank in downtown Springfield, where she is the commercial regional operations director, to get him used to the office environment, a wide variety of people, traveling on elevators, and all the outdoor distractions of a downtown city setting.

The main goal is socialization, but when she puts his Fidelco vest on, that’s behavioral-training time, and the dog quickly learns the difference, she noted. “Most of my challenge is telling people they can’t pet him right then.”

That said, fellow employees and others who work in the TD Bank building on Main Street have gotten a good education about Fidelco dogs, and about general etiquette on how to approach an animal in a public situation (always ask before petting, for starters).

“We’re not just training dogs; we’re training people,” she said. “There’s a difference between having a dog in the office for love, attention, and therapy, and being here to learn. But while you’re educating people, it’s also an opportunity to train your dog. They’re both learning.”

City life brings plenty of opportunities for training service dogs, from learning to relieve themselves on a hard surface where grassy areas aren’t plentiful to developing a comfort level around noisy buses, foot traffic, and other stimuli they might run into someday during their service career. But the socialization is critical, too.

“We all get something out of it,” she said. “I’ve seen people having a bad day, and they come into my office, and the minute we take the vest off, you see them de-stress.”

O’Brien began training Fidelco dogs after hearing an ad on the radio, and has now trained eight such animals, counting her latest companion. The hardest part, she said, is letting go.

“When it came time to return the first one, my heart got ripped out,” she recalled. “Seven dogs in, I’m better. But I see them with clients, and I see them working and doing what they’re intended to do. It becomes easier if I tell myself, ‘now they’ve got to go to college and get a job.’”

Pet Projects

As for humans that are supposed to be working, Monson-Bishop said some employers might feel welcoming dogs will just lead to staffers sitting around playing with their furry friends. But Inspired Marketing hasn’t seen that kind of loss in productivity. On the plus side, someone may walk their dog during lunch, which gets them out of the building, which is a healthy thing. “I’d like to see more dogs interacting in downtown Springfield.”

Of course, a building’s owner has to be OK with dogs as well, and Monson-Bishop said her landlord has been more than accommodating. “Other office buildings might not permit dogs, but we’re lucky.”

From left, Butters, Maggie, Flora, and Ellie — on a break from their duties as Rhyme Digital’s official ambassadors — wait for a treat from Dan Taylor.

So are Max, Vinnie, and Finn, she added. “Statistics say socialization helps dogs live longer, and if we can give that to them here, it’s better for their well-being — with the caveat that this is not for all dogs. Not everyone should bring their dog to work. A very rambunctious dog could be very disruptive. They all have their individual personalities, and some wouldn’t thrive at work, and you wouldn’t put a child in a situation where they wouldn’t thrive.”

Lynch agreed that introducing canines into the office has not been a distraction or a drain on productivity.

“They all get into the routine of the day, and it’s a huge help not to run home to let them out, or pay for a dog sitter. And it’s a benefit for the people who don’t have dogs, because they get to be around a dog without having to feed or walk it.”

Winans reiterated that there’s a lightness, even a silliness, that dogs introduce to often-intense work, and that’s a healthy thing.

“We’re serious about everything we do, no question about that,” he said. “It’s more like, how can you feel stressed when you turn around and there’s Butters lying upside down, or having a meeting and these guys are having a wrestling match under the table? What we’re trying to do here is build an environment where people are able to get their work done and have some fun, and feel like they can bring their dogs, part of their family, into the office.”

In short, the benefits outweigh the distractions. “I feel like they’re happier, and the employees are happier,” he told BusinessWest. “That’s not to say they’re not annoying sometimes when you’re on a conference call and something interesting is happening by the front door and they can’t stop barking. But, at the same time, that’s just who we are.”

Like the others we spoke with, the team at Rhyme makes sure everyone who comes in — for client meetings or job interviews — is comfortable being around dogs. “There are some people who aren’t, so we corral the dogs and keep them away.”

But most people expect to be welcomed, and look forward to it, said Winans, who called his furry friends “official ambassadors” for the company. “I can’t imagine them not being here. The times when there are no dogs in the office, it is rare, and it feels like something’s missing.”

Lynch takes the same approach to office visitors. “Our dogs are part of the family and the culture here, and it’s something we tell people about in advance. Some clients may have a dog phobia or may be allergic, in which case I schedule meetings elsewhere.

“Overall, it’s a really positive experience,” she went on. “Some people specifically schedule meetings in order to see Dexter or see Quincy. Some of them bring treats and presents; they love them as much as we do.”

Monson-Bishop goes even further, claiming that dogs in the office are doing their small part to make the world a better place.

“It’s a family-based culture here,” she said, “and dogs unify us. At a time when the world is a little more tumultuous than usual, dogs bring humans together, and that feels good.”

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Doing Business as Certificates

DBA Certificates Departments

The following business certificates and trade names were issued or renewed during the month of December 2017.

AMHERST

Barboza Management
150 Fearing St., Unit 6
Paul Barboza

Equal World Consulting
166 North Whitney St.
Mildred Alvarado-Herrera

GoBerry
28 Amity St., 1E
Alexander Feinstein

Marshall Steinbeck Collision
5350 Prospect St.
Glenn LaPlante

Miss Saigon Corp.
96 North Pleasant St.
Vincent Tran

Northeast Ski Mountaineering
14 Moody Field Road
Jonathan Shefftz

A Quiet Mind
58 Southeast St.
Melanie Rose

BELCHERTOWN

Commonground Consulting Group
6 Shaw St.
Daniel Shafer, Mary Denecke

Leone Carpentry
200 Boardman St.
Alan Leone

S.L. Noyes Trucking & Land Clearing
415 Gold St.
Scott Noyes

CHICOPEE

Avanti Cakes, LLC
8 Center St.
Milagros Reyes-Aponte, Jim Santiago

Hair by Julissa
208 Exchange St.
Julissa Rodriguez

New England Aquatic Design
297 Broadway St.
Mack Johnston

EASTHAMPTON

Antler Editions
47 Clark St., Apt. 2
Lisa Hersey

Kofax Inc.
116 Pleasant St.
Atalasoft Inc.

Shana Sureck Photography
180 Pleasant St.
Shana Sureck

EAST LONGMEADOW

Business Betties
256 Mapleshade Ave.
Suzanne Larocque

Frog Social Media Solutions
65 East Circle Dr.
Vincent Frogameni

Moriarty’s Dogtown
111 Pleasant St.
Kevin Moriarty

Painting with a Twist
448 North Main St.
David Small

HADLEY

Arizona Pizza
367 Russell St.
William Stevens

Creamy Delights
71 Lawrence Plain Road
Patricia McCarthy

Esselon Café
99 Russell St.
Mark Krause

Mountain View Auto Sales
71 Lawrence Plain Road
Wayne Asselin

Pioneer Valley Ideal Weight Loss & Wellness
226C Russell St.
Jeanette Wilburn

Primo Pizzeria
103 Russell St.
Ismael Alvarado

Tap Room
1 Mill Valley Road
Joseph Robert Enterprises

HOLYOKE

Browne & King Painting
194 Allyn St.
Robert King, Heather King, Ian King, Cameron King

Doughluv
50 Holyoke St.
Dawn Whitcher, Kevin Whitcher

Pulegium Consulting
79 Lynch Dr.
Cynthia Espinosa

LONGMEADOW

Ascension Art for Your Heart
752 Longmeadow St.
Elizabeth Duffany

LUDLOW

Walgreens #02699
54 East St.
Amelia Legutki

NORTHAMPTON

Auto Plus
125 Carlon Dr.
Jonathan Lastowski

Back Office
80 Main St.
Alexander Feinstein

Botanica, the House of Fizz
150 Main St.
Carrie Desmarais

Downstay
503 Riverside Dr.
Alexandria Brown

GoBerry
80 Main St.
Alexander Feinstein

The Houle School
251 Pleasant St.
Erika Houle

Oriental Bodywork
68 Bradford St.
Sujun Li

Provisions
30 Crafts Ave.
Alexander Feinstein

Roger Menard Insurance Agency
241 King St.
Roger Menard

Skytemple
19C Hawley St.
Curtiss Hayden

PALMER

Apollo I Pizza Restaurant
1581 North Main St.
Jose Guimaraes, Joe Cardaropoli, Vincenzo Montefusco

Bruso’s Liquor Mart
1240 Park St.
Daniel Bruso

Essentials
1022 Central St.
Erica Enos

Fire Fighting Equipment
2146 Rear Main St.
Alan Fauteux

Julie Slatton Dog Grooming
1240 Park St.
Julie Slatton

Pride Stores, LLC
1053 Thorndike St.
Robert Bolduc

SOUTHWICK

Campagnari Kitchens
631 College Highway
Brian Soper

Felix Construction, LLC
280 South Longyard Road
Andrew Felix

Nails Studio & Spa
208 College Highway
Thanh Kieu

SPRINGFIELD

7-Eleven #39786A
1830 Wilbraham Road
Petrogas Group

A & S Convenience Store
276 Oakland St.
Muhammad Ashraf

Blanton Landscaping Co.
81 Euclid Ave.
Andre Blanton

Boston Community Medical Group
3550 Main St.
Mary Glover

Carlo Van Clothing
42 Dubois St.
Rufai Kasim

EDM Landscaping
53 Vincent St.
Edmi Torres

Egiiks IT Consultancy
17 Pineview Dr.
Maina Kiige

G2 Brokerage
56 Clayton St.
Nancy Garcia

Jimmy’s Auto Service
199 Laconia St.
Jimmy Pantoja

Joseph M. Osirio
92 Achushnet Ave.
Joseph Osirio

The MP Group
1 Monarch Place
Moriarty & Primack, P.C.

Nazario J & S Auto Repair
295 Allen St.
Jose Nazario

Oriental Gifts and More
1714A Boston Road
Chun Fang Yang

Retina Research Institute
3640 Main St.
New England Retina

Smith & Wesson Academy
299 Page Blvd.
Smith & Wesson Corp.

Summit Mobil, LLC
2547 Main St.
Bill Boyce

Summit Mobil, LLC
950 State St.
Bill Boyce

Summit Mobil, LLC
1334 Liberty St.
Bill Boyce

WEST SPRINGFIELD

AT&T Mobility
1018 Riverdale St.
New Cingular Wireless

Beacon ABA Services
59 Interstate Dr.
Dr. Robert Littleton

Camp Collectibles
23 Bonnie Brae Dr.
David Camp

Dante Club Inc.
1198 Memorial Ave.
Harry Willey

Donut Dip Inc.
1305 Riverdale St.
Paul Shields

WILBRAHAM

Alternative Energy Works II
43 West Colonial Road
Jeffrey Ranson

A-W Service Landscaping
159 Stony Hill Road
Anthony Paulk, Wendy Solomon

Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine
2207 Boston Road
Kimberly Joyal Martins

AIC Launches Rex’s Pantry to Assist Community Members in Need

SPRINGFIELD — Last week, American International College (AIC) launched Rex’s Pantry, a food and necessities pantry housed on the AIC campus to assist community members in need.

On Dec. 22, the inaugural deliveries took place, with 100 Rex to the Rescue kits going to Friends of the Homeless on Worthington Street. The kits contained an assortment of hats, socks, gloves, and foot and hand warmers. Later, AIC personnel delivered 100 Rex to the Rescue kits to the Springfield Rescue Mission, containing boxed lunches, bottled water, snacks, and non-perishable food items.

“This time of year is celebratory for many, but we cannot forget those who are homeless or who struggle with food insecurity on a daily basis. While American International College reaches out to the community in many ways throughout the year, Rex’s Pantry is an opportunity for us to do more to help those in need of assistance,” said Associate Vice President for Auxiliary Services Jeffrey Bednarz.

Later that day, AIC staff members stopped by Springfield Fire Department Station 8 and the Springfield Police Department with trays of lasagna in gratitude for first responders’ dedicated service to the college.

The donations are a collaborative effort at AIC. Food was prepared by Chartwells Dining Services for Higher Education, a division of Compass – USA Foodservice. C&W Services and G4S, in charge of facilities and campus security, respectively, at the college, donated hats, socks, gloves, and warmers. The AIC Campus Bookstore provided backpacks to hold the contents of the Rex to the Rescue kits.

Community members interested in donating non-perishable food items, toiletries, or other necessities to Rex’s Pantry are invited to call (413) 205-3231.

Lessons from the #MeToo Wave

Employment Sections

There Are Many, for Employers and Employees Alike

By Erica E. Flores

Erica E. Flores

As 2017 winds to a close, society continues to be rocked by the Harvey Weinstein scandal, the #MeToo movement, and the unending torrent of allegations against prominent and powerful men. We find ourselves wondering what happened.

Or, more importantly, how this has been going on for so long, seemingly undetected. But sexual harassment isn’t a new problem. And it’s not a problem that went away and is just now returning. No, sexual harassment has always existed, in one form or another.

After the Mad Men era, perhaps it became a bit more taboo, and less an accepted norm, but it did not go away. So why now? And more importantly, what can we — the concerned bystanders, responsible business owners, and innocent professionals — take away from all of this?

It is clear that the first allegations against Weinstein struck a chord in the collective consciousness of the American woman, but we may never fully understand how or why the dam broke as and when it did. After Bill Cosby, maybe we had simply had enough, and when those first cracks appeared, the levee was inevitably doomed. Ultimately, the why is not so important.

Because, just as sexual harassment is not a new problem, it is also not a problem that will ever be solved completely. People behave badly, especially when emboldened by an imbalance of power. And the workplace provides both the temptation and the authority for bad people to do bad things.

Which brings me to the second question — the takeaways. As a management-side employment attorney and a woman, I see in this avalanche of public shaming both lessons and warnings. The lessons are caution and vigilance. Whether you are a man, woman, or gender-fluid; straight, gay, or bisexual; supervisor, subordinate, or human-resources professional, you must exercise caution as you go about your affairs at work. No matter what side of the power equation you are on, you should always be aware of the effect your words may have on others, the messages and signals you are communicating, and the risks you run when the lines between friend and colleague start to blur.

While being cautious about your own behaviors, however, you must also be vigilant when it comes to what is going on around you, and you cannot be afraid to speak up, no matter how high or low on the totem pole you are. We all share a responsibility to protect our co-workers, at every level; to make sure that we all can enjoy a safe and comfortable workplace where we can and will perform at our best. We also share a responsibility to protect our company’s brand, the reputation each of us has worked so hard to earn and maintain, for the benefit of every one of us and our families.

Which brings me to the warnings. The law is not forgiving when it comes to sexual harassment. Employers are strictly liable for sexual harassment committed by managers, and anybody — yes, anybody — can be held legally responsible for aiding and abetting sexual harassment. What does that mean? It means whatever a judge or jury decides it means, and in this moment in time, I suspect it means much more than you might think.

Make no mistake — society is desperate for consequences, and this public purging will not stop at the top. Small businesses in small communities are just as vulnerable, and there will be lots of blame to go around for the behavior of those who are eventually outed.

So before you or your business become the story, take steps to protect yourself. Employees cannot be afraid to speak up, and employers should encourage them to come forward. Businesses should also consider reviewing and revising their sexual-harassment policies, reiterating that employees who come forward will not face retaliation, and perhaps even provide additional training to supervisors and human resources personnel.

Most importantly, employers must make sure they are addressing complaints promptly and properly. That means being thorough but objective, and fair but strict. It means talking to the right people, asking the right questions, looking in the right places, and preparing the right forms of documentation. None of this is obvious or easy, so when in doubt, get your employment attorneys involved.

After all, while the tide will eventually ebb, sexual harassment will never go away completely.

Erica E. Flores is an attorney at Skoler, Abbott & Presser, P.C., which exclusively represents management in labor and employment matters. She has successfully defended employers before state and federal courts and administrative agencies. In addition to her litigation practice, she regularly advises clients with respect to day-to-day employment issues, including decisions regarding adverse employment actions and litigation avoidance;(413) 737-4753; [email protected]

Union Station Project Earns Top Brownfield Redevelopment Honor

Construction Sections

A Matter of Resiliency

union-station-before

The Grand Concourse at Union Station before (top) and after.

Springfield’s Union Station — and the project to bring it back to productive life after more than 40 years of dormancy — have both been described using a whole host of words and phrases.

But ‘a bureaucrat’s delight?’

That was a new one, and one that most people probably wouldn’t expect to see the light of day. But Kevin Kennedy, Springfield’s chief Development officer, summoned it as he talked about the latest additions to what is becoming known as the Union Station trophy case — only there is no such thing. Yet.

These would be two awards from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)— one for the best environmental rehabilitation project in New England region, and the second, announced after all the regional awards, is the so-called Phoenix Award, for the best brownfield redevelopment project in the country.

This was the first such honor for the Western Mass. region, and to earn it, the Springfield project prevailed over a wide range of impressive initiatives, from transformation of 14 acres of former rail yards, junk yards, and auto-repair shops into a recreational center in New Jersey, to a stunning metamorphosis for the so-called ‘Big Marsh’ in Chicago.

The award — and the efforts that made it possible — are significant on many levels, said Kennedy, because this was the work that went on behind the scenes, in every sense of that phrase. And this is what he meant by ‘bureaucrat’s delight.’

“From a professional basis, this is what we do in the background to make these projects happen,” he explained. “Everyone focuses on the public side of things, the up-front things that you see. But when you develop a project, you have to be able to work within the bureaucracy to satisfy all the regulatory issues and help with some of the funding.”

Indeed, while much of the focus on the station project has been on high-profile, highly visible initiatives, such as the façade, the parking garage, the new bus terminal, and the stunning transformation of the main concourse, all that wouldn’t have been possible without the environmental remediation work that came before it.

This environmental cleanup involved the former baggage-building property adjacent to the terminal, which was demolished, and the former site of the Hotel Charles, said Kennedy, noting that the property had petroleum, metals, and asbestos contamination. Meanwhile, the project — creation of a new and expanded intermodal transportation facility — also addressed air quality and congestion mitigation.

The Springfield Redevelopment Authority, owners of the building and managers of the redevelopment project, and lead contractor Daniel O’Connell’s Sons worked with a number of vendors to handle the remediation. The Westfield-based environmental engineering firm Tighe & Bond handled the analysis, specifications, and oversight of the work, while T&M Equipment Corp. in Springfield, LVI Environmental Services in Everett, American Environmental in Holyoke, and NCM Contracting Group in Weston handled various aspects of the cleanup and demolition work.

But when Kennedy says the $95 million could not have come to its successful conclusion without that remediation, he really means it, and on many levels, from not only a construction standpoint, but also what would have to be called a momentum standpoint.

Indeed, there were several times over the past few decades when the Union Station project was stalled, even dead in the water. But it was progress with the environmental issues that kept the project relevant and put it, well, back on track.

“Back around the turn of this century, there was a start to this project, and then it stopped,” Kennedy recalled. “We had to figure out in 2007 and 2008 how to restart the project, and there were two very important funding sources that enabled us to get things restarted.”

The first was a $350,000 planning grant awarded by then-Gov. Deval Patrick that enabled the city to hire an architect to start the process of organizing the project, and the second was a roughly $250,000 EPA assessment grant to be used to identify to scope of the environmental issues at the site, including the baggage building and Hotel Charles footprint.

Lauren Liss, president and CEO of MassDevelopment, addresses those assembled at a press conference on Dec. 11 to announce that the Union Station project had won the Phoenix Award.

“Those were the two items that kick-started the project again,” Kennedy told BusinessWest. “They allowed us to scope out how to do this, and without them, I don’t know how we would have been able to start.”

In essence, the initial environmental work enabled planners to “get our arms around the project,” as Kennedy put it, enabling them to go back to the major funders, including the Federal Transit Authority and the Mass. Department of Transportation with a far sharper picture of what needed to be done at the site and what could be done with it.

“There were so many of those boring things that those of us in the inside of the government had to put together,” he went on, adding that these boring, behind-the-scenes efforts, spearheaded by SRA director Chris Moskal and consultant Maureen Hayes, eventually made those stunning ‘after’ shots in the before-and-after scenarios possible.

The environmental-cleanup efforts, and the project as a whole, were effectively summed up in the application for the brownfield awards, where Springfield officials listed the key project lessons as ‘resiliency.’ “A long-vacant train-station redevelopment project that had many starts and stops was restored to a state-of-the-art intermodal transit center thanks to the resiliency of its people and leaders,” the application reads.

As for that reference to a trophy case, there really is one, as noted. But the Union Station project has collected a number of awards, including the two EPA prizes, the Paul and Niki Tsongas Awards from Preservation Massachusetts in the category called ‘Best Now and Then,’ the Springfield Preservation Trust’s 2017 Project Rehabilitation Award, and the Honow Award from the Assoc. of General Contractors of Massachusetts.

Collectively, they speak to the enormity of the project and the significance of resurrecting a huge piece of Springfield’s past and making it a significant part of its future.

As for it being a ‘bureaucrat’s delight,’ only the bureaucrats can truly say.

— George O’Brien

Commercial Real Estate

Commercial Real Estate Sections

For Sale, For Lease

A listing of available commercial properties in Western Mass.

Springfield Schools to Launch Culinary and Nutrition Center

Business of Aging

Fresh Ideas

Pat Roach says the plan to improve culinary service in Springfield’s schools could eventually be a model replicated nationwide.

Pat Roach likes to share an anecdote that speaks to the occasional absurdity of school lunch. It involves the community gardens that dozens of Springfield schools have planted and maintain.

“Take Kennedy Middle School, which has a beautiful garden, where kids grow their own vegetables,” said Roach, chief financial officer of Springfield Public Schools. “If they want to serve them in the cafeteria, we have to ship the vegetables to Rhode Island, where they’re washed, cut, processed, and shipped back to Kennedy.”

But what if the city didn’t have to rely on an out-of-state partner to prepare its meals? What if everything served in the schools was cooked fresh, from scratch, on site?

That’s the goal of the Culinary and Nutrition Center, a 62,000-square-foot facility to be built on Cadwell Drive in Springfield, just two addresses from the school system’s current, 18,000-square-foot, food-storage warehouse.

The new facility will be much more than a warehouse, however. It will include all the resources necessary to prepare fresh ingredients for breakfast and lunch at every public, parochial, and charter school in Springfield, and to train staff to prepare meals from scratch right in the school kitchens.

“We’re renting space in Chicopee for cold storage. Our bakery is based in Rhode Island,” Roach said. “Here, we’ll cook all the food fresh on site — egg sandwiches, fresh muffins, local blueberries, as opposed to getting stuff packaged out in California and shipped to us. And it will bring down the cost of using local produce.”

The city broke ground on the center on Dec. 13, and the facility should be fully operational before the start of the 2019-20 school year, Roach said, and will include several components:

• A production and catering kitchen aimed at increasing product quality and consistency and reducing the use of processed foods;

• A produce cutting and processing room where fresh fruit and vegetables sourced from local farms will be washed, cut, and packaged for use by the schools, and waste will be composted;

• A bakery to prepare fresh muffins and breads, which will also incorporate local produce;

• Cold and dry food storage, which will centralize product purchasing and receiving and inventory control; and

• A training and test kitchen, where culinary staff from the city’s schools, and their ‘chef managers,’ will be trained in preparing from-scratch meals in their own cafeterias. The potential also exists to use the facility to train students interested in the culinary arts as a career.

“They want to serve much higher-quality food to students, with more locally sourced products and fresh-baked goods,” said Jessica Collins, executive director of Partners for a Healthier Community, one of the school system’s foundation partners on the project. “For the schools, it means quality food, and for some students, it’s a career path.”

Speaking of careers, the district plans to add 50 to 60 jobs for cooks, bakers, vegetable cutters, warehouse personnel, and other roles. It will take that many, Roach said, to bring food production and preparation in house for the second-largest school food program in New England, one that serves 43,000 meals served daily.

Considering the nutrition needs of those students, many of whom live in poverty, the stakes could hardly be higher.

Dawn of a New Day

The Culinary and Nutrition Center is hardly a standalone project. Instead, its the culmination of several years of efforts to improve food quality in the schools. Among those programs was an initiative, now in its third year, to move breakfast service — a requirement for districts that serve high numbers of children from poor families — from a strictly before-school program to one that creeps into actual class time.

As a result, Roach said, the schools are serving more than 2 million more breakfasts per year than they were several years ago.

“By law, because of the poverty level, breakfast in school is mandated, but logistically it causes all sorts of problems. If the kids don’t get to school early enough, they don’t get breakfast, or they get to class late.”

It has been an adjustment for teachers in that first period, who have fine-tuned how they craft the first few minutes of class while students are eating. But the impact of fewer kids taking on the day hungry more than makes up for that challenge, he argued. Much fewer, actually, as participation in breakfast has risen from 20%, district-wide, to almost 80%, with much of the remainder likely students who ate something at home.

“It’s been a huge success. Nurse visits for hunger pains are down 30%, and more students are getting to class on time and having breakfast.”

But putting breakfast — and lunch, for that matter — in front of students is one thing; serving healthy food is another. And that concern was the germ of an idea that will soon become the Culinary and Nutrition Center.

“One of the biggest challenges is getting healthy produce, real egg sandwiches, freesh muffins,” Roach said, noting that pre-packaged egg sandwiches, the kind that convenience stores sell, and heavily processed muffins aren’t ideal.

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“We want to be feeding the kids — this is better than nothing — but we want to give them something fresh,” he said. “Instead of buying crappy egg sandwiches that cost a lot of money, we know we can do things in-house cheaper and better. They want real eggs, better muffins — not fake, microwaved stuff.”

Instead of a central kitchen that prepares all the meals and sends them to schools for reheating, the vision is for the school kitchens to actually prepare the meals from scratch using fresh ingredients sent from Cadwell Drive. For instance, “they’ll be making their own sauces using fresh tomatoes and fresh basil,” he noted. “We want to have the best food around. We want kids to want to eat breakfast and lunch at school.”

He also wants students to learn about nutrition and food delivery through their own experiences. “Kids are starting to get it. There’s a whole educational component, and kids understand this stuff is being sourced locally from local farms.”

That gives them a sense of ownership of the nutritional changes. For instance, when Michelle Obama led a change in school lunches, emphasizing whole grains, lower sodium, lower sugar, and other improvements, Roach noted, many schools made the shift all at once, and students rejected what suddenly started appearing on their plates.

“But we had already started increasing whole grains in food, reducing sodium levels — it was a huge success with us,” he said. “We think we’re training kids in lifelong dietary habits. If they get accustomed to eating this way, three meals a day, they’ll continue to do so for the rest of their lives.”

Back to School

Roach said the $21 million project, funded through government and private sources, is being supported by several partners with an interest in food policy, such as Trinity Health, Partners for a Healthier Community, EOS Foundation, and Kendall Foundation.

“Everyone knows how big and important this is, and a lot of people see this as potentially a model for Boston or Worcester, even across the whole country,” he told BusinessWest. “They do see us as pioneers on this project, and a lot of people are excited for us to get this project off the ground. Whether it’s improving student nutrition, decreasing obesity, or reducing hunger, all these organizations share our mission in this center.”

Collins said the city’s support — the project was part of a recent $14.3 million bond approval — is encouraging to those, like her, with a keen interest in community health.

“That’s really exciting, because here you have policymakers investing in what we have been pushing for years, which is higher-quality food for kids,” she said. “When you think about nutrition and higher-quality food and food insecurity, the schools are critical, because that’s where they are every day.”

Roach said the potential exists to broaden the center’s reach to serve other districts, but that’s not in the plans right now. “We don’t want to expand it beyond Springfield until we’re sure we’re serving 100% of our kids.”

That begins with a better egg sandwich, a better muffin — and a better school day.

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

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