People on the Move

Spiros Hatiras, president and CEO of Holyoke Medical Center, announced the appointment of Michael Houff as director of Physician Services for HMC Specialty Practices as well as Western Massachusetts Physician Associates. Houff brings more than 20 years of extensive healthcare leadership experience in executive-level physician-group management, project consulting, revenue-cycle management, hospital outpatient operations, managed-care payer and provider operations, and IT implementations. He most recently served Meridian Medical Management in Windsor, Conn. as director of operations and, previously, Hampden County Physician Associates, LLC in Springfield as chief operating officer, vice president of operations, and director of operations. “Mike brings the leadership necessary to help Holyoke Medical Center and Western Mass Physician Associates provide the highest levels of patient care and satisfaction,” said Hatiras. “His experience in managing physician services will be an asset to ensuring that our providers and office staff continue to deliver high-quality and compassionate care to our patients.” Houff graduated from American University in Washington, D.C. with a bachelor’s degree in international affairs and received a master’s degree in general administration health care management from the University of Maryland in 1996. From 1988 to 1992, he served as active duty combat arms officer in the U.S. Army and then worked for Kaiser Permanente in Rocky Hill, Conn., Tulane University Hospital and Clinic in New Orleans, and GE Healthcare. “I really wanted to get back to the patient-care-delivery side of the business of healthcare,” said Houff of choosing to work at HMC. “It’s a much more meaningful mission to know that what you’re doing every day in outpatient operations has a real impact on people’s lives — helping people who are going through very difficult times with their health issues and being able to help them have one good day among many bad ones is a really good motivation.”

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The Hampshire Mall management team recently welcomed Lynn Gray as general manager. Gray has extensive knowledge of the shopping-center industry. She is a graduate of Holyoke Community College with an associate degree in business administration. She returns to Hampshire Mall after holding the positions of marketing assistant, assistant marketing director, and marketing director within Pyramid Management Group from 1995 to 2005. Prior to her return, she held various roles within General Growth Management over the past 10 years, most recently as director of field marketing for the East Region. During her time there, she received the MAXI Award for innovative contributions made to Natick Mall. She is a lifelong resident of the Western Mass. area and actively involved with several community and nonprofit organizations, including Alex Scafuri’s Benefit Fund, Harper Yucka Benefit Fund, Chicopee Youth Football Assoc., and CHERUBS. “We are pleased to have Lynn return to Pyramid Management Group,” said Joe Castaldo, Pyramid Management Group’s director of Shopping Center Management. “With her vast experience in the shopping-center industry, she will be a tremendous asset in the development of Hampshire Mall.”

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HUB International New England, a division of HUB International Limited, announced that Melissa Provost has joined HUB International New England as a personal lines account manager, responsible for assisting clients with their home, auto, and personal-liability umbrella coverages. She will be based in the South Hadley office. Provost joins HUB International with several years of customer service experience in the insurance industry, and has held previous positions with Liberty Mutual Insurance, most recently as a senior customer service representative. At HUB International, her role includes assisting in the day-to-day needs of clients, handling client requests, preparing quotes, reviewing and updating policies and certificates, maintaining existing client relationships, generating new business, and keeping abreast of the changing market. “Over the past few months, we have hired several talented individuals as we continue to expand into one of the largest agencies throughout New England,” said Timm Marini, president of HUB International New England. “Melissa is a perfect fit for our agency as she is clearly a ‘people person’ who will focus on providing extraordinary customer service.”

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Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity (GSHFH) announced that Bob Perry — a donor, volunteer, partner, and friend who has supported the organization for more than 15 years — will join the team as the new volunteer donor relations manager. “Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity is thrilled to be able to welcome back Bob Perry as our new volunteer donor relations manager,” said Jennifer Schimmel, the organization’s executive director. “Even with his new title, he’ll still be known by many as Habitat’s chief hugging officer!” Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity is a housing ministry dedicated to strengthening communities by empowering low-income families to change their lives and the lives of future generations through home ownership and home-preservation opportunities. This is accomplished by working in partnership with diverse people, from all walks of life, to build and repair simple, decent, affordable housing. GSHFH has helped 70 local families, as well as 90 international families, over the past 27 years.