Company Notebook

Pittsfield Cooperative Bank Partners with Brown & Brown

PITTSFIELD — Pittsfield Cooperative Bank announced a new partnership with Brown & Brown, one of the nation’s leading insurance brokerages. Together, the two organizations will offer customers and community members throughout the Berkshires access to a wide range of insurance products backed by local service. Unlike national call centers or impersonal online platforms, this partnership brings together two organizations with deep ties to Berkshire County. Brown & Brown’s regional team of insurance professionals live and work in the community, offering local personal attention and providing responsive support. Through this partnership, customers can access comprehensive insurance coverage — including auto, home, umbrella, life, recreational vehicles, commercial property, liability, and organizational employee benefits — delivered with the same personal touch and community commitment that define both organizations.

Berkshire Money Management Expands to Williamstown

WILLIAMSTOWN — Berkshire Money Management (BMM), a fixture in the Central and Southern Berkshires, will open a new office at 136 Water St. in Williamstown later this year to better serve clients and neighbors in the Northern Berkshires and Southern Vermont. The move expands BMM’s physical presence across Berkshire County — with offices now in Dalton, Great Barrington, and Williamstown — so clients can meet with their advisors close to home, wherever they live. The Water Street location, just around the corner from Spring Street and the Williams College campus, brings the firm’s financial planning expertise to the heart of Williamstown’s business district. Advisors will begin meeting clients in Williamstown by appointment later this year, with a grand opening planned for early 2026. The building is owned by BMM co-founder and Chief Engagement Officer Stacey Carver, who purchased the property earlier this year.

WNE School of Law Launches Online JD Access Program

SPRINGFIELD — Western New England University School of Law announced the launch of JD Access, a part-time evening online juris doctor program designed to expand access to legal education for working professionals, non-traditional students, and individuals whose life circumstances make attending on-campus programs difficult. The first cohort will begin in the fall of 2026. Fully accredited by the American Bar Assoc. (ABA), JD Access is among only about 20 ABA accredited online JD programs nationwide. The program offers an innovative blend of synchronous online classes, asynchronous coursework, and limited in-person residencies, giving students the flexibility to pursue their law degree while balancing work, family, and other commitments. The part-time evening structure is ideal for working professionals, with short, required residencies designed to foster connection and collaboration. The program also provides opportunities for meaningful pro bono and community engagement through the Center for Social Justice at Western New England University. Students can complete the program in three and a half or four years, with optional summer courses available, and the program is open to students across the country, regardless of where they live and work.

Westfield State Named Among Top 100 Women-led Businesses

WESTFIELD — Westfield State University has been recognized as one of Massachusetts’ premier women-led businesses. The university earned a spot on the 2025 Top 100 Women-led Businesses list presented annually by the Women’s Edge and the Boston Globe. The winners were honored at an awards ceremony and celebratory breakfast event held on Oct. 24. Key factors in the evaluation of businesses included workplace and management diversity, board makeup, and innovative projects, alongside revenue or operating budget.

Bulkley Richardson Named Best Law Firm in 14 Areas

SPRINGFIELD — Best Lawyers, in partnership with U.S. News and World Report, ranked Bulkley Richardson as 2026 Best Law Firm in the Springfield region in the following 14 practice areas: banking and finance law, bankruptcy and creditor debtor rights / insolvency and reorganization law, business organizations (including LLCs and partnerships), commercial litigation, corporate law, criminal defense – general practice, criminal defense – white collar, employment law – individuals, employment law – management, litigation – labor and employment, medical malpractice law – defendants, personal injury litigation – defendants, real estate law, and trusts and estates law. To be eligible for a ranking, a law firm must have at least one lawyer included in the list of Best Lawyers. Bulkley Richardson has 12 lawyers included on the 2026 Best Lawyers list, and Mary Jo Kennedy was named 2026 Springfield-area Lawyer of the Year for both employment law (management) and litigation (labor and employment). Rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process that includes the collection of client and lawyer evaluations and peer reviews from leading attorneys in the field.

Allied Flooring & Budget Cabinets Supports Two Regional Nonprofits

AGAWAM — Allied Flooring & Budget Cabinets announced the results of its second annual Charity Golf Tournament, raising a total of $31,385 to benefit two local nonprofit organizations, Sunshine Village and Project New Hope. In Agawam on Oct. 29, the leadership team presented Sunshine Village with a donation of $15,692.50 to support the organization’s programs for adults with developmental disabilities throughout Western Mass. Then on Oct. 30 in Leominster, they presented the remaining $15,692.50 to Project New Hope, a nonprofit dedicated to providing veterans and their families with support programs, retreats, and community resources designed to help them rebuild their lives after military service. The annual tournament, held in September at Chicopee Country Club, brought together more than 100 golfers, dozens of sponsors, and community partners for a day of friendly competition and fundraising. The event’s success reflects Allied Flooring and Budget Cabinets’ ongoing commitment to supporting local causes and building strong community connections beyond the showroom. Plans are already underway for the third annual Allied Flooring & Budget Cabinets Charity Golf Tournament, with hopes of raising even more funds in 2026.

AIC Opens Food Pantry to Combat Student Food Insecurity

SPRINGFIELD — American International College (AIC) is helping students facing food insecurity with the launch of the Buzz Stop, a new campus food pantry. According to government data, approximately 3.8 million college students nationwide, or about 23%, face food insecurity. Many do not receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits due to application barriers or lack of awareness. The pantry, located in the Student Affairs office on the upper level of the Schwartz Campus Center, offers both perishable and non-perishable foods as well as basic academic supplies. Students can fill a shopping basket once per week without restrictions, ensuring they have access to essential nutrition while pursuing their studies. Since December 2024, AIC has been preparing an unused office on the upper level of the Schwartz Campus Center to host the Buzz Stop. The renovated space includes shelves stocked with non-perishable items, a refrigerator for perishable foods, and basic academic supplies. Students can find supplies like canned goods, fresh produce, snacks, macaroni and cheese, and more with items available on a rotating inventory. AIC partnered with the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts to stock the pantry, with support from an anonymous donor. The college will continue refining the Buzz Stop based on student feedback to ensure it meets evolving needs.

Country Bank Makes Back-to-school Donations

WARE — Country Bank, a full-service financial institution serving Central and Western Mass., announced its recent donation of $250 Visa gift cards to 44 local schools, totaling $11,000. These schools have been long-standing partners in the bank’s financial literacy initiatives, and this contribution aims to support teachers and students as they head into the new academic year. As part of its continued commitment to financial literacy, Country Bank’s Money School program offers engaging, age-appropriate lessons and resources to help students learn the fundamentals of money management, budgeting, and saving. From classroom sessions to interactive fairs, the program provides real-world financial experiences that make learning fun and practical. Students and families are encouraged to visit any Country Bank location to learn more about Money School and how to get involved. The program’s goal is simple: to help young people develop the knowledge and confidence to make smart financial decisions throughout their lives.

Market Mentors Raises $5,000 for Rays of Hope

SPRINGFIELD — Market Mentors, LLC, a fully integrated marketing, advertising, and public relations agency with offices in Massachusetts and Florida, announced it has raised $5,000 for Rays of Hope, the Baystate Health Breast Network initiative supporting breast cancer patients, survivors, and research since 1994. Each October, during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the agency creates specially designed items to raise funds and awareness. This year’s featured travel mug delivers the simple, life-saving reminder: “Check them early, check them often.” The campaign reminds men and women alike to take small, proactive steps that can make a big difference in their health.

Since its founding, Rays of Hope has raised more than $17.2 million, with every dollar staying in Western Mass. to fund research, patient care, state-of-the-art equipment, educational programs, and community grants.

Bay Path University’s PA Program Reaccredited

LONGMEADOW — Bay Path University announced that its physician assistant (PA) program has been awarded a 10-year continuing accreditation from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, the maximum term granted by the national accrediting body. The 10-year accreditation affirms the program’s sustained commitment to academic excellence, clinical training, and student success. Graduates consistently achieve strong first-time pass rates on the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination and secure employment across a range of healthcare settings. Bay Path’s physician assistant master’s program, launched in 2010, is based at the state-of-the-art Philip H. Ryan Health Science Center in East Longmeadow. The two-year program combines classroom instruction, laboratory experiences, and extensive clinical rotations designed to prepare students for real-world practice. Through a recent partnership with Harvard, students have been able to attend lectures on ways emerging technologies and AI can be applied to patient care. In 2022, the program doubled in size and now admits 60 students per year. As Bay Path’s ongoing integration with Cambridge College continues, the university is exploring opportunities to expand the program and serve new populations of learners through flexible modalities that may include online coursework paired with in-person practicums at its Boston location.