| The following business incorporations were recorded in Hampden and Hampshire counties, and are the latest available. They are listed by community. |
| AGAWAM |
Year: 2005
Bank Named Philanthropic Corporation
EASTHAMPTON — Easthampton Savings Bank was recently recognized by the Western Mass. Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals as the 2005 Outstanding Philanthropic Corporation of Western Mass. In other company news, the bank continued to experience steady growth in assets, deposits, loans, and capital during the third quarter, according to William S. Hogan, Jr., President and CEO. The bank’s total assets increased $28 million from a year ago, and an increase of $8 million over the last quarter. Also, total assets now stand at $656 million. The loan portfolio totaled $482 million at the end of September, an increase of $7.7 million or 6% for the quarter and $23.1 million or a 5% increase since the end of September last year. The bank also experienced a deposit gain of $13.1 million from a year ago. Advertising Club Sports New Logo SPRINGFIELD — The Advertising Club of Western Mass. has a new logo, created by Lilly Pereira of Bidwell ID in Florence. The logo was selected from more than 40 submissions sent to the Ad Club in response to a design contest last February. The Ad Club, celebrating its 90th anniversary, called for designs that would update as well as reflect the image and mission statement of the club. As the contest winner, Pereira will receive a one-year Ad Club membership and her logo will be entered into the 2006 Ad Club awards competition. Fair Trade Coffee Served At UMass AMHERST — UMass Amherst has joined the Fair Trade coffee movement by adopting Pura Vida, a fair trade coffee provider, as one of its coffee suppliers in the dining commons and other retail outlets on campus. Pura Vida Coffee sells Fair Trade, organic coffee throughout the United States. It was founded by John Sage and Chris Dearnley, and is based in Seattle, Wash. The partners actively promote a business model based on more humane capitalism built on economic fairness, environmental sustainability, and philanthropy. The mission of Pura Vida is to use capitalism to empower producers, motivate consumers, inspire business leaders, and ultimately serve the poor. The Dining services Department completed extensive market research that indicated that 59% of students agreed they would like to see Fair Trade coffee provided on campus. In addition to Pura Vida, dining services will still provide coffee from other suppliers, including local coffee from Rao’s, an Amherst coffee shop, New England Coffee and Starbucks. MassMutual To Pay $1.2B Dividend SPRINGFIELD — MassMutual Financial Group recently announced the distribution of nearly $1.2 billion to eligible participating policyholders under the dividend payout for 2006 – a double-digit increase over the 2005 dividend payout. Nearly all traditional life insurance policyholders will receive a 2006 dividend larger than or equal to the dividend they received in 2005. More specifically, more than 89% of traditional life insurance policyholders will receive a 2006 dividend at least 10% larger than they received in 2005, and 54% will receive a 2006 dividend at least 20% larger than they received in 2005. Dividends for a given policy are influenced by factors including policy series, issue age, policy duration, policy loan rate and changes in experience. For more information, visit www.massmutual.com. WNEC Named Employer of the Year; College of Distinction SPRINGFIELD — Western New England College (WNEC) has been honored as “Employer of the Year” by the Employers Assoc. of the Northeast in the nonprofit/over 100 employees category. Awards are based on several criteria, including effective communication, fostering employee input and feedback, encouraging professional development, fostering work/life balance, and promoting a positive, professional culture while valuing diversity and individuality. In presenting the award, the Employers Association saluted WNEC as an organization that values and respects its employees’ commitment to the organization. In other campus news, WNEC will be featured in Colleges of Distinction, a new college guide and Web site profiling some of America’s best bets in higher education. Based on the opinions of guidance counselors, educators and admissions professionals, Colleges of Distinction honors colleges that excel in key areas of educational quality. In order to qualify for inclusion, WNEC was evaluated for its performance in the Four Distinctions: “Engaged Students,” “Great Teaching,” “Vibrant Communities” and “Successful Outcomes.” Guidance counselors and admissions professionals around the country recommended WNEC in every category. WNEC was also noted for its active student body, devoted faculty, and academic programs based on developing collaboration, communication, and problem-solving skills. WNEC will also be profiled in the forthcoming book, Colleges of Distinction, which will be published in 2006.Springfield Mayor Charles Ryan was asked to gauge the still very preliminary plans for development of Springfield’s riverfront. He was cautious in his response, which is understandable given how little is actually known about the plans and the people behind them.
But he told BusinessWest that, at the very least, it’s good to have some actual competition — and from the private sector, no less — for sites such as the old Basketball Hall of Fame. And we couldn’t agree more.
Nearly everything that has been developed in Springfield over the past several years — including the new Hall, the MassMutual Center, and the new federal courthouse now under construction, have been built with mostly public dollars. What Springfield needs is private investment, and it’s finally starting to see the potential for some on its long underutilized riverfront.
At the moment, there are at least two proposals still under consideration for the old Hall of Fame. One is for a sports and fitness center, and the other for a mixed use concept that includes a public market and restaurant.
Meanwhile, two partners who are now part of the public market complex, and who together formed the Connecticut River Development Corp., are gauging the feasibility of locating a hotel on the Riverfront Park site just south of the Memorial Bridge.
These are positive developments for Springfield, but we urge caution as the city mulls its options for the riverfront. This is an important piece of the economic development puzzle in Springfield and everyone is anxious for something to happen. But we think it’s far more important for things to be done right than for them to be done quickly.
Take the proposed hotel, for example. CRDC’s principals say the hotel-building entity they’re working with fell in love with the Riverfront Park site and wants to develop there.
That’s fine, but there are a number of logistical hurdles to be cleared before a hotel can even be considered; the biggest of which would be the railroad tracks that sit between the site and West Columbus Avenue.
And even if that access problem can be solved, does the city want to put another hotel on the riverfront when all indications are that downtown, specifically the area near the recently opened MassMutual Center, would make far more sense?
As for the public market concept, we’ve said before that it looks good on paper, but we’re not convinced that it can draw the high volume of traffic needed to make such a venture viable. The Springfield Riverfront Development Corp. (SRDC), the real estate arm of the Hall of Fame, has been weighing the public market concept for more than a year now, carefully considering whether or not it will work.
We encourage more of this due diligence because the old Hall of Fame is an asset that shouldn’t be developed (or torn down, as is now likely) merely for the sake of development.
The same is true of the old York Street Jail, which has sat idle for many years now, making the imaginative ‘Jail for Sale’ sign on its east wing a seemingly permanent part of the downtown Springfield landscape.
Like the old Hall, the jail seems destined for the wrecker’s ball, because its quirky design does not lend itself to easy redevelopment.
Razing the structure should open the door to a number of opportunities, but the city must carefully weigh what the next use will be.
Indeed, if Springfield’s riverfront is to become the destination everyone hopes it will be, it must draw people from across Columbus Avenue — and across the region. Ideally, locations like Springfield’s riverfront work best when people can work, play, eat, shop, and live there — and we believe this is the multi-faceted course the city should pursue.
Above all, patience must dictate the overall development process. People in Springfield talk about how long the old Hall of Fame has been vacant — three years — and they express frustration. Then they consider how long the jail has been rotting (more than a decade) and they really get frustrated.
But the task at hand is not to merely develop the riverfront, but to develop it properly. Thus, the city must proceed with caution.?
Go FIT Foundation Provides Youths, Women with An Exercise in Healthy Lifestyles
Susan Jaye-Kaplan
Susan Jaye-Kaplan knows all the statistics about obesity in America, especially among young people. She doesnt need numbers, however: she can see the problem as she conducts programs in conjunction with the foundation she has created called Go FIT. Designed to provide life-long lessons in good health and nutrition, the program stresses that children have to walk before they can run.
Susan Jaye-Kaplan knows what its like to be underprivileged. Orphaned at an early age, she lived with various relatives in Boston, and was on her own and on the streets before graduating from high school.
I knew what it was like to not have a roof over my head and not know where the next meal was going to come from, she told BusinessWest, adding that she was essentially going nowhere, and fast, until a mentor stepped into her life.
His name was Lippman Hart Geronimus. He was a bacteriologist at Beth Israel Hospital, and he came across Jaye-Kaplan as she walked around various offices and labs looking for a summer job.He found something for me to do, she said, adding that his help went well beyond a paycheck.
He made me say the same thing every day that I can do anything and be anything I want to be as long as I remain focused, hard-working, challenged, and honest.
Inspired by her own good fortune and how it was shaped by someone who gave her guidance and direction and helped her believe in herself, Jaye-Kaplan has dedicated much of her adult life to providing similar opportunities for others. A year ago, she and her husband founded the Go FIT Foundation, which provides health and fitness opportunities to economically underprivileged and underserved youth and women in inner city and rural settings.
The foundation conducts six-week programs designed to stress the benefits of walking and running. But its overall mission is to go much further.
Indeed, Go FIT is about more than helping an increasingly overweight population of young people and women learn about diet and exercise, said Jaye-Kaplan.
It also exists to provide guidance, show children that others care about them, and convince these young people that they should care about (and take care of) themselves.
The foundation has conducted 12 programs to date, at sites ranging from YMCAs to area inner-city schools to the Mass. Career Development Institute, and has received requests for dozens more. The early success of programs conducted in the Pioneer Valley, coupled with exposure in publications such as New England Runner and Runners World, has prompted requests for programs from across the state and, more recently, other areas of the country.
Taking Go FIT from a local to a regional and then national (and perhaps international) initiative is inevitable, said Jaye- Kaplan, noting quickly that she and the groups board of directors will move carefully as they consider expansion.
Like the young people involved in the Go FIT programs, the groups leaders will walk before they run.
Step by Step
Jaye-Kaplan doesnt hide her frustration as she talks about the overall fitness and athletic abilities of the youths she sees at Go FIT programs or the distinct lack thereof.
When they start the six-week programs, she said, participants do 30 minutes of walking and running in repetitions involving four minutes of walking followed by one minute of running and more than half simply are not up to it.
The poor conditioning is attributable to a number of factors, she said, including everything from improper diet to the influence of video games to the fact that parents living in many inner-city neighborhoods will not let their children out to play because the streets and parks (what few exist) are too dangerous.
Participation in a Go FIT program will not change a childs physique, weight, or endurance level, said Jaye-Kaplan. Six weeks will not change who they are today, but the hope is that their perception of who they are for themselves will change.
Were hopeful that we can change the way young people perceive what they can and cant do for wellness and life, she continued.
If they can look at one less day of television and one less day of fast food … if we can change the perception of what theyre capable of doing in their own minds, thats truly the beginning of what can happen for the rest of their lives.
This was Jaye-Kaplans vision when she and other members of the Pioneer Valley Womens Running Club, which she formed, started a ‘Walk to Run program that engaged area youths in programs stressing exercise and nutrition.
Conducted in conjunction with groups such as Girls Inc. in Holyoke and area YMCAs, the ‘Walk to Run programs used running as a way to get young people thinking about the long-term benefits of exercise and healthy eating habits for both the body and mind, she explained.
The running club was not in a position to expand ‘Walk to Run, said Jaye- Kaplan, so she and her husband created the Go FIT Foundation to carry on the mission and take it to a higher level.
The group received more than 80 requests for programs in its first year, she said, and it conducted as many as time and resources would allow. The sessions are carefully prepared, she explained, adding that there is a lengthy training regimen for mentors prior to each program. Each days session begins with a meeting in a friendship circle, she said, adding that there are speakers on subjects ranging from nutrition to dental hygiene, as well as exercise routines. Participants log their activities and their thoughts about them in Go FIT journals.
Students are given sneakers and Tshirts, said Jaye-Kaplan, but, ultimately, they take something more valuable with them come programs end appreciation of the importance of a healthy lifestyle.
Programs generally cost about $5,000, which covers clothing and footwear for participants and other expenses, said Kaplan, noting that corporate sponsors have helped offset those costs.
Incorporated last January, Go FIT has exploded onto the local health and education scene, picking up major corporate sponsors, energetic and community-minded board members, and considerable momentum along the way.
Carol Leary, president of Bay Path College and one of those board members, told BusinessWest that she became involved because she believes in Go FITs mission of both educating and mentoring young people and women.
The college has taken part in a number of the groups initiatives, she said, including a program for students of Springfields Beal School that took part on the campus, and a nutrition program designed to help Bay Path students make smart nutrition decisions.
These students are enjoying real independence, usually for the first time in their lives, she said. They can eat whatever they want; we want them to make smart, informed decisions about nutrition.
Leary said she has been inspired not only by GoFITs mission, but by Jaye- Kaplans energetic, imaginative approach to carrying it out.
By that, she meant the creation of what she called ‘concentric circles. Touch one person, and they are educated in a new way of thinking or a new way of behaving, he explained, then they will touch another person. And thats the brilliance of this program.
Those individuals who go through the program … their lives will be changed forever; they will always think about what they eat and about the value of exercise, she continued. And they will hopefully then touch another person their own child, a brother, a sister, a mother, a father who will hopefully be touched by the Go FIT philosophy.
Other area colleges and businesses have been similarly inspired. The list of sponsors and supporters includes Springfield College and Western New England College, Big Y, Reebok, Lenox American Saw, Health New England, Baystate Health, Spalding, and others.
Looking forward, Jaye-Kaplan said Go FITs early success and its strong base of support should enable it to expand its reach well beyond the Pioneer Valley. Already, the Boston Parks & Recreation Dept. has made inquiries about scheduling programs for dozens of sites, and Jaye-Kaplan anticipates handling that assignment in 2007.
Were getting calls from Wisconsin, Kansas, Tennessee, all over, she said. Its gratifying but also a little overwhelming. Were going to expand at a workable pace; we want to get all our ducks in a row.
The Finish Line
Jaye-Kaplan told Business West that many young people cry when their sixweek Go FIT programs end and she often gets teary eyed herself. Thats because she views those final sessions not as the end of something, but rather a continuation (hopefully) of a new and different outlook on health, fitness and life.
As she said, she cant take an obese child and make her fit and trim in a month and a half. But she can lay the foundation for a healthier life, and that is her ultimate mission. And shes going to take it take one child, and one step, at a time.
George OBrien can be reached at[email protected]
On Beacon Hill, legislators are debating ways to increase the number of people with health insurance coverage. The outcome of that debate will reshape the health insurance landscape, protect the health of more of your friends and neighbors, and affect your medical costs.
Change is coming, and it is needed. Though they differ on specifics, the governor, the Senate president and the speaker of the House all agree on that point. For the wellbeing of hundreds of thousands of Massachusetts residents, we must seize this once-in-a-generation moment.
Health insurance enables patients to access the preventative care that saves lives, so it is time to set ourselves on a path to affordable, meaningful coverage for everyone. It is at the heart of what hospitals stand for in this debate.
Coverage should take the form of expanded Medicaid for the needy and new, more affordable private health insurance.These options should truly meet peoples’ medical needs. Reform that offers benefits that are low and co-pays and deductibles that are high will not work.
There must also be a recognition that no matter how generous the benefits, no matter how broad the coverage, there will still be those who will fall between the cracks.There must be a safety net for them and for those who provide their care. The form of such a safety net can be debated, but there should be no disagreement about its necessity.It’s not realistic to assume that we won’t need a safety net once health reform becomes law. That will put vulnerable people in harm’s way.
As lawmakers focus on reform, one of the great challenges confronting them is affordability to consumers, businesses and taxpayers. As you might expect, in the current system, all sides try to reduce costs.But if a business chooses to cut expenses by dropping coverage for employees, we all end up paying for that choice as those employees become state-subsidized ‘free care’ patients. At the vast majority of good businesses that offer health benefits, some employees who are financially capable of enrolling sometimes gamble by opting out. And these aren’t the only “free riders.” The state has a track record of consuming services through Medicaid and paying for far less than the cost of those services.
That is why coverage for all requires ‘shared responsibility’ by all. Without it, the cost of caring for the uninsured will still be unfairly carried, in the form of higher premiums, by responsible citizens and companies. For state government, shared responsibility means stepping up with fair Medicaid payments.
For individuals, it means living up to the personal responsibility to purchase insurance.Reform can help make insurance more affordable, and it is fair to offer public subsidies to help those who find that insurance is just beyond their financial grasp.
Employers – including hospitals – that provide coverage to their workers should not have to bear the cost for those who do not. Businesses that are struggling to offer health benefits should not be put at a competitive disadvantage against those that are not making the same effort. It may also require assistance to small businesses that want to step up and do the right thing on health benefits.
Hospitals have a critical role to play in the affordability challenge. We support efforts to reduce administrative costs, to manage costs more effectively, and to be publicly accountable for the care we provide.Better information technology is a key component. We also know that, depending on the needs of a patient, care should be delivered in lower cost settings. All patients deserve the right care, at the right place, at the right time.
These lofty goals can be realized. But, it will take more revenue, whether it comes from tobacco money, gaming revenue, assessments on employers who do not provide coverage, or increased Medicaid reimbursements.
This is Massachusetts and this is the moment. With commitment, collaboration and, most importantly, leadership, we can make coverage for all a reality. Let’s do it.
Ronald M. Hollander is President and CEO of the Massachusetts Hospital Association. (781) 272-8000.
| The following Business Certificates and Trade Names were issued or renewed during the month of November 2005. | |
| AGAWAM | Inspirit Common Sprint Nextel Holyoke Pallet Co. M & J Painting |
| The following bankruptcy petitions were recently filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Readers should confirm all information with the court. | |
| Adon, Sergio E. Alderman, Laura B. Alderman, William N. Almodovar, Rosemary Attanasio, David Paul Attanasio, Pamela Jean Barabolkin, Dmitriy Barabolkin, Marie Ellen Bashaw, Gerald. J. Bauer, Karen L. Beauchene, Meghan M. Beyer, Jill Boothby, Mary Ann Boucher, Sandra A. Brow, Elizabeth M. Buoniconti, Theresa Cannamela, Audrey J. Capaccio, Mary E. Capaccio, Pasquale Cardona, Willy J. Carosello, Richard Cayon, James M. Ceccarini, Bridget Lynn Conley, Kenneth George Cyranowski-Grimaldi, Jane C. Dana, Scott D. Dana, Stephanie B. Davieu, Charles R. Doyle-Workman, John Charles Ducharme, Esther Figueroa, Wanda I. Flowers, Daniel Fogarty, Kelly Nicole Ford, Gary T. Ford, Gary T. Frenier, Margaret Gordon, Richard E. Gouvin, Bernice R. Griggs, Jeffrey L. Gubula, Matthew P. Gubula, Shana A. Hamre, Elizabeth A. Harris, Isaiah L. Heimsath, Steven M. Howland, Pamela J. Keller, Joan Kolosewicz, Loretta Jean Larkin, Thomas Francis Le, Hong Thi Le, Viet The Lee, Patricia A Lee, Xiong Chue Leigh, Denise A | Lewis, Jason E Littlejohn, Mark Maguire, Edward J. Messenger, Susan Diane Miller-Baker, Maryanne Morgan, Gordon Samuel Mularski, Peter J. Murphy, Ellen M. Nestor, Melissa Nevue, Thomas M. Newsky, Victoria B. O’Keefe, Edward F. Ortiz, Janet Otis, Lisette J. Paton, Christopher L. Paton, Katherine W. Perry, Russell D. Pixley, Sandra J. Provost, Anelda A. Punderson, Todd Breck Racine, Lori-Ann Renaud, Richard E. Renaud, Rosemary Rivera, Josue Robbins, Lori Jean Robbins, Mattie B. Rosado, Hector L. Rzonca, Daniel M. Sanchez, Betsy Santiago, Enrique Santiago, Rose M. Sargis, Thelma Celeste Sayers, Robin L. Schell, Yong S. Snyder, Lisa M. Sollecito, Andrew P. Stevenson-Mitchell, Sullivan, David W. Sullivan, Robert A. Taylor, Earlene V. Thomas, Karen A. Tucker, Catrese Shubrick Vega, Onelia Veloz, Rene Vicki, LaBonte Wallace, Joanne Wallace, LeRoy Wallis, Guy C Walz, Dawn Marie Walz, Glen Richard Wilkinson, Melissa Anne Young, Grace A. Morin, George C. |
What’s Next for Springfield’s Riverfront?
Evan Dobelle, left, seen here with Springfield Technical Community College President Ira Rubenzahl, says “eds and meds” are the future of the New England economy.
While the process of selecting a developer for the old Basketball Hall of Fame continues, a development team has forwarded what it calls a bridge-to-bridge plan for the riverfront that includes several challenged properties, including the old Hall, the long-idle York Street Jail, and the underutilized Riverfront Park site. Just what will develop, however, and when, are still very big questions.
Tim Mulcahey says it all started with idle talk about building a facility for a CYO basketball program on a parcel near the former York Street jail.
That is how the ball started rolling toward formulation of an ambitious, still-evolving venture for Springfields riverfront. For now, its being called the bridge-to-bridge plan, said Mulcahey, a Longmeadow real estate developer, who has partnered with Dennis Serna, a Connecticut-based developer, and created an entity called the Connecticut Riverfront Development Corp.
The CRDC is currently looking at several pieces of property along a roughly mile-and-a-half long stretch between the South End and Memorial Bridges. These include the long-vacant prison, the former Basketball Hall of Fame, and a little-used recreational area called Riverfront Park.
The proposed CYO basketball facility was long ago put on the shelf, said Mulcahey, the long-time director of that youth program. But he, Serna, and some other players have moved on to bigger and hopefully better ventures.
They have joined forces with the Springfield Business Development Corp. (SBDC) in a proposal for the old Basketball Hall of Fame site that combines several elements, including a public market, a restaurant and some retail. That plan is one of two considered finalists for re-use of the old Hall, which has been closed and unused for three years.
Meanwhile, the CRDC is in the exploratory stage of a project to locate a hotel on the Riverfront Park site. The partners have signed a letter of intent with the city that gives them, in essence, an exclusive window of opportunity for that parcel.
Theyll have roughly the next three months to finalize plans for what Mulcahey describes as a destination hotel. Should a concrete proposal come forward, the city would then have 45 days to look it over and decide whether it earns a thumbs-up.
As for the old jail, Serna said several possible uses have been considered, and more are being formulated. For now, though, the jail is at least third on the to-do list for the real estate between the two bridges.
We started with the jail, and will probably still do something with that site, he explained, but as it worked out, the focus went north of the jail, because opportunities presented themselves there first.
Both Springfield Mayor Charles Ryan and David Panagore, deputy executive director of the Springfield Finance Control Board, welcomed the CRDCs initial plans for the riverfront, but cautioned that they have been and will continue to be closely scrutinized to ensure that they are both feasible and compatible with other economic development initiatives.
Were not going to hand over development rates on a speculative basis, said Panagore, who is now leading the citys economic development efforts. Were not going to give someone those rights for two years and say, go come up with a plan. Well hand over development rights when there are viable projects.
Ryan concurred, but said the level of interest in various riverfront parcels, especially the old Hall site, is cause for optimism. Its been quite a while since weve seen actual competition for development of that area, he said. Lately, most all of the development has come from the public sector; this a welcome turn-about.
Mulcaheny and Serna acknowledged that they are not big players when it comes to real state development. Their goals much easier to enunciate than their plans are merely to develop (or redevelop, as the case may be) an untapped asset in the riverfront, and give a beleagured city a boost.
We want to do something that will hope move Springfield forward, said Mulcahey. Were part of this community, were involved in it, and we want to see it prosper.
BusinessWest looks this issue at how this unique partnership plans to go about that assignment.
Money in the Bank
As they talked about CRDCs preliminary plans for the riverfront, Serna and Mulcahey were long on optimism but short on specifics, especially with regard to potential pricetags.
The riverfront should be a crown jewel, it should be a real destination, said Mulcahey, noting quickly that details of many components of the bridge-to-bridge project cannot be revealed due to various confidentiality agreements and also because some of the plans are still quite vague.
What is known is that CRDC is moving forward on at least two of the three (or more) phases of its broad riverfront development initiative. More will certainly be known by the end of this year or early next, said Mulcahey, noting that a developer should be chosen by then for the old Hall, and he and Serna will know if they can clear the many hurdles standing in the way of the hotel project (more on that later).
As for how the bridge-to-bridge concept and its first phase, the hotel came together, said Serna, it was a case of getting some unique perspective on the riverfront; in other words, a look from someone who doesnt see it every day.
They walked that entire length of riverfront, from the jail to the bridge, and simply fell in love with that park site, he explained, referring to a hotel-building entity he chose not to name.They said, this is where wed like to be.
Getting them there will be the mission for some unlikely partners who have some experience in construction and real estate development, but certainly nothing on the scale of Springfields riverfront.
Mulcaheys resume includes a variety of work in property development. He worked for Ohio-based Dairy Mart as a project supervisor and manager, and helped select and develop many sites in the Northeast and Midwest. Later, he worked as a project manager for a New York-based businessman, Andrew Stone, who developed a number of office buildings, industrial parks, and other ventures in Connecticut. From there, Mulcahey developed a project in Boston called First Atheneum Street, a large office project, before joining a Hartford-based real estate development firm.
Serna, meanwhile, also has a background in commercial real estate development. He started in Stamford, Conn., and later relocated to Manhattan, where he worked on several projects, before joining Starwood Capital Group. Based in Greenwich, Conn., SCG is a multi-faceted real estate group that specializes in hotels, among other things.
While the two partners would not identify the hotel-building entity they are currently working with, they have been linked in some published reports with Atlantabased Nylo LLC, a company launching a chain of small hotels with loft-style rooms.
Mulcahey would say only that what is being considered for the riverfront site is a new concept, especially in this market, and would be classified as a destination hotel.
While the Riverfront Park location offers sweeping views of the river and the historic Memorial Bridge, it is challenged in many ways. For starters, it is separated from West Columbus Avenue by a wide set of railroad tracks, used primarily by Amtrak for commuter runs.
This logistical concern has limited use of the park, said Ryan, noting that while the property is used as a park, it is not designated as park land, an important distinction because the latter would pose a much larger obstacle to development. Creating access to the proposed hotel either over or under the railroad tracks will be one of the main questions to be answered during CRDCs 135-day window for devising plans for the site, said Serna, noting that the partners have become convinced that there is a need for additional hotel rooms in the city.
A market demand study for Springfield, conducted by the Boston-based Pinnacle Advisory Group, revealed as much. It said that a growing inventory of tourist attractions and completion of the MassMutual Center should increase demand to the point where greater supply is necessary.
However, the reports authors concluded that downtown, rather than the riverfront, would be the better location for such a hotel.
Although both areas are viable options for new hotel development, the benefits of a downtown hotel outweigh the riverfront, the report stated. Furthermore, a downtown location would provide more benefit to the MassMutual Center, which is strategically important to future growth in Springfield.
Mulcahey acknowledged the reports findings, but told BusinessWest that the Riverfront Park hotel, as currently conceptualized, could become an effective link between downtown and the riverfront and accentuate current efforts to enhance the State Street corridor. It could become a great asset for Springfield.
Going Through Hoops
As could a new development on the old Basketball Hall of Fame site, which became the second race, as Mulcahey called it, that the CRDC found itself in.
Indeed, as they were conceptualizing the hotel project, the two partners also became involved in the ongoing effort to develop the old Hall, a project being overseen by the Springfield Riverfront Development Corp. (SRDC), the real estate arm of the Hall of Fame.
The SRDC has spent the past year or so hearing and weighing proposals on the old Hall. Among them is a plan conceptualized by the Springfield Business Development Corp. that centers around a public market, similar in many ways to the Portland (Me.)Public Market, which opened in 1998 and has had a strong impact on that regions economy.
Other proposals have included a fitness and sports complex, proposed by East Longmeadow developer Peter Pappas and a restaurant/retail mix forwarded by CRDC. That latter proposal has now been merged with the public market concept, said Mulcahey, noting that it and the Pappas complex are under what is considered final review by the SRDC.
We took the public market project and we enhanced it, said Mulcahey, adding that as it sits now (and few details were revealed) the plan calls for demolishing the old Hall and constructing a new building that would house the market, a restaurant, and several retail components in a facility to be built through a mix of public and private funds.
SBDC Director Michael Graney would say only that the development of the old Hall is a process, one that is ongoing, and with no firm timetable, although he expects a developer will be named soon.
Regardless of who that is, the CRDC will press ahead with other components of its bridge-to-bridge proposal, said Mulcahey, noting that there are other parcels, including the jail, to be considered.
Like others, he said the jail site offers promise, but its design limits what can be done with it. Thats a challenging building, but there are opportunities for things to happen there.
Panagore agreed, and said there is a strong possibility that all or major portions of the building will have to be razed if development is going to occur on that site. When asked if the city, and specifically the Economic Development Department would prefer one developer for the riverfront or a group of different teams, Panagore said the most important element is the quality of the proposals, not who is making them.
Were looking for viable projects, thats the bottom line, he said. Weve seen enough master plans on the riverfront, we dont need to see any more. What we need are sound, doable projects that make sense for the city.
Channeling Resources
Whether the CRDCs concepts fall into that category remains to be seen.
For now, the partners have a window in which to work on phase one of their initiative, while also focusing on other parcels to the south.
If their bridge-to-bridge vision can be realized, then the days of talking about the riverfronts great potential will finally be in the past.
George OBrien can be reached at[email protected]
Health Care Providers Wait “ and Prepare ” for Avian Flu
Dr. Richard Brown says the medical community is better prepared avian flu than it has been for other major health risks.
Avian flu is nothing new. The last three major flu pandemics, in fact, were caused by influenza viruses that stemmed from fowl and migratory bird populations. Those outbreaks were in 1968, 1957, and 1918 (the Spanish flu), and all originated in Asia, not unlike the current bird flu being monitored. Usually, there are about three pandemics a century, said Dr. Richard Brown, chief of infectious diseases at Baystate Medical Center. So were sort of due. The question is: is this it?
The term ‘pandemic refers to any outbreak that crosses borders as it spreads; i.e., a regional pandemic or global pandemic. The term does not refer to the actual severity of the illness that spreads, but the swift response on the part of various countries across the globe to the current avian flu type H5N1, to be exact is an effort to avoid the worst case scenario: a lethal, wide-spread public health issue.
Winging It
Carol Wojnarowski, RN, manager of Infection Control at Holyoke Medical Center, said theres no way to tell if the danger associated with the flu virus currently on the global radar screen will increase, but said there is certainly cause for concern.
A strain of bird flu can exhibit either high or low pathogenicity, she explained, meaning it either exhibits a quick onset and the ability to kill an organism, or a slow onset and less likelihood to result in death.
The birds carrying the H5N1 virus in Asia and some parts of Eastern Europe have been exhibiting high pathogenicity, although only a handful of human cases have been recorded in remote areas of Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam to date.
Those humans who have contracted the flu are those who are coming in very close contact with these birds, Wojnarowski said.
We would be incredibly concerned if we started to see it spreading in the urban centers of those countries, because that would mean it was probably being passed from human to human.
In short, its the ease of spread coupled with a high pathogenicity that has government officials, including those in the U.S., on high alert.
The common flu viruses we have here now kill 36,000 people in the U.S. each year, she said. 90% of those people are over the age of 65, and usually die from pneumonia, which sets in after a prolonged illness.
With a flu that has a high pathogenicity (for humans), people dont have time to get to the pneumonia stage they get sick very quickly and die from their flu symptoms. Theres also the danger of younger, healthier people getting the disease and dying from it thats what happened during the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918, and thats what has people worried.
Further, since migratory birds are carrying the virus as much as fowl relegated to farms or contained areas, the virus has been seen creeping across the Asian continent steadily, another warning sign of an approaching pandemic.
Theres no question that these birds are moving, Brown said. The spread is directly related to their flight patterns.
Shot in the Dark
To address those concerns, a vaccine is currently in development for avian flu, although scientists are working with a moving target flu viruses tend to mutate easily, making vaccines ineffective.
If a flu virus mutates in a major way, it essentially becomes a new virus to which populations are susceptible, Brown explained.
So in addition to vaccine development, contingency plans are being put in place on various plateaus, from the federal level to the state level and within hospitals and communities across the country.
Some policies being drafted are simple and resemble those often recommended for dealing with traditional flu viruses avoiding the workplace when ill and constant hand-washing, for instance.
Hospitals are also working to stock greater numbers of masks, and create isolation wings or rooms and quarantine plans for the facilities, as well as for entire communities. They are also developing ‘surge plans, designed to help facilities handle the sudden onset of a number of patients that exceeds normal levels.
Wojnarowski added that all hospitals work closely with the Centers for Disease Control to report instances of flu hospitalizations and other instances of infectious disease.
If any patterns begin to develop, that ‘fish-net approach catches them early. In addition, she said the nation is also surveying poultry and migratory bird populations, in order to identify potential carriers of the virus.
Once the birds are sick, its too late the virus is already doing its damage, she said. The country is taking the monitoring and evaluation of these birds very seriously.
Referring not only to his own organization but the country as a whole, Brown added that hes seeing a greater response to this health issue than others in recent memory, such as SARS.
I think were responding better to this issue than we have in the past, he said. This flu has the potential to attack healthier populations than we are used to; its more virulent, and people could be more prone to respiratory failure. That prompts a lot of questions, from the availability of ventilators to staffing, and the discussions to answer those questions are happening.
Its important to note, Wojnarowski and Brown agreed, that the U.S. does not anticipate imminent danger from the avian flu, although the plans being put in place now are not being considered pre-emptive or kneejerk reactions; rather, they are examples of proactive measures.
Theyre a good test, said Brown. In regard to the vaccinations, as we develop vaccines were also developing better ways to make them. There has been a lot of collaboration with hospitals and the state. Disaster plans are becoming more streamlined, and any weaknesses are being pointed out and fixed.
There are also medications available that are likely to have some impact on this flu, he continued. People should remember to live their lives there are no restrictions on travel at this time, and people should feel free to eat chicken and other poultry. This flu may not be on its way this year, he concluded, but that doesnt mean it wont happen next year.
And he hopes it wont be news to anyone.
Beacon Hill Pushes for A Consensus on Health Care Reform
Dr. Charles Cavagnaro said the quick pace at which lawmakers are approaching heath care reform is necessary to securing federal funds.
The fast track. Thats where the Commonwealths health care reform efforts currently sit, only temporarily stalled after speeding toward the point at which the House and Senate must hammer out a compromise between rival plans. While its true that the proposals have some similarities, they also have some major differences, especially when it comes to their effect on the business community.
When reached, that compromise will go to Gov. Mitt Romney, who has forwarded his own health care reform proposal, giving lawmakers three measures from which to craft a response.
It remains to be seen what the final draft of this, the most recent attempt at reform legislation in Massachusetts will look like. But legislators hope to have a plan in place by early January an ambitious goal, given that the House and Senate approved their respective bills on Nov. 3 and 9. But time is of the essence — and its a big part of the story.
A plan must be in place soon if the state is to qualify for $335 million in federal funding used as both the carrot and the stick in an effort to compel states to provide health insurance for more of their residents. According to Eileen McAnneny, vice president for Government Affairs for the Associated Industries of Mass. (A.I.M.), an original deadline of March 1 was set by the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Studies (CMS), however the center recently requested that Massachusetts file its proposal by Jan. 15.
The state and federal governments have a binding agreement that all proposals are submitted at the absolute latest by March 1, she said, but since that agreement was made, CMS has requested that the work be done by Jan. 15. Some would argue that the request is not legally binding, but there are millions of dollars riding on this and it is probably best to honor that request. All states are currently working under the same federal guidelines that require health care reform packages be approved at the state level and later at the federal level, in order to receive federal dollars that have been earmarked for state health care programs by CMS. Its also money that is necessary for most states, including Massachusetts, to put new programs into place for the coming year.
Jeffrey Ciuffreda, vice president for Government Affairs with the Western Mass. Economic Development Council, echoed McAnnenys comments in regard to the importance of chasing those dollars. Were talking about matching funds for health care for all of the states, said Its roughly 50 cents on the dollar that came into the picture a few years ago when the feds said the states needed to start better controlling their costs and revamping their health care systems.
Theres some debate as to where that deadline will finally fall, but it has to be soon, he said. The original date was last year, but a waiver was granted to all states, so thats why there is such a push on now. The speed at which Massachusetts legislators have moved to craft their respective measures — not to mention individual provisions — has been cause for concern for some, who fear that a hastily drafted plan could lead to problems in the future, such as health insurance plans with high deductibles or penalization systems. In a statement issued on Nov. 1, Richard Lord, president of A.I.M., criticized the House for rushing its proposal.
A hasty process lends itself to errors, omissions, and unnecessary confusion, particularly when we are analyzing, reviewing, and digesting a proposal of this magnitude, he said. Later, on Nov. 9, Lord targeted the Senate, saying that A.I.M. was disappointed that this far along in deliberations, the current Senate bill has serious shortcomings. He went on to list several bullet points the organization had previously cited as important to a complete reform package, including a vehicle or entity to facilitate use of pre-tax dollars by individuals to purchase health insurance. Still, many, A.I.M. officials included, contend that garnering that $335 million is necessary in order to foster change in the health care system, and therefore the quick turnaround of the House and Senate bills is also essential, especially as the deadline approaches. We recognize the pressures, said McAnneny.
We understand the importance of submitting these proposals soon, so were certainly not asking the Legislature to take its time. Dr. Charles Cavagnaro, chief executive officer for Wing Memorial Hospital, and also a practicing physician, also underscored the importance of those federal dollars by pointing out that without them, health care reform will be delayed substantially in the future. It is not the plan that is important now, but the funding behind it, he said. Without it, we cant implement anything. That federal funding is important to the state and the legislators, and they dont want to lose it.
The Power of Three
The three rival health care reform initiatives have similar goals: increasing coverage to the uninsured — thus shrinking or eliminating the Uncompensated Care Pool — and streamlining the states health care system. All three plans, however, differ in several respects. Both the House and Senate bills followed an early, more global health care reform proposal set forth earlier in the year by the governor. That proposal included a mandate that all Massachusetts residents obtain coverage, either on their own, through a state-controlled program such as MassHealth, or through a low-cost-policy program.
It also advised improvement of the malpractice system and consumer access to health care provider quality and cost information, and increases in Medicaid reimbursement rates for providers. Both the House and Senate bills include some provisions similar to Romneys, however they also approach several issues, particularly the uninsured population, in different ways The House bill requires that people who can afford insurance purchase it, and would increase the number of people covered by Medicaid by tapping the tobacco settlement fund (in its entirety) a figure of about $255 million a year. The House bill also mandates that busi-ness owners provide insurance for their employees or pay into an insurance fund essentially, a tax is levied on employers with 11 or more employees employers with 10 or fewer employees are exempt.
This controversial provision has drawn fire from state business groups including A.I.M. Proponents of the new tax are characterizing it as a ‘fair-share assessment designed to require businesses that dont offer health insurance to pay into our health care system. This description is patently false, said Lord. By providing a carve-out to really small businesses (10 or fewer employees), the bill would exempt 95% of employers that do not currently provide health insurance to their workers from this new tax, estimated to cost $700 million annually. This bill is really about asking employers of Massachusetts that already provide insurance to foot the bill for health care expansion. Currently, only Hawaii uses a system similar to that contained in the House version, and Lord believes that such a move would hurt the Commonwealths already fragile economy. Simply shifting the burden to pay for an inefficient system is not reform, he said. Controlling costs is the linchpin for addressing access and accountability. We must examine the way that health care is delivered in this state and begin to reshape our delivery system into a more efficient, financially viable system that can be sustained over time without sizeable new contributions from the paying public each and every year. The Senate bill does not include such a mandate, but it does stipulate that employers who dont pay for health insurance cover the health care costs of those workers who receive health care services.
Romney opposes the employer mandate set forth by the House, but has said he wants legislators to move quickly to reach a compromise, in order to tap $335 million in federal money to fund the finalized plan. Ciuffreda said that Romney got the ball rolling with an early set of health care reform proposals, in part to meet the deadline for acquiring those federal funds, but stepped back while the House and Senate drafted their bills. He deserves the credit for getting this started by using the bully pulpit and fueling the fire, said Ciuffreda. There were three pieces to this debate and there are still many, many moving parts, but now it comes down to the House and the Senate, and the plan theyre going to decide on between them. While Romney has steered clear of threatening a veto of any legislation that proposes mandated health insurance for employers, or penalties for those who do not provide it, Ciuffreda added that the governor is likely to enter the ring again if the provision shows up on the draft of the bill that emerges from conference committee sessions. Hes firmly against that employer mandate, and if needed, thats where were going to see him weigh in, he said.
Drawing Distinctions
Arguably, Romneys proposal and the Senate bill are most similar in their approach to reform. The Senate measure is considered more cautious than that of the House; Ciuffreda explained that the Senate bill lays out a plan to cover about half of the states uninsured over the next two years, whereas the House bill proposes that 95% of that populations insurance needs be immediately addressed through the mandated insurance requirements.
The Senates bill could be considered conservative, while the House bill is more aggressive, said Ciuffreda. The House is trying to take 95% of a problem and solve it, but the Senate is trying to help 50% or 60% of the uninsured population and provide assistance, then look at how the plan is working in a couple of years.
That might mean that we have a better handle on who those people are in two or three years, he continued, and at that time its possible that an even better bill can be drafted. Not unlike the bills themselves, the impressions of professionals in health care of the current trifecta of legislation are varied.
Cavagnaro said hospital administrators support the general concept of reform as a step in the right direction. Its safe to say that all hospitals are united in believing that this is something that needs to be done, but we are not as united in how that should be done, he said. Cavagnaro noted, however, that most hospitals agree that the impetus behind each piece of legislation is a good faith effort to improve health care in Massachusetts. In general, all three versions have merit, he told BusinessWest. Im hopeful that all three parties will come to a compromise without trying to get each others goat. The bottom line is the health care system is broken across the country, he added, and it is particularly broken in Massachusetts, so its clear that something needs to be done.
Cavagnaro said the uncompensated care pool has become the crux of the issue for many of the Commonwealths hospitals. For some, it is a huge burden, he said. Its behind all of this legislation. Even a compromised bill would begin to address the needs of the free care pool.
Proceeding With Caution
And, he added that the speed at which the proposals have been drafted on Beacon Hill will likely contribute to a plan that will prove to have some holes. However, Cavagnaro said it could also be a necessary risk. It has definitely moved the discussion to a new level, he said. And it has put greater importance on it than has ever been there before. The attention to the matter alone is a step forward.?
Proposition 2 1/2 was passed by voters on Nov. 4, 1980. It was a revolution, a passionate and controversial ballot campaign; now, 25 years later, it is an institution. Yes, once upon a time the property tax burden was the second-highest in the nation, which called us Taxachusetts.
Over the decades, taxpayers had been promised lower property taxes in return for other revenue sources. So by 1980 we had a high income tax, a sales tax, a lottery, and high property taxes. Further, we were one of the few states with an automobile excise and something called school committee fiscal autonomy, which gave local schools any amount of money they requested regardless of the wishes of city councils or town meetings.
On top of this, instead of getting a fair share of state tax revenues in local aid, the cities and towns had to fund any new bright idea that came down from Beacon Hill. And on top of that, the courts had just ordered all communities to comply with the state Constitution and assess all property at its full and fair market value. Many homes were assessed much lower; people imagined the communitys existing tax rate being applied to their homes true value.
Between outrage at broken tax-relief promises and panic about the coming revaluation, Proposition 2 1/2 was born. Citizens for Limited Taxation (CLT) collected signatures on an initiative petition that limited property taxes to 2.5% of a communitys value, cut the auto excise from $66 per $1,000 to $25 per $1,000, gave renters an income tax deduction, repealed school committee fiscal autonomy, and forbade new unfunded state mandates on cities and towns.
Battle lines were drawn: CLT, the Mass. High Technology Council, the Mass. Auto Dealers Assoc., and the National Federation of Independent Business against almost everyone else. Leading opponents were the Legislature, the Mass.
Municipal Assoc., the Mass. Taxpayers Foundation, the Mass. Teachers Assoc. and other public employee unions, various human service organizations, the Mass. Council of Churches, the Catholic Church, and, incredibly, the Mass. Assoc. of Older Americans.
Union fliers featured either a picture of a gun shooting backward, titled “How Prop 2 1./2 Works,” or the heading “Cutting Taxes? Or Cutting Our Throats? Human service fliers featured a senior with a walker, a young man in a wheelchair, and a couple of minority kids looking terrified. There were debates galore, hours of talk radio devoted to the issue, yard signs, and bumper stickers.
The League of Women Voters held onesided forums that presented only its point of view: Prop 2 1/2 will cause drastic cutbacks to basic public services.
Nevertheless, the people passed Prop 2 1/2, 59%-41%.
Then the battle really began: public employee marches, demands for repeal. But the Leguslature, getting the message, decided to work with the peoples law. CLT teamed up with the MMA, legislative Republicans, and conservative Democrats to get more local aid. With Gov. Ed King promising a veto of any changes that would damage Prop 2 1/2, a sensible provision for new growth was added, and the two-thirds vote for an override became a majority vote for various kinds of overrides, intended for bonded projects or emergencies.
Local officials were more respectful of taxpayers whose support might be needed to pass them. Local aid increased almost every year. Opponents who prophesied the end of the world looked silly.
Back then, of course, it was impossible to imagine voters raising their own taxes for operating expenses and teacher pay raises.
Twenty-five years later, the property tax burden is still too high, at eighth in the nation.
The long-term goal, to get education spending off the property tax, has yet to be realized, But individual taxpayers have saved a bundle on both the property tax limit, the rental deduction, and the auto excise cut. Twenty-five years later, Proposition 2 1/2 is still cause for celebration.
Barbara Anderson is executive director of Citizens for Limited Taxation, which created Proposition 2 1/2.
Insourcing: Foreign Companies, American Jobs
Nov. 17: The World Affairs Council (WAC) of Western Mass. will present a program Insourcing: Foreign Companies, American Jobs at the TD Banknorth Conference Center, 1441 Main St. in Springfield, from 5:15 p.m. to 7 p.m. Often lost in the outsourcing debate is the fact that nearly 5.5 million Americans — 190,000 in Massachusetts — are employed by U.S. subsidiaries of foreign businesses. Panelists will discuss the impact these businesses have on the local and national economies and how we might attract more foreign direct investment in our region. Tickets are $15 for WAC members, and $20 for nonmembers. For reservations or more information, call (413) 733-0110.
WNEC Tax Institute
Nov. 18: Updates on federal and state tax laws, new manufacturer deductions, section 1031 “like kind” exchanges and identity theft are topics of the 44th annualWestern New England College Tax Institute, planned from 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. in Sleith Hall on the college’s main campus, 1215 Wilbraham Road, Springfield. To register or for more information, call (413) 782-1473 or visit www.wnec.edu/tax.
City of Bright Nights Ball
Nov. 19: The Spirit of Springfield’s 10th annual gala, the City of Bright Nights Ball, will be conducted at the MassMutual Center, sponsored by the MassMutual Financial Group. The evening of fine dining and dancing will also include live and silent auctions. The Boston Culinary Group, bringing in chefs from throughout New England, will serve a gourmet dinner featuring plank salmon and beef tenderloin. Tickets are $400 per couple with tables of 10 available for $2,000. For tickets or more information, call the Spirit of Springfield office at (413) 733-3800.
Economic Impact Awards
Nov. 22: The Mass. Alliance for Economic Development will host its second annual Team Massachusetts Economic Impact Awards at the Sheraton Boston Hotel. Gloria Larson, Chair, Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, will be the Master of Ceremonies, with Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney as the keynote speaker. Honorees include Kleer Lumber, Interprint and Suddekor from Western Massachusetts. Registration begins at 11 a.m., followed by the program and lunch at noon. For reservations and more information, call (781) 489-6262 or visit www.massecon.com.
AIC Creates Scholarship Program for Springfield Homeowners
Ernestine Johnson, president of the Bay Area Neighborhood Council,addresses the audience at AIC’s announceent.
In a move that Springfield Mayor Charlie Ryan called revolutionary, American International College (AIC) has announced plans to offer annual $10,000 scholarships to its closest neighbors. The college unveiled its Community Engagement Initiative on Oct. 31, which will award four-year renewable scholarships to homeowners and their children residing in the Bay Area neighborhood and who meet AICs general admission requirements.
The section of the city includes portions of the State Street corridor, Mason Square, Tapley Street, and Roosevelt Ave., and is home to just over 4,000 of the citys 152,000 residents.
According to AIC president Vincent Maniaci, the program was designed to not only boost AICs enrollment numbers, but to also spur revitalization in the Bay Area.
We hope this will attract people to the area and have a positive impact on property values, he said, noting that if the program proves successful over the next year, the Bay Area will represent the first of several Springfield neighborhoods to benefit from the scholarship program, which essentially covers half of AICs annual tuition and does not preclude students from securing other loans, including federal loans.
Were going to approach this one neighborhood at a time, he said. But we hope to gradually build the program, and connect the dots from one neighborhood to the next, in order to bring them together.
Ryan expressed the same hope, and also called upon Springfields remaining colleges to follow AICs lead.
All of the colleges play a strong role in the city, he said. AIC has just gone beyond what anyone would have contemplated, creating a program we didnt even know was in the cards. Thousands of people could theoretically qualify … I hope that the other colleges will see fit to replicate this.
U.S. Rep. Richard Neal also praised the program, calling it a bold, assertive move.
Over the past few weeks, several key people within the city of Springfield have been given an opportunity to say what they think would best help this city, and the colleges and their roles in our future come up again and again, he said. AIC is the first college in the city to do anything about it.
The announcement comes on the heels of the establishment of a dual admissions agreement between AIC, Springfield Technical Community College, and Holyoke Community College, which allows students applying to one of the two-year schools to simultaneously apply at AIC, and take advantage of significant scholarship opportunities. Maniaci said the programs are similar in that they were both designed to open up the four-year college experience to as many people as possible.
We are looking to incorporate a number of other partnerships and programs in the future, he noted, declining to offer specifics until the initiatives are firmly in place. There are two or three things that are definitely in the works right now, each designed to make us an integral part of the Springfield community. If its not good for Springfield, we shouldnt be doing it, and were not going to.
Ernestine Johnson, president of the Bay Area Neighborhood Council, said she and her fellow Bay Area residents are pleased to enter into a new collaboration with the school.
Over the years, we have all watched AIC grow and change. Now, were thrilled to be part of something new and exciting … all we can say is thank you.
Loan Fund Marks 15th Anniversary
SPRINGFIELD — The Western Mass. Enterprise Fund Inc. (WMEF), a non-profit community loan fund, marked its 15th anniversary on Nov. 4 .During its most recent fiscal year, the WMEF disbursed $556,000 to 11 businesses in Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin and Berkshire counties. According to the projections of the borrowers, last year’s loans will create or retain 95 local jobs. WMEF provides financing and technical assistance to businesses and nonprofit organizations that may otherwise not qualify for traditional funding. For more information, call (413) 774-4033 or visit www.wmef.org.
Bradley Sees Double- Digit Monthly Passenger Increases
WINDSOR LOCKS, CT — September passenger traffic at Bradley International Airport soared by more than 15% over September 2004 (485,000) as more than half a million customers (560,000) used New England’s second largest airport. Overall, year-to-date passenger numbers are up more than 12% for the first nine months of 2005 over the same period in 2004. With new non-stop destinations including Los Angeles added in September and Salt Lake City coming on board in Dec., 21 additional daily non-stop flights have been added since August 2004.
SBID Receives Grant For Tree Planting
SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Business Improvement District (SBID) and the Springfield First Church of Christ Congregational (Old First Church) have received a grant to plant 12 250-300-pound trees in the downtown area. The planting of these trees took place at the end of October and the SBID will maintain them for three years. This event marks the sixth year of the tree-replanting program that the SBID began in 2000. To date, 93 trees have been planted in downtown.
GSCVB Celebrates 20 Years
PIONEER VALLEY — The Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau (GSCVB) recently celebrated 20 years of promoting Massachusetts’ Pioneer Valley as a visitor destination during its annual meeting at the MassMutual Center in Springfield. Following the meeting, the Bureau’s charter members were recognized with a special poem and plaque that will be displayed at the GSCVB’s offices at 1441 Main St., Springfield. Former staff and Board members were also recognized for their contributions. Charter members recognized were AAA of the Pioneer Valley; the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center; Eastern States Exposition; Holiday Inn, Springfield; Hotel Northampton; MassMutual Center (Springfield Civic Center); MassMutual Financial Group; Old Sturbridge Village; Peter Pan Bus Lines, Inc., and SER All American Exposition Services. Also, Sheraton Springfield Monarch Place Hotel, Six Flags New England (Riverside Amusement Park); Springfield Marriott Hotel; Springfield Museums Association; Springfield Symphony Orchestra; Storrowton Village Museum; Thornes Marketplace; Tower Square (Baystate West), and Yankee Candle Company.
Jobless Rate Up in Region
SPRINGFIELD — The unemployment rate for the Pioneer Valley rose to 5.0% in September from 4.5% in August, according to the state Division of Unemployment Assistance. Statistics also show that the labor force decreased slightly in Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties in September, and the number of unemployed people in the region was up slightly compared to September 2004. The labor force saw a decline, going from 348,400 in 2004 to 347,600 in 2005, while the number of unemployed people grew from 16,980 to 17,290. Officials at FutureWorks, a one-stop career center in Springfield, recently reported that regional employers posted 628 jobs in September which was down from 1,081 in August. State statistics show that the Greater
Springfield area added 700 jobs over the past 12 months, indicating a 0.2% increase to 297,800 jobs.
Nurses Bring Unique Background to Practice of Law
RN/JDs, from left: Jill Lyons, Diane Fernald, and Heather Beattie
Theyre called RN/JDs nurses who have gone on to earn a law degree. Their ranks are growing as law firms recognize the value of having individuals with a strong health care background on their team, not only to evaluate malpractice cases, but to help both individual physicians and giant health care systems navigate in an increasingly regulated environment.
As an administrator at Wingate at Wilbraham, a skilled nursing facility, and before that as vice president of Nursing for Noble Hospital in Westfield, Diane Fernald said she would often bump against the law in her work.
By that, she meant that, in addition to the obvious health care aspects to her duties, there were also legal issues everything from real estate questions to new state and federal regulations to matters of liability to contend with. The more she encountered these legal questions and answers, the more intrigued she became.
So, in 1994, she decided to do more than bump against the law; she decided to make it a new career.
That was the start of a sequence of events that eventually made Fernald part of the Health Care Practice Group at the law firm Morrison Mahoney LLP, which has offices in several major cities throughout the Northeast. Fernald is one of three (soon to be four) registered nurses working in the firms Springfield office who left that field to earn law degrees and now blend their talents in both realms to provide a unique level of experience to clients.
Indeed, the group, which also includes fellow RN/JDs Heather Beattie and Jill Lyons, is enabling Morrison Mahoney to expand its scope of work primarily in medical malpractice defense to areas that include regulatory compliance, managed care contracting, credentialing, licensing and privileging issues, peer review, practice formation and acquisition, risk management, and others.
The nurse-lawyers bring to each of these specialty areas a unique eye, said John Bagley, a partner with Morrison Mahoney. Were able to review regulations notjust with a lawyers eye, but with the help ofnurse-attorneys who can talk the talk, ifyou will, understand medicine, and alsounderstand the practical aspects, as well,he explained. So its not just a bunch oflawyers sitting around telling doctors howto practice medicine; its lawyers with theknowledge of how the real world of healthcare works counseling clients.
And by melding their experiences in health care and law, Beattie, Fernald, and Lyons, can offer some unique insight that can help clients after a suit has been filed, but also assist them avoiding claims, and thus the courtroom.
Were not just assisting clients in litigation, Bagley explained. Were helping them avoid litigation.
The Verdict Is In
Beattie recalled for BusinessWest one recent case involving a caregiver and a malpractice suit filed against her.
She cried for two hours; she just didnt believe that someone would question the care she gave and believe she was negligent, said Beattie. I explained to her how simple it is for someone to bring a lawsuit these days and how she shouldnt be upset by it
That case offers just one example of how attorneys with a background in nursing understand both the technical and emotional aspects of legal matters involving health care professionals. Thus, they can provide a level of service that someone with a JD (juris doctor, or law degree) and not a degree in nursing couldnt bring to the table, said Bagley.
He told BusinessWest that he and partner Dennis Anti recognized an emerging trend in the health and legal professions nurses going back to school to obtain law degrees and have expanded their practice to include many of these unique professionals.
There are many reasons why individuals choose to take that route, said Beattie, who worked as a nurse for 20 years mostly in neurosurgery and intensive care before earning her law degree from Western New England. Some get tired of the long hours, strange shifts, and lost holidays, she said, while others (and she put herself in this category)get tired of assisting 300-poundpeople out of bed.
But perhaps the biggest reason for the career shift is the growing number of opportunities for those who can place RN, JD after their names, said Fernald. The increasingly litigious nature of society has created some of these opportunities, she said, noting that long-term care, one of her many specialities (as both as a nurse and a lawyer) has found itself the target of a growing number of negligence suits.
But there are also new waves of rules and regulations that health care providers must live under, said Lyons, listing HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountabilty Act of 1996, as just one example of new compliance issues facing constituencies ranging from single-physician practices to health care systems.
To help providers navigate these increasingly treacherous waters, law firms are reaching out to individuals with a legal and health care backgrounds, said Anti, noting that Morrison Mahoney is setting the standard in this new hiring trend.
Were not creating a market for these services, he explained. The market was already there; were trying to meet a recognized need in the health care community.
Together, Beattie, Fernald, and Lyons have more than 70 years of work in nursing and health care administration to their credit. They pursued law degrees for different reasons, but Beattie might have spoken for all of them when she said, I wanted to pursue something I could do until I was 70 or 75.
A growing number of nurses are thinking in those same terms, said Fernald, noting that most law school classes now include at least one RN, and many have several. Meanwhile, many colleges have created courses or degree programs to address the emerging trend; Elms College in Chicopee has a new program in Legal Nurse Consulting.
There is a also a national organization for such professionals The National Assoc. of Nurse Attorneys, which has more than 1,000 members and dozens of chapters, the closest in Boston.
The reasons behind the surge in RN, JDs are many, said Bagley, but primarily, such individuals can offer a perspective and, therefore, a level of expertise that those without a background in health care cannot.
Dennis and I come from strictly a legal background legal education and legal training and, over the course of 20 yearsplus each, weve learned a lot of medicine, he explained. But the RN, JDs … theyve worked in those environments and that makes it easier for them to communicate with the client and advise the client on how to address these problems were seeing in these lawsuits.
Case Files
The three RN, JDs at Morrison Mahoney bring different strengths and layers of experience to the table. Fernald, who served as administrator of Wingate at Wilbraham for six years (1988 to 1994) and before that served the facility as director of Nursing, specializes in long-term care defense. This includes work with nursing homes, rehab centers, and assisted living facilities. She also handles medical malpractice defense, product liability, and professional liability representation.
She first worked with Bagley at the Springfield firm Egan Flanagan, and Cohen, and later worked for the Commonwealth as an attorney and Medicare program manager, handling Medicare and Medicaid appeals and thirdparty liability.
Beattie told BusinessWest that, while in law school at WNEC, she considered getting into criminal work. She interned at the U.S. Attorneys office in Hartford, and, later, in district court in Springfield. She opted, ultimately, for work that involved both of her professional degrees.
In 1999, she became the first RN / JD to join Morrison Mahoney, and since then has cultivated a multi-faceted practice that includes medical malpractice and product liability defense, general insurance defense, representation of physicians and nurses in Board of Registration in Medicine and Board of registration in Nursing complaints, and general health-law litigation.
Lyons became the latest addition to the team in June. A 2003 graduate of the Massachusetts School of Law, she did some consulting work for the Nashoba Valley Medical Center and also served as interim director of its emergency department. She later joined Worcester Medical Center as director of risk management and patient safety officer.
In those roles, she actually became a client of Morrison Mahoney, working extensively with Beattie and Anti. As the need for additional RN, JD at the firm became evident, work to recruit Lyons ensued and then escalated.
A fourth nurse/lawyer could be hired in the near future, said Bagley, noting that, while law firms are generally conservative when it comes to expanding staff, there is a definite need within the market for the unique blend of talents that RN/JDs can provide.
Together, the RN/JDs will help Morrison Mahoney achieve goals common to every law firm, said Bagley expanding the client list, while also providing a wider array of services to existing clients.
Final Arguments
As they talk about the health care profession and their work as nurses, Beattie, Fernald, and Lyons all use the present tense and with good reason.
Thats because while theyre all working a law firm, they are still nurses. In fact, as Fernald told BusinessWest, they are better nurses now than when they were in the field because of what theyve learned in their new profession.
But, ultimately, they are more than nurses. They are RN/JDs, and thus on the cutting edge of what would have to be considered a healthy career track literally.
George OBrien can be reached at[email protected]
| The following business incorporations were recorded in Hampden and Hampshire counties, and are the latest available. They are listed by community. |
| AGAWAM The Travel Group Inc., 375 BONDSVILLE Pure Water Solutions Inc., EASTHAMPTON Off The Map Inc., HAMPDEN Central Enterprises Inc., LONGMEADOW Vikam Associates Inc., NORTHAMPTON When Children Save The Day Inc., SOUTH HADLEY C.S.A. Restaurant Inc., SOUTHAMPTON Charles J. Hubbard Inc., SPRINGFIELD Albert Jolicoeur & Sons Inc.,
WILBRAHAM Celtegrity Corp., WEST SPRINGFIELD MRI Network- SCHC Inc., |
Disappointment. That was our first, and most lingering, reaction to the news that Chicopee Mayor Richard Goyette was arrested earlier this month and charged with extorting campaign contributions from two city business people in exchange for favors from City Hall.
These are merely allegations and, as always, there is a presumption of innocence. But at the very least, Goyette has embarrassed his city and further eroded the publics trust in officials not only in Chicopee, but everywhere.
There was much surprise at the news, and much anger as well. After all, BusinessWest did endorse Goyette for a second term as mayor, believing that he had the leadership skills and common sense needed to move the community forward. We, like many Chicopee residents, feel betrayed and misled.
We have seen time and again the strong, negative impact of corruption in Springfield. Former Mayor Michael J. Albanos actions have left the citys residents bitter, skeptical, and far less willing to give appointed and elected officials their trust. Meanwhile, it has left business owners wary about the community and hesitant to make the kinds of investments we know are needed if Springfield is to rebound. We were of the opinion that area elected officials had learned from Springfields problems and fully understood the high cost of corruption.
We were wrong. If the allegations against Goyette are true, then he, like so many members of the Albanos administration, put his own interests above the communitys and with possibly dire consequences.
We say possibly, because there is a chance maybe a goodchance thatChicopee will sufferthe same fate as Springfield. That it willbecome the butt of jokes and the subject ofcountless newspaper and magazine articlessuggesting strongly that the communitysbest days are well behind it, with federalagents announcing one indictmentafter another.
Chicopee has enjoyed a strong resurgence in recent years. The second-largest city in the Pioneer Valley has seen an influx of new businesses from manufacturers in the Westover business parks to national retailers taking up residence on Memorial Drive. Meanwhile, it has also seen a number of public investments in the form of new schools, including two high schools, a new city library, and many infrastructure projects.
The city is primed for continued growth, and it is our hope that the city will survive this recent embarrassment and the crisis of confidence that may ensue. As weve said many times, while it is important for this region to have a strong Springfield, we also need a strong Northampton, Westfield, Agawam, West Springfield and Chicopee.
But someone else is setting up shop in Chicopee the FBI. Indications are that investigators have been turning over rocks in that community, and they are finding some things. We can only hope that charges against Goyette represent the end, not the beginning, of real trouble for this proud city.
In the meantime, we also hope that what transpired earlier this month with Goyette is not forgotten, and that lessons are learned from this fiasco.
Indeed, the worst thing about Goyettes arrest, and his silence thereafter, is that it gives people cause to believe that this kind of behavior is commonplace; it gives people license to say, theyre all like that.
Well, theyre not all like that. The vast majority of the people serving cities and towns in our region are honest, hard-working people who have only their communitys best interests at heart.
Still, this would be a great time (just a few days after the local elections) to remind all those fortunate enough to gain the favor of voters that a vote is an instrument of trust, and that trust is not to be violated or in any way taken for granted.
Maybe, in some small way, Goyette did this region a favor by reminding everyone who serves local communities about the price that is paid when greed, arrogance, or poor judgment overtakes responsibility, and when power corrupts.
If Goyette is guilty, he will certainly pay a high price for his actions. Hopefully, Chicopee and this region wont suffer the same fate.
| The following Business Certificates and Trade Names were issued or renewed during the month of November 2005. | |
| AGAWAM Cigar by the Box Luis Auto Detail Sunny Enterprises LLC Unique Creations Embroidery AMHERST Amherst Martial Arts Bekapak Delta Organic Farm Holeshot’s Premium Tattoo KC’s Home DÈcor Masters CHICOPEE Bear Auto Brett’s Stump Grinding Ladies Workout Express N.E. Relocation Group Ron’s Services, Heating & Refrigeration Steven Hemphill CMMA EAST LONGMEADOW A.T.D. Cleaning Services Chocolate Works Lighthouse Liquors Stixx-N-Stones HADLEY Candy Stand Doubleday Farm Firehouse Sprint Tran’s World Food Market HOLYOKE The Black Sheep Harmony Hidden Hollow Floral Designs Kennedy & Williams Homes 900 Broadway Communications Prints Plus Inc. Tempos Inc. LONGMEADOW Animal Instincts Pet Sitting & Dog Walking OG Solutions NORTHAMPTON Blue Jar Software | Cassandra’s Clarity Data Services Mill River Woodworks Pioneer Naturopathic Medicine Sam’s CafÈ Village Antique SPRINGFIELD The Aged Polish Vodka Co. Around the Clock Home Care BSB Express Buck’s Electronics Clerk St. Press Computer Ambulance Dazzle Studio of Dance Field Spring Glitterz Girlz Nail Salon I Wireless JT Graphics Mary Kay New York Nails Pasquale Perrotta Smith Fashions Trans Border Marketing WEST SPRINGFIELD A to Z Moving and Storage Inc. Building News Service Denny’s Trading Fini’s Auto Sales Hallies Comet KJ Woodworking Mobil Auto Repair Oem Telematics Services The Ivanhoe West Springfield Mobil WESTFIELD Adam’s Power Services Bryant’s Auto Solutions Eternal Stone Works Ray Davidson’s Home Improvement Simplicity Salon |
 |
| Super 60 Lunch The Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield recently staged its annual Super 60 luncheon, an event to honor the region’s top-performing companies in the chamber’s Total Revenue and Revenue Growth categories. At left, Cordia Harrington, president and CEO of the Tennessee Bun Company and the luncheon’s keynote speaker, chats with Mark Morris, public relations manager for Health New England, and Peter Straley, president/CEO, Health New England, the event’s presenting sponsor. At right, Straley and Jay Primack, right, managing partner, Moriarty & Primack, PC (platinum sponsor), present a Super 60 plaque to Jim Sasenecki, president, Brookdale Associates Inc. the top finisher in the ‘growth category.’
Topping-off Ceremony Cooley Dickinson Hospital President Craig Melin, left, shakes hands with John Heaps, president of Florence Savings Bank, at a recent ‘topping off’ ceremony for the $50 million expansion project at the hospital. Employees and physicians of the hospital, donors to its Caring for the Future campaign, and nearly 100 members of the community attended the ceremony, which marked a milestone in a two-year project that started in April of 2005 that will add a four-story, 116,000-square-foot building to the hospital’s campus. The building will contain eight surgical suites, a wing of 32-single-occupancy patient rooms, a centralized laboratory, and central sterile supply area and an expanded Joint
Branching Out Hampden Bank recently staged an open house for its newest branch on the mezzanine level of Tower Square. Here, Hampden’s president, Thomas Burton, left, chats with BusinessWest Editor George O’Brien.
Commerce 2005 The Chicopee and Greater Holyoke Chambers of Commerce staged Commerce 2005, their fall trade show, on Nov. 3 at the MassMutual Center. Clockwise from top left: Andy Hogan, Kevin Hart, Marcos Garcia, and Sean Hogan of Hogan Communications do their best Blues Brothers impression; Martin Johnson and Gilbert Nieves greet visitors to the Citizens Bank booth; Bob Gaboury and Tim Haas of Holyoke Gas & Electric staff the utility’s booth.
|
Spalding Launches NEVERFLAT™ Basketball
SPRINGFIELD — Spalding recently introduced NEVERFLAT™, the first-ever ball with proprietary pressure-retention technologies guaranteed to hold air up to 10 times longer than traditional basketballs. The NEVERFLAT™ basketball, designed by Primo Innovations, is the only ball guaranteed to stay fully inflated for at least one year – with no additional air needed during that period. The basketball, with a suggested retail price of $39.99, hits store shelves in mid-November.
Hampden Bank Opens at Tower Square
SPRINGFIELD — Hampden Bank’s new Tower Square branch office is the seventh in the bank’s branch network and provides a full array of convenient banking and financial services to individuals and companies headquartered at both the Tower Square and Monarch Place office complexes. The 1,000-square-foot facility contains a 24-hour ATM and Night Drop services area, teller and CSR stations, and private banking area. Also, there is space for financial services consultation through the bank’s Hampden Financial division affiliated with The Novak Charter Oak Group and MassMutual. The branch also features plasma screens, interactive kiosks and merchandising walls that inform customers of the latest products and services the bank offers.
Isenberg School MBA Program Receives Top- 10 Rankings
AMHERST — For the second consecutive year, the Isenberg School of Management’s MBA program has received two top-10 national rankings in the Princeton Review’s annual Best Business Schools publication, which ranks MBA programs in 11 strategic categories. In the 2006 edition – the Best 237 Business Schools – the Isenberg School’s full-time residential MBA program repeated last year’s ranking of fourth in the nation in the category “Best Professors.” At the same time, it improved its national ranking in the category “Best Overall Academic Experience,” from tenth to sixth.
3rd Quarter Net Loss for United Financial Bancorp
WEST SPRINGFIELD — United Financial Bancorp Inc., the holding company for United Bank, recently reported a net loss of $173,000 for the quarter ended Sept. 30. The results reflect a one-time after-tax expense of $2.2 million, which was incurred to establish and fund the new United Charitable Foundation. Excluding this charge for the charitable foundation, net income would have been $2.0 million for the three-month period, compared to $1.7 million for the same three-month period in 2004. Since the company’s initial public offering of common stock concluded during this quarter, earnings per share data is not being presented because it is not considered meaningful. For the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2005, net income amounted to $2.8 million compared to $4.3 million for the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2004. The company’s initial public offering concluded on July 11, and raised $74.8 million in the offering, selling 7.5 million shares of common stock at $10 per share.
Paradise City Voted Favorite Arts Festival East of the Rockies
NORTHAMPTON — Paradise City Arts Festivals makes the 2005 list of America’s 10 favorite shows for the second year in a row, with a ranking of #2 nationwide, according to AmericanStyle Magazine. The publication’s December issue reveals their readers’ favorite shows of high-caliber fiber art and craft from across the country. Approximately 300 shows nationwide fit the description for high quality, collectible fine art and craft shows. Paradise City, the only organization of the top five with shows in the Northeast, was the clear first-place winner among gated indoor events. Also, Paradise City’s hometown, Northampton, was ranked #9 nationwide as a small city arts destination. Paradise City, founded in 1995, also was ranked #1 for the best arts festival east of the Rockies.
Belt Technologies Acquires Mississippi Company
AGAWAM — Belt Technologies recently acquired Clark Manufacturing, a belt manufacturer based in central Mississippi. The acquisition will complement Belt Technologies current offerings of steel belts to the robotics, semiconductor, packaging, medical and pharmaceutical industries. Manufacturing from the Mississippi plant will be moved to the Agawam facility where new product lines will be absorbed within the current manufacturing capacity, according to company officials. No terms of the sale were provided at press time.
The following is a compilation of recent lawsuits involving area businesses and
organizations. These are strictly allegations that have yet to be proven in a court of law.
Readers are advised to contact the parties listed, or the court, for more information concerning the individual claims.
NORTHAMPTON DISTRICT COURT
Energy East Solutions Inc. v. LaVera Cruzana Restaurant
Allegation: Breach of contract —
Failure to pay for goods and services:
$3,331.91
Date Filed: Oct. 7
HAMPSHIRE SUPERIOR COURT
Patrons Mutual Insurance Co.
of CT as surrogee of S. Michael Figarsky v. Cook Builders Supply, Hearts & Home Technologies Inc. and Valley Home Improvement, Inc.
Allegation: Breach of contract — Failure to do work in a workman-like manner:
$400,000
Date Filed: Oct. 7
HOLYOKE DISTRICT COURT
The Darcy Co. v. Aekara Inc. d/b/a Red
Rock Pizza
Allegation: Breach of contract — Failure
to pay for goods and services: $1,372.87
Date Filed: Oct. 5
CHICOPEE DISTRICT COURT
Instar Services Group LP d/b/a Action
Fire Instar Services Group v. John
Leslie and Robert W. Hawley, Jr. d/b/a
U-Save Quality Builders & Remodelers
Allegation: Breach of contract — Failure
to pay for services: $5,193.50
Date Filed: Oct. 17
SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT
Electrical Wholesalers Inc. v. Kevin
Garibian d/b/a Garibian Electric
Allegation: Breach of contract — Failure
to pay for goods sold and delivered:
$2,760.47
Date Filed: Sept. 23
Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. v..
M & J Co. Inc. d/b/a Roof
Remedy Associates Allegation: Breach of contract —
Failure to pay for workmens comp insurance: $7,826.20
Date Filed: Sept. 27
Mountainview Landscapes & Lawn
Carev. Techni Products Inc.
Allegation: Breach of contract — Failure to pay for lawn care services: $10,412.81
Date Filed: Sept. 27
Cordi Foods Inc. v. Crescenzo
Enterprises Inc. d/b/a Little Italy Pizza
Alligation: Breach of contract — Failure
to pay for goods sold and delivered:
$11,202.32
Date Filed: Sept. 28
HDC Three LLC v.. Harding of N.E. LLC
Allegation: Breach of contract — Failure
to clean trash and debris: $20,000
Date Filed: Oct. 3
WESTFIELD DISTRICT COURT
Salt City Inc. v.. Metro West
Management Inc.
Allegation: Breach of contract — Failure to pay for road salt sold and delivered:
$16,818.04
Date Filed: Oct. 7
Speaking is Only Part of the Communication Process
The holidays are fast approaching, and with that comes the thoughtwrenching task of coming up with gift ideas for family, friends, and colleagues, etc. Are you looking for the perfect gift for those hard-to-shop for individuals on your list? Something that everyone wants but rarely receives? Better yet, something that wont involve sitting in traffic, battling for parking or endless check-out lines because it cant be purchased at any store or from inside the mall? In fact, this gift wont cost you a thing other than time.
What is the gift in question? Listening! Sounds simple but in our fast paced, action-oriented world, listening has become a lost art. Listening is the foundation for effective communication. However, most of us are compelled to speak in order to feel valuable to the conversation. Speaking is usually the first word that comes to mind when people think about communication.
But speaking is only part of the process; listening is the other part and is even more important. When no one is listening, the words we speak are meaningless.
According to a James Madison University employer survey, 78% of the respondents indicated that listening effectively is very important to the success of their organization. Yet, less than 2% of the workforce is trained in listening skills.
Think about the last time someone tried to talk to you. While you may have heard the words they said, did you really listen to them? There is a big difference between hearing and listening. Hearing is physiological.
Our ears register sounds of all kinds the drone of an airplane flying overhead, music in the background, childrens laughter, the words someone speaks. Its what we do when we hear the words that make the difference between hearing and listening. Hearing is passive; it just happens. Listening is active and requires energy.
Listening engages the mind and involves skill, patience and concentration. When you are truly listening, you must pay attention, interpret the words, understand or clarify them, and, if appropriate, respond to them.
While our intentions may be good, many of us encounter obstacles that interrupt the listening process. Noise, such as a jackhammer outside the office window or traffic noise when on a cell phone, may interfere with the ability to effectively listen.
Because our lives are so fast paced and time deficient, many of us have become multi-taskers. This diminishes effective listening. When we are trying to do too many things at once, we can become easily distracted.
Along with distractions are interruptions, such as the telephone, E-mail, people coming in and out of the room, etc.
Our assumptions or judgments also get in the way. Can you recall a time when you assumed you knew what someone was going to say, only to find out that you were wrong? Sometimes people fail to listen because they are too busy formulating their response even before the person is through speaking. Impatience is a serious obstacle to listening and can be caused by such things as style, status, gender or cultural differences, lack of interest, or even distrust.
Since many obstacles can hinder our ability to listen effectively, becoming aware of what gets in our way is a great start.
Improvement begins by assessing your listening behaviors. To improve your listening skills, have a reason to listen. Without a good reason for listening your mind might wander and you might become impatient. Do you need the information or have a general interest in the topic? Do you want to know the speakers ideas and opinions or does the speaker need an opportunity or chance to express themselves on an issue?
Participate in the process. Put all your energy into listening. Focus on the speaker; make them the only game. Listen not only to the words they say but to whats not being said. What does their body language say? Are they saying one thing while their body language reveals another? How about the tone of their voice? Become curious; look for clues and ask questions. Questions demonstrate your interest in what the other person is saying (or not saying) and can help the speaker to be more specific so you can understand better. Make them right.
Everyone is entitled to their feelings and opinions. While we dont have to agree with everything being said, we can respect, acknowledge and appreciate them. Let the speaker have their own style, be patient and dont interrupt. Give them the space to speak. W.A.I.T. before you respond.
W.A.I.T. is an acronym for Why Am I Talking? This can help you to regain focus on the speaker versus your response. Make it easy. Help the person relax by doing so yourself. This will help the individual feel comfortable in opening up and communicating freely.
Many times we feel that when people come to us with a problem or challenge, we need to help them solve it by providing answers and solutions. But oftentimes what they value most is the opportunity to talk it through and be heard. By effectively listening, you allow peoples busy, hectic worlds to slow down providing them with the time and space to quietly think things through to solve the situation or challenge on their own. Everyone benefits from good listening.
A good listener can help individuals gain clarity and focus and relieve stress. All of this can improve decision-making and get people into effective action.
Listeners create enhanced communication, strengthen relationships, and reduce conflict. Listening the rare gift most have been WAITing for this holiday!
Lynn Turner is an executive coach and owner of Ironweed Business Alliance, a coaching and consulting firm specializing in leadership development, team building and work/life balance strategies. She is also the host and producer of a local radio talk show/Web site Business Link Radio (www.businesslinkradio.com) ;[email protected]; (413) 283-7091.
For more on Effective Listening and Effective Communication:
Turner will be facilitating an American Management Assoc. University Program on Effective Communication Skills at Holyoke Community College. For more information about this five-night course starting Nov. 30 call (413) 552-2122 or visitwww.thecenter-hcc.org/ama.htm#communication
AGAWAM
Berkshire Agawam
63-79 Springfield St.
$100,000 — Remodel storefront
Olympic Mfg. Group
153 Bowles St.
$80,000 — Addition
AMHERST
Immanuel Lutheran Church
867 North Pleasant St.
$7,500 — Interior partitions
Mauro Aniello
30 Boltwood Walk 3
$6,500 — Renovate restaurant
CHICOPEE
Elms College
291 Springfield St.
$165,000 — Renovate kitchen
Munich Haus Inc.
13 Center St.
$3,000 — Repair exterior wall
Top Flite Golf Co.
425 Meadow St.
$52,300 — Increase size of golf ball swing lab
EAST LONGMEADOW
East Longmeadow High
School
180 Maple St.
$7,500 — Bleachers
HOLYOKE
South Street Plaza
209-235 South St.
$14,300 — Ronnie’s Restaurant
— Remove bearing block wall
NORTHAMPTON
Alexander Bykhovsky
159 Main St.
$8,000 — Remove and construct
non-bearing walls
City of Northampton
212 Main St.
$30,000 — Install rooftop units,
duct work and roof curb
City of Northampton
20 West St.
$187,000 — Renovate exterior stone
Clarke School for the Deaf
47-49 Round Hill Road
$1,600,000 — Add elevator
accessible entrance, bathroom, renovations
Laurel Ridge Realty Associates
312 Hatfield St.
$5,000 — Replace 10 exterior bulkheads
Paul H. D’Amour
162 North King St.
$95,000 — Construct wall,
mechanical room, roof-top equipment and store front
Richard W. Finck, Trustee
63 Main St.
$15,650 — Office renovations
Smith College
Elm St., Gillett House
$7,250 — Renovations
Suburban Linoleum Co. Inc.
63 Maple St.
$45,000 — Interior renovations for new offices
Valley Community Dev.
Corp.
3 North Main St.
$46,884 — Construct cafe in
existing
space
SPRINGFIELD
Amerada Hess Corp.
991 St. James Ave.
$155,000 — Build store
Diamond Affiliates
125 Paridon St.
$60,000 — Flagpole
Fountaine Properties
66B Industry Ave.
$72,000 — New entrance,
renovate dock area
Mass Mutual
1500 Main St.
$56,000 — Modify Suite 215
Shiloh Seventh Day Church
797 State St.
$15,000 — Renovate heating
and roofing
WEST SPRINGFIELD
Eastern States Exposition
1305 Memorial Ave.
$2,788,705 — Construct new visitor’s center
WESTFIELD
PeoplesBank
281 East Main St.
$760,000 — Expand
Springfield Museums Receive Support for ‘Learning Together’
SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Museums has received a grant for the second year in a row for $95,000 from the MassMutual Financial Group for Learning Together,” a series of educational programs for Springfield Public School students. “Learning Together” addresses the goals of Step Up Springfield, the citywide initiative that challenges the entire community to work together to promote academic proficiency and character development among Springfield’s youth. The grant will support fee waivers for students to participate in educational school group programs at the museums and bus transportation for all fifth-grade students in the city to visit the museums for grade-specific science and social studies programs that target the M a s s a c h u s e t t s Curriculum Frameworks and MCA’s testing. Also, funding will be used toward coupons for a free adult admission to encourage students to visit the museums with their families, and afterschool outreach programs at the North End Youth Center, South End Community Center and Springfield Day Nursery. “Learning Together” activities will take place during the 2005/2006 school year. Throughout the year, museum staff, in consultation with Springfield Public School and MassMutual officials, will evaluate the progress of the project and discuss ways to expand and refine the program in succeeding years.
.Bright Nights Adds ‘Jurassic World’
SPRINGFIELD — The Spirit of Springfield recently announced a major addition to its popular “Bright Nights at Forest Park” for this holiday season – Jurassic World. The 12-piece display is being presented by the MassMutual Financial Group. The new light display features an array of dinosaurs, trees, and an erupting volcano. Jurassic World will be located in the park’s Memorial Grove. Jurassic World is the first major addition to “Bright Nights” since 2002, according to Judith A. Matt, President, Spirit of Springfield. The 11th season of Bright Nights opens Nov. 23 and operates Wednesday through Sunday until Dec. 11. Beginning Dec. 14, the holiday lighting display operates nightly through Jan. 1. Nightly, buses with reservations, are welcome from 5 to 6 p.m. For personal vehicles, Bright Nights is open Monday through Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m. for $12 per vehicle, and 6 to 11 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and holidays at $15 per vehicle.
For more information, call (413) 733-3800 or visit www.brightnights.org.
MHA: Nursing Vacancies Down Slightly
BURLINGTON, Mass. — The vacancy rate for registered nurse positions in Massachusetts hospitals dropped only slightly in 2005, as hospitals continue to battle against the current and looming larger national nursing shortage, according to a new study by the Massachusetts Hospital Association and the Massachusetts Organization of Nurse Executives. According to the survey of hospitals, the RN vacancy rate as of January 2005 was 6.4%, down from 6.8% in 2004 and 8.5% in 2003. The report noted that while vacancy rates have declined for the third consecutive year, they still stand at a high level relative to rates over the 18 years of data collection. National studies suggest that the slight dip in vacancy rates is caused by the reentry to the workforce of older, married nurses responding to increasing RN wages and the toll of relatively high unemployment rates on their families, and more recently, widespread private sector initiatives aimed at increasing the number of people who become nurses. However, these studies say the forecast of a long-term, structural shortage is unchanged. The acute care hospital respondents represented 91% of the state’s 66 acute care hospitals and 94% of the state’s acute care hospital beds.
UMass Computer Models Sharpen Securities Fraud Detection
AMHERST — The world’s largest private- sector securities regulator, the National Assoc. of Securities Dealers (NASD), has teamed up with UMass Amherst researchers to bring cutting-edge computer science to the world of securities fraud. By developing statistical models that assess data that most models can’t manage, the scientists aim to help the NASD discover misconduct among brokers and concentrate regulatory attention on those who are most likely to misbehave. Because broker malfeasance is often encouraged by the presence of those conspiring to commit fraud themselves, the researchers were given the task of developing statistical models that made use of this social aspect of rule-breaking. Such “relational” data is difficult for many models, which often assume independence among records. The work is part of an ongoing, joint project exploring fraud detection by UMass Amherst researchers and the NASD, and it was presented recently by doctoral student Jennifer Neville at the 11th ACM SIGKDD International Conference on Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining.
30-Year Mortgage Rates Climb Past 6%
NEW YORK — As realtors note a drop in the housing market frenzy of late, mortgage rates have climbed above 6% — the secondhighest level of the year. According to Freddie Mac, the nation’s housing agency that sells guarantees for home loans, this recent surge can have a psychological effect on persons considering purchasing a home or refinancing a home loan. A chief economist with Freddie Mac speculates that mortgage rates will gradually rise over time but that the 6% rate will hover for awhile before it rises again.
Small Businesses To Benefit From Grants
SPRINGFIELD — Small businesses in the North and South Ends and in Old Hill and Six Corners will benefit from an $80,000 grant administered by the Affiliated Greater Springfield Chambers of Commerce Inc. Several vacant storefronts in each neighborhood will be spruced up and occupied in the hopes it will turn the neighborhood around. Grant money will not be given to the business owners directly, but can be used for architectural costs, marketing, advertising, legal and accounting fees. Bills for the services will be processed through the office of Chamber President Russell F. Denver, who will use the grant money to pay them. Grant money can be used for a new business moving into a storefront or an existing business that wants to expand into an adjacent storefront. The state Division of Employment and Training provided the grant. For more information, contact Denver at (413) 787- 1555.
Two Supermarkets Planned for Sixteen Acres
SPRINGFIELD — Stop & Shop and Big Y Foods announced plans in October forsupermarkets in the city’s Sixteen Acres neighborhood. Big Y plans to reopen a store that was closed two years ago on Wilbraham Road – with a new twist – a smaller, specialty- food theme called Fresh Acres Market. Features of the market would include an area for a farmers market, floral and produce sections, food take-out, a deli and bakery. In addition, the market would feature a gourmet section and conventional store. Stop & Shop has proposed converting 415 Cooley St. into a Super Stop & Shop of 60,000-square-feet, along with 10,000 square feet for other retail space. Stop & Shop has purchased and plans to demolish four homes on Allen Street to accommodate its site needs, however, it still needs zone changes from the Springfield City Council in order to move ahead with its plans.
Food Bank Breaks Ground for Addition
HATFIELD — Western Mass. has a hunger problem, according to Robert Moorehouse, executive director, Food Bank of Western Massachusetts. In an effort to address the rising needs of those facing hunger throughout the region, the Food Bank recently broke ground on a 16,000- square-foot addition that will double the size of its facility. Currently, the Food Bank distributes perishable food to more than 400 shelters, pantries and social service agencies throughout Western Mass. With the new industrial coolers and freezers, the capacity for more perishable food, fruits and vegetables will help provide a healthier diet for the hungry. The Food Bank launched a Room to Grow Campaign last year which has raised $3.6 million toward the new $3.9 million addition. In addition, the Kresge Foundation has offered a $150,000 challenge grant to implement green technology in the new facility.
U.S. Colleges Still Costly
uring the annual survey recently released by the College Board, college cost increases slowed in 2005, the lowest rate since 2001. For students attending a public four-year university, a 7.1% increase is still well above the inflation rate and translates into an average of $5,491 for tuition and fees for one year. Students at two-year public colleges rose by 5.4% to $2,191. At private fouryear, nonprofit colleges, costs increased by 5.9% to $21,235. Most students do not have to pay the full price because of loans and grants, as well as tax breaks. The College Board noted that while total financial aid is increasing, loans accounted for more of the growth than grants for the third consecutive year. Students have to pay back loans, but not grants. Undergraduate borrowers are seeing an average debt of $15,500 – an amount that most experts feel is manageable for students. The College Board also criticized the proliferation of popular state programs that award college grants based on merit and not need.
The following Business Certificates and Trade Names were issued or renewed during the month of October 2005
AMHERST
Jones Properties LTD
Partnership
53 Hobart Lane
$5,000 — Construct handicap ramp at front of building, deck and ramp at rear
Woodgreen Amherst Limited Partnership
6 University Dr.
$2,000 — Install sign at
UPS Store
HOLYOKE
Hazen Paper Co.
240 Southwater St.
$18,350 — Re-roof
NORTHAMPTON
Kollmorgen Corporation
347 King St.
$76,000 — Install three overhead doors in tower Northampton Aeronautics
Inc.
152 Cross Path Road
$14,850 — Demolish
7,920 square-foot building
SPRINGFIELD
City of Springfield
200 Bernie Ave.
$167,000 — Construct new
dental clinic
Springfield College
283 Allen St.
$20,850 — Install new metal decking
WESTFIELD
Getty
41 Franklin St.
$57,000 — Renovate
interior White Street School
300 White St.
$32,000 — Install new insulation
Legislative Breakfast
Nov. 4: Massachusetts Treasurer Tim Cahill will be the keynote speaker at the West Springfield Chamber of Commerce Legislative Breakfast from 7:15 to 9 a.m. at Springfield Country Club, 1375 Elm St., West Springfield. State Sen. Stephen Buoniconti and state Rep. James Welch will also make brief remarks. The cost is $20 for members and $25 for nonmembers. For more information or to make reservations, visit www.myonlinechamber.com.
City of Bright Nights Ball
Nov. 19: The Spirit of Springfield’s 10th annual gala, the City of Bright Nights Ball, will be conducted at the MassMutual Center, sponsored by the MassMutual Financial Group. The evening of fine dining and dancing will also include live and silent auctions. The Boston Culinary Group, bringing in chefs from throughout New England, will serve a gourmet dinner featuring plank salmon and beef tenderloin. Tickets are $400 per couple with tables of 10 available for $2,000. For tickets or more information, call the Spirit of Springfield office at (413) 733-3800.
WNEC Tax Institute
Nov. 18: Updates on federal and state tax laws, new manufacturer deductions, section 1031 ‘like kind’ exchanges and identity theft are topics of the 44th annual Western New England College Tax Institute, planned from 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. in Sleith Hall on the college’s main campus, 1215 Wilbraham Road,
Springfield. To register or for more information, call (413) 782-1473 or visit
www.wnec.edu/tax.
Economic Impact Awards Nov. 22: The Mass. Alliance for Economic
Development will host its second annual Team Massachusetts Economic Impact Awards at the Sheraton Boston Hotel. Gloria Larson, Chair, Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, will be the Master of Ceremonies, with Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney as the keynote speaker. Honorees include Kleer Lumber, Interprint and Suddekor from Western Mass. Registration begins at 11 a.m., followed by the program and lunch at noon. For reservations and more information, call (781) 489-6262 or visit www.massecon.com. Government Reception Nov. 30: The Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield presents its annual Government Reception at the Carriage House at Storrowton Tavern, Eastern States Exposition, Memorial Avenue, West Springfield. For more information or to register, visit www.myonlinechamber.
com.
Springfield Museums display determination
Cover 10/31/05
Museums everywhere are struggling to reinvent themselves and appeal to wider audience, while simultaneously coping with tight budgets and overtaxed staff. The Springfield Museums are not immune to those challenges, and face them everyday. But museums director Joe Carvalho is optimistic that the institutions have what it takes to not only survive, but thrive in the national marketplace.
“Have you ever seen a Samurai sword?” That was the question Joe Carvalho, director of the Springfield Museums, posed to a family he ran into recently while rushing off to a meeting on the museum grounds. The family had come to the museums specifically to tour an exhibit on black soldiers who fought in the Civil War, and, having completed their visit (or so they thought), were about to leave.
But Carvalho had other plans for the family, which included two young children whose eyes widened at the prospect of checking out a massive Japanese sword, like the ones theyd seen in movies and video games. Having successfully steered them away from the parking lot and toward the Asian art exhibit, Carvalho headed off to his meeting.
An hour later, he passed the same family, now with handmade Asian kites in their hands that theyd created at the nearby Art Discovery Center, and with plans to visit the science museum before leaving. “Now that,” Carvalho said, with a slap to his knee that was both emphatic and triumphant, “Thats great. Thats what its all about.” It was just a snapshot, he said, of the model the Springfield Museums have been cultivating over the past several years.
“Museums used to be purely visual,” he said. “You came to simply see. But we cant be that anymore … you have to be able to see, do, touch, interact, learn, and have fun. More and more museums are realizing thats what you have to do to survive, but I think were ahead of the curve. I think thats our magic.” And one statistic would suggest that Carvalhos optimism is warranted: Springfield Museums have logged record attendance levels over the past three years, bringing in the highest number of visitors in the facilities history.
Thats in the face of financial challenges and staffing cutbacks, among other concerns, not to mention the museums central location in the heart of a struggling city. As part of its focus on the regions travel and tourism sector, BusinessWest looks this issue at some of the initiatives that are working for the museums, and some of the new frontiers Carvalho and his staff hope to cross in the future, as they work to bring an historic quartet of buildings into the 21st century.
Curating the Ills Carvalho said the Springfield Museums arent unique when it comes to many of those ongoing concerns he mentioned. Museums nationwide face a common set of challenges, and its how those problems are tackled that determines the ultimate level of success. Museums are charged to continuously shake off the dust, sometimes literally, he said, within their halls and to not only change with the times but also translate those changes to the general public. They must update their collections, while maintaining existing ones.
They must appeal to general audiences, while still upholding high academic standards in the areas of archiving and historical or cultural relevance. They must perpetually seek out new funding sources in the form of grants or corporate support in order to maintain services, and must also make do with sparse staff and resources in the face of budget constraints.
“Keeping good people is an issue that all museums deal with,” Carvalho explained. “There is a major misconception that people who work in museums sit on their hands all day, when in fact, we have a team of professionals here that are increasingly called upon to broaden their skill base. “Staffs are getting smaller all the time in all museums,” he continued, noting that when money is tight, staff cutbacks are common.
But as the demands for new types of technology-based, multi-media exhibits and offerings increase, existing employees are often called upon to add a new line to their list of responsibilities. “The technological and cultural literacy required to work in this environment is staggering, and were lucky here to have people who have taken that component of ongoing education very seriously. In some cases, their creativity has translated into innovative, cost-saving ideas for us, and theyre constantly stretching their resources. I couldnt ask them to do more … although I probably will.”
Its not just creativity in the exhibit halls that leads to greater foot traffic, however. Increasingly, museums must compete with television, radio, and the Internet when recruiting new audiences, and constantly sell themselves to the public in an effort to explain why its better to visit a museum to see a given work of art, scientific marvel, or historical relic, instead of Googling the item from a home office desk. “In 1896, when the museum first opened, they didnt have to worry about the Internet, the TV, and video games,” Carvalho said.
“Now were literally competing for peoples time.” He added that those museums that are not recognizing the need to reinvent themselves are those that are struggling the most. “Museums have to build toward the future as much as they have to preserve the past,” he stressed. “Some havent, and they blame their downturns on the attitudes of the public, not on their own internal issues. Museums need to recognize that we have to appeal to everyone, not just people with PhDs, to survive.
We have to be different, we have to be engaging, and we have to show people the value of seeing the actual object. Thats our purpose, and we have to do it well.” But thats admittedly a tall order, said Carvalho, and one that is complicated by the need to woo local visitors to the museums as much as national visitors. He added that “convincing the community to come back” has been at the top of the Springfield Museums to-do list over the past decade, and, gradually, they are returning. A Seuss Boost Undoubtedly, one addition to the museums that gave the organization a needed boost was that of the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden in 2002.
Now the crown jewel of Springfields Quadrangle, the bronze statues depicting various characters created by Springfield native Theodore Geisel have brought some national attention to the city, as well as the museums four buildings and their collections:
• The George Walter Vincent Smith Museum, which houses the collection of its Victorian namesake, including several pieces of Japanese and Chinese decorative arts;
• The Springfield Science Museum with its African Hall, the Seymour Planetarium, an aquarium and live animal center, and Gee Bee airplane;
• The Connecticut Valley Historical Museum, which exhibits present decorative objects and domestic artifacts highlighting the history of the Connecticut River Valley, and
• The Museum of Fine Arts, featuring 14 galleries of important American and European oil paintings, as well as fine watercolors and other works on paper, sculpture, furniture, and decorative arts.
Carvalho said the sculpture garden has definitely captured the publics attention, and drew in a new legion of visitors to all of the museums. But he was also quick to note that the museums will not be leaning too heavily on the memorial in the future. It gave the museums a much-needed shot in the arm, he said, but Horton and his friends cant do it alone.
“Its a gem,” Carvalho said. “It gave us the national brand we needed and some new recognition as a destination. But what the memorial also gave us was a way to reintroduce the other national collections we have here, something simple to open that door. Now that the momentum has started, we are going to continue to build on it by constantly rethinking how to draw people in.”
That could mean working with area schools to create programs for students, or capitalizing on the new branding of the Pioneer Valley, jump-started by the Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau, in order to attract more regional visitors to the museums for one and twoday trips. It could also mean revamping existing collections as well as procuring and promoting new galleries and exhibits, as Heather Haskell, director of Art Museums, explained. She said a number of unique art exhibits will be shown throughout the year, ranging from photography to colonial crafts to the realistic, often life-sized sculptures of world-renowned soft sculpture artist Lisa Lichtenfels.
A massive reinstallation of 10 permanent galleries is also currently underway at the museums, which will require months of painstaking work by museum staff. “Were putting new or different objects in view, and highlighting some recent gifts to the museums,” said Haskell. “The objective is to make the entire museum more accessible to 21st century visitors.” The museums next national marketing push will be to promote its expansive collection of Currier & Ives prints, many of which will be unveiled on Nov. 18 in the Museum of Fine Arts.
The exhibit will include 175 of the museums 790 hand-colored, original lithographs, which represents the third largest collection in the country next to the Library of Congress and the New York City Museum, and the only permanent museum gallery in the world. Whats more, museum staff has taken to referring to exhibits like the Currier and Ives collection as ‘brands, underscoring the economic impact the art collections have on the business climate of the museums as well as the city.
“Its possible that 10 years from now, we could have the largest exhibit of Currier & Ives prints in the entire world,” said Haskell. “The magnitude of this collection already elevates us to a new level as a museum.” Carvalho added that it will be a goal to continually grow the collection, in hopes of taking advantage of the notoriety, much like the museums did following the dedication of the sculpture garden in 2002. “It benefits everyone,” he said.
“The national attention will draw in more visitors who will stay longer, will raise awareness of the area and allow for increased cross-promotion here and across the valley and into Connecticut. And its all in keeping with the spirit of moving forward.” And with such a diverse set of collections on the premises, the Springfield Museums do indeed have the resources to cater to a wide spectrum of visitors, including several niche populations.
That diversity also makes for a complex marketing model, said Carvalho, explaining that the museums must strike a balance between their individual identities and their strength as a whole. “The question is, ‘Do we try to show the public that theres something for everyone, and market all of the museums together,” he said, “Or do we try to target those audiences who are likely to visit specific exhibits? “The answer is yes,” he offered.
“Theres no one right way to get the sense across of what we have to offer. So, we do it all. We develop marketing for the masses and we target niche markets as well. Our strength is, regardless of how we got them here, that we do our best to show them once they are here how much we have. “The bottom line is we are not yesterdays museum,” he continued. “There are three groups we are very serious about here: contemporary audiences, future audiences, and past audiences. We have a responsibility to all of them.”
Asian Wisdom He hopes that, in many cases, visitors to the museums will represent all three in the years to come. Thats why he and his staff are hard at work planning the next round of exhibits, researching grants and corporate sponsorship opportunities, and occasionally stopping a visitor in his tracks to ask ‘Hey … have you ever seen a Samurai sword? ?
Jaclyn Stevenson can be reached at[email protected]
The following is a compilation of recent lawsuits involving area businesses and organizations. These are strictly allegations that have yet to be proven in a court of law.
Readers are advised to contact the parties listed, or the court, for more information concerning the individual claims.
NORTHAMPTON DISTRICT COURT
Jack Richeson & Co. Inc. v. Guild Art Centre Inc.
Allegation: Breach of contract — Failure to
pay for goods sold and delivered:
$11,265.49
Date Filed: Sept. 7
SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT
United Rentals (North America Inc.) v.
Hope Trucking & Demo Inc. and Frank
A. Hope III
Allegation: Breach of contract — Failure to
pay for goods and services: $16,788.61
Date Filed: Sept. 15
Home Lumber Co. Inc. v. Athanasios
Asimakopoulos a/k/a Thomas
Asimakopoulos d/b/a T.A. Woodworking
a/k/a T.A. Woodworks
Allegation: Breach of contract — Failure to
pay for goods sold and delivered: $8,432.74
Date Filed: Sept. 15
Medical Diagnostics & Rehab d/b/a MVA
Center for Rehabilitation v. Premier
Insurance Co.
Allegation: Breach of contract — Failure to
pay for bills for services for covered clients:
$2,181.06
Date Filed: Sept. 19
HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT
Alton & Gleason Co. Inc. v. CAP
Development Corp. and Mheid-Koseissi Inc.
Allegation: Breach of performance: $27,460
Date Filed: Sept. 19
The following business incorporations were recorded in Hampden and Hampshire counties, and are the latest available. They are listed by community.
AGAWAM
Heather A. Pellerin Inc., 26E
Castle Hill Road, Agawam
01001. Heather A. Pellerin,
same. Providing court room and stenographer services.
AMHERST
AK Technologies Inc., 36
Hitching Post, Amherst 01002.
Andrey Kvasyuk, same.
Computer technology services.
Legal Problem Solving P.C.,
67 No. Pleasant St., Amherst
01002. Michael J. Mascic,
same. The practice of law.
Sunwood Builders Inc., 84
Potwine Lane, Amherst 01002.
Shaul Perry, same.
Construction, repairing and renovating
commercial and residential structures.
BELCHERTOWN
Sun Struck Tanning Salon
Inc., 39 Federal St.,
Belchertown 01007. Lisa C.
Murphy, 80 North Main St.,
#1, Belchertown 01007.
Tanning salon.
CHICOPEE
Eurobex USA Inc., 285
McKinstry Ave., Chicopee
01013. Maurizio Ciocca, 4175
St. Catherine St., West, Apt.
505, Montreal, Quebec,
Canada H3Z 3C9.
Robert G. Agnoli,
1391 Main
St., Springfield 01103,
registered agent. (Foreign
corp; DE) Warehousing and
distribution of electrical boxes.
J P Fitness Inc.,
29 White
Birch Plaza, Chicopee 01020.
Aaron Patterson, 187
Venntura St., Ludlow 01056.
Ladies fitness center with
circuit training, etc.
JSLC Corp.,
232 Fletcher Cir.,
Chicopee 01020. Joseph
Martin, same. To operate UPS
stores.
S. G. Contractors Corp.,
419 Mont Calm St., #404,
Chicopee 01020. Gurdayal
Singh, same. Construction.
HOLYOKE
Dhaliwal 2 Inc.
, 1532 – 1534
Dwight St., Holyoke 01040.
Rattan Singh, same. Sale of
pizza, sandwiches, pasta, and
soft drinks.
Kay/Bravo Pest Management
Services Inc., 225 High St.,
#501, Holyoke 01040. Larry
Villalobos, same. Inspection,
control and extermination of
wood destroying insects, pests,
etc.
Mendoza Inc.,
One Main St.,
Holyoke 01040. Robert
Mendoza, 36 Pleasant St.,
Westfield 01085.
Transportation of individuals
and families by chauffered
vehicles.
HOLLAND
Northeast Concepts Inc., 16
Lakeridge Dr., Holland 02521.
Chad E. Brigham, same. Real estate development and
construction.
EAST LONGMEADOW
Court Street Management, L.L.C.,
200 North Main St.,
Suite 204, East Longmeadow
01028. Ernest A. Gralia, III, 24
Ridgewood Road, East
Longmeadow 01028. To deal in
real estate.
LONGMEADOW
IQ Design Group Inc.,
56 Severn St., Longmeadow 01106.
Eve K. Kinne, same. To own
and operate an interior design
business and deal in related
products and services.
Meridian Street Management
Co. Inc., 200 North Main St.,
Suite 204, East Longmeadow
01028. Ernest A. Gralia, III, 24
Ridgewood Road, East
Longmeadow 01028. Real estate
development.
LUDLOW
Advance Way
Inc., 146
Laconia St.,
Ludlow 01056. Masanori
Kofune, same. International business consulting.
NORTHAMPTON
Collective Initiatives Inc.,
43 Center St.,
Northampton
01060. Wilton
Earle Hall, III, 3
Edwards Square, Northampton 01060.
(Nonprofit) To promote collective based social education and action initiatives outside the cultural and political mainstream, etc.
SPRINGFIELD
Exile Entertainment
Corp., 935 Main
St., Springfield
01103. Paul V.
Ramesh, same.
To own, lease and operate restaurants, taverns, clubs, etc.
Family Group
Inc., 52
Thornton St.,
Springfield
01104. Michael
L. Burton, same.
To own and operate an automobile repair business.
GL Rising Inc.,
155 Chestnut St., Suite 315,
Springfield 01103.
Gerald F. Rising, 77 Garfield
St., Springfield 01108. To operate a cleaning business.
K. C. Temp Service Inc.,
Wilbraham Road, Springfield
01109. Kim Lam, same.
Temporary employment agency.
New World Real Estate Inc.,
2460 Main St., Springfield
01107. Pedro M. Gonzalez, 216
Springfield St., Springfield
01107. To deal in real estate.
WKB Carpentry Inc.,
44 SavoyAve., Springfield 01104.
William K. Butler Jr., same.
Carpentry service.
WILBRAHAM
Dejavous Hair and Nail Salon
Inc., 1038 Boston Road,
Wilbraham 01095. Lisa A.
Wilson, 85 Glenwood St.,
Ludlow 01056. To carry on the
business of cosmetology.
WEST SPRINGFIELD
Cap & Hitch of New England
Inc., 2001 Riverdale Road,
West Springfield 01089. Shane
M. Duffy, 158 Fountain St.,
Springfield 01108. To install
and sell truck caps, hitches, and accessories.
Ethnic Foods Inc.,
233 Christopher Terrace, West
Springfield 01089. Maria A. Pitaridis, same. Restaurant specializing in Greek food.
US Telecom Group Inc.
354 Lancaster Ave., West
Springfield 01089. Joey Sutton,
same. Telecommunications.
|
AAA Pioneer Valley ABC/D Productions ABC TV 40 Accounts Usable American Red Cross Ameriprise Financial Arbors at Chicopee Arbors Kids ARS Strategic Mail Bank of America Bank of Western Basketball Hall of Best Western Better Business Border Busters BusinessWest C2C Systems, Inc. Cambridge College CareerPoint Castle of Knights CBS 3 WSHM CBS/Blooms Cebula Electronics Chamber Insurance CheckWriters Payroll Chicopee Chamber of Chicopee Savings Chicopee Visiting Citizens Bank Clear Channel Radio Coffee Pause Coler & Colantonio Costco Wholesale Country Bank Country Inn & Suites Crowne Plaza Hotel Crystal Rock Water Dempsey, H.L. Dinn Bros. Trophies Distinctive Marketing Docusource Dupont Filing Systems Eastern Electronics & Elegant Affairs at Elms College Executech Falcetti Music One Federal Street Freedom Credit Union FutureWorks Career A Gift Basket by Greater Holyoke A.R. Green Company Greniers Hadley Printing |
Hampshire Hospitality Hampton Inn Health New England Hitchcock Press, Inc. Hogan Holiday Inn of Holyoke Holyoke Community Holyoke Credit Union Holyoke Gas & Homewood Suites by Hotel Northampton James J. Dowd & Log Cabin/Delaney Marcus Printing Massachusetts MassLive.com Mercy Medical Center Mercy Medical Work Message on Hold of Mohawk Mount Vernon Group Mountainview New England Ted Ondrick Company On-Hold Marketing & PeoplesBank Peter Pan Bus Lines Pioneer Training Pioneer Valley PIP Printing Polish National Credit Reliable Temps, Inc. Sovereign Bank Springfield Rock Sprint-Nextel Staples STCC Springfield Sunshine Village Taylor Rental Center TD Banknorth Tech Cavalry United Bank United Personnel Universal Plastics Uplinc Valley Valley Stone Credit Westbank Westover Job Corps WMAS Radio Work Connection at WWLP TV 22 Zasco Productions |
Brenda Wishart says Bay Path·s expanded Entrepereneurship and Innovative Thinking program will broaden the school’s audience.
Brenda Wishart says the E-mail responses started coming in only a few hours after the invitations to Bay Path Colleges Innovative Thinking & Entrepreneurship Summit went out.
She soon became intrigued not only with the quantity of RSVPs, but the diversity as well.
“We started hearing from students and professors here, as well as from several area organizations,” said Wishart, director of the Entrepreneurship Program at Bay Path. “But we also heard back from a number of area small business owners, and this was something new.”
And it was also one of the primary motivations behind Bay Paths initiative to
expand its Innovative Thinking and Entrepreneurship lecture series, launched
two years ago, into what organizers are now calling a “summit.”
The free, evening program, set for Nov. 14, will feature a number of speakers and panel discussions designed to help those thinking about starting a business to take the first step — and those already doing business to take the next step, said Wishart.
The summit is just one of many entrepreneurship- related ventures that will be funded by a $143,000, three-year Coleman Foundation grant received this past summer.Other programs to be supported by the grant include everything from a cooperative education initiative to a summer program in entrepreneurship for area high school girls.
Wishart said the Nov. 14 summit will be a combination information exchange, networking opportunity, and business resource program, and it was conceived as part of a broad effort on the part of Bay Path administrators to broaden the schools focus on entrepreneurship and innovation.
Wishart borrowed from both of those words to create a term — entrevation — that she uses to describe a course she teaches within Bay Paths business program each spring. But that same characterization can be applied to the summit, she said, which was created, much like the class, to help inspire potential entrepreneurs — but also to assist those who have already chosen that
path, individuals who started with an idea and a rough idea of where they wanted to go with it.
People like Nadja Piatka.
The summits keynote speaker, Piatka was an unemployed, single mother who took a passion and talent for baking — and a $100 investment — and founded a venture called Three Blondes and Brownie. That venture grew and eventually took the name Najda Foods Inc., a multi-million venture that supplies what are known as ‘healthy muffins to McDonalds Restaurants of Canada and ‘healthy brownies to Subway restaurants throughout Canada and 27 U.S. states.
“Her story offers some inspiration and some important lessons for everyone,” said Wishart.
BusinessWest looks this issue at the Bay Path summit, and also at the schools wider efforts to foster entrepreneurial thinking in the Valley.
Peaking Their Interest
The titles given to the various breakout sessions scheduled at the summit speak to the events mission: Accessing Capital to Finance New and Growth Ventures;Integrating Branding and a Customer-centric Sales Culture; Launch — Theres Help at Every Step of the Way; and Attracting and Retaining Stellar Employees.
The sessions address the many challenges facing small business owners today, said Wishart, including the need to seek help when its appropriate and knowing where to go to get it.
Providing a forum where such questions can be asked and answered was one of the many goals set by Bay Path administrators as they set about the task of expanding their focus on entrepreneurship and innovative thinking and community involvement in that realm.
The college created its entrepreneurship program in 2001 to provide broad, experiential learning opportunities for students aspiring to become entrepreneurs and innovators.
Early components of the program included curriculum, in the form of three courses related to entrepreneurship; Innovations in Business, Entrepreneurship, and Wisharts Entrevation, and also an Innovators Roundtable, comprised of area CEOs and business owners. They provide advice and expertise regarding the skills required of students interested in starting their own business or in entering the job market.
In 2003, with the help of an elevator grant from the Coleman Foundation, the
school launched its lecture series with an address from now former MassMutual
Chairman and CEO Robert OConnell. The program continued last year with an inspiration address from New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, and will continue on Nov. 15 with an address from Yankee Candle President and CEO Craig Rydin.
The lecture series attracted a number of students and faculty at Bay Path, said
Wishart, as well as area economic development leaders, business executives, and representatives of area business-development agencies ranging from local chambers of commerce to the Mass. Small Business Development Center Network.
The school wanted to broaden the audience to include area small business owners, and conceived a program around their many needs and challenges. The end product is the inaugural summit, she said, adding that college plans to continue the event for at least the next three years.
Other programs to be funded by the Coleman Foundation grant include:
• A cooperative education program, in which students will be placed in area small businesses, where they will gain hands-on experience in an environment that will allow them to fully explore what is required to be an entrepreneur;
• Expanded business partnerships beyond the summit, including an expansion
of the Innivators Roundtable;
• Student development and networking, a program that would provide additional opportunities outside the classroom for students to develop their interest in business ownership; and
• A summer program in entrepreneurship for high school girls that would act as a bridge between area youth entrepreneurship programs and the initiatives at Bay Path.
Summit attendees will have the opportunity to attend two of four scheduled breakout sessions, said Wishart, adding that each offers information and insight that people can take back to their businesses the next morning.
‘Accessing Capital to Finance New and Growth Ventures addresses one of the most challenging — and intimidating — aspects of putting an idea or business in motion, said Wishart. The session will provide navigational
advice from Maria Goncalves, senior vice president of TD Banknorth; Richard
Steele, managing member of Longmeadow Capital, a venture capital firm; Marjorie Feldman, owner and president of Als Beverage Company, a soft drink concentrate distributor; and Daniel Roulier, founder and president of Roulier Associates, a real estate development company.
Lori Klimach, senior vice president of the Wholesale Division at Yankee Candle, will lead the discussion titled ‘Integrating Branding and a Customer-centric Sales Culture. The program will focus on the critical mission of establishing a brand identity at both an organization and a product/service level.
Donna Mullen Good, CEO of the Center for Women & Enterprise (CWE) will lead the session titled ‘Theres Help at Every Step of the Way. Her non-profit company has helped more than 10,000 entrepreneurs (of both genders) start and grow their businesses, and provides education, training, technical assistance, legal advice, and access to debt and equity capital at each stage of business development.
Team-building will be the focus of discussion at the fourth of the break-out sessions, ‘Attracting and Retaining Stellar Employees. It will feature Marc Criscitelli, vice president of Employee Benefits for the insurance agency Field, Eddy & Bulkley, John Mayhbury, owner and president of Maybury Material
Handling, and Dave Rattner, owner and president of Daves Soda and Pet Food City.
Together, they will address subjects to include motivational tips, special incentives, and competitive benefits that are cost-effective and rewarding to employees and employers alike.
View from the Top
Wishart is expecting at least 200 attendees for the summit, and perhaps as many as 350 — she was still amassing RSVPs at press time.
While she doesnt know the final tally, she does know the event will further the
schools mission to expand its entrepreneurship and innovative thinking programs, and thus help create and grow more of the small businesses that drive the local economy.
To register for the summit, or for more information, call (413) 565-1229, or visitwww.baypath.eduand select ‘entrepreneurship summit.
Online Job Searching Sites are Clicking
Chris Russell, owner of AllCountyJobs.com, said catering to job seeker·s immediate needs is the best strategy for growth online.
Chris Russell, president and founder of AllCountyJobs.com, recently overheard an employee recruiter at a trade show remark that she had managed to knock her advertising expenses down by $24,000 in one year, by switching many of her ads for employment opportunities from print outlets to online job boards.
It was a savings that didn’t surprise Russell, who has been working within the
online job search industry for six years. But it was a comment that showed him that others – employers and job seekers alike – are becoming more receptive to businesses like his own.
“It was a good testament to the fact that people are recognizing us more and more as a low-cost alternative to print advertising,” he said, noting that he is seeing that culture change firsthand. “Year after year, I’m gaining more clients.”
AllCountyJobs.com is the parent company of several regional job search sites, including a local offering, WesternMassWorks.com. Russell said his industry has seen plenty of change since he entered the online arena in 1999, but there are some key factors to which he attributes his own success – and that of his
competitors.
“A lot of sites have come and gone,” he said. “People often try to copy other sites when they see an opportunity like this on the Web that they think will be lucrative. But like anything else, you need to have a background in this business to succeed, in Web business, in Web design. Knowledge of effective job search techniques also doesn’t hurt.
“When people are searching for a job,” he offered as an example, “their first priority is targeting the area where they want to work. The second is using a search method that is simple and easy to use.”
The Net Niche
In short, Russell said those sites catering to job seekers that are thriving are those that have paid attention to those trends and others. And one thing people definitely don’t want, he added, is to waste time sifting through hundreds of job listings in which they have no interest.
He said that’s where some job search Web sites went wrong – they tried to reach a national market with one massive site, and succeeded only in overwhelming the public.
Elaborating further, Russell said targeting an audience means focusing on smaller audiences and using the vast World Wide Web as a tool, not trying to reach everyone at once simply because you can. He said serving as a resource for a concentrated group of job searchers was, in fact, the impetus for his business, based in Trumbull, Conn.
“I noticed the Monsters of the world were lumping Fairfield County jobs in with New York City jobs,” said Russell. “So I got started there: creating a site for Fairfield County, which would only include job listings for people looking for jobs in Fairfield County.”
Using the same model, Russell gradually added other regional sites to AllCounty’s repertoire, serving the Hartford, New Haven, and New London areas in Connecticut, theWestchester, Rockland, Duchess, and Putnam
counties of New York, and, most recently, Western Mass., with WesternMassWorks. He plans to add an Eastern Mass. site as well in the near future.
The business also capitalizes on niche markets such as health care, administration, and Web jobs, through separate job boards.
Bill Cloutier, executive vice president for RegionalHelpWanted.com, said his company also began in 1999, as one small, regional job board (HudsonValleyHelpWanted.com, still in existence) in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. The firm now oversees operation of sites in 293 cities across the U.S. and Canada, most of which reflect the name of the region they serve, such as the local SpringfieldHelpWanted.com (in Canada, the ‘HelpWanted’ portion of the address is replaced by ‘JobShops’).
Cloutier agreed with Russell’s assessmennt of the current online job search market.
“Our vision of the market is that recruitment is a local business for the most part,” he said. “We felt we had to do something special to reflect that. So we’ve stayed focused on providing a conduit for seekers to find what they’re looking for, plain and simple.”
Digital Diversity
The gradual expansion of both online services has proven to be a good business model, as have the gradual changes to the sites themselves, all designed to cater to the needs and wants of job seekers.
RegionalHelpWanted includes a number of helpful resources for job seekers, such as articles from their resident ‘career guru,’ Peter Weddle, résumé services, and, like most online job boards, the ability to post an entire résumé right on the site for employers to view.
Cloutier said it’s all part of effectively serving both job seekers and employers, in order to maintain a reputation for results, although he noted that RegionalHelpWanted sites will typically shy away from some of the more trendy online job-seeking tools, such as personality tests.
“We look at ourselves as a quasi-public utility,” he said, “offering what people need without a lot of noise.”
Similarly, while he said the automated systems in place on job boards have become increasingly streamlined and simple to use for both job searchers and employers posting their vacancies, Russell has made the inclusion of a diverse set of resources one of the key facets of AllCountyJobs.
To keep up with the changing face of the Internet and the businesses thereon, he maintains his own job search news and job hunting Web sites accessible through each of the county- wide and niche market sites, and writes his own blog, secretsofthejobhunt.blogspot.com, offering job-hunting tips. He’s also in the process of creating a ‘recruitment referral network,’ a new tool being used by several large corporations nationwide, such as Boeing, to secure quality employees through referrals from current employees or others in the industry.
“The old adage is it’s who you know, not what you know,” Russell said, to explain the newest trend in job hunting. “Companies are finding that their best employees are often found through word of mouth.”
He has even written a book on job hunting: Ultimate Job Hunting Secrets: Essential Tricks, Tips, and Tactics for Today’s Job Seeker, and every new addition to his business, Web-based or otherwise, has served to increase the visibility and, more importantly, the use of his services.
Show Me the Money
But another variable that is contributing to the use of Web-based job searching tools, in addition to convenience and accessibility, is cost.
“Companies using print advertising could be spending $25,000 a year on recruitment,” Russell said, harkening back to that trade show conversation he overheard, “and only about $1,000 a year online. Plus, an employer can submit a one-time post for $99, and that’s attractive to people. I think it has a lot to do with my revenues slowly increasing, year after year.”
Cloutier added that the cost difference could be the most persuasive aspect of
online recruiting for businesses, in particular those with 250 employees or fewer, which have been averse to the practice in the past.
There’s still a large print advertising aspect to recruitment, he said, and online
job boards like those controlled by RegionalHelpWanted.com have yet to eclipse those resources when it comes to the number of employers posting jobs.
However, more and more companies are using newspaper and online classifieds in tandem, Cloutier said, contributing to what is a very gradual shift from newspaper to Web, not a dramatic change in the marketplace.But it’s a change, he said, that is definitely well on its way.
“Currently, only about 20% to 25% of expenditures occur online,” he said. “There is still a lot happening in print. But the experience is so much better online, according to job seekers and employers, that the growth is happening, and we’re seeing a gradual migration of dollars.
“I think there’s a security blanket in print that people are reluctant to give up,”
he added. “But what we’re seeing more of is people holding onto that Sunday newspaper ad, for instance, and substituting the ads they would have placed in weekday editions in the past with online placements.”
Cloutier also noted that online job boards can also target some sets of employers and job seekers more effectively than print outlets.
“One area in which print advertising still works for people is when a company has 20 openings, for example, they need to fill, and they need to cast a wide net. Where newspapers fail, though, is when a company only has one or two openings to fill. Even the size of the ads is restrictive at that point … the print is so small you can hardly read it.”
In addition, Cloutier said, online job boards are increasingly adept at capitalizing on a constituency he calls “passive job seekers.”
“And that’s just about everyone in America,” he said, explaining that such individuals are those who are not currently in transition, but are still surfing online job sites to keep tabs on new opportunities within their industries – essentially, keeping their options open.
“This group of people is really key, and they’re also easier to reach online than in print,” Cloutier said. “Online, the information is right there in front of them … on their computer screen, so they can log on any time and see what’s out there, at home, on the weekends… or on their lunch break.”
The Grapevine
The heaviest traffic hour for most job search sites, in fact, is between 11 and noon, Cloutier said, suggesting that job search Web sites are achieving that goal of reaching job seekers of all types, casual or otherwise,
across the board.
Russell commented that he might have overheard that somewhere, too.
Jaclyn Stevenson can be reached at[email protected]
| Attraction/Address | Phone/Web Site | Description | Rates* |
| The Big E 1305 Memorial Ave., West Springfield, MA 01089 |
(413) 737-2443 www.thebige.com |
New England’s great state fair, Sept. 16 to Oct. 2, 2005 |
Adults: $12-15 Children: $8-10 |
| Bright Nights at Forest Park Sumner Avenue (Route 83), Springfield, MA |
(413) 733-3800 www.brightnights.org |
Holiday lighting display, open from Nov. 24, 2005 to Jan. 2, 2006 |
$15 per car $150 per bus |
| Brimfield Outdoor Antique Shows/Flea Mkt. Rte. 20, Brimfield, MA 01010 |
(800) 274-6353 www.brimfieldshow.com |
Antique show and flea market held three times a year; Sept. 6-11 2005; May 9-14, July 11-16, Sept. 5-10 2006 |
Free |
| Children’s Museum at Holyoke 444 Dwight St., Holyoke, MA 01040 |
(413) 536-7048 www.childrensmuseumholyoke.org |
Rated the 12th-best children’s museum in the nation by Child magazine; hands-on exhibits |
$6 per person Children <12 free |
| Dr. Spookys Animal Museum 220 Greenfield Rd., South Deerfield, MA 01373 |
(413) 665-5001 www.drspookys.com |
An educational animal attraction within a haunted castle. Slated to open fall 2005. |
$7.50 Children < 3 free |
| Emily Dickinson Museum 280 Main St., Amherst, MA 01002 |
(413) 542-8161 www.emilydickinson.org |
Emily Dickinson homestead and neighboring Ever- greens, home to the poet’s brother and sister-in-law |
Adults: $8 Children 6-18: $5 |
| Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art 125 West Bay Road, Amherst MA 01002 |
(413) 658-1100 www.picturebookart.org |
The first full-scale museum in the country devoted to international picture book art |
Adults: $5 Children: $4 |
| Discover Westfield Children’s Museum 99 Elm St., Westfield, MA 01086 |
(413) 572-4014 www.westfieldchildren.com |
A museum with many hands-on exhibits to allow children to experiment and learn; hours vary |
$3 per person |
| Hatikvah Holocaust Education Center 1160 Dickinson St., Springfield, MA 01108 |
(413) 734-7700 www.hatikvah-center.org |
Permanent and revolving exhibits, living memorial and education center |
Adults: $4 Student: $2 |
| Holyoke Merry-Go-Round 221 Appleton Street, Holyoke, MA 01040 |
(413) 538-9838 www.holyokemerrygoround.org |
Installed at Mountain Park in 1929, children’s birthday parties, field trips, private parties, group rates |
$1 per person |
| Historic Deerfield Old Main St., Deerfield, MA 01342 |
(413) 774-5581 www.historic-deerfield.org |
A museum of New England history and art. Group Tours Available |
Adults: $14 6-21 years: $5 |
| Lady Bea Cruise Boat 1 Alvord St., South Hadley, MA 01075 |
(413) 315-6342 www.brunelles.com |
49-passenger Connecticut River cruise boat; 75-min. narrated and theme cruises June to October |
Adults: $12 Kids under 6: $8 |
| Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory 281 Greenfield Road, South Deerfield, MA 01373 |
(413) 665-2805 www.magicwings.com |
Indoor conservatory with live native and tropical butterfies and plants |
Adults: $8 Children: $5 |
| Mass. Museum of Contemporary Art 87 Marshall St., North Adams, MA 01247 |
(413) 662-2111 www.massmoca.org |
Historic mill complex converted into a multi- disciplinary center for visual, performing, media arts |
Adults: $10 Children 6-16: $4 |
| Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame 1000 West Columbus Ave. Springfield, MA 01105 |
(877) 446-6752 www.hoophall.com |
Dedicated to the history and great players of the game. Group rates available |
Adults: $16; 5-15: $11; under 5, free |
| National Yiddish Book Center 1021 West St., Amherst, MA 01002 |
(413) 256-4900 www.yiddishbooks.org |
Celebrates and preserves Yiddish and modern Jewish books |
Free |
| Norman Rockwell Museum 9 Glendale Road, Stockbridge, MA 01262 |
(413) 298-4100 www.nrm.org |
Exhibits of the renowned artist’s work and related items |
Adults: $12 Kids under 18: Free |
| Old Sturbridge Village 1 Old Sturbridge Village Road, Sturbridge, MA |
(508) 347-3362 www.osv.org |
A living museum of life in the 1830s | Adults: $20 Children 3-17: $5 |
| Six Flags New England 1623 Main St. (Route 159) Agawam, MA 01001 |
(413) 786-9300 www.sixflags.com |
New England’s largest theme and water park;new attractions added for 2005 | Adults: $41.99 Children: $25.99 |
| Springfield Armory 1 Armory Square, Springfield, MA 01105 |
(413) 734-8551 www.nps.gov/spar |
An exhibit of firearms and the importance of the Springfield Armory to the emerging nation |
Free |
| Springfield Museums Edwards & Chestnut Streets, Springfield, MA 01103 |
(413) 263-6800 www.springfieldmuseums.org |
Four museums filled with art, science, history, and Dr. Seuss exhibits, including the national memorial |
Adults: $10 Children: $3 |
| Sterling & Francine Clark Art Institute 225 South St., Williamstown, MA 01267 |
(413) 458-2303 www.clarkart.edu |
Art museum, education and research center dedicated to advancing public understanding of art |
Adults: $10 |
| Titanic Museum 208 Main St., Indian Orchard, MA 01151 |
(413) 543-4770 www.titanic1.org |
View personal effects and authentic pre-discovery artifacts donated by survivors of the famous ship |
Adults: $4 Children: $2.50 |
| The Valley Photo Center 1500 Main St., Springfield, MA 01103 |
(413) 781-1553 www.valleyphotocenter.com |
Photography gallery showcasing the work of local and international photographers |
Free |
| Volleyball Hall of Fame 444 Dwight St., Holyoke, MA 01040 |
(413) 536-0926 www.volleyhall.org |
Showcases the people and history of the sport of volleyball, which was invented in Holyoke |
Adults: $3.50; Age 6-17: $2.50; 0-5: $0 |
| Wistariahurst Museum 238 Cabot St., Holyoke, MA 01040 |
(413) 322-5660 www.wistariahurst.org |
Features decorative arts, antique furniture, paintings, textiles, and landscaped gardens |
Adults: $5 donation Kids Under 12: Free |
| Yankee Candle Museum Routes 5 and 10, South Deerfield, MA 01373 |
(413) 665-2929 www.yankeecandle.com |
Watch candle makers dip beeswax and bayberry candles using methods practiced centuries ago |
Free |
| The Zoo in Forest Park Sumner Avenue (Route 83), Springfield, MA |
(413) 733-3800 www.forestparkzoo.com |
Deer garden, barn animals, petting areas, exotic animals, touring train |
Adults: $4.50 Kids 5-12: $3.50 |
Marketing Blitz Designed to Bolster Pioneer Valley Brand
Mary Kay Wydra calls it “shoulder season.”
That’s the phrase she and others at the Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau (CSCVB) use to convey the burdensome nature of the period between November and late April, when the number of visitors to the Pioneer Valley drops considerably and hospitality-related businesses hunker down and hope for the best.
Brightening the prospects for the late-fall and winter months is one of the many goals behind a recent marketing blitz by the GSCVB, said Wydra, who directs that agency. Aided by a grant from the Mass. Turnpike Authority, the bureau developed a rare fall promotional program, which included the GSCVB’s first television spots. The package was conceived to boost prospects for shoulder season, while also building recognition for the Pioneer Valley and its new logo — the region highlighted on an outline of the state with the word ‘Wow’ in an accompanying thought bubble.
“We’ve never done anything like this in the fall,” said Wydra, noting that the marketing push, which began in mid-September and ended on Oct. 31, featured everything from hundreds of cable television spots aired in the Boston market to signs posted at Turnpike plazas at exits 3-8.
The blitz centered around four major tourist attractions — Six Flags, the Basketball Hall of Fame, Yankee Candle, and the Springfield Museums — but were designed to build momentum (and visitor volume) for the region as a whole.
Using the catch phrase “Attractions, Distractions … It’s Your Choice” the campaign focused on conveying the breadth and depth of the Valley’s offerings, from roller coasters to antique stores; butterflies to views from Mount Sugerloaf.
“This was definitely a different time period for us as far as marketing is concerned,” said Wydra. “But we wanted to keep the momentum going from what was a good summer and continue to drive home our message.
“Someone said that it’s like putting gasoline on a fire,” she continued. “We wanted to build on our momentum.”
Fall Back
Some additional light and heat would be welcome after an October that will be remembered as dark and damp.
Indeed, shoulder season actually started a little earlier than normal this year, said Wydra, noting that persistent rain and the very late arrival of fall foliage impacted some hospitality-related businesses.
Still, she suspects that most of the planned visits to the region – especially those requiring hotel reservations – were still made, and that any drop-off came with day-trippers and spur-of-the-moment plans made by those living close-by.
"If you looked out your window and saw rain," she said of those in the day-tripping category, "you probably stayed home."
But while the incessant rain and dark skies might have dampened things for some tourism-related businesses this fall, the longterm picture seems bright, said Wydra, noting that the region has assembled a mix of attractions, both outdoor and indoor in nature, that have the pull needed to attract visitors for extended (meaning overnight) stays.
The challenge for the GSCVB has been to create a brand for the region and thus build a stronger level of awareness of what the area has to offer. Efforts to get the message across were given a significant boost by a $166,000 turnpike authority grant, said Wydra, noting that it was used to pay for roughly $70,000 in marketing initiatives this fall, and will fund another blitz slated for next spring.
With both initiatives, the marketing push is designed to promote individual attractions and even specific programs — such as the Currier & Ives exhibit due to open Nov. 18 at the Springfield Museums and the recent Fright Fest alloween program at Six Flags — but also generate name and place recognition for the Valley.
The television spots target the Bostonarea market, said Wydra, noting that cable
giant Comcast also penetrates some parts of the Cape and as far north as New
Hampshire and reaches nearly 2 million people. The ads all start and end the same, with broad references to the number and variety of attractions and distractions in the region, but also contain focused promotion of one of the four major attractions, which paid co-op fees to be featured in the spots.
The target audience is women ages 25-49, said Cherie McBride, marketing and publications manager for the GSCVB. She told BusinessWest that those in this constituency group are the “trip decision-makers.”
The television spots, created with the help of Agawam-based Penfield productions, were designed to generate both curiosity and awareness among those decisionmakers, she said, and invite them to find out more about the Valley through means that include the Web sitevalleyvisitor.com/Wow.
Part of the package negotiated from Comcast is a presence, in the form of
coupons, for Yankee Candle and Six Flags within the cable provider’s newsletter, said Wydra, adding that the Valley’s new logo will also be featured in that promotion, which reaches 1.9 million subscribers.
The Comcast purchase also included a bonus, she said — inclusion in a Travel
Channel promotion called What Kind of Traveler are You? The Pioneer Valley was the spotlighted region in spots that ran Oct. 10-24 as part of a contest in which one lucky winner came away with free passes to several area attractions as wll as a camcorder.
Other components of the marketing blitz include more than 1,000 postcards, featuring the new marketing imagery, sent to individuals and businesses in the Boston area that had previously inquired about the Pioneer Valley, as well as a 12-page glossy insert that will go in the Boston Globe next spring.
“This is a piece that people will hold onto; we want to position the Valley, and show people everything there is to do here,” said Wydra. “By doing so, we think we can extend the trip; while they might have one specific destination in mind, we can let them know they can do other things while they’re here.
“If we can get people to realize that the Seuss memorial is not far from Six Flags and that Yankee Candle is right down I-91 from the Hall of Fame, we can hopefully get them to extend their stay,” she continued. “That’s the power of everyone working together.”
While the TV spots and other elements of the marketing package are targeted for the Boston audience, which GSCVB research reveals has vast potential as a source of overnight visitors, other components are aimed at residents of the Valley and those already visiting it.
The turnpike signs, for example, hyped the four major attractions in the area, while also building awareness of the new marketing imagery that was unveiled earlier this year. Another element to the strategy is something called the Wow! Value Book. It features coupons (good through late 2006) for a number of area tourism-related businesses and sites — from Historic Deerfield to Northampton’s Look Park. More than 3,000 copies were distributed at turnpike exits 4 and 6 over the past few weeks, said McBride, and books were also placed in goodie-bags distributed to recent convention goers.
The coupons, like other aspects of the GSVB’s marketing push, have both shortand long-term goals, said McBride, and were compiled in the book to provide some additional incentives for coming to the Pioneer Valley.
The former involves the late-fall and winter months and efforts to boost tourism spending during that stretch, she told BusinessWest. The latter, meanwhile, involves ongoing initiatives to make the region a true destination — for constituencies ranging from Boston-area families to potential bus tours departing from cities and towns across the Northeast.
“We used to be a pass-through for many bus tours,” said Wydra, noting that, historically, buses would bypass area exits of Routes 90 and 91 on their way to somewhere else. “Now, more buses are getting off here and taking in a number of destinations, including the Hall of Fame, the Seuss memorial, Yankee Candle, and others.”
Spring Forward
Additional bus volume is just one of the many goals for the GSCVB’s marketing
blitz, said Wydra, noting that she wants to do much more than familiarize people with a new logo.
Indeed, she wants people across the state and beyond it to understand what’s behind the word Wow.
If she’s successful, shoulder season may not be as long — or dark — as it has historically been in the Pioneer Valley.
Geroge OBrien can be reached at[email protected]
Leadership in Times of Crisis
Perhaps youve never been called upon to lead in a situation as fraught with
potential peril as the manual capture of a $10 million, 3,000-pound, out of control satellite in outer space, but business leaders face major crises all the time: a scandal involving senior management, fall-out from an economic downturn, product malfunction and recall, or the loss of a key employee.
potential peril as the manual capture of a $10 million, 3,000-pound, out of control satellite in outer space, but business leaders face major crises all the time: a scandal involving senior management, fall-out from an economic downturn, product malfunction and recall, or the loss of a key employee.
Leadership under extreme conditions, like those encountered aboard the space shuttle Columbia mission in 1999, which I was a part of, requires key principles that will guide you, your team, and your mission to success. The Columbia mission ultimately succeeded, and using the same principles of leadership that worked on this space mission, business leaders can turn an obstacle into an opportunity, too.
Space Mission Lesson #1: Prepare for the Unknown
A leader needs to anticipate potential problems as part of preparation. The original Columbia mission was to launch a research satellite called Spartan, but it malfunctioned almost immediately. The effort to retrieve it for repair went awry when the shuttles robotic arm inadvertently tipped the satellite, setting this object, roughly the size and weight of an automobile, spinning unpredictably in space.
Because NASA and the Columbia crew already prepared for potential problems, they immediately knew what to do next: have two space-walking astronauts – one on his first space flight – perform a dangerous manual capture of the satellite. When an unanticipated problem occurs in business, like the astronauts, you should be so thoroughly prepared that you already know what options and resources might be available to help solve it.
Otherwise, you waste time trying to figure out your options, thus allowing the crisis time to get even worse. So in your business, determine what possible factors could cause your company to suffer, and then devise action plans for
each scenario. Should that problem ever occur, you already know how to react and lead your team to victory.
Space Mission Lesson #2: Conquer Communication Barriers
Get to know the members of your team well and understand what their particular communication strengths and weaknesses are, particularly in times of crisis. Be careful not to assume that they understand you, even those you think you know best. Its never more important for everyone to be on the same page than when youre confronting a problem. To ensure that the message you send has been received as you wanted it to be, solicit feedback, asking “Do you understand what I mean?” to encourage clarifying questions and honest responses from your team.
English was the other spacewalkers second language, so the lead spacewalker took extra care heading off potential problems by spending time with him to ensure they were speaking the same language, literally, before
they attempted to capture the satellite together. Whats more, in space, all direction is relative to something else, so to facilitate the manual capture of a satellite while cruising at 18,000 miles an hour, everyone on the team needs to know what ‘up and ‘down mean in that context.
In the world of international space flight, there may be literal language barriers to overcome, and in an organization, even if everyone speaks the same language, the filters of culture sometimes put up obstacles that you must use finely-honed communications skills to conquer. Men and women are known to communicate differently, for example, and business leaders must ensure that communications meaning and intent are clearly understood by everyone, especially when trying to solve a problem.
Space Mission Lesson #3: Be alert for Non-verbal Communication
A good leader will pick up on cues to potential problems and misunderstandings before they occur. For example, while both the robot arm operator and one spacewalk-er on the Columbia mission were highly qualified individuals, both were on their first space flights. The lead spacewalker observed the other spacewalker talking very little and keeping to himself away from the group, so he shared his own experiences on his first spacewalk to reassure the other man that he empathized with his nervousness but was confident he would do well.
As a business leader, you must know how key team members act on a normal basis so you can gauge when something is awry and their behavior changes. When a crisis occurs, is your usually social VP of marketing now keeping to her office, with the door closed and the blinds drawn? Is your usually mild-mannered CFO now barking orders like a drill sergeant? These are tell-tale nonverbal cues that you must step in and lead your team more effectively, as the crisis is taking its toll on your much needed key players.
Space Mission Lesson #4: Ask for Help
A leader must demonstrate an immediate understanding of the problem. You cant be wishy-washy, even if, at the moment, you dont have a clue whats going wrong. You need to show that youre in control, demonstrating self-assurance. Your people will follow confidence.
But confident doesnt mean omniscient. You must solicit input and feedback from the experts on your team and from people outside of the team as well. NASA rehearsed the satellites capture on the ground and sent images up to the shuttle. The spacewalkers constructed a Spartan simulator for practice, and the team leader rehearsed the terminology to use in the capture and to direct the commander where to fly the shuttle to get it close enough to the satellite so they could reach out with gloved hands and manually direct the satellite back into the shuttle.
You dont need to know every single nut and bolt involved in every single persons job, but there are people on your staff who are more expert in certain areas than you are. Acknowledge that and benefit from it when planning and problem-solving.
Space Mission Lesson #5: Earn Real Experience
Business leaders, like astronauts, obviously need technical training in their field, but equally important are maturity and experience at making difficult real-time decisions. Theres a reason you never see 22- year-old astronauts! You must have complete confidence in your ability to make critical judgments and to take action in tough situations, and the only way to acquire that is to be seasoned by experience.
While mounted in foot restraints on the edge of the shuttle, the Columbia spacewalkers spent three hours safely manipulating the satellite into the single orientation that would fit it into the payload bay. The leader had never had this particular mission to accomplish before, but he did have a vast array of experience – even some mistakes – that allowed him the focus and determination that were essential to keep the 3,000 pounds of mass from getting out of control, where it might injure the spacewalkers or damage the space shuttle.
As you came up through the business ranks, decisions you made may have cost your department money, set back a safety record, or otherwise affected some critical aspect of the business, but all of that is part of your essential real-world education.
Leaders Reach for the Stars
As NASA knows, one of the main considerations for hiring or promoting senior management must be whether they have had experience, training, and education in problem- solving, especially in a crisis situation. Have they turned critical circumstances around? Do they thrive or shrink in the face of disaster?
Whether walking in space or walking into a boardroom, good leaders must not only be prepared for everything that might go wrong, they must come alive when faced with a predicament, large or small. Great leaders have confidence, can communicate whats necessary to handle a problem, and know how to best utilize the skills of each member of their team to solve it. The ability to lead in the face of a crisis separates the great leaders, those who have “the right stuff,” from those who dont.
Winston Scott is a speaker, consultant, and retired astronaut who has logged a total of 24 days in space, including three spacewalks. A retiree of NASA and the U.S. Navy, Winston now shares his knowledge of motivation, teamwork and leadership with various organizations. He is also author of the
new book, Reflections from Earth Orbit, based on his experiences in space:www.winstonescott. com.
A Primer on Effective Trade Show Marketing
Impressions can be seen everywhere at a trade show — from booth design and layout, logos, promotional literature, giveaways, and staff etiquette, among others. All of these elements working together can create an overall impression of your company and/or product – good, bad, or indifferent.
It takes planning well in advance of the show to ensure that these elements are in place, and when used effectively, will increase the potential for sales.
Many exhibitors do well in planning for some of the elements, but not others. For example, they may have a great product, but exhibit staff not properly trained. Or the graphics do not tell the company or product story at a glance, causing confusion for the attendees. Over the past 28 years, Ive had the opportunity to work with many exhibiting organizations on their trade show marketing to effectively tie-in all of the elements.
Its usually just a bit of adjustment, not major change that makes the difference. Done right, the results always add up in sales.
Here are a few guidelines that are critical for successful trade show marketing:
•Establish Show Objectives:Your objectives need to be clearly stated for each trade show. Not every exhibitor has the same objectives. Do you expect to be generating leads, maximizing exposure, creating awareness, selling? Maybe your type of product or service allows for multiple objectives. Will the decision makers or key influencers of your target audience be at the show? How will success be measured after the show? What is the budget?
•Pre-Show Communication:Plan how to announce your companys presence. The announcement gives your audience a reason to stop by. Use your Web site – post your trade show schedule. Develop a creative Email campaign to send to prospects and existing customers or simply make some phone calls.
•Design Booth Layout:Select your location, if given the choice. Look at traffic flow, aisles, entrances, show activities, etc. Design your booth graphics so passersby know what your company is selling at a glance. Create a finished appearance. Order or bring carpet and/or fixtures. Dont create barriers. Decide what products and information will be displayed. When using talent or games, plan where to put them in advance. Your booth is the lobby or gateway to your company. It must be immediately welcoming and representative of your organization.
•In the Booth:Train your staff ahead of time on both product knowledge and etiquette. Make sure everyone knows the schedule to avoid overcrowding. How your staff behaves can make a lasting impression on your audience. Decide what to wear, whether it will be business, casual attire, or booth uniform. There should be no eating, drinking, chewing gum, smoking, excessive chatting with other booth workers, cell phones, etc. Your staff should remain standing, ready to receive people at all times.
•Attract Traffic:Be cheerful, smile, make eye contact and be sincere. Ask openended, pertinent questions to pre-qualify prospects. Dont wait for them to stop. Engage them as they pass by or pause to glance at what you are offering.
•Document Inquiries and Leads:Choose a mechanism that collects the prospects name, company, address, phone no., and the type of follow-up required. Make sure the inquiries are handled within a reasonable time period after the show.
•Promotional Literature:Literature should be available, professional, easy-to- read and understand. Train your staff on how to use the literature in advance. Remember at a trade show literature doesnt make a sale its all about personal contact.
•Use ‘Smart Giveaways:Who are the recipients? Will they keep it? Print your logo, phone noumber, Web site on the items. Tie the giveaways to your advertising preshow message.
•Raffle Drawings:Raffles are used to collect names and information to add to your company database. Drawings also draw traffic to your booth, and can be part of your pre-show mailing.
•Post Show:How you handle the post show is important to the planning process from the beginning. How will you measure your return on investment of the show? Will it be the number of qualified leads, the number of sales generated, etc.? Communicate to your audience after the show. Use this as another reason to touch your prospects again. Follow up with a letter, postcard, phone call, or e-mail. Give attendees a reason to visit your Web site; for example, post raffle winners on the site, etc.
Remember, there is no other marketing tool as personal as an exhibit. It is the only sales opportunity where hundreds of your prospects will visit you in a given day. No cold calling, no trying to get past voice mail, reception, or protective secretaries.
Attendees have business needs to be filled and they are shopping in your store. Be prepared, be specific and be ready to make a lasting impression.
Jack Desroches is executive producer of Chicopee-based Milestone Events, LLC: (413) 592-4184.
Latino Chamber Builds Membership, Partnerships
Carlos Gonzalez
The Massachusetts Latino Chamber of Commerce, formed in early 2004, is in a growth mode. The agency recently opened a new office in downtown Springfield that features a business center currently incubating four fledgling companies. The LCC is also extending its reach into Worcester County, the Merrimack Valley, and, eventually Boston. The steps are all part of chamber President Carlos Gonzalezs drive to make the Latino business community a stronger force in the states economy.
As deputy chief of staff to Springfield Mayor Michael Albano, Carlos Gonzalez spent a considerable amount of time working in the realm of small-business development.
Indeed, among his many duties in that capacity was providing assistance to existing and aspiring small business owners in matters ranging from obtaining permits to understanding city sign ordinances.
Over the course of eight years of such work, Gonzalez gained a unique understanding of the citys business community — and also an appreciation for a growing but often overlooked constituency: Latino business owners.
As the number of such entrepreneurs grew, Gonzalez recognized a need to give the group both a ‘voice, as he called it, and a proverbial seat at the table — the one reserved for area business and economic development leaders.
So when the Albano administration ended its tour of duty in 2003, Gonzalez set out to meet that need through formation of the Massachusetts Latino Chamber of Commerce (LCC), or La Cámara de Comercio, as many of its 150 or so members might say.
That number has been rising steadily since the chamber opened its doors (or its door, to be more precise) in March 2004. Then, the fledgling group was renting a small office within the facilities of the New England Farm Workers Council. As membership and resources grew, the chamber set its sights on larger quarters and a broader mission.
Both clearly come into view at the LCCs new facility, a 2,400-square-foot suite at offices at 1655 Main St. that opened for business on Oct. 19. In addition to more administrative space, the office features a business center that is now home to four fledgling Latino-owned businesses ranging from a photography studio to an accounting firm.
“The new offices will serve as a one-stop center for small-business development,” said Gonzalez. “We want to provide business owners with the tools they need to grow and succeed.”
While supplying the physical space and technical assistance needed to help those entrepreneurs in the business center get to the next level, the LCC is working on several different assignments, said Gonzales.
They include everything from a membership drive to the creation of satellite offices in the Worcester area and Merrimack Valley, he told BusinessWest, and collectively they fall under the category of relationship- building.
“By creating relationships and partnerships we help make government officials see the many advantages of the emerging Latino small business community as an economic development engine that is fueling the local and state economy.”
BusinessWest looks this issue at how the LCC goes about the process of building those relationships, and how it hopes to build the base of Latino-owned businesses.
The Language of Business When asked if he thought the Latino business community has been under served historically, Gonzalez thought for a minute and decided that overlooked was the more accurate term.
He told BusinessWest that state economic development leaders have put considerable emphasis on luring large corporations to the Commonwealth, at the expense of a broader emphasis on small-business development.
Meanwhile, they have either overlooked or ignored both the surging Latino population, especially in urban areas like Springfield and Holyoke, as well as a recognized entrepreneurial spirit within that constituency.
“Financial institutions have not recognized the Latino community as an economic power base,” he explained, adding that Springfield has been recognized as one of the leading centers of new-business development, and the areas minority populations have played a significant role in that movement.
“The Latino community has a strong entrepreneurial spirit … many people strive to open their own businesses,” he explained. “Government officials need to realize this and help generate new Latino businesses.”
Gonzalez saw those entrepreneurial tendencies during his tenure in the mayors office. And when his work there ended when Albano opted out a fifth term, Gonzalez sought a way to tap into that energy, while also fulfilling his own entrepreneurial aspirations.
Indeed, before joining the Albano administration, Gonzalez served as station manager and producer at WSPR-1270, and played a lead role in the transformation of that facility into a 24-hour Spanish language station. Two years in that role followed by his work with small businesses for Albano gave him a front row seat from which to view the emergence of the Latino business community.
He wanted to give that group a presence and a voice, and his answer was the Latino Chamber, an entity he believed could succeed where a number of other, smaller, Latino-focused chambers with similar goals had not.
“There was a gap,” he said, referring to the emergence — and later the dissolution of several smaller chambers focused on groups like the Latino population. “When you walked around and talked to the small Latino base, few of them were aware of the opportunities available to them, from agencies like the SBA, area chambers, SCORE, and others. We wanted to address that need.”
Gonzalez told BusinessWest that the Latino chamber was created with a number of goals in mind. First and foremost, the agency would act as a resource that would help Latino-owned businesses clear a wide variety of hurdles, from initial business plans to marketing; licenses to financing options.
The LCC is addressing that aspect of its mission through a variety of programs, including workshops and training sessions on a number of subjects.
Beyond that, the chamber was conceived to act as an advocate for the Latino business community, so it is not overlooked in the future as it has been in the past.
As an example, he cited one recently created city program that enables individuals to apply for up to $30,000 for technical assistance to open vacant storefronts in three neighborhoods, the North End, the South End, and Old Hill.
“There is not a vacant storefront in the North End,” said Gonzales, referring to the predominantly Hispanic neighborhood and speaking figuratively. “We want to help create programs that can better serve the Latino community and help Latino businesses stay in business.
“Were not asking for any handouts,” he continued, “but we do want to be part of the discussion when these programs are being set forth. And a united voice is the only way to get people to listen.”
To strengthen that voice, Gonzalez said he wants to both expand membership locally — 500 is his immediate, and ambitious, goal and he believes he can achieve that by the end of next year — and extending the LCCs reach beyond the Pioneer Valley.
He said there are growing Latino populations in Lawrence, Lowell, Worcester, and other communities, and the LCC desires to serve them, through outreach and partnerships generated from the Springfield office, and perhaps through creation of satellite facilities.
“Theres a lot of work to be done in these areas,” he explained. “We want to reach out … we think can help build those bases of Latino-owned businesses and create a stronger, more influential group.”
Building Blocks
As he talked about the region and states Hispanic business community and its prospects for the future, Gonzalez drew some parallels to Miami and what has happened in that city over the past quarter century. There, a steadily growing Latino population managed to come together, pool its resources, and forge what he called a “Latino business power base” that made major contributions to Miamis economy.
The same could happen in Massachusetts and, specifically, the Greater Springfield area, said Gonzalez, if effective partnerships are formed between Latino businesses, the LCC, and the community at large … and if the Latino community as a whole is viewed as a financial resource.
An important part of the equation is building a solid base of Latino ventures, he said, adding that the LCCs business center will play a role on that mission.
Designed to be an incubator that will give start-ups and existing businesses the physical space and support services needed to get off the ground, the center will house businesses until they reach maturity and become ready to move out into the community. “Were going to start by walking, and when we start running, well move on and another new business will take our place,” said Rene Romero, creative director and coowner of LatinMark, one of the centers tenants.
The business, recently re-named after three years of operating as AdMark, offers an array of services designed to help businesses, Latino-owned and otherwise, to tap into the growing Hispanic market.
A native of Venezuela, Romero first came to the United States in the late 70s to get an education, specifically a degree in marketing and advertising at Louisiana State University. He returned home, but eventually came back to the states in early 2000.
After working for a short time in Boston, he and his wife relocated to Miami to work in advertising.
“We didnt have very good timing,” he said, referring to the decline in the Miami area economy in the months after 9/11. “It was a case of being in the right place at the wrong time.”
He believes his decision to return to the Northeast has put him in the right place at the right time.
Elaborating, he said Western Mass. has an attractive demographic mix — specifically a growing Latino population — as well as the right geography, a location within a few hours of several major metropolitan areas, including Boston, Hartford, and New York.
While Romero hopes to conduct business in and those cities, his primary focus for now is the Western Mass. market, where he is providing services to the LCC, several of its members, and other area businesses, while trying, as all small business owners do, to build a name and reputation.
Those are goals common to other tenants in the business center — Ramos Accounting & Tax Services Inc., a start-up venture created by Springfield native Oscar Ramos; MOYO Photography, a two-year-old business operated by Yolanda and Johnny Torres; and Evis Medical Supply, a Connecticut-based company owned by Carlos Alvarez, who is expanding with a Springfield satellite office.
The centers first businesses represent a good cross-section of Latino-owned ventures, said Gonzalez, noting his roster of tenants — and the LCCs membership list — is diverse, with a broad mix of professionals and service providers.
Growing that base is the primary objective for the chamber, he said, noting that the mission will be carried out across the Valley — and across the state.
Sign of the Times
As he gave BusinessWest a tour of the then-unfinished LCC offices, Gonzalez stopped to introduce Blas Rosa, owner of Quick Sign, who was putting the finishing touches on the sign that graces the front lobby.
The chamber tries to support members and other Latino-owned businesses with work like the sign project, Gonzalez explained, adding that its broad mission is to give such ventures much more than small jobs like the new signage.
“The goal is to provide a voice,” he stressed, “and as we become bigger and stronger, the voice grows louder.”?
George OBrien can be reached at[email protected].
While there remains some disagreement about Springfield, it’s current state of health, and its prospects for the future, there is agreement on at least one thing: that this city would be in much more trouble — truly dire straits — without its leading corporate citizen: MassMutual.
Indeed, area business leaders can often be heard referencing this line of thinking — while discussing everything from local cultural treasurers to the region’s Class A office occupancy rate — and acknowledging that they’re glad they don’t have to imagine life without ‘Mother Mutual,’ as it’s called.
We raise the point because, through a combination of current events and seasonal happenings, the depth of the company’s contributions to Springfield and the surrounding region can — or should — be truly appreciated. And we take the opportunity to say that while people can be pleased and proud that they have the corporate giant in this area code, we would be wise never to take its generosity for granted.
Scan the pages of this edition of BusinessWest, or any edition, for that matter, and one can immediately grasp the importance of this Fortune 100 company to the City of Homes and the region that surrounds it. There are prominent examples of the company’s impact on the area, such as attaching its name to the new convention center that opened last month in downtown Springfield. Without that $5 million investment, the entire project might not have moved forward, and if it had, it would not have been the same facility.
There are also many smaller, but in many ways no lessimportant, examples of the company’s generosity and civic-mindedness, such as its gift of the latest display, ‘Jurassic World,’ for Bright Nights. Meanwhile, another area attraction, the Springfield Museums, received another $95,000 grant from the company for ‘Learning Together,’ a series of educational programs for Springfield public school students.
Beyond the monetary and in-kind gifts to the community, MassMutual has also had a profound impact on the region’s real estate market, repeatedly filling large vacancies in downtown Springfield office towers, while also rescuing properties such as the former Charles River Hospital building in Chicopee, which the company converted into a meeting and training center. The latest example of the company’s influence on the office market was the recent opening of its new offices in Enfield, in the former Phoenix complex.
If there is a downside to MassMutual’s generosity, it is that this region might in some ways be too dependent on it, or, worse, that it is starting to take the company’s largesse for granted.
What we would like is for other companies, and individuals as well, to be inspired by MassMutual and to follow its lead — to the greatest degree possible.
By that, we mean that companies don’t have to fund an entire new exhibit for Bright Nights. But they should recognize the importance of that attraction to both the city and the region’s efforts to expand its tourism sector — and support the project accordingly.
Likewise, they can assist institutions like the Springfield Museums, the city’s orchestra, the community’s higher education system, and unique assets like Forest Park.
MassMutual has taken a lead role in supporting each one, and has set an example worthy of emulating.
As we said, it is a combination of news items — from the first events in the MassMutual Center to the recent open house at the Enfield facilities to the Bright Nights announcement — that remind of us how fortunate Springfield is to have a corporate citizen like this. And if you think all Fortune 500 companies are like this, you need to think again.
MassMutual’s donations are almost always large in size, but they are inspired by a fairly simple mindset: that the company does business in Springfield, it takes from the region and benefits from it — and therefore it gives back.
If every business took that same attitude, maybe we would be so dependent on MassMutual — and maybe we wouldn’t spend so much time wondering, and worrying, about what life would be like without it.
