Home 2008 January
Departments

The following Business Certificates and Trade Names were issued or renewed during the month of January 2008.

AGAWAM

Algra Media
77 Edward St.
Allan Grassetti

Agawamtech.com
12 Lakeview Circle
Vagn Scott

Angelina Rose Photography
8G Mansion Wood Dr.
Angela Simpson

Hec’s Auto Detailers
85-87 Ramah Circle
Maria Valego

Hollands Home and Heart Crafts
201 Adams St.
Julie Hollands

AMHERST

A Step Forward Message
96 N. Pleasant St.
Breten K. Burger

Chao Designs
45 Westwood Ave.
Maria Chao

River Shark Café
17B Montague Road
Robert Pollak

Tana Productions
310 West St.
Santo Ine Alers

Welcome Home Amherst Veterans
260 Leverett Road
James D. Pitts

CHICOPEE

YNS International
6 Fitzpatrick Lane
Yegor Stefantsen

EASTHAMPTON

White Crane Renovations
1 Cottage St.
Glenn D. Leonard

EAST LONGMEADOW

Spa Europa
60 Shaker Road
Kelly Laviolette

GREENFIELD

Green Tree Services
32 Sumner St.
Jeffrey J. Koshinsky

Klondike Sound Company
37 Silvio Conte Dr.
John T. Koehler Jr.

Ozzie’s Auto Body & Paint Shop
328 High St.
Tamas L. Herkner

Satyriasis Solutions
P.O. Box 942
Jorge Luis Gonzalez

The Country Jeweler
220 Main St.
The Country Jeweler Inc.

HADLEY

Barnes & Noble
335 Russell St.
Leonard Riggio

Gauthier Automotive
251 Russell St.
Christopher Gush

The Hadleigh Collection
31 Huntington Road
Frederick Wilda

HOLYOKE

Free Professional
1895 Northampton St.
John Martin

Jo-Ann Stores, Inc.
2267 Northampton St.
Edward Weinstein

Massachusetts National Guard
50 Holyoke St.
James D. Laudato

NORTHAMPTON

DH Infrastructure
25 Main St.
Denzel James Hankinson

Food For Thought Vending
91 Woodlawn Ave.
Jean S. Tracey

Hair By Patrick
56 Main St.
Patrick Mansfield

Misty River Ballooning
82 Bliss St.
Donald LaFountain

Praying Mantis Kung-Fu
20 Hampton Ave.
Aurelio Pagan

Salon Evolve
4 Old South St.
Andrea Coller

Simply Hair
2 Conz St.
Melissa C. Kelly


 

Zoom Auto Sales
245A North King St.
John Hunter

PALMER

Mark Gilbert Auto Repairs
24 Orchard St.
Mark Thomas Gilbert

SOUTH HADLEY

Allery’s Package Store
314 Newton St.
Cesare Ferrari

SOUTHWICK

Hart’s Garage
53 Congamond Road
Francis Hart

SPRINGFIELD

Life Champions Through MA
1490 Allen St.
Walton Lamar Moore

Lteif Taxi Service, LLC
32 Lancashire Road
Nadim F. Lteif

Maxim Seamless Gutters
21 Cluster Circle
Maxim Barabolkin

Miranda Auto Body
289-291 Mill St.
Ricardo Miranda

Moonlight Fashion
63 Jordan St.
Windy Chak

Nails #1
929 Belmont Ave.
Thuy Thu Vo

Oz
377-399 Dwight St.
William Santaniello

Premier Caulking & Restoration
42 Kimberly Ave.
Anthony M. Dewdney

Ray Auto Electrical Tech
20 Montgomery St.
Reynaldo Rios

S & H Boston Road Fuels
32 Boston Road
Bhikha-Bhai C.

S & H St. James Fuel Inc.
1037 St. James Ave.
Bhikhabhai C. Patel

Simply Divine Beauty Lounge
607 Dickinson St.
Kelly Rochelle

Spring St. Super Grocery
121 Spring St.
Jose Miguel Rijo

Star Nails
1130 State St.
Ngoc Van Nguyen

Super Starz
253 Bay St.
Carlene Marsh

Vega Baja Men’s Wear
31 Oswego St.
Eliezer Gaetan

WESTFIELD

Angel Cleaners
305 Edward St.
Vladimir Garbuz

Clean Sweep
69 Michael Dr.
Debra A. Post

Elizabeth Cotnoir Designs
17 Stephen Lane
Mary Elizabeth Cotnoir

Little Black Dog Gallery
16 Union Ave.
Jackie French Koller

Westfield Tae Kwon Do Services
52 Knollwood Dr.
Richard E. Talevi

Z & Z Tool Manufacturing
41 Jefferson St.
David J. Zering

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Diamond Gold Connection
389 Park St.
GX Corporation

East Coast Granite And Flooring
174 Althea St.
Andrey Lisovskiy

Giovannis Pizzeria & Restaurant
88 Westfield Road
Chars Incorporated

Mitchell’s Formal Wear
1321 Riverdale St.
Claudia Pruitt

The Crop Shop
338 Westfield St.
Nancy R. Jamrog

Opinion
Working for the Union Label

The Nevada caucuses are over, following on the heels of the Michigan primaries. This schedule calls to the mind the striking contrast between the way Detroit greets air travelers and the way Las Vegas does it. If you fly into Detroit Metro Airport and catch a ride east toward the city itself, you have to go a stretch before a gigantic tire welcomes you to the Motor City. But far be it from Las Vegas to show such reserve. At its airport, just after you exit the jetway, slot machines greet you in the terminal.

As different as it is from Detroit, however, Vegas has imitated it in one respect: Detroit used to be a place where a person with little education could still get a good-paying job. With the contraction of the auto industry in Michigan, and the expansion of the gambling business in Nevada, Vegas has become the town that beckons with this opportunity.

In Nevada, the average hourly wage of a worker with no more than a high school diploma is $23.30, the highest of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. On this count, Michigan is now 10th.

Nevada isn’t on top by accident. It’s there because the vast majority of the state’s workers hold jobs in the Las Vegas area and, though Nevada is a right-to-work state, Las Vegas is nonetheless a union town. In fact, as Hal Rothman reports in Neon Metropolis, his insightful book on Vegas, it is now “the most unionized city in the United States.”

Its largest local union is Culinary Workers Union Local 226. This is the 60,000-member local that endorsed Barack Obama last week. Caucuses aside, though, this union is also a possible model for the future.

The typical hourly wage of a 2008 worker with at least a four-year degree is higher than the typical hourly wage of a 1973 worker with a four-year degree — but the typical wage of a 2008 worker without a degree is lower than the typical wage of a 1973 worker without a degree. Moreover, two of three of today’s workers do not have a degree.

One reason why the non-college jobs of today don’t pay as well as the non-college jobs of 35 years ago, it has been claimed, is that a lot of the 1973 jobs were in manufacturing, and a lot of the 2008 jobs are in the service sector — and rank-and-file work in the service sector, unlike such work in the manufacturing sector, is inherently low-wage work.

But the paychecks of the Culinary Workers Union members rebut this claim. As working stiffs in the gambling industry — hotel maids and fry cooks, busboys and cocktail waitresses, laundry workers and card dealers — they do menial work in the service sector. But they do not have to do it for menial pay. In part, this has to be because unionization has given them some leverage.

To be sure, the pay levels for rank-and-file workers in manufacturing have been higher than those for such workers in the service sector. But this isn’t because there is something in the nature of manufacturing itself that makes for higher pay. It’s because it has been more unionized. An old issue of Life magazine tells the story of a steel worker whose pay jumped by 260% in 10 years. This was chiefly because, at the beginning of the 10-year-period, the steel workers across the country unionized.

Much of the workforce can be divided into two groups. One group is the workers who can build a brand for themselves as individuals, such as the best-known real estate agent in a small town. Because such workers stand out from the crowd, they hold bargaining power as individuals, and get paid well.

The other group is the crowd: the workers who are generic. They have little or no bargaining power as individuals. In the way of pay, they often must take what the job market offers to workers like them. If they want to earn more, they can try to brand themselves. Or they can bargain not as individuals, but en masse. It worked that way in Cadillac plants. It works that way in resort hotels.

Ralph Whitehead Jr. is a professor of Journalism at UMass Amherst.

Sections Supplements
Enterprise and Early Education Intersect Through a Unique Pooling of Efforts
Helen Shea, Chris Sikes, and Joni Beck Brewer

Helen Shea, Chris Sikes, and Joni Beck Brewer say the collaborative training program for family child care providers addresses the needs of a robust economic cell in Western Mass.

Chris Sikes, executive director of the Western Mass. Enterprise Fund (WMEF), says that when it comes to micro-enterprise, focusing on one sector at a time is the best way to provide assistance and measure success.

“Power is found by going industry to industry,” he said, noting that restaurants, animal care enterprises, and health, wellness, and beauty ventures are among the clusters of activity the WMEF hopes to work with in the future.

Today, though, the WMEF is focusing in particular on one rather small but significant facet of the region’s economic landscape: child care.

“There is no micro-entrepreneurial sector in Western Mass. right now that is seeing more activity than child care,” said Sikes, noting that this reality, and the importance of early education to the region’s economic stability, are two reasons why the WMEF has entered into a new, multi-partner agreement to take the softest voices in the child care market and make them heard.

“I’ve wanted to do this for a long time,” he said.

The WMEF is a nonprofit entity that provides access to resources such as grants, training opportunities, scholarships, loans, tax credits, and gap financing in concert with area banks to new and small business ventures. In October of 2005, the group entered into a partnership with Square One, formerly Springfield Day Nursery, to assist family child care providers — those that offer child care out of their homes — acquire new business loans and acumen.

That program has recently received a new infusion of funds thanks to a grant made by the Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation, a private philanthropic body based in Springfield that typically awards grants to culturally and educationally relevant causes. As such, the program will be expanding to assist a larger number of family child-care providers across Western Mass. this year.

Square One already offers a variety of services to family child care providers (FCCs) who are licensed by the Commonwealth, but according to Joni Beck Brewer, vice president of Family Services for the network of early education centers, the entrepreneurial nature of this new partnership is a welcome departure.

“It’s a great partnership for us because we know human services and education, but the WMEF’s business expertise adds a lot,” she said. “It also goes hand in hand with the changes we’re seeing in the family child care world; there’s a strong move toward fostering more educational activities for the children, and to do that, providers need to see themselves as educators and business owners.”

Sikes said the partnership stemmed from a meeting between his organization, Square One, and the Preschool Enrichment Team (PET), a nonprofit training organization based in Springfield that develops training courses and curricula for day care providers. He added that the WMEF had long hoped to develop and offer new resources for the FCC sector, because while it’s one of the more robust cells of business activity in Western Mass., it’s also one of the most overlooked.

“We wanted to develop a business program, because these are not babysitters. These are professionals, who are often unaware of that fact themselves.”

In Its Infancy…

In order to provide assistance to the greatest amount of FCCs in the Greater Springfield area, Sikes said the WMEF needed to identify an existing network of providers, and did so through Square One.

The pilot program, launched in 2005, included three components, the first of which was the training provided through PET, for which the WMEF paid for out-of-pocket, Sikes said.

“These were basic business courses tailored for the issues that face the family day care provider,” he explained. “Marketing, bookkeeping, policies and procedures, and tax issues were all covered, but in a targeted way, in order to ensure these business owners got the support they need.”

In addition, the WMEF provided one-time business loans to participants ranging from $500 to $2,000, depending on an FCC’s needs. The loans served to, as Sikes said, allow FCCs to “build to a place at which they can become more business-oriented.”

“The goal wasn’t so much to make business loans as it was to get family care providers thinking of themselves as businesses,” he said, noting, however, that the loans were reported to the major credit bureaus, thus improving each recipient’s personal credit score as they paid the loans back. Throughout the course of the pilot program, Sikes said, only one payment came in late.

“That’s a huge show of success, especially since some of these participants are high credit risks,” he said.

The third aspect has become a pivotal piece of the project as it matures; however, Sikes said it was one that, at first, was unexpected.

“The final, unforeseen benefit of that program was that the providers got a chance to network amongst themselves,” he concluded. “The importance of the peer networking component was evident right away. Family child care providers are often isolated, and never get the chance to compare notes with others. Through meeting each other regularly at training sessions, they were able to discuss common issues, and draw from each others’ strengths.”

Granting Wishes

Helen Shea, family child care coordinator at Square One, said the state requires that small business training be made available to FCCs, but due to a lack of funding, Square One’s role in providing this assistance has long been smaller than the early-childhood provider would have liked.

“We were trying to get by on teaching policies and procedures,” she said. “State funding has truly been inadequate.”

She added that a lack of support and funding is also a reality for FCCs, who receive approximately $25 per child in reimbursement for providing child care services.

“That’s barely enough to make ends meet,” said Shea. “It’s very difficult for them — there’s no room for error.”

Due in part to these pressures, Shea said interest in the pilot training and loan program was high enough to necessitate a lottery draw for participants, and that bodes well for the future of the initiative.

What’s even better, however, is the $45,000 grant the WMEF has just received to prolong and expand the FCC assistance program. Awarded by the Davis Foundation, the grant will allow the partnership to serve providers in Holyoke as well as Greater Springfield, and to enter into a third collaboration with the Valley Opportunity Council (VOC) based in Holyoke to offer a greater number of training opportunities for eligible FCCs in Holyoke, Chicopee, Springfield, Westfield, Agawam, West Springfield, and South Hadley.

The next generation of the program will offer training from PET, peer support from Square One, and a similar set of loans from the WMEF, as well as a new set of business and child care courses provided by the VOC. Sikes said the WMEF is also exploring the possibility of identifying, or even inventing, a health care insurance program to collectively serve FCCs that participate in the program.

“The way these things go is the private money comes in first, and that’s when we get a chance to be innovative and prove that a program works,” he explained. “Then, the public money follows, and that’s about where we are now.”

But it’s a position that includes a modicum of power, that this partnership is working to leverage.

“This is something we’d like to see funded permanently,” said Sikes, “and we have some positive, loud voices helping us get there.”

Jaclyn Stevenson can be reached at[email protected]

Sections Supplements
Bay Path Student Earns National Recognition for Her Pitching Prowess
Aubrey Malanowski

Bay Path College senior Aubrey Malanowski is currently ranked fifth in the nation among collegiate elevator pitch competitors.

According to many a poll, public speaking prompts more fear in people than death, heights, or spiders.

Aubrey Malanowski, a senior at Bay Path College in Longmeadow majoring in marketing, is well-acquainted with that assertion, though she can’t necessarily relate. Public speaking, she says, has always come easily to her, and she’s recently found how many windows of opportunity that skill can open.

Malanowski recently ranked among the top five students in the nation, both graduate and undergraduate, at the Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization (CEO) National Elevator Pitch competition in Chicago.

It’s a high-level challenge that charges participants with delivering a 90-second pitch for a business concept. (The name refers to the typical amount of time one would have in an elevator with a potential, if not theoretical, investor).

No props, note cards, or written speeches can be used, so faith in one’s abilities and the idea they’re presenting are key to such contests. Malanowski said she first heard of the elevator pitch competition through her affiliation with Bay Path’s CEO chapter (she’s the founder and president) and through the business-oriented honor society Phi Beta Lambda (she’s its secretary), and felt she had the right combination of confidence and drive.

“I love public speaking, and I had an idea,” she said.

And that’s where it all started.

Health and Beauty

In fact, Malanowski’s original idea for a less-than-two-minute pitch was more than just a notion — it’s an existing business she founded as a student, and continues to pursue. A licensed esthetician, Malanowski devised a business plan for a company called Beginning Beauty, which, largely by organizing parties at homes and community organizations, targets ‘tween’ girls (roughly ages 8 through 12) and teaches appropriate, sanitary makeup application and care.

That venture has received positive feedback from many constituencies, including mothers who struggle with teaching their adolescent daughters how to look and act their age as they mature. But as she researched the art of the elevator pitch, Malanowski decided she needed another idea, one that was perhaps more hard-hitting and far-reaching, to truly dazzle an audience.

She drew again from her own experiences, this time focusing on her year behind a desk in a doctor’s office, and the copious paperwork she was constantly asking patients to complete.

“Standard paperwork can be really repetitive, especially for the elderly,” she explained. “The only way most doctors’ offices can record changes to insurance, medications, and other basic information is by having a patient fill the same forms out again and again, each time they come in.

“It’s a faulty system in my eyes,” she added. “I figured there must be a better way.”

Thus, Malanowski’s first pitch began to form. Starting with the problem of repetitive paperwork and the trend in many offices today toward going paperless, she presented the idea for the “MedLink,” a portable USB device that would contain a patient’s basic personal information (barring anything sensitive that could violate HIPAA regulations). The idea is that patients could then bring their MedLink with them to a physician’s office, where that information could be uploaded into a computer, saving both time and resources.

Rising to the Top

Malanowski first presented her pitch at Bay Path College at a competition for the college’s undergraduate and graduate students. After placing first in that contest, she won a place in the 2007 Harold Grinspoon Elevator Pitch Competition, a regional event that draws contestants from 13 of the area’s colleges and universities, and is judged by a panel of presidents and vice presidents from a number of the region’s financial institutions.

Malanowski said she had her work cut out for her that evening. Not only was she presenting a pitch along with several other undergraduate and graduate students, she was also staffing her own tabletop display at the event, featuring her business, Beginning Beauty.

“It was a little daunting to say the least,” she said, adding, however, that she was so busy, she had little time to be nervous. “I had practiced, and that night, I kept walking up to my mom as though she was a stranger, and pitching the idea to her.”

Her dry runs paid off.

Malanowski won the Grinspoon competition, earning her $1,000, and also won a spirit award in recognition of Beginning Beauty the same night, an award that came with an additional $500 prize.

“When I gave my pitch, I felt amazing about it,” she said, “but coming in first place was still pretty awesome. I had attended Holyoke Community College prior to coming to Bay Path, so when I walked to the podium I had not one, but two colleges cheering me on.”

Her Kind of Town

Soon though, it was time for the entire region to cheer on Malanowski at the national elevator pitch competition in Chicago. Her participation wasn’t guaranteed by her regional win; she had to apply online and survive two major cuts — the first narrowing the pool of applicants to 120, and the second cutting that number in half — before moving on to the competitive level.

But Malanowski was among the final 60 contestants, and began fundraising to finance her trip by sending letters asking for support to various individuals and organizations in the community.

Last November, Malanowski found herself in a Chicago hotel room, pacing and pitching to prepare for three rounds of grueling competition.

“There were 15 of us in each room, presenting to separate panels of judges,” she explained, “so I had no way of knowing how well everyone else was doing.”

Still, she made it through round one of the national competition, which eliminated 48 people. Then, in the semifinals, the pool was reduced to six contestants, and Malanowski advanced to the final round. This time, the pitches weren’t made to a small panel of judges, but to a full audience in a grand ballroom.

“There were in excess of 1,000 people in attendance,” she said, “and it wasn’t the same people who’d seen me doing great all day.”

Malanowski said she stumbled over a word in the very last sentence, but in the end, she placed fifth in the nation, after competing at the college, regional, and national level, and it’s not a finish she laments by any means.

“What are you going to do?” she said of her single flubbed line, with a slight shrug. “I view the entire process as a huge success.”

Loud and Proud

And Malanowski isn’t going to stop there. She said she’s been approached more than once by potential investors regarding the MedLink idea, and in addition to continuing to develop Beginning Beauty, she’s mulling plans for a second endeavor aimed at young girls — this one focused on the importance of public speaking.

“Change occurs by women voicing their opinions,” she said. “That’s something I feel very strongly about, and now that I’ve had some success on my own in that area, it’s become a direction in which I can see myself heading.”

There are other areas she’d like to explore, too, including the field of social entrepreneurship as a whole (ventures that are launched to address a social problem, such as educational gaps, economic distress, or gender biases) and green entrepreneurship — the practice of launching or assisting environmentally friendly initiatives.

“Public speaking has opened so many doors for me, and is so useful in general,” she said. “Who knows where I’ll go?”

Wherever she lands, though, it seems Malanowski won’t have any trouble telling people about it.

Jaclyn Stevenson can be reached at[email protected]

Sections Supplements
PeoplesBank Puts Its Energies into Environmentally Friendly Business Ventures, Practices
Xiaolei Hua, William Sullivan, Janice Mazzallo, Marian Poe-Heineman, and Doug Bowen

Members of the ‘green’ team at PeoplesBank, from left, Xiaolei Hua, William Sullivan, Janice Mazzallo, Marian Poe-Heineman, and Doug Bowen.

Doug Bowen didn’t actually use the term ‘green banking’ to describe the niche his institution is shaping in terms of environmentally friendly lending and internal business practices — but it essentially works for him.

That’s perhaps the best way to categorize a multi-layered focus on the environment, helping to fund development of alternative energy sources, and broad conservation efforts at Holyoke-based PeoplesBank, a philosophy or “culture” (that’s the term Bowen, the bank’s president, and others used repeatedly) that is somewhat unique in this sector and manifests itself in a number of ways.

These include efforts such as recently approved loans for smaller-scale wind power projects in the Bay State; an ongoing business relationship, or partnership, with the Holyoke Gas & Electric Department to develop and expand hydro-electric facilities; lending to develop several brownfield, or contaminated, sites in the region; and even initiatives within the bank to reduce energy consumption, curb the use of paper, and other steps that fall under the category of ‘going green.’

“The traditional measures of a community bank are asset size, branches, footprint, and lending power,” said Bowen, noting that PeoplesBank is the largest such institution in the Pioneer Valley and thus leads in all those categories. “But we think it goes beyond that. We believe we have a responsibility to the region and its people to create a better place to live and a healthier place to live — and that’s part of our philosophy and our mission.”

Over the past several years, the bank has developed working relationships with HG&E, for which it has provided funding to update hydroelectric equipment, and, more recently, with the Mass. Municipal Wholesale Electric Co. to develop a wind turbine project in the town of Princeton, just north of Worcester. These experiences and others have helped provide a level of expertise in this sector and both an understanding of the risks involved with such businesses and an appetite for accepting them.

“We showed a willingness to be creative when these borrowers presented us with alternative types of requests for financing alternative forms of energy,” Bowen explained, noting that these additions to the portfolio, totaling roughly $20 million, have provided a comfort level of sorts for business ventures that some banks wouldn’t be nearly as willing to touch.

This is especially true with regard to lending for development of brownfield sites, said William Sullivan, a vice president of commercial lending at PeoplesBank, who has roughly $16 million in such loans within his book of business. These are usually complex deals that involve several regulating agencies and often take months if not years to finalize, he said, noting that these factors and others make most lending institutions quite wary of such transactions.

“But this is good business,” he told BusinessWest, noting quickly that there are many more doable projects across the Valley for those willing to assume the risks. “It’s good for the bank, it’s good for those trying to develop these sites, and it’s also good for the communities involved, which can take properties that have been dormant for years and put them back to productive use.”

Meanwhile, inside PeoplesBank, ‘going green’ is becoming a growing force within the corporate culture, an attitude that starts at the top, with Bowen, who became president last summer, but now pervades the company.

Evidence of this came several weeks ago, when the bank sent out a global E-mail seeking suggestions for how to reduce energy consumption and become more environmentally friendly.

Xiaolei (pronounced ‘chalet’) Hua, bank-wide project manager, and coordinator of the ‘green’ response initiative, said comments and suggestions came quickly and from every department of the bank.

“It was an overwhelming response,” he said, “one that shows that people understand the importance of making the business more environmentally friendly, and are deeply committed to doing what it takes to get that done.”

In this issue, BusinessWest looks at how PeoplesBank is giving new meaning to ‘green’ in an industry that has focused on another definition of that word.

Getting Wind of the Concept “Scary.”

That’s the word Sullivan summoned as he talked about some of the brownfield sites for which the bank has provided financing for clean-up and planned future development.

He was referring to the actual accumulation of hazardous wastes on these properties and the challenge of removing them. “There was one site with a waste area 15 feet wide and 15 feet high; it wasn’t easy, but now it’s clean.”

But he might as well have been referencing the degrees of difficulty and risk involved for the parties developing the sites — and for the institution weighing requests for financing to make such ventures reality.

“These are challenging projects … the borrower needs to have a good team that understands the government programs and contracts,” he said, adding that a number of players, from state and federal agencies to environmental clean-up firms and lawyers representing several different parties, must work together to make a contaminated site clean.

“A lot of banks may not want to invest the time it takes to work with these customers to get these deals done,” said Sullivan, noting that PeoplesBank is often so inclined, because it takes the long view. “You need to have the insight into what the long-term picture is for the community.”

Bowen agreed, noting that imagination, patience, and diligence are also key ingredients in this formula.

“You have to have creative thinking and willingness to put in lots of hard work to get these environmentally friendly initiatives off the ground,” he told BusinessWest. “That’s because there’s a lot of work involved — more than in a conventional financing situation.”

Creativity is the common denominator for the many aspects of what could be called a ‘green’ niche, or focus, at PeoplesBank, which now has more than $1.5 billion in assets and nearly $1 billion in deposits. This is not a recent phenomenon, said Bowen, but rather a specialty that is in some ways still in the developmental stage.

It began with the HG&E and several alternative energy projects it has pursued over the years, said Marian Poe-Heineman, another vice president of commercial loans, who noted that the latest, in 2004, involved purchasing and upgrading several water wheels within Holyoke’s extensive canal system used for generating hydroelectric power.

“They came to us with a need, and we had to find a way to structure that financing to meet that need,” she said, noting that water power is not a proposition that would have interested most area banks.

Creative thinking also played a role with the bank’s successful efforts to finance MWEC’s latest development in Princeton.

There, the company’s Mass. Municipal Light Department Wind Energy Cooperative, formed in conjunction with the Princeton Municipal Light Department, mapped out plans to build install two 1.5-megawatt turbines that would replace eight smaller turbines that were dismantled in 2004 after 20 years of operation. What the company needed, and received from PeoplesBank, was a $6.5 million line of credit needed to keep its place in line with a German manufacturer neck-deep in orders for the equipment.

“Losing your place means running the risk of not getting your project off the ground,” said Poe-Heineman. “So being able to their respond to their request quickly and get this transaction completed was a key part of the process.”

Current Events

Hua told BusinessWest that the global E-mail seeking suggestions on making the company more ‘green’ went out in November, from Bowen, and that some responses started coming back within minutes, while others took a few days, but were clearly the result of pooled thoughts involving teams or entire departments.

Some proposals were fairly simple — like placement of more recycling bins across the company’s many facilities, providing PeoplesBank mugs to all employees to cut down on use of paper and Styrofoam cups, and removing all space heaters, which are dangerous and use large amounts of electricity — while others were more involved, such as creation of more environmentally friendly products and, overall, reduction of paper consumption in a business laden with forms and printed account statements.

“There was a really broad range of ideas and suggestions,” said Hua. “And to date, we’ve had responses from 16 different departments. What’s great is that a lot of departments did a team effort, with many members contributing ideas; that’s important because it’s going to take a lot of teamwork for this to succeed.”

Steps already taken across the PeoplesBank organization, which includes corporate headquarters at 330 Whitney Ave., former corporate facilities in downtown Holyoke, and several branches spread across the region, include replacement of incandescent bulbs with more energy-efficient compact fluorescents and installation of more energy-efficient heating, venting, and air conditioning units. The request for new ideas was part of a broad effort to take initiatives to the next level, said Janice Mazzallo, senior vice president of Human Resources for the bank, and also imbed ‘green’ thinking into the company’s culture.

“The way you achieve that is first with the support of senior management, and we have that,” she explained, “but also with employees, because you can’t be successful unless employees understand why this is important to us and want to get behind it.”

Referring to the bank’s ‘green’ lending activities, but to the in-house initiatives as well, Bowen said there are costs involved, in terms of dollars, time, and personal capital. When asked if it was worthwhile, business-wise, to be focused on this niche, he gave a quick ‘yes,’ but said there are considerations beyond the bottom line.

“We think there’s a corporate responsibility to do these types of projects, and to get contaminated properties back in active use, and thus create jobs,” he explained. “For us, financially, it’s worked out fine, but we also think it’s the right thing to do for the people of this region; it improves quality of life here, and that creates more business for the bank.”

Gang Green

As he talked about brownfield-remediation projects, some of which take years to plan and complete, Sullivan stressed how intimidating they can often appear — to both developers and the banks they turn to for financing.

“You have to approach them with an open mind because, when you first see some of these sites they can be scary,” he said. “You look at them and say, ‘oh my gosh, what are we doing here?’

“And then, you look at the end result, and it just fortifies why we’re here,” he continued. “Just to see people working in a facility that was dormant for so long … you can see the impact on the community, the positive change.”

The same can be said for all the other ‘green’ initiatives being pursued by the bank, be they loans for wind power projects or simply changing light bulbs at the bank’s offices. They’re all powerful statements.v

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

Cover Story
Area banks continue to branch out
January 21, 2008 Cover

January 21, 2008 Cover

It wasn’t too long ago that financial analysts were predicting a serious decline in the number of bank branches nationwide. But electronic banking, while popular, has done little to deter banks from sprouting branches on seemingly every thoroughfare in Western Mass. It’s a national trend, and one that shows little signs of slowing — although some argue that it’s more difficult than ever for a new branch to become profitable.

Drive down any well-traveled, retail-heavy road in the Pioneer Valley, and chances are you’ll have plenty of opportunities to grab some cash at an ATM. Picking up some groceries at Stop & Shop or a pair of pants at Wal-Mart? You can bank there, too.

If ribbon cuttings are starting to feel, well, a little less newsworthy, you’re not imagining it. According to the Mass. Bankers Assoc. (MBA), the number of bank branches in the Bay State has increased 20% over the past 20 years, to more than 2,200 — and rising. The group says banks are the second-leading employer in Massachusetts, behind only health care.

“Some may think, ‘there’s a lot of banks here,’” Bruce Spitzer, a spokesman for the MBA, told the Boston Globe recently. “That’s because there’s a demand.”

Easthampton Savings Bank President William Hogan, whose institution has seven branches in eight communities, said that, from a physical standpoint, Western Mass. has seemingly become overbanked over the last three or four years. “And there are plans for additional branching that have been announced, including the new startup bank in Springfield, Nuvo. On the face of it, you’d have to come to the conclusion that the region has a sufficient number of banks.”

However, he was quick to add, “from a banker’s perspective, there’s a necessity of having a certain number of bricks-and-mortar branches that your customers can find, through which they can do business with you.”

There has definitely been a proliferation of bank branches, nationally and in this region, said David Glidden, regional president of TD Banknorth, which boasts some 30 branches in Western Mass. “And it does affect the competitive landscape and makes it more difficult to differentiate yourself. We all try to do it through extended hours of service, those types of things.”

Some bank presidents have said they sometimes feel pressure to expand their footprint just to keep up with their competitors, but Glidden said there’s always a risk in expansion, because a new branch in such a densely packed field is not the slam-dunk moneymaker it was 20 years ago.

“The real issue is, how do you find profitability? It’s increasingly elusive when you open up a branch, and these branches now opening do not achieve the level of deposits they used to,” he told BusinessWest. “You don’t just build a branch and expect that it’ll quickly turn profitable, when you look across the street and see five other branches.”

That’s why it’s important, he continued, that banks have a strategy for branching out that extends beyond simply having a presence in a new location.

“People don’t change banks easily, and market share shifts more slowly today,” he continued. “You have to offer products and rates on deposits and loans that are maybe more aggressive than other banks, to eat into already-established markets.”

In other words, to think outside the box — while bumping into all the other new boxes. In this issue, BusinessWest examines the overbranching situation, what banks are looking for when they expand, and where the trend might go from here.

National News

It’s not just Massachusetts seeing this increased density. Chicago has witnessed a staggering 50% increase in branches over the past five years, while Manhattan has seen a 41% rise, Washington, D.C. a 20% jump, and Los Angeles a comparatively modest 10% climb. The Washington Post reported that one Chicago alderman became so alarmed by the proliferation that she drafted a law requiring that banks obtain permits to open within 600 feet of one another.

In fact, virtually every major city in the U.S. reports at least some increase in the number of branches, contributing to a total rise of 13% nationally since 2002. It’s not a trend that pleases everyone.

“There’s really nothing less fun or interesting that could populate your retail corridor than a bank branch,” wrote Matthew Yglesias, a popular D.C.-based blogger and Atlantic Monthly staff writer, who added that the underlying dynamics of the branch boom — and particularly reports that customers crave face-to-face contact — escape him, particularly given the expense involved in opening a branch.

“What is the personal contact that people are looking for?” he wrote. “I go into a bank about once a month to deposit rent checks that my roommates write me. Were I not the designated writer of the check that goes to the landlord every month, or had I no roommates, I don’t think I would ever go. My intuition is that the real story here has something to do with the semi-mysterious fact that one almost never sees a bank-affiliated ATM without it being co-located with an actual branch of the bank.”

This tendency toward more locations represents a significant shift in banking. During the 1990s, most larger players were shedding branches, encouraging more use of ATMs and telephone banking, and laying the groundwork for Internet banking, which many analysts felt would ring the death knell on many more branches.

Wade Francis, president of Unicon Financial Services, a Long Beach, Calif.-based banking consultancy, recently told the Los Angeles Business Journal that theories were rife only 10 years ago that electronic banking would contribute to a serious decline in physical branches. “But people still want to go to their local branch, and if you want to be a successful retail banking operation, you’ve got to focus on the branch,” he said.

Part of what has happened is banks recognizing the value of providing one-stop financial services for customers. While checking accounts generate significant fee revenues, banks are prodding their retail customers toward other services, from car and home loans to a range of investment services — all of which is easier to accomplish through a face-to-face relationship.

Plugged In

Still, said Hogan, banks are continuing to develop their electronic-banking services, “because the pace of growth in that arena is far exceeding that in the traditional bank building.”

Hogan said virtually all banks are coming to recognize the increasing importance that customers, particularly younger ones, place on electronic banking. In fact, those with direct deposit of their paychecks and a full range of bill-paying options online might rarely need any services at a physical location beyond an ATM for cash withdrawals, a trend that gives institutions a way to reach customers who might not live or work near an actual branch.

“A lot of what we’re doing is focusing on the alternative opportunities and means by which customers can contact and stay in touch with banks,” he explained. “That’s an area where we’ve seen tremendous growth over the past three years.”

Alice Babcock, vice president of marketing for Westfield Bank, which has 11 branches in seven area communities, concurred. “We’ve found that our customers want both options, and you have to be in a position to offer both,” she said, adding that those in the 18-to-30 age group tend to be most comfortable conducting transactions and paying bills at their computer screens.

Yet, Westfield Bank’s most innovative change recently has also been one of the lowest-tech shifts: Sunday hours at its newest branch on East Main Street in Westfield. James Hagan, the bank’s president, said the change was so successful that the branch wound up opening its doors an hour earlier in the day.

“Young people have become accustomed to doing things in the electronic format, and you have to have that convenience available, but we still have to provide a certain level of service in the bricks-and-mortar branches,” said Babcock. “In both cases, we’re trying to determine what our customers expect in a community bank, and provide that for them.”

Glidden said Banknorth has seen steadily increasing use of electronic banking, “which we’re very pleased about, because it’s been a conscious strategy.” But he pointed to users of Apple products, asking, “who’s more techie than that?” Yet, the computer giant now boasts 180 retail locations that generate $1 billion in revenue per year.

“Although some people think members of Generation Y will never walk into a branch bank, we still find that the branches play a critical role,” he continued. “When the need arises to go into a branch, people will still gravitate toward a convenient, well-placed branch they feel comfortable with, not far from their residence or place of work.”

Past Is Prologue

Unlike a decade ago, hardly anyone today is pointing to the imminent demise of the traditional bank branch.

“These electronic platforms — electronic bill paying, image presentation for checking accounts, all these things beginning to be seen in our market, are very important for the future,” Easthampton’s Hogan said. “But we need a certain amount of that physical presence out there.”

“Convenience is still important to the retail customer,” Westfield’s Hagan added, “and the branch plays a huge part of that.”

But with so little prime territory unmarked by some institution, Glidden reiterated, it’s critical that banks make the right moves, not just any move.

“When you’re opening a branch, you have to ask, what’s my strategy?” he said. “Do you have integrated delivery channels and an effective sales process to make the branch as profitable as possible? A lot of banks have recently converted to mutual banks, to public charter, and have gone out and raised a lot of capital, and this is one way they’re looking to deploy that capital. But the challenge becomes taking what is, on day one, a non-earning asset and turning it into a profitable location for the company.”

Again, Glidden said, a new storefront is “great for the ribbon cutting, but how are you going to make that a profitable asset, with the money it costs in bricks and mortar and human capital? That will ultimately be the great test. The banks that find a unique way to differentiate themselves and distribute their services in a profitable manner will be the survivors of this proliferation.”

Those are words, many agree, you can take to the bank. If only you could decide which one.

Joseph Bednar can be reached at[email protected]

Features
Local Creators of ‘The Berries’ Share the Secrets of their Sweet Success
Paul Yacovone, Eric Stevens, and Fred Pokryzwa, Michelle DeLuca, Joy Scott, and Erin Leddy

The Berries’ creators, from left, Paul Yacovone, Eric Stevens, and Fred Pokryzwa, with three of the stars of their show, from left, Michelle DeLuca (Raz), Joy Scott (Cran), and Erin Leddy (Straw).

Their theme song says ‘there’s no doubt when the Berries come along,’ and the creators of the rising children’s stars couldn’t agree more. As they enter their fourth year as producers of an increasingly popular program and musical act for kids, three local dads look back at the road they’ve taken, and how The Berries are leading to just desserts.

When three girls wearing brightly colored costumes and big smiles visited the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame last summer, they nearly brought the house down.

The performers were The Berries — Raz, Straw, and Blue — the stars of their own children’s DVD and recording artists with their own CD soundtrack. Their fans will tell you they also have their own T-shirts and downloadable coloring pages.

Children waited in line patiently to meet the Berries and pose for photos — one little girl burst into happy tears after shaking hands with the stars she sings along with nearly every day.

The event was a success for the group, and for its creators, three dads who formed Brain Powered Concepts Inc. (BPC) in 2004 to try their hand at producing, as well as augmenting the pool of children’s programming available today. They started slowly, learning the ropes as they continued to balance family with full-time jobs, but the result of three years of work is an award-winning, live-action, musically oriented children’s program geared toward the preschool demographic — children roughly aged 2 through 6 — that is about to burst onto the kids’ entertainment scene.

But there’s more to the Berries’ story than that, for even though they reside in Berryland, their roots are planted firmly in Western Mass.

BPC is powered by Fred Pokryzwa of Chicopee, Eric Stevens of West Springfield, and Paul Yacovone of Agawam. The partners are long-time friends with children of varying ages, and their venture began with a conversation one evening about the TV shows and DVDs their children watched, and what was missing from them.

“The three of us, as fathers, thought there must be room for something better,” said Yacovone, BPC’s chief financial officer. “There’s a lack of positive role models out there.”

The partners had never worked in the entertainment or production arenas before, but said they had an idea they felt was strong, and the drive to see it through. Instead of taking on the massive task themselves, they pooled their own capital and began searching for professionals across New England to help them bring The Berries to fruition.

Talent by the Bushel

The search began with Bill Miller, an Emmy Award-winning video producer and director based in Sherborn, Mass., whose client list includes Disney Television, ESPN, Major League Baseball, and VH1, among other outlets. It was here that the partners got their first look at the road ahead — one that wasn’t always going to be brightly colored and cheerful.

“He actually tried to discourage us,” said Pokryzwa, BPC’s chief information officer. “He told us, ‘this is a tough business. You don’t want to be in this business.’”

But Yacovone noted that if he and his partners were ready to launch a new company based on handwritten notes from their first conversation, they were ready to take the leap into the unknown world of children’s entertainment.
“We just said, ‘let’s do it,’” said Yacovone. “We knew it was something we wanted to do — we were motivated, especially by our families, and wanted to strike while the iron was hot.”

Stevens, who serves as BPC’s president, said they eventually sold Miller on their concept through a blend of confidence and a little humor, by telling him they still wanted to take their shot.

“We wanted his expertise, and if the endeavor flopped, we told him we’d simply say our children owned the most expensive DVD ever,” he said. “He responded by telling us he couldn’t promise us success, but he could promise us quality, and that’s what we wanted to hear.”

With Miller at the helm, BPC moved forward with trademarking, copyrighting, and hiring, working to identify more children’s media moguls to join the Berries team.

Those who signed on include Ben Stellpflug, a songwriter, producer, and arranger who has worked in various capacities within the Disney Corp., among other credits; Jon Sellew, a script- and copywriter who has written for a number of corporate and media-based clients such as Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, and Children’s Television Workshop; and David Porter, Jim Sullivan, and Chris Anderson, managing partners of Mix One Studios in Boston, where the Berries’ nine-song CD was recorded. This affiliation puts the Berries and BPC on par with such clients as Aerosmith, HBO, and the Boston Pops.

“We’ve been involved at all levels, but we have some of the best people in the business working with us, and that has added a lot of leadership to our endeavor,” said Yacovone, who noted that every day in Berryland is a learning experience for the new ‘dadtrepreneurs.’ “We had a slow start — it was more than a year before we started filming. But since it’s all new to us, every step of the way has been a blast.”

Handpicked Players

That includes the partners’ first casting call, at which more than 150 young women responded to the search to cast the Berries.

“The ultimate goal was to find three women with whom kids could form an instant bond,” said Yacovone. “Picking three was difficult. We saw a lot of talent.”

In the end, Boston-area actresses Erin Leddy, Sheena Melwani, and Michelle DeLuca were cast as Straw, Blue, and Raz, while Joy Scott earned a spot as Cran, the Berries’ cousin, who appears in one of the three episodes filmed to date.

“The shows teach life lessons — things like the importance of friendship and how it’s OK to be different,” said Stevens, “and we look at the Berries as being positive role models. We thought that was one area where children’s shows could do better, so we were very sure early on what type of characters we wanted the Berries to be, and we worked closely with our team to make sure the vision stuck.”

The Berries lead viewers through a series of original songs with titles like “Outside the Lines” and “Something in Common,” and discuss topics appropriate to the preschool age group, such as colors, senses, and friendship.

But the BPC team believes that the Berries provide one of the more progressive offerings for children available today, as well.

“The music is strong,” said Yacovone. “It’s not childlike, and the rhythm is catchy. There are more difficult words than the norm to take in and memorize.

“But the biggest complaint we get from parents is that their kids are demanding the Berries’ CD be played constantly — at home, in the car — and they can’t get the songs out of their heads.”

“And some parents,” added Stevens, “say they keep the CD playing even after the kids get out of the car.”

Pie in the Sky

Beyond positive feedback, BPC has seen other signs of success, including an important national accolade. The Berries’ premiere DVD, featuring the act’s first three episodes, was recently awarded the National Parenting Center’s Seal of Approval, placing it in the company of such high-profile films and videos as The Chronicles of Narnia, High School Musical, and Pooh’s Grand Adventure, all produced by Disney.

The songs and shows have also been featured on Radio Disney and KidVideos.com, the children’s equivalent to YouTube.

As they make plans for the future, the business partners are hoping to locate additional venture capital; increase distribution of the Berries’ DVDs, CDs, and other merchandise; and produce a new set of episodes. They’re also in talks with a major Web-based firm to feature the Berries’ shows online, and hope to pursue a collaboration to syndicate the show on television.

Regionally, as proven by the Berries’ reception at the Basketball Hall of Fame, Raz, Straw, and Blue have a strong following. Big Y now carries their merchandise in all of their stores in Massachusetts and Connecticut, as does Pilgrim Candle in Westfield and South Hadley. Christmas sales helped BPC have its best quarter ever at the close of last year, and Pokryzwa said the local response has only bolstered his belief that the Berries are destined for great things.

“When you see every child react in the same great way to the Berries, you know you’ve got a product that’s good,” he said. “I used to say we wanted to go national with this, but I don’t say that anymore. We can go international.”

Yacovone and Stevens nod in agreement, but the partners’ collective definition of return on investment isn’t relegated to profits from CD, DVD, and T-shirt sales.

“We’d love to make the Berries a household name,” said Yacovone. “The growing brand recognition of the Berries is already allowing more children to get to know them.”

Jaclyn Stevenson can be reached at[email protected]

Sections Supplements
Green Building Can Benefit the Environment and the Bottom Line
The photovoltaic roof on the new Food Bank of Western Mass. is already producing significant energy savings over a traditional roof.

The photovoltaic roof on the new Food Bank of Western Mass. is already producing significant energy savings over a traditional roof.

It’s called ‘green,’ or ‘sustainable,’ building, the practice of incorporating environmentally friendly concepts into design and materials. It’s not exactly a recent phenomenon, but it’s gaining greater acceptance as home and business owners and developers realize that the practice is not simply the right thing to do — it can also help on the bottom line.

A recent expansion of the Food Bank of Western Mass. doubled the space at the Hatfield facility from 17,000 to 35,000 square feet. The facility, which once could store 2 million to 3 million pounds of food at any given time, can now stockpile up to 9 million pounds.

It’s a recipe for electric bill sticker shock, right? Well, not exactly.

Thanks to a new photovoltaic roof, which features panels that harness solar power, the Food Bank saves some $5,000 in electricity costs annually; in fact, the cutting-edge roof generates some 10% of the building’s total energy.

“This way, we’re able to experience a 35%-per-square-foot reduction in energy costs,” said Andrew Morehouse, executive director of the Food Bank. “So while our total energy costs have increased because of the new space and new freezers, our per-square-foot energy costs have been greatly reduced.”

Morehouse said the Food Bank’s interest in incorporating what is known as ‘green’ or ‘sustainable’ design in its expansion project eventually led to a $250,000 grant from the Kresge Foundation to install the energy-saving roof. Recently, the U.S. Green Building Council awarded the facility its gold certification, one step below the highest level, platinum, for its efforts.

“We’re a food bank; we rescue food from the food industry and are able to turn that around with very little waste,” Morehouse explained. “The way we look at it is, if we minimize our overhead costs, that plays right into our mission, helps us be stewards of the environment, and sets an example for other businesses in the Pioneer Valley.”

It’s an example that others are already taking seriously. In this issue, BusinessWest examines why a combination of cost savings and environmental stewardship is convincing state agencies and construction leaders that sustainable design has a clear future in the Bay State.

Crunching the Numbers

In 2005, the Mass. Sustainable Design Roundtable, a public-private partnership of more than 70 professionals involved in design and construction of buildings in Massachusetts, was convened under the direction of the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs (EOEA) and the Division of Capital Asset Management (DCAM), and funded by the Mass. Technology Collaborative.

The group examined sustainable-design concepts — which consider site selection, waste minimization, energy efficiency, water conservation, indoor environmental quality, and other environmental and health factors in construction — with the goal of fostering dialogue about green-building issues among public and private design and construction professionals and other experts.

The roundtable also examined barriers to sustainable design and discussed ways to promote widespread incorporation of sustainable design practices and technologies into all state government construction. It eventually determined that, like the Food Bank found, the initial investment in such practices is often followed by long-term cost savings.

“Across the country, initial experience with both public- and private-sector buildings that incorporate sustainable design principles is demonstrating that operating-cost savings provided by green buildings are considerably greater than any additional upfront or ‘first’ costs,” wrote Robert Golledge Jr., secretary of the EOEA, and David Perini, commissioner of the DCAM. “First-cost premiums, if present, generally do not exceed 4% and commonly have simple payback periods of as little as three or four years.”

In fact, the roundtable cited one comprehensive study of green buildings claiming that an average cost premium of $3 to $5 per square foot produced direct operational savings of about $15 per square foot over 20 years. Recent efforts to use such practices on Massachusetts public schools showed an even greater rate of return, the Roundtable claimed, with average cost premiums of 3% to 4% resulting in long-term savings of at least six times that amount.

“Although the most advanced green buildings have been operational for only a short period of time, initial evidence of their improved performance is highly compelling, most notably energy cost savings of at least 20% and up to 50% compared to baseline,” Golledge and Perini reported. “At a time when energy costs are high and getting higher, the ability to reduce energy consumption and gain significant financial savings is perhaps the single most significant benefit that green buildings provide” — savings that offset the extra up-front costs that green building often requires.

Green buildings also help to protect and conserve water resources, they continued, as well as providing a market for recycled and environmentally preferable products, and creating improved working and learning environments for building occupants.

None of that surprises Jeff Hayden, executive director of the Kittredge Business Center at Holyoke Community College, which opened in 2006 with a ‘green roof’ covering 2,500 square feet of its fourth-floor roof.

“A portion of the fourth-floor roof is a green roof,” Hayden said. “It essentially takes care of itself in that there’s very limited maintenance that needs to be done on it. That was part of the design — the fact that it would operate on its own. Essentially, it’s the first public building in the Commonwealth to have a green roof, and it’s part of our effort to look at these issues.”

The roof has been populated with native ground cover, grasses, and plants — a modern design concept that students in the environmental science program may eventually incorporate into their program of study. HCC officials intended for the roof to attract some of the birds and insects native to the area, as well as reducing water runoff from the building and lessening the environmental impact on a neighboring brook — one way the campus could preserve some of the rural, woodland feel of its surroundings.

“As a matter of fact, one of our college priorities for the coming year is to add a plan around sustainable development here on campus,” Hayden noted. “We’re looking at education in relation to the carbon footprint that we make, and to implement green policies that will help with more environmentally sensitive development of the college as we go forward.”

Easy Being Green?

That, in a nutshell, is why green building has become an attractive option for some developers; they see it as a crossroads of two desirable outcomes, cost savings and environmental impact. In a state as progressive as Massachusetts, these are no small concerns.

Take the Food Bank, for instance, which didn’t stop at the photovoltaic roof; it also replaced its inefficient diesel refrigeration units with ozone-friendly refrigerators and freezers, and used more natural light in its offices to cut down on fluorescent lighting.

“The features of this building are low-ozone-generating and low-toxicity,” Morehouse said, adding that any unusable food is donated to local farms as animal feed, and all paper products are recycled to generate additional revenue.

“To receive this top-of-the-line green building certification is an extremely difficult and complicated road,” said Peter Wood, vice president of sales and marketing at Associated Builders in South Hadley, which worked with the Food Bank on the project. “It’s called sustainable building because it’s developed from a green concept but is also sustainable in the business market.”

The U.S. Green Building Council certified the Food Bank through its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system, which provides a set of standards for environmentally sustainable construction.

Most recent and current LEED-certified projects in Massachusetts are located in the eastern part of the state, but there are several in Western Mass., including the Mount Holyoke College Science Center in South Hadley, as well as an addition and renovation to the college’s Blanchard Campus Center; the Koch Center at Deerfield Academy; and the North Adams Public Library.

The roundtable, for its part, has called for the adoption of minimum green building standards for all new construction and major renovation projects overseen by designated state agencies — standards that take into account both environmental impact and long-term operating costs.

Considering that buildings in the U.S. account for 40% of total energy consumption and 70% of total electricity consumption, according to the federal Energy Information Administration, as well as using more than 12% of fresh-water supplies and generating 25% of all solid waste, these are no small goals.

“Buildings have a significant impact on our budgets,” said Golledge and Perini. “The Commonwealth already commits more than $1 billion of public money each year to building construction and renovation projects. The state constructs a range of buildings for a variety of uses, from schools, hospitals, offices, and courthouses to colleges, prisons, park facilities, and affordable housing.”

But public-sector activity isn’t enough, Morehouse said, which is why the economic benefits of sustainable design must be effectively communicated. “The bottom line,” he asserted, “is that it’s going to take government support to convince the private sector to invest in green technologies to reduce costs for businesses and households alike. This is common in other countries; we’re behind the curve.”

As for Holyoke Community College, “I think it’s very important for us to do what we can to maintain and enhance our environment, especially since we are a community campus and have a lot of people driving cars here,” said Hayden. “We need to provide an example to our students and the community.”

It’s an example some are shouting from the rooftops — be they shingled, covered with grass, or powered by the sun.

Joseph Bednar can be reached at[email protected]

Sections Supplements
Wilbraham & Monson Academy Students Make Entrepreneurial Study Their Business
From left: Jacki Yang, Jon Trusz, Kellsey Wuerthele, and advisor Melissa Donohue. Members of the Blocks Rock! Management team not pictured: Ian Carlin, Justin Campbell, Art Durongkapitaya, and Wilson Lau

From left: Jacki Yang, Jon Trusz, Kellsey Wuerthele, and advisor Melissa Donohue. Members of the Blocks Rock! Management team not pictured: Ian Carlin, Justin Campbell, Art Durongkapitaya, and Wilson Lau

When a group of students at Wilbraham & Monson Academy first played a game their classmates at Blake Middle School had created, they realized how fun and addicting it could be. Soon after, the students entered into a business venture to develop and market the game, Blocks Rock!, and as teenagers, have already added titles like ‘CFO’ and ‘manufacturing manager’ to their résumés.

As Jonny Trusz sets up the pieces of Blocks Rock!, a children’s game he and a group of classmates have been developing and marketing for more than a year, the senior at Wilbraham & Monson Academy (WMA) in Wilbraham instinctively begins constructing a castle out of blocks — a key part of the game — and slaps a front-desk-style bell to signal he’s finished.

“Sorry about that,” he jokes. “I had to. It’s impossible not to start playing once the game is in front of me.”

That’s proof of how addicting the toy can be, and also of Trusz’s involvement in its development, a responsibility he took on as a junior, and one that has become a large part of his studies and life at the private college preparatory school.

Blocks Rock! was originally devised three yeasr ago by students in the Blake Middle School, as part of ToyChallenge, a national toy- and game-development competition sponsored by Sally Ride Science and Hasbro that the school enters regularly.

The concept of the game is relatively simple: two sets of multi-colored blocks in various shapes — rectangles, triangles, and squares — are divided between two players or teams of players. A bell is placed in the center of the play space, and a set of cards depicting different structures that can be built with the blocks moves the game forward.

Players choose a card, and the first player or team to build the structure correctly — and ring the bell — is awarded the number of points displayed on that card. Once all of the cards have been used, the player or team with the most points wins.

The game is designed to help young players learn on a number of levels, and, likewise, taking the game to the marketplace has provided lessons for WMA students in subjects ranging from marketing to responsible manufacturing; from simple accounting to global economics.

In this issue, BusinessWest looks at how this game has become a business proposition, and what its ongoing development means to all those involved.

Fun for All Ages

Melissa Donohue, who served as director of WMA’s Center for Entrepreneurial and Global Studies (CEGS) until moving on to a new venture recently, said that as players improve, there’s a speed component that allows Blocks Rock! to stay relevant for players of all ages. It’s already become a key event in WMA’s annual ‘Dorm Olympics,’ for instance.

“It’s geared toward ages 5 through 8,” said Donohue, “but the game’s simplicity also makes it great for families.”

She said Blocks Rock! also garnered praise early on through ToyChallenge, and this had its young inventors, as well as some WMA faculty and parents, wondering how much further the team could take the concept.

Glenn Hanson, a private investor and a parent of a WMA student, thought a little venture capital might help, and contributed $10,000 in seed funding to the school to help move the game’s development along. By this time, high school students enrolled in WMA’s CEGS program had caught wind of the unique invention as well, and approached their middle-school counterparts with the idea of turning Blocks Rock! into not just an innovative learning tool for children, but also a commercial endeavor and, in turn, a fundraising vehicle for the school.

“CEGS breathed life into the idea,” said Donohue. “The program has always mixed theory with practice, but in the past the students had developed model businesses.”

In this case, students enrolled in CEGS, which includes courses in economics, investing, financial markets, the Asian economy, and sustainable business practices, among others, added an independent study to their course load, focused solely on developing Blocks Rock! and introducing it to consumers.

Divisions of labor were instated, including a CEO, CFO, and COO, as well as marketing, sales, manufacturing, and product-development teams, each with a manager.

During last year’s spring semester, 27 students were part of the ‘company,’ and 10 were managers. Those 10 graduated last year, and now, seven seniors have taken on management roles, and each one is hoping to reach some specific goals in the development process, including increased visibility and sales, before commencement in the spring.

Kellsey Wuerthele of Palmer, who manages sales for the company, said even with the pressures that face all high school seniors, including preparing college applications and studying for final exams, Blocks Rock! has yet to take a back seat in the team’s day-to-day activities.

“We’re so excited about it,” she said. “I can’t see myself suddenly not being as involved; we’ve been working on this for two years.”

Wuerthele added that she feels a particular responsibility for seeing Blocks Rock! succeed until her last day of coursework, if not beyond, because it was a challenge that CEGS students took on of their own volition, not as part of an existing school program.

“It’s important to me to see this continue with a new group of students after we’re gone,” she said, noting that recruiting a new team to take over next year is another large part of the exercise. “We basically recruited ourselves, and getting other kids involved before we graduate means it can keep moving.”

All Business

And while the course was driven by students, it’s rooted in contemporary business theory and educational study. Donohue said the course teaches several practices with the added benefit of real-world experiences, allowing students to see firsthand how and why various decisions succeed or fail.

“The independent study allowed the students to pair theory and practice in a whole new way,” said Donohue. “They read an article in a high-level business magazine such as the Harvard Business Review and incorporated the theory they learned into the sale of the game.

“But they also learn about tenacity, responsibility, the importance of testing at all levels, and, in general, a lot more about what’s going on in the world and how it’s changing business globally and locally.”

Donohue explained that positioning the game was the team’s first hurdle. Many toys on the market today feature sophisticated electronics and other technologies, and as such, a game consisting of colored blocks, playing cards, and a bell has a harder time getting noticed among all those bells and whistles. However, educational games have a specific audience that the CEGS group chose to target.

“We positioned it as a higher-level learning game, geared toward the ‘Baby Mozart’ parents,” said Donohue. “The educational components of the game start with learning colors and geometric shapes, but each card also has a different amount of points, so there’s a strong math piece, too, as players add up their scores.”

There were other challenges waiting for the student developers as well, said Donohue, but each stumbling block is a learning experience tied closely to modern business practices. Manufacturing the game, for example, prompted a number of questions that are familiar to any company doing business overseas.

“It was made clear very early on that we wanted to practice ethical manufacturing and maintain a low profit margin,” said Donohue. “This was a big hurdle because we had to spend a lot of time researching to ensure we were working with a company that would meet those needs.”

Donohue said there were other concerns. Would the blocks be made of wood or foam? And, later, does the product need to be tested for lead in the paint? (It was tested, and deemed safe).

WMA eventually decided on a manufacturing firm in Hong Kong, and produced the smallest number of games they could through that relationship (500), neatly packed into muslin drawstring bags and including multi-colored wooden blocks, a silver bell, and a stack of playing cards.

The next step for the team of students was to identify potential points of sale for Blocks Rock!, with its ‘edutainment’ model in mind.

All For One

Proceeds from sales of the game, which retails for $19.95, are returned to WMA, and as of last year, more than 50 games have been sold by hosting game nights, networking within the school’s community, and via the game’s Web site, blocksrock.com, also developed by WMA students. Through these channels, an additional $4,500 in investor funding has also been secured, but Wuerthele said there’s still work to be done.

“We’re working on getting the game into local toy stores and schools by holding game nights at grammar schools and places in the community,” she said.

Trusz added he hopes to make inroads in Springfield’s Eastfield Mall, perhaps by leasing a kiosk to sell Blocks Rock!, in order to increase the game’s name recognition in the region and boost sales.

“It’s a fun game,” he said. “I think letting people see it and play with it themselves will help.”

With that, members of the Blocks Rock! management team break into yet another spirited game, grouping shapes together and clamoring to ring the bell, signaling a win.

Jaclyn Stevenson can be reached at[email protected]

Departments

University Without Walls

Feb. 2, 12, 23: University Without Walls (UWW), an adult bachelor’s degree completion program at UMass Amherst, is conducting information sessions this winter for individuals interested in applying. Classes are offered on campus, online, and in blended format (mostly online, with a few live meetings). Information sessions run approximately 90 minutes and are conducted at the UWW office, 100 Venture Way, Room 229A, Hadley. For more information on dates and times, visit www.umass.edu/uww or call (413) 545-1378.

Camera Classes

Jan. 23, 30, Feb. 6: Iris Photo & Digital of Northampton will offer several digital point-and-shoot camera classes this winter, including “Intermediate Camera Class” on Jan. 23, “Advanced Camera Class” on Jan. 30, and “Basic Photo Editing Class” on Feb. 6. Classes run from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the shop at 164 Main St. For more information, call (413) 586-8417 or visit www.iris-photo.com.

De-clutter Workshops

Jan. 24, 28, 29, 30: Professional organizer Carleen Eve Fisher Hoffman, also known as ‘The Clutter Doctor,’ has teamed up with two financial services professionals from Charter Oak Insurance and Financial Services, Ann Sapelli and Judith Luddy, to host free seminars titled “Organize Your Financial Fitness: Uncover Your Assets and Improve Your Bottom Line.” Participants will learn various methodologies for organizing their financial papers and documents. Sessions are planned Jan. 24 at the Palmer Library; Jan. 28, Monson Library; Jan. 29, Belchertown Library; and Jan. 30, Northampton Library. All sessions are planned from 6 to 7 p.m. For more information, call (413) 525-7345.

Lessons from the Real Pepsi Challenge

Jan. 29: Stephanie Capparell, a journalist, author, and filmmaker based in New York City, will present “Innovation & Diversity: Lessons from the Real Pepsi Challenge” at noon as part of the Western New England College Law & Business Center for Advancing Entrepreneurship’s speaker series. Her most recent book, The Real Pepsi Challenge: The Inspirational Story of Breaking the Color Barrier in American Business, is a case study of Pepsi-Cola’s groundbreaking all-black sales division (1940-1951), and tells the story of some of the first African-Americans in corporate America. Her lecture is planned in S. Prestley Blake Law Center on the Springfield campus, and is free and open to the public. For more information, call (413) 736-8462 or visit www.law.wnec.edu/lawandbusiness.

Clio Awards

Jan. 30: The Ad Club of Western Massachusetts will screen the 2007 Clio Award winners from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Rivers Memorial at Western New England College, Springfield, as part of a luncheon affair. Reservations must be made by Jan. 25. Tickets are $25 for members; $35 for future members, and $15 for students. For more information, call (413) 736-2582 or visit www.adclubwm.org.

Amherst Chamber Luncheon

Jan. 31: Interim UMass Chancellor Thomas W. Cole Jr. and UMass President Jack Wilson will address the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce at a luncheon from 12 to 1:30 p.m. at the Courtyard by Marriott. The event is open to the public, but reservations are required by calling (413) 253-0700 or E-mailing [email protected]. Tickets are $25 per person.

‘Outlook 2008’

Feb. 1: The Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield will present “Outlook 2008” with keynote speaker John Zogby, a national pollster and political analyst, from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Chez Josef in Agawam. In addition to Zogby’s presentation, Holyoke Mayor Michael Sullivan will present the regional outlook as the District One representative of the Mass. Mayors’ Assoc. Tickets are $45 per person and $65 for nonmembers. For more information, contact Diane Swanson, events manager, at (413) 787-1555, or visit www.myonlinechamber.com.

Departments

Hasbro Games Set to Eliminate 200 Jobs

EAST LONGMEADOW — As early as February, 200 local residents will lose their jobs at Hasbro Games as the company retools its manufacturing processes to remain competitive in the games business. The company is currently in negotiations with Local 224 of the Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union of the United Food and Commercial Workers to hammer out an agreement on changes to some work practices. The reduction in force includes 180 manufacturing jobs and approximately 20 non-union office jobs, according to Wayne S. Charness, senior vice president for communications at Pawtucket, R.I.-based Hasbro. At press time, Hasbro officials and union representatives were negotiating severance packages and ways to change work practices that are in the best interests of both the employees and Hasbro. If Hasbro can secure the changes it proposes, the company will invest $10 million immediately in the plant, and as much as $40 million over the next few years, added Charness. Hasbro and the union are currently operating under a three-year contract signed in 2007.

WP Requests ‘Woman of the Year’ Nominations

SPRINGFIELD — The Women’s Partnership, a division of the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield Inc., is seeking nominees for its annual Woman of the Year Award, given to a businesswoman in the Greater Springfield area. The nominee should best exemplify ideals of outstanding leadership, accomplishments, and service to the community. Services can be rendered over a lifetime or for more recent achievements. In either case, her leadership and accomplishments are regarded as a model for the Greater Springfield community. Nomination forms can be requested by calling (413) 543-8000, via E-mail at [email protected], or at the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield office, 1441 Main St. The deadline for nomination documents is Jan. 31.

Picknelly Joins Development Team on Casino Proposals

EAST LONGMEADOW — Peter A. Picknelly, president of Peter Pan Bus Lines, has joined the development team as an investor in the proposed development of a 150-acre tract in Palmer and a 35-acre waterfront site in New Bedford into destination sites, possibly to include resort casinos. Picknelly is investing in the proposed projects through the Northeast Group, owner of the land in Palmer off Exit 8 of the Massachusetts Turnpike and the entity that has site control of a waterfront tract in New Bedford off Exit 16 of Route 195. Both communities have passed local referenda in favor of legalized gaming, and both represent potential sites for a resort casino and retail complex. Should gaming be legalized by the Legislature, Commonwealth-approved resort casino operators could develop either or both sites. Gov. Deval Patrick has proposed the development of three resort casinos statewide as a means of stimulating economic development and raising revenue for the state. Northeast also recently announced it has hired the Suffolk Group LLC and lead lobbyist William F. Cass of Boston to represent their interests on Beacon Hill, and Paul Robbins Associates Inc. of Wilbraham to assist on communications regarding the real estate development and tourist potential for the Palmer and New Bedford properties.

Survey: Workplaces Safer in 2006

BOSTON — The state Division of Occupational Safety (DOS) recently announced that the rate of workplace-related non-fatal injuries and illnesses in Massachusetts dropped by more than 7% from 2005 to 2006, according to the annual Occupational Injury and Illness Survey of private-sector workers. The number of workplace fatalities dropped by more than 13% over the same period. The rate of workplace illness and injuries continues to be below the national average, and by far the lowest rate among all New England states, according to Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Suzanne M. Bump, who oversees DOS. Bump added that under the Patrick administration, Massachusetts will survey public-sector workers for the first time this year. The state formerly collected data on private-sector employers only. The survey covers 10 ‘super sectors,’ ranging from manufacturing, education, and health services to natural resources and mining. The only super sector to show an increase in injuries and illnesses was natural resources and mining, where the number of injuries (300) remained unchanged while employment dropped. The entire report is available online at www.mass.gov/eolwd

Survey: Spouse Remains Chief Career Advisor

MENLO PARK, Calif. — Those considering a job change seek many resources of guidance, but the opinion they value most often comes from the person closest to them. Nearly half (46%) of executives polled said they turn first to spouses or significant others for advice when evaluating a potential job change, up from 42% in 2002.

Departments

The following building permits were issued during the month of January 2008.

CHICOPEE

Appleton Corporation
Colonial Circle
$36,000 — Replace concrete stairs

Riverbend Medical Group
444 Montgomery St.
$575,000 — Reconstruct gastroenterology department suites

EASTHAMPTON

BB Property Inc.
52 O’Neill St.
$3,000 — New roof

EAST LONGMEADOW

Hampden County Physicians
98 Shaker Road
$357,000 — Interior build-out

Troon Realty
175 Benton Dr.
$240,000 — Addition of office space

United Bank
94 Shaker Road
$73,000 — Interior renovations

GREENFIELD

Somerset Long Term Care LLC
359 High St.
$42,388 — Re-roof

HOLYOKE

Soldiers Memorial Commission
310 Appleton St.
$262,000 — HVAC & electrical improvements to the auditorium

LUDLOW

Ludlow Industrial Realties Inc.
100 State St.
$5,000 — Minor alterations

 

NORTHAMPTON

Laurel Ridge Realty Associates
312 Hatfield St.
$13,418 — Install guardrails and handrails on porches

Paul H. D’Amour, et al
158 North King St.
$55,000 — Real estate office build out

The Northampton Historical Society
66 Bridge St.
$2,000 — Replace exterior door

Trustees of Smith College
53 West St.
$13,500 — Interior remodel

Trustees of Smith College
Cushing & Emerson Houses
$259,000 — Renovate dining rooms

SOUTH HADLEY

Village Commons
17 College St.
$47,500 — Renovations

WESTFIELD

Robert Wilcox
75 Broad St.
$71,000 – Office Build Out

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Ashley Avenue Associates
73 State St.
$35,000 — Renovate 6,604 square feet of existing office space

Sullivan Paper Co. Inc.
42 Progress Ave.
$150,000 — Raise roof structure to accommodate printing press

Andrew Kolesnichenko
573 Union St.
$25,000 — Erect structure connecting main building to warehouse

Departments

Go FIT Acquired by Square One

SPRINGFIELD — Square One, formerly Springfield Day Nursery, recently announced its acquisition of Go FIT, a program that promotes active, healthy lifestyles for today’s youth while also providing education and mentoring to at-risk families on issues of health, fitness, and safety. “By adding Go FIT to our daily lesson planning, Square One is integrating health, nutrition and food, fitness, and personal safety into the daily learning experiences of our children,” said Square One President and CEO Joan Kagan. “We believe that getting children off to a good start and establishing healthy routines early in life will help them in the long run.” In the few months that it has been formally affiliated with Go FIT, Square One has started work on developing a comprehensive and well-integrated plan to incorporate partners such as Springfield College, Partners for a Healthier Community, and the Food Bank of Western Mass. as a means to address the interrelatedness of childhood obesity, food security, access to affordable and nutritious food, physical fitness training, exercise curricula, and establishing a healthy habits lifestyle early in life, said Kagan. “We will dedicate ourselves to the continuation of the Go FIT mission and build upon its accomplishments,” she continued, “carrying forward all of the principles, practices, and fitness strategies that have made this program a stellar success.”

Old Sturbridge Village Raises $1.83M

STURBRIDGE — Old Sturbridge Village (OSV) President and CEO James E. Donahue recently announced that, after a successful two-year fund-raising effort, more than $1.83 million has been generated for the museum. Donahue noted that $834,000 was raised in new donations, which in turn qualified it for an additional $1 million matching grant from an anonymous donor. As an incentive to spur fund-raising efforts, in October 2006 an anonymous OSV trustee offered a $1 million challenge grant designed to increase the museum’s endowment and annual fund. Under terms of the challenge, all new and increased gifts would be matched by the grant, up to $1 million. Donahue added that the ‘Village Challenge’ donations came from hundreds of individuals and museum members, as well as from foundations and corporations. “We have a tremendously loyal base of supporters, and this success is a real testament to their faith in this institution,” said Donahue. OSV is one of the country’s oldest living-history museums, and recreates life in a working farm village from 1790 to 1840. For more information, visit www.osv.org.

MassMutual Named One of ‘America’s Greatest Brands’

SPRINGFIELD — MassMutual Financial Group is currently being featured in America’s Greatest Brands, a large-format book that annually recognizes the strongest and most trusted brand icons. Now in its sixth edition, America’s Greatest Brands profiles the strongest and most valuable brands in the world from a unique brand-marketing perspective. Selection of companies is made by the American Brands Council, comprising some of the most respected marketing and communications professionals in America.

WCA Awards $20,000 in Equipment

SOUTHWICK — CareerPoint of Holyoke was the winner of Whalley Computer Associates’ recent Technology Makeover Contest. CareerPoint will receive $20,000 of computer equipment and services based upon its presentation of need. More than 150 organizations entered the competition, and the top 10 were given an opportunity to make a presentation to a WCA panel during a technology fair conducted in December.

GoNOMAD.com Will Exhibit At NYC Travel Show
SOUTH DEERFIELD — GoNOMAD. com, a local travel Web site, will be among the more than 500 exhibitors at the annual New York Times Travel Show in New York City in late February. GoNOMAD.com Editor Max Hartshorne will present a seminar at the show about travel writing, inviting show visitors to learn how to break into the business, with tips on markets, ideas, and the Internet travel-publishing marketplace. For more information on the show, visit www.nyttravelshow.com.

Biochemist Receives $308,000 Grant

AMHERST — Alejandro P. Heuck, a biochemist at UMass Amherst, has received a four-year, $308,000 grant from the American Heart Association (AHA) to develop molecular probes capable of measuring cholesterol levels in the membranes of individual cells. The grant, which began Jan. 1, is an AHA Scientist Development Grant to support highly promising beginning scientists. The program encourages and adequately funds research projects that bridge the gap between completion of research training and readiness for successful competition as an independent investigator.

Departments

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

FRANKLIN SUPERIOR COURT

Francis Cassidy v. Stop & Shop Supermarket, LLC
Allegation: Negligent property maintenance causing injury: $42,115.85
Filed: 12/17/07

Lake Hitchcock Development v. Blue Heron Realty
Allegation: Breach of contract: $40,000
Filed: 12/11/07

HAMPSHIRE SUPERIOR COURT

Godwin Pumps of America Inc. v. Hydross, LLC
Allegation: Breach of contract: $46,077.82
Filed: 12/7/07

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT

John C. Manni v. Eastern States Exposition & Equine Affaire Inc.
Allegation: Negligent property maintenance causing injury: $49,250
Filed: 11/4/07

Hampden Zimmerman Electrical Supply v. MDR Electric Inc.
Allegation: Unpaid balance for goods and services sold: $188,463.45
Filed: 10/30/07

Michael Alan Crooker v. Con Agra Foods Inc.
Allegation: Product liability causing injury: $100,000
Filed: 10/23/07

HOLYOKE DISTRICT COURT
Emily Belanger, Paul Belanger Jr., as parent and legal guardian of Emily Belanger v. David Quail Trucking
Allegation: Negligence while operating motor vehicle: $6,458.83
Filed: 11/14/07

Fred S. Kania v. AT&T

Allegation: Failure to follow regulations of Department of Telecommunications: $5,000
Filed: 11/21/07

NORTHAMPTON DISTRICT COURT

Pantea Azari v. Cars “R” Us
Allegation: Breach of contract, fraud, and violation of Mass. General Laws 93A: $10,000+
Filed: 12/5/07

Stanley Ciszewski v. Patriot Home Improvement
Allegation: Unfair and deceptive practices: $25,000
Filed: 12/3/07

PALMER DISTRICT COURT

PDQ Billing Services v. Springfield Optometric Associates Inc.
Allegation: Non-payment of services rendered: $10,224.77
Filed: 11/29/07

Thomas M. Ferris v. Romito & Sons Inc.
Allegation: Negligent maintenance of property causing injury: $3,600
Filed: 11/20/07

SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT

A. Boillard & Sons Inc. v. Advoulos Builders Inc.
Allegation: Unpaid goods sold and delivered: $30,405.41
Filed: 11/14/07

Bradco Supply Corp. v. New Castle Development Corp.
Allegation: Failure to pay for goods sold and delivered: $4,186
Filed: 11/5/07

Brewers Supply Group Inc. v. The Paper City Brewery Company
Allegation: Unpaid goods sold and delivered: $3,937.10
Filed: 11/16/07

Citadel Broadcasting Company v. Alycat Inc. d/b/a Diamond & Gold Connection
Allegation: Unpaid services rendered: $9,975.00
Filed: 11/7/07

ComData Network Inc. v. VK Transport Inc.
Allegation: unpaid services rendered: $25,812.50
Filed: 11/8/07

FedEx Customer Information Services v. BelAir Motel
Allegation: Unpaid transportation services rendered: $6,820.83
Filed: 11/15/07

Lambert Plumbing & Heating Inc. v. CDE Remodeling
Allegation: Unpaid balance on goods sold and delivered and plumbing services: $11,530.53
Filed: 11/20/07

Martindale-Hubbell Inc. v. George F. Kelley
Allegation: Failure to pay for services rendered: $8,190.00
Filed: 11/5/07

Mariluz Vargas v. Lia Kia
Allegation: Breach of sales contract: $24,999.99
Filed: 11/14/07

United Rentals Inc. v. All State Construction Services
Allegation: Non-payment of materials, equipment, and construction services: $16,723.03
Filed: 11/20/07

Departments

Precision Timing

A $600,000 gift to establish a scholarship fund to train a new workforce for the precision machining industry of Western Mass. was made recently by the family of the late E. Herbert Burk, former senior vice president of Mestek Inc. in Westfield. The fund will be managed by the Community Foundation of Western Mass., and the Hampden County Regional Employment Board (REB) will serve as lead adviser in disseminating these funds to individuals and organizations. The gift was recognized and celebrated last month in Springfield by a group that consisted of several Western Mass. business leaders and economic development representatives. Pictured here, the REB presents members of Burk’s family with an award of recognition. From left to right: Mike Nziolek, senior vice president at Hasbro Games, and chair of the REB; Alfred Materas II, Burk’s son-in-law; Judith Materas and Jacky Yiznitsky, Burk’s daughters; Mass. Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Suzanne Bump; David Cruise, director of the REB’s precision machining project; and Kent Faerber, director of the Community Foundation of Western Mass.


Insuring for the Future

OneBeacon Insurance recently made a $2,500 donation to the American Red Cross Pioneer Valley Chapter as part of the company’s charitable trust. The gift was presented by OneBeacon executives recently. Left to right: John Scroope, Regional President, OneBeacon; Dean Florian, President, Insurance Center of New England (ICNE); William Trudeau, Jr., Chief Operating Officer, ICNE and newly elected Pioneer Valley Chapter Board President; Brian Cadigan, Business Development Manager, OneBeacon; and Rick Lee, Pioneer Valley Chapter Executive Director.


Upper Crust

The Atrium at Cardinal Drive delivered homemade pies (baked by Chef Mellissa Hathorne) to service professionals in Agawam and surrounding communities. One of the first stops was the Agawam Fire Department, where Judy Bourgeois, director of Community Relations for the Atrium, presented Deputy Fire Chief Michael Mercadante with a pecan pie and Lt. Jim Demming with a pumpkin pie. This was the beginning of two very busy days of deliveries.

Departments

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

AMHERST

Black Arts Inc., The, 10 Pleasant Court, Amherst 01002. Theodor Black, same. Writing, illustration & design.

CHICOPEE

D and S Tax Associates Inc., 252 Columba St., Chicopee 01020. Susan Birkner, 1181 Amostown Road, West Springfield 01089. Tax-preparation services for individuals and businesses, etc.

High Impact Cleaning Inc., 38 Dorrance St., Chicopee 01013. Eric Lebeau, same. Cleaning and janitorial services.

Honeyman Inc., 78 Main St., Chicopee 01020. Andrew Caires, 23 Ashley Circle, Easthampton 01027. (Nonprofit) To provide housing facilities for very low-income adults with disabilities, provide supportive services to meet their needs, etc.

Rachael’s Food Corp., 705 Meadow St., Chicopee 01013. Rachael Polep Kramer, 273 Deepwoods Dr., Longmeadow 01106. Food products manufacture and wholesale distribution.

EASTHAMPTON

Stevens Urethane Corp., 412 Main St., Easthampton 01037. Michael L. Fulbright, 55 Beattie Place, Suite 1510, Greeenville, SC 29601. Tony Burns, 412 Main St., Easthampton 01027, registered agent. (Foreign corp.; DE) Manufacturing.

GREENFIELD

Country Hyundai Inc., 45 Colrain Road, Greenfield 01301. Carla J. Cosenzi, same. New and used vehicles and related services.

INDIAN ORCHARD

Alsen Realty Corp., 176 Main St., 3 Front, Indian Orchard 01151. Lesly A. Ramirez, same. Real estate.


 

SPRINGFIELD

Calhoun Properties Inc., 108 Calhoun St., Springfield 01107. David V. Torres, same. Real estate investment and management.

Felix’s Family Ristorante Inc., 214-216 Dickinson St., Springfield 01108. Nicola DeCesare, same. To operate a restaurant.

Hampden Bancorp Inc., 19 Harrison Ave., Springfield 01102. Thomas R. Burton, same. (Foreign corp.; DE) Holding company for financial institution offering banking services.

House Max Inc., 555 State St., Springfield 01109. Abdur R. Salimi, 46 Ravenwood Lane, West Springfield 01089. Retail variety merchandise.

Spring Street Super Grocery & Variety Corp., 121 Spring St., Springfield 01108. Jose Miguel Rijo, 98 Blaine St., Springfield 01108. Retail, grocery.

Vietnam Quoc Maul Linh Tu — Vietnamese National Mother Goddesses Temple Inc., 334 Saint James Ave., Springfield 01109. Thang Van Cao, same. (Nonprofit) To pay respect and gratitude to the ancestors, the heroes and heroines of Vietnam, etc.

WESTFIELD

Westfield Museum Inc., 176 Tannery Road, Westfield 01085. Robert Dewey, same. (Nonprofit) To provide a venue for the display of collected historical artifacts for the citizens of Greater Westfield, etc.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Beech Hill Development Inc., 84 Cedar Woods Glen, West Springfield 01089. Kathleen H. Sweeney, same. Real estate development.

Opinion
We Need to Invest in Education

When Gov. Deval Patrick recently filed a $2 billion capital bond bill to finance infrastructure improvements at all 29 of Massachusetts’ public college and universities, he declared it to be an “emergency law,” meaning that it would go into effect immediately upon passage by the Legislature and his signing.

Little did the governor or anyone else know how apropos that designation would be.

A few days after the filing, Salem State College officials made the difficult decision to close that college’s library based on concerns raised over the structural soundness of the 35-year-old building.

As serious as the situation is at Salem State, this capital bill is not just about some falling bricks and cracked mortar. The reality is that our public colleges and university system are being asked to educate the talent for the emerging industries of the new economy in laboratories and classrooms that are sometimes more than 40 years old.

Investment in our public higher education system is long overdue. Massachusetts devotes only 2.8% of its capital expenditures to public higher education, while other states invest 12.5% on average.

At the campus level this pattern of state disinvestment in its public higher education system has resulted in a backlog of more than $5.5 billion in unfunded capital projects and necessitated that campuses tap already-tight operating budgets and increase student charges to pay for deferred maintenance.

At the state level, this pattern has resulted in Massachusetts falling woefully behind its chief economic competitors in supporting its public higher education system. In fiscal 2006, Connecticut invested more than four times what Massachusetts did on the capital needs of its public colleges and university system, North Carolina approximately seven times, and New York nearly eight times.

With two-thirds of our high school graduates who attend college in Massachusetts going to a public institution — up from only 58% a decade ago — our economic future depends on having public colleges and a university with best-in-class labs, equipment, and technology.

Patrick’s bond bill recognizes these competitive implications by emphasizing investments that contribute to the medium to long term competitiveness of our state economy.

The bill would fund new science centers at four Massachusetts state colleges where existing science facilities are 30 to 50 years old. These buildings lack the labs to conduct some of today’s sophisticated experiments in chemistry and biology and the space to meet current equipment, fabrication, and technology needs in physics.

These shortcomings undermine our ability to attract top faculty and retain students interested in science, technology, engineering, and math in Massachusetts. First-rate facilities will promote teaching and learning in these fields, help fill the talent pipeline needed to support regional industries, and meet the demands of our public schools for the finest science and math teachers.

At the state’s 15 community colleges, the bond bill will fund construction of new allied health buildings on four campuses as well as the complete modernization and rehabilitation of science and general academic buildings on most of the remaining campuses. New allied health facilities will strengthen these colleges’ capacity to respond directly to changing workforce needs by enhancing the training of more nurses, medical technicians, and health care professionals — jobs that are in tremendous demand.

The effects of state disinvestment in our public colleges and university are not as visible to the public as lack of investment in our transportation networks, but they are every bit as critical to our long-term competitiveness. As the Legislature considers the bond bill, the question is not whether we can afford to pay for these investments, but whether we can afford not to.

Robert V. Antonucci is president of Fitchburg State College. Terrence A. Gomes is president of Roxbury Community College. This article first appeared in the Boston Globe.

Opinion

Across Western Mass., we hear about the need for new business opportunities daily, and the pressures facing the region in this regard.

There are a number of ideas on the table to strengthen the economy and the profile of Western Mass. as a player in the Commonwealth and even the nation, ranging from bringing the ‘hidden tech’ sector out of the shadows to entering the life sciences race.

While the region has a long history in manufacturing of all types, it’s a piece of the economic landscape that is often buried under headlines touting new endeavors and tainted by stories of layoffs, company relocations, and plant closings. However, the manufacturing sector in Western Mass. is one in which we’ve noticed a steady undercurrent of progress lately.

True, manufacturing is not exactly enjoying a new heyday; companies have continued to close or relocate to other parts of the globe in recent years.

In the Pioneer Valley, American Pad and Paper Co., Ludlow Textiles, and Holyoke Card Co. have all disappeared. Danaher Tool, which manufactured wrenches in Springfield for more than 100 years, closed its doors in 2006 to relocate operations in Texas and Arkansas, and last year, Springfield Wire phased out its local operations and eliminated 180 jobs in the region.

Berkshire County also said goodbye to some long-standing manufacturing operations in 2007: MeadWestvaco closed one of its two Lee mills, eliminating 70 jobs; Neenah Paper of Alpharetta, Ga., laid off 137 workers after it purchased the former Fox River Paper in Housatonic; and Schweitzer-Mauduit announced that it would begin to close four mills in Lee in 2008, eliminating 165 jobs.

Adding insult to injury, there are still too few skilled workers to fill those positions that are available. Technology marches on, and appropriate training has become a dire necessity.

But perhaps more than any other sector, the manufacturing industry of Western Mass. is one that quietly soldiers on. Just as there have been closings, there have been expansions — AM Lithography, for example, a printing and packaging outfit based in Chicopee, just opened a second location in Holyoke to accommodate its expanding operations.

And Microtest Labs in Agawam, a medical testing and manufacturing facility, is currently seeking $7 million in funding to expand its ‘fill and finish’ division as it concurrently seeks new opportunities in stem cell research.

New educational initiatives are also surfacing to train a new workforce, and innovative arrangements are being made in cities and towns to woo new businesses and keep them here.

For example, five Western Mass. companies are benefiting from a $19.4 million financing program for expansions and renovations announced in November (bonds provided by MassDevelopment are being purchased by several area banks), aimed at strengthening the manufacturing base. Funding has been awarded to Hazen Paper of Holyoke, Argotec of Greenfield, Petricca Industries of Pittsfield, Universal Plastics of Holyoke, and VCA Incorporated of Northampton, and the project is expected to help create 84 new jobs.

And just last month, the Hampden County Regional Employment Board announced the creation of the E. Herbert Burk Fund, established with a $600,000 gift from Burk’s family, to award scholarships and programs to increase interest and job training in the precision machine and tooling industry.

Burk’s story was one of hard work and perseverance paying off, and one that his family, the REB, and others want to see replicated. But more importantly, they want people to understand that it can be replicated.

Industry in Western Mass. is often looked at as the region’s legacy of years gone by. But a point often missed when discussing manufacturing is that it does not stand alone, but rather stands primed and ready to serve as a feeder to countless other promising industries, including biotechnology and life sciences, which received $1 billion worth of attention from Gov. Deval Patrick in 2007.

As we enter a new year, it’s important to remember that manufacturing is not just a part of our past. It’s a key piece of the present, and of the future.

Features
John Robison Puts Aside the Wrench to Write His Story of Life with Asperger’s
John Robinson and Derek Cyboron

Author and self-described ‘machine aficionado’ John Robison (at right) Master Auto Technician Derek Cyboron at Robison Service.

In the early 1970s, John Robison found a blue Porsche missing its engine hidden in the woods of Amherst near his childhood home, and, after a quick look around to make sure he was alone, slid into the driver’s seat.

That marked the start of a lifelong obsession, and the root of a successful business — Robison Service, a European and exotic auto sales and service outfit tucked into a corner on Page Boulevard in Springfield.

Through that venture, Robison was able to put many of his self-confessed quirks, including the ability to relate better to machines than people, to good use. While some clients may have noticed Robison’s tendency to avoid idle chit-chat and direct eye contact, it was often chalked up to nothing more than a businessman with a demanding schedule, or maybe one with a touch of social ineptitude.

This year, however, Robison’s loyal client base, along with thousands of others, got a glimpse into what’s going on behind his wire-rimmed glasses. The explanation begins on the cover of his first book, a memoir titled Look Me in the Eye: My Life With Asperger’s.

Robison was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, a close cousin to autism, in 1996 — well into his adulthood. The syndrome is characterized by difficulty interacting with others, impaired nonverbal communication (a lack of facial expressions and an awkward gait are two examples), and focused, repetitive interests in specific areas — in Robison’s case, it’s on machines, including cars, trains, cameras, and sound equipment.

Today, it’s a syndrome that is most often identified during childhood, and one that is receiving more attention than ever before. Robison’s late realization that he was an Aspergian — his own term — led him to pen Look Me in the Eye in 2006, and it was published by the Crown Publishing Group, an affiliate of Random House, in January, 2007 with a foreword by his younger brother, author Augusten Burroughs. The story of the abandoned Porsche also appears, in an account so detailed, it’s as though it happened yesterday.

Show Us Everything You’ve Got

This year could return a paragraph or two to the new author, as well. Look Me in The Eye was placed on the New York Times Bestseller List five months after its publication, and has also garnered a slew of other accolades, among them inclusion on Amazon.com’s 100 Best Books of 2007, a People magazine Critic’s Choice, and Elle magazine’s Reader’s Prize.

It’s also the latest chapter in a decidedly colorful life. Despite his condition, and sometimes because of the advantages it provided, Robison’s history includes a gig in the 1970s traveling with and creating special-effects guitars for KISS. Later, he worked as an engineer for a major toy company, and after that, parlayed his love and proficiency for servicing high-end cars into one of the busiest repair, restoration, and customization outfits in the Northeast.

Twenty years later, Robison retains that low level of animation that is often associated with Asperger’s Syndrome, but it’s paired with a biting wit and the knowledge that, yes, he’s done some amazing things with his years.

“Who woulda thought,” he deadpans.

But he says that what he finds more notable than how his memoir sets him apart are the ways in which his story parallels those of other adults, many children, and plenty of Aspergians.

“It’s not a story of what you can’t ever be,” he said. “It’s not like I walked on the moon. Having a dream to fix nice cars is real, and attainable.

“What I did is stuff that millions of ordinary people can do,” he added. “There are kids being raised right now in Western Mass. who can go on to tour with bands or write books. That accessibility, I think, makes it more inspiring.”

It seems plenty of other people agree with that assessment.

Look Me in the Eye is currently in its ninth printing in the U.S., and its fifth in Australia. Robison said the book will be on sale in the U.K. in a matter of weeks, and is being translated into a number of languages for continued sale around the world, including Portuguese, Italian, and Chinese.

There are two audio versions of the book, one read by Robison and recorded locally at Armadillo Audio in Pelham, and the book is also being incorporated into U.S. high school curricula as part of a new, national focus on teaching diversity. On the college level, a teaching guide has been developed by Dr. Kathy Dyers, an autism and speech pathology professor at UMass Amherst and Elms College.

As an outgrowth of that success, Robison has taken to public speaking, discussing the book and his experiences in various locales across the country. At times, he’s working in collaboration with New York City-based documentarian Jennifer Venditti, introducing screenings of her film Billy the Kid, which follows a 15-year-old Aspergian and has received awards this year at the L.A., Edinburgh, and Melbourne film festivals, among other accolades.

Locally, Robison is also speaking in schools and at colleges, and is working with Elms College to assist in the development of a graduate program in understanding Asperger’s and autism for teachers.

“That’s a big deal for me, because this is a failing of the education system,” he said. “It’s important to me to help provide training for teachers, especially in our area.”

Shifting Gears

Indeed, Robison is a hometown boy. Look Me in the Eye details a number of people, places, and events that are familiar to Western Mass. residents, and while his success has taken him to several new destinations (that travel will expand and continue in 2008, when his memoir is introduced in Europe), he always returns to the roots he’s firmly planted locally, including those at his shop in Springfield.

“My business serves a continuing need, so I’ll continue doing that and continue writing,” he said, noting that the publicity afforded him by his memoir has also benefited Robison Service, which is now drawing clients from an even wider radius. “It’s amazing to me, as a guy in the car biz, to see how things have taken off in such a big way. I’ve worked for 20 years in the auto world, and in a matter of weeks, the name recognition from the book surpassed 20 years of work.”

He added that while there are no plans to abandon his first love, his book’s success has also opened up doors through which he’s looking for new and different opportunities more than ever before.

“Cars have always been important to me,” he said. “I love this machinery, but when someone says my book is a window into their husband’s mind, or their child’s, I have to see that it’s significantly more important than putting a new water pump into a Mercedes.”

Robison said that when he set out to write Look Me in the Eye, he had certain notions about how it would be perceived: as an entertaining account of an unusual life. But as it turned out, the book was received by a much greater audience, and in a much different way, than he suspected.

“It has turned out that the book speaks to a larger percentage of the population than I ever imagined,” he said. “I didn’t realize that Asperger’s and autism were so pervasive, but the CDC says they affect one in 80 boys and one in 300 girls. That means everybody knows someone.

“I was very surprised by the response I got, and also surprised because I thought I had written a book about how different I was,” he continued. “But even people without Asperger’s have written to me to say that in parts, they see themselves.”

A Space Reserved

That’s because, Robison says, that pressing need to fit in is a feeling everyone has at one time or another, and in the case of Aspergians, this feeling is often magnified and ongoing.

“There are many things that I do that seem eccentric and that some people find offensive,” he said. “I still don’t look at people. But, I have found a niche where my handicaps are advantages. Having a compulsion to know everything there is to know about Rolls Royces and Land Rovers is ideal in my profession –– whereas, it would be irritating if I worked in a record store.”

Finding one’s place is a pervasive theme in Look Me in the Eye, Robison said, which also resonates with many readers of all types.

“Sometimes without my own knowledge, I have turned my Aspergian traits into benefits,” he said, noting that some Aspergian tendencies are more accepted in the auto service field than in most.

Robison has, for example, a tendency to be very truthful and direct with his customers.

“If I worked in a grocery store and a customer came through my line and I said, ‘hey, looks like you’ve put on some weight,’” he offered, “I wouldn’t have a job very much longer.

“But I’m talking about the reality of what’s wrong with people’s cars,” he said. “They may not like to hear it at first, but it’s something they can accept.”

Robison’s late diagnosis was also a boon in other ways, he said. While he often felt like the odd man out, he also spent many years learning how to adapt to more conventional society — a task all Aspergians must eventually tackle.

“Often, a diagnosis is an excuse,” he explained. “People have to recognize that there are conditions for which society makes no accommodation; you need to teach yourself how to deal with the public. Society will not adapt to you –– and that goes for everyone. I think I’m more keenly aware of that fact than a lot of young people.

“But at the same time, I grew up thinking many of the things that were said about me, that I was a sociopath or ‘no good,’ were true.”

The Porsche Swing

In between book signings and appearances, Robison said he’s working on his second book, a how-to of sorts that will delve further into the ways he’s “succeeded as a misfit,” as he puts it, and is mulling plans for a third tome.

He’s also continuing to reap the benefits of Look Me in the Eye’s popularity, and among his favorite byproducts are the letters he receives daily from readers, which he said are burying those memories of being called ‘no good’ under a pile of ‘thank yous.’

One letter in particular came by certified, overnight mail from the general counsel at Porsche Cars. Sure he’d committed some sort of copyright or trademark infringement, Robison tore open the envelope and was surprised yet again to read a grateful, personal note.

“He just wanted to say he loved the book and the mentions of Porsche cars,” said Robison. “And, he said Porsche is home to a lot of Aspergians.”

With that, Robison let out a short but jubilant belly laugh.

For him, the more he blends in, the more comfortable he feels.

Jaclyn Stevenson can be reached at[email protected]

Features
YPO Provides a Unique Forum for Business Leaders

Tyler Young was looking for what he called a “second opinion” — actually, several of them.

The president of East Longmeadow-based W.F. Young Inc., distributors of Absorbine Junior and a host of other health products for people and animals, Young, now 48, was considering an acquisition that would supplement the animal-care side of the operation.


Peter Picknelly

He had his own thoughts about whether to proceed, but decided that before making a move of this magnitude he should first bounce the idea off fellow members of the Berkshire chapter of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO).

This is a nonprofit group of young business leaders — one must be under 45 when joining and can’t stay past 55, although they can join what amounts to a graduate organization — that currently boasts roughly 11,000 members and 25,000 alumni in more than 100 countries. For this exercise, though, Young was focused on feedback from the other 10 members of his ‘forum,’ one of several smaller groups within that Berkshire chapter that meet monthly.

These individuals essentially convinced him that this was one of those deals that would be good because it didn’t get done.

“They helped me look at the pros and cons, and the hidden issues that might trip you up during the negotiations,” Young said of his fellow forum members. “Having that second look, having that input, really helped.”


Tyler Young

Elaborating, he said that lawyers and accountants tend to look at business deals purely from the standpoint of numbers and whether they work or not. YPOers, as they’re called, go beyond the math and look at the individual and whether the deal works for him or her. “Sometimes, you have to look at the whole person, where they are in their life, where’s the balance in their life, and how much appetite they have for change,” he said. “There are issues that become more personal than business that YPOers can supplement, because they get to know you on a very intimate and personal basis.”

Just about every member of the Berkshire chapter can relate a story similar to Young’s — and with issues that go well beyond the day-to-day operation of a business.

Peter Picknelly, 48, third-generation president of Springfield-based Peter Pan Bus Lines, told BusinessWest that he turned to members of his forum for help in deciding whether to make a major acquisition of several bus lines a few years ago — he eventually went ahead with that deal and has no regrets. But he’s also used that group as a sounding board on many personal issues that collectively speak to the daunting challenge of balancing life and work.

“I think most people think of YPO as a strictly business organization,” he said. “And while there are great business aspects to it, and I absolutely believe I’m a better business person because of my association with it, just as importantly, I am absolutely a better father and a better husband as a result of my association with YPO.”


Rocco Falcone

There are several elements to the YPO experience, including the forums, monthly chapter meetings, national and international conventions, retreats that often involve spouses and children, and something called the YPO Member Exchange, or M2Mx. This is a confidential, member-driven referral service that helps members tackle issues large and small, personal and professional.

“It’s just an unbelievable resource,” said Rocco Falcone, president of Rocky’s Ace Hardware and longtime YPO member, who said the forum has helped him grow his business — while also providing rewarding opportunities to enable others to do the same.

In this issue, BusinessWest takes an in-depth look at YPO and how it goes about meeting its mission — creating “better leaders through education and idea exchange.”

Follow the Leaders

Like most YPOers around the globe, members of the Berkshire chapter are well-traveled, and they can drop some names.


Larry Eagan

They’ve been to NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command) headquarters in Colorado to see how that operation monitors the airspace over the U.S. and Canada. They’ve also visited Lime Rock in Connecticut, where they were put behind the wheel of a race car for a few spins around the track at over 100 miles per hour. They’ve been to Mohegan Sun to see, among other things, how casinos track cheats across the country, to Baystate Medical Center to observe open heart surgery, and to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute to learn about new research and techniques.

Meanwhile, at the chapter or network level, they’ve heard talks from Barack Obama, Colin Powell, Jack Welch, F. Lee Bailey, and even Dr. Ruth, who, recalls Picknelly, talked about “different things” in an address to members and their spouses.

Young told BusinessWest that YPO has unique access to military operations and installations, and that there have been many field trips over the years at which participants learned not only how equipment works, but also how the military functions organizationally, with the goal of taking some lessons back to the office or factory.

“We’ve been to Westover to do flight simulations,” he explained. “When we can, we drive tanks, shoot guns, go on aircraft carriers — anything that will take us behind the scenes to learn how something is managed.”


Al Kasper

These junkets and speeches are made possible by YPO’s clout and connections (as well as the financial wherewithal of its members), and are just part of the way YPO goes about making members into better business people, and simply better people.

Much of this learning goes on at those forum meetings, said Picknelly, noting that he joined YPO 13 years ago, when he was only 35. He told BusinessWest that he joined for the same reason most do — the opportunity to tap into a wealth of knowledge possessed by people who speak the same language, figuratively speaking, and to get some support with matters on both sides of the work/life balance equation.

“The only mentor I ever had in my life was my dad,” he explained, referring to Peter L. Picknelly, who greatly expanded the bus company and later became involved in a number of real estate ventures, including the acquisition of Monarch Place. “But he was fairly one-dimensional — he was all business. I figured out early on in my career that I wasn’t my dad, and didn’t try to duplicate what he did; YPO helped me establish my own self and the balance I want to have. Being a good father and husband is as important to me as being a good, solid businessman.”

This is what Ray Hickok had in mind when he started YPO nearly 60 years ago.

Hickok was just 28 when he was given the reins of his family’s business, Hickok Belts, after the death of his father in 1945. At that time, there were few people that age leading companies of such size, and Hickok, upon meeting and talking with individuals in similar situations, recognized the need for an organization that would serve as a support network. He created the first YPO chapter in New York, with 20 members, in 1950.

Over the years, YPO has evolved — the forum, as an established component of the organization, was created in 1975 — and expanded into a national and international entity now boasting 300 chapters worldwide. Last year, YPO merged with its graduate association, the World Presidents Organization (WPO), to become the world’s largest global network of business leaders.

Membership guidelines make this a fairly exclusive group. Beyond the age restrictions, members must lead companies with at least 50 full-time employees and $8 million in annual revenues (financial institutions must have annual assets of at least $160 million). And while the name says Young Presidents, other titles are acceptable — ‘chairman,’ ‘CEO,’ ‘publisher,’ ‘managing director,’ and ‘managing partner’ will do — as long as the person in question is in charge.

This combination of rank, young age, and significant business size (at least for this chapter’s geographic coverage area) certainly limits the field of candidates for membership, said Picknelly, who believes that most everyone in the Greater Springfield area who would qualify is either a member or has made a conscious decision not to become one.

But there are some others from within the wide coverage area — which includes Western New Hampshire, all of Vermont, Western Mass., and parts of Eastern New York — who could join.

Young Ideas

And they should, said Larry Eagan, 47 president of Collins Electric in Chicopee, because there is a good amount of truth to that old adage about it being lonely at the top.

YPO makes it less so, he told BusinessWest, by providing some collective knowledge and insight that simply can’t be found anywhere else.

“It can be lonely being the president or chairman of a company if you have some issues you can’t talk about with employees, or family, especially if it’s a family business, or just your lawyer and accountant,” said Eagan, who joined YPO at age 44 after realizing he was in a ‘now or never’ situation with regard to membership and would likely regret ‘never.’ “YPO provides a way for people to open up and talk about pressures and issues when they really have no one else to turn to.

“Then, you find out that other people are facing these same issues, and that’s comforting,” he continued. “You say, ‘OK, I’m not alone with some of my frustrations.’”

Picknelly agreed, noting that consultants are expensive, and often provide advice that suits them and their contracts, but not the company, while lawyers and accountants are driven mostly by numbers. “There’s a place for those people,” he said. “But with YPOers … they’ve been in the trenches, they’ve done it, and that’s how they can provide solid advice.”

Such advice often comes during the forums, at which members will discuss matters involving work and life — everything from mergers and acquisitions to dealing with teenagers — and then hear a formal presentation from a member who has been coached in advance to make sure that the program in question is relevant and worthy of the group’s time and energy. Sometimes, the presentation takes the form of Young’s overview of his potential acquisition and request for advice and whether and how to proceed, but other times it can be an informative program on subjects ranging from weight loss to caring for an aging parent to career choices for members’ children.

Falcone described his forum group (the same as Picknelly’s) as a “personal board of directors,” while Young said it was a place to talk about “anything that keeps you up at night.”

Such references show how effective the sessions are at providing insight for businesses decisions, but also “getting to the person,” as Young put it.

“There are a lot of business associations and industry groups that get together and talk strictly business,” he explained. “We spend a lot of time getting to the personal side of someone, meaning their family and their personal life issues, so we know the total life balance of an individual when they’re facing an issue, and we come at it from a couple of different angles, so it’s not just nuts and bolts on the business side.”

Al Kasper, 51, current president of the Berkshire chapter, is part of a minority among YPO members — those who are not part of family businesses, but are instead ‘hired guns,’ which in his case is in appropriate term because he’s president and COO of Westfield-based Savage Arms Corp., a maker of sporting rifles, among other products.

He said his situation is different from that of other members (usually business owners) because he’s accountable to a superior, which means that he doesn’t have the same freedom to come and go (to YPO events, for example) as they do. He also believes he’s under perhaps more pressure to grow the business, because it’s not his business.

“There’s a different dynamic — I have a boss, and I have to answer to him,” he explained, adding that YPO and his forum group have helped him better handle his relationship with his boss and, in the process, move the company forward. “I didn’t know anything about YPO when I first joined — and I wish I had known a few years earlier.”

Falcone said that another key element of YPO is the networking opportunities it presents. Through the meetings, conventions, retreats, and especially the exchange, members can tap into the collective knowledge and clout of the entire organization.

“The resources and the contacts you can have are phenomenal,” he explained. “If you reach out to another YPOer, 99% of the time they’re going to return your phone call in a day. If you have a challenge, an issue, or just want to make a contact, there are people you can turn to.”

This is made possible by something called the ‘inventory of skills,’ that each individual fills out when they become a member. A database lists the skills and special interests of each member, along with contact information.

Over the years, Falcone has been of assistance to individuals on matters concerning retail, franchising, and other matters, and he credits the exchange with helping him secure Benjamin Moore paints for some of his stores. “I got in touch with a guy who’s president of a company that makes color chips, including some for Ben Moore. He put me in touch with some people at the company and helped get the ball rolling. We don’t have it all our stores, but we managed to get it in some.”

Overall, Falcone said his YPO experience has made him a better manager, by helping him find balance and, as the saying goes, “work on his business, not in his business.”

Knowledge is Power

Picknelly said the true value of YPO can perhaps best be seen in the attendance records for his forum.

Over the past 13 years, he’s missed one session due to the birth of a child, and another member missed one due to the death of his father. “These are 11 guys who are really busy people, but they show up every month, because they always take something away from these meetings,” he said.

Young agreed, and stressed again that the group’s work goes well beyond business and profits.

“This is not a private club where we sit around and talk about how to make more money,” he explained. “We’re broadening ourselves beyond the scope of our business; we’re building our family and our community.”

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

Sections Supplements
These Facts Will Help You Can Change from Flab to Fab
Dr. Leslie Van Romer

Dr. Leslie Van Romer

While the word ‘fat’ has three letters, it has the connotation of a four-letter word. Fat has the power to sting, sadden, madden, irritate, frustrate, incite, shame, and scar. It’s a word we’d rather not read, talk, or hear about ever again, and especially not see. But it remains ever-present and heavy in our minds and lives, and for obvious reasons.

As counter-intuitive as it may seem, fat is a good thing. We need it — just not so much of it. Contrary to the American mentality of ‘more is better,’ more fat is not better. In fact, whether it comes from a cow, a fish, a vegetable, a seed, or an olive, there’s such a thing as too much fat. Worse than that, fat is deadly. It pulls the trigger on our biggest health killers: heart disease, cancers, diabetes, stroke, and atherosclerosis.

Having fat problems? Strip away the emotions trapped in the layers, make an honest, clear-headed assessment of what you’re putting into your body, and then do something about it — that’s the hard part.

It’s time to face your demon. Start by knowing these five fat facts on fats.

1. Where should almost all the fats you need come from?

Should you eat beef, chicken, turkey, cheese, fish, vegetable oils, olive oil, or whole plant foods?

This may shock you right into that next pants size down, but fats don’t ‘come from’ anywhere — your body makes them! No kidding. While we’re agonizing over the good fat/bad fat debate, fueled by the food industry and our own ignorance, our smart bodies are making almost all the fat we need from the carbohydrates we eat.

What does this mean to you? It means you need to eat very little fat, and especially not added oils and high-fat foods. In fact, if you eat a variety of whole plant foods every day, you don’t need to think about fat at all — your body thinks for you.

2. What’s the worst fat?

Of all the fats, what’s the worst kind of fat of all? Butter fat, margarine fat, oil fat, beef fat, plant fat, saturated fat, hydrogenated fat, or trans fat? Bar none, the worst kind of fat is simply too much fat — made by too many consumed calories.

The bottom line that affects your bottom’s line is this: your body doesn’t care where excess calories come from. If you overload and tip the calorie intake, your body efficiently turns extra calories into fat and dumps fat into storage — your fat cells. When your fat cells get too fat, your clever body will simply make more fat cells to accommodate the influx of more fat.

Just what we don’t want — more fat cells! These cells do get skinnier with weight loss, but they never disappear! Once you make a fat cell, that cell is embedded in your hip, thigh, tummy, butt, arm, breast, or chin for life, always ready for that instant refill upon demand.

Remember, fat goes from your lips to your hips, so get a grip. Stop eating when your brain tells you to — before your stuffed stomach begs for mercy!

3. But isn’t olive oil a good fat?

If you listen to the creed of the day, you would think so, but let’s use simple logic.

If your body makes almost all the fats it needs, then it serves no purpose to add more fat to your ready-made fat, especially a highly concentrated, refined fat that comes without any nutrition. Added oils, including olive oil, offer you one thing only: calories, and those calories come with a price tag — more fat. It just so happens that between 14% and 17% of olive oil is saturated fat. How can extra calories, and some from saturated fat, possibly be good for you?

4. But what about essential fats that you must get from outside sources?

There are only two essential fatty acids (essential means your body can’t make them) — linoleic and alpha-linoleic acids, which your body needs in very small quantities.

Linoleic fatty acid is an omega-6 fat, a familiar buzzword, and alpha-linoleic is an omega-3 fat. Let’s skip the omega details here. Suffice to say that whether a fat is called saturated, polyunsaturated, monounsaturated, omega-6, omega-3, or olive, if you add too much fat to already-made fat, no matter who tells you what, that fat is a bad fat and shows up on you — right where you don’t want it.

Instead of trying to remember all the pet names for fats and what they mean, it’s a lot easier to remember the best sources for those two essential fatty acids that you do need: whole plant foods, not from concentrated oils or fish and other animal fats.

The whole plant foods richest in linoleic acids are sunflower, pumpkin, and sesame seeds, walnuts, butternuts, soybeans, and corn. Alpha-linoleic acids are sourced by dark, green-leafy vegetables, as well as broccoli, ground flax seeds, soybeans, walnuts, and butternuts. However, if you eat a varied diet of mostly whole, fresh fruits and vegetables, along with whole grains, beans, and a significantly lesser amount of raw nuts and seeds, you can get plenty of essential good fats without consciously having to choose special foods high in those particular fats. And you’ll lose weight besides.

According to Dr. John McDougall, author of several books, including The McDougall Plan: 12 Days to Dynamic Health, a plant-based diet provides all the essential fats we need. George Eisman, registered dietician and author of The Most Noble Diet and Diet Against Cancer, tells us that a diet rich in just whole fruits and vegetables offers an average of 5% calories from essential fatty acids, more than the 3% the government recommends.

5. How can plants possibly provide enough fat?

Again, your body makes almost all the fats it needs, without thinking about how much fat is in plant foods. But to satisfy curiosity, let’s take a peek at the fat numbers. They speak volumes louder than hearsay and big fat lies.

Oranges contain 2% fat, apples 4%, bananas 4%, berries 10%, brown rice 7%, almonds 74%, kidney beans 3%, broccoli 9%, and Romaine lettuce 10% — yes, even lettuce has fat! On the wrong side of the fat tracks are salmon with 48% fat, beef 67%, chicken 48%, cheddar cheese 73%, and eggs 62%. That’s way too much fat, and saturated fat at that — the kind that clogs arteries and sets the unpleasant stage for killer diseases, not to mention adding layers to our layers.

If you fill up on nature’s best-for-you foods — whole plant foods, with the emphasis on fresh, fruits and vegetables — you can cut the internal and external chatter about which foods provide which fats and all the other nutrients, micronutrients, fiber, and enzymes. Nature has done that higher-nutrient math for you.

When it comes to fats, the only thing you have to remember is: “Extra cals are not your pals.” Your weight warriors and health heroes are whole, fresh fruits, and vegetables, as well as whole grains, legumes, sprouts, and raw, unsalted nuts and seeds.v

Dr. Leslie Van Romer is the author of the weight-loss book Getting Into Your Pants, as well as a chiropractor, weight loss cheerleader, and motivational health speaker; (888) 375-3754;www.drleslievanromer.com

Sections Supplements
Norman Rockwell Museum Introduces the Art of Illustration to a New World
Norman Rockwell's Studio

Norman Rockwell’s studio on the Norman Rockwell Museum grounds.

The images are painstakingly rendered portraits of iconic moments: two teenagers at a soda fountain. A family gathered for a holiday meal. A soldier, returning from war.

By documenting life, Norman Rockwell created a collection of work that remains vital today. And through the work at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, the legendary illustrator’s iconic images are reaching a greater number of people than ever before.

The museum, founded in 1969, serves to showcase the illustrations of one of the nation’s most recognizable and prolific artists. It has plenty to draw from; the Norman Rockwell personal collection is just one part of a massive store of paintings, reproductions, and other artifacts, and includes 367 pieces alone.

Through a comprehensive suite of programs, ranging from traveling exhibitions to several types of educational initiatives, the museum’s collections are living on in myriad ways, as Rockwell’s art enters a new, digital age.

But in addition, there’s more going on at the Norman Rockwell Museum than exhibits of its namesake’s work, and that is creating an even greater presence for the hidden museum, being felt across the country.

Laurie Norton Moffatt, director of the Norman Rockwell Museum, said the collection is one that is steeped in history on both general and artistic levels, and therefore it resonates within a large, diverse audience.

“These are pieces of artwork that also documented historic events, values, and moments that are timeless,” she said. “It’s a wonderful collection to work with.”

The museum’s challenge of late, according to Norton Moffatt, has been to use new technology to deliver Rockwell’s art to new audiences, as well as use his importance in the medium of art and illustration to move the entire discipline forward.

“Rockwell painted for 70 years and came of age when magazine publishing was booming, and his talents and industry capability made for a great mix. It is our mission is to present this broad form of illustration,” she said. “There are a lot of exciting new programs happening here that are aimed at preserving the centuries, and keeping artists’ work relevant and tied to the times.”

Have Art, Will Travel

For instance, the traveling exhibits the museum develops and maintains have become a staple of the Rockwell Museum’s repertoire. The initiative includes exhibits of varying size, often designed to be accessible to small or medium-sized museums, and move around the country for an extended period of time.

This year, there are more than 10 NRM exhibitions in circulation. Norton Moffatt said the demand for Rockwell artwork is high in the U.S., and the traveling exhibit model allows many people to see original pieces of his work in various venues, rather than copies — even those as famous as Rockwell’s many Saturday Evening Post covers.

“This is how we reach new audiences,” she said. “Upwards of one million people see these exhibitions, and most are illustration shows.”

There is a major Rockwell exhibit traveling now, called American Chronicles: The Art of Norman Rockwell, featuring 41 original oil paintings. Norton Moffatt said the exhibit will return to Stockbridge this autumn, but until then will allow thousands of viewers to see Rockwell’s work up close and in full color.

“It’s a big undertaking; we have a lot of staff overseeing the movement of art across the country,” she said, adding that the impetus behind staging such an extensive collection for traveling exhibits stems from Rockwell’s sheer popularity as a contemporary American artist.

“Rockwell is the favorite illustrator of this country, and in turn, he was influenced by other great American illustrators including Andrew Wyeth and Maxfield Parrish. He continues that tradition for new illustrators who are influenced by him, and as such, illustration art is important to us in general.”

To that end, it’s not just Rockwell who appears in NRM exhibits, but a number of illustrators working in various media. Another traveling show, titled Picturing Health, features a collection of advertising marquees designed for use by the Pfizer corp., using some of the famous ‘doctor and patient’ Rockwell paintings. The show also includes the work of 15 additional artists, however, who use various media to portray issues that are relevant to contemporary health care. That exhibit is now traveling in the U.S., and will make a stop at the Atlanta Center for Disease Control.

At the Stockbridge museum, that focus on illustration is also prominent. LitGraphic: The World of the Graphic Novel opened at the museum last month, and represents a move toward showcasing the new illustrators — graphic novelists — who create the more mature, developed version of comic books.

“We’re so excited about this exhibition,” said Norton Moffatt. “To the best of our knowledge, this is the most indepth treatment of the art of the graphic novel in any museum.”

The show includes the work of 20 artists and includes both new and recognizable works such as Maus: A Survivor’s Tale, a Holocaust memoir rendered with both words and pictures by Art Spiegelman.

“This is a field that is growing by leaps and bounds, which requires the talents of both an artist and a storyteller. It is an art form with a long tradition, but that is experiencing a real renaissance right now, and appealing to people in their teens and twenties, who are very visual,” Norton Moffatt said. “It covers a wide variety of topics, from the funny to the fantastical — there are a lot of modes of expression, and we’re seeing tremendous interest in our exhibition in the blogosphere.”

The New Media

That virtual attention is both the cause and effect of the museum’s concerted effort recently to move the Rockwell collection and mission into the digital age.

Norton Moffatt said the museum will unveil what is called ‘Project Norman’ in 2009, digitizing not just the collection but also Rockwell’s archives, which include sketches, art ephemera tear sheets, photos, personal and professional correspondence, audio recordings, and other effects from Rockwell’s studio, which is also part of the museum’s grounds.

“All of our materials are being digitized, and that has received tremendous support,” she said of the museum’s fundraising efforts. “We have been very successful in gaining support, and that has been the result of continued dialogue with patrons. It’s also an important testament to Rockwell and how many people believe in his collections.”

The museum has several new educational programs that are also rooted in visual and interactive learning. NRM already reaches more than 10,000 students a year through onsite programs, and is now using emerging technology to take its mission further.

“We’re working to make online programs more interactive,” Norton Moffatt said. “This is a new area for many museums, but we feel we are extremely well-suited. As an illustrator, Rockwell’s work was intended for reproduction.”

And in another vein, NRM is also launching the Rockwell Scholars initiative, which has been designed to better prepare high-level academics for technology’s effect on the art world. The program is expected to begin in 2009 along with Project Norman.

“The Rockwell Scholars are people who are working in visual studies; graduate students, PhD candidates, curators, and others,” said Norton Moffatt. “These are the people who are shaping culture and doing scholarly work in the field of American illustration.”

Life Imitating Art

A number of these programs are funded through foundation grants small and large, such as those provided by the National Endowment for the Arts. The remainder of funding comes from memberships and admissions and program fees, as well as corporate sponsorships, which can be applied to exhibits in the Stockbridge museum, traveling shows, and programs for children, adults, and educators.

“In an ideal world one always hopes for major sponsorships,” Norton Moffatt said. “We depend on philanthropy for a third of our budget, and we have a full national educational curriculum that sponsorship makes possible. We have some wonderful supporters, who believe in the importance of our mission.”

That, she said, speaks to that vitality of Rockwell’s art that keeps it moving forward.

“It’s an extremely vital collection, and one that keeps on living,” she said. “We work to keep it visible, to give it a longer life. It’s wonderful to have it live on.”

Jaclyn Stevenson can be reached at[email protected]

Cover Story Sections Top Entrepreneur
John Maybury : Driven to Succeed
January 7, 2008 Cover

January 7, 2008 Cover

John Maybury was only a few months out of high school when he embarked on what started out as another in a series of odd jobs, but would eventually become a career and very successful entrepreneurial venture. He began selling workbenches, shelving, and industrial stools, but soon partnered with his father to start a diversified business in the competitive field of material handling. Today, the company reflects Maybury’s passion for technology, commitment to excellence, and drive to continuously improve. His success — and methods for achieving it — have earned him BusinessWest’s Top Entrepreneur Award for 2007.

John Maybury says that for him to get involved with something, there usually has to be some element of danger.

He’s an avid snowmobiler and skier, and he’s scuba dived, skydived, and flown planes (he doesn’t so much anymore). “If it has a motor, then I’m interested in it,” he said, noting that he probably had 20 cars before his 18th birthday. The only time you’ll find him on a golf course is for a charity tournament, and he’s taken part in many. He has to drive the cart, and he’ll invariably tinker with it to get it to go faster than the club pro might like.

He approaches all these danger-spiced activities with a philosophy, or thought process: to know and understand the risks, push the envelope — but not too far, and have fun. And this is the approach he takes to business and Maybury Material Handling, a venture he started while attending Western New England College 32 years ago, and trying to figure out just what to do with his life.

He took a cue, of sorts, from his father, who worked for many years as a salesperson then sales manager, specializing in, among other things, items in a field known as material handling — meaning equipment used to move, store, retrieve, and catalog inventory, records, parts, and other items.

The Younger Maybury started off as a free agent, selling various product lines to companies like American Bosch, Moore Drop Forge (later known as Danaher Tool), and other large manufacturers, using mostly contacts from his father to get his foot in those doors. He enjoyed enough early success to inspire his father to take a leave of absence from the company join him a venture that would put the Maybury name on letterhead, if not over the door — they started out as a home-based operation, but quickly outgrew those facilities.

Over the past three decades, Maybury has grown his venture into a highly diversified operation now specializing in sales, service, rentals, and training for equipment ranging from forklifts to work stations; from mezzanines to modular offices. The company has expanded and moved several times, the latest step being construction of a 42,000-square-foot building on Denslow Road in East Longmeadow, not far from where he and his father built the company’s first home on the site of an old tobacco barn.

But it is not merely what Maybury has accomplished that has earned him BusinessWest’s Top Entrepreneur for 2007 award. Rather, it’s also the how that has made him this year’s honoree.

To say that this is a company that reflects the character and drive of its owner would be a real understatement. It is, like Maybury, technology-focused, employing the latest hardware and software to enable employees to do work better, faster, and cheaper. It’s also excellence-driven; it was among the early winners of the Pioneer Valley Excellence Award, and Maybury has his sights set on a Mass Excellence Award, and has the ambitious goal of earning the coveted Malcolm Baldridge award within the next decade.

And this company is people-oriented, with an emphasis on fun. At the 2007 All Associates Year End Gathering, for example, staffers were broken into teams for a spirited contest of ‘Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?’ featuring several special guests from nearby Mapleshade Elementary School.

The teams were formed with the goal of breaking down departmental barriers and inspiring people in different capacities to work together toward a common goal — in this case, triumphing over the other teams and winning some cash ($4,000 was put on the table).

This philosophy of working together is at the heart of the company’s success, said Maybury, noting that he stresses teamwork in every facet of the operation, and it has yielded steady sales growth, cutting-edge continuous-improvement practices, and a workplace that attracts and retains top talent.

In this issue, BusinessWest examines what drives Maybury — literally and figuratively — in his quest for excellence, and why his story of entrepreneurial daring is an uplifting, and ongoing, saga.

A Real Spark Plug

As he gave BusinessWest a tour of the new plant and posed for a few pictures, Maybury displayed some of that passion he has for all things motorized.

He jumped onto one of the newest and most versatile fork truck models, showed all that it can do, and then maneuvered it in out of some tight spaces. “I can handle these better than most people who drive them for a living,” he said, noting that he’s fluent with every piece of equipment on his showroom floor, and needs to be if he is to properly serve his clients.

Maybury got his first practice on a forklift back in the fall of 1975. He was a freshman at WNEC and also working several part-time jobs to help pay his tuition. One of them was at Milton Bradley — now known as Hasbro Games — and its East Longmeadow plant. He worked in what was known then as Department 26, moving around pallets of games like Monopoly, Life, and Chutes and Ladders, for loading onto boxes that would be packed into freight cars for transport on a rail line that no longer exits.

When Maybury returns to Department 26 these days — he’s made several visits over the years and still runs into people he worked with three decades ago — it is to help Hasbro stay on the cutting edge of material-handling equipment and processes. The toy maker is just one name on a long and distinguished client list. Others include regional and national manufacturers, distributors, and retailers including Friendly’s, Big Y, Lenox, J Polep, JCPenney, Macy’s Target, Wal-Mart, and even Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun.

Maybury supplies racks and shelving, conveyors, forklifts, and other equipment to the casinos to move and store money and chips. It also played a lead role in helping Mohegan Sun set a record a few years ago — with an 18-foot-tall, seven-tiered wedding cake weighing 15,032 pounds, or 7.5 tons. Maybury engineers created the huge platforms, or cake separators that the cake rested on (they were supported with steel pipes made by the company and painted to match a frosting sample) and also positioned massive, 30,000-pound-capacity scales in order to give the casino the exact weight.

The current, ever-growing client list and show of diversity and imagination put on display at Mohegan Sun provide evidence of just how far this company has come from its humble beginnings. How Maybury has orchestrated this evolution and progression is a story of entrepreneurial drive, vision, and ample doses of both luck and determination — mostly the latter.

Recalling how things got started, Maybury said that in addition to his forklift adventures at Milton Bradley, he also worked at Big Y, SIS (now TD Banknorth), and other area companies while trying to choose a career path. Instead, one chose him.

Growing up, he recalled, the conversations around the dinner table often revolved around his father’s work in material-handling equipment, and he eventually gravitated toward it himself.

“I grew up with it, and was kind of fascinated by it,” he said, re-emphasizing his childhood interest in all things mechanical, which manifested itself in early exploits in snowmobiling, mini-bike and motorcycle riding, and an endless parade of cars. “I would go into where my father was employed, go out back, and see all that equipment; it was something that really interested me.”

That company was Stanley Handling Equipment Co., later to be called StanLift, in Agawam. It was sold while Maybury’s father was executive vice president, and he then left and did consulting work for a similar venture based in Boston.

“It was at the supper table one night … I asked my father if he thought I could sell the things he used to sell,” Maybury recalled. “He said, ‘let’s give it a try,’ and we did.”

He started as an independent agent of sorts representing dealers trying to penetrate the Western Mass., market, selling workbenches, industrial stools, shelving, pushcarts, and other items needed by manufacturers that didn’t require help with installation, and was helped considerably by some of his father’s contacts.

“I’m 18, 19 years old … these people basically adopted me like a son or a grandson, because I was so young,” he explained. “I would go in, show them the book, show them the prices, tell them how much I needed to make, and they were cutting me orders.

“If I had any questions, I would go and ask my father,” he continued, adding that as the orders started rolling in, the father-and-son team saw a business opportunity unfolding before him. With a $25,000 loan from what was known then as First Bank — “they enjoyed the signature of the 40-year-old father much more than the 19-year-old son,” said Maybury — they were off and running.

Hitting on All Cylinders

Beyond the changes in street address over the years, the company was also in a constant state of change and diversification, said Maybury, patterns that have made it unique in the material-handling sector.

After starting with benching, shelving, and stools, the company moved into larger shelving installations, and two-story installations, including some work for Subaru of America. These installations would require lift trucks, he noted, adding that in the beginning the company would rent such equipment for jobs, but later purchased a fleet of the vehicles to ensure it could get a job done — and on time.

These ‘installs,’ as they were called, were usually done over a weekend, when a plant was shut down, he continued, adding that the mechanics hired to do these jobs often had little to do during the week, so the company started subbing them out to other businesses.

This was the beginning of Maybury’s power equipment division, which sells, leases, and maintains forklifts, scrubbers, sweepers, and other pieces of equipment and accounts for roughly 50% of total revenues.

Maybury remembers when the fleet consisted of one van (he still keeps a picture of it his files) and five hand trucks. Today, it’s 30 vans and more than 300 left trucks serving an area that stretches east to Worcester and south into Northern Conn., but Maybury says the company goes wherever its customers want.

It’s done work in Pennsylvania for Friendly’s, for example, and also in Nebraska, Texas, the Dominican Republic, and elsewhere for other clients.

This constant evolution has yielded a company that Maybury describes as a “solution provider,” and one that has no across-the-board competition.

“Our competitors are silo businesses,” he explained. “We have lift truck competitors, shelving and rack competitors, conveyor competitors, and mezzanine competitors, for example, but there aren’t any real solution providers that can address the full scope of material handling like we do.”

Summing up what his company does, and simplifying matters as he does so, Maybury says his team of 100 employees helps clients become more efficient, thus making them more profitable and competitive in the face of increasingly global competition. And throughout its existence, the company has essentially practiced what it has preached — using technology, processes, and teamwork to simplify and streamline operations and provide new opportunities for growth.

“We’re about as paperless as a company like this can get,” said Maybury, citing just one example of how the company works to take time and waste from its processes, while also serving customers more efficiently. The company has used self-directed work teams, the Kaizen process, and other strategies to reduce process times and reduce errors.

These efforts were rewarded with a Pioneer Valley Excellence Award in 2005, what Maybury calls the first step in an aggressive drive to winning a Baldridge within the next decade. Established in 1988, and named after former Commerce Secretary Malcolm Baldridge, a strong proponent of quality management, the award is given to companies to large and small judged to be outstanding in seven areas: leadership; strategic planning; customer and market focus; measurement, analysis, and knowledge management; human resource focus; process management; and results.

Maybury said that while his goal is on winning the award, his focus is on doing the things necessary to achieve that end, which means not achieving results, but sustaining them, which is the key to not merely filling a lobby with plaques and trophies, but also taking a company to desired heights in terms of efficiency and profits.

And for this, Maybury returns to the subject of teamwork, specifically a team of ‘Level 5 leaders’ as defined by business writer Jim Collins, author Good to Great.

“I have a human resources manager, a controller, a power equipment division manager, a material handling division manager, and a sales and marketing manager, and those positions support our strategy and our goals,” he explained, “and our initiatives and action steps are carried out by that group of people.

“Into everything we do over the course of a year we come up with some critical impact factors that will impact our business either in a positive or negative way, and then we develop strategies and action steps and come up with goals and plans so we deploy a common theme,” he continued. “If it’s self-managed teams, then it’s self-managed teams until we get it; if it’s paperless, it’s paperless until we get it; if it’s proper deployment of technology, it’s that until we get it; we don’t just say ‘let’s do this,’ and then it never happens.”

Gasket Case

There has been considerable deployment of communications technology over the years, said Maybury, adding that the progression of steps, such as the outfitting of service technicians with tablet PCs to eliminate all use of paper, is consumer- and service-driven.

“We don’t have technology just to have technology — we have technology to be the accelerator for our processes,” he said, noting that the use of the tablet PCs and aircards that provide Internet access eliminate the need for everything from paper receipts to repair manuals.

Which is significant, because each technician needs vast amounts of information at his or her disposal to maintain or repair the wide range of equipment sold and serviced by the company.

“With the technology and advancements, our technicians now have the ability to go online,” he said, “and go to the manufacturers’ sites, get their technical service bulletins, get schematics, get parts resources, and communicate by E-mail with the supplier so we can get all the information we need without having any books on the trucks.”

There are countless other examples of putting technology to work to streamline processes, allow people to do more work in less time, and even save a few trees, he continued, noting that technology is just half the equation; the other is the people who use it, and the company is careful to invest heavily in them, as well.

This strong focus on people was on display at the All Associates Year End Gathering, a tradition at Maybury for nearly 20 years now.

As the name implies, everyone who works for the company (and they’re called associates, not employees) is required to attend. In recent years, the date was moved from just before Christmas to the middle of the month to make it easier to fit into the holiday schedule.

As in prior years, this day-long program had a packed agenda, starting with a welcome from Maybury, a quick review of the safety record (169 days without a lost-time accident by Dec. 14), and then a comprehens
ve review of the company’s 401(k) program delivered by Charles Epstein, president of Epstein Financial Services.

“This is a good time to be a having a review,” said Maybury, noting the stock market’s rocky third and fourth quarters and the questions it would generate. “This is a time when people need information about their money and what to do with it to make it grow.”

The agenda continued with reviews of the health and dental plans, a look back at the accomplishments of 2007 and a glance ahead to the goals for ’08, a celebration of anniversaries (there was a 25th and two 20ths, among others) and new associates, a question-and-answer period, and that spirited round of ‘Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader.’

The associates’ day, and the specific parts of the program, are reflective of Maybury’s desire to make his a people-oriented company, one focused on helping employees balance work and life.

Finding that balance is something Maybury has had to work at himself, noting that, over the years, he’s managed to make time for his family, community activities, chamber of commerce duties (he was president of the East Longmeadow chamber for two years), work on boards such as the one at Baystate Health he’s a member of, and even some snowmobiling.

“When I balance my family with my business and the community, that makes me feel better,” he said. “I could probably lock myself in here for several more hours a day, but I wouldn’t have the same self-satisfaction. And I like to learn — I’m a constant learner … I don’t think I’ve every stopped.”

Growth Engine

The Maybury company may be essentially paperless, by its president proudly hangs on to an item that could have been recycled years ago.

It’s a placemat from the Fort restaurant in Springfield, on which Maybury scribbled the preliminary business plan for a subsidiary, or sister business, he started with a partner in 2005 called Atlantic Handling Systems. Based in the New Jersey community of Ho-Ho-Kus, it offers entry into a new, large market, and provides new opportunities for growth.

There was and is that requisite amount of danger with the Atlantic venture, he explained, adding quickly that this latest endeavor, called ‘Baby Maybury’ by some, amounts to a calculated risk, one that has worked out very well and holds considerable promise for the future.

And getting it off the ground has been fun, which, like that element of danger, must be part and parcel to everything that intrigues our Top Entrepreneur for 2007.

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

Sections Supplements
Holly Leonard Inspires Others to Be Fit
Holly Leonard

Holly Leonard

Holly Leonard decided to take charge of her health and body image as a teenager, but she knows it’s tough for many people to make the same commitment. As a personal trainer and owner of BeFit Health and Wellness Solutions, today she combines her training in exercise science and psychology — and the personal insights gleaned from her own weight-loss experience — to help others overcome their own obstacles to fitness and self-confidence.

In her teen years, Holly Leonard didn’t lack for athletic achievement. In fact, she was the star catcher of a championship softball team. But she was also a frequent binge eater — an experience that has given her keen insights into what millions of Americans struggle with every day.

“That’s actually how it all started,” said Leonard, now a personal trainer and owner of BeFit Health and Wellness Solutions in Hadley. “I had always been active in sports, particularly league softball, that you don’t have to be too athletic to play, and I found myself overweight and not very happy with who I was in terms of confidence and body image.”

The tipping point came when she found she didn’t fit in clothes she had purchased earlier the same day. Something had to change.

“I broke down and said, ‘enough,’” she told BusinessWest. “So I went online and researched how to eat right and exercise. I put together a plan, and though I was never a morning person, I committed to getting up every day and going to the gym before doing anything else. I lost 30 pounds that summer, and my confidence and my whole outlook on life changed because of it.”

Soon after, Leonard was challenging herself by competing and winning awards in natural bodybuilding competitions. She also decided to major in Exercise Science and Psychology at UMass Amherst — “I knew from my own experience that those two things go hand in hand” — and soon after landed a job in the corporate wellness center at Yankee Candle in Deerfield, there earning certification as a trainer and a group instructor.

But Leonard had bigger goals, and in 2006 launched Be Fit in a small studio on Route 9 in Hadley. She remains at that address today, but now her studio occupies three private suites.

Her client list — typically average people who need some direction and motivation to lose weight and, well, be fit — is growing by the week. And all are told on their first consultation that there are no quick fixes.

“Most people want results yesterday, but by the time they meet with me, it’s already past that deadline,” she said. “We don’t take everyone. We work with people who are fully committed to their goals. They have to be willing to put forth the effort, and we help them by giving them the tools, teaching them about exercise and good nutrition.”

Leonard’s goals as an in secure teenager weren’t reached in a day, either. But her efforts to get in shape then — just like her efforts to build a thriving business today — were successful, and continue to inspire others.

Working It Out

Obesity — and a general lack of fitness — are all-too-common problems in America today, given plenty of attention by TV and print media. But they remain tough issues for many to overcome, and Leonard understands some of the obstacles.

“Some people think they need big machines, but I want to show people that they can get a great workout and achieve results with minimal equipment,” she said. “They can work with a trainer here for a couple of months and get the foundation of what they need to achieve results.”

That’s a big deal for many, she said, who worry about going to a gym, where the machines can be intimidating and they might feel — justifiably or not — like the only out-of-shape person in the room. By working with clients one-on-one or in small groups, Leonard helps them overcome large-gym anxieties, and sets them up with programs they can continue at home.

“No matter where you are or what your goals are, you will feel accepted here, and we’re going to help you achieve those goals and give you what you need to maintain them after you’re done working with us,” she told BusinessWest, adding quickly that some clients do stay with her long-term. “There’s a perception that only celebrities go to trainers, or it’s only for rehab. But they’re mostly average people; they just want to firm and tone and lose five or 10 pounds. Wherever people are, we’ll work with them.”

Another major obstacle to getting in shape is simply a lack of motivation, and that’s where a personal trainer can make a big difference.

“The biggest thing is, they don’t have a plan, and they don’t have someone to hold them accountable to that plan,” Leonard said. “It’s easy to say, ‘I’m going to get up every day this week and work out,’ but then Wednesday rolls around, you’re tired, and you decide not to get up. Nobody’s holding you accountable. We set goals with people and set a timeline, and we hold them to it. Because that’s the initial stumbling block — not being held accountable.”

Food for Thought

That applies to food even more than exercise, Leonard said, noting that not only is eating right more important than physical activity, but it’s a more difficult goal to achieve.

“It’s easy to get in three or four workouts a week, but nutrition is 24/7, and there are a lot more places you can slip up,” she said. “Basically, we tell our clients that nutrition is where 90% of the results come from, and about 10% from exercise. As an exercise person, I don’t really like to admit that, but it’s the truth.”

BeFit tries to make nutrition as simple as possible for clients, encouraging five or six small meals per day, at roughly three-hour intervals, featuring lean proteins — such as chicken or eggs — skim dairy products, fruits, vegetables, and starchy carbohydrates such as brown rice, bread, or pasta. For people who can’t prepare that many meals per day, occasionally substituting a snack such as a banana or cottage cheese will suffice.

Clients are also offered supermarket tours where they’re taught how to make intelligent shopping choices.

“We start with a little scavenger hunt where they need to pick five or 10 items they think are part of a healthy nutrition plan,” she said, noting that people are often surprised at what they don’t know about the contents of food. “They think, ‘I’m getting this lowfat yogurt,’ and it’s loaded with sugar or artificial ingredients. We educate people about what’s in products, why they want to choose whole grains over white bread, and the impact of certain foods on their metabolism.”

“Nothing Tastes as Good as Fit Feels” is the headline of one of the many informational sheets Leonard mails out, touting good nutrition habits such as planning a week’s worth of meals at one time and using meal-replacement bars and shakes when on the go.

“We hold people accountable and do regular assessments on them,” she said. “People need to know if they’re progressing, and they sometimes need course corrections. A lot of people out there are stumbling along blindly on their own, without any feedback to keep them from falling off the wagon. We keep repeating all this to our clients until they get to their goals.”

Small Bites

Leonard said BeFit’s small-group sessions — no more than five in a class — are much less expensive than the private-trainer plans, but allow a similarly personalized, encouraging framework for success.

“People receive a great value that way,” she said. “And no matter where they are, a beginner or a pro athlete, the workout is completely scalable. It’s the same workout, but one person might do one set of each exercise, while another does three. Everyone is working toward their own goals.”

The appeal of BeFit is evident, she said, in the range of clients the company boasts, from a 16-year-old girl to a 76-year-old who signed up to combat a persistent knee pain.

“I try to distinguish myself from gyms,” Leonard said. “Not that people shouldn’t go to gyms, but we make it more personalized. We know all our clients, we E-mail them on a weekly basis, we send cards and gifts. We really emphasize the personal component, which is why we’ve had clients stay with us for a long time. It’s something we really strive for.”

And, clearly, Leonard has a history of achieving what she strives for.

Joseph Bednar can be reached at[email protected]

Sections Supplements
Nominees, Please: BusinessWest Readies for Its Second Annual

Entrepreneurs, corporate achievers, community leaders — 40 of the best and brightest young people in Western Mass. came together last year to form BusinessWest’s inaugural Forty Under 40, a group whose collective strength surprised even the winners. We’ll introduce the second Forty Under 40 class this spring — but first we need your help. Nominations are officially open, a panel of judges is being lined up, and we’re looking forward to sharing 40 more inspiring success stories with our readers.

When Erica Walch showed up at last June’s reception to honor BusinessWest’s inaugural Forty Under 40 class, she didn’t know what to expect. But it certainly wasn’t throngs of people gathering to celebrate the best and brightest of the Pioneer Valley’s younger professional set.

“I was amazed to see so many people at the party,” said Walch, the founder of Speak Easy Accent Modification, which helps non-native English speakers achieve more fluent and less heavily accented speech. “I didn’t know it would be such a big deal, and I was shocked to see hundreds of people there.”

But the organizers of the program at BusinessWest weren’t so shocked. The business journal’s editor, George O’Brien, said at the heart of the program is the idea that these are people worth celebrating, and the reception attendance only reinforced that notion.

“We learned that we have a number of bright, young, and talented individuals in Western Mass.,” O’Brien said, “and we learned a lot about these people through interviews that were as enlightening as they were fun.”

BusinessWest is gearing up for more such interviews once the second annual Forty Under 40 class is chosen — a process that begins right now.

Reaching Higher

Walch can testify to the value of being recognized as one of the rising stars on the Western Mass. business scene.

“I got a lot of feedback,” Walch said. “So many people read BusinessWest, and a lot of people told me, ‘I saw you in the Forty Under 40.’ I met a lot of people through that — some of the other winners, and people in the community.”

Sarah Tsitso, another of last year’s honorees, said she felt like she was in “pretty impressive company” when the 2007 list was revealed.

“Even though I’m in that age group, I wasn’t really aware of how many people — and from how many diverse backgrounds — there are in the business community that fit that category,” said Tsitso, who was an editor for Turley Publications at the time.

“Western Mass. is a pretty small world, and there were still so many people I met that I hadn’t known,” she added. “It was a great opportunity to meet many people and learn what kinds of work they do. I was surprised at how many innovative entrepreneurs we have in that age group.”

In fact, the inaugural Forty Under 40 class included men and women from the fields of law, media, finance, education, medicine, retail, and philanthropy, to name a few. A good number started their own companies, using their skills — as in Walch’s and many other cases — to create business opportunities by identifying unmet needs.

“Just to be recognized by the premier business publication in the area was very special, and to attend a first-class reception was something I’ll never forget,” said Tad Tokarz, owner of the Western Mass. Sports Journal and another of the inaugural 40. “It’s nice to see that younger people are starting to take more responsibility and going great things and becoming leaders in the community.”

In fact, all of the 2007 honorees, without exception, are individuals who also serve their communities by sitting on boards, granting time and energy to business groups and nonprofit organizations, or, in a surprising number of cases, working with children. Or perhaps that’s not so surprising, given the caliber of character that typifies these 40 professionals.

That dual success — both in one’s chosen field and in community service — will again be necessary to be considered for the second annual Forty Under 40.

“I think that’s important,” Tokarz said. “These are people who do more than their job; they also give back to Western Mass. and continue to make our community a better place to live.”

Last Year’s 40 under Forty

William M. Bither, III
Atalasoft

Kimberlynn Cartelli
Fathers & Sons

Amy Caruso
MassMutual Financial Group

Denise Cogman
Springfield School Volunteers

Richard Corder
Cooley-Dickinson Hospital

Katherine Pacella Costello
Egan, Flanagan &Cohen, P.C.

A. Rima Dael
Berkshire Bank Foundation of Pioneer Valley

Nino Del Padre
Del Padre Visual Productions

Antonio E. Dos Santos
Robinson Donovan, P.C.

Jake Giessman
Academy Hill School

Jillian Gould
Eastfield Mall

Michael S. Gove
Lyon & Fitzpatrick, LLP

Dena M. Hall
United Bank

James Harrington
Our Town Variety & Liquors

Christy Hedgpeth
Spalding Sports

Francis J. Hoey, III
Tighe & Bond

Amy Jamrog
The Jamrog Group, Northwestern Mutual

Cinda Jones
Cowls Lumber Co.

Paul Kozub
V-1 Vodka

Bob Lowry
Bueno y Sano

G.E. Patrick Leary
Moriarty & Primack, P.C.

Todd Lever
Noble Hospital

Audrey Manring
The Women’s Times

Daniel F. Morrill
Wolf & Company

Joseph M. Pacella
Egan, Flanagan & Cohen, P.C.

Arlene Rodriquez
Springfield Technical Community College-School of Arts

Craig D. Swimm
WMAS 94.7

Sarah Tanner
United Way of Pioneer Valley

Mark A. Tanner
Bacon & Wilson

Michelle Theroux
Child & Family Services of Pioneer Valley Inc.

Tad Tokarz
Western MA Sports Journal

Dan Touhey
Spalding Sports

Sarah Leete Tsitso
Fred Astaire Dance

Michael K. Vann
The Vann Group

Ryan Voiland
Red Fire Farm

Erica Walch
Speak Easy Accent Modification

Catherine West
Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C.

Michael W. Zaskey
Zasco Productions, LLC

Edward G. Zemba
Robert Charles Photography

Carin Zinter
The Princeton Review

Learning Experience

O’Brien described last year’s Forty Under 40 compilation as an intense learning experience — on a number of levels. Like the most successful businesses in this region, he said, BusinessWest believes in continuous improvement and constantly looking for better ways to do things.

“We learned a few things about how to stage a program like this,” O’Brien said. “Year one went smoothly, but we knew there were some things that we needed to do better.”

Promotion of the event is one of the items on this list, he explained, adding that the magazine will take some additional steps to ensure that the community is aware of the Forty Under 40 program, and also its mission, timetable, rules, and nuances.

“One thing we learned during year one is that people looking to nominate individuals for this honor have to be thorough and include as much information for the judges as possible,” he said. “Perhaps because this wasn’t thoroughly explained last year, some nomination forms were vague, and others could diplomatically be described as incomplete.”

The roster of judges will also be expanded from three to five, O’Brien said, to handle what will likely be a larger pool of nominations.

“The judges may be aware of some of the people who are being nominated,” he continued, “but they probably don’t know enough to properly weigh their talents and contributions to the community. Those who are nominating individuals can help by including resumes or quick biographical sketches, press clippings, if there are any, and maybe even some testimonials from friends and co-workers.”

Some of the class of 2007 have seen their exposure lead to greater businesses opportunities, while others have moved to completely different challenges. Tsitso, for instance, was recently hired by Fred Astaire Dance Studios as its first national copywriter, working at the company’s Longmeadow headquarters. Forty Under 40, she said, was invaluable in helping her build relationships with people she might not have otherwise met.

Walch agreed, noting that she has seen Speak Easy grow with new contracts, as she also continues her work with groups that promote Springfield as a viable home address for young professionals.

“It’s been a wonderful business networking experience, and I’m very honored to have been a part of it,” said Walch. “And, I already have somebody in mind to nominate when the form comes out.”

That moment has arrived: It’s time to name the next Forty Under 40. Grab a pen.

Joseph Bednar can be reached at[email protected]

Departments

University Without Walls

Jan. 8, 19, 23, Feb. 2, 12, 23: University Without Walls (UWW), an adult bachelor’s degree completion program at the UMass Amherst, is conducting information sessions this winter for individuals interested in applying. Classes are offered on campus, online, and in blended format (mostly online, with a few live meetings). Information sessions run approximately 90 minutes and are conducted at the UWW office, 100 Venture Way, Room 229A, Hadley. For more information on dates and times, visit www.umass.edu/uww or call (413) 545-1378.

Communications Conference

Jan. 9: Western New England College and the Valley Press Club will offer professionals a chance to hone their communication skills and learn about the latest technology during the fifth annual communications conference from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on WNEC’s main campus. “Getting Noticed in the 21st Century” is the theme for the daylong event which is intended for business professionals, staff of nonprofit organizations, and students looking to communicate more effectively. Participants will have the chance to choose from 14 workshops designed to sharpen skills, explore new technologies, and provide interaction with reporters and editors from local media outlets. Roundtable discussions with members of mainstream and alternative media outlets are also planned, as well as a special panel discussion on promoting Western Mass. as a place to live and work. During the conference luncheon, the Valley Press Club will present a Lifetime Achievement Award to broadcaster Keith Silver. For conference fees and more information, visit www.wnec.edu/communications.

Camera Classes:

Jan. 16, 23, 30, Feb. 6: Iris Photo & Digital of Northampton will offer several digital point-and-shoot camera classes this winter, including “Basic Camera Class” on Jan. 16, “Intermediate Camera Class,” on Jan. 23, “Advanced Camera Class,” on Jan. 30, and “Basic Photo Editing Class” on Feb. 6. Classes run from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the shop at 164 Main St. Classes are $35, and individuals can save $20 when attending all four sessions. For more information, call (413) 586-8417 or visit www.iris-photo.com.

Construction Forecast Series

Jan. 18: The Construction Institute will sponsor an I-91 Corridor Regional Construction Forecast titled “Moving Forward … A Roadmap for the Future” from 8:30 to 11 a.m. at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield. Registration begins at 7:45. The regional outlook will feature an economic overview, as well as highlight and define ongoing and future projects that are being developed along the I-91 Corridor, with particular focus on the Greater Hartford and Springfield areas. Construction Institute members are encouraged to invite nonmember guests to the program free of charge. For more information, call (860) 768-4459, or visit www.construction.org.

MTEL Prep Course

Feb. 9, 16, 23, March 1: Elms College in Chicopee will offer the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL) communication and literacy prep course this winter for candidates seeking teaching licenses in Massachusetts. The 12-hour prep course will be offered on four consecutive Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon in the Springfield Room, lower level of the Mary Dooley College Center. The cost is $100 for Elm students and alums; $150 for the general public. For registration information, call the Division of Graduate Studies and Continuing Education at (413) 265-2445.

Departments

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

A to Z Home Improvement
McGowan, Edward T.
39 Main St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/28/06

Akers, Maureen K.
98 Hinckley St.
Florence, MA 01062
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/22/06

Alvarado, Aida G.
130 Darling St.
Indian Orchard, MA 01151
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/20/06

Alvarado, Maria E.
688 High St., Apt. 2L
Holyoke, MA 01040-4724
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/30/06

Avgoustakis, Tsambikos E.
66 Sikes Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089-2045
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/30/06

Barcomb, Robert M.
14 Sylvan St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/29/06

Barnaby, Terri Lee
Rte. 44 Wabasso St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/16/06

Benoit, Jennifer A.
a/k/a Pula, Jennifer
14 Davis St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/22/06

Boinay, Thomas J.
Boinay, Donna C.
19 East Pike Road
Sheffield, MA 01257
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/22/06

Bozego Valley Enterprise
Lakota, Stanley J.
PO Box 8
Whatley, MA 01093
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/28/06

Briggs, Gerald H.
51 Brookfield Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/16/06

Bryant, Theresa M.
65 Washburn St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/21/06

Burns, Dale Randall
1084 Main St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/22/06

Burns, Stephen D.
57 Decorie Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/22/06

Clark, George H.
80 Stewart St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/29/06

Clark, Mavis
P.O. Box 2942
Amherst, MA 01004
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/21/06

Coady, John R.
29 Golden Court
Hadley, MA 01035
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/20/06

Corbisiero, Sandra M.
686 Beacon Circle
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/21/06

Costa, Ann
93 Grocmal Ave., Lot 145
Indian Orchard, MA 01151
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/22/06

Crabb, Gillian Michele
37A Mountain St.
Haydenville, MA 01039
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/28/06

Deeley, Jeffrey J.
39 Temple St.
Adams, MA 01220
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/16/06

Franklin, Arthur A.
1159 Westfield St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/22/06

Gendreau, Denice M.
59 North Branch Parkway
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/28/06

Glancy, John J.
178 Northampton St., Apt. R
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/29/06

Hayden, Tracy Robert
Hayden, Christyana Ruth
99 Stage Road
Cummington, MA 01026
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/16/06

Jacikas, Bernard F.
69 Amostown Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/20/06

Jarvais, Wilfred L.
3 Woodland Heights
P.O. Box 295
Wales, MA 01081
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/27/06

Lavallee, Michael A.
185 Louis Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/29/06

Leger, Gary Michael
77 Valley View Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/16/06

Lekov, Colleen Marie
79 Donna Ave.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/28/06

 

Luu, Hoa N.
19 Niles St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/17/06

Malloy, James A.
880 Hubbardston Road
Barre, MA 01005
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/27/06

Melendez, Juan R.
Melendez, Norma I.
33 Margaret St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/29/06

Miles, Deborah
138 Wheatland Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/28/06

Moore, Michelle B.
297 East Pleasant St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/29/06

Norman, Jeannette A.
79 School St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/29/06

Olenick, Michael L
17 Stivens Ter.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/21/06

Pinkham, Randy Charles
Pinkham, Patricia Jayne
11 Stanley St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/28/06

Pinkney, Michael J.
34 Berkeley St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/28/06

Pleau, Richard Alan
38 Springside Ave.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/17/06

Pratz-Diaz, Mayra
45 Willow St. #325
Springfield, MA 01103
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/24/06

Randolph, LaShanda
153 Bowles St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/20/06

Rennix, Bobbie L.
57 Lynebrook Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/20/06

Rickard, Roy L.
Rickard, Kathy J.
a/k/a Grace, Kathy J.
379 North Westfield St.
Feeding Hills, MA 01030
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/18/06

Riopelle, Christine M.
142 Canon Circle
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/20/06

Rios, Ramon
170 Corthell St.
Indian Orchard, MA 01151
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/28/06

Rivera, Angel L.
799 Silver St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/20/06

Selvy, Rae E.
114 Emerson RD, PT D104
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/21/06

Seymour, Desiree Frances
52 Lebanon St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/16/06

Simulynas, Scott
Simulynas, Kelly A.
125 Glendale Circle
Ware, MA 01082
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/27/06

Smith, Eleanor D.
70B Stillwater Road
South Deerfield, MA 01073
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/20/06

Smith, Lorrie A.
a/k/a Ledoux, Lorrie A.
112 Barber St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/29/06

Stewart, Renee M.
36 Hood St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/27/06

Tersavich, Richard E.
7 Deer Run
Southwick, MA 01077
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/27/06

Topic, Meliha
170 East Hadley Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/29/06

Vazquez, Nelida
53 Langdon St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/22/06

Volff, James Henry
Volff, Charlene Judith
8 Phillips Hill
Adams, MA 01220
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/20/06

Woodward, Steven
Woodward, Darlene
129 Pinegrove St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/16/06

Departments

The following Building Permits were issued during the month of December 2007.

AGAWAM

Charles A. Calabrese
322 Meadow St.
$500,000 — New commercial construction

CHICOPEE

City of Chicopee
59 Jones Ferry Road
14,300,000 — Construction of new public utility building

Hawthorne Services, Inc.
93 Main St.
$20,000 — Re-roof

Memorial Drive LLC
650 Memorial Dr.
$3,350 — Interior renovations at Mesirow Financial

EASTHAMPTON

Williston Northampton School
194 Main St.
$3,600,000 — Addition

EAST LONGMEADOW

Care One LLC
135 Benton Dr.
$260,000 — New roof

Field, Eddy, & Buckley
96 Shaker Road
$217,000 – Interior Build Out

GREENFIELD

Franklin County Chamber of Commerce
393 Main St.
$34,250 — Re-roof

WTE Recycling Inc.
62 Montague City Road
$80,000 — Construction of covered building for metal separation

HOLYOKE

Maverick Management Inc.
275 High St.
$7,550 — Repair existing parapet wall

LUDLOW

Gindom Realty
82 Cady St.
$50,000 — Interior alterations

 

NORTHAMPTON

Coolidge Northampton LLC
243 King St.
$30,000 — Interior alterations

Gretna Green Development Corp.
118 Conz St.
$15,000 — Repair car damage to building

Hospital Hill Development LLC
209 Earle St.
$1,525,000 – Construct 21,000-square-foot commercial building

Northeast Enterprise
19 Lyman Road
$8,300 — Interior renovations

SOUTH HADLEY

Ebenezer Choo’s
60 Bridge St.
$20,000 — New fire sprinkler system

SOUTHWICK

Summer House
552 College Hwy.
$399,000 — Addition to restaurant

SPRINGFIELD

City of Springfield
70 Tapley St.
$17,500 — New mechanical room next to stockroom for garage masonry

WESTFIELD

Advance Manufacturing Company Inc.
8 Turnpike Road
$188,000 — Addition

Domus Inc.
330 Elm St.
$3,223,000 — Commercial building renovation

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Dr. Swenson
288 Westfield St.
$22,000 — Change all doors and windows to newer

Robyn C. Taylor LLC
255 Interstate Dr.
$55,000 — Interior renovations

Departments

Berkshire Hills Announces 300,000-share Repurchase Program

PITTSFIELD — Berkshire Hills Bancorp recently announced a new stock repurchase program that authorizing the company to repurchase up to 300,000 shares, or approximately 2.85% of its outstanding common stock. The repurchases, which will be conducted through open market purchases or privately negotiated purchases, will be made from time to time, subject to market conditions, at the discretion of company management. In addition to this new program, the company has approximately 30,000 shares remaining available for purchase under the previously approved stock repurchase program. The company intends to hold the shares repurchased as treasury shares. The company may use such shares to fund any stock benefit or compensation plan or for any other purpose the Board of Directors deems advisable in compliance with applicable law.

Resort Developer Hires Lobbying Firm

EAST LONGMEADOW — The Northeast Group, owner of a 150-acre-plus tract of land in Palmer off Exit 8 of the Massachusetts Turnpike, has hired The Suffolk Group LLC and lead lobbyist William F. Cass of Boston to represent their interests on Beacon Hill. The Northeast Group also has site control of a 35-acre waterfront tract in New Bedford off Exit 16 of Route 195. Both could be potential sites for a resort casino and retail complex, according to company officials. The Suffolk Group will provide government relations and public affairs services to Northeast as the debate over the future of casinos takes place at the State House. Cass is a former member of the Massachusetts Legislature. In a related development, Northeast has also engaged Paul Robbins Associates Inc. of Wilbraham to assist The Northeast Group in strategic planning and communications regarding the developer’s interests relating to the Palmer and New Bedford properties and their potential as tourist destination sites.

Longmeadow Flowers Marks 50th

LONGMEADOW — Three weeks of celebrations in December marked the 50th anniversary for Longmeadow Flowers. Longmeadow Flowers has two locations, its headquarters at 789 Williams St., and a satellite store at Tower Square in Springfield. Founded in 1957 by Bradford O. Parker Sr., the shop started out with two employees in a small space on Longmeadow Street. In 1961, Bradford O. Parker Jr. bought the business from his father and gradually turned it into a “community pillar,” he noted. Longmeadow Flowers is best known for its fresh flowers, arrangements and unique gift items.

Offer Made For Kittredge Building

SPRINGFIELD — A bid of just over $400,000 from an unidentified bidder has attracted the attention of Sidney Kittredge, George Kittredge and Ruth Webber, owners of the 83,000-square-foot Kittredge Building on East Columbus Avenue. At press time a deal was not finalized for the building that had housed Kittredge Equipment Co. That company recently moved its operations to Bowles Road in Agawam. The recent auction attracted approximately 20 people and four to five active bidders.

Departments

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

CHICOPEE DISTRICT COURT

Amanda Wrobel, a minor, by her parents v. Avis Rent-A-Car & Kelley Curson
Allegation: Motor vehicle negligence causing injury: $20,000
Filed: 12/11/07

FRANKLIN SUPERIOR COURT

Karen Markert v. McDermott’s Inc.
Allegation: Motor vehicle negligence: $33,010.41
Filed: 12/19/07

Merrill Wesson v. Dick’s Auto Repair
Allegation: Motor vehicle negligence: $15,130.80
Filed: 12/6/07

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT

Concetta Viviano v. Jewish Geriatric Services Inc.
Allegation: Wage and hour dispute: 50,000
Filed: 11/1/07

International Communications Inc. v. The Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House
Allegation: Enforcement of previous judgment: $32,243.79
Filed: 11/2/07

Murphy, Hesse, Toomey, & Lehane, LLP v. Jelly Belly Pools & Spas Inc.
Allegation: Motor vehicle negligence: $207,106.73
Filed: 11/2/07

HAMPSHIRE SUPERIOR COURT

Holbrook Lumber Company v. Eastern Lumber & Millwork
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $29,507.16
Filed: 12/3/07

HOLYOKE DISTRICT COURT

Berkshire Westwood Graphics Group Inc. v. Atlantic Digital Imaging Inc.
Allegation: Non-payment of goods: $8,308.00
Filed: 10/18/07

Broadcast Music Inc. v. Iron Horse Music Hall
Allegation: Default on contract: $3,107.97
Filed: 10/11/07

National Credit Acceptance Inc. v. New England X-ray Supply Inc.
Allegation: Breach of credit contract: $23,048.61
Filed: 11/8/07

NORTHAMPTON DISTRICT COURT

Baker & Taylor Inc. v. Anime Ink
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $3,569.91
Filed: 12/10/07

PALMER DISTRICT COURT

Kristen Arbour v. Frito-Lay Inc.
Allegation: Defective product causing injury: $4,098.14
Filed: 11/28/07

Sysco Food Services of CT. v. Finn Maccools
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $3,726.00
Filed: 11/7/07

SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT

Agar Supply Company v. The Bury
Allegation: Unpaid goods sold and delivered: $9,164.47
Filed: 11/27/07

Bernard & Bridgett Barrett v. Manganaro Home Builders
Allegation: Expenses incurred while correcting a defective leach field constructed by defendants: $7,094.50
Filed: 11/19/07

Laura Figueroa, Elda Campos, Ramualdo Perez v. Cumberland Farms Inc.
Allegation: Negligent property maintenance causing injury: $24,000.00
Filed: 12/5/07

Louis Michaelson & Sons Inc. v. S&G Bakery Inc.
Allegation: Breach of contract for produce, dairy, and dried foodstuffs: $27,111.91
Filed: 12/4/07

Louis Michaelson & Sons Inc. v. Sonoma Bar & Grille
Allegation: Breach of contract for produce, dairy, and dried foodstuffs: $6,916.37
Filed: 12/4/07

Louis Michaelson & Sons Inc. v. Let’s Go Bakery, Inc.
Allegation: Breach of contract for purchase of foodstuffs: $15,420.15
Filed: 12/4/07

Sunshine Art Studio, Inc. v. Judith M. Fowler d/b/a Cardsmart
Allegation: Unpaid goods sold and delivered: $9,037.22
Filed: 11/27/07

United Rentals Inc. v. P.V. Construction Corp.
Allegation: Failure to pay for materials, equipment and construction services: $15,355
Filed: 12/5/07

United Rentals, Inc. v. Olympic Painting & Roofing Company
Allegation: Failure to pay for materials, equipment and construction services: $128,027.90
Filed: 12/5/07

Departments

The following Business Certificates and Trade Names were issued or renewed during the month of December 2007.

AGAWAM

Amised Express
418 Meadow St.
Rubmod Pesima

Clarke Collectibles
550 Southwick St.
Ronnie Clarke

Ghedi Property Maintenance
7 Family Lane
Bryan M. Ghedi

The Daily Grind
360 North Westfield St.
Brian O’Shea

AMHERST

Baron Jeff Corporation
30 Boltwood Ave.
Richard Trahan

Bueno y Sano
1 Boltwood Walk
Robert Lowry

JNK Enterprises
37-39 Boltwood Walk
Jin Hee Lee

Pizza Shark Plus
17B Montague Road
Robert Pollak

Townhouse Management Associates
50 Meadow St.
Patrick D. Kamins II

Visual Concepts 123
170 East Hadley Road
Yvonne Mendez

CHICOPEE

Pine Tree Janitorial
220 Beauchamp Terrace
Christopher Nadeau

EASTHAMPTON

Custom Carpentry & Restoration
47 Chapin St.
Ben Greene

Massachusetts 4 Sale By Owner
2 Mechanic St.
Elizabeth Provo

EAST LONGMEADOW

The Meadows Insurance Agency
250 North Main St.
Jeff Smith

GREENFIELD

A New Face Skin Care & Body Wash
335 Federal St.
Penny Reid

Network Chiropractic of the Pioneer Valley
158 Main St.
Ellen J. Mitnowsky

One True Water Therapeutic Touch
29 Beech St.
Scott M. Belanger

Paquin’s Piano Sales & Service
285 Conway St.
Leo Paquin

Valley Mart
4 Mill St.
Muhammad Yasin

HADLEY

Mountainview Auto Sales
71 Lawrence Plain Road
Patricia McCarthy

The Wedding You Imagine
301 Russell St.
James Falcone

HOLYOKE

Kool Smiles, PC
217 South Street
Dr. Tu Tran

Lotion Melts & More
473 Homestead Avenue
Joanne O’Rourke

MacPherson Pizza LLC
1534 Dwight St.
Chris MacPherson

Moon Shine Café
191 High St.
Jose Millan

NORTHAMPTON

A Step Forward Massage & Body Work
26 Market St.
Bretten K. Burger

Dracone’s Partners
70 Massasoit St.
Todd Kempner Thompson

Georgia @ The Salon
99B Market St.
Georgia Wingblade

Just Up The Road Skin Care & Waxing
16 Meadow St.
Diana Cerutti

O’Rourkes Auto School
122 Federal St.
Donna C. Hoering

Rick Mott’s Auto Repair
442 Elm St.
Ljubica Mott

 

Sam Brumbaugh
48 Ward Avenue
Sam Brumbaugh

Smith & Reynold’s
22 Edwards Square
Matthew Reynolds

PALMER

AB Hauling & Removal
1330 Ware Road
Justin Alan Gregorie

Burgundy Brook Country Store
3090 Palmer Road
Cathy Jo Champagne — Hill

SOUTH HADLEY

Ronald D. Stevenson Jr. Journeyman Electrician
77 Alvord St.
Ronald D. Stevenson Jr.

SOUTHWICK

Tastefully Tanned
610 College Highway
Angela Rivera

SPRINGFIELD

ACN
21 Hillmont St.
Virginia Lyons

Aero Streams Wind Energy
22 Trillium St.
Herve Pierre Jacques

Asian Market
19 Pamona St.
Truong Nguyen

Beautiful “U”
520 Main St.
Tanya M. Burke

Bonau Market
276 Oakland St.
Juan C. Rodriguez

Bourdeau Associates
1695 Main St., Suite 300
David E. Bourdeau

C & C Contractors, LLC
570 Cottage St.
Reginald L.C. Cole

Cabos Flava Fashions
795 Liberty St.
Edwin Acevedo

Can U Game?
701 B Sumner Ave.
Collin Charles

Felix’s Family Ristorante
218 Dickinson St.
Rocco Terriaca

Figures-And-Collectibles
40 Dubois St.
Frank J. Morales

Gina P. Allen Typing Services
120 Westminster St.
Gina P. Allen

Hasan Drywall and Home Improvement
19 Hillcrest St.
Ronald A. Watt

I.A.T.S.E. Stagehand
34 Court St.
Valentino Larese

JK Subway, LLC
718 State St.
Kim McCarthy

WESTFIELD

David B. Bogusiewski
255 Pochassic Road
David B. Bogusiewski

Eastern Vehicle Recycling
88 Neck Road
Donald George

Greens Lake Properties
288 Honey Pot Road
Robert Cheney

Kerri S. Reed CPA
104 Old Stage Road
Kerri Reed

Palmer Dedicated Logistics, LLC
39 South Broad St.
Robert M. Sullivan Jr.

Town Coupons
11 Shadow Lane
Roy Federer

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Cruise Center
1285 Riverdale St.
Gorecki Enterprises

East Coast Athletics
150 Ohio Ave.
Stephen F. Conca

N.E. Relief Parcels
1285 Riverdale St.
Gorecki Enterprises

My Dad’s Landscape
201 Great Plains Road
John A. Suckav