2013 - Page 14 of 20 - BusinessWest

Bankruptcies

By BusinessWest Staff May 7, 2013

Bankruptcies Departments

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

Alamed, Marie C.
42 Arnold St., Apt. 20
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/29/13

Biza, Stephanie L.
19 Crestwood Circle
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/05/13

Bousquet-Hiller, Gail A.
73 Euclid Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/30/13

Brien, James E.
64 High St.
Monson, MA 01057
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/01/13

Conlin, Daniel A.
Conlin, Janice L.
418 Meadow St., Unit E3
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/02/13

Cox, Sharon L.
36 Chateaugay St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/02/13

Crafts, John E.
41 Glenmore St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/29/13

Cymer, Peter
661 Belmont Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/01/13

David, Luz Maria
193 Oak St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/03/13

Dawson, Joshua N.
Dawson, Rebecca V.
a/k/a Hayes, Rebecca V.
23 Lee Road
South Deerfield, MA 01373
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/05/13

Gonzalez, Damaris
a/k/a Gonzalez-Nieves, Damaris
72 Biddle St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/03/13

Hiller, Mark W.
Hiller, Rachel A.
35 King St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/30/13

Hyson, Lucienne
22 South Main St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/30/13

Kane, Thomas Sylvester
40 South Cross Road
Gill, MA 01354
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/02/13

LeClair, Kathleen A.
19 Orchard Terrace
North Adams, MA 01247
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/29/13

Ledford, Ian D.
63 7th St.
Turners Falls, MA 01376
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/31/13

Lefevre, Stephen Anthony
26 Phelps Ave.
North Adams, MA 01247
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/29/13

Lefkowitz, Jane A.
296 Connecticut Ave.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/02/13

Lilley Pro Cleaner
Locklear, Patrick Andrew
Locklear, Cindy L.
4 Linda Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/29/13

Maddox, Dennis J.
46 Montrose St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/29/13

Magri, Kevin R.
36 Reed St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/04/13

McCabe, Josh A.
21 Sunset Ave.
Lenox, MA 01240
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/04/13

McClellan, Frances Lee
a/k/a Peterson, Frances L.
5 Treehouse Circle, Apt. 2
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/02/13

Miner, Eric M.
2020 Palmer Road
Three Rivers, MA 01080
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/04/13

Murphy, Jonathan P.
Murphy, Kathy E.
73 Harrison Ave.
Williamstown, MA 01267
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/03/13

Preece, Curtis
PO Box 1723
Cotuit, MA 02635
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/30/13

Redlund, David P.
37 Highland Ave.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/30/13

Renaud, Angelia Renee
6 Keith St.
Turners Falls, MA 01376
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/03/13

Reynolds, Jeffrey W.
Reynolds, Susan L.
39 Foch Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/29/13

Sanderson, Lee R.
40 Coombs Ave.
Orange, MA 01364
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/03/13

Slattery, Cynthia J.
a/k/a Houle, Cynthia J.
61 Garfield Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/03/13

Tardy, Jason M.
Tardy, Laura M.
10 Riverview Terrace
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/01/13

Taylor, Beverly J.
265 Williams St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/05/13

Voisine, Carl B.
Demicheli, Johanna V.
16 Lockhouse Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 04/02/13

Webb, Steven W.
Webb, Joyce E.
a/k/a Dyer, Joyce E.
a/k/a Jacques, Joyce E.
182 Hope Street
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/01/13

Whitney, Jenifer K.
a/k/a Wilson, Jenifer
34 Oakman St.
Turners Falls, MA 01376
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/31/13

Wilczynski, LynnAnn
a/k/a Harrington, LynnAnn
9 Cady St., Apt 7
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/03/13

Wilson, James J.
78 David St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/05/13

Winters, Michael D.
Winters, Deborah A.
a/k/a Arbo Winters, Deborah A.
197 Lyons Hill Road
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/30/13

The Ins and Outs of LLCs

By BusinessWest Staff May 7, 2013

Law Sections

A Well-drafted Operating Agreement Is Critical for Success

Michael Simolo

Limited Liability Companies (LLCs) have in many cases become the preferred choice of entity for passive income investments, particularly rental real estate. In addition, LLCs are a valuable tool for facilitating family ownership of valuable property, such as vacation homes. While LLCs are often not the best choice for operating entities, there are exceptions, and LLCs can and do serve this role.
In short, LLCs are an increasingly popular alternative to the traditional corporate structure, and there are many reasons for this, as this article will explain.
First, it is helpful to first consider why LLCs continue to increase in popularity among business owners and holders of income producing real estate. There are several reasons, but here are the three most prominent:
• First, LLCs offer their owners liability protection. In fact, in many states, LLCs with multiple owners offer greater liability protection than corporations due to additional protections against the creditors of co-owners;
• Second, LLCs permit significantly greater flexibility than corporations in structuring the financial arrangements and rights of owners; and
• Third, LLCs can serve as a ‘pass-through’ entity for tax purposes without the need to qualify for so-called S corporation status. (S corporations incur no tax at the corporate level, with all income being taxed to the shareholders.)
The default rule is that LLCs are taxed as partnerships, meaning that income taxes are applied only at the partner level. In keeping with the general flexibility of LLCs, however, an LLC may elect to be taxed as a corporation, including as an S corporation (the taxation of which differs siginficantly from partnerships, nothwithstanding that both are pass-through entities). Such an election may be preferable if the LLC is an operating entity.
These benefits may be unavailable if the LLC’s governing document — the operating agreement — fails to properly address the numerous issues that can arise with any ongoing business. The operating agreement, while similar in some ways to the bylaws of a corporation, is an agreement among the owners that allows for nearly unlimited flexibility in the governance of the LLC. As a result, operating agreements should always be narrowly tailored to address the unique characteristics of each business.
In particular, the operating agreement should be used to address issues that are not covered by the applicable state’s LLC statute, or to override provisions in the LLC statute that are inconsistent with the owners’ objectives. For example, the Massachusetts LLC statute provides owners with the right to resign from the LLC upon six months notice and have their interest bought out by the LLC at fair value (i.e., not discounted). For obvious reasons, owners may wish to override this provision through an operating agreement.
Crafting such an agreement requires both detailed knowledge of the underlying LLC statute for the state in which the LLC is formed and a thorough understanding of the intentions and concerns of the LLC’s owners. For these reasons, use of a form LLC operating agreement can often do more harm than good.
Here is a partial list of 11 common issues that should be addressed in virtually all operating agreements:
1. Under which state’s law should the LLC be formed?
2. How many classes of ownership interests will the LLC have? Will different classes of owners have different rights (i.e. voting) and preferences (i.e. return of capital)? Does the underlying state LLC statute allow for different classes of ownership?
3. Who will manage the day-to-day affairs of the LLC? Which decisions will be made by the manager, and which will be put to a vote of the owners?
4. What types of fiduciary obligations will the owners and managers have to each other? Under what circumstances will managers and/or owners have a right to sue the LLC (i.e. derivative action) or the other owners or managers?
5. Upon what terms (if any) will owners be required to contribute additional capital to the LLC?
6. Upon what terms (if any) will owners be entitled to be paid back their contributions to the LLC?
7. How will the LLC’s profits, losses, and cash flow be allocated to the owners?
8. How will distributions be allocated among the owners? Under what circumstances will the LLC be required to make distributions to owners (i.e. to pay income taxes on LLC income, liquidation, etc.)?
9. Will owners be permitted to transfer their ownership interests? If so, to whom? What happens if an owner dies?
10. Will the LLC and/or other owners have the right to redeem or purchase the owner’s interest prior to such transfer? If so, how will the purchase price of the owner’s interest be determined?
11. How will the entity be taxed (i.e. sole proprietorship, partnership, subchapter S-corporation, etc.)? Note that the validity of certain tax elections may hinge on a properly drafted operating agreement being in place. This is particularly true if the LLC desires S-corporation tax status.
More complicated arrangements may require additional terms, such as non-compete clauses, indemnification provisions, ‘tag-along’ and ‘drag-along’ rights, call-and-put options, and others.
A look at these issues reveals that the flexibility offered by LLCs is the proverbial double-edged sword. On one hand, the entity can be structured in virtually any manner to address its purpose and the goals of its owners. On the other, reliance on the LLC statute — or, perhaps worse, a form operating agreement improperly tailored to the entity it governs — can result in significant consequences, including the premature liquidation of the entity or an ownership interest being seized by a co-owner’s creditors.
A well-drafted operating agreement can eliminate these risks and prevent disputes among owners from leading to litigation.

Michael Simolo is an attorney with the law firm Robinson Donovan, P.C., specializing in estate planning, estate and trust administration, business law, and fiduciary litigation; (413) 732-2301. Nicholas P. Lata, Esq. assisted in drafting this article.

Employers Take Heed

By BusinessWest Staff May 7, 2013

Law Sections

Like the Iceman, Jan. 1, 2014 — a Big Day for Obamacare — Cometh

Rosemary J. Nevins

By now, employers have more likely than not been inundated with reminders that, come Jan. 1, 2014, the shared-responsibility provisions,” a/k/a the ‘play or pay mandate’ under the Patient Protection Affordable Care Act, a/k/a ‘Obamacare,’ go into effect for applicable large employers.
The law defines ‘applicable large employers’ as those employers who have employed 50 or more full-time employees (employees who on average work at least 30 hours per week during a month, or 130 hours per month) during the preceding calendar year, which means this year (2013).
While the number of full-time employees may be readily calculated by many employers, the determination of employer status is somewhat more complicated for those employers who, for example, employ several part-time employees (whose aggregate number of hours worked may render them ‘full-time equivalents’) or are part of a controlled group as defined under the Internal Revenue Code and, as a result, may cross the line between being considered a small employer and being classified as an applicable large employer. That determination is germane to determining whether the above mandate applies to them.
Equally important for applicable large employers is the need to decide whether they want to play or pay, and understanding the implications and results of such decisions. Because the law has been implemented prior to the publication of final-rule notices by the federal agencies responsible for overseeing the implementation of the law (e.g., the IRS), employers are reminded that they may rely on the interim regulations for the year 2014 for guidance. Those regulations are complicated and include transitional as well as ‘safe-harbor’ provisions.
Employers need to be aware of which penalties apply and, more importantly, how to assess the cost of such penalties to determine whether it is less expensive to offer coverage as defined by the law or pay the penalties.
Adherence to the law also necessitates employers to review existing employer-sponsored health plans to determine whether they comply with the law’s affordability and minimum-value requirements, should employers decide to play. In addition, self-funded plans, multi-employer plans, and grandfathered plans are among the types of coverage plans employers need to review to determine if and whether the law requires any changes to those plans.
Finally, an employer who decides to play and use some of the applicable safe harbors relative to determining and treating employee status with regard to ongoing, new non-variable-hour, variable-hour, and seasonal employees, along with issues such as breaks in service, should be preparing now not only with regard to training, but also by consulting with those whose services are relevant to various portions of the act, such as healthcare issuers and/or providers, counsel, accountants, etc.
Royal LLP is conducting two practical workshops on June 6 and June 13 designed to provide employers with an interactive, step-by-step analysis of Obamacare, including what employers must be doing now to obtain coverage under the safe-harbor provisions and to prepare for the mandates. For more information about the workshops, contact Ann-Marie Marcil at [email protected].

Rosemary J. Nevins, Esq. specializes exclusively in management-side labor and employment law at Royal LLP, a woman-owned, SOMWBA-certified, boutique, management-side labor and employment law firm; (413) 586-2288; [email protected]

Manage and Minimize Risk

By BusinessWest Staff May 7, 2013

Law Sections

That’s the Basic Mission When Weighing Business Exit Strategies

Michael Gove

When starting a business venture, owners of a closely held business entity (i.e., shareholders, partners, members, etc.) do not usually think about what will need to occur when dissolving the business, or when one owner decides (or is forced) to step away from the business.
But if not properly planned for, sudden changes like these may put the business at risk or threaten the value of the owners’ interests in the entity. As you think about planning for inevitable changes in ownership, here are some things to keep in mind.

Control Your Emotions
Many small-business owners find the thought of no longer owning, operating, or being a part of their business hard to comprehend. Requiring an inordinate amount of time, commitment, and personal attention, a small business can envelop the identity of its owners, and thinking about losing that identity can be difficult.
Sometimes, when owners work closely together on their business, grievances or complaints can arise, making it even more difficult to think about fairly splitting up their interest in the business. Nonetheless, it’s important to put these emotions aside so that you and your co-owners can be clear about what each of you expect if you were to leave, involuntarily or not.

Start a Discussion Now
The dissolution of a business can be a potentially emotional time, which is a good reason to have this discussion now. Another good reason is that an owner could become disabled or otherwise unable to continue work at any time. Making these decisions when there is no crisis, and there are no immediate consequences to each choice, allows the parties to look at the business — and its operation, management, assets, and liabilities — dispassionately.
This will make it easier for each owner to evaluate and discuss his or her needs, or to agree on the value of (or method of valuing) business assets, in case their situation changes and dissolution becomes necessary.

Discuss Your Plan with Advisors
After you have an initial discussion with your co-owners, contact your business advisors, including your accountant, insurance agent, and attorney, so they can help you find the most effective way to reach your goals.
You may need to determine the valuation of business assets, put in place insurance or disability policies to help fund the planned actions, or draft buy-back or buy-sell agreements to ensure that the business interest can be transferred with a minimum of disturbance.

Put Your Agreement Into Writing
Once you have settled on a plan for dissolution, have it written up by your attorney and incorporated within your business records. This will ensure that the plan is accessible and clear whenever it may be needed. Intend to review the plan every three to five years to ensure that it continues to reflect the needs of the business and each owner.

Michael S. Gove is an attorney with Cooley, Shrair P.C. focusing his practice on assisting clients in the areas of corporate/business, banking, and bankruptcy law; (413) 735-8037; [email protected]

PictureThis

By BusinessWest Staff May 7, 2013

Departments Picture This

Send photos with a caption and contact information to: ‘Picture This’ c/o BusinessWest Magazine, 1441 Main Street, Springfield, MA 01103 or to [email protected]

Legacy Luncheon

The Sisters of Providence Health System’s annual Continuing the Legacy Luncheon was staged recently at the Sheraton in Springfield. At the event, which is the annual fund-raiser for SPHS, the Sisters of Providence were also honored for their 140 years of service to the region. Nearly 500 people attended the event, which educates, updates, and impassions members of the community about the mission of the health system, its services, and recent advancements. Top: Dan Moen, SPHS president and CEO, addresses guests. Middle: Longmeadow resident Betty McCann tells the gathering about her positive experience at the Mercy Hearing Center. Bottom: members of the Sisters of Providence congregation gather for a photo; seated, from left: Srs. Mary Horgan, Caroline Smith, Joan Manning, and Priscilla St. Pierre; standing, from left: Srs. Mary Caritas (vice president), Ceil McGrath, Mary Martin de Porres, Geraldine Noonan, Ruth McGoldrick, and Kathleen Popko (president).

Building Permits

By BusinessWest Staff May 7, 2013

Building Permits Departments

The following building permits were issued during the month of April 2013.

AGAWAM

Agawam-Silver, LLC
604 Silver St.
$20,000 — Division of tenant space

Genesis Healthcare
61 Cooper St.
$150,000 — Renovations in shower area

Sander Family, LLC
77 Springfield St.
$10,000 — Renovations

AMHERST

25-35 University Dr., LLC
25-35 University Dr.
$24,000 — Divide single tenant space into two spaces

CIL Realty of MA
36 Longmeadow Dr.
$445,000 — Construction of R-3 group home

Friends of Hospice House Inc.
1165 North Pleasant St.
$9,000 — Interior office renovations

Good Ole Dave’s, LLC
219 Amity St.
$5,000 — New roof

CHICOPEE

Gotpat, LLC
13 Center St.
$15,000 — Strip and re-roof Munich Haus

Istar Bowling Center, LP
291 Burnett Road
$144,000 — Interior renovations to restrooms, lanes, bar/lounge

O’Leary-Vincunas, LLC
2160 Westover Road
$8,000 — Restroom renovations

Paul Gallagher
1643 Memorial Dr.
$3,500 — Install wheelchair ramp

US Tsubaki, Inc.
106 Lonczak Dr.
$112,000 — Construct 492-square-foot enclosure for new fire pump

HADLEY

Chamisa Corporation
31 Campus Plaza Road
$50,000 — Renovate 928 square feet of tenant space

Pearson Hadley, LLC
380 Ryssel St.
$688,000 — Add working stations to State Street Corp. on second floor

HOLYOKE

161 Lower Westfield Road, LLC
161 Lower Westfield Road
$375,000 — Construct charter school classrooms and offices

Wycoff Associates, LLC
233 Easthampton Road
$50,000 — Masonry wall and floor renovations

NORTHAMPTON

Cosenzi Automotive Realty, L.P.
361 King St.
$2,612,000 — Construction of a 18,421-square-foot Volkswagon car dealership

Northampton Lodge #997
17 Spring St.
$47,500 — Construct 40×80 pavillion

Smith College
23 Elm St.
$400,000 — Upgrades to data center

Smith College
79 Elm St.
$5,963,000 — Renovation

SOUTH HADLEY

Mount Holyoke College
5 Faculty Lane
$18,500 — Window remodel

SPRINGFIELD

Baystate Health
759 Chestnut St.
$556,000 — Renovation of existing patient pod

BFRC
1666 Boston Road
$61,750 — Remove existing roof and install new

City of Springfield
200 Birnie Ave.
$449,000 — Renovations at the Gerena School

Friendly’s Ice Cream, LLC
1809 Boston Road
$4,100 — Remove siding and install new

Springfield Group, Inc.
376 Bernie Ave.
$425,000 — Interior fit out for new tenant

Urstadt Biddle Property
380 Cooley St.
$53,500 — Install bar and seating area for restaurant/bar

WESTFIELD

2nd Congregational Church
487 Western Ave.
$6,000 — Add restroom on first floor

Chalmers & Kubeck
24 Elise St.
$500,000 — Rebuild office space

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Andrew Cohen
95A Ashley Ave.
$206,000 — Renovate existing space

Boys & Girls Club
615 Main St.
$24,000 — Re-roof

Jiffy Lube
780 Memorial Ave.
$300,000 — Renovate 244 square feet of commercial space

Real Estate Transactions

By BusinessWest Staff May 7, 2013

Departments Real Estate

The following real estate transactions (latest available) were compiled by Banker & Tradesman and are published as they were received. Only transactions exceeding $115,000 are listed. Buyer and seller fields contain only the first name listed on the deed.

FRANKLIN COUNTY

CHARLEMONT

48 Main St.
Charlemont, MA 01339
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: William J. Schaefer
Seller: Herbert H. Fitzrey
Date: 04/01/13

DEERFIELD

105 Plain Road West
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $324,000
Buyer: Greenfield Savings Bank
Seller: Scott A. Higgins
Date: 03/29/13

623 River Road
Deerfield, MA 01342
Amount: $154,500
Buyer: Joel T. Monette
Seller: Stephen A. Anderson
Date: 03/25/13

791 River Road
Deerfield, MA 01342
Amount: $120,100
Buyer: Amie L. Panek
Seller: Jasmin, Emma, (Estate)
Date: 03/29/13

ERVING

11 Holmes St.
Erving, MA 01344
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Nathaniel D. Rindone
Seller: Moore, Virginia G., (Estate)
Date: 03/26/13

GREENFIELD

94 Beacon St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Brenda J. Davis
Seller: Melody A. Root
Date: 03/27/13

325 Wells St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $115,301
Buyer: Beneficial MA Inc.
Seller: Pamela J. Avery
Date: 04/02/13

14 West St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $217,250
Buyer: William B. Noyes
Seller: West Street Properties Inc.
Date: 03/29/13

LEYDEN

64 Coates Road
Leyden, MA 01301
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Birch Mountain Farm TR
Seller: Sharon A. Vinten RET
Date: 03/27/13

MONTAGUE

97 East Taylor Hill Road
Montague, MA 01351
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Young K. Westort
Seller: Deborah J. Picking
Date: 04/01/13

154 Montague City Road
Montague, MA 01301
Amount: $186,500
Buyer: Thomas J. Demers
Seller: William J. Doyle
Date: 03/28/13

NORTHFIELD

59 Highland Ave.
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $212,000
Buyer: Alexander G. Loud
Seller: Richard P. Rly
Date: 03/25/13

ORANGE

41 Lake Ave.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $117,767
Buyer: FHLM
Seller: Elizabeth Philbin
Date: 03/29/13

SHELBURNE

120 Bridge St.
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Carol Angus
Seller: Caleb Kissling
Date: 04/01/13

SHUTESBURY

69 Pratt Corner Road
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Robert B. Hayes
Seller: Jeffrey M. Davis
Date: 03/26/13

WENDELL

19 Old Stage Road
Wendell, MA 01379
Amount: $158,000
Buyer: Angela M. Ferris
Seller: Robert T. Rosser
Date: 03/27/13

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

176 Barry St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Jennifer L. Tretheway
Seller: Justin T. Howes
Date: 03/26/13

43 Elbert Road
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $153,000
Buyer: Lynn Griffin
Seller: Charles C. McCobb
Date: 04/03/13

24 James Ave.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Muhammad A. Razzaq
Seller: Charles A. Calabrese
Date: 03/25/13

89 Katherine Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $229,900
Buyer: Mahmut Alkan
Seller: Harry M. Orell
Date: 03/29/13

10 Robin Lane
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Danielle M. Pineau
Seller: Concetta S. Bruno
Date: 04/05/13

30 Stanley Place
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Nathan Kibbe
Seller: James L. Kopcinski
Date: 03/28/13

BRIMFIELD

273 Dunhamtown Palmer Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Adam C. Bradway
Seller: Robert F. Nelson
Date: 03/26/13

CHICOPEE

29 Armanella St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Rachel A. Uhlig
Seller: Vitaly Dzhenzherukha
Date: 03/29/13

38 Asselin St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $157,500
Buyer: John T. Rivest
Seller: Paul M. Heyl
Date: 03/28/13

94 Clarendon Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $156,850
Buyer: Wieslawa Mikula
Seller: Stephen A. Krupczak
Date: 04/05/13

93 Frink St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Scott L. Stefanowich
Seller: Sean P. Welch
Date: 03/26/13

1177 Granby Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: WRZMM LLC
Seller: Kayrouz Realty LLC
Date: 03/29/13

33 Hansen St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $179,000
Buyer: Matthew W. Picard
Seller: Geoffrion, Jeannette, (Estate)
Date: 03/29/13

66 Haven Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $146,000
Buyer: Lucinda Vega
Seller: Richard A. Obara
Date: 04/04/13

23 Jackson St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Kristal Douglas
Seller: Robert P. Langevin
Date: 03/28/13

58 Marlborough St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $182,000
Buyer: Lawrence A. Roberson
Seller: Roger A. Bonneau
Date: 03/29/13

317 Montcalm St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $190,900
Buyer: MKAA LLC
Seller: John P. Tarka
Date: 03/28/13

674 Montgomery St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $149,900
Buyer: Arsim Abdullahu
Seller: Sonoski, Genevieve J., (Estate)
Date: 03/28/13

107 Moreau Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $157,500
Buyer: Jody M. Bixby
Seller: Michael T. Boucher
Date: 04/01/13

32 Oliver St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $194,000
Buyer: Marcin G. Jandzis
Seller: Tonya M. Perron
Date: 03/26/13

85 Park St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: William J. Stetson
Seller: Steven R. Etheridge
Date: 04/03/13

65 Sampson St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $172,000
Buyer: Andrea L. French
Seller: Viktor Savonin
Date: 03/29/13

32 Terrance St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $149,999
Buyer: Edward J. Maldonado
Seller: Dion, John A., (Estate)
Date: 03/27/13

92 View St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Nunes Ventures LLC
Seller: 92 View Street LLC
Date: 04/03/13

162 Wildermere St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $206,000
Buyer: Kurt A. Wajda
Seller: Currin L. Walz
Date: 03/29/13

51 Willow St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $256,000
Buyer: Jennifer M. Pete
Seller: Melanie M. Sutton
Date: 03/26/13

EAST LONGMEADOW

15 Angela Lane
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Lynn M. McColgan
Seller: Diane Robertson
Date: 03/28/13

19 Day Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Elizabeth K. Hobaica
Seller: Kathleen T. Kerrigan
Date: 03/26/13

135 Elm St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $193,000
Buyer: John J. Needham
Seller: Kevin Czaplicki
Date: 03/29/13

33 Granby St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $202,000
Buyer: Strider Dev. Inc.
Seller: John P. Ford
Date: 04/05/13

227 Kibbe Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Laplante Construction Inc.
Seller: William E. O’Connor
Date: 03/29/13

16 Melwood Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Brian D. Murray
Seller: Linda S. Fijal
Date: 04/01/13

56 Oak Brook Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Oleg Anisimov
Seller: Henry J. Wawrzonek
Date: 03/25/13

283 Parker St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $197,000
Buyer: Cheryl A. Mandirola
Seller: Michael J. Molinari
Date: 04/03/13

9 Parker St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Mark E. Deehy
Seller: Jose B. Guimaraes
Date: 04/01/13

439 Porter Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $243,500
Buyer: Enrique Rosado
Seller: Winterberry LLC
Date: 04/04/13

40 Rogers Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $266,000
Buyer: Robert Hanson
Seller: Heather J. Bliss
Date: 03/27/13

HOLYOKE

353 Chestnut St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Kelly A. Maher
Seller: Holyoke Housing Authority
Date: 03/29/13

24 County Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $268,000
Buyer: Michael C. Carriveau
Seller: Mark D. Mills
Date: 03/29/13

55 Francis Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $154,000
Buyer: Brian T. Johnson
Seller: Gary Godbout
Date: 04/02/13

38 George St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $177,500
Buyer: Jeffrey J. Judge
Seller: US Bank
Date: 03/29/13

29 Laura Lane
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $244,169
Buyer: MetLife Home Loans
Seller: Mar C. F. Marinello
Date: 04/04/13

4 Loomis Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $264,000
Buyer: Brian A. Lamirande
Seller: Laurence P. Cournoyer
Date: 03/29/13

33 Raymond Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Sean C. Mangano
Seller: Michael Cauley
Date: 03/28/13

281 Rock Valley Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $142,500
Buyer: Stephen L. Johnson
Seller: Bruce R. Gloutak
Date: 03/29/13

LONGMEADOW

45 Ardsley Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Louis P. Krzeminski
Seller: Joseph F. Partyka
Date: 03/28/13

96 Birnie Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $192,800
Buyer: Michael Gralia
Seller: Maria C. Pritchard
Date: 03/29/13

69 Chiswick St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Timothy Giguere
Seller: Dennis C. Spring
Date: 03/27/13

104 Crestview Cir
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Stephen Crane
Seller: Reidy, Madeline F., (Estate)
Date: 03/25/13

108 Dover Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Jo Ann W. Davis
Seller: John W. Davis
Date: 03/29/13

LUDLOW

14 Acorn Lane
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $242,000
Buyer: Lisa G. Urban
Seller: William R. Ayers
Date: 03/27/13

46 Bowles Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Evette M. Rodrigues
Seller: HAP Inc.
Date: 03/28/13

1459 Center St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Brian A. McDaniel
Seller: Diane D. Cousineau
Date: 03/28/13

1229 East St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $263,000
Buyer: Rui A. Pereira
Seller: Gordon G. Grimes
Date: 03/28/13

146 Highland Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Kevin J. Schwerdtfeger
Seller: Schwerdtfeger, M. M., (Estate)
Date: 03/26/13

134 King St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $286,000
Buyer: Kimberly A. Chase
Seller: Michael A. Florio
Date: 03/28/13

73 Laroche St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $148,000
Buyer: Katie L. Schebel
Seller: Anna M. Casagranda
Date: 03/27/13

5 Marion Circle
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $196,500
Buyer: Pierre R. Bertrand
Seller: Cynda M. Rosenbaum
Date: 03/28/13

Olivia Circle
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Shannon M. Chaves
Seller: Rosewood Meadows Inc.
Date: 03/26/13

Pinewood Road
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $426,430
Buyer: Maria A. Lavoie
Seller: Manganaro Home Builders
Date: 03/29/13

57 Tilley St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Westover Metropolitan Development Corp.
Seller: Kimberly A. Chase
Date: 03/26/13

314 West St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $149,000
Buyer: Melissa A. Moret
Seller: Marion M. Surprenant
Date: 03/29/13

MONSON

84 Bogan Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Claudette Jean Girard
Seller: Gerlad T. Davies
Date: 03/29/13

243 Moulton Hill Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $199,683
Buyer: Bank of New York Mellon
Seller: Jennifer M. Toelken
Date: 03/28/13

17 Stafford Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Rachael K. McDonald
Seller: Timothy C. Lavoie
Date: 03/28/13

PALMER

1501 North Main St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Lazy River Housing Co. LLC
Seller: JEEJ Real Estate LLC
Date: 04/04/13

371 Rondeau St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: George L. Ortiz
Seller: Mark A. Stebbins
Date: 03/29/13

37 Saint John St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $271,402
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Donald J. Williamson
Date: 04/02/13

SPRINGFIELD

Allen St. (SS)
Springfield, MA 01101
Amount: $160,500
Buyer: Den V. Thai
Seller: Donald W. Lomascolo
Date: 03/28/13

35 Angelica Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $244,000
Buyer: Delva M. Campbell
Seller: Steven M. Leone
Date: 04/01/13

598 Armory St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $132,000
Buyer: Oscar A. Lopez
Seller: Global Homes Properties LLC
Date: 03/26/13

135 Bartels St.
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $175,500
Buyer: Joseph M. Paixao
Seller: Daniel J. Molta
Date: 04/05/13

80 Bevier St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $189,665
Buyer: USA HUD
Seller: BA C. Home Loans Servicing LP
Date: 04/01/13

436 Boston Road
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: 436 Boston LLC
Seller: JAH Commercial Inc.
Date: 03/29/13

14 Carew Terrace
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Maria Lugo
Seller: Luis A. Cruz
Date: 03/29/13

24 Chilson St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $164,000
Buyer: Kimberly A. Kirkland
Seller: R. A. Fetterroll
Date: 03/29/13

276 Cottage St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $329,800
Buyer: Omicron Investments LLC
Seller: Inland American CFG Portfolio
Date: 03/28/13

87 Denver St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $157,608
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Christopher Senior
Date: 04/03/13

29 Donbray Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $158,900
Buyer: Laurie S. Ratkiewicz
Seller: Douglas C. Phelps
Date: 03/28/13

245 Fair Oak Road
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $143,000
Buyer: Kelly J. Keenan
Seller: Edward J. Haluch
Date: 03/28/13

79 Fox Hill Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $185,772
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Joseph K. Jorgensen
Date: 03/25/13

446 Franklin St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Michael P. Crean
Seller: Juan Medina
Date: 03/28/13

265 Gresham St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $148,000
Buyer: Jamilette A. Reyes
Seller: Quetszy A. Cruz
Date: 03/29/13

90 Hartwick St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Michael J. Regan
Seller: Nelson R. Colon
Date: 04/03/13

252 Lake Dr.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $141,000
Buyer: Adilen Negron
Seller: Barry, Joseph T., (Estate)
Date: 03/28/13

63 Loretta St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $144,000
Buyer: Natacha Nieves
Seller: Colleen M. Danahey
Date: 03/29/13

201 Overlook Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $183,000
Buyer: Alfredo B. Vivenzio
Seller: Judith J. Heit
Date: 03/27/13

42 Marquette St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $122,500
Buyer: Aileen Ramos
Seller: CDM Properties LLC
Date: 04/05/13

120 Odion St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Jeffrey J. Thornton
Seller: David A. Starr
Date: 04/04/13

1569 Parker St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $119,091
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Justine A. Finn
Date: 04/01/13

332 Parkerview St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $149,900
Buyer: Nicholas M. Tangredi
Seller: Katherine M. Tangredi
Date: 03/28/13

15 Plumtree Circle
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Judith A. Garrett
Seller: Armando Rodriguez
Date: 04/05/13

21 Rita St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $144,500
Buyer: Tuyen Nguyen
Seller: Henrietta R. Ehrlich
Date: 04/04/13

28 Roosevelt Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $144,229
Buyer: Debra A. Griffith
Seller: John Martin
Date: 03/29/13

148 Shefford St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $161,000
Buyer: Marco P. Carreira
Seller: Todd C. Emmons
Date: 03/29/13

15 Signal Hill Circle
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Campagnari Construction LLC
Seller: Irene A. Jansen
Date: 04/04/13

41 Westbank Ct.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $155,900
Buyer: Deborah A. Kelly
Seller: Danielle Prendergast
Date: 03/26/13

332 White St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $128,000
Buyer: Luis Berrios
Seller: Rose Talbot-Babey
Date: 04/04/13

143 Woodlawn St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $129,000
Buyer: Miguel Gonzalez
Seller: James W. Fiore
Date: 03/26/13

33 Worthy St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $123,822
Buyer: Nationstar Mtg. LLC
Seller: Marion C. Larese
Date: 04/04/13

SOUTHWICK

9 Coyote Glen
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $543,500
Buyer: Sherri Digiacomo
Seller: Craig Digiacomo
Date: 03/28/13

307 North Loomis St.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $237,020
Buyer: Cornelia R. Jacquier
Seller: Marcia L. Jester
Date: 03/27/13

WEST SPRINGFIELD

105 Albert St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: F. W. Maroni
Seller: Jerolyn L. Lareau
Date: 04/02/13

129 Apple Ridge Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $313,000
Buyer: Joseph M. Turner
Seller: Guiel, Annette R., (Estate)
Date: 04/01/13

17 Neptune Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $129,000
Buyer: Suraya Kapitonova
Seller: Joseph Desmarais
Date: 04/05/13

597 Amostown Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $149,000
Buyer: Velvet Stamand
Seller: Cynthia M. Kennedy
Date: 03/29/13

36 Bonnie Brae Dr.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Cynthia A. Kennedy
Seller: Joyce J. Niedzialkowski
Date: 03/29/13

56 Cynthia Dr.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Carmino J. Santaniello
Seller: Roman Szarek
Date: 03/29/13

148 Dorwin Dr.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $267,900
Buyer: Pamela J. Mott
Seller: Kevin R. Dowd
Date: 03/26/13

86 Garden St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $157,500
Buyer: Sean M. Duclos
Seller: Christopher S. Hjaftmann
Date: 03/29/13

110 High St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: First Slavic Pentecostal
Seller: Slavic Pentecostal Church
Date: 03/29/13

404 Massachusetts Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $173,000
Buyer: Donna Jones
Seller: John H. Jackson
Date: 03/25/13

22 Pleasant St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: First Slavic Pentecostal
Seller: Slavic Pentecostal Church
Date: 03/29/13

254 Rogers Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Matthew W. Disbrow
Seller: Keith E. Harvey
Date: 03/29/13

22 Sprague St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Paul R. Ehrlich
Seller: Clarissa M. Young
Date: 03/29/13

9 Timber Ridge Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $417,500
Buyer: Costas D. Anamisis
Seller: John S. Ciborowski
Date: 03/29/13

68 Vincent Dr.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $149,000
Buyer: Larry A. Wood
Seller: Sheridan, Norma A., (Estate)
Date: 03/27/13

WESTFIELD

78 Dana St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $212,000
Buyer: James Laverty
Seller: Matthew T. Beattie
Date: 03/29/13

42 Daniel Ridge
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Mark J. Ankstitus
Seller: Luke Demoracski
Date: 04/03/13

16 Deepwoods Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: City Of Westfield
Seller: Alison Brule
Date: 04/05/13

77 George St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $176,000
Buyer: Valentin Bidyuk
Seller: Anatoliy Panchelyuga
Date: 03/29/13

156 Joseph Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: James R. Dufraine
Seller: Judith A. Maunsell
Date: 03/27/13

35 Knollwood Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $192,900
Buyer: Mary B. Bates
Seller: Barbara J. Sadler
Date: 04/03/13

76 Long Pond Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $247,500
Buyer: Terrie J. Campbell
Seller: Richard, Kevin M. (Estate)
Date: 04/01/13

84 Otter Point Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $193,000
Buyer: Vincent Cross
Seller: Hampton Ponds Realty LLC
Date: 03/26/13

129 Ridgecrest Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: William F. Hoarle
Seller: Robert P. Hoernig
Date: 03/29/13

109 Ridgeway St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Jean M. Ford
Seller: Fedora, Paul D., (Estate)
Date: 03/29/13

1232 Russell Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Brian Duggan
Seller: Pagliaro & Sons Dev. LLC
Date: 04/04/13

1244 Russell Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Brian P. Duggan
Seller: Pagliaro & Sons Dev. LLC
Date: 04/04/13

266 Southwick Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $187,500
Buyer: Diane E. Dipietro
Seller: Rodman Financial Corp.
Date: 03/27/13

32 Violet Circle
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $369,000
Buyer: Mark W. Sadler
Seller: Scarfo Construction Inc.
Date: 04/03/13

36 Whispering Wind Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $440,000
Buyer: Matthew E. Kessler
Seller: Rheal R. Duquette
Date: 04/02/13

WILBRAHAM

3 Blacksmith Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $209,000
Buyer: John R. Turcotte
Seller: Manjit Sikka
Date: 04/01/13

940 Glendale Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $163,000
Buyer: Shawn R. Osmani
Seller: Monson United Methodist Church
Date: 03/29/13

358 Springfield St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Amanda A. Bennett
Seller: Donald Dean
Date: 04/05/13

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

218 Alpine Dr.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $349,900
Buyer: Alyson D. Miller
Seller: Joel W. Wolfe
Date: 03/29/13

155 Farmington Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $229,500
Buyer: Elizabeth E. Powers
Seller: John A. Root
Date: 03/28/13

207 Glendale Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $224,000
Buyer: Diana A. Navarro
Seller: Pinkham Joan, (Estate)
Date: 04/01/13

32 Hickory Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $284,900
Buyer: George G. Watson
Seller: 145 State St. Partners LLC
Date: 04/04/13

46 Hop Brook Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $485,105
Buyer: Deborah R. Neubauer
Seller: Timothy R. Hampson
Date: 04/04/13

1190 North Pleasant St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $495,000
Buyer: East Pleasant St. Partners LLC
Seller: Watroba, Chester E., (Estate)
Date: 04/04/13

Old Farm Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Amherst Village Inc.
Seller: Bank of America
Date: 03/27/13

Old Farm Road #1-5
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $372,500
Buyer: Tofino Assocs. Inc.
Seller: Bank of America
Date: 03/27/13

166 Summer St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $163,000
Buyer: Domeni C. J. Sebben
Seller: Judith Verchot
Date: 03/27/13

BELCHERTOWN

248 Amherst Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $229,203
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Larry J. Saccamando
Date: 03/29/13

12 Canal Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Leonard F. Delorenzo
Seller: Richard T. Collins
Date: 03/29/13

60 Canal Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Dennis M. Liptak
Seller: Frank A. Cowdrey
Date: 03/29/13

Crestview Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $272,000
Buyer: Stephen Rose
Seller: Crestview Acres Inc.
Date: 04/02/13

45 Juckett Hill Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Juliana Vanderwielen
Seller: Allen D. Forsythe
Date: 03/29/13

12 Ledgewood Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $146,299
Buyer: Prop Enhancement LLC
Seller: Deutsche Bank National
Date: 04/01/13

86 North Washington St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $268,000
Buyer: Patrick Loftus
Seller: Paul Lapinsky
Date: 03/28/13

4 Park St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Andres LLC
Seller: Mario Sotolotto
Date: 04/01/13

17 Pine Brook Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Jeremy A. Dunn
Seller: David M. Guy
Date: 04/03/13

EASTHAMPTON

212 East St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $212,399
Buyer: Kristin E. McLaughlin
Seller: Josephine A. Przada
Date: 03/29/13

119 Holyoke St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $126,000
Buyer: K&A LLC
Seller: Deutsche Bank National
Date: 04/04/13

GOSHEN

Cape St. #9
Goshen, MA 01032
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Rawlings Excavation Services
Seller: Mountain Stream Inc.
Date: 03/26/13

GRANBY

20 Pinebrook Circle
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $177,000
Buyer: Justin P. Beaupre
Seller: Carlos Gutierrez
Date: 03/29/13

HADLEY

27 Breckenridge Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $343,000
Buyer: Sean A. Mackin
Seller: Raymond G. Sylvain
Date: 04/05/13

4 Hawks Meadow
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Alan Sthilaire
Seller: Tomlinson Builders Inc.
Date: 04/01/13

226 Russell St.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $329,900
Buyer: DGG Realty Partnership
Seller: Creative Properties LLC
Date: 03/29/13

HATFIELD

25 Elm St.
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Northeast Ent. Realty
Seller: Elizabeth A. Porada
Date: 03/29/13

15 Main St.
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $204,573
Buyer: Thaddeus L. Kabat
Seller: Suzen J. Maxwell
Date: 03/25/13

11 Scotland Road
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Thomas P. Morse
Seller: Marie A. Chmura
Date: 03/29/13

255 Straits Road
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $198,500
Buyer: Kara A. Jagodzinski
Seller: Cynthia L. Streker
Date: 04/05/13

NORTHAMPTON

152 Bridge Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Michelle L. Bouleyu
Seller: Lotus P. O’Connor
Date: 04/01/13

72 Crosby St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: W. Marek Inc.
Seller: Kumiega, John S., (Estate)
Date: 04/05/13

578 Elm St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $161,000
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Fola Fagade
Date: 04/05/13

22 Finn St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: David P. Goldstone
Seller: Delisi, Leborio G., (Estate)
Date: 03/29/13

83 Forest Glen Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $178,000
Buyer: Richard A. Saalfrank
Seller: Cindy Turner
Date: 03/29/13

40 Maple St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $819,969
Buyer: Melodie P. Turner
Seller: David S. Turner RET
Date: 03/29/13

68 Prince St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Stuart B. Warner
Seller: James W. Holden
Date: 03/29/13

451 Rocky Hill Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Richard P. Ely
Seller: Kyle P. Maurer
Date: 03/26/13

12 Sylvan Lane
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: Jonathan S. McFadden
Seller: Judith A. O’Brien
Date: 03/25/13

125 State St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Sullivan Real Estate LLC
Seller: American National Red Cross
Date: 04/02/13

48 Sterling Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Kendra A. Dahlquist
Seller: Clifford, Eileen D., (Estate)
Date: 04/04/13

53 Strawberry Hill
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $665,000
Buyer: Matthew D. Curtis
Seller: Richard N. Norris
Date: 04/02/13

SOUTH HADLEY

45 Michael Dr.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Christopher M. Havlak
Seller: Adam J. Bartlett
Date: 03/29/13

11 Pittroff Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Oliver O. Akamnonu
Seller: Cheryl L. Bisson
Date: 03/28/13

SOUTHAMPTON

15 Freyer Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Daniel E. Fried
Seller: Stephen L. Johnson
Date: 03/29/13

Strong Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $586,823
Buyer: Triple Seven LLC
Seller: Edwin F. Goral
Date: 04/02/13

11 South Main St.
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Amount: $213,570
Buyer: Village Center Apts. LLC
Seller: Raymond M. Rice
Date: 04/03/13

WORTHINGTON

461 Old North Road
Worthington, MA 01098
Amount: $122,500
Buyer: William M. Powers
Seller: Sylvia J. Howes
Date: 03/25/13

215 Thayer Hill Road
Worthington, MA 01098
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Noreen F. Ryan
Seller: John D. Ryan
Date: 03/27/13

A Primer on the ESOP

By BusinessWest Staff May 7, 2013

Law Sections

Why the Employee Stock Ownership Plan May Be a Sound Alternative

By Steven J. Schwartz, Esq. and David K. Webber, Esq.
When evaluating the various alternatives for an exit strategy, a business owner should consider a sale to an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). In order to determine whether an ESOP is the best strategy, it is necessary to become familiar with its elements.
An ESOP is a qualified defined-contribution retirement plan established under §§ 401(a), 409 and 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code. Unlike other qualified plans, an ESOP is designed primarily to invest in shares of a closely held corporation, referred to in the code as ‘employer securities.’ The sponsor company may transfer the shares of common stock as a qualified contribution, or the ESOP may purchase shares from shareholders or the sponsor company. In a ‘leveraged’ ESOP, the company takes out a bank loan to fund the purchase, then lends the funds to the ESOP to finance the purchase of shares. A 100% sale of shares to an ESOP may require a series of smaller transfers because 100% bank financing is unlikely.
The selling shareholder may receive cash as partial or complete consideration for the shares. In the alternative, or in addition to cash, the selling shareholder may self-finance a portion by accepting a note as partial payment. As the note is paid off in installments, the plan trustee transfers shares to each of the employees’ accounts, eventually vesting all the stock in employee accounts in accordance with the terms of the plan.

How It Works
The ESOP sale transaction has several moving parts. The following example illustrates a hypothetical leveraged ESOP transaction.
Assume Frank started a widget company 20 years ago, and now owns all 30,000 shares of Optimistic Manufacturing Inc. The company is doing well. It has 30 employees and a fair market value of $10 million. Frank is also the sole officer and director of the company. Key employees manage the day‑to‑day operations of the company and are qualified to run the company without the current shareholder.
Frank is 60 years old and wants to provide liquidity to benefit his family. He wants to protect his employees and to continue working for the indefinite future. He realizes that a strategic purchaser will likely pay more and pose less risk to him than a sale to an ESOP. He will accept installment payments in order to make a 100% sale of his shares.
The success of the ESOP transaction will depend on the employees’ ability to carry on the company without Frank. It is not uncommon for a business owner to do all the planning for an ESOP with a resulting decision not to proceed, because of the inability of the management team to convince Frank and the company’s bank that they can successfully manage the business.
For the purposes of this hypothetical, assume the company’s bank agrees to partially finance the transaction and lends the company $6 million on a six-year note. Frank accepts a promissory note for the remaining $4 million of the purchase price. The bank loan is secured by the assets of the company. Frank receives a junior lien on the assets.
The company receives the bank funds and lends the proceeds to the ESOP on the same terms. The ESOP uses the entire bank-loan proceeds to buy 18,000 shares (60%) of the company’s shares from Frank. In addition, the ESOP issues a $4 million, six-year promissory note directly to Frank in exchange for the other 12,000 shares (40%). This makes the ESOP the sole owner of the company. The company guarantees the obligation due Frank and secures it with the company’s assets.
Each year for six years, the company makes a tax-deductible contribution from earnings to the ESOP, which the ESOP uses to repay the notes to the company and to Frank. The company then pays the bank loan. During this time, the ESOP holds the shares in a trust ‘suspense account’ and releases them for allocation to participant accounts as the debt is repaid. In this six-year example, approximately one-sixth of the shares (5,000 shares) will be released to the accounts of the employee participants each year.
The ESOP is overseen by trustees. Frank may serve as a trustee. Frank may retain his position as president of the company. Each employee votes the shares that have been allocated to them, and the trustee votes the remaining unallocated shares.
There will be three sets of documents required to complete the transaction: the sale documents (purchase-and-sale agreement, consents, etc.), the bank loan documents, and the ESOP plan documents. Approval will be needed from the Internal Revenue Service. In addition, the parties will usually need to employ a qualified appraiser and a third-party administrator to ensure that the ESOP plan complies with ERISA requirements. The agenda may be a bit long, but that should not be a reason not to consider an ESOP, because a sale to a third party may require as extensive an agenda.

Tax Ramifications
In structuring the transaction, there will be tax ramifications to consider. At the time of the transaction, the parties will need to decide whether the company will be a C-corporation or an S-corporation. If it will be a C‑corporation, the seller may reinvest the proceeds tax-free in qualified investments, including corporate bonds and common and preferred stock. In order for the seller to receive a tax-free investment, the ESOP must be the owner of 30% of the shares of the company. In addition, for a C‑corporation, the company will be able to contribute up to 25% of qualified employees’ compensation to the ESOP plan, plus the amount of interest the ESOP paid on the loan.
S‑corporations pose special difficulties, because ordinarily a trust such as an ESOP cannot own shares in an S‑corporation. The above-described tax benefits are not available for S‑corporations. However, if the plan is the sole shareholder of an S‑corporation, there will be no federal income tax on the earnings. If sales are less than $6 million, there will be no Massachusetts tax. If annual sales exceed $6 million, the company will be required to pay Massachusetts corporate excise tax.
Valuation of the company is very important. There may be discount issues for the stock transfers with respect to sales of minority interests. Transforming the shares of a C‑corporation into preferred shares with a dividend rate can enhance their value. (S‑corporations can only have one class of stock, so preferred shares are not an option). The company will need a professional appraisal of the stock value each year. Despite the complexity of an ESOP, it has unique advantages that must be considered by a business owner who is considering an exit strategy. Unlike any other form of exit plan, it offers a realistic, tax-advantaged means for employees to purchase a company.
ESOPs are appropriate only under specific circumstances. The company must be a corporation, not an LLC or partnership; it must have earnings sufficient to support the ESOP debt payments; and the seller may need to be willing to accept a lower payment than one offered by a strategic purchaser, and usually an installment sale to permit the company to pay in cash for the shares over time, rather than simply walking away as might happen with a third-party sale.
Most importantly, it is critical to have smart, experienced employees to form the new management team.

Attorney Steven J. Schwartz, a shareholder with Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin, P.C., concentrates his practice in the areas of family-business planning, mergers and acquisitions, corporate law, and estate planning. Schwartz’s practice involves representation of principals in family-business planning (including exit planning for business owners), representation of individuals and corporations in the purchase and sale of business enterprises, strategic planning for the future of clients’ businesses, and providing advice as to alternatives in financing through loans and venture capital; (413) 737-1131. Attorney David K. Webber is an associate at Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin, P.C., and practices in the areas of business transactions, estate and succession planning, taxation, and nonprofits. Webber was appointed a note editor by Western New England Law Review; (413) 737-1131.

Jonathan Stolpinski

By BusinessWest Staff April 23, 2013

40 Under 40 The Class of 2013

Vice President, Westfield Electroplating Co., age 32

When Jonathan Stolpinski sold his 16 alpacas because he and his family just couldn’t devote the time to them and run the family business, Westfield Electroplating Company (WEPCO), it was a sad day — for all those involved.
“Out of everyone, my dog, Brewski, misses them the most,” said Stolpinski of the furry friend he comes home to after long hours in the electroplating business, which is the process of coating various substances (nickel, chrome, zinc, and others) by electricity or chemical conversion onto everything from aircraft parts to medical devices.
In 1984, his father purchased the business, which was founded in 1946, and Stolpinski essentially grew up in the company as it expanded. And while he worked summers in the plant — and at the now-shuttered Foster House restaurant next door that the family also owned and operated — he was never pushed into the business.
“My father did a pretty good job at keeping me away, to not influence me; he wanted me to make the decision for myself and see what was out there.”
And what was out there, after earning a degree in Business Administration at St. Michael’s College in Vermont, was Lake Tahoe, Nev., where he “sowed his oats” for a year, working at a casino and skiing three to four times a week. In 2004, he decided, on his own, that the family business would be a good fit.
Learning the electroplating business on the job, he now serves as vice president under his father, playing a significant role in ongoing growth, from 140 employees to 155, from $11 million in annual sales to more than $17 million, and with a portfolio now boasting more than 2,000 customers.
Stolpinski and WEPCO are good business neighbors, supporting Noble Hospital, the Westfield Chamber of Commerce, and myriad nonprofits in the city. But it’s his position on the board of directors for the Westfield Boys and Girls Club that is a newfound civic passion.
“The more we do for boys and girls now,” he said, “when they get older, the more they will be able to do for others.”

— Elizabeth Taras

Walter Tomala Jr.

By BusinessWest Staff April 23, 2013

40 Under 40 The Class of 2013

Owner and President, TNT General Contracting, age 37

Walt Tomala Jr. says the speed-building endeavors he’s participated in — everything from two local Extreme Makeover: Home Edition projects to a blitz-build event for Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity — are in many ways a metaphor for how he lives his life.
In other words, he’s committed to simply not wasting a minute of his time. This attitude has enabled him to successfully balance his business, TNT General Contracting, with his family and especially his daughter, Lauren, and also his work in the community through those aforementioned projects, but also many others, especially his tireless service with the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
But beyond maximizing his time, there is another common thread between Tomala’s extreme-building exploits and his own life. That would be the matter of dreams — making them, shaping them, and willing them to come true.
As a teenager, Tomala’s dream was to be a professional baseball pitcher, and he was on his way — he starred for Westfield High School — when a devastating shoulder and elbow injury took baseball out of the equation and forced him to recalibrate. He took work building and remodeling bowling centers, but a year into that job he was caught in a flash explosion when a sanding machine malfunctioned. He suffered third-degree burns over 60% of his body and spent a year in recovery and rehab.
Undaunted, he went back to building bowling centers, and eventually started his own construction company with a name, TNT, which has nothing to do with his family name, but everything to do with the explosion that nearly ended all his dreams.
Since then, he’s focused on other people’s dreams, from participating in the Extreme Makeover projects to designing and overseeing the blitz build for Habitat; from building four houses in a week for victims of the June 1, 2011 tornado to helping construct two homes for severely injured veterans.
Introduced to Make-A-Wish by his father when he was 13, Tomala has made that nonprofit one of his passions. And in 2000, the organization named him its volunteer of the year.
To say that he’s made the very most of all his time would be a huge understatement.

— George O’Brien

Mark Zatyrka

By BusinessWest Staff April 23, 2013

40 Under 40 The Class of 2013

Vice President and Director of Marketing & Public Relations, American Homecare Federation Inc., age 33

Mark Zatyrka has faced big challenges all his life, and he’s devoted his career to helping other people with similar struggles.
Zatyrka was born with severe hemophilia, a bleeding disorder. In addition to requiring constant blood infusions, he developed severe arthritis in several of his joints. Then, in the mid-’80s, he contracted HIV from a blood transfusion.
But he found a career with purpose with the American Homecare Federation, a company that works exclusively with individuals and families living with bleeding disorders. He started out as a marketing associate and eventually climbed the ladder to his current leadership role.
“I have severe hemophilia, so I know the challenges I grew up with, and I have a personal relationship with a lot of our patients,” he said. “I can mentor the younger kids and show them that disease does not need to define them; this disease does not have to hold them back, and they can still create great things with their lives.”
Over the past decade, he said, the company has received high satisfaction ratings from patients, which is critical in this field. “As one of the smaller companies in this market competing against some of the largest companies, if we don’t provide the highest-quality care, we’ll get eaten up out there.”
Zatyrka says he feels fortunate to have a career that resonates so personally with him and that allows him to shape other people’s lives for the better, and he has gradually become a public advocate for hemophilia, HIV, and AIDS issues, partnering with a number of local organizations and regularly speaking to young people.
“The hemophilia community was devastated by HIV and AIDS back in the early ’80s; about 90% of severe hemophiliacs contracted HIV,” he said. “I’m HIV-positive, and I do my best to help educate others in the community.”
That includes co-founding the AIDS kNOw More Project, an initiative of the AIDS Foundation of Western Mass. that trains young people to educate their peers about HIV and AIDS, about which there’s plenty of misinformation.
“Unfortunately, a stigma still exists around HIV, and that drives me nuts,” he said. “And a lot of the stigma comes from uneducated, unknowledgable people.”
With a mix of education and compassion, Zatyrka is changing perceptions — and lives.

— Joseph Bednar

Running Out of Options

By BusinessWest Staff April 23, 2013

Features

Older Unemployed Individuals Find Themselves in the Fight of Their Lives

Cheryl Adamson says she’s encountered a good deal of bias when it comes to her age, one of the reasons she’s been unable to find a full-time job for nearly two years.

When Cheryl Adamson found herself unemployed after the Hampden House retirement community closed its doors in September, 2011, she never believed that 20 months later she would be crossing her fingers and literally praying for a second part-time job she’s interviewed for, which coupled with an enjoyable gig she has peddling dog food, still won’t pay her anything close to what she was making as a chef manager.
But that is reality for this 55-year old Chicopee resident, and for countless others like her who find themselves trapped in a situation described as unprecedented by those who study labor markets and the trends now shaping them.
In a nutshell, jobs that were lost during the Great Recession and the years that followed are simply not being replaced at anything approaching the same pace. And while all age groups are affected by this development known as long-term unemployment, it is older workers, especially those 55 and over, who often find themselves on the outside looking in and, in some extreme cases, wondering if they will ever work again.
Older workers downsized or impacted by business closures face a number of challenges as they try to re-enter the job market, said Andrew Sum, director of Northeastern University’s Center for Labor Market Studies, who listed everything from a lack of needed skills, especially with information technology, to the simple fact that people have been out of work for months or even years, leaving a resume gap that intimidates employers, who see such individuals as damaged goods.
“The longer one is unemployed, the harder it is to get a job,” he said, “and the more likely it is that individuals will simply give up and leave the labor force.”
Adamson has seen all of this, up close, personal, and repeatedly. She first used the word ‘prejudicial’ to describe what was going on, but then settled on ‘biased.’
“Some people would blatantly ask me how old I was, either in interviews or over the phone,” she told BusinessWest “And I’ve heard a lot of people say I’m ‘overqualified,’ which I interpret to mean ‘you’re too old.’”
Tom Thebodo can certainly relate.

Steve Trueman says many older unemployed individuals are, or soon will be, in what he called “survival mode.”

Steve Trueman says many older unemployed individuals are, or soon will be, in what he called “survival mode.”
[/caption]He took what he considered to be a reasonable gamble in January 2011, when Home Depot decided it would take over management of its warehouse operation in Westfield from the company it had hired to handle that assignment, Exel Logistics. Home Depot offered the workers an opportunity to keep their jobs, but at roughly two-thirds the salaries they were earning; Thebodo said ‘thanks, but no thanks.’
Nearly 26 months later, and close to a year after his unemployment benefits ran out, he is still looking for work and having serious doubts about whether he will soon get anything paying close to what he was making before.
“I haven’t had many bites at all — I’ve probably applied for 300 jobs and I think I’ve had two interviews,” he said, adding that one was for a seasonal, part-time position at Six Flags. “I want to work, and I think can outwork these younger guys that are getting the jobs, even though they aren’t very experienced, because they’re cheaper to hire. I’m just not getting any chances.”
Steve Trueman, director of Adult Workforce Programs for the Regional Employment Board of Hampden County, said many older workers like Adamson and Thebodo are, or soon will be, in what he called “survival mode,” which is certainly not how they intended to live in the years leading up to their retirement.
“People have lost their homes, they’ve lost their nest eggs, and they’re adjusting their lifestyles,” he said, adding that some are taking positions they are seriously overqualified for, and at a fraction of their former salary — if they can find anything at all — just to get by. “They’ve gone off the path of where they were headed; their plans have been derailed.”
And perhaps the most unsettling news for this constituency is that there is little, if anything, to indicate that conditions are going to improve any time soon. In fact, things could actually get worse before they get better.
Companies that downsized, or rightsized, during the Great Recession have found new ways to do the same, or more, with fewer people, said Trueman, adding that many employers are showing little desire to ramp back up to pre-downturn staffing levels. Meanwhile, looming sequestration could impact the situation in many ways — from eliminating many jobs, and thus creating even more competition for openings, to cutting off funding for programs to retrain people for new opportunities.
For this issue, BusinessWest turns the spotlight on long-term unemployment, especially as it impacts older workers. Not long ago, they were moving toward retirement with a plan; now those plans have changed, and they have to navigate what most would describe as uncharted waters to get back into the workforce.

Age-old Problem
Elizabeth Veillette’s business card declares that she is a “mature worker specialist” with CareerPoint, the one-stop career center based in Holyoke.
And she says that makes her quite unique in the field of employment services. “I’m not aware of anyone else who does what I do, not only in this state but nationally,” she said, adding that the grant-funded position involves work assisting and counseling older workers as they seek employment.
Many of these individuals are facing long-term unemployment (a technical term that means someone’s been looking for work for more than a year), she went on, adding that she works one-on-one with such clients, and also in workshops, such as one titled ‘Job Search Strategies for Mature Workers,’ and job-club activities.
Veillette was leading a job-club session just prior to talking with BusinessWest. This is a group of roughly 20 people, many of them facing similar challenges — and emotions — as they try to rejoin the workforce.
“A lot of them are only a few years from retirement, so they’re going through a lot of shock and a lot of grief,” she explained. “There’s a fair amount of working through the emotional piece to be able to pull yourself together enough to go and look for another job.”
She said many of those she works with have been with the same company for decades, have specialized skills that might make it difficult to get into another field, especially in the ultra-competitive environment that exists today, and little, if any job-search experience.
And these are just some of the challenges they face, she noted, adding that she’s noticed what she would have to call some bias against older workers.

Andrew Sum says that the longer one has been unemployed, the harder it is to find work.

“There is some actual age discrimination that is taking place,” she said. “In a lot of cases, what people (employers) are saying, but without actually saying it, is ‘you’ve been doing this a long time, you’re too expensive, I can’t afford you, so I’m going to call you overqualified.’”
And there are many more people hearing such words than at any time in the past three decades, or since the Bureau of Labor Statistics started keeping such stats, said Sum, co-author of a report issued two years ago titled The Dislocation Experiences and Labor Market Adjustment Problems of America’s Older Workers During the Great Recession of 2007-2009.
While preparing it, he discovered that the numbers of people in this state who had been unemployed for more than a year, and especially older workers, were much higher than he thought. A decade or so ago, the mean duration of unemployment among older workers in the state was 16 weeks, he said, noting that over the past 18 months, that number has risen to 50 weeks for those ages 55 to 64 and 44 for those over 65.
“We’ve never seen unemployment duration this high for older workers,” he told BusinessWest, “or for anyone else, for that matter.”
Those sentiments are backed up by Labor Department statistics showing that the number of people age 45 and older who have been jobless for more than a year has quadrupled since 2007, accounting for more than half of the 3.5 million Americans who have been unemployed long term.
Slicing through such numbers, Sum qualified the situation by saying that while there are more older individuals (over 55) working today, by percentage, than any other age group, it is more difficult for those in that demographic who are unemployed to rejoin the workforce.
“For older workers, when they’re unemployed for long periods of time, their recall rate gets to be pretty low,” he explained, adding that the longer one is out, the more this situation becomes exacerbated.

Idle Thoughts
People like Thebodo and Adamson don’t need statistics from the Labor Department, or Sum’s report, to tell them they’re facing something unusual — and extremely frustrating as they try to re-enter the workforce.
“I’m hanging in there, but it’s getting very depressing,” said Thebodo, adding that he is not yet ready to join the ranks of those who have simply given up in their search and thus technically, and ironically, are no longer classified as unemployed. “I’d just like someone to give me a chance to show what I can do, but no one will do that.”
These sentiments echo those of a woman (who asked to be identified only as ‘Debbie’) who has been out of work for the better part of three years now.
A former clerical worker for a municipality she also chose not to name, Debbie said she’s been hindered in her efforts to find a job by everything from what she considers to be average (at best) computer skills to the fact that she doesn’t speak Spanish.
“Everyone wants you to be bilingual today,” she said, using ‘everyone’ to describe those who have sat across the interview table from her.
Debbie said she’s had several temp jobs, none of which turned into anything permanent, and worked for a few weeks to get the Hobby Lobby store up and running at the Holyoke Mall, but was not among the 40 people ultimately hired by the company.
A member of a job club at FutureWorks, the one-stop career center based in Springfield, she said she tries to remain upbeat — “I always look at the glass at being half full” — and benefits from being around others who are facing the same challenges she is.
“I kind of feel like I’m lost and alone in this — you keep saying to yourself, ‘why can’t I find anything,’” she said. “When there’s other people in the same situation, it makes you feel better … you have to keep your chin up.”
Conrad Rogowski, manager of Career Services at FutureWorks, said such a positive attitude is critical for all those seeking to re-enter the workforce, but especially mature workers who have some inherent advantages over many younger applicants, he believes, listing everything from experience in a given field to a strong work ethic — and must exploit them.
“Age can certainly be a disadvantage, but it can also be an advantage — it depends on the individual,” said Rogowski, who works with a number of mature workers. “For the 55-plus workers, there are factors that can work for them or work against them. One of the big questions they face concerns whether they’ve kept up with technology, which is critical to their ability to be able to market themselves when they’re out of work.”
“Sometimes, people fall behind on technology, other times, the company they were working for falls behind,” he continued, adding that FutureWorks encourages such people to get caught up, not only with equipment and software, but also with the social media vehicles available to market themselves, such as LinkedIn and Twitter.
Meanwhile, he said, many older workers have to change their mindset somewhat and focus on what employers need, and not what they need as they pursue employment.
“At one time, a number of years ago, the focus was on ‘what’s in this for me?’” he noted. “But in this job market, what people have to focus on is the needs of the employer. And this is where some of the advantages of the mature worker come in.
“In a tough job market, employers are looking for a variety of things,” he went on. “They’re looking for longevity in jobs and depth in a work history; they’re looking for people skills, communication skills, maturity, productivity, and a work ethic, and these are all things that a mature worker can demonstrate on their resume, and can certainly demonstrate once they have an opportunity to get in front of an employer at an interview.”

The Bottom Line
Adamson told BusinessWest that she’s been trying to stress her experience, what she can do for an employer, and how she can be as asset — even if she is overqualified for the job in question — but just hasn’t been given any chances to prove herself.
When asked to describe what that’s been like, she summoned the word ‘humbling,’ while noting that her joblessness has come at a time of other losses in her life, including her fiancée, who died a few years ago, so she keeps things in perspective.
“You have to really stay positive about things,” she said, noting that the aforementioned part-time job she’s seeking isn’t anything approaching management. But it is something she needs on so many levels — from the financial to the standpoint of self-esteem.
Such is life when one is in survival mode — and that is the unfortunate reality for many older individuals who thought the home stretch to retirement would be much different.

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

Community Profile: Springfield

By BusinessWest Staff April 23, 2013

Features

Springfield Eyes Bright Future, Casino or Not

Domenic Sarno has been talking about a potential Springfield casino for a long time. But that’s not all he wants to talk about.
“We’ve handled the casino as a potentially $1 billion economic-development project with a gaming component,” the Springfield mayor said of the dual proposals put forth by MGM Resorts International and Penn National Gaming, “but we’re moving on three or four different other fronts besides the casino.”
Three or four would be a gross understatement. Those fronts range from ongoing tornado recovery to Union Station, which will begin its $78 million transformation to a multi-use transportation hub later this year; from the new data center at the former Technical High School — one of the final pieces of an ongoing revitalization of the State Street corridor — to continued efforts to draw more businesses and foot traffic downtown, among many other efforts.

Mayor Domenic Sarno says efforts to locate a casino in the city constitute one of many economic-development related initiatives taking place in Springfield.

“So it’s more than just the casino,” Sarno said, before admitting he certainly welcomes such a huge development and the $15 million to $20 million in property-tax revenue that might accompany it — not to mention thousands of jobs and, hopefully, opportunities for local businesses to partner with the casino developer, if Springfield does indeed land the project. “Both entities understand that they have to connect to the fabric of the city.”
Jeff Ciuffreda has become a bit weary of the casino issue as well. As executive director of the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield, he knew any stand taken by the ACCGS would be controversial with some, “so we supported it with one caveat — that it not distract from ongoing economic development.”
After all, an $800 million casino does change the equation downtown, and is not exactly the sort of project the City of Homes is accustomed to. Ciuffreda wants assurances that MGM or Penn National won’t ignore the small businesses that are in many ways the city’s backbone.
“We’ve had discussions with both developers, and there seems to be genuine interest in looking at ways for spinoffs of the casino to really benefit small and medium-sized businesses,” he said, noting that a casino is expected to purchase some $50 million to $55 million in goods and services annually.
“We’ve been trying to encourage them to be cognizant of the fact that they’re moving to an area with a lot of small to medium-sized businesses that may not be able to produce the quantity of goods and services they’re looking for, but maybe they can carve out a portion of those goods and services.”
So, the casino is certainly the elephant in the room when planning for the future. But while it’s not possible to move every project forward until the gaming question is settled, city leaders say, there is plenty more going on in Springfield, a community they insist is on the rise — no matter what the Mass. Gaming Commission decides later this year.

City on the Move
When they sat down with BusinessWest, Sarno and Kevin Kennedy, the city’s chief development officer, enthusiastically ran through a deep list of recent and ongoing economic-development initiatives.
Take Union Station, for example. Sarno cited the impact of other Union Station projects undertaken in various cities, from New Haven, Conn. to Washington, D.C. “In D.C., it was a decrepit, crime-riddled, drug-infested area, but when Union Station was done, it changed the whole thing. It’s not only about transportation; it’s an economic catalyst.”

ACCGS Executive Director Jeff Ciuffreda says many downtown businesses no longer have the “bunker mentality” that prevailed after the recession.

Kennedy also mentioned the interest UMass Amherst has shown in a downtown location. “That is real. We’re having discussions with them, and we’re expecting they will come to fruition, and a year from this fall, it’ll be the UMass Springfield campus.” That’s an important development, he said, “because bringing students downtown brings vibrancy; it creates excitement. It helps with the restaurants and all the retail along Main Street.”
And with the completion of the data center and a recently announced, $25 million redevelopment of the Indian Motorcycle property in Mason Square — a project being undertaken by American International College and First Resource Development Co. — the State Street corridor continues its impressive momentum. “AIC is really happy,” Kennedy said. “MassMutual is happy. The residents of Mason Square are happy.”
Ciuffreda noted several other recent successes, from new life in the former federal building on Main Street to the downtown relocations by the likes of Thing5, Accountable Care Associates, Cambridge College, and other businesses, to small but noticeable aesthetic improvements, such as James Kitchen’s art installations.
Then there’s the just-announced lighting project being undertaken along some of the city’s main thoroughfares: on Main Street in the downtown club district, on North Main Street in the North End, and along Sumner Avenue near the entrance to Forest Park.
The city has teamed up with Western Mass. Electric Co. to replace outdated light fixtures in those areas with lights that are both brighter and more energy-efficient, with an eye on expanding the effort to other neighborhoods.
Particularly in the historic neighborhoods, Kennedy said, the old, decorative light fixtures have a place, but the switch “saves us money and saves WMECo money, and citizens benefit because we’re changing the whole image of downtown safety and security; by improving the lighting, people will have more confidence to come downtown, and they’ll feel more safe and secure.”
Ciuffreda understands the reason for the change, noting that chamber members are being asked for their feedback on the new lights being tested. “I’ve heard people say, ‘I went to a Falcons game, and for the first time in a long time, I felt safe after I left, but then I walked down the street, and it was kind of dark.’”
“We want people to tell us what they think,” Kennedy said. “What we’re trying to do downtown is change the whole lighting arrangement, from decorative lighting to better illumination. In addition, we’ll soon be announcing a new security arrangement downtown so, generally, when someone gets out of work downtown, they’ll see a cop. When they go to an event at the MassMutual Center or CityStage, they’ll see a cop.”
“When people feel safe, they’re more likely to visit, and more bodies on the street means more vibrancy,” added Sarno, noting that further economic development will be limited unless the city addresses the safety issue — both perception and reality. “We’ve thought this out very well, and we’re trying to connect all the pieces of the puzzle. There’s a lot of work that might not seem very sexy up front, but behind the scenes, it’s helping us do the more sexy things.”

Still Standing
Impressively, Sarno noted, all this is taking place in the wake of a devastating tornado that ripped through several city neighborhoods in June 2011. A strategic disaster-recovery plan has been in the works for almost two years, but now federal money is beginning to arrive — including $21.9 million from the Department of Housing and Urban Development and $1.3 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency — to put the plan into action.
“We were dealing with the disaster 24/7 for three months. And in the first two weeks, we started to think about how this could be an opportunity to redefine the city,” Sarno said. “That’s when we started piecing together DevelopSpringfield; we wanted a vision not only for the affected area, but a chance to redefine the whole city — to highlight strong areas and make areas in need better. Now that the money is starting to come in, we’re seeing fruit from these projects.
“It’s tough enough for an urban center as it is, and we were hit with one disaster after another,” he said of the freak weather events of 2011 and the natural-gas explosion downtown last fall. “A lot of people thought the tornado was a haymaker, the knockout. But the exact opposite happened. After seeing our resiliency, people are taking a second look at Springfield. We’re not saying we don’t have urban challenges; we do, and we’ll conquer them. But people have their eyes on the city.”
Kennedy agreed. “Confidence is back in Springfield,” he said, adding that progress has been aided by the “reliable and predictable way of going about our business. We developed a strategy and stuck to that strategy, as opposed to being all over the lot.”
Yet, Ciuffreda was quick to add that some projects — from the next phase in a downtown parking study to a UMass Springfield campus — simply can’t move forward until the site of the casino is known.
“My feeling is, [UMass] wants to do something that won’t compete with the other colleges and universities, but until the casino is sited, it makes it difficult for them to figure out where they want to be,” he said. “The parking, the lighting, the UMass presence — they’re all being overshadowed. Now, you can’t rush an $800 million development, but these other things can’t wait in the wings forever.”
That said, “the mayor and Kevin (Kennedy) have an eye on all of this and haven’t been distracted by casinos,” Ciuffreda was quick to add. “All these other projects seem to be getting their due attention.”
Even the 2009 decision to increase the mayoral term from two years to four has had an impact on development, Kennedy said, because it means the mayor no longer has to spend more than half his term in campaign mode. “It gives you the time to sketch out the vision and, more important, implement and execute that vision. That’s what we’re in the midst of doing now.”
Added Sarno, “you’ll always get naysayers asking ‘why are you making that move?’ But it’s like a chess game. Each move sets up another move, although it might not always be obvious.”

Better Days
From the chamber’s perspective, Ciuffreda said, Springfield is on the rebound from the Great Recession.
“Starting three years ago, we could see some small and mid-sized companies leaving the chamber, for mostly economic reasons,” he said. “We haven’t seen that in the last year or so; our numbers show a firming up of the economy. We’re seeing more participation in our programs. Folks aren’t in as much of a bunker mentality downtown — they’re coming out, they’re moving forward. I think there’s some momentum there.”
How a potential casino impacts that progress, both positively and negatively, remains to be seen.
“I can’t lie to you; there will be small businesses that will be hurt if Springfield wins the gaming license,” he noted. “But our hope is that, through employment and other opportunities, we can minimize those losses. Our real concentration is on maximizing the upside, the spinoff that will occur in these other areas. On balance, the chamber decided there was more good than bad, more upside than downside. That’s why we’re supportive of it.”
Meanwhile, Kennedy said, it’s business as usual on the economic-development front, and city leaders aren’t about to sit around waiting for the Gaming Commission’s verdict.
“Everyone knew the downtown was a problem, and we had to do our homework and spadework before we could fix it,” he told BusinessWest. “Even without the casino, if you add up Union Station, Indian Motorcycle, different road projects, the new schools — those are real, and we’ll see more things happening over the next two years. So we are working really hard to make sure we are not casino-centric, because we may not get the casino.”

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Editorial

By BusinessWest Staff April 23, 2013

Editor's Corner Opinion

40 More Reasons to Feel Positive

BusinessWest launched its 40 Under Forty program in 2007 with a number of goals in mind. Identifying young leaders was the primary mission, and we have certainly done that, especially with the Class of 2013, which we introduce in this issue.
But through their stories, we wanted to inspire others to become leaders themselves, and in the process, show that, contrary to what might be popular belief, young people don’t have to leave this market to enjoy success in business, find fulfillment in their work, and make their mark in the community.
Like the six groups that came before, the Class of 2013 provides plenty of examples of people who are not only excelling in their fields, but also giving back to the cities and towns in this region, often with work that involves the young people who will shape this region’s future. Here are just a few examples:
• Tim Allen, the principal of the new South End Middle School in Springfield. Under his leadership, this facility, which serves lower-income children, many of whom are English Language Learners, has recorded more improvement on the English portion of the MCAS tests in its first year than any of the other six neighborhood middle schools in the city. Allen also does a considerable amount of mentoring, and gives time and energy to Big Brothers Big Sisters;
• Adrian Bailey Dion has developed imaginative — and entrepreneurial — strategies to enable the Grinspoon Foundation, which she serves as COO, to dramatically increase the number of books it distributes through its PJ Library, which supports literacy and values development in children ages 1-8 through the purchase and delivery of age-appropriate Jewish books. She also supports area food pantries and kitchens in their work to feed area residents in need;
• Melyssa Brown, an accountant with Meyers Brothers Kalicka in Holyoke, has made her mark professionally, as the youngest manager in the firm’s Audit & Accounting Division. But it’s her work in the community that is really adding up (figuratively speaking). She’s one of the prime movers with a new Girls Inc. initiative called Eureka, in which girls ages 12-15 spend four weeks each summer on a college campus to learn about math, science, computers, sports, and both personal and career development;
• Kam Capoccia is a pharmacist who is changing the way people might think about those in that profession. While she still dispenses pills during weekend shifts at a local Walgreens, she spends much of her time dispensing information, as an associate professor of Pharmacy at Western New England University, but especially as the director of the Consultation and Wellness Center at the Big Y on Cooley Street in Springfield. There, she’s assisted countless individuals with issues ranging from Type 2 diabetes to high blood pressure to problems with obesity;
• Walt Tomala Jr. knows what it’s like to triumph over adversity. He suffered third-degree burns over 60% of his body in a flash explosion that occurred when a sanding machine malfunctioned while he was remodeling a bowling center. He spent a year in recovery and rehab, and eventually started his own construction company, one that has played a lead role in helping others achieve a higher quality of life, through work on everything from blitz-build projects for Habitat for Humanity to construction of homes for severely wounded veterans. He’s also been a steady supporter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Space doesn’t permit us to tell all 40 stories here, but these five serve as effective examples of how this entire class is the embodiment of professional excellence, community activism, and true leadership.
Their stories begin on page A6. Read, enjoy, and become inspired.

Jennifer Root

By BusinessWest Staff April 23, 2013

40 Under 40 The Class of 2013

Clinical Director, Center for Human Development, age 37

When she was in high school, Jenn Root took a test to determine her ideal career paths. The matches that popped up, she recalled, were librarian, teacher, and social worker. “I said, ‘what the heck is a social worker?’”
But in college, she took a psychology class and loved it; that piqued her interest in social work, which she eventually chose as her major.
In that field, she has sought out opportunities to help some of society’s most challenged constituencies, working with various organizations to provide social services to disadvantaged children, adolescents, and families. She’s doing the same today as clinical director in the Center for Human Development’s Terri Thomas Girls Program.
As a detention unit for adolescent girls, it’s not the most cheerful job. “They’re in a tough place in their lives, and they come from different places in terms of emotional stability and mental health,” Root said. “A lot of the girls have a history of trauma.
“It’s not the kind of job where you see immediate results, and if you need immediate gratification to feel good about your work, it would be hard,” she continued, adding that her work is focused mainly on stabilizing these rough situations. “I like to think of it as planting a seed; you don’t really see it grow, but it does, and even when the girls come back to us, we can see the change and the growth. And you’re supporting them while they grow and change.”
As her photo suggests, Root is an avid runner, who has competed in two marathons and countless road races. “This job can be very stressful,” she said. “Running is my outlet.”
Her physical fitness came in handy the time she climbed the roof of a building to talk a client out of hurting herself. But saving and changing lives is usually a less dramatic, more gradual process.
“This is a small chapter in their life,” Root said. “In the moment, it can be hard to understand that they won’t be in the system forever, but, rather, they have an opportunity to change. They don’t have to have the same life their parents did; they can blaze new trails and create their own future.”

— Joseph Bednar

Rachel Romano

By BusinessWest Staff April 23, 2013

40 Under 40 The Class of 2013

Founder and Executive Director, Veritas Preparatory Charter School, age 35

Rachel Romano spent six years working in Springfield’s public schools. But a subsequent stint as a principal at a charter school in Framingham got her thinking.
So she applied with the state Board of Education in 2010 to launch Veritas Preparatory Charter School in Springfield, which opened its doors last fall.
“There’s such a compelling need for high-quality public schools in Springfield,” she explained. “Our school is about closing the achievement gap and getting kids prepared for college.”
Intended to serve grades 5-8, Veritas opened with just a fifth-grade class this year and will ramp up with a new crop of fifth graders each year, reaching full enrollment in the fall of 2015.
“Our mission is to prepare kids for success in college,” Romano said — preparation that includes longer school days and a longer year than other schools, as well as a strong focus on academics, character, and structure. “They’re expected to sit up straight and do every piece of work; they get an hour and a half of homework every night, and they do it. I feel so inspired by our students and how hard they’re willing to work every day.”
Such high expectations, she believes, are critical to student success.
“I had always thought education was an equalizer; I had a decent public education, and I thought everyone did,” she said. “But I later realized that education is not an equalizer for kids growing up in the inner city, but a crippling factor for them; the schools are riddled with low expectations and complacency.”
Romano finds this unacceptable. “Kids are smart, and they should have the chance to go to college,” she said. “I knew we were taking on hard work, but there are other schools in this country doing this, and doing it well. So I thought we could do it here in Springfield.
“Many of our students will be the first generation in their family to go to college, and we’re paving the way for them,” she added, noting that this year’s fifth-graders are called the ‘class of 2024’ as a way to focus them on college graduation. “It’s about creating a vision and making that vision of college success a reality.”
— Joseph Bednar

Stacy Robison

By BusinessWest Staff April 23, 2013

40 Under 40 The Class of 2013

President, CommunicateHealth Inc., age 34

Health information can be confusing — but Stacy Robison says it doesn’t have to be.
With that simple idea in mind, she launched a business from her attic. Four years later, Northampton-based CommunicateHealth boasts 25 employees, annual revenues that have increased tenfold since the first year, and a second office in Rockville, Md.
“We’re founded on the core principle that people deserve clear information about their health,” she said. “When people are dealing with health issues, they’re often under a whole lot of stress, and it makes it really hard to understand information that’s already complicated. So we’re all about making things easier for people.”
Those efforts range from writing and designing interactive health websites to writing fact sheets and creating mobile apps aimed at making health information easier — and even more fun — to access. Government agencies comprise a good portion of her clientele, including ongoing work with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“We got to work on pandemic flu information with the CDC, and we worked on childhood-obesity messages with the American Academy of Pediatrics,” she explained. “It kind of runs the gamut, but in each case, we’re taking pretty complicated health information and making it easier to find and use.”
Robison leveraged a public-health degree into a career working with various health agencies, where she experienced first-hand how complicated the information could be. “I started rewriting things, and pretty soon other people were sending me their fact sheets and brochures, asking if I could rewrite and translate them into plain language. It was obvious there was a huge need, and that’s how this business was born.”
Robison runs CommunicateHealth with her partner, Xanthi Scrimgeour, “which is kind of nice because we can bounce ideas off each other.” In addition, she has become something of a national speaker and writer on the issue of health literacy.
“I think this business is in the right place at the right time,” she said, noting that, as insurance reform complicates the medical landscape, health leaders are beginning to recognize the importance of lessening confusion and anxiety.
“People need access to information they can understand,” she said, “and we’ve been able to capitalize on that.”
— Joseph Bednar

N. Andrew Robb

By BusinessWest Staff April 23, 2013

40 Under 40 The Class of 2013

President, Burgess, Schultz & Robb, P.C., age 39

Andy Robb can almost understand why some people would consider accounting work to be monotonous and perhaps not as rewarding as some other lines of work.
That’s almost understand.
He told BusinessWest that many of those not in his profession are of the mistaken belief that accounting is about numbers and taxes. Instead, it’s about people, Robb said, and because each individual and each company is different, there is a great amount of variety in this field — and rewards as well.
At a recent presentation he gave before the Berkshire Brewing Co. stockholders meeting, the rewards were immediate and refreshing. “At what other job can you get a draught beer, any type you want, and talk financials?” he joked, adding that his goals are usually far more substantial and involve helping business owners achieve their ambitions, aim higher, and, overall, take their businesses where they want them to go.
He’s been reaping such rewards since joining the profession after graduating from Quinnipiac College with a degree in Accounting, and especially since forming what has become Burgess, Schultz & Robb, an East Longmeadow-based firm that specializes in corporate tax work.
Robb also strives to create a balance between his business, his family (his wife, Amy, and four children), his multi-faceted work within the community, and, yes, his golf game. And sometimes he gets to mix these passions — using time on the course to talk with clients and network with potential new ones, and work as a member of the Ronald McDonald House Golf Committee.
He is also a member of the Chicopee Chamber of Commerce and the Chicopee Rotary Club, serves as treasurer for the Chicopee Visiting Nurses Assoc., and holds that same post with the Chicopee Fest of All Inc.
Doing all that wouldn’t be possible, he said, without considerable support from Amy, a stay-at-home mother.
“Amy allows me to do what I need to do to be out there networking, marketing, growing the firm the way I need to,” Robb said. “Thanks to her for all that she does, because she helps make me what I am.”

— Elizabeth Taras

Shannon Reichelt

By BusinessWest Staff April 23, 2013

40 Under 40 The Class of 2013

Certified Public Accountant, age 33

One of those who nominated Shannon Reichelt for this year’s 40 Under Forty competition described her as a “new-age CPA.”
It’s a portrayal she didn’t disagree with. In fact, when presented with that phrase, she took the ball and ran with it.
“With the new-age CPA, it’s not just about doing the tax return — send me in your stuff, and we get it out like a factory type of thing. I like to help people be successful,” she said.
“I’m not afraid to get my hands dirty — I’ll go into people’s businesses and help them on the ground level,” she continued when pressed for a deeper explanation. “And I think that stems from the fact that I started as a bookkeeper, and I also run my own firm, so I know the pain points that business owners go through with their finances, their accounting, and their record keeping.”
Reichelt, whose company — S. Reichelt & Company LLC — has offices in West Springfield and Greenfield, describes herself as an entrepreneur first and a CPA second. That’s because she’s proud of the risk she took in 2006, when she left Springfield-based J.M. O’Brien and put her own name over the door and on the letterhead.
“I had reached a point eight or nine years into my career … and I just knew,” she said of her desire to go out on her own. “I wanted to be able to sit down and work with business owners at the ground level and have that be OK. I like big firms, but I had a different vision of how I wanted to help people.”
It was after she considered her business venture firmly established — and when it no longer consumed nearly all of her time — that Reichelt made a firm commitment to get involved in the community. This has been manifested by work with the Community Foundation, but especially her many contributions to the Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society.
A self-described animal lover (she has an English bulldog named Daisy, pictured, and a boxer named Katie), she now sits on the Dakin board of directors and stages a fund-raiser for the organization each tax season — just another way that passion for helping others shines through.

— George O’Brien

Shonda Pettiford

By BusinessWest Staff April 23, 2013

40 Under 40 The Class of 2013

Assistant Director of Communication, Commonwealth Honors College, UMass Amherst, age 38

Shonda Pettiford believes everyone has potential, and she takes pride in using her writing skills to tell the stories of students at Commonwealth Honors College. “I really enjoy being in the educational environment,” she noted. “It’s amazing to see students grow and develop over the years, and I enjoy giving voice to other people’s stories and accomplishments in the Honors College.”
But the mother of two daughters is especially vested in helping women realize their potential. “I think everyone should be treated equally and have equal access to opportunities,” she said. “And I’m passionate about supporting women and helping them to build their leadership skills, because historically, culturally, and socially, women have not always been valued for their gifts. So I do everything I can to make sure that every girl and woman recognizes exactly how powerful she is.”
Pettiford funnels much of that effort through the Women’s Fund of Western Mass. She has been involved with the organization since 2001 and has served in many roles there, including board member, vice president, and president. In fact, when her two-year tenure as president ended, she was asked to serve an additional year. “It’s been a significant part of my life,” she said.
Pettiford was recognized as the youngest board president in the organization’s international network, and says the fund offers grants and strategic initiatives that help girls and women, such as programs aimed at developing leadership skills.
She was one of 20 women selected for membership in the international Women’s Funding Network Bridge Builders Cohort, and was chosen to be the group’s spokesperson at one of the plenary sessions during its international conference in New York.
Pettiford has also served on the statewide advisory board for the Massachusetts Women’s Pipeline for Change. In addition, she was selected to be part of the Women’s Professional Fellowship Program, funded by the U.S. State Department, that focuses on women’s health and leadership.
As part of the exchange, she went to Brazil in January, and plans to continue her personal mission of helping women to succeed, because, as she said, “everyone deserves a voice.”

— Kathleen Mitchell

Justin Pelis

By BusinessWest Staff April 23, 2013

40 Under 40 The Class of 2013

Owner, North Country Landscapes and Garden Center, age 34

Justin Pelis was making good use of his bachelor’s degree in Finance and Economics from UMass Amherst at a Boston accounting firm, but something just wasn’t right.
“I found myself spending more time in Boston Common than in the office,” Pelis recalled, and he made a move to head back to school with the goal of spending much more time outdoors.
With a second degree from the UMass Stockbridge School of Landscape Design and Horticulture, he purchased what was then a very small garden center in Westhampton called North Country Landscapes. With just two staff members at the start of the Great Recession, Pelis grew the business to 11 staffers who provide high-end, luxury landscape-design plans that include rock formations, stone patios, and walkways with integrated gardens.
Targeting what he calls the ‘aspirational gardener’ — the client who wants more of an artistic, outdoor living-room area that celebrates nature — Pelis took advantage of trends associated with the recession that impacted his industry.
“People were staying home more often, not going on vacations, and willing to put $20,000 or $30,000 into their backyard, with a patio and firepit,” he noted. “Now, they’re spending even more.”
While growing his business, Pelis has also broadened his involvement within the community, devoting more time and energy to civic causes that he finds personally rewarding and important in others’ lives.
Watching his late mother, who suffered for years with multiple sclerosis, enjoy an active quality of life through the Stavros Center, he decided to give back to that organization in her name by serving on the board beginning in 2012. Meanwhile, his love of art, and his desire to help others appreciate what is in their own backyard, has kept him active on the UMass Amherst Fine Arts Center board and gala committee.
A frequent attendee of Northampton Area Young Professionals and Northampton Chamber of Commerce events, Pelis donates time to bowl-a-thons, golf tournaments, and nonprofit auctions, as well as donating birdbaths and garden-themed gift baskets from North Country Landscapes for raffles.
“I find it to be the cheapest and the most rewarding form of advertisement for my business,” he said, “and it feels good.”

— Elizabeth Taras

John Pantera

By BusinessWest Staff April 23, 2013

40 Under 40 The Class of 2013

Director of Franchise Support & Development and Field Consultant, Fitness Together; Owner, Elements Therapeutic Massage, age 34

It would be an understatement to say that John Pantera achieved business success, while also satisfying an entrepreneurial urge, as an operator of two new franchises for the Fitness Together chain in Eastern Mass. As a certified fitness trainer with a nutrition license and an MBA in Finance and Economics from UMass Amherst, he helped position Fitness Together on Entrepreneur magazine’s Franchise 500 list in 2007, its Fastest Growing Franchises compilation in 2007 and 2008, and on America’s Top Global Franchises magazine’s list in 2007.
But like most successful entrepreneurs, he was ready, willing, and able to aim higher. He sold his franchises, moved to Western Mass., and opened an East Longmeadow franchise of Fitness Together’s sister operation, Elements Therapeutic Massage, in 2009. But when he did so, the fitness-club side of the corporation wasn’t ready to see Pantera go.
A new position was created just for him to direct the network of 54 locations (globally, there are 300) in New Hampshire and Massachusetts that deliver more than $20 million in annual revenues. Pantera now supports operators in their sales, marketing, customer service, and employee relations.
Meanwhile, at Elements Therapeutic Massage, Pantera oversees 25 employees, 19 of whom are therapists, in one of the largest massage spas in the region. He said the extremely high and deeply personal level of customer service required by both the personal-fitness and therapeutic-massage industries is a perfect fit for his personality and style of business management.
“Think about it … we’re basically asking perfect strangers to come in, get naked, and trust us that we will provide them with a high level of professionalism and service,” he said. “So the delivery of the service has to be a perfect 10.”
He’s also an adjunct professor of Entrepreneurship at Western New England University, his alma mater, and is involved with the Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield and Rotary International.
While doing all that, Pantera has found time to write a book titled All Diets Die: How to Win and Be Thin (for Life). “No matter your age or what condition you’re in, there are some foundational basics of a healthy lifestyle that can be permanent,” he said of the basic message. “And this is how to go about doing it.”
Balancing business acumen with a passion for wellness, Pantera is keeping plenty of balls in the air.

— Elizabeth Taras

Doing Business As Certificates

By BusinessWest Staff April 23, 2013

DBA Certificates Departments

The following Business Certificates and Trade Names were issued or renewed during the month of and April 2013.

AGAWAM

Che-Bella Salon
833 Springfield St.
Kaitlin Joslyn

Empire Music Group
33 Norman Terrace
Jermaine Norfleet

Nomnom Hunt
67 Hunt St.
Marcy Megarry

AMHERST

Fit Women
6 University Dr.
Megan Earle

Lyra Cleaning Services
170 East Hadley Road
Marise Lyra

South Amherst Family Dentistry
6 University Place
Richard Pastorello

The Good Life Collective
44 Amity Place
Kathleen Ahamed-Broadhurst

Whirlwind Fine Garden Design
29 Hartman Road
Christopher Baxter

CHICOPEE

Community Substance Abuse Center
628 Center St.
Matthew Davis

M2 Creations Balloons
51 Springfield St.
Michelle Martinez

Psychibilities
188 Chicopee St.
Kathi Munson

Quick Stop Convenience
1177 Granby Road
Maroot Ahmed

Rivoli’s
43 Springfield St.
Konrad Wargulenski

HADLEY

Botanica Ramses
206 Russell St.
Bernardo Galvez

Debra Rusenko
8 Goeffe St.
Debra Rusenko

OcteVue
6 Kosier Dr.
Mark B. Ketchen

Peter’s Farm
112 East St.
Clinton Peters

Split Excavating Inc.
8 Mill Valley Road
Brenda Fydenkevez

Spruce Hill Motors
235 Russell St.
Randy Izer

HOLYOKE

Cake Lady
123 High St.
Rosa Burgos

Carolina Bedding of Western Mass
68 Cherry St.
Daniel Wells

Charlene’s Boutique
50 Holyoke St.
Charlene Naylor

Consumer Auto Parts
239 South St.
Davio Gerry

Extreme Auto Body, LLC
170 Main St.
Porfirio Santiago

Hobby Lobby Creative Center
50 Holyoke St.
Lisa Q. Ley

Kim’s Nail Salon, LLC
98 Lower Westfield Road
Kimchi Huynh

Nextdine, LLC
330 Whitney Ave.
Gregg Hartman

Star Dancer’s Unity
671 High St.
Alexcelin Saldana

NORTHAMPTON

Born Perfect
72 Center St.
Jaye McElroy

Center for Healthy Bones
766 North King St.
Mary P. Roy

Community Substance Abuse Center
297 Pleasant St.
Matthew Davis

Heart House Studio
68 Cherry St.
Kendra Rosenblatt

Purple Run for a Cure
33 Liberty St.
Thomas McCusker

Push Public
2 Conz St.
Mauricio Abascal

Repair Collective
20 Linden St.
Timothy McNevney

SOUTHWICK

ABC Masonary & Waterproofing
32 North Longyard Road
David Turner

BD Bookkeeping
27 Honey Pot Rd.
Brian Deslauriers

FJ Auctions
58 Fred Jackson Road
Francis Jacquier

The Crack Man
13 Ed Holcomb Road
Ian Dudek

SPRINGFIELD

Lilly’s Closet
33 Fairhaven Dr.
Tonya Foggs

Mass Elite Dance Team
431 White St.
Tyrone Humphries

Mass Mobile Communication
542 Page Blvd.
Ismael Bernabel

Mei Management, LLC
90 Merrill Road
Mei N. Li

Mema’s II Family Childcare
45 Valley Road
Lakisha Marie

Mill Work Carpentry
125 Oakland St.
Jorge E. Gomez

Motivate-Educate-Graduate
79 Villa Parkway
Neel P. Abdul-Hameed

Mourad Hussein
435 Dwight St.
Hussein H. Mourad

MPS Solutions
22 Candice Circle
Christopher Decoteau

Nails Model
459 Main St.
Tran X. Nguyen

New England Landscaping
837 State St.
Chauncy Rayvon

New England Wholesalers
724 Page Blvd.
Carlos G. Dias

Olympus House
280 Sumner Ave.
Michael Schneider

Oriental Mini Market
405 Dickinson St.
Hiep Q. Ngo

Pioneer Valley Electrolysis
1188 Parker St.
Dawna L. Brisebois

Professional Handy Services
25 Barnet St.
Robert V. Tyler

Punderson Oil
80 Hannon St.
Suburban Heating Oil

R.E.D. Roofing
53 Bristol St.
Ruben Gonzalez

Rosario’s Junk Removal
60 Glenwood St.
Carlos Rosario

Samuel Cardona
31 Wilton St.
Samuel Cardona

Sherwin-Williams Company
670 Boston Road
Scott Sikon

Springfield Donuts Inc.
1761 Allen St.
Derek Salema

Talco CNC Solutions
34 Front St.
Thomas A. LeMay

Targeted Biostrategies
106 Bellevue Ave.
Merribeth J. Morin

The Detail Shop
36 Amity Court
Jeremiah Nolan

The Last Detail Complete
23 Morgan St.
Angel L. Torres

Tom Tom Painting
151 Forest Park Ave.
Thomas E. Sattal

Tyler John Inc.
28 Verge St.
Samuel J. Wilson

Universal Real Estate Services
115 State St.
Daniel D. Kelly

Visionary Investments
49 Daviston St.
Jonathan Thurrott

Visual Memories
102 Elm St.
Shannon Cigal

Western MA Marketing
903 St. James Ave.
Mary K. Garvey

Whip City Pool & Spa Service
31 Valley View Dr.
Jeffrey P. Roberts

Writeturn
161 Newhouse St.
Valentino Larese Jr.

WESTFIELD

551 Salon
551 North Road
Gay K. Smith

Comfort Air
21 Barbara St.
Vladimir F. Lesnik

D & D Cleaning Services
322 Papermill Road
Deborah A. Gaudette

Dynamic Fitness
77 Mill St.
Daniel Oleksak

Frugal Fashionista Consignment
1029 North Road
Jean-Marie Aubin

Humacao Auto Detailing & Floors
507 Southampton Road
Angel Villanueva

L.C. Landscaping & Property Maintenance
291 Russellville Road
Leroy Clink

Letourneau & Sons Painting
30 Crown St.
William R. Letourneau

Squid Decals
30 Bush St.
Emily Anton

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Best Painters
19 Hill St.
Daniel Santiago

Caspian Transportation
34 Craig Dr.
Seymur Musayev

Fab 247
51 Van Deene Ave.
Vanessa M. Jackson

Glam Buttons
19 Wishing Well Way
Renee Reed

J & L Medical Services
201 Park Ave.
John Loyer

Max Enterprises
35 Prospect St.
Cuong Le

Natural Nails
244 Memorial Ave.
Cam Pham

Premier Coaching
946 Amostown Road
Meiron George

The A.P. Sabourin Studio
51 Ridgeview Road
Andrew P. Sabourin

Guest Perspective

By BusinessWest Staff April 23, 2013

Opinion

What Would Horace Moses Do?

At one time, Horace Moses may have been best known as the president of the Strathmore Paper Co. in West Springfield, but his legacy is much bigger than that.
In 1919, Moses founded Junior Achievement, the worldwide financial training program for young people. Growing up on his family’s farm, Moses acquired the habits of fiscal responsibility and entrepreneurship. He not only worked the fields, but networked with a variety of business owners to sell the farm’s products.
Moses was quick to learn that through hard work, determination, and ambition, one can achieve the American Dream. His philosophy wasn’t limited to personal gain, however. Moses donated his time and wealth to a variety of worthwhile causes. One initiative close to his heart was ensuring that children develop the skills to secure their own economic success. It was this goal that led Moses and Theodore Vail, president of American Telephone & Telegraph to found Junior Achievement right here in Western Massachusetts.
Today, JA is the world’s largest organization dedicated to educating students about workforce readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy through experiential, hands-on programs. Although born of humble beginnings on the Big E fairgrounds, JA reaches more than 4 million students each year across the United States, and another 6 million in countries around the world. JA’s volunteer-delivered K-12 programs help prepare students for the real world by showing them how to effectively manage their finances, generate wealth, and help build robust communities.
Moses and Vail realized the importance of teaching young people that thrift, economy, and industry are necessary to sustain the American vision. Almost 100 years later, nothing has changed.
Each year, roughly 1.3 million students drop out of school. Each dropout costs society approximately $200,000 in lost tax revenue and government expenditures over his or her lifetime. The personal cost of dropping out of school isn’t just economic — there’s a psychological price, as well. As someone who’s gone from high school dropout to college graduate, I can tell you that being a dropout can be debilitating. The lack of skills eventually damages your self-confidence, resulting in a social paralysis. You feel trapped in your situation. You want to work, to achieve, but lack the foundation and support system to overcome your circumstance.
Horace Moses knew that it doesn’t have to be that way, and that by investing in our children we could help them become productive participants in our national economy.
Addressing the dropout population is only part of the solution. Approxinately 45% of today’s college graduates don’t have the skills to advance past an entry-level job. Managers at more than 53% of large companies and 67% of small companies say it’s difficult to recruit employees with the skills, training, and education their companies require. In time, this skills gap will invariably weaken our ability to compete in the global marketplace. Helping our children aspire to succeed is not only imperative to their own well-being, but to our own economic and entrepreneurial survival.
What would Horace Moses do in the face of today’s problems? He would commit his resources to find a solution. That’s why he co-founded Junior Achievement. JA supports youth development by fostering the spirit of entrepreneurship, and by instilling and modeling key business and work-readiness concepts such as leadership, teamwork, and critical thinking.
I encourage you to join me in following his example by making an investment in the youth of Western Mass. We don’t need to dedicate the time or resources Moses had at his disposal. We already have a structure, it just needs caring professionals, community leaders, and supporters. Find out how you can empower students to stay in school, develop the skills necessary for economic success, and live the life each of us hopes for for our own children.
Get involved with Junior Achievement of Western Mass., your local school system, or other worthwhile cause. You can change the direction of a generation. That’s what Horace Moses would do.

Thom Fox is the community outreach director at Cambridge Credit Counseling and vice chairman of Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts. He also serves as a start-up mentor at Valley Venture Mentors, member of the National Academy Foundation STEM-21 Advisory Board at Sci-Tech, and member of the Financial Stability Network of Hampden County; (413) 330-5254; [email protected].

In a Class by Itself

By BusinessWest Staff April 23, 2013

Commercial Real Estate Sections

Northampton Commercial Real Estate Market Remains Resilient

Patrick Goggins, owner of Goggins Real Estate, says the resiliency of the Northampton commercial real estate market is no accident — it results from the city’s welcoming atmosphere.

John Williamson says Northampton has a magnetic quality that draws a broad spectrum of people to its businesses, restaurants, retail shops, and entertainment venues. And that quality has allowed commercial real estate not only to weather the economic downturn, but register unprecedented growth over the past two years.
“It’s so far and away from other markets, there really is no comparison,” said the president of Williamson Commercial Properties LLC in Springfield.
Steve Jasinski agrees. “The Northampton area seems to have been isolated from the downturn in the economy, it didn’t suffer the same pitfalls that occurred in other areas,” said the broker at Delap Real Estate LLC in Northampton and Amherst, explaining that the city’s economic and social diversity, strong employment base, and unique character of its downtown have provided a formula for success that is reflected in the value of commercial property.
But Patrick Goggins, owner of Goggins Real Estate in Florence, who has been in this business for more than 40 years, says the steadiness of the market is no accident. Instead, it results from a collective commitment on the part of business owners who have devoted time, energy, and thought to creating an atmosphere that is personal and welcoming to visitors.
He told BusinessWest the reason for Northampton’s success is fairly simple. “People are doing their own thing, but many businesses on Main Street are run and managed by owners who are here day in and day out. It adds a personal touch, which brings with it personal attention and gives them a better chance of succeeding and understanding the community and its needs. They know that connecting the dots is important, so they are a very active group, and when they see something is needed, they pitch in.”
Officials at Smith College have also joined forces with business owners to keep downtown vibrant, and have played a significant role in its financial success. “The town and gown works well here,” Goggins said, adding that the college has supported the Chamber of Commerce, Business Improvement District, Academy of Music, the new fire station under construction, and other organizations that play a role in the city’s unfalteringly robust economic climate.

Brokers John Williamson, left, and Steve Jasinski say downtown Northampton offers people a place to shop and dine in an intimate, personal setting.

Jasinski said the five colleges and the fact that many Smith College graduates choose to return to the area, adds to the vitality.
“People leave here and talk about the diversity of Northampton — we’re known throughout the country and you can go to different parts of the world and mention the city and people recognize the name,” he noted. “But people have been key to its success and keep the economy going.”
Downtown and King Street are home to most of the commercial real estate, and two new banks, three car dealerships and other businesses recently opened their doors or are under construction on King Street. “It’s our commercial strip,” Jasinski explained. “And it isn’t just growing, it’s booming.”
Williamson agrees, and points to new developments such as Northampton Crossing, (the former Hill and Dale Mall), which sat vacant for about 20 years, but was purchased two years ago and is being re-developed into medical offices and retail shops. “King Street plays an important role in the balance of the Northampton commercial market,” he said.
Signs of vitality can also be seen at the gateway to the city, which officials designate as the area off Exit 18 from I-91 near the Clarion Hotel. A new 30,000-square-foot office building was completed there about a year ago.
“It was fully leased three months later,” said Williamson, adding that a second, similarly sized building is under construction. “There is not another office market anywhere in Western Mass that has this amount of positive absorption.”

New Frontiers
Goggins said that when he was a student at UMass Amherst, the businesses in downtown Northampton existed to serve the needs of the local community.
“In the late 60s, there were five men’s clothing shops and five hardware stores downtown,” he recalled, adding that the marketplace catered to men.
Fast forward to the early ’70s, when Fitzwilly’s restaurant opened and proved that it was possible to have a business that could cater to both college students and their parents.
“It was a new marketing concept for the area,” Goggins said, noting that it was the catalyst that changed the complexion of the downtown landscape. “But the interesting part is that it was not something that was promoted or orchestrated. There was no magic plan; it just evolved naturally through entrepreneurship. But it took people with nerve to open businesses here.”
In time, it became fashionable to have an office downtown, which led to a demand for housing there, Goggins recalled.
Jasinski said the large number of residences in and around Main Street contribute to the economy and strength of the city. “One of the key components to the success of downtown is that it is a neighborhood,” he told BusinessWest.
However, Goggins said the character of the buildings has remained the same for generations. He noted that in the mid ’70s the city council voted 5-4 against urban renewal at a time when other communities were embracing it and knocking down buildings in blighted areas.
“It was a very, very important vote and presented the base from where we have grown,” Goggins said. So, although apartments and condominiums were carved out of underutilized space on the upper floors of buildings, “they never changed architecturally, although they have been enhanced.”
He cites education as the primary economic driver in the city and said it has been a steadying force.
Jasinski concurs, and adds healthcare to the conversation. “We have great employers here, and jobs create a strong economy,” he said, as he talked about the five colleges and Cooley Dickinson Hospital. “And anyone who comes to Northampton seems to fall in love with the city due to our diversity, uniqueness, and the warmth of the community. You can walk down Main Street to Smith College and go through the gardens and greenhouse and around Paradise Pond. There is a lot to do and people are key to the success of the economy as they keep it going.”
It is also significant that rents have not risen significantly. “I am renting some spaces for the same price per square foot that they went for 10 years ago,” Goggins said.
But that doesn’t mean they are low. Downtown rents range from $25 to $40 per square foot, with locations closest to Thornes Market on Main Street capturing the high end of the market.
“The average is about $25 per square foot, which is comparable to what you would find in much larger cities,” Goggins said. “There isn’t even a close comparison anywhere else in the area.”

Changing Landscape
King Street is experiencing rapid commercial growth due to zoning changes instituted two years ago. “It was the only area where there was available land, but it was not conducive to commercial development so in the past people couldn’t take advantage of it,” Goggins said.
The change resulted from efforts on the part of the City Planning Department, the chamber, a group of residents, and a number of individuals, including Goggins, to position that area for growth.
Since that time, auto dealerships and other businesses have sprung up and continue to grow. “There are really only two parcels left that are right for development,” Goggins said. “The growth there has been a real eye opener for people.”
Williamson said King Street plays an important role in the balance of Northampton’s commercial market and allows institutions such as banks to have drive-up windows, something that’s not possible downtown. “There are two new auto dealerships under construction and Baystate Medical Center plans to have a medical clinic at Northampton Crossing. Most of the space there has already been pre-leased,” he said.
Another development that has been well received is the River Valley Co-op at the extreme north end of King Street. “It does a really bustling business,” Williamson said.
Goggins told BusinessWest that the city Planning Department is also interested in developing the corridor off Exit 18 on I-91. Cooley Dickinson Hospital is one of the primary tenants in the new office building there, and he expects the site that is under construction to be dominated by medical offices.
Meanwhile, property on Village Hill, built on the grounds of the former Northampton State Hospital, has also been in demand. L-3 KEO (formerly Kollmorgen) relocated there from King Street, a boutique hotel is being created in a building that once housed male attendants at the state hospital, and 9,000 square feet in a new 12,000-square-foot office building under construction are already under lease.
Goggins played a role in the revitalization, and said 150 of the 300 housing units planned for the site are complete and there are plans for several more buildings, which will contain a combination of office, industrial, and retail space.
The site is only three quarters of a mile from downtown, and although most tenants and building owners have been downtown for a long time, real estate opportunities do exist. The building on Main Street that housed the Mountain Goat is for sale, and a building across the street was recently sold to an individual who plans to renovate it.
“There is a lot of demand for property to lease as well as buy,” Jasinski said, adding that businesses often open on side streets, then add a second location on Main Street or eventually move there.
But real estate doesn’t come cheap. “A high end multi-tenant building in downtown Springfield that was fully occupied recently sold for $41.25 per square foot, where a similar building in Northampton would cost in excess of $200 per square foot,” Williamson said. “That really illustrates the difference between the Northampton market and other central area district markets. But the amount of availability is just about perfect, and there is just the right amount of churn. There is not so much vacancy that it is a deterrent to the market, but there is enough to satisfy the requirements of businesses as they come into Northampton for the first time.”

Bright Outlook
Williamson said the demand for commercial space indicates there will be a need for additional construction in the city. “The future bodes well for continued office development, and people can expect to see the announcement of other developments in the next year. Plus, values on Main Street will continue to appreciate at very respectable rates,” he predicted.
Goggins agreed. “The image of Northampton is consistent as it is an oasis that people like to come to,” he said. “So, the value of property has held up, which is an indication of how solid the community is. It has been able to prosper and ride out the cyclical downturns because the real estate market is directly related to the perception of Northampton from the outside in.”
Which continues to be a magnetic force that lures visitors from the local area and beyond.

For Sale, for Lease

By BusinessWest Staff April 23, 2013

Commercial Real Estate Sections

A listing of available commercial real estate

Click here to download the PDF

Real Estate Transactions

By BusinessWest Staff April 23, 2013

Departments Real Estate

The following real estate transactions (latest available) were compiled by Banker & Tradesman and are published as they were received. Only transactions exceeding $115,000 are listed. Buyer and seller fields contain only the first name listed on the deed.

FRANKLIN COUNTY

BERNARDSTON

167 West Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $279,000
Buyer: Scudder Bay Capital LLC
Seller: Thomas R. Scott
Date: 03/21/13

BUCKLAND

18 Orcutt Hill Road
Buckland, MA 01338
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Mark A. Amstein
Seller: Mark E. Pichette
Date: 03/20/13

70 Upper St.
Buckland, MA 01338
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Luarie M. Benoit
Seller: FNMA
Date: 03/15/13

CHARLEMONT

215 Main St.
Charlemont, MA 01339
Amount: $184,500
Buyer: Jodi M. Tanguay
Seller: Robert M. Gritzner
Date: 03/11/13

DEERFIELD

4 Braeburn Road
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $135,200
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Helan E. Page
Date: 03/18/13

34 Mathews Road
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Jaime Recore
Seller: Tsay F. Jenn
Date: 03/21/13

GREENFIELD

103 Burnham Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Carrie H. Dubino
Seller: Morrison, Helen D. (Estate)
Date: 03/18/13

340 Chapman St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Comfort Mechanical Inc.
Seller: RAM Construction LLC
Date: 03/18/13

106 Conway St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $141,000
Buyer: Darry C. Madden
Seller: Paul Ferrini
Date: 03/18/13

24 Linden Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Joshua S. Breitner
Seller: Gibson INT
Date: 03/15/13

54 Oak Hill Acres
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $202,000
Buyer: Terrence P. Monahan
Seller: US Bank NA
Date: 03/22/13

4 Spring Terrace
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $147,000
Buyer: David A. Wemhoener
Seller: US Bank
Date: 03/21/13

44 Verde Dr.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Greenfield Coop Bank
Seller: Scott McCoy
Date: 03/15/13

MONTAGUE

41 Millers Falls Road
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $159,900
Buyer: Michelle L. Lefebvre
Seller: Elizebeth A. Prasol-Tyler
Date: 03/15/13

WARWICK

91 Hastings Heights Road
Warwick, MA 01378
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: John W. Bradford
Seller: Michael J. Matilainen
Date: 03/14/13

95 Shepardson Road
Warwick, MA 01378
Amount: $132,822
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Patrick F. Warner
Date: 03/12/13

WHATELY

48 Claverack Road
Whately, MA 01373
Amount: $193,670
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Michael S. Snyder
Date: 03/19/13

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

16 Belle St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Maryna A. Shalypina
Seller: David P. McDonough
Date: 03/18/13

279 Maynard St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $202,000
Buyer: Sean P. Burke
Seller: Torino, Barbara G. (Estate)
Date: 03/15/13

17 Stevenson Lane
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Drew J. Smith
Seller: Alan R. Gates
Date: 03/20/13

33 Zacks Way
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Margaret A. McCarthy RET
Seller: T. Russo Construction Corp.
Date: 03/19/13

CHICOPEE

3 Elizabeth St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Norman P. Avey
Seller: Kenneth R. Riverin
Date: 03/22/13

63 Farmington St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $144,500
Buyer: Erick Vazquez
Seller: Doris B. Raney
Date: 03/13/13

155 Holyoke Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $253,000
Buyer: Regina L. Lecours
Seller: Karen R. Fontaine
Date: 03/22/13

25 Juliette St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $177,000
Buyer: James T. Griffin
Seller: Petro Boyko
Date: 03/15/13

20 Olivine St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Gabriel M. Liaigre
Seller: Juliette A. Guertin
Date: 03/22/13

23 Olivine St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Miriam A. Santiago
Seller: Andre Houle
Date: 03/15/13

68 State St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $125,500
Buyer: Pedro L. Olivo
Seller: Arthur Ladue
Date: 03/15/13

23 Sunset Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $188,900
Buyer: Trever J. Cardaropoli
Seller: Ashtons Acquisitions LLC
Date: 03/13/13

EAST LONGMEADOW

175 Braeburn Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: James M. Adcock
Seller: Roosevelt Hill LLC
Date: 03/18/13

55 John St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Neil J. Maloney
Seller: Norman Bolton
Date: 03/12/13

71 Wood Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $162,500
Buyer: Christina M. Fiore
Seller: Stone Financing LLC
Date: 03/22/13

HAMPDEN

134 Glendale Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Jamie L. Shepard
Seller: Richard C. Armida
Date: 03/22/13

283 Somers Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $850,000
Buyer: Craig J. Morel
Seller: Charles P. McCarthy
Date: 03/21/13

HOLLAND

130 Mashapaug Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Holland RT
Seller: David L. Hansen
Date: 03/12/13

154 Mashapaug Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: James H. Gagne
Seller: Richard E. Hoyt
Date: 03/14/13

HOLYOKE

355 Chestnut St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Shamika Santos
Seller: Holyoke Housing Authority
Date: 03/15/13

357 Chestnut St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Ana S. Perez
Seller: Holyoke Housing Authority
Date: 03/12/13

12 Crescent St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Barbieri Realty LLC
Seller: Stephen F. Bakos
Date: 03/22/13

284 High St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $143,700
Buyer: Betty Kaplowitz
Seller: Samantha J. Mjenzi
Date: 03/15/13

LONGMEADOW

62 Bliss Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Corinne Ewing
Seller: Robert M. Thomas
Date: 03/19/13

68 Fairhill Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $309,600
Buyer: Daniel F. O’Malley
Seller: Bank of America NA
Date: 03/12/13

621 Maple Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $176,000
Buyer: Gordon E. Deshaw
Seller: Tatyana Shvakhman
Date: 03/11/13

244 Overbrook Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $790,000
Buyer: Gregory S. Schneider
Seller: Denis V. Laflamme
Date: 03/12/13

450 Pinewood Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $152,000
Buyer: Leo Judge
Seller: Louis Durkin
Date: 03/11/13

7 Porter Lake Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $271,100
Buyer: Alison E. McDonough
Seller: Kenneth W. Moffett
Date: 03/12/13

Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Kenneth S. Ross
Seller: Mary L. Mehrtens
Date: 03/11/13

10 Wildwood Glenn
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $340,500
Buyer: Alesia H. Days
Seller: Robert J. Greeley
Date: 03/14/13

LUDLOW

145 Booth St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Henrique Baltazar
Seller: Antonio Fernandes
Date: 03/22/13

114 Chapin St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Arlindo Valadares
Seller: Bernadette Bourbeau
Date: 03/22/13

Cislak Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $152,000
Buyer: Paul R. Dias
Seller: Andrew Tomaszewski
Date: 03/13/13

135 Fuller St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Bruno A. Coelho
Seller: Tina M. Pellegrini
Date: 03/15/13

43 Manor Lane
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Jeremy M. Laduke
Seller: Timothy E. Moriarty
Date: 03/18/13

33 Marion Circle
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $182,000
Buyer: Jennifer L. Luszcz
Seller: Andrea D. Leite
Date: 03/18/13

266 Miller St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $145,664
Buyer: Vantium Reo Capital Mark
Seller: James H. Houle
Date: 03/11/13

40 Minechoag Hts.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $253,500
Buyer: Domingos G. Barroso
Seller: Jose A. Aguiar
Date: 03/20/13

126 Nash Hill Road
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $229,600
Buyer: Leslaw G. Jasinski
Seller: Bruno A. Coelho
Date: 03/15/13

15 Philip St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $209,000
Buyer: Michael E. Pietras
Seller: Jeffrey S. Pietras
Date: 03/12/13

MONSON

53 Bunyan Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $402,000
Buyer: Richard C. Armida
Seller: Roger W. Barnes
Date: 03/22/13

17 Crest Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Laurent R. McDonald
Seller: Michael A. Foster
Date: 03/22/13

32 Zuell Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Robert L. Carlson
Seller: Wini C. Findon
Date: 03/20/13

PALMER

119 North St.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Michael V. Critelli
Seller: Jeffrey A. Sansoucy
Date: 03/15/13

SOUTHWICK

1 Brookview Dr.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: William H. Berthiaume
Seller: Todd M. Wilson
Date: 03/15/13

11 Maple St.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Brittany N. Castagna
Seller: Revampit LLC
Date: 03/15/13

68 Mort Vining Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Terrence J. Welch
Seller: Terrence J. Welch
Date: 03/14/13

SPRINGFIELD

252 Corcoran Blvd.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $148,400
Buyer: Terrance O’Connell
Seller: Christopher G. Valiquette
Date: 03/11/13

99 Dewitt St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $152,500
Buyer: Claudia S. Ribeiro
Seller: Glenn M. Spadoni
Date: 03/14/13

267 Edendale St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $123,000
Buyer: Amy F. Broderick
Seller: Stephen B. Rose
Date: 03/15/13

46 Gates Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Kyle Chase
Seller: Patricia H. Clancey
Date: 03/15/13

57 Gilbert Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Philip S. Cruz
Seller: Elaine C. Graham
Date: 03/18/13

11 Jefferson Ave.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $132,500
Buyer: Maria A. Colon
Seller: North End Housing Initiative Inc
Date: 03/18/13

14 Jennings St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Deyanira M. Garcia
Seller: Kenneth Fitzgibbon
Date: 03/12/13

59 Laurence St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $173,936
Buyer: TD Bank NA
Seller: James J. Marrin
Date: 03/14/13

188 Mallowhill Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Orlando S. Rosado
Seller: Natalie S. Thomas
Date: 03/13/13

28 Methuen St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $134,000
Buyer: Nelson D. Otero
Seller: James W. Fiore
Date: 03/12/13

9 Montcalm St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: KAC Props. LLC
Seller: Shu Cheng
Date: 03/22/13

308 Orange St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Rafael Vargas
Seller: Marth E. LLC
Date: 03/21/13

41 Portulaca Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Brian Wood
Seller: Ricardo Gomez
Date: 03/15/13

58 Senator St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $174,000
Buyer: David Deshais
Seller: Deborah M. Tracy
Date: 03/21/13

5 Squire Lane
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $186,000
Buyer: Luis A. Gonzalez
Seller: Douglas D. Smith
Date: 03/18/13

258 Stapleton Road
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Enyoc Inv. Props. LLC
Seller: Benjamin M. Coyle
Date: 03/15/13

33 Thorndyke St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $122,000
Buyer: Robert J. Tudryn
Seller: Matthew H. Ferri
Date: 03/11/13

13 Treetop Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $227,059
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Jeannette Cortes
Date: 03/14/13

1241 Worcester St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Richard J. Mack
Seller: Luis N. Costa
Date: 03/22/13

WEST Springfield

95 Birnie Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Christopher W. Welch
Seller: Walter Zabik
Date: 03/14/13

297 Morgan Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank NA
Seller: Barbara A. Boothe
Date: 03/11/13

42 Oakland St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Deutsche Bank
Seller: Gary P. Moakler
Date: 03/15/13

764 Riverdale St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: John Huang
Seller: Barcomb Trowbridge 6714
Date: 03/15/13

72 Summit St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Jonathan Rosado
Seller: Sergey Savonin
Date: 03/14/13

WESTFIELD

43 Cross St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $175,250
Buyer: Kostyantyn Kozhushok
Seller: Mary A. Chamberland
Date: 03/15/13

40 Maple Terrace
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $153,000
Buyer: Ashley R. Diduk
Seller: Susan E. Hentnick
Date: 03/11/13

9 Palma Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $270,500
Buyer: Lisa M. Wirth
Seller: Tina G. Lemire
Date: 03/15/13

168 Prospect St., Ext.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $173,703
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Walter F. Osowski
Date: 03/12/13

54 Orange St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: David C. Fazzino
Seller: Anatoliy Kulyak
Date: 03/22/13

54 Otis St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $124,000
Buyer: Pamela A. Bain
Seller: Askins, Michael (Estate)
Date: 03/18/13

94 Sandy Hill Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $163,000
Buyer: Jacqueline M. Ayr
Seller: Jeffrey S. White
Date: 03/14/13

120 West Silver St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $269,925
Buyer: Elizabeth A. Butcher
Seller: Stephen C. Strebel
Date: 03/21/13

Whitaker Road #3
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Keith M. Richards
Seller: Eric F. Laizer
Date: 03/12/13

57 Woodcliff Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Jeffrey S. White
Seller: William D. Murray
Date: 03/14/13

WILBRAHAM

36 Burleigh Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $228,000
Buyer: Jon A. Rich
Seller: Susan M. Barnes
Date: 03/22/13

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

38 Lessey St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $348,000
Buyer: Leslie Dubinsky
Seller: Timothy B. Soules
Date: 03/11/13

36 Morgan Circle
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $359,900
Buyer: E. S. Hopton
Seller: Servicenet Inc.
Date: 03/12/13

203 Rolling Ridge Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Daiheng Ni
Seller: Leonard Strauss
Date: 03/18/13

BELCHERTOWN

234 Barton Ave.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Bryan F. Hauschild
Seller: Dahila Dev. Ltd
Date: 03/19/13

111 Daniel Shays Hwy.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Beverly M. Jackson
Seller: Summer Hill Estates Development LLC
Date: 03/19/13

396 Rockrimmon St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $229,000
Buyer: Lindsay Lacoille
Seller: Andrew J. Deren
Date: 03/15/13

151 Sargent St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $174,900
Buyer: Christopher D. Carlson
Seller: Jesse A. Ritter
Date: 03/15/13
40 South Main St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $307,000
Buyer: Kenneth H. Pincince
Seller: Lou A. Sirois
Date: 03/20/13

CHESTERFIELD

17 Farmhouse Road
Chesterfield, MA 01012
Amount: $254,000
Buyer: Elizabeth A. Slona
Seller: Joan E. Slowick
Date: 03/15/13

270 Main Road
Chesterfield, MA 01012
Amount: $219,900
Buyer: Sherry D. Quimet
Seller: Michael L. Welch
Date: 03/19/13

EASTHAMPTON

25 Brook St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Jesse S. Harrison
Seller: Robert B. Riggs
Date: 03/15/13

25 Meadowbrook Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $218,750
Buyer: Shane M. Calabrese
Seller: Alice P. Linnell
Date: 03/15/13

49 Ridgewood Terrace
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Laura F. Arbeitman
Seller: Steven Hawley
Date: 03/22/13

GOSHEN

197 South Chesterfield Road
Goshen, MA 01032
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Mary E. Witt
Seller: Thomas J. Fitzell
Date: 03/22/13

GRANBY

164 West St.
Granby, MA 01033
Buyer: Stephen F. Marion
Seller: Mitchell, Ruth E. (Estate)
Date: 03/11/13

HADLEY

70 Chmura Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $562,500
Buyer: Bhavnaben S. Parmar
Seller: Laxman Parmar
Date: 03/11/13

325 Rocky Hill Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: 325 Rocky Hill LLC
Seller: James Aronson
Date: 03/22/13

117 Russell St.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Dennis J. Hukowicz
Seller: Edward J. Hukowicz
Date: 03/21/13

HATFIELD

151 Elm St.
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Jeffrey G. Zgrodnik
Seller: Sadie H. Kochan
Date: 03/12/13

NORTHAMPTON

69 Brookwood Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $193,800
Buyer: Ronald K. Bachang
Seller: Tina Gagne
Date: 03/20/13

90 Haydenville Road
Northampton, MA 01053
Amount: $396,000
Buyer: SSTT LLC
Seller: Pierre R. Brisson
Date: 03/20/13

203 King St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $1,998,176
Buyer: G&G Real Estate Inv. LLC
Seller: Taco Bell of America LLC
Date: 03/15/13

23 Lilly St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: May C. Chan
Seller: H. G. Labrage
Date: 03/15/13

57 Longview Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Robert M. Kuzmeski
Seller: Kuzmeski IRT
Date: 03/21/13

28 Maple Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Mark A. Sayre
Seller: Louise Farrelly
Date: 03/22/13

219 North Main St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $136,140
Buyer: Jonna Sciacca
Seller: Florence Savings Bank
Date: 03/20/13

18 Powell St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $188,000
Buyer: William A. Hansen
Seller: Dale W. Aldrich
Date: 03/15/13

SOUTH HADLEY

7 Joan St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $186,500
Buyer: Claude D. Lambert
Seller: Jane H. Bubnis
Date: 03/11/13

31 Lincoln Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $152,500
Buyer: Michael C. Cote
Seller: Jeffrey W. Jenks
Date: 03/18/13

32 Lorraine Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $168,200
Buyer: Kevin M. Quesnel
Seller: Michaeline S. Davidson
Date: 03/15/13

3 Pleasant St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $164,000
Buyer: Sheila D. Pennell
Seller: Pleasant St. South Hadley NT
Date: 03/22/13

5 Skinner Lane
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $299,000
Buyer: Terry W. Monkaba
Seller: Mary J. Kocot
Date: 03/15/13

SOUTHAMPTON

104 Gunn Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $405,000
Buyer: William A. Tormey
Seller: James F. Boyle
Date: 03/15/13

8 Jonathan Judd Circle
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $198,000
Buyer: Ashton Acquisitions LLC
Seller: Barry J. Sullivan
Date: 03/22/13

81 Russellville Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Jason T. Millay
Seller: Ann M. Sarafin
Date: 03/15/13

5 Sara Lane
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Pawel J. Robak
Seller: Edward H. Gwinner
Date: 03/15/13

117 White Loaf Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Olla N. Al-Shalchi
Seller: Czelusniak Custom Homes
Date: 03/15/13

WARE

290 Osborne Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $205,900
Buyer: Jennifer L. Bernier
Seller: Richard B. Rose
Date: 03/21/13

WILLIAMSBURG

18 Fort Hill Road
Williamsburg, MA 01039
Amount: $430,000
Buyer: Michael M. Ban
Seller: Carl W. Rohrberg
Date: 03/22/13

Bankruptcies

By BusinessWest Staff April 23, 2013

Bankruptcies Departments

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

Agapov, Sergei
7 Danielle Dr.
Palmer, MA 01069
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/18/13

Archuleta, David A.
70 Sroka Lane
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/18/13

Ayala, Yolanda
31 Oswego 4B
Springfield, MA 01105
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/25/13

Beaudry, Matthew C.
11 Parsons St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/29/13

Brown, Stephen J.
Brown, Melissa S.
216 Pleasant St.
Orange, MA 01364
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/25/13

Caldwell, Ora H.
39B North Main St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/21/13

Campbell, Eileen
339 Newton St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/20/13

Carrasquillo, Jorge L.
Carrasquillo, Adelaida
35 Driftwood Road
Springfield, MA 01128
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/18/13

Castro, Jason Michael
12 Chmura St., Apt. D
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/29/13

Charest, Todd Michael
Charest, Kimberly Lynn
a/k/a Thoren, Kimberly L.
a/k/a Norton, Kimberly
201 Dorset St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/22/13

Cintron, Alexandra R.
a/k/a Barros, Alexandra
a/k/a Cintron, Alexandra Rocio
2 Monmouth St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/22/13

Colvin, Beverly M.
400 Allen Park Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/27/13

Corbett Home Improvement
Corbett, Edward T.
4 Reed St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/20/13

Daniels, Sarajane
a/k/a Hubley, Sarajane
P.O. Box 108
Montague, MA 01351
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/26/13

Davidovich, Veronica Jean
a/k/a Lees, Veronica
404 Southwick Road #25
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/22/13

Dean, Brandi L.
1231 North Hoosac Road, Apt. 302
Williamstown, MA 01267
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/26/13

DeSouza, Lorraine R.
18 Dalton Place
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/28/13

Dubuque, Christopher D.
Dubuque, Brenda M.
a/k/a Lanney, Brenda M.
108 Nelson St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/19/13

Earle, Diana C.
10 Riley Switch Road
Phillipston, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/26/13

Encarnacion, Mayra D.
206 Pearl St., Apt. 4
Springfield, MA 01105
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/20/13

English, Patricia A.
25-27 Van Ness St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/18/13

ERA Classics Real Estate
Weber, Sheila R.
48 Jefferson St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/19/13

Feliciano, Edwin J.
Feliciano, Chang San
20 Arlington St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/27/13

Fortier, Ronny E.
81 Conz St.
Apartment 608
Northampton, MA 01060
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/27/13

Fortunato Entertainment
Fortunato, John Francis
170 Parkerview St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/29/13

Gamble, Tracy M.
a/k/a Steadman, Tracy M.
37 West St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/26/13

Garrafa, Evelyn
25 Judson St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/20/13

Guarnera, Jessica L.
62 Searles St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/18/13

Illig, Brenda K.
52 Yvette St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/22/13

Johnson, Jessica C.
78 Price St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/20/13

Jones, Crystal L.
33 Eckington St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/29/13

Kalagher, Erin Marie
100 Hillside Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/20/13

Kaminski, Keith K.
74 Breakneck Road
Sturbridge, MA 01566
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/19/13

King, Kathleen R.
117 Leitch St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/19/13

Leclerc, James T.
Ames-Leclerc, Tammy L.
340A Porter Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/22/13

Lightcap, John C.
114 Lantern Lane
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/20/13

Lucky Charm Daycare
Stebbins, Dennis P.
Stebbins, Elizabeth J.
220 Arcade St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/18/13

MacKay, Judith Ann
115 Brookside Circle
Florence, MA 01062
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/19/13

Maruco, Bryce J.
45 North St., 2nd Fl.
North Adams, MA 01247
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/21/13

Matos, Janet
68 Savoy St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/28/13

Moran, William P.
Moran, Kathleen F.
655 West Cherry St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/29/13

Murphy, Mary Ann
577 Pinedale Ave.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/27/13

Muzzy, John Robert
98 Allston Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/26/13

Nash, Carole E.
a/k/a Yeramian, Carole
23 Claremont Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/20/13

Nguyen, Andy
P.O. Box 80342
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/29/13

O’Connor, Ellen B.
66 Harkness Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/27/13

Osborne, Bradford G.
181 Elm St., Apt. 12
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/27/13

Ouellette, Stephen
1 Darby Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/26/13

Peck, Jacqueline Nancy
35 Bald Mountain Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/26/13

Peffer, Theresa M.
20 Oak St.
Gill, MA 01354
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/29/13

Pellerin, Edward J.
54 Ball St.
Orange, MA 01364
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/25/13

Petersoli, Kimberly
331 Bradley St., Lot 1
Lee, MA 01238
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/27/13

Piubeni, Jeffrey S.
19 Pheasant Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/27/13

Pizarro, Aisha A.
Vazquez, Arleen E.
5 East Laramee Green Way
Indian Orchard, MA 01151
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/22/13

Powers, Rachel Irene
a/k/a Craig, Rachel Irene
1747 Carew St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/20/13

Reome, Chris
Reome, Deborah
414 Britton St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/19/13

Roberts, Kenneth J.
40 Wilson Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/18/13

Rodman, Todd E.
Rodman, Nancy J.
403 Pochassic Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/20/13

Rodriguez, Margarita
29 Wentworth St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/23/13

Romain, Tracy C.
PO Box 191898
Boston, MA 02119
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/18/13

Rusinque, Hector
Rusinque, Idalia
114 Hampden St.
Indian Orchard, MA 01151
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/22/13

Sanchez, Jessica
131 Meadow St., Rear
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/25/13

Sepulveda, William A.
Sepulveda, William B.
14 State St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/26/13

Serwanski, Ian R.
Serwanski, Susan A.
a/k/a Plouffe, Susan A.
24 Hilton St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/28/13

Shepardson, Robert J.
Shepardson, Margaret A.
2154 Main St
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/29/13

Smith, Gerard A.
6 Bates St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/22/13

Soto, Raymond L.
138 Jasper St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/25/13

Steadward, Gail M.
19 Sherwood St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/20/13

Sutter, Jason Lee
29 Worthy Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/19/13

Swan, Sarah F.
507 E. Main St.
Orange, MA 01364
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/20/13

The Charles E. Talbot Building
2071 Page Blvd.
Indian Orchard, MA 01151
Chapter: 11
Filing Date: 03/25/13

Thomas, Mary
a/k/a Fitzgerald, Mary
72 Chesterfield Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/19/13

Torres, Teresa P.
P.O. Box 208
Pittsfield, MA 01202
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/26/13

Velez, Epifanio
43 Davis St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/26/13

Wager, Jennifer R.
58 Livingston Ave.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/25/13

Wells, Kristi L.
124 Birch Grove Dr.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/21/13

Incorporations

By BusinessWest Staff April 23, 2013

Departments Incorporations

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

AGAWAM

New England Intermodal Services Inc., 57 Barn Road, Agawam, MA 01001. Cynthia Herring, same. Trucking company.

AMHERST

Notch Consulting Inc., 535 West St., Amherst, MA 01002. Paul Ita, same. Market research and consulting.

CHICOPEE

Kelly’s Inc., 621 Center St., Chicopee MA 01013. Leo Buono, 44 Oak Hollow Road, Springfield, MA 01128. Lounge.

Mija Inc., 95 Ward St., Chicopee, MA 01020. Michael Gibson, same. Adult entertainment web cam.

EASTHAMPTON

Molly Montgomery Painting Inc., 69 Pleasant St., Easthampton, MA 01027. Molly Montgomery, same. Painting.

GRANBY

M.R. Cote Inc., 71 Kendall St., Granby, MA 01033. Michael Cote, same. Electrical contracting and carpentry.

HADLEY

Mathematical Staircase Inc., 278 Bay Road, Hadley, MA 01035. Sarah-Marie Belcastro, same. To educate mathematically talented secondary and tertiary students.

HATFIELD

Jessica Marie Photography Inc., 22 North Hatfield Road, Hatfield, MA 01038. Jessica Marie Kacsenski, same. Photography service.

HOLYOKE

La Copa Inc., 447 Main St., Holyoke, MA. Aida Dejesus, 34 Britton St., Chicopee, MA 01020. Bar and restaurant.

Movimiento Pentecostal Poder Y Uncion, 77 Hamilton St., Holyoke, MA 01040. Organization of churches within the United States and abroad.

LUDLOW

JW Dobiecki Consulting Inc., 70 Applewood Dr., Ludlow, MA 01056. John Walter Dobiecki. Consulting services.

L&L Supply and Mechanical Inc., 399 Fuller St., Ludlow, MA 01056. Lindsay Lemek, 425 Fuller St., Ludlow, MA 01056. Equipment and materials for water and sewer mains.

MONSON

J & T Sisley Corporation, 194 Moulton Hill Road, Monson, MA 01057. Joan Lowbridge-Sisley, same. Information-technology consulting.

PALMER

M. Scott Construction Inc., 21 Wilbraham St., Office #203, Palmer, MA 01069. Michael Scott, 93 Hovey Road, Monson, MA 01057. Trucking and consulting.

PITTSFIELD

Jesters Inc., 35 Grant St., Pittsfield, MA 01201. Christina Gillette, same. Food services.

SPRINGFIELD

Julie’s Hollywood Café Inc., 374 Allen Park Road, Apt. 374, Springfield, MA 01118. Julie Ratzenberger, same. Food and beverage service — bar.

Karss Inc., 1324 Boston Road, Springfield, MA 01119. Muhammed Warasat, 30 Wyndward Road, Longmeadow, MA 01106. Restaurant.

Mamarazzi Photography Inc., 6 Kenway Dr., Springfield, MA 01104. Jacqueline Slattion, 83 McKinley Ave., Ludlow MA 01058. Photography.

Marden Homes Inc., 86 Milford St., Springfield, MA 01107. Marshal Walden, same. To buy repair and sell real estate.

Maroon Corporation, 78 Randolph St., Springfield, MA 01108. Brennan Tougias, same. Food service.

Newton Road Press Inc., 986 Allen St., Springfield, MA 01118. Daivd Karwoski, same. Books and written materials.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

New Era Inc., 39 Rochelle St., West Springfield, MA 01089. Arshad Imam, same. Gas station.

WESTFIELD

Jayco Manufacturing Inc., 121 Summit Lock Road, Suite #1, Westfield, MA 01085. Joseph Michonski, 86 Joseph Ave., Westfield, MA 01085. Manufacturing of precision aerospace parts for various local businesses.

New England Eating Disorders Alliance Inc., 7 Fairview St., Westfield, MA 01085. Viktoria Filev, same. To prevent eating disorders through education, awareness, and support in recovery.

Briefcase

By BusinessWest Staff April 23, 2013

Briefcase Departments

Volunteers to Renovate 25 Houses in One Day
SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield affiliate of Rebuilding Together has announced that a unique ‘cluster rebuild’ of 25 homes, all on contiguous streets in the Old Hill neighborhood of Springfield, will take place April 27, which is the organization’s National Rebuilding Day. The homes will be renovated with an eye on improved health and energy efficiency. About 1,000 volunteers will pour onto Tyler and Quincy streets to assist in the renovations, which will include a conversion from oil heat to natural gas, with street hookups included as an in-kind donation by Columbia Gas, as well as new and proper insulation of all homes and apartments. Other work to be undertaken includes new roofs, energy-efficient windows and doors, proper ventilation, painting, age-in-place modifications, electrical and plumbing repairs, CO2 and smoke detectors, deadbolt locks, vinyl siding and ramps, and outdoor work including yard cleanup, fencing, landscaping, and shrub and flower planting. Improvements will also be made to the neighborhood as a whole, including the fixup of a neighborhood playground, the creation of a community garden for growing fresh fruit and vegetables, improvements to the Old Hill Neighborhood Council office at Eastern Avenue and Quincy Street, and improvements to the Masonic Lodge on Tyler Street. TD Bank will sponsor a cookout on Tyler Street at the end of the day. Many of the families benefiting from the renovations have seen their share of hardship; one of the residences is Oscar and Carol Granado’s home at 163 Tyler St., where they have lived for 32 years and raised a family. Carol was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012, and Oscar is still working at age 72 to pay for health insurance to cover her medical costs. Donors and event sponsors are pitching in to get the Granados a new roof; electrical, carpentry, and plumbing repairs; mold removal; and an exterior facelift. “It’s great to see everybody happy,” Carol said of the neighborhood excitement surrounding the cluster rebuild. “Everyone is having things done that they can’t afford to get done, or can’t do themselves. We will never forget this day.” Rebuilding Together Springfield is in its 21st year of existence and completed the rebuilding of 71 homes in Springfield in the past year, with help from some 5,000 volunteers.

Company Notebook

By BusinessWest Staff April 23, 2013

Company Notebook Departments

Urgent Care of Wilbraham Opens Its Doors
WILBRAHAM — Urgent Care of Wilbraham, PC recently opened its doors at 2040 Wilbraham Road. The facility, owned and operated by Richard J. Freniere and Rock Jean-Guillaume, both board-certified emergency medicine physicians, provides professional medical care without an appointment. The clinic is equipped to handle a wide range of health-related issues, including aches and pains, allergies, asthma, bites and burns, bone injuries and fractures, cuts and laceration repairs, earaches, fevers, infections, pediatric illness, sprains and strains, sore throats, upper respiratory illnesses, vomiting and diarrhea, and other urgent illnesses or injuries. The facility is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, www.UrgentCareofWilbraham.com.

AIM Honors LENOX with Global Trade Award
EAST LONGMEADOW — The Associated Industries of Massachusetts International Business Council (AIM-IBC) announced that LENOX, based in East Longmeadow, is one of three winners of its18th annual Global Trade Awards, which recognize Massachusetts firms, institutions, and public agencies of all sizes that have demonstrated excellence in international trade. The other winners are Millipore, in Billerica, and Kinefac, in Worcester. The three companies will be honored at AIM’s 98th Annual Meeting on May 10 at the Waltham Westin Hotel. The event will include a keynote address by Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick. Originally known as the American Saw & Manufacturing Company, LENOX, winner of the Ambassador’s Award, has been a leader in premium-performance tools such as band saw blades and power tool accessories since its founding in 1915. LENOX counts 900 employees worldwide, including over 600 in Massachusetts. Nearly half of production is exported around the world, to China and Asia, Brazil and Latin America, and Europe. LENOX has continued to grow by understanding its customers’ needs and adapting its products and services for new industries in global markets. Over the past 10 years, LENOX has invested $100 million in new capital for its only manufacturing facility worldwide, located in East Longmeadow. The company has hired more than 120 people in Western Mass. in the past two years. LENOX is part of Newell Rubbermaid, the global marketer of consumer and commercial products. “Our Global Trade Award winners are exemplary Massachusetts businesses that don’t think in terms of boundaries or borders, but in terms of opportunity,” said Richard Lord, president and CEO of AIM. “Taking advantage of all that Massachusetts has to offer positions companies like our winners for exceptional global success.”

United Bank Foundation Awards $43,000 to Area Non-profits
WEST SPRINGFIELD — The United Bank Foundation announced recently that it has awarded $43,000 to 11 non-profit organizations in the Springfield region in its most recent round of funding. The grants covered a variety of programs and initiatives throughout the Springfield area:
• The foundation awarded $10,000, to be paid over two years, to Elms College in Chicopee toward the construction of a Center for Natural and Health Sciences;
• The Gateway Education Foundation Inc., based in Huntington, received a grant of $5,000 for its “Funds for Learning Program.” The program supports school projects that fall outside of the budgets of the seven schools in the Gateway school district;
• Human Resources Unlimited Inc. in Springfield received $5,000 for its Changing Habits Transforming Lives job readiness and placement program;
• WestMass Eldercare was awarded $5,000 to fund services for low- income elders in Holyoke, South Hadley, Chicopee, and surrounding areas;
• Junior Achievement (JA) of Western Massachusetts was awarded $4,000 to expand programs in Holyoke, Northampton, and East Longmeadow;
• The Western Mass. Council, Boy Scouts of America received $3,500 for the continuation, enhancement, and expansion of the Scoutreach programs in Springfield;
• In Holyoke, the Public Library received $2,500 from the foundation to support the month-long series “Holyoke Points of View” in April;
• Springfield Partners for Community Action was awarded $2,000 for its Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Earned Income Tax Credit Program for low income individuals;
• The Westfield Public Schools received $1,000 to fund the purchase of materials needed for the high school science fair and advancement to the regional and state finals.
• The foundation awarded $2,500 to World Is Our Classroom to fund the Westfield Manufacturing Education initiative at Mestek Inc., a collaboration with the Westfield Public Schools to offer fifth-grade students a hands-on application of science and technology in a real life manufacturing plant setting; and
• In West Springfield, the foundation awarded $2,500 to the high school to fund the purchase of the National Archery in Schools curriculum.
The United Bank Foundation has awarded more than $1.7 million in grants since it was established in 2005 as a permanent source of funding to benefit communities in United Bank’s market area. The Foundation board of directors meets quarterly to review requests submitted by 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in cities and towns served by United Bank branches. The foundation’s four primary funding areas of interest are education, health and human services, youth development and cultural programs. Foundation guidelines can be found online at bankatunited.com.

People On the Move

By BusinessWest Staff April 23, 2013

Departments People on the Move

Joseph Kulig

United Bank announced that Joseph Kulig has joined the bank as Vice President of Commercial Lending in the Springfield Region. Kulig has more than 20 years of commercial banking experience, most recently as relationship manager with TDBank in Springfield. Previously, he served as a commercial loan review officer with SIS Bank in Springfield following six years as principle bank examiner with the Massachusetts Division of Banks in Boston. He holds an MBA from Western New England University, and a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst.Kulig has been an active member of the community serving on the board of Rebuilding Together Springfield since 1997 and the West Springfield Youth Soccer Club since 2012. He has coached youth baseball, soccer, and basketball in West Springfield.
•••••
American International College announced the following promotions:

April Kearse

Esta Sobey

Nick Young

Dina Ditmar

Dahimeli Mercado

Danielle Wisniowski

• April Kearse, was named Associate Dean for Undergraduate Academic Advising. Prior to this new role, Kearse served as Director of Student Support Services (ACE Program) and Assistant Director of Multicultural Admissions. She has a master’s degree in Educational Psychology, and will graduate from AIC with her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership in May 2014,
• Esta Sobey, was named Associate Dean of the AIC Education Department. Previously, she served as chair of the department, Director of Field Experiences, and Director of Middle/Secondary Education. She earned bachelor’s degree from SUNY Stony Brook and two graduate degrees from Columbia University,
• Nick Young was named Dean of Low Residency Programs. He previously served as associated dean of the Ed.D. program at AIC. Young received his bachelor’s degree from Austin Peay State University, an MBA from Western New England University, an Ed.D. from AIC, and a Ph.D. from Union Institute and University. Young currently serves as superintendent of schools in South Hadley,
• Dina Ditmar was promoted to Learning Resource Center and Simulation Faculty Coordinator. Ditmar started at AIC in 2005, serving as an adjunct clinical faculty member, and was named Learning Lab Coordinator in the fall of 2010. She received her BSN at Elms College and her MSN at AIC,
• Dahimeli Mercado was named Student Accounts Analyst. A graduate of AIC, Mercado previously served as a Student Accounts Representative. She earned her bachelor’s degree at AIC and is currently enrolled in the MSAT program at AIC; and
• Danielle Wisniowski was promoted to Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions. Previously an admissions counselor at AIC, she earned her bachelor’s degree from Newbury College and a juris doctorate from WNEU School of Law.
•••••
Monson Savings Bank announced the following:

Christina Bordeau

Claire Ladue

• Christina Bordeau has been named Branch Manager for the bank’s Hampden branch. She brings more than 15 years of retail banking experience to Monson Savings, having held previous management positions at Citizens Bank and Bank of America.
• Clare Ladue has named branch manager of the Ware branch, scheduled to open this spring. Previously, she managed the Hampden location.
•••••

John Shea

The Springfield office of Boston-based Morrison Mahoney LLP announced that Attorney John Shea had joined the staff. Shea’s concentration in estate planning, wills, durable powers of attorney, health care proxies, revocable and irrevocable trusts, and related services, will be added to the firm’s trial and litigation and medical malpractice defense services. Shea was previously in private practice concentrating in all areas of estate planning and administration as well as business and real estate transactions, and has advised clients in the formation of small, family-owned and franchise businesses. Shea holds a Master of Laws with a concentration in estate planning and elder law, from the Western New England University School of Law, a Juris Doctor from Suffolk University Law School in Boston, a Master of Science in labor studies from UMass Amherst, and a Bachelor of Arts in government from Connecticut College.
•••••

Dr. Ronald Burkman, Jr

Dr. Ronald Burkman, Jr., a board certified physician in obstetrics and gynecology with Baystate Wesson Women’s Group Obstetrics and Gynecology at Baystate Medical Center, was recently named by more than 1,100 Hampden District Medical Society peers as the district’s 2013 Community Clinician of the Year. The award was established in 1998 by the Massachusetts Medical Society to recognize a physician from each of the Society’s 20 district medical societies who has made significant contributions to patients and the community and who stands out as a leading advocate and caregiver. From 1995 to 2007, he was chairman of the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Baystate Medical Center. Since 1995, he has been a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston. Long active in the Massachusetts Medical Society, Burkman has served on its committees on professional liability, maternal and perinatal welfare, and managed care. The award will be presented at the district society’s annual meeting April 30 at the Delaney House in Holyoke.

Chamber Corners: Upcoming Events

By BusinessWest Staff April 23, 2013

Chamber Corners Departments

ACCGS
www.myonlinechamber.com
(413) 787-1555

• April 24: Join us for the chamber’s annual Beacon Hill Summit, hosted by state Sen. Gale Candaras, starting at 7 a.m. Join with other members of the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield Inc. and the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce for a unique opportunity to hear directly from top legislators and members of the Patrick-Murray administration and an opportunity to voice your opinions, ideas, and concerns during the day’s formal sessions and social events. Speakers will include: Secretary of Administration and Finance Glen Shor, Senate President Therese Murray, Stephen Brewer, chair of the Senate and Joint Committees on Ways and Means, Mass. Taxpayers Foundation President Mike Widmer, and many others. The all-inclusive payment includes continental breakfast, transportation, and lunch at the Omni Parker House with members of the local delegation, a wrap-up reception at the 21st Amendment, and all materials. Buses depart at 7 a.m. from the Plantation Inn at Exit 6-off the MA Turnpike, and return at 7 p.m.
• May 1: Business@Breakfast, 7:30-9 a.m., at the Delaney House, One Country Club Road, Holyoke. Mayor’s Forum. The monthly Busness@Breakfast series pays tribute to individuals, businesses, and organizations for major contributions to civic and economic growth and for actions that reflect honor on the region. To reserve tickets, contact Cecile Larose at [email protected].

AMHERST AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.amherstarea.com
(413) 253-0700

• April 24: Chamber After 5, 5-7 p.m., at the UMass Fine Arts Center. Sponsored by: Yankee Candle. Tickets are $10 for members, $15 for non-members. RSVP to [email protected]
• April 30: ‘Making Green Sexy’ — Chamber Brown Bag luncheon, noon-1:30 p.m., in the Woodbury Room of the Jones Library at Amherst College. The program, focused on green marketing/green business profitability, will be presented by Shel Horowitz, president of Accurate Writing and More. Using examples as diverse as toilet paper, the Empire State Building, ice cream, and a community organizing campaign, Horowitz’s presentation will look at the different message styles you need to move both green and non-green audiences to action. For more information, visit http://greenandprofitable.com/.

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

• May 15: Salute Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., at Elms College, 291 Springfield St. in Chicopee. To reserve tickets, contact the chamber at (413) 594-2101 or [email protected].
• May 22: Business After Hours, 5-7 p.m., at Berkshire Bank, 1339 Memorial Dr. in Chicopee. For more information, contact the chamber at (413) 594-2101 or [email protected].

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

• April 25: Networking by Night Business Card Exchange, 5-7 p.m., at the new Easthampton High School, 70 Williston Ave. Tour and experience this new 21st century educational facility. Sponsored by Canon Real Estate Inc., Hors d’ouevres by the E.H.S. Culinary Department; door prizes. Tickets are $5 for members, $15 for future members
• May 9: Networking by Night Business Card Exchange, 5-7 p.m., at Amy’s Place Bar & Grill, 80-82 Cottage St., Easthampton. Sponsored by Easthampton Savings Bank; hors d’ouevres; door prizes; cash bar. Tickets are $5 for members, $15 for future members.
• May 17: Wine & Microbrew Tasting, 6- 9 p.m., at Wyckoff Country Club, 233 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. Enjoy more than 50 wines and microbrews, fine food, and an extraordinary raffle. Major Sponsor: Easthampton Savings Bank; Event Sponsor: Five Star Building Corp.; Wine Sponsor: Westfield Spirit Shop; Microbrew Sponsor: Big E’s Supermarket; Food Sponsor: Log Rolling @ The Log Cabin/Delaney House. Tickets are $35 in advance, $40 at door. Call (413) 527-9414, or visit or www.easthamptonchamber.org.

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

• May 10: Ask a Chamber Expert Series: Hiring the Right Talent, 8:30- 10 a.m., at the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce Conference Room, 177 High St. Join us for our second ACE (Ask a Chamber Expert) event with guest speaker Peter Brunault, senior professional in Human Resources (SPHR) of Employers Association of the NorthEast. Admission: $10 for members, $25 for non-members. Price includes a continental breakfast. Call the chamber at (413) 534-3376 to sign up or register at holyokechamber.com.
• May 15: Legislative Luncheon featuring State Treasurer Steven Grossman, starting at 11:30, at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House, 500 Easthampton Road. Sponsored by Dowd Insurance and Goss & McLain Insurance. Admission: payment in advance, $30; payment at door, $40. Open to the public. For reservations call the chamber office at (413) 534-3376, or register online at holyokechamber.com.
• May 20: 45th Annual Chamber Cup 2013 Golf Tournament, at Wyckoff Country Club, 233 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. Registration and lunch at 10:30 a.m. Tee off at noon (scramble format); dinner following the golf with elaborate food stations catered by the Log Cabin. Cost is $125 per player, and includes lunch, 18 holes of golf, cart, and dinner. Dinner only, $25. Winner awards, raffles, and cash prizes follow dinner. Tournament Sponsors: Log Cabin and PeoplesBank. Corporate Sponsors: Dowd Insurance, Goss & McLain Insurance Agency, Holyoke Gas & Electric, Mountain View Landscapes, Holyoke Medical Center, People’s United Bank, and Resnic, Beauregard, Waite & Driscoll. For reservations call the chamber office at (413) 534-3376 or register online at holyokechamber.com.
• May 21: Chamber Business Connections, 5-7 p.m. Sponsored and hosted by Sovereign Consulting, 4 Open Square Way, Suite 307. If you are in the architecture, engineering, or development industries, attend as the chamber’s guest, Cost is $10 for chamber members, $15 for non-members.
Presented by the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors Committee. Join your friends and colleagues for this informal evening of networking.
• May 29: Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting, starting at 5 p.m. at the Delaney House in Holyoke. Program followed by a grand reception, including Fifield Awards. Sponsored by the Greater Holyoke Chamber Corporate Leaders. Cocktails from 5 to 5:30 p.m.; annual meeting at 5:30 p.m. Dinner begins at 6. Admission: payment in advance, $30; payment at door, $40. Open to the public. The chamber will also honor chamber member retirees, Rosalie Deane, Holyoke Housing Authority; David Dupont, superintendent of Holyoke Public Schools; and John Kelley, Peoples United Bank.

MASSACHUSETTS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
(413) 525-2506

• July 22: Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament at Tekoa Country Club, Westfield. Shotgun start at 11 a.m. Cost: $100 per golfer.
For more information on registration and sponsorship opportunities, contact the chamber office at (413) 525-2506, or e-mail to [email protected].

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

• May 1: Northampton Chamber Monthly Arrive @5, 5-7 p.m., at the Eric Carle Museum, 125 West Bay Road, Amherst. Arrive when you can, stay as long as you can. A casual mix and mingle with your colleagues and friends. Sponsored by: Wells Fargo Advisors, Johnson & Hill Staffing Services, and United Bank. Admission: $10 for members; $15 for non-members

PROFESSSIONAL WOMENS CHAMBER
www.professionalwomenschamber.com
(413) 755-1310

• June 6: Women of the Year Banquet, 5:30-8 p.m., at the Cedars Banquet Hall, 375 Island Pond Road, Springfield. Join us as we honor our Woman of the Year, Jean Deliso, Deliso Financial & Insurance Services To reserve tickets, contact Cecile Larose at [email protected].

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

• April 25: Powerful Speed Networking Business After Hours with 3 Chambers, 5-7 p.m., at Chez Josef in Agawam. Featuring the West of the River Chamber of Commerce, Westfield Chamber of Commerce , and North Central Connecticut Chamber of Commerce. Free for chamber members, $10 for non-members. (Event is open to the public; must pay at the door if you’re a non-member). For more information contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880, or e-mail to [email protected].
• May 1: West of the River Chamber of Commerce Membership Drive, at the
Holiday Inn, Enfield, Conn. Two shifts — 9-11:30 a.m. and 1:30-4 p.m. This is a great opportunity for you to network with other members while helping to grow your chamber. More members means more opportunity to grow your business. For more information contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880, or e-mail to [email protected].
• May 1: Wicked Wednesday, 5-7 p.m. Hosted by Holiday Inn.
Free for chamber members, $10 for Non-members (event is open to the public-must pay at the door if you’re a non-member). Wicked Wednesdays are monthly social events hosted by various businesses and restaurants. These events bring members and non-members together to social network in a laid-back atmosphere. For more information contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880, or e-mail to [email protected].
• August 19: West of the River Chamber of Commerce 10th Annual Golf Tournament at Springfield Country Club, West Springfield. Cost: $125 per-golfer. For more information on registration and sponsorship opportunities, contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880, or e-mail to [email protected].

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

• May 6: Mayor’s Coffee Hour, 8- 9 a.m., at the Holiday Inn Express, 39 Southampton Road, Westfield, MA 01085. Join the chamber and Mayor Dan Knapik for a meet-and-greet about the city. Free and open to the public. To register, call Pam at the chamber office at (413) 568-1618, or e-mail to [email protected].
n May 8: May WestNet Connection, 5- 7 p.m., at Amelia Park Children’s Museum, 29 South Broad St. Sponsor: Westfield YMCA. Cost: Members, $10, non-members, $15cash at the door. To register, call Pam at the chamber office at (413) 568-1618, or e-mail to [email protected].
n May 13: Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce’s 52nd Annual Golf Tournament, at the The Ranch Golf Club, 65 Sunnyside Road, Southwick.
Schedule: 10 a.m., registration/lunch; 11 a.m., shotgun start; 11 a.m.-5 p.m., on-course refreshments; 4 p.m., cocktail hour; 5 p.m., dinner Great Sponsorship opportunities still available. Cost: foursome with dinner, $600; tee sign, $150; dinner only, $35. For sponsorship opportunities, to register or to donate a raffle, contact Pam at the Chamber office at (413) 568-1618, or e-mail to [email protected].

YPS-Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield
www.springfieldyps.com

• May 16: May ‘Third Thursday,’ 5-7 p.m. at Lattitude Restaurant, 1338 Memorial Ave., West Springfield.

Agenda

By BusinessWest Staff April 23, 2013

Agenda Departments

Obamacare and Employers
April 24, May 2, May 9: Royal LLP — a law firm specializing exclusively in management-side labor- and employment-law litigation and preventative practices to avoid litigation — will join experts on the Patient Protection Affordable Care Act (known as Obamacare) in presenting an informational series of workshops that will provide an interactive, step-by-step analysis of how the act applies to both small and large employers, including what employers should be doing now to prepare for the 2014 mandates. All sessions will be held at the Hu Ke Lau in Chicopee. Session 1, which will be held on April 24, will provide a general overview of the law, including key components, potential implications, and impact on employers. Session 2, which will be held on May 2, will address the shared responsibility requirements. Session 3, which will be held on May 9, will detail the impact of the law. For more information, contact Ann-Marie Marcil at (413) 586-2288 or [email protected].

Elevator Pitch Competition
April 24: Five local community banks will sponsor a live elevator pitch competition at the awards banquet for the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation’s Entrepreneurship Initiative, starting at 5 p.m. at Log Cabin in Holyoke. Representatives from each bank — Berkshire Bank, Country Bank for Savings, First Niagara Bank, PeoplesBank, and United Bank — will also serve as judges. An elevator pitch is an overview of an idea for a new business. The name reflects the fact that an elevator pitch can be delivered in the timespan of an elevator ride. The term is used when an entrepreneur pitches an idea to a venture capitalist to receive funding. The competition will feature a student representative from each of the participating local colleges: American International College, Amherst College, Bay Path College, Elms College, Greenfield Community College, Hampshire College, Holyoke Community College, Mount Holyoke College, Smith College, Springfield College, Springfield Technical Community College, UMass Amherst, Western New England University, and Westfield State University. The judges will choose the top three students, who will receive cash awards. All participants will receive a stipend for participating. This is the eighth year that an elevator pitch competition will be held at the event. Other program highlights include keynote speaker Stanley Kowalski, founding CEO and chairman of the board of FloDesign in Wilbraham; an Entrepreneurs & Awardees Exhibit featuring 59 student entrepreneurs from area colleges; and the announcement of the Grinspoon, Garvey & Young Alumni Spirit Award. For more information about the banquet, e-mail Cari Carpenter at [email protected].

Strategic Investments in Owner-Operated Companies
April 25: Peter Doyle, chief investment strategist at Kinetics Mutual Funds, will deliver a presentation titled “A New Paradigm: Strategic Investments in Owner-operated Companies” at 4 p.m. at the Colony Club in Springfield. The event, sponsored by Martinelli Discenza Investment Counsel, was postponed from its original date of Feb. 25. Owner-operators are broadly defined as corporate management teams that have considerable personal wealth invested alongside their shareholders. The actions of these management teams over the past several years — actively allocating capital into attractive opportunities and engaging in various actions to enhance shareholder value — stand in stark contrast to those of agent managers, who have focused on cost-cutting measures to maintain margins at the possible expense of future growth. To RSVP for the event, call Lisa Kozak at (413) 567-8411.

EANE Management Conference
April 25: The Employers Association of the NorthEast will hold its ninth annual management conference, “Leadership and Mentorship in Action,” at the Holiday Inn in Enfield, Conn. The conference will address the direct impact of mentoring and leadership development on the growth and success of organizations. Keynote speaker Doug Dvorak, a contributing author to the bestselling book The Masters of Success, will present his popular program “The Magic of Mentoring.” Additional presenters include Ravi Kulkarni and Lynn Turner of ClearVision Alliance. A panel of representatives from area companies will discuss next-generation mentoring. Conference breakout sessions include “Leadership Behavior and Employee Engagement,” “Building Effective Teams,” and “DiSC Work of Leaders.” For more information about the conference, contact Karen Cronenberger at (877) 662-6444 or [email protected]. To register, call (877) 662-6444 or visit www.eane.org.

A Heart Healthy Toast
April 26: Whether you’re a seasoned wine enthusiast or a recreational wine drinker, you will find something pleasing to your palate at “A Heart Healthy Toast,” sponsored by the Holyoke Hospital Auxiliary Assoc. from 6 to 8 p.m. at Hamel’s Summit View Banquet House in Holyoke. The tasting will spotlight a variety of wines from around the world that have been carefully selected by Liquors 44. Everyone attending will be provided with a personal program booklet where notes can be taken for each wine, noting likes and dislikes. Vendor representatives will be available to give their tips for using all the senses to taste wine and how to call out subtle variations. The funds raised will be used toward the “Extreme Makeover” of the Work Connection located at Holyoke Medical Center. The Work Connection is an occupational health clinic located at the medical center that provides health services to local businesses in the area. Tickets for the wine tasting are $40 per person and will include a selection of Hamel’s hot and cold appetizers, fruit, and cheeses. Call Deborah Long Smith at (413) 534-2568 to order tickets.

EASTEC 2013
May 14-16: EASTEC, the premier manufacturing exposition in the Northeast will be held at the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield on May 14 and 15 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on May 16 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event will offer a variety of exhibitors, educational offerings, tours of nearby facilities, and much more. For more information and to register to attend, visit www.easteconline.com.

40 Under Forty
June 20: BusinessWest will present its seventh class of regional rising stars at the annual 40 Under Forty gala at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House in Holyoke. The event will feature music, lavish food stations, and introductions of the winners, who are profiled at length in this issue. Look for event details in upcoming issues of BusinessWest, or call (413) 781-8600, ext. 100 for more information.

Western Mass Business Expo 2013
Nov. 6: Planning is underway for the Western Mass Business Expo 2013, a day-long business-to-business event to take place at the MassMutual Center in downtown Springfield. This fall’s show, the third edition of the Expo, which is again being produced by BusinessWest, will feature more than 100 exhibitors, seminars on timely issues of the day, special Show Floor Theater presentations, breakfast and lunch programs, and the wrap-up Expo social, which has become a not-to-be-missed networking event. Details of the specific programming will be printed in upcoming editions of BusinessWest, and can also be seen online at www.wmbexpo.com or www.businesswest.com. For more information on the event or to reserve booth space, call (413) 781-8600, ext. 100.

Court Dockets

By BusinessWest Staff April 23, 2013

Court Dockets 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
Daiana Narvaez and Maria Fuentes v. T.G. Lawler Insurance Agency and Joshua Jimenez
Allegation: Breach of insurance contract: $2,379
Filed: 3/25/13

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT
Backyard Farms, LLC v. Hampden Structural Systems d/b/a Private Garden Greenhouse Systems, Joseph Michael Hickson, Jr. and Katherine Joyce Hickson
Allegation: Breach of contract, negligent performance of work, and misrepresentation: $20,758.40+
Filed: 3/11/13

Juliana Gore v. Baystate Medical Center, Stanley Access Technologies, LLC and John Doe Inc.
Allegation: Negligent maintenance of property: $28,500
Filed: 3/21/13

Law Office of Michael D. Facchini v. Joe Smith d/b/a Joe’s Remodeling
Allegation: Breach of contract for construction services: $26,000+
Filed: 3/12/13

Oil Recovery Corporation v. Responsive Trucking Inc.
Allegation: Negligent repairs: $27,000
Filed: 3/15/13

HAMPSHIRE SUPERIOR COURT
Kaleigh Ward v. Bino, Inc., BCC Realty, Inc., 265-271 Dwight Street Inc., and James and Helen Santaniello
Allegation: Negligence in service of alcohol: $540,388.86
Filed: 3/7/13

Matthew Boudreau and Shaylene Greenwood v. Affiliated Construction Services, Craig Urn and Ernie Austin
Allegation: Breach of contract for renovation services: $25,000+
Filed: 3/21/13

NORTHAMPTON DISTRICT COURT
George Robert v. Kimball’s Auction and Estate Services
Allegation: Breach of contract: $25,000
Filed: 4/5/13

PALMER DISTRICT COURT
J. D. Contracting v. Premier Equipment
Allegation: Plaintiff rented equipment from the defendant that did not work as contracted: $12,640.00
Filed: 2/27/13

SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT
Jacques J. Chicoine v. Star Pizzeria and Turkmen Lac Inc.
Allegation: Negligent property maintenance causing injury: $6,508
Filed: 3/14/13

Natasha Clark, as parent and next friend of Tianna Hillman v. Springfield Housing Authority
Allegation: Negligent property maintenance causing injury: $8,793.16
Filed: 3/13/13

WESTFIELD DISTRICT COURT
Constellation Newenergy Inc. v. Mary C. Donahue d/b/a M&M Restaurant
Allegation: Non-payment of energy services: $7,814.94
Filed: 3/13/13

PictureThis

By BusinessWest Staff April 23, 2013

Departments Picture This

Send photos with a caption and contact information to: ‘Picture This’ c/o BusinessWest Magazine, 1441 Main Street, Springfield, MA 01103 or to [email protected]

A Living Treasure

The annual Dorothy Jordan Pryor Award and Lecture at Springfield Technical Community College honors a “living treasure” such as Pryor, the former English teacher, Affirmative Action officer, and trustee. The 2013 recipient, Setta McCabe, retired director of Public Relations and Publication and current WTCC-FM board member, spoke on the history of the college and the radio station.

Sports Minded

The Greater Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau (GSCVB) recently launched the new Western MA Sports Commission, which will purse, attract, and support sporting events and sports-related business opportunities that positively impact the Western Mass. economy. During ceremonies at the MassMutual Center, a new logo was unveiled, and John Heaps, president of Florence Savings Bank, was introduced as chairman of the commission, Other members of the board, seated from left, are: Thomas Burke, Granby High School Coach; Steve McKelvey, associate professor and graduate program director at UMass Amherst; Shannah McArdle, director of sports marketing for the Mass. Office of Travel and Tourism; Louise Hines, director of sports and event marketing for the MassMutual Financial Group; John Doleva, president and CEO of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame; Paul Dinn, president of Dinn Brothers Trophy, Inc.; and J. Adam Filson, general counsel of Jiminy Peak Family of Companies. Other commission members not pictured include Kenneth Sinkiewicz, deputy director, of the Mass. Convention Center Authority, and Henry Thomas III, president & CEO of the Urban League of Springfield.

Naming Rights

Baystate Medical Center’s adult emergency department recently benefited from a $1 million gift from local philanthropic leaders Harold Grinspoon and wife, Diane Troderman. In appreciation, the Level 1 adult trauma facility’s new name will be the Harold Grinspoon & Diane Troderman Adult Emergency Department at the Baystate Medical Center Emergency & Trauma Center. It joins the Sadowsky Family Pediatric Emergency Department as the two named elements of the new Emergency & Trauma Center at Baystate, which opened in December 2012. The Emergency & Trauma Center encompasses more than three times the size of the hospital’s former emergency room, with twice the number of private, adult patient-care spaces. Grinspoon established the Harold Grinspoon Foundation in 1993 in Springfield, and Troderman has been his active partner in all of his philanthropic activities. Pictured (from left) during the announcement event are: Mark Tolosky, president and CEO of Baystate Health; James Sadowsky of the Baystate Health Board of Trustees; Grinspoon; Troderman; John Davis of the Baystate Health Board of Trustees; Dr. Benjamin Liptzin, chair of the Department of Psychiatry, Baystate Health; and Dr. Richard Engelman, chief of Cardiac Surgical Research at Baystate Medical Center.

Unlimited Pride

Human Resources Unlimited recently staged its annual Recognition and Fundraiser event at Springfield Country Club. Employer partners and volunteers were honored and successful program members were recognized. At top, from left, accepting the 2012 Armand Tourangeau Volunteer of the Year award is Jeff Lander, center, founder of Appilistic, flanked by (from left) Susan Smith, senior employment coordinator, Forum House; Renee Kosciusko, daughter of Armand Tourangeau; Carol Tourangeau, wife of Armand Tourangeau; and Susan Beckwith, program manager, Forum House. Middle left, 2012 Rookie Employer Award recipients (from left), Jackie Huntley, Tradewinds program member; Deb Post, HR manager, and Russell Prentiss, general manager, both of the Sturbridge Host Hotel & Conference Center; Michael Forest, program manager, Tradewinds; and Winnie Siano, senior employment coordinator, Tradewinds; Bottom, Donald Kozera, President of Human Resources Unlimited (second from right) poses with the winners of the Employer of the Year Award, representing Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Westfield. From left are: Arlie Meade, sales manager; Nathan Byrd, general manager, Ashish Patel, president, and Jacquie Clayton, guest services manager.
Photos by Paul Schnaittacher

Engineering Excellence

The American Council of Engineering Companies of Massachusetts (ACEC/MA) presented Westfield-based engineering firm, Tighe & Bond, with a Gold Award during its 2013 Engineering Excellence and Awards Gala in Cambridge. The annual competition recognizes recent engineering achievements that demonstrate the highest degree of merit, ingenuity, complexity, and client satisfaction. This Gold Award recognized innovative upgrades that Tighe & Bond recently completed for the town of Sturbridge’s wastewater treatment facility, which became the first full-scale combined BioMag/CoMag wastewater system in the nation. The implementation of two new cutting edge and effective treatment processes, BioMag and CoMag, have increased wastewater treatment efficiency, improved water quality, as well as reduced costs and overall environmental impact. Sharing a moment after the awards ceremony are, from left, Ko Ishikura ACEC/MA president; Gregory Morse, Sturbridge DPW director; Ian Catlow, Tighe & Bond senior project manager; Mike Becker, Tighe & Bond construction observer; Peter Piattoni, ACEC/MA Awards chair; and Shaun Suhoski, Sturbridge town administrator.

Not Just Business as Usual

The Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) Foundation hosted its fourth annual Not Just Business As Usual event on April 4 at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. In celebration of 40 years of excellence in Nursing at STCC, keynote speakers included “The Three Doctors,” Dr. George Jenkins, assistant professor of the Clinical Dentistry Section of Adult Dentistry at Columbia University; Dr. Rameck Hunt, board certified internist at University Medical Center at Princeton and assistant professor of Medicine at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School; and Dr. Sampson Davis, board certified emergency medicine physician at St. Michael’s Medical Center, Raritan Bay Medical Center and Easton Hospital, and assistant medical director of the Emergency Department at Raritan Bay Medical Center. As teenagers surrounded by negative influences with few positive role models growing up on the streets of Newark, N.J., the three friends made a pact to stick together, graduate college, and achieve their dreams of becoming medical doctors. All are now well known for their work in delivering messages of hope and inspiration. Over the past two years, the STCC Foundation event has provided more than $100,000 to support college and student needs. At top (from left) Drs. Davis, Hunt, and Jenkins sign copies of their books, The Pact, We Beat the Street, and The Bond. Bottom, above, Ira Rubenzahl, president of STCC, poses with Frank Colaccino, CEO at Colvest Group (center), and John Heaps, Jr., president of Florence Savings Bank.

Dare To Recharge Your Wardrobe

By BusinessWest Staff April 23, 2013

Sections Women in Businesss

It’s Time to Make Some Colorful Statements with Your Attire

By Kate Vishnyakov
When it comes to clothing for the professional woman, practicality wins over trendiness every time. With that said, regardless of profession and what you are able to wear for work, this season’s obsession with color can help brighten up your look.
If you’ve been flipping through magazines, watching news networks, or taking in a fashion show, you’ve seen that the big, bold, color is everywhere. Vibrant color palettes range from fuchsia pinks to sea foam greens, lemon yellow, citrus oranges, and deep Laguna blues — remember “the bolder the better” is the season’s mantra.
So one may wonder why local offices, banks, and law firms are full of the proverbial ‘women in black’? The endless uniform of un-color is on the streets, at coffee shops, meetings, and more. The safe, ubiquitous black is everywhere. In a day and age where blending in is not highly desired, the row of black jackets, dresses, and suits hanging in your closet are not helping you stand out.
Adding a splash (or even a smidge more) of color can help you stand out, while still having a professional, polished image.

A Crash Course in Color
Are you wondering what the secret is to successfully pulling off a bright look without looking like a fashion victim? One simple and easy step is to go bolder with a color similar to what you usually wear. For example move from black to navy. If you regularly wear navy or gray try cobalt blue and indigo. If most of your wardrobe is brown, take a look at coral. And last, but not least, trade in the power red for the very ‘in-season’ fuchsia pink.
Other suggestions include keeping the rest of your outfit neutral and accessories minimal. Use a light color shell or a blouse. And for shoes and bags, consider light brown, tan or camel color.

Go Bold, or Go Home
If wearing bold color head-to-toe is too big of a leap, keep bright colors close to your face and wear darker colors on a bottom. Color combinations that work well together include navy and green, coral and tan, golden yellow and gray. The safe proportion is 75% of one color to 25% of another in any outfit. Remember, you don’t need to be an extravert or attention seeker to wear color to stand out a bit.
Seek out jewel tones on your next shopping trip. Some call them “the grown-up way to wear color.” As Kelly Ayotte, U.S. Senator from New Hampshire says, “wear a pastel jacket and you might look too girly, wear a bold primary hue and it can be too brash. But opt for a rich, saturated jewel tone like amethyst/orchid shade, and it’s hard to go wrong.”
Another important key to wearing color is a fit. The slim silhouette is important when you wear bold colors or print. Straight, slim leg pant, preferably an ankle length, or a pencil skirt will go well with a longer jacket-and-pants look, or a shorter one-button jacket with a skirt. This rule will work for both petites and fuller women. Keep the volume on a top or on a bottom, but not both to avoid the kitschy look.

Dresses Mean Business
Meanwhile, have you noticed a plethora of brightly colored, arm-baring sheaths on many powerful women? From the likes of First Lady Michele Obama to ABC’s Dianne Sawyer, to the head of International Monetary Fund Christine Lagarde, it is clear that dresses are ‘in’ at the office.
Stylist and blogger Susan Wagner of WorkingCloset.com says, “black dresses are usually too ‘date night’ for the office, but in other colors, frocks are fabulous. Once you find the silhouette that works for you and your office’s atmosphere, you will love the ease of wearing a dress.”
Just remember keep the fabrics and formality consistent with your work environment and observe conservative to-the-knee hemline and classic fit.

What’s Top 10 Now
1. White Blazer
2. Pencil, full, A-line skirts
3. Day dresses in bold colors
4. Slim leg pant
5. Silk button-down
6. Large black and white mod-style looks
7. Candy-colored leather as a day jacket
8. Pointy-toe shoes
9. Neutral wedges
10. Bright tote bags
All good things in fashion recycle themselves. More or less, everything is “in.” Sparkling dresses from the Art Deco ’20s, mid-calve lengths from the ’30s, the ’40s’ chunky heels, full skirts of the ’50s, the ’60s’ mod dresses, ’70s’ hippy chic, ’80s’ suits, and ’90s’ grunge.
Each day you can live your decade of choice and wear what pleases you the most. There are endless ways to add color and style to your life this season. Please do it. Let’s make the world a more beautiful place… one woman in a time. Here’s to a season filled with beauty, growth and fresh possibilities.

Kate Vishnyakov is owner of Kate Gray in East Longmeadow; (413) 525-2895.

Engaging Concept

By BusinessWest Staff April 23, 2013

Sections Women in Businesss

Local United Way to Form Women’s Leadership Council

Dora Robinson, left, and Kathy Dube say the timing is right for creation of a Women’s Leadership Council in Greater Springfield.

Kathy Dube says that talk of creating a women’s leadership council within the United Way of Pioneer Valley (UWPV) has been ongoing for some time now.
There was never any doubt about the benefits to creating such an organization, both within the community and for the women taking part, she explained, noting that there are now 130 such councils operating across the country in partnership with United Way chapters. And they have been effective in reaching out to women leaders in the community to engage and involve (the two words you see most often with respect to such groups) them in meeting the most pressing needs in a given area through donations of time, leadership, and financial support.
No, the only question facing the UWPV was whether a WLC, as they’re called, would duplicate the efforts of other women’s organizations in the area, such as the Women’s Fund of Western Mass. and the Professional Women’s Chamber of Commerce, said Dube, senior vice president and private banking officer with TD Bank and current chair of the UWPV board of directors. And some due diligence has determined that this would not be the case, she told BusinessWest, noting that while those groups and others do some of the things a leadership council would, they don’t do them all, and a council could fill what she described as a critical void.
“I felt there was a missing link between the professional women’s groups in Greater Springfield and the nonprofit world,” she explained. “And this is the perfect solution that pulls it all together. I don’t think there was a group that was doing all that a council does — fundraising, but also mentoring women in the process and getting actively involved in a key community need, and helping to put together a plan that solves an issue that we may have in Springfield.”
Thus, a 20-member “design team” is taking the concept for a leadership council from the drawing board to reality, said Dora Robinson, president and CEO of the UWPV and a member of that team. Some of the next steps in the process, and there are many, include everything from recruitment of members to creating an awareness campaign, to initiating discussions about possible projects for the council to undertake.
And there are intriguing examples to consider from across the country. In Cincinnati, for example, a WLC got directly involved in the plight of homeless women, doing everything from raising money for a new housing initiative to actually decorating the apartments. Meanwhile, the council affiliated with the United Way of Greater Chicago is involved in a partnership with the Young Women’s Leadership Charter School, and specifically an initiative known as its middle school academic intervention program, designed to ensure that girls stay on track to graduating from high school. And the council affiliated with the United Way of Northern New Jersey is helping to improve quality of live for those whose situation is described by the acronym ALICE: Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed.
In each case, the initiatives involve the three pillars of leadership council activity — financial support, volunteerism, and mentoring, said Dube, adding that the UWPV’s group will do the same in this market.

An Involved Process
Dube and Robinson both said that the catalyst for moving forward with the WLC came at a United Way conference in Nashville roughly a year ago.
One of the workshops was on women’s leadership councils, how they’ve evolved, and the many intriguing issues they were involved with, said Dube. “I left there thinking, we have to do this in the Springfield area.”
The reasons for doing so are obvious and many, she went on, but they come down to two: a strong base of professional women who want to get directly involved in the community, and an abundance of issues that could be addressed through donations of money, time, and talent.
“The timing is right for something like this in the Springfield area,” she told BusinessWest. “There are many issues to be addressed here.”
Robinson said the number of councils nationwide is growing steadily, primarily in response to national trends involving women, wealth, philanthropy, and effectively harnessing that power and influence. Among those trends:

• The Internal Revenue Service reported in 2010 that 2.5 million (38.8%) of the top wealth holders in the U.S. were women. These individuals had a combined net worth of almost $4.2 trillion. As of 2011, 50% of top wealth holders were women;
• In 2010, the Center for Women’s Business Research found that one in 10 women in the U.S. was a business owner, and their companies continue to grow at twice the rate of all firms; and
• Women live longer than men, meaning they will end up in charge of much of the $41 trillion expected to pass from generation to generation in the next 50 years.

“Given the fact that no two communities are alike with respect to the affluence and influence of women, the number of women-owned businesses, and opportunities for women to give and be involved, UWPV has a unique opportunity to build on the success of the national Women’s Leadership Council framework,” said Robinson. “We are committed to developing, designing, and implementing a program that is fitted to our local needs.”
And by that, she meant a council that can not only address recognized needs in the community, but also get women engaged and involved (there are those two words again) in not only creating a solution to a problem, but carrying it out.
Here’s how a women’s leadership conference works:
First, professional women are recruited to join. Membership involves an annual monetary donation, with those funds used to help finance projects the group will take part in. These donations vary with the market, said Dube, adding that while some councils assess $2,500 or more, the group in Hartford started with a few hundred dollars, opting to gradually increase that amount, a model that will likely be followed in this market.
Recruitment efforts are already underway on an informal basis, said Dube, adding that the design team will provide a solid base on which to build. One key to membership, she noted, is to make the council large enough to enable it to be effective, but not so large that members cannot be directly involved in a specific initiative.
“We want to make sure we know what we’re doing before we open it up to too many people,” she explained, adding that the initial goal will be 50 to 75. “But we have to make sure that those 50 to 75 are actively engaged in what we’re doing.”
The next big consideration is deciding what to do with the funds that are raised, or how to get the membership involved in the community it has been tasked with serving.
Existing councils are involved in a wide array of initiatives, as those examples from Cincinnati, New England, and Chicago clearly show, said Robinson, adding that a small yet effective council in Greenfield has been active with the broad issue of literacy and putting books in the hands of children.
And the Springfield-area group will be diligent in selecting projects that are impactful, but will also directly involve women in the group, said Dube, adding that many endeavors involving councils focus on helping women break from poverty.
“There have been discussions about doing a scholarship program for women who want to re-enter the workforce and need to go back to school to do that,” she noted. “And at the same time, we would weave into that mentoring and financial literacy training; that’s one possibility.”
The council will obviously look to avoid duplicating efforts already underway, said Robinson, noting, for example, that early childhood literacy, while an important issue, is being addressed by other groups, especially the Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation.
“Initially, we’ll be looking for a project that has a start and a finish, so we can have some success,” Dube explained, citing the initiative in Cincinnati as one to emulate in that regard. “What was great about that project was that they recognized a need for housing, they went out and raised the money for it, and they did it — there was a start and an end, and now they’re moving on to another project.
“I think we’ll also try to find a project where we accomplish some objectives in a relatively short period of time, maybe a year,” she went on, “and then move onto another project that might be entirely different.”
Whatever direction the council takes, mentoring and direct involvement will be part of the equation, said Robinson, because those on the design team, and others who have expressed interest in the council concept have indicated that they want to do much more than write checks.
“There has been a fairly consistent theme around mentoring,” she noted. “Women want to be involved with other young women or girls in mentoring relationships. How that gets crafted into what we’re doing will be determined over the next few months.”

Impact Statement
The unofficial timeline for the council calls for a public launch sometime this fall, with planning and recruitment to take place in the months preceding.
But already there is considerable momentum for this initiative, which organizers believe has enormous potential to harness the desire among professional women in this region to donate more than money (although that’s certainly an important part of the equation) to the task of addressing some of the deeply rooted issues in area communities.
And addressing them by getting these women engaged and involved.

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

Ventures and Adventures

By BusinessWest Staff April 23, 2013

Sections Women in Businesss

Network of Women Entrepreneurs Educates and Inspires Budding Women Business Owners

Sharon Styffe says the Network for Women Entrepreneurs fills a need in the region for a resource to assist those looking to start or grow a business.

Sharon Styffe, dean of Workforce and Professional Development at Holyoke Community College (HCC), says that coming up with a successful new business concept is a challenge that comes in two parts: having a good idea, and identifying a market to buy that idea.
“It’s one thing to do what you’re good at,” she told BusinessWest, “but its quite another thing to find something you’re good at — and that the market will buy. You can’t just sell something that’s your passion; it has to be someone else’s need — because otherwise it’s just an organized hobby.”
These are just some of the many thoughts she tries to impress upon the growing number of participants in something called the Network of Women Entrepreneurs, which meets every other week at the Kittredge Center on the HCC campus.
As the name suggests, this initiative, which Styffe created last fall, is indeed a network, one in which ideas are exchanged, common issues and problems are discussed, and people leave the room with more to think about than when they arrived. It is intended for those already in business, those who would like to be some day, and those who need to decide if being in business for themselves is the correct career path to take.
Mary Kearney is actually in two of those categories — sort of. She already has one operating enterprise, called CleanScape Inc., a commercial cleaning service she founded 18 years ago, as well as a fledgling enterprise still mostly in the hobby stage — a niche graphic design company for women’s clothing — that she would like to make her primary business pursuit.
“Although I’m an entrepreneur, cleaning has never excited me as much as the arts,” she explained, “especially since that’s where my skills are.”
Kearney’s desire to grow her graphic arts enterprise brought her to the Network of Women Entrepreneurs, but discussions within that group, and her own due diligence, have brought her to the conclusion that her concept might be too cost-prohibitive. However, further introspection — and help from the group — may eventually lead to the acceptable alternative of folding some aspects of that dream into her cleaning venture (more on that later).
Nancy Fields, president of Fields Graphic Design in Leeds, is another participant in the network who said the informative, interactive sessions have given her new perspective on what it means to be in business and serve customers.
“One of the speakers was a former marketing person and she was an eye-opener for me,” she said, “because she made me see that I’m not just a person doing a job for someone else. I’m actually running a business and I really have something to offer here.”
Currently the group consists of business owners involved in writing, Website and graphic design, food production, commercial office cleaning, accounting, hair design, radio talent, healthy food preparation, end-of-life care, publishing, and home organization.
Each venture, and each entrepreneur, is different, but there are common denominators that include everything from clearing the many hurdles involved with taking a concept from the drawing board to the marketplace, to the difficulties women face in finding a balance between life and work.
For this issue and its focus on women in business, BusinessWest took in a session of the network Styffe facilitates to see how it helps members juggle the many balls they have in the air and take their businesses to the next level.

Life in the Middle
Before she came to HCC from a large community college in Ohio last October, Styffe, a single mother and full-time working professional with experience in education, banking, and workforce development, did some extensive research on Western Mass.
And that due diligence led her to conclude that it was a “hot bed” for small-business development.
Looking deeper, and calling on her own background, she recognized a need within the community for a resource for women business owners and those with entrepreneurial urges, one that would provide information, inspiration, and, perhaps most importantly, dialogue between such individuals.
Thus, she launched the network, which is based on a program she created at Montgomery County Community College in Pennyslvania. One of the main reasons to target women, she explained, is their continuing roles as nurturers and caretakers, which makes them “natural multi-taskers.”
“It doesn’t matter how far up the career ladder one goes, that nurturing quality is still something that is ingrained in you from when you were little,” she said, “and that makes you perfect for creating a business, and a program like this captures that spirit.”
Styffe has a number of initiatives she wants to launch at HCC, but the Network of Women Entrepreneurs is the first, and a place where women business owners can form a new community of learning in an accepting environment.
Just a few weeks ago, one of the women attendees presented her company and her products, explaining to the other women how she got to the that point with all her struggles, including FDA approvals, and she brought her newborn baby with her.
“Her husband was working that night,” Styffe said. “And everybody completely understood.”

Information Overload

Donna Bliznak, left, recently addressed the network on the broad subject of commercial lending, providing insight for members, including Mary Kearney, center, and Nancy Fields.

At a recent Tuesday evening session, guest speaker Donna Bliznak, vice president of Commercial Lending for PeoplesBank, presented a comprehensive inside look at the lending process, and at what banks want to see and hear from business owners as they consider loans for various purposes — starting up, next-level expansion, or simply weathering economic downturns.
Other speakers have presented on such topics as legal issues involved in getting started, personnel recruitment, branding and marketing, and access to common capital.
The scheduling of the session topics is based loosely on the plan one should follow if they are just starting up their business. In between the expected topics, other presentations are also booked for the rest of the year, based on what the attendees want to learn.
But one of Styffe’s concerns is that attendees not get overwhelmed. The sheer volume of information packed into some of the recent sessions can burn them out.
“The topics have been really great and the speakers haven’t relaxed it at all,” Styffe said. “Some of these women haven’t had financial training; they’ve been consumers, but with a business, it’s a whole new ball game. You have to be prepared to talk to someone to sell them on the long-term prospect of what you do.”
Which leads her to the importance of creating an effective business plan.
While Styffe has seen some people get their ventures off the ground without a business plan, one is needed to help the entrepreneur set goals and create effective strategies for reaching them. An up-to-date plan can also help determine possible course changes for businesses experiencing growing pains.
Fields, for example, was doing graphic design work for 20 years when she lost a major client, forcing her to step back and look at where her business was and how to take it where she wanted it to go.
“I have to look at what I’m doing and why I’m doing it,” she said, adding that her business plan is addressing such questions. “I have to look at money, and now start really thinking of my work as a business.”
In Fields’ situation, Styffe talked about the importance of developing a pipeline of customers, a client network of current and future customers to draw from, which enables a business to weather downturns and not be dependant on one or a few clients.
Fields said she started attending network sessions upon realizing not only that she needed to create this pipeline, but that hard work and effective networking would be needed to create such a prospective client list.
“I know I need to network now, especially for online marketing and to refresh my brand,” she said.
Kearney’s CleanScape has fluctuated between 17 and 33 employees during various economic ups and downs, but remained generally stable.
“At times I couldn’t find enough employees to keep up with the work,” she said, “and other times, doctors’ offices would hire their own staff to clean, just to save money during the tough economy.”
But, despite her relative success in a competitive field, something was missing — a passion for the work. And that’s why she desired something in what she would consider her chosen field — art.
An early love of murals eventually turned into a hobby centered on illustration, and then a very small start-up venture called ArtWear Gallery, which offers Kearney’s upscale illustrations on women’s shirts, blouses, and casual- to business-style tops. As a weekend graphic designer and illustrator, Kearney wanted to turn ArtWear Gallery into her primary business focus. This was the mindset she took to her first network sessions, but further examination of the concept changed her outlook.
“I found that in this country, our technology with dyes isn’t as advanced as overseas, and because my company would not be able to buy the volume of garments initially, like plain tee shirts are bought in bulk, it just wasn’t going to be affordable.”
She reluctantly shifted her hopes and dreams away from ArtWear Gallery and back to commercial cleaning, but with more services and the assistance of a local contractor. Now, in addition to routine, detail, and specialty cleaning, she’ll offer space-organizing services, window and carpet cleaning, composite tile floor refinishing, building repairs, remodels and renovations.
But something even more exciting has happened, thanks in part to the HCC group. Kearney is now considering merging her expanded commercial cleaning company to include different forms of her passion for art.
“Now, I’ve added wall painting, including contemporary faux textures and effects, personalized logo and original mural design,” she said, adding that all this allows her to satisfy that artistic passion that she was missing for years in the cleaning business.

Guiding Light
Styffe said she isn’t surprised that people like Kearney and Fields are able to make important career decisions through the help of the network.
She told BusinessWest that this is what happens when people with common dreams and similar challenges come together to learn and, in some cases, teach.
Over time, she believes the initiative can help enable a number of ventures to thrive, add jobs, and perhaps inspire new ideas to meet recognized needs.
After all, that’s what a successful business does.

Elizabeth Taras can be reached at [email protected]

Who’s Who?

By BusinessWest Staff April 23, 2013

Commercial Real Estate Sections

A listing of area commercial real estate managers

Click here to download the PDF

A Well-drafted Operating Agreement Is Critical for Success

Like the Iceman, Jan. 1, 2014 — a Big Day for Obamacare — Cometh

That’s the Basic Mission When Weighing Business Exit Strategies

Legacy Luncheon

Why the Employee Stock Ownership Plan May Be a Sound Alternative

Vice President, Westfield Electroplating Co., age 32

Owner and President, TNT General Contracting, age 37

Vice President and Director of Marketing & Public Relations, American Homecare Federation Inc., age 33

Older Unemployed Individuals Find Themselves in the Fight of Their Lives

Springfield Eyes Bright Future, Casino or Not

40 More Reasons to Feel Positive

Clinical Director, Center for Human Development, age 37

Founder and Executive Director, Veritas Preparatory Charter School, age 35

President, CommunicateHealth Inc., age 34

President, Burgess, Schultz & Robb, P.C., age 39

Certified Public Accountant, age 33

Assistant Director of Communication, Commonwealth Honors College, UMass Amherst, age 38

Owner, North Country Landscapes and Garden Center, age 34

Director of Franchise Support & Development and Field Consultant, Fitness Together; Owner, Elements Therapeutic Massage, age 34

What Would Horace Moses Do?

Northampton Commercial Real Estate Market Remains Resilient

A listing of available commercial real estate

A Living Treasure

Sports Minded

Naming Rights

Unlimited Pride

Engineering Excellence

Not Just Business as Usual

It’s Time to Make Some Colorful Statements with Your Attire

Local United Way to Form Women’s Leadership Council

Network of Women Entrepreneurs Educates and Inspires Budding Women Business Owners

A listing of area commercial real estate managers

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