Month: February 2014

Michaelene Cronin

Michaelene Cronin has been named Executive Director of the Curtis Blake Center at American International College. Cronin will play a pivotal role in developing, solidifying, and expanding center services; serve as the liaison between the center and the college; and oversee the Curtis Blake Day School, Tutorial Services, AIC Supportive Learning Services, Diagnostic Services, and a summer instructional clinic. She will be responsible for designing and implementing new initiatives in order to broaden the center’s reach and enhance and strengthen its current programming. Cronin comes to AIC from Goddard College in Plainfield, Vt., where she served as the Associate Academic Dean for Undergraduate Studies. She earned her B.A. in English from the University of Michigan and her J.D. from the University of Detroit School of Law. Cronin has been a member of the National Academic Advising Assoc., the Autism Society of America, and the Aspergers Assoc. of New England.
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Easthampton Savings Bank announced the following promotions and additions:

Emily Drapeau

• Emily Drapeau has been promoted to Deposit Operations Officer. Drapeau joined the bank as a Teller in 1995 and was promoted to Customer Service Representative in 1997, Senior Teller in 2000, Deposit Operations Specialist in 2001, and Deposit Operations Supervisor in 2004 before being promoted to Deposit Operations Manager in 2011. She graduated from the New England School for Financial Studies in June 2012;

Stacey Laliberte

• Stacey Laliberte has been promoted to Project Management Officer. Laliberte joined the bank as a Teller in 2001 and held the positions of Customer Service Assistant, Deposit Operations Assistant, Teller CSR, and Project Coordinator before being promoted to Project Manager in April 2011. She graduated with an associate’s degree from Holyoke Community College and with honors from the New England School for Financial Studies in June 2012;

Michael Fitzgerald

• Michael Fitzgerald has been promoted to IT Officer. Fitzgerald started with the bank in 2004 as a Systems Administrator and was promoted to IT Manager in November 2011. He graduated from the Graduate School of Banking’s Bank Technology Management School in April 2013; and

Jeffrey Hutchins

• Jeffrey Hutchins, who boasts more than 25 years of local banking and real-estate experience, has been hired as a mortgage originator. Hutchins opened Hutchins Realty in 1991, which later merged with Jones Town & Country to form Jones Group Realtors. Hutchins graduated from Babson College with a degree in Business Marketing. He also completed a Center for Financial Training Mortgage Training class. Hutchins is a member of the Realtor Assoc. of Pioneer Valley and Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System.
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MassMutual’s Retirement Services Division recently announced the following additions to its sales and client management organization:
• Jason Bouldin, based in Atlanta, joined MassMutual as Managing Director covering Alabama and Georgia. Bouldin brings more than 15 years of industry experience to the company and previously served with Great-West Financial and the Hartford;

John Cunningham

• John Cunningham, an 18-year veteran of MassMutual, has been appointed Regional Sales Director covering Western Mass., Vermont, and Eastern Upstate New York. Cunningham previously served the past nine years as Regional Sales Director focused on strengthening career agency sales across the Northeast;

Lauren Drapeau

• Lauren Drapeau rejoined MassMutual as Regional Sales Director covering Connecticut (excluding Fairfield County). Drapeau has more than 13 years of industry experience and previously served as an Annuity Wholesaler with MassMutual before her most recent role with MetLife;

Jon Ogren

• Jon Ogren has been named Regional Sales Director covering Kansas, Nebraska, and Western Missouri. Based in Overland Park, Kan., Ogren has more than 15 years of experience in the retirement-services industry, previously serveing with the Standard and Northwestern Mutual; and

Mary Kay Zoulek

• Mary Kay Zoulek joined MassMutual as Regional Sales Director for Western Michigan. Based in Grand Rapids, Mich., Zoulek brings more than 12 years of industry experience to her new role, all of which was built serving advisors across Western Michigan. Before joining MassMutual, Zoulek served with John Hancock and Principal Financial Group.
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Janice Mazzallo

PeoplesBank has announced the promotion of Janice Mazzallo to Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer. Mazzallo previously served the bank as Senior Vice President of Human Resources, and has more than 30 years of human-capital-management experience, including serving as Second Vice President, Human Resources, at the Phoenix Companies in Hartford. Since joining PeoplesBank in 2005, she has partnered with management to drive change and develop strategies that achieve strong business results. She planned and directed the bank’s three-year strategic-planning process, developed human-resource programs that support a high-performance culture, and implemented a best-in-class Leadership Development Program that benchmarked Ritz Carlton Business Practices, as well as a Management Development Program. During Mazzallo’s tenure, PeoplesBank has been named a Top Place to Work by the Boston Globe on two occasions and was selected as an Employer of Choice by the Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce.
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Dmitriy Mayboroda

Dmitriy Mayboroda recently joined the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission as a Transportation Planner. Mayboroda holds a bachelor’s degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from UMass Amherst. Previously, he was a transportation intern at PVPC, working on traffic-data collection and various projects for the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority. Mayboroda will focus on assisting transportation staff with a variety of transportation-related congestion and safety-improvement projects.
•••••

Marc Richards

Marc Richards has rejoined Tighe & Bond Inc. as the engineering firm’s newly appointed Vice President of Environmental Services. A Licensed Site Professional (LSP), Richards has more than 20 years of brownfields redevelopment, environmental assessment and cleanup, hazardous-building materials abatement and demolition design, and construction management experience. He offers both public- and private-sector clients tailored expertise and solutions for complex environmental challenges. Besides LSP and Massachusetts Contingency Plan (MCP) services, Richards’ expertise includes oversight of environmental permitting, as well as above- and below-ground site cleanup, throughout the Northeast. His portfolio includes a wide variety of land-development projects where he has worked with stakeholders to advance improvements while protecting the environment and its natural resources. Richards earned his MS in environmental engineering from Tufts University and his BS in civil engineering from UMass Amherst. Richards is a licensed professional engineer in Massachusetts and New Hampshire and is active in the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Licensed Site Professional Assoc., the Environmental Business Council, the National Assoc. for Industrial and Office Parks, and the National Demolition Assoc. Richards will work primarily out of Tighe & Bond’s Worcester office, but his involvement will be region-wide.

Mind the Gap

At Webber & Grinnell, the Devil Is in the Details

Bill Grinnell says his job is to protect businesses, and education is a big part of that.

The sales pitch at Webber & Grinnell Insurance often comes down to one simple question: what are you not covered for?

“That’s part of our renewal process, focusing on what coverage is lacking,” said William Grinnell, who, along with Richard Webber, has led this Northampton-based insurance agency to steady growth for almost two decades. “Business owners get a sense of where they’re exposed, and what they really want to know is what they’re not covered for.”

Take, for example, the broad realm of business-practices liability.

“That’s a huge one,” said Mat Geffin, vice president of business development. “They think, if they’re sued by an employee, their general liability coverage protects them. It won’t. There are exclusions for employment-practices types of claims, like sexual harassment and wrongful termination — those are a totally separate type of policy, completely excluded under your general liability.”

And, in an ever-more-litigious society, that’s no small matter for an employer.

Those suits are frequent; my clients have seen a lot of those this year,” Geffin said. “The more employees you have, the more turnover, the more likely it is that these suits will occur.

“It’s a huge risk,” he added. “I’ve had clients who have done all the right things in terminating a problem employee, but nothing’s stopping them from going to Mark E. Salomone and filing a lawsuit. That’s where that employment-practices policy steps up to protect the company.”

Sometimes, Grinnell noted, employers think they’re doing everything right and don’t believe they’re exposed. “But anyone can sue for any reason, and defense is very expensive and time-consuming” — often to the tune of thousands of dollars small businesses just can’t spare.

Fortunately, he added, the agents at Webber & Grinnell are trained to think like underwriters; in fact, even the most dynamic salespeople won’t get hired if they aren’t able to dig into the fine print of an 80-page policy, understand its strengths and weaknesses, and make sure clients understand them, too (more on that later).

“We help them understand that everyone out there has different risk tolerances,” Grinnell told BusinessWest. “Our job is to help them make an informed decision about what insurance they’re going to purchase.

“Our obligation is, obviously, to protect those businesses,” he added. “They had better be protected right, or we’re exposed, too.”

Digging Deep

Grinnell said his agency focuses on the property/casualty market. “Our main lines of coverage are workers’ compensation coverage, commercial property, and general liability,” as well as home and auto insurance.

On the business side, he said, some nuances have changed the game over the past decade or so. For example, workers’ compensation has become much more complex, and many employers’ policies are fraught with mistakes in classification or experience modification calculations — although companies are becoming more savvy on these matters.

Mat Geffin says cyber liability is one of the hot insurance trends that companies of all kinds need to be aware of.

From a liability standpoint, said Geffin, there’s more of a trend toward cyber liability, with more companies, especially retailers, doing business online. “It’s an area of growth in the insurance industry — you see all these lawsuits; you see Target losing millions of customer records,” he noted. “What happens when small businesses in this area are being hit with some of those exposures? They’re not all covered for it, and that’s the new thing we’re talking to people about.”

On the personal-lines side, Grinnell said business is always changing. “It’s been ever-more competitive with the introduction of competitive auto rates several years ago, so we battle with that.”

In the midst of such competition, Geffin said, “I do believe a differentiator for us is our knowledge, being a pure coverage insurance agency. We’re not out there just hawking prices. We really do take a hard look at the coverage, talk intelligently, take an underwriter’s approach to it. Bill and Rich were both underwriters, and were trained to look at risks like underwriters.”

Indeed, Grinnell’s first job after graduating from college in 1984 was with United States Fidelity and Guarantee Insurance in Boston. He received in-depth training there, which provided him with advanced knowledge of how policies are constructed. Webber had similar training experience at Aetna as an underwriter, and Grinnell attributes most of the company’s success to an ability to carefully examine policies, because, while clients are expected to read their policies, he realizes that they don’t always understand them.

Grinnell purchased his father’s agency, then known as Woodward and Grinnell, in 1997, and soon after teamed up with Webber. Their relationship has been synergistic, with Grinnell focusing on sales, and Webber spearheading office adminstration, technology, and relationships with larger carriers. Last fall, Grinnell became the company’s sole owner, and Webber is now vice president of operations.

Unlike insurance agencies that use a cookie-cutter approach to policy writing, Grinnell said, his salespeople are required to take a highly individualized approach.

“Everyone has different problems, and you’ve got to identify what the issue is and then capitalize on it,” he explained. “It might be a service issue, it could be a problem they had with a claim, a coverage issue … any of these things.”

One of the firm’s advantages is the number of commercial markets it represents, he added, and the leverage that brings. “As opposed to a smaller agency, we have dozens of different commercial insurance companies to approach, and we can get a good, competitive package from one of them.”

Knowledge Is Power

But Webber & Grinnell brings knowledge and information to its clients beyond crafting their policies.

Significantly, the company sends clients something called Business Digest, a national insurance newsletter agencies personalize according to their own needs. “Sometimes it contains timely topics concerning insurance coverage,” Grinnell said, “and sometimes it focuses on insurers and best practices and what we’re doing well to manage a particular risk they might have in their business.”

Over the years, the firm has also established informational hotlines for OSHA and human-resources matters, a workers’ compensation hotline staffed by an attorney in that field, and seminars on topics ranging from sales fundamentals to hiring rights to corporate leadership — all these efforts geared toward moving beyond the insurance relationship and becoming more of a partner with clients, to help their businesses run smoothly.

All those efforts are part of growing Webber & Grinnell, both in size and in scope of services, Geffin said. “We have a lot more competition that has come in with the direct writers, like Geico and Progressive. But we’re trying to grow.”

One reason that’s a challenge, Grinnell said, is that the agency is extremely cautious in its hiring process. “We’re very selective about who we take on. We’re trying to find a salesperson who fits our culture, and it’s very difficult. We get a lot of people in the door, but we don’t take many.”

The reason has to do with the dual nature — personal and technical — of what the company demands.

“You’ve got to be bright, and you’ve got to work hard,” he told BusinessWest. “And you’ve got to be a person who’s able to handle the technicalities of the insurance world and all the little details in the policy, and, at the same time, get along with people, communicate well with people, and build firm relationships.”

Geffin agreed. “It’s very much a hybrid type of role,” he said. “A lot of salespeople are not good at the technical standpoint, that other side of reading the contract language and interpreting the contract language. There might be hundreds of pages, and 100 ways you can write it depending on the risk. You need a very special person, and it’s very hard to find that mix.”

Even for employees who don’t deal directly with clients, the standards are high, Grinnell said. “Internally, we’re looking for a slightly different skill set, but, again, we test everyone who comes in here, interview them several times, check their references. We’re very selective about hiring. And I think that gives us an advantage.”

Giving Back

With so many human needs in Western Mass., the company also has to be selective about its charitable efforts, which Grinnell said have long been a part of the agency’s culture. These days, for example, Webber & Grinnell heads up campaigns for United Way of Hampshire County and United Way of Pioneer Valley, among other efforts.

“I don’t know if this is true for a lot of agencies, but we do a lot philanthropically in the Valley,” Geffin said. “It’s a huge commitment. Bill and Rich have always led by example, by giving back to the community that supports us. I think that’s a good message.”

It’s just one more detail that this insurance company strives to get right.

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Protect and Serve

A chart of insurance agencies in the region

Click here to download the PDF

Fun with a Purpose

Sales and Marketing Sections

Partners at chikmedia Say Marketing Shouldn’t Be Stressful

Meghan Rothschild, left, and Emily Gaylord, partners at chikmedia.

Meghan Rothschild was taken aback by how Bob Lowry, owner of Bueno y Sano, described her new marketing firm’s work: “zany things that make lasting impressions on people.”

“I said, ‘wow … that’s the best endorsement I’ve ever heard of our company since we started,’” said Rothschild, who partnered with Emily Gaylord to launch their business, chikmedia, about six months ago.

Perhaps some agencies would recoil from a word like ‘zany,’ but Rothschild and Gaylord embrace it.

“When we started, we made this silly video dancing in a frozen-yogurt shop, and we posted the thing on Facebook,” Gaylord said. “We figured, if we’re going to do this, if we’re going to be successful, we’re going to be ourselves from day one. Our clients know, from the first meeting, that this is who Meghan and Emily are — and that it’s going to be fun. That’s a huge part of our business. Being effective is the other part.”

Rothschild has been in marketing for eight years, first as marketing and promotions manager at Six Flags, then development and marketing manager at the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, and, later, as director of marketing and communications at Wilbraham and Monson Academy (WMA). She and Gaylord worked together at those last two stops and found they hit it off in more ways than one.

Meghan Rothschild says chikmedia caters to women-run businesses, but serves plenty of male clients as well.

“We were constantly doing outside favors for folks — writing press releases, designing logos,” Rothschild said. “One day, I said, kiddingly, ‘we should start a company and start charging for this.’ She said, ‘OK, I’ll start today.’ She got a website up and running, we launched a Facebook page, and the rest is history.”

Said Gaylord, “we were both doing freelance work on the side. She was doing freelance marketing, and I was doing freelance design, and we thought, why not go into business together? It would be more productive, more lucrative, and, frankly, more fun, because we get a kick out of working together. About 48 hours later, chikmedia was born. I made a logo that day.”

With about two dozen clients, including Bueno y Sano, UMass Dining, Papa John’s, ArchitectureEL, Energia Fitness, SkinCatering, and Lioness magazine, to name just a few, “we got really busy very quickly, and we didn’t anticipate how successful it would be in such a short period of time,” Rothschild said. “We were just overwhelmed with how many people started reaching out to us and wanted our services.”

Gaylord said their strong relationship has contributed to their quick start. “I think a lot of businesses fail when friends start a business together. We’re different; we became friends because we work so well together. We’ve always had the same kind of vision, the same tastes. Honestly, it’s just been a very good, very positive relationship.”

By the end of 2013, Rothschild added, “we decided we either have to pull back and stop accepting new clients, or make this thing bigger. We decided there’s so much potential with the company, we had to pursue it.”

Girl Power

Rothschild said the company’s name reflects that vision. “We decided on chikmedia because we wanted to focus on women-run businesses and organizations, although we cater to both men and women.”

“The goal was to be a female-focused business,” Gaylord added. “We have plenty of male clients, but female entrepreneurs are becoming a force to be reckoned with, and we believe in that; we want to see more women in charge, and the only way that will happen is if women start taking leadership roles. But we have a wide variety of clients.”

That women-focused niche, Rothschild said, is attractive to both men and women. “Men feel a little special when we’re taking them on, and women know we get it; we get who they’re trying to market to. They know that women hold the purse strings in households. They’re the ones dictating the weekend plans, managing the books, dealing with finances — they’re making the decisions.”

Rothschild handles the PR and marketing end of the business, while Gaylord is the creative force, handling design work. “She’s a genius — it’s amazing what she comes up with,” Rothschild said.

Emily Gaylord says chikmedia’s wide umbrella of services, including marketing, PR, and design, appeals to its clients.

“We worked together for years,” she added. “She was my intern at the Food Bank, and I recruited her at WMA. We work so well together — similar in some ways, but polar opposites in the way we do work. I’m more nuts and bolts — ‘here’s the deadline; let’s meet it.’ She’s more creative — ‘here’s what I envision for the client.’ We work incredibly well together because we complement each other.”

Part of chikmedia’s appeal, Gaylord said, is the broad umbrella of its services. “Some companies just do marketing, or just PR, or just design. We do it all. That way, everything is cohesive; everything matches. The message is the same.”

And if a client has design or marketing elements in place that are working, she added, chikmedia won’t try to toss those aside. “If the client likes red and black, we’re not going to introduce teal. But we look at the message and make sure the message is consistent. We’re not trying to change who you are; we’re trying to show you off — and it’s something we do very well.”

The firm offers flexibility for clients who hire it for only one element, Rothschild said. “A lot of our clients want us for public relations; they want us to be their publicist — that’s one of the most popular options.”

She particularly enjoys this side of the business, noting that she has built a large network of media contacts from her time at Six Flags and, more recently, as a spokesperson for the Melanoma Foundation; she’s a 10-year survivor of skin cancer and a passionate advocate for sun safety and against tanning beds.

“My favorite part is pitching people in a way that works for the source you’re pitching to. That’s the most fun — finding ways to both help the media source, which needs content, and help the client. To find synergy, you need to make this easy for the media; they’re being pulled in 15 different directions.”

“You’re paying for our reputation in this field,” Rothschild continued. “If a reporter gets 80 to 100 press releases a day, Joe Shmoe is going to get lost in the mix. But we send you something, you at least look at it. We genuinely care about our partners, both the media and the client, and we want everyone to be happy. That’s important to us. No one ever looks at us and goes, ‘oh, not these people again.’ They know it’s going to be something fun, something cool, that will get their attention.”

To reach the media and the buying public, she added, “there isn’t just one template. We have to determine, who’s talking about this product? Who are the decision makers buying this product? Who’s got a stake in this game? That’s how we develop campaigns for women. It’s acknowledging they’re the power in their households and finding fun ways to get them interested in our clients’ products.”

Not Laying an Egg

Gaylord is still somewhat surprised by chikmedia’s first six months of growth. “I’ve studied entrepreneurship in college, and there are so many failed businesses,” she said. “Not only are we not losing a ton of money, but we’re making money, and that’s kind of shocking.

“Part of that, I think, is that people were waiting for it,” she added. “Meghan and I both grew up in this community, so we have some very strong roots here. As soon as we started the business, a lot of people seemed to be waiting for us to take that step — ‘of course, if I’m going to hire somebody, it’s gonna be you guys!’ We owe everything to the clients who took a chance on us right off the bat.

“So far, we’ve had very positive results,” Gaylord continued. “At first, it was a lot of networking, people introducing us to other people. Lately, we’ve been getting more calls out of the blue. It’s really exciting.”

The partners have expanded chikmedia’s reach beyond Western Mass., with clients in the Boston and Hartford areas, and plan to break into the Providence market, too. That sounds ambitious, Rothschild said, but much of it is based simply on treating people right.

“I always try to leave a lasting impression on people, try to be cordial and accommodating. A lot of customer service is being pleasant and responsive and quick to get back to clients. These are people who only want their business to succeed, and need you to help them.

“We’re definitely taking it slowly,” she added. “But you reach this point of critical mass where you have to bring someone on board. We just hired an intern, and we have a new business-development individual. But we’re getting at least one new client a week, and there’s no way we’ll be able to sustain that without bringing more people on board.”

Gaylord said she tries not to think too far ahead, but it’s hard not to be excited.

“I don’t have kids right now; this is my baby, what I spend my time and resources on. I’m like any new parent who wants to see their child thrive and succeed. OK, maybe I’m taking that metaphor too far,” she said with a laugh.

“We see a real future in it,” she added, “but we’re thinking practically. We’re not thinking that, in 30 years, we’ll be the hippest company on the planet — which will probably be true — but just making sure our clients right now are cared for. That’s why we’ve been so successful in six months. We’re thinking from a practical place first.”

Well, practical and fun.

“One of the things that sets us apart is that we want you to have fun,” Gaylord said. “Working with us is a positive experience, and when people take that step and say, ‘I’m not a marketer; I want to invest in some marketing,’ we want them to have a good time with it. We’re silly, but in the most amazing way possible.”

Rothschild agreed. “We’re extremely passionate about what we do,” she said. “We have a lot of fun doing it and make sure our clients have a lot of fun doing it. If we’re just another stressor in their day, we’re not doing it right.”

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Higher Definition

Sections Technology

New York Sound and Motion Invests in the Big Picture

Ed Brown recently invested in the Sony F55 digital camera, and has targeted Hollywood film productions in Massachusetts as future clients.

When Ed Brown interned for a neighbor’s lighting and gaffing business during one of his college summers home on Long Island, it proved to be a turning point in his life.

He spent the summer of 1989 on the set of the movie Quick Change, starring Bill Murray, Geena Davis, and Randy Quaid. “I worked as a production assistant, and I caught the bug,” recalled Brown, who is now owner of New York Sound and Motion (NYSM), a West Springfield-based, high-end video, TV, and radio production studio.

With almost 25 years of experience under his belt in lighting, filming, and editing, Brown handles production for local clients such as Marcotte Ford, the Eastfield Mall, Rocky’s Ace Hardware, Gary Rome Auto Group, and UTC Aerospace (maker of spacesuits for NASA), as well as educational and healthcare systems, political campaigns, and specialty productions for events like the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame’s enshrinement ceremony. He recently invested thousands of dollars in a state-of-the-art digital camera and the necessary support equipment in what he calls a “calculated move” that will bring him full circle, back to the movie-production process that started it all.

Indeed, NYSM is poised, and equipped, to position Brown as a cinematographer, in addition to offering elite production services to some of the largest companies in the world. As his NYSM promotional demo on YouTube states to prospective clients, “you can make it here in Western Massachusetts!”

“I’m going after all the big guns here, and I want them to realize that there is a lot of talent with the right equipment in their backyard; they don’t need to run to Boston or New York for ultra-high-end production,” said Brown, adding that his work is also his hobby, which means he’s always reading and researching the newest products, even on his limited days off.

“I’m able to talk the talk and walk the walk with the big boys,” he told BusinessWest, “but I’m just in a little pond.”

Coming from perhaps the biggest pond — New York City — Brown, like many entrepreneurs, started his production company in the basement of his home in 2002. After spending more than a decade on the road as a videographer shooting and editing for ESPN programs such as NFL Countdown, College Gameday, and Outside the Lines, which had him working mostly weekends, he said he was missing his children’s early years.

By 2006, he’d moved to an office with a large studio in Springfield, and his client base grew, just as technology in both cameras and editing software was advancing.

After a short-lived move to West Springfield, Brown is moving NYSM back to Springfield this spring to take advantage of more energy-efficient space as he embarks on a new chapter in his company’s history.

For this issue’s focus on technology, BusinessWest visited NYSM to gain some insight and perspective concerning the many breakthroughs in lighting, cameras, and editing software that will enable Brown get back to movies and attract the kind of corporate clients he covets.

Light Year

Superior lighting is one of the most important aspects of Brown’s business, and he admits that the biggest challenge in his industry is just keeping up with technology, which has advanced in just the last two years at the speed of, well, light.

He gets most of his education about the newest video-production technology at the National Assoc. of Broadcasters (NAB) convention, the world’s largest electronic media show covering filmed entertainment, video, and sound production, held each spring in Las Vegas.

“It’s the go-to place for technology; I keep up with what constitutes the latest and greatest, and this year, my main reason for attending is to convert all my studio lighting to LED lighting,” he said, noting that LED (light-emitting diode) systems require less power (from 20 amps to 2.5 amps) and produce near-zero heat, which helps with air-conditioning usage and, ultimately, his shop’s electricity expenses. “It’s the right move, and I want to see what’s out there.”

However, Brown explained to BusinessWest that LED lighting technology is still in its infancy; some inexact color-temperature differences, he explained, can seriously affect the cool or warm tinted outcome of a commercial shoot, both indoors and outdoors.

“Color temperature has to be so exact for television shoots, and I don’t care what fandangle camera you have; if the color temperature is off, you’re going to see it,” Brown explained.

Correct lighting, indoors as well as outdoors, is vital for a quality commercial production, as seen at one of Ed Brown’s recent commercial shoots on the streets of New York City.

The higher the color temperature, the bluer, or cooler, the light will appear, he explained, while the lower the temperature, the warmer the light will appear. When filming commercials indoors and outdoors, Brown’s cameras are extremely sensitive to light, which requires him to set his lights at the same temperature to keep the subject matter and background setting the same tone from edited frame to edited frame. It’s the reason for his concern about the advancements in precise LED lighting.

Brown’s meticulous attention to detail, talent, and accrued equipment add up to production costs that can run 20 times more that they would be for a small local TV-commercial producer, but the result is what he calls “New York-quality commercials.”

A recent shoot for a Connecticut-based bank ran $10,000 for a two-day shoot that involved more than $250,000 worth of equipment on set, and that’s before he hit his editing suite to cut the commercial, at $225 per hour.

However, he said those rates are far less expensive than what high-end production would cost in a large city, and he’s raising the bar even further with his recent purchases.

“I’ve been trying get that Madison Avenue thinking here in Western Mass.,” Brown noted in reference to a strategic initiative that he believes will put NYSM on par with any large-city production house.

Resolution Revolution

Brown’s new production-equipment package, which includes a single digital camera, a powerful new computer, upgraded editing software, and other accessories, cost him just under $80,000.

The main item is the Sony F55 digital camera, which boasts the ability to shoot in ultra-high definition, or what’s known as 4K, which is what ultra-high-definition televisions (UHDTV) require for excellent picture quality. The 4K resolution, he explained, is a generic term for display devices or content having horizontal resolution (DPI, or dots per square inch, which are distinct pixels in the smallest addressable visual element) on the order of 4,000 pixels. While many movies are still shot with 35mm cameras, more and more cinematographers are switching to digital cameras, like the Sony F55 and Red Epic (a competing brand).

But most television stations where Brown’s commercials air are currently high-definition (HD) only, as many home televisions are still only HDTVs.

So, does a 4K camera make sense? His answer is a quick and emphatic ‘yes,’ stressing that it’s all about quality compression — and the future of his industry.

Television broadcasts operate only in HD, or 1080×1920 pixels, but commercials shot in 4K, or four times larger, are compressed and reduced, and the picture quality is still extremely precise, meaning every pore and every hair of the person in the commercial is extremely obvious — “which produces a really big problem,” he said. “I now really need a great makeup artist.” But with makeup professionals experienced in film production working for him, Brown has that base covered.

However, he explained, commercials shot in HD lose their DPI quality every time they are saved in an edited format before being sent to TV stations. One hour of filming in 4K can result in 500 gigabytes of raw footage, which he then edits through a process called color grading. This process maintains the UHDTV integrity until the spot is completed and image size is finally reduced on a file (600 MB or less when sent to TV stations) for airplay.

“It’s why national commercial spots, which are the same quality as what I do, look so much more rich than what is typically regionally produced,” Brown explained.

Editing software has also advanced considerably. Three software programs are currently being used: Apple’s Final Cut Pro; Avid (with which 80% to 90% of all motion pictures are edited); and Adobe Premier Pro Creative Cloud, which Brown prefers. Deciding to spend more time developing smartphones, Apple recently suspended production of Final Cut, but the software and hardware giant isn’t out of the film-editing business, as it’s producing quality computers with power that is “screaming,” he said — “a ton of horsepower in a tiny little box.”

Brown’s newest purchase, the MacBook Pro with Retina Display, is more than a “glorified iPad,” he noted. With almost no produced heat and 16 GB of RAM, an Intel i7 quad core (four central processing units), and terabyte solid-state storage, the slim machine has plenty of power, allowing Brown to process huge amounts of 4K raw video data in conjunction with the Pegasus R6 Raid System connected via Thunderbolt.

All these powerful pieces have Brown excited, but, at times, just a bit overwhelmed.

“It’s such new technology that is so new and so different … that I’m actually a little afraid of it,” he said, adding quickly that, since the holidays, he’s been working with it all daily, and his comfort level is about 100%.

Lights, Camera, Action!

Brown’s next purchase is what he calls the $9,500 trashcan, because it literally looks like a small black trashcan. The new 2013 Mac Pro, a sleek, cylindrical computer as tall as a typical coffee thermos and just a bit wider, offers 12 cores of processing ability (the typical MacBook Pro has only two cores), and even more RAM and processing power, assuring that no future project will be too massive.

He believes these investments will allow NYSM to secure more Fortune 500 clients and take on the brighter lights of Hollywood.

To that end, Brown has been rubbing shoulders with members of the Berkshire Film and Media Commission, which is closely tied to the Mass. Film Office. More than a dozen films were shot in Massachusetts last year, creating revenue of more than $359 million, and Brown, as a cinematographer, wants a piece of that action.

As his investments in expensive technology keep him ahead of the curve, he’ll also target one of the most interesting new prospective businesses in Western Mass. — MGM Springfield, which could become a constant source of high-tech 4K video productions.

“4K technology will be here sooner than you think,” Brown said as he pointed to his large UHDTV screen. “As fast as HD has taken over the market, that’s how fast 4K is going to take over the market … and I’m going after the big fish.” n

Elizabeth Taras can be reached at [email protected]

Word Up

Sections Technology

As Speech-recognition Technology Improves, More Applications Emerge

Speech-recognition technology, which instantly translates human speech into a digital document or command, has been around in some form for about two decades. But constant improvements in performance — as well as a broading of its applications — have users excited about the future.

That performance is typically measured in accuracy and speed, but various factors have complicated the former, from the vocabulary size of the software to the rate of speech; from accented or disjointed speech to background noise.

Dragon NaturallySpeaking, produced by software developer Nuance, has long been considered the gold standard in minimizing such issues.

“At first, speech-recognition packages were more like frustrating toys with maddening limitations, but they have steadily improved over time,” writes Lamont Wood in Computer World, in a discussion about NaturallySpeaking 12, the newest Dragon product. He said the utility of speech recognition didn’t outweigh its limitations until about a decade ago, but even then, speech recognition was more reliable with long words than with short ones, misinterpreted words were often rendered as commands, and the software occasionally got confused to the point that it stopped listening.

With version 12, he notes, “these factors have faded into the background (although they they haven’t entirely disappeared). For example, you can dictate effectively at about half the speed of an auctioneer — should you prove able to do so. Assuming that you stay focused while dictating, the error rate is now trivial.”

That’s important for people who use speech recognition in a variety of fields, including:

• Healthcare. The technology speeds up the transcription process by allowing a medical professional to dictate into a speech-recognition engine and cleaned up by an editor on the back end.
• Military. Speech recognition has been tested successfully in fighter aircraft, with applications including setting radio frequencies, commanding an autopilot system, setting steer-point coordinates and weapons-release parameters, and controlling flight display.
• Air-traffic control. Many air-traffic-control training systems require a person to act as a pilot and dialogue with the trainee. Speech recognition could potentially eliminate the need for that pseudo-pilot, thus reducing training and support personnel.
• Aerospace. NASA’s Mars Polar Lander used speech recognition in some applications.

Other uses are common as well, including court reporting; assistive devices for automobiles, such as OnStar and Ford Sync; hands-free computing; robotics; video captioning for television; and interactive video games — just to name a few.

Taming the Dragon?

Dragon isn’t the only player in the field, however. “Simpler or less expensive (if not quite as powerful) options are carving out little fiefdoms,” writes Mark O’Neill in PC World. “The more choices, the better, too, given that using voice commands can stave off or reduce repetitive strain injuries. The spoken word also suits some projects better than typing.”

Among the lesser-known options are:

• Windows Speech Recognition, which arrives preinstalled with newer versions of Windows. “Performance could stand some improvement,” O’Neill notes. “I found the accuracy level dipped when I dictated long texts into a MS Office doc. Nor did it respond well to my German accent, so other accents may stymie it as well.”
• Google Voice Search, which works on a Google Chrome browser, which is “fairly good at recognizing what you said.”
• TalkTyper, an online app with far fewer features than Dragon. “Even when I spoke clearly, it tripped up on some of the words, and I wasn’t exactly dictating rocket science. TalkTyper should be used only for simpler stuff, shorter spoken content — maybe an email or a tweet here and there.”
• Tazti, an app that goes beyond simple transcription. “Rather than taking dictation, Tazti takes orders. It helps you control games, open apps, and even use the command line,” O’Neill notes. “However, Tazti’s one big drawback is it won’t let you dictate text to a document. It’s not that kind of voice recognition.”

Using voice recognition for commands is increasingly common in automobiles. Although these systems are largely user-friendly, drivers still have to rely on set commands when summoning a phone number or searching through music. But Nuance says systems that recognize true natural language with 95% accuracy are probably no more than three years away.

“I believe the biggest gains to be made are going to be in conversational speech and understanding the intent of what the user is trying to accomplish,” Brian Radloff, the company’s director of Automotive Solution Architecture, told Satellite Radio Playground. “We’re starting to see that in telephony in the mobile space.”

He said strides will come when car makers treat their infotainment systems more holistically, with screen graphics properly tying into speech control. “The bulk of the focus over the next five years in the automotive space, and in voice in general, is going to be, how do we take this experience that is very good for a certain group, and make it very good for a large swath of the car-buying public?”

Meanwhile, Wells Fargo recently began testing voice-recognition technology that banking customers can use to check their spending habits and account level. In addition, U.S. Bank has been testing the technology among its employees, and some insurance companies, including Geico and USAA, have incorporated voice recognition in their applications, according to the Charlotte Observer.

Shirley Inscoe, a senior analyst with Aite Group, a national research and advisory firm, said such advances are closely tied to the rise in mobile devices and consumers demanding to do more with them. “There’s a big desire to improve customer service. They know we as consumers don’t go anywhere without our mobile phones. It really is a way to tie a customer more closely to the financial institution.”

Other advances in voice recognition go well beyond finance and leisure activities. For instance, two MIT students recently spent their winter break in New Jersey developing a device that could give paralyzed people the ability to call for help with the sound of their voice or change the settings on their wheelchair when no one is around. They were inspired by retired physics professor Michael Ogg, who has multiple sclerosis.

“My real limitation now is because of MS. I’m completely quadriplegic. I’m just not able to move my arms and legs at all,” Ogg told the Asbury Park Press.

He relies on home health aides for daily assistance, but when he is alone, he cannot reach an alarm by his bed to summon aid. “In the case of … being able to call for help,” he said, “this is potentially life-saving technology.”

Speak Clearly

Whichever voice-recognition software one uses, Wood offers a few tips to make the technology easier and more effective, including enunciating carefully and speaking slowly enough so that each word gets its due; watching the results on the screen as you go along, which can enhance accuracy; and taking heed of background sounds.

“Background silence is best, but droning ventilators hurt recognition more than office chatter,” he writes. “Meanwhile, if you don’t mind being overheard on the phone, then you won’t mind being overheard while dictating. You can use about the same volume for the phone and for speech recognition.”

Put that way, the ever-improving realm of speech recognition can be thought of as just another office function, as it’s increasingly assimilated into many corners of the world, from gaming to aviation to healthcare — a life enhancer for some, but for others, potentially a life-saving development.

— Joseph Bednar

Chamber Corners: Upcoming Events

Chamber Corners Departments

AFFILIATED CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE OF GREATER SPRINGFIELD
www.myonlinechamber.com
(413) 787-1555
• Feb. 24: ACCGS Outlook 2014, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the MassMutual Center, 1277 Main St., Springfield. The annual event will feature Ed Henry, chief White House correspondent for Fox News. Reservations are $50 for members, $70 for general admission. Deadline for reservations is Feb. 17. Presented by Health New England and sponsored by Eastern States Exposition, MassMutual Financial Group, PeoplesBank, United Personnel, and Western Massachusetts Electric Co. Reservations may be made online at www.myonlinechamber.com or by contacting Cecile Larose at [email protected].
• March 5: ACCGS Business@Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., at La Quinta Inns and Suites, 100 Congress St., Springfield. The breakfast will feature the program The Economic Engine Called Tourism — a panel discussion with some of our region’s top contributors: Gene Cassidy, Eastern States Exposition, and Judy Matt, Spirit of Springfield. Reservations are $20 for members, $30 for general admission. Reservations may be made online at www.myonlinechamber.com or by contacting Cecile Larose at [email protected].
• March 12: ACCGS After 5, 5-7 p.m., at Crestview Country Club, 281 Shoemaker Lane, Agawam. “Get in the Swing of Things!” is the event’s theme. Reservations are $5 for members, $10 for general admission. Reservations may be made online at www.myonlinechamber.com or by contacting Cecile Larose at [email protected].
• March 25: ACCGS Pastries, Politics and Policy, 8-9 a.m., at the TD Bank Conference Center, 1441 Main St., Springfield. This event is designed for the political and policy junkie, featuring a policy expert and member of the Patrick administration. Reservations are $15 for members, $25 for general admission. Reservations may be made online at www.myonlinechamber.com or by contacting Cecile Larose at [email protected].

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

• Feb. 26: Chamber After 5, 5-7 p.m., at Cowls Building Supply, 125 Sunderland Road, Amherst. Tickets are $10 for members, $15 for non-members.
• March 19: Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce Brown Bag Lunch, noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Jones Library (Woodbury Room). Nationally renowned green architect Mary Kraus will give a presentation called “Net Zero: At Home with No Energy Bills.” Learn how to reduce your home’s energy usage so that all of the building’s energy needs — heat, hot water, ventilation, lighting, and appliances — can be served by a solar array on the roof. Outlining a practical, step-by-step approach to reaching net zero — a building which produces as much energy as it consumes over the course of the year — she will also show how this is a compelling opportunity with a strong return on investment. She will share many images illustrating examples from her practice, including both renovations and new homes. This lively presentation will be followed by a question-and-answer session. Admission is free and open to the public
• March 27: Taste a variety of margaritas and vote for your favorites, 5:30-7:30 p.m., at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, 125 West Bay Road Amherst. Step into the tropics and pretend you’re on a Caribbean island. This is a Division One competition between restaurant and business margaritas. Your votes will determine who will take home the coveted AACC trophies. Restaurant margaritas presented by Hadley Farms Meeting House and Bridgeside Grille. Business Margaritas presented by Amherst Laser and Skin Care, New England Promotional Marketing, Scandihoovians, and Applewood at Amherst. Admission is $20 pre-paid, $25 at the door.

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

• Feb. 26: February Business After Hours, 5-7 p.m., at Elms College, 291 Springfield St. Chicopee. Tickets are $5 for members, $15 for non-members. Reservations may be made online at www.chicopeechamber.org.
• March 7: Shining Stars Banquet 2014, 6 p.m., at the Castle of Knights, 1599 Memorial Dr., Chicopee. Honoring the Business of the Year, PeoplesBank; Citizen of the Year, Gail A. Sherman; and Chamber Volunteer of the Year, Corey Briere of Complete IT Solutions. Tickets are $60. Reservations may be made online at www.chicopeechamber.org.
• March 19: March Salute Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., at La Quinta Inns & Suites. Tickets are $20 for members, $26 for non-members.
• March 25: 20th Annual Table Top Expo and Business Networking Event, 4:30-7 p.m., at the Log Cabin Banquet and Meeting House, 500 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. Exhibitor cost: $125 for a table. Admission: $10 in advance, $15 at the door. To register, contact the chamber at (413) 594-2101.

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

• March 13: March 2014 Networking by Night, 5 p.m. Stay tuned for more details on the March Networking by Night. If you are interested in sponsoring or hosting a networking event, call (413) 527-9414 or e-mail [email protected]. Admission is $5 for members, $15 for non-members.
• March 14: St. Patrick’s Day Annual Luncheon, noon at Southampton Country Club. Guest speaker: Easthampton Mayor Karen Cadieux. Honored guest: the 2014 Distinguished Young Woman of Greater Easthampton. Call (413) 527-9414 for more information. Additional details to follow.

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

• Feb. 26: Holyoke Chamber Economic Development Breakfast, 8-10 a.m. Location to be determined. Cost is $26 for members, $35 for non-members. A buffet breakfast is included in the price. Call the chamber at (413) 543-3376 to register or visit holychamber.com to sign up. Hear about local projects and how they will affect local businesses.
• March 6: Chamber Table Top Workshop (postponed from Feb. 13), 8:30-10 a.m, at the chamber office, 177 High St. A no-nonsense informational session on how to set up your booth, how to add visual interest, and what to do to keep potential customers engaged. Admission: $10 for members, $20 for non-members.
• March 12: St. Patrick’s Day breakfast, 7:30-10 a.m. Event sponsors: PeoplesBank and the Holyoke Mall at Ingleside.

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

• March 5: Arrive@5, 5-7 p.m., at Riverside Industries, One Cottage St., Easthampton. Arrive when you can, stay as long as you can. A casual mix and mingle with colleagues and friends. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for non-members.
• March 7: 2014 Annual Meeting and Luncheon, noon to 2 p.m., at the Hotel Northampton. A fun wrap-up of 2013 and preview of 2014. Tickets: $25 for members, $30 for guests/non-members. RSVP to the chamber at (413) 584-1900 or e-mail [email protected].
• March 18: 2014 Workshop: “Your Multi-channel Marketing Plan,” 8:30-9:30 a.m. Presented by Tina Stevens, principal of Stevens 470. Business growth requires an intelligent marketing plan that you can successfully execute. We will start this series by discussing marketing plans and how to best use them to reach your business goals. Utilizing a comprehensive plan will provide your business with the best return on your marketing investments. Your marketing plan should incorporate offline and online channels and include a detailed calendar of events and activities. We will go over the steps to create your plan and discuss how to build out your working calendar. The workshop is free, but pre-registration is required, and space is limited. To register, visit [email protected].
• March 21: 2014 HIBU Marketing Seminar, 8-10:30 a.m., at the Clarion Hotel & Conference Center, One Atwood Drive, Northampton. Presented by HIBU in partnership with the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce. Full breakfast will be served. Seating is limited, and registration is required. Topics include local online visibility, websites, search-engine optimization, social-media marketing and reputation management, local listings and maps, pay-per-click advertising, and mobile search. The workshop is free, but pre-registration is required, and space is limited. To register, call (413) 584-1900 or e-mail [email protected].
• March 25: 20th Annual Table Top Expo and Business Networking Event, 4:30 -7 p.m., at the Log Cabin Banquet and Meeting House, 500 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. Exhibitor cost: $125 for a table. Admission: $10 in advance, $15 at the door. To register, call (413) 584-1900 or e-mail [email protected].

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

• March 3: Mayor’s Coffee Hour, 8-9 a.m., at Genesis Health Center, 60 East Silver St., Westfield. For more information, contact the chamber at (413) 568-1618, or e-mail [email protected].
• March 12: After 5 Connection, 5-7 p.m., at Nora’s Restaurant, 106 Point Grove Road, Southwick. Tickets are $10 for members, $15 for non-members; cash at the door. Your first After 5 is free. For more information, contact the chamber at (413) 568-1618, or e-mail [email protected].
• March 14: St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., at Scanlon Hall at Westfield State University. Platinum sponsor: Noble Hospital; gold sponsor, Westfield Gas & Electric; silver sponsor, FieldEddy; coffee bar, Sunshine Village. Tickets are $25 for members, $30 for non-members in advance. To register, contact Pam at the chamber office at (413) 568-1618, or e-mail [email protected]. More information to follow as event draws nearer.

NORTHAMPTON AREA YOUNG PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY
www.thenayp.com
(413) 584-1900
• March 1: Springfield Symphony Orchestra “Bond and Beyond” Concert, 7:30 p.m., at Springfield Symphony Hall. Enjoy classic Bond music that spans generations. The SSO is offering NAYP members a deep discount on ticket prices. Visit the SSO website for more information. To redeem this discount, purchase through the SSO Box Office (in person or over the phone) and mention the discount code, BOND-NAYP.

PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S CHAMBER
www.professionalwomenschamber.com
(413) 755-1310

• March 19: Professional Women’s Chamber Headline Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Carriage House, Storrowton Tavern, 1305 Memorial Ave., West Springfield. The program will be “Three Professional Women: Three Lessons Learned,” featuring Maura McCaffrey of Health New England; Andrea Luppi of Columbia Gas of Massachusetts; and Anne Bruce of Smith & Wesson. Reservations are $25 for PWC members, $35 general admission. Reservations may be made online at www.myonlinechamber.com or by contacting Cecile Larose at [email protected]

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

• Feb. 26: West of the River Chamber of Commerce Legislative Breakfast, 7-9 a.m., at Storrowton Tavern’s Carriage House, West Springfield. Cost: $25 for chamber members, $30 for non-members. For more information, contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880 or e-mail [email protected].

YOUNG PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY OF GREATER SPRINGFIELD
www.springfieldyps.com
• March 15: 2014 Young Professionals Cup Dodgeball Tournament, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Springfield College, Dana Gymnasium, 263 Alden St., Springfield. For more information, visit springfieldyps.com/2014-young-professionals-cup-dodgeball-tournament.

The Class of 2014

Class of 2014 Cover Story Difference Makers

The Difference Makers Will Be Celebrated on March 20 at the Log Cabin

Sponsored By:
Baystate Medical Practices • First American Insurance • Health New England • Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C. • Northwestern Mutual • Royal LLP • Sarat Ford Lincoln • 6 Pt. Creative Works

When BusinessWest launched its Difference Makers program in 2009, it did so with the knowledge that there are, indeed, many different ways in which a group or individual can make a difference and impact quality of life in this region.

Each class has emphatically driven that point home, with honorees ranging from a Holyoke police chief to the founder of the Rays of Hope fund-raiser to battle breast cancer; from the president of Holyoke Community College to the director of the Regional Employment Board; from the man who kept hockey alive in Springfield for the past 30 years to some law-enforcement officials implementing counterintelligence tactics to confront gangs in Springfield’s North End.

This year’s class of Difference Makers is no exception, and it adds several new wrinkles to the contention that there is no shortage of ways that people can change others’ lives — and for the better.

Let’s start with Paula Moore. A schoolteacher — in fact, a substitute teacher at the time — she started a program to help keep young people off the streets and out of trouble. She would eventually call it the Youth Social Educational Training (YSET) program, and when the church that originally hosted these after-school sessions told Moore she would have to move it elsewhere, she used her own money and credit to acquire a dilapidated former school and renovate it into what is now known as YSET Academy.

She wasn’t going to take that drastic step, but felt compelled to by overwhelming need in the community and an unrelenting desire to do something about it.

And these were the same sentiments that drove five members of the Sisters of St. Joseph and a partnering layperson to scrape together $500 and prevail at the public auction of a long-vacant, seriously rundown gray Victorian on Sheldon Street in Springfield’s North End in 1982.

Two years later, the Gray House opened its doors, and ever since it has been providing food, clothing, adult-education programs, and its Kids Club to a ever-widening group of constituents.

Improving quality of life for low-income individuals has also been the mission of a nonprofit called Rebuilding Together, which provides assistance to help people stay in their homes when, because of illness, old age, or simply a lack of resources, they cannot undertake needed repairs and upkeep.

In its early years, the Springfield chapter of this agency provided support one day in April, and only to a few homeowners. Under the guidance of its first executive director, Colleen Loveless, the Springfield office has expanded its reach in every way imaginable, and has put in place an ambitious 10-year strategic plan that will change the face, and the fortunes, of a large section of the city’s Old Hill Neighborhood.

Meanwhile, Michael Moriarty has committed much of his time and energy to taking on another societal challenge — early literacy.
An attorney and now director of Olde Holyoke Development Corp., he has taken the lead in Holyoke’s Third Grade Literacy Initiative, helping to put in place an infrastructure and a battle plan to dramatically increase the number of young people able to read by the fourth grade — the time when people stop learning to read and begin reading to learn.
And then, there’s the Melha Shriners. The first fraternal organization named as a Difference Maker, it’s changing lives in many ways, but especially through its efforts to help fund the many Shriners Children’s Hospitals across the country — and now Mexico and Canada — and, perhaps more importantly, raise awareness of the incredible work being done at those facilities.

The Class of 2014 will be honored at the annual Difference Makers Gala on March 20 at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House in Holyoke. The event will feature butlered hors d’oeuvres, lavish food stations, introductions of the Difference Makers, and remarks from the honorees. Tickets are $60 per person, with tables of 10 available.
For more information, or to order tickets, call (413) 781-8600, ext. 100.

Building Permits

Building Permits Departments

The following building permits were issued during the month of February 2014.

AMHERST

Barry Roberts
103 North Pleasant St.
$17,500 — Conversion of a candy store to a restaurant with seating for 16

James David Marley, et al
100 University Dr.
$60,000 — Reduction of existing second floor for tenant space

Oliver Allyn
42 Amity Place
$24,000 — Bathroom remodel

Shumway Limited Partnership
168 North Pleasant St.
$3,400 — New roof

CHICOPEE

City of Chicopee
816 James St.
$5,000 — Office and storage renovation

JGT Property
229 Grattan St.
$15,000 — Remodel first floor

JMDH Real Estate of Chicopee
123 1st Ave.
$4,300 — Construction of foundation for proposed addition

Riverbend Medical
444 Montgomery Road
$250,000 — Renovate Adult Medicine East

HADLEY

CBR Realty Corporation
195 Russell St.
$30,500 — Interior renovations

Lawrence Tuttle
195 Russell St.
$15,000 — Tenant fit-out for a martial arts studio

R.P. Masiello, Inc.
20 North Maple St.
$172,000 — Interior fit-out of first floor

LUDLOW

Iron Duke Brewery
100 State St.
$4,500 — Alterations

NORTHAMPTON

Florence Savings Bank
85 Main St.
$16,000 — Renovations on second floor

Oxbow Professional Park, LLC
22 Atwood Dr.
$3,800,000 — Interior build-out of medical office space

Peter Whalen
49 Gothic St.
$11,000 — Renovations for office space

SPRINGFIELD

Charles D’Amar
90 Memorial Dr.
$10,500 — New diesel generator

McDonald’s
1361 Liberty St.
$54,000 — New duct work

S. Herly Gleason, LLC
401 Liberty St.
$276,000 — Modifications for a rehabilitation facility

WESTFIELD

Beaver Lake Realty, LLC
47 Westfield Industrial Park
$300,000 — Install solar panels

Advance Associates
8 Turnpike Industrial Road
$284,000 — Construction of a new storage facility

Mheid-Kobeiss Inc.
21 Southwick Road
$36,000 — Interior renovation

Streamfield, LLC
303 East Main St.
$7,500 — Fix building struck by vehicle

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Ly Hai Long
366 Memorial Ave.
$25,000 — Renovate 2,000 square feet for a nail salon

Western MA Endodontics
306 Westfield St.
$25,000 — Office renovations

Real Estate Transactions

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

37 Depot St.
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $205,500
Buyer: Brian Scully
Seller: Donald F. Freeman
Date: 01/24/14

BUCKLAND

65 Avery Road
Buckland, MA 01339
Amount: $600,000
Buyer: G. L. Langford
Seller: James M. Georgantas
Date: 01/24/14

27 Williams St.
Buckland, MA 01338
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Rebecca B. Debeauport
Seller: Scott M. Doneilo
Date: 01/17/14

COLRAIN

82 Christian Hill Road
Colrain, MA 01340
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Diane E. Donnell
Seller: Patrick M. Shippee
Date: 01/21/14

DEERFIELD

219 Upper Road
Deerfield, MA 01342
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Evan H. Grant
Seller: Nancy C. Wrisley
Date: 01/16/14

ERVING

13 East Prospect St.
Erving, MA 01344
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Cheryl Johnson
Seller: Norma Charbonneau
Date: 01/24/14

GILL

195 West Gill Road
Gill, MA 01354
Amount: $173,000
Buyer: Samuel J. Parker
Seller: Bruce E. Krejmas
Date: 01/24/14

GREENFIELD

111 Beacon St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Brian Abramson
Seller: Marc J. Bernier
Date: 01/17/14

45 Congress St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Kathleen M. Niedbala
Seller: Freehigh LLC
Date: 01/23/14

110 Harrison Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $154,000
Buyer: Patricia A. Gillespie
Seller: United Arc. Of Franklin
Date: 01/24/14

11 Jefferson Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $179,000
Buyer: Fred H. Field
Seller: Mark S. Bennett
Date: 01/21/14

23 Linden Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $180,274
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Bruce A. Mooney
Date: 01/21/14

ORANGE

130 Tully Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $173,000
Buyer: Tammi L. Nell
Seller: Philip L. Briand
Date: 01/15/14

SHELBURNE

115 Main St.
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $182,000
Buyer: Generation Mortgage Co.
Seller: Mary A. Hancock
Date: 01/22/14

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

176 Forest Hill Road
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $196,000
Buyer: Crystal Colson
Seller: Beneficial Mass. Inc.
Date: 01/15/14

22 Kathy Terrace
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $188,500
Buyer: Timothy D. Pelletier
Seller: Robert J. Wierdo
Date: 01/21/14

75 Letendre Ave.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Pamela A. Perry
Seller: Sudie Marcuse-Blatz
Date: 01/17/14

235 Maple St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $127,000
Buyer: Exelis Realty LLC
Seller: Richard, Theodore E., (Estate)
Date: 01/16/14

31 Rowley St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $159,000
Seller: Reynaldo Mendez
Date: 01/17/14

944 Springfield St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Frank & Luigi Realty Inc.
Seller: KD Realty Inc.
Date: 01/21/14

1649 Suffield St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $151,500
Buyer: Fatima Bubuza
Seller: Robert P. Ugolini
Date: 01/17/14

99 Wagon Wheel Dr.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Robert J. Wierdo
Seller: Mukesh Agarwal
Date: 01/21/14

BLANDFORD

5 Russell Stage Road
Blandford, MA 01008
Amount: $187,500
Buyer: Michael J. Lafrance
Seller: Russell Land Co. LLP
Date: 01/13/14

BRIMFIELD

390 Brookfield Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $161,000
Buyer: Nathanial W. Croke
Seller: Ast, Donald, (Estate)
Date: 01/17/14

66 Old Palmer Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $222,000
Buyer: Eugene Tucceri
Seller: Paul E. Sullivan
Date: 01/13/14

CHICOPEE

21 Charbonneau Terrace
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Jessica L. Aitken
Seller: David B. Williams
Date: 01/24/14

31 Christopher St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $130,900
Buyer: Ryan M. Wilson
Seller: Jeanne C. Latour
Date: 01/24/14

46 Emmett St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Timothy M. Hurley
Seller: Michael J. Hurley
Date: 01/22/14

159 Joy St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $198,500
Buyer: Gerson Carrasquillo
Seller: Ronald E. Swiderski
Date: 01/24/14

14 Milton St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: N. Riley Realty LLC
Seller: Sharon M. Collins
Date: 01/14/14

87 Olea St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $216,000
Buyer: KRV Realty LLC
Seller: CDM Properties LLC
Date: 01/24/14

24 Stearns Terrace
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $173,777
Buyer: Antonio F. Tereso
Seller: Ann D. Konicki
Date: 01/17/14

11 Walnut St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $162,400
Buyer: Daniel Branco
Seller: William D. Morris
Date: 01/17/14

EAST LONGMEADOW

10 Crescent Hill
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Kermuel RT
Seller: Wells Fargo Bank
Date: 01/15/14

3 Harwich Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Richard H. Remillard
Seller: Judith G. Butler
Date: 01/24/14

Judy Lane
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $182,771
Buyer: PNC Bank
Seller: Leslie N. Rivera
Date: 01/16/14

254 Kibbe Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Vincenzo Calabrese
Seller: Audrey L. Bonacker
Date: 01/16/14

171 Porter Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $417,000
Buyer: Keith J. Fitzgerald
Seller: Dorothy M. Joseph
Date: 01/17/14

58 Speight Arden
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Timothy W. Gallagher
Seller: John L. Moodie
Date: 01/13/14

GRANVILLE

768 Beech Hill Road
Granville, MA 01034
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Shawn M. Bliss
Seller: Jodine L. Bliss
Date: 01/15/14

HOLYOKE

20 Bray Park Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Robert J. Shaw
Seller: Ethan A. Ledoux
Date: 01/13/14

4 George St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: George B. Bennett
Seller: Robert P. Lout
Date: 01/15/14

1532 Northampton St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Pyraced LLC
Seller: Pratt RT
Date: 01/17/14

Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $188,500
Buyer: Shannon M. Naumowicz
Seller: Laufer, Estelle E., (Estate)
Date: 01/15/14

LONGMEADOW

129 Belleclaire Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $224,000
Buyer: Anna Gelinas
Seller: Michael F. Gelinas
Date: 01/16/14

197 Crestview Circle
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Christopher B. Myhrum
Seller: Gary Hochman
Date: 01/15/14

878 Frank Smith Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $288,000
Buyer: Binaya Shrestha
Seller: William J. Fagin
Date: 01/13/14

LUDLOW

18 Chapin St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $214,900
Buyer: Marco M. Vieira
Seller: Batista, Bernice, (Estate)
Date: 01/22/14

15 Crest St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $156,000
Buyer: Michelle V. Mei
Seller: Karen M. Putnam
Date: 01/24/14

31 Daisy Lane
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Maureen C. Carneiro
Seller: Sergio J. Freitas
Date: 01/21/14

40 Focosi Lane
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Monique Coates
Seller: Horacio Freitas
Date: 01/14/14

147 Ridgeview Circle
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: John J. Kania
Seller: Eric T. Hillmann
Date: 01/23/14

393 State St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Antonio D. Palatino
Seller: Antonio Goncalves
Date: 01/23/14

128 Swan Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Jakub Kopec
Seller: Frederick J. Shields
Date: 01/15/14

PALMER

1040 Circle Dr.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Nancy M. Kresco
Seller: Steven R. Durham
Date: 01/17/14

SPRINGFIELD

314 Bay St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Nathilda Ramirez
Seller: Jose L. Rosario
Date: 01/15/14

15 Bridle Path Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Armand R. Impionbato
Seller: Richard E. Holmes
Date: 01/15/14

41 Copeland St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $127,500
Buyer: Brian F. Szmigiel
Seller: FHLM
Date: 01/13/14

49 East Hooker St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $180,250
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Charles Serrano
Date: 01/17/14

19 Elizabeth St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $150,884
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Brett Berchin
Date: 01/23/14

73 Ellsworth Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $149,217
Buyer: M&T Bank
Seller: Andrea S. Ferguson
Date: 01/15/14

8 Johnson St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Lan Oak Realty LLC
Seller: Vince LLC
Date: 01/22/14

165 Keddy St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $134,900
Buyer: May B. Williams
Seller: Hernando J. Salcedo
Date: 01/24/14

432 Longhill St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Mary J. Allen
Seller: Jean P. Blair
Date: 01/21/14

173 Mallowhill Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $149,900
Buyer: Rasheen J. Brown
Seller: My T. Nguyen
Date: 01/24/14

87 Methuen St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $117,000
Buyer: Justin A. Etting
Seller: Alex Alvarez
Date: 01/17/14

403 Orange St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $179,000
Buyer: Scott Morrissette
Seller: 652 Chicopee Street LLC
Date: 01/24/14

86 Randolph St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Timothy P. Trainor
Seller: Theodore Fantl
Date: 01/17/14

SOUTHWICK

128 North Lake Ave.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $138,000
Buyer: Melissa Goyette
Seller: Marci M. Cooley
Date: 01/24/14

TOLLAND

1652 Colebrook River Road
Tolland, MA 01034
Amount: $332,500
Buyer: Kevin G. Hawes
Seller: Patrick Landry
Date: 01/15/14

WALES

104 Stafford Road
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $226,000
Buyer: Patricia Dombek
Seller: Alberta S. George
Date: 01/24/14

WEST SPRINGFIELD

34 Beech Hill Road
West Springfield, MA 01030
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Joan F. Spadoni
Seller: Beech Hill Construction
Date: 01/16/14

798 Birnie Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Maroun Ghossein
Seller: George A. Hannoush
Date: 01/22/14

232 Great Plains Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $207,000
Buyer: David Braska
Seller: Michael P. Shea
Date: 01/24/14

501 Memorial Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $1,500,000
Buyer: James P. Demetri
Seller: Anthony J. Spano Inc.
Date: 01/13/14

125 Monastery Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Benjamin D. Berchulski
Seller: Dorene A. Archambault
Date: 01/14/14

224 Rogers Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Sardor Usmonov
Seller: Szumowski, Margaret C., (Estate)
Date: 01/17/14

1201 Westfield St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $181,494
Buyer: Green Mountain Realty Corp.
Seller: Victor Drouin
Date: 01/16/14

WESTFIELD

40 Bristol St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $117,000
Buyer: Nicolette Morin
Seller: FNMA
Date: 01/15/14

33 Cedar Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Paul L. Bradley
Date: 01/16/14

5 Clark St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $153,000
Buyer: Remington RT
Seller: Nathaniel Zajac
Date: 01/13/14

7 Grand St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Elzbieta Chmiel
Seller: Peter Anipko
Date: 01/15/14

38 Greenwood St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $232,000
Buyer: Alexsandr P. Vasilchenko
Seller: Jean H. Blair
Date: 01/14/14

2 Locust St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Godfrey FT
Seller: James V. White
Date: 01/17/14

13 Madison St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Olga Misiruk
Seller: Alexander Kiforishin
Date: 01/17/14

125 Montgomery St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $154,100
Buyer: Derik E. Gallis
Seller: US Bank
Date: 01/13/14

52 Pequot Point Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Vincent A. Rizzo
Seller: Darren E. Gilmet
Date: 01/14/14

65 Woodcliff Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Ian C. Plakias
Seller: Ruth I. Deacon
Date: 01/24/14

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

73 Curtis Place
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Naitian Wang
Seller: Kevin H. Vanderleeden
Date: 01/16/14

925 South East St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $438,000
Buyer: Kevin H. Vanderleeden
Seller: Myron L. Stein
Date: 01/16/14

BELCHERTOWN

84 Allen Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $192,000
Buyer: PNC Bank
Seller: Elaine P. Laporte
Date: 01/23/14

445 East St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $243,000
Buyer: Jeremy S. Hill
Seller: James E. Thompson
Date: 01/15/14

137 Mill Valley Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Daniel J. Murphy
Seller: Deborah A. Bell
Date: 01/17/14

CUMMINGTON

19 Harlow Road
Cummington, MA 01026
Amount: $272,500
Buyer: Amanda J. Savoie
Seller: David L. Bergeron
Date: 01/15/14

EASTHAMPTON

24 Chapman Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $190,146
Buyer: FHLM
Seller: Summer L. Anderson-Beach
Date: 01/23/14

30 Chapman Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $410,000
Buyer: Budlia LLC
Seller: Mason F. Rapaport
Date: 01/15/14

311 East St. #22
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Richard W. Lindequist
Seller: Tom Development Corp.
Date: 01/16/14

21 Fairfield Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $192,000
Buyer: Lauren G. Simonds
Seller: E. G. Campaniello IRT
Date: 01/21/14

6 Lovell St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: John A. Knybel
Seller: Mason F. Rapaport
Date: 01/15/14

5 River Valley Way
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $377,491
Buyer: Stephen M. Linsky
Seller: EH Homeownership LLC
Date: 01/24/14

GRANBY

268 Batchelor St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $266,583
Buyer: Jeffrey D. Mislak
Seller: Lafleur & Son Inc.
Date: 01/17/14

1 Dian St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Kendra L. Kwasnik
Seller: Revampit LLC
Date: 01/22/14

HADLEY

18 Rocky Hill Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Western Development Corp.
Seller: Susan M. Norris
Date: 01/24/14

HATFIELD

85 Elm St.
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Brian S. Paterson
Seller: Audrey G. Walker
Date: 01/17/14

MIDDLEFIELD

51 Skyline Trail
Middlefield, MA 01243
Amount: $232,000
Buyer: Susan G. Sala
Seller: Doktor, Anna M., (Estate)
Date: 01/21/14

NORTHAMPTON

781 Bridge Road
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $254,000
Buyer: Nicole Vaget
Seller: Gerald E. Boulanger
Date: 01/17/14

85 Cahillane Terrace
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $219,900
Buyer: Deborah L. Cohen
Seller: Ashtons Acquisitions LLC
Date: 01/24/14

4 Claire Ave.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $258,000
Buyer: Lynn Newdome
Seller: Kathleen A. Hutchins
Date: 01/21/14

39 Lyman Road
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $499,000
Buyer: Quiet Corner Property Acquisitions
Seller: Timothy V. Parsons
Date: 01/22/14

2 Matthew Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $140,800
Buyer: Susan J. Loehn
Seller: Cindy Johnson-Maclam
Date: 01/23/14

Sylvester Road
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $232,864
Buyer: City Of Northampton
Seller: Szymanski, S. S. Jr., (Estate)
Date: 01/21/14

SOUTH HADLEY

3 Pheasant Run
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Matthew C. Spaulding
Seller: John K. O’Connor
Date: 01/23/14

SOUTHAMPTON

5 Bissonnette Circle
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $377,500
Buyer: Jeffrey E. Schwenk
Seller: Aube Homes LLC
Date: 01/15/14

177 Brickyard Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: David Garstka Builders LLC
Seller: Michael Wojtowicz
Date: 01/21/14

25 Helen Dr.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $625,000
Buyer: Alan L. Maycock
Seller: Paul H. Cooke
Date: 01/23/14

WARE

50 Coffey Hill Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $189,900
Buyer: Aaron L. Baxter
Seller: Tammy Neil-Walker
Date: 01/16/14

92 Shoreline Dr.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $351,000
Buyer: James G. Omara
Seller: Gabriel Moskovitz
Date: 01/15/14

17 Wildflower Dr.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $262,500
Buyer: Jeremy J. Donnelly
Seller: Rama Development LLC
Date: 01/17/14

WILLIAMSBURG

11 East Main St.
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: CDM Properties LLC
Seller: Bank New York Mellon
Date: 01/22/14

Bankruptcies

Bankruptcies Departments

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

Alicea, Rosa I.
194 Prospect St.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/31/2014

All In One Cleaning
Johnson, Robert
554 Somers Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/30/2014

Almeida, David L.
183 Bridge St., Apt. 1L
Northampton, MA 01060
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/30/2014

Bedson, Christine E.
a/k/a Auld, Christine E.
7 Silva St.
Monson, MA 01057
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/30/2014

Bezkulov, Andrey
16 Franklin Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/22/2014

Booth, Sarah L.
24 Taylor St., Apt. G1
Springfield, MA 01103
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/17/2014

Bourgeois, Marc A.
3B Maple Crest Circle
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/31/2014

Briggs, Mathew L.
Briggs, Catherine L.
a/k/a Caffelle, Catherine C.
4 Standish Court Apt. B
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/21/2014

Bussanick, Garett Paul
42 Walnut St. 2L
Northampton, MA 01060
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/21/2014

Cariddi, Virginia M.
73 North St.
North Adams, MA 01247
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/21/2014

Chartier, Michael A.
40 Sterling St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/24/2014

Compact Masonry
Dupuis, Keith G.
Roth, Mary M.
a/k/a Roth-Dupuis, Mary M.
41 Ella St.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/27/2014

Conklin, Michael T.
Conklin, Ilene D.
66 Crescent Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/30/2014

Corrow, Cynthia A.
a/k/a Majka, Cynthia A.
P.O. Box 522
Gilbertville, MA 01031
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/21/2014

Coulombe, Shawn D.
Coulombe, Shannon M.
a/k/a Casey, Shannon M.
26 Dana St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/17/2014

Czarniecki, Michael G.
Czarniecki, Louise C.
55 Woodhill Road
Monson, MA 01057
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 01/23/2014

Devenitch, John L.
Deblok-Devenitch, Marcia M.
34 Brynmawr Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/27/2014

Dunn, Timothy M.
98 Reservoir Road
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/29/2014

Faria, Edwin
a/k/a Faria-Gutierrez, Edwin
29 Lexington St., 2nd Fl.
Springfield, MA 01107
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/27/2014

Foy, Ann L.
a/k/a Foy-Harris, Ann
84 Edgewood St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/27/2014

Gagnon, Cynthia M.
82 Debra Dr., Apt. 2A
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/29/2014

Greenfield Furniture
Michel, William Harry
Michel, Janice Ann
25 Plum Tree Lane
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/28/2014

Griswold, Alan H.
21 Stebbins St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/20/2014

Gurley, Victoria M.
19 Kellogg St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/28/2014

Hannigan, Joseph R.
Hannigan, Denise M.
52 Wilkin Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/22/2014

Heffernan, Robert Henry
161 Federal St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/21/2014

Hopkins, Maria D.
PO Box 512
Lee, MA 01238
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/23/2014

Janchuk, Philip
Noto, Lena C.
65 Gamwell Ave.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/21/2014

Maagero, Leonor
a/k/a Machado, Leonor
23 Cedar St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/28/2014

Martin, Sandra D.
485 Notch Road
Cheshire, MA 01225
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/21/2014

Mass Express
Gauthier, Allen C.
1794 White Pond Road
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/27/2014

Matt, Kimberlee A.
26 Kellog Ave.
Feedings Hills, MA 01030
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/30/2014

McDonald, Geoffrey Richard
93 Motyka St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/30/2014

McKemmie, John E.
191 Thompson St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/29/2014

Norman, Erich J.
33 Broad St., Apt. 10
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/23/2014

Owens, Robert F.
314 Page Blvd.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/21/2014

Pagios, Rosemary A.
a/k/a Pagios, Rosemary Ann
302 Rogers Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/27/2014

Paquin, Jane P.
419 Montcalm St., Apt. 31
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/29/2014

Perez, Juan R.
71 West Alvord St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 01/31/2014

Price, Michael G.
311 Elm St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/29/2014

Quinn, Mary J.
67 Hawley St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/27/2014

Reddicks, William J.
Reddicks, Heather A.
a/k/a Corso, Heather A.
13 Central Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/17/2014

Ritchott, Barbara Jean
490 McKinstry Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/17/2014

Rule, Earl R.
223 Allen St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/30/2014

Rule, Wanda
1430 Russell Road #8
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/30/2014

Soffen, Francis J.
Soffen, Sandra L.
83 Pleasant St.
Ware, MA 01082
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/31/2014

Sprague, Mark P.
39 Mohawk Forest Blvd.
North Adams, MA 01247
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/23/2014

Tucker, Mildred C.
116 Flynt St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/17/2014

Veney-Rivera, Tally Emmanuel
15 Strong St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/31/2014

Doing Business As Certificates

DBA Certificates Departments

The following Business Certificates and Trade Names were issued or renewed during the month of and February 2014.

AGAWAM

Couture Wellness
46 Country Road
Barbara Couture

CRMG
46 Alice Lane
Stephen Cincotta

Filco Vending
61 Rugby Road
Philip Frogameni

Fitter, Faster, Stronger, LLC
8 Barry St.
Lauren Mendoza

L & D Home Solutions
322 Meadow St.
Ion Dracioc

Mary’s Party Favors
270 Main St.
Mary Mendoza

Smileynut Transportation
1810 Main St.
Sheri Nutbrown

Springfield Southern Hobbies
270 Main St.
John Kokolski

SV Colorist
833 Springfield St.
Sara Blackak

Towne Liquors
384 Walnut St.
Louis Bonavita

Wiggles & Giggles
313 Springfield St.
Sarah Messier

Wheeler Electrical
322 Meadow St.
David Wheeler

AMHERST

Amherst Welding Inc.
350 Aarkness Road
Darrin Brown

Capital Market Team
71 Country Corners Road
James Linfield

MFactor
78 Linden Ridge Road
Shalini B. Philne

Mystery Train Records
178 North Pleasant St.
Joshua Burkett

Northeast Construction Services
433 West St.
Ronald LaVerdiere

CHICOPEE

G. Boutique
212 Exchange St.
Amy Czerwiec

Mechanic Boutique
48 Walnut St.
Claudine Wega

Mike’s Bounce and Slide
664 Chicopee St.
Michael Rouleau

NP Cleaning
155 McKinstry St.
Nazar Pylypenko

Trend Sound Promoter
31 Swol St.
Vitaliy Dumanetskiy

HADLEY

Candy Stand
367 Russell St.
Candy Stand

Excel Builders
60 Chmura Road
Excel Builders

Off the Wall Games
41 Russell St.
Off the Wall Games

HOLYOKE

Best Price Mini Mart
753 Dwight St.
Saad Butt

Davans
245 Main St.
David J. Rodriguez

K. Cavagnac Painting
56 George St.
Kevin D. Cavagnac

Quisgueya Social
119 High St.
Carmen Rivera

Sei Mai, LLC
740 High St.
Charles A. Smithgall III

T & Y Enterprises Inc.
1530 Northampton St.
Tamer Mahdy

Taylor Rental
14 Shawmut Ave.
Richard A. Clark Jr.

NORTHAMPTON

Acadia Herbals
2 Conz St.
Jennifer Goodheart

Coles Meadow Music
470 Coles Meadow Road
William J. Hunt Jr.

Daily Hampshire Gazette
115 Conz St.
Dennis Skoglund

Greenwave Solutions
50 Union St.
Louis Franco

Groundings
7 Main St.
Lauren Pacosa

Owl’s Nest
11 Market St.
Laura Hoffman

PALMER

CKS
46 Wilbraham St.
Kevin Kolakowski

Country Corner Citgo
5 Springfield St.
Peter McKearney

Palmer Restaurant
1376 Main St.
Elias Poulopoulos

SPRINGFIELD

AD & T Property Preservation
81 Emerson St.
Adam H. Aiken

Al Nuwab, LLC
126 Osborne Terrace
Hussein A. Nuwab

Angel’s Party Plus
739 Liberty St.
Luz M. Colon

Assurance Investigations
84 Lyndale St.
Matthew D. Scott

Bay State Auto
720 Berkshire Ave.
Alberto Cordero

Blackout Pro
67 St. James Ave.
Michael D. Grant

Bobby’s HVAC Service
97 Groton St.
Robert A. Wilson

Bornfree Marketing
90 Cleveland St.
Charlie Holmes

Boston Road Auto Mall
712 Boston Road
Rafael Dominguez

Chelly Foreclosure Cleanup
30 Ronald Dr.
Michelle Rivera

Chester & Chester
1514 State St.
Inez Chester

City Zone Supermarket, LLC
770 Main St.
Raney Shabeneh

Collision Plus Auto Body
390 Main St.
Daniele A. DeCesare

Concentra
140 Carando Dr.
Joan D. Lenahan

Cummings Floor Covering
34 Front St.
James Cummings

D’Asti
55 State St.
Robert F. D’Agostino

D’Cache Barber Shop
28 Fort Pleasant Ave.
Derrick J. Hatwood Jr.

DiLaura Naturals
245 Roosevelt Ave.
Tunzala Eynula

EZ Services & Travel Agency
16 Longhill St.
Ricardo Valle

Egiks It Consultancy
17 Pineview Dr.
Maina Kiige

Entertainment Cuts
288 Worthington St.
Jose M. Torres

G’s Used Tires
62 Fremont St.
Craig O. Jones

Garcia’s Landscape
294 Quincy St.
Juan J. Garcia

J.R. Trucking
18 Chester St.
Jiovanni Rodriguez

Jazzii Apparel
37 Alice St.
Sheila Marshall

Joey’s Motors
105 Welland Road
Joel Cordero

Khi and Eli’s
754 Sumner Ave.
Stephanie Buggs

WESTFIELD

AK Promoting
476 Loomis St.
Alexander Kiforishin

County Barber Shop
61 School St.
David Monoz

Dintzner Electric
72 East Silver St.
Michael Dintzner

Dorsey Installations
25 State St.
Anthony Dorsey

Elite Training by Jennifer Amy Inc.
16 Union Ave.
Jennifer A. Pasterkiewicz

Florek Family Farm
840 Granville Road
Christopher Florek

Ivan Air Conditioning
18 Pumpkin Lane
Ivan Kulyak

M. Anthony Diamonds, LLC
461 East Main St.
Michael A. Rinaldi

Odd Job Doctor Inc.
8 Yale St.
Michael Banks

Troy St. Pierre
18 St. Pierre Lane
Troy St. Pierre

WEST SPRINGFIELD

AG Remodeling
45 Althea St.
Aleksander A. Glib

Cap and Hitch of New England
2001 Riverdale St.
Jeffrey S. Hanks

Double J Western
1472 Riverdale St.
Brenda T. Hodge

Good Dog University
167 River St.
Kimberly Balboni

JD Partner
67 Irving St.
John Huang

KPC Enterprises
35 Beverly Hills
Pedro Cuello

Incorporations

Departments Incorporations

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

Amherst

Survivor Support Inc., 150 Fearing St., Suite 16, Amherst, MA 01102. Laura Williams Manzi, 36 Knoll Wood Dr., Longmeadow, MA 01106. Victim Support.

Chicopee

Teleios Ministries Inc., 110 Edward St., Chicopee, MA 01020. Eric T. Peloquin, same. Provide training and instruction on subjects of interest to the Christian community.

East Longmeadow

Talbot Health & Wellness Inc., 38 Baldwin St., East Longmeadow, MA 01028. Henry R. Talbot, same. Addiction support services.

Hadley

Tech Foundry Inc., 84 Russell St., Hadley, MA 01035. Delcie D. Bean IV, same. Computer science education for high school and college-aged students.

Longmeadow

White Hut Longmeadow Inc., 791 Williams St., Longmeadow, MA 01106. Robert E. Barkett, 35 Plymouth Road, Longmeadow, MA 01106. Restaurant.

Ludlow

Superior Networking Solutions Inc., 476 East St., Ludlow, MA 01056. Michael Richter, 33 Cedar Lane, Westfield, MA 01085. Computer repair and maintenance.

Springfield

Strong U Program Inc., 67 Tremby St., Springfield, MA 01119. Aretha Simmons, same. Community development using charitable, educational, and scientific means.

Sunderland

Sundry House Inc., 28 School St., Sunderland, MA 01375. Timothy Hall, same. Non-profit organization designed to provide support and care to individuals in the human service field.

West Springfield

West Springfield Environmental Committee Inc., 26 Russell St., West Springfield, MA 01089. Diane Crowell, same.

Briefcase

Briefcase Departments

Route 5 Tunnel to Be Closed for Several Weeks
WEST SPRINGFIELD — The Mass. Department of Transportation announced recently that the tunnel that carries Route 5 under the Route 20 rotary adjacent to the North End Bridge in West Springfield will be closed in both directions for several weeks for repairs. Vehicles will be detoured off Route 5 and up the ramp to the rotary for Route 20 and the North End Bridge. Vehicles heading in either direction will travel through the rotary and rejoin Route 5 at the second rotary exit. The closure is required because of advanced deterioration in the tunnel’s concrete driving surface. Numerous attempts to make interim repairs have demonstrated that more extensive repair efforts are necessary. During the closure, the deteriorated portions of the roadway through the tunnel will be chipped to a solid base prior to filling with a rapid-setting concrete, which must be specially ordered. MassDOT encourages drivers to allow for extra time when traveling through the detour and to be mindful of the additional vehicles traveling through the rotary.

Made in the Berkshires Seeks Artistic Submissions
PITTSFIELD — Berkshire Theatre Group will begin accepting submissions on March 10 for the fourth annual Made in the Berkshires festival, which will take place Oct. 10 and 11 at both the Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield and the Unicorn Theatre in Stockbridge. The festival has featured cutting-edge theatrical works performed as staged readings, live music, film, short stories, and dance in a festival atmosphere. New and innovative pieces, as well as established work, will be presented by local Berkshire County playwrights, actors, directors, musicians, and performers. The festival will be curated once again by local artists Hilary Somers Deely and Barbara Sims. Submitting artists must live and work at least part-time in the Berkshires. Submissions may include short and full-length plays, music, poetry, short stories, performance art/spoken word, film, and dance. All written material must include the artist’s name, address, and contact information, including phone number. Written material must be bound, with two copies submitted. Music, dance, film, and visual art must include two CDs or two DVDs with the artist’s name, address, and contact information, including phone number and e-mail address. Filmmakers must include the aspect ratio.  No online submissions will be accepted, and materials will not be returned. The deadline for submissions is May 15. Mail submissions to: Made in the Berkshires Submissions, 111 South St., Pittsfield, MA 01201.

Holyoke Medical Center Helps Launch New Phase of Health Info Exchange
HOLYOKE — Gov. Deval Patrick and Health and Human Services Secretary John Polanowicz recently witnessed the launch of phase two of the Mass HIway Health Information Exchange. Holyoke Medical Center (HMC) joined forces with Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital (BIDMC), Tufts Medical Center, and Atrius Health to demonstrate, for the first time, how healthcare providers will have the ability to instantly locate, request, and retrieve medical records from other participating providers from across the Commonwealth on a secure, interconnected system. The event was broadcast live and joined all four healthcare providers via video link. “This technology is a win for all of us. It will help us reduce health costs, improve patient care, and save lives,” Patrick said. “Accurate health information is the fuel of our healthcare system, and these innovations will allow providers to treat patients with greater accuracy and speed.” At the simulation, Emergency Department (ED) clinicians at BIDMC simulated an encounter where a patient presented to the ED as combative, non-compliant, and unable to give a reliable past medical history. Using the Mass HIway, doctors were able to discover the patient had previously been treated at HMC, Atrius Health, and Tufts, and, using the Mass HIway, they were able to request and retrieve these records at the touch of a button. This provided the BIDMC clinicians to instantly have a comprehensive medical history on the patient and allowed the care team to avoid drug-to-drug and allergic reactions, unnecessary or duplicative testing, and delayed diagnosis. “Holyoke Medical Center continues to be a leader in the area of health-information exchange,” said HMC Vice President of Operations and chief information officer Carl Cameron. “The Holyoke Medical Center HealthConnect currently has 60 healthcare providers in its exchange, and when the Mass HIway is fully opened up, these 60 providers will also have the ability to exchange information through the highway.” The mission of the Mass HIway is to deploy a secure electronic health-information exchange that is accessible to all healthcare systems statewide regardless of affiliation, location, or differences in technology, and to and serve as a tool for the Commonwealth’s healthcare community to improve coordination, quality, patient satisfaction, and public-health reporting while containing costs. The Mass HIway is operated by the state’s Executive Office of Health and Human Services.

Construction Industry Rebounds in January, Gains 48,000 Jobs
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The construction industry gained 48,000 jobs in January, according to the Feb. 7 employment report by the U.S. Department of Labor. Non-residential construction gained 21,000 jobs, representing a significant rebound from the 14,100 jobs lost by the segment in December. Non-residential construction accounted for 47.7% of January’s total construction-industry job gain and 28.1% of the construction-industry job gain in the past year. The national construction unemployment rate expanded to 12.3% on a non-seasonally adjusted basis in January, compared with 11.4% in December. This was due to a combination of seasonal factors and may be impacted by the end of the government’s long-term unemployment benefits program, which may have induced people look for work in construction, an industry generally known to be in recovery.

Company Notebook

Company Notebook Departments

ESB Hits $1B in Assets
EASTHAMPTON — Easthampton Savings Bank (ESB) staged its quarterly director’s meeting recently, at which Matthew Sosik, president and CEO of ESB, reported that the bank’s total assets surpassed $1 billion at the end of 2013. “This past year was just the latest in a long string of years with terrific financial performance for the bank, and reaching the mark of $1 billion in assets was truly historic for us,” said Sosik. Bozena Dabek, senior vice president and CFO, reported that the bank’s assets were up $34.8 million from a year ago, an increase of 3.6%. “Easthampton Savings Bank continues to be one of the most highly capitalized banks in the area, with a capital ratio of 12.6%,” she added. Dabek noted that total loans increased $45.2 million over the last quarter. Total loans now stand at $726.1 million. She also noted that the bank’s deposits grew 4%, or $32.3 million, for the year and were up $15.4 million for the quarter. Total deposits are now $828.3 million.

Homewatch Caregivers Opens New Office in Franklin County
GREENFIELD — Homewatch CareGivers of West Springfield has opened a new office in Greenfield at 278 Main St. The owners, Peter and Judy Yaffe, have been in business for 11 years. The need for expanded home-care options in the Upper Pioneer Valley and Franklin County fit their plan of moving up the I-91 corridor from their Northampton office. “We can provide high-quality home-care options and special programs for people who want to remain in their own homes in the Greater Greenfield area,” said Judy Yaffe. “We have been working to continue the growth of our business, and in 2014, the need for our services has been affirmed. It’s time to make our vision a reality.” Homewatch CareGivers’ mission and goals encompass the philosophy of improving the quality of life for elders and their families by supporting a warm and supportive environment in the client’s home.

AIC Adds New iPad Lab, Tutoring Room
SPRINGFIELD — Flatscreen televisions and iPads may be common entertainment devices, but at American International College, students will now be using them as learning tools. Thanks in part to a Title III Strengthening Institutions Grant, the AIC Center for Academic Success has a new iPad lab and state-of-the-art tutoring room. The college celebrated the completion of the new tutoring room and iPad lab at a ceremony on Feb. 12 in Shea Library. “The newly completed tutoring room morphed from an old storage/work room up in the library into a permanent, state-of-the-art tutoring room, equipped with a 60-inch TV screen/computer and upgraded wi-fi,” said Lesley LaMarche, director of the Tutoring Program at AIC. “This allows tutors/tutees to interactively access blackboard assignments and PowerPoints during a tutoring session.” LaMarche said the room also has GoToMeeting software installed so that non-traditional and commuter students can now attend a live tutoring session from their home or elsewhere off campus and still receive access to the same information as traditional on-campus students. Susan Petrucelli, director of Developmental Education for AIC’s Center for Academic Success, said the new technology can potentially reach every student in need of academic help, regardless of their location. The new lab, funded by the Title III Strengthening Institutions Grant, is officially called the iPad Learning Lab. The Center for Academic Success through Developmental Education is the first department on campus to incorporate iPads into learning. “In addition to using this facility to engage students in developmental education, we want the iPad Learning Lab to be a resource to support learning and provide opportunities to enhance instruction,” said Petrucelli. The lab has 18 iPads that are secured to workstations. In addition, there is an Apple TV with a flatscreen monitor in front of the workstation area. There are two mobile iPads available for instructors or staff members to lead their discussions, workshops, or other scheduled events. “Although the iPad is traditionally a mobile device, for our purposes through the Title III grant, we are using this facility to demonstrate to students and faculty that technology is an important tool to transform education,” Petrucelli said. “Apple is one of the principal leaders in educational technology. The majority of the educational software used by the Developmental Education Department and other content areas at American International College will be mainstreaming toward the Apple iPad format by fall 2014.” Through the variety of applications and courses available through the Apple Store, students can receive additional support in their courses. For example, an application called Popplet helps developmental writers brainstorm ideas and organize writing through movable charts and graphs. Another application called Animated Anatomy and Physiology has the ability to provide 3-D, narrated information sessions for the different systems in the body for health science majors. “The iPads are learning tools to motivate students,” said Petrucelli. “Most students use some form of technology every day. The iPad Learning Lab has the potential to improve skill building in reading, math, and writing. It also can increase a students’ academic self-efficacy and help support their metacognitive skill development. Whether students work individually in the learning lab to increase their understanding or use the iPads as part of their course instruction, we want the students to feel excited about learning. Having access to the iPad through the Center for Academic Success, AIC students have the opportunity to work with a resource that can support their learning and be successful in college.”

Berkshire Health Systems Recognized for Breast Care
PITTSFIELD — Berkshire Health Systems’ Comprehensive Breast Center has recently been recognized as a Certified Quality Breast Center in the National Quality Measures for Breast Centers Program. This honor represents a commitment to provide the highest level of quality breast healthcare to patients.
Measuring and comparing quality performance is essential in assessing patient care and allocating resources where improvement is desired. In today’s dynamic healthcare industry, breast centers are faced with providing quality care while simultaneously keeping costs under control. A center’s staff must not only be familiar with existing standards of care, but also be aware of new advances in technology. Berkshire Health System’s Comprehensive Breast Center combines imaging and diagnostic services with a full range of breast-health services provided by a team of expert specialists. With a focus on education and support, services include state-of-the-art technology for mammography, ultrasound, and bone-density tests, with results available to referring physicians within 24 hours.
At the time of a breast-cancer diagnosis, patients are linked to the Patient Navigation Program, which continues through all phases of care and follow-up. Education, support, and extensive resources are provided so that individuals are armed with the latest information to help make informed healthcare choices. Individual needs are assessed so that care is coordinated in a timely fashion, and barriers to care are addressed. This level of commitment and support can be an invaluable resource during a frightening time in a patient’s life. A weekly ‘breast conference’ brings together a multidisciplinary team of radiologists; pathologists; medical, surgical, and radiation oncologists; plastic surgeons; and other healthcare providers. At the conference, each case is thoroughly reviewed, and a plan of care is determined with input from physicians. The center has been designated as a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by American College of Radiology’s (ACR) Commission on Quality and Safety.

A Class Act

Features

Difference Makers to Be Feted on March 20 at the Log Cabin

You might call this the ‘Home Depot class.’

Indeed, there are some notable building, or home-restoration, stories involving this year’s roster of Difference Makers, as chosen recently by the staff at BusinessWest.

For example, there was the massive effort 30 years ago to restore and repurpose an old Victorian on Sheldon Street in Springfield, a structure — and a nonprofit — that have both become known as the Gray House. There was also the extensive work needed to convert the former School Street School in Springfield into the Youth Social Educational Training (YSET) Academy, created by Paula Moore to help keep young people off the city’s streets and out of trouble.

And then, there’s the ongoing work being carried out by Colleen Loveless, the first executive director of the Springfield chapter of Rebuilding Together, a national organization committed to helping low-income homeowners stay in their homes.

But beyond these literal building projects, the Difference Makers Class of 2014 has been figuratively building momentum in a number of realms — everything from early literacy to vital support for low-income residents, to high-quality healthcare for young people — and thus giving this region a stronger foundation on which to build for the future.

These stories will be told — and the Class of 2014 will be celebrated — at the annual Difference Makers Gala on March 20 at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House in Holyoke.

Tickets for the event are $60 each, with tables of 10 available. For more information, or to order tickets, call BusinessWest at (413) 781-8600, ext. 100, or visit here.

The Difference Makers program was launched by BusinessWest in 2009 as a different kind of recognition program. It was created to show the many different ways that groups and individuals can make a difference and improve quality of the life for the residents of Western Mass., and it has, by all accounts, succeeded in that mission.

Past recipients have been honored for work across many spectrums, from fighting crime in Holyoke to creating a hugely successful fund-raiser to combat breast cancer; from tireless work on behalf of the homeless to a 40-year effort to keep professional hockey alive and well in Springfield; from a creative initiative to give residents of Springfield’s North End their streets back, to inspiring work to fill the shelves of area school libraries.

This year’s class, as profiled in the Feb. 10 edition of the magazine (viewable here), certainly adds to that legacy of stepping up and giving back.

The honorees are:

• The Gray House, which, for three decades now, has provided a range of services — from food and clothing to adult education programs — to not only residents of Springfield’s North End, but those who live in other sections of the city and other communities as well;

• Colleen Loveless, who, as the first executive director of the Springfield Chapter of Rebuilding Together, has put that organization on the path to continued growth, and positioned it to have a deep impact on both individual homeowners and entire neighborhoods within the city;

• The Melha Shrine Temple, the first fraternal organization recognized as a Difference Maker. It is changing lives in many ways, but especially through its efforts to fund the many Shriners Children’s Hospitals operating in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada (including the one on Carew Street in Springfield), and also by raising awareness of these facilities and thus bringing more children and families in need to their doors;

• Paula Moore, who started Youth Social Educational Training (YSET) Academy as a way to keep at-risk youths off the streets. And when the church that hosted the program decided it couldn’t do that any longer, she personally secured a loan and purchased the former School Street School to keep the initiative alive. Today, it provides a host of services, from preschool to after-school workshops on a wide variety of subjects; and

• Michael Moriarty, an attorney, current director of the Olde Holyoke Development Corp., and now-former school committee member, who has been at the forefront of efforts to improve early-literacy rates in one of the Commonwealth’s poorest and most challenged communities.

The March 20 gala will feature entertainment, butlered hors d’oeuvres, lavish food stations, introductions of the honorees, and remarks from the honorees. Over the years, the gala has become one of the region’s best networking opportunities, and an event not to be missed.

This year will be no exception.

Editorial

Opinion

Cloud of Uncertainty Hangs Over Casinos

This should be a time of great anticipation and, yes, celebration for some players in the casino industry — and, likewise, in communities like Springfield, where there seems to be little that can prevent MGM Resorts International from winning a license to build and operate an $800 million resort facility in the city’s South End.

But it isn’t — at least to the extent that it could be.

That’s because there’s a very dark cloud of uncertainty hanging over gaming in Massachusetts, and it comes in the form of a lawsuit pending before the state Supreme Judicial Court. That suit was filed by the backers of efforts to repeal the state casino law passed in 2011. They gained enough signatures to place a referendum question on this November’s ballot, but then saw Attorney General Martha Coakley rule that the petition was unconstitutional because it would “impair the implied contracts between the [gaming] commission and gaming license applicants” and illegally “take” those contract rights without compensation.

Repeal backers then took their case — quite literally — to the SJC, which is slated to take up the matter in the late spring and render a decision by June or July. That should be a few months after the commission chooses the winning applicant for the lone slot-parlor license, and several weeks after it issues licenses for resort casinos in Boston (where there are two contenders) and Western Mass., where MGM is the only player standing.

Suffice it to say that, if all goes as expected and MGM wins this region’s license, most of the celebrating will be muted, if not postponed entirely, until the SJC settles what will be one of the most closely watched cases to come before it in years, and one where some experts are saying it’s hard to predict the outcome.

To say that there is a lot of stake would be a huge understatement. If the repeal backers win in court, and a majority of voters support their effort at the polls, then there will likely be no casino era in Massachusetts and, thus, no $800 stimulus to the Greater Springfield economy. And the millions, if not tens of millions, spent by the casino companies to bring their proposals to this stage would be wasted.

That explains why there is deep concern in the casino camps, and also why a coalition involving these players (including MGM) and the backers of casino gambling in this state has been formed to fight the repeal effort.

It is the coalition’s basic contention that the repeal initiative is, as Coakley ruled, unconstitutional, and amounts to the illegal taking of contract rights. In addition, they contend that the casino law passed in November 2011 is essentially working the way legislators intended it to, meaning that communities that don’t want a casino within their borders can vote such a proposal down (and many have), while residents who do support them can also control their fate at the ballot box, as voters in Springfield did.

Michael Mathis, head of the MGM’s so-called ‘Springfield initiative,’ summed things up nicely in recent comments to the press. “Our plan was endorsed by an overwhelming majority of voters,” he remarked. “It would be devastating to roll back all that has been accomplished and take away the promise of what it is to come.”

Citing a recent poll conducted by the Western New England University Polling Institute showing that 61% of Massachusetts adults support the establishment of casinos in the state (roughly the same number as in 2009 and 2010), some casino backers and gaming executives are confidently downplaying the likelihood that a repeal effort would succeed should it reach the ballot.

These individuals shouldn’t ever underestimate the ability of voters in this state to surprise them, or to attempt to rule by referendum. It happened with nuclear power plants, which were banned in 1988, and with dog tracks 20 years later.

It could happen with casino gambling, but we don’t believe the measure should come before the voters at all. It is our hope that the SJC concurs with Coakley and declares this bid unconstitional.

Unless or until it does, that dark cloud of uncertainty will continue to hover over the casino era in the Bay State.

Community Spotlight: Belchertown

Community Spotlight Features

Farms, Open Space Shape Belchertown’s Outlook

Doug Albertson says most residents don’t want big-box stores or other large-scale commerce, so even though Belchertown has grown, its bucolic character has largely remained unsullied.

The sun shone brightly on almost a foot of snow as Steve Lanphear pruned apple trees in his Belchertown orchard. Although the temperature hovered in the mid-20s, the owner of Sentinel Farms enjoyed the hours he spent working outside.

“I love doing this,” said Lanphear, who, with his wife, Meg, began cultivating the fruit trees on their land and running a maple-sugaring business after they retired.

Today the couple numbers among an active group of small farmers whose efforts continue the town’s agrarian history. “Belchertown has always been a place with a huge amount of open space, and our small farms play a role in maintaining agricultural activity in it,” Steve said. “It’s very important to keep that alive.”

William Shattuck concurs. His property includes about 200 acres of farmland, and he says customers who frequent the family’s two businesses — Devon Lane Farm Supply and Devon Lane Power Equipment — often tell him, ‘you have it all right here,’ as they talk about the woods, hayfields, brooks, and open space that are highly visible throughout the town.

Douglas Albertson says most Belchertown residents don’t want big-box stores or other commerce in their neighborhoods, so although the population has doubled since the ’70s, when people began moving from nearby cities such as Springfield and Chicopee, its bucolic setting remains largely unsullied.

“House building is the biggest industry in town, but we have done a lot to preserve and protect the character of the town — the rural look and feel of the community and its open space and farms. We are also working to promote agriculture and viable industry,” he said, speaking about the large number of loggers and licensed foresters who have businesses in Belchertown. “Plus, we have a very active agricultural commission that works to boost local farm products, which include organic vegetables and maple syrup.”

Shattuck, who co-chairs that commission, told BusinessWest that “it’s a different community than it was 30 years ago due to the huge number of new homes that have been built, but our farmers and suppliers hope to see a resurgence of farming here. There is a lot of interest in small startups and self-sufficient food supply.”

He noted that many students from the five nearby colleges want to farm in Belchertown using new technology. It’s possible due to plentiful acreage in the south end of town.

“It’s important for the long term to have enough viable agricultural land to produce more food,” Shattuck said, “and although politics can drive agricultural possibilities away, there are still many farmers here working their land.”

Judith Gillan, founding director of the New England Small Farm Institute, which promotes the development of small farms, said residents have differing opinions about what is best for Belchertown’s future. “But one thing that engages the whole community is a sense of its history and the desire to protect its rural look and feel. Even though the town needs businesses and more discussions about the future, this issue brings people together across demographic lines.

Bountiful Opportunity

The grounds of the former Belchertown State School offer the potential for growth, and MassDevelopment is taking steps to remediate the tillable acreage on the property. “It will give the town an opportunity to meet many of its objectives, including commercial business development,” Gillan said.

The first project will be an assisted-living center, and the agency recently put out an informal request for offers to build the residence on several acres that sit behind the town’s senior center. “People agree there is a demand and believe it is an acceptable and desirable use for the property,” Albertson said.

In addition, there are approximately 50 more acres, currently dotted with old buildings and a network of underground steam tunnels from the school’s steam plant, which offer potential for redevelopment.

That parcel does not include land once used as the farm for Belchertown State School, which was originally designed and operated as a self-reliant community in terms of food production.

But Gillan and other groups, including the town’s agricultural commission, have a vision for that part of the property. “We are in discussion with the state and want to establish a small enterprise zone on the farm parcel which would include small farms and also host food- and energy-related businesses,” she said. “We would like to see people take advantage of the opportunity to assist the town with conservation through small businesses.”

Judith Gillan says striking a balance between economic development and environmental and social values is key to Belchertown’s future.

Suitable examples she suggested include a small biodiesel operation or a business producing energy from recycled biomass. “We also want to create a discovery center which would tell the story of the town’s agricultural history and attract visitors.”

Shattuck spoke about how critical farming is to food production in the U.S. “We are trying to increase the food supply produced by local farms. It’s very important.”

Gillan concurred. “Balance is key, and if there was ever a time to be thoughtful about the future, it is now,” she said. “We want to offer economic-development opportunities and at the same time protect the environment and social values through open space and land conservation. For many years, Belchertown State School was off limits to the community, and our hope is that our efforts will result in a combination of economic development and preservation of environmental resources.”

Albertson said economic development has already begun to occur in the area, particularly on State Street. About a month ago, Easthampton Savings Bank moved into a newly constructed building situated at the entrance to the state school property, and a new diner not far from the site is set to open soon.

Shattuck added that people looking to open or relocate a business may find Belchertown attractive because four major roadways — Routes 9, 181, 21, and 202 — intersect at points in town and are well-traveled. “A railroad also runs through town, which adds to the possibilities.”

Quality of Life

Belchertown was one of the first ‘green’ communities designated by the state, and the Department of Public Works and the school system operate energy- conservation programs in all their buildings.

“We are a fairly progressive community,” said Albertson. “We put solar panels on the fire station in the last five years, and are continuing to plan as we step into the future and try to get away from using fossil fuels.”

Other projects in line with conservation include a sewer-treatment plant and a commercial solar operation slated to go online soon. “It’s a good, clean, quiet project on 11 acres,” Albertson said.

Cold Spring Country Club opened two years ago, offering an 18-hole, semi-private course and restaurant, all with panoramic views. UMass also operates a horticultural research station in Belchertown, which Shattuck calls the premier center in New England for research on orchards and fruit trees.

In fact, UMass is integral to the town’s vitality and has been the main employer for townspeople during the past decade. “The UMass transit system, which is operated by the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority, runs from Amherst into Belchertown, and a lot of students, faculty, and staff live here,” Albertson said.

Meanwhile, Quabbin Reservoir, which covers one-fifth of the town’s 54 square miles, offers ample space and opportunity for people to enjoy the outdoors via pursuits such as hiking and fishing.

Albertson reiterated that residents want to preserve open space for recreation, which includes hunting and snowmobiling. “Hunting is still important to many people, and we have a very active snowmobile club that maintains a number of trails,” he said. “We want to make sure we have a good balance.”

Unified Effort

Albertson said MassDevelopment will continue working on a plan for the former Belchertown State School property, which could include a mix of retail establishments, space for offices, some light research and development, and perhaps some small-scale residential development, although the latter will not be the focus. In addition, a set of commercial design guidelines created for the entire town, presented to the board of selectmen in November, is on the agenda for the spring town meeting.

So, growth will continue to move Belchertown into the future, but some things will remain unchanged, including the residents’ appreciation for the landscape that surrounds them. Although they may travel to other communities to shop, many feel their town does ‘have it all’ as a sanctuary from the stressors of city life.

“The people in Belchertown are very friendly,” Shattuck concluded. “It’s a great place to live.”

Belchertown at a Glance

Year Incorporated: 1761
Population: 14,649 (2010); 12,968 (2000)
Area: 55.4 square miles
County: Hampshire
Residential Tax Rate: 17.72
Commercial Tax Rate: 17.72
Median Household Income: $52,467
Family Household Income: $60,830
Type of government: Board of Selectmen, Town Administrator, Town Meeting
Largest employers: Town of Belchertown, Hulmes Transportation, Super Stop & Shop
* Latest information available

Opinion

Opinion

Cost Report Creates False Impressions

By LYNN NICHOLAS

The state’s Health Policy Commission (HPC) just released its latest Cost Trends Report, in which it claims Massachusetts healthcare providers — primarily hospitals — waste somewhere on the order of $14.7 billion to $26.9 billion by providing ‘unnecessary’ medical care.

Some of the report’s concerns regarding unnecessary medical care are valid, but the report glosses over some of the non-hospital systemic problems that help drive unnecessary care, and many of the very real improvements that hospitals in Massachusetts have already achieved. Some of the report’s claims also foster misunderstanding about cost variations among different kinds of hospitals, which makes for provocative sound bites but ultimately fails to highlight the real issues.

Despite critics’ claims to the contrary, there are some valid and necessary reasons for higher costs at academic medical centers, though it’s also true that some of the cost disparities warrant much closer scrutiny and should require justification if they are to continue. That is all part of the reform that is underway in Massachusetts. Ultimately, what should guide the decision-making process is a commitment that each patient should receive the right care in the right setting.

It’s hard to keep a scorecard on the progress of healthcare reform in Massachusetts. This is partly because there is so much happening and because a lot of it is not yet visible to the public. Meanwhile, current data to measure progress is not available. Data from 2009, extensively relied upon in the HPC report, doesn’t fully reveal the hard work being done to improve the way care is delivered and paid for.

Most important is that, even as we at the Mass. Hospital Assoc. (MHA) study the report, hospitals are working collaboratively with each other, non-hospital providers, government, and other stakeholders to improve care while becoming even more cost-efficient, including in the areas identified in the HPC report as examples of wasteful spending.

For example, 10 Massachusetts hospitals have hosted an MHA educational program on ‘lean’ continuous-improvement techniques since 2010. As a result, more than 240 healthcare leaders have joined other lean experts in deploying these techniques in hospitals.

The Massachusetts hospital community has also been making quality and patient safety improvements on many fronts. The MHA’s board of trustees and all our member hospitals’ boards unanimously endorsed an association-wide initiative to make measurable, concrete improvements in hospitals’ performance, focusing on reducing readmissions and hospital-acquired infections. In addition, most Massachusetts hospitals are enrolled in a national quality-improvement collaborative aimed at improvements in 10 patient-safety areas. And the 29 Massachusetts hospitals that are enrolled in the MHA-coordinated Hospital Engagement Network have collectively experienced a 30% reduction in five adverse healthcare events: catheter-associated urinary-tract infections, central-line-associated bloodstream infections, pressure ulcers, ventilator-associated events, and early elective deliveries.

It is true that hospitals can become more efficient and improve the delivery of care — but that’s only one piece of the overall healthcare costs scenario, as hospitals comprise less than 40% of overall healthcare expenditures. There is ample evidence that underinvestment in behavioral-health issues adds to the cost of the overall healthcare system, with preventable readmissions being just one example.

The HPC report is correct in its conclusion that prime areas of opportunity for improvement moving forward include fostering a value-based market; promoting an efficient, high-quality healthcare delivery system; advancing alternative payment methods; and enhancing transparency and data availability.

But there are market practices that impede progress, like the broken behavioral-health system that takes such a toll on our families and communities. Its impact on cost can be seen in the number of patients readmitted to hospitals with behavioral-health diagnoses.

It’s important to realize that hospitals are already pursuing many of the strategies cited in the HPC report as opportunities to reduce costs and improve efficiency, although more certainly can and will be done. But cost isn’t solely a problem of providers, and not all cost differences among providers are wasteful.

Lynn Nicholas is president and CEO of the Mass. Hospital Assoc. This article first appeared on the MHA blog.

Casting His Lot

Cover Story

Yasir Osman Has Taken a Long, Twisting Ride to Entrepreneurship

When Yasir Osman arrived in New York from his homeland of Sudan in 1989, he had $100 in his pocket and very limited knowledge of English.

“I knew ‘yes,’ ‘no,’ and had a good smile,” he said in a still-thick accent. “That was essentially it.”

Actually, he brought a few other things with him, although it would take several years before some would emerge. One was a basic understanding of business he gained while doing the books for his father, the owner of a butcher shop in Sudan’s capital city of Khartoum, starting at age 6. Another was an entrepreneurial spirit he believes he acquired from his time spent in that shop, watching his father work for himself, enjoy it, and take great pride in it.

And then, there were the business values that he would also take from his father, especially transparency and honesty, terms he would use early and often as he talked about how he runs what has become a multi-faceted operation.

Indeed, he has put all of the above to extremely good use as he’s made the shift from employee to business owner — and in a big way.

Osman, who would relocate to Springfield a few years after arriving in Brooklyn — only a few months after meeting his future wife, who grew up in the City of Homes — has taken an intriguing ride from being an attendant in a parking garage on East Court Street to working his way up with that enterprise to regional manager, to starting his own company, Executive Parking. That venture now manages more than a dozen garages and surface lots and hundreds of metered spaces for the parking authorities in Springfield and Holyoke. Osman also owns taxi operations that operate in both communities, and serves as a chaplain for the state Department of Corrections.

And he makes it abundantly clear that this entrepreneurial ride, which began just over five years ago, is really just getting started.

He wants to make Executive Parking more of a regional force, perhaps expanding it into Hartford, New Haven, and other New England cities, and then, perhaps, becoming a national player.

“There’s really no limit to where we can go from here,” he said, adding that he believes he has the know-how, the lean business model (more on that later), and the entrepreneurial drive to take this venture well beyond Springfield and the Northeast.

The Columbus Center Garage in downtown Springfield is one of many facilities now managed by Executive Parking and its president, Yasir Osman.

But while casting a wide net in terms of hopes and aspirations, Osman is keeping a hard focus on his home of Springfield. In addition to basing two of his businesses here, he lives just a few blocks from downtown in the Hill-McKnight neighborhood, and is becoming increasingly vested in — and involved in — a city he believes is awash in potential and bound for better days.

“I love it here — I love being in Springfield,” he said. “I’ve been in the city for 22 years, and I’ve seen many ups and downs. But I’ve seen a lot of progress, and I think the city is heading in the right direction, especially with the economy; Springfield will see a lot happen in the next year or so.”

By that, he was referring to the casino slated to be built in the South End — a development that certainly has the potential to impact both of his business enterprises — but also other developments in and around downtown.

And as he looks ahead to a brighter future for the city, and himself, he has become one of the faces of a new breed of entrepreneur — minority business owners who are creating jobs as well as momentum in a city still trying to reinvent itself.

For this issue, BusinessWest talked at length with an individual who is still mastering English, but has become an entrepreneurial success story in any language.

His Lot in Life
As he wrapped up his talk with BusinessWest, and the conversation turned to the weather, as it often does in this winter that seemingly won’t end, Osman clicked on his phone to check the conditions in Khartoum, something he does regularly enough to have his device programmed to do so.

“It’s 72 degrees and sunny there,” he said with a nod of his head and a smile on his face, adding that he keeps tabs on much more than the forecast for the city he left 25 years ago. He still has family in Sudan, including his mother, whom he visited recently. In fact, his gray hair was mostly black from the dye job that his mother insists that he get before returning to what is still, in many respects, home.

By the late ’80s, though, it was a home that Osman knew he had to leave — and soon.

“The economy was very bad, and I was one of 10 children,” he said. “I saw my family struggling, I saw my father struggling, so I decided that something needed to be done.”

Osman Yasir says he has the team, and the experience, to take his parking venture regional and then national.

Picking up and leaving for the U.S. — something a growing number of people in that East African country were doing, or thinking about doing — was not an easy proposition, nor one without a good deal of risk. But it was certainly preferable to staying put.

Osman scraped together enough money to get a plane ticket to New York, and soon, with the help of a fellow countryman he connected with, was introduced to the city’s subway system. He would ride the train to Queens each day and actively pursue work, especially in realms where one could get by with just a little English — or very little, in his case — such as construction and security.

And while securing a succession of jobs, Osman was also working to gain a foothold with the English language. He took a few classes on the subject in New York, but has picked things up mostly from interacting with others — a broad constituency that has included everyone from his wife and children to customers in various parking garages.

“In my language [Sudanese], we move from right to left,” he explained. “In English, we move from left to right. That’s the hardest thing about learning the language; you have to think it in your mind before you speak it.”

He eventually saved enough money to buy a car, and was getting by in the Big Apple, when, through the intervention of another Sudanese native — a woman who was asked by Osman’s mother to help him find a wife — he met Asilla Eubanks. Five months later, they were married, and soon thereafter, the dateline for this story shifted to Springfield.

After relocating here, Osman soon took a job as a parking attendant at a small lot on East Court Street, working for a Hartford-based outfit called Professional Parking. He would stay with that firm for more than 15 years, serving in roles ranging from maintenance person to location manager; supervisor to city manager, meaning he oversaw all the lots and garages in Springfield.

The last title he had was regional manager, he noted, but in 2008 he was laid off from that post, a development that ultimately kick-started the next chapter of his career — as an entrepreneur.

The Space Race

He started by buying, at auction, a closed gas station with an accompanying convenience store on Allen Street in Springfield, and immediately began applying lessons in business not only from his youth and his father’s butcher shop, but also from the classroom, specifically the one at Cambridge College, where he earned a master’s degree in business management.

With a loan from NUVO Bank, he put the gas station back in operation and soon launched a taxi service and ran it out of a trailer on the Allen Street property. He now operates Ace Taxi, with eight cars, in Springfield, and Metro Taxi, with five vehicles, in Holyoke.

But the business he knew best was parking, and toward the end of 2008 he created Executive Parking.

“I just thought it was common sense to get into the business I understood most — and that’s parking,” he told BusinessWest, adding that his venture got a huge boost roughly a year ago, when it captured the contract to service the garages, surface lots, and metered spaces controlled by the Springfield Parking Authority (SPA) after submitting a bid $2.5 million lower than the company that previously had that assignment — Republic Parking.

When asked how he was able to submit such a number — and then convince the parking authority that service would actually improve — Osman laughed.

“Like I said, I know how to do parking,” he told BusinessWest. “Plus, I’m the owner of the company and the general manager of the company. I work … we don’t have a lot of overhead, like those other companies do.”

He’s also been applying those aforementioned lessons he learned while watching, and working for, his father all those years ago.

“You need transparency and to be honest in everything that you do — that’s what he taught me,” he explained, noting that his father passed away in 2007. “Communication is also important — communication with the people in the city, with your employees, with the managers, and with the public.

“Also, dedication — when you do something, give it 200%, not 100%,” he went on. “That’s another thing I learned from watching my father.”

Looking ahead, Osman is focused on what he called smart, controlled growth.

His first priority has been to bring stability to the lots and garages operated by the SPA, something he believes he’s done.

“We’ve stabilized the operation in Springfield — right now, things are going smooth,” he went on. “In the last year, since we’ve taken over the operation, we haven’t had even one complaint.

“Our plan is to take this operation to the next level and make it more customer-friendly, actually,” he went on. “We have training for our employees every three months, we talk to them about being more customer-friendly, and we talk to them about being sensitive to customers’ needs; we’re drilling into their heads the need to put customers first, and we’re getting results.”

The next challenge will be to expand regionally and, in essence, replicate the success registered in Springfield and Holyoke. And he believes there are opportunities to do so within New England.

“There are many possibilities with neighboring cities, such as Hartford, New Haven, Stamford — wherever we can help stabilize operations and make money for the city, we’ll be there,” he said. “We can do for them what we did in Springfield, where our low-cost, efficient operations enabled the Springfield Parking Authority to give $300,000 a year to the Springfield Police Department to put more officers downtown.”

Venturing Forth

Osman said he’s not sure how far he can take Executive Parking. But he is sure that, wherever this venture goes, Springfield will still be the base of the operation — and, more importantly, his home.

The Hill-McKnight neighborhood is nearly half the globe and worlds apart from the still-struggling country he left 25 years ago, but the same business principles that worked there are creating results — and opportunities — here.

In short, Osman has done quite a bit with that $100, those two words of English he knew, and those all-important lessons from his father.

And, as he said, the ride is really just getting started.

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

For Sale, for Lease

Commercial Real Estate Sections

A listing of available commercial sites

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Guaranteed Promise

Phillips Insurance Agency Specializes in Surety Bonds

Joseph Phillips says the bonding process, while complex, should be considered an opportunity for businesses, not an obstacle.

Joseph Phillips is drawing a triangle to illustrate how a surety bond works. One leg is upheld by a contractor, and the other is held by a bonding company. The business owner, city, or agency that hired the contractor sits at the top.

The president of Phillips Insurance Agency in Chicopee explained that a surety bond is a type of guarantee, and if the contractor fails to complete a project, the owner can go directly to the surety bonding company to remedy the situation. “Surety is defined as a third-party guarantee, and the surety bonding company guarantees that the contractor will perform the work as stated in the contract,” he said, adding that this includes paying subcontractors and suppliers.

Although the concept is not difficult to understand, Phillip says confusion and misperceptions exist about the prequalification process required to post a bond. He admits it takes time and can be frustrating, but contractors who complete it have an edge in an industry that has become increasingly competitive. Bonds allow contractors to work in both public and private sectors and thus weather changes in the economy during an era in which more and more owners and banks require that projects are bonded.

Phillips is passionate about his work, and he and his 18 employees have spent close to two decades educating and helping clients complete the bonding process, which many don’t attempt because they consider it too complex or difficult.

But Phillips says it is a good investment of time. “People should not consider it an obstacle, but an opportunity to expand their business,” he told BusinessWest.

He has been dealing with surety bonds since he graduated from college, and today, due to his efforts, Phillips Insurance has become one of the largest bond and construction insurance writers in the Northeast. “We have the same expertise in surety bonds and risk management for contractors as our competitors in New York and Boston, and can respond to needs whether they are simple or complex,” he said.

Although his agency also writes automobile, home, and business insurance policies and serves 150 clients in 12 states, 80% of its work is with bonds.

Phillips does what it takes to attract and retain clients, and that includes meetings at 5:30 a.m. in a wide variety of places, including airports. “I’ve written bonds for contractors in Las Vegas whom I have never met,” he said.

Bond Administrator Jocelyn Keech is one of 20 employees at Phillips Insurance Agency in Chicopee.

He takes great pride and satisfaction in connecting clients with the companies that offer these third-party guarantees. What sets the company apart from the 38,000 other insurance agencies in the U.S. is that it is a member of the National Assoc. of Surety Bond Producers, Phillips said, adding that the organization has fewer than 500 members due to the difficulty of fulfilling its requirements. He is past president of the Surety Assoc. of Massachusetts, and has earned both his AFSB (associate in surety and fidelity bonding) and CRIS (construction risk and insurance specialist) designations.

Phillips advises contractors who are unfamiliar with the bonding process to visit his agency’s website — www.phillipsinsurance.com — and read the publication link titled “Your First Bond,” as well as other educational material posted there.

Changing Direction

Phillips Insurance Agency celebrated its 60th anniversary last year by giving $1,000 each to 10 nonprofits that were nominated by their clients, then voted on by the public. Winners included the Boys & Girls Club of Chicopee, the Constanza Medical Mission, the Assoc. for Community Living, the Sisters of St. Joseph, Camphill Village USA, and others. In addition, the agency donated $1 to Shriners Hospital for every ‘like’ it received on its Facebook page.

The company dates back to 1953, when Joseph’s father, Cornelius Phillips, purchased the William J. Fuller Agency in Chicopee. The Fuller Agency had been in business since 1898, and Cornelius renamed it and chose to focus on auto and home insurance.

A major shift occurred when Joseph took the helm after his father’s death in 1997 and put his focus on the surety bond market.

He had worked for Fidelity and Deposit Co., which is the oldest bonding company in the U.S, after graduating from college, then was employed as a bond writer for Liberty Mutual before he returned to Chicopee to join his father in business.

The company has always valued its employees, and when Joseph joined his father, there were only two employees. They included 52-year-old Jeanne Jones, who was employed by Cornelius at age 16 and is still working at the agency.

“We also have three employees who work remotely,” Phillips said, noting that he chose to keep these individuals when they moved from Western Mass. to distant states.

Phillips also places a high value on education, so the agency’s website contains a wealth of information about the bonding process. In fact, he finds great satisfaction in helping people obtain their first bond.

“It’s intimidating for small companies — the process can be confusing, and many people don’t think they can get a bond,” he said, adding that the agency receives a number of referrals from local certified public accountants and commercial lenders. “But if the person goes through the steps and understands what is required, they leave behind a slew of competitors who failed to do what is required to bid on public projects.”

Phillips said surety bonds resemble an extension of a line of credit at a bank, and the practice of issuing them dates back to ancient Egypt. They have been used throughout U.S. history as well. In fact, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was bond manager for Fidelity and Deposit Co. in New York from 1921 to 1928 before he was elected president in 1932. Three years later, passage of the Miller Act in the U.S. made it a legal requirement for a bond to be issued for all federal public works projects that exceed $100,000.

Phillips admits that trying to get a bond for the first time can be a frustrating process for people who don’t understand what is needed. “When a surety company underwrites a new account, they are looking for the three Cs — capital, capacity, and character — or the moral and ethical nature of an individual or business entity,” he said. He defines ‘capital’ as a measure of the contractor’s ability to do the work, their working capital, and bank support; ‘capacity’ as their ability to perform a job, which includes their experience, people, and equipment; and ‘character’ as the contractor’s moral or ethical nature and reputation.

In order to gather that information, his agency becomes deeply involved with clients. “We learn the history of their company, their financials, their capabilities, and their failures and successes. We become trusted advisors, like certified public accountants or attorneys, and we have a very high retention rate,” he said.

After the agency gathers all it needs from the person or company, employees analyze and review the material. When that is complete, Phillips determines which bonding company will best serve the client’s needs. “We have the experience to see that the client is placed with the bonding company that matches up best with their type of construction, size, program, and financial position,” he said.

The final step involves submitting a recommendation and the required documents to the chosen bonding company and working out a program for the client. Phillips has access to most of the top 25 surety companies in the country and also offers complimentary products such as builders’ risk, railroad protective coverage, pollution liability, and more.

Projects for which Phillips Insurance recently executed bonds include:

• An $11 million bond guaranteeing the reconstruction of the William F. Davitt Memorial Bridge in Chicopee on behalf of the Mass. Department of Transportation;
• A $10 million bond for the Central Campus infrastructure project at UMass Amherst;
• A $35 million bond for a state utility company for an infrastructure project;
• An $11 million bond written for the masonry portion of the $100 million Commonwealth Honors College Complex at UMass Amherst; and
• A $12 million bond written for a HUD housing project in Greenfield.

Phillips has also written bonds for clients on projects nationwide. They include various clients at the $10 billion Global Foundries project in Malta, N.Y., as well the granite contractor at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas.

“We’ve bonded projects from $100,000 to $50 million, and have written bonds for subdivisions, landfills, and solar projects,” he said.

And new work is expected after a license to build a casino in Western Mass is issued, as widely expected. “We’re excited about it. It will be a $500 million-plus project, and if the owner decides to protect the project by bonding the contractors working on it, we will benefit,” said Phillips. “We’ve also seen a lot of activity in solar-field construction, which we expect to be a big part of our bond writing over the next three years.”

Promising Outlook

The Phillips agency’s business in surety bond premiums increased by 30% last year from the year before, and it continues to acquire new accounts.

Phillips wants to expand across the nation, and to that end, he is creating a new website — mybonddept.com — to help agencies that lack the expertise to serve clients who need bonds. “We want to split the commission without taking the business away from them.”

He acknowledges that bonding is a rigorous underwriting process and says an annual review is important. “But I tell new clients to hang in there, because once you accomplish this, you have an unlimited ability to work. It opens up so many doors.”

Market-driven Move

Sales and Marketing Sections

Springfield-based TSM Design Opens Second Office in Hartford

Deb Walsh, Nancy Urbschat, and Janet Bennett of TSM Design will now have a marketing and design presence in two anchor cities.

Nancy Urbschat recalls the moment she and her team at TSM Design saw the small yet attractive office space in the historic former G. Fox & Co. department store building in downtown Hartford, and knew they’d found a home.

Or, to be more specific, a second home.

Indeed, the cozy, 475-square-foot space at 960 Main St. officially became the second location for Springfield-based TSM on Jan. 8. The office provides the company with opportunities to better serve clients based in Northern Conn. or who do business there, said Urbschat, principal of the firm since 2005, and also greater capacity to expand a client list that already includes a number of businesses across several sectors.

“To have a presence in two anchor cities felt great,” she told BusinessWest as she talked about the decision to expand. “I’ve long believed that Hartford-Springfield is a very robust market.”

And it’s a market that can better be served with a visible presence in each municipality, said Janet Bennett, the firm’s director of marketing since 2005.

“We were going down for meetings all the time, and the more we discussed it, we felt that if we were really going to do this, we needed to put ourselves in Hartford for real and have a real presence here,” she said.

With that presence, the marketing and design firm expects to take full advantage of the robust business climate in Connecticut’s capital, and also seize momentum from what those at TSM describe as an improving economy on both sides of the border.

Urbschat said marketing and advertising budgets are among the first things to be cut during a downturn like the recent recession, and they’re also some of the last things to be restored. But she’s seeing definite signs of progress.

“That’s the natural order of economic downturns and recovery, and I feel we’re in recovery,” said Urbschat, who speaks from the experience gained from living through several recessions. “That’s the beauty of being a small business — we’re lean; we can make adjustments as needed and respond. We took appropriate measures, and now we’re off to a fantastic start in 2014.”

For this issue and its focus on sales and marketing, BusinessWest talked with the team at TSM about their move into Hartford and what it means for the firm moving forward.

Capital Idea

Urbschat has long noted — and taken great pride from — the fact that her firm is not merely based in Springfield, specifically the historic Stearns Building on Bridge Street.

Instead, it has long been quite involved in efforts to help market the city and tell its story — both to those who live within it and those who would need a map to find it — while also promoting it as a great place to live, work, and do business.

A second office at 960 Main St. in Hartford will allow TSM Design to take full advantage of the robust business climate in Connecticut’s capital.

For example, Urbschat and her team launched Pro Springfield Media, a nonprofit organization dedicated to changing the conversation about the City of Homes, asking residents and officials to “say something nice.” She also chaired the Art & Soles project a few years ago, an initiative that saw the downtown decorated with colorful, five-foot-high sneakers in a nod to its history with the sport of basketball.

But while Springfield has been, and will remain, both the firm’s base and its passion, there was a clear need to expand to the city 20 miles to the south.

“We’re Springfield believers, and this is our anchor,” she noted. “Our footprint is solidly in Springfield, but we were ready for a new challenge, and there’s opportunity in Hartford.”

And as the TSM team looked for a base from which to pursue those opportunities, one of the first stops was the former G. Fox building, the art-deco landmark that has become home to Capital Community College and dozens of other tenants large and small.

Bringing the TSM name there ushers in a new chapter in the colorful history of the firm created by Leslie Lawrence and first called The Super Market.

Urbschat joined the venture a few months after it was launched and became a partner in 1990. The firm’s name was rebranded to the acronym TSM in the late ’90s to reflect the development of a wider range of work, especially design and branding. When Lawrence retired in 2004, Urbschat bought the business.

Using subcontractors — or partners, as Urbschat calls them — for specific needs in video production and web development, the current four employees have specific strengths in marketing, design, and creative thought and application. Urbschat is keeping the operation lean by having one team operate both locations.

Bennett, who is now spending much of her time at the Hartford facility — which Urbschat calls a ‘mini-me’ office, due to its similar contemporary, TSM-style decor — explained that growth is certainly attainable, and the vibe in the capital city is palpable.

“It feels like it’s hopping,” she told BusinessWest. “Even the sense on the street when you’re walking around, there’s a lot of buzz, and it’s exciting.”

Urbschat agreed, noting that some 80,000 people work in downtown Hartford, maybe 10 times the number that work in Springfield’s central business district. Some of those 80,000 work in marketing and advertising, she acknowledged, but while there is plenty of competition, there is also ample opportunity for growth for TSM.

With 15 active clients, the firm’s team is selective about whom they work with, and will keep that same philosophy in Hartford. While the company handles many types of businesses, it targets second-stage, ‘best-in-class’ companies with 150 or more employees and that share TSM’s core values. And there many of these in the Greater Hartford area.

One example is the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield. That landmark, which includes a number of buildings and facilities, has seen its identity superseded by the 17-day fair that takes place there every fall — the Big E. TSM has been contracted to help rebrand the operation and tell what Urbschat calls the “amazing story of the history of the Eastern States Exposition.”

Over the years, it has done similar work for businesses and organizations ranging from Springfield Technical Community College to the Springfield Falcons, and currently boasts clients such as Barr & Barr Construction, Westfield Bank, and Baystate Health.

Right Place, Right Time

While some might view the Hartford office as a fresh, new start for the TSM team, Urbschat is quick to say that there’s nothing new about what TSM will offer businesses in Connecticut.

“This is an extension of what we already do, and we have a well-honed process; we’re just doing it in a new city,” she said, adding that she still enjoys coming into work every day. “When it stops being fun, we’ll probably just say, ‘OK, it was a great ride.’”

But for now, talk about the ride is restricted to the present and future tenses, and, with this expansion into Hartford, it is getting much more exciting.

Elizabeth Taras can be reached at [email protected].

PictureThis

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]

Camping for Chicken
The day before Chick-fil-A opened its doors at 501 Memorial Dr. in Chicopee, hardy Chick-fil-A followers from as far away as Philadelphia were pitching tents in a wet, snow-filled parking lot with hopes that they’d be one of the first 100 in line for the Feb. 20 grand opening at 6 a.m. The quick-food restaurant is known for giving away free Chick-fil-A for a year to the first 100 adults on site when the doors open to each new store. The new restaurant, which recently filled 90 new jobs, provided security, entertainment, games, and, of course, plenty of fresh Chick-fil-A for those in line. At left, owner/operator Robert Hewes stands in the parking lot-turned-campground. Right, the tents start to take over parking spaces, awaiting opening day.

Crowd Catering
A crowdsourcing event to support SkinCatering, a spa in downtown Springfield and South Hadley, owned by Leanne Sedlak, was staged recently at 180Fit Gym at One Financial Plaza in Springfield. The event, Cater to Your Entrepreneurial Spirit, was organized to help Sedlak raise $3,500 for materials and setup costs for relaunching her all-natural skin-care line nationally and continue building her customer base. Left, supporters pose for a group shot. At right, from left, are Pam Thornton, Business Development manager, United Personnel; Sedlak; Michelle Crosby, Business Banking branch manager at PeoplesBank; and Elizabeth Ginter, president of Ellis Title Company.
Photos by Dani.Fine Photography

Shop and Talk
Networking and shopping, not necessarily in that order, were the missions of the night as the Professional Women’s Chamber of Western Massachusetts celebrated Ladies Night at Kate Gray Boutique in Longmeadow. New and existing members packed the elegant boutique, above, and, at left, stopped long enough to pose for a group picture.

Wine and History
More than 100 people attended the annual I Love Wine event on Feb. 15 at Holyoke’s Wistariahurst Museum, the historic 26-room mansion and former home of two generations of the prominent Skinner Family, manufacturers of nationally renowned silks and satins. A focal point on the Holyoke landscape since 1874, the museum offers a permanent collection of decorative arts, paintings and prints, and textiles, in addition to a wide variety of educational and musical programs and events. The event proceeds will support the museum’s ongoing endeavors. Here, Christine Johnson, a representative from Carolina Wine Co., pours Dave Griffin Jr. and his wife, Corinne, a sample of fine wine.
Photos courtesy of Joseph Aberdale

Setting Their Sites

Sections Technology

A chart of area web development companies

Click here to download the PDF

Court Dockets

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
Gabriel Davila v. FDAS Corp., d/b/a Car Credit 1st, and Frank DeCaro
Allegation: Breach of warranty pertaining to the sale of a used vehicle and violation of the Mass. Consumer Protection Act: $15,000
Filed: 2/3/14

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT
Mark A. Larace, et al v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as trustee for ABFC 2005-OPT1 Trust, et al
Allegation: Wrongful foreclosure:
$7.7 million
Filed: 1/6/14

Paul J. Dellatorre v. Springfield Florists Supply Inc., Arthur Dellatorre, David Dellatorre, and Risa Teall
Allegation: Conversion of property: $306,520
Filed: 1/17/14

Scott Dunbar v. Accutech Insulation and Contracting Inc.
Allegation: Failure to pay wages, breach of contract, and retaliation: $150,000
Filed: 1/14/14

HAMPSHIRE SUPERIOR COURT
Granby Heights Assoc. Inc. v. SVE Inc. d/b/a SVE Associates
Allegation: Plaintiff retained defendant to design wastewater-treatment system which repeatedly failed state environmental-permitting requirements: $250,000
Filed: 12/30/13

Safety Insurance Co. as subrogee of Marion Kennedy v. S.E. Sulenski Roofing & Siding Co. Inc.
Allegation: Subrogation action against contractor for negligence and breach of contract for building collapse: $89,000+
Filed: 1/29/14

HOLYOKE DISTRICT COURT
Sandra Nomakeo v. Fazzi Associates
Allegation: Breach of contract and unpaid wages: $614+
Filed: 12/31/13

NORTHAMPTON DISTRICT COURT
Jessica Morris v. Dunkin Donuts
Allegation: Unpaid wages and overtime: $6,600
Filed: 1/27/14

Teagno Construction Inc. v. McCarthy Properties Inc.
Allegation: Breach of construction contract: $3,493
Filed: 1/16/14

PALMER DISTRICT COURT
Linda Johnson v. Phil’s Transportation Inc., Konstantin Tikhonov, and Svetlana Tikhonov
Allegation: Failure to pay wages and overtime, misclassification as independent contractor, and unjust enrichment: $20,000+
Filed: 1/8/14

SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT
Atlantic Charter Insurance v. J. Hatchett Masonry, LLC
Allegation: Non-payment of insurance premiums: $29,269
Filed: 1/30/14

Agenda

Agenda Departments

Soul Food & Jazz Luncheon
Feb. 27: Springfield Technical Community College will present its annual Soul Food & Jazz Luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the seventh floor of Scibelli Hall. The event will feature the smooth sounds of Rohn Lawrence. Tickets are $5 per plate at the door. All proceeds will benefit the STCC Warms Hearts Fund. The event is sponsored by the Diversity Council at STCC.

Dark Dining Room House Concert Series
March 1, April 5, May 3: This winter and spring, Dark Dining Room brings the warmth and coziness of your living room to the grandeur of Wistariahurst. Concert curators Matthew Larsen and Greg Saulmon will serve up several courses of local and national musicians over the first Saturdays of March through May. While no dinner will be served, there will be light refreshments provided by Tony Jones Catering, as well as a cash bar. Doors open at 7 p.m. for all shows. Reservations are suggested. Tickets cost $18 ($15 for members) and can be purchased online at wistariahurst.org or by calling the museum at (413) 322-5660. The March 1 concert features Heather Maloney, who boasts influences and roots in adventurous folk. Rosary Beard, whose intricately intertwined acoustic guitars skate a thin line between melancholy reflection and uplifting release, will open the show. On April 5, Dark Dining Room introduces Colorway, a power trio fronted by Western Mass. native F. Alex Johnson. Introspective songsmith and acoustic guitarist Mark Schwaber opens the show. The final concert on May 3 features acoustic guitarist David Berkeley, a Santa Fe-based troubadour who brings his version of Americana to the stage. Matthew Larsen and the Documents open the show with introspective piano pop layered with careful instrumentation and thoughtful harmonies. For more information about the Dark Dining Room House Concert Series, go to darkdiningroom.com. This program is supported in part by a grant from the Holyoke Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

Celebrate Springfield Dinner Event
March 12: DevelopSpringfield will host its third annual dinner event in celebration of Springfield and the many accomplishments the community has achieved over the past year, along with the exciting new initiatives underway. The event will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. at the MassMutual Center in Springfield. Festivities will include a reception with live music by the Eric Bascom Trio and a silent auction, followed by dinner, a brief program, and presentations. Specifically, DevelopSpringfield will present its Partner in Progress Award to recognize the outstanding contributions of three individuals toward revitalization in Springfield: Colleen Loveless, executive director of Rebuilding Together; Terry Powe, principal of Elias Brookings Elementary School; and Mark Tolosky, president and CEO of Baystate Health. Platinum sponsors of the event are MassMutual Financial Group, Baystate Health, and Health New England. All proceeds will support DevelopSpringfield’s redevelopment initiatives, projects, and programs. About 400 attendees — including federal, state, and city officials; leaders from the business and nonprofit communities; and local residents — are expected to come together in support of ongoing efforts to advance development and redevelopment projects, stimulate and support economic growth, and expedite the revitalization process in Springfield. Registration information is available at www.developspringfield.com or by contacting Paige Thayer at (413) 209-8808 or [email protected].

Difference Makers 2014
March 20: The sixth annual Difference Makers award program, staged by BusinessWest, will be held at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House, honoring these five individuals and organizations: the Gray House; Colleen Loveless, executive director of the Springfield chapter of Rebuilding Together; the Melha Shriners, Paula Moore, teacher at Roger L. Putnam Vocational Academy and founder of YSET Academy; and Michael Moriarty, attorney and director of Olde Holyoke Development Corp. Their stories are told in the Feb. 10 issue of BusinessWest and online at www.businesswest.com. More details on the gala event will be published in upcoming issues of the magazine, but tickets cost $60, and tables of 10 are available. Difference Makers is a program, launched in 2009, that recognizes groups and individuals that are, as the name suggests, making a difference in this region. Event sponsors include Baystate Medical Center, Health New England, First American Insurance, Meyers Brothers Kalicka, Northwestern Mutual, Royal LLP, Sarat Ford, and Six-Point Creative. For more information, call (413) 781-8600.

Employers Assoc. Management Conference
April 2: Accountability is a hot issue in today’s business world. At the Holiday Inn in Enfield, Conn., the Employers Assoc. of the NorthEast (EANE) will hold its 10th annual management conference, called “It’s All About Accountability.” The conference will address personal accountability and responsibility in achieving organizational results, based on Linda Galindo’s bestselling book, The 85% Solution. EANE is bringing to the area Kathleen Kelly, a master certified facilitator in ‘the Accountability Experience.’ She will teach supervisors and managers how to develop accountability and learn to accept no less than 85% responsibility for the outcomes of their actions. Conference breakout sessions will include: “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team,” “Taking the ‘Difficult’ out of Difficult Conversations,” “Tom’s Fired: Where Did Things Go Wrong?” “Taking Ownership for Your Own Professional Development,” “Digging Deep: Performance Improvement Through Real Coaching,” and “Ethical and Legal Obligations of Managers in Solving Workplace Issues.” 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.

Are You Protected Against Cyber Theft?

If the Answer Is ‘No,’ the Consequences Could Be Costly

By MICHAEL LEVIN

When it comes to cyber security and data breaches, no system is infallible. Some of the largest companies in the world have been victims of data breaches. Recently, the Swansea, Mass. Police Department contracted the CrytoLocker computer virus, and paid ransom to gain access to their files.

While large breaches like those at Target, Neiman Marcus, and Yahoo! receive great media attention, smaller breaches occur daily without much fanfare. A common misconception is that malicious hackers target only large companies. However, small and mid-sized companies are often perceived — for good reasons — as easier targets due to their limited IT resources.

What is the incentive for criminals to steal data? There is a large black market for stolen identities. Some estimates put the value of stolen personal identifiable information (PII) and personal health information (PHI) at $5-$10 per record, depending on the information. Malicious hackers who gain access to computer systems have the potential to modify accounts-payable data and change bank routing numbers.

Human Error

Another common misconception is that most breaches result from a hacker sitting behind a computer in some foreign country. Malicious hacker activity has and will continue to occur; however, some studies estimate that approximately 50% to 60% of breaches result from simple human and system errors.

For example, unencrypted laptops and smartphones that are lost or stolen pose a large threat, as do data backups brought home by an employee for off-site storage. Lost or weak passwords continue to be an issue as well. It’s fairly common to see a sticky note on an employee’s computer monitor with their username and password to access the enterprise software system (hopefully not the controller).

In addition, people often mistakenly send e-mails to someone other than the intended recipient. How many times have you replied to an e-mail that started with, “I think you meant to send this to another person?” If the e-mail contains PII or PHI, this may be a breach.

Not understanding the technology in your office can also result in a breach. Affinity Health Plan Inc. settled with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for $1.2 million when it returned leased photocopiers with 344,579 personal health-information records on the copier’s hard drives (yes, modern copiers have hard drives that store data).

Human error breaches are not limited to digital data. Improper disposal of documents that contained PII or PHI has led to breaches. The list of exposures on the human-error side alone is limited only by one’s imagination.

Cyber Risk Management

Implementing preventative measures, best practices, and a strong backup solution help reduce, but not eliminate, the risk. An incidence-response plan that details responsibilities and vendors is crucial to quickly address a breach and to avoid panic buying. Many state laws have time deadlines for certain actions. The clock is ticking once a breach has been identified. A written policy and plan detailing security measures will be of assistance should you be interviewed by the Office of Civil Rights, HHS, or the state attorney general.

Potential Cost of a Cyber Incident

Expenses from a data breach or a cyber incident vary and can be quite high. Beyond the intangible cost associated with the loss of consumer confidence, organizations may face lawsuits, regulatory expenses, regulatory-defense costs, notification costs, and business-interruption losses.

In order to limit the damage, organizations often hire public-relations firms, outsource call centers, provide credit monitoring for at least a year (required by law in some states), and provide identity-fraud insurance.

Forensic specialists may be required to identify and remediate the source of a breach that results from an organization’s computer systems. Again, the clock is ticking. Not finding and resolving all the issues with a system creates further exposure down the road.

As discussed earlier, part of a comprehensive cyber risk-management program is to have a good backup solution and to monitor it regularly to ensure that data is consistently backed up. Without a solid backup strategy, organizations may incur data-restoration and computer-program-restoration expenses — assuming the data and programs can be restored.

Cyber-liability Insurance

It is important to understand that a general-liability insurance policy typically does not respond to cyber exposures. Available cyber-liability insurance coverages include network and information-security liability, security-breach remediation and notification, hacker damage, crisis-management expenses, business interruption, cyber extortion, media, data restoration, and computer fraud.

Today’s cyber-insurance policies are flexible so that you can choose coverages based on your unique needs, exposures, and risk tolerance. Developing a meaningful cyber-insurance program requires an understanding of an organization’s IT systems, data-security best practices, and level of employee education.

In Summary

Whether or not they realize it, most organizations, no matter the size, have some sort of cyber-security or data-breach exposure. If you store personal identifiable information or personal health information, your risks increase exponentially. And these risks are here to stay.

There are far too many cyber-security exposures to be covered in a single article. It is important to work with an insurance agent who is capable of understanding your exposures and who can match insurance coverages and carriers to meet your unique needs. A properly structured cyber-liability insurance policy can be an important element to an organization’s overall cyber-risk-management program and long-term sustainability. n

Michael Levin is an account executive at the Dowd Insurance Agency, a full-service agency providing personal, commercial, and financial-planning needs, with six offices in Western Mass.; (413) 538-7444; [email protected]

Community Spotlight: Greenfield

Community Profile Features

Greenfield’s Location, Technology Aid Reinvention

Bob Pyers says developments ranging from expanded Amtrak service to new broadband infrastructure will help Greenfield grow and prosper.

As a former economic-development director for 13 years with the Economic Development Council (EDC) of Western Mass., Robert Pyers was consulted several times by various Greenfield municipal employees about growing the town at the intersection of Interstate 91 and Route 2. The answer was always the same.
“We told them you’re not going to get any traction on anything until you change your system of government,” said Pyers, now Greenfield’s economic development director, a position he’s held since Mayor William Martin unseated Greenfield’s first mayor, Christine Forgey, in a write-in campaign in 2009.
Forgey served two terms after the town applied for, and was granted, a city form of government in 2003; under her leadership and, now, with four full years under Martin’s guidance, the city’s unemployment rate has fallen from 8.3% to 6.7% — lower than both the Commonwealth and the nation, Pyers said.
“We’ve been very successful since converting from the selectman style of government to mayoral; it changed things because you have greater impact in terms of designing your business plan,” he said, noting that a mayor’s decision comes much faster than the colliding opinions of select board members and their executive council. “In the old system, it was very difficult for decisions to be made because there was always a naysayer.”
The critics are far fewer these days, Pyers continued, because the city is seeing traction in many areas, like a visible solar farm on a capped landfill and the invisible addition of underground broadband for high-speed Internet, VoIP, (voice over Internet protocol, which facilitates multi-media sessions over online networks), and future wireless Internet for businesses and residences.
“Reinventing itself” is how Martin characterizes Greenfield’s current efforts to become self-sustaining, just as it used to be just after the Civil War through its own gas and electric companies, which were sold to larger corporations in the 1930s. The mission is to now return to that efficient and environmentally sound existence.

Mayor William Martin says Greenfield’s efforts to become more self-sustaining are nothing short of a reinvention.

“We’ve always had this opportunity, surrounded by rivers, roads, and land,” he said, “and we’ve got quite a population that is interested in sustainability and active in cooperatives — in fact, we’re the city with the most number of cooperatives in Massachusetts — so everyone contributes to the economy, the culture, and the governance. It’s wide-open; every opinion is valued.”
The reinvention of Greenfield, which is central to almost a half-million residents within a 25-mile radius, is possible, both told BusinessWest, because of the city’s best natural attribute: its location.
Greenfield has historically prospered in its Upper Pioneer Valley setting as a nexus for walking the famous Mohawk Trail — which became the well-traveled Route 2 that crosses over I-91 — and connecting with roads that lead to Boston, Springfield, Albany, and even Montreal, Martin said.
Revitalized Amtrak passenger service coming online along the Connecticut River in the next year, Pyers added, will help the city — the administrative center of Franklin County — continue to act as a net importer of diverse forms of labor, including manufacturing, retail, tourism, and public-services jobs.
“In the old-fashioned sense, Greenfield is the county seat,” Pyers explained. “We’re the center of the population and the center of all public services, as well as employment.”
For this issue’s Community Spotlight, Martin and Pyers explained how those in Greenfield are using this central location, and the transportation and new technology it supports, to spur future growth in a number of different ways.

Investing in the Future
Of Greenfield’s 9,500-strong workforce, 8,500 of those live in town, Pyers said. But a couple of years ago, the town lost a growing IT firm called HitPoint that moved to Amherst because the infrastructure it needed just wasn’t available in Greenfield. Once in Amherst, HitPoint grew from 10 employees to 35. Pyers said that isn’t going to happen in Greenfield again.
To that end, Greenfield, in partnership with the Department of Public Utilities, is in the last stages of approval to create what’s called a Municipal Aggregate Plan, providing the town with affordable high-speed Internet, broadband, and VoIP, preparing a level, high-tech playing field on which new and existing businesses can grow.
The project is being tackled in conjunction with the Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI), a division of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative. Martin said the MBI has the authority to invest up to $40 million in state capital funding for broadband-related infrastructure and improvement projects. The MBI works closely with municipalities like Greenfield, broadband service providers, and other key stakeholders to create new, statewide digital opportunities. To that end, the MBI has ‘ringed’ Greenfield with seven miles of broadband, with access to about 25 large buildings, said Martin.
The three-phase effort will begin with updating the town’s current IT infrastructure; phase two will expand that hard-wired infrastructure to 25 more major businesses, and the third will benefit the public in the form of free wi-fi — downtown first, and then further outside the town center. Part of that effort involves a promising study by the Franklin County Council of Governments regarding the feasibility of a proposed Internet interconnect facility for a city-owned, 100-acre brownfield-turned-industrial park abutting I-91 — essentially a server farm and switching station for other providers.
As the city solicits private developers, Pyers said, there are two benefits: spinoff businesses that need to be located near high-speed connectivity, and the fact that the extremely expensive mechanics on the property would be privately owned — and the largest taxpayer in Greenfield.
Additionally, when Martin was elected in 2009, he immediately took advantage of the Green Communities Act of 2008, legislation that encourages investment in renewable energy. During the recession, Greenfield was able to build a revenue-generating, 17-acre solar farm on a capped landfill, and is instituting new energy upgrades for residential properties through a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program by working with the Department of Energy Resources. By mid-spring, the plan will allow Greenfield to purchase all the electricity for the town’s businesses and residences.
“It won’t cost the town anything, just our investment in looking for the best deal, which should be lower than any other entity, and our distributor, Western Massachusetts Electric Co., will handle house calls and billing,” Martin explained.
While a small community like Greenfield can’t influence the economy, it can prepare its infrastructure and sustainability efforts for when the national and state forecast picks up, said Pyers. “So we’re concentrating on making our investments in things that will make the cost of production in Greenfield, and for service industries, much more competitive.”

Smart Crossroads
Regardless of the industry, businesses take seriously both cost of production and availability of high-tech services, and both Martin and Pyers said several Greenfield firms will immediately benefit from the city’s investments.
They include New England Natural Bakers, producer of granola and tofu; Real Pickles, producer of naturally fermented pickles; PV2, an installer of solar farms and solar applications for business and residential use; Argotec, producer of plastic film for other manufacturers’ applications; Bete Fog Nozzle Inc., a high-precision maker of spray guns and devices used in industrial applications; and the Sandri Company, which provides a diverse combination of energy products (its leader, Tim Van Epps, was named BusinessWest’s Top Entrepreneur for 2013).
While Country Hyundai recently moved to brand-new headquarters in Northampton (see story on page 31), Dillon Chevrolet and Toyota of Greenfield have recently expanded in the west end of the city. More retail business development includes more than 200,000 square feet on the Mohawk Trail; a possible 100-acre parcel on French King Highway, targeted for manufacturing in the power-services industry; and a 40,000-square-foot expansion of an existing food-service business in town.
The renovation and expansion of the Franklin County Courthouse from 60,000 to 96,000 square feet is another bright spot, but one challenge will be to fill the 48,000-square-foot vacancy on Main Street left by the Juvenile Court when it moves to the larger courthouse, Martin added.

A new hotel above Wilson’s is an example of how Greenfield is growing in myriad ways.

But it’s the renovation of a still-to-be-named, 52-unit boutique hotel on the upper floors of the former Greenfield Hotel, above Wilson’s department store on Main Street — one of the last remaining privately owned general-merchandise department stores — that has many excited about more rooms for business travelers and tourists, and the smart reuse of 30,000 previously empty square feet.
Scheduled to open within the next two years, the hotel will help support a new cultural-district initiative centered around the stately, but vacant, First National Bank building right off the Town Common, and the many events that the Greenfield Business Assoc., a division of the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, produces each year, including the three-decade-old Green River Festival on the grounds of Greenfield Community College, which attracts thousands each July.
Residents take much pride in Greenfield Community College, Martin noted, adding that, while the city is surrounded by public and private schools, the newest addition to that list is the Massachusetts Virtual Academy, or ‘MAVA @ Greenfield,’ the first of only two distance-learning schools of its kind in the state.
As part of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Virtual School, the MAVA is a K-12 public school, similar to a charter-school model, that operates independently under a board of trustees. Its 28 certified teachers primarily teach from a remote location using the Internet, Martin explained. Now serving 500 students, MAVA has the ability to serve up to 2,500. The state has indicated that there are approximately 19,000 resident students that would want to participate who are international musicians or athletes, have health issues, or are home-schooled students requiring hybrid classes.
Meanwhile, the MAVA is joined by the new $66 million (80% reimbursed by the state) Greenfield High School, which replaces the original 1950s structure. Classrooms will open this September to 500 students, allowing for growth up to 685, he explained. The entire new school will be fully complete by September 2015, and the original structure demolished.
“We’ll now have a combination of a 1,000-seat auditorium in our new high school and a Cultural Arts District in the downtown,” Martin added. “It’s going to be another catalyst for creating and maintaining momentum in Greenfield.”

Spreading the Word
After the high-school completion, a possible consolidation of public-safety departments, the need for a new senior center, and refurbishment of other 75- to 110-year-old structures are all up for discussion. As those plans develop, the return of improved Amtrak passenger service — for trains topping 75 mph, running between New York’s Grand Central Station and Montreal — will allow more people to discover a reinvented Greenfield.
“When people come into Greenfield, they have that ‘wow, this is quite an interesting place’ type of response,” said Martin. “We’re hearing that more and more, and that spreads the word.”
While the physical changes in Greenfield include new building facades on Main Street that replaced older ones, the city’s biggest changes in the works can’t be seen because they’re either underground, in the form of broadband, or soon to be in the air, as wireless Internet.
“There’s a new vitality, and we’re moving at a different speed now,” Martin said. But while he’s always striving to create a more efficient city, Greenfield — true to its heritage as a county seat — also continues to benefit in every way from its advantageous natural setting.
“Obviously, the Mohawks, the Iroquois, the settlers, and the colonists all noticed the location,” the mayor said. “It’s location, location, location — so let’s use it.”

Greenfield at a Glance

Year Incorporated: 1753
Population: 17,456 (2010); 18,168 (2000)
Area: 21.9 square miles
County: Franklin
Residential Tax Rate: 20.72
Commercial Tax Rate: 20.72
Median Household Income: $38,219
Family Household Income: $46,412
Type of government: Mayor, City Council
Largest employers: Baystate Franklin Medical Center, Greenfield Community College, Argotec, Bete Fog Nozzle Inc.
* Latest information available

Elizabeth Taras can be reached at [email protected]

Chamber Corners: Upcoming Events

Chamber Corners Departments

ACCGS
www.myonlinechamber.com
(413) 787-1555
• Feb. 12: ACCGS Lunch ’n’ Learn, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Lattitude, 1338 Memorial Ave., West Springfield. “Yabba Dabba Doo: the Art of the Brand.” The creative team at the full-service marketing and advertising agency of Andrews Associates will take attendees through a comprehensive look at branding, best practices to create an effective and compelling brand, and how to win customer loyalty through branding. Reservations are $20 for members, $30 for general admission, and may be made online at www.myonlinechamber.com or by contacting Cecile Larose at [email protected].

• Feb. 24: ACCGS Outlook 2014, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the MassMutual Center, 1277 Main St., Springfield. Featuring Ed Henry, Fox News Channel’s chief White House correspondent. Reservations are $50 for members, $70 for general admission. Deadline for reservations is Feb. 17. Presented by Health New England and sponsored by Eastern States Exposition, MassMutual Financial Group, PeoplesBank, United Personnel, and Western Massachusetts Electric Company. Reservations may be made online at www.myonlinechamber.com or by contacting Cecile Larose at [email protected].

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

• Feb. 12: Chamber Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., at the Hadley Farms Meeting House, 41 Russell St., Route 9, (in the Hampton Village Barn Shops). Sponsored by the Franklin Hampshire Career Center. Cost is $15 for members, $20 for non-members. To register, e-mail [email protected], or call (413) 253-0700.
• Feb. 26: Chamber After 5, 5-7 p.m., at Cowls Building Supply, 125 Sunderland Road, Amherst. Tickets are $10 for members, $15 for non-members.

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

• Feb: 19: February Salute Breakfast & Annual Meeting, 7:15-9 a.m., at the MassMutual Learning & Conference Center. Cost is $20 for members, $26 for non-members. Reservations may be made online at www.chicopeechamber.org.
• Feb. 26: February Business After Hours, 5-7 p.m., at Elms College, 291 Springfield St., Chicopee. Cost is $5 for members, $15 for non-members. Reservations may be made online at www.chicopeechamber.org.

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

• Feb. 13: Chamber Table Top Workshop: “How to Get People’s Attention and Attract Them to Your Table,” 8:30-10:30 a.m., in the chamber conference room. A no-nonsense informational session on how to set up your booth, how to add visual interest, and what to do to keep potential customers engaged. Cost is $10 for members.
• Feb. 19: Chamber After Hours, 5-7 p.m., at Wistariahurst Museum, 238 Cabot St., Holyoke. Admission is $10 for members, $15 cash for non-members.
• Feb. 26: Holyoke Chamber Economic Development Breakfast, 8-10 a.m. (Save the date. Location to be determined.) Hear about local projects and how they will affect local businesses. Cost is $26 for members, $35 for non-members, which includes a buffet breakfast. Call the chamber at (413) 543-3376 to register, or visit holychamber.com to sign up.

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

• Feb. 12: After 5 Connection, 5-7 p.m., at Armbrook Village, 551 North Road, Westfield. For tickets and more information, call the chamber at (413) 568-1618.
• Feb. 13: Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus, 6:30 p.m. Spend Valentine’s Eve at CityStage with your date — the chamber. Enjoy complimentary food and a cash bar in the CityStage Member’s Lounge, get great seats to the performance, and parking is free in the Columbus Center Parking Garage, all for the discounted price of $30 per ticket. Chamber reception, catered by Nora’s Restaurant of Southwick, begins at 6:30 in the CityStage Member’s Lounge. Show begins at 7:30. You can also take part in a drawing for a necklace, valued at $120, donated by Andrew Grant Diamond Center. Sponsored by Comcast Business and Andrew Grant Diamond Center. Thanks to our sponsors, 100% of the $30 ticket cost goes back to the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce. For tickets, contact Pam at the chamber office at (413) 568-1618, or e-mail [email protected].

NORTHAMPTON AREA YOUNG PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY
www.thenayp.com
(413) 584-1900

• Feb. 13: February Networking Social, 5 p.m., at the UMass Amherst Fine Arts Center.

PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S CHAMBER
www.professionalwomenschamber.com
(413) 755-1310

• Feb. 11: Professional Women’s Chamber Ladies Night, 5-7 p.m., at
Kate Gray Boutique, 749 Maple Road, Longmeadow. Seize an opportunity to network socially with other female professionals in a casual and unique setting. Reservations are required; contact Dawn Creighton at [email protected]. The Professional Women’s Chamber is an affiliate of the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield.
WEST OF THE RIVER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.ourwrc.com
(413) 426-3880

• Feb. 26: West of the River Chamber of Commerce Legislative Breakfast, 7-9 a.m., at Storrowton Tavern’s Carriage House, West Springfield. Cost: $25 for chamber members, $30 for non-members. For more information, contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880 or e-mail [email protected].

YOUNG PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY OF GREATER SPRINGFIELD
www.springfieldyps.com

• Feb. 20: Third Thursday, 5-7 p.m., at Samuel’s at the Hall of Fame. This is one of our most well-attended Third Thursdays. Check out the restaurant’s recently revamped menu, which now offers 51 tapas dishes to choose from, at samuelssportsbar.com. Community spotlight: Voices from Inside. For 15 years, Voices from Inside (www.voicesfrominside.org) has been helping women who are or were incarcerated to find their voice, connect with the community, and become leaders. This event is open to everyone. Feel free to invite your friends by clicking ‘Select Guests to Invite’ in the top left corner of the event page. This event, as always, is free for YPS members and $10 for non-members, which includes food and a cash bar.

Agenda

Agenda Departments

YMCA Annual Dinner
Feb. 12: Community members will gather at Mill 1 at Open Square for the Greater Holyoke YMCA’s 2014 Annual Dinner. The dinner celebrates and honors those who give unselfish gifts of time and energy to the community. This year’s Louis F. Oldershaw Community Service Award recipient is Attorney Mark Beauregard. The Oldershaw Award is given to an individual who has made significant volunteer contributions to the community and emulates a high standard of excellence in his or her life, professional achievements, and community service. The Y will also recognize the generous volunteer contributions of Joanne and Scott Harper of South Hadley, recipients of the Y’s 2014 Distinguished Service Award. The Harpers have volunteered with the Y’s Viking Swim Team for many years and have been instrumental in the team’s success. The Annual Dinner is $40 per person. Those interested in attending may either call the Y to register at (413) 534-5631, ext. 126, or visit the Y’s website at www.holyokeymca.org to register and pay in advance.

ACCGS Outlook Luncheon
Feb. 24: Join the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield for the region’s largest legislative event, discussing the most pressing local, regional, and federal issues of the day. The luncheon is slated for 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the MassMutual Center. The keynote speaker is Ed Henry, White House correspondent for Fox News. Presented by Health New England and sponsored by Eastern States Exposition, MassMutual Financial Group, PeoplesBank, United Personnel, Western Massachusetts Electric Co., Chicopee Savings Bank, and Verizon, as well as reception sponsors Comcast, the Sisters of Providence Health System, and the Republican, Outlook typically attracts more than 700 guests. Area elected officials will also be in attendance to participate in this discussion of front-burner issues. Tickets are $50 for ACCGS members and $70 for general admission. Reserved tables of 10 are available. Reservations must be made in writing and in advance by Feb. 14. Reservations may be made online at www.myonlinechamber.com, by e-mailing Cecile Larose at [email protected], or by faxing a reservation request to (413) 755-1322.

Difference Makers 2014
March 20: The sixth annual Difference Makers award program, staged by BusinessWest, will be held at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House, honoring the five individuals and organizations featured in the special section of this issue. More details on the event will be published in upcoming issues of the magazine, but tickets cost $60, and tables of 10 are available. Difference Makers is a program, launched in 2009, that recognizes groups and individuals that are, as the name suggests, making a difference in this region. Event sponsors include Baystate Medical Center, Health New England, First American Insurance, Meyers Brothers Kalicka, Northwestern Mutual, Royal LLP, Sarat Ford, and Six-Point Creative. For more information, call (413) 781-8600.

Well Suited

A chart of law firms in Western Mass.

Click here to download the PDF

Estate Planning in the Digital Age

Make Sure Your Heirs Can Access Your Online Information

Todd C. Ratner

As a society, we have become more reliant on the Internet as a mechanism to keep in touch with family members and friends, share photographs, pay bills, and store other personal types of information. Digital assets are emerging as a new category of personal property.
They include digital images, electronic bank and investment account statements, e-mail records, and associated passwords, as well as social-media accounts such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Pinterest, and YouTube. The use of digital assets will only continue to grow and evolve, and estate planners must recognize the emergence of digital assets when advising clients relative to their estate plans.
Many people erroneously believe that their spouse or next of kin may automatically step in to administer digital assets upon their incapacity or death. Although discussions have increased among legislatures regarding administration of digital assets, federal privacy laws prohibit service providers from knowingly divulging the contents of electronically stored documents, and only seven states (not including Massachusetts) have enacted statutes relative to the administration of digital assets. The validity of these state laws is unclear, since they sometimes conflict with federal law. In most cases, the user and their estate will be governed by the service-provider agreement provided by the online site.
Service-provider agreements play a large role in determining what happens to a decedent’s digital assets. Many times the user is made aware, or at least has the opportunity to be made aware, of these policies upon registering for an online service, typically by clicking a box signifying that they agree to the provider’s terms of use. However, these agreements greatly vary:
• Yahoo! explicitly provides within its agreement that the account may not be transferred, and Yahoo! retains the right to delete the content within the decedent’s e-mail account upon receipt of a death certificate.
• Gmail has a policy for potentially releasing e-mails to the personal representative of a decedent’s estate, but the agreement makes it clear that there is no guarantee that the e-mail content will be released, and a court order may be required.
• In April 2013, Google became the first service provider to offer a solution to obtaining access to a user’s account upon their death or incapacity. The feature, called the ‘Inactive Account Manager,’ may be accessed by the user during their lifetime on the user’s profile page. The Inactive Account Manager will become ‘activated’ after the user’s account is inactive for a period of three, six, nine, or 12 months, as determined by the user. The user may also determine what will happen to their data upon becoming inactive. For instance, the user may elect to delete the data, or some or all may be sent to a specific individual.
• Facebook, upon receiving notice that the user has passed away, will place the user’s profile in a ‘memorial state’ so that certain profile sections are available for viewing. That is, only the decedent’s confirmed Facebook friends may locate and post on the decedent’s profile. Facebook will also remove a decedent’s account from the site upon request by verified family members.
• Twitter will remove the decedent’s account from its ‘Who to Follow’ suggestions upon verification of death. And family member can contact Twitter to delete the decedent’s account entirely. However, Twitter will not allow family members access to a decedent’s account.
• YouTube will allow a power of attorney to access the decedent’s account.
• LinkedIn prohibits transferring a LinkedIn account to another party and provides that California law will govern all disputes.

Steps to Take
A personal representative has the fiduciary responsibility of administering a decedent’s estate, which includes discovering, protecting, and facilitating the transfer of all of the decedent’s property. Even in the event that the personal representative takes possession of a decedent’s tangible technology device, the personal representative may still face the challenge of accessing the digital assets. Therefore, it is recommended that the following steps be undertaken to facilitate access by your loved one to your digital assets:
• Create a list of your digital assets, including related account numbers, user names, and passwords. It is imperative to continually update this list every time you create a new digital asset or change a password.
• Keep that list in a secure place. There are a number of paid service companies that will retain this list for you and, upon your demise, provide the list to your designated beneficiaries. You may also use your own computer or a secure cloud-based service, such as Dropbox, to store your list. Just make sure that your decedents know where it is and how to access it. You do not want to place any passwords within your will, since a probated will becomes a public document. However, you may, alternatively, request that your estate-planning attorney retain this list within your estate-plan file.
• Leave deailed instructions regarding your wishes regarding how to use, terminate, or distribute your digital assets.
Our world has evolved. Instead of sending letters and keeping photo albums on a bookshelf, people are increasingly sending e-mails and loading pictures to social-media accounts. Currently, privacy laws and limited government interaction are hindering families of decedents from gaining access to a decedent’s online assets without prior planning, as the laws have not yet caught up with the practical issues and values that we now face relative to our digital assets. As such, proper planning and contemplation of digital assets in an estate plan will help your personal representative successfully administer your estate.

Todd C. Ratner is an estate-planning, elder-law, business, and real-estate attorney with the regional law firm Bacon Wilson, P.C. He serves as co-chair for the Alzheimer’s Assoc. Tri-County (Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin) Partnership and is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and the Estate Planning Council of Hampden County. He is also a recipient of Boston Magazine’s Super Lawyers Rising Stars distinction from 2007 to 2012; (413) 781-0560; baconwilson.com/attorneys/ratner_2

A Solar Boom in the Pioneer Valley

State Creates a Hospitable Environment for Photovoltaic Developers

Michael Fenton

All across the four western counties of Massachusetts, solar farms are popping up on previously unutilized or underutilized land. This green technology that was once seen as an energy source of the future is thriving in Massachusetts because the Commonwealth has created financial and permitting incentives that have created a growing solar industry.
Massachusetts has become a leader in the nation for the development of solar facilities because of increased by-right zoning in municipalities, solar renewable-energy certificates, net-metering credits, federal tax benefits, and local payment in lieu of tax agreements.
What follows is a primer on these solar-power incentives, and the apparently bright future of this technology.

By-right Zoning
Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 40A, Section 3 prevents all municipalities from “prohibiting” or “unreasonably regulating” small solar-energy systems such as those commonly installed atop a home or business. However, it is not clear whether ths section applies to the construction of large-scale, ground-mounted systems which are commonly developed for private commercial purposes.
Purportedly to make up for this discrepancy and to promote green technology, the Commonwealth has made it financially lucrative for municipalities to remove zoning barriers for commercial solar developments.
In order to satisfy the Massachusetts Green Communities Act of 2008 and to be eligible for millions of dollars in state grant funding, municipalities must enact as-of-right zoning for solar photovoltaic (PV) installations that utilize ground-mounted systems which individually have a rated name-plate capacity of 250 kW (DC) or more. Cities and towns across the Pioneer Valley that are anxious to become eligible for these state funds have enacted the expedited ‘by-right’ zoning process for large-scale PV installations.
As a result, the permitting environment is now more certain for solar developers who have long seen Massachusetts as an untapped market. To sweeten the pot even more for solar developers, the state has passed legislation allowing for the solar companies to re-sell the energy it harnesses from solar developments.

Solar Renewable-energy Certificates
Massachusetts retail electric suppliers are required to buy solar renewable-energy certificates (SRECs) for an increasing portion of the electricity that they deliver each year. SRECs are created as qualifying solar installations generate electricity. One SREC is created for every 1,000 kHn (1 MWH) of electricity generated by a qualifying Massachusetts PV array. This has created a market demand for SRECs. The owner of a solar PV array can sell SRECs generated by the project directly to the retail electric supplier or work with a broker who will help them identify buyers of the SRECs.

Net Metering
Additionally, customers of Massachusetts’ investor-owned utilities — National Grid, NSTAR, Western Massachusetts Electric Co., and Unitil, have the option of selling net excess electricity generated from a qualifying solar project via net metering. Net metering allows a project host to offset its electricity usage with electricity generated on site, reducing the amount of electricity the customer must buy from the distribution company. Electricity produced which is greater than the amount used by the PV facility can be sold in the form of a credit to another customer.

Federal Tax Benefits
Qualified solar PV projects are eligible for a federal investment-tax credit of up to 30% of eligible system costs if installed by Dec. 31, 2016. Additionally, under the federal Modified Accelerate Cost Recovery System (MACRS), businesses are able to recover investments in eligible solar PV through a six-year accelerated depreciation schedule. Moreover, for systems that were installed in 2012, bonus depreciation is available — businesses were able to depreciate 50% of the value of the system in the 2012 tax year.

Property-tax Benefits
Some Massachusetts towns have provided property-tax relief for large-scale solar arrays through payment in lieu of tax (PILOT) agreements. Under current Massachusetts law, municipalities have the discretion to tax energy-facility equipment or to negotiate PILOT agreements. However, the future of state law on this matter is uncertain, as there have been recent attempts to mandate a PILOT system for solar developments.
Recently proposed energy legislation on Beacon Hill would have exempted certain renewable-energy facilities, including commercial solar facilities, from local property tax, leaving communities with tax revenues equal to only 5% of electricity sales. After aggressive lobbying from the Massachusetts Municipal Assoc., that provision of the bill did not make it into the final law; however, the attempt to further incentivize solar developments through mandated local property-tax relief appears to be an ongoing discussion in Massachusetts.
The Commonwealth has emerged as a leader in the nation for the development of solar facilities; however, navigating the complex and ever-changing regulatory environment for solar development requires the assistance of experienced legal counsel. Interested renewable-energy businesses and private investors, as well as potential landlords and sellers of land for solar facilities, should speak with an attorney before pursuing a solar development in Massachusetts.

Attorney Michael A. Fenton is an associate with the Springfield-based firm Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin, P.C. He concentrates his practice in the areas of business law, real-estate development, and estate planning. He has served on the Springfield City Council since 2010, and was elected president in 2014; (413) 737-1131; www.ssfpc.com

Cupid’s Arrow Can Be Painful

Employers Should Update Policies on Office Dating, Sexual Harrassment

By ANNIE E. LAJOIE, Esq. and TANZANIA C. CANNON-ECKERLE, Esq.

Annie Lajoie

Tanzania C. Cannon-Eckerle, Esq.

Jill arrives at work on Valentine’s Day to find a box of chocolates, a teddy bear, and a card on her desk. Smiling, she reaches for the card. Her smile fades as she identifies her admirer.
Valentine’s Day is a reminder of a common challenge many employers face: the office romance. According to a 2013 survey, more than 50% of the workforce has participated in an office romance on at least one occasion. Even though these relationships appear to be somewhat common in the workplace, they can still be problematic.
Often these workplace relationships can make some employees uncomfortable, can create the perception of favoritism for certain employees over other employees, and in extreme cases can create a hostile work environment. Then there are the ramifications of a workplace relationship and breakup — like a possible multiple-plaintiff sexual-harassment claim.
For example, let’s say Jack and Jill are constantly visiting each other. Sandra, whose desk is next to Jill’s, thinks the two are spending too much time flirting and consequently not getting enough work done. Sandra also feels constantly distracted and very uncomfortable due to their inappropriate conversations, including the sexually explicit comments from Jack regarding Jill’s body, all of which Jill is obviously enjoying. That was until Jack and Jill broke up.
Jill moves on, but Jack is intent on getting her back. He has continued to engage in the once-welcomed conduct, but now, according to Jill, it is unwelcome. Jack constantly stops by Jill’s desk and makes frequent sexual comments about her body. He sends her flirty messages and pictures of himself on the company’s e-mail. Jill asked him to stop, but he refuses because he knows their love is still strong, which frightens both Jill and Sandra. Making things worse, Jill has started to date another co-worker, Bob.
Jack and Bob used to work well together, but ever since Jack found out that Jill is dating Bob, Jack has been openly hostile to Bob. Sandra, all the while, has had to endure the whole of the conflict.
In this example, there are multiple labor and employment issues. Though the Jack and Jill relationship and breakup might be considered a foreseeable debacle, Sandra’s impending hostile-work-environment claim based on sexual harassment and workplace violence may not be so predictable. The major question is, how does an employer continue to be open to the activities of such a festive occasion as Valentine’s Day, but also protect its employees from being uncomfortable and its own interest in remaining free of litigation?
The answer: it depends. But prevention is key. An employer has an obligation to ensure that its workplace is free of sexual harassment. An employer’s best defense against sexual-harassment claims is implementing a comprehensive sexual-harassment policy, which has a procedure for reporting harassment, sexual-harassment training for all employees, and regular supervisor trainings.
Next, because Valentine’s Day is the perfect storm for misunderstandings, it would be best if an employer has relevant rules and policies in place that govern holiday activities in the workplace and other acceptable and unacceptable behavior. Employers should already have the necessary policies and procedures in the employee handbook.
A prudent employer may just want to send a gentle reminder to the workforce stating that, when employees choose to recognize Valentine’s day, they should keep in mind that all of the employer’s policies and procedures, as found in the employee handbook, still apply. Then the employer must enforce it.
An employer may also want to implement an office romance policy, in addition to its sexual harassment policy. This may seem like overkill, but employers can never be too safe. What some employees find to be fun and flirty comments, cards, e-mails, text messages, or jokes, other employees may consider offensive and inappropriate. As co-workers increasingly communicate via social-media sites, there are even more opportunities for problems. The employer’s social-media policies should also refer to the sexual-harassment policies and the office-romance policy, if one exists.
Valentine’s Day is associated with love and romance; therefore, an innocent gift or card can easily be misinterpreted. This issue is compounded by the fact that employees may choose adult themes for their Valentine’s Day cards. The outside of Jill’s card might say, “On Valentine’s Day, remember…” As Jill opens her card, she sees it is from a co-worker, Cal, who regularly asks her to go out on a date with him, and the inside of the card says, “… candy is dandy, but sex won’t rot your teeth! So what do you say?”
Matters are further complicated when such a card is given to a subordinate by a supervisor. While gifts between co-workers are troublesome, gifts between supervisors and employees are even more problematic. For instance, if Cal is Jill’s supervisor, Jill may feel pressure to date Cal so her work will not be negatively affected. Other employees may also feel that Jill is getting preferential treatment.
Even if the Valentine’s card contains a more innocent message, and Cal thinks it simply shows how much he appreciates and values Jill’s work, Jill might interpret it as his way of saying he wants to be involved with her romantically.
With Valentine’s Day fast approaching employers would be wise to shield themselves against Cupid’s arrow by reviewing their office-romance policy and their sexual-harassment policy with their employees.

Annie E. Lajoie, 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].
Tanzania C. Cannon-Eckerle, Esq. specializes exclusively in management-side labor and employment law at Royal LLP; (413) 586-2288; [email protected]

Doing Business as Certificates

DBA Certificates Departments

The following Business Certificates and Trade Names were issued or renewed during the month of January 2014.

AGAWAM

Kondreanu Family Promoter
19 Harding St.
G & D Kondreanu

S & H Daily Music
124 Main St.
Maria Duducal

Trend Sound Promoter
33 Valley St.
Vyacheslav Sholopa

CHICOPEE

Chicopee Urgent Care
1505 Memorial Dr.
Ahmed Elmogy

Concierge Enterprise
92 Stonina Dr.
Felix Maldonado

Lamode
619 McKinstry Ave.
Joslie Otero

GREENFIELD

Adam & Eve
18 Main St.
Scott McGregor

Alan’s Auto
10 Montague City Road
Alan Owseichik

Currie’s Lawn Care
104 High St.
Michael Currie

Extreme Styles
395 Federal St.
Linda Peters

Fitz, Vogt, & Associates
1 College Dr.
Mark Fortino

Hillside Woodworking
1173 Bernardston Road
Robert Callahan

New England Camper Repair
1399 Bernardston Road
Jeffrey Ennis

Prospective Planning
3 Grinnell St.
Wendy Marsden

HOLYOKE

City Pizza, LLC
420 High St.
Adam Kaplan

Coamo Fashion
343 High St.
Alberto Berrios

Westfield Wealth Management & Insurance Group
330 Whitney Ave.
Sean A. Torres

PALMER

2000 Food and Fuel
1239 Park St.
Muhammad Waseen

Chmura’s Bakery
1240 Park St.
Rocky Salundor

Cutting Corner Inc.
1372 Main St.
Carol Henriques

Des Woodworking
1132 Thorndike St.
Dustin Smith

Healing Hands for Body & Mind
54 South St.
Patricia Wheelock

SPRINGFIELD

Bay Street Bottles
836 Bay St.
Khanh H. Nguyen

Baystate Builders
44 Bither St.
Gino Decesare

Beyond Shoes & Accessories
10 Kendall St.
Vito C. Resto

Big Daddy Boomerangs
88 Coral Road
Jeffrey N. LeBeau

Bosslife Inc.
2383 Main St.
Rafael Nazario

CCNE
27 Carver St.
Monica J. Caldwell

Concentra Advanced
140 Carando Dr.
Joan O. Lenahan

Fragrant Elegance
13 Lawn St.
Malachi Tresch

Holyoke Nail II
471 Boston Road
Tho H. Nguyen

J. Horne Photography
143 Main St.
Jesse E. Horne

J.J. Knox Food Market
17 Knox St.
Jabir Khan

Jay Harland Corporation
504 St. James Ave.
Richard M. Black

Knots Indeed
63 Lakevilla Ave.
Rita F. Bartholomew

Lizet Land Photography
219 Gifford St.
Lizet Land

M.S.M. Enterprises Inc.
766 Liberty St.
Mark Flagg

WESTFIELD

Alla’s
3 Scarfo Dr.
Alla Y. Khivuk

Cadence Aerospace
35 Turnpike Industrial Road
Larry Resnik

EMN
19 Oakdale St.
Nadia Mocan

Genkas Trend Sound
33 Buschmann Ave.
Gennadiy Laba

KG Heating & Air Conditioning
44 Forest Ave.
Kenneth Garrett

iLab Trend Sound Promoter
30 Buschmann Ave.
Inna Laba

J. Shea Enterprises
243 Elm St.
J. Shea Enterprises

Lurii Covileac
21 Parkside Ave.
Lurii Covileac

Valentin Trend Sound
77 George St.
Valentin Bidyuk

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Akim Construction
455 Union St.
Timofiy Akimov

Bel-Air Inn
387 Riverdale St.
Richard Harty

Boosted Shades
193 Cayenne St.
Devan C. French

Bueno Y Sano
935 Riverdale St.
Robert A. Lowry

China Bodywork Center
2009 Riverdale St.
Xiuping Gao

Epco NBF Group
10 Central St.
James Marcus

La Prestiges Salon and Spa
553 Union St.
Tatyana Gitsman

Larry’s Painting
79 Lathrop St.
Lawrence P. Kelly

Make it Yours
237 Morton St.
Valentina Shyshla

Supreme Brass and Aluminum
210 Windsor St.
Domenico R. Rettura

YNS International
1521 Westfield St.
Yegor Stefanstsev

Incorporations

Departments Incorporations

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

BELCHERTOWN

Krunali Inc., 134 South St., Belchertown, MA 01007. Hemant Kumar Patel, same. Recycling services.

EAST LONGMEADOW

Lingualinks International Online Inc., 117 Millbrook Dr., East Longmeadow, MA 01028. Katherine Delaney Chung, same. Internet-based program designed to teach world cultures and languages to children around the world.

GRANVILLE

Little Birch Inc., 33 South Lane, Granville, MA 01034. Susan L. Brzoska, same. Acquire, buy, own, maintain, lease, rent and sell real property.

MONSON

Metamorphosis Place Inc., 23 Munn Road, Monson, MA 01057. Judy A. Van De Geer, same. Non-profit organization designed to assist people to grow in mind, body and spirit.

NORTH ADAMS

Northern Berkshire Interfaith Action Initiative Inc., 43 Eagle St., North Adams, MA 01247. Food pantry.

NORTHAMPTON

Infusion Institute Inc., 40 Fort St., Apt. 1, Northampton, MA 01060. Dennis George Lomax, same. Non-profit organization designed exclusively for educational purposes.

Inner Imager Productions Inc., 45 Olander Dr., Northampton, MA 01060. Peter Halperin, same. Multi-media entertainment business consultants.

Lange Chiropractic Inc., 300 Pleasant St., Suite 2, Northampton, MA 01060. Kimberly A. Lange, 7 Pheasant Lane, South Hadley, MA 01075. Chiropractic office.

Laurie E. Herzog, PH.D., P.C., 155 Main St., Northampton, MA 01060. Laurie E. Herzog, 367 Prospect St., Northampton, MA 01060. Clinical social work services.

PITTSFIELD

M & T Auto Sales Inc., 376 Tyler St., Pittsfield, MA 01201. Taylor Barlett,
56 Barlett Ave., Pittsfield, MA 01201. Auto sales.

Mickle Electric Inc., 489 Dalton Ave., Pittsfield, MA 01201. Patrick W.
Mickle, 6 Park Dr., Lanesboro, MA 01237. Master electrician.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

It’s West Springfield Inc., 10 Central St., Ste 20, West Springfield, MA 01089. Roberta Page, 117 Upper Beverly Hills, West Springfield, MA 01090-0423. Non-profit organization designed to plan, encourage, support, establish and promote community activities and events.

J Shea Enterprises Inc., 95 Poplar Ave, West Springfield, MA 01089. James Shea, same. Barber shop.

JX2 Productions Inc., 80 Windsor St., Suite C, West Springfield, MA 01089. Event production services. Andrew P. Jensen, same.

Raising Hope Together Inc., 61 Upper Church St., West Springfield, MA 01089. Emil Farjo, 323 Rogers Ave., West Springfield, MA 01089. Established to provide for the needs of West Springfield residents who are affected by natural or man-made disasters.

WESTFIELD

Ray of Hope International Church, 15 Summer St., first Floor, Westfield, MA 01085-3104. Parlad Gurung, same. Church.

SPRINGFIELD

La Minita De Kelsey Inc., 84 Woodside Terrace, Springfield, MA 01108.
Eugenio Valdez, same. Grocery market.

Minot Peak Management Inc., 14 Larkspur St., Springfield, MA 01108.
Jennifer P. Metsch, same. Real estate acquisition, ownership, leasing and management.

Money Squared Inc., 97 Florence St, Apt. 2, Springfield, MA 01105. Daniel C. Becker, same. Manufacturing of digital currency.

Ramani Inc., 1534 State St., Springfield, MA 01109. Kiesha R. Edmondson, 206 Miller Way, Windsor, CT 06095. Restaurant and bar.

Rexco Inc., 1082 Page Boulevard, Springfield, MA 01104. Holly E. Ferris, same. Ownership and operation of a property.

Company Notebook

Company Notebook Departments

Paragus IT Sets Up Shop Temporarily in Springfield
SPRINGFIELD — The staff of Paragus IT is currently operating out of an office at Harrison Place in downtown Springfield while waiting for a new, state-of-the-art headquarters to be built in Hadley. “It’s great to be part of the vibrant business culture downtown,” said Paragus CEO Delcie Bean. “Many of our clients
and friends are here, and we’re always looking to connect and network with other area businesses.” Paragus brings a staff of more than 35 technicians and business professionals into the downtown economy, and takes on new hires every six to eight weeks. For the past two years, the company was were named in Inc.’s annual ranking of the 5,000 fastest-growing businesses. With a 546% growth rate since 2008, Paragus is the second-fastest-growing outsourced IT firm in New England. After eight years at its Russell Street headquarters in Hadley, Paragus will be moving to a new commercial office building, also in Hadley, later this year. The new space is 8,000 square feet, nearly four times the size of the former location. Bean has indicated that, if things go well downtown, he may consider maintaining a permanent satellite office there.

North Brookfield Savings Bank Named a Preferred Lender by SBA
NORTH BROOKFIELD — North Brookfield Savings Bank (NBSB) has been awarded status as a Preferred Lender for the Small Business Administration (SBA), which can mean faster loan approval for customers.
“To be awarded the SBA’s Preferred Lender status is a privilege, and we are proud to recognize North Brookfield Savings Bank for their lending performance and reputation,” said Massachusetts SBA Director Robert Nelson. “We look forward to working more closely with them and their customers now and in the years ahead.” As a member of the SBA’s Preferred Lender Program, NBSB has the authority to issue an SBA-guaranteed loan without prior SBA review and approval. Membership in the program is given only to financial institutions that have a proven capability and commitment to small-business lending, and strict adherence to SBA guidelines. “The SBA Preferred Lending designation gives us the ability to streamline our commercial-loan process, which in turn will allow us to approve and close SBA loans more efficiently,” said Anthony Piermarini, senior vice president and senior commercial loan officer. “We are proud of our membership in the Preferred Lender Program. The NBSB Commercial Lending team has worked diligently to provide loans to businesses in our community, and achieving this status demonstrates our commitment to small-business lending and our business community.” Rick Egan, NBSB vice president and commercial loan officer, will serve as the bank’s SBA loan specialist.

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Community Partnerships Created to Promote Health
BOSTON — Gov. Deval Patrick’s administration recently announced more than $40 million in grants to nine community-based partnerships — including networks in Holyoke and Pittsfield — to help fight chronic illness and improve health outcomes while reducing healthcare costs. Part of the Prevention and Wellness Trust Fund, this first-in-the-nation effort is part of a $60 million grant over four years created by the Legislature and administered by the Department of Public Health (DPH). “In Massachusetts, we believe that healthcare is a public good, and every resident deserves access to affordable, quality care. These grants will help us reach that goal by funding the intervention strategies proven to work,” Patrick said. The fund supports community-based partnerships in achieving measurable health goals through research-based interventions. Working together, municipalities, healthcare systems, community organizations, businesses, regional planning organizations, and schools design community-specific programs addressing issues such as hypertension, smoking, falls prevention among older adults, and pediatric asthma. As a condition of funding, each partnership must achieve specified health and cost-saving benchmarks on at least two of the four health issues prioritized by the trust. “As a registered nurse, I’ve seen the power of prevention in improving health outcomes, and the importance of local partnerships in driving change at the community level,” said DPH Commissioner Cheryl Bartlett. “These Prevention and Wellness Trust Fund grants will promote both of these worthy objectives in cities and towns across the Commonwealth.” Funded partnerships will work to reduce rates of the most prevalent and preventable health conditions, advance healthy behaviors, increase the adoption of workplace wellness or health-management programs, and address health disparities. Each of the nine grantees will receive up to $250,000 for the first phase of their work. As grantees demonstrate their readiness to implement interventions in community and clinical settings, they will receive additional funding between $900,000 and $1.5 million for each of the next three years. The amount each partnership receives depends upon population covered and the number of conditions addressed. The two local coordinating organizations are Berkshire Medical Center (partnering with Berkshire County Boards of Health, Berkshire United Way, Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, Berkshire Public Health Alliance, Fairview Hospital, North Adams Regional Hospital, North Berkshire Community Coalition, and Tri-town Health Department District); and Holyoke Health Center (partnering with the city of Holyoke, Greater Holyoke YMCA, Holyoke Medical Center, River Valley Counseling Center, and Western Mass Physician Associates). For more information on the Prevention and Wellness Trust Fund, visit mass.gov/pwtf.

Markey, Warren Press for Release of Heating Assistance
WASHINGTON — With millions of families facing harsh weather and economic conditions and nearly $490 million still remaining this year for the nation’s low-income heating-assistance program following recent passage of the omnibus spending bill, U.S. Sens. Edward Markey and Elizabeth Warren called on the Obama administration to immediately distribute those energy assistance benefits to Massachusetts residents. In a letter sent to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, the senators argue that budgetary certitude created by passing the 2014 appropriations bill allows the department to immediately distribute the almost $490 million remaining in the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Temperatures have fallen in recent weeks to dangerous levels, but home heating prices have risen more than forecast. “A combination of frigid temperatures and higher than anticipated energy prices is creating a dire situation for many New England households,” according to the letter. “Releasing the nearly $490 million in remaining LIHEAP funds for this year as soon as possible is imperative to ensure that families who have already been stretched to the limit by these cuts can continue to pay their heating bills. We urge HHS to immediately release Massachusetts’ share of all remaining heating-assistance funds for the current year.” LIHEAP funding has also been cut by about one-third over the last four years, leading to a reduction in benefits and the number of families receiving assistance in many states. Markey and others have called for a restoration of full funding for the LIHEAP program to $5.1 billion per year.

Massachusetts Adds 10,300 Jobs in December; State’s GDP on Rise
BOSTON — The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) recently reported that the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) preliminary estimates show that Massachusetts added 10,300 jobs in December, and the total unemployment rate was 7.0%. Over the year, the unemployment rate was up 0.3% from the December 2012 rate of 6.7%. The private sector added 10,400 jobs in December as professional, scientific, and business services; trade, transportation, and utilities; leisure and hospitality; financial activities; and other services all added jobs. Over the year (December 2012 to December 2013), Massachusetts added 55,500 jobs in total, 54,500 of which were in the private sector. The December 2013 estimates show 3,237,600 Massachusetts residents were employed and 243,800 were unemployed, for a total labor force of 3,481,300. The December labor force decreased by 1,900 from 3,483,200 in November 2013, as 100 more residents were employed and 1,900 fewer residents were unemployed over the month. The labor force was an estimated 500 below the 3,481,800 December 2012 estimate, with 10,600 fewer residents employed and 10,300 more residents unemployed. Meanwhile, Massachusetts real gross domestic product grew at an estimated annual rate of 5.5% in the fourth quarter of 2013, according to the MassBenchmarks Current Economic Index. MassBenchmarks is the journal of the Massachusetts economy published by the UMass Donahue Institute based in Hadley in collaboration with the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. It reports that the state’s economy is growing faster than the nation’s as a whole. The U.S. Department of Commerce reports national real gross domestic product grew at an annual rate of 3.2% during the same period. In 2013, state economic growth outpaced that of the nation in three of four quarters, according to the report. “The Massachusetts economy appears to be benefiting from improving conditions in national and international economies, and by increasingly confident households who are demonstrating a willingness to spend,” writes Alan Clayton-Matthews, MassBenchmarks senior contributing editor and associate professor of economics and public policy at Northeastern University.

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