April 2014 - BusinessWest

Chamber Corners: Upcoming Events

By BusinessWest Staff April 22, 2014

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

• April 30: ACCGS Beacon Hill Summit, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Hosted by Sen. Gale Candaras. Hear from key legislators, members of the Patrick administration, and our local delegation. Cost: $180, including transportation, lunch at the Union Club, and a wrap-up reception at the 21st Amendment. Reservations may be made online at www.myonlinechamber.com or by contacting Cecile Larose at [email protected].
• May 7: ACCGS Business@Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., at Chez Josef, 176 Shoemaker Lane, Agawam. “Handicapping the Gubernatorial Elections with Political Consultant Anthony Cignoli.” Saluting Skoler Abbott & Presser, P.C. on its 50th anniversary and A.G. Miller Co. Inc. on its 100th anniversary. 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].
• May 14: ERC Feast in the East, 5:30-7:30 p.m., at Twin Hills Country Club, 700 Wolf Swamp Road, Longmeadow. Local restaurants showcase their signature dishes. Cost: $25. Reservations may be made online at www.myonlinechamber.com or by contacting Cecile Larose at [email protected].
• May 21: Capital Matchmaking/Business Coaching, 1-4 p.m., at La Quinta Inn and Suites, 100 Congress St., Springfield. Business borrower and lender matchmaking event, ideal for small businesses. Presented by the U.S. Small Business Administration and Common Capital, in cooperation with the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield. Reservations are complimentary, but required. Contact Oreste Varela at [email protected] or (413) 785-0484 for details.
• May 27: ACCGS Pastries, Politics & Policy, 8-9 a.m., at TD Bank Conference Center, 1441 Main St., Springfield. Designed for political and policy junkies, featuring a policy expert and member of the Patrick administration. Reservations are $15 for members, $25 for general admission, and 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

• April 23: Chamber After 5, 5-7 p.m., at Western MA Family Golf Center, 294 Russell St., Hadley. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for guests.
• May 14: Chamber After 5, 5-7 p.m., at Western MA Family Golf Center, 294 Russell St., Hadley. Try the golf simulator and mini-golf, or just enjoy watching and networking. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for guests.
• May 28: Chamber After 5, 5-7 p.m. at Amherst Laser and Skin Care Center, 264 North Pleasant St., Amherst. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for guests.

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

• May 21: 48th annual George Ryan & Stanley Kokoszka Golf Tournament, 10 a.m. start, at Chicopee Country Club. Cost: $125 per golfer.
• May 22: Business After Hours, 5-7 p.m., at WWLP-22News, One Broadcast Center, Chicopee. Tickets: $10 for pre-registered members, $15 for non-members.
• May 28: Salute Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m. at Elms College. Tickets: $20 for members, $26 for non-members. Sign up online at www.chicopeechamber.org.

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

• May 2: Wine & Microbrew Tasting, 6 p.m., at Wyckoff Country Club. All guests (age 21 and older) are welcome to enjoy samples of more than 42 delicious and unique grape and fruit wines. Not interested in wine? There’s also a microbrew tasting. Cost: $35 in advance or $40 at the door.
• May 3: Easthampton Downtown Clean Up Day, 8 a.m. Join us for a few hours of community spirit and support at the Greater Easthampton Chamber of Commerce Office, 33 Union St. Volunteers are encouraged to bring rakes, shovels, brush cutters, and gloves. No experience necessary. General cleanup of downtown, the rail trail, Cottage Street Municipal Parking Lot, the banks of the Nashawannuck Pond, and more. Sponsored by the Easthampton Development & Industrial Commission and the Greater Easthampton Chamber of Commerce. For more information, contact the chamber Office at (413) 527-9414 or e-mail [email protected].
• May 8: Networking by Night. Call 527-9414 or e-mail [email protected] for more information. Cost: $5 for members, $15 for non-members.

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

• April 25: Ask a Chamber Expert Workshop, 8:30-10 a.m. “How to Use MassLive to Work for Your Business,” at the Holyoke Chamber of Commerce Conference Room, 177 High St. Sponsored by MassLive/the Republican and Holyoke Community College. Cost: $10 for chamber members, $20 for the public. Call the chamber at (413) 534-3376 or sign up online at holyokechamber.com.
• April 29: Business Person of the Year Award Dinner, 6 p.m. at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House, 500 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. The Greater Holyoke Business Community honors Barbara Baran as business person of the year. Cost: $65. Register at the chamber office, call (413) 534-3376, or sign up online at www.holycham.com.
• May 14: Economic Development Breakfast/Valley Venture Mentors, at Dean Technical High School, 1045 Main St., Holyoke. Sponsored by Ferriter Law and Dowd Insurance. Valley Venture Mentors provides key support to entrepreneurs and startups, connecting them to the mentors they need to grow their business. Breakfast will be followed by a tour of Dean Tech. Cost: $20 for chamber members, $ 30 for the public. Call the chamber at (413) 534-3376 for more information, or sign up online at www.holycham.com.
• May 19: 46th annual Chamber Cup 2014 Golf Tournament, at Wyckoff Country Club, 233 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. Registration and lunch at 10:30 a.m., tee off at noon (scramble format), dinner afterward with elaborate food stations catered by the Log Cabin. Cost: $125 per player includes lunch, 18 holes of golf, cart, and dinner. Dinner only: $25. Winner awards, raffles, and cash prizes follow dinner. Tournament sponsors: Log Cabin and PeoplesBank. Corporate Sponsors: Dowd Insurance, Goss & McLain Insurance Agency, Holyoke Gas & Electric, Mountain View Landscapes, Holyoke Medical Center, People’s United Bank, and Resnic, Beauregard, Waite & Driscoll. Call the chamber office at (413) 534-3376 or register online at www.holycham.com.
• May 28: Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting, 5 p.m., at the Delaney House. Sponsored by the Greater Holyoke of Chamber Corporate Leaders. The program is followed by the presentation of the Fifield Award celebrating the volunteer of the year; join elected officials as they award various proclamations to the esteemed recipient. Networking and cocktails at 5, business meeting and elections at 5:30, dinner at 6. The program will include the chamber’s plan for 2014-15, an overview of how the chamber is working for members, and a salute to new members. Admission: $30 in advance, $40 at the door. The public is invited to attend.
• May 21: Chamber After Hours, 5-7 p.m., at Hotel D., 1 Country Club Way, Holyoke. Sponsored by Easthampton Saving Bank and hosted by chamber members. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for non-members.

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

• April 22: “Art of Small Business” series, “Clients,” 8:30- 9:30 a.m. at the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce, 99 Pleasant St. Guests speaker: Tina Stevens of Stevens 470. Admission is free, but registration is required.
• May 7: Arrive@ 5, 5-7 p.m., at King & Cushman, 176 King St., Northampton. Sponsored by Applied Mortgage Services Corp., King Auto Body, and Goggins Real Estate. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for non-members. Register at [email protected].
• May 15: “Art of Small Business” series, “Managing Consultants,” 9-10:30 a.m., at the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce, 99 Pleasant St. Guest speaker: Don Lesser of Pioneer Training. Cost: $20 for members, $25 for non-members.
• May 19: Bitcoin Informational Seminar, 3-4 p.m. at Forbes Library, 20 West St., Northampton. Sponsored by the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce. Guest speaker: Jesse Vanek. This seminar examines basic Bitcoin concepts, including arguments for and against this powerful, often-misunderstood, and potentially disruptive new technology. Cost: free, but pre-registration is required. To register, call (413) 584-1900 or e-mail [email protected].

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

• April 30: Beacon Hill Summit, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Hosted by Sen. Gale Candaras. Hear from key legislators and members of the Patrick Administration. Includes bus, lunch, and reception. Cost: $180 per person. For more information, call the chamber office at (413) 568-1618.
• May 5: Mayor’s Coffee Hour, 8-9 a.m., at the Westfield Gas & Electric Operations Center, 40 Turnpike Industrial Road, Westfield. This event is free and open to the public. Mayor Daniel Knapik will field questions and give information about upcoming city events and construction information. To register, call Pam at the chamber office at (413) 568-1618.
• May 14: After 5 Connection, 5-7 p.m., at the Noble & Cooley Center for Historical Preservation, 42 Water St., Granville. Bring a prospective member for free. Cost: $10 for members $15 cash at the door for non-members. Your first After 5 is free. To register, call Pam at the chamber office at (413) 568-1618.
• May 19: 53rd annual Golf Tournament, featuring prime rib and poker, at Shaker Farms Country Club. Registration is at 10 a.m., with a shotgun start at 11. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. Call Pam at the chamber office for more information at (413) 568-1618, or visit the chamber website.

Tamara Blake

By BusinessWest Staff April 22, 2014

40 Under 40 The Class of 2014

Director of Psychology, Bay Path College; President and Founder, Angels Take Flight, age 31

As a licensed clinician working with children who have experienced loss and trauma, Tamara Blake knows about the big needs in troubled kids’ lives. But one day, she recognized a smaller, but still significant, need that she could help fill — literally.

In September 2010, while working at a transitional children’s home in Springfield, Blake saw kids getting picked up, and one had his belongings in a trash bag. “I said, ‘hey, wait a minute, I have a piece of luggage in my car.’ So I ran out, and we switched all the items from the trash bag to the piece of luggage. The face of the child was elated. You could see the posture change, the smile. I thought, that’s really, really easy to do.”

And she immediately wanted to do it on a larger scale. “That day, I created an e-mail, a flyer, and the name Angels Take Flight.” Within two months, she had gathered enough luggage for every child in the house for one year. With kids transitioning in and out every 14 to 45 days, that amounted to hundreds of pieces.

The nonprofit enterprise has been steadily growing ever since. “It became my goal to reach out to other homes, and now whoever has a need, whoever asks us, gets the luggage,” Blake said. “We give away thousands of pieces of luggage for multiple agencies, multiple families.”

In addition to soliciting donations and grants, Angels Take Flight conducts two major fund-raisers each year, a 5K run in the spring and a comedy show in the winter. Having connected with people across the country interested in the program, Blake believes her enterprise could go national. “I think it’s going to happen rather quickly — within the course of a couple of years.”

In addition to her other roles, Blake is an educator, starting out as a part-time teacher at Bay Path College, which hired her as director of Psychology for its one-day program in 2012. She’s also working to develop another nonprofit, Girls Will Shine, which will empower girls through the performing arts and media.

“I always knew I wanted to help people,” Blake said of the many facets of her professional life. “I just wanted to be that guide for people, to help them out any way I could.”

— Joseph Bednar

Liz Rappaport

By BusinessWest Staff April 22, 2014

40 Under 40 The Class of 2014

Manager of Properties, Marketing and Human Relations, Century Investment Co., age 28

A chance encounter with an employee from W.F. Young led to Liz Rappaport working in that company’s Equine Division for a couple of years.

“There are few times when you have the opportunity to combine your vocation and your avocation,” said Rappaport, who has been riding horses since she was 10 and is an accomplished equestrian, including an Arabian Canadian championship. “I took it as a chance to work for a family business and get a lot of amazing opportunities at a young age; I was only 22.”

But another family business called —specifically, the commercial real-estate firm her grandfather started 70 years ago. So Rappaport went back to school to earn her MBA, then knocked on the door at Century Investment Co. “I said, ‘Dad, will you hire me? Because, if you don’t hire me, I’ll just apply to your competitors.’ That’s what got me hired.”

Over the past three years, Rappaport has managed the sale of more than $1 million in real estate and negotiated leases with a host of tenants at Century’s many properties.

“Technically, Dad calls me the assistant gofer,” she said. “One day, I’ll be doing a mortgage refinancing and signing tenants to 10-year leases, while the next day, I may have to go pick up trash somewhere or help out parking staff. I’m a jack of all trades, master of some, hopefully.”

One thing she has mastered is the technology of her industry, introducing new digital and print marketing materials and updating the bookkeeping system. “We’re bringing the company into the 21st century, updating accounting processes and establishing the first digital marketing campaign, getting us on the Internet.”

Rappaport also pours herself into civic volunteerism, most notably serving on the board of the Western Mass. Council of the Jimmy Fund, taking a leadership role in several fund-raising activities each year. She takes pride in helping to fight against childhood cancer, but is also proud of her place in her family’s business.

“I love working with my father, and I love real estate. I get to interact with tenants, but also get the finance side, the accounting aspects, the management side — a little bit of everything,” she said. “You’ve got to like what you do.”

— Joseph Bednar

Robert Raynor

By BusinessWest Staff April 22, 2014

40 Under 40 The Class of 2014

Risk Oversight Officer, PeoplesBank, age 27

Armed with a business management degree from Springfield College, Robert Raynor said he wasn’t looking specifically at the banking world. “But it was definitely the most interesting option out there.”

So he joined PeoplesBank as a management development trainee in 2009 and was soon promoted to risk oversight auditor and then risk oversight officer. In that role, he develops and completes detailed financial and operational audits to evaluate the effectiveness of management controls, accuracy of financial information, and policy compliance.

“It’s a lot of testing, a lot of report writing, and a lot of interactions with various departments,” he said, adding that he enjoys this diversity because he has the opportunity to learn about many different areas of the bank, including ever-changing regulations, processes, and technology.

But Raynor also appreciates how PeoplesBank provides plenty of opportunities to improve its internal culture, which he takes by serving on the institution’s social committee, professional book club, employee appreciation committee, and especially the environmental committee, for which he’s currently co-president. On that group, he helped launch a program to promote and track employee carpooling, helps plan and run an annual environmental fair, contributes articles to a newsletter about green initiatives, and coordinates community events like cleanup days and tree plantings.

“Sometimes I feel like I really lucked out with where I work, and being able to come here directly after college,” he said. “I feel extremely lucky because not only do I have a number of opportunities professionally, but many opportunities to get involved in things like the environmental committee. I feel very good about the work I do and know I’m helping an organization involved in helping the community.

“It’s something that gets all the employees active,” he added. “The bank is great about giving us the time and resources to do these things.”

His community involvement extends to other organizations as well, including extensive work on the board of the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Holyoke.

“The Boys and Girls Club is such an amazing organization,” Raynor said. “I see the work that gets done there. It’s a great way to be involved in a community organization that directly helps children better themselves. It works.”

— Joseph Bednar

Paul Silva

By BusinessWest Staff April 22, 2014

40 Under 40 The Class of 2014

President, Click Workspace; Manager, River Valley Investors; Co-founder, Valley Venture Mentors, age 37

It was a gift from his mother.

That might be motivation enough for Paul Silva to wear the bright yellow ‘rubber duckie’ tie that takes a small but increasingly significant role within his wardrobe. But he has other reasons — or at least one big one.

“Whenever my students are having a graduation ceremony or they’re presenting at a competition, I’ll wear this tie, and I usually have a rubber duckie with me, and I squeeze the duck,” he said. “It’s meant to relieve students’ stress; if the guy in front is wearing a rubber duck tie, how bad can it be?”

Silva has had to pull the tie from the closet more often in recent years, as his responsibilities, and business cards, within the broad realm of entrepreneurship and venture capital multiply. Currently, he is the president of the incubator and co-working space in Northampton known as Click Workspace. He calls it “an office without a boss.” He’s also manager of the River Valley Investors (RVI) angel-investor network and co-founder of the Valley Venture Mentors (VVM) entrepreneurship-mentoring program. He also advises the UMass Amherst Entrepreneurship Initiative and the Smith College Draper Business Plan Competition. Last fall, wearing his now-famous tie, he was emcee for the inaugural pitch contest at the Western Mass. Business Expo.

And while this father of two young girls carries a rubber duck with him to a host of events, Silva is quite serious about what he does, and he summons words and phrases from his college work in computational physics, such as ‘critical mass,’ to describe how the region has made strides to inspire entrepreneurship and then keep young business owners in Western Mass.

Summing things up with more humor, though, he said some have called him the “romantic comedy of entrepreneurship.”

“I’m at the colleges, I’m at the intro, where boy meets girl, someone has an idea and meets a business partner, and they start to explore it,” he explained. “They go to VVM to revamp their idea, and then they go to RVI, and if it all works out, they get investors, they get married. Then the hard work starts, and I’m not involved anymore.”

Until he reaches into the closet for the tie again.

— George O’Brien

Michael Simolo

By BusinessWest Staff April 22, 2014

40 Under 40 The Class of 2014

Attorney, Robinson Donovan, P.C., age 37

Mike Simolo admits he’s not the handiest person in the world, and has developed a decent sense of humor about that subject, especially regarding his work with Habitat for Humanity.

“You don’t want me on the build site,” he said. “If I do show up there, they say, ‘go paint in the corner over there, and we’ll paint over it after you leave.’”

Such remarks, real or imagined, don’t bother him, because there are many ways to contribute to Habitat without wielding a paintbrush, and he’s found them — everything from fund-raising to serving on the committee that hired the current director; from strategic planning to rewriting policies and procedures.

“It’s a great board and incredibly rewarding work,” he said of Habitat. “It’s an incredible difference you’re making in someone’s life; you’re taking some of these families from very poor living conditions and providing them with a home that they can afford. It’s a step up, not a handout, and that’s very appealing to me.”

Comments like those make it clear that Simolo, an attorney with Springfield-based law firm Robinson Donovan, chooses his work within the community carefully. “It has to be something I’m passionate about,” he said, adding that this description certainly applies to his latest assignment serving on the board of Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society; he has two miniature schnauzers, Obi and Hobbes, and is a serious dog lover.

Finding time for community work is somewhat challenging, but Simolo makes the time, while spending the most of what’s left building a law practice that specializes in estate planning, administration, and business. A graduate of Hobart College and Cornell Law School, he started with a small firm in Amherst called Brown, Hart & Kaplan, and eventually became a partner there. His move to Robinson Donovan has him doing more complex work and positions him to grow his client list. Overall, he believes he’s in the right place at the right time, and in the right specialty — estate planning.

“It’s an interesting time to be in estate planning,” he said. “If you look at the statistics about how much money is going to be passed from one generation to the next, it’s a staggering number, and it all has to be done right.”

— George O’Brien

Seth Stratton

By BusinessWest Staff April 22, 2014

40 Under 40 The Class of 2014

Attorney, Fitzgerald Attorneys at Law, P.C., age 37

Seth Stratton’s values are so important to him that he gave up a position with an international law firm that employed 1,100 attorneys and joined a firm in East Longmeadow with four lawyers.

“The work I do now is a lot more interesting and rewarding than working for Fortune 200 or 100 companies where I dealt with in-house lawyers for other firms,” he said. “Big firms are very lucrative, but you work all the time, and I came to realize that life is more than just working hard.”

Stratton grew up in East Forest Park in Springfield and earned a bachelor’s degree at Colgate University in New York, where he broadened his perspective by meeting people from many cultures, then received a master’s degree from UMass Boston and graduated magna cum laude from Suffolk University Law School.

After passing the bar exam, Stratton was hired by Brown Rudnick LLP in Boston, where he did business and commercial litigation. But seven years ago, Stratton and his wife, Jennifer, decided to move back to Western Mass. because they had an 8-month-old son and wanted to live closer to their families. He transferred to Bingham McCutchen LLP’s Hartford office, but found that the long hours and long commute prevented him from becoming part of the professional community in Greater Springfield.

So Stratton left Bingham McCutchen to work at Fitzgerald Attorneys at Law, P.C. He said there were challenges in moving from a big-city firm, because he no longer had hundreds of colleagues to collaborate with, but today he takes pride in representing local business owners — balancing work and family time (with his wife, Jennifer, and their children, Nolan and Caitlin) — and being involved in the community.

That’s an understatement, actually; he’s a board member of the World Affairs Council of Western Mass., on the board of trustees for First Church of Christ in Longmeadow, and a member of the leadership committee for Community Legal Aid’s Access to Justice Campaign 2013. He has also done work for Lawyers for Children America in Hartford.

Among its clients, Stratton’s firm represents MGM Resorts International’s Springfield casino project, and he is working again with attorneys from Brown Rudnick in Boston. “I’ve come full circle,” he said.

— Kathleen Mitchell

Geoff Sullivan

By BusinessWest Staff April 22, 2014

40 Under 40 The Class of 2014

Owner and Performance Coach, Continuum Performance Center, age 32

Geoff Sullivan is all about performance. It’s in his title and his company’s name, after all. But it took a few career stops before he set his eyes on his most challenging goal — entrepreneurship.

After studying exercise science at UMass Amherst, and a stint in the Corporate Wellness division of Yankee Candle, he became a fitness director for Healthtrax. At the time, Healthtrax was partnering with Altheus, an innovative business model for personal coaching. “I loved what they brought to the table,” he said.

In fact, he assisted in implementing the Altheus model in 12 Healthtrax facilities in seven states, growing fitness-related revenues by more than 600% in the process. He also created and implemented what’s known as the Small Group Coaching model in 15 facilities.

Eventually, he felt like he could bring his skills and knowledge to his own enterprise, so he left Healthtrax and opened Continuum Performance Center in East Longmeadow in 2011. It proved to be a smart decision, as the business has quadrupled in size since then.

“We are very, I don’t want to use the word ‘prideful,’ but if we are attaching our name to a fitness program, we’re going to give the best we have; we’ll give extra time, do something that wasn’t agreed upon, to reach our goals,” he said. “Our success comes quite literally from the fact that we put the program first, and people achieving the results they want.”

His business also pours energy into the Season of Giving, an annual effort around the holidays that raises money for organizations like Toys for Tots, the Western Massachusetts Food Bank, the Red Cross, and Habitat for Humanity. Sullivan gives of his time, too, such as working with his employees on a Habitat house build and visiting regions affected by Hurricane Sandy to assist with cleanup efforts.

That’s gratifying, Sullivan said, but so is his everyday work, because it changes lives.

“Each time someone achieves something they always wanted to but didn’t think they could, you see the pure elation on their face,” he said. “You were an integral part of that — you mapped it out for them — but they were the ones who accepted the challenge and put in the work and accomplished their goal.”

— Joseph Bednar

Francia Wisnewski

By BusinessWest Staff April 22, 2014

40 Under 40 The Class of 2014

Regional Program Manager, Raising a Reader Massachusetts, age 37

Francia Wisnewski takes pride in doing all she can to increase literacy and help families and children. “I’m a firm believer that providing high-quality, enriching opportunities for young children is critical for laying a strong foundation for their long-term health, well-being, and success,” she said, “and I am passionate about advocating for and promoting legislation that supports families and children.”

Passionate … and busy. The regional program manager for Raising a Reader is a 2008 Schott Fellow, an elected member/chair of the Greenfield School Committee, member of the Greenfield Democratic Town Committee, a three-time winner of Community Action’s Caught in the Act Award, an advisory board member of District Attorney David Sullivan’s Franklin County Children’s Advocacy Center, a 2012 participant in the Early Educator Fellowship Initiative, and a 2012 Emerge Massachusetts Fellow.

Wisnewski grew up in Colombia and worked as a biology teacher before moving to this country to pursue a master’s degree in education at UMass Amherst. After settling in Greenfield, she immersed herself in volunteer work and selflessly continues to give time and effort to causes she believes in. “You have to do whatever you can to be part of the community, and I enjoy being involved in an inclusive process,” she said, adding that she believes it is important to educate children to their full potential and raise the quality of life for families.

The wife of Mark Wisnewski and mother of Luke, 11, and Corin, 8, she was a developmental specialist for the REACH Early Intervention program at ServiceNet in Franklin County and served as coordinator of Family Center Programs for Community Action in Greenfield for 10 years before assuming her current job at Raising a Reader.

Wisnewski said her work at the Family Center, which included promoting literacy events, taught her that she could make a difference and empower others. “I learned the value of networking and building support,” she explained. “There are many people with voices that are unheard who just need a little push.”

She knows communities will always face challenges. “But when they come, you need to be flexible, make the best of everything, and move forward.”

— Kathleen Mitchell

Introducing the Class 2014

By BusinessWest Staff April 22, 2014

40 Under 40 Cover Story The Class of 2014

The Young Business and Community Leaders of Western Massachusetts

In 2007, BusinessWest introduced a new recognition program called 40 Under Forty. It was intended as a vehicle to showcase young talent in the four counties of Western Mass. and, in turn, inspire others to reach higher and do more in their community.

Seven years later, it has accomplished all that and much more. The program has become a brand, the awards gala has become one of the most anticipated events of the year, and the 40 Under Forty plaque that sits on one’s desk has become both a coveted prize and symbol of excellence, recognized by all.

On June 19 at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House in Holyoke, 40 more plaques will be handed out, to members of a class that is both distinguished and diverse. It includes bankers, lawyers, and accountants, but also a Holyoke city councilor, a contractor who specializes in blitz building, and Springfield’s senior project manager. And it represents virtually every business sector, from healthcare to education; from technology to the nonprofit realm.

With that, we introduce the Class of 2014 with words (enough to explain why they’re an honoree) and pictures that tell a big part of each story, whether the winner is captured with his or her children, dog, or even boxing gloves or a giant candle. The stories are all different, but the common denominator is that these young individuals possess that most important of qualities: leadership.

Click here to download a PDF flipbook version of the 40 Under Forty Class of 2014

Partner

2014 40 Under Forty Winners:

Tamara Blake
Sandy Cassanelli
Robert Chateauneuf
Nick Colgin
Izabela Collier
G. David Condon IV
Jose Delgado
Justin Dion
Garett DiStefano
Patricia Faginski
Sean Gouvin
Nicole Griffin
Lee Hagon
Denise Hurst
Justin Hurst
Sean Jeffords
Danielle Klein-Williams
Dr. Andrew Lam
Angela Lussier
Ruby Maddox
Kevin Maltby
Andrew McMahon
Geoff Medeiros
Alex Morse
Meghan Parnell-Gregoire
Orlando Ramos
Jason Randall
Liz Rappaport
Robert Raynor
Alfonso Santaniello
Michael Schneider
Paul Silva
Michael Simolo
Noah Smith
Seth Stratton
Geoff Sullivan
Kyle Sullivan
Anthony Surrette
Jessica Wales
Francia Wisnewski

Meet the Judges — Click Here

Photography for this special section by Denise Smith Photography

Building Permits

By BusinessWest Staff April 22, 2014

Building Permits Departments

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

AMHERST

Amherst College
196 North Pleasant St.
$15,000 — 9 upgraded antenna panels

CHICOPEE

Chicopee Partners, LLP
47 Veterans Dr.
$31,000 — Re-roof

Pride Convenience Inc.
177 Chicopee St.
$27,000 — Store expansion

HOLYOKE

Weld Partners
95 Chestnut St.
$3,656,000 — Convert existing school into 21 residential units — Building D

LUDLOW

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

NORTHAMPTON

Bermor Limited Partnership
182 Main St.
$37,000 — Interior renovations

D A Sullivan and Sons
84 North St.
$37,500 — Install replacement windows

Northampton Veterinary Clinic
227 South St.
$17,000 — Interior renovations

Ryan Road School
498 Ryan Road
$138,500 — Install new roof

Smith College
79 Elm St.
$9,751,000 — Phase two of renovations

SOUTH HADLEY

Mount Holyoke College
50 College St.
$26,000 — Install new roof

Loomis Village
246 North Main St.
$35,000 — Porch repairs

Verizon Wireless
274 Amherst Road
$12,000 — Install new upgraded antennas

SOUTHWICK

Town of Southwick
20 Juniper Road
$161,500 — Install new water tank

SPRINGFIELD

Baystate Medical Center
759 Chestnut St.
$439,000 — Renovate 20 patient rooms

City of Springfield
50 Elm St.
$100,000 — Remove and replace 2nd floor ceiling at Old First Church

Gulmohar Hospitality, LLC
100 Congress St.
$300,000 — Construct a single story building

MPJ Realty Truct Industry Ave. Holding
112 Industry Ave.
$1,590,000 — Interior renovations to the Department of Children and Family Services

Stavros Center
227 Berkshire Ave.
$391,000 — Renovations to existing for new offices

WESTFIELD

71 Franklin St., LLC
71 Franklin St.
$5,000 — Repairs to building

Barnes Airport Commission
110 Airport Road
$86,000 — Remodel 1,400-square-foot restaurant

L & R Market
35 North Elm St.
$111,000 — New walk-in cooler

Peabody-Westfield Limited
126 Union St.
$400,000 — Renovations

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Bella Napoli
185 Elm St.
$3,000 — Construct foundation and new masonry openings

Carriage House
1029 Elm St.
$24,000 — Replace 120 windows

Agenda

By BusinessWest Staff April 22, 2014

Agenda Departments

Breast Cancer Survivors’ Day
April 26: Breast-cancer survivors, their families, and friends are invited to celebrate life together at the 17th annual Rays of Hope Breast Cancer Survivors’ Day on Saturday, April 26, from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the MassMutual Center. Former WNBA player and breast-cancer survivor Edna Campbell will deliver the keynote address, titled “Bouncing Back,” at the popular event sponsored by Rays of Hope. Campbell was diagnosed with breast cancer during her second season. After retiring from the WNBA four years later, Campbell became a nurse and now travels across the country sharing her story of survival while encouraging women to have regular breast exams and inspiring those who’ve been diagnosed. In addition to the keynote address, participants will be able to select two workshops from a number of topics, including “Breast Reconstruction,” “Coping Strategies for Caregivers,” “Personal Safety Tips,” “Let Your Yoga Dance,” “Advances in the Treatment of Metastatic Breast Cancer,” “Mindful Eating,” “Unclutter Your Life and Start Living,” and “The Joy of Card Making.” Two sessions will be offered in Spanish only: “Recomendaciones Sobre Seguridad Personal” and “Promoviendo la Caminata de Rays of Hope.” As part of this year’s Survivors’ Day, there will be a special art exhibit made up of artwork completed by participants in the Rays of Hope-sponsored “Art from the Heart” program facilitated by art therapist and silk artist Pat Hayes. The program — a series of art-therapy workshops offered twice a year — provides a creative outlet for women to work in watercolor, precious metal, clay, and other media. A continental breakfast and buffet luncheon will be served. The cost is $35 per person, with the remaining cost underwritten by Rays of Hope. Parking will be validated for the Civic Center Parking Garage only. For more information or to request a registration form, call (413) 794-9556.

Journey Around the World for Literacy
April 30: Link to Libraries invites you to travel to India, Asia, Latin America, France, Ireland, and Italy — all within the Delaney House and D. Hotel and Suites. A selection of ballrooms and suites will be transformed into different global destinations, complete with costumes, cuisine, décor, and local flavor. The event, which runs from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Delaney House on Route 5 in Holyoke, costs $25 per person, which includes multiple food stations. An optional $10 buys unlimited sampling at specialty drink stations. There will also be a cash bar. Funds will benefit literacy programs through Link to Libraries. To register, send a check, payable to Link to Libraries Inc., to the following address: Link to Libraries, Attn. Karen Blinderman, Registrar, P.O. Box 958, West Springfield, MA 01090. Your check is your reservation.

Not Just Business as Usual
May 1: The Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) Foundation’s Not Just Business as Usual event is a key networking event for business leaders in Western Mass. This annual celebration, in its fifth year, is a celebration of innovative thinking which gives participants the opportunity to learn from business experts while raising significant funding for the STCC WORKS scholarship program. It will be held at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. A cocktail and networking reception will be run from 5:30 to 7 p.m., with dinner and keynote speaker to follow from 7 to 9 p.m. This year’s keynote speaker is Dr. Alan Robinson, award-winning author and associate dean of the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst. Robinson will discuss his latest book, The Idea-Driven Organization: Unlocking the Power in Bottom-Up Ideas. Tickets are $175 each or $1,500 for a table of 10. For additional information contact Christina Tuohey, STCC’s director of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations, at (413) 755-4475 or [email protected]. To purchase tickets online, visit www.stcc.edu/njbau.

40 Under Forty
June 19: The eighth annual 40 Under Forty award program, staged by BusinessWest, will be held at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House, honoring 40 of the region’s rising stars under 40 years old. Tickets to the gala cost $65, and they typically sell out quickly. For more information or to order tickets, call (413) 781-8600.

Western Mass.Business Expo
Oct. 29: BusinessWest Magazine will present the Fourth Annual Western Mass. Business Expo at the MassMutual Center in downmtown Springfield. The business-to-business show, which last year drew more than 2,000 visitors, will feature more than 100 booths, seminars and Show Floor Theater presentations, breakfast and lunch programs, and a day-capping Expo Social. Details about specific events, programs, and featured speakers will be printed in future issues of BusinessWest. Comcast Business will again be Presenting Sponsor, while the social will be sponsored by Northwestern Mutual. Current Silver Sponsors are Health New England and DIF Design, and additional sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information on sponsorships or booth purchase, call (413) 781-8600.

People on the Move

By BusinessWest Staff April 22, 2014

Departments People on the Move

Holyoke-based PeoplesBank Donna Bliznak[/caption]• Donna Bliznak has been promoted to First Vice President, Commercial Lending. Bliznak possesses more than 40 years of financial and banking experience. She joined the bank in 1990 as Assistant Vice President, Commercial Lending, and was later promoted to Vice President, Lending. She holds an MBA and a bachelor’s degree from UMass Amherst, as well as an associate’s degree from Holyoke Community College. She serves on the board of directors for the Stavros Center for Independent Living and the Northampton Chamber of Commerce;

Susan Wilson

• Susan Wilson has been promoted to First Vice President, Corporate Responsibility. Wilson joined the bank in 1998 as Marketing Manager. Most recently, she served as Vice President, Corporate Responsibility, where she was the liaison between the bank and the community. She holds an MBA from Western New England University, a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Bryant University, and an associate’s degree from Bay Path College. She is a co-chair of the Western Massachusetts Funders Group and a member of the Capital Campaign Planning Committee, Associated Grant Makers, and the Grant Managers Network;
• Donna Charette has been promoted to Vice President, Finance. Charette possesses more than 25 years of financial and banking experience. She joined the bank in 1989 and has served in several positions throughout her career, including most recently as Assistant Vice President, Finance. Charette is a graduate of the Massachusetts School of Financial Studies at Babson College. She also holds an asset liability certification;
• Jeffry Kerr has been promoted to Vice President, Marketing. In this role, he will direct Retail Division marketing programs. Kerr possesses more than 25 years of banking and financial experience. He is instrumental in driving consumer acquisition and retention strategies. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts;
• Katherine St. Mary has been promoted to Vice President, Consumer Lending. St. Mary possesses more than 30 years of banking and financial experience. She joined the bank in 2005 as a Residential Mortgage Underwriter. St. Mary holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from American International College and an associate’s degree from Holyoke Community College. She also graduated from the Massachusetts School for Financial Studies at Babson College;
• Xiaolei Hua has been promoted to Assistant Vice President, Credit Officer. Hua joined the bank in 2006 as a Management Development Trainee and has served as Commercial Credit Officer and Project Management Officer. Hua holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from UMass Amherst and is currently working toward a master’s degree from the university’s Isenberg School of Management. He is a board member at the Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity;
• Erinn Young has been promoted to Assistant Vice President, Branch Manager of the Longmeadow office. She possesses more than 17 years of financial and banking experience. Young holds a bachelor of administration degree in business executive management from Bay Path College. She is the director of Cancer Free Kids Inc. and a board member of the professional advisory board for Rachel’s Table. Young also serves as a committee member at the Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield and the East of the River Chamber of Commerce;
• Annmarie Hurley has been promoted to Accounting Officer. Hurley possesses more than 20 years of banking and financial experience. Hurley joined the bank in 1993 and most recently held the position of Senior Staff Accountant. Hurley holds a bachelor’s degree from Westfield State University; and

David Williams

• David Williams has been appointed Mortgage Consultant. He will focus primarily on communities west of the Connecticut River, including Agawam, West Springfield, and Westfield. In his role, he will have a variety of mortgage options to offer customers, including refinancing and special first-time homebuyers’ programs. Williams brings more than 20 years of mortgage-lending experience to his new position, including serving as a Mortgage Origination Manager and Regional Mortgage Sales Manager at other financial institutions. Williams earned a bachelor’s degree from San Diego State University. He is an active member of the Realtor Assoc. of the Pioneer Valley.
•••••
Health New England announced that Susan O’Connor has been promoted to Director of Government Programs. O’Connor joined HNE in 2008 as a staff attorney. She was promoted to Assistant General Council in 2009 and in 2012 to the Director of Legal Services and Assistant General Counsel for Health New England. In her new role, she is responsible for directing the Medicare and Medicaid operations for Health New England. This includes the development of the Medicare and Medicaid business strategies, ensuring alignment with the strategic goals of the company. She will be also be responsible for leading the growth of both lines of business and overseeing operations related to the government programs. Prior to joining HNE in 2008, O’Connor was Director of Legal Affairs for the Pioneer Health Group. Before establishing her career in law, she served as Program Director for Families in Crisis, an organization dedicated to meeting the needs of offenders and their families. O’Connor graduated from Clark University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, earned a master’s degree in social work from the University of Connecticut, and received her law degree from Western New England University. She is a member of the Massachusetts Bar Assoc. and the American Health Lawyers Assoc.
•••••

Rose Gage

The Gray House announced that Rose Gage has joined the agency as its new Food Pantry and Thrift Store Program Director. Gage is responsible for all aspects of the food pantry and thrift store, including client services, volunteer management, donation/inventory coordination, quality control, and documentation. She will continue to build and maintain relationships with the Food Bank, Rachel’s Table, and numerous groups and organizations that host donation drives, along with individual donors. Gage worked at Western New England University from 2005 to 2011 and at Bridgewater State University as the Assistant Director for the Community Service Center since then. She earned her bachelor’s degree in clinical psychology from Marywood University in Scranton, Penn. in 1997. In 1999, she earned a master’s degree in Agency Counseling from the same institution. For 13 years, she worked in higher education, in the areas of residence life and civic engagement. The Gray House is a small, neighborhood human-service agency located at 22 Sheldon St. in the North End of Springfield. Its mission is to help neighbors facing hardships to meet their immediate and transitional needs by providing food, clothing, and educational services in a safe, positive environment.
•••••
Mariana Bolivar, an Assistant Professor of modern language at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA), has been elected to a three-year term as a regional delegate of the Modern Language Assoc. of America’s (MLA) delegate assembly. Founded in 1883 to strengthen the study and teaching of language and literature, the MLA serves as a platform for English and foreign-language teachers to share scholarly findings and teaching experiences. The association holds a yearly convention to discuss issues that are critical to these academic fields.

Briefcase

By BusinessWest Staff April 22, 2014

Briefcase Departments

Report Details State’s Healthcare Costs, Access
BOSTON — The Massachusetts healthcare reform law of 2006 set in motion a number of important changes to the healthcare system, which have affected Massachusetts residents, businesses, healthcare providers, and others. Since 2006, the Massachusetts Health Reform Survey (MHRS) has been an important means of monitoring and understanding these impacts. The most recent report, conducted in the fall of 2012, just after passage of the state’s healthcare cost-containment law, brings both good news and signs that warrant concern. As with previous versions of the MHRS, the just-released results of the 2012 survey provide promising evidence that the insurance provisions of the Affordable Care Act, which were modeled after the 2006 Massachusetts law, will improve coverage and access across the nation. However, the 2012 survey also shows that healthcare costs continue to be a burden for many. Massachusetts continues to have the highest rate of insurance coverage for non-elderly adults of any state, 94.6%. This is a significant improvement over 2006, when 85.9% of non-elderly adults had insurance, and much higher than the current national level of 79.7%. In addition, gaps in coverage have lessened: 88% of adults in Massachusetts reported being covered for the entire year, much higher than the national level of just under 75%. The proportion of people in Massachusetts who are “persistently uninsured” has been cut by nearly three-quarters, falling from 9.3% in 2006 to 2.7% in 2012. The survey indicates that respondents are generally satisfied with their healthcare coverage, with about two-thirds rating their coverage as very good or excellent on the range of services, choice of providers, and quality of care, up more than 10% from pre-reform. Access to care is also is very good; nearly nine in 10 respondents reported having a place, other than the emergency room, to go to when they are sick or need advice about their health. This is higher than national estimates for this measure, which top off at around 80%. Use of physician services is also higher in Massachusetts than it is nationally. Eight in 10 non-elderly adults reported having visited a doctor in the past 12 months, compared with 63% nationally. On the issue of affordability, more than 40% of non-elderly adults reported that healthcare costs had been a problem for them and their families over the previous year, including 37.1% who experienced problems with healthcare spending and 16.4% who reported going without needed care because of cost. Having health-insurance coverage did not eliminate cost concerns, as 38.7% of those who were insured for the full year reported that they had problems with healthcare spending. One reason the burden of healthcare costs has not diminished with rising levels of coverage is the continuing trend among employers to shift costs onto workers and their families, such as through high-deductible plans.

Massachusetts Ranks High in Spending Transparency
BOSTON — Massachusetts received an A– grade in government spending transparency according to “Following the Money 2014: How the 50 States Rate in Providing Online Access to Government Spending Data,” the fifth annual report of its kind by the Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group (MASSPIRG). “We have worked hard to make state government more transparent for taxpayers, and this superb grade from MASSPIRG reflects that,” said Secretary of Administration and Finance Glen Shor. Massachusetts came in at the top of the nation with a grade of 91.5, maintaining it’s A– rating for the third year in a row despite the increasing difficulty of the annual survey as technology improves and consumer expectations rise. The MASSPIRG report designates Massachusetts as a ‘leading state’ in progress toward improved online spending transparency, allowing ordinary citizens to find information through easy-to-use features. The report applauds Massachusetts for increasing transparency by awarding more than $300,000 in grants to six cities to post their spending information online, and planning to help 20 cities post their spending information online by January 2015; posting information on state contracts and bidding opportunities through the state’s checkbook-level procurement website, saving the state $3 million by eliminating paper, postage, and printing costs associated with information requests by state agencies and paperwork from vendors; and improving the state’s transparency website by publishing a report on the Economic Development Incentive Program, which provides recipient-specific details on jobs retained and created. “Given that our grading standards rise annually, earning an A– each year means Massachusetts has demonstrated a significant commitment toward transparency and is continually investing in improvements,” said Andrew Fish, program associate with the MASSPIRG Education Fund. “Gov. Patrick’s commitment to increasing disclosure of the state’s finances allows the public to see how their tax dollars are being invested, promoting both efficiency and accountability.” Patrick’s FY 2015 budget, which was published in a program-based manner and added performance data to the state budget for the first time, aimed to make more spending and performance data available to the public. To read the full report, visit www.masspirg.org.

DevelopSpringfield Issues 1095 Main Street Grant
SPRINGFIELD — DevelopSpringfield announced that it has awarded a $20,000 grant for façade improvements to 1095 Main St., property owned by 1095 Main Street Irrevocable Trust. Building tenants include Square One Family Center and Santos Family Chiropractic. The grant is made possible under DevelopSpringfield’s Corridor Storefront Improvement Program, which provides grants of up to $10,000 per storefront for exterior improvements to first-floor businesses located on State and Main streets in Springfield. The funds were used to revitalize and repair the existing façade and included new windows, doors, and signage. The grant is supporting a substantial investment for improvements to the building by the property owner. “This project represents well over $100,000 in capital improvements to the façade of this building,” said Ralph Capua of 1095 Main Street Irrevocable Trust. “It’s an example of our commitment to bringing business back to the South End, and allows for additional leasing opportunities for prospective business owners.” The project shows a strong commitment to revitalization Springfield’s South End, an area devastated by the June 2011 tornado. Improvements to this structure made it possible for Square One, which lost its site after the tornado and was further displaced by the downtown natural-gas explosion in November 2012, to find a new home. The Square One Family Center celebrated the opening of its 1095 Main St. facility last September.

Company Notebook

By BusinessWest Staff April 22, 2014

Company Notebook Departments

Rick’s Auto Body Supports Link to Libraries
SPRINGFIELD — Rick’s Auto Body in Springfield recently became the latest Link to Libraries Business Book Link sponsor, with its support and contribution of more than 300 new books each year to the Baystate Academy Charter School on Franklin Street in Springfield. “Rick’s Auto Body has stepped up to offer much-needed resources and support to this school,” said Susan Landry, director of Business Book Link. “We’re honored by their support and advocacy to the Link to Libraries program. These students will be supplied with books of all genres for their school library and for their own home library throughout the next three years.” Since its inception in 2008, Link to Libraries has donated more than 225,000 new books to Western Mass. schools, nonprofits, and individuals. For more information on Link to Libraries and its childhood-literacy programs, contact (413) 224-1031 or visit www.linktolibraries.org.

ESB Gives $10,000 to Center for Health Education at HCC
EASTHAMPTON — Matthew Sosik, president and CEO of Easthampton Savings Bank, announced that the bank has made a $10,000 contribution to the Holyoke Community College Foundation for the Center for Health Education. When it opens, the facility will be equipped with sophisticated patient simulators, ranging from maternity and newborn to pediatric and geriatric, in support of nursing education. “The center will significantly expand the college’s nursing and radiologic technology programs, further allowing us to better serve the community,” said Erica Broman, vice president of institutional development and executive director of the Holyoke Community College Foundation. “It will also support the educational needs of the region through partnerships with other community colleges, local agencies, medical facilities, and K-12 schools in the region.” Added Sosik, “building healthy communities starts with education and reliable resources. An investment in this facility is an investment in our communities’ future.” Holyoke Community College will also use the classrooms in the center for outreach programs that will provide free and low-cost health-education programs for residents of Holyoke, Easthampton, and surrounding communities.

HealthSouth Opens Facility at Ludlow Mills
LUDLOW — HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Western Mass. recently celebrated its grand opening at Ludlow Mills. The $28.5 million facility consists of 53 beds and offers all private rooms. It provides rehabilitative care to patients who are recovering from stroke and other neurological disorders, brain and spinal cord injuries, amputation, and orthopedic, cardiac, and pulmonary conditions. At 74,500 square feet, HealthSouth used more than 100,000 recycled bricks and planed wooden beams from old mill buildings. The facility is part of the Ludlow Mills redevelopment project being undertaken by the Westmass Area Redevelopment Corp. The new HealthSouth is a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver-certified hospital, signifying that it meets and exceeds established green-building criteria.

Incorporations

By BusinessWest Staff April 22, 2014

Departments Incorporations

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

Agawam

Wicked in Pink Run Inc., 53 Fairview St., Agawam, MA 01001. Robert Alves, same. Raise money for the Sr. Caritas Cancer Center patient fund.

Lenox

House of Playa Inc., 170 Housatonic St., Lenox, MA 01240. Kelley M. Keefner, same. Clothing sales.

Milton Silverstein, PH.D., P.C., 347 East St., Lenox, MA 01240. Milton Silverstein, same. Psychological care and services.

Longmeadow

L2 Lacrosse Inc., 68 Robin Road, Longmeadow, MA 01106. Ryan Thomas Liebel, same. Lacrosse coaching services.

Media Preservation Foundation Inc., 541 Laurel St., Longmeadow, MA 01106. Tracy E. Carman, same. Media archival and community educational services.

Ludlow

Ham Communications Inc., 58 Jackie Dr., Ludlow, MA 01056. Bethany McLaughlin-Maynard, same. Telecommunications consulting.

Montague

Stone’s Equipment Repair Inc., 484 Federal St., Montague, MA 01351. Jason A. Stone, 477 Federal St., Montague, MA 01351. Equipment repair.

Northampton

Jessica Saravia Inc., 122 Main St., Northampton, MA 01060. Oscar A Saravia, 17 Queen Circle, South Hadley, MA 01075. Fast food restaurant.

Northampton Pedal Cabs Inc., 351 Pleasant St., Suite B #139, Northampton, MA 01060. Carlos E. Marti, 140 Langevin St., Chicopee, MA 01020. Pedal cabs.

Pittsfield

Furlano & Arace P.C., 386 South St., Pittsfield, MA 01201. Nelson E. Furlano, same. Public accountancy.

Kiwk Food Mart Inc., 8 Bull Hill Rd., Pittsfield, MA 01201. Rakeshkumar Vyas, same. Convenience and gas station.

Lifetime Vacation Consultants Inc., 770 Williams St. Plaza, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Philip J. Constantino, 146 Karen Dr., Pittsfield, MA 01201. Points club memberships for vacations.

South Hadley

Edge Tree Service Inc., 336 Hadley St., South Hadley, MA 01075. Peter Edge, same. Tree removal and landscaping services.

Southwick

P & H Distribution Inc., 30 Woodland Ridge Road, Southwick, MA 01077. Arsen Hoxha, same. Parcel and document delivery.

Springfield

Engaging for Action in Burundi (EFAB) Inc., 82 Maple St., Apt. 101, Springfield, MA 01105. Pascal Akimana, 17 Old Jarvis Ave., Holyoke, MA 01040. To advocate for good governance in Burundi.

Bankruptcies

By BusinessWest Staff April 22, 2014

Bankruptcies Departments

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

Albrecht, Susan A.
79 Talbot Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/13/14

Andrews, Sandra E.
3 Field Dr.
Sturbridge, MA 01566
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/13/14

Berthiaume, Nathan
413 Belchertown Road
Ware, MA 01082
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/12/14

Bourgeois, Michael
15 1/2 North St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/14/14

Butler, James M.
70 Ruthven St.
Springfield, MA 01128
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/11/14

Celestial Visions Inc.
Kopec, Celeste A.
61 Parallel St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/13/14

Cronin, John M.
22 Carol Lane
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/12/14

Dockum, Thelma G.
Phins Hill Manor
50 West State St., AP
Granby, MA 01033
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/14/14

Dubois, Holly Beth
76 Monroe St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/15/14

Fondon, Tommy L.
Fondon, Janine
189 Braeburn Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/11/14

Fontaine, Gregory J.
37 Steuben St.
Indian Orchard, MA 01151
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/15/14

Gay, Albert T.
Gay, Tanya L.
94 Jacob St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/13/14

Goff, Jeffrey M.
Goff, Amy R.
64 Biddle St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/13/14

Hamade, Yasser M.
127 Woodcrest Circle
Springfield, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/13/14

Hojnowski, Krista A.
17 Adams St., Apt. 6
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/13/14

Kronoff, Charles R.
Kronoff, Mary Beth
577 Suffield St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/11/14

McCann, Shawn P.
3 Oakwood Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/13/14

Murray, Erin N.
68 Knollwood Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/14/14

Pashko, Joseph M.
53 West School St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/13/14

Penoyer, Curtis J.
Penoyer, Sonya C.
P.O. Box 528
Bondsville, MA 01009
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/13/14

Raffloer, Evelyn
417 Springfield St., #140
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 03/14/14

Rivera, Albert
Murphy-Rivera, Kimberly A.
245 Allen Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 03/14/14

Doing Business as Certificates

By BusinessWest Staff April 22, 2014

DBA Certificates Departments

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

AMHERST

Amherst Survival Center
138 Sunderland Road
Mindy Domb

Head Games Beauty Supply
67 North Pleasant St.
Erica Wilson-Perkins

The Homestead
500 Sunderland Ave.
Peter Emmet

Woodland Associates
67 Hulst Road
Michael Hutton-Woodland

CHICOPEE

4 Quality Home Construction
116 Hampden St.
Denis Borisov

Bottle in the Smoke
76 Meadow St.
Jonathan Fannin

Greenski Contracting
188 Irene St.
Jeremy Greene

R & J Transport, LLC
106 Fletcher Circle
Robert Craig

LUDLOW

Chicago Pneumatic Construction Equipment
151 Carmelina’s Circle
Mining, Rock Excavation & Construction, LLC

Liberty Tax Service
61 East St.
Steven Kowalski

Massachusetts Refrigerant Abatement
100 State St.
Thomas Washer

Monark Complementary Health
110 Clearwater Circle
Monica Gagnon

Moonlight Café
387 East St.
Ten-Go, Inc.

NORTHAMPTON

Ann Xtra Hand
33 Roe Ave.
Patricia A. Rick

Couples Center of the Pioneer Valley
182 Main St.
Katherine Waddell

Greg’s Auto Repair
376 Easthampton Road
Jeffrey Tenczar

Leading The Way Doggie Daycare
18 Chestnut St.
Melissa Mehlman

Mike’s Along For The Ride
157 Prospect Ave.
Michael Cahill

R & L Healthcare Consulting
35 New South St.
Robin Lango

Room 6 Salon
140 Pine St.
Melanie Burnett

Steady Pine Publishing
8 Hockanon Road
Kerim May

System Technology RX
19 Whittier St.
John Celentano

SOUTHWICK

Diversified Technical Products
6 Pearl Brook Road
David Thompson

G.J. Battles Remodeling
49 Point Grove Road
Gregory Battles

LJ’s Unlimited Landscaping
10 Lexington Circle
Leonard Allen III

Ming House
648 College Highway
Shuming Chen

Our Community Food Pantry Inc.
220 College Highway
Pauline Cebula

SPRINGFIELD

K & S Wholesaler
258 Main St.
Warren Costa

Kevin Conway Auto Sales
200 Orange St.
William McCarthy

Kimi, LLC
38 Kingoke Lane
Kimberly K. Weaver

Maidpro
527 Belmont St.
Heewon Yang

Majestic Barber Shop 2
322 St. James Ave.
Misael Colon

Mi Antojito Bakery
126 Walnut St.
Marilyn Gali

Mobile Welding
74 Joan St.
Michael Skrabely

My Sister’s Stuff
143 Main St.
Angela M. Enos

Mylrose Lawn Care
9 Flint St.
Anthony Brown

NEFW Pro Wrestling
61 Starling Road
Shileen L. Gallerani

No B.S. Property Maintenance
261 Oakland St.
Corey J. Scott

North End Pizzeria
2550 Main St.
Daniel E. Ojeda

One Stop Mart
477 Boston Road
Ramchandra Parekh

Pioneer Valley Industries
16 Esther St.
William J. Kern II

Protemp
24 Hiawatha St.
Sean Gould

Red’s Variety, LLC
1196 St. James Ave.
Natalie A. Henry

Rhino Linings of Springfield
50 Verge St.
Michael T. Dancy

Rumba Music Shop
2633 Main St.
Felix Perez

S & K Distribution, LLC
165 Avocado St.
Ray Steele

United States Veterans
1350 Main St.
Luann Beaulieu

Uno Chicago Grill
1722 Boston Road
Uno Restaurants, LLC

Unstoppable Auto Club
511 East Columbus Ave.
Zenita Roman

WESTFIELD

Big Big Box, LLC
66 Industrial Park Road
Anthony Gleason

CZ Power Body Work
31 Elm St.
Hong Zhang

John Guagliardo’s American Dream
100 Steiger Dr.
John Guagliardo

Millrite Machine Inc.
587 Southampton Road
Robert F. Valcourt

Noble Medical Group
115 West Silver St.
Ronald Bryant

Step by Step Cooking
21 Sunflower Lane
Patrice Mercier

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Allied Heating & Air Conditioning
101 Circuit Ave.
Gary Giordano

Bathcrest of Western Mass.
176 Labelle St.
James E. Belle-Isle

BBC Trucking
58 Amherst St.
William C. Della

Drollett Plumbing & Heating
1 High St.
Jamie L. Drollett

ER Portal Software Group
59 Interstate Dr.
Edward Garibian

Father & Son Home Improvement
65 Verdugo St.
Peter Dzhenzherukha

J.I.S. Roofing Company
103 Ashley Ave.
Justin Grimm

Safaribudget.com
71 Craig Dr.
Aloyce C. Assenga

Sam’s
96 Southworth St.
Ivan Banari

Spartan Auto Care Center
865 Memorial Ave.
Nicholas Katsoulis

Thistle Security Products
78 Mercury Court
Angus Rushlow

Trinity Fitness Options
50 Thomas Dr.
Jessica Benchin

BANKRUPTCIES

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