Month: June 2014

SPRINGFIELD — The Advertising Club of Western Massachusetts is seeking nominations for the 99th annual William Pynchon Award, the area’s oldest community-service recognition program. Established in 1915, the award honors individuals from all walks of life who go beyond the call of duty to enhance quality of life in Western Mass. communities. Social activists, philanthropists, educators, clergy, physicians, journalists, and business leaders have received the award in years past. To nominate an individual, submit a one-page letter explaining why the nominee should be considered. Please include brief biographical information, outstanding accomplishments, examples of service to the community, organizations he or she is or has been active in, and the names, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses of at least three people who can further attest to the nominee’s eligibility for induction into the Order of William Pynchon. All nominees will be considered and researched by the Pynchon trustees, comprised of past and present presidents of the Advertising Club. Nominations must be submitted by end of business on Friday, July 11 to: William Pynchon Trustees, Advertising Club of Western Massachusetts, P.O. Box 1022, West Springfield, MA 01090, or by e-mail to [email protected]. The 2014 Pynchon medalists will be announced on Friday, Sept. 12. The Pynchon awards dinner and ceremony will be held on Thursday, Nov. 20 at Chez Josef in Agawam.

WESTFIELD — As part of its continued growth, Noble Hospital has hired Dr. Mehdi Pajouh as chief of Cardiology. Under the leadership of Pajouh, the hospital will expand internal cardiology services so that patients can receive expert cardiac care without having to leave the hospital. “As the new director, I’m hoping to improve not only the quality but also the quantity of services we are offering right now, finding coverage that is now missing on weekends and holidays,” he said. “Our end goal is to provide 24/7 cardiac care to our community.” Pajouh spent 11 years as a cardiologist with Westfield Cardiology, where he frequently collaborated with Noble Hospital. He says that folding his practice into the Noble Health Network will provide his patients with increased proximity, greater convenience, and more services. “Being in the hospital will improve and expedite the cardiac care that we are giving to our patients,” he said. “We are currently in talks with area cardiologists and hospitals to fill existing gaps and increase the number of procedures that we will be able to perform, including pacemaker, defibrillator, and electrophysiology [for patients with arrhythmias].” Pajouh finished his residency and fellowship at Case Western Reserve in Cleveland and was partially trained at Cleveland Clinic. He is board-certified in general cardiology, nuclear cardiology, echocardiography, and internal medicine.

LENOX — The Melanoma Foundation of New England (MFNE) and Cranwell Resort, Spa and Golf Club will present a free program for stylists, estheticians, massage therapists, and other salon professionals on Tuesday, June 17 called “The Skinny On Skin,” This educational program, from 9:30 a.m. to noon, will train hair and beauty professionals to identify cancerous moles on the scalp, neck, and skin while performing common salon services. By learning the warning signs of skin cancer, beauty professionals can become a valuable partner in the fight against melanoma. The training session will be led by a medical professional who will teach the warning signs of skin cancer and advise stylists on the best ways to speak with their clients about seeking medical attention if a suspicious mole is identified. Participants will also have the opportunity to use MFNE’s UV facial scanner to see lurking skin damage. All attendees will receive a healthy-skin goody bag with sponsor product samples. A light lunch will be served. The event is free, but reservations must be made in advance, and space is limited. To reserve your spot, call Cranwell Resort at (413) 881-0721. For more information about “The Skinny On Skin,” see mfne.org.

SPRINGFIELD — Karen Beck of Longmeadow has been named the winner of a new roof in the No Roof Left Behind initiative by Adam Quenneville Roofing, Siding & Windows. She was one of four finalists out of over 125 nominations. After public voting, her family won with 54% of the vote. As Beck explained, “a 4 a.m. knock on the door changed our lives forever. My only child had perished at the hands of an uninsured drunk driver, leaving me to raise her two young daughters with minimal outside assistance. In my haze of grief, I purchased an older home in the best neighborhood within my financial reach, in order to provide the most stability possible for my two motherless angels.” She explained that working full-time along with her caregiving responsibilities have taken a toll, emotionally and financially. “Shingles have blown off the roof, causing it to leak into the home, and I have been unable to afford to repair the roof.” Quenneville has scheduled the project for June 22, weather permitting, and has invited the community to come out for an installation celebration to kick off the project. “This will be a family-friendly, festival-style neighborhood event with free hamburgers and hot dogs,” he said, “and all are welcome from noon to 2 p.m. at the winner’s home at 84 Homestead Blvd., Longmeadow. Added Beck, “it took four years for the man responsible for this chaos I call my new life to be convicted and sentenced. The installation celebration will be seven years, almost to the day, and the perfect turning point to my chaos.” For more information about Adam Quennville Roofing, Siding, & Windows or itsNo Roof Left Behind program, visit 1800newroof.net.

BOSTON — The UMass board of trustees moved a step closer this week toward freezing tuition and fees for students for a second straight year. The board’s finance committee voted unanimously Wednesday to hold the line on costs. One June 18, the full board is scheduled to meet at UMass Dartmouth to take up the matter, according to a statement from the university. The freeze is contingent on the Legislature maintaining its spending level for the university system. Under the proposed freeze, tuition and fees for in-state undergraduate students at UMass Amherst, the most expensive undergraduate campus, would remain at $13,258, not including room and board.

SPRINGFIELD — Kate Kane, managing director of the Zuzolo Northwestern Mutual network office in Springfield, will apply her leadership experience to the Managing Director Assoc. (MDA), where she is the first female president. “Kate is one of the most loyal managing directors in our system today,” said Managing Partner Jeff Zuzolo. “Her diverse career path has given us a mutli-dimensional view of vision and leadership.” Kane says the secret to becoming a successful managing director is mastering a complex set of goals. “I expect to be always moving and continuously prioritize what needs to be done next and what can wait. I remind myself that it’s a privilege to be given multiple responsibilities.” At the heart of her success as a managing director are her three core values — generosity, abundance, and personal responsibility, and she sees the latter as particularly relevant for her as a woman in the financial-services industry. “It’s challenging any time you are the only one, or one of few,” she said. “But it also gives you the opportunity to share your unique perspectives and make change happen.” For more information about Kane or career opportunities at Northwestern Mutual, visit katekane.nm.com.

BELCHERTOWN — Team Jessica, Inc. (TJI) has secured more than half of the funds needed to make Jessica’s Boundless Playground in Belchertown a reality. A groundbreaking ceremony occurred May 12, equipment will be ordered in August, and a community build is set for September 13. Meanwhile, the final fund-raising leg has begun. An anonymous donor has offered Team Jessica a $5,000 challenge. This challenge consists of two major components. The primary focus is “BE ONE of 500.” If Team Jessica is able to receive $100 from 500 people or businesses by June 30, it will receive an additional $5,000 from the anonymous donor. This alone will raise $55,000. “We are coming up on the final months of fund-raising, and we think this BE ONE Challenge can help us get there rather quickly,” said Team Jessica President Vicky Martins Auffrey. The secondary focus is “BE ONE to Ask a Friend.” If each of the 500 people or businesses that donate $100 ask one friend to also make a $100 contribution to Team Jessica in support of Jessica’s Boundless Playground, this will bring the BE ONE Challenge fund-raising total to $105,000. “Before the official launch of the BE ONE Challenge, we received more than 40 $100 donations from friends and even new donors,” said Martins Auffrey. “The prospect of raising over $100,000 in the next couple of months is exciting, and it will show our big asks that the community supports this playground.” Jessica’s Boundless Playground will be 100% accessible, making it an inclusive community for everyone, regardless of their age or ability. All monies collected from the BE ONE Challenge are tax-deductible and will benefit Jessica’s Boundless Playground directly. To learn more about this effort, visit the TJI website at www.teamjessicaonline.com.

SPRINGFIELD — For the second consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report has ranked Baystate Children’s Hospital among the top programs in the nation in pediatric endocrinology and diabetes. The “Best Children’s Hospitals” rankings highlight U.S. News’s top 50 U.S. pediatric facilities in cancer, cardiology and heart surgery, diabetes and endocrinology, gastroenterology and GI surgery, neonatology, nephrology, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopedics, pulmonology, and urology. Just 89 hospitals across the nation ranked in at least one specialty, based on a combination of clinical data and reputation with pediatric specialists. “We’re proud to again be recognized among the top pediatric medical teams in the nation,” said Dr. Laura Koenigs, interim chair of Pediatrics at Baystate Children’s Hospital. “This honor is a testament to the skill, compassion, and dedication of so many caregivers, who are addressing one of the most important health challenges in our community, diabetes. It’s gratifying to know our care is delivering on our promise and making a difference.” She noted that diabetes in children has the potential to significantly affect their overall health throughout their entire lives. “Helping our patients and their families manage this and other endocrine disorders can have a huge impact on their well-being and success. I congratulate our doctors, nurses, and other team members on this sustained success, and its positive implications for our patients and community.” Added Dr. Evan Benjamin, senior vice president of Healthcare Quality for Baystate Health, “the largest part of our ranking is related to outcomes — how well our young patients do in our care. It’s a point of pride that, at a time when the quality and efficiency of our care has never been more important or more closely examined, we are demonstrating nationally ranked performance right here, close to home, in Western Mass.” Five-sixths of each hospital’s score relied on patient outcomes and the care-related resources each hospital makes available. To gather clinical data, U.S. News sent a clinical questionnaire to 183 pediatric hospitals. The remaining one-sixth of the score derived from a survey of 450 pediatric specialists and subspecialists in each specialty over three years. The 4,500 physicians were asked where they would send the sickest children in their specialty, setting aside location and expense. In the latest rankings for pediatric endocrinology and diabetes, Baystate ranked 48th nationally. The Baystate Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes program is composed of a team of providers, nurses, certified diabetes educators, nutritionists, a social worker, and staff who care for more than 500 children and adolescents with diabetes. With partial support from a grant from the state Department of Public Health, the Baystate pediatric-diabetes team has partnered with school nurses in Springfield and outlying communities to improve diabetes care in the schools.

EASTHAMPTON — The Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts wants local women to make an impact on social change by serving on boards of directors, getting involved in civic affairs, and even running for political office. To help develop future leaders, the foundation developed the Leadership Institute for Political and Public Impact. The Institute is now accepting applications for the 2014-15 training cycle. The deadline to apply is June 27, 2014. The Leadership Institute for Political and Public Impact encourages women to think seriously about becoming more involved as civic leaders in their communities and running for office. Focusing on areas such as community organizing, the legislative process and policy making, fund-raising and campaigning, and running for office, the Institute gives women the tools — and, more importantly, the confidence — they need to become political leaders. To date, 140 women have graduated from the Institute, and 34 graduated this past May. They represent Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire counties. Some already hold local offices, others are planning to run, and others are pursuing leadership positions on boards of directors. At each training session, a woman working at the elected level presents her experiences. These include state Rep. Ellen Story, former Northampton Mayor Mary Clare Higgins and her campaign manager Elizabeth Silver, state Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier, Fitchburg Mayor Lisa Wong, and many others. Julie Kumble, interim CEO of the Women’s Fund, noted that, “perhaps more than ever before, the issues of our society require the engagement of increased numbers of women representing our diverse communities. When women enter the political decision-making process, the perspective broadens and the conversation changes. It is time to create a pipeline of diverse women leaders who will create the change that our local, national, and global issues require.” The year-long Leadership Institute for Political and Public Impact will begin for new members in September, but applications are being accepted through June 27. Applications are available on the foundation’s website, www.womensfund.net.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. economic growth should accelerate in the second quarter and remain healthy for the rest of this year, according to the National Assoc. of Business Economists. However, the survey of 47 economists, conducted last month, indicated that growth for the full year will probably be lower than they previously estimated — just 2.5%, down from a forecast of 2.8% in March. Job growth should remain steady, the survey revealed, and consumer spending will also pick up. It also found that economists increasingly agree that the Federal Reserve will end its bond purchases by year’s end.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Consumers revved up their borrowing in April, with growth in credit-card debt accelerating at the fastest pace in more than 12 years. Overall credit expanded by $26.8 billion during the month, up from $19.5 billion in March, the Federal Reserve said recently. The sizable climb is an encouraging sign for the economy, suggesting that consumers are confident enough to boost purchases by borrowing. The surge included auto and student loans, which rose by $18 billion, and credit-card debt, which was up $8.8 billion. The upward swing on credit-card debt represented a 12.3% gain, the fastest pace since November 2001, when consumers were being urged to spend to bolster the economy following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. trade deficit jumped to a two-year high in April, as exports declined and imports surged to a record high. The deficit rose to $47.2 billion in April, up 6.9% from an upwardly revised March deficit of $44.2 million, the Commerce Department announced this week. Exports dropped for the fourth month out of the past five, falling 0.2% to $195.4 billion. Meanwhile, imports climbed 1.2% to a record high of $240.6 billion.

BOSTON — The Associated Industries of Massachusetts Business Confidence Index rose 1.8 points in May to 54.8, its highest reading since August 2012, when the reading was 55.2, AIM announced recently. In May 2013, the index posted a reading of 52.1. “With its gains in April and May, the index appears to have broken out of the narrow range within which it had fluctuated for the previous 18 months,” said Raymond Torto, chair of AIM’s board of economic advisors. “Economic conditions have been improving at the state and national levels, and in fact globally, but until now, sentiment among Massachusetts employers has lagged behind. As a higher level of confidence becomes established, we should see more investment and job creation in our Commonwealth.”

AGAWAM — Environmental Compliance Services Inc. (ECS) announced the completion of the acquisition of the corporate assets and human talent of Pangean-CMD Associates Inc. (PCMD) of Woodstock, Ga. This acquisition, the largest in ECS’s 32-year history, will drive ECS’s evolution by expanding the market areas the company serves into Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Colorado, and Utah. In addition, it will also expand the existing company capabilities in the Carolinas, Florida, and Ohio. “This acquisition now means that ECS has a national presence that combines senior think-tank engineering with self-performed field services throughout the petroleum, building-sciences, and due-diligence market sectors,” said Mark Hellstein, ECS founder and CEO. “With the addition of the passionate team from Pangean-CMD, we are better positioned to service the upstream petroleum market.” Kevin Sheehan, ECS COO, added that “this acquisition will also provide professional growth and opportunity to employees as well as an effective tool to recruit new, talented staff.” ECS is now one of the only firms in the petroleum market that offers environmental services, compliance services, remediation, and cost recovery with in-house staff on a national basis. This strategic acquisition enables ECS to simplify the compliance and remediation process for petroleum customers while reducing their costs, essentially becoming a one-stop shop for clients. The expanded staff will also allow for boots-on-the-ground support for ECS’s existing web-based compliance-management programs. “The success of Pangean-CMD has evolved solely from our passion, our commitment to our customers, and our reputation for good, solid work,” said Darren Moore, president of Pangean-CMD. “Combining our assets will allow us to build relationships, share knowledge, and draw on the collective expertise of our co-workers to do what we have always done best: provide the best customer service and work environment possible.” Established in 1982 and headquartered in Agawam, ECS has grown to more than 20 office locations nationwide.