Home 2014 September (Page 4)

Month: September 2014

Bankruptcies

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Bankruptcies Departments

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

Allen, Barbara Jean
Allen, Vergial Ross
419 East River St., #1001
Orange, MA 01364
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/31/14

Bedinotti, Riccardo L.
P.O. Box 5682
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 08/13/14

Callands, Mary A.
626 White St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/15/14

Canedy, Russell Rene
796 River Road
Deerfield, MA 01342
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/14/14

Carpenter, Thomas L.
Carpenter, Ann F.
10 Dana Hill Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/13/14

Collins, Christine M.
900 Pleasant St., Apt #1
Lee, MA 01238
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/13/14

Cummings, James F.
Cummings, Barbara A.
99 Willowbrook Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/31/14

Daigle, Sammy
45 Faywood Ave., Apt. 1
Boston, MA 02128
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/05/14

Dolma, Lobsang
47 Brierwood Dr.
Florence, MA 01062
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/07/14

Dorobisz, Dorothy B.
86 Westfield Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 08/05/14

Faulconer, Steven J.
43 Reed St., Apt. 2
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/11/14

Frenier, Todd Thomas
PO Box 605
Goshen, MA 01032
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/31/14

Gause, Kimberly
28 Hobson St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/13/14

Gearl, Michael J.
Gearl, Brenda H.
724 Silverlake St.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/03/14

Godlew, Timothy P.
7 Pomeroy St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 08/14/14

Greenwood, Thomas E.
228 Main St.
Williamstown, MA 01267
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/11/14

Guilmet, Andre L.
Guilmet, Suzette M.
764 Brattleboro Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/12/14

Hanson, Susan M.
62 Euclid Ave.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/13/14

Johnson, Donna E.
P.O. Box 1380
Sandwich, MA 02563
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 08/05/14

Kincade, Mark Ryan
PO Box 1556
Northampton, MA 01061
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/07/14

King, Christopher
15 Coronet Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/13/14

Lamson And Goodnow Manufacturing
45 Conway St.
Shelburne Falls, MA 01370
Chapter: 11
Filing Date: 08/15/14

Lamson And Goodnow Retail
45 Conway St.
Shelburne Falls, MA 01370
Chapter: 11
Filing Date: 08/15/14

Lamson and Goodnow, LLC
45 Conway St.
Shelburne Falls, MA 01370
Chapter: 11
Filing Date: 08/15/14

Leblanc, Philip E.
PO Box 693
Westfield, MA 01086-0693
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/01/14

Liptak, Kelly A.
a/k/a Strycharz, Kelly A.
1 1/2 Allen Ave., Apt. B
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/31/14

Locke, Richard H.
160 Dwight Road
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/15/14

McCarthy, Michael P.
McCarthy, Jenifer M.
182 Fairview Ave.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/31/14

Mulcahy, Darrel M.
238 Monson Turnpike Road
Ware, MA 01082
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/14/14

Oquendo, Myrna
a/k/a Berrios, Myrna M.
293 Tyler St.
Sringfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 08/13/14

Ortiz-Ortega, Ada
311 Tokeneke Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/05/14

Ramos, Wenda E.
PO Box 1526
Stockbridge, MA 01262
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/06/14

Riel, Michael L.
Riel, Sue L.
105 Shepard Road
Sturbridge, MA 01566
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/07/14

Rivard, Linda Gladys
198 Wilbraham Road
Monson, MA 01057
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/31/14

Roach, Patricia A.
262 Little Alum Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/13/14

Salazar, Maria Y.
110-112 Tyler St. #1
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/14/14

Santiago, Carmen E.
73 Lyman St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 08/03/14

Shambala Treasures
Kunsang, Tsultrem
47 Brierwood Dr.
Florence, MA 01062
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/07/14

Shanley, Peter D.
Shanley, Mary Anne C.
239 Oblong Road
Williamstown, MA 01267
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/11/14

Sherwood, Adam
68 Bracewell Ave.
North Adams, MA 01247
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/08/14

Smith, Richard A.
121 Dorchester Ave.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 08/11/14

Stenberg, Jeffrey A.
55 Pleasant St., Unit
Granby, MA 01033
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 08/08/14

Sullivan, Michael A.
77 Hall Road
Sturbridge, MA 01566
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/12/14

Sutter, James A.
Sutter, Rebecca A.
a/k/a Gamache, Rebecca A.
30 Fairfield Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/12/14

Tracy, Renee
315 Acadia Blvd.
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/08/14

Williams, Tyrone T.
319 Tremont St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/12/14

Yeskie, Kathy A.
116 Oak St.
Florence, MA 01062
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 08/11/14

Doing Business as Certificates

By
DBA Certificates Departments

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

AGAWAM

A Way of Life Massage
667 Springfield St.
Gina Carosello

AK Installation
33 Perry Lane
Andrey Kaletin

Blush Salon
1325 Springfield St.
Erin Torte

MRG Home Inspections
55 Emerson Road
Marc Guillemette

Traffic Light
67 Springfield St.
Helen Chui

CHICOPEE

Dec-Valde Cleaning Services
222 Hampden St.
Rey D. Marrero

PB & Jam Design
196 Fletcher Dr.
Robert Perry

R.K. Building & Remodeling
16 Upton St.
Richard Kusyk

TDC Enterprises
181 Theroux Dr.
Tyron Cline

Unique Property Services
50 Linden St.
Albert Boudin

GREENFIELD

Beijing House
45 Main St.
Min L. Lu

Bill Sheckels Furniture
71 Madison Circle
William Sheckels

Blue Moon Healing Center
11 Plum Tree Lane
Jean Conway

Conquest of Greenfield
26 Clark St.
John Lamoreux

Hair Therapy
40 School St.
Madeline Maxame

Pretty Nail
209 Main St.
Chris Newsome

Yasou Electrolysis & Skin Care
224 Federal St.
Sophia Koblinski

Your Wellness Expert
50 Lincoln St.
Margaret Luther

PALMER

ABC Pool Supply
248 Ware St.
Mark Kirk

DeSousa Trucking
97 Water St.
Ray DeSousa

Specialty Timber Harvesters
61 Beech St.
Cole Scott

SPRINGFIELD

Phenomenal Looks
680 Sumner Ave.
Ysabel Santana

Preferred Domestics Clean
70 Shumway St.
Gloria J. Durant

Sabor Penticostal
2 Chestnut St.
Sasha L. Ramos

Santiago Towing
193 Taylor St.
Jose Santiago

Springer’s Oil, LLC
40 Wisteria St.
Samuel S. Springer

Springfield’s Finest
427 State St.
Angel L. Castillo

Sunshine Cleaning
49 Andrew St.
Latoya Smith

Tazmania Gym Boxing
279 Mill St.
Juan Melendez

Teresa Mama’s
137 State St.
Teresa A. Williams

The Tasty Tomato
147 Magnolia Terrace
Michelle Deni

Therapeutic Massage Therapy
59 Wexford St.
Beth A. Morin

Tufts Insurance Company
1441 Main St.
Tufts Insurance Company

Varady & Associates
50 Dutchess St.
Robert S. Varady

Vemma413
63 Connecticut Ave.
Brandon Henry

Well Done Maid Services
22 Eldridge St.
Jalin Mobley

Western Mass Cars
95 Laconia St.
Kevin J. Conway

Wilma Pruitt
49 Margerie St.
Wilma Pruitt

World Concrete Contract
1655 Main St.
Daniel Rodriguez

WESTFIELD

Apex Dent Repair
72 Kane Brothers Circle
Thomas R. Cutler

Diamond Back Band
166 King St.
Jeffrey G. Alamed

Gibson’s Equine Farrier Service
37 Forest Glen Road
Shaun Gibson

Fit 4 Mom of Greater Springfield
32 St. James Ave.
Claire Lebeau

J. Baker Landscaping
25 Eastview St.
Jeffrey Baker

Johnson’s Painting Services
65 Massey St.
Kenneth W. Johnson

Minderol Labs
44 Plantation Circle
Doug D. Buckley

Okna Window Cleaning & More
85 Falley Dr.
Jason B. Niezajko

Sweet White Peony
27 Summit Dr.
Liuba Paladi

Zayas Tax Works
8 Raymond Circle
Orlando Zayas

Incorporations

By
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

FAS Enterprises Inc., 418 Meadow St., Unit B1, Agawam, MA 01001. Frank Santinello, same. Bakery distribution service.

CHICOPEE

Friends of the Granby Veterans Inc. 315 Chicopee St., Chicopee, MA 01033. Michael Pandora, same. A non-profit organization established for the purpose of raising money to build a veterans memorial in order to honor the men and women of this town that served our nation in a time of war.

EAST LONGMEADOW

Icare Foundation Inc., 75 North Main St., East Longmeadow, MA 01028. Sherrill Pineda, 15 Norwottuck Dr., Hadley, MA 01028. A non-profit organization whose primary mission is to provide programs and funding resources for such programs as Medicare, Medicaid, veterans administration, local nonprofit organizations through charitable funding such as: program development, product and services development, support research studies, healthcare/home care, educational purposes for veterans.

GRANBY

Granby Preservation Society Inc., 220 West State St., Granby, MA 01033. Christine Beck, 15 Kellogg St., Granby, MA 01033. A non-profit organization designed to raise funds and acquire grant money to provide funding for the preservation, restoration, and continued maintenance on historic buildings and structures.

LONGMEADOW

Foodbeats Corp., 63 Churchill Dr., Longmeadow, MA 01106. Sharon Cohen, same.

MONSON

JP Roof Coatings Inc., 52 Ayers Road, Monson, MA 01057. Justin Pelissier, same. Contractor specializing in roof coatings.

NORTHAMPTON

Friends of the Recreation Committee Inc., 90 Locust St., Northampton, MA 01060. Greg Howard MR., 706 Park Hill Road, Florence, MA 01062.

Healthy Food Box Inc., 351 Pleasant St., Suite B-109, Northampton, MA 01060. Elizabeth Monaghan, 40 Holly Circle, Easthampton, MA 01027. Online retail sales of healthy-food boxes.

PITTSFIELD

Imperial Coach Inc., 703 West Housatonic St., #220 Pittsfield, MA 01201. Jin Wang, 2525 Maxwell St., Philadelphia, PA 19152. Transportation/ticket sales agents.

SOUTH DEERFIELD

High Ridge Books Inc. 120 North St., South Deerfield, MA 01373-1008. Frederick Baron, 129 North St., South Deerfield, MA 01379-1008. Purchase and sales of rare books and maps.

Jing Yun Inc., 45-B South Main St., South Deerfield, MA 01373. Xin Quan Pan, same. Take-out restaurant.

SPRINGFIELD

Faith Recovery in Action, 280 Bridge St., Springfield, MA 01103. Robin King, same.

Family G & K Inc., 29 Locust St., Apt. 2B, Springfield, MA 01108. Wendy Villala, same. Transportation services.

Family Over Everything Auto Club Inc., 50 Bay Meadow St., Springfield, MA 01109. Emmanuel Sanchez, same. Jomary Robles, same. Non-profit activities such as fund-raising for all types medical research and awareness, as well as going out to the community to raise awareness of violence and drugs, and guiding our youth toward a positive path.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Jrn Transport Inc. 65 Mercury Ct, Apt 2L, West Springfield, MA 01089. Trucking company.

WESTFIELD

Exkluiv Transport Inc., 45 Meadow St., Westfield, MA 01085. Artem Martynyuk, 148 Telegraph Ave., Chicopee, MA 01020. Transportation services.

WILLIAMSTOWN

Greylock Independent Inc., 377 Main St., Williamstown, MA 01247. J. Alexander Brooks, 267 Gale Road, Williamstown, MA 01267. Publishing services.

Briefcase

By
Briefcase Departments

State to Purchase Knowledge Corridor Line
GREENFIELD — Gov. Deval Patrick announced an agreement in principle allowing the Commonwealth to purchase the Knowledge Corridor rail line between East Northfield and Springfield from Pan Am Southern, a joint venture of Pan Am and Norfolk Southern. The 49-mile segment of rail is currently undergoing a major restoration that will allow for more efficient passenger service, in response to increased demand, and will allow the Commonwealth to maintain and enhance freight service, which will take trucks off the roads, reducing congestion and greenhouse-gas emissions. “For close to 100 years, the Commonwealth’s rail infrastructure was the lifeblood of economic vitality for communities in Franklin and Berkshire counties, and across Western Mass.,” said Patrick. “Through this agreement, we are realizing the renewed value this infrastructure can have in creating economic opportunities throughout the region.” The agreement in principle to purchase the Knowledge Corridor rail line is an important milestone in the Knowledge Corridor/Restore Vermonter Project. The project will restore the original route of Amtrak’s Vermonter travelling between St. Albans, Vermont, and Washington, D.C. from its current routing via Palmer and Amherst. The work on the project includes upgrades to the 50-mile Pan Am Southern Connecticut River Line running between Springfield and East Northfield, known as the Knowledge Corridor. The ongoing restoration project will lead to the relocation of the Vermonter, Amtrak’s north-south passenger rail service to the Knowledge Corridor, by the end of 2014, potentially reducing trip times by 25 minutes. Starting in East Northfield, the restoration runs south to Springfield and includes the construction of three new station platforms in Greenfield, Northampton, and Holyoke. Passenger service on this line ceased in the 1980s and was rerouted southeast to Palmer, where trains reverse direction and head west to Springfield. “It is clear that the residents of Western Massachusetts are hungry for rail service,” said U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern. “Today’s announcement, coupled with state and federal investments to rehabilitate the Knowledge Corridor line, will make such service a reality.” Added U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, “as an outspoken supporter of increased rail travel throughout New England, I am pleased the Commonwealth has agreed to purchase the rail line that runs along the Knowledge Corridor. The completion of this segment of track will lead to increased passenger and freight service from the Pioneer Valley to the Vermont border. Not only will this project will help improve our transportation infrastructure, it will also grow the local economy. It’s exciting news for Western Massachusetts.” Initiated in August 2012, the restoration work consists of the replacement of approximately 95,000 rail ties, new continuously welded rail, new active warning signals and crossing gates at 23 public-grade crossings, upgrades to six bridges, and the first phase of a new signal installation. The restoration is funded through a $75 million grant awarded by the Federal Railroad Administration and approximately $40 million in state funds. The work is expected to be complete in 2016, after the start of passenger service. These improvements will improve safety, increase operating speeds for existing freight-train traffic and the Vermonter, and enhance capacity on the rail line to accommodate future increased levels of train traffic. “The Knowledge Corridor is a rail asset that will play a key role in the region’s transportation system, both by delivering improved customer service in the form of faster travel times, as well as by being built to a standard that can accommodate more freight,” said MassDOT Secretary and CEO Richard Davey. “Purchasing the line will also allow us to preserve the line’s viability for the long term, and will position the Commonwealth to use this line for increased passenger service that could provide commuters in the region a competitive alternative to driving on I-91.” The Knowledge Corridor/Restore Vermonter project is part of the vision for a New England high-speed, intercity rail network that will provide a foundation for economic competitiveness and promote livable communities from major and smaller cities to rural areas. Beyond the Knowledge Corridor, the Commonwealth’s work to increase rail opportunities for commuters and tourists alike continues. MassDOT has been working closely with Pan Am Southern, the city of North Adams, and the town of Adams to have Berkshire Scenic Railway operate the Adams Branch railroad line between the two towns. The operation of a scenic railway between North Adams and Adams would be another draw for the thousands of tourists who flock to the Berkshires each year.

Assistance Center Opens in North Adams for Former Hospital Workers
NORTH ADAMS — State Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Rachel Kaprielian and state Health and Human Services Secretary John Polanowicz recently joined legislators and local workforce-development officials at a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open a worker-assistance center inside North Adams City Hall. The center is the latest effort to marshal state resources in helping 530 area residents who lost their jobs when North Adams Regional Hospital (NARH) and its affiliates closed in March. “The Patrick Administration is committed to making sure no worker or region is left behind as the state’s economy continues to improve and enjoys record job growth,” said Kaprielian. “This center and the skills-training opportunities the state is allocating will help get these residents back to work.” The Mass. Department of Public Health has been instrumental in helping the hospital reopen as a healthcare facility and restore regional healthcare services. Three months ago, Berkshire Health Systems opened an emergency room in the facility and hired approximately 150 former NARH employees. “Massachusetts is committed to ensuring that quality healthcare is accessible in every region across the Commonwealth,” said Polanowicz. “This worker assistance center in North Adams reinforces the administration’s commitment to the region’s healthcare community, and to supporting workers, patients, and families.” Added North Adams Mayor Richard Alcombright, “a huge ‘thank you’ to our state partners at the Executive Office of Labor & Workforce Development, and our local partners at Berkshire County Regional Employment Board and BerkshireWorks, for providing this wonderful opportunity to the residents of our Greater Northern Berkshire region. This center will provide significant resources to the unemployed and underemployed that will help them seek out opportunities and provide training for the skills necessary to attain employment. What is also very exciting is that this center will be located right next to our Veteran’s Services Office, providing an on-the-spot resource for our local veterans seeking employment.”

State, MassChallenge Launch Government Innovation Competition
BOSTON — MassIT, the Commonwealth’s lead state agency for technology across the executive branch, announced a first-of-its-kind MassIT Government Innovation Competition, with a $50,000 prize for the winning project. MassIT will partner with MassChallenge, a start-up accelerator that supports high-impact, early-stage entrepreneurs, on this initiative. The goal of the MassIT Government Innovation Competition is to provide high-quality startups with incentives to develop innovative solutions that can help the state government meet constituent needs more efficiently and at lower cost to taxpayers. For the first time, the Commonwealth will have access to entrepreneurs focused on improving the constituent-government relationship. The Commonwealth plans to implement a pilot of the winning project, with the goal of cost-effectively improving delivery of services to constituents, achieving greater internal efficiencies, or both. “Massachusetts is renowned as a hub for technology and innovation; MassChallenge’s support of high-impact, early-stage entrepreneurs has helped enhance that reputation. By working together, MassIT and MassChallenge can accelerate the Commonwealth’s use of technology solutions and harness the wealth of expertise available to us,” said Bill Oates, the state’s chief information officer. MassChallenge awards more than $1 million in cash prizes each year to winning startups, with zero equity taken. Additional benefits for startups include world-class mentorship and training, free office space, access to funding, legal advice, media exposure, and more than $10 million of in-kind support. MassChallenge is open to early-stage entrepreneurs from any industry, from anywhere in the world. Now in its fifth year, the competition has supported 489 startups, which have created more than 4,000 new jobs and raised more than $550 million in outside funding. This year alone, MassChallenge received approximately 1,650 applications from 50 countries and 40 states. After initial rounds of judging of all applicants, 128 finalists — in honor of Massachusetts’s Route 128 technology corridor — are invited to participate in MassChallenge’s four-month startup accelerator program and related sidecar competitions. The MassIT Government Innovation Competition is open to any qualifying startup that applies by the Aug. 27 deadline. Entrepreneurs whose work can help MassIT leverage innovation to support, enable, and transform the operation of state government and delivery of services to constituents are invited to compete.

State Reaches Solar Milestone
BOSTON — Gov. Deval Patrick announced another major clean-energy milestone, surpassing 15,000 solar installations in the Commonwealth. There are now 15,762 systems installed across Massachusetts, a 20-fold increase from 2008. “This achievement is due in large part to the strength of the Massachusetts solar industry,” Patrick said. “Clean-energy investments are smart for the environment and the economy, as proven by our 24% industry job growth in the last two years.” There were 778 systems installed in Massachusetts on Jan. 1, 2008. As a result of this exponential growth, Massachusetts ranked fourth in the nation for new solar capacity installed in 2013 by the Solar Energy Industries Assoc. It also ranked fourth nationally in total solar jobs in 2013 by the Solar Foundation’s National Solar Jobs Census. There are more than 8,000 people working in the solar industry in the Commonwealth, and nearly 80,000 clean-energy workers at 5,500 companies. “These achievements show that the Patrick administration’s policies and strategic investments are paying off,” said state Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Maeve Vallely Bartlett. “When we are competitive with other states much sunnier than ours, it’s a testament to the commitment of state and local officials, as well as home and business owners across the Commonwealth, to renewable energy.”

Company Notebook

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Company Notebook Departments

Baystate Announces Leadership Appointments, New Name for Wing
SPRINGFIELD — With the change of Wing Memorial Hospital’s parent company from UMass Memorial Health Care to Baystate Health expected to take place on Sept. 1, Baystate Health announced leadership appointments for its Eastern Region and a new name for the Palmer hospital: Baystate Wing Hospital. As of Sept. 1, Dr. Charles Cavagnaro III, now president and CEO of Wing Memorial Hospital, will be appointed president of Baystate Health’s Eastern Region, which is comprised of Baystate Mary Lane Hospital, Baystate Wing Hospital, and the employed medical practices and medical centers in that region. As he assumes this leadership position, Cavagnaro has appointed Dr. Shafeeq Ahmed chief operating officer of Baystate Health’s Eastern Region. Ahmed will also continue in his role as chief medical officer of Baystate Mary Lane Hospital and Baystate Medical Practices Eastern Region. As president of the region, Cavagnaro will provide strategic, executive, and operational leadership for the two hospitals there, which provide inpatient medical, surgical, gynecological, and behavioral-health services; emergency services; as well as a range of primary-care and other outpatient services for about 80,000 people in that region. He will report to Dennis Chalke, senior vice president of Baystate Health Community Hospitals and senior vice president and chief financial officer of Baystate Health. Cavagnaro has served as president and CEO of Wing Memorial Hospital and Medical Centers for the past 15 years. Before that, he was Wing’s vice president of Medical Affairs. In 2013, he served as interim president of UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester. Amid a challenging financial environment, Cavagnaro and his team have led Wing to serve a greater number of patients, add hospital beds, and increase the depth and breadth of services in its health centers and outpatient practices. The hallmark of his leadership is a focus on quality and safety that led to an ‘A’ safety rating for Wing from Leapfrog Group and Top Performer status from the Joint Commission on core accountability measures. Cavagnaro is a board-certified primary-care internist in Belchertown and sees patients on a weekly basis. He is a Six Sigma and Lean Green Belt in healthcare quality-improvement processes. Cavagnar completed his residency in internal medicine at UMass Medical Center and is a graduate of Cornell University Medicine College in New York City. He is a member of the American College of Physician Executives and the American College of Healthcare Executives, and a fellow of the American College of Physicians. He was a founding member of the American Academy of Hospice Physicians, which is now known as the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. He has served as a medical examiner for District IV of Hampshire County, and as a member of the board of directors of the Pioneer Valley Chapter of the Red Cross. He presently serves on the American Hospital Assoc. Regional Policy Board for the New England Region. Ahmed was recently named one of ‘100 Hospital and Health System Chief Medical Officers to Know’ by Becker’s Hospital Review. Prior to his arrival at Baystate Mary Lane Hospital, Ahmed had served as president of the medical staff, chief of Ob/Gyn, and a member of the hospital board of directors at the Naval Hospital in Cherry Point in North Carolina. Ahmed is a board-certified obstetrician/gynecologist at Baystate Medical Practices – Mary Lane Ob/Gyn in Ware, and sees patients on a weekly basis.
 Over the next several months, Cavagnaro and Ahmed will be working together as part of a larger, broadly experienced team to develop the integration strategy for Baystate Health’s Eastern Region. The name Baystate Wing Hospital aspires to honor the hospital’s more-than-100-year history, and recognize the vision and contributions of the Wing family and the countless others who have contributed their time, talents, and money to making Wing the strong community health provider it is today, while also celebrating Wing’s new affiliation with Baystate Health.

Springfield College Named College of Distinction
SPRINGFIELD — Springfield College has again been identified as a 2014-15 College of Distinction for providing an innovative, teacher-centered undergraduate education with a strong record of preparing its graduates for real-world success. Colleges of Distinction is a college guide that for the last 15 years has recognized colleges it determines to be the best places to learn, grow, and succeed. The goal of Colleges of Distinction is to provide students, counselors, and parents with information about such schools. Colleges of Distinction describes schools that take a holistic approach to admissions decisions, consistently excel in providing undergraduate education, and have a national reputation. It also gives students, counselors, and parents an unbiased look at the college-admissions process. Colleges of Distinction looks at the myths surrounding college admissions, provides tools for self-assessment, and provides insights from college-admissions professionals, high-school counselors, students, and parents. Founded in 1885, Springfield College is known worldwide for the guiding principles of its Humanics philosophy — educating students in spirit, mind, and body for leadership in service to others. The college offers a range of undergraduate- and graduate-degree programs in the fields of health sciences, human and social services, sport management and movement studies, education, business, and the arts and sciences. It also offers doctoral programs in physical education, physical therapy, and counseling psychology. The college is ranked in the 2014 edition of Best Colleges in the top tier of “Best Regional Universities — North Region” by U.S. News Media Group, and is designated as a premier Leadership Development Center by the YMCA of the USA. More than 5,000 traditional, non-traditional, and international students study at its main campus in Springfield and its School of Human Services campuses across the country.

NBSB Cuts Ribbons in Ware, East Brookfield, and Three Rivers Village
NORTH BROOKFIELD — North Brookfield Savings Bank recently held ribbon-cutting events at its Ware, West Brookfield, and Three Rivers Village of Palmer branches. The events took place following the bank’s merger with FamilyFirst Bank in June. “North Brookfield Savings Bank is honored to be a part of these great communities and hopes to make a positive impact for businesses and individuals for years to come,” said NBSB President and CEO Donna Boulanger. “We look forward to being ‘where it’s at’ for specially tailored financial products and services, the best customer service, community support, and fun community events.” The ribbon cuttings drew current and prospective members of the Massachusetts Legislature. State Rep. Todd Smola attended the event at the Three Rivers Village branch, state Senate candidate Mike Valanzola attended the event at the Ware branch, and state Sen. Stephen Brewer and state Rep. Anne Gobi attended the East Brookfield branch ribbon cutting. In addition to carrying the North Brookfield Savings Bank name, the three new NBSB branches feature state-of-the-art banking for residents and businesses alike, while renovations to the 40-44 Main St., Ware branch will begin shortly to provide more cutting-edge banking services and access to the business bankers at the NBSB Business Center.

Advance Welding Relocates to Springfield
WEST SPRINGFIELD — After more than 36 years of doing business in West Springfield, Advance Welding will relocate to Brookdale Drive in Springfield on Sept. 2. “As our capabilities and customer base continue to grow, this move will improve our ability to process our customers’ work,” said Advance Welding President Christopher Kielb. The company is a provider of metal-joining services to the commercial, marine, nuclear, medical, aerospace, and defense industries. Its operations and management team will remain the same. The new address is 150 Brookdale Dr., and the phone number will remain (413) 734-4544.

Country Bank Contributes $14,500 to Local Schools
WARE — Country Bank surprised 29 local schools that participate in the bank’s Savings Makes Sense School Banking Program with $500 gift cards to Staples. Each school received the donation to help cover the cost of back-to-school supplies. “We know how difficult it is for the schools to have the supplies they need when budgets become tight,” said Jodie Gerulaitis, financial education officer for Country Bank. “They are truly so grateful and appreciative of this gift.” It is reported that teachers annually spend about $250 of their own money to purchase items for their classrooms. Country Bank wanted to help teachers who do so much for their students. Country Bank serves Central and Western Mass. with 15 offices in Ware, Palmer, Brimfield, Belchertown, Ludlow, Wilbraham, Paxton, Charlton, Leicester, and West Brookfield.

PeoplesBank Supports Women Business Owners
HOLYOKE — In support of the growth and success of women business owners, PeoplesBank is partnering with WomenUpFront to host a monthly, ongoing roundtable for women who have ownership and leadership responsibility and want to grow toward $1 million in annual revenue. The WomenUpFront Roundtable provides a learning forum for owners to get out of the weeds of the day-to-day routine and look at their businesses more purposefully and strategically. The objective of the roundtable is to help accelerate women entrepreneurs transition their businesses to the next level and place their companies in a better strategic position to access new opportunities and continue to prosper. The roundtable offers a curriculum designed for the small-business owners and will begin in September. For more information on WomenUpFront and membership criteria, contact Cathy Crosky at [email protected] or (413) 822-1263.

Berkshire Bank Wins Communicator Awards
PITTSFIELD — Berkshire Bank has received two Communicator Awards from the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts (AIVA). The bank received 2014 Silver Awards of Distinction in two categories, Commercials – Banks and Annual Report – Corporation. Each year, AIVA receives more than 6,000 entries from across the U.S. and around the world, making the Communicator Awards the largest and most competitive awards program honoring creative excellence for communications professionals. Berkshire’s television commercial for banks recognized by the Communicator Awards was its “Life Is Exciting. Let Us Help” spot developed by Berkshire Bank’s marketing department. The bank’s second Silver Award of Distinction from the Communicator Award was for its 2013 annual report. Founded in 1994, the Communicator Awards are judged and overseen by the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts, an organization of more than 600 leading professionals from various disciplines of the visual arts dedicated to embracing progress and the evolving nature of traditional and interactive media.

Baystate Health Celebrates Acquisition of Wing

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PALMER — Team members and leaders from Baystate Health and Baystate Wing Hospital joined elected officials and members of the Palmer community Friday to celebrate Wing’s official entry into the Baystate Health community. Wing formally became part of Baystate Health at midnight on Monday, September 1.

“Our community hospitals enable us to provide the right care, in the right place, at the right time for thousands of patients and their families,” said Dr. Mark Keroack, president and CEO of Baystate Health. “We expect the addition of Baystate Wing Hospital to have a major positive impact on quality, access, and affordability of healthcare in Western Massachusetts, and on our ability to continue to provide outstanding, high-value care for our patients close to where they live.

“Bringing two organizations together is a major undertaking, and doing it well requires vast amounts of teamwork and planning,” he added. “Over the last several months, I have witnessed the outstanding commitment and expertise of both Wing and Baystate Health team members, who are driven by the common desire to ensure a smooth transition for patients and families. I thank all who have contributed their energy and expertise to this transition. We’re proud to bring Wing into our organization, and we’re grateful to be welcomed so warmly into the Palmer community.”

Dr. Charles Cavagnaro III, president and CEO of Wing for the past 15 years and newly appointed president of Baystate Health’s Eastern Region, saluted his team’s grace in dealing with the change in ownership. “I’m so encouraged and so heartened by the way my colleagues at Wing have greeted this change with enthusiasm, open-mindedness, optimism, and hope — and by the way Baystate has eased the transition and greeted us with open arms. This new partnership has us well-positioned to meet the challenges of fulfilling our mission in a turbulent time in healthcare. It will take hard work, open minds, partnership, and commitment. And I believe our future is very bright.”

Baystate Health’s Eastern Region encompasses Baystate Mary Lane Hospital in Ware, Baystate Wing Hospital, and its affiliated medical centers. Collaborations between Baystate Mary Lane and Baystate Wing will be a key element of improving the delivery of care in the region, said Keroack. “We are committed to the success of Baystate Mary Lane and Baystate Wing, and are eager to explore innovative ways of working together that also provide new and exciting opportunities for physicians and all Baystate team members in the region.”

Baystate Wing Hospital is the third community hospital to join Baystate Health. Baystate Mary Lane Hospital became part of the health system in 1991, after Baystate Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield in 1986. Baystate Health acquired Wing Memorial Hospital from UMass Memorial Health Care, based in Worcester. The two health systems continue a collaborative relationship announced in September 2013.

Baystate Wing Hospital has been serving patients in the Palmer, Quaboag Hills, and Pioneer Valley region since 1913. The 74-bed hospital and its five community medical centers in Belchertown, Ludlow, Monson, Palmer, and Wilbraham offer emergency, diagnostic, medical, surgical, and psychiatric services as well as outpatient services provided by more than 50 medical staff and 165 registered nurses. Baystate Wing Hospital’s network also includes the Griswold Behavioral Health Center and the Wing VNA and Hospice.

Baystate Wing is fully accredited by the Joint Commission and is designated a Primary Stroke Service hospital by the Mass. Department of Public Health. It was also recently recognized by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as one of model hospitals promoting health and improving quality of life. Together, the hospital and its community medical centers are focused on high-quality, patient-centered care delivered by physicians specializing in 45 medical disciplines, including adult family medicine, internal medicine, geriatric medicine, ob/gyn, and pediatric medicine.

First Connecticut River Triathlon Welcomes Racers on Sept. 28

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NORTHFIELD — The only town in Massachusetts located on both sides of the fourth-largest river in the U.S., Northfield will be the scene of the first annual Great River Challenge Triathlon. The event will begin on Sunday, Sept. 28 at Northfield Mountain Recreation and Environmental Center’s riverfront park and extensive trail system located on Route 63.

Classified as a ‘non-traditional’ triathlon because it involves paddling rather than swimming, the Great River Challenge will be the first event of its kind in the Upper Pioneer Valley to use the broad Connecticut River. The Northfield Mountain recreational facility offers a number of advantages for racers and spectators, including a comfortable lodge, convenient parking, and a food-vendor area, amenities that most other race locations lack.

The race features a canoe/kayak/SUP leg, a trail run, and an off-road mountain-bike leg on scenic Northfield Mountain. The paddle leg will be a mass start from the center’s riverfront park, paddling out and back and around Captain Kidd’s Island over 5.2 miles. The running leg is a challenging 3.5 miles of single-track trails and groomed trails, followed by a 6.5-mile mountain-bike ride on mixed single-track and open trails.

Individuals and two-, three-, and four-person teams are welcome, and there is a junior division. Registrations start at $65 for individuals, with discounts for teams and half price for junior competitors (age 20 and under), plus a small sign-up fee at runsignup.com. Detailed information about the race, pre-registration and on-site registration, and pre-race activities can be found at www.greatriverchallenge.com.

Organizer David Thomas — an athlete, coach, and owner of Stellar Kayaks in Northfield — expects 150 racers and 500 spectators at the first of what he hopes will be an annual event. “We are excited to launch this event in Northfield, showcasing the unusual beauty and abundant natural features we have here, from the river to the surrounding mountains,” he said. Proceeds from the event will support Northfield Kiwanis programs for children and needy families and visitor programs produced by the Northfield Area Tourism Assoc.

Harpoon Brewery Co-founder to Speak at Old Sturbridge Village

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STURBRIDGE — Dan Kenary, co-founder and president of Harpoon Brewery, will speak about the history and success of New England’s largest craft brewery on Thursday, Sept. 25 at Old Sturbridge Village (OSV). His appearance is part of the village’s continuing OSV Overseers’ Distinguished Speaker Series.

Kenary, a Worcester native, will host a fun-filled evening of beer tasting paired with food samples and will share the story of Harpoon’s success. Doors open at 6 p.m., a cash bar is available, and Kenary’s program will begin at 7 p.m. In his talk, “How Passion, Continuous Improvement, and Grassroots Marketing Have Made Harpoon Brewery the Largest Craft Brewer in New England,” Kenary will recount how Harpoon introduced fresh, local craft beer to Boston in 1986, becoming the first brewery to commercially brew and bottle beer in Boston in more than 25 years.

“The big beer companies are like factories. What craft beer has done is to bring some local flavors,” he noted. “I’m bullish on better beer. We don’t believe in making beer we don’t like.”

Tickets are $45 per person, $40 for Old Sturbridge Village members. Attendees must be at least 21 years old. Seating is limited, and pre-registration is required. The event is sponsored by Spencer Bank. For more information, visit www.osv.org or call (800) 733-1830.

Old Sturbridge Village celebrates New England life in the 1830s and is one of the largest living-history museums in the country. The museum is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. OSV offers free parking and a free return visit within 10 days. Admission is $24, or $22 for seniors; $8 for children ages 3-17, and free to children 2 and under.

Noble Visiting Nurse & Hospice to Host Golf Tournament Sept. 19

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WESTFIELD — Noble Visiting Nurse & Hospice will host its fifth annual golf tournament on Friday, Sept. 19 at Tekoa Country Club in Westfield, to benefit the agency’s hospice program. The tournament will kick off with a shotgun start at noon. A dinner reception will follow. There will be cash prizes, including $25,000 for a hole in one, as well as a variety of raffle prizes.

“We look forward to our community’s involvement in the tournament this year as we strive to provide the utmost level of care for our patients,” said David Mol, CEO and president of Noble Visiting Nurse & Hospice.

Each year, the agency provides comprehensive home-health and hospice care to more than 1,400 local residents and their families. This year’s tournament proceeds will go toward hospice care, which offers comfort and dignity at the end of life when a cure is no longer possible and life expectancy is six months or less. Focused on providing care that manages the patient’s pain and related symptoms, hospice also addresses the emotional and spiritual needs of the entire family. “Your generous support ensures the success of this vital service and enables our loved ones to spend their final days where they are most comfortable — at home,” Mol said.

Those interested in participating in the golf tournament as players or sponsors can call Noble Visiting Nurse & Hospice office at (413) 562-7049 or visit noblehome.org.

Dawn Leaks Joins Leadership Pioneer Valley as Program Manager

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SPRINGFIELD — Leadership Pioneer Valley (LPV) announced that Dawn Leaks has joined the LPV team in the newly created position of program manager. In this role, Leaks will be responsible for managing LPV’s signature 10-month regional leadership development program and helping recruit future participants.

Leaks is a certified coach and speaker and adjunct professor of Business at Bay Path University. She joins Leadership Pioneer Valley after nearly five years in communications and development at the American Red Cross Pioneer Valley Chapter. As director of communications, she was responsible for public affairs, media relations, social media, and marketing communications.

In previous roles, she worked as recruiter for a mid-size public school system and an account executive for MassLive.com. She is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. and has served on several boards of local organizations, including Next Level Development for Women of Color and Dress for Success of Western Mass. She is an active board member at the New England Public Radio Foundation Inc.

Spots Still Open for Free Manufacturing Training Program

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HOLYOKE — There are still spots open for a free manufacturing production technician training program that begins Sept. 15.

The 10-week accelerated program is a joint effort between Holyoke Community College and Springfield Technical Community College, with support from the Mass. Community Colleges and Workforce Development Transformation Agenda, which is funded through a $20 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.

The program begins on Sept. 15 and runs Monday through Thursday, from 3:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., until Nov. 20. Classes are split between HCC’s Picknelly Adult & Family Education Center, 206 Maple St., Holyoke, and Dean Technical High School, 1045 Main St., Holyoke. Students will spend 160 hours in the classroom learning subjects such as machining, workplace math, measuring, instrumentation, communication, and production. Those who successfully complete the program will receive a certificate as a manufacturing production technician.

To register, contact Paul Sheehan at (413) 755-6504 or [email protected].

Cumberland Farms Celebrates Renovated Concept Store in Agawam

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Daily News

AGAWAM — Cumberland Farms announced the opening event of its store at 837 Suffield St. in Agawam. Featuring a modernized design and architectural features, the newly remodeled store will now offer a range of hot food items, from pizza to grilled hot dogs to fried favorites.

A grand-opening event on Sept. 9 will be held to celebrate the store’s opening and will also kick off a month-long fund-raiser for Agawam Parks & Recreation, an organization dedicated to providing quality recreation facilities, programs, and services to enhance quality of life for the residents of Agawam and Feeding Hills. Throughout the fund-raiser, 10 cents from every dispensed beverage purchased will be donated directly to the organization.

The Agawam store will celebrate its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony from 12:30-1:30 p.m., which will be open to the public. Attendees will be offered complimentary food from Cumberland Farms’ new menu, including pizza, chicken tenders, mozzarella sticks, and beverages like Farmhouse Blend Coffee and fountain and frozen flavors from the Chill Zone. Chris Sparks, director of Agawam Parks & Recreation, will also be on hand for the ceremony as Cumberland Farms kicks off its four-week fund-raising initiative for the organization.

Menck Windows Chairman to Keynote ACCGS Breakfast

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SPRINGFIELD — Menck Windows Chairman Bodo Liesenfeld will be the keynote speaker at the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield’s October Business@Breakfast on Oct. 1, at 7:15 a.m. at Twin Hills Country Club, 700 Wolf Swamp Road, Longmeadow.

The event will be hosted by WGBY Director of Public Affairs Jim Madigan and sponsored by United Personnel. Liesenfeld will present “Looking from the Outside In,” and discuss the benefits and strengths the region has to offer businesses interested in locating and relocating to Western Mass.

Menck Windows, a joint venture of Menck USA Inc. and Menck Fenster GmbH, of Hamburg, Germany, a 130-year-old, fourth-generation business that provides custom windows and doors in Europe, the Far East, and the U.S., recently opened the doors to its first U.S. manufacturing operation here in Western Mass.

Liesenfeld is managing partner of Liesenfeld International GmbH, a private investment enterprise. For nearly 30 years, he was CEO and chairman of German-based Rohde & Liesenfeld, an international air and sea freight-forwarding group with global presence. He is the honorary representative of the city of Hamburg to the Northeast region of the U.S. and serves as chairman of the German Latin America Business Assoc. Since making his home in Boston in mid-2009, he became a fellow at Harvard’s Weatherhead Center for International Affairs and chairman of the advisory board of the Berklee Global Jazz Institute. He is chairman of the board of the Latin America Business Assoc. and a board member of the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce, among other board positions in the U.S., Germany, and Latin America.

Reservations are $20 in advance for ACCGS members ($25 for member walk-in registration) and $30 for general admission. Reservations are suggested and can be made online at www.myonlinechamber.com.

Gov. Patrick Tapped as Breakfast Speaker at Business Expo

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Gov. Deval Patrick will be the breakfast speaker at the fourth annual Western Mass. Business Expo on Oct. 29. Tickets for the breakfast will be available through the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield. Contact ACCGS at (413) 787-1555 or visit www.myonlinechamber.com for more information.

The Western Mass. Business Expo, presented by BusinessWest, is a business-to-business show held at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, featuring more than 150 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 and MGM Springfield. Silver Sponsors are Health New England, DIF Design, Johnson & Hill Staffing, and MassMutual Financial Group. Education sponsor is the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst. Additional sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information on sponsorships or booth purchase, call (413) 781-8600.

Facebook Executive to Keynote Bay Path Cybersecurity Summit

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LONGMEADOW — Jennifer Lesser Henley, director of Security Operations for the social-media giant Facebook, will be the keynote speaker at Bay Path University’s second annual Cybersecurity Summit, “Security: Changing the Game,” on Friday, Sept. 5 in the Blake Student Commons. Breakfast begins at 7:30 a.m., with the lecture immediately following at 8 a.m.

The conference will address security in the world of social media and how everyone plays a role in keeping people safe and making the Internet a more secure place — and, particularly, how Facebook, the acknowledged game changer in social media, is approaching the new world of cybersecurity. Lesser Henley will also share how she has risen to the top and has become a leader in the cybersecurity profession. With more than 15 years of industry experience, she is responsible for organizational management, road map and budget for her team, along with program management for major initiatives within Facebook and for the community. Lesser Henley also coordinates awareness campaigns, most notably Facebook’s popular “Hacktober” events for National Cybersecurity Awareness Month in October.

Larry Snyder, who leads Bay Path’s Cybersecurity Management program, noted that, “in a world where information can be increasingly compromised over the Internet, the perspective from Facebook will be particularly valuable to attendees of the conference.”

The summit is presented by Bay Path’s Master of Science in Cybersecurity Management program, which was launched last October as the first of its kind in New England. The summit is free to attend and open to the public. To attend in person or virtually, register at graduate.baypath.edu. For more information, contact Ann Cantin at [email protected].

Leadership Holyoke Program Set to Commence

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Daily News

HOLYOKE — The Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce, Holyoke Community College, and PeoplesBank announced that the Leadership Holyoke program will commence this month. Leadership Holyoke is a training program that fosters and promotes leadership development and collaborative skills for success in the community and in the workplace.

The 2014 curriculum has been transformed to include new and exciting elements this year. The primary tier of Leadership Holyoke develops a group of emerging leaders that benefit the Holyoke community in providing experienced direction and support to local institutions. Leadership Holyoke advances individuals to rise to their potential by acquiring new skills and offers opportunities to network and interact with community and business leaders. Participants receive an indepth look at community resources, assets, and opportunities, and learn problem-solving skills for achieving change.

In addition to the primary leadership program, alumni or graduates of past Leadership Holyoke classes have a new opportunity to participate in a mentor-model advanced program. In alignment with the city’s goals and objectives, graduates will identify key challenges within the community and develop ideas and recommendations on how to assist in addressing those issues. This model will teach people how to be mentors in the community who will be able to support small and micro businesses and community-based organizations.

The third tier of Leadership Holyoke is the executive orientation tract. New CEOs and executive-level business people will be provided an orientation to the Holyoke community as well as an opportunity to meet key community and business leaders that can help orient and welcome them to Holyoke. In addition, the group culminates in a trip to the State House in Boston to meet with state legislators and key secretariats within state government.

The purpose of Leadership Holyoke, now in its 27th year, is to develop an ever-expanding core of men and women trained in leadership and business skills who are motivated to serve as volunteers in the many organizations in the Greater Holyoke community. The program commitment is one full day a month beginning on Sept. 18 and ending May 6. The cost of the program is $595 for the primary tract, $175 for the mentor tract, and $400 for the executive-level tract.

A community scholarship will be awarded for the primary tract. Any Holyoke resident interested in the primary program can submit a letter to the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce requesting the $300 scholarship stating why they feel that they should be considered for the scholarship. Letters of request need to be submitted to GHCC, 177 High St., Holyoke, MA 01040, or at [email protected], no later than Sept. 9 to be considered for the $300 discount.

For more information, call the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce at (413) 534-3376 or Holyoke Community College at (413) 552-2589.

Local Companies, Volunteers Gear Up for Day of Caring

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Daily News

PIONEER VALLEY — A sea of royal-blue “Live United” T-shirts will sweep over Western Mass. on Friday as volunteers for the United Way of Pioneer Valley’s 21st annual Day of Caring will head out for their assignments. Close to 1,000 volunteers make a difference during the annual United Way Day of Caring event on Sept. 5.

The Day of Caring is a great opportunity for team building and allows volunteers to make a hands-on impact in the community. Volunteers spend the day in a nonprofit agency in the Pioneer Valley, meeting needs by completing projects that organizations haven’t had the time, money, or staff to address.

“I have been fortunate enough to participate in the Day of Caring at least six or seven times, and each time I left the location feeling good about the job I was able to do, which helped make things a little easier or better for someone else,” said John Arooth, financial analyst at Westfield Bank, who participated in the 2013 Day of Caring. “It really is a rewarding feeling knowing that you were able to do things like brighten someone’s day, beautify an area park, or even make a child’s play area a little safer.”

Volunteers from 22 local companies will work this Friday on approximately 90 projects for 33 nonprofit organizations in the area. The 2014 Day of Caring sponsors are MassMutual Financial Group, Quabbin Wire, Balise, Harry Grodsky & Co. Inc., PeoplesBank, UTC Aerospace Systems – Machinists Union Local 743, Chicopee Savings Charitable Foundation, Columbia Gas of Massachusetts, People’s United Bank, Mestek Inc., United Bank, and Westfield Bank.

Dadanco Opens New Facility in Westfield

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WESTFIELD — Dadanco, a manufacturer of commercial hydronic-based heating and cooling products, including active chilled beams, induction units, and induction diffusers, announced the grand opening of its Luxton-Reed Center, with an open house to be held on Sept. 12, from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Luxton-Reed Center is aptly named after two industry pioneers for heating and cooling technologies: professor Russell Luxton of Australia, the co-founder of Dadanco, and John Reed of Westfield, the founder of several hydronic heating companies, including Sterling Residential & Commercial Hydronics, which are divisions of Mestek Inc., the largest manufacturer of finned-tube baseboard radiation in North America.

The Luxton-Reed Center (LRC) is a unique facility focused on research and development and specific high-efficiency equipment testing utilizing a thermal-scenario test chamber which accurately measures air and water flow, temperature, and capacities. The test chamber is highly configurable and can simulate actual real-life application conditions. Alongside the LRC corporate offices are several live-fire training and showcase spaces. Each space meticulously represents an actual real-world installation, including a hotel suite, hospital room, and laboratory. The hotel suite is one of the most technically complex demonstration spaces in the LRC facility, as the room features a thermal wall with glass façade which simulates outside conditions and three different types of hydronic cooling solutions, so guests get to compare and contrast without leaving the room.

LRC’s main mechanical room is host to multiple high-efficiency products produced by other Westfield-based Mestek companies, including condensing cast-iron boilers from Advanced Thermal Hydronics, flexible small-duct air distribution, and reverse-cycle chiller systems by SpacePak, direct outside air systems by Applied Air, hydronic fan coils by Airtherm, and integrated control systems by HeatNet. The facility is a fully operational showroom and research center for high-efficiency indoor comfort equipment and integrated control platforms.

Every room, including the offices, the classroom/training room, the videoconferencing room, and the kitchen/break room, houses various mediums of high-efficiency air-distribution equipment. LRC is green throughout, protecting the environment with high-efficiency, low-emission equipment in operation while producing power through the use of 408 solar panels installed on the roof, generating approximately 100,000 kWhr annually. Each panel generates up to 245 watts of renewable energy annually, resulting in more than 120 days of facility operation at net zero.

MBK’s Christopher Marini Appointed to SSO Board of Trustees

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HOLYOKE — Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C. announced the appointment of Christopher Marini to the board of trustees for the Springfield Symphony Orchestra. In addition to serving on the board, Marini will also be serving on the audience development and education committee.

“As a practicing accountant and professional music teacher, I am able to bring a unique skill set to the business role I will play on the board of trustees,” said Marini. “I am looking forward to applying my knowledge and abilities in these two diverse fields toward a common goal. During my years teaching, I have come to realize the profound effects that playing an instrument can have on people. I’m excited to be placed in a role that gives me the ability to reach out to the community and spread the gift of music.”

Marini has been an audit associate with the firm for just over one year, specializing in nonprofits and HUD, reviews and compilations, and income-tax returns for individuals, nonprofits, corporations, and partnerships. Before coming to MBK, he worked for two years at a local public accounting firm.

Marini earned a BBA from the UMass Amherst Isenberg School of Management and Commonwealth Honors College. He is currently pursuing his MSA at UConn. He is a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma International Business Honor Society and the Massachusetts Society of CPAs.

Berkshire Bank Wins Two 2014 Communicator Awards

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PITTSFIELD — Berkshire Bank has received two Communicator Awards from the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts (AIVA). The bank received 2014 Silver Awards of Distinction in two categories, Commercials – Banks and Annual Report – Corporation. Each year, AIVA receives more than 6,000 entries from across the U.S. and around the world, making the Communicator Awards the largest and most competitive awards program honoring creative excellence for communications professionals.

Berkshire’s television commercial for banks recognized by the Communicator Awards was its “Life Is Exciting. Let Us Help” spot developed by Berkshire Bank’s marketing department. The animated spot features Berkshire Bank’s spokesperson, banking-services endorser, and nine-time national champion and Hall of Fame basketball coach Geno Auriemma, as the voiceover. The spot was broadcast throughout New England and New York in support of Berkshire Bank’s “Life Is Exciting” campaign in which the institution targeted consumers to help them find and fund their exciting moments. Berkshire Bank’s second Silver Award of Distinction from the Communicator Award was for its 2013 annual report.

Founded in 1994, the Communicator Awards are judged and overseen by the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts, an organization of more than 600 leading professionals from various disciplines of the visual arts dedicated to embracing progress and the evolving nature of traditional and interactive media.

Business Growth Center Expands Programming for Entrepreneurs

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Business Growth Center at Springfield Technology Park has received a grant from the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corp. (MGCC) to help underserved or disadvantaged business owners in the Pioneer Valley grow, or stabilize, their enterprises.

The funds will enable the center to continue its Stronger Businesses Program, starting Oct. 7, and supplement funding for its staff. This is the second time the Business Growth Center has received this MGCC grant for the Stronger Businesses Program, which focuses on businesses with fewer than 20 employees. An assistant program manager will also be added to the center’s staff to support its Growth Advisory Program and seminars.

The grant is part of the MGCC’s 2015 Small Business Assistance Grants Program, which is designed to complement and enhance the traditional public and private small-business assistance network. The Business Growth Center is one of 30 organizations statewide to receive 25 grants, and the only one in Hampden or Hampshire county to receive funding from the MGCC.

“Businesses with fewer than 20 employees dominate the Pioneer Valley,” said Marla Michel, the Business Growth Center’s director. “They will benefit from this support, as it allows us to re-offer a proven business-growth workshop and build our capacity for other growth programs.”

The Stronger Businesses Program is an eight-session, in-depth offering for motivated leaders of for-profit and nonprofit businesses aiming to strengthen their organizations and accelerate growth through better decision making, new-product introductions, and more efficient operations. The program starts on Oct. 7 and, after a five-week ‘homework’ period, runs from Nov. 12 to Dec. 23. Business owners can bring an associate at no additional charge to help absorb what they learn more effectively.

Discounts are available to members of all the regional chambers of commerce and the Western Mass. chapter of the National Machine and Tooling Assoc., as well as clients of the Business Growth Center’s service providers: the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network, the New England Business Associates Business Development Center, and SCORE.

Participants in last year’s program reported increased business stabilization or growth as a result of the program. “If I hadn’t taken this class, my company wouldn’t have been in as upward a position as it is,” said Kristin Maier, program participant and president of Peerless Precision Inc. in Westfield.

Added Leslie Belay, senior program manager at MGCC, “we are pleased to have the Business Growth Center as one of our grantees in Western Mass. Their Stronger Businesses Program is compelling and will assist small-business owners in expanding their products and services to meet new growth opportunities in the Pioneer Valley.”

Registration is open for the Stronger Businesses Program and available on the center’s website.

Falcons Name Andy Zilch Manager of Broadcasting

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SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Falcons announced that Andy Zilch will join the organization as the team’s play-by-play broadcaster and manager of broadcasting.

Zilch comes to the Falcons after spending two seasons with the Greenville Road Warriors of the East Coast Hockey League. While being the voice of the team, he also oversaw media relations and served as an account executive. The St. Louis native generated several corporate partnerships and was strongly involved in the community. The majority of his donated time was spent assisting the local children’s hockey program. Prior to his time with the Road Warriors, Zilch served two years in the National Hockey League as a broadcast intern with the St. Louis Blues. He also spent time with the National Football League’s St. Louis Rams on the team’s radio network.

A 2009 graduate of Lindenwood University in Missouri, Zilch entered broadcasting as the play-by-play broadcaster for the men’s hockey team on KCLC, the student radio station. He has a bachelor’s degree in mass communications with an emphasis on radio and television.

Columbia Gas Donates Equipment, Training to Rescue Team

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EASTHAMPTON — Columbia Gas of Massachusetts has donated three natural-gas combustible indicators (CGIs) to the Western Massachusetts Technical Rescue Team (WMTRT).

Founded in January 2014, the WMTRT provides specialized skills and equipment not generally found in local fire departments, and is now available to all fire departments within the region. The donation included on-site professional training in the use of the equipment.

Confined-space rescue is just one of the many unique situations to which the WMTRT responds. Confined spaces can contain hazardous materials in liquid or gas forms. When responding to such a situation, specialized equipment is necessary to monitor the air for the displacement of oxygen and the presence of explosive or toxic gases. The donation of three CGIs to the rescue team allows it to perform an initial assessment of the atmosphere before entering the confined space. This exercise ensures the protection of the team and the public served.


Smith Tescier, Columbia Gas field operations leader, and Andrea Luppi, manager of communications and community relations for CMA, presented the CGIs to Capt. Rebecca Boutin of the Westfield Fire Department and members of the WMTRT at a training session at the Columbia Gas Easthampton maintenance facility. “We consider all fire departments and their personnel important partners in the communities we serve,” Luppi said. “Any chance we have to aid in their public-safety mission, we undertake gladly.”

PeoplesBank Offers Support to Women Business Owners

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HOLYOKE — In support of the growth and success of women business owners, PeoplesBank is partnering with WomenUpFront to host a monthly, ongoing roundtable for women who have ownership and leadership responsibility and want to grow toward $1 million in annual revenue.

The WomenUpFront Roundtable provides a learning forum for owners to get out of the weeds of the day-to-day routine and look at their businesses more purposefully and strategically. The objective of the roundtable is to help accelerate women entrepreneurs transition their businesses to the next level and place their companies in a better strategic position to access new opportunities and continue to prosper.

The roundtable offers a curriculum designed for the small-business owners and will begin in September. For more information on WomenUpFront and membership criteria, contact Cathy Crosky at [email protected] or (413) 822-1263.

Sarah Mazzaferro Joins ACCGS as Member Services Director

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield (ACCGS) announced that Sarah Mazzaferro has joined the ACCGS team as its member services director, succeeding long-time director Cecile Larose, who retired in July.

Mazzaferro will be responsible for the sale and enrollment of new memberships and the retention of existing memberships to meet growth objectives. She will also manage the existing member-benefits program, recruit and manage new-member benefits, identify and implement affinity programs, and manage the membership database. Working with the entire ACCGS team, Mazzaferro will organize and execute member events, serve as the primary administrative and registration support at events, and oversee both the ACCGS golf and ambassadors committees.

Mazzaferro comes to the ACCGS with nearly 15 years of experience with customer and member services, human resources, and special-event planning. An ACCGS ambassador, Mazzaferro is well-versed in the ACCGS, its affiliates, and member services, and served in that capacity for the past two years, assisting the ACCGS at events, new-member visits, and as committee secretary.

Most recently, she was a senior staffing consultant with United Personnel, responsible for recruitment strategies and client relationships. Prior to that, she served in numerous sales, recruitment, and membership capacities with JCPenney, Daytona Employment, the Ladies Professional Golf Assoc., and International Speedway Corp. in her native Florida.

Isenberg’s Hossein Kazemi Named Distinguished Professor in Finance

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Daily News

AMHERST — Hossein Kazemi, professor of Finance at the UMass Amherst’s Isenberg School of Management, has been named the Michael and Cheryl Philipp Distinguished Professor in Finance. The appointment was approved by the UMass board of trustees. The endowed professorship was most recently held by Thomas Schneeweis, who retired in 2013.

In recommending him for the appointment, UMass Amherst Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy and James Staros, provost and senior vice chancellor for academic affairs, told the trustees that Kazemi has a long and distinguished record in research, service, and teaching.

“It is a great honor to be the second recipient of this chair and to follow in the footsteps of Tom Schneeweis, a highly respected and cited financial economist,” said Kazemi. “Michael and Cheryl have been strong supporters of the Isenberg School and its finance department by endowing this chair as well as providing the initial funding for the Center for International Securities and Derivative Markets (CISDM).” Kazemi thanked his colleagues and Mark Fuller, Isenberg’s dean, for their strong support.

In research, Subbaswamy and Staros note that, beginning in 1988, Kazemi published four papers on asset pricing models using alternative tests in top-tier journals. He did this as a sole author, something observers in the field have called “amazing.” Two of the papers were published in the Journal of Finance, one in the Review of Financial Studies, and one in the Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis.

In the early 2000s, when the Isenberg School acquired a large hedge-fund database, Kazemi turned his focus to hedge funds. He is currently the director of the CISDM, and he helped with the acquisition of the Morningstar CISDM Database. Kazemi helped establish the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) Assoc., which helps promote education in the area of alternative investments and provides professional designation. He is also the editor of the Journal of Alternative Investments and is the founder of Alternative Investments Analyst Review, a practitioner-oriented journal.

Kazemi’s contribution to the establishment and leadership of the CAIA Assoc. is a rare accomplishment in academia, particularly business schools, Subbaswamy and Staros said. It leverages his knowledge in the area of alternative investment to create an organization that is dedicated to the promotion of professional development through continuing education, innovative research, and thoughtful leadership, and is an advocate for high standards of professional ethics.

In addition to his record in research and service, Kazemi has made contributions to the teaching mission at UMass Amherst, Subbaswamy and Staros said. He played an important role in revising the Isenberg School’s doctoral program, helping improve its quality and support of doctoral students and serving as Ph.D. program director from 1998 to 2002. Kazemi served on more than 30 dissertation committees and chaired 18 of them. Many of his former students have gone on to notable positions in academia and industry. Kazemi’s nomination for the appointment was also unanimously supported by four outside reviewers, all holders of endowed positions at comparable universities.

Kazemi joined the univeristy in 1986, was promoted to associate professor with tenure in 1992, and promoted to professor in 2004. He earned his bachelor’s degree in 1977 at the National Iranian Oil Co. College of Accounting & Finance, his master’s degree in 1980 at Eastern Michigan Univeristy, and a doctorate in finance in 1986 at the Univeristy of Michigan.

Adam Brassard Returns to Williams Inn as Executive Chef

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Daily News

WILLIAMSTOWN — Main Street Hospitality Group (MSHG) announced that Adam Brassard has been appointed to the position of executive chef of the Williams Inn. His responsibilities include all kitchen operations and menu development.

Brassard’s appointment marks his return to the Williams Inn. In 2007, he began his professional culinary career as the Williams Inn sous chef. From there, he joined the Red Lion Inn as sous chef under the leadership of Red Lion Inn Executive Chef and MSHG Vice President of Food and Beverage Operations Brian Alberg.

“Adam has worked hard to develop his skills as a talented chef and leader in our community,” Alberg said. “He is the perfect candidate to spread MSHG’s culinary vision into North County, and I know he will be a force in the culinary scene there and beyond.”

Brassard’s return to the Williams Inn ushers in a new culinary philosophy. The inn is now using regional, seasonal ingredients, tapping into the Red Lion Inn’s network of more than 80 regional farmers and food producers. Brassard is proud of the change and what it means for the inn. “Using fresh, local ingredients not only supports our farmers and community, but is also a big step in producing a great dining experience for our guests,” he said.

The inn has debuted new menus for all meals and changed the dining hours at its two on-site dining establishments, a main dining room and tavern. Menus are an updated, modern take on traditional New England and American fare. MSHG began managing the Williams Inn in May 2014 after it was purchased by Williams College.

“We are excited to have Adam return to the Williams Inn. He is a great fit for culinary leadership at the property, and we’re looking forward to the inn’s new culinary direction,” said MSHG CEO Sarah Eustis.

A native of Adams, Mass., Brassard began his career as an intern in the McCann Technical High School Culinary Arts department and went on to graduate from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y., in 2007. Brassard has participated in numerous farm-to-table events and food and wine festivals throughout the Berkshires, New York’s Hudson Valley, Boston, and New York City.

Brassard also works with the Railroad Street Youth Project, demonstrating culinary techniques to young adults; is on the advisory board of the Culinary Arts department at McCann Technical High School; and takes part in judging projects for Skills USA, a local, state, and national competition among technical high schools. Brassard has cooked at the renowned James Beard House in New York City, working alongside Alberg.