October 7, 2014 - BusinessWest

It’s All Relative

By BusinessWest Staff October 7, 2014

Cover Story

Family Business Center Marks 20 Years of Dispensing Insight

Director Ira Bryck

There’s a small sign in front of a parking space near the front door of Notch Mechanical Constructors in Chicopee declaring that it is reserved for Roger Neveu, who founded the company 41 years ago.

He has rarely parked there in recent years, said his son, Steve, one of five siblings now managing the venture, noting that his father stops by once in a while, but considers himself fully retired. The parking space, he said, is a way to recognize the past and the elder Neveu’s vision and drive, and, in a way, it serves as a symbolic bridge between the generations — a way of saying that, while the company’s creator isn’t physically there most of the time, he still has an important place in the enterprise.

Of course, the process of building an actual bridge between the generations managing a business is much more difficult than creating a designated parking space, and this concept of having a ‘place’ is quite complicated as well. And it was these simple realities that helped drive the creation of what is now known as the UMass Amherst Family Business Center, which this month will celebrate 20 years of helping businesses like Notch achieve successful transitions — and also negotiate countless problems that arise when several people with the same last name are running an operation.

The center’s executive director, the colorful Ira Bryck, said the agency was founded through the inspiration of a number of professionals and business advisers, many of whom still serve as strategic partners, and was also part of a movement in the early and mid-’90s to establish university-based education programs for family businesses.

“It became clear to a lot of expert advisers that they needed a sort of safe-harbor environment to be able to talk with business owners about a lot of issues that they normally would not be able to talk with them about if they were just doing their taxes or helping them with some legal issue,” said Bryck, adding that the center has certainly filled this role effectively over the years.

And this is one of many reasons why, two decades or more after many family business centers were established, the UMass facility is one of a relatively few that are, well, still in business.

Other reasons include Bryck’s persistence and imagination when it comes to creating value for members, and his ability to enable the center to evolve over the years and broaden its scope. For example, the center is no longer exclusively for family businesses — it also assists closely held operations — and has extended its main focus to all that it takes for a business to succeed in a changing and challenging climate.

It does so mostly through the many dinner meetings staged annually, during which speakers with a wide range of backgrounds provide insight on the myriad issues facing businesses today, and attendees are given some thoughts — and inspiration — on how to take these lessons back to their plants and offices and implement them.

Roger Neveu, who founded Notch Mechanical Constructors and later was bought out by five of his siblings, sought out the UMass Amherst Family Business Center for help on succession issues.

But it’s also done through a new weekly radio program called The Western Mass. Business Show with Ira Bryck, blogs and other forms of social media, and a host of other media. Summing it all up, Bryck likes to borrow the phrase “marketplace of ideas.”

And it’s a unique marketplace, he went on, because membership crosses virtually all business sectors, from manufacturing to retail to technology, and while these industries have their unique challenges, there are issues and concerns common to all ventures.

“There have been many good conversations where people have gained a broader perspective because they’re talking to people who are not in their industry,” he explained. “Everyone would like to think that they can think outside the box, but what’s really helpful is to talk to someone who’s not in your box.”

Kent Pecoy, founder and owner of West Springfield-based Kent Pecoy Homes, and a long-time member, agreed. He told BusinessWest that he enjoys the diverse nature of the membership and the perspective provided by business owners facing similar issues.

Pecoy said he’s probably years away from dealing with succession issues at the company, but there are still plenty of matters for which he can use that aforementioned safe harbor, many of them involving his son, Jason, who has worked at the company since he was in high school and has been going to work with his father for as long as he can remember.

“Working with my son all the time is a blessing, but it’s not without its challenges,” he said with a laugh.

For this issue, BusinessWest pauses at the center’s 20th anniversary to discuss with Bryck and others how this organization has made an important difference within the local business community.

Public Relations

By now, most in this region know about Bryck’s background, and specifically the many years he spent working beside his parents at the children’s clothing outlet called Barasch’s Kids Store on Long Island.

Kent Pecoy, a long-time member of the Family Business Center, says working with his son, Jason, is a blessing, but is “not without its challenges.”

What was supposed to be one summer at the family business turned out to be closer to 17 years, said Bryck, who has imparted lessons from his experiences at the store and with family businesses in general to center members — and a host of other audiences — in a number of ways.

These include the writing of three plays — A Tough Nut to Crack, based on his time at Barasch’s, as well as The Perils of Pauline’s Family Business and Wait Till Your Father Gets Home — which are still performed on occasion.

But while Bryck became proficient as a playwright, his greater talents have been selling the center to the region’s business community, connecting members with resources, and implementing change within the agency when necessary to maintain relevance.

Retracing the history of the center, Bryck reiterated that it was part of a national trend to create programs focused on family businesses and the issues facing them. MassMutual was at the forefront of that movement, eventually becoming involved with more than 50 centers, and one of its financial advisers, Charlie Epstein, president of Epstein Financial Services, was instrumental in getting the center off the ground.

Epstein’s company remains a strategic partner, along with First Niagara Bank, Giombetti Associates, the law firm Bulkley Richardson, the accounting firm Meyers Brothers Kalicka, and Touchstone Advisors. These partners provide financial and advisory support, as well as input on the center’s mission and the process of carrying it out, said Bryck.

Ross Giombetti, a principal with Hampden-based Giombetti Associates, which provides employee assessment, leadership training, recruitment, and other services, has been a strategic partner from the beginning. He said the center has been successful in fulfilling the safe-harbor role, and in providing a unique forum in which business owners can learn from each other and, in the process, often avoid costly missteps.

“We needed a forum where family business leaders — siblings, husbands, and wives — felt comfortable talking about their issues and the dynamics of operating their business,” he explained, “and also where they could learn from other successful family businesses and professionals, do things better, and perhaps avoid some of the mistakes they made.”

The center hosts six dinner forums each year as well as several workshops and roundtable discussions focused on strategic questions, said Bryck, adding that this year the schedule will include a 20th-anniversary party on Oct. 14 at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House.

There will be much to celebrate at that event, said Bryck, adding that the center remains vibrant, with more than 60 member businesses, including several that have been involved from the beginning, and it continues to evolve and expand its role.

In fact, there was talk a few years ago of changing the name to the UMass Family and Closely Held Business Center, said Bryck, adding that a consensus emerged that the family business was still an effective niche, and the main point of emphasis. However, a new slogan — “a continuing resource for family and closely held businesses” — was adopted to drive home the broader mission, which has come about out of necessity in many ways, he said.

Elaborating, Bryck told BusinessWest that many operations that were family businesses — concerns run by multiple generations or several members of the same generation — are now sole proprietorships or concerns with one owner, with managers who still need the type of support and services the center has provided.

“There were a lot of family businesses that became non-family businesses,” he explained, adding that he’s not sure how national or global this phenomenon is, but does know it’s a pattern regionally. “There are still a lot of multi-generational families in business, but around here, parents retired or passed away, the kids took over … and sometimes the siblings or cousins in business realized that it wasn’t the same and they didn’t get along that well since the parents left. So a lot of family businesses went back to sole owner.

“So we said, ‘are all of these people who are suddenly sole owners or have brought in partners who are not family no longer our concern?’” he went on, adding that all those quickly determined that he answer to that question was ‘no.’ “There were many people who were still interested in what we do, so we started focusing more on the issues of small and medium-sized businesses in Western Mass. and what they needed to succeed.”

Mostly, what they need is insight into coping with the many challenges of doing business today, Bryck noted, adding that members get this through both the speakers he brings to the dinner forums and the other members in the room.

“A business owner or key manager who comes to the meetings gets as much out of the program from discussing issues with other business owners in the room as they might get from the presenter,” he explained, adding that, while speakers will devote most of their time to dissecting an issue, they will leave some for interactive discussion about how attendees can apply what they’ve learned to their operation.

“We’re working more and more on how companies are actually going to implement what they’ve learned, because someone could come in with a grand theory of some kind, and a very practical owner of a small or medium-sized company is going to say, ‘I could use this or that piece of it,’” said Bryck, adding that he’s considering an additional set of roundtable programs or follow-up workshops devoted to the process of implementation.

Not Child’s Play

Notch Mechanical Constructors had been a member for several years, and is now ‘member emeritus,’ a more limited type of membership, said Steve Neveu, who serves as president, adding that the center has played a significant role in what he described as a smooth transition in ownership from his father to the five siblings that take titles ranging from vice president to ‘crew leader.’

“It’s a nice division of labor,” he told BusinessWest, adding that all five worked in their business while their father was running it and they get along, two attributes that certainly help in the challenging environment that is the family business.

“We’re a close family,” he noted. “Like any set of partners, you don’t always see eye to eye on things, but we manage to work things out cleanly and get to the bottom of issues.”

Neveu doesn’t remember the specific circumstances that led to Notch joining the center — whether Bryck reached out to his father or vice versa, or whether a consultant recommended joining — but he can clearly recall a number of occasions when the agency, through its various programs, provided valuable insight to the family, not only about succession, but on a host of other issues as well.

“This was about the time when my father was starting to consider how to pass this on to the next generation and how to do that well,” he recalled. “I had been talking with him about it — I was his president, and he was CEO — and we thought joining the Family Business Center made sense on many levels.

“I have an MBA, but one of things you find is that they don’t talk about these kinds of issues in school,” he went on. “The center offered a unique forum, a way to learn about this whole process. We were a well-functioning family business at the time, but it’s different when you have one owner.”

Neveu said the center, through the speakers at its dinner forums, focused on issues both broad and specific, and in many cases, the subject matter involved something not covered in a textbook or in business school — such as the issue of whether to make siblings not involved in the family business shareholders.

“A lot of companies do that, but I remember a speaker at one of the dinner meetings saying that such a scenario is fraught with difficulty,” he recalled. “When a parent has two children in the business and two outside the business and gives them all equal shares, you can create a division there because there will be different perspectives, and you open up an area for complications when you do that.

“I remember meeting with my father and taking about it, and we decided it made sense to keep the business with those in the business,” he went on. “It was an understanding of what’s healthy, and example of how you really need to think things through when you make important decisions like that.”

Another matter the center has been helpful with is something Neveu called the “hat concept.” Elaborating, he said the owners of a family business like Notch will wear many hats representing their various roles — as employees, board members, and shareholders — and it’s important to remember to keep them straight.

“People need to know which hat they’re wearing and understand the authority and responsibility that goes with each hat,” he explained.

Neveu said speakers at the center’s meetings rarely provide direct advice, but they will explain the parameters of a specific issue and, thereby, help members make smart decisions.

Pecoy agreed, and told BusinessWest that, unlike most other business groups he belongs to or serves as a board member, such as a homebuilders association, the Family Business Center has members across a host of industries, all facing similar issues and challenges in an ever-more-competitive global economy. This mix, and the interactive dialogue it creates, has helped nurture a unique learning environment, one that provides attendees with both perspective and insight.

“This is more widespread and diverse,” he said of the center, “and you get to see how similar all businesses are. It doesn’t make any difference whether you’re in manufacturing or construction — it’s amazing how similar the issues are, and this has been a great takeaway from our involvement.

“And our employees get an entirely different take on things,” he continued, adding that several will attend the center’s dinner meetings over the course of a year. “They begin to see how difficult it is for a business owner and the many challenges he or she faces. It’s a great forum for them to listen to other business owners, which is important, because they see it on some level within my organization, but when you hear other business people in different organizations talk about the same thing, it solidifies it or brings more credibility.”

The Bottom Line

While Pecoy, 56, jokes that it might be 20 years or more before he gets around to transitioning his business to the next generation, he admits that he thinks about succession all the time, primarily because it is one of the main focal points for many of the center’s speakers over the years.

“One of the best lines I’ve heard goes something like, ‘when the owner of the business walks out, no one even hears the door close,’” he told BusinessWest, adding that this colorful wording refers to a completely seamless transition.

These rarely happen in business, but because of the Family Business Center and its informative programming, that complicated matter — and countless others — have become easier for dozens of businesses to negotiate.

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

Court Dockets

By BusinessWest Staff October 7, 2014

Court Dockets Departments

The following is a compilation of recent lawsuits involving area businesses and organizations. These are strictly allegations that have yet to be proven in a court of law. Readers are advised to contact the parties listed, or the court, for more information concerning the individual claims.

CHICOPEE DISTRICT COURT

DeMarys Nieves and Megan Seymour, through her father and next friend, Robert Seymour v. Lane Construction

Allegation: Negligence in repair of a manhole, so that its cover came off, striking the plaintiff’s car and causing personal injury: $5,647.12

Filed: 8/8/14

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT

Andrew R. Shadduck v. GMAC Mortgage, LLC and GMAC Bank

Allegation: Wrongful foreclosure: $100,000

Filed: 9/3/14

Chicopee Concrete Services Inc. v. W.J. Mountford Co. and Western Surety Co.

Allegation: Breach of contract for concrete services provides: $83,693.75

Filed: 9/8/14

Garreb Cox v. Massachusetts Property Insurance Underwriting Associates

Allegation: Refusal to pay homeowners insurance claim: $200,000

Filed: 9/2/14

Ted Ondrick Co., LLC v. Sentry Services Inc. and Rehab. Institute of Western Mass., LLC

Allegation: Non-payment for labor and materials: $169,610.19

Filed: 8/26/14

HAMPSHIRE SUPERIOR COURT

Anthony Rodriques v. Mark Medaugh, DDS

Allegation: Dental malpractice: $1,200

Filed: 9/15/14

John Regish and CBR Realty Corp. v. Paul Savage, Esq. and Bacon Wilson, P.C.

Allegation: Legal malpractice and breach of contract: $437,636

Filed: 8/4/14

Marion Excavating Co. Inc. v. Mountainbrook, LLC

Allegation: Non-payment of services rendered: $89,755.36

Filed: 8/6/14

NORTHAMPTON DISTRICT COURT

Laurel Neathawk v. Southampton Housing for the Elderly Inc.

Allegation: Failure to maintain plumbing in safe and adequate manner causing second-degree burns: $5,067

Filed: 8/29/14

The Robert Baker Co. v. Angelo’s Golden Harvest Inc.

Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $7,169.01

Filed: 8/26/14

U.S. Foods Inc. v. Spoleto Inc. d/b/a Pizzeria Paradiso and Claudio Guerra

Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $25,000

Filed: 9/14/14

SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT

Castella Imports Inc. v. Lansal Inc. d/b/a Hot Mama’s Foods

Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $10,985.26

Filed: 8/22/14

Nancy Rossi v. Northeast Specialty Corp. d/b/a Nescor

Allegation: Breach of contract and failure to perform work or refund deposit: $11,936

Filed: 8/28/14

New England Fire and Security Inc. v. Hub Electric Inc.

Allegation: Non-payment of services rendered: $4,908.31

Filed: 8/29/14

Perkins Paper, LLC v. Crust Pizza and Deli, LLC and Eleni and Nicholas Eliopoulos

Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $5,441.65

Filed: 9/15/14

Building Permits

By BusinessWest Staff October 7, 2014

Building Permits Departments

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

AMHERST

Yosrex, L.P.
266 East Hadley Road
$26,800 — New roof

CHICOPEE

Hampden Charter School of Science
20 Johnson Road
$10,500 — Interior renovations

Orange Brick Management, LLC
37 Spring St.
$26,000 — Interior renovations

St. Anne Church
30 College St.
$35,000 — Replace 16 windows

LUDLOW

Randall’s Farm
631 Center St.
$7,000 — Alterations

NORTHAMPTON

Aaron Demaio
264 Elm St.
$6,000 — Renovate second-floor office

Cooligde Northampton, LLC
243 King St.
$105,000 — Expand to adjacent office space

Douglas Thomas
196 Pleasant St.
$7,000 — Install fourth-floor toilet

Gretna Green Development Corporation
118 Conz St.
$180,000 — Renovations for dispensary

Northampton Park Garage
Armory St.
$150,000 — Replace parking access and revenue equipment

Pulaski Park Academy of Music
274 Main St.
$304,000 — Interior renovations

Smith College
186 Elm St.
$6,000 — Construct non-bearing walls and doorway

SOUTH HADLEY

McCray’s Farm
59 Alvord St.
$26,000 — Roof work

McCray’s Farm
59 Alvord St.
$20,500 — Renovations

Mount Holyoke College
50 College St.
$35,000 — Repairs

Wingate
573 Granby Road
$6,000 — Install doors

SPRINGFIELD

Springfield College
263 Alden St.
$80,000 — Construct 12 new offices in existing space

WESTFIELD

Noble Hospital
115 West Silver St.
$51,000 — New stairs and sidewalk

Westfield Housing Authority
306 Elm St.
$30,000 — New window and doors

WEST SPRINGFIELD

30 Magaziner Realty, LLC
333 Park St.
$258,000 — Strip and re-roof

Century Investments Company
171 Park Ave.
$150,000 — Renovate 2,129 square feet for dental office

West Springfield Boys and Girls Club Inc.
593-657 Main St.
$17,500 — Renovate existing activity room

Real Estate Transactions

By BusinessWest Staff October 7, 2014

Departments Real Estate

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

FRANKLIN COUNTY

BERNARDSTON

21 Bald Mountain Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Ronald G. McConnell
Seller: Michael P. Amand
Date: 08/29/14

51 Chapin Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $414,000
Buyer: Harry Vanbaaren
Seller: Michael R. Duprey
Date: 09/05/14

179 West Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $520,000
Buyer: Mark J. Laprade
Seller: Scott M. Digeorge
Date: 09/04/14

BUCKLAND

35 Avery Road
Buckland, MA 01339
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Marc H. Dodson
Seller: Ann E. Frost
Date: 08/28/14

CONWAY

120 Parsons Hill Dr.
Conway, MA 01341
Amount: $437,000
Buyer: Nicholas Lacasse
Seller: John B. Willett
Date: 08/26/14

585 South Shirkshire Road
Conway, MA 01341
Amount: $410,000
Buyer: Anna G. Meyer
Seller: Carol Grossmann
Date: 09/05/14

DEERFIELD

52 Graves St.
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $268,500
Buyer: Meredith Southergrill
Seller: David Markland
Date: 08/29/14

81 North Main St.
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $225,400
Buyer: Jason A. Clark
Seller: Donald A. Cerow
Date: 09/02/14

168 Whately Road
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $239,900
Buyer: Susan L. Hacker
Seller: David J. Decker
Date: 08/29/14

4 Yellow Farm Road
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Richard C. Fadus
Seller: Erik E. Lagoy
Date: 08/27/14

ERVING

15 West High St.
Erving, MA 01344
Amount: $174,900
Buyer: Phillip A. Malone
Seller: Jarod J. Boissonneault
Date: 08/29/14

GILL

113 Center Road
Gill, MA 01354
Amount: $187,000
Buyer: Glenn H. Cutting
Seller: Peggy A. Croteau
Date: 08/29/14

252 French King Hwy.
Gill, MA 01354
Amount: $166,000
Buyer: Alma M. Gynan
Seller: Pamela J. Hubert
Date: 08/29/14

503 Main Road
Gill, MA 01354
Amount: $281,000
Buyer: Brian M. Peila
Seller: Mark Laprade
Date: 09/04/14

GREENFIELD

707 Country Club Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $239,005
Buyer: Carl W. Kingsley
Seller: Timothy E. Herzig
Date: 08/28/14

50 Crescent St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Edward Lee
Seller: F. R. Thomas
Date: 08/28/14

100 Elm St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Alexander Pirozhkov
Seller: Patti J. McConnell
Date: 08/29/14

248 Green River Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $299,900
Buyer: Isaac J. Mass
Seller: Green River RT
Date: 08/29/14

12 Monroe Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Brandon Lively
Seller: Helen Ellis
Date: 08/27/14

38 Orchard St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Franklin R. Thomas
Seller: Judith A. Kelton
Date: 08/29/14

39 Park Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $167,000
Buyer: Mark R. Cadran
Seller: Marjorie D. Sobil
Date: 09/04/14

10 Park St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Key Program Inc.
Seller: Mark A. Sirum
Date: 09/04/14

8 Stone Ridge Lane
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Judith A. Kelton
Seller: Cynthia M. McNeilly
Date: 08/29/14

15 Valley View Dr.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $282,000
Buyer: Ariel S. Gallantbernstein
Seller: John D. Baldwin
Date: 08/28/14

3 Valley View Dr.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Keith R. Laudieri
Seller: Donald A. Lashier
Date: 08/29/14

29 Woodleigh Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $174,000
Buyer: Newell Pledger-Shinn
Date: 09/05/14

HEATH

93 Colrain Stage Road
Heath, MA 01346
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Barbara R. Travers
Seller: Helen Ross
Date: 09/03/14

LEVERETT

45 Depot Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Meghan T. Gerson
Seller: Eva Rosenn
Date: 08/28/14

MONTAGUE

61 4th St.
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Denise A. Elwell
Seller: Bayview Loan Servicing LP
Date: 08/27/14

ORANGE

23 Battle St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $143,336
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Carl A. Hansen
Date: 08/27/14

72 East Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Robin A. Moberg
Seller: Jason U. Mully
Date: 08/27/14

30 Enfield Dr.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Robin A. Moberg
Seller: Jason U. Mully
Date: 08/27/14

11 Mattawa Circle
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $150,500
Buyer: Skyler Aldrich
Seller: Benjamin J. Welcome
Date: 08/27/14

130 Royalston Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Diane L. Grasso
Seller: Angelina L. Nelson
Date: 08/27/14

Warwick Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $238,700
Buyer: Fred L. Heyes
Seller: Lila M. Foye
Date: 09/03/14

SHUTESBURY

5 Carver Road
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $192,000
Buyer: Christopher M. Ferrante
Seller: Moira A. Gentry
Date: 08/28/14

387 Montague Road
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: David R. Devine
Seller: Gary A. Czupkiewicz
Date: 09/04/14

WHATELY

185 River Road
Whately, MA 01093
Amount: $268,000
Buyer: Kristin L. Mayer
Seller: Jason A. Clark
Date: 09/02/14

100 State Road
Whately, MA 01093
Amount: $675,000
Buyer: ALDT Realty LLC
Seller: Northwood Power Equipment
Date: 09/05/14

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

28 Candlewood Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $420,000
Buyer: Mark D. Anderson
Seller: Timothy M. McCluskey
Date: 09/05/14

77 Glendale Road
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Bahtiyar Agayev
Seller: Marie L. Jacobs
Date: 08/27/14

215 Leonard St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $164,000
Buyer: James M. Messier
Seller: Lauren A. Capobianco
Date: 09/05/14

36 Maynard St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Kimberly M. Backus
Seller: Robert P. Doyle
Date: 08/29/14

89 Parkview Dr.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Brendan G. Blake
Seller: Stephen R. Slater
Date: 08/27/14

403 River Road
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $190,100
Buyer: Amber J. Waters
Seller: Zoe C. Hawes
Date: 08/29/14

18 Royal Lane
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $198,500
Buyer: Joseph F. Leone
Seller: Brendan Blake
Date: 08/27/14

74 South Park Terrace
Agawam, MA 01001
Buyer: Wayne M. Aldinger
Seller: Daniel A. O’Sullivan
Date: 09/04/14

127 Suffield St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $228,000
Buyer: Rame Selimi
Seller: Adnan Isufi

15 Vadnais St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $154,000
Buyer: Tricia A. Marshall
Seller: Gregory E. Miller
Date: 09/05/14

Virginia St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $228,000
Buyer: Rame Selimi
Seller: Adnan Isufi
Date: 08/29/14

BLANDFORD

28 Gore Road
Blandford, MA 01008
Amount: $178,000
Buyer: Joseph D. Jachym
Seller: Lynn A. Boyce
Date: 08/29/14

BRIMFIELD

51 7th St.
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $271,500
Buyer: Paul Hartley
Seller: Michael N. Gartman
Date: 09/03/14

34 Lyman Barnes Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $217,500
Buyer: Jason Bedard
Seller: Robert L. Campbell
Date: 08/25/14

118 Washington Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: James R. Brown
Seller: Cheryl Santucci
Date: 08/25/14

CHESTER

349 Middlefield Road
Chester, MA 01011
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Melissa Asher
Seller: Sandra Dunn
Date: 08/29/14

30 William St.
Chester, MA 01011
Amount: $132,500
Buyer: Kyle T. Mangini
Seller: Jeffrey A. Bean
Date: 09/04/14

CHICOPEE

48 Bardon St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $182,500
Buyer: David A. Santos
Seller: Frances G. Girard
Date: 08/26/14

129 Basil Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Gene M. Desko
Seller: Claude Dumont
Date: 08/28/14

276 Beauchamp Terrace
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Sheila Biermann
Seller: Wolf RT
Date: 09/04/14

18 Beech St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Vladimir F. Banar
Seller: John J. Costello
Date: 08/25/14

17 Bemis St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Zachary Grzelak
Seller: Daniel J. Ringuette
Date: 08/28/14

19 Bemis St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Zachary Grzelak
Seller: Daniel J. Ringuette
Date: 08/28/14

3 Boileau Terrace
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $129,500
Buyer: Gerald H. Lane
Seller: Kamila J. Chmiel
Date: 09/03/14

69 Chateaugay St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $179,000
Buyer: Erin L. Santa
Seller: Douglas P. Helie
Date: 08/26/14

16 Dobek Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $228,500
Buyer: Timothy P. Sullivan
Seller: Ryan S. Kumiega
Date: 09/02/14

19 Emerson St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: MJT Properties LLC
Seller: Mariani Cote LLC
Date: 08/29/14

36 Gill St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $144,900
Buyer: Jeremy A. Cote
Seller: Paul Orszulak
Date: 08/29/14

54 Hudson Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Agapi Salloum
Seller: Mary A. Vecchiarelli
Date: 08/29/14

634 McKinstry Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $189,000
Buyer: Joseph A. Huerta
Seller: Rae, Charles C. 3rd, (Estate)
Date: 08/27/14

789 McKinstry Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $132,500
Buyer: Karen L. Morassi
Seller: David Labrie
Date: 09/05/14

599 Meadow St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Jeffrey J. Campbell Inc.
Seller: Raylene P. Mulford
Date: 08/28/14

227 Pendleton Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $174,000
Buyer: Alexandr Lapin
Seller: Craig Lebeau
Date: 09/05/14

53 Saint James Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $152,000
Buyer: Jenna L. Smith
Seller: Stephen A. Topor
Date: 08/29/14

73 Waite Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $134,000
Buyer: Meagan L. Galipeau
Seller: FNMA
Date: 09/05/14

27 Woodcrest Court
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Craig A. Lebeau
Seller: Jocelyn L. Harrelson
Date: 09/05/14

EAST LONGMEADOW

36 Dawes St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $378,000
Buyer: Franco Russo
Seller: Joseph S. Tavella
Date: 08/29/14

4 Laurence Lane
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $162,500
Buyer: Mark Goldman
Seller: Jeffrey A. Morse
Date: 09/05/14

23 Lester St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $152,000
Buyer: Rebecca M. Roberts
Seller: Aldo L. Villani
Date: 09/02/14

11 Marshall St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $234,500
Buyer: Luke T. Hayes
Seller: Kenneth E. McGrady
Date: 08/28/14

144 Old Farm Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: United Bank Residential Properties
Seller: Dorothy M. Fleishman
Date: 08/26/14

7 Park Place
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Jose A. Rivera
Seller: Cynthia A. Waite
Date: 08/28/14

33 Speight Arden
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: James E. Moriarty
Seller: Richard E. Moriarty
Date: 09/04/14

9 Waterman Ave
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $121,250
Buyer: Crystal L. Carter
Seller: Shari-Ann Binney
Date: 08/28/14

87 Windham Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $479,500
Buyer: Michael P. Cohen
Seller: David L. Rainey
Date: 08/29/14

96 Windham Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $465,000
Buyer: Mohamed Mohamed
Seller: Kathleen M. Cordier
Date: 08/27/14

HAMPDEN

87 Somers Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $199,500
Buyer: Julie M. Lynch
Seller: John A. Johnson
Date: 08/28/14

HOLLAND

112 Wales Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $157,000
Buyer: Casey A. Ledger
Seller: FNMA
Date: 08/29/14

HOLYOKE

68 County Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $224,500
Buyer: James E. Masters
Seller: Armando Garcia
Date: 08/27/14

11 Erie Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $142,500
Buyer: Thomas Diemand
Seller: Karwoski, Jeanne M., (Estate)
Date: 08/27/14

891 Hampshire St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $198,500
Buyer: Sherry L. Taylor
Seller: 891 Hampshire Street LLC
Date: 08/29/14

Jarvis Avenue
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Hattie Galazka
Seller: Elizabeth A. Mish
Date: 08/25/14

70 Lindor Heights
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $520,000
Buyer: Martin A. Barraza
Seller: Barbara C. Carton
Date: 08/28/14

933 Main St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $600,000
Buyer: 933 Main Street LLC
Seller: Carlex Realty LP
Date: 09/03/14

33 Montgomery Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $279,000
Buyer: Kevin R. Kraus
Seller: Jonathan M. Banz
Date: 08/29/14

110-112 Nonotuck St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Gerald Glasser
Seller: Brenda E. Palla
Date: 08/29/14

24 Parker St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Eric A. Frary
Seller: Meagan Barrett
Date: 08/27/14

101 Sycamore St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Katelyn R. Mathers
Seller: Rosalia A. Deady
Date: 08/29/14

102 Vermont St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Johnathan J. Danek
Seller: Antonio Dafonte
Date: 08/29/14

307 West Franklin St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Wanda V. Shepard
Seller: Gallagher Properties LLC
Date: 08/29/14

LONGMEADOW

123 Academy Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $398,900
Buyer: Michael Glass
Seller: Susan E. Mayock
Date: 09/02/14

294 Anthony Way
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $534,699
Buyer: Tuyet Nguyen
Seller: Joseph O. Chabot
Date: 09/05/14

71 Belleclaire Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Michael A. Siciliano
Seller: Frederick K. Wayland
Date: 08/29/14

9 Captain Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $394,550
Buyer: Lingling Sun
Seller: David R. Williams
Date: 08/28/14

141 Cedar Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $248,500
Buyer: Frank A. Amato
Seller: Oren Brody
Date: 08/26/14

80 Eunice Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $384,000
Buyer: Jing Qian
Seller: Leah Gottlieb
Date: 08/29/14

173 Hopkins Place
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Samuel Fortsch
Seller: Robert A. Gobron
Date: 08/28/14

212 Laurel St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Berkshire Land Co. LLC
Seller: Lieou, Yves, (Estate)
Date: 09/04/14

144 Lawnwood Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $181,000
Buyer: Jeffrey A. Guerra
Seller: Richard J. Graveline
Date: 08/25/14

82 Merriweather Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $323,779
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Debra E. Chernock
Date: 09/02/14

441 Pinewood Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Geetu Shokeen
Seller: John A. Robertson
Date: 08/29/14

105 Riverview Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $213,000
Buyer: Eric Lederman
Seller: Gail A. Federico
Date: 08/29/14

225 Tanglewood Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: John M. Zeroogian
Seller: Marie M. Stebbins
Date: 08/29/14

137 Wheel Meadow Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $298,000
Buyer: Nicholas Fazio
Seller: Aashish Samat
Date: 08/29/14

LUDLOW

687 East St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: George V. Barroso
Seller: Nancy Sojka
Date: 08/29/14

262 Munsing St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Victor M. Rodrigues
Seller: Roger R. Bazinet
Date: 08/29/14

MONSON

3 Main St.
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $149,000
Buyer: Kyle Politis
Seller: Phillip H. Nothe
Date: 08/27/14

N/A
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $302,000
Buyer: Glenn B. Zanetti
Seller: Jacquelyn S. Haley
Date: 08/28/14

149 Palmer Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $146,500
Buyer: Timothy J. Hennessy
Seller: Jason M. Bedard
Date: 08/25/14

52 Silver St.
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $274,500
Buyer: Caitlin F. Szymanski
Seller: Willard B. Ladue
Date: 09/02/14

125 Thayer Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $226,000
Buyer: Ross C. Larson
Seller: John F. Lewis
Date: 08/28/14

56 Waid Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Elizabeth Fontaine
Seller: Kevin D. Ragion
Date: 09/05/14

MONTGOMERY

477 Main Road
Montgomery, MA 01050
Amount: $308,000
Buyer: Stephen M. Adams
Seller: Timothy J. Reardon
Date: 08/28/14

PALMER

25 Birch St.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Daniel W. Labrie
Seller: Mark E. Benoit
Date: 08/28/14

6 Danielle Dr.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Christopher W. Breyare
Seller: Robert Strout
Date: 09/03/14

48 Flynt St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $144,500
Buyer: Matthew McGowan
Seller: Mary L. Young
Date: 09/05/14

22 Harvey St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Mark D. Bachand
Seller: Christopher W. Breyare
Date: 09/03/14

6 Homestead St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $284,000
Buyer: Jeffrey A. Nadeau
Seller: Robert A. Schattgen
Date: 09/05/14

150 Mason St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Jessica King
Seller: Frederick C. Byrne
Date: 08/26/14

2014 Overlook Dr.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $144,500
Buyer: Heather L. Hibbard
Seller: Robert G. Faulkner
Date: 08/29/14

9 Peterson Road
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Erin J. Braden
Seller: Palmer Holdings LLC
Date: 08/29/14

RUSSELL

255 Woodland Way
Russell, MA 01071
Amount: $405,000
Buyer: Matthew Werner
Seller: Jamie A. Lessard
Date: 08/26/14

SPRINGFIELD

193 Abbott St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $171,500
Buyer: Dieula Cherival
Seller: Scott J. Arel
Date: 08/29/14

150 Acrebrook Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $162,500
Buyer: Robin G. Lopez
Seller: Jackewich, Judith A., (Estate)
Date: 08/26/14

34 Arliss St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $132,000
Buyer: Dimas Cotto
Seller: James M. Messier
Date: 09/05/14

67 Aspen Road
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $149,900
Buyer: Sarah E. Brunelle
Seller: Gregory J. Matthews
Date: 08/28/14

885-887 Belmont Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $206,000
Buyer: Leslie Rivers
Seller: Sanchez, Victor M., (Estate)
Date: 08/28/14

42-44 Biltmore St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $172,000
Buyer: Juan L. Henriquez
Seller: 42-44 Biltmore Street RT
Date: 08/29/14

800 Boston Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $9,820,000
Buyer: ARCPT MT Springfield LLC
Seller: RPAI Springfield Boston
Date: 08/26/14

709 Carew St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $138,000
Buyer: Anthony J. Batista
Seller: Luis A. Cruz
Date: 08/28/14

26 Chalmers St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $122,000
Buyer: Hung D. Vu
Seller: Kissel, Anne M., (Estate)
Date: 09/05/14

58 Chilson St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Jeremy Slater
Seller: Lawrence E. Bechard
Date: 09/02/14

66 Clantoy St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $183,003
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Suzanne M. Aranjo
Date: 08/28/14

157 Cloran St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $162,000
Buyer: Leroy E. Farrior
Seller: Clovette J. Johnson
Date: 08/29/14

246 Connecticut Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $156,500
Buyer: Sean M. Bradshaw
Seller: Anges Visnaw
Date: 08/29/14

50 Copeland St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $137,000
Buyer: Madjiguene Poyser
Seller: Thomas R. Howell
Date: 09/03/14

40 Crystal Brook Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $164,000
Buyer: Michael J. Quinlivan
Seller: Beverly J. St.Pierre
Date: 08/27/14

117 Enfield St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Carlos J. Santiago
Seller: Ryan R. Henrichon
Date: 08/29/14

32 Greenleaf St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $143,000
Buyer: Nelson H. Wells
Seller: Richard Garcia
Date: 09/04/14

66 Hermitage Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Jordan N. Nascimento
Seller: Polly E. Lavallee
Date: 08/28/14

49 Hillmont St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Waldestrudis Ramos
Seller: Richard S. Harty
Date: 09/05/14

99-101 Hood St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Andreas Craig
Seller: James W. Fiore
Date: 08/29/14

53 Howard St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $1,625,000
Buyer: Blue Tarp Redevelopment
Seller: Del Union Realty LLC
Date: 08/29/14

60 Jeanne Marie St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Edward C. Carter
Date: 08/27/14

86 Judson St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $127,200
Buyer: Yesenia E. Vale
Seller: Nicole Migliozzi
Date: 08/29/14

92 Louis Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $144,900
Buyer: Victoria E. Ellis
Seller: Daniel J. Garrity
Date: 09/05/14

206 Mazarin St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $142,000
Buyer: Ramon J. Alvarez
Seller: Grahams Construction Inc.
Date: 08/25/14

133 Melha Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $131,000
Buyer: Israel Lopez
Seller: Carol M. Tourangeau
Date: 08/29/14

117-119 Michon St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $166,000
Buyer: Francisco J. Dejesus
Seller: Carmelo Toledo
Date: 09/05/14

144-146 Middle St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $175,500
Buyer: Madeline Rodriguez
Seller: M. D. Leon Fils RE LLC
Date: 08/29/14

25-27 Montcalm St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Jonathan Cabrera
Seller: Raymond L. Cliche
Date: 08/29/14

28 O’Connell St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $128,000
Buyer: Katisha D. Woods-Johnson
Seller: NSP Residential LLC
Date: 09/02/14

872 Parker St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $159,000
Buyer: Richard Garcia
Seller: Taylor, Philip E., (Estate)
Date: 09/04/14

41 Plumtree Circle
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Jeffrey P. Leone
Seller: Charles Morrison
Date: 08/29/14

168 Quaker Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $137,000
Buyer: Samantha M. Krupczak
Seller: James Goodwin
Date: 08/25/14

28 Rencelau St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $193,000
Buyer: Jennifer K. Rossmiller
Seller: Kevin J. Claffey
Date: 08/27/14

51 Rosemary Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $132,000
Buyer: Carlos Figueroa
Seller: Ronald B. Willoughby
Date: 09/03/14

150 Senator St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $209,650
Buyer: Michael A. Bosworth
Seller: Edward W. McDonald
Date: 09/05/14

3 Sorrento St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $147,000
Buyer: Zeicha N. Colon
Seller: Hoa V. Le
Date: 09/05/14

393 Stapleton Road
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $128,000
Buyer: Vianni K. Gomez
Seller: Wayne D. Morphew
Date: 08/28/14

68-70 Union St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $1,625,000
Buyer: Blue Tarp Redevelopment
Seller: Del Union Realty LLC
Date: 08/29/14

52 Warner St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $134,200
Buyer: John P. Chaplin
Seller: Lynne F. Wiley
Date: 08/29/14

310 West Allen Ridge Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $165,700
Buyer: Beth E. Green
Seller: Kathleen P. Mulligan
Date: 09/03/14

SOUTHWICK

44 Bugbee Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $324,900
Buyer: Robert G. Boyd
Seller: Scott W. Wundt
Date: 08/29/14

10 Chapman St.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Heidi Allen
Seller: John M. Sinico
Date: 08/27/14

Depot St. (off)
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Jody Emanuel
Seller: 20 Depot Square LLC
Date: 08/27/14

5 Dewitt Circle
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $550,000
Buyer: Dhruval A. Amin
Seller: Hillside Development Corp.
Date: 09/02/14

70 Granville Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $234,000
Buyer: Elizabeth T. Kuenzel
Seller: Meredith Powers
Date: 08/28/14

TOLLAND

90 Brook Lane
Tolland, MA 01034
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: Charles D. Koteen
Seller: Joan M. Ellison
Date: 08/29/14

Brook Lane
Tolland, MA 01034
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: Charles D. Koteen
Seller: Joan M. Ellison
Date: 08/29/14

WESTFIELD

40 Briarwood Place
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $149,000
Buyer: Carol L. Griggs
Seller: Robert E. Wenzel
Date: 09/04/14

21 Chestnut St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $188,000
Buyer: Robin A. Glover
Seller: Susan C. Leggett
Date: 08/27/14

121 Colony Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $169,000
Buyer: Andrea K. Castanera
Seller: Mathew J. Carrington
Date: 09/05/14

78 Court St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $204,000
Buyer: Larry A. Williams
Seller: H&H County RE LLC

990 Granville Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: James J. Crean
Seller: Shawn L. Boutet
Date: 08/29/14

183 Highland Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Keith A. Swords
Seller: Swords, Barbara L., (Estate)
Date: 08/26/14

14 Hillside Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $197,800
Buyer: Gregory S. Reed
Seller: Christopher A. Smith
Date: 08/26/14

187 Holyoke Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Angela M. Costigan
Seller: Dominguez, Theresa P., (Estate)
Date: 09/04/14

29 Joseph Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $168,000
Buyer: Robert F. Browning
Seller: Kristen E. Browning
Date: 09/04/14

15 Kenwood St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $187,000
Buyer: Chong H. Collette
Seller: Patricia A. Wallinovich
Date: 08/29/14

47 Laflin St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $158,000
Buyer: Ronald A. Hall
Seller: John F. Burke
Date: 08/25/14

46 McKinley Terrace
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $181,000
Buyer: Raymond P. Manos
Seller: Anthony R. Braden
Date: 08/27/14

Northwest Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: City Of Westfield
Seller: John P. Pitoniak
Date: 09/03/14

15 Old Park Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $353,700
Buyer: Robert E. Hartmann
Seller: David W. Cherry
Date: 08/29/14

88 Pequot Point Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Jacob F. Dutko
Seller: Saris Resources LLC
Date: 08/28/14

19 Pheasant Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Anthony J. Georger
Seller: Jeffrey S. Piubeni
Date: 08/29/14

20 Pheasant Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $399,900
Buyer: Tyler G. Moore
Seller: John E. Schirmer
Date: 08/29/14

19 Putnam Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $154,000
Buyer: Brandon M. Sullivan
Seller: Jennifer Nesbitt
Date: 08/25/14

190 Root Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $282,500
Buyer: Scott Sanderson
Seller: Benjamin Puzankov
Date: 08/29/14

1120 Southampton Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $243,444
Buyer: Home Loan Investment Bank
Seller: Frank R. Ezold
Date: 08/28/14

13 State St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $146,000
Buyer: Cherie R. Tabasco
Seller: FHLM
Date: 08/29/14

WILBRAHAM

3 Carla Lane
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $369,530
Buyer: Barry A. Haber
Seller: AC Homebuilding LLC
Date: 08/29/14

4 Carla Lane
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: Michael D. Devine
Seller: Custom Homes Development Group
Date: 08/25/14

53 Manchonis Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Charles B. Proctor
Seller: Gerald Johnson
Date: 09/05/14

2 Overlook Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $202,500
Buyer: Nicholas M. Pelletier
Seller: Jeanne Maren
Date: 08/28/14

WEST SPRINGFIELD

18 Alderbrook Lane
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: John C. Nekitopoulos
Seller: Helen J. Brooks
Date: 08/28/14

633 Amostown Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $141,500
Buyer: Christopher M. Mulcahy
Seller: Mozden, Irene B., (Estate)

6 Austin Lane
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $460,000
Buyer: John D. Eaton
Seller: West Meadow Homes Inc.
Date: 08/26/14

45 Bosworth St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Nargiza Afrailova
Seller: Facchini, Robert, (Estate)
Date: 08/29/14

90 Churchill Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $312,500
Buyer: Lizanne Campanini
Seller: Richard Lheureux
Date: 08/29/14

55 Greenleaf Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $166,500
Buyer: Kurtis J. Archambault
Seller: Kusek, Stanley M., (Estate)
Date: 08/29/14

203 Hillcrest Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $179,000
Buyer: Brian Santinello
Seller: Holly Malloy
Date: 08/29/14

133 Maple St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $146,000
Buyer: William L. Matte
Seller: Robert S. Nowlan
Date: 08/26/14

13 River St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $690,000
Buyer: River St. TR
Seller: Seawind Inc.
Date: 08/29/14

44 Sherwood Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $170,900
Buyer: Vitaly Klimoshenko
Seller: Paul J. Eggleston
Date: 08/29/14

96 Valley View Circle
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $287,800
Buyer: Janet R. Lacasse
Seller: John J. Ryan
Date: 09/05/14

33 Warren St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $147,000
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Kimberly Spaeth-Barta
Date: 08/27/14

117 Wilder Terrace
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $159,700
Buyer: Kelly Desorcy
Seller: Julia V. Paolucci
Date: 08/29/14

260 Wolcott Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $176,000
Buyer: Jonathan E. Ruel
Seller: Cheryl Lee
Date: 09/05/14

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

17 Cranberry Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $247,000
Buyer: Victoria Longino
Seller: Janice C. Denton
Date: 08/28/14

9 Flintlock Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $218,100
Buyer: Stanton L. Eads
Seller: Effie Bell
Date: 09/05/14

28 Frost Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $262,450
Buyer: Christina D. Sackett
Seller: Diane Chajes
Date: 08/26/14

Hawthorn Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: D. Kahn
Seller: Tofino Associates LLC
Date: 09/05/14

15 Hickory Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $271,000
Buyer: Patrick H. Chin-Hong
Seller: Jean M. Jackson
Date: 08/29/14

258 Potwine Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $395,000
Buyer: Adam Sitze
Seller: Nancy Antik
Date: 08/25/14

South East St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $162,000
Buyer: CIL Realty of Mass. Inc.
Seller: RGC LLC
Date: 08/29/14

50 Tracy Circle
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $162,000
Buyer: Charles L. Burke
Seller: Kenneth A. Johnson
Date: 09/02/14

BELCHERTOWN

190 Bardwell St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Raymond Cliche
Seller: Timothy J. Cunningham
Date: 08/29/14

10 Hickory Hill
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $362,500
Buyer: Doreen Rios
Seller: JN Duquette & Son Construction
Date: 08/28/14

11 Laurel Ridge Dr.
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Thomas R. Hresko
Seller: Brian W. Sherman
Date: 08/29/14

11 Ledgewood Circle
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $228,000
Buyer: Benjamen Delozier
Seller: Karl Richardson
Date: 08/29/14

471 State St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Mitchell E. Davis
Seller: Kenneth F. Kitchell
Date: 08/28/14

CHESTERFIELD

63 Stage Road
Chesterfield, MA 01026
Amount: $249,000
Buyer: Robert S. Berniche
Seller: Thomas B. Fern
Date: 09/04/14

CUMMINGTON

190 Trouble St.
Cummington, MA 01026
Amount: $289,500
Buyer: Michael S. Kellogg
Seller: Ralph Jagelavicius
Date: 08/29/14

EASTHAMPTON

10 1st Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Eileen G. Meyers
Seller: Alison Matthews
Date: 08/29/14

20-22 Arthur St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $276,500
Buyer: Thomas R. Hathaway
Seller: Robert A. Labrie RT
Date: 08/29/14

30 Chapin St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Ronald L. Childs
Seller: Stephen A. Parent
Date: 08/27/14

27 Garfield Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $259,000
Buyer: Angela M. Zammarelli
Seller: Andrew Keller
Date: 08/29/14

58 Garfield Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Michaela A. Litzner
Seller: Patricia A. Laurin

16 John St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $191,000
Buyer: Marin Goldstein
Seller: Gloria D. Lebeau
Date: 09/02/14

9 Lang Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $287,500
Buyer: Eve Endicott
Seller: John K. Watling
Date: 08/25/14

15 Lawson Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Martin L. Tessier
Date: 08/27/14

29 Meadowbrook Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $292,000
Buyer: Erica L. Banz
Seller: Wayne F. Corriveau
Date: 08/29/14

108 Park St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: KM Properties LLC
Seller: Mark A. Kessler
Date: 08/29/14

7 Pinebrook Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $246,000
Buyer: Allen S. Hall
Seller: Wayne R. & J. M. Spaulding TR
Date: 08/27/14

18 Sandra Road
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $291,500
Buyer: Catherine J. Potak
Seller: Chester A. Ogulewicz
Date: 08/27/14

6 Searle Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $475,000
Buyer: Colby E. Quinn
Seller: Robert C. Fedor
Date: 09/04/14

20 Strong St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $247,000
Buyer: Raul Escobar
Seller: Jeffrey B. Winston
Date: 08/29/14

13 Water St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Jessica Spaulding
Seller: Diane C. Sjodahl
Date: 09/05/14

15 Winter St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Elizabeth J. Couchon
Seller: Wayne S. Nelson
Date: 08/29/14

GOSHEN

24 West Shore Dr.
Goshen, MA 01032
Amount: $118,000
Buyer: Paul B. Voss
Seller: James J. Ripa
Date: 08/26/14

GRANBY

11 Leo Dr.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $143,279
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Kristen Grabowski
Date: 09/02/14

HADLEY

12 Lawrence Plain Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $121,500
Buyer: CIL Realty of Mass. Inc.
Seller: Jason M. Kicza
Date: 08/29/14

57 Roosevelt St.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Brandon M. Daniel
Seller: Andrew Sek
Date: 08/29/14

43 Shattuck Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Scott P. Ring
Seller: Gwen A. Quinlan
Date: 08/29/14

HATFIELD

104 Main St.
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Red Barn Realty LLC
Seller: Partenheimer, B. L., (Estate)
Date: 08/29/14

46 North St.
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $252,000
Buyer: Jason D. Charpentier
Seller: Jessie J. Frodyma
Date: 08/29/14

HUNTINGTON

46 Littleville Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $157,000
Buyer: Keith A. Boylan
Seller: Gaylon R. Donovan
Date: 09/02/14

69 Worthington Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Karen S. Lucas
Seller: Morgan P. Whitaker
Date: 09/04/14

NORTHAMPTON

24 Audubon Road
Northampton, MA 01053
Amount: $267,500
Buyer: Alix L. Olson
Seller: Bernard F. Shea
Date: 08/29/14

71 Bradford St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Norseman Realty LLC
Seller: Comcast of Mass. 2 Inc.
Date: 09/04/14

176 Brookside Circle
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $189,000
Buyer: Alice M. Crocker
Seller: Mary A. Riordon
Date: 08/26/14

368 Chesterfield Road
Northampton, MA 01053
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Henry E. Rivera
Seller: Mary J. Price
Date: 08/29/14

46 Chestnut Ave.
Northampton, MA 01053
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Molly H. Senn-McNally
Seller: Patrick J. Melnik
Date: 08/29/14

120 Emerson Way
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Hampshire Property Management
Seller: Emerson Way LLC
Date: 08/29/14

83 Emerson Way
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Hampshire Property Management
Seller: Emerson Way LLC
Date: 08/29/14

91 Emerson Way
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $519,900
Buyer: Kimberly B. Dawson LT
Seller: Hampshire Property Management
Date: 08/29/14

9 Laurel St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $392,923
Buyer: Anthony I. Paik
Seller: Transformations Inc.
Date: 09/04/14

97 Marian St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Sheryl Hall
Seller: Lorna Fitch
Date: 08/25/14

61 Nonotuck St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $327,009
Buyer: Elizabeth Pryor
Seller: Sheryl J. Hall
Date: 08/25/14

115 Ryan Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $198,888
Buyer: Kathleen R. Drummond
Seller: FHLM
Date: 08/26/14

892 Ryan Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $219,900
Buyer: Arthur Charland
Seller: Maureen F. Senn-McNally
Date: 08/29/14

56 Stilson Ave.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Richard G. Egan
Seller: Richard G. Egan
Date: 08/26/14

20 Walnut St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $373,000
Buyer: Sarah A. Carr
Seller: John S. Gay
Date: 09/02/14

1023 Westhampton Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $273,000
Buyer: Jon Fruge
Seller: Sarah O. Horan
Date: 08/29/14

1045 Westhampton Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Timothy J. Seney
Seller: Mount Tom Properties LLC
Date: 08/28/14

105 Willow St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Adin Thayer
Seller: Walter E. Lempart
Date: 08/26/14

PELHAM

27 Gulf Road
Pelham, MA 01002
Amount: $292,500
Buyer: Jeffers L. Engelhardt
Seller: Jennifer J. Tanguay
Date: 09/05/14

17 Harkness Road
Pelham, MA 01002
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Kathryn K. Maude
Seller: Shawn C. Charest
Date: 08/29/14

SOUTH HADLEY

67 Amherst Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Wang Z. Hua
Seller: Kelly A. Martins
Date: 09/05/14

88 Bardwell St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $219,000
Buyer: Keith S. Leary
Seller: George W. Schnugger
Date: 08/29/14

6 Birch Hill Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Linda E. Brennan
Seller: Ellen V. Murphy
Date: 09/05/14

4 Birchwood Place
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Andrew D. Harto
Seller: Andrew J. Fox
Date: 09/03/14

24 Canal St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $217,000
Buyer: Christopher L. Deady
Seller: Shirley J. Turner
Date: 09/05/14

12 Central Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $157,000
Buyer: Jason E. Arena
Seller: Kendall, Helen I., (Estate)
Date: 08/26/14

7 Crystal Lane
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $480,000
Buyer: Jonathan H. Aseltine
Seller: Ralph S. Fiore
Date: 08/29/14

45 Fairview St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $144,827
Buyer: Molly J. Bertles
Seller: Patrick J. Spring
Date: 08/27/14

Jacobs Way #2
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $299,900
Buyer: William B. McDonough
Seller: Home Improvement Assocs.
Date: 09/03/14

548 New Ludlow Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Moynihan Realty Group LLC
Seller: Jacques Construction Inc.
Date: 09/05/14

1 Pheasant Run
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Gregory R. Sheehan
Seller: Mark A. Pijar
Date: 09/05/14

40 Pynchon Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $201,500
Buyer: Kevin R. Lumb
Seller: US Bank
Date: 09/05/14

508 River Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Buyer: Lisa A. Bihler
Seller: Edward L. Orwat
Date: 08/29/14

8 Upper River Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $348,000
Buyer: Kristen J. Steele
Seller: David A. Terrell
Date: 08/29/14

SOUTHAMPTON

37 Bissonnette Circle
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $392,500
Buyer: Nathan C. Layman
Seller: F&G Development Corp.
Date: 09/04/14

120 Brickyard Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Miguel A. Gonzalez
Seller: William S. French
Date: 08/25/14

2 Nicholas Lane
Southampton, MA 01085
Amount: $136,850
Buyer: Kevin J. Wedemeyer
Seller: Chester J. Kellogg
Date: 08/27/14

3 Nicholas Lane
Southampton, MA 01085
Amount: $127,500
Buyer: G&F Custom Built Homes
Seller: Chester J. Kellogg
Date: 08/27/14

7 Nicholas Lane
Southampton, MA 01085
Amount: $127,500
Buyer: Czelusniak Custom Homes
Seller: Chester J. Kellogg
Date: 09/03/14

10 Nicholas Lane
Southampton, MA 01085
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: W. Marek Inc.
Seller: Chester J. Kellogg
Date: 08/28/14

3 Old Harvest Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $129,900
Buyer: Matthew Riel
Seller: Triple 7 LLC
Date: 09/04/14

153 Pomeroy Meadow Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $397,000
Buyer: Ahmet Ibic
Seller: James Boyle
Date: 08/28/14

60 Valley Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $292,500
Buyer: Tiffany A. Ross
Seller: Anjanette Kelso
Date: 09/03/14

WARE

27 Gould Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $119,000
Buyer: Raymond J. Andrews
Seller: Shannon M. Pennington
Date: 08/29/14

15 Greenwich Plains Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $149,900
Buyer: Charles R. Burns
Seller: Kevin D. Roux
Date: 08/29/14

339 Monson Turnpike Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $238,000
Buyer: Kevin Roux
Seller: Steven C. Piubeni
Date: 08/29/14

9 Oakridge Circle
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Christopher Robidoux
Seller: Kyle M. Genereux
Date: 08/28/14

7 Sunnyhill Dr.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Olive M. Moulton
Seller: Bridget L. Rohan
Date: 08/28/14

WESTHAMPTON

65 Kings Hwy.
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $133,000
Buyer: Lynn A. Fournier
Seller: David J. Blakesley
Date: 08/28/14

101 Southampton Road
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Christopher A. Lafond
Seller: Stanley Greenberg IRT

WILLIAMSBURG

123 Petticoat Hill Road
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Corey A. Fox
Seller: Paul D. Cronin
Date: 09/03/14

Bankruptcies

By BusinessWest Staff October 7, 2014

Bankruptcies Departments

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

Arel, Donald A.
PO Box 108
Huntington, MA 01050
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/07/14

Auclair, Steven M.
Auclair, Carrie L.
44 Stephens St.
Chicopee, MA 01022
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/05/14

Avonti, Michael C.
18 Revere Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/05/14

Barkyoumb, Rene
17 Clayton Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/08/14

Benoit, Christopher J.
141 Brombach St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/08/14

Burbank, Jeannine Linda
456 Flat Hills Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/05/14

Catchepaugh, Mark D.
316 North St.
Feeding Hills, MA 01030
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/02/14

Cormier, William A.
682 Tyler St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/03/14

Cote, James E.
Cote, Kimberly A.
53 Timberidge Dr.
Russell, MA 01071
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 09/03/14

Decensi, Michael J.
10 Depot St.
Adams, MA 01220
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/08/14

Eagle Peak Fitness
Atwood, Daniel O.
15 Canon Lane
Orange, MA 01364
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/05/14

Frechette, Steven L.
18 East Acres Road
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/03/14

Gamache, Michael R.
PO Box 534
Westfield, MA 01086
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/07/14

Gibeau, Judy L.
23 Francis Ave. #2
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/09/14

Gilburg, Karen L.
88 Westfield Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/04/14

Hildack, Randolph K.
21 Morningside Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/02/14

Howe, Tiffani M.
33 Kimberly Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/30/14

Maloney, Shawn M.
26 South Onota St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/09/14

Noble, Robert
11 South Park Terrace
Northampton, MA 01060
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/31/14

O’Fallon, Kevin S.
163 Summit St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 08/30/14

Ruggiero, James R.
Ruggiero, Lisa M.
a/k/a Rehbein, Lisa M.
63 Bryan Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/08/14

Sanchez, Isidoro R.
Sanchez, Francisca A.
53 White St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 09/08/14

Scott, David T.
Scott, Jo-Ann M.
10 Pinebrook Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 08/30/14

Smith, Paul E.
Smith, Susan A.
50 Meadowbrook Lane
Palmer, MA 01069
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/02/14

That Tech Girl
Clattenburg, Annmarie
46 Evergreen Road #207
Leeds, MA 01053
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/05/14

Thibault, Joseph L.
140 Federal St.
Florence, MA 01062
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/08/14

Wanat, Barbara P.
55 Pomeroy Ave.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/04/14

Wanat, William
55 Pomeroy Ave.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/04/14

Doing Business as Certificates

By BusinessWest Staff October 7, 2014

DBA Certificates Departments

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

AGAWAM

Advanced Siding & Window Company
72 Witheridge St.
David Fournier

Atlantic Travel
11 Castle Hill Road
Elizabeth Zebian

Deluxe Limousine Services
81 Ramah Circle
Edward Dersarkis

Galoridon Skin Care
33 Hearthstrone Dr.
Lori Gallerani

LaValley Construction
17 Park St.
G & S LaValley

Master Piece
762 Springfield St.
John Minto

CHICOPEE

Central Cleaning Services
275 Hampden St.
Peter Allen

Chicopee Auto Farm Inc.
980 East Main St.
Dwayne Pafumi

Golden Blossom
728 Grattan St.
Ida Gamiora

JE Ryan Wealth Management
76 Dwight St.
Joseph E. Ryan

Paulo’s Salon
309 Front St.
Rebecca Mathieu

HOLYOKE

A3 Petroleum
636 Main St.
Adeeba Rehman

Bogey & Sons Restoration & Custom Woodworking
19 Shepard Dr.
Bogustan Wolanczyk

Cool Berry
50 Holyoke St.
Kelvin Zheng

Fiesta Café
305 Main St.
Cheena Leroux

Little Creations
254 Maple St.
Keila Cajigas

Salon Jade
234 Lyman St.
Jasmine Reyes

Spanky’s Ice Cream
916 Hampden St.
Susan Goff

The Club House
209 South St.
George E. Airoldi

LUDLOW

Gillespie Car Care
407 West St.
Brian Gillespie

Project Dance
194 East St.
Libby Dowling

Windmill Farm and Garden Center
456 Holyoke St.
Donald Kibbe

NORTHAMPTON

Advanced Small Engine Sales
187 Locust St.
Andrew Mortimer

Birdhouse Music
13 King St.
Glenn Alper

Feeding Tube Records
221 Pine St.
Edward Lee

Starr’s Pizzeria
59 Main St.
Damian Fernandez

Supreme Auto Detail Plus
23 Hooker Ave.
Daniel Stone

Wadi Rum Yoga
30 Aldrich St.
Alena Bartoli

SPRINGFIELD

Joe Young Studios
26 Colfax St.
Joseph Young

Karen’s Incredible
312 Rosewell St.
Karen Yousfi

Moriarty’s Pub & Grill
755 Liberty St.
Michael Moriarty

Number IV Media
89 Perkins St.
Betel Arnold

Pioneer Valley Legal
34 Sumner Ave.
Karen J. Murphy

Plaud’s Style Beauty
604 Page Blvd.
Jose L. Plaud

Red Bird Kids
96 Winton St.
Sarah Haag

Revolution Auto Team
29 Terrence St.
Edward Otero

Roberto’s Bar & Grill Inc.
80 Worthington St.
Paul Ramesh

Ruth Family Daycare
44 Lester St.
Ruthnie Alce

Salazar Jewelry & Gifts
316 Locust St.
Edith Augustin

Sawkat Wally
285 Belmont Ave.
Sawkat Wally

Simple Business Solutions
320 Main St.
Christopher Fern

Solid Gold Beauty Palace
40 Berkshire Ave.
Eunice Kennedy

Spanky Johnson Transport
172 Pheland St.
Orangie L. Cole

Springfield Mobil
1830 Wilbraham Road
Lehigh Gas-Ohio

Sterling Architectural
55 Avocado St.
Alpha Builders Inc.

Strait Cheese
302 Locust St.
Morrell J. Smith

Studio 2000
2460 Main St.
Ana Lopez

TNT Fast Stop
402 King St.
Tyshun O. Riles

T-Mobile
800 Boston Road
T-Mobile Northeast

Tony’s Candy Wholesale
44 Orange St.
Ramon Padilla

Trent Guihan
46 Pilgrim Road
Trent Guihan

Tufts Health Plan Medicare
1441 Main St.
Lois Cornell

VIP Nails
475 Breckwood Blvd.
Tommy Nguyen

Whisper Jesus
93 Druid Hill Road
Rebecca A. Keefe

Zen Welding
133 Ashbrook St.
Kurt Y. Rohmer

WEST SPRINGFIELD

5-Star Bookkeeping Services
169 Main St.
Jeffrey Chickerella

Beauty Gate Salon and Spa
1646 Riverdale St.
Konrad Chimel

Best Western
429 Riverdale St.
Natu Patel

Costco Wholesale
119 Daggett Dr.
Costco Corporation

Coveris Advanced Coatings
69 William Franks Dr.
Ed McCarron

Cumberland Farms
22 Park St.
Cumberland Farms Inc.

D & L Home Productions
148 River St.
Shane Loiselle

Derma-Redi
183 Ashley St.
Dean C. Vogel

Dots
373 Memorial Ave.
Swapnil Shah

Footit Medical Supply
340 Memorial Ave.
Richard Spafford

John Henderson Painting
110 Laurel St.
John Henderson Jr.

Karma Yoga
2260 Westfield St.
Suzanne Marotta

Kuhnel’s Auto Inc.
2309 Westfield St.
Jay F. Walts

Lubanski Construction
57 Hill St.
Brandon Lubanski

Omnicare of West Springfield
85 Interstate Dr.
MHHP Acquisition

Ron’s Flooring
18 Ferry Ave.
Ronald J. Charbonneau

Incorporations

By BusinessWest Staff October 7, 2014

Departments Incorporations

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

CHICOPEE

W. McCray Inc., 122 Gilbert Ave., Chicopee, MA 01013. Vicki L. Cotton, same. Bar and restaurant.

EAST LONGMEADOW

Thrilos Inc., 152 Brookhaven Dr., East Longmeadow, MA 01028. Tom Makris, same. Restaurant and bar.

GRANBY

Setter Landscaping Inc., 161 Kendall St., Granby, MA 01033. Marc R. Tremblay, same. Landscaping.

HOLYOKE

School of Dance His Grace Covers Us Inc., 59 Pine St., Holyoke, MA 01040. Raquel Velazquez, same. Religious dance school.

NORTHAMPTON

Saxslab U.S. Inc., 518 Pleasant St., Northampton, MA 01060. Karsten Joensen, same. Production of components for sax’s instrumentation.

Sue and Mel Inc., 67 Prospect St., Northampton, MA 01060. Susan Famiglietti, same. Retail food service.

SPRINGFIELD

Safelink Security Corp., 91 Mildred Ave., Springfield, MA 01104. Nicholas B. Graveline, same. Residential and commercial security system sales.

STS Transport Inc., 132 Croyden Terrace, Springfield, MA 01104. Stefan Tsikhotskiy, same. Transportation.

Valley Sports Foundation Inc., 100 Congress St., Suite 1101, Springfield, MA 01104. Clark Eckhoff, 4011 Stoneridge Dr., Wausau, WI 54403. Encourage development in the sport of baseball.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Vets4Vets Inc., 425 Union St., West Springfield, MA 01089. Robert Russell, same. Serving disabled veterans and their families.

West Springfield Family Dental, PC, 1098 Memorial Ave., West Springfield, MA 01089. Stella Minster, 122 Primrose Dr., Longmeadow, MA 01106. Dentist’s office.

Briefcase

By BusinessWest Staff October 7, 2014

Briefcase Departments

Leadership Pioneer Valley Introduces Class of 2015
HOLYOKE — Leadership Pioneer Valley (LPV) officially kicked off its 2015 program year and introduced the Class of 2015, a group of emerging and established regional leaders, at a reception at the Wistariahurst Museum. The culturally and geographically diverse class of 32 men and women represent nonprofit, private, educational, and public organizations from Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties. “The LPV Class of 2015 represents the best and brightest of our region,” said Leadership Pioneer Valley Executive Director Lora Wondolowski. “They bring a wide variety of experiences and skills to bear while all of them are committed to deepening their community involvement. With LPV in their toolboxes, they will go far.” Leadership Pioneer Valley is addressing the critical need to build a diverse network of leaders who aspire to work together across traditional barriers to strengthen the region. The members of the new class are taking part in a 10-month program of experiential learning that will take place at locations up and down the Valley. The regional curriculum is specifically designed to help the participants refine their leadership skills, broaden connections, and develop a greater commitment to community trusteeship and cultural competency. Last January, Class of 2014 member Isabel Serrazina passed away suddenly. To honor her memory and leadership, fellow class members, alumni, and the board created the Serrazina Scholarship Fund to enable potential participants to attend LPV. The first-ever Serrazina Scholarship was awarded to TracyLee Boutilier, an advocate for affordable housing in Amherst, who embodies Serrazina’s longtime work on housing and low-income family issues. “Leadership Pioneer Valley is actively cultivating an important resource in the Valley: compassionate and communicative leaders who want to make our Valley a more accessible and viable home for all who seek it,” said Kelsey Flynn of MassMutual, a Class of 2014 member. “This is your opportunity to cultivate yourself and make the most of this experience.” The Class of 2015 members are:
• Nathan Bazinet, Sisters of Providence Health System
• TracyLee Boutilier, community activist
• Nunzio Bruno, Disruptive Strategy Co.
• Caitlin Byrnes, Smith & Wesson
• Linnette Camacho, Springfield Public Schools
• Angelica Castro, Mount Holyoke College
• Demetrice Dawkins, MassMutual Financial Group
• Hayley Dunn, Western Mass. Electric Co.
• Patricia Gagnon, Baystate Health
• Dana Gillette, Connecticut River Watershed Council
• Nickolaus Haenchen, YMCA of Greater Springfield
• Patricia Hentz, Smith College
• Matthew Judd, Hampden Bank
• Matthew Leger-Small, Franklin County Regional Housing & Redevelopment Authority
• Caitlin Maloney, YMCA of Greater Springfield
• Terry Maxey, MLK Jr. Family Services
• Pamela McCarthy, Big Y Foods Inc.
• Kerry McGuirl, Springfield Public Library
• Terra Missildine, Beloved Earth
• Ronald Molina-Brantley, City of Springfield
• Lori Murphy, Partners for a Healthier Community
• Kimberly O’Connor, United Way of Pioneer Valley
• Jenny Papageorge, Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts
• Ashlee Picard Flores, Hampden Bank
• Maria Puppolo, City of Springfield
• Angie Rios, MassMutual
• Drew Sadowsky, Williams Distributing
• LyLy Salisbury, MassMutual
• Teresa Spaziani, Children’s Study Home
• Jennifer Turner, Delta Group
• Kathy Wicks, Partners for a Healthier Community
• Jeremy Winstead, Haydenville Woodworking and Design

Pro-casino Commercial Focuses on Job Creation
SPRINGFIELD — The first television commercial defending the state’s casino law focuses on Springfield and the prospects for thousands of new jobs if a gaming complex is built in the city’s South End. The ad, from the casino-backed Coalition to Protect Mass Jobs, was slated to debut Tuesday in Springfield and Boston. The 30-second spot features Jeff Ciuffreda, director of Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield, as narrator. “Springfield voted overwhelmingly,” he says. “It’s an $800 million economic-development project, the largest one we’ve had in Springfield for decades.” He continues, “Springfield’s unemployment rate is in double digits. We need the 3,000 jobs; we want the 3,000 jobs.” The ad is the first of what is expected to be many in the coalition’s drive to defeat a proposed repeal of the 2011 state casino law, which authorized up to three casinos and a slots parlor.

Communities Awarded $7 Million for Municipal-resiliency Projects
BOSTON – Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Maeve Vallely Bartlett has awarded $7.4 million in grants to municipalities under the Community Clean Energy Resiliency Initiative. The funding will be used for six projects to implement clean-energy technologies to improve resiliency at critical facilities, including two in Western Mass. This is the first round of grants through the initiative, which is part of Gov. Deval Patrick’s comprehensive climate-change-preparedness effort. “This initiative is about being proactive and not waiting until the next severe storm to react,” the governor said. “These grants will assist communities in delivering critical services to residents, keeping people safer during times of danger.” Through the Community Clean Energy Resiliency Initiative, $40 million in state funding is available to cities and towns that identify the facilities in their communities where the loss of electrical service would result in the disruption of a critical public-safety or life-sustaining function, including emergency services, shelters, food and fuel supply, and communications infrastructure. Municipalities can use the funding to implement clean-energy technologies to keep their energy systems operable. “The Patrick Administration is committed to innovative solutions that both mitigate and prepare for climate change impacts in the Commonwealth,” said Bartlett. “We are proud to partner with municipalities to prevent disruption to critical facilities and services during times of emergency, while also continuing to secure our clean-energy future in the long term.” Projects eligible for funding include clean-energy generation, energy storage, energy-management systems, islanding technologies, and microgrids. The city of Springfield was awarded $2.79 million to develop, in partnership with Baystate Health, a 4.6-megawatt combined heat and power plant, which will provide electricity, chilled water, and steam to the hospital. The plant will include a gas turbine generator, heat-recovery steam generator, absorption chiller, black-start diesel generator, and load-management system. The plant will produce 80% of the hospital’s annual energy consumption, 68% of its electricity, and 97% of its steam. Meanwhile, the city of Northampton was awarded $525,401 to incorporate solar PV and batteries with existing diesel generation at the Northampton Fire Department Headquarters, the sole city facility capable of providing a significant number of critical municipal services. The project will allow for diversified fuel sources available for power production during an extended outage, prioritize new emergency power-generation systems, offset use of emergency fuel oil during long-term power outages, reduce the environmental impacts from power generation for the facility, and improve grid-tied power reliability by enabling peak-shaving and load shedding. Other communities to win awards through the Community Clean Energy Resiliency Initiative include Boston, Berkley/Taunton, the Greater Lawrence Sanitary District, and the South Essex Sewerage District.

Company Notebook

By BusinessWest Staff October 7, 2014

Company Notebook Departments

UMass Moves Up in Public-University Rankings
AMHERST — UMass Amherst now ranks among the nation’s top 30 public universities, moving up 10 spots during the past year in the 2015 Best Colleges guide released recently by U.S. News & World Report. There are more than 600 public, four-year colleges in the country, and U.S. News ranks the top 122. The Commonwealth’s flagship campus, led by Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy, earned its highest ranking ever in the prestigious national universities category. Since 2010, when UMass Amherst ranked 52nd among public schools, the university’s standing has steadily improved, reaching 40th last year before advancing to 30th for 2015, tied with four other schools. Among all national universities, public and private, UMass Amherst moved up an impressive 15 places this year, from 91st to 76th, tied with eight other schools. A Washington Post analysis of the rankings cited UMass Amherst as one of only three national universities over the past five years that have risen more than 20 steps in the overall top 100 universities, from 99th to 76th. “UMass Amherst increasingly is a destination of choice for the best students in Massachusetts and from all corners of world,” said Subbaswamy. “These rankings reflect our commitment to excellence in undergraduate education. We greatly appreciate such national recognition, and we are grateful for the increased investment in public higher education supported by our legislators and the governor. That investment is truly yielding dividends.” Led this year by the University of California Berkeley, the University of California Los Angeles, and the University of Virginia, national public universities offer a full range of undergraduate majors, plus master’s and Ph.D. programs, and are committed to producing groundbreaking research. The U.S. News rankings are based on a variety of weighted factors: graduation rate performance, undergraduate academic reputation, faculty resources, graduation and retention rate, alumni giving, financial resources, and student selectivity.

Webber & Grinnell Inducted into 2014 Circle of Excellence
NORTHAMPTON — Webber and Grinnell Insurance Agency has been inducted into the Plymouth Rock Assurance and Bunker Hill Insurance 2014 Circle of Excellence, recognizing outstanding professionalism, financial performance, and commitment to customer service by independent insurance agents during 2013. Selected from a pool of more than 400 independent agents across Massachusetts, Webber & Grinnell was one of 25 agents to receive this honor. “The Circle of Excellence is our premiere recognition and rewards program reserved for our top independent agents,” said Chris Olie, president of Plymouth Rock Assurance and chairman of Bunker Hill Insurance. “These agents are key parts of Plymouth Rock and Bunker Hill’s success. They have each worked hard to build their businesses while also providing excellent service and trusting advice to their customers.” Webber & Grinnell is one of the largest insurance agencies in Western Mass. The agency currently serves more than 5,000 automobile and homeowner policyholders, and insures nearly 900 businesses throughout the region. “As an independent agent, our goal is to provide expert service tailored to the specific needs of each client we serve,” said Bill Grinnell, president of Webber & Grinnell. “It’s always rewarding to be recognized for our hard work and dedication, and we’re grateful to receive this honor from Plymouth Rock and Bunker Hill.” Plymouth Rock and Bunker Hill are leading automobile- and home-insurance carriers serving Massachusetts. As a member of the Circle of Excellence, Webber & Grinnell will receive marketing support funds, education and training, and other initiatives designed to promote sustained success. The agency will be honored at a fall retreat.

Springfield Falcons, Columbus Blue Jackets Extend Affiliation
SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Falcons and Columbus Blue Jackets are extending their affiliation through the 2015-16 season with an option for two additional years, Falcons President Sarah Pompea and Blue Jackets General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen jointly announced. The Falcons and Blue Jackets are entering their fifth season of partnership. The extension guarantees that Springfield will continue to serve as the American Hockey League affiliate and help develop top prospects in the Columbus organization through the 2015-16 season. “We are excited to continue our affiliation and strong relationship with the Columbus organization,” said Pompea. “The extension further affirms our continued commitment to the Greater Springfield community. Columbus has been a great partner, and we look forward to having continued success with them both on and off the ice.” Added Blue Jackets Assistant General Manager Chris MacFarland, who oversees hockey operations for the club’s affiliates, “the affiliation between the Blue Jackets and Springfield Falcons has been a successful and rewarding one for both clubs, and we’re pleased that the relationship will continue. The Falcons organization, under the leadership of Sarah Pompea, has been tremendous to work with, and we look forward to having our prospects continue to grow and develop in Springfield.” Since becoming the AHL affiliate of the Blue Jackets in 2010-11, the Falcons have completed some of their most successful seasons. The team has a 163-119-11-15 record over the course of the partnership. They have won back-to-back Northeast Division Championships in 2012-13 and 2013-14. Along with claiming the division title, Springfield also set new franchise records with 47 regular-season wins and a .658 points percentage, while tying a team mark of 100 points, in the 2013-14 season. Additionally, 35 current or former Falcons players have skated in at least one game with the Blue Jackets since the affiliation began four seasons ago.

UMass Among Entities to Be Caught ‘Green-handed’
EAST LONGMEADOW — Excel Dryer Inc., manufacturer of the original, patented, high-speed, energy-efficient XLERATOR hand dryer and new XLERATOReco hand dryer, announced registered projects for the third annual international Green Apple Day of Service, an initiative from the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council that brings together advocates from around the world and encourages them to take action in their communities through service projects at local schools. The Day of Service, now in its third year, provides an opportunity for students, teachers, parents, elected officials, organizations, companies, and others to transform all schools into healthy, safe, cost-efficient, and productive learning places. Projects organized by Excel Dryer this year include the installation of the Green Apple XLERATOR hand dryers at Brighton High School (part of the Boston public-school system), Angeles Mesa Elementary School (part of the Los Angeles Unified School District), and several locations throughout the UMass Amherst campus. “The green movement is here to stay, and as all facilities are looking for green and cost-savings initiatives, installing XLERATOR hand dryers or our new XLERATOReco hand dryers accomplishes both,” said William Gagnon, vice president of marketing at Excel Dryer. “We are proud to be an original seed sponsor of the Green Apple program since its inception, and encourage groups and individuals to get caught green-handed and make a difference this month by registering a Day of Service project to install XLERATOR hand dryers or XLERATOReco hand dryers at local schools.”

Coldwell Banker Among Top Charitable Companies
BOSTON — The Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage offices in Chicopee, Longmeadow, and Westfield announced that Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in New England has been ranked as one of the top corporate charitable contributors in Massachusetts by the Boston Business Journal. Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage was the only residential real-estate brokerage firm to be recognized. The company was honored during the 9th annual Corporate Citizenship Summit, which was held at the Westin Copley Hotel in Boston and attended by approximately 700 guests representing a wide range of nonprofit organizations as well as local and national companies with a presence in Massachusetts. “Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage knows that supporting local charitable organizations is vital, and giving back to our communities is part of our culture,” said Pat Villani, president of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in New England. “I am very proud of our employees and affiliated sales associates who continue to demonstrate their generosity through their volunteer efforts and contributions to our charitable foundation.” Sales associates and employees raise funds for local housing-related causes by donating a portion of their sales commissions and paychecks to Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Cares, the company’s charitable foundation. They also host fund-raisers and volunteer at local community organizations. The primary purpose of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Cares is to raise funds to provide financial assistance to housing-related causes in the communities where Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage has a presence. Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Cares is the New England chapter of the Realogy Foundation. Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage is the largest residential real-estate brokerage company in New England. With more than 4,000 sales associates and staff in more than 80 office locations, the organization serves consumers in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Maine.

Inspired Marketing Relocates to Springfield
SPRINGFIELD — Inspired Marketing Inc., a full-service marketing agency and event-planning company, continues to grow, and has announced its relocation from the suburbs to 20 Maple St. in Springfield. This move brings the company into a larger space in the heart of the city, allowing it to be closer to a few current clients, including the Springfield Business Improvement District, Springfield Museums, Maple High/Six Corners neighborhood, Square One, and the future home of MGM Springfield. “As a homeowner in the city, I have a soft spot for Springfield,” said Jill Monson-Bishop, chief inspiration officer. “I believe we are on the brink of greatness. I have confidence that the more young professional foot traffic we see in downtown, the quicker the city will thrive. Bringing my company downtown was a natural fit; now my team and I can walk outside for lunch or visit with a colleague in Court Square. We are thrilled to be back in Springfield!” Inspired Marketing is a full-service marketing and event-planning company started in 2011 by Monson-Bishop. It draws on marketing knowledge, resources, and local networks to help create bold solutions to reach clients’ goals. In addition, the firm is a leader in event planning, turning visions into reality for both large and small events. For more information, visit www.inspiredmarketing.biz.

People on the Move

By BusinessWest Staff October 7, 2014

Departments People on the Move

Kamari Collins

Kamari Collins was recently appointed to the position of Dean of Academic Advising and Student Success at Springfield Technical Community College by the STCC board of trustees after serving as the college’s director of academic advising since 2011. Collins began his employment with the college in 2007 as an academic counselor. Prior to his employment with STCC, he served as the director of youth and education programs at the Urban League of Springfield for several years. Collins earned both his bachelor’s degree and his master’s degree with a concentration in organizational management and leadership from Springfield College. He was named one of BusinessWest magazine’s 40 Under Forty in 2009 and currently serves as a board member of the Children’s Study Home and Urban League of Springfield Inc. and the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts education committee.
•••••

William Hart Jr.

John Pucci

Fourteen lawyers from Bulkley Richardson were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America 2015. Bulkley Richardson had the most honorees of any law firm in Springfield, with 12 of its 14 selected lawyers based in its Springfield office. Two of the firm’s honorees were also named Springfield “Lawyer of the Year” in specific practice areas. William Hart Jr. was so honored in the category of trusts and estates, and John Pucci for criminal defense, white-collar. He was also recognized in the area of criminal defense, non-white-collar. The following Bulkley Richardson lawyers were also selected for the 2015 edition of Best Lawyers:

Peter Barry

Michael Burke

Mark Cress

Francis Dibble Jr.

Daniel Finnegan

Robert Gelinas

Kevin Maynard

David Parke

Melinda Phelps

Donn Randall

Ellen Randle

Ronald Weiss

•Peter Barry: construction law;
• Michael Burke: medical-malpractice law (defendants); personal-injury litigation (defendants);
• Mark Cress: bankruptcy and creditor/debtor rights; insolvency and reorganization law; corporate law;
• Francis Dibble Jr.: bet-the-company litigation; commercial litigation; litigation (anti-trust, labor and employment, securities);
• Daniel Finnegan: administrative/regulatory law; litigation (construction);
• Robert Gelinas: personal-injury litigation (defendants);
• Kevin Maynard: commercial litigation; litigation (banking and finance, construction);
• David Parke: corporate law;
• Melinda Phelps: medical-malpractice law (defendants); personal-injury litigation (defendants);
• Donn Randall: commercial litigation;
• Ellen Randle: family law; and
• Ronald Weiss: corporate law; mergers and acquisitions law; tax law.
Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as a definitive guide to legal excellence. Because it is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey in which more than 52,000 leading attorneys cast almost 5.5 million votes on the legal abilities of other lawyers in their practice areas, and because lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be listed, inclusion in Best Lawyers is considered a singular honor. Corporate Counsel magazine has called Best Lawyers “the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice.”
•••••
Robinson Donovan, P.C. announced that seven of its attorneys will be included in the 2015 edition of the prestigious national guide Best Lawyers in America. Robinson Donovan attorneys were included in a number of categories, with three lawyers earning additional Lawyer of the Year recognition for their practice area. Only one lawyer in each practice area in each community is eligible to be named Lawyer of the Year. The Robinson Donovan honorees include:
• Richard Gaberman: corporate law; real estate law, commercial; tax certiorari; tax law; trusts and estates (23rd consecutive year); Lawyer of the Year, real-estate law. Also previous Lawyer of the Year award for trusts and estates
• James Martin: franchise law, automobile dealerships; real-estate law, franchise
• Jeffrey McCormick: personal-injury litigation, automobile collision; catastrophic injury; civil litigation; ethics and professional responsibility; insurance; medical malpractice; premises liability; professional malpractice
• Carla Newton: family law; Lawyer of the Year, family law
• Nancy Frankel Pelletier: personal-injury law, defendants (10th consecutive year)
• Patricia Rapinchuk: employment law, management; litigation, labor and employment; Lawyer of the Year, employment law, management
• Jeffrey Roberts: corporate law; trusts and estates; also previous Lawyer of the Year award for trusts and estates
For more than 30 years, Best Lawyers has been regarded, by both the legal profession and the public, as the definitive guide to legal excellence in the U.S. The 2015 volume of Best Lawyers, the 21st edition, is based on a rigorous evaluation process that included thousands of clients, highly skilled lawyers, and law-firm representatives.
•••••

Tina Stevens

Tina Stevens has joined Greenfield Community College as an adjunct faculty member for the academic year. She will be teaching “Principles of Marketing,” an in-depth course covering the fundamental concepts of marketing, including the hands-on preparation of a marketing plan for a local business. Stevens is the principal and creative director of Stevens 470 in Westfield, a multi-channel marketing consultancy. With more than 20 years of experience growing the agency and working with a diverse mix of clients, she has real-world experience in developing and directing marketing plans. She focuses her attention on creating successful strategies for clients and executing those solutions throughout today’s marketing channels. Stevens attended Greenfield Community College and earned an associate degree in graphic design. She received her bachelor’s degree from Westfield State University and also has a master’s degree in advertising design from Syracuse University through its Independent Study Degree Program for working professionals in the creative industry.
•••••
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has selected UMass Amherst Professor James Kurose to serve as Assistant Director for its directorate for Computer & Information Science & Engineering (CISE). The three-year appointment begins in January 2015. Kurose is distinguished professor in UMass Amherst’s School of Computer Science, a position he has held since 2004. He has also served in a number of administrative roles, including chair of the department, interim dean, executive associate dean of the College of Natural Sciences, and senior faculty advisor to the vice chancellor for research and engagement. With Keith Ross, he co-authored the textbook Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach, which is in its 6th edition. CISE’s mission is to promote the progress of computer and information science and engineering research and education and advance the development and use of cyber infrastructure; promote understanding of the principles and uses of advanced computer, communication, and information systems in support of societal priorities; and contribute to universal, transparent, and affordable participation in a knowledge-based society.
•••••
Attain Therapy + Fitness announced the hiring of Michael Fall, who will act as the facility Manager and treating Physical Therapist at the recently acquired facility at 65 Springfield Road in Westfield. Fall has been practicing orthopedic physical therapy for more than 30 years. He has owned, built, and subsequently sold two private practices in Connecticut. He earned a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy from Quinnipiac University in 1983, a master’s degree in orthopedic physical therapy in 1992, and his Ph.D. in biomechanics from the University of Connecticut in 2001. In 2013, he was accepted into the prestigious Gray Institute, where he completed two 40-week fellowship programs in applied and advanced applied functional science, and earned his fellowship in applied functional science.
•••••
Dr. Thomas Wadzinski has joined Dr. James Bell, Dr. Amy Pelletier, Dr. Hanna Awkal, and nurse practitioner Mary Andaloro on the provider staff at Fairview Pediatrics. Board-certified in general pediatrics and pediatric endocrinology, Wadzinski will be able to provide both primary-care and pediatric-endocrinology services to his patients. Wadzinski earned both his medical degree and his Ph.D. in biomedical sciences from UMass Medical School in Worcester, and completed his pediatric residency at Baystate Medical Center. He recently completed a pediatric-endocrinology fellowship at Baystate Medical Center, including service as an adjunct research assistant professor at UMass Amherst.

Chamber Corners: Upcoming Events

By BusinessWest Staff October 7, 2014

Chamber Corners Departments

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

• Oct. 8: ACCGS Lunch ‘n’ Learn, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Lattitude Restaurant, 1388 Memorial Ave., West Springfield. Liz Provo, authorized local representative for Constant Contact, will present “Social Media for Small Business Success.” Cost: $25 for members, $35 for general admission. Reservations may be made online at www.myonlinechamber.com.
• Oct. 29: ACCGS Western Mass. Business Expo Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., MassMutual Center, 1277 Main St., Springfield. Keynote speaker: Gov. Deval Patrick. Cost: $25 in advance, $30 at the door. Reservations may be made online at www.myonlinechamber.com.
• Oct. 29: PWC Western Mass. Business Expo Headline Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., MassMutual Center, 1277 Main St., Springfield. Keynote speaker: Patricia Diaz Dennis, retired senior vice president and assistant general counsel for AT&T. Cost: $40. Reservations may be made online at www.myonlinechamber.com.

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

• Oct. 9: Chamber Brown Bag, 12:30-2 p.m. Hosted by the Jones Library (Woodbury Room). Topic: “The Entrepreneurial Equation.” This event will give you ideas for putting banking, retirement, and insurance tools to work so you can help build and protect your business according to your short-and long-term goals. Presenter: Tom McRae, Edward Jones. Event is free and open to the public. Bring a lunch.
• Oct. 9: Chamber Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, 12:30-1 p.m., at Downtown Mindfulness, 67 North Pleasant St., Amherst. Join us in welcoming Downtown Mindfulness to the Amherst area. Light hors d’oeuvres and refreshments will be served. Event is free and open to the public.
• Oct. 24: Legislative Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m. Hosted by the Lord Jeffery Inn, 30 Boltwood Ave., Amherst. This is your chance to rub elbows with Amherst-area elected officials. Cost: $15 for chamber members, $20 for non-members. To RSVP, call Tammy-Lynn at (413) 253-0700 or e-mail [email protected].

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

• Oct. 9: Taking Care of Business, Workshop #3, “Human Resources: Best Practices for Small Businesses,” 9-11 a.m. Hosted by Hampton Inn, 600 Memorial Dr., Chicopee. Learn about recruitment and hiring, employee benefits and labor laws, and unemployment Insurance. Presenter: Employers Assoc. of the NorthEast. Cost: $20 for members, $30 for non-members.
• Oct. 15: Salute Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m. Hosted by the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House, 500 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. Cost: $20 for members, $26 for non-members.
• Oct. 23: Auction/Beer & Wine Tasting, 6-9 p.m., Delaney House, 3 Country Club Road, Holyoke. The public is welcome to attend and enjoy tastings from Kappy’s Liquors and Williams Distributing Corp., and delicious gourmet food by the Delaney House. Take some photos in the complimentary photo booth and bid on auction items such as gift baskets and gift certificates to area restaurants.
• Oct. 30: Taking Care of Business, Workshop #4: “How to Retain Your Top Talent,” 9-11 a.m. Hosted by Hampton Inn, 600 Memorial Dr., Chicopee. Learn about recruitment and turnover costs, production loss, and retraining. Presenter: James Percy, Willard Financial Group, LLC. Cost: $20 for members, $30 for non-members.

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

• Oct. 9: Networking by Night Business Card Exchange, 5-7 p.m., hosted and co-sponsored by Eastworks & Riff’s Joint, 116 Pleasant St., Easthampton. Door prizes, hors d’ouevres, beer and wine. Cost: $5 for members, $15 for future members. RSVP requested.
• Oct. 20: Celebrity Bartenders Night, 6-9 p.m., at Opa-Opa Steakhouse & Brewery, 169 College Highway, Southampton. Join us for a night of fun with local celebrities mixing drinks. Let us know if you are interested in bartending! Cash bar, raffles, and fun. Tips and donations benefit the chamber’s downtown Holiday Lighting Fund. Admission: free.
• Oct. 23: Workforce Training Speaker Breakfast, part of the chamber’s Speaker Series 2014. Hosted by Southampton Country Club, 329 College Highway, Southampton. Come and learn about available state funding for employee training and technical assistance for any size business. Cost: $15 for chamber members, $20 for non-members. Call the chamber to sign up. Seating is limited.

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

• Oct. 7, 21: Nov. 5: Ask a Chamber Expert Series: “How to Start and Maintain Your Own Business.” Get your business on the right track and join us for this member-taught, 10-class workshop series. Workshop schedule: Oct. 7, “Creating a Business Plan”; Oct. 21, “Learning the Law”; Nov. 5, “Insurance.” All workshops are held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Holyoke Chamber of Commerce at 177 High St., and include light refreshments. Cost: $20 per session for members, or $175 for 10 classes. To sign up, call the chamber at (413) 534-3376 or visit holyokechamber.com.
• Oct. 8: Autumn Business Breakfast, 7:30-9 a.m., at the Log Cabin. Sponsored by the Republican and Holyoke Medical Center. Recognition of new members and business milestones, and networking breakfast meeting. Cost: $22 for members in advance, $28 for non-members and at the door. For reservations, call the chamber at (413) 534-3376.
• Oct. 15: Chamber After Hours, 5-7 p.m., hosted by Westfield Bank, 1642 Northampton St., Holyoke. Business networking event to take place under the tent. Food, networking, 50/50 raffle, and door prizes. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for the public. To sign up, call the chamber at (413) 534-3376 or visit holyokechamber.com.

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

• Oct. 8: “Make the Web Work for You,” 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Hosted by Greenfield Savings Bank, Community Room, 325 King St., Northampton. Presented by Tina Stevens of Stevens 470. Cost: $20 for members, $25 for non-members. RSVP required; space limited.
• Oct. 10: “Tips, Tricks, & Shortcuts,” 9-11 a.m., hosted by the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce, 99 Pleasant St., Northampton. Sponsosr: Pioneer Training. Special guest: Don Lesser. This workshop contains a variety of quick tips and tricks in Microsoft Word that will save you hours of time. Cost: $20 for members, $25 for non-members. RSVP; space limited.

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

• Oct. 8: After 5 Connection, 5-7 p.m., hosted by East Mountain Country Club, Westfield. Great connection opportunities, including speed connecting. Complimentary hors d’oeuvres, cash bar. Walk-ins welcome. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for non-members (cash at the door). To register, call Pam at the chamber at (413) 568-1618.
• Oct. 14: Lunch & Lecture Series #3, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., hosted by Noble Hospital, Conference Room A, Westfield. Topic: “Retirement & Investments for Business.” Presented by Tim Flynn of Edward Jones Investments. Cost: free to chamber members, $25 for non-members. For more information, call Pam at the chamber office, (413) 568-1618.
• Oct. 20: Speaker Series (2 of 3), “Common and Costly Employment-law Mistakes Made by Small Businesses,” 8-9:15 a.m., presented by Royal, LLC. Hosted by Genesis Spiritual Life & Conference Center, Westfield. Cost: free to chamber members, $25 for non-members. For more information, call Pam at the chamber office, (413) 568-1618.

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

• Oct. 14: PWC Ladies Night, 5-7 p.m. Complimentary wine, refreshments, and networking. Reservations are complimentary but suggested, by contacting Dawn Creighton at [email protected] or (413) 530-0545.

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

• Oct. 9: Agawam Candidates Forum, 6-9 p.m., hosted by Roberta G. Doering School, 68 Main St., Agawam. For the first half of this state representatives / state Senate debate, questions will be solicited in advance from WRC members and the general public. The second half of the debate will be performed in the Lincoln-Douglas format, where candidates will have the opportunity to pose questions to each other.
• Oct. 15: Networking Lunch, noon to 1:30 p.m., hosted by Crestview Country Club, Agawam. Enjoy a sit-down lunch while networking with fellow chamber members. Each attendee will get a chance to offer a brief sales pitch. You must be a member or guest of a member to attend. The only cost to attend is the cost of lunch. Attendees will order off the menu and pay separately that day. We cannot invoice you for these events. For more information, contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880 or email [email protected].
• Oct. 16: Breakfast Meeting, 7-9 a.m., hosted by Lattitude, West Springfield. The featured emcee is political consultant Anthony Signoli, speaking on the potential casino and how it may affect local business and the general public. Cost: $25 for chamber members, $30 for non-members. For more information, contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880 or email [email protected].

Agenda

By BusinessWest Staff October 7, 2014

Agenda Departments

‘Mornings with the Mayor’
Oct. 16: MicroTek Inc. will be hosting “Mornings with the Mayor” at its new location, 2070 Westover Road in Chicopee. Coffee and light breakfast refreshments will be served, while Mayor Richard Kos provides updates and news about what’s happening in — and other topics that impact — Chicopee. Attendees may submit any questions, concerns, or ideas for discussion by Oct. 13 to Chamber President Eileen Drumm at [email protected]. This event is open to Greater Chicopee Chamber of Commerce members only, and is free, but registration is required so the host business knows how many will be attending. To register, go to www.chicopeechamber.org, scroll down under ‘Upcoming Events,’ and click on ‘More,’ or call the chamber at (413) 594-2101.

BMLH Tag Sale and Electronic Recycling
Oct. 17: Recent building renovations and office upgrades at Baystate Mary Lane Hospital have resulted in a quantity of used chairs, tables, desks, file cabinets, and other office equipment. As a result, a tag sale will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the parking lot near the back of the Medical Office Building, off Marjorie Street. “Our tag sale is a way of recycling items that we are no longer planning to use,” said Lisa Beaudry, director of Patient Care Services. “Recycling conserves resources and helps to prevent pollution. Baystate Health is already recycling as much material produced at its facilities as it safely can.” Combined with the tag sale, the hospital will also sponsor a community-wide recycling event. Old and/or non-working electrical devices such as radios, air-conditioning units, toasters, phones, light fixtures, etc. will be collected at no cost, with the exception of TVs and CRTs, for which there will be an $8 fee. The community recycling event will also take place in the parking lot near the back of the Medical Office Building. All items collected will be trucked away to a recycling center shortly after the event. The tag sale and recycling event will be held rain or shine. All proceeds will benefit community-benefit programs sponsored by the hospital. For more information, contact Ryan Moore, manager of Engineering, at (413) 967-2140.

Hunting for a Cure 5K Run/Walk
Oct. 18: The Hunting for a Cure 5K Run/Walk, to benefit the fight against Huntington’s disease, will take place at the Holyoke Lodge of Elks. The course stretches 3.1 miles around Ashley Reservoir. The event begins at 11 a.m. with a shotgun start for all runners and walkers. Plan to stick around afterward for food provided by Hamel’s Catering and Meeting House, as well as live music from the Franny-O Show, raffles, and more. Huntington’s disease (HD) is an inherited, progressively degenerative brain disorder that results in the loss of both mental faculties and physical control. Presently, there is no effective treatment or cure. Each child of a parent with HD has a 50% chance of inheriting the gene. All proceeds for the event will go directly to the Huntington’s Disease Society of America. To register, visit www.active.com and search for ‘Hunting for a Cure.’ For more information, contact Jennifer Gilburg at (413) 335-4687.

Western Mass. Business Expo
Oct. 29: The fourth annual event, presented by BusinessWest at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, is a business-to-business show featuring more than 150 booths, seminars, and Show Floor Theater presentations, as well as a day-capping Expo Social. In addition, Gov. Deval Patrick will be the speaker at the ACCGS Breakfast at 7:15 a.m. The Professional Women’s Chamber Luncheon, at 11:30 a.m., will feature Patricia Diaz Dennis, senior vice president at AT&T, member of the MassMutual board of directors, and a past presidential appointee to the Federal Communications Commission. For more details, see the story on page 13. Comcast Business will again be event’s 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. In 2013, more than 2,200 business professionals attended the expo, and between 2,500 and 3,000 are expected in 2014. For more information on sponsorships or booth purchase, call (413) 781-8600 or visit www.wmbexpo.com.

50th Noble Ball
Nov. 1: Noble Hospital’s 50th anniversary Noble Ball will be held at the MassMutual Center in Springfield. More than 800 guests are expected to attend the black-tie event, which will feature live entertainment, silent and live auctions, food, dancing, and more. Since the first ball, Noble Hospital has used this signature event to raise money for hospital operating funds, building improvements, equipment purchases, and more. The 2013 ball raised $250,000 for the Oncology Unit in order to provide a more comfortable environment for cancer patients and their families. This year’s ball proceeds will be used to enhance Noble’s entrance and reception area to provide updated ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) access. “Our goal is to make Noble easily accessible for all,” said Allison Gearing-Kalill, vice president of Community Development. For more information or to purchase tickets to the Noble Ball, visit www.noblehospital.org/ball or email [email protected].

Eastworks Announces Third Annual Holiday Shop

By BusinessWest Staff October 7, 2014

Daily News

EASTHAMPTON — The Eastworks Holiday Shop is a pop-up shop that showcases the work and wares of Eastworks artists and entrepreneurs. Last year, sales increased over the first year, and this year a continued increase in traffic is expected. The event will again use Suite 136, donated by Will and Paula Bundy, and will be open through November and December, Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The cost per artist is $40. Participants are asked to work one or two four-hour shifts in the shop and to promote the shop through their marketing and social-media outlets. A fee of 20% from each sale is collected if participants choose not to contribute their time to work shop shifts. Shop participation fees and the 20% contributions are used to buy required insurances for the space (not product), refreshments for Art Walk events, and other promotional and sales materials.

To sign up or for more information, e-mail Carol Ostberg at [email protected]. The deadline is Monday, Oct. 13.

Brian Beauchemin Earns Title of GM World Class Technician

By BusinessWest Staff October 7, 2014

Daily News

CHICOPEE — Brian Beauchemin, a technician with Bob Pion Buick GMC, has earned the coveted title of GM World Class Technician. He joins fellow Pion technician Powel Lisek in this elite class.

When asked why he challenged himself to earn this recognition, Beauchemin said, “honestly, for me it was the last piece of the puzzle. This industry is vastly more complex now than when I started, with fewer mechanical applications and more electrical knowledge needed. I want to know as much as possible to take the very best care of my customers.” Beauchemin’s career began at Orr Cadillac in 2000, after he graduated from Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School and at the top of his class in the ASEP Program at Mass Bay Community College.

Bob Pion Buick GMC has been serving the area since 1977. For more information about the company, visit www.pionauto.com.

Goodman Vein and Laser Center Accredited in Vascular Testing

By BusinessWest Staff October 7, 2014

Daily News

WEST SPRINGFIELD — The Goodman Vein and Laser Center, located at 66 Morgan Road in West Springfield, has been granted a three-year term of accreditation in vascular testing in the areas of extra-cranial cerebrovascular testing, peripheral venous testing, and peripheral arterial testing by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC).

This means practice owner Dr. Robert Goodman has undergone a thorough review of operational and technical components by a panel of experts. The IAC grants accreditation only to those facilities that are found to be providing quality patient care, in compliance with national standards, through a comprehensive application process.

Goodman, who established the first comprehensive vein center in Western Mass. entirely focused on the treatment of vein disease, has been serving the Greater Springfield area for more than 30 years. He is chief of Vascular Surgery at Mercy Medical Center and past co-director of the Mercy Medical Center Wound Care Clinic. He is a board-certified vascular surgeon and received his vascular fellowship training at Baystate Medical Center. He is a member of the Society of Vascular Surgery, the International Society of Vascular Surgery, the New England Society of Vascular Surgery, the International Society of Endovascular Specialists, the American College of Phlebology, and the American Venous Forum.

Employment-law Expert to Host Human Services Forum Event

By BusinessWest Staff October 7, 2014

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Skoler, Abbott & Presser, P.C., an employment-law firm serving the Greater Springfield area, announced that partner Susan Fentin will host a presentation regarding recent developments in the area of labor and employment law as part of the Human Services Forum (HSF) training series.

The half-day presentation will take place on Oct. 23 from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the Crowne Plaza in Pittsfield. The presentation, titled “Something Old, Something New,” will cover a number of recent developments in the area of labor and employment law, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s new enforcement guidance on the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, which was issued in July.

“The EEOC’s guidance contains a summary of the existing law, which is not actually new information but is an important reminder of employers’ obligations under this statute,” said Fentin. “Additionally, the guidance also includes some surprising interpretations of the law that may alleviate potential issues for employers with pregnant workers.”

Fentin will also cover recent Massachusetts legislation affecting employers, including the Bay State’s new domestic violence leave law, changes to the state’s minimum wage, and new rights for domestic workers. The program will allot a substantial amount of time for attendees to ask questions. The event is $55 for HSF members and $65 for non-members; the fee includes continental breakfast. Registration for the event can be completed online at humanservicesforum.org.

Fentin has been a partner at the firm since 2004. Her practice concentrates on labor and employment counseling, advising large and small employers on their responsibilities and obligations under state and federal employment laws, and representing employers before state and federal agencies and in court. She speaks frequently to employer groups, conducts training on avoiding problems in employment law, and teaches master classes on both the FMLA and ADA. She is routinely named as a Super Lawyer and, since 2010, has been ranked as one of the top labor and employment attorneys in Massachusetts by the prestigious Chambers USA rating firm.

The Human Service Forum was founded in 1986 as an association of nonprofit and public agencies as well as individuals providing human services in the Pioneer Valley. The forum was envisioned by its founders to be a vehicle for communicating the important contributions of human services to quality of life in Pioneer Valley communities, and for members to network, address problems of mutual concern, and discuss major trends and changes impacting human services.

Picture This

By BusinessWest Staff October 7, 2014

Departments Picture This

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

Humanics in Action

Approximately 2,000 Springfield College students, faculty, staff, and alumni took part in the 17th annual Humanics in Action Day on Sept. 23, a day of community service throughout the city of Springfield. More than 100 projects were fulfilled by college work groups, who performed services for schools, churches, senior-citizen facilities, child-care centers, community organizations, city agencies, and neighborhoods. There were educational projects for school children, including students reading to youngsters at the Brookings School. The majority of the volunteers participated in many indoor and outdoor painting projects, clean-up/fix-up projects, landscaping, and a host of other indoor and outdoor services. The day started with Springfield College student trustee Moriah Billups leading the opening ceremonies at Blake Track, which included welcome addresses from both Springfield College President Mary-Beth Cooper and Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno. Old Hill Neighborhood Council President Barbara Gresham and Upper Hill Neighborhood Council Vice President Bobby Hartsfield also greeted students. Humanics in Action Day highlights the commitment by Springfield College to year-round community-based service programs. Springfield College students contribute more than 150,000 hours of service annually to schools, neighborhood organizations, and city programs.

Cutting the Ribbon

More than 200 area business leaders, UMass administrators, and elected officials gathered at the recently opened UMass Center at Springfield for the facility’s official ribbon cutting. Top, dignitaries led by Gov. Deval Patrick (center) UMass President Robert Caret (third from right), and Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno (second from right) handle the honors. At bottom, Patrick with William Davila, director of operations for the center.

Sobering Thoughts

By BusinessWest Staff October 7, 2014

Business of Aging Sections

Why You Need to Plan for the End

By ERIC REINES, M.D. and BETH WARNER, D.O.

Physicians undergo years of education and training to promote wellness, cure and heal, and protect life. Yet, we also know that death is inevitable, and we are increasingly recognizing the importance of advance care planning. We urge patients to do the same.

Advance care planning is the term for the planning we do as our healthcare becomes complicated and we need to make challenging decisions about our care, often toward the end of life. Planning becomes an integral part of most people’s lives at an early age, and most of us are always planning ahead. We plan for education and careers; we create wills, buy life insurance, and establish retirement accounts.

Advance care planning can be thought of in the same way, as a medical part of the future, because one day, despite how intense our will to live may be, the end will arrive. Planning makes your wishes known ahead of time and ensures that they are fulfilled.

The planning begins with the simple act of talking with your healthcare provider and family members to let them know what your wishes are about end-of-life issues. Once those decisions are reached — and it can be appropriate over time to revisit the discussion to change or refine previous decisions — patients then complete certain forms to specify their wishes.

Two of the most important forms are the healthcare proxy and a MOLST form. A healthcare proxy indicates which person you choose to make healthcare decisions on your behalf should you become unable to do so. The MOLST form — an acronym for medical orders for life-sustaining treatment — outlines your preferences for such areas as whether or not you wish to be resuscitated in certain situations. Copies of completed forms should be distributed to family members and all your healthcare providers.

Advance care planning isn’t recommended just for elderly patients or those with terminal illnesses. Physicians recommend that the conversation and planning for everyone start earlier rather than later because of the uncertainty of when that final moment might arrive.

End-of-life care may also include palliative care and hospice care, and patients are urged to learn about these areas of medical care as well. Palliative care refers to the type of care that is delivered when someone is diagnosed with a life-limiting illness. Hospice care is care for those entering the last few months of life, usually with a prognosis of six months or fewer to live.

Getting the conversation started is the first step, and getting it started early is important. Not only will that make your wishes known, but it has benefits for family members as well. Letting your family know what you want in these serious circumstances can prevent your loved ones from carrying the burden of deciding your course of care. It may also avoid family turmoil, as each family member knows exactly what your wishes are and how they are to be carried out.

Healthcare can get more complicated as we age. We may accumulate more illnesses, get frailer, and become more susceptible to injury. Advance care planning makes us think about what we want, what’s most important, and then communicate that with family members and the healthcare team.

Physicians certainly recognize the persistent hope patients can have, even in the most dire of circumstances. But in addition to being a healthcare advocate throughout life, physicians are now able to play an important role in end-of-life care as well.

Many patients who face terminal illness tell us that they are praying for a miracle. We believe in miracles, too: the miracles of dignity, comfort, love, and peace. If patients work together with their healthcare team, physicians can help to make those miracles happen.

If you or a family member wants to talk, and your healthcare provider doesn’t open the conversation, we urge you to take the first step and ask. The topic is too important to ignore.

More information, including a free brochure, Planning Ahead: What Are Your Choices? which lists a number of resources, is available free from the Mass. Medical Society at www.massmed.org/advancecareplanning. For a video discussion, visit www.physicianfocus.org/advancecareplanning.

Dr. Eric Reines is a geriatrician with Element Care in Lynn, and Dr. Beth Warner is a geriatrician with Cooley Dickinson Health Care in Northampton. Reines is chair, and Warner is a member, of the Mass. Medical Society’s Committee on Geriatric Medicine. This article is a service of the Mass. Medical Society.

Get It in Writing

By BusinessWest Staff October 7, 2014

Business of Aging Sections

Things to Know When Your Child Is Also Your Caregiver

By GINA M. BARRY, Esq.

It is very common for a child to provide care to an aging parent in order to allow the parent to continue to live at home. A child is most commonly the caregiver because the parent will not agree to hire professionals to assist with the activities of daily life. Typically, the parent has concerns regarding privacy, and their child is the only caregiver they will trust.

By Gina M. Barry, Esq.

When a child provides care to a parent, it is best to establish a care agreement. A care agreement is a contract that outlines the care to be provided, as well as any payment to be made for that care. The care is typically provided until the parent passes away or is in need of care that cannot be provided at home. Tasks performed by the child usually include personal-care assistance, grocery shopping, meal preparation, accounting services, transportation to and from appointments, housecleaning, and laundry services. It is recommended that the care be paid for on an ongoing basis as the care is actually provided.

The care agreement should set forth the exact services that the child will provide, as well as the location where the services will be provided. The parent’s ‘space,’ as well as any ‘common areas,’ should be detailed. Additionally, the agreement should set forth whether the parent or the child is responsible for paying monthly utility charges, as well as yearly expenses, such as property taxes and homeowner’s insurance. The agreement should also address responsibility for property maintenance, such as needed repairs, mowing the lawn, additional landscaping, and snow removal.

It is crucial to value the services to be provided in the care agreement. Services may be valued as a package or individually. The package rate is useful when the care provided is substantially similar to that of a facility, such as an assisted-living facility or nursing home.

When using the individual pricing method, the child must keep a record of the services performed and receive payment based on the actual amount of service provided. All payments to the child are taxable income to the child and should be reported on the child’s personal income-tax return. In this regard, it is also important to realize that most caregiving children will find their availability to work outside the home greatly reduced or eliminated.

The parent and child should also set forth the circumstances under which the child is willing to provide care for the parent and the terms upon which the agreement may be cancelled. In order to avoid the appearance of an illusory promise on the child’s behalf, the agreement should provide that cancellation will occur only upon the occurrence of specified conditions — for example, if it becomes unsafe to continue to provide care in the home. The agreement should also allow for written amendments, so that the agreement can be changed if the situation changes.

The impact of a care agreement with respect to the parent’s options for financing nursing-home care is substantial. Currently, nursing-home care costs approximately $13,000 per month and is most commonly paid for by accessing long-term-care insurance, privately paying, or obtaining MassHealth benefits.

When applying for MassHealth benefits, MassHealth will ask whether the applicant has made any gifts in the last five years. If gifts are found, MassHealth will assess a penalty that prevents the applicant from obtaining benefits for a certain time period based on the amount of the gift. When assets are transferred to a child as payment for care provided, it may be possible to avoid this penalty, as the money was transferred to pay for the services provided and was not a gift.

It should be noted that caregiver agreements are subject to intense scrutiny by MassHealth. If a MassHealth application is anticipated in the future, the care agreement must be carefully drafted and must take into account MassHealth’s current position as to these agreements.

Although there are many issues to address when establishing a care agreement, outlining the responsibilities of both the child and the parent will prevent most disagreements, as the agreement will lay the framework for success. A successful care agreement will allow the parent to remain at home much longer. In addition, a properly drafted care agreement can be financially beneficial to both the parent and the child. As such, the benefit of having such an agreement in place far outweighs the effort involved in establishing the agreement.

Gina M. Barry is a partner with the law firm Bacon Wilson, P.C. She is a member of the National Assoc. of Elder Law Attorneys, the Estate Planning Council, and the Western Mass. Elder Care Professionals Assoc. She concentrates her practice in estate and asset-protection planning, probate administration and litigation, guardianships, conservatorships, and residential real estate; (413) 781-0560; [email protected]

Community Spotlight: Williamstown

By BusinessWest Staff October 7, 2014

Community Spotlight Features

Williamstown Officials Look to Drive Development

From left, Select Board Chair Ron Turbin and Selectmen Hugh Daley and Andy Hogeland enjoy the weekly Williamstown Farmer’s Market.

Hugh Daley doesn’t mince words or spare any hyperbole when he talks about all that Williamstown has to offer visitors and residents alike.

“It is so beautiful that, once people move here, they never want to leave,” said Daley, one of three selectmen serving this picturesque community in the northwest corner of the Bay State. “You can hike in the morning, spend the afternoon in a world-class art museum, and have a nice dinner without ever having to get in your car.”

Andy Hogeland, another selectman, was equally descriptive. “People can go to the farmer’s market for fresh produce and community conversation, then walk to see the Magna Carta exhibit at the Clark Art Institute, or attend the Bluegrass Festival in North Adams,” he said during an interview late last month.

And board Chair Ron Turbin isn’t shy about extolling the town’s virtues either, noting that its elementary school is a state-of-the-art green building, and the Massachusetts School Building Authority recently approved a feasibility study to renovate or rebuild Mount Greylock Regional High School, which serves Williamstown and Lanesborough.

But all three elected leaders are quick to note that this community is lacking something — an economic-development plan. “About 10 years ago, an ad hoc committee was formed to focus on economic development, but nothing much happened,” Turbin said.

That is about to change, though, because Daley and Hogeland have spent the past four months working on a plan to foster growth. They were elected to the board in May after two longstanding members retired, and are adamant about pursuing options that will revitalize the town by encouraging business expansion and increasing the number of young families who live there.

“We want to encourage new investments and get more businesses to move here,” Daley said. “The area offers great appeal, and we are formulating a plan to identify the type of businesses we hope to attract; we need to figure out who our audience is so we can pitch Williamstown to them.”

Such action is particularly important now because the town’s population is shrinking, and many residents are growing older, which is occurring in many neighboring communities in the Berkshires as well.

However, it became more evident earlier this year when the Berkshire Regional Commission released demographic data showing that, although Williamstown is a college town (it is home to prestigious Williams College), its overall population is graying, and with some potential economic consequences.

“If we don’t start working on economic development and regenerate our population, we will become even smaller, and 20 years from now the town may not offer the same opportunities we have today,” Daley said, adding that jobs are needed so young people will feel confident they can move to the area and thrive.

Hogeland recently met with the economic-development director from North Adams, where a “Vision 2030” master plan has been adopted, and says he plans to stage additional meetings with other town economic directors to share and compare ideas.

“We can learn from each other,” he said. “The towns in Berkshire County need to be less competitive between themselves and more complementary so they can team up and market themselves to the broader community, which includes promoting tourism on a regional basis.”

He pointed to examples where it is already happening, such as a partnership between the Clark Art Institute and the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art in North Adams. Bus service was instituted between the museums a few months ago, Hogeland said.

He told BusinessWest that Williamstown’s new plan will have several themes, and efforts to increase tourism will be high on the list. “Town officials will strive to promote the town’s attractions so guests will stay in the area longer,” he noted, adding that a group of volunteers has already developed a new website, www.destinationwilliamstown.org, which lists myriad cultural events in Berkshire County.

Hogeland and Daley also want to pursue greater access to broadband connectivity so families and individuals who want to live in Williamstown and work remotely will have the power they need. “It will give them the best of all worlds,” Hogeland said.

New Initiatives

The selectmen noted that several new housing projects are underway, which will increase options available to prospective residents and those who already live there.

The first is Cable Mills on Water Street, which will be a community of 82 new and renovated mixed-income homes. Units will range from lofts and flats to townhouses and single-family-style duplexes created through an adaptive reuse of three historic mill buildings and a number of carefully designed new homes, all set on a nine-acre site.

“It’s a very interesting project and a great regenerative use of an old industrial site that is within walking distance to downtown,” Daley said.

When the project is complete, Hogeland added, it will benefit existing businesses on Spring Street, and may also promote additional development on Water Street, which is already home to three restaurants, two art galleries, and a new retail store.

Earlier this year, he went on, the downtown area, which includes the dramatically expanded Clark Art Institute, was designated as a Massachusetts Cultural District. It includes Spring Street and the upper part of Water Street, and town officials hope it will help their efforts to draw more people downtown and promote events in Williamstown.

“We would also like to create an attractive walkway between Water Street and Spring Street, which are connected now by Latham Street,” Turbin said, adding that the Mass. Dept. of Highways is also scheduled to repave Water Street and some sidewalks.

Hogeland believes the relatively inexpensive cost of living in Williamstown helps make it an ideal setting for businesses whose clients are elsewhere, such as Integrated Eco Strategy on Water Street, which does LEED-certified work.

Turbin agreed. “The only thing we don’t have here is traffic,” he said.

The second initiative, which is a new housing complex for seniors, will replace affordable housing that was lost when Tropical Storm Irene flooded Spruces Mobile Home Park.

“The park had about 300 residents, many of whom were elderly,” said Turbin. “There are still about 40 mobile homes there, but most of the residents were displaced. We are committed to providing replacement housing for them, which is important, as the park is in the flood plain and will be closed in another year.”

A grassroots organization called Higher Ground, which began in the churches to collect money for displaced residents of the park, came up with the concept for the new complex, called Highland Woods, and construction has begun on land donated by Williams College.

“Highland Woods will contain 40 units,” Turbin told BusinessWest. “It has come about as a result of a true partnership between three nonprofit organizations, which include Higher Ground, Berkshire Housing Development Corp., and Boston’s Women’s Institute for Housing and Economic Development, who are working on it with support from the town.”

Daley agreed. “It’s a reuse and redevelopment of existing space, which we want to focus on in order to protect and preserve the natural beauty of our town,” he said.

In addition, Berkshire Housing Development Corp. and Boston Women’s Institute for Housing and Economic Development are also studying the best way to convert the former PhoTech mill property on Cole Avenue into housing. The property has been a vacant eyesore for at least 15 years.

“They are the lead developers and will figure out how many units could fit here and how much it would cost to bring the project to market,” Daley said. “There were proposals for the site in the past, but they never came to fruition.”

Preservation efforts were also furthered two years ago when the town created a new agricultural commission. “We want to preserve opportunities for farmers to prosper and promote the sustainable agriculture that already exists in Williamstown,” Turbin said.

Work in Progress

The new economic-development plan will include proposals to promote business growth as well as welcome new companies to town, and officials say there is space for start-ups along with larger firms.

Williams College owns much of the property on Spring Street and leases second-story office space to commercial enterprises. There are also three sites available on Route 2, which include a plot of land and two empty buildings.

One of those properties is the former Williamstown Financial Center, a 16,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art building in an attractive location, with parking, that has been vacant for about a year and is for sale, Daley said.

The second site is a 3,500-square-foot office condo, and Daley said space is also available in a building on Spring Street whose landlord rents to small businesses that share amenities, such as a conference room. “We feel we can help companies grow from home-based businesses into firms with offices,” he noted.

An additional 1.2-acre site at 59 Water St., which housed a town garage in the past, is also available and is zoned commercial.

Hogeland said town officials will refine the economic-development plan they are developing with feedback from the public, which they hope to receive at several community forums that are in the planning stages. “We need to find out what people here want and need, and we hope the new plan will encourage residents to get involved in the community,” he said.

However, the first draft will be presented to the selectmen this month.

“We want to protect the current economy, enhance and entice new investments from existing businesses, and augment what we have by getting new people and businesses to move here,” Hogeland told BusinessWest.

The selectmen said Williamstown benefits from a very active chamber of commerce and generous support provided by Williams College. In addition to donating land for Highland Woods, the college donated $1.5 million to help pay for the elementary school, helped fund a new youth center, and held a business-plan competition last winter for its students that gave winners seed money to start new businesses in Williamstown.

“The town and the college work together whenever our interests align, and it supports our community projects at all levels,” Hogeland said. “We have a lot of professors on our boards, and the college has work-study programs in our schools,” including one called Reading Buddies.

Bright Future

Hogeland owns a manufacturing company in North Adams and believes other business owners may want to settle in Williamstown and enjoy its many offerings, even if their business is located elsewhere in Berkshire County.

“We have everything — good quality of life, access to a high-quality educational system, culture, and hiking trails,” he reiterated. “The pursuit of an economic-development plan is a great step forward for the town.”

Williamstown at a glance

Year Incorporated: 1765
Population: 7,754 (2010) 
Area: 46.87 square miles 
County: Berkshire 
Residential Tax Rate: $15.28 
Commercial Tax Rate: $15.28
Median Household Income: $40,223 (2010) 
Family Household Income: $70,000 (2010) 
Type of government: Town Manager, Board of Selectmen
Largest Employers: Williams College, Steinerfilm, Town of Williamstown

* Latest information available

Editorial

By BusinessWest Staff October 7, 2014

Opinion

Gov. Patrick a True Friend to Western Mass.

They had come to cut the ribbon on the recently opened UMass Center at Springfield.

That was the official purpose of the well-attended gathering that took place late last month at the center, located in Tower Square. And while they certainly did that, this event quickly, and decidedly, turned into an occasion for the many officials in attendance to say ‘thank you’ to all that outgoing Gov. Deval Patrick has done for the university, its Amherst campus, Springfield, and this region as a whole.

While the accolades were somewhat dramatic in tone — some of those who took to the microphone called Patrick the greatest governor they’d known or the greatest in the history of the Commonwealth — they were certainly well-earned.

Indeed, while not all has gone right for the Patrick administration over the past seven years and nine months, one can certainly say that he has done more for this region — and the university — than any of his recent predecessors.

And while that’s not saying much Patrick and his administration have amassed a track record of support for this region that will, unfortunately, be a very hard act to follow.

And we’re certainly glad he did, because this region, and Springfield in particular, needed all the help it could get.

When Patrick took the helm in January 2007, the city was still scratching its way out of a deep and far-reaching fiscal morass that left economic as well as psychological scars. It needed help to get back on its feet, and the Patrick administration provided it in several ways, from steering Liberty Mutual and several hundred well-paying jobs here when the insurance giant was searching for a home for a new call center, to building a backup data center in the former Technical High School, to providing a wide range of support to help smaller businesses get to the next level.

And over the past several years, as the city has been hit with natural and man-made disasters, the governor and his administration, most notably Greg Bialecki, secretary of Housing and Economic Development, have provided help on a number of levels to help create both plans and optimism for the future.

But maybe Patrick’s biggest gift to Springfield and this region has been his deep commitment to UMass and support of programs to make it the economic engine that everyone wants it to be and, for the most part, it hasn’t been.

The long list of initiatives he’s supported — with funding as well as inspiration to get the job done — include everything from the high-performance computing center in Holyoke to the Pioneer Valley Life Sciences Institute, to the UMass Center at Springfield and countless other projects.

It’s fair to say that the university is in the midst of a period of explosive, if not unprecedented, growth, vitality, and newfound respect as a public university, and the Patrick administration has certainly had a great deal to do with that.

His appearance at the ribbon cutting in Tower Square won’t be Patrick’s last visit to Springfield as governor. He will be the keynote speaker at the breakfast for the Western Mass. Business Expo later this month, and, knowing him, he’ll probably be out for a few other events before he leaves office.

But it’s not how many ribbon cuttings, chamber breakfasts, groundbreakings, and press conferences one attends that truly matters when assessing a governor’s contributions to a region or city. Instead, it’s one’s ability to back up words — such as when governors say they represent the whole state, not just the stretch inside Route 128 — with definitive actions that really count.

Deval Patrick has certainly been able to do that. We’re going to miss him around here.

Opinion

By BusinessWest Staff October 7, 2014

Opinion

NFL Drops Ball on Domestic Violence

By Carol Fusia Campbell

I love the game of football. I grew up around the sport. My father was a football coach, and our family lived, breathed, and ate football.

But National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell’s handling of the Ray Rice situation sickens me. It sickens me that there is any doubt that domestic violence should receive a swift, definitive penalty. It sickens me that, for even one moment, the owners and the commissioner tried to find justification for Rice dragging the limp body of his then-fiancee off an elevator. It sickens me that an NFL player receives harsher penalties for using illegal and performance-enhancing drugs than for physically abusing the women in their lives.

The Rice scandal has made clear that the professional organization that represents football must make a dramatic shift in their policies regarding domestic violence.

As a long-time board member of the Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts, I’ve learned that intimate-partner violence is a complex social problem that requires interventions on a variety of levels.

A good place to start is the code of conduct. It’s common knowledge that the league spells out, with shocking detail, rules of glamour, etiquette, and hygiene for cheerleaders. The cheerleader tome also includes a multitude of ways in which the woman can be punished with fines and game-day suspensions, or even fired, for ongoing makeup infractions. The NFL should be no less strict in their code of conduct for their players. The commissioner must craft a strong, unambiguous set of guidelines regarding domestic violence and immediately communicate these no-tolerance guidelines to players, coaches, and team owners.

In addition, one of the most effective interventions is peer pressure — men making it clear to other men that it’s simply not OK to abuse women. Commissioner Goodell had an opportunity to send this message after being confronted with evidence that Rice punched his fiancee, now his wife, in the face, knocking her out cold. The commissioner squandered this opportunity.

The NFL should not do the same. Instead, its owners should dismiss Commissioner Goodell to signal the beginning of a new no-tolerance policy. They should then use their incredible reach and influence to educate men on how violence against women threatens the very fabric of our communities.

When women are not safe in their intimate relationships, they are not able to hold jobs, pursue education or technical training, or secure stable housing for themselves and their families. The NFL should work with experts like the Women’s Fund who can help shape this proactive education along with community partners.

I will always love the game of football. But the NFL must draw a bright line between right and wrong when it comes to domestic violence before I can fully embrace the organization.

Carol Fusia Campbell is president and CEO of Chicopee Industrial Contractors and the daughter of Vic Fusia, who coached football at Brown University, the University of Pittsburgh, and UMass, and also scouted for the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers. She was recently named Woman of the Year for 2014 by the Professional Women’s Chamber.

All Systems Are Go

By BusinessWest Staff October 7, 2014

Features

From the Governor to an Update on NASA, the Expo Will Have It All

The final countdown is underway for the fourth annual Western Mass. Business Expo, a day-long event that will feature everything from one of Gov. Deval Patrick’s last appearances in the region to an update on NASA’s next-generation space telescope.

The Expo, organized by BusinessWest and again presented by Comcast Business, will take place Oct. 29 at the MassMutual Center in downtown Springfield. As has been the case the past three years, this will be the place for business owners and managers to be.

That’s because there will be something for everyone, from lively breakfast and lunch programs to nearly a dozen informative seminars; from intriguing special presentations on the Show Floor Theater to the day-capping Expo Social, one of the region’s best networking events, this year sponsored by MGM Springfield and Northwestern Mutual.

“Since BusinessWest became involved with the Expo in 2011, the goal has been to create an environment where this region’s business community could be informed, entertained, and inspired, while at the same time gaining invaluable exposure before an audience of decision makers,” said Kate Campiti, the publication’s associate publisher. “This year, we’ve once again accomplished that goal.”

Indeed, in addition to more than 150 exhibitors, the Expo will feature a host of intriguing and informative programs, starting with the breakfast hosted by the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield.

It will feature outgoing two-term Gov. Patrick, who is expected to talk about his administration’s many accomplishments over the past eight years, while also providing an outlook on this region’s future.

The Expo’s luncheon, presented by the Professional Women’s Chamber of Commerce, will feature keynoter Patricia Diaz Dennis, a member of MassMutual’s board of directors, a former senior vice president for AT&T, and former presidential appointee.

The Expo will also feature a number of special presentations on its Show Floor Theater. These include a morning talk by Peter Rosskothen, owner of the Log Cabin and Delaney House and a serial entrepreneur, called “The Entrepreneurial Process.” This will be a highly interactive program centered around the process of turning a dream into reality.

Speaking of dreams, one of the afternoon programs on the Show Floor Theater is titled “NASA Is Alive: Testing the Next-generation Space Telescope.” It will feature Brian Comber, an engineer with NASA who will discuss his work in the ongoing development of the James Webb Space Telescope and its potential to unlock the secrets of the universe.

Expo organizers are also planning a forum featuring candidates for governor of the Commonwealth, although they are still awaiting commitments for those hopefuls.

In addition, there will be more than a dozen informational seminars. These will cover three broad areas: Professional Development, Entrepreneurship, and Sales and Marketing, and feature titles ranging from “The Path to Building Name Net Worth” to “Unleashing Peak Sales Performance” to “What Does Your Billboard Say?”

Expo Social sponsor MGM Springfield, which plans to build an $800 million resort casino in the city’s South End, will also present two seminars, titled “Doing Business with MGM Springfield” and “MGM Resorts International: Dedicated to Community and Diversity.”

The Expo will wrap up with the encore to last year’s well-received and highly inspirational Pitch Contest — featuring area startup ventures and organized by Valley Venture Mentors — as well as the Expo Social.

Other sponsors include silver sponsors DIF Design, Health New England, Johnson & Hill Staffing, and MassMutual Financial, and education sponsor the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst.

BusinessWest will present its comprehensive guide to the Expo in its Oct. 20 issue. For more information, to register, or to purchase a booth, call (413) 781-8600 or visit www.wmbexpo.com.

Eye-Opening Experiences

By BusinessWest Staff October 7, 2014

Education Sections

The World Is Our Classroom Makes Learning Meaningful

Sue Towers, left, and Nora Patton say The World Is Our Classroom helps expose students to a wide variety of careers.

Sarah Topey never used to think twice about the water that came from the faucets in her home.

But after spending a recent day touring West Parish Water Filtration Plant and Cobble Mountain Reservoir in Westfield with her class, the 12-year-old not only had fun and learned important lessons about water filtration, she returned home with a dream.

“I hope I can do an internship there when I’m in college,” said the seventh-grader from STEM Middle School in Springfield. “I like science, and think I might like to work in a water plant. This helped me see how things happen in real life, and it’s good for the environment.”

The field trip was part of a program called The World Is Our Classroom Inc. (WIOC), and Executive Director Nora Burke Patton says it was founded on the principle that students learn best when they see classroom lessons reinforced in the real world.

“It runs from fifth grade through high school, and by partnering with urban school systems, institutions of higher education, and businesses, WIOC not only reinforces classroom lessons, but also opens young minds to employment opportunities,” she said, adding that the program was launched in 2002 through a collaboration of area businesses and school systems, and has exposed more than 20,000 schoolchildren from Springfield, Holyoke, and Westfield to memorable experiences that can lead to careers.

In fact, Katherine Pederson, executive director of the Springfield Water and Sewer Commission, says Topey’s dream of a college internship is realistic, and she hopes to interview and hire a job candidate in the future who took part in the program and was intrigued enough to pursue a career in the field.

“We hope some of the students who come here will choose to study water or wastewater management and become stewards of our natural resources,” said Pederson, explaining that jobs range from business managers to accountants; from laborers to engineers, with entry-level salaries for candidates without a college education starting between $30,000 and $34,000 and topping out at about $120,000 for engineers.

Jobs in water- and wastewater-treatment plants are going unfilled due to a lack of qualified applicants, and demand is only expected to rise. “The Baby Boomers working in these professions are nearing retirement, and young people are not choosing these careers,” said Pederson. “So it’s becoming more and more difficult to find operators.

“Every town and city in the country has a water and sewer department or a combined department, and these jobs will be there forever,” she went on. “So we feel very fortunate to have a program that starts the dialogue about them, and about water, in fifth grade. We hope that, by the time the students are in seventh grade, they will start thinking about careers.”

Pederson added that the tours are educational. “It’s important for students to learn that, when they turn on a faucet and water comes out, it’s not just magic, and it’s also good for them to understand what we do here to make sure the community has safe drinking water and enough water for fire protection,” she said. “We also think of the students as future ratepayers. They will become the decision makers in the community, so it’s good for them to know why wastewater costs more than water.

“This program is a first step,” she continued, “but it’s an important one, and we are happy to have this partnership. It’s been a positive experience for everyone involved.”

Learning Curves

The idea for the WIOC was born more than a decade ago after United Water signed a 20-year contract with the Springfield Water and Sewer Department to operate and maintain its wastewater-treatment plant and flood-control system.

“We wanted to make a long-term commitment to the community, and because we’re an environmental company, the idea of doing something involving stewardship and education resonated strongly with us,” said Don Goodroe, area manager for United Water.

So the company teamed up with Patton, Springfield Water and Sewer, and Springfield Public Schools. It also hired Springfield College Professor Robert Barkman to create a curriculum for fifth-grade students based on the state science framework that would teach them about the importance of water, the complexity of managing it, and the critical role wastewater-treatment plants play in keeping it clean.

A group of seventh-grade Springfield students recently toured the West Parish Water Filtration Plant and Cobble Mountain Reservoir in Westfield.

The pilot project, which kicked off 12 years ago, was called “A Day at Bondi’s Island Springfield Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility,” and included a tour of the facility, where students learned physical, earth, and life sciences as well as technology and design engineering.

“The program was a perfect nexus of all our needs,” said Goodroe. “We were providing education focused on environmental stewardship, and although fifth-graders are not usually thinking about jobs, the program exposed them to people working in occupations they might not have known about.”

The outcome was so successful that the WIOC was incorporated as a nonprofit organization, which allowed it to grow and expand.

As a result, today all Springfield fifth-graders visit Bondi’s Island, while all seventh-graders spend a day at Cobble Mountain in Westfield. There are preparatory and follow-up lessons in the classroom, and teachers whose students visit the site early in the year refer to their experiences throughout the course of study, while those who visit near the time of the MCAS exam say it makes the material students need to know easier to remember and understand.

“Everything the students are taught during the field trips reinforces what they learn in the classroom,” said Patton, as she spoke about the program while STEM Middle School students ate lunch on picnic tables at Cobble Mountain Reservoir. “This morning, they learned about where drinking water comes from and also learned about ecosystems, microorganisms, plant habitats, and animal life when they went into streams in the watershed and used nets to catch crayfish, salamanders, frogs, and toads.”

Ron St. Amand says the program is a great way to help students understand the relationship between book learning and the outside world.

“It blends inquiry, problem solving, and collaboration,” said the director of science for Springfield Public Schools, adding that his staff worked closely with the program directors to design the curriculum for The World Is Our Classroom.

St. Amand pointed to an engineering design challenge that gives students the opportunity to attempt to clean mock wastewater at Bondi’s Island as an example of an activity that provides a hands-on, memorable learning experience. “There is also a water-cycle game in which kids pretend to be water molecules and move between rivers, glaciers, the atmosphere, and groundwater to simulate what the water cycle is like, before pollution is introduced into the game,” he said.

“Another activity called Molecules in Motion gives kids the opportunity to look under a microscope, see microbes in wastewater, and learn they are food for microorganisms, which addresses many areas of science,” he went on.

St. Amand believes the program is stimulating and inspirational. “It supports the curriculum and also opens students’ eyes to potential job opportunities, which will help motivate them to study,” he said, noting that the majority of students in Springfield are minorities who are often underrepresented in STEM careers.

Down to a Science

The program expanded into the Holyoke Public School system in 2004, and through a partnership that includes Holyoke Community College, fifth-grade students began spending a day at Hazen Paper Co.

“The trip there exposes students to earth and space science, life science, and physical science, in addition to technology and engineering, and also introduces them to the paper-making process and related manufacturing careers,” Patton said.

The morning session consists of a tour of the facility, including the opportunity to observe a large gravure printer in operation, interactive lessons called “Molecules in Motion” and “The Water Cycle and Life Cycle of the Oak Tree,” and a reflection period during which students are asked to write or draw something that showcases their experience. After lunch, they take part in a challenging design activity and are given the opportunity to make their own paper.

CEO and President John Hazen said that, when Patton asked him to get involved, he was happy to do so.

“The idea of engaging with kids in Holyoke intrigued me, and I thought it sounded like an interesting way to connect with the community; I also thought my employees would be energized by it,” he said, noting that, earlier that year, a group of retirees had toured the company, and his staff found it satisfying to have them see what they do at work.

Hazen has been involved with the WIOC for 10 years and believes it is important because many of the students would not get another opportunity to see how a Holyoke manufacturing firm operates.

“When we teach them how to make paper, it opens up their world. Our employees talk with them about their jobs because we want to create a fantastic experience and plant seeds at a young age about career opportunities,” he told BusinessWest. “It has gone very well, and we have never had a bad experience. The kids are so stimulated that they become very engaged in the activities.”

His only challenge was to find a space large enough to house the students, but Hazen refurbished an attic area for the purpose and has since used it for other meetings. “The program is very energizing, and my employees love to see the school bus arrive. It brings meaning to the workplace and ultimately is about providing jobs for families and the community,” he said.

In another fifth-grade program, Mestek Inc. partners with Westfield Public Schools, STCC, and the Westfield Manufacturing Education Initiative to increase interest in heating and cooling systems, water cycles, weather, and the environment.

Mestek Marketing Manager Matt Kleszczynski says the company enjoys supporting the program.

“Kids don’t learn a lot about manufacturing in the classroom, so we open our facility to them and give them tours through the plant, as well as insight into what we do, how we do it, and how their houses get heat and hot water, which is something kids don’t usually think about,” he noted.

The students walk through the entire assembly line, which allows them to see how components to baseboard heating are manufactured. “The tours are conducted by volunteers who provide them with tutelage on each of the specific jobs,” Kleszczynski said. “We like to give back to the community, and this exposes students to alternative professional avenues in the field of manufacturing, which is valuable, as a lot of kids like to work with their hands.”

He added that Mestek has had a long-standing relationship with the WIOC program. “We are busy, but we make sure we schedule time for this.”

Class Act

Patton said The World Is Our Classroom continues to grow, and next October, students from Chicopee Public Schools will visit the Chicopee Water Pollution Control Facility.

In addition, a One Day Medical Encounter program for high-school students that took place in the past is expected to resume next fall. It is focused on the 10th-grade biology curriculum and exposes students to alternative careers in medicine by bringing them into patient-simulation labs at local community colleges.

“These mini-hospital settings provide a real-world environment in which students work directly with healthcare educators while learning about anatomy and physiology, laboratory diagnosis, cell structure, and function and genetics,” Patton said.

Goodroe is proud that the program evolved from United Water’s desire to be a good corporate citizen. “I look forward to the day when I can hire a student who came through the program,” he said, adding that the company operates throughout New England and created a similar program in Killingly, Conn. that allows students to visit a wastewater-treatment plant there.

Patton noted that The World Is Our Classroom is funded by grants, with cooperation from area businesses.

“Our goal is for each program to be self-sustaining,” she said. “But the experiences students have can be life-changing, and it helps businesses to start recruiting tomorrow’s workforce by exposing kids to careers that have great promise.”

Connect the Dots

By BusinessWest Staff October 7, 2014

Education Sections

Greenfield Community College Emphasizes Collaboration

Robert Pura touts a number of GCC’s notable academic departments, from art to nursing to a unique program in renewable energy.

They’re called ‘studios.’

While they vary slightly in design across the Greenfield Community College campus, they all have some features in common, most importantly tables and couches at which students work and talk, in a space surrounded by that department’s faculty offices.

“About 13 or 14 years ago, the math department convinced us they wanted to have a space near the faculty offices for students to come, to ensure there wasn’t a long wait to see a faculty member,” said GCC President Robert Pura. Since then, virtually every department has followed suit in creating a common study area surrounded by those office doors.

“It’s a space with tables and chairs, where students can learn from each other and support each other, and the faculty are right there,” he explained, recalling a time when a maintenance worker questioned a mass of students sharing pizza and studying in one of the studios late at night.

“They didn’t want to leave. I laughed and said, ‘that isn’t a problem.’ That’s the spirit we want to see — a community where people are encouraged to work together and learn independently, but also from each other. That’s the kind of attribute that will serve them well, whether they transfer to another school or head into a career right away.”

The studios are one of the more notable examples of a culture of connectivity fostered at GCC, Pura told BusinessWest — one further enhanced by an extensive renovation of the campus’s core building three years ago, which better connected each department and brought in much more natural light to boot.

“You can see our commitment to community in the design of the building, our commitment to interconnectivity,” he said. “You’re always feeling like you’re connected to people as you’re walking around — you feel those relationships and sense of community among students and faculty and staff.

“I’ve talked to a lot of alumni over time,” Pura added. “It’s not a lecture they remember; it’s not a formula or that one piece of poetry. It’s the relationships they had with people that makes a long-term impact. As a smaller college, we have an opportunity to make that the strength of the institution.”

Hand in Hand

The main role of an institution like GCC, of course, is to prepare people — both young learners and older career transitioners — for jobs in a still-difficult economy.

To that end, and perhaps more than ever before, the state’s community colleges are working closely with area economic-development bodies and local businesses to bridge the gap between education and career opportunities, to ensure that their graduates have the skills and training required to meet companies’ needs.

That’s especially important for GCC, Pura said, because of its position as the only community college in Franklin County — or neighboring Hampshire County, for that matter.

Robert Pura says GCC’s recently remodeled core building is designed with both access and connectivity in mind.

“It is essential, especially up here in Franklin County, that we collaborate with regional employee boards, the Literacy Project, the Center for New Americans, Franklin County Technical School, Smith Vocational School … the more we’re able to collaborate, the more we’re able to do collectively.”

One notable collaboration involves Steve Capshaw, the owner of Greenfield-based Valley Steel Stamp, who raised $250,000 from private industry for new manufacturing tools for Franklin Technical School, then got legislators to match it. The result was an effort involving both Franklin Technical School and GCC to boost opportunity in the manufacturing sector.

“With Steve’s commitment, we developed a state-of-the-art lab. The technical school developed a curriculum for their students, and we developed curriculum to reach the worker in transition,” Pura said. “Steve Capshaw is really the reason that happened; he’s certainly a local hero.”

Noting that the Franklin Hampshire Regional Employment Board was involved as well, Pura said he is “proud of the way folks in Franklin County and Hampshire County understand collaboration. We really do more with less.

“Collaboration happens to the be the way of life up here,” he added. “I don’t know if it’s because we have an agricultural base, and farmers collaborate as a way of life. But the same is true of the industrial base here, the banks and healthcare, the education folks up here — we really know how to collaborate well.”

Having those ties, he went on, helps the college in terms of program and curriculum development. “We listen to business leaders, healthcare leaders, agricultural leaders of the community. They want people who can communicate effectively, think critically, and work well with others — and these are the outcomes of a GCC education.”

Those are skills, of course, that translate to a multitude of fields, which is important at a time when many graduates wind up shifting gears into fields they didn’t major in, or return to school later in life to learn a new career.

“Coming here gives folks the opportunity to change direction without significant cost to their family or themselves,” Pura said. “Changing careers is a hard decision because of the investment they’ve already made. It shouldn’t cost another $200,000 to figure out what they want to do.”

Signature Programs

Like most colleges, Greenfield has differentiated itself in several academic areas, including its programs in renewable energy and energy efficiency. Those caught the eye of Congress, which invited Pura and associate professor Teresa Jones to speak at a subcommittee hearing last spring titled “American Energy Jobs: Opportunities for Education.” Lawmakers in Washington were interested in hearing how to link education with the growing need for a solar-energy workforce.

“There is a great deal of opportunity for economic growth, job creation, and job attainment in the sustainable-energy field,” Jones said at the time. “There is a huge potential for domestic jobs in the area of energy-efficiency upgrades, but people need knowledge and advanced skills to do those jobs.”

The field, she added, is already much different than it was only five years ago, “so businesses and workers need to be able to adapt. The key piece for us is figuring out where the best job opportunities are and what people need to know to succeed in getting those jobs or starting businesses. We look to our business and other community partners to help guide that process.”

On a related note, Pura also touted the college’s farm-to-food program. “What it’s really about is how to get local farming into the restaurants and refrigerators of the community and make that a more mutually beneficial system,” he said. Meanwhile, the American Assoc. of Community Colleges recently gave GCC an award for its sustainable systems on campus, including an energy-neutral greenhouse built two years ago, which supplies produce to both the school’s dining service and local food pantries.

“That comes from our commitment to not wanting to see the work being done in the classroom and the work we’re doing on campus being too far apart,” Pura said. “We learn from students, and we all learn from each other. These are powerful programs.”

As is the college’s well-regarded graphic arts program, which decorates campus buildings with paintings, sculptures, and other installations, and attracts some of the top art schools in the country to an annual ‘portfolio day,’ Pura said. “The combination of our students’ life stories with the strength of their fundamentals makes them highly sought-after artists.”

He also talked up GCC’s nursing program, noting that its graduates are typically among the top scorers in their licensure exams and snatch up jobs quickly in a market that’s starting to ramp up demand for quality nurses again.

But other programs that don’t get as much press are just as key to the college’s success, Pura added.

“At the core of our institution, two departments that are not as recognized as many are English and math. But these two departments teach the communication skills and critical-thinking skills that are so sought after. For all the wonderful acknowledgement of some of our signature programs, it is really the English and math departments that are fundamental to our school’s success.”

Room to Grow

GCC is helping its students succeed in other ways as well, including a new child-care center currently being built, which will be staffed by Community Action’s Head Start program.

“It’s hard to focus fully on academics with a child in your hands,” Pura said with a laugh. “So having child care on campus will help our students succeed, and it is a great start for kids; the data about the number of children who start in college-based child care and go on to college is pretty strong.”

It’s just one more way Greenfield Community College is forging connections and giving students the foundation to succeed, no matter their stage of life.

“There’s no distance here between students, and the teaching space embraces that philosophy,” Pura said, referring not only to those studios but to the classrooms, where students typically sit together in groups, not at separate desks.

“Those students come in with dreams of what they want to do with their lives,” he added. “We give them an opportunity, and if they work hard, they can be successful in their career aspirations.”

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Matters of Course

By BusinessWest Staff October 7, 2014

Education Sections

A chart of area colleges and universities

Click here to download the PDF

Reaching the Masses

By BusinessWest Staff October 7, 2014

Law Sections

Law Firms Raise Their Profile Through Blogs, Social Media

Jeff Fialky says consumers of all types of goods and services look for them on the Internet, and savvy law firms are taking advantage of that.

Kevin Maltby says few people buy anything without checking it out online first.

For example, millions check out Yelp reviews before making dinner reservations, or head to Amazon to read product reviews before making a purchase — even if they plan on buying the item elsewhere.

The legal world even has its own review site, Avvo, said Maltby, an associate with Bacon Wilson, P.C. in Springfield. “I would liken that to the comment section on any retail site, where people rate the lawyer and talk about the lawyer. To some degree, in the day and age we live in, no one buys anything without going online and looking at reviews.”

That’s why it’s more important than ever for attorneys to control their own image and messaging, and increasingly, firms are doing so through blogs and social media.

“I think it’s valuable,” said Jeff Fialky, a partner with Bacon Wilson. “First, it has value for marketing purposes. I think most consumers, when they’re looking for a professional service provider — like a law firm or any other good or service — is using the Internet, furthering that global marketplace.

“We get a fair amount of business from outside the area,” he continued, “from people looking for established law firms — from a business in another state, for instance, that needs a local transactional lawyer in this area — who go to the Internet to find an established attorney with relevant experience.”

What they often find is a post on one of Bacon Wilson’s four blogs — which deal with employment law, estate planning, bankruptcy, and family law — that piques their interest. That might lead to a phone call — and a new client for the firm.

Skoler, Abbott & Presser, P.C., an employment-law firm based in Springfield, also hosts a robust blog at its website called “The Law @ Work.” Recent topics include the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, protections for employees who ‘like’ Facebook comments critical of their employer, and Massachusetts’ new law granting domestic-violence leave (see related story, page 27).

“A lot of articles are geared toward providing some sort of information or guidance to employers, whether it’s HR professionals or other people in business,” said Kimberly Klimczuk, a partner with the firm. “Sometimes, we’re reporting on interesting cases.”

But if the blog is a marketing tool, she said, it’s not one intended to generate more phone calls, but rather one that raises the firm’s profile as an expert resource in the ever-changing world of workplace law, which is just as important.

“Although everyone likes to think we reach more clients through the blog, that’s not the primary purpose,” she said. “It’s a publication, primarily. You want to generate content for the blog that is of general interest. Of course, if more HR professionals and employers read it, that’s awesome.”

Peter Vickery understands the value of a regularly updated blog in boosting his professional profile — a particularly important consideration for a sole practitioner in Amherst.

“It does boost your Google ranking,” said Vickery, who focuses his practice — and his blog — in the areas of employment and discrimination, copyright and trademark, voting and elections, and public policy, among others. “That’s not the reason I started blogging, but it’s one reason I kept doing it. Every time I update the blog, Google’s algorithms boost my ranking.”

For instance, the blog can catch the eye of “people who are looking for anything in my practice areas, employers and landlords and people who have an interest in constitutional law. That third group is more amorphous — an audience of people who have an interest in First Amendment issues, separation-of-power issues. If someone is Googling, say, ‘Article 30, separation of powers, Massachusetts,’ one of my blogs should pop up. It’s a hard market to reach otherwise.”

For this issue’s focus on law, BusinessWest talked with some area law firms that are heavily invested in reaching the masses online through blogs and other forms of social media, like Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook, and examine why these channels, when managed correctly, help lawyers control their own reputation and generate business.

Information, Please

Various areas of Bacon Wilson’s sprawling practice lend themselves to social media, said Maltby who listed estate planning among others. Hyman Darling, a partner with the firm, has recently taken to the “Estate Planning Bits” blog with posts on changes in estate- and inheritance-tax law, a change in how inherited IRAs are protected in bankruptcy, and whether religious marriages are valid for estate-planning purposes when no civil marriage license was issued.

“A lot of people read the estate-planning blog or the employment-law blog for their own information, and if they have questions, they might call,” said Maltby, who added that certain practices, like his own work in criminal defense, don’t lend themselves as well to blogs.

Klimczuk said arming clients and others with information from employment-law experts is the foremost reason her firm maintains a blog.

“If people read your blog, hopefully, if an issue comes up, they’ll remember the blog, think, ‘they seem to know what they’re talking about,’ and give you a call,” she told BusinessWest. But even if that never happens, “we think it’s a good way to share information with the public about our area of expertise.”

Fialky said Bacon Wilson’s public profile has certainly been raised through its blogging and other social-media presence, including Facebook pages for many of its lawyers,

“On the other hand, it’s valuable for individuals to educate themselves with respect to legal concepts,” he noted. “While legal concepts vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, others remain constant. For instance, issues facing a startup business are fairly universal across the country. Creating blogs provides us with accessibility to markets that word of mouth and geography would otherwise not provide.

“Just the other day,” he added, “one of my colleagues received a query from a company, very distant, from one of the western states, entirely on the basis of an article he had written and posted on one of the blogs. They had a specific need, and they called.”

If clients and the public are learning from reading legal blogs, Vickery said, he benefits in a similar way from writing them.

“I’m motivated partly by fear,” he said, only partly joking. “I have this fear of not knowing what the most up-to-date law is. A lot of attorneys have a recurring nightmare of being in court, and the opposing counsel drops this unfamiliar case on you.

“Keeping my blog up to date is almost self-discipline,” he continued. “If I have to read cases in a certain area of practice in order to maintain my blog, I can sleep easier and not get those nightmares so much.”

Other forms of social media can be effective either on their own or in conjunction with blogs, Klimczuk said. “We use Twitter more casually, sometimes to promote things, like a blog post. We find that, when we post something on the blog, then tweet about it, it directs more traffic to the blog. It’s our way of illuminating areas of the law that would be of interest to people.”

Twitter is also valuable for promoting events the firm is involved in, she said, while LinkedIn is used more for business contacts, “as a way for clients to keep in touch with what we’re doing.”

At Bacon Wilson, “certain lawyers have found success on Facebook,” Maltby said, offering the example of someone reaching out to an estate-planning attorney with his own issue or that of a friend, because of a relevant post they read.

“I’m a commercial transactional lawyer,” Fialky added, “so, for me, it’s unlikely that business owners outside the area, or even in this area, would be looking for a service provider by way of Facebook. But they may connect through a LinkedIn relationship or a blog. I’ve received inquiries over the years on articles I’ve written in blogs.”

Maltby noted that Bacon Wilson’s website, which hosts its blogs, is mobile-friendly, to make it easier for people who access the Internet on the go to find the information they need — and easily find a phone number if they want to call.

Open Book

Fialky understands he’s practicing law in a new world of consumer research, which is as true of law firms as it is of car shoppers and restaurant patrons.

“Very frequently, by the time I talk to a new client, they’ve already read my bio online,” he said. “Clients are good consumers and want to understand with whom they’re doing business.”

That’s why it’s critical to actively build that profile, rather than sit back and let sites like Avvo do it. Any additional business that arises from those efforts is just a bonus.

“It certainly helps me with the pipeline; I’ve gotten some business by way of the blog,” said Vickery, who has posted recently on campaign-finance law, Facebook defamation, and recent decisions by the Mass. Commission Against Discrimination. “I can draw a direct line from a couple of blog pieces to revenue, which is always encouraging. With advertising and marketing, it’s often difficult to see what works and what doesn’t work. Every now and again, things clearly work, and these were instances when it did.”

Most law firms don’t blog, and many have no social-media presence, but that could change, Klimczuk said.

“As more people get into social media, it’s kind of expected that firms are going to participate, which creates a scenario where firms that are not doing it are kind of at a disadvantage,” she said, adding that it’s not enough just to create a blog.

“If you’re doing a blog, you have to make sure it’s updated. If you post every two months, that’s super lame, and it makes you look bad. You have to update on a regular basis with relevant content, things people are interested in. It definitely adds a new dimension to the practice of law.”

Fortunately, Maltby said, it’s not difficult to find new topics to write about.

“Information is always changing, and the law is always evolving, so if you don’t keep your blog up, it gets stale,” he told BusinessWest. “There’s always new information, new cases. In the employment-law world, that could mean a new wage-and-hour case reinterpreting lunch breaks … stuff like that.

“It’s an excellent tool and another way to keep clients informed,” Maltby said of social media in general. “But I think it’s very important to make sure, whatever you’re posting, however you’re using those online tools, that it’s done in a professional manner. If you do, it will resonate with a large cross-section of clients.”

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

The Sibling Divorce

By BusinessWest Staff October 7, 2014

Law Sections

How Individuals Can Avoid Conflicts Over a Parent’s Estate

By MIKE SIMOLO, Esq. and KATHERINE McCARTHY, Esq.

What will happen when my parents pass away?

It is a question most of us who have not yet faced the situation would rather avoid.

Unfortunately, avoiding the topic until the inevitable happens can be costly in many ways.

Mike Simolo

Kate McCarthy

The death of a loved one is an incredibly emotional time. Such an event, of course, triggers sadness, but it can also cause frustration and anger to develop among family members. All too often, when the last living parent dies, adult children find themselves in conflict with their siblings and other family members over that parent’s estate.

This article will focus on the trials and tribulations faced by many well-meaning adult children attempting to navigate the often complicated and frustrating world of probate, and what individuals can do during their lifetime to help avoid a conflict over their estate.

The Sibling Divorce

We have found that the death of the last living parent can serve as something of a ‘sibling divorce.’ In a minority of cases, long-held animosities and distrust among siblings, or even simple misunderstandings about a parent’s estate plan, can lead to expensive, and often protracted, litigation. At that point, the divorce analogy becomes apt.

Such litigation can be emotionally charged, difficult for other family members, and chock full of recrimination, resulting in deep, long-lasting family faultlines. Even under the most clear-cut of circumstances, where one sibling has genuinely harmed the others, righting the wrong can be a difficult, expensive, and even traumatizing experience.

Joint Bank Accounts Raise Potential Problems

One of the more common scenarios that we have encountered involves the ‘end-of-life joint account.’ Assume mom’s will provides that all of her property is to be distributed to her three children equally. Six months before mom’s death, however, and perhaps during a time when mom’s mental competency is questionable, child 1 convinces mom to add his or her name to mom’s account as joint owner, or to have mom execute a ‘transfer on death’ designation naming child 1 as the beneficiary of the account.

At mom’s death, mom’s will is meaningless with regard to those assets, because they will pass directly to child 1 as surviving joint owner or as beneficiary. Child 1 claims that mom intended to give him the property, and that it is rightfully his. The remaining children could argue that, at best, mom put child 1’s name on the account for convenience only, without the requisite intent to make a gift, or, at worst, child 1 unduly (or fraudulently) induced mom to sign the document.

But to recover the funds absent child 1’s agreement, the remaining siblings would need to initiate costly litigation, the success of which cannot be guaranteed.

If this scenario is at all foreseeable, one possible solution is to place mom’s assets in a trust, with at least one neutral, independent trustee, who could monitor distributions in and out of the trust. However, even that solution is not foolproof. If that trust is ‘revocable,’ meaning that it can be changed or revoked entirely by mom, child 1 could bring mom to a lawyer, who could change the terms of the trust or assist mom in revoking it if he or she deems mom to be competent to do so.

This would leave the other siblings in the position of having to prove child 1’s undue influence (if, indeed, there was any) over mom.

Issues with Powers of Attorney

Another issue involves the use — or, sometimes, the misuse — of powers of attorney. Estate-planning attorneys routinely, and rightly, encourage clients to execute a power of attorney, which gives the appointed agent broad (often very broad) power to act for the individual’s financial affairs. In general, executing a power of attorney is far preferable to undertaking a court proceeding to establish a conservatorship.

Agents appointed under a power of attorney have a fiduciary duty to follow the principal’s wishes to the extent known; however, unlike a conservatorship, the attorney-in-fact’s actions will not be subject to court oversight. In short, the document can, and sometimes is, abused by the agent, who is often a child of the principal. These abuses usually do not come to light until after the parent’s death, and rectifying them can involve the same drawn-out court process mentioned above.

We have also seen the opposite occur — that is, instances where an appointed child/agent, with no malicious intent and without benefit to the child, inadvertently exceeds his or her powers in the document. In the hands of a sibling looking to cause trouble, such a technical breach of the child/agent’s duty can give rise to a possible court surcharge against that child.

Again, risks associated with these issues can be lessened at the drafting stage. Choice of agent when considering executing a power of attorney is crucial. Similarly, the document should be carefully tailored to the principal’s needs so as to lessen the tendency for abuse. Finally, what an agent can or cannot do should be explained to the agent at the outset.

Other Potential Issues

Not every sibling divorce is quite as stark or clear on wrongdoing as those mentioned above. Often, there are genuine factual questions at issue. It is a common situation for one child to become the caretaker for his or her parent, with the other siblings being remote, either geographically, emotionally, or both. Sometimes, the parent will make extra provision for the caretaker child in his or her estate plan, or make gifts to the child during the parent’s life.

This can result in accusations and possible challenge from other siblings, particularly if the parent’s planning had previously called for an equal distribution.

Then there’s the very common undocumented-loan situation, where the last living parent provides, or has in the past provided, funds to one child but not to the others. The question can, and often does, arise: was that a loan, with repayment expected, or a gift? Usually, there is no evidence for either, other than one child’s recollection that the parent indicated it was a loan, and another child’s recollection that the parent indicated it was a gift. Both of those recollections may well be true: in order to appease the children, the parent told each child what he or she wanted to hear.

Reality Check

Unfortunately, while telling your children what they want to hear is perfectly understandable behavior from a family-harmony perspective while the last living parent is alive, it can lead to disastrous consequences after death. And that, really, is at the heart of minimizing the risk of a sibling divorce.

While one or both parents are alive and competent, an estate-planning attorney should encourage them to think openly and honestly about their family dynamic, and how that dynamic might change when they are gone. Such a reality check will greatly assist in properly structuring the parents’ estate plans, as well as in the organization of their assets and any additional steps that need to be taken.

No parent would relish the idea of their children publicly feuding in probate court after their death. An honest evaluation of potential issues, together with an estate plan addressing them, is the best defense against such a sibling divorce.

Mike Simolo and Katherine McCarthy are attorneys with Springfield-based Robinson Donovan, P.C. Simolo concentrates his practice in estate planning, probate matters, and business work. McCarthy focuses her practice on family law and probate matters; [email protected]; [email protected]

Mandate for Change

By BusinessWest Staff October 7, 2014

Law Sections

New Law Requires Employers to Provide Domestic-violence Leave

By KARINA L. SCHRENGOHST, Esq.

Massachusetts recently enacted new legislation related to domestic violence.

The new law, which was effective immediately when signed by Gov. Deval Patrick on Aug. 8, impacts some employers in the Commonwealth. Under this law, employers with 50 or more employees must provide up to 15 days of leave during any 12-month period if the employee, or a family member of the employee, is a victim of “abusive behavior.” This includes domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault, and kidnapping, and the employee is using the leave to: (1) seek or obtain medical attention, counseling, victim services, or legal assistance; (2) secure housing; (3) obtain a protective order from a court; (4) appear in court or before a grand jury; (5) meet with a district attorney or other law-enforcement official; (6) attend child-custody proceedings; or (7) address other issues directly related to the abusive behavior.

An “employee” is broadly defined as an individual who “performs services for and under the control and direction of an employer for wages or other remuneration.” This means that the law applies to any employee whether he or she is full-time or part-time and regardless of how many hours he or she works. There is also no requirement that an employee work for a particular period of time before becoming eligible to take leave.

Karina L. Schrengohst

This means that an employee is eligible for domestic-violence leave from the day he or she is hired. An employee’s family member includes a spouse, a partner the employee resides with, an individual the employee has a child with, a parent or stepparent, a child or stepchild, a sibling, a grandparent, or a grandchild. An employee, however, is not entitled to leave if he or she is the perpetrator of the abusive behavior.

As with other leaves of absence, employees must provide advance notice of the leave. However, when there is a threat of imminent danger to the health or safety of the employee or the employee’s family member, advance notice is not necessary, and the employee must notify his or her employer within three workdays that leave is being taken due to abusive behavior. Notably, a request for leave may come from an individual other than the employee, including a family member of the employee or the employee’s counselor, social worker, healthcare worker, member of the clergy, shelter worker, legal advocate, or other professional who has assisted the employee.
Employers may require that employees provide documentation supporting the need for domestic-violence leave. Documentation that will support leave under this law includes:

• A sworn statement by the employee or a counselor, social worker, healthcare worker, member of the clergy, shelter worker, legal advocate, or other professional;
• A court-issued protective order;
• A document on court, provider, or public-agency letterhead showing that the employee or family member sought assistance relating to abusive behavior;
• A police report or statement of a victim or witness provided to police;
• Documentation that the perpetrator has admitted to sufficient facts to support a finding of guilt, was convicted, or has been adjudicated a juvenile delinquent by reason of abusive behavior; or
• Medical documentation of treatment as a result of the abusive behavior. This documentation must be kept confidential and may be maintained only as long as is needed for the employer to determine whether the employee is eligible for leave.

Upon an employee’s return from leave, the employee must be restored to his or her original job or an equivalent position without loss of any employment benefit accrued before taking leave. Employers are prohibited from discharging or discriminating against an employee for exercising his or her rights under this law. Complicating matters, an employer cannot take any adverse action against an employee for an unscheduled absence if the employee provides documentation supporting the need for domestic violence leave within 30 days from the unauthorized absence (or within 30 days from the last unauthorized absence in the instance of consecutive days of unauthorized absences).

The good news for employers is that leave under this new law does not have to be paid. It is entirely an employer’s discretion whether the leave is paid or unpaid. Also, an employee must exhaust all of his or her vacation time, sick time, and personal days before they are eligible for domestic violence leave.

Employers must provide employees with notice of their rights and responsibilities under this new law. One step employers can take toward complying with this law is creating and implementing a domestic violence leave policy. Distributing this new policy will satisfy the requirement of notifying employees of their rights and responsibilities under this law. In addition, employees should review existing leave and attendance policies to ensure they are in compliance with the law and the new policy. Finally, employers should ensure supervisors and managers are trained to understand their obligations under this new law and how to handle requests for domestic violence leave.

As always, with new legislation comes new challenges. One of the challenges employers will face is the intersection this new law will have with other employment laws. For instance, this measure does not address whether domestic violence leave may run concurrently with other leave such as leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act. In addition, there may be times when an employee who is a victim of domestic violence needs a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Consequently, employers would be wise to consult with employment counsel to ensure compliance with this new law and when confronted with questions related to domestic violence leave.

Karina L. Schrengohst, Esq. is an attorney at Royal LLP, a woman-owned, SOMWBA-certified, boutique, management-side labor and employment law firm; (413) 586-2288; [email protected]

Advice — on the House

By BusinessWest Staff October 7, 2014

Law Sections

Check Your Homestead Protection Now to Prevent Problems Later

By DAVID K. WEBBER, Esq.

David Webber

If you own a small business, you should carefully choose a business entity and buy good insurance. But a properly prepared homestead declaration can be the single most important tool in protecting your personal assets against the claims of creditors.

The rules have changed, so if you haven’t checked yours lately, now is a good time. The Massachusetts homestead statute, M.G.L. c. 188, became much more complex in 2011. In fact, a bankruptcy judge recently called it a “statute of teeth-cracking complexity.” This complexity means new opportunities for asset protection. But it also sets many traps for the unwary. Now, more than ever, the document must perfectly describe your home, its ownership, and its occupants.

What Is It?

A homestead declaration is simply a sworn, written statement that an equitable owner resides, or intends to reside, in a particular home. The document must be signed by the legal owner, notarized, and recorded in the registry of deeds where the property is located. Once recorded, it serves as legal notice to potential creditors that the equity in your home is off limits.

Why Do I Need It?

If, for example, you file for personal bankruptcy, default on a debt, or a court judgment enters against you, a properly recorded homestead declaration will protect your home equity against subsequent claims by unsecured creditors. The law limits this protection depending on who occupies the property. The general rule is that the exemption is limited to the first $500,000 in equity.

However, the individual exemptions for disabled individuals and owners age 62 or older can ‘stack’ to provide a $1 million exemption for a married couple, or $750,000 for joint owners where only one owner is over 62 or disabled. If you do not record a homestead declaration, an ‘automatic’ homestead protects only the first $125,000 of your equity, regardless of the number, age, or ability of the occupants.

Note that a homestead declaration will not protect against foreclosure under a mortgage or home-equity line of credit. In that case, the lender has priority over the homestead exemption. And if you recorded a homestead declaration years ago, consult a real-estate attorney before you decide to record a new one, just to be sure.

Many old homestead declarations are still effective, and recording a new declaration can unwittingly expose you to claims filed in the interim. A title search can usually detect any such problems.

What Property Is Eligible?

You can protect almost any kind of home, but at least one residential unit of the home must be your primary residence. It can be a single-family or multi-family home (up to four units), manufactured home, condominium, or cooperative housing unit. A vacation home can be protected as long either you or your spouse can establish it as your primary residence, but unless one or both spouses are over 62 or disabled, you will divide the exemption ($250,000 for each home). Note that an accurate property description and deed reference are critical, especially if your residence includes more than one building or one lot.

Under most circumstances, a homestead declaration also protects proceeds from the sale of, or damage to, your home. In the event that your home is sold or taken, the proceeds will be protected for up to one year or until you buy new home, whichever comes first. And if your home is damaged or destroyed by fire or other casualty, the insurance proceeds will be protected for up to two years, until it is repaired, or until you buy a new home, whichever comes first.

Which Owners Are Eligible?

No matter how you own your primary residence, you are likely to qualify for homestead protection. Section 1 of the statute defines an owner as being “a natural person who is a sole owner, joint tenant, tenant-by-the-entirety, tenant-in-common, life-estate holder, or holder of a beneficial interest in a trust.” In most cases, your deed will state which type of ownership applies to you.

The new definition of owner allows many homes held in trust to qualify for homestead protection. This opens up new estate-planning opportunities, both for devising the family home to your children without giving up control during your lifetime, and for avoiding probate. However, we are finding that many homes conveyed into trust before 2011 are not yet protected by a homestead declaration.

The rules are very specific. Section 5 of the statute requires the trustee of the trust to sign the declaration. The resident beneficiaries must each be named in the document, and will share the exemption in proportion to their shares of the trust. Note that the exemption applies only to the primary, lifetime trust beneficiaries, not to remainder or contingent beneficiaries.

Unfortunately, homestead protection is not available when the residence is owned by a corporate entity, like a limited-liability company. If a corporate entity is the owner, and the home’s equity is at risk, it may make sense to retitle the property and record a homestead declaration. Leased property is also generally ineligible, unless you have an equity interest associated with it, such as a cooperative housing share linked to a particular residential unit and long-term lease.

How Do I Do It?

With so many ownership variations, there is no one-size-fits-all homestead declaration form. While the Mass. Real Estate Bar Assoc. and some registries of deeds provide sample homestead forms, they will not work in every situation. The attorney preparing the homestead declaration should begin with a careful inspection of your deed. The names on the homestead declaration must match the deed exactly, including any ‘also-known-as’ names. It should cross-reference the book and page of the deed or other ownership document. If only one spouse owns the home, the declaration should identify the other spouse as a benefitted party.

If the home is held in trust, be sure to record a declaration of trust, trustee’s certificate, or nominee trust, and include a registry cross-reference. If one owner is under 62 and the other is over 62, you each need a separate homestead declaration. Again, the purpose is to give legal notice to creditors that you are claiming the homestead exemption on your property.

Conclusion

When things go wrong, a homestead declaration can suddenly become very important. It is wise to confirm that ours is valid now, so that it is already in place in the unlikely event you need it. Because courts are reluctant to allow seizure of the family home, the law is construed liberally in favor of the homeowner. However, even the Supreme Judicial Courts will not “stretch that principle in a manner that fundamentally ignores the words of the statute,” according to Weiss v. Boyle, 461 Mass. 519 (2012).

Following the letter of the law gives the best chance of protecting the family home. Given the complexity of the law, this article is intended to be informative but should not be relied upon as legal advice. Consult your attorney if you have any doubts. n

David K. Webber is an attorney at Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin P.C. in Springfield, Massachusetts. He practices in the areas of real estate, business transactions, business planning, estate planning, probate, and bankruptcy; (413) 737-1131; [email protected]

Strong Suits

By BusinessWest Staff October 7, 2014

Law Sections

A chart of the region’s law firms

Click here to download the PDF

Non-compete Agreements

By BusinessWest Staff October 7, 2014

Employment Sections

It Appears That These Contracts May Be Here to Stay

By PETER VICKERY, Esq.

Peter Vickery

There have been no TV specials, live re-enactments, or commemorative stamps, but the fact is, this year marks the 600th anniversary of Dyer’s Case, the first recorded legal decision about a non-compete agreement.

It did not go well for the employer, John Dyer. He was asking the court to enforce the agreement against his former apprentice, a young man who (in exchange for Dyer forgiving a loan) had promised to refrain from setting up his own shop for six months after the end of the apprenticeship. Not only did the judge rule for the young apprentice, he added that Dyer himself ought to go to prison for trying to stifle competition.

While Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick has no plans to jail employers who draft them, he would nevertheless like to make non-competes a thing of the past.

Six centuries after Dyer’s Case, the goal of non-competes remains the same: to help employers protect their businesses by temporarily preventing ex-employees from aiding, or becoming, the local competition. As in 47 other states, these contracts are legal in Massachusetts (with a few exceptions for particular professions, discussed below) so long as they are reasonable in terms of time and territory. Patrick wants to change that, but so far the Legislature has refused to go along. At the end of the last session — after legislators passed his economic-growth bill, minus the section that would have banned non-competes and rewritten the trade-secrets law — the governor said he would try again. What is at stake, and how would victory for the governor affect businesses in Massachusetts? Read on.

What Are Non-compete Agreements?

Non-competes have survived because creating intellectual property is like training an apprentice: it takes time and money. In business, our motive for investing such resources is profit, and most of us would not invest if other people could simply walk off with our profits.

Patent, copyright, and trademark law harness the profit motive by protecting most — but not all — forms of intellectual property. Trade-secrets law helps plug the gaps. Even after revealing a trade secret to an employee, an employer can retain some of the secret’s value via contracts, such as agreements not to disclose and not to compete.

If an employee with access to your trade secrets (e.g. customer data, expansion plans, and marketing strategy) quits and walks straight into a job with your nearest rival, you have reason to worry. Mindful of this possibility, some employers use non-disclosure agreements to prevent their trade secrets from falling into the hands of the competition. By signing non-disclosure agreements, your employees promise not to divulge confidential information to their new employer.

But how can you, the former employer, looking across the street at your ex-employees happily chatting away with your nemesis, be absolutely sure that they are abiding by this commitment and not using your information against you? As a practical matter, you cannot, at least not without resorting to electronic surveillance, which would likely generate many more difficulties — big ones, involving lawyers and judges — than it would solve. This is why non-competes are helpful.

Compliance with a non-compete agreement is easier to verify than compliance with a non-disclosure agreement. Although you may not be able to find out what your ex-employees are saying, you will find it comparatively easy to find out where they are working. So, to borrow a theological term, the purpose of the non-compete is to ensure that your employees avoid the occasion of sin, i.e. circumstances that entice or incite wrongdoing on their part.

Waiting for the harm to occur and then suing for damages would make little sense. After all, the most effective way to protect commercially valuable confidential information is to stop the harm from happening in the first place. Therefore, the typical non-compete allows the employer to ask a judge for an injunction prohibiting ex-employees from going to work for the local competitors or setting up a rival enterprise of their own.

But non-competes cannot go as far as some employers might wish. To imagine an extreme example, if the law allowed permanent, worldwide non-competes, ex-employees would be unable to pursue their livelihoods or start new businesses, commerce would stagnate, and the consumer would suffer. So to balance the employer’s interests against those of both the employee and society as a whole, the Massachusetts courts have gradually narrowed the purpose, geographic reach, and duration of non-competes.

This is how the Supreme Judicial Court has summed up the law: “a covenant not to compete is enforceable only if it is necessary to protect a legitimate business interest, reasonably limited in time and space, and consonant with the public interest.” In addition, the court will not enforce an agreement if, after signing it, the employee’s job undergoes substantial changes.

Each case is different, and the reasonableness of time and territory will depend on the particular facts, as will what sort of job changes are substantial, but one universal principle applies: if the agreement’s purpose is merely to prevent ordinary competition, the court will not enforce it.

There are at least five hurdles an employer has to jump over before a court will enforce a non-compete:

• The agreement must protect a legitimate business interest, e.g. trade secrets and good will;
• It must be reasonable in duration, e.g. up to two years;
• It must be reasonable in geographic scope, which depends on the extent of the employer’s business. The court might uphold a worldwide ban for a genuinely worldwide enterprise, but not for a business whose market extends only 50 miles from its store;
• The competition must be direct, i.e. for the same customers; and
• If the employee’s compensation or responsibilities change, the employee must sign a new agreement.

There is one more hurdle regarding current employees. If an employee is already working for the employer at the time she signs the agreement, the employer will have to provide her with separate consideration, meaning a benefit that is something more than the job itself, such as extra money. Otherwise, the non-compete is unenforceable.

As well as these significant hurdles, Massachusetts law prohibits non-competes for certain professions, namely physicians, nurses, broadcasters, licensed social workers, and attorneys. And the courts are inclined to relax the terms of non-competes that try to restrict the employment of financial advisors and brokers.

Even with all those caveats and provisos, non-competes make obvious sense for established companies. And therein lies the tradeoff dilemma for policymakers. A rule that protects existing businesses is also a barrier to entry, standing in the way of newcomers. If policymakers want to protect current jobs-makers, the environment will be less welcoming to insurgents. Conversely, if they want to create an ideal climate for startups, they will almost certainly hurt existing businesses and the people they employ.

The Case for Banning Non-competes

Patrick would like Massachusetts to follow California, where non-competes are illegal. Much of the lobbying has come from groups that believe the switch would encourage more innovation, making Massachusetts more like Silicon Valley.

Non-competes came into the crosshairs in the 1990s when academics started to blame them for discouraging startups. In 1994, AnnaLee Saxenian, a graduate of Williams College, Harvard, and MIT, credited Silicon Valley’s “culture of mobility” with enabling the rapid transfer of knowledge, and compared it unfavorably with the “buttoned-down” culture of Route 128 in the Boston area. Five years later, Ronald Gilson, a law professor at Stanford Law School, published an article that pointed to non-competes as the explanation for the success of Silicon Valley compared with Route 128. Gilson said that it was the presence of non-competes in Massachusetts and their absence in California that lay at the root of the different cultures.

Several scholars have buttressed this idea, claiming that non-competes impede entrepreneurship and job growth. For example, Matt Marx and Lee Fleming, the authors of Non-compete Agreements: Barriers to Entry… and Exit? (2012), found evidence of a “brain drain,” with talent moving from states that enforce non-competes to states that do not.

Patrick’s proposal is based on this notion. Specifically, he wants the Legislature to repeal Sections 42 and 42A of General Laws Chapter 93 (which allow damages and injunctions for the unlawful taking of trade secrets) and create a new Chapter 93K, a Massachusetts version of the Uniform Trade Secrets Act (UTSA). In a nutshell, the thinking behind the governor’s proposal is that ditching non-competes and adopting UTSA will help make Massachusetts more like California, increasing our allure for new, innovative, hi-tech enterprises.

Who Wants to Keep Non-competes?

Established, larger businesses tend to oppose the governor’s plan. Some report that confidential-information theft is common, not rare, and that abolishing non-competes would make it harder to deter the practice. More fundamentally, these employers sense that the bill threatens existing jobs without guaranteeing new ones. The promised gains are merely possible and general, whereas the losses are highly likely and specific.

Even some people who believe that non-competes impede startups recommend caution. For example, Marx and Fleming agree that non-competes “are responsible for a general exodus of talent [and] are driving away some of the best and brightest.” But they also point out the absence of some important data, and warn that there is still no “definitive answer regarding whether non-compete enforcement is a net positive or negative.” Clearly, when weighing the merits of a far-reaching policy proposal such as banning non-competes and signing up to UTSA, legislators need to bear in mind what we do not know.

But they should also look at what we do know, starting with two simple facts. First, 46 states have adopted UTSA in some form. The exceptions are Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Texas. Second, 47 states enforce non-competes, and those that do not are California, Montana, and North Dakota.

So we know that (1) most states have a version of UTSA on their statute books and (2) most states enforce non-competes. This makes it difficult to determine how big a factor non-competes and UTSA are in encouraging innovative startups. Complicating matters further, in recent years several states have modified their non-compete rules. Idaho and Louisiana made it easier to enforce them, Oregon and New York made it harder, and Georgia moved closer to the Massachusetts approach. But, keeping these analytical challenges in mind, we can learn something valuable by looking at recent economic indicators and league tables of innovation and competitiveness.

One useful indicator is the unemployment rate. Looking at the states where non-competes are illegal, North Dakota’s rate is 2.8%, Montana’s is 4.7%, and California’s is 7.4%. Our unemployment rate in Massachusetts is 5.6%, higher than North Dakota’s and Montana’s but lower than California’s. The most likely explanation for the lower unemployment rates in Montana and North Dakota is not the absence of non-competes but the presence of a booming energy sector. And the fact that the unemployment rate is higher in California than in Massachusetts suggests that banning non-competes would not, in and of itself, boost our overall job growth.

Most of the states with UTSA — which are most of the states in the U.S. — have higher unemployment than Massachusetts. Of course, so do New Jersey and New York (non-UTSA states), which indicates that UTSA is not a determinative factor either way.

League tables of competitiveness and innovation tell a similar story. The Beacon Hill Institute’s 2013 State Competitiveness Index ranked Massachusetts top of the league, with Texas in ninth place and New York 26th. California came in 29th and New Jersey 41st. As for the two states (other than California) where non-competes are illegal, the index gave second place to North Dakota and 36th place to Montana. Non-competes do not seem to be outcom-determinative, at least according to the way the Beacon Hill Institute measures competitiveness.

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s 2013 State Entrepreneurship Index ranks North Dakota first and California second, which would seem to support the contention that states without non-competes are more entrepreneurial than those with them, until you notice that, only two years before, California placed 11th, which was the ranking Massachusetts received in 2012, while New York held third place throughout. Between 2011 and 2013, the legal status of non-competes remained stable in California, Massachusetts, and New York, so any claim that this index proves non-competes stifle entrepreneurship falls flat.

Another index reinforces the lack of a connection, namely the 2014 State New Economy Index from the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, which factors innovation capacity into its calculation of economic dynamism. On the one hand, California (where non-competes are illegal) ranks third, ahead of New York and New Jersey (where they are allowed). But, as for the two states other than California where non-competes are illegal, the index ranks North Dakota 36th and Montana 39th. The state winning first place? Massachusetts. Again, the presence or absence of non-competes fails to predict a state’s standing in the innovation rankings.

In summary, the UTSA states include many with high unemployment and low innovation, which suggests that UTSA is not a key ingredient to prosperity. Similarly, the states that enforce non-competes include some that lead the nation in terms of innovation, and some that bring up the rear. What we do know is that, so far, no one has been able to offer clear and convincing proof that banning non-competes and enacting a version of UTSA would lead to greater innovation and more jobs.

The Future of Non-competes

If Patrick or his successor should decide to rejoin the battle, legislators would have to consider the costs to present employers as well as the putative benefits to employers yet to come.

They might also consider some innovations of their own, such as expanding the motley list of vocations where non-competes are forbidden — currently physicians, nurses, broadcasters, social workers, and lawyers. Even though those professions cannot be subject to non-competes, they seem to thrive regardless. For example, nobody is complaining about a lack of lawyers in Massachusetts (or anywhere else).

On the other hand, the amorphous nature of the tech sector makes it difficult to draw lines around. The Legislature learned this lesson last year when it imposed, and then repealed, a tax on “computer-system design services.” Trying to define the kinds of high-tech jobs that would qualify for new exemptions from non-competes could become a legislative drafter’s nightmare.

Unless and until proponents can offer persuasive evidence that banning non-competes would create more jobs than it would destroy, this particular species of contract looks set to celebrate its 601st birthday — and maybe many more.

Peter Vickery practices law in Amherst; (413) 549-9933; www.petervickery.com

Buying Life Insurance for Employees

By BusinessWest Staff October 7, 2014

Employment Sections

Tax Rules Make This Practice More Complicated Than Many Think

By CATHERINE CURRY, CPA

There are many reasons why an employer might buy life insurance for their employees: employee benefits, succession planning, buy/sell agreements, and debt protection, to name a few.

There are just as many ways to arrange the life-insurance contract, regarding the policy owner, beneficiary, and payment of premiums. As an employer, purchasing a life-insurance policy for an employee may seem pretty straightforward at first glance.

However, there are a number of tax rules that should be considered when purchasing these policies, as tax laws vary depending on the specifics of the life-insurance policy.

One of the most common types of employer-purchased life insurance is a group-term life-insurance policy that covers all employees. This is often used as part of the employee benefits package. Generally, the employer pays the entire premium for the group, but the employee gets to specify their own beneficiary on the policy. The life-insurance benefit is usually a multiple of the employee’s salary (i.e. one, two, or three times their annual salary).

The company and the employee need to keep in mind that, based on IRS uniform premium cost tables, the employee must include in gross income the cost of any insurance benefit in excess of $50,000 provided by the employer. This income inclusion is usually achieved by an adjustment to the W-2s at year end or when an employee terminates employment.

Companies might also purchase a life insurance policy on a specific employee or group of employees. These specific policies may have the company as the owner and beneficiary.

There are several reasons why a company would choose to insure the life of an employee. The person may be a key individual within the organization, and the insurance proceeds could be used for recruiting and/or the salary of a replacement, if necessary.

Life-insurance policies may also be used to provide supplemental funding in a buy/sell agreement or business-succession plan. Life-insurance policies are even sometimes used as supplemental funding for outstanding debt guaranteed by an officer/employee.

Over the past several years, there has been a lot of buzz about employer-owned life-insurance policies because there have been some recent tax-law changes. The general tax rule is that premiums for life insurance, where the company is the beneficiary, are not deductible. Premiums on policies where the employee names a family member as beneficiary are a taxable fringe benefit.

This benefit is includable in their W-2 and deducted as an employee benefit on the company’s tax return. Generally, life-insurance proceeds are not considered taxable income if collected upon death. However, if the policy is surrendered early, then the proceeds are taxable to the extent they exceed the premiums paid. Corporations must also consider any AMT preferences regarding life insurance in their ACE calculation.

The IRS has instituted new rules on documentation and reporting of employer-owned life insurance policies issued after Aug. 17, 2006. Here are some of the specifics:

Documentation

• Notice and consent requirements must be completed before the contract is issued.
• The employee must be notified in writing that the employer intends to insure the employee’s life. The notification must state the maximum face amount of the life-insurance contract to be issued.
• The employee must provide written consent to being insured and acknowledge that such coverage may continue if the employee were to terminate employment.
• The employee must be made aware that the employer will be a beneficiary of any proceeds paid under the terms of the contract. Usually this consent is prepared by the insurance agent, but it is important that a company retain a copy in its files.

Reporting

The IRS has issued Form 8925, Report of Employer-owned Life Insurance Contracts, which is now required to be filed with the employer’s business tax return. Information required for Form 8925 (on policies issued after Aug. 17, 2007) includes:

• Total employees;
• The number of employees with employer-owned life insurance contracts (with ‘employees’ including common-law employees, officers, directors, and highly compensated employees);
• The total value of all employer-owned life insurance contracts; and
• The number of contracts that do not have employee consent.

It is imperative that companies make their tax preparer aware of the existence of any of these policies. Proper completion of the documentation and reporting process is required to ensure that any death proceeds of an employer-owned life-insurance contract are received income-tax free.

Failure to comply with the mandated documentation and reporting requirements could result in the proceeds from these contracts, in excess of premiums, being considered taxable income, and the increase in taxes could be severely detrimental to the company, negating the original intent of supplemental funding.

Your tax advisor should be able to help you ensure that you have adhered to all of the necessary requirements, and also assist with any prior filings which may be required if information had been inadvertently omitted from prior-year tax returns.

Companies may also enter into life-insurance contracts called split-dollar life-insurance arrangements. These contracts are usually for specific employees, particularly higher-level employees, where this arrangement becomes part of the overall compensation package. The employee is generally the policy owner, and the company will generally pay the premiums for such policies.

In this instance, the employee chooses their beneficiary. The tax rules around recognizing the expense and benefits of these policies changed for policies issued after Sept. 17, 2003.

There are two different calculations required for taxing split-dollar life-insurance arrangements: an economic-benefit approach and a loan approach. If the employer pays the premiums, the premium payments are treated as a loan, with interest accruing until repaid at death or surrender.

The economic benefit arises from the employee’s interest in the current life-insurance protection. The nuances of these approaches can get complex, but a trusted tax advisor or insurance agent can assist with the details of these arrangements.

If a company is considering the purchase of life insurance for its employees, for any of the varied reasons, they should take the time to consult with their insurance agent and tax preparer to ensure the contracts are structured for maximum tax effectiveness.

Catherine Curry, CPA is a tax manager with the Holyoke based public accounting firm, Meyers Brothers Kalicka; (413) 322-3544; [email protected].

Heart of the Matter

By BusinessWest Staff October 7, 2014

Business of Aging Sections

Cardiac Rehabilitation Helps Patients Get Their Lives Back

Patrick Schilling, right, says Cooley Dickinson’s cardiac rehab program has helped Dennis Vandal recover from heart surgery.

After Cindy Mahoney suffered a heart attack early in 2013 — an event attributed to a rare condition called spontaneous coronary artery dissection — she was treated at Cooley Dickinson Hospital and, several weeks later, was taking the right medications and otherwise felt fine.

But she’s a runner at heart (no pun indended), and had run about 30 minutes a day for the past 35 years, and worried about how much exertion she could handle — and whether another heart attack would occur if she pushed herself too hard or soon.

However, after entering a cardiac rehabilitation program at CDH and exercising, twice a week for two months, under the supervision of cardiac exercise physiologist Patrick Schilling and two cardiac nurses, Mahoney set aside her anxiety, convinced she could get back to what she loved doing.

“The entire rehab experience was hugely reassuring to me and my family,” said Mahoney, who finished two 5K races in the months after completing the program. “The cardiac-rehab program helped me realize I could do what I love again — safely.”

That confidence boost, Schilling said, is one of the major benefits of cardiac rehabilitation, a customized program of exercise, education, and support designed to help individuals recover from a heart attack, cardiac disease, or heart surgery.

“There’s a lot of anxiety. They’re wondering, is this going to happen again? It’s so fresh in their minds, how they felt when they were getting treatment a few weeks ago,” he said. “We can help rebuild their confidence, not only about how well they’re going to do, but their ability to take control of their lifestyle.”

According to the Mayo Clinic, cardiac rehabilitation is typically recommended for patients who have experienced a heart attack, coronary artery disease, heart failure, peripheral arterial disease, angina, cardiomyopathy, certain congenital heart diseases, coronary artery bypass surgery, angioplasty and stents, heart transplants, and heart valve replacements.

“The benefits of a cardiac-rehab program have been nationally proven,” not just in its initial benefits, but in patients’ long-term compliance with taking recommended medications, changing an unhealthy diet, and controlling issues like diabetes and high cholesterol, said Elaine McCaffrey, a nurse clinician in Baystate Medical Center’s Cardiac Rehabilitation and Wellness Program.

That’s not surprising, she added, considering how much of a wake-up call a heart attack or heart surgery can be.

“There’s so much folklore around the heart, a lot of religion centers on the heart — people have a lot of different feelings when it comes to the heart,” she noted. “So a major surgery or major event like this does lead to some anxiety — ‘how can I get back to what I really want to do in life?’ That’s where cardiac rehab comes in.”

Four-pronged Approach

Cardiac rehabilitation — which is covered by virtually all health insurance when a patient is referred by a primary-care doctor or cardiologist — is comprised of four main components:

Medical evaluation. The rehab team — which might include a cardiologist, nurse educator, dietitian, exercise rehabilitation specialist, physical or occupational therapist, and psychologist — will assess a patient’s physical abilities, medical limitations, and risk factors for heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, and other conditions. They will also continue to track the patient’s progress over time, along the way tailoring a safe, individualized rehabilitation program.

Elaine McCaffrey says the exercise, education, and support components of cardiac rehab are all important in helping patients reclaim their lives.

“The program is designed in such a way that it helps the patient reduce fatigue and improve energy levels,” Schilling said.

Physical activity. Cardiac rehabilitation improves a patient’s cardiovascular fitness through walking, cycling, rowing, jogging, strength training, and other activities.

“Many activities we do in the gym are cardiovascular in nature, but it also includes strength training. We use treadmills, walking bicycles, a rowing machine, upper-body exercises,” Schilling said, noting that this component of cardiac rehab is a relatively recent development. “Heart recovery is fairly slow, and 30 years ago, patients were put on bed rest.”

The Mayo Clinic recommends supervised exercise three to five times a week, adding that it’s important to teach proper techniques, including warming up, stretching, and cooling down.

Lifestyle education. This may include guidance on everything from managing pain and fatigue to making healthier food choices aimed at reducing fat, sodium, and cholesterol; from understanding medications to getting back to sexual activity.

“There’s definitely an educational component to it,” McCaffrey said. “They don’t leave cardiac rehab without knowing what they need to do to stay heart-healthy. When we talk about the risk factors for diabetes, high blood pressure, hypertension, these are things that can be controlled. We talk about a healthy diet, monitoring blood glucose to keep diabetes under control, exercise, and getting to a heart-healthy weight.”

Of course, the number-one risk factor for coronary disease is smoking, so when a patient is a smoker, programs educate them about the dangers and develop strategies for quitting. “They need to make that big social change — for themselves and the rest of their family,” she said.

Support. Depression and anxiety are natural reactions to a major heart event, which is why cardiac-rehab programs stress the emotional and social components of recovery as well as the physical and educational aspects. These might include anything from counseling to occupational therapy to help patients return to work.

“We get you to understand what you need to do to take control of your life, and make it a very beneficial, productive life,” McCaffrey said. “And the whole time, you have companionship; you’re meeting people who are going through it with you.”

Schilling agreed. “Rehabilitation rebuilds confidence, so they realize it’s not a sentence, but something they can live with,” he said. “You really see their improvement, and see their confidence go up.”

Full Speed Ahead

Schilling was quick to add that recovery from a cardiac event — particularly in the case of a heart attack or stroke — begins with the emergency response as it’s happening.

“The gold standard from onset of symptoms to the cardiac catheterization lab is 60 minutes,” he noted. “Time is definitely the enemy in this case; the quicker a person gets treatment, the more heart function gets preserved.”

But once the initial crisis has passed, a team springs into action to help patients fully recover for the long term. McCaffrey and Schilling both came back repeatedly to the phrase ‘activities of daily living,’ emphasizing that the goal isn’t for patients to return to a life that’s a shell of what it was before their sickness or surgery, but, rather, resume the same lifestyle they enjoyed before.

“We have patients ranging in age from 24 to 90,” McCaffrey said. “So we need to know, what are your activities of daily living? Is it returning to a job? Is it being a mother to your young children? Or, if you’re a little bit older, is it just living as healthy as you can?”

Of course, some patients want to return to a high-stress career, and others want to get back to playing sports or, like Mahoney, running every day. No matter what the goal, McCaffrey said, it’s the rehab staff’s responsibility to tailor the program to the goals and needs of each individual patient.

“Cardiac rehab is for anybody and everybody,” she said. “It really does help with recovery, and that’s the key; that’s the whole purpose — that feeling of confidence that they can get on with their life.”

Schilling agreed. “It’s gratifying to work in cardiac rehab. We definitely do it with the onus of wanting to help people. It’s a real passion for me and my co-workers,” he said, adding that he’s amazed at how different patients look at the start and end of rehab — not just the condition of the bodies, but the level of confidence on their faces.

He’s grateful, in short, to be doing life-changing work. “I’ve been here eight years, and I’ve never had a boring day.”

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Hub International Limited Acquires Assets of FieldEddy Insurance

By BusinessWest Staff October 7, 2014

Daily News

CHICAGO — Hub International Limited, a leading global insurance brokerage, announced that it has acquired the assets of FieldEddy Insurance and Your Choice Insurance Agency, servicing the Central and Western Mass. region. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

FieldEddy’s operations will become part of Hub International New England, strategically broadening its current network of offices located primarily in the Eastern Mass./Boston region.

FieldEddy is a full-service property and casualty, personal-lines, and employee-benefits brokerage, with four locations in and around Springfield. The firm’s strengths in the education, healthcare, and energy industries, including oil and gas, complement Hub New England’s expertise. Additionally, Hub New England will broaden FieldEddy’s capabilities with expertise in real estate and non-for-profits, as well as offering a robust risk-services solution and access to an expanded carrier network.

With the FieldEddy acquisition, Hub New England now has 22 offices and almost 500 employees throughout Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. FieldEddy CEO Samuel Hanmer and President Timm Marini will both join Hub New England’s executive leadership team. Within the region, Hanmer will focus on identifying potential M&A candidates and strategic growth initiatives, while Marini will coordinate sales strategies. They will both report to Charles Brophy, president and CEO of Hub New England.

“FieldEddy is a talented group of producers with a great local-market reputation that gives Hub New England a strong foothold in Central and Western Mass.,” Brophy said. “We see a real opportunity to bring Hub’s carrier relationships and customized, industry-specific risk-services capabilities as value adds to clients for an expanded service offering.”

For more information about Chicago-based Hub International Limited, visit www.hubinternational.com. To learn more about the Hub M&A experience, visit www.wearehub.com.