Home 2014 (Page 5)

Year: 2014

Editorial 2

By
Opinion
Invest in Public Higher Education

Over the past several years, the state Department of Higher Education has devised imaginative and compelling ways to make its case for increased funding for the state’s public colleges and universities. And this year is no exception.

In its recent report, creatively titled “Degrees of Urgency: Why Massachusetts Needs More College Graduates Now” (see related story page 24), the department uses words and numbers (lots of them) to describe what it calls a “perfect storm” of conditions that threaten to leave the state with a dramatic shortage of college graduates to fuel its technology-driven economy.

These conditions include everything from falling numbers of high-school students entering college following a somewhat lengthy population surge, to the rising percentage of jobs in the Commonwealth that will require some college education: 72% is the projection for the year 2020.

“In Massachusetts today, there are an estimated six job openings for every college graduate holding an associate degree or certificate in computer science or IT, and more than 17 openings for every graduate with a bachelor’s degree,” the report states. “Put another way, Massachusetts needs more than 5,000 computer-science and information-technology graduates right now.”

The report contains a number of quotes from business leaders about how finding qualified help is the biggest impediment to their success, and also many charts verifying the state’s merely average performance when it comes to funding public higher education. It’s all intended to open some eyes on Beacon Hill and change some attitudes about the state’s public colleges, and we hope the report is successful in doing all that.

That’s because the report’s authors hit the nail on the head when they say there has never been a time when the public institutions were more important to the economic health and well-being of the Commonwealth.

Indeed, the state’s bevy of prestigious private colleges, a list that includes Harvard, Wellesley, Smith, Mount Holyoke, and MIT, educate the world — people who traditionally go back to the country or state they came from to earn a living. Meanwhile, the state’s public schools educate those who will stay in this state, or their region, to forge a career.

A quick look at the business community in Western Mass. provides strong evidence of this. While area companies do boast employees who graduated from Harvard, Boston College, Amherst, Babson, Western New England University, and the Elms, the ranks are far more populated with graduates from UMass Amherst, Westfield State University, Holyoke Community College, and Springfield Technical Community College.

And it is the same in other regions of the state.

If Western Mass., and those other areas of the state as well, are to remain competitive when it comes to attracting and retaining businesses and, therefore, jobs it must have a solid pipeline of qualified workers. And this pipeline is going to be filled mostly by the public colleges and universities.

The Department of Higher Education report calls for a stronger commitment, or investment (that’s the more fitting term) in public higher education. It specifically calls for an additional $475 million over the next five years to help bring more individuals into the pipeline — and see them through to the end.

We hope the Legislature will heed this request and make that investment. That’s because Higher Education Commissioner Richard Freeland was right when he told BusinessWest that the state has been historically average when it comes to funding public higher education in comparison to other states.

And average isn’t going to be good enough in the future.

Picture This

By
Departments Picture This
Meet the Leaders

VW5L3708VW5L3635useVW5L3693VW5L3654VW5L3702The Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield held its annual Government Reception on Nov. 19 in the Carriage House at Storrowton Tavern in West Springfield. Sponsored by Baystate Health and Comcast, the reception provided business and community leaders with the opportunity to meet socially with local, state, and federal officials. From top to bottom: state Sen. Don Humason, state Rep. Aaron Vega, and Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau President Mary Kay Wydra; PVTA Chief Financial Officer Patricia O’Leary, Agawam Town Clerk Richard Theroux, and PVTA Administrator Mary MacInnes; Springfield Technical Community College President Ira Rubenzahl and Mike Knapik, executive director of Advancement at Westfield State University; Mayors Ed Sullivan of West Springfield, Domenic Sarno of Springfield, Richard Cohen of Agawam, and Richard Kos of Chicopee; Davis Foundation Project Director Sally Fuller, Western Mass. Economic Development Council President Allan Blair, and Square One President Joan Kagan.

(Photos by Driscoll Photography)


Legislative Symposium

DaleJohnstonEileenDrummRobertDeLeoRichardNealKathyAndersonKatePhelonTonyCignoliThe Greater Westfield, Greater Chicopee, Greater Holyoke, and South Hadley/Granby chambers of commerce recently staged the CheckPoint 2014 Legislative Symposium at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House in Holyoke. A number of elected officials attended, ranging from U.S. Rep. Richard Neal to Bob DeLeo, speaker of the state House of Representatives, to the entire House and Senate delegation from the chambers’ communities. Seen here, from left, are Dale Johnston, executive director of the South Hadley/Granby Chamber of Commerce; Eileen Drumm, president of the Greater Chicopee Chamber; DeLeo; Carlos Gonzalez, president and CEO of the Mass. Latino Chamber of Commerce; Neal; Kathleen Anderson, president of the Greater Holyoke Chamber; Kate Phelon, executive director of the Greater Westfield Chamber; and Tony Cignoli, a political consultant who moderated the event.


Farmington Bank Reception

2014MA-EventMore than 200 area business leaders were on hand Nov. 13 as Farmington Bank, which recently entered the Western Mass. market with branches in East Longmeadow and West Springfield, staged an elaborate reception at the Springfield Sheraton. During the reception, John Patrick, the bank’s chairman, president, and CEO, announced the bank’s donation of $2,500 to Open Pantry Community Service in Springfield. Seen here is the bank’s Massachusetts team, from left: Patrick; Joe Kulig, vice president, Commercial Lending; Catherine Turowsky, vice president, Cash Management Services; Joe Young, vice president, Commercial Lending; Candace Pereira, assistant vice president, commercial loan officer; and Mike Moriarty, senior vice president, Commercial Lending.

People on the Move

By
Departments People on the Move

Carol Campbell

Carol Campbell

Dr. Howard Trietsch

Dr. Howard Trietsch

Maura McCaffrey, Health New England president and CEO, and Dr. Mark Keroack, Baystate Health president and CEO, announced that Carol Campbell and Dr. Howard Trietsch have been named to the HNE board of directors. Campbell is the president of Chicopee Industrial Contractors Inc., a company she founded in 1992. She is a member of the Board of Associated Industries of Massachusetts, the Chicopee Chamber of Commerce, the Westmass Area Development Corp., and the Women’s Fund of Western Mass. She has a distinguished record of community service and leadership, and was recognized as the 2014 Woman of the Year by the Professional Women’s Chamber. She has previously been recognized among the Top 100 Women-led Businesses in Massachusetts, as Business of the Year by the Chicopee Chamber of Commerce, as a Super 60 Business Growth recipient, and as a Paul Harris Rotary International honoree. Campbell holds several industry licenses and certifications and is a graduate of UMass. Trietsch is a full-time attending physician at Baystate Ob/Gyn Group Inc., where he has served as managing partner since 1990. He recently completed his term on the Baystate Health board of trustees. He also serves on the BHIC board and the Baycare board of directors. Trietsch is a member of many medical societies and serves on community boards including the Springfield Jewish Community Center, Jewish Geriatric Services, and the Jewish Federation of Western Mass. “Ms. Campbell and Dr. Trietsch are both accomplished professionals and exemplary stewards of our community. HNE’s mission is to improve the health status and overall quality of health of our regions,” said McCaffrey. “We are pleased to welcome them to our board and look forward to their contributions to help us fulfill our mission.”
•••••
Gary Rivers

Gary Rivers

Northeast IT Systems Inc. announced that Gary Rivers has joined its team as a Senior Systems Engineer. Rivers received an associate’s degree in computer systems engineering from Springfield Technical Community College, and has been a business specialist throughout the Northeast. He has more than 10 years of experience in the IT field with numerous industries, including manufacturing, medical, emergency services, architecture, and engineering.
•••••



Beth McGinnis-Cavanaugh

Beth McGinnis-Cavanaugh

The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) have named Springfield Technical Community College Professor Beth McGinnis-Cavanaugh its 2014 Massachusetts Professor of the Year. McGinnis-Cavanaugh was selected from 400 nominated professors in the U.S. Last month, she and the other 30 state winners were honored at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. McGinnis-Cavanaugh, who teaches physics and engineering mechanics at STCC, is one of the principal creators of the “Through My Window” project, a multi-media engineering-education website that provides children and young teens, especially girls, with innovative learning experiences in engineering. The program, which began in 2012, is the result of a partnership between STCC and Smith College and is funded by a $3 million grant from the National Science Foundation. She has been on sabbatical this academic year to focus solely on the grant project. A printed young-adult novel, Talk to Me, will be published next month by the grant collaborative. “The goal of the Through My Window program is to expose young girls to engineering so they see engineering like they do traditionally female fields,” said McGinnis-Cavanaugh. “We hope that they see that engineering is a way to help people, impact society, and solve the really important challenges the world faces.” McGinnis-Cavanaugh is an STCC alumna who began her academic career in the 1990s. After receiving her associate degree in engineering transfer, she went on to continue her education and received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering from UMass Amherst. “This award is really a validation of very hard work,” said McGinnis-Cavanaugh. “I had somewhat humble beginnings here at STCC as a non-traditional student and as a woman in engineering. I challenged myself academically and continue to do so professionally. In addition to teaching, I’m invested in my research grants and am constantly improving my knowledge of teaching and learning.”
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Westfield State University alumna Jessica Kennedy, Assistant Principal at South Middle School in Westfield, was one of eight educators to receive the Massachusetts State Universities Alumni Recognition Award for 2014. The state universities of Massachusetts honored eight of the Commonwealth’s outstanding K-12 educators who graduated from the system’s teacher-preparation programs in a ceremony held in Boston last month. Kennedy was selected by WSU for her accomplishments as a teacher and as a role model for students in service to the community. She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Westfield State in 2008 and 2010. Her first teaching job was as an English teacher at Powder Mill Middle School in Southwick, where she also served as mentor teacher, team leader, and pre-advanced placement lead teacher. In 2013, she was hired as assistant principal at South Middle School.
•••••
Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno traveled to Cambridge late last month to speak to about 100 students interested in urban renewal and economic development. The students are all graduate students at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government with experience in economic development and urban planning. They have been reviewing case studies in economic development and renewal projects that have worked and failed. Sarno spoke about economic development and Springfield’s revitalization, and provided a perspective on how to grow and sustain a city in today’s urban America. Topics included an overview of Springfield and its history, demographics, income, as well as issues relating to affordable housing, access to transportation, poverty reduction, economic development, and access to quality education.
•••••
Karen DeMaio has been named IRA Services and Special Projects officer at Easthampton Savings Bank. DeMaio joined the bank in 2006 as a part-time IRA/Special Projects assistant. Her previous employment was with Friendly Ice Cream Corp. In her seven years at Friendly’s, she was an auditor and then became a senior marketing analyst. Prior to Friendly’s, she worked for KPMG Peat Marwick as a senior accountant. She earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration from Western New England University. DeMaio manages the bank’s IRA activities and coordinates its vendor-management program, business-continuity planning, insurance review, and unclaimed-property reporting.

Panel on State Officials’ Compensation Calls for Reforms, Increases

By
Daily News

BOSTON — A seven-member advisory commission created by legislation to review compensation for the state’s constitutional officers and the Legislature presented its findings and recommendations Monday in a detailed report to the public and policy makers.

The commission, chaired by Ira Jackson, dean of the John W. McCormack Graduate School of Policy and Global Studies at UMass Boston, was established by Section 239 of the state budget and appointed in September 2014 to analyze compensation for public officials, including the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, treasurer, secretary of state, auditor, and the Legislature. The commission was mandated to issue its report by Dec. 1.

“The Advisory Commission conducted a transparent, open, data-driven review of the current compensation of public officials and developed a series of major reforms and recommendations based on its research, as well as input from the public,” said Jackson. “We recommend that the Legislature strongly consider implementing important reforms to the process of calculating compensation, while at the same time making appropriate increases in compensation levels for the governor and other elected officials to more adequately reflect their responsibilities.”

Recommended reforms include:
• Eliminating legislative per diem payments;
• Determining the biennial adjustment in legislative pay through a consistent process using 
data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis to measure the quarterly change in salaries and 
wages in Massachusetts for the most recent eight quarters;
• Calculating any increase or decrease in compensation for all constitutional officers and the 
House speaker and Senate president using the bureau’s data on a biennial basis;
• Limiting outside employment through a first-in-the-nation measure precluding the 
constitutional officers, House speaker, and Senate president from earning outside income, other than passive income; and
• Establishing future special advisory commissions on a biennial basis to conduct a thorough 
review of compensation and reforms.

Specific recommendations on compensation include:
• Ensuring that any compensation increases must be cost-neutral to the taxpayer through efficiencies and savings identified by the constitutional officers and Legislature and reported on an annual basis to ensure accountability and transparency;
• Establishing the salary for the governor at $185,000, which, when adjusted for cost of living, would rank 10th among the 50 states. Massachusetts is one of only six states that does not provide a governor’s residence or a housing allowance. The commission recommends that the governor receive a housing allowance of $65,000;
• Providing a salary of $175,000 for the attorney general and the treasurer and receiver general;
• Setting a salary of $165,000 for the lieutenant governor, the secretary of state, and the state auditor;
• Establishing compensation for the House speaker and Senate president at $175,000 annually; and
• Increasing the legislative office expense to $10,000 for legislators whose districts are within a 50-mile radius of Boston, and to $15,000 for legislators located outside that radius.

“While any recommendation to increase compensation for state leaders may be controversial, the commission believes these increases are appropriate based on the data we reviewed, and the recommended reforms are important foundations for public trust,” said Jackson. “The commission’s recommendations were guided by a thorough review of data comparing Massachusetts with other states, a strong desire to ensure that the state attracts and retains highly talented individuals regardless of means or geography, and the principle that officials should be fairly compensated based on the significant responsibilities of the offices they hold.”

Carol Leary to Attend White House College Opportunity Summit

By
Daily News

LONGMEADOW — On Dec. 4, Bay Path University President Carol Leary will join President Obama, the first lady, and Vice President Biden at the White House College Opportunity Summit. The summit will bring together colleges and universities, business leaders, nonprofits, and others that are committed to supporting more college opportunities for students across the country.

This year’s summit will focus on building sustainable collaborations in communities with strong K-12 and higher-education partnerships to encourage college enrollment, and supporting colleges to work together to dramatically improve persistence and increase college completion, especially for first-generation, low-income, and under-represented students.

Chicopee Chamber, Common Capital to Host Workshop

By
Daily News

CHICOPEE — The Greater Chicopee Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with Common Capital Inc., is presenting the last of a six-part part workshop series, “Taking Care of Business: How to Develop and Grow Your Business,” on Dec. 11 at Days Inn, 450 Memorial Dr., Chicopee.

Sponsored by Common Capital, this series addresses best practices for all types of businesses. The final session is titled “Strategic Networking: Networking to Increase Profitability.” Rather than networking for networking’s sake, this session will address whom to meet, how to meet, and where to meet to increase the value and profitability of your networking efforts. Facilitators for this session are Roberto Nieves, business development director for Common Capital, and Jeremy Casey, vice president of Small Business Banking for First Niagara Bank.

This last workshop is free of charge to both chamber members and non-members. To register, visit www.chicopeechamber.org under ‘upcoming events,’ or call (413) 594-2101.

Company Notebook

By
Company Notebook Departments

Florence Bank Opens New Hadley Branch
HADLEY — Florence Bank, a mutually owned savings bank serving the Pioneer Valley through nine branch locations, celebrated the opening of its new Hadley location at 377 Russell St. last month, with local and state officials, as well as more than 100 well-wishers. Florence Bank CEO John Heaps Jr. and bank officials were joined by State Senate Majority Leader Stan Rosenberg, state Rep. John Scibak, Hadley Town Administrator David Nixon, and Amherst Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Don Courtemanche, along with customers, friends, and supporters who turned out to welcome the bank to its new home. In addition to the ribbon cutting, bank officials officially dedicated a new tractor weathervane, which sits atop the new building, to the Devine family of Hadley. John Devine, who was a lifelong farmer and a member of Hadley’s Planning Board, was instrumental in recommending that the bank consider a cupola and weathervane as part of the new building’s design. Bank officials wanted to do something to honor the memory of Devine, who passed away unexpectedly a year ago. Florence Bank Senior Vice President Sharon Rogalski presented a replica of the weathervane to John Devine Jr., who accepted the gift on behalf of his family. Toby Daniels, vice president and  branch manager of the Hadley Branch, will continue in that role in the new location. “Hadley has been our home for nearly 20 years,” said Heaps. “We are especially pleased to renew our commitment to this community with our new location. We thank our many customers and friends for their ongoing support and look forward to serving everyone for years to come.”

PeoplesBank Named a ‘Top Place To Work’
HOLYOKE — Recently, the Boston Globe recognized PeoplesBank as a “Top Place to Work” for the third year in a row. Massachusetts-based companies that are eligible for Top Place to Work consideration undergo a rigorous evaluation by survey firm WorkplaceDynamics. More than 76,000 individuals’ responses were submitted by the companies regarding key factors related to employee happiness, company direction, execution, employee connection, work load and responsibility, management, and pay and benefits. 
“While there is definite value in these indicators, many signs of recovery cannot be boiled down to pure economics,” said Boston Globe Business Editor Mark Pothier. “The companies on our Top Places to Work list foster productivity and innovation by investing in the happiness of their employees, which cannot solely be measured in dollars and cents.” Said Douglas Bowen, president and CEO of PeoplesBank, “our intent was to establish the values and culture necessary to support a great organization. Over time, we learned that those values and that culture would improve our bottom line and make PeoplesBank a top place to work.” Employee engagement is critical to a high-performance culture, according to Janice Mazzallo, executive vice president and chief human resource officer at PeoplesBank. “Associates become engaged when they know we care about them,” she said. “We want to know their ideas, so we have associate think tanks. We want them to grow, so we have innovative development programs, mentoring, and learning centers. And we want to encourage life-work balance because our values are abou more than just work. We need to have fun, too.” As part of the Top Place to Work award to PeoplesBank, the Boston Globe highlighted two efforts by bank associates. The first, called the Smoothie Patrol, started at an associates’ organized wellness fair and was so well-received that associates decided to take it on the road and make surprise visits to each of the bank’s 17 offices. Xiaolei Hua, an assistant vice president and credit officer at PeoplesBank and Habitat for Humanity volunteer, was interviewed by the Boston Globe regarding the bank’s support of volunteerism. “I know that the bank cares about more than just getting the work done,” Hua told the paper. “They care about me, my family, and the community.”

Polish National Credit Union Donates $15,000 to Westfield Senior Center
WESTFIELD — At a check-presentation ceremony last month, Polish National Credit Union made a $15,000 donation to the capital campaign of Friends of the Westfield Senior Center Inc. The donation was made at the Westfield River Branch of the PNCU by Branch Manager Cynthia Houle to Friends of the Westfield Senior Center’s board of directors. PNCU President and CEO James Kelly commented on the credit union’s commitment to the Westfield community. “Our branch in Westfield is one of our largest and most vibrant locations, and we enjoy being involved in supporting the community in any way we can. The new senior center is going to be a wonderful asset to the community, and PNCU is thrilled to be a part of it.” The donation will be used for furnishings at the new senior center, currently under construction on Noble Street in Westfield. “The Polish National donation will enable us to provide comfortable furniture and accessories for the new senior center that Westfield’s seniors will benefit from for years to come,” said board member Tom Keenan. “Polish National is genuinely concerned about the community and making Westfield a better place to live.” Founded in 1921, Polish National Credit Union is one of the largest credit unions in the Pioneer Valley. Headquartered on Main Street in Chicopee, the credit union operates full-service branches in Chicopee, Granby, Westfield, Southampton, Hampden, and Wilbraham.

Grainger Foundation Supports STCC Foundation
SPRINGFIELD — The Grainger Foundation, an independent, private foundation located in Lake Forest, Ill., has donated $5,000 to the Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) Foundation in support of its Foundation Innovation Grant program. “This grant will be used to help us continue to support faculty and staff innovation here at STCC,” said President Ira Rubenzahl. “The Foundation Innovation Grant program helps us to improve excellence in the delivery of academic or student retention services at STCC. We are grateful to the Grainger Foundation for its generosity and in helping us to continue our mission.” In addition to the contribution from the Grainger Foundation, the STCC Foundation will match Grainger’s $5,000 contribution this year. Foundation Innovation Grants are awarded in the spring. “We want to thank the Grainger Foundation for its generous support,” said STCC Foundation President Kevin Sweeney. “With their assistance, the STCC Foundation will continue its commitment to support innovative projects at the college that promote community impact, economic growth, workforce development, and quality of life in our region.” The donation to the STCC Foundation was recommended by John Duffy, market manager of W.W. Grainger Inc.’s Springfield location. Grainger has been a part of the Western Mass. business community for nearly 40 years as the leading broad-line supplier of maintenance, repair, and operating products. “We are proud to recommend the programs offered by STCC,” said Duffy. “We understand the need for active engagement and partnership between our technical education providers, businesses, and the community.” The Grainger Foundation was established in 1949 by William Grainger, founder of W.W. Grainger Inc.

Mercy Hosts Topping-off Event for Cancer Center
SPRINGFIELD — The construction project to expand the Sr. Caritas Cancer Center at Mercy Medical Center is on schedule, and a topping-off ceremony was held Nov. 20 to mark the completion of the project’s main structure with the placement of the top steel beam. A topping-off ceremony is a tradition within the construction industry and is held when the highest structural point in the building construction is attained. To celebrate this event, the last steel girder is signed, lifted into place, and welded to the structure. A small evergreen tree and the American flag are also secured to the girder as it is hoisted to the top of the structure. The tree is meant to represent the strength of the new building and the desire for the construction project to remain injury-free. The $15 million expansion of the Sr. Caritas Cancer Center, which will add an additional 26,000 square feet of space on two levels, is designed to provide more comprehensive care delivery and added convenience for patients. In addition to radiation-oncology services, medical-oncology offices, physician offices, and exam rooms will be located on the first floor. Medical-oncology treatment and infusion space, an oncology pharmacy, and laboratory space will be located on the second floor.

Chamber Corners: Upcoming Events

By
Chamber Corners Departments

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

• Dec. 8: ACCGS Suppler Diversity Pre-certification Workshop, 10 a.m. to noon,
hosted by UMass Center at Springfield, 1500 Main St., 2nd Floor. Presented in partnership with the MA Supplier Diversity Office and the Black Leadership Alliance.
Reservations are free, but required. Reservations may be made online at www.myonlinechamber.com.

• Dec. 10: ACCGS Lunch N Learn, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Dodge Room, Flynn Campus Union, Springfield College, 263 Alden St.. Springfield. “Cybersecurity: It’s Everyone’s Business,” sponsored by VertitechIT. Cost: $25 for members, $35 for general admission, including lunch. Reservations may be made online at www.myonlinechamber.com.
 
GREATER CHICOPEE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.chicopeechamber.org
(413) 594-2101

• Dec. 4: Holiday Open House, 4:30-6:30 p.m., at the Chamber Office, 264 Exchange St., Chicopee. Sponsored by Charter Business. Free to attend for all members. RSVP requested.

• Dec. 11: Workshop 6: “Strategic Networking: Networking to Increase Profitability,” 9-11 a.m., at Days Inn, 400 Memorial Dr., Chicopee. Cost: $20 for members, $30 for non-members.

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

• Dec. 11: Holiday Dinner Dance 2014, 6 p.m. Details to follow. Comedy show, dinner, and the big raffle drawing for $5,000. Call the office to sign up for a table at (413) 527-9414.

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

• Dec. 10: Holiday Business Breakfast, 7:30-9 a.m., at the Log Cabin Banquet and Meeting House, 500 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. Sponsored by Holyoke Gas & Electric, Health New England, Holyoke High School Madrigal Choir, and Bresnahan Insurance. Business networking while enjoying a hearty breakfast and sounds of the season. Cost: $22 for members in advance, $28 for non-members and at the door. 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
 

• Dec. 10: Joint Chamber Mixer for Greater Northampton and Amherst Area chamber members, 5-7 p.m., hosted by the Lord Jeffrey Inn, 30 Boltwood Walk, Amherst. Sponsored by Florence Savings Bank. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for non-members.

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

• Dec. 9: PWC Ladies Night, 5-7 p.m., hosted by Cooper’s Fine Gifts & Curtains, 161 Main St., Agawam. Reservations are free, but required. Reservations may be made through Gwen Burke at [email protected] or (413) 237-8840.
 
WEST OF THE RIVER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.ourwrc.com
(413) 426-3880
 

• Dec. 3: Wicked Wednesday. 5:30-7:30 p.m., hosted by Squires Bistro at Cooper’s Commons, Agawam. Wicked Wednesdays are monthly social events, hosted by various businesses and restaurants, that bring members and non-members together to network in a laid-back atmosphere. Cost: free for chamber members, $10 for non-members at the door. Event is open to the public. For more information, contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880 or [email protected].

Court Dockets

By
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.

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT
Calise & Sons Bakery Inc. v. East Baking Co. Inc.
Allegation: False advertising and breach of contract: $26,000
Filed: 11/7/14

Datto Inc. v. Haselkorn Inc.
Allegation: Breach of equipment lease: $143,704
Filed: 10/30/14

Mark Lizak v. Apria Health Care, LLC
Allegation: Product liability: $13,593
Filed: 10/20/14

Perkins Paper, LLC v. Daily Harvest Café Inc.
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $91,147.42
Filed: 10/27/14

HAMPSHIRE SUPERIOR COURT
Hap Inc. v. Certain Underwriters of Lloyd’s London and Bresnahan Insurance Agency Inc.
Allegation: Breach of insurance policy: $99,000+
Filed: 10/3/14

Kenneth Williams v. Thibault Fuel Inc.
Allegation: Negligent operation of motor vehicle causing injury: $25,444.86
Filed: 10/20/14

Teresa O’Shea v. Florence Pizza and Family Restaurant
Allegation: Negligent maintenance of property causing injury: $289,365.20
Filed: 10/6/14

NORTHAMPTON DISTRICT COURT
David W. Kretchmar v. Burris Logistics, Inc. d/b/a Burris Springfield, LLC and Jason James
Allegation: Violation of the Wage Act: $4,149.76
Filed: 11/5/14

PALMER DISTRICT COURT
Lynn Baker v. East Longmeadow Methodist Church
Allegation: Negligent maintenance of property causing slip and fall: $2,888.80
Filed: 11/5/14

St. Clair Landscaping Inc. v. Northern Tree Service
Allegation: Non-payment for labor and materials: $6,394
Filed: 9/4/14

SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT
Amelia Goldrup p/p/a Trista Nadolski v. Peanuts Daycare Inc.
Allegation: Breach of duty of care and failure to adequately supervise: $912.50
Filed: 10/1/14

Comcast Spotlight Inc. v. Adrian Construction Co.
Allegation: Non-payment of advertising services provided: $2,580.16
Filed: 10/6/14

Marlene Johnson v. Kenton Johnson d/b/a A.T.C. Home Improvement, LLC
Allegation: Breach of contract: $7,824.72
Filed: 11/10/14

WESTFIELD DISTRICT COURT
Advance Me Inc. v. Lawrence Bannish d/b/a Feed Warehouse
Allegation: Breach of contract: $27,284.26
Filed: 8/28/2014

Capital One Bank v. Jason Liacos and Liacos Landscaping
Allegation: Non-payment on credit account: $12,934.94
Filed: 10/28/14

Patricia Scuderi v. Scuderi’s Inc. d/b/a Crabby Joe’s
Allegation: No compensation for hours worked: $11,942.87
Filed: 9/22/14

Briefcase

By
Briefcase Departments

EDC Names Sullivan New President, CEO
SPRINGFIELD — Richard Sullivan, former mayor of Westfield and currently chief of staff for Gov. Deval Patrick, has been chosen to become president and CEO of the Economic Development Council of Western Mass., succeeding Alan Blair, who will retire Dec. 31. Sullivan prevailed in a lengthy search for Blair’s successor that began when Blair announced his intention to retire almost a year ago. Sullivan, an attorney, brings to the job a résumé that includes a lengthy stint as Westfield’s mayor as well as work with the Patrick administration, first as commissioner of the Department of Conservation and Recreation, then as secretary of the Mass. Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, and then as chief of staff, a position he assumed in June.

Massachusetts Adds 1,200 Jobs in October
BOSTON — The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) reported that preliminary estimates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show Massachusetts added 1,200 jobs in October for a total preliminary estimate of 3,424,600. The October total unemployment rate remained unchanged at 6.0%. Since October 2013, Massachusetts has added a net of 52,600 jobs, with 50,400 jobs added in the private sector. The total unemployment rate for the year is down 1.2% from the October 2013 rate of 7.2%. BLS also revised its September job estimates to a 7,800-job gain from the 9,400-gain previously reported for the month. Here’s an October 2014 employment overview:
• Information added 1,900 jobs (+2.0%) over the month. Over the year, the sector added 7,900 jobs (+9.1%);
• Construction gained 1,300 jobs (+1.1%) over the month. Over the year, the sector has added 2,400 jobs (+2.0%);
• Education and Health Services added 800 jobs (+0.1%) over the month. Over the year, the sector gained 16,000 jobs (+2.2%); 
• Professional, Scientific and Business Services gained 200 jobs (0.1%) over the month. Over the year, the sector added 14,500 jobs (+2.9%);
• Other Services had no change in its jobs level over the month. Over the year, Other Services are up 1,100 jobs (+0.9%);
• Trade, Transportation, and Utilities lost 1,800 jobs (-0.3%) over the month.  Over the year, the sector gained 7,200 jobs (+1.3%);
• Leisure and Hospitality lost 1,500 jobs (-0.4%) over the month. Over the year, the sector added 100 jobs (0.1%);
• Financial Activities lost 500 jobs (-0.2%) over the month. Over the year, the sector added 1,900 jobs (+0.9%);
• Manufacturing lost 400 jobs (-0.2%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Manufacturing lost 700 jobs (-0.3%); and
• Government added 1,200 jobs (+0.3%) over the month. Over the year, the sector gained 2,200 jobs (+0.5%).
The October 2014 estimates show 3,334,800 Massachusetts residents were employed and 211,000 were unemployed, for a total labor force of 3,545,800. The October labor force increased by 14,100 from 3,531,700 in September, as 16,400 more residents were employed and 2,300 fewer residents were unemployed over the month. The labor force was an estimated 61,800 above the 3,484,000 October 2013 estimate, with 100,600 more residents employed and 38,800 fewer residents unemployed. The unemployment rate is based on a monthly sample of households. The job estimates are derived from a monthly sample survey of employers.  As a result, the two statistics may exhibit different monthly trends.

Baystate Health Opens TechSpring Center
SPRINGFIELD — Representatives from companies that are developing new products to improve healthcare joined leaders from Baystate Health, the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, and a host of elected officials on Nov. 14 to celebrate the opening of TechSpring, Baystate Health’s technology innovation center based in Springfield’s emerging innovation district. The facility will match private enterprises with partners and expertise from Baystate to take on some of healthcare’s most difficult challenges.
TechSpring owes its existence in large part to a $5.5 million grant from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, an investment agency charged with implementing Gov. Deval Patrick’s 10-year, $1 billion Life Sciences Initiative that supports life-sciences innovation, research, development, and commercialization. “Being part of the innovation ecosystem that’s developing in downtown Springfield was a major incentive for us in locating here,” said Joel Vengco, Baystate Health’s vice president of Information & Technology and chief information officer. “There is very real potential and a strong foundation in our community for real progress in creating employment and economic opportunities in the areas of healthcare technology and informatics. The fact that these innovators and companies have come here to invest time and resources is a testament to the potential here, and we’re thrilled to be part of it.” TechSpring, which is housed at 1350 Main St. in downtown Springfield, is already hosting work between Baystate and private-industry partners to create new technology solutions and products that could be used to improve health outcomes. TechSpring’s founding sponsors and innovation partners are IBM, Premier Inc., Cerner Corp., Dell, Medecision, and Mainline Information Systems. All are engaging in collaborative work and product development in the new space. “In this space, my colleagues and their industry partners are putting information technology to work in service of better health outcomes for people here in our community and across the nation,” said Dr. Mark Keroack, president and CEO of Baystate Health. “They’re also working toward bringing opportunity — a real potential for better economic health — for our city and our community. We’re very proud to be here downtown, and we’re proud of the partnerships on display, with industry, with academia. and with government.”

Patrick Announces $1.5 Million for Water-technology Innovation
AMHERST – Gov. Deval Patrick announced $1.5 million in funding to build on his administration’s efforts to make Massachusetts a hub for the emerging water-innovation sector. Patrick was joined by UMass Amherst and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials as they announced $4.1 million in federal funding for a national center for drinking-water innovation at the university. “All over the world and right here at home in the Commonwealth, water challenges are threatening the environment and the economy,” said Patrick. “Investing in the development of water-innovation technologies not only protects precious natural resources and public health, but creates high-quality local jobs.” The Water Infrastructure Bill, signed by Patrick in August, calls for $1.5 million in investments from the Mass. Department of Environmental Protection for water innovation. The federally funded center will be one of two national research centers focused on testing and demonstrating cutting-edge technologies for small drinking-water systems. The Patrick administration, through MassCEC, matched the federal investment with a $100,000 grant. “Under Gov. Patrick’s leadership, Massachusetts has pursued cost-effective innovations to address environmental concerns,” said Curt Spalding, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s regional administrator for New England. “We are very pleased to join the governor as both the EPA and the Commonwealth announce investments in further research and technology development at UMass Amherst that will help continue to provide clean and safe drinking water to people.” Providing safe, clean drinking water is critical for maintaining the health and security of the Commonwealth, said UMass Amherst Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy. “Researchers here at UMass Amherst are on the front lines of efforts to make sure that clean water is a reality for all our communities and citizens. This new funding will help the Commonwealth’s flagship campus make an important contribution to this key public need.” During the Massachusetts-Israel Innovation Partnership (MIIP) mission in May, Patrick announced the winners of the first MIIP water-innovation challenge. The governor made this announcement with Israeli Chief Scientist Avi Hasson during the U.S.-Israel Connected Summit “Going Global with Water Tech” forum. The MIIP was launched in 2011 as a direct result of Patrick’s first innovation-partnership mission to Israel. During that 10-day trade mission in March 2011, a coalition of the state’s leading business executives and senior government officials explored growth opportunities of common interest to Massachusetts’ and Israel’s innovation industries. During that mission, Patrick and Shalom Simhon, Israeli minister of Economy, signed a memorandum of understanding in Jerusalem resulting in this partnership. “Safe, reliable drinking water has always been a critical need. In the 21st century, we will need to develop new technologies to meet growing demand,” said U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern. “I’m pleased that the federal government is joining with the Commonwealth and UMass Amherst in this promising effort.”

Women’s Fund to Issue $240,000 in Grant Funding
EASTHAMPTON — The Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts (WFWM) announced the availability of $240,000 in grant funding for organizations that serve women and girls in Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire counties. Grant recipients will each receive $60,000 over three years to deploy innovative programs that help shift the landscape for women and girls within the agency’s focus areas of educational access and success, economic justice, and safety and freedom from violence. Grant applications will be available on the WFWM website on Jan. 10 and will be due on March 23. “Due to renewed and expanded investments from community members in the Women’s Fund mission, we are thrilled to be able to offer another round of multi-year grants in 2015,” said Elizabeth Barajas-Román, chief executive officer of the WFWM. “Multi-year grants allow us to partner with organizations in a sustained way that helps make a significant impact in communities. This funding will increase our ability to scale up and positively affect the lives of women and girls.” Successful applications will demonstrate meaningful partnerships among two or more organizations, agencies, or projects. “We know that effective solutions require creative collaboration,” said Barajas-Román. In addition to the financial award, the Women’s Fund will invest an additional $20,000 into each grantee by giving each project the opportunity to select two staff, constituents, or board members as participants of the Women’s Fund’s Leadership Institute for Political and Public Impact (LIPPI). LIPPI, a Women’s Fund program, has equipped 200 women from across Western Mass. to become civic leaders in their communities; to impact policy on the local, state, and national levels; and to seek and retain elected positions. Since 1997, the WFWM has awarded more than $2 million to more than 150 nonprofit organizations, impacting more than 80,000 women and girls.

Finance Column

By
Columns Sections
Know the Rules for Charitable Gift Deductions

By Terri Judycki, CPA, MST

As year-end approaches, most charities see an increase in donations as a result of donors’ year-end tax planning. Many donors do not realize that they need to do more than write out a check to secure the charitable contribution deduction.

Terri Judycki, CPA, MST

Terri Judycki, CPA, MST

This article will explore the compliance and substantiation requirements for both donors and donees of charitable contributions, since organizations that receive gifts have an interest in ensuring that donors can deduct their gifts for income tax purposes as well as avoiding penalties that could be imposed on them.

Of course, donors must be able to substantiate their gifts to charities — dates and amounts. For this purpose, a bank record or acknowledgement from the charity is sufficient. However, if the amount of the gift is $250 or more, the donor must have a written acknowledgement from the charity that includes either a description and estimate of any goods or services the charity provided in return for the contribution or a statement that no goods or services were provided in return for the contribution. 

There are exceptions for insubstantial or token items as well as for certain membership benefits. The donor must have this written acknowledgment prior to filing his or her income tax return claiming the deduction or by the due date of the return, if the tax return is filed late. The donor’s requirement to obtain written substantiation for gifts in excess of $250 also applies to out-of-pocket expenses incurred on behalf of a charity.  

While the $250 written acknowledgement is a requirement imposed on the donor, the charity has a requirement to disclose in connection with any part-gift/part-purchase with a price exceeding $75. For example, if tickets to a golf tournament or gala exceed $75, tax law imposes a requirement on the charity to disclose the amount that the patron may deduct as a charitable contribution. The acknowledgement must include a statement that only the amount in excess of the fair market value of the goods or services provided by the charity is deductible and must provide an estimate of the value of those goods or services, which may be very different than the cost to the organization. 

The acknowledgment must be made in a manner that will be noticed. The penalty for noncompliance is $10 per contribution up to $5,000 for a single fundraiser.  

With respect to non-cash gifts, additional requirements are imposed on the donor and the charity. Donors are required to obtain qualified appraisals for non-cash gifts (other than publicly traded securities) in excess of certain thresholds. For property with a claimed value of more than $5,000, the donor must attach to his or her income tax return an appraisal summary on Form 8283, signed by both the appraiser and the charity.

If the charity sells or otherwise disposes of donated property with a claimed value of more than $5,000 within three years of the donation, the charity is required to file Form 8282 reporting the sale. Every time a charity is asked to sign a Form 8283, it should consider the potential Form 8282 filing requirement if the asset is disposed of within 3 years. Form 8282 is due on or before the 125th day after the disposition, and a copy must be sent to the donor. Penalties for failure to comply may apply. 

There are even further rules and requirements that apply to contributions of qualified intellectual property, art valued at $20,000 or more, other non-cash property valued over $500,000, certain qualified conservation easements, and contributions to a college or university that entitle the donor to purchase tickets to athletic events.

In response to perceived abuse, there are now specific rules that apply to donations of used cars, boats, and airplanes after Dec. 31, 2004. While there are many exceptions and modifications, in general if the vehicle is sold for more than $500, the charity must file Form 1098-C. The donor must receive a copy within 30 days of the date of sale, and it must be filed with the IRS by Feb. 28 of the following year. Again, penalties may apply. Note that Form 1098-C is in addition to, not in lieu of, Form 8282 discussed above.

Many charities hold raffles as a fundraiser or in connection with another fundraiser. Raffles are a form of lottery, and only certain charities may hold raffles under Massachusetts law. The charity is required to obtain a permit from the local town hall before the raffle and to pay a tax to the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission within 10 days after the raffle. There are additional Massachusetts requirements for tickets with a sale price of $10 or more or if the prize is worth more than $10,000. The purchase of a raffle ticket is never deductible as a charitable contribution, and the charity should be cautious not to imply that the purchase price may be deducted. There are income-tax-reporting and withholding rules that may apply to the winnings if the value of the prize is $600 or more.

Massachusetts requires income tax withholding when the value is $600 or more. For federal purposes, if the prize is valued at $600 and is at least 300 times the amount of the wager (for example, a $1 raffle ticket with a $600 or greater prize), reporting is required on Form W-2G, but federal withholding is not required until the value of the prize exceeds $5,000.  For noncash prizes, the winner must remit the withholding tax to the charity. If, instead, the charity pays the withholding tax on behalf of the winner, it must include the tax remitted on behalf of the winner in the value of the prize.

Raffle tickets with non-cash prizes of $600 or more should contain language to the effect that the winner may be required to pay state or federal income taxes to avoid any hard feelings. A charity that fails to withhold income taxes when required can be liable for the tax. There are somewhat similar rules that apply to charities conducting other types of gaming activities.

Don’t let your charitable contributions fall into the “no good deed goes unpunished” category from a tax perspective. Now is the time to gather your acknowledgment letters and signatures on Form 8283, if required. If you’re in doubt regarding the requirements in a specific situation, consult your tax adviser.

Terri Judycki, CPA, MST, is senior tax manager with the certified public accounting firm Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C. in Holyoke; (413) 536-8510.

Building Permits

By
Building Permits Departments

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

AMHERST

The Brook at Amherst Green
170 East Hadley Road
$27,000 — Re-roof

Good Ol Daves, LLC
35 Northampton Road
$3,000 — New smoke alarm system

CHICOPEE

Behavioral Health Network
41 Woodlawn St.
$6,000 — New siding

Chicopee Housing Authority
Benoit Circle
$110,000 — Replace 51 front entry doors

Elms College
291 Springfield St.
$52,000 — Exterior repairs

Menck-USA
77 Champion Dr.
$40,000 — Modification to the HVAC system

NORTHAMPTON

Billmar Corporation
330 North King St.
$104,000 — Interior renovations to deli

City of Northampton
212 Main St.
$5,000 — Replace portions of concrete retaining wall for fire escape

Main Street Florence, LLC
100 Main St.
$1,025,000 — Construct 7,488-square-foot commercial building

Michelle St. Pierre
55 Kensington Ave.
$106,000 — Renovate third floor

New England Deaconess Association
25 Coles Meadow Road
$40,000 – Add walk-in cooler/freezer to commercial kitchen

Northampton Heights, LP
50 Village Hill Road
$8,350,000 — Construct three-story 56,000-square-foot assisted living facility

Gaev Bennett
9 Center St.
$79,000 — Install replacement windows and remodel third-floor office

Robert Foote
80 Damon Road
$80,000 — Repair fire damage

Traddles, LLC
60 Masonic St.
$32,000 — Interior fit-out for new business

PALMER

Big Y
1180 Thorndike St.
$110,000 — Replace roof-top units and duct modifications

Warka Associates
1448 North Main St.
$3,500 — Roof repair

SOUTH HADLEY

Mount Holyoke College
27 Morgan St.
$4,000 — Renovations

Raymond Center
470 Granby Road
$34,000 — Renovations

SPRINGFIELD

Curtis Industrial
4 Birnie Ave.
$77,000 — Interior renovation of sales and engineering offices

Eastfield Mall
1655 Boston Road
$44,000 — Remodel of existing T-Mobile space

JGT Mass, LLC
1391 Main St.
$120,000 — Renovations for new dental office

Mercy Medical Center
175 Carew St.
$8,000 — Renovation for new blood-draw station

Outing Park II, LLC
17 Bayonne St.
$799,000 — Renovations

WESTFIELD

Engineer Realty Corporation
53 Southampton Road
$2,000,000 — Complete interior renovation

NIP Owner, LLC
1111 Southampton Road
$650,000 — Install 4 loading docks

Pioneer Valley Baptist Church
265 Ponders Hollow Road
$140,000 — Construct 46’ x 50’ one-story addition

Robert Iacovelli
292 Lockhouse Road
$412,000 — Construct truck-repair facility

Lessons Learned

By
Features
When It Comes to the Family Business, Explore All Your Options

By MICHAEL KLEIN, PsyD

While we often think of family-run enterprises as corner mom-and-pop shops, more than one-third of the S&P 500 are family-owned. Companies as significant as media giant Comcast are family-owned. Mars, the food manufacturer, is also family-owned. Ford Motor Co. still retains family leadership, and, of course, there’s always Walmart, owned and operated by the Walton family.

As many family-business consultants will affirm, family-owned companies can be incredibly complex. Due to the overlap of roles between owners, employees, board members, and family, there is frequently a lack of clarity surrounding fundamental business facets and processes, including job responsibilities, performance expectations, individual development and advancement, as well as compensation policies, among many others.

Page8DarkPortrait

Michael Klein

Michael Klein

Add in a variety of topics that are often undiscussable — including substance abuse, estate planning, share transfers, leadership succession, and many others — and one can often find a tornado of conflict and emotion just waiting to touch down.

The more mature (i.e., older) a family business is, the more likely that lessons have been learned from generation to generation. However, no matter how old a family business may be, complexity is always present. Unfortunately, the individual family member often loses out due to the greater issues of family and business. Many, if not most, family-business consultants focus their attention on maintaining engagement and involvement, maximizing the business while understanding the family dynamics. Few are focused on what is in the best interest of an individual.

Family-business processes, systems, strategies, and planning are all critical issues if the business is to survive and thrive. A focus on individual interests, growth, satisfaction, and development comes only after larger issues are addressed. Sadly, the individual family member can become an afterthought.

Consider the prevalence of this theme of family-business expectations for employment versus individual talents, desires, and dreams. Many recent children’s movies are centered fundamentally around the individual’s conflict with family legacy, tradition, and power. As just one example, Brave’s Merida is pressured to follow in her mother’s footsteps (and the family business) as a properly behaved queen despite her desire for very ‘unqueenly’ activities and passions.

Back in the real world, however, decisions about family-business employment are far more complicated and have more than one side to the story.

Three Perspectives

In my research, as well as experience with family-business clients, the following three perspectives are exceedingly common but rarely discussed openly, thoroughly, or objectively:

• As an active member of the family business: “Is this the best path for me going forward?”
• As a current family-business owner or parent: “What is the role of the family business in the future of my children?”
• As a next-generation member: “Should I join the family business?”

With each of these perspectives comes the underlying question, is this the best fit between person and career/job? The answer doesn’t fall out of the sky, but requires patience, tolerance for ambiguity, and a willingness to change direction when needed.

Quick decisions should be avoided at all costs. The following is a sample of some of the questions each constituency should start asking, followed by some important things to remember.

Questions for active family-business members include:

• How satisfying is my current role?
• Do I have options to change my role?
• Which family relationships are most important to me?

Keep in mind, nobody can decide your path for you. There are always pros and cons to any decision or change. You owe it to yourself and your family to either fully engage or disengage from the business sooner or later.

Questions for owners/parents include:

• What would make me most satisfied for my children?
• What skills, talents, or interests do they have that might fit well in the family business?
• Am I considering other options for my children?

Keep in mind, your own feelings about the business may be very different from your son or daughter. If your child decides not to join initially, they might be interested when they are older. In the meantime, be as objective as you can about your child’s personality, skills, interests, and motivations.

Questions for next-generation family members include:

• What excites me about the family business?
• What traits or skills do I have that will contribute to the business?
• Is there something I would be giving up if I joined?

Try as best you can to separate the idea of being a member of your family from working in the family business. Focus on understanding and developing your skills, not making a lifelong commitment to one path or another. You probably won’t have all the answers about what you may want from work until you have worked for a while.

Go with the Flow

Regardless of what the genetic lottery hands us at birth, our personal and professional experiences should result in new insights into who we are and what we are capable of. As our work lives progress, we should be able to develop new skills and abilities, as well as perhaps discover interests and passions we didn’t know we possessed. Ultimately, our jobs and other professional experiences should guide us toward finding out where our true strengths and talents lie.

For some, the family business provides an unmatched arena for this type of professional development. Unfortunately, for far too many, the family business stands directly in the way of this — and, as a result, it stands in the way of healthy adult development.

Family businesses are wonderful career and professional opportunities for many family members. While it is not a secret that the primary beneficiaries of arranged marriages are the families, we do not as easily admit this is often the case in family-business employment.

Family businesses can be wonderful opportunities for professional and personal growth, satisfaction, and success. But they should never be the only option. n


Michael Klein, PsyD, is a business consultant and author of Trapped in the Family Business: A Practical Guide for Uncovering and Managing This Hidden Dilemma. He holds a doctoral degree in professional and applied psychology, and supports family businesses and their advisors by providing assistance in the hiring, management, and development of leaders, managers, and employees. He has more than 20 years of experience working in multiple industries, including manufacturing, insurance, healthcare, construction, financial services, education, pharmaceuticals, real estate, and entertainment; mkinsights.com;trappedinthefamilybusiness.com

GradNation Summit 2014

By
Education Sections
Conference Focuses on Ways to Boost Springfield’s Graduation Rate

By KATHLEEN MITCHELL

Michael Smith

Michael Smith (second from left) introduces Springfield Mayor Dominic Sarno (left) to his parents and grandmother, who helped him succeed in school.

Many businesses donate to local nonprofit organizations and do their best to support the community. But Michael Smith says they inadvertently fail to recognize the role they can play in a critical area of need.

“Businesses often think that lowering the high-school dropout rate is a job for schools, nonprofit organizations, and the government. But they need to pay attention to what is happening if they expect the country to have an educated workforce,” said the Springfield native during a keynote speech at the GradNation Summit 2014 luncheon held last month at Springfield College for community and business leaders. “They may be writing checks or hosting grant competitions, but it is not enough. They need to establish apprenticeship programs, bring high-school students into their companies, and send their employees into the schools.”

Smith was recently appointed a special assistant to President Obama and is senior director of Cabinet Affairs for the presidential My Brother’s Keeper initiative, which addresses opportunity gaps faced by boys and young men of color that prevent them from reaching their full potential.

He traveled to the Bay State from Washington, D.C. to attend the day-long GradNation event, at which summit leaders shared best practices aimed at keeping inner-city students interested in their own education, with a focus on the relationship between success in middle school and the path to graduation.

Springfield was one of 100 cities across the nation selected by America’s Promise Alliance to hold a GradNation conference, with the goal of boosting the high-school graduation rate to 90% by 2020. And the United Way of Pioneer Valley convened the event as part of its Stay in School initiative launched last year in partnership with Springfield’s public schools.

“Middle school is a time when kids often get off track; adolescence can be really challenging, and we can’t wait until high school to make sure students are achieving at grade level. We need to get them in the pipeline early,” Smith said, adding that an overwhelming number of dropouts are “kids of color.”

He told BusinessWest that he grew up in the Hill McKnight area of Springfield. “It was a rough neighborhood with drugs, crime, violence … you name it,” he said. “I had many opportunities to fall off the path, but thanks to my parents, my grandmother, and the Boys & Girls Club, which provided me with opportunities to volunteer as well as my first job, I became a success.

“But I think about the kids I went there with who are not standing in a similar position today,” he went on. “A lot of them dropped out of school or had children early, and way too many dreams were deferred.”

However, there are strategies that can make a difference, and Smith said peer mentoring is an effective tool in middle school. But he quickly dispelled the belief that focusing solely on improving academics is the most important strategy in reducing the dropout rate.

“It takes far more than academics for a child to be successful,” he said, citing the Harlem Children’s Zone as a program that works. “They use innovative educational programs to help children, but they feed them breakfast first. You have to look at all of the roadblocks, and we need to disrupt the way we have been doing things because it is not working.

“Good enough is not good enough; we invest far too much money in things that don’t bear fruit, and governments and nonprofits can’t save children,” he went on, adding that, while nonprofits spend $300 billion each year, the dropout rate remains high.

“So, it’s clear that we need to form new partnerships, invest in innovation, and set the same goals if we want to attain a 90% graduation rate,” he told the audience.

Working Together

Springfield Mayor Dominic Sarno told those assembled that a number of success stories have come out of Springfield, adding quickly that considerable work remains.

“We need to push the needle if we are going to knock down poverty. The number-one priority is education, followed by jobs, and you get jobs through education,” he said, acknowledging that middle school is a difficult time for young people.

“If we are going to make any real improvements in the dropout rate, the entire community needs to be behind it,” the mayor went on. “We have a moral imperative to improve urban schools, but it will require bold and difficult measures to get dramatic outcomes.”

Springfield College President Mary Beth Cooper was among a bevy of speakers who outlined their efforts to help Springfield schools, and said the college has tutors in preschools who focus on early literacy skills of at-risk children.

“Our Springfield College School Turnaround Initiative also places 48 Americorps members in Level 4 schools. In 2013-14, they implemented targeted interventions to improve attendance, academic achievement, and the behavioral-social-emotional health of the students,” she said, adding that, as a result, 55% showed an increase in academic engagement.

Dora Robinson, president and CEO of United Way of Pioneer Valley, stressed the fact that GradNation was not simply an event. “It’s a call to action, and we really need a lot of support,” she said. “If we invest time and effort on the front end, more young people will graduate and move into the workforce. We have made some inroads in moving the needle, but until we are willing to stand up and support young people, we shouldn’t point fingers.”

In addition to speakers, the event included both youth and community panels, and the participants took note of what it will take to formulate an action plan to inspire middle-school students to do well in class. Measures that were outlined include engaging parents and young people, establishing safe places for students to go, providing them with individual mentors and social and emotional supports, and putting early-warning response systems in place that will alert educators when a student is at risk of dropping out.

“If anyone can do this, Springfield can,” Smith said. “But in order to reach a 90% graduation rate, we have to interrupt the status quo. People keep doing the same things over and over, while millions of kids fall through the cracks. Everyone needs to lock their arms together with a common goal.”

Moving Forward

Although 80% of students across the nation graduate from high school today, jut over half (54.9% last year) of Springfield high-school students earn their diploma.

Progress has been made, but Henry Thomas III, president of the Urban League, said the future of the region and the local economy depends on students not only graduating, but obtaining the credentials they need to get a job after high school. “The whole community needs to put education front and center.”

The information gleaned from the GradNation Summit will be distilled into a three-year community action plan to support Springfield’s middle-school students that will be submitted to America’s Promise Alliance by early January.

“This summit is the beginning, but nothing we do in school matters if a child is not eating, or drugs are being sold in violence outside their windows,” Smith said, as he spoke about a program in Washington, D.C. that matches children with paid mentors who do everything from getting them help for depression to providing assistance to parents looking for a job.

“But we also need investments, mentors, and slots for apprenticeships and internships so young people can gain practical experience,” he went on. “We need to come together to figure out our workforce needs in the next few years and make sure we are investing time and money to fill these jobs instead of having to look elsewhere.”

Bankruptcies

By
Bankruptcies Departments

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

Babcock, Jennifer L.
300 East Main St., #1A
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/29/14

Babcock, John P.
9 Evans Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/29/14

Bastek, Christine A.
265 Chapin St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/28/14

Blair, Dustin A.
Blair, Chantal M.
a/k/a Grandbois, Chantal M.
41 Judd Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/28/14

Bourdeau, Alain A.
Bourdeau, Lynne A.
40 Belvidere St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/21/14

Buckowski, Jodie Leah
31 Coolidge Road
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/22/14

Burwell, Jennifer Elizabeth
PO Box 1383
Northampton, MA 01061
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/23/14

Colak, Serdar
15 Wilson St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/18/14

Crowell, Robert
365 Tiffany St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/22/14

Cruz, Carmen D.
27 Southern Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/23/14

Dunn, Jeffrey J.
433 Amherst Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/28/14

Ferrari, Edward C.
PO Box 561
Agawam, MA 01101
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/30/14

Fish, Colleen Elizabeth
166 College St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/27/14

Forney, Scott D.
32 Knollwood Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/31/14

Gamsby, Andrea D.
35 Dorset St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/30/14

Geanacopoulos, Ashley R.
38 1/2 North Main St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/18/14

Grimard, Suzanne
56 Elm St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/27/14

Hathaway, Karl A.
Hathaway, Desiree C.
89 Mountain View St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/22/14

Hodgkins, Erin Dunican
a/k/a Stebbins Hodgkins, Erin D.
34 Bridge St.
Millers Falls, MA 01349
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/23/14

Hrasna, Christopher Robin
193 Sargeant St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/23/14

Jackman, David E.
264 Huntington Road
Chester, MA 01011
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/24/14

Jaskulski, David M.
53 James St.
Feeding Hills, MA 01030
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/28/14

Kochaniec, Deborah L.
228 Florence Road
Florence, MA 01062
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/23/14

Langlois, Clark M.
Langlois, Moira A.
419 Montcalm St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/28/14

Ledford, Judy A.
a/k/a DeGray, Judy A.
a/k/a McRobbie, Judy A.
90 Canterbury Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/24/14

Lopez, Glorimar
97 Robak Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/21/14

Lynch, Amy L.
26 Dayton St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/23/14

Maki, Jonathan P.
59 Knollwood Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/29/14

Manganelli, Matthew T.
Manganelli, Jennifer
14 Wolcott Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/29/14

McNerney, Robert W.
55 Redden Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/30/14

Mongeau, Donald R.
Mongeau, Lynne M.
11 West Cornell St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/30/14

Peters, Dustin R.
Peters, Stacey M.
68 Lyon St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/17/14

Pizzonia, Angelo
40 Merriam St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/22/14

Polanek, Lisa M.
a/k/a Rumps, Lisa Marie
444 North Main St. #25
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/30/14

Quinlan, Trevor A.
Quinlan, Margaret E.
46 Paula Ave.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/17/14

Redmond, Ronald C.
32 Riviera Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/21/14

Rivera, Dimary
1225 Bay St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/23/14

Roberts, Amber N.
219 School St., Apt. 2L
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/23/14

Rodriguez, Gabriel M.
1293 Dwight St., 2nd Floor
Springfield, MA 01107
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/17/14

Ruell, Jeanne Y.
67 Clayton Dr.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/23/14

Sor, Sokun
19 Holyoke St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/30/14

Stearns, Mark J.
26 Washington St.
Brimfield, MA 01010
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/23/14

Stone, Sarah E.
a/k/a Hamel, Sarah E.
16 Grove St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/24/14

Tebeau, Christopher J.
1721 Riverdale St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/21/14

Telega, Valerie L.
5 Beaver Dr.
South Deerfield, MA 01373
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/23/14

The Zengineer
Inspirit Common Collective
Fontaholic Designs
Sparkle, Bucky N
Sparkle, Emily H.
a/k/a Connor, Emily H. Sparkle
378 Main St., #2
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/28/14

Torres, Gloria E.
110 Methuen St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/20/14

Wilder, Douglas M.
Wilder, Deborah M.
243 Elm St., Apt. 2L
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/21/14

Williams, Sorguey
239 Mill St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/29/14

Agenda

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Agenda Departments

Women’s Fund Leadership Workshop
Dec. 6: The Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts (WFWM) will offer a community workshop addressing strategic negotiation, leadership, and conflict. The workshop is based on the WFWM’s popular Leadership Institute for Political and Public Impact (LIPPI), a 10-month training program that equips women to become more involved as civic leaders in their communities; impact policy on the local, state, and national levels, serve on boards; and seek and hold on to elected positions. Running from 9:15 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Holyoke Community College, the workshop will address conflict from the starting point of understanding human behavior to the end goal of developing successful courses of action that will enhance leadership. This program will be led by Brenda and Debbie Oppermann. Brenda Oppermann is an advisor and senior program manager for several organizations, including the U.S. Agency for International Development, the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the U.S Army, the Multi-national Corps – Iraq, International Security and Assistance Force – Afghanistan, the U.S. Institute of Peace, and assorted NGOs. Debbie Oppermann is an administrator and consultant specializing in program development, implementation, and management in the nonprofit and government sectors. The workshop is open to the public. Tickets start at $40 for small nonprofit professionals and students, while standard tickets are $60. Donations are also accepted above the $60 ticket price to help ensure the Women’s Fund is able to provide community workshops at discounted rates for small nonprofits and young professionals. Register online at www.womensfund.net or by contacting Julie Holt, office manager, at (413) 529-0087, ext. 10.

SSO ‘Home for the Follidays’ Concert
Dec. 6: More than 100 choral voices, an audience sing-along, and a chorus line of tap-dancing Santas — all that and more is on the slate for the Springfield Symphony Orchestra’s annual “Home for the Follidays” concert at Symphony Hall. Guest conductor Harvey Felder will lead members of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra and renowned Jeans ‘n’ Classics vocalists Gavin Hope and Andrea Koziol in delivering a festive musical celebration with a hint of rock. The evening’s holiday performance will continue this year’s partnership with Jeans ‘n’ Classics, star performers in the arts and entertainment scene, who combine popular sounds with the power of a world-class symphony. The show will also feature the return of the SSO’s Tap Dancing Santas, under the direction of choreographer and dance instructor David Michael Bovat, plus special guest cantor Martin Levson from Sinai Temple in Springfield, as well as a visit from St. Nick himself. The evening will also feature the SSO’s 12th annual silent auction, a fund-raising event that benefits its educational and outreach programs. Auction items include spa packages, ski lift tickets, a getaway weekend, restaurant gift cards, and much more. Items will be available for browsing and bidding before the performance and during intermission, and winning bidders may claim their items immediately following the concert. The SSO will also continue its tradition of supporting Springfield’s Children’s Study Home with a toy drive. On concert night, audience members are encouraged to make the holidays a little happier for local families in need by bringing a donation of a new, unwrapped toy. Collection bins will be available on the lobby level at Symphony Hall. “Home for the Follidays” will begin at 7:30 p.m., with doors opening at 6 p.m. For group and individual tickets, call the Springfield Symphony Box Office at (413) 733-2291 or visit in person at 1350 Main St., Springfield. Tickets are also available online at tickets.springfieldsymphony.org.

Financial-education Event
Dec. 6: Monson Savings Bank will conduct a financial-education event for veterans, service members, and their families, in collaboration with Monson High School and the Veterans Task Force of the MassSaves Coalition. The event will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Monson High School at 55 Margaret St. in Monson. There will be workshops on budgeting, setting financial goals, dealing with debt, and repairing credit. Attendees may also speak one-on-one with financial coaches and get help pulling and reviewing credit reports. All of the speakers and coaches are approved by the Department of Defense. There will be a kids’ activities table, supervised by National Honor Society students, so that parents can bring their children and also take full advantage of the program. Refreshments will be served, and the event is free. Questions about the event can be directed to Carolyn Weeks, manager of MSB’s Monson branch, at (413) 9267-1215.

Difference Makers
March 19: The sixth annual Difference Makers award program, staged by BusinessWest, will be held at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House. Details on the event will be published in upcoming issues of the magazine. Difference Makers is a program, launched in 2009, that recognizes groups and individuals that are, as the name suggests, making a difference in this region. The editors and publishers of BusinessWest will accept nominations for the class of 2015 through Dec. 15. The nomination form is available online at www.businesswest.com/difference-makers-nomination-form.

Bright Nights Marks 20th Anniversary with 2014 Opening

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Bright Nights at Forest Park opened for its 20th season last week with a new carousel for guests to ride and more than 650,000 lights along a three-mile path.

Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, Spirit of Springfield President Judy Matt, and Patrick Sullivan, executive director for the Springfield Department of Parks, Buildings, and Recreation Management, gathered on opening night with sponsors and supporters at the carousel, which is located by Santa’s Cottage. “To think, we started Bright Nights 20 years ago with the goal of providing a holiday event for Springfield residents, and it has since gained the reputation of being the Northeast’s premier holiday attraction,” said Matt.

Among the upcoming promotions are Military Night on Wednesday, Dec. 3, when admission is free for active members of the military and their spouses; and Wednesday, Dec. 10, when Columbia Gas of Massachusetts will sponsor a night of free carousel rides. Additional activities include Supper with Santa on Friday, Dec. 12, and Sunday, Dec. 14, at the Barney Carriage House; weekend horse-drawn wagon and carriage rides; visits and photos with Santa through Christmas Eve; and craft making Dec. 26 to Jan. 4.

The 20th season of Bright Nights is sponsored by AAA Pioneer Valley, the Arbors Kids, Baystate Health, Big Y World Class Markets, Charlie Arment Trucking, Columbia Gas of Massachusetts, Comcast, GZA GeoEnvironmental, Hasbro, Health New England, iHeart Media, Jewish Geriatric Services, MassMutual Financial Group, Mercy Medical Center, MGM Springfield, Milone and MacBroom, Moriarty & Primack P.C., Northern Tree Service, PeoplesBank, Sheraton Springfield, Shriners Hospital for Children, Siemens, the Republican/MassLive, Smith & Wesson, Tower Square, United Bank, Western Massachusetts Electric Co., and WWLP-22News.

Bright Nights has been a 20-year collaboration between the Spirit of Springfield, a private, nonprofit organization, and the Springfield Department of Parks, Buildings, and Recreation Management. For more information, visit brightnights.org, e-mail [email protected], or call the Spirit of Springfield at (413) 733-3800.

Dawn Henry Takes Reins at Realtor Assoc. of Pioneer Valley

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Dawn Henry of Palmer has been elected President of the 1,700-member Realtor Assoc. of Pioneer Valley. The election took place at the association’s annual membership meeting held last month at the Yankee Pedlar in Holyoke.

Henry is a real-estate sales agent with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Longmeadow. As president, she will oversee the association’s activities and operations, including meetings of the board of directors, and act as a liaison to the association’s various committees. She is the official spokesperson of the association on issues related to the real-estate industry and the local housing market.

The other 2015 officers and directors include Louis Mayo, president-elect; Richard Sawicki Jr., treasurer; Janise Fitzpatrick, secretary; and Patrick Nolan, immediate past president. Directors include Elias Acuna, Edward Alford, Kelly Bowman, Shawn Bowman, Suzi Buzzee, Susan Drumm, Susan Rheaume, and Russell Sabadosa. Organized in 1915, the Realtor Assoc. of Pioneer Valley is a professional trade organization serving Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire counties.

Difference Makers Nominations Due by Dec. 15

By
Daily News

WESTERN MASS. — The clock is ticking, but there is still time to nominate an individual or group for BusinessWest’s Difference Makers program. Nominations must be received by the end of the business day (5 p.m.) on Dec. 15. Nominations can be completed online by visiting www.businesswest.com and moving to ‘Our Events.’

Difference Makers was launched in 2009 as a way to recognize the contributions of agencies and individuals who are contributing to quality of life in this region. Recipients have ranged from college presidents to state police officers; from the leaders of several nonprofit groups to economic-development leaders. Previous honorees are:

2009:
• Doug Bowen, president and CEO of PeoplesBank;
• Kate Kane, managing director of the Springfield office of Northwestern Mutual Financial/The Zuzolo Group;
• Susan Jaye-Kaplan, founder of GoFIT and co-founder of Link to Libraries;
• William Ward, executive director of the Regional Employment Board of Hampden County; and
• The Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield

2010:
• The Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation;
• Ellen Freyman, attorney and shareholder at Shatz Schwartz and Fentin, P.C.;
• James Goodwin, president and CEO of the Center for Human Development;
• Carol Katz, CEO of the Loomis Communities; and
• UMass Amherst and its chancellor, Robert Holub

2011
• Tim Brennan, executive director of the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission;
• Lucia Giuggio Carvalho, founder of Rays of Hope;
• Don Kozera, president of Human Resources Unlimited;
• Robert Perry, retired partner/consultant at Meyers Brothers Kalicka; and
• Anthony Scott, police chief of Holyoke

2012
• Charlie and Donald D’Amour, president/COO and chairman/CEO of Big Y Foods;
• William Messner, president of Holyoke Community College;
• Majors Tom and Linda-Jo Perks, officers of the Springfield Corps of the Salvation Army;
• Bob Schwarz, executive vice president of Peter Pan Bus Lines; and
• The Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts

2013
• Michael Cutone, John Barbieri, and Thomas Sarrouf, organizers of Springfield’s C3 Policing program;
• John Downing, president of Soldier On;
• Bruce Landon, president and general manager of the Springfield Falcons;
• The Sisters of Providence; and
• Jim Vinick, senior vice president of investments at Moors & Cabot Inc.

2014
• The Gray House
• Colleen Loveless, executive director of the Springfield chapter of Rebuilding Together;
• The Melha Shriners
• Paula Moore, founder of YSET Academy and a teacher at Roger L. Putnam Vocational Training Academy; and
• Michael Moriarty, attorney, director of Olde Holyoke Development Corp., and supporter of childhood literacy programs

BFMC Seeks Applications to Fund Community Health Initiatives

By
Daily News

GREENFIELD — Baystate Franklin Medical Center’s Community Benefits Advisory Council (CBAC) has issued a request for proposals to not-for-profit and governmental organizations serving Franklin County and the North Quabbin area, to address one or more of the unmet health needs identified in the hospital’s 2013 Community Health Needs Assessment.

Specific areas of focus include: projects that create systems of improved coordination of care; implementation of evidence-based primary prevention curriculum in schools; Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) training for school staff and coaches; chronic disease prevention and/or self-management; substance-abuse prevention and support of mental health; and nutrition and physical-activity system-change projects.

The deadline for grant applications is Dec. 19 at 3 p.m. Funding for these community health initiatives is being made available as part of the hospital’s Determination of Need (DON) process related to capital expenditures for its new surgery modernization project, per Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) requirements. The Baystate Franklin CBAC is using these funds to address demonstrated needs in Franklin County and the North Quabbin region. The CBAC will prioritize funding of projects that will have broad-based, lasting impact.

To request a grant application and guidelines, contact Amy Swisher, director of Public Affairs & Community Relations at Baystate Franklin Medical Center, at [email protected] or (413) 773-2268.

Comcast Lends Support to New Agawam YMCA

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — In response to the recent opening of the Agawam YMCA Wellness & Program Family Center, the YMCA of Greater Springfield is announcing the a donation of $10,000 from Comcast. The Agawam YMCA is the latest addition to the YMCA of Greater Springfield’s many locations, providing membership and program opportunities to the Agawam region.

With support from Comcast in the way of public-service announcements and direct financial contributions, the Agawam YMCA is slated to impact more than 3,000 youth, teens, families, and seniors in Agawam and its surrounding communities. The YMCA of Greater Springfield serves 115,000 members and program participants in 14 cities and towns throughout the region.

The Agawam YMCA includes a health and wellness center, sauna, group exercise space, café, technology center, and community meeting space. Naming opportunities for donors are still available. To learn more about the YMCA of Greater Springfield, contact Nikki Durham at [email protected] or visit www.springfieldy.org.

Falcons Team Up with Kix 100.9 on Toys For Tots Night on Dec. 5

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Falcons and KIX 100.9 are teaming together to present Toys for Tots night on Dec. 5 when the Falcons host the Norfolk Admirals at the MassMutual Center at 7 p.m. Every fan who brings a toy to the Dec. 5 game will receive a one-ticket voucher for the Jan. 4 matchup against the Manchester Monarchs.

The vouchers are limited to one per person. A table will be stationed on the concourse behind section 2, where fans can drop off their toys and receive their voucher. All toys collected will be donated to the Western Mass. Toys for Tots Foundation.

The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation is a not-for-profit organization authorized by the U.S. Marine Corps to provide fund-raising and other necessary support for the annual U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program. Now in its 67th year, Toys for Tots provides joy and a message of hope to less fortunate children through the gift of a new toy or book during the Christmas holiday season. For more information, visit www.toysfortots.org.

To reserve seats, call (413) 739-4625 or visit the team office inside the MassMutual Center Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Nuclea Biotechnologies Secures New Design Patent

By
Daily News

PITTSFIELD — Nuclea Biotechnologies Inc. announced that it has secured a new U.S. design patent for the design of its beam-dump assembly, a mechanical component that will be utilized in multiple diagnostic applications.

The beam-dump assembly is used for the detection of low-abundance proteins within microfluidic-based environments. It identifies a change in biological samples by reading laser light. This detection instrument will be used for protein detection in Nuclea’s fatty-acid synthase (FAS), HER-2/neu, and CAIX diagnostic tests, with future potential use in additional diagnostic tests. The design patent is an important step for Nuclea as the company continues to expand its intellectual property surrounding its proprietary tests and methods.

“This is another milestone for Nuclea in developing new diagnostic-based technology as it relates to the analysis of fluids in a variety of diseases,” said Patrick Muraca, the company’s president and CEO.

Based in Pittsfield, Nuclea, with additional operations in Worcester and Cambridge, has developed and is commercializing unique diagnostic tests for colon, breast, leukemia, lung, and prostate cancer, as well as for diabetes and other metabolic syndromes. Nuclea also performs research leading to novel molecular oncology companion diagnostics for the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.

Dowd Agencies Announces Merger of Indian Orchard Offices

By
Daily News

HOLYOKE — The Dowd Agencies, a leading insurance provider serving New England for more than 115 years, announced a merger of the firm’s two Indian Orchard-based offices.

Moskal-Dowd, previously located at 20 Parker St., and Orchard-Dowd, previously located at 144 Main St., have officially merged and will now operate as the Indian Orchard-based location of the Dowd Agencies located at 485 Main St. The new, 2,500-square-foot office is officially open for business. Customers and the general public are invited to visit, and an open house is planned for the spring of 2015.

“One centralized location for our Indian Orchard office will increase accessibility for our customers,” said John Dowd Jr., president and CEO of the Dowd Agencies. “The benefits of the new office include ample parking, a large conference room for meetings, and, most importantly, a larger staff to provide our customers a broader service offering from one location.”

The Dowd Agencies will continue to be headquartered in Holyoke, which houses the firm’s human resources department and administrative staff.

“From a customer-service standpoint, the Indian Orchard location is now a full-service operation,” Dowd said, “and there were no reductions in staff, which means our customers will continue to see the same account managers they have built relationships with at our previous locations.”

Moskal-Dowd was originally acquired by the Dowd Agencies in 2009; Orchard-Dowd was acquired in early 2014.

“Business growth has always been a part of our master plan,” said Dowd. “However our locations and appearance may change, our primary focus and responsibility has always been, and will remain, with our customers. The Dowd Agencies’ leadership agrees that the new centralized Indian Orchard location helps us remain true to providing the best customer experience possible.”

Unemployment Rates Largely Down in Massachusetts

By
Daily News

BOSTON — The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) reported that seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates for October were down in 20 Massachusetts labor market areas and up in two areas, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Over the year, unemployment rates were down in all the labor market areas.

The preliminary statewide unadjusted unemployment rate estimate for October was 5.1%, down 1.1% from September. Over the year, the statewide unadjusted rate was down 1.8% from the October 2013 rate of 6.9%. During October, 10 of the 12 areas for which job estimates are published recorded job gains.

The largest job gain was in the Boston-Cambridge-Quincy area, followed by the Worcester, Springfield, Brockton-Bridgewater-Easton, Lowell-Billerica-Chelmsford, Haverhill-North Andover-Amesbury, Peabody, New Bedford, Leominster-Fitchburg-Gardner, and Framingham areas. The Pittsfield area had no change in its jobs level over the month, while the Barnstable area recorded a seasonal loss. Since October 2013, all 12 areas added jobs, with the largest percentage gains in the Lowell-Billerica-Chelmsford, Worcester, Haverhill-North Andover-Amesbury, Springfield, and Pittsfield areas.

The seasonally adjusted statewide October unemployment rate, released on Nov. 20, remained unchanged over the month at 6.0% and down 1.2% over the year. The rate was 0.2% above the 5.8% national unemployment rate. The statewide seasonally adjusted jobs estimate showed a 1,200-job gain in October and an over-the-year gain of 52,600 jobs.

The labor force, unemployment rates, and job estimates for Massachusetts and every other state are based on several different statistical methodologies specified by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. The unadjusted unemployment rates and job estimates for the labor market areas reflect seasonal fluctuations and therefore may show different levels and trends than the statewide seasonally adjusted estimates.

Berkshire Bank Opens New Branch in Westborough

By
Daily News

WESTBOROUGH — Berkshire Bank has furthered its presence in Eastern Mass. with the opening of a new full-service branch and financial-service center located at 303 Turnpike Road in Westborough.

Bank executives and the community welcomed the new facility with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Nov. 20. Included in the ceremony was a $10,000 donation to four community nonprofit organizations: the YMCA, the Boys and Girls Club Metro-West, the Westborough Food Pantry, and Westborough High School Robotics.

Berkshire Bank’s Westborough financial center offers a network of financial services, including personal and business banking, mortgages, insurance, and wealth management. The full-service branch includes Berkshire Bank’s state-of-the-art teller pod design, which provides more personalized service, faster transactions, improved accuracy, and enhanced security. The financial center covers 10,000 square feet, and the floor plans were designed to maximize teamwork and efficiency while enabling staff to easily shift tasks to respond to customer traffic.

“The new Westborough center was designed with our customers in mind — it is a contemporary banking experience and an excellent next step in our growth here in Eastern Massachusetts,” said Tami Gunsch, senior vice president, Retail Banking. “Offering the full gamut of financial services, our new financial headquarters and branch delivers the highest-quality service and responsiveness to customers. The design of the facility is conducive to personal engagement with our customers, even during the busiest moments.”

MGM Springfield Partners with Berkshire Brewing Co.

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — MGM Springfield announced that it has finalized a partnership agreement with Berkshire Brewing Co. (BBC). The agreement names BBC the premier regional brewing partner and craft beer provider for MGM Springfield. BBC, a regional brewery located in South Deerfield, was established in 1994 by Christopher Lalli and Gary Bogoff, a pair of home brewers. BBC is now producing eight year-round beers and nine seasonal brews.

“We are thrilled to announce this partnership with Berkshire Brewing Co.,” said Michael Mathis, MGM Springfield President. “BBC has a history of brewing quality, good-tasting products with Western Massachusetts in mind. Our company has a commitment to sustainability, and BBC’s efforts to use local ingredients made this a natural partnership.”

The agreement was finalized on Oct. 29 at Four Star Farms in Northfield, where BBC sources some of its hops ingredients for its brews. Terms of the agreement include introducing BBC’s product at other MGM properties, as well as a commitment by BBC to strategize on growing its Massachusetts sourcing ingredients based on the volumes MGM Springfield will demand.

Bogoff, CEO of BBC, noted that “BBC is excited about this incredible opportunity to have our products featured in an MGM resort. Together we will look at more ways to source ingredients from our local farms. It is a win-win for Western Massachusetts.”

Added Mathis, “we look forward to our global customer base getting a taste of what BBC has to offer. We are proud to be working with a company as excited about local sourcing as we are.”

JGS Names Joelle Tedeschi Executive Director of Ruth’s House

By
Daily News

LONGMEADOW — Joelle Tedeschi, LPN, has been named executive director of Ruth’s House, an assisted-living facility of Jewish Geriatric Services (JGS).

Tedeschi brings more than 25 years of diverse experience in elder care to this position. She will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the assisted-living community located in Longmeadow. She will also continue to oversee business development at the Leavitt Family Jewish Home, the position she’s held since coming to JGS in July.

Before joining the nursing home, Tedeschi served as the regional director of sales for Golden Living in Canton, Mass., where she was responsible for the sustainable growth of 18 hospice and direct-living centers. Prior to this, she was the regional director of Sales for Kindred Healthcare in Louisville, Ky. She holds a bachelor’s degree in sales and marketing from Massachusetts Bay College in Wellesley.

“Joelle clearly brings us a wealth of business-development experience in senior living,” said Martin Baicker, president and CEO of JGS. “In addition, she is also a licensed practical nurse, and we feel confident that, under her leadership, Ruth’s House will continue to flourish.”

Play Date Place Opens in South Hadley

By
Daily News

SOUTH HADLEY — Play Date Place, a creative and interactive play and party experience for children ages 6 and under, is open for business. The vision of founder Darlene Sattler is to bring a kid-sized, interactive town to Western Mass., promoting imaginative play in a clean, safe, enclosed environment.

Children can interact with parents, grandparents, caregivers, and friends in a climate-controlled, camera-monitored facility, which includes a six-building town — fire station, market, restaurant, theatre, boutique, and gas station. The town also includes a train station, park, and ball-pit ‘lake,’ as well as an infant play area.

Play Date Place, which is located at 470 Newton St., also offers party packages, with the ability to host two parties simultaneously with the use of two party rooms. Party packages can be purchased, as well as private rental of the entire facility. Each weekend, Play Date Place has the capability to book eight parties plus 12 hours of open play. Operating hours are Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The facility features several amenities for parents and caregivers, too. A flat-panel television and free wi-fi are available along with a wall monitor showing camera views of the entire facility so children can be monitored at all times. Play Date Place is a socks-only facility and will have socks available for purchase for those who come without them.

“We aim to be the only facility of its kind promoting old-fashioned imaginative play, and encourage growing a strong family bond and social skills without the use of electronic devices,” said Sattler.

There is reason to support imaginative play. Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman, a cognitive psychologist specializing in the development of intelligence, creativity, and imagination in education, business, and society, noted in Psychology Today that “systematic research has increasingly demonstrated a series of clear benefits of children’s engagement in pretend games.” More specifically, imaginative play develops social and emotional skills, language skills, and critical-thinking skills.

Funding Announced for Environmental Projects in Lenox, Pittsfield

By
Daily News

LENOX, PITTSFIELD — Gov. Deval Patrick recently joined state environmental officials and local officials to announce $1.2 million in capital funding to support environmental projects at Baker’s Pond in Lenox and Berkshire Community College in Pittsfield, enhancing existing natural habitats and improving recreational opportunities for residents.

“Growth requires investment, and creating and upgrading recreational parks and open spaces while also providing important community resources will help create growth and opportunity across the commonwealth,” Patrick said. “This investment will improve the lives of Massachusetts children and families now and for generations to come.”

The administration’s $125,000 investment in Baker’s Pond will assist in the final phase of restoration of the pond. The removal of invasive species and water-quality improvements will preserve the habitat for wildlife species and make it a more appealing destination for visitors to Kennedy Park. Berkshire Community College’s Life Sciences Department will work with the town to ensure proper removal of any invasive species and the complete restoration of the pond.

“Safe, reliable drinking water has always been a critical need. In the 21st century, we will need to develop new technologies to meet growing demand,” said U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern. “I’m pleased that the federal government is joining with the Commonwealth and UMass Amherst in this promising effort.”

Baker’s Pond has a history of recreational use, but, after a small dam breach, the pond fell into disrepair, resulting in the growth of invasive plant and animal species. With ongoing improvements, the pond is once again becoming an attraction for tourists and hikers, as well as a habitat for endangered amphibian species.

The city of Pittsfield was also awarded $1.1 million to ensure proper drainage and wetland protection as Berkshire Community College works to construct an athletic field on campus, the first of its kind in Berkshire County. The athletic-field location is north of a vernal pool, certified by the Natural Heritage Endangered Species Program, making it important for the project to be environmentally sensitive in order to preserve habitat for plants and animals.

“Gov. Patrick has demonstrated a strong commitment to Pittsfield an Berkshire County,” said Mayor Daniel Bianchi. “The city of Pittsfield is pleased to join the governor in a financial commitment for the environmental restoration and construction of the new Berkshire Community College turf field. The new field will provide an athletic hub from Berkshire County and beyond. I look forward to the new events that the BCC turf field will bring to Pittsfield.”

Christopher Heights Development Project Breaks Ground

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Daily News

NORTHAMPTON — Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) Undersecretary Aaron Gornstein recently joined representatives of the Grantham Group, Northampton Mayor David Narkewicz, MassDevelopment President and CEO Marty Jones, and state and local officials to break ground on the Christopher Heights assisted-living community in Northampton.

“Christopher Heights is an important step toward the goal of expanding our supply of affordable housing for all of our citizens in the Commonwealth,” said Gornstein. “DHCD is pleased to assist with this development that will not only provide new housing opportunities for the elderly, but will stimulate local economic activity. We congratulate Grantham Group and appreciate the leadership of Mayor Narkewicz and other local, state, and federal officials who have helped make this project a reality.”

Christopher Heights will be the newest development in Village Hill, a 126-acre mixed-use community located on the site of the former Northampton State Hospital. Christopher Heights is expected to open in the fall of 2015 and will have 83 assisted-living units, of which 43 are designated for low-income seniors. Seventeen of the 43 affordable units will be reserved for households earning less than 30% of the area median income. Christopher Heights also has locations in Worcester, Webster, Attleboro, and Marlborough.

“We are excited to bring our expertise in assisted-living development and management to the Northampton State Hospital redevelopment known as Village Hill,” said Grantham Group Managing Director Walter Ohanian. “We look forward to serving the senior population who will benefit from the housing and services of an affordable assisted-living community.”

The Grantham Group estimates that the project will create 65 construction jobs for the area. Once built, there will be another 40 permanent jobs at the facility.

“This exciting new addition to the Village Hill community will provide affordable assisted-living housing for our local seniors,” said state Rep. Peter Kocot. “I want to congratulate the Grantham Group, Undersecretary Gornstein, and Gov. Patrick for their leadership and commitment to developing affordable housing for people of all ages.”

Since 2007, the Patrick administration has invested more than $1 billion in state and federal resources to create 24,000 units of housing, of which approximately 22,000 are affordable. In Northampton, DHCD has invested more than $7.6 million to preserve or create 98 units of housing, 95 of which are affordable, for veterans, those who are institutionalized or at-risk of institutionalization, and low-income households.

World Affairs Council Dinner to Feature NPR Correspondent

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The World Affairs Council of Western Mass., in cooperation with New England Public Radio and National Public Radio, will present international correspondent Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson on Thursday, Dec. 11 at a dinner event at the Springfield Sheraton Hotel. Nelson will appear in conversation with Dr. William Taubmon on the topic of Ukraine. The deadline for registration is Dec. 8.

The evening will begin at 6 p.m. with a cash-bar reception for regular ticket holders and a private speaker’s reception for premium ticket holders. Dinner and the program will begin at 6:30 p.m. Regular tickets are $50 per person. A limited number of premium tickets are available for $250, which admits two people to the speaker’s reception in addition to the dinner. Premium ticket holders will also be recognized in the evening’s program.

Nelson is based in Berlin and covers Central Europe for National Public Radio. Her reports can be heard on NPR’s award-winning programs, including Morning Edition and All Things Considered. She was previously based in Cairo and covered the Arab World for NPR from the Middle East to North Africa. Nelson returns to Egypt on occasion to cover the tumultuous transition to democracy there.

In 2006, Nelson opened the NPR Kabul Bureau. During the following three and a half years, she gave listeners in an in-depth sense of life inside Afghanistan, from the increase in suicide among women in a country that treats them as second-class citizens to the growing interference of Iran and Pakistan in Afghan affairs.

Nelson spent 20 years as newspaper reporter, including as Knight Ridder’s Middle East bureau chief. While at the Los Angeles Times, she was sent on extended assignment to Iran and Afghanistan following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. She spent three years an editor and reporter for Newsday and was part of the team that won the 1997 Pulitzer Prize for covering the crash of TWA Flight 800.

Taubman is Bertrand Snell Professor of Political Science Emeritus at Amherst College, and is the author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning biography “Khrushchev: The Man and His Era.”

Women’s Fund Announces $240,000 in Grant Funding

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Daily News

EASTHAMPTON — The Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts (WFWM) announced the availability of $240,000 in grant funding for organizations that serve women and girls in Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire counties.

Grant recipients will each receive $60,000 over three years to deploy innovative programs that help shift the landscape for women and girls within the agency’s focus areas of educational access and success, economic justice, and safety and freedom from violence. Grant applications will be available on the WFWM website on Jan. 10 and will be due on March 23.

“Due to renewed and expanded investments from community members in the Women’s Fund mission, we are thrilled to be able to offer another round of multi-year grants in 2015,” said Elizabeth Barajas-Román, chief executive officer of the WFWM. “Multi-year grants allow us to partner with organizations in a sustained way that helps make a significant impact in communities. This funding will increase our ability to scale up and positively affect the lives of women and girls.”

Successful applications will demonstrate meaningful partnerships among two or more organizations, agencies, or projects. “We know that effective solutions require creative collaboration,” said Barajas-Román.

In addition to the financial award, the Women’s Fund will invest an additional $20,000 into each grantee by giving each project the opportunity to select two staff, constituents, or board members as participants of the Women’s Fund’s Leadership Institute for Political and Public Impact (LIPPI). LIPPI, a program of the Women’s Fund, has equipped 200 women from across the four western counties to become civic leaders in their communities; to impact policy on the local, state, and national levels; and to seek and retain elected positions.

The WFWM invests in the lives of women and girls through strategic grant making and leadership development. Since 1997, the WFWM has awarded more than $2 million to more than 150 nonprofit organizations, impacting more than 80,000 women and girls.

Difference Makers Nominations Due by Dec. 15

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Daily News

WESTERN MASS. — The clock is ticking, but there is still time to nominate an individual or group for BusinessWest’s Difference Makers program. Nominations must be received by the end of the business day (5 p.m.) on Dec. 15. Nominations can be completed online by visiting www.businesswest.com and moving to ‘Our Events.’

Difference Makers was launched in 2009 as a way to recognize the contributions of agencies and individuals who are contributing to quality of life in this region. Recipients have ranged from college presidents to state police officers; from the leaders of several nonprofit groups to economic-development leaders. Previous honorees are:

2009:
• Doug Bowen, president and CEO of PeoplesBank;
• Kate Kane, managing director of the Springfield office of Northwestern Mutual Financial/The Zuzolo Group;
• Susan Jaye-Kaplan, founder of GoFIT and co-founder of Link to Libraries;
• William Ward, executive director of the Regional Employment Board of Hampden County; and
• The Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield

2010:
• The Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation;
• Ellen Freyman, attorney and shareholder at Shatz Schwartz and Fentin, P.C.;
• James Goodwin, president and CEO of the Center for Human Development;
• Carol Katz, CEO of the Loomis Communities; and
• UMass Amherst and its chancellor, Robert Holub

2011
• Tim Brennan, executive director of the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission;
• Lucia Giuggio Carvalho, founder of Rays of Hope;
• Don Kozera, president of Human Resources Unlimited;
• Robert Perry, retired partner/consultant at Meyers Brothers Kalicka; and
• Anthony Scott, police chief of Holyoke

2012
• Charlie and Donald D’Amour, president/COO and chairman/CEO of Big Y Foods;
• William Messner, president of Holyoke Community College;
• Majors Tom and Linda-Jo Perks, officers of the Springfield Corps of the Salvation Army;
• Bob Schwarz, executive vice president of Peter Pan Bus Lines; and
• The Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts

2013
• Michael Cutone, John Barbieri, and Thomas Sarrouf, organizers of Springfield’s C3 Policing program;
• John Downing, president of Soldier On;
• Bruce Landon, president and general manager of the Springfield Falcons;
• The Sisters of Providence; and
• Jim Vinick, senior vice president of investments at Moors & Cabot Inc.

2014
• The Gray House
• Colleen Loveless, executive director of the Springfield chapter of Rebuilding Together;
• The Melha Shriners
• Paula Moore, founder of YSET Academy and a teacher at Roger L. Putnam Vocational Training Academy; and
• Michael Moriarty, attorney, director of Olde Holyoke Development Corp., and supporter of childhood literacy programs

Monson Savings Bank to Conduct Financial-education Event

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Daily News

MONSON — Monson Savings Bank will conduct a financial-education event for veterans, service members, and their families, in collaboration with Monson High School and the Veterans Task Force of the MassSaves Coalition. The event will be held Tuesday, Dec. 9, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Monson High School at 55 Margaret St. in Monson.

There will be workshops on budgeting, setting financial goals, dealing with debt, and repairing credit. Attendees may also speak one-on-one with financial coaches and get help pulling and reviewing credit reports. All of the speakers and coaches are approved by the Department of Defense. There will be a kids’ activities table, supervised by National Honor Society students, so that parents can bring their children and also take full advantage of the program. Refreshments will be served, and the event is free.

“This event is another step in our ongoing efforts to help people throughout our communities become more financially secure,” said Steve Lowell, president of Monson Savings Bank. “It is also another example of why we became a strategic partner with the MassSaves Coalition. Through MassSaves, we are able to bring high-quality, vetted resources to our communities to help people improve their financial knowledge and confidence and to build wealth.”

Questions about the event can be directed to Carolyn Weeks, manager of MSB’s Monson branch, at (413) 9267-1215.

ESB Names Karen DeMaio IRA Services and Special Projects Officer

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Daily News

EASTHAMPTON — Matthew Sosik, president and CEO of Easthampton Savings Bank, announced that Karen DeMaio has been named IRA Services and Special Projects officer.

DeMaio joined the bank in 2006 as a part-time IRA/Special Projects assistant. Her previous employment was with Friendly Ice Cream Corp. In her seven years at Friendly’s, she was an auditor and then became a senior marketing analyst. Prior to Friendly’s, she worked for KPMG Peat Marwick as a senior accountant for three years. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in business administration from Western New England University.

DeMaio manages all of the bank’s IRA activities and coordinates the bank’s vendor-management program, business continuity planning, insurance review, and unclaimed-property reporting.

PeoplesBank Again Named a “Top Place To Work”

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Daily News

HOLYOKE — Recently, The Boston Globe recognized PeoplesBank as a Top Place To Work for the third year in a row. Massachusetts-based companies that are eligible for Top Place To Work consideration undergo a rigorous evaluation by survey firm WorkplaceDynamics. More than 76,000 individuals’ responses were submitted by the companies evaluated regarding six key factors related to employee happiness, company direction, execution, employee connection, work load and responsibility, management, and pay and benefits.
“While there is definite value in these indicators, many signs of recovery cannot be boiled down to pure economics,” said Boston Globe Business Editor Mark Pothier. “The companies on our Top Places To Work list foster productivity and innovation by investing in the happiness of their employees, which cannot solely be measured in dollars and cents.” Said Douglas A. Bowen, president and CEO of PeoplesBank, “our intent was to establish the values and culture necessary to support a great organization. Over time, we learned that those values and that culture would improve our bottom line and make PeoplesBank a top place to work.”

Employee engagement is critical to a high-performance culture according to Janice Mazzallo, executive vice president and chief human resource officer at PeoplesBank. “Associates become engaged when they know we care about them,” she said. “We want to know their ideas, so we have associate think tanks. We want them to grow, so we have innovative development programs, mentoring, and learning centers. And we want to encourage life-work balance because our values are more than just about work. We need to have fun, too.” As part of the Top Place To Work award to PeoplesBank, The Boston Globe highlighted two efforts by bank associates. The first, called the Smoothie Patrol, started at an associates’ organized wellness fair and was so well received that associates decided to take it on the road and make surprise visits to each of the bank’s 17 offices. Xiaolei Hua, an assistant vice president and credit officer at PeoplesBank and Habitat for Humanity volunteer, was interviewed by the Boston Globe regarding the bank’s support of volunteerism. “I know that the bank cares about more than just getting the work done. They care about me, my family, and the community, Hua told the paper.

Massachusetts Adds 1,200 Jobs in October

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Daily News

BOSTON — The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) reported this week that preliminary estimates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show Massachusetts added 1,200 jobs in October for a total preliminary estimate of 3,424,600. The October total unemployment rate remained unchanged at 6.0%. Since October 2013, Massachusetts has added a net of 52,600 jobs, with 50,400 jobs added in the private sector. The total unemployment rate for the year is down 1.2% from the October 2013 rate of 7.2%. BLS also revised its September job estimates to a 7,800-job gain from the 9,400-gain previously reported for the month. Here’s an October 2014 employment overview:
• Information added 1,900 jobs (+2.0%) over the month. Over the year, the sector added 7,900 jobs (+9.1%);
• Construction gained 1,300 jobs (+1.1%) over the month. Over the year, the sector has added 2,400 jobs (+2.0%);
• Education and Health Services added 800 jobs (+0.1%) over the month. Over the year, the sector Education gained 16,000 jobs (+2.2%);
• Professional, Scientific and Business Services gained 200 jobs (0.0%) over the month. Over the year, the sector added 14,500 jobs (+2.9%);
• Other Services had no change in its jobs level over the month. Over the year, Other Services jobs are up 1,100 jobs (+0.9%);
• Trade, Transportation and Utilities lost 1,800 jobs (-0.3%) over the month. Over the year, the sector gained 7,200 (+1.3%) jobs;
• Leisure and Hospitality lost 1,500 jobs (-0.4%) jobs over the month. Over the year, the sector added 100 (0.0%) jobs;
• Financial Activities lost 500 jobs (-0.2%) over the month. Over the year, the sector added 1,900 jobs (+0.9%);
• Manufacturing lost 400 jobs (-0.2%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Manufacturing lost 700 jobs (-0.3%); and
• Government added 1,200 jobs (+0.3%) over the month. Over the year, the sector gained 2,200 jobs (+0.5%).

The October 2014 estimates show 3,334,800 Massachusetts residents were employed and 211,000 were unemployed, for a total labor force of 3,545,800. The October labor force increased by 14,100 from 3,531,700 in September, as 16,400 more residents were employed and 2,300 fewer residents were unemployed over the month. The labor force was an estimated 61,800 above the 3,484,000 October 2013 estimate, with 100,600 more residents employed and 38,800 fewer residents unemployed. The unemployment rate is based on a monthly sample of households. The job estimates are derived from a monthly sample survey of employers. As a result, the two statistics may exhibit different monthly trends.