Home 2015 February (Page 4)

Month: February 2015

Kevin Joyce Joins Team at Webber & Grinnell

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NORTHAMPTON — After a stint working as a senior member of IBM’s Business Analytics Division in the Boston area, Holyoke native Kevin Joyce has returned to the Pioneer Valley and taken a position at Webber & Grinnell Insurance.

Joyce began his insurance career in 2005 with Phillips Insurance of Chicopee. In his five years at Phillips, he built a significant book of business comprised of property owners, manufacturers, restaurants/hospitality, contractors/sub-contractors, and technology operations.

“I’m very excited to be back in the community I love, working with a great firm and clients that I’m passionate about,” Joyce said.

Added Mathew Geffin, vice president of Business Development, “we are very excited that Kevin is joining the team at Webber & Grinnell. Kevin is a son of the Pioneer Valley and understands the values and needs of our business community.”

As one of the largest insurance agencies in Western Mass., Webber & Grinnell currently serves more than 5,000 automobile and homeowner policyholders, and insures nearly 900 businesses throughout the region.

Monson Savings Promotes Carolyn Weeks, Anthony Jianaces

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Daily News

MONSON – Monson Savings Bank has announced the promotions of Carolyn Weeks to branch manager of the Wilbraham office, and of Anthony Jianaces to branch manager of the Hampden office.

Weeks began her career at Monson Savings in 2007 as a part-time customer service associate while still in college. In 2009, she came back to the bank and has risen through the ranks to customer service associate supervisor, assistant branch manager, and now branch manager. She is a UMass graduate with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

Jianaces joined the bank in 2012, also as a part-time customer service associate. He has since been promoted to assistant branch manager and now branch manager. He is a registered financial representative and holds his series 7, series 66, and insurance licenses. He is a graduate of Stonehill College with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

“I am extremely pleased to announce these promotions,” said Steve Lowell, president of Monson Savings Bank. “Carolyn and Anthony are both very talented and impressive young professionals who have already made significant contributions to the success of Monson Savings.”

ACCGS Business @ Breakfast Event Tackles Viaduct Project

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The theme of the March 4 Business @ Breakfast event sponsored by the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield is “Hard Hats Required: I-91 Viaduct Project.” The event will take place from 7:15 to 9 a.m. at Chez Josef, 176 Shoemaker Lane, Agawam.

Springfield city officials, Parking Authority leaders, and construction representatives will tell attendees everything they need to know about the project so that businesses can be prepared. Featured panelists include Al Stegman of the Mass. Department of Transportation, Chris Cignoli from the city of Springfield, and Mary McNally of the Springfield Parking Authority.

Berkshire Bank Announces $2 Million in Philanthropic Grants

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Daily News

PITTSFIELD — Berkshire Bank Foundation awarded a total of $1,518,133 in grants to nonprofit organizations in Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, and Vermont during 2014. The grants supported important education and community development initiatives as well as health, human-service, and cultural programs. In addition, Berkshire Bank provided $500,622 in community sponsorships, raising its total contributions in the community to over $2 million.

“We are so pleased to continue providing critical funding to hundreds of nonprofit organizations across our footprint,” said Lori Gazzillo, vice president and director of the Berkshire Bank Foundation. “Our 2014 grants have supported programs and projects that are enhancing economic opportunities and improving the quality of life for members of our communities. On behalf of our entire Berkshire Bank team, we are honored to be able to give back in such a significant way.”

The bank’s charitable foundation and bank sponsorships fund nonprofit organizations and programs in communities that Berkshire Bank serves. While the foundation’s funding priorities are education and community and economic-development projects, it also supports youth, cultural, and human-service organizations. The bank also maintains an annual scholarship program for high-school seniors, which recently launched for 2015.

Meanwhile, recognizing that being a good corporate citizen and community partner is about more than writing a check, Berkshire administers an employee volunteer program called the X-Team, which provides employees with paid time off to volunteer during regular business hours. Through the program, more than 70% of Berkshire Bank’s employees donated in excess of 40,000 hours of service to benefit community organizations across the bank’s footprint.

Berkshire Bank’s philanthropic and community volunteerism efforts were honored in 2014 with the Capital Region Community Impact Award, the United Way Agar Volunteerism Award, two New England Financial Marketing Awards, and being named by the Boston Business Journal as one of Massachusetts’ Most Charitable Companies for the second consecutive year.

Berkshire Bank accepts requests for financial support at www.berkshirebank.com/giving. All requests must be submitted through the online system in order to be considered. Organizations interested in seeking funding are encouraged to read the foundation’s funding guidelines prior to applying for support. Complete guidelines for those seeking grants or bank community sponsorships are available on the website.

Deadline Is Tomorrow for 40 Under Forty Nominations

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Time is running out to nominate your favorite rising star in the Western Mass. business community.

Coming off a record haul of nominations last year, BusinessWest hopes to keep the momentum going as the 40 Under Forty program enters its ninth year. The magazine launched the program in 2007 as a way to spotlight the accomplishments of younger professionals throughout Western Mass. — not only their on-the-job achievements, but their often-extensive volunteer work with organizations that benefit their communities.

To nominate an individual, visit businesswest.com. Nominations will be accepted through the end of the business day (5 p.m.) tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 6. Five judges will then score those nominations, and the winners will be profiled in the April 20 issue.

There were many motivations for creating the program, said BusinessWest Editor George O’Brien, listing everything from a desire to identify rising stars to encouraging individuals to get involved in the community and, in short, do the things needed to become a 40 Under Forty winner. “In eight short years, 40 Under Forty has become a brand, as well as a goal for many young people in the business community, nonprofit sector, and public-service realm,” said O’Brien. “It’s become a benchmark, if you will, a symbol of excellence that, above all, identifies someone as a leader.”

Over the years, the program has highlighted individuals from a wide range of businesses and industries, including nonprofits. In addition, a healthy number of honorees each year are true entrepreneurs, individuals who have taken risks, developed their own business plans, and built companies that in turn create jobs.

Kate Campiti, BusinessWest’s associate publisher, said a compelling nomination “needs to be complete, it needs to be thorough, and it needs to essentially answer the question, ‘why is this individual worthy of a 40 Under Forty plaque?’” The nomination form requests basic information and can be supported with other material, such as a résumé, testimonials, and even press clippings highlighting an individual’s achievements in their profession or service to their community.

The class of 2015 will be toasted at the annual gala reception on June 18 at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House in Holyoke. “The gala has become a happening, a not-to-be missed gathering that is also the year’s best networking opportunity,” said Campiti.

Voters Approve Zoning Change, Expansion of Longmeadow Shops

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Daily News

LONGMEADOW — Voters at a town meeting this week approved a zoning change to allow for the expansion of the Longmeadow Shops, a 78,000-square-foot retail plaza on Bliss Road and Williams Street. The proposal to change the zoning of an adjacent 1.8-acre parcel from residential to business zoning passed by a 729-168 margin, according to the Republican.

Grove Properties, which owns the Longmeadow Shops, plans to add 21,000 square feet of retail space to the plaza, which will include a new, enlarged CVS, two additional retail shops, 139 new parking spaces, an additional entrance, and a reconfiguration of the parking lot.

Stronger Businesses Program Slated for March 20

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Stronger Businesses Program will begin on March 20 at the Business Growth Center at Springfield Technology Park. Designed for business owners who are focused on growth and want to take a fresh look at their markets, revenues, and operations, this workshop meets for five mornings over a seven-week period and includes two private technical-assistance sessions, one price for up to three people per company, and peer-mentoring sessions over breakfast.

“It is specifically designed not to be Business 101,” said Karen Utgoff, co-founder and facilitator of the program. “The series emphasizes active learning and immediate application of specific tools and techniques to gain fresh perspective and identify opportunities and challenges, with the goal of turning those insights into actionable steps.”

Added Laurie Breitner, the program’s other co-founder and facilitator, “we were gratified to learn from participants in earlier sessions that they found the program very useful, and all reported that they had improved their businesses and made well-defined plans for future growth — more capabilities, more customers, more sales, increased profitability, more employees.”

The Business Growth Center has again received a grant from the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corp. to support the Stronger Businesses Program. Business owners from underserved communities are particularly encouraged to attend.

“While this program is designed for existing businesses, we also welcome startups and nonprofits that need assistance defining and planning growth,” said Marla Michel, the Business Growth Center’s director. “We ran the program last year, and every participating business reported positive results. We are proud to offer a program with such compelling impact.”

Additional information about this and other programs is available at www.businessgrowthcenter.org/seminars-workshops or by contacting Mary Marquez, assistant program manager, at [email protected] or (413) 355-5680.

Baystate Begins Registration for Mini-Medical School

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Baystate Medical Center’s Mini-Medical School, which begins its spring session on March 19, will give area residents a reason to come out of hibernation from the long, cold, snowy winter and join others interested in the expanding field of medicine.

Mini-Medical School program is an eight-week health education series featuring a different aspect of medicine each week. Classes this spring will include sessions on various medical topics, such as surgery, emergency medicine, anesthesiology, pathology, and several others. Many of the ‘students,’ who often range in age from 20 to 70, participate due to a general interest in medicine and later find that many of the things they learned over the semester are relevant to their own lives.

The goal of the program, offered in the hospital’s Chestnut Conference Center, is to help members of the public make more informed decisions about their healthcare while receiving insight on what it is like to be a medical student — minus the tests, interviews, and admission formalities. Each course is taught by medical-center faculty who explain the science of medicine without resorting to complex terms. Baystate Medical Center is the Western Campus of Tufts University School of Medicine and is the region’s only teaching hospital.

All classes are held Thursday nights starting at 6 p.m. and run until 8 or 9 p.m., depending on the night’s topic. No basic science knowledge is needed to participate. Each participant is required to attend a minimum of six out of eight classes in order to receive a certificate of completion. Among the topics and speakers slated for the spring semester are:

• March 19: “Hey, I Finally Got into Medical School!” with Dr. Michael Rosenblum, director, Internal Medicine Residency Program (includes a general tour of the medical center).
• March 26: “Surgery,” with Dr. Richard Wait, chair, Department of Surgery (includes a tour of the Baystate Simulation Center and the Goldberg Surgical Skills Lab).
• April 2: “Cardiac Surgery,” with Dr. John Rousou, chief, Cardiac Surgery.
• April 9: “Pathology,” with Dr. Richard Friedberg, chair, Department of Pathology (includes a tour of the lab).
• April 16: “Anesthesiology,” with Dr. Michael Bailin, chair, Department of Anesthesiology.
• April 23: “Psychiatry,” with Dr. Benjamin Liptzin, chair, Department of Psychiatry.
• April 30: “Stroke/Rehabilitation,” with Dr. Edward Feldmann, vice president and medical director, Neurosciences & Rehabilitation.
• May 7: “Emergency Medicine,” with Dr. Joseph Schmidt, vice chair and chief, Emergency Medicine (includes a graduation ceremony).

Tuition is $95 per person and $80 for Senior Class and Spirit of Women members. Register for the spring semester of Mini-Medical School by calling (800) 377-4325. For more information, visit www.baystatehealth.org/minimed.

Small Plates Chef Fund-raiser on Feb. 9 to Benefit Gray House

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Daily News

CHICOPEE — The Small Plates Chef Fund-raiser to benefit the Gray House has been rescheduled to Monday, Feb. 9. It was originally scheduled for Jan. 26 but was postponed due to a snowstorm.



Chef Hubert Gottschlicht of the Munich Haus in Chicopee will hold a cooking class and demonstration at the Munich Haus from 6 to 8 p.m. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased through PayPal at bit.ly/1AciOLh. Tickets must be purchased in advance, as seats are limited.



“This is a great way to enjoy a night out with friends and eat some fabulous food, all while benefiting a good cause,” said Dena Calvanese, executive director of the Gray House. “We’re planning on holding these events on a monthly basis, if possible, with different area restaurants. We held our first Chef Fundraiser in November with Samuel’s Sports Bar at the Hall of Fame, which sold out quickly.”


Participants can watch the master chef prepare several German delicacies and join in or sit back and enjoy the presentation. A light buffet will be provided in addition to a cash bar.


The Gray House is a small, neighborhood human-service agency located at 22 Sheldon St. in the North End of Springfield. Its mission is to help neighbors facing hardships to meet their immediate and transitional needs by providing food, clothing, and educational services in a safe, positive environment.
 For more information about the Chef Fundraiser, visit www.facebook.com/thegrayhouseinc or call Calvanese at (413) 734-6696, ext. 100.

Braman Termite and Pest Elimination Celebrates 125 Years

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Daily News

AGAWAM — Braman Termite and Pest Elimination, a leading provider of pest-management services in Southern New England, is celebrating 125 years in business. The business, originally founded in Boston in 1890, moved its headquarters to Agawam in 1980.

“In 1890, pest control was usually done at night or when no one was around,” said Jerry Lazarus, third-generation owner of Braman Termite and Pest Elimination. At the time, pest control was primarily done with kitchen-sink concoctions made with ingredients like arsenic, which has a very distinct and unpleasant smell.

“The common view was that, if it didn’t stink, it didn’t work. Nowadays, if it stinks, you have a problem,” said Lazarus. “Pest-control product development has come so far that they can be done in very controlled environments without displacement — we can even treat hospital rooms without moving patients, if needed.”

Now, there are no secret ingredients, and all products are scientifically tested to establish appropriate dosage, ensuring both efficacy and public safety. Meanwhile, technology like e-mail, cell phones, bar-code scanning, and global positioning systems have helped Braman continually provide fast, efficient, and customer-centered service.

“Technological advancements have been adopted by the pest-management industry to better communicate with customers and create efficiencies to help us be competitive and profitable,” said Lazarus.

Braman Termite and Pest Elimination has even adopted technology like social media to stay in touch with customers and educate the public. In honor of the 125 year anniversary, Braman has prepared 125 themed posts for its Facebook account that will appear throughout the year. Find Braman at www.facebook.com/bramanpest and ‘like’ the page to see a full year of fun and educational posts.

“We have everything from pest-control service options to awareness months to alert you when your home or business might be more vulnerable to certain pests, and employee milestones,” said Lazarus.

Hand Surgeon Dr. Teresa Pianta Joins Cooley Dickinson Staff

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Daily News

WEST HATFIELD — Dr. Teresa Pianta has joined Cooley Dickinson Orthopedics & Sports Medicine and the Cooley Dickinson Hospital medical staff. Pianta, who is certified by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery, joins a team of physicians, surgeons, and therapists who treat musculoskeletal problems, including management of spine disorders, joint replacement, trauma, sports medicine, hand and arthritis care, and pain management.

Pianta earned her doctorate of medicine from the University of Rochester School of Medicine. She completed her orthopedic-surgery residency at the University of Connecticut and her hand-surgery fellowship at the Philadelphia Hand Center at Thomas Jefferson University. Her medical interests include orthopedic surgery with specific training and interest in hand surgery, including the operative and non-operative management of hand and upper-extremity conditions in children and adults, including trauma, fractures, arthritis, carpal tunnel, and tendinitis.

“No one seeks the care of a surgeon because they are feeling well; they are injured, in pain, and often anxious and scared,” Pianta said. “People who come to see me want the benefit of my expertise as a surgeon, but they also need reassurance that I can heal their injuries, relieve their pain, and quell their fears. I do my best to carefully explain diagnoses and describe the range of appropriate treatment options, both surgical and non-operative. More broadly, however, I work to treat the whole person by making patient education and open dialogue a central part of my practice.”

In addition to the 4 West St., West Hatfield location, Hampshire Orthopedic & Sports Medicine physicians see patients at 35 Turkey Hill Road, Belchertown; the UMass Amherst Clinic; 33 Riddell St., Greenfield; and 65 Springfield Road, Westfield. Pianta welcomes new patients at Cooley Dickinson Orthopedics & Sports Medicine. For information, call (413) 586-8200.

Gov. Charlie Baker to Headline Outlook 2015

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker will give his first major address to the Greater Springfield business community at the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield’s (ACCGS) Outlook 2015 on Friday, Feb. 27, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the MassMutual Center, 1277 Main St., Springfield.

Outlook is the area’s largest legislative event, attracting more than 700 guests and presenting expert speakers on local, state, and federal issues. Area elected officials will also be in attendance to participate in this discussion of front-burner issues. The event is presented by Health New England and sponsored by the Eastern States Exposition, MassMutual Financial Group, and United Personnel. Program/reception sponsors include the Sisters of Providence Health System, Comcast, Western Massachusetts Electric Co., and the Republican, with support from Chicopee Savings Bank and BusinessWest.

Baker was inaugurated on Jan. 8 as the 72nd governor of the state. Over the course of his career, he has been a highly successful leader of complex organizations in business and in government. As a cabinet secretary under Gov. William Weld and Gov. Paul Cellucci, Baker helped lead efforts to reform and modernize state government.

During his time as CEO of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Baker turned a company on the brink of bankruptcy into the nation’s highest-ranked healthcare provider for six straight years. As a member of the Weld and Cellucci administrations in the 1990s, Baker helped turn a billion-dollar deficit into a surplus, create a half-million jobs, and enact an ambitious education-reform agenda.

First asked to serve as Secretary of Health and Human Services in 1992, Baker led efforts to make Massachusetts’ social-service system more humane, cost-effective, and responsive to the needs of the Commonwealth’s residents. In 1994, Baker was appointed Secretary of Administration and Finance, overseeing a number of cost-saving reforms, modernizing state government, and making it more efficient.

Baker will be joined at the Outlook program by U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, who will remark on events at the federal level, including his thoughts on the 114th Congress and the topics that the new Congress may review.

“As a senior member of the powerful House Committee on Ways and Means and ranking member of its Select Revenue Measures subcommittee, Congressman Neal serves in a critically important capacity in Washington for our area, our state, and the entire country,” said ACCGS President Jeffrey Ciuffreda.

Tickets are $50 for ACCGS members and $70 for general admission. Reserved tables of 10 are available. Reservations must be made by Feb. 20, and may be made online at www.myonlinechamber.com or by contacting Member Services Director Sarah Mazzaferro at [email protected]. No walk-ins will be accepted, and no cancellations will be accepted once the reservation deadline has passed.

Michael Gove Certified for SBA Loan Program

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Daily News

NORTHAMPTON — Gove Law Office is proud to announce that Attorney Michael Gove has recently been certified by the National Assoc. of Development Companies in regard to business-loan programs under by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), including the Section 504 loan program.

In existence since 1981, NADCO is the trade organization for certified development companies of the Small Business Administration and other lenders delivering SBA loans. Its training courses cover SBA loan programs and ensure that CDCs, lenders, and attorneys are well-versed in SBA regulations, allowing for an effective and efficient loan process.

Gove is the owner of the Gove Law Office, a law firm with offices in Northampton and Ludlow, which concentrates in business representation, commercial lending, residential and commercial real estate, estate planning, bankruptcy, and personal injury.

AIC Announces 75th Annual Model Congress Scholarship Recipients

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The 75th annual Model Congress convened at American International College last month. Founded in 1940, AIC’s Model Congress is the longest-running continuous congress of its type in the nation, and one of AIC’s oldest campus traditions.

AIC’s Model Congress annually brings high schools from throughout the Northeast to campus to write, debate, and pass legislation in a simulated congress. The program is completely student-run, with the support of college faculty and staff.

The top delegate for the 2015 Model Congress, Kathryn Mauke from SABIS International Charter School, was honored with a four-year, full-tuition scholarship to AIC. The second-place delegate, Casandra Land from Agawam High School, received a half-tuition scholarship. Sienna Nielsen from Belchertown High School and Darian Barlow, also from SABIS International Charter School, placed third and fourth, respectively, receiving quarter-tuition scholarships. Honorable mentions went to Michael Savoie from SABIS, Matt Walsh from Mohawk Trail Regional High School, and Elizabeth Depalo and Robert Johnston from Agawam High School.

Additional awards presented to the schools included the Outstanding Delegation Award to SABIS International Charter School, the Best Bill Award to Belchertown High School, and the Team Spirit Award to Chatham High School. Thirteen high schools participated this year, including Agawam, Belchertown, Cathedral, Chatham, East Longmeadow, Mohawk Trail Regional, SABIS, Southwick-Tolland Regional, Pioneer Valley Regional, and Wilbraham-Monson Academy.