Home 2015 November (Page 2)
Accounting and Tax Planning Sections

Giving Advice

By HILLARY BURR, CPA, MST

Hillary Burr

Hillary Burr

While I can’t confirm the percentage of us that are procrastinators, I am comfortable assuming that, when it comes to year-end planning, that percentage skyrockets.
Understandably so, because this time of year is filled with travel, family, and holidays. For those reasons, now is the time to start thinking about year-end. This is particularly true if this will be a high-income year or if you are considering making larger charitable donations before year-end.
Here are some things to think about:

Get Your Advisors Talking
We often work with investment advisors, estate-planning attorneys and sometimes a client’s family office as a team. Each advisor brings a valuable piece to the table to assist in the decision-making process.  Having a handle on how the current year compares to the prior year and the impact on your upcoming tax liability allows your tax preparer to take a team approach with you and any of your other financial and legal professionals in deciding what makes sense for the remainder of the year.
It also allows this team to combine estate planning with income-tax planning.

A Focus on Philanthropy
When you have a high-income year, this is a natural time to consider the benefit that year-end charitable contributions can have.
This could be from selling a business or large holding in your portfolio, a stock-option exercise, or maybe a significant bonus. Often, clients know the amount they are comfortable donating. Your tax professional’s role is in educating you and your team to structure those donations in the most tax-efficient way and to confirm the desired outcome has been achieved.
If you are planning on donating or gifting appreciated securities, have a conversation with your custodian as to when they stop accepting transfer requests. The deadlines can vary by custodian, so having the conversation earlier allows you to ensure that it can be acted upon, as opposed to waiting until the end of the year, when it may be too late to request these transactions.
If you are planning on donating real estate or tangible property, you’ll need time to obtain the proper valuations and get the legal documents in order, so the earlier the better.


Go HERE for a PDF of the region’s accounting firms


Consider a Donor-advised Fund
An excellent planning tool for charitable giving is a donor-advised fund (DAF). This allows you to take the deduction on your return for the contribution in the current year while allowing you to be thoughtful in your giving. For example, if you are able to give a large amount to a DAF in a high-earning year, you can give smaller amounts away to your favorite charities, keeping annual donations at a level you are comfortable with and allowing you to give the same amount to the charity in your lower-income years. This approach is particularly useful in the last earning years before retirement.
Donor-advised funds can also be used to meet required distributions from a private foundation and can serve as a good opportunity to get younger members of the family involved in charitable giving with the funds in the DAF.

Review of Carry-forwards
If you have larger donations made in previous years that are coming up on their five-year expiration, you may be able to utilize the carry-forward and delay the contribution to January, effectively moving it into the next tax year.
Similarly, if income can fluctuate, as we saw with late capital-gain dividends in 2014, consider whether it makes sense to create a little bit of a carry-forward with your donations and make sure you’re achieving as much tax minimization benefit as you can.

Don’t Miss Out
Not taking action until Dec. 31 can leave you open to changes in the law but could also move a deduction or planning opportunity out another year, meaning April 2017 before you see the benefit. n

Hillary Burr is a CPA and principal with Wolf & Co., an accounting firm in Springfield and Boston; (617) 428-5460; [email protected]

Opinion

Editorial

Let’s be realistic; Springfield will not become Boston, Worcester, or Cambridge — or even Northampton or Amherst, for that matter — when it comes to higher education and its impact on a community’s economy, culture, psyche, or anything else.

Springfield, while it has four colleges and a university conducting classes within its borders, is not, and probably never will be, what would be considered a college town. (Worcester isn’t one, either, really, but that’s another story.)

But while the City of Homes is not a college town, the colleges based within and just outside it have certainly been major contributors to the community’s overall health and well-being, in ways ranging from educating a workforce to providing significant buying power to adding cultural and entrepreneurial vibrancy.

But in recent years, the higher-education community is making a difference in another way — by bringing people, energy, brainpower (Mayor Sarno’s term), and additional vibrancy to the city’s central business district (see story, page 21).

There are now four schools with a downtown mailing address — Cambridge College, which arrived in 2012; Bay Path University (located in Longmeadow but founded in Springfield more than a century ago) in 2013; the University of Massachusetts, through its UMass Center at Springfield, in 2014; and Springfield College, which opened the doors to a small office in 1350 Main St. just a few weeks ago.

The size and scope of these facilities vary — UMass and Cambridge are conducting classes downtown, Bay Path has 40 employees and its American Women’s College based at 1350 Main St., and Springfield College has only a few small offices — but, together, it’s becoming somewhat of a force.

The phrase ‘education hub’ was used by some of those we spoke with, and that seems like an effective assessment of what is taking shape. Because of these schools and their facilities, there are now a least a few hundred more people in the downtown on a typical day than we saw before.

They’re buying lunches, coffee, and greeting cards, and thus helping existing businesses, while helping to create a critical mass that may inspire more retailers to consider downtown.

We shouldn’t expect a return to the days before the Fairfield and Holyoke malls were built and there were a number of thriving department stores along Main Street, but we should expect progress when it comes to creating an environment in which downtown can expect the residential and commercial growth that feed off one another.

In the meantime, this proliferation of  higher education will likely stimulate more collaborative efforts between the schools, more internships involving city businesses, and more innovation and entrepreneurship.

Overall, this higher-education hub, if you will, equates to one decent-sized employer moving downtown, when it comes to additional bodies in the central business district, or feet on the street, as they say. But there is more to than that.

The colleges and universities do bring positive energy and momentum, and the promise of much more of both in the years to come.

As some of the administrators we spoke with noted, Hot Table in Tower Square is now open until 8 p.m. because of the students now taking classes in the building, and the lines at all eateries are longer.

We expect this to be just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the overall impact of this education hub.

Education Sections

A Second Chance

Angela Gonzalez and Eboni Lopez

Angela Gonzalez and Eboni Lopez say Phoenix Academy Charter School in Springfield has helped them become successful.

Kayliana De La Cruz was quite candid as she talked about what her freshman year of school was like at Commerce High School.

“I had put a hard shell around myself and stopped caring,” said the 18-year-old from Springfield. “I kept everything inside; my face was like stone.”

Her attitude was reflected in her academic track record: she missed 100 out of 180 days and received horrible grades. “They kept me putting me in credit recovery, which meant sitting in front of a computer, and I just didn’t care,” she recalled.

Everything changed when a representative from Phoenix Academy Public Charter High School in Springfield gave a presentation at Commerce and her guidance counselor suggested she fill out an application.

She took the advice, albeit reluctantly. And although she initially found the stringent rules at Phoenix “really annoying,” today De La Cruz is — in her opinion and that of those around her — a much different person.

The transformation — very much still in progress — results from a combination of small classes, endless support, and the feeling of family generated within the school, which has has broken through her barriers and motivated her to succeed.

“Phoenix is a place where people rise from the ashes and get the chance to start again,” she told BusinessWest, as she wiped tears from her eyes and spoke about the help and personal attention that have led to her laudatory achievements.

“I’m a little softie now. I am doing really well. I’m running for student president, and I help a lot of other students,” she explained. “Everything is just coming naturally now.

“I passed the MCAS exam, and I really want to go to college,” she went on. “And if I see other students leaving the building, I tell them they better have a good excuse. Phoenix has made a real difference in my life. If I hadn’t come here, I don’t know where I would be right now.”

The teen’s high praise is mirrored in stories from other students who told BusinessWest they felt like failures and were ready to drop out before they found a safety net in the new downtown charter school, located within the Technology Park at Springfield Technical Community College.

“Our mission is to challenge students with rigorous academics and relentless support so they can recast themselves as resilient, self-sufficient adults in order to succeed in high school and beyond,” said Head of School Mickey Buhl.

He said the key to the school’s success is not just small classes, but the multi-faceted support and encouragement students receive from teachers so dedicated that many are there until 7 p.m. each night helping young people master their assignments.

“Their economic futures would be bleak without a high-school diploma, and our school creates an opportunity for them to move into a middle-class life; it’s our reason for being,” he said, adding that students cannot graduate from Phoenix until they have a letter of acceptance to a college, and groups have been taken to visit Boston University, Salem State University, UConn, Yale, and other institutions of secondary learning.

For this issue and its focus on education, BusinessWest goes inside the recently constructed walls of this unique facility to discover the reasons for its success and why it is worthy of the name on the door.

Network of Hope

The charter school, which opened its doors in September 2014 in temporary quarters, is part of the Phoenix network. Its first school was founded a decade ago in Chelsea; the second was an alternative public high school in Lawrence, which Phoenix was asked to run when the town went into receivership; and the third is its Springfield location, which serves students in Springfield, Chicopee, and Holyoke.

Students wear uniforms and are given a free Pioneer Valley Transit Authority bus pass to get to school, where the day runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the exception of Fridays, when the hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“We serve students ages 14 to 22 who need a second chance because they have not been successful in a traditional school,” said Buhl. “I was working today with a student who dropped out six years ago.”

He noted that many of these ‘scholars,’ which is the name given to all students, either left school or planned to due to continued failure and frustration.

Operations Director Angela Gonzalez is a graduate of Phoenix’s flagship school in Chelsea. She did well as a public high-school freshman, but lost interest in her sophomore year. Her mother was extremely strict, and once she discovered she could leave school or skip it entirely and they wouldn’t call her home, she began taking advantage of the newfound freedom.

That changed when a truant officer saw the teen on the streets. When she was taken back to school, she was told she would have to repeat the year because she had been absent 75 times, which meant she wouldn’t graduate with her class.

Gonzalez was referred to, and signed up for, Phoenix Academy, and although she had no plans to attend classes, a school official came to her house if she didn’t show up to change that equation.

“My mother would send him into my bedroom, and he told me I had 20 minutes to get up and get ready. And it worked,” she said, adding that the support she received and the knowledge that people cared so much about her was inspiring.

Mickey Buhl and Corey Yang

Mickey Buhl and Corey Yang say the support and personal attention scholars receive at Phoenix inspire them to achieve more than they thought possible.

“I could sit with the principal at lunch and share how I felt,” Gonzalez said, adding that the school’s leader was instrumental in keeping her on track when she got pregnant during January of her senior year.

“I thought I had ruined my life, but there was never any judgment — it was all about moving forward,” she recalled, adding that she is happy to be working at Phoenix, where she can give other students the same encouragement she enjoyed.

The school has a no-excuses policy, and Buhl said the staff has very high academic expectations. “We need the students to establish a new image and think of themselves as scholars,” he told BusinessWest, adding that society has labeled his students failures, and they feel that way when they arrive.

“But they do become scholars here; they are smart and have abilities and talents,” he noted. “Just because they have hard things knock them off track doesn’t mean they can’t achieve the same academic outcome as other students.”

By the Book

To meet that goal, classes are kept small by design, and many students stay after school for extra help. In addition, there is a voluntary Saturday session established by a teacher who conducts the sessions without pay.

“Our teachers really buy into the mission that we’re here to help students, and they are committed to helping them recast themselves as successful academically and personally,” Buhl said. “Our goal is to break through obstacles and change the scholar’s direction, and our teachers’ patience and extra effort are really remarkable. They invest heavily in their relationships with the kids.”

For example, many conduct home visits, even though it’s not required, and some go to appointments with students that range from court to counseling, while others take students shopping.

“We don’t succeed with every kid, but we do hold them to strict academic, behavioral, and attendance standards because we know they will have to overcome obstacles if they want to go to college and get a job to support themselves and their families,” Buhl explained. “They have to be resilient enough to overcome their pasts.”

He added that some students dropped out last year, but returned in the fall. “We tell them we will never lower our standards, but if they fail they can come back and try again.”

Community support also plays heavily into the equation.

“I have been a principal for 15 years in elementary, middle, and high school, and have never had support like this,” Buhl said. “There are at least 50 community agencies that we have partnered with to serve our scholars.”

They include organizations like the Young Parenting Program, the Department of Youth Services — some students are on probation or involved with the court system — and Springfield Public Schools. The latter works with Phoenix very effectively, and guidance counselors and principals frequently refer parents and their teens to the charter school.

Healthy Families is another nonprofit that connects with teachers and staff to coordinate services such as counseling, home support, and transportation. And the school has received a tremendous amount of help from STCC and the Technology Park.

“They’re a big reason why we are here; they wanted a school in this building, and the Technology Park has been integrally involved in our development,” Buhl said, explaining that, when Phoenix opened last year, classes were housed in a variety of rooms in the park while a building was renovated for it.

The school was completed in time for a September opening and includes its own day-care center, which is important because many students drop out because they get pregnant and have no one to watch their baby or children.

“We call it the Little Scholar Center,” Buhl said, adding that everyone in the school — staff, students, and the little scholars (if their parents choose) eat lunch together at the same time, which allows them to form close relationships.

Americorps volunteers also spend time at the school, tutoring students for the MCAS exams. And although staff members understand that the young people they are working with have a wide range of experiences, which can include being expelled or suspended from other schools, standards are rigid, and no exceptions are made.

Change of Heart

On a recent day, Anaeishly De Jesus sat in the principal’s office and proudly pulled an exam out of her book bag.

“I just got this back; it’s my history midterm, and I got an 89,” she said, wiping joyous tears from her eyes, as she spoke about her newfound academic success. “I’m getting A’s now. I was never like this before, but this school has changed me. I feel at home; the people are my family.”

It’s a far cry from where De Jesus was when she started at Phoenix; she cried bitter tears when she was told she was being sent to the charter school.

“I had been making bad choices, skipping classes, and disrupting teachers,” the 17-year-old said. “But I didn’t care because I was going to drop out.”

Anaeishly De Jesus and Kayliana De La Cruz

Anaeishly De Jesus and Kayliana De La Cruz say they are doing well in school thanks to the second chance Phoenix offered.

That changed as soon as she sat down in her first class at Phoenix. She felt comfortable and said the support since that time has been amazing. “If I do something bad, they don’t throw it in my face,” De Jesus noted, explaining, however, that students get demerits for things like chewing gum, having their phone out, or cursing.

“I didn’t ask for help at first, but my algebra teacher kept telling me she knew I could do the work,” she said. “I told her over and over that I couldn’t, but she insisted I could, and she sat down and showed me how.”

To her astonishment, she was able to follow the teacher’s instructions and completed the assignment.

“After that, I started finishing all my work, and also did my homework. It gives me energy to know that people actually care and want me to be successful in life,” she went on. “They give you a lot of chances here, and if you make a mistake, they still stand by your side. Kids can come here until they are 22, and you don’t get a GED; you get a real diploma.”

The belief that students can and will change if they are repeatedly encouraged and given another chance to do well is exemplified by Eboni Lopez, who transferred to Phoenix from Commerce High School.

“I used to skip classes, skip school, and was hanging out with the wrong crowd,” she said, adding she was going through some difficult life situations, which included being bullied.

She attended classes at Phoenix last year but remained unmotivated. However, this year, the 17-year-old has set ambitious goals for herself.

“I didn’t want to be here when I was 20, and knew I needed to change, so I put my foot down. I’m getting good grades, and my attendance is good now, too,” she said, adding that she is looking forward to graduating next year, enjoys playing soccer at school, and is interested in a career as an athletic trainer.

“I feel like I fit in this building,” Lopez said. “The people here push us to do everything we need to do. You have to meet the standards, and I don’t want to waste time. I am trying to get back on top.”

Corey Yang also attended Commerce before starting at Phoenix in September. At Commerce, he said, he was frustrated because he wasn’t making any progress and his teachers weren’t offering him extra help, even though he needed and wanted it.

The teen felt alone and unsupported, so he left school early each day or skipped it entirely, and was failing as a result. “I like learning new things, but I wasn’t getting anything out of school,” he told BusinessWest.

But that has changed since he entered Phoenix.

“I’ve met new people and am working hard,” he said, noting that he has attended the Saturday sessions because the teacher is a former wrestling coach and sets aside time for teens to wrestle under his supervision if they choose to do so, which Yang enjoys.

“I wanted to change and start trying; I wanted to see what would happen if I pushed myself,” he said.

And he has done exactly that, thanks to unprecedented support. “People want to help me with my work here and will also help get me into college,” the 16-year-old said, adding that his goal is to study computer engineering after graduation.

Expanding Opportunities

Last year, Phoenix accepted 125 students. This year, it has 175, and next year, it plans to accept 250 young people who need and want a second chance.

It’s a place where encouragement never ends. Twice a week there is a community meeting with the entire school body, and students and staff give each other shout-outs, recognize each other’s work with beads, and even publicly choose to apologize for inappropriate behaviors.

“Phoenix symbolizes rising after you have been burned, so students who have been kicked out of other schools always get a second chance here,” De La Cruz said. “To me, it’s a really amazing symbol.”

Daily News

HOLYOKE — The Human Service Forum (HSF) will welcome attorney Steven Schwartz, litigation director for the Center for Public Representation, on Wednesday, Nov. 18 for a presentation titled “The ADA: Successes and Challenges for Ensuring Full Equality.”

This past July, America marked the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the landmark civil-rights law designed to promote full citizenship and equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities. But how much has that promise been realized? Like most visionary laws and social reforms, only somewhat. In certain arenas, like equal employment opportunities, the past quarter-century has been marked by a series of disappointing Supreme Court decisions, consistent (more than 90%) court victories for employers who refuse to hire or accommodate employees with disabilities, and even a major legislative initiative to amend the ADA to rebalance the legal landscape.

In other areas, and especially with respect to the historical segregation of persons with significant disabilities, the ADA has radically restructured the provision of public services in many state systems, and created a warning signal to those states which refuse to integrate their public and private programs.

Both of these trends are likely to continue for the next decade, with new targets for the ADA’s integration mandate and, most importantly, a profound cultural change in public awareness of the contributions of citizens with disabilities in all aspects of community living.

The event will take place from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the Log Cabin in Holyoke. The cost is $25 for HSF members, $30 for non-members. Online registration is available at www.humanserviceforum.org.

Accounting and Tax Planning Sections

Inaction by Congress Leads to a Challenging Assignment

Kristina Drzal-Houghton

Kristina Drzal-Houghton

By KRISTINA DRZAL-HOUGHTON, CPA, MST

Year-end tax planning, which always brings its own challenges, has become even more burdensome this year due to  the inaction of Congress on extending a host of expiring tax breaks, among other issues. But there are still a host of tax strategies that businesses and individuals can enact now while they wait for lawmakers to do their part.

Year-end tax planning for 2015 is particularly challenging because Congress has not yet acted on a host of tax breaks that expired at the end of 2014.

It is uncertain at this time whether the extender provisions will be extended by Congress on a permanent or temporary basis (and whether any such extension would be made retroactive). These extender provisions may be dealt with as part of a broader tax-reform effort. These tax breaks include, for individuals:

• The option to deduct state and local sales and use taxes instead of state and local income taxes;
• Educator-expense deduction;
• Deduction for mortgage-insurance premiums;
• Exclusion of gains on sale of small-business stock;
• Energy-efficiency tax provisions;
• Above-the-line deduction for qualified higher-education expenses;
• Tax-free IRA distributions for charitable purposes by those age 70 1/2 or older; and
• Exclusion for up to $2 million of mortgage debt forgiveness on a principal residence.

For businesses, tax breaks that expired at the end of last year and may be retroactively reinstated and extended include:

• A 50% bonus first-year depreciation for most new machinery, equipment, and software;
• Expanded Section 179 deduction;
• R&D tax credit;
• Section 179D energy-efficiency deductions for commercial buildings;
• Section 45L energy-efficiency credits for multifamily and residential developers; and
• The 15-year write-off for qualified leasehold-improvement property, qualified restaurant property, and qualified retail-improvement property.

TaxPlanningDPartIt’s obvious that taxpayers across the spectrum are affected by these tax provisions. The delayed action on the part of Congress has left taxpayers with questions about how to proceed.

One might think we should be fully able to plan despite uncertainty. Remember, the tax cuts enacted in 2001 and 2003 included sunset provisions, so these cuts began to expire at the end of 2010. Since then, they have been extended for one or two years at a time. On Dec. 17, 2014, the cuts were extended for the tax year 2014 and expired on Dec. 31, 2014.

Although the Senate Finance Committee has voted to extend the provisions for 2015, Congress will not address possible legislation until later in the year. Such action is anticipated, but what exactly can be concluded for this year is unknown at this point. This is not an insignificant item since the tax impact of these expired provisions is significant for millions of taxpayers.

There are those in Congress who hear the voice of the taxpayer and are attempting to address these issues sooner rather than later. There is also a contingent in the House that would make the tax cuts permanent.

The best advice for taxpayers at this point is to:

• Make good business decisions, regardless of the tax implications;
• Reject a strategy that is dependent on Congress extending these provisions;
• Be ready to act if the cuts are extended; and
• Keep in close communication with their CPA to stay abreast of any late-breaking tax developments.

If the continued uncertainty of tax breaks doesn’t have you aggravated enough, contacting the IRS for guidance has become more difficult because budget cuts have resulted in personnel layoffs and reduction in services. On the bright side, your chances of facing an IRS audit are greatly reduced.

Meanwhile, the IRS continues to send out computer-generated notices, usually from document-matching processes. Since IRS notices generated in this way are sometimes incorrect, you should consult your tax professional about the appropriate response.

Business Planning

If you’re a business owner, you are facing another year-end with more tax questions than answers.

One 2015 inflation adjustment applies to the small-business healthcare tax credit. This year the maximum credit is phased out based on the employer’s number of full-time equivalent employees in excess of 10 and the employer’s average annual wages in excess of $25,800, which was $25,400 in 2014.

Of course, a major unknown right now is whether Congress will restore expired tax provisions noted above retroactively to the beginning of 2015, providing some tax relief. Or will extender legislation get trapped somewhere between the Senate, the House, and the Oval Office?

You can’t stake the welfare of your business on possibilities, but there’s some evidence that many of the business tax provisions will be extended.

While you’re waiting for the outcome of the extenders, you need to proceed with your standard tax filings, making sure they are properly filed in a timely manner.

Important guidance to keep in mind is the recently issued U.S. Department of Labor clarification of the definition of an independent contractor, as opposed to an employee. If you are classifying workers as independent contractors to reduce your health-insurance obligations, your share of Social Security and Medicare payments, and unemployment taxes, tread carefully.

If you classify some of your workers as independent contractors who are actually employees, your business could be required to pay unpaid payroll taxes and interest and penalties. It could also be obligated to pay for employee benefits that your company didn’t previously provide, as well as federal penalties.

The basic guidance is an ‘economic realities test.’ In other words, how much control does your company have over the way workers perform their jobs? For example:

• Do the workers in question determine how they accomplish their task, or do you closely supervise them?
• Do they have other clients, or do they work full-time for you?
• Do they receive payment for each job, or do you pay them on your schedule?
• Do they own their own equipment and facilities, or does your company provide equipment, supplies, and office space?

These and other considerations are important in determining a worker’s status. If you have any questions, consult with your CPA about the proper classification of your workers to avoid additional taxes and penalties.

Individual Planning

For 2015, the personal and dependency exemptions were increased to $4,000, from $3,950 in 2014. The standard deductions for all filing statuses received a small boost of between $100 and $200 above the 2014 amounts.

The annual health flexible spending account (FSA) contribution limit increased by $50 to $2,550. Both employee and employer may contribute to this account, but the combined contribution may not be greater than the annual limit.

Taxpayers who have a health savings account under a high-deductible health plan (HDHP) have higher contribution limits this year of $3,350 per individual and $6,650 for a family. The HDHP’s out-of-pocket maximums of $6,450 per individual and $12,900 for a family and minimum deductibles of $1,300 per individual and $2,600 for a family are up somewhat from 2014.

A good tax strategy is to participate in your employer’s 401(k) plan. You may elect to contribute up to $18,000 this year before taxes, and the additional catch-up contribution for employees who are age 50 and above is $6,000. Refer to your employer’s plan to confirm that the catch-up contribution is permitted. These increased contribution limits also apply to 403(b) plans, most 457 plans, and the Thrift Savings Plan.

The IRA contribution limit was not raised in 2015. It is still $5,500, with an additional $1,000 catch-up contribution allowed for people 50 years of age or older.

But rules governing IRA rollovers have changed. As of 2015, you may make only one IRA-to-IRA rollover per year. This does not limit direct rollovers from trustee to trustee.

Whether the estate tax will be repealed is an unknown at this point. Currently, the estate-tax exemption is $5.43 million. Together, a married couple can pass an estate valued at $10.86 million to their heirs without paying federal estate tax because of the portability provision. Taxpayers will have to see what awaits them in 2016.


Go HERE for a PDF of the region’s accounting firms


Estate-tax planning is incredibly complex. It should be done in concert with a qualified financial adviser or CPA who specializes in estate- and gift-tax planning. You don’t have to be wealthy to engage in estate-tax planning. Middle-income couples have made mistakes in estate planning costing them thousands of dollars. Additionally, for Massachusetts, the minimum taxable estate is considerably lower than the federal amount.

Another inflation adjustment applies to foreign earned income. U.S. citizens and U.S. resident aliens who live abroad are taxed on worldwide income. If you worked outside of the U.S. this year, you may qualify for the foreign earned income exclusion, which means you may qualify to exclude from income for 2015 up to $100,800 of foreign earnings. This amount is adjusted annually for inflation. You may also exclude or deduct certain foreign housing amounts.

As most taxpayers are aware, federal tax law allows a deduction for charitable contributions made to qualified IRS tax-exempt organizations. Before making such contributions, however, you should become familiar with some of the laws and limitations on contributions so you can maximize the tax benefit of the deduction.

The contribution must be made by Dec. 31. A check mailed with a Dec. 31 postmark is acceptable. The organization cannot ‘hold the books open’ for a few days after the end of the year and credit those contributions to the year just ended.

There are limitations on the amount of charitable contributions that you may deduct. For individuals, the limit is 50% of adjusted gross income (AGI) or 30% of AGI if the donation is capital-gain property. Any excess may be carried over to future years.

Corporations are limited to deducting 10% of the corporation’s pre-tax net income. An S corporation carries the contribution to the individual shareholders’ returns, so they are not subject to the 10% limitation.

Beyond the laws and limitations discussed above, some strategies may be employed to maximize the benefit of the deduction. If your itemized deductions are near the amount of the standard deduction, you may wish to bunch contributions in a year in which the standard deduction amount has been exceeded.

In addition, if your AGI exceeds a threshold amount — for example, $309,900 for married filing jointly — your charitable deduction amount will be phased out to not less than 80% of the contribution. If you have unusually large income in a particular year, you may wish to defer your giving to another year to receive a greater benefit.

It is a good strategy to keep a running list of your charitable contributions so you can be prepared to speed up or delay any contributions to maximize your deductions. Along this same line, keeping tabs on your total income for the year, in case you will be subject to the phaseout provisions, will enable you to plan properly.

If you plan to contribute appreciated capital-gain property, you will achieve the maximum benefit if the property is long-term — property held for more than 12 months. You can normally deduct the fair market value of the contribution rather than the cost basis. If held for 12 months or fewer, the deduction is limited to the basis in the property.

Before making such a contribution, you should ascertain that the property does qualify for deduction of the fair market value and is, in fact, appreciated property.

Timing income and expenses can be an important tax-reduction strategy. As you consider your tax plan, determine whether you are likely to be subject to the alternative minimum tax (AMT). The AMT’s function is to level taxes when income — adjusted for certain preference items — exceeds certain exemptions, but the tax rate applied to that income falls below the AMT rate.

Before deciding to accelerate or defer income and prepay or delay deductible expenses, you need to gauge the possible effect of the AMT on these tax-planning strategies. Having a number of miscellaneous itemized deductions, personal exemptions, medical expenses, and state and local taxes can trigger AMT. Our experience is that a vast number of taxpayers in Massachusetts and Connecticut pay the AMT tax as a result of the amount of real estate and state income tax they pay.

After analyzing your specific tax situation, if you anticipate that your income will be higher in 2016, you might benefit from accelerating income into 2015 and possibly postponing deductions, keeping the AMT threat in mind.

Individuals usually account for taxes using the cash method. As a cash-method taxpayer, you can deduct expenses when you pay them or charge them to your credit card. Expenses paid by credit card are considered paid in the year they are incurred.

In addition to charitable contributions discussed earlier, you should decide whether it would be beneficial for you to prepay the following expenses:

• State and local income taxes;
• Real-estate taxes;
• Mortgage interest;
• Margin interest; and
• Miscellaneous itemized deductions.

Taxpayers usually elect to itemize deductions only if total deductions exceed the standard deduction for the year. If itemized deductions are near the standard deduction amount, grouping these deductions in alternating years is often an effective tax-planning strategy. Bunching your deductions can be particularly advantageous for taxpayers with unreimbursed medical and dental expenses, who may deduct the amount in excess of 10% of AGI. For taxpayers age 65 or older, the percentage is 7.5%, but this exception is temporary, slated to expire after Dec. 31, 2016.

TaxPlanningGRAF1115BAlso deductible are unreimbursed employee business expenses, tax-return-preparation fees, investment expenses, and certain other miscellaneous itemized deductions that together are in excess of 2% of AGI

Keep in mind that not only AMT, but the amount of itemized deductions you can claim on your 2015 tax return is reduced by 3% of the amount by which your AGI exceeds the threshold amount.

Taxpayers cannot lose more than 80% of the itemized deductions subject to the phaseout. And deductions for medical expenses, investment interest, casualty and theft losses, and gambling losses are not subject to the limitation.

Conclusion

The U.S. tax code is incredibly complex and can change rapidly, even though it may sometimes seem to be moving along at a snail’s pace. This complexity has given rise to more calls for simplification. For now, taxpayers must still live with the complexity and the changes, as simplification appears to be only a dream.

Although a majority of taxpayers have their taxes prepared by a professional, they are turning in larger numbers to self-prepared returns. Since the online program does the calculations, it seems to be an economical approach to preparing and filing taxes.

However, the program is no substitute for a qualified tax professional such as a CPA. Programs can calculate tax liability, but they cannot substitute for professional advice and guidance. As a CPA, I would equate it to watching a how-to video on YouTube and embarking on repairing my car.

With such complexity in the tax code, a CPA is better able to keep abreast of the changes and can prepare taxes in a manner that determines a taxpayer’s minimum legal tax liability. But minimizing tax liability started last week, last month, last year. Tax planning is a constant in today’s complex world.

Kristina Drzal-Houghton, CPA MST is the partner in charge of Taxation at Holyoke-based Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C.; (413) 536-8510.

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Museums’ monthly tour and lecture schedule continues in December with the popular Museums à la Carte lectures, which take place each Thursday at 12:15 p.m. in the D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts.

Admission is $4 ($2 for members of the Springfield Museums); visitors are invited to bring a bag lunch (cookies and coffee are provided). For more information about Museums à la Carte, call (413) 263-6800, ext. 488. This month’s lectures include:

• Dec. 3: “Secrets of Leonardo da Vinci’s Virgin of the Rocks Revealed.” Andrew Linnell, author and lecturer from the University of Michigan, unlocks the riddles of da Vinci’s two mysterious paintings of the Virgin Mary.

• Dec. 10: “Cabinets of Curiosity: Historical and Contemporary Interpretations.” Heather Haskell, director of the D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts and the George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum, provides historical context for the current exhibit at the George Walter.

• Dec. 17: “The Star of Bethlehem: Investigating an Ancient Mystery.” Richard Sanderson, curator of Physical Science, Springfield Science Museum, and Jack Megas, planetarium educator, Springfield Science Museum, explore one of history’s most enduring mysteries.

No à la Carte lectures will be held on Dec. 24 or Dec. 31.

As part of the Museums’ members-only Continuing Conversations series, museum docents Deena Maniscalchi and Pat McCarthy will also lead a guided gallery discussion at the George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum following the Dec. 10 lecture.

On Friday, Dec. 4, the Springfield Science Museum’s large rooftop telescope will be open for public skygazing at 7:30 p.m. as part of the Stars Over Springfield observatory series. These programs are organized by the museum and the Springfield Stars Club, and take place on the first Friday of each month. Each event features an introductory talk on topics such as space exploration, seasonal sights of the night sky, current astronomical research, or upcoming events like eclipses or comet appearances. This month’s featured speaker will be Alan Rifkin, Springfield Stars Club president, whose talk is titled, “Astronomy Gifts: All I Want for Christmas or Chanukah Is…”

Stars Over Springfield programs are best suited for families with children ages 8 and older; however, younger children are also welcome. Admission is $3 for adults and $2 for children 17 and under. These programs are held rain or shine. If it is cloudy, a planetarium show will be presented in place of telescope viewing. For information about astronomy programs at the museum, call (413) 263-6800, ext. 318.

Luxury Living Sections

Personal Space

Rick McCullough

Rick McCullough learned plenty of lessons from his father, who launched what is now a second-generation home-construction business 60 years ago — among them hard work, integrity, and an emphasis on personal relationships. It’s that hands-on quality of his work that McCullough counts among the most enjoyable aspects of his job — not to mention an economy that has shed some lean years and is roaring with new life as families once again invest in high-end, custom homes.

Richard McCullough runs a successful home-building company, but he still refers to it as “my dad’s business.”

That’s because he grew up around R.A. McCullough Inc. — the construction firm launched by his father during the 1950s — and, along the way, picked up plenty of inspiration and lessons for his future career as the second-generation president of this Longmeadow-based family business.

“He first sold houses for other builders as a Realtor, and as he looked at what people were building, he said, ‘I can do this, and I can do it better,’” McCullough told BusinessWest. “So he purchased some raw pieces of land and developed them, and just built the company from there over the decades.”

After he graduated from college in 1995, he went into his father’s business full-time.

“Before that, I was out in the field, doing the grunt work, but after college, I graduated to the office,” he said — a decision that wasn’t always set in stone. “My dad was this amazing businessman, builder, and developer, but I didn’t seriously consider it until I got older. During my college years, I began to see [construction] as a natural fit for me.”

As one of the region’s most prominent builders of high-end and custom residences — typically 3,000 square feet and up — McCullough says he enjoys the hands-on aspect of dealing with clients and helping them turn their design visions into reality.

“I love helping them make decisions around building custom homes,” he said. “And I find there’s less miscommunication when I’m hands-on. I don’t get that phone call saying, ‘so-and-so didn’t call me back; what’s going on?’ There are fewer surprises that way. But I really do enjoy every aspect of this business, everything that’s involved in building homes, from the design through the end result.”

For this issue’s focus on luxury living, McCullough talks with BusinessWest about the changing nature of what a custom home is — and why he enjoys keeping up with those changes.

Beyond the Floor Plan

Make no mistake, he explained — ‘custom’ has meant different things over the decades.

“For example, in the ’80s, bigger was better, and customizing didn’t mean quite what it does nowadays. Back in the ’70s and ’80s, there wasn’t a whole lot of custom millwork, for example, unless it was in the ultra-high end. People today are less concerned about size and more about quality, what goes into it, the finishes.”

Today’s home buyers seem more educated and sure of the touches they desire in a home. As he walked along Bridle Path Ridge in Somers, Conn., a small development of high-end homes his company developed, he explained that, while the exteriors reflect a consistent — but not copycat — look, the interiors are very different, based on their buyers’ preferences.

“The houses’ architecture matches — you can tell it’s the same builder — but they’re very different from each other,” he said. “I love the challenge of creating something different. Sometimes they’ll see a house next door to where they want one built, and they’ll say, ‘that’s what I want.’ Well, we can do that floor layout, but let’s do something unique and something that won’t be a carbon copy of your neighbor.”

Those differences encompass everything from materials to finishes to subtle stylistic changes. “We can mix it up a little bit without going crazy — we’re not going to build a contemporary next to a colonial. It’s a different flavor while staying in the same realm of style.”

As for interior layout, customization today is largely a reflection of the family’s lifestyle.

“It’s really about customizing to an owner’s needs,” he said. “Where is the focus? It’s normally still through the kitchen, through the family room, areas where you spend the vast majority of the time, for ease of entertaining. Or you might want areas for a child to be close to the main part of the house, but have their own separate area.”

Home buyers are always going to focus on price — a home is likely their biggest investment — but McCullough said square footage doesn’t tell the whole story.

“Plenty of people say, ‘what’s the price per square foot,’ but what’s in the house? People think going from 3,500 to 2,500 square feet translates very easily from a cost-per-square-foot standpoint, but if you’re spending, say, 175 per square foot on a 3,500-square-foot home and you want to go to a smaller footprint, you’ll probably have the same size kitchen, same number of bathrooms, same finishes — so you’re going to spend more money per square foot.”

Particularly in the high-end housing market, he added, it’s important to keep an eye on a home’s future marketability. “You say you want only three bedrooms. Well, at least leave space to have a fourth bedroom — over the garage, unfinished. Marketability-wise, that adds a little value for the next person who’s going to buy it down the road.”

Priorities have shifted somewhat for homeowners in the realm of energy efficiency, McCullough said, noting that airtight construction and energy options like geothermal heating are becoming more popular.

He also noted that technology has impacted the features that high-end homebuyers are looking for today — and not just in the realm of home entertainment.

“People want things to be automated now; they want their lighting systems working off their smartphones. Controlling your heating and cooling from outside your home — that’s a relatively new thing in our industry, and you can’t underestimate that part of the business and how much that will grow.”

Bridle Path Ridge in Somers, Conn

Bridle Path Ridge in Somers, Conn. is one of McCullough’s recent developments of high-end, custom homes.

That goes for retrofitting existing homes as well, he added, a process made easier these days by the emergence of wireless technology.

“Cable companies are offering security systems — 20 years ago, you wouldn’t have guessed that would be happening. We have complete home automation … lights, thermostat, cameras you can view on a smartphone,” he went on. “There are so many apps, so many security systems. And it’s evolving so fast. Once you get these systems installed, things will change even more. It happens quickly.”

Ups and Downs

With the homebuilding industry on the upswing, McCullough is happy the recession years are well behind.

“That was an incredible challenge, and something that definitely left a mark on every developer, builder, and remodeler. Some fared better than others, but it was a rough recession,” he said, adding that it was difficult to tell when the tough times would end, challenging developers who wanted to time their investments.

“If a developer saved money throughout the recession, they might have been able to pick up properties, be opportunistic as they prepared for a turnaround, but the turnaround took longer than we thought. Developers were thinking, ‘we’ll have another year or two of this,’ but it lasted a little longer,” he explained. “There’s no book to go to on how to play it. It changed our industry somewhat, and hopefully we don’t forget the lessons of what we went through.”

As a recent past president of the Home Builders & Remodelers Assoc. of Western Mass. — an organization that advocates for contractors on the legislative level and educates consumers about companies and services — McCullough was in regular contact with builders during the extended downturn and came away impressed by their resilience.

“Everyone kept their heads up, even though it was obviously tough,” he said. “It’s a tough industry. We all know it. But our membership has significantly increased recently, which tells you where the economy is.”

The word he chose to describe the current mood? “Euphoric.”

“The market hasn’t fully recovered; we may not reach the level of the early to mid-2000s, when things were flying. But it was so bad for so long, and everything is good right now, in my mind — everything from existing home sales to remodeling to new construction.”

That’s partly because many potential buyers were just waiting out the storm but never ditched their plans for a new residence.

“A lot of people doing that work now had the money to do it, but had a lot of uncertainty — ‘will I get my investment back if I spend a premium on a major remodel or a new home?’ You don’t do that unless you have some view of the future that’s positive. It’s been great getting back into the swing of things after so long a downturn.”

The year has been so positive for the industry, in fact, that even the cold months will be productive in many corners.

“I normally see the vendors and the subcontractors I work with go into seasonal adjustments, down periods heading into winter,” McCullough said. “But people are staying busy through the holidays. Not everyone believes contractors work through the holidays because of the frozen ground, and they wonder whether that’s a good time to have something done. But it’s busier now than it’s been in years.”

Two Hats

McCullough’s father continued to work in real estate in the ’70s, at a good-sized brokerage firm called McCullough & Taft Realty — a tradition the junior McCullough continues today as a real-estate agent at Keller Williams Realty in Longmeadow.

“I’ve been a real-estate agent, where I’m helping a client negotiate with a builder, and I look over the specifics of the contract. It’s an interesting perspective, being more on the outside.”

But there’s something special about being on the construction side.

“I love being hands-on and engaged in every aspect of the project; that’s something I enjoy,” he said, noting that, even though the company has fluctuated in size over the years, he’s always stayed closely involved in projects — an emphasis on relationships he learned from his father.

“My dad was so honest and straightforward,” McCullough said. “I’ve told people he was no rocket scientist, but he worked hard, and his integrity was at the forefront of everything he did. And that’s the way I choose to follow. In the old days, everything was done on a handshake, and it’s nice to feel like we can do that in certain circumstances.”

That’s why he tells people R.A. McCullough is his father’s business.

“To me, it’s more about maintaining the same standards he had. That definitely builds the passion with me — wanting people to be happy, wanting people to have a good experience. It’s definitely not about the money. It’s about everything my dad stood for.”

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Building Permits Departments

The following building permits were issued during the month of October 2015.

AGAWAM

Dunkin Donuts
38 North Westfield St.
$8,000 — Foundation only

Hope Community Church
152 South Westfield St.
$25,000 — Remodel three existing restrooms

Verizon Wireless
491 Mill St.
$158,000 — Construct a 100-foot telecommunications tower

AMHERST

57 East Pleasant St., LLC
57 East Pleasant St.
$172,000 — Tenant fit up of previously unoccupied space

Barbara Mantovani
163 Sunderland Road
$15,000 — Replace hood for commercial kitchen

Sixty-Nine Ninety-One Main St. Inc.
85 Main St.
$8,000 — Storefront remodel

CHICOPEE

Hebron, LLC
153 Grove St.
$4,000 — Repair drywall damage

Meadow Street Partners
307 Meadow St.
$141,000 — Addition of angle braces and flat plate reinforcement

GREENFIELD

American Legion
7 Legion Ave.
$850,000 — Renovate existing building into new dispensary facility with elevator

Erin Miner
469 Bernardston Road
$8,000 — Replace shingles

PDV Inc.
278 Main St.
$14,000 — Interior renovations

Robert Cohn
117 Main St.
$65,000 — New roof

LUDLOW

Fletcher Sewer & Drain
824 Perimeter Road
$28,000 — New roof

Ludlow Country Club
Tony Lema Dr.
$38,000 — Re-shingle roof

NORTHAMPTON

Cooley Dickinson Hospital
30 Locust St.
$137,000 — New roof

Eric Lucentini
36 Main St.
$25,000 — Renovate legal offices

Jackson Street School
120 Jackson St.
$43,000 — Construct new concrete landings and ramp

Northampton Parking Garage
85 Hamden Ave.
$178,000 — Concrete repairs

PALMER

Baystate Wing Hospital
40 Wright St.
$82,000 — Renovations

Jane Alden
1069 Main St.
$17,000 — Replace roof

WESTFIELD

1144 Southampton Road, LLC
1144 Southampton Road
$15,000 — Renovate space for new salon

Cargill, Inc.
163 Union St.
$22,000 – Repair walls at rear of building

City of Westfield
59 Court St.
$82,500 — Renovation of vault located in city clerk’s office

Continental Cablevision
1116 East Mountain Road
$61,000 — Updating finishes

Pioneer Valley Baptist Church
265 Ponders Hollow Road
$57,000 — Install new sprinkler system

Pioneer Valley Military & Transport
110 Airport Road
$87,000 — Construct storage building

Sections Technology

How Come the Message So Often Gets Lost in Translation?

By STEVE SHAW

 

Steve Shaw

Steve Shaw

Most companies and organizations do an admirable job when it comes to communicating with employees. That rumored merger, those pending layoffs, a change in leadership, or implementation  of a new health plan are the classic reasons for reaching out and touching someone in the cubicle down the hall.

So, how come the message from the IT department often gets lost in translation?

Technology can be a scary thing, and oftentimes, it’s treated that way. The IT department is happy to be left alone to its bits and bytes, while the communications department says, “just let us know when we’re going to be down for maintenance or need to teach people how to use that new software.”

That way of thinking is no longer valid in today’s technology-driven economy.

According to the global professional services company Towers Watson, companies with highly effective internal communications had 47% higher total returns to shareholders versus companies with the least effective internal communications programs over the last five years.

A Gallup poll says 70% of U.S. employees are not engaged and that disengaged employees cost our economy $450 to $550 billion a year in lost productivity. The Work Foundation, a U.K.-based, nonprofit think tank, says organizations that increase practices related to engagement by just 10% increase profits by an average of $2,400 per employee per year. Do I have your attention now?

One of our healthcare clients, a mid-sized hospital system with 12,000 employees, is implementing a new hyper-converged infrastructure, totally revamping its approach to networking, data storage, and computing. This two-year effort comes at a time when hospitals, mandated by the federal government to adopt expensive electronic health record (EHR) systems, are asked to do more with fewer resources.

The new infrastructure will do that, cutting datacenter construction costs by millions and allowing the IT department to become faster and more efficient. They’ll even be able to monetize their new technology investments by offering services to the outside world. But that’s what’s in it for IT. What about the doctors, nurses, and administrators who just want to be able to access their work data from any device, anytime, from anywhere?

We recommend beginning the communications process by putting yourself in your customer’s head. They want the software they depend on to do their jobs to be available whenever they need it. They have little sympathy for outages, maintenance windows, and the availability of a technician to fix an issue when it arises. In most cases, they have little concern for operating systems, storage hardware and software, or data-center design.


Go HERE for a chart of area telecom/voice/data providers


In that case, IT communications to an organization should come down to answering three basic questions.

• What are you doing and why? Use metaphors and real-life examples to put the answer into an easily relatable context. Try something like this: “why are we implementing a new network infrastructure? Think about how much data we all produce, share, and store each year. If you printed it all out, the paper alone would fill an 80,000-seat football stadium. Now, think about the secure network needed to handle that information, the machines needed to store it safely, and the system needed to protect it all in the event of a natural disaster. That’s why we’re doing what we’re doing.”

• How does the technology directly benefit the ability of people to do their jobs? Eliminate the jargon. The people who know the difference between ESX and Hyper-V will seek you out if they want to get technical. Your message? “Our new network will practically eliminate outages, support service times will improve dramatically, maintenance windows will go away, and if a piece of hardware fails, our backup kicks in immediately with virtually no interruption.” People generally don’t need to know how it works. They just want to know how it affects them. Resist the temptation to explain further.

• What do I need to do now? Be specific, but be reassuring. People customize their desktops and develop their own unique way of working. They also feel that, just when they finally get the handle on how to access the ‘E’ drive and navigate to where their data is stored, someone in IT decides to perform an upgrade that has them throwing a shoe at their computer screen. Sympathize. Produce easy-to-read checklists, develop logical implementation schedules, and communicate on a regular basis when things change. A single e-mail won’t do the trick.

The bottom line when it comes to communicating IT initiatives is this: you’re asking people to change (sometimes in a big way). There’s natural resistance to it, and it takes time. Don’t just tell them what, when, and why. How it will make their life easier is most important. Don’t be afraid to ask for input. You know what you want people to do. You just want to get them to think it was their idea.

You can’t communicate too much if the message is relevant and substantial. You can communicate too much if it’s overly technical and isn’t easy to internalize. Finally, choose your vehicle wisely. A one-time e-mail or fancy newsletter may find its way to the “I’ll read it later” file. Be creative. A mixture of written communication, live events, and interactive forums are critical for long-term buy-in.

Remember, IT is highly technical, but it’s not rocket science. Don’t confuse communicating the end result with a need to tell people how you got there.

Steve Shaw has spent more than three decades in the marketing and communications industries as a television reporter, production agency founder, and multi-media network executive. He is the vice president of Marketing and Communications for Holyoke-based VertitechIT, a business and healthcare IT networking and consulting firm; [email protected]

Luxury Living Sections

Rolling Along

RV trailer Stock

Chris Adams says the reasons behind a resurgence in recreational-vehicle sales are obvious.

“The economy is getting better, and gas prices are going down quite a bit. The industry is way up,” said Adams, a member of the Pioneer Valley 8 chapter of the North American Family Campers Assoc., and co-chairman with his wife, Trudi, of the upcoming 2016 Camping & Outdoor Show at the Eastern States Exposition.

The statistics back up that assessment. According to the Recreation Vehicle Industry Assoc. (RVIA), RV shipments in 2015 are expected to top 365,000 units, which would be the highest total since 2006, and the sixth consecutive year of growth since sales bottomed out in 2009, the low point of the Great Recession.

But RV popularity isn’t only a recent phenomenon driven by economic winds. According to the RVIA, motorhome ownership has reached record levels, with more than 9 million households in the U.S. now owning an RV, the highest level ever recorded. That figure marks a 16% increase since 2001 and a 64% jump since 1980.

Marc LaBrecque has experienced the entire spectrum of that growth. He started servicing, then selling, towable RVs in 1973, at Minuteman RV in Chicopee. Today, he’s the owner of Diamond RV Center in West Hatfield, the region’s largest motorhome dealer, and a business reaping the benefits of not only a surge in sales, but growing demographic diversity among buyers.

“In 2004 or 2005, you could pinpoint the fifth-wheel buyer by age — 62 to 72,” he said, referring to a towable RV that connects to the rear axle of a pickup truck. “That’s really changed. That demographic starts now at 30 and goes to 70.”

Meanwhile, big-dollar motorhomes, the kind that don’t need towing, have become more popular with the 45- to 60-year-old demographic, when they were once dominated by older buyers.

“It’s getting much younger — probably because 20-year payments are available,” LaBrecque noted. “It’s almost like getting a mortgage on your home. You can get into a nice, new motorhome for $125,000, and that payment could be $600 or $650 a month.”

Still, he went on, “our bread and butter is still our travel trailers. You can get a nice travel trailer in the $25,000 to $35,000 range and have a payment about $250 a month — that’s affordable for many people.”

Smart Investment

That affordability has drawn growing numbers of Americans looking for a more outdoor-oriented style of vacation, and perhaps new friendships, as regular campers tend to form bonds and meet up on weekends.

“It’s a nice way to just get away from the hustle and bustle of the work week and kind of kick back and relax,” said Adams, who has owned RVs for more than 20 years.

In a Harris Interactive survey on the benefits of RV ownership, experiencing nature and outdoor activities and enjoying quality family time topped the list. Owners also said they’ve built stronger bonds with loved ones, eat healthier food on the road, and enjoy sleeping their own beds and using their own bathroom facilities.

There may be financial benefits as well. A vacation cost comparison prepared last year by PKF Consulting USA showed that a family of four can save 27% to 62% on vacation costs by traveling in an RV, even when factoring in ownership costs and fuel. For a two-person traveling party, savings are 11% to 48%.

In addition to vacation travel, RV owners use them for tailgating, travel with pets, business, and to participate in outdoor sports and other leisure activities. As for vacation time, the survey indicates that owners lean toward shorter trips closer to home — enjoying campgrounds rather using up fuel and time on the road. More than 90% of RVers take three or more mini-vacations per year, choosing from more than 16,000 campgrounds nationwide.

Chris Adams

Chris Adams says RV enthusiasts may prefer different types of vehicles, but they bond through their mutual love of camping.

For this style of vacation, fuel prices would have to nearly triple over current levels to make RV trips more expensive for a family of four than other forms of travel. “While fuel costs are a component of the overall vacation cost, fluctuations in fuel prices aren’t significant enough to affect a family’s decision of whether or not to take RV trips over other types of vacations,” said Kannan Sankaran, PKF’s lead researcher for the study.

It helps, Adams, that motorhome enthusiasts have many price points to choose from.

“It’s a large spectrum,” he told BusinessWest. “A family that’s just starting out, or that may not have a lot of money, may want to start with a pop-up camper or just get out there with a tent. It goes all the way up to people who are retiring and buying the big-dollar motorhomes with all the luxuries. There’s a huge variety all depending on where you are in life.”

LaBrecque said he started selling Newmar motorhomes — a high-end line, costing $250,000 and up — about two years ago. “We’re doing a pretty good job with the $400,000 Dutch Stars — 40- to 43-foot, diesel motorhomes with ceramic tile floors, cherry cabinets, high-end stuff. That market has come alive. It makes Diamond more of a destination point.”

RV SalesChart1115bAccording to the RVIA, manufacturers, recognizing the growing diversity of RV owners, are focused on offering products with an optimal mix of size, amenities, and price, including budget-friendly options like lightweight trailers and smaller, fuel-efficient motorhomes. Technologies such as solar panels and energy-efficient components are showing up on more models as well, to appeal to users with a bent toward going green.

LaBrecque said he’s selling more high-end models than ever to people who aren’t yet retired but are looking down the road to a luxurious mode of recreation.

“A lot of these guys have done OK in business, but were pushed into a corner” by the Great Recession, he explained. “They worked hard for the last 10 years to get through this stuff, not spending money. But now, things are OK, and they’re thinking, ‘I can afford to do this. My family suffered through the recession; let’s do it.’”

Whatever the level of luxury an RV owner prefers (or can afford), “once you get out camping with other people, you all have that in common,” Adams said, citing his own experiences with members of Pioneer Valley 8. “In our group, we treat it like a family; we all know each other. Everyone is friendly. If someone is having trouble with their motorhome, people stop and help them. We all relate to each other.”

Showtime

These days, Adams and his wife are focused on chairing the annual Camping & Outdoor Show, a year-round task that heats up as the event approaches; the couple have been spending at least 10 to 12 hours a week on coordinating all the moving parts that will draw hundreds of vehicles and thousands of enthusiasts to the Big E on Feb. 12-15.

“Everything is put on by volunteers,” he said. “It’s a lot of work. It definitely would be a lot easier if it was a job with a salary, and you could focus on if eight or hours a day. But we’re all volunteers. It’s a pretty large undertaking.”

The show’s popularity seems secure, as analysts at research firm TechNavio estimate that North American RV sales will continue to grow at more than 8% per year, on average, through 2019. With buyers in the 35-to-54 age group now the largest segment of owners, according to a University of Michigan study, industry prospects seem secure. And no one is counting out the Baby Boomers, retiring with, in many cases, large nest eggs.

“This has made our advertising so hard to do,” LaBrecque said. “In the old days, we would hit country-western stations, the NASCAR people. Now, there’s such diversity. And with fuel prices down, so many people are buying SUVs again, and they have that tow trailer.”

In short, RV sales keep rolling along.

“The good economy is just getting started,” LaBrecque told BusinessWest. “I’m hoping we’ll be on a roll for awhile.”

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) will begin offering four-week online Winter Session classes starting Monday, Dec. 21 through Friday, Jan. 15, 2016.

This is the first time the college has offered classes during the winter recess. Online Winter Session classes are an ideal opportunity for area college students to earn college credit during the traditional winter-break period.

“The majority of classes available during winter session can be used as electives both at community colleges and four year colleges and universities,” said STCC Dean of Enrollment Management Matthew Gravel. “The online format reduces the need to cancel classes for weather conditions and allows students the flexibility to study on their own schedule.”

Winter session class offerings include Business Ethics, Computer Basics, Economics 1, Electronic Health Records, General Psychology, Introduction to Sociology, Nutrition, Principles of Management, and World Religions.

Students can register for one or more classes beginning Tuesday, Nov. 24. Registration is available online at www.stcc.edu/winter, via phone at (413) 755-4321, or in the Registrar’s Office on the first floor of Garvey Hall South.

Departments Picture This

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

 

Men of the Year

As part of the Together is Better Campaign, the Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts celebrated its inaugural Men of the Year Award recipients and finalists at an event last month at Twin Hills Country Club. The award honors men from the region who, in their professional or personal lives, have made significant contributions to ensure economic and social equity for women and girls.

BusinessWest Associate Publisher Kate Campiti

BusinessWest Associate Publisher Kate Campiti presents the award in the ‘Legacy’ category to Robert Perry, retired partner for Meyers Brothers Kalicka

Waleska Lugo-DeJesus

Waleska Lugo-DeJesus, director of the Healing Racism Institute of Pioneer Valley, presents the award in the ‘mid-career’ category to David Sullivan, Northwestern district attorney

State Auditor Suzanne Bump

State Auditor Suzanne Bump presents the award in the ‘emerging’ category to Anthony Gulluni, Hampden County district attorney

Buffy Mayo

Buffy Mayo, widow of Lifetime Achievement Award winner York Mayo, talks with Sullivan, left, and Edward Nunez, assistant vice president of Business Development for Freedom Credit Union, and a finalist in the ‘mid-career’ category





Noble Ball

Baystate Noble Hospital


Baystate Noble Hospital held its 51st Noble Ball on Oct. 17 at the MassMutual Center in Springfield. The Motown-themed event was co-chaired by the Queenin Family (pictured at left, from left): Jon and Lisa, Kevin and Barbara, Janine and Jay.

700 guests attended the black-tie event

More than 700 guests attended the black-tie event, which featured live entertainment from two bands, silent and live auctions, a formal dinner, cocktails, dancing, and more. The 2016 Noble Ball chairs (pictured at right, from left) were Ali and Mandana Salehi, 
Serena and Marc Lichwan, and Julie and Nabil Hannoush.





Grand Old Game

The Western Mass. Relics’ Softball League is a summer recreational slow-pitch league founded in 1994 with the idea that playing ball is fun, healthy, and a good way to maintain friendships. The Relics “80s Team,” sponsored by Savage Arms, competed in the Cape Cod Senior Softball Classic in September

relics

Standing, left to right: Ken Cook, Frank Sousa, Leo Quinn, Phil Thibodeau, Art Brockelman, Dick Hastede, Coach Ed Gagnon, and Bob Brennan; in front, left to right: Lou Massoia, Frank Bernini, Bob Schoolcraft, and Don Holcomb.

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

CJM Services Inc. v. Fontaine Brothers Inc. and Federal Insurance Agency
Allegation: Breach of construction contract: $300,000
Filed: 9/25/15

Gerald and Elizabeth Sulewski v. Menard Construction and Design
Allegation: Negligence in deck installation: $40,943
Filed: 8/24/15

Northern Land Clearing Inc. v. Taylor Oil Northeast Inc. and Construct Oil Northeast Inc.
Allegation: Defendant negligently drove a vehicle onto a gas line causing damages and personal injury: $30,000
Filed: 9/23/15

HAMPSHIRE SUPERIOR COURT

Atlantis Comfort System Corp. v. James J. Welch & Co. and Cottage Square Apts., LTD, and Berkeley Regional Insurance Co.
Allegation: Breach of construction contract and claim on bond: $105,529.44
Filed: 8/27/15

Boulanger’s Plumbing and Heating Inc. v. James J. Welch & Co. and Cottage Square Apts., LTD
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $145,218.10
Filed: 8/12/15

G&M Enterprises Inc. d/b/a Mr. Gutter v. James J. Welch & Co. and Cottage Square Apts., LTD and Berkeley Regional Insurance Co. $16,418.19
Filed: 9/2/15

John and Donna Lastowski v. Kaufco-BH Inc. and John Doe
Allegation: Breach of contract and chapter 93A violation: $21,000
Filed: 8/10/15

NORTHAMPTON DISTRICT COURT

Commonwealth Capital Inc. v. Long Plain, LLC and Scott Hutkowski
Allegation: Non-payment of promissory note: $11,678.89
Filed: 9/28/15

Randall G. Baker Jr. v. Eddie Benton and ICC Trucking, LLC
Allegation: Negligence causing damage to plaintiff’s truck resulting in lost wages: $42,000
Filed: 9/18/15

SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT

Domingo Diaz v. Vesuvio, LLC, Mark Laramie, and Lisa Mackechnie
Allegation: Breach of employment contract: $3,190
Filed: 9/18/15

WESTFIELD DISTRICT COURT

Carmen Burgos v. Silverman Realty Group, Split Excavating Inc., and Stop and Shop Supermarket
Allegation: Negligent maintenance of property: $8,306.77
Filed: 9/23/15

Chamber Corners Departments

AMHERST AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.amherstarea.com
(413) 253-0700

• Nov. 18: After 5, 5-7 p.m., at Arrha Credit Union, 140 Russell St., Hadley. Join the chamber and enjoy appetizers and beverages with colleagues.
• Dec. 2: Ribbon cutting and grand opening, noon, at Advanced Auto Parts, 346 Russell St., Hadley. The chamber will welcome one of its newest members. Advance Auto Parts will offer 10% off for its grand opening.
• Dec. 4: Merry Maple, 3-6:30 p.m., Amherst Town Common. Serving hot chocolate provided by the Works as well as a face- painting station. There will be arts and crafts in the Town Room at Town Hall, as well as cider doughnuts and hot apple cider served on the common. The Amherst Middle School chorus will perform on the front step, tree lighting, and the UMass marching band will escort Santa in a fire truck.
• Dec. 9: Holiday Party, 5-7 p.m., at PeoplesBank, 56 Amity St., Amherst. Join the chamber and enjoy appetizers and beverages with colleagues.

GREATER CHICOPEE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.chicopeechamber.org
(413) 594-2101

• Nov. 18: Salute Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., at the Collegian Court Restaurant, 89 Park St., Chicopee. Sign up online at www.chicopeechamber.org.
• Dec. 3: Holiday Party, 4:30-6:30 p.m., at the Collegian Court Restaurant, 89 Park St., Chicopee. This event is free for members.
• Dec. 16:  Salute Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., at the Castle of Knights, 1599 Memorial Dr., Chicopee. Sign up online at www.chicopeechamber.org.
• Dec. 17:  Mornings with the Mayor,  8-9 a.m., at Chicopee Industrial Contractors, 107 North St., Chicopee. This event is free for members.

GREATER EASTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.easthamptonchamber.org
(413) 527-9414

• Dec. 3: Holiday tree lighting and visit from Santa, 6:30-8 p.m., at Pulaski Park, Easthampton.
• Dec. 4: Greater Easthampton Chamber Snow Ball, 6-11 p.m., at the Garden House, Look Park. An old-fashioned, elegant, holiday affair. Sit-down dinner featuring Meyers Catering, live music, and dancing featuring Maxxtone. Dress in style, black tie optional.

GREATER NORTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.explorenorthampton.com
(413) 584-1900

• Nov. 4: November Arrive @ 5 Open House, 5-7 p.m. Hosted by Cooley Dickinson Hospital, 30 Locust  St., Northampton. Cost: $10 for members.
• Dec. 2: December Arrive @ 5, 5-7 p.m., at Hampshire Council of Governments, Northampton. Sponsored by Applied Mortgage. Cost: $10 for members.

SPRINGFIELD REGIONAL CHAMBER

www.springfieldregionalchamber.com
(413) 787-1555

• Nov. 19: Springfield Regional Chamber Government Reception, 5- 7 p.m., hosted by Carriage House, Storrowton Tavern, 1305 Memorial Ave., West Springfield. Meet socially with your local, state, and federal officials. Cost: $50 for members, $70 for general admission. Reservations may be made online at www.springfieldregionalchamber.com.
• Nov. 24: Springfield Regional Chamber Pastries, Politics and Policy, 8-9 a.m., hosted by TD Bank Conference Center, 1441 Main St., Springfield. Featuring Hampden Country District Attorney Anthony Gulluni. Sponsored by the Regional Employment Board of Hampden County. Cost: $15 for members, $25 for general admission. Reservations may be made online at www.springfieldregionalchamber.com.

Company Notebook Departments

MassMutual Reports Record $1.7 Billion Dividend Payout

SPRINGFIELD — MassMutual’s board of directors approved an estimated dividend payout of $1.7 billion for 2016 to its eligible participating policyowners — a nearly $100 million increase over 2015, and the fourth consecutive year it has reached a new record. The 2016 payout also reflects a competitive dividend interest rate of 7.1% for eligible participating life and annuity blocks of business, maintaining the same rate as both 2014 and 2015.  “Today is a special day where the commitment we’ve made our policyowners is brought to life through our annual dividend payout,” said Roger Crandall, MassMutual’s chairman, president, and CEO. “Through nearly our entire history, our policyowners have received an annual dividend regardless of what is happening in our world — whether it’s through world wars, pandemics, market crashes, and most recently, a historically low interest-rate environment where even three-month Treasury bills are yielding zero percent.” While dividends are not guaranteed, MassMutual has consistently paid them to eligible participating policyowners since the 1860s. The 2016 dividend marks nearly two decades that the company has consecutively announced an estimated dividend payout exceeding $1 billion. “As a mutual company, operating for the benefit of our policyowners and members, we are thrilled to share our collective and cooperative success,” Crandall said. “Our consistent payment of dividends is proof of the enduring financial strength and stability we provide, as well as the resiliency of our long-term strategy.” Among the key contributors to MassMutual’s dividend payout are its retirement-services and international insurance businesses, as well as its asset-management subsidiaries, such as Babson Capital Management LLC, Baring Asset Management Limited, Cornerstone Real Estate Advisers LLC, and OppenheimerFunds Inc. The estimated payout also occurs at a time when the company’s financial-strength ratings are among the highest in the industry and its total adjusted capital as of June 30, 2015 — a key indicator of overall financial stability — surpassed $17 billion for the first time in the company’s history. Of the estimated $1.7 billion dividend payout, an estimated $1.65 billion has been approved for eligible participating policyowners who have purchased whole life insurance. MassMutual had its ninth consecutive record year of growth in whole-life policy sales in 2014 with $418 million, and sales of whole life continue to be strong through the first three quarters of 2015. In addition to receiving the dividend payouts in cash, other ways whole-life insurance policyowners may use the dividends include paying premiums, buying additional insurance coverage, accumulating at interest, or repaying policy loans and policy-loan interest. “Whole life insurance enables people to plan for both the expected and unexpected events in their lives, whether it’s leaving a legacy for loved ones or using cash value to help fund a college education or fill an income gap in retirement,” said Michael Fanning, executive vice president and head of MassMutual’s U.S. Insurance Group. “We have provided millions of people with financial resources they can use to chart a course through these turbulent times, further proof that, whether bulls or bears are driving the market, policyowners have received their dividend payout from MassMutual.”

Bacon Wilson Selected Among U.S. News Ranking of Best Law Firms

SPRINGFIELD — Bacon Wilson announced the firm’s inclusion in the 2016 “Best Law Firms” rankings published by U.S. News – Best Lawyers. The full-service firm has been recognized with a Tier 1 Metropolitan designation for Springfield. Firms are selected for professional excellence, with tier rankings based on a meticulous assessment process that includes the collection of client and lawyer evaluations as well as peer reviews from leading attorneys in their fields. Achieving a Tier 1 ranking indicates both quality law practice and expansive legal knowledge. This marks the sixth consecutive such honor for Bacon Wilson. Additionally, in August, four partners were named to the Best Lawyers in America 2016 list: Paul Rothschild, Stephen Krevalin, Michael Katz, and Jeff Fialky. Bacon Wilson’s managing partner, Stephen Krevalin, noted that the latest award is “among the most significant in our field. We are pleased and gratified to be counted among the 2016 Best Law Firms. For me, Bacon Wilson’s inclusion in this publication highlights the outstanding skills of our attorneys.” Bacon Wilson, P.C. is one of the largest firms in Western Massachusetts, with a total of 42 lawyers and approximately 60 paralegals, administrative assistants, and support staff. The firm’s main office is located in Springfield, with regional offices in Northampton, Amherst, and Westfield.

Holyoke Medical Center Breaks Ground on New ED, Office Building

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Medical Center (HMC) broke ground recently on construction for a new, state-of-the-art Emergency Department that, when completed, will expand the current space from 8,500 square feet to approximately 22,000 square feet, as wel as a new, 16,000-square-foot medical office building. The project is expected to be completed in spring 2017. The Emergency Department will feature a new Crisis Center for Psychiatric Services, 40 treatment areas, multi-patient trauma rooms, advanced life-saving equipment, and a patient-navigation service. This will allow HMC to treat patients in a more efficient and dignified way. The medical office building will house a host of new services, including a comprehensive weight-loss center, sleep-apnea clinic, and other multi-specialty physician practices. These expanded services will address the current and emerging community health needs of Hampden County, including the sharp rise in obesity and diabetes rates, while also creating new jobs in Holyoke. “Today’s groundbreaking represents our strong commitment to providing tens of thousands of patients in the Pioneer Valley with access to convenient and compassionate life-saving care,” said Spiros Hatiras, president and CEO of Holyoke Medical Center and Valley Health Systems Inc. “HMC’s new Emergency Department and medical office building will offer the latest in medical technology, a broader range of emergency services, and highly skilled clinicians dedicated to serving our community.” Funding for the project is provided partially by the Commonwealth’s Health Policy Commission (HPC), through Phase 2 of the Community Hospital Acceleration, Revitalization, and Transformation Investment Program, also known as CHART, which aims to promote care coordination, integration, and delivery transformation to enhance Massachusetts community hospitals’ delivery of efficient and effective care. The $3.9 million grant supports the integration of new behavioral-health services in the Emergency Department. “Our partnership with community hospitals is a critical part of HPC’s efforts to achieve the Commonwealth’s cost-containment and quality-improvement goals,” said David Seltz, executive director of HPC. “CHART hospitals were issued a challenge: propose initiatives that will put you on a path of transformation, while meeting the critical health care needs of your community. Today, I’m pleased to report that HMC exceeded that challenge. We look forward to continuing to partner with the Holyoke community to build a more coordinated and affordable healthcare system.” HMC’s award was the highest award for a single hospital in CHART Phase 2. HMC will leverage an innovative, multi-disciplinary high-risk-care team, known as the Behavioral Health Emergency Care Service, to support all patients with behavioral-health conditions in the Emergency Department. At the same time, this coordinated initiative will introduce robust care navigation in partnership with community-based organizations to ensure that patients receive targeted interventions, including those necessary to address the high incidence of complex, challenging social issues, and are referred to the right services for successful follow-through on individualized care plans. A portion of this investment will also support HMC’s efforts to redesign its Emergency Department, and will create a separate healing and therapeutic behavioral-health space in the emergency room designed to reduce patient anxiety, streamline patient flow, and improve overall quality of care in a safe and secure environment. Additional financing partners for the total project budget of $22.8 million include Valley Health Systems, MassDevelopment, People’s United Bank, JPMorgan Chase, and A.I. Wainwright. Last year, more than 42,500 patients visited Holyoke Medical Center’s Emergency Department, and the department will continue to serve the Greater Holyoke community throughout the construction phase of the project.

Country Bank Supports Local Senior Centers

WARE — Country Bank has been assisting local senior centers since 2011 with an annual donation of $2,000 each. This gift assists them with some of the expenses that may not be covered within their regular budget. A total of $166,000 has been donated over the last five years to local senior centers. “We have heard stories of our gifts helping to fund events such as veterans breakfasts, helping to put in a new floor, or, most recently, to assist with transportation costs to out-of-town medical appointments,” said Shelley Regin, senior vice president. “One director explained that many seniors may forgo important medical appointments due to the difficulties involved with public transportation or their fear of driving in unfamiliar areas such as Springfield. We are so pleased that we can help in this way.” Country Bank serves Central and Western Mass. with 15 offices.

HAPHousing Recognized as NeighborWorks Green Organization

SPRINGFIELD — HAPHousing has been recognized as a NeighborWorks Green Organization for its comprehensive commitment to sustainable operations. To achieve this designation, HAP was required to demonstrate adherence to a set of green business practices across its operations and all of its program areas.
This is the fourth consecutive year that NeighborWorks America has recognized member organizations for their efforts to create healthier, energy-efficient environments for homeowners, renters, community residents and employees. To date, 81 of the 240 organizations in the NeighborWorks network have achieved this designation. HAPHousing’s green initiatives and programs include ensuring that its housing developments and offices are energy efficient, and distribution of information on energy conservation to clients, residents, employees, and the public. According to Peter Gagliardi, President and CEO of HAPHousing, “An increasingly vital part of our work in developing affordable housing in the region is the building and maintaining of sustainable projects and practices that are environmentally friendly. We take this designation seriously and with pride in our mission to build healthy communities where people thrive.”

STCC to Offer Certified Fiber Optics Technician Courses starting Dec. 7

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) Workforce Development office will offer three Certified Fiber Optics Technician Courses starting Dec. 7.
The courses will cover a variety of topics for both those new to the field and experienced technicians. The Fiber Optic Training class combines theory and hands-on activities to prepare students to take the Certified Fiber Optic Technician exam sanctioned by the Fiber Optics Association. The exam is administered and graded during the final class.
Students will learn how to identify fiber types; recognize various connectors used in fiber installation; and install, terminate, splice, and properly test installed fiber cable to existing standards. The program explores the history and future of fiber optics and fiber optics capabilities, and basic testing and troubleshooting.
Anyone interested in becoming a Certified Fiber Optics Technician is highly encouraged to sign up. The course fee includes study materials and text book, a CD, exam fees, plus a one year membership to Fiber Optics Association. In addition, STCC will offer Certified Fiber Optic Specialist Outside Plant (CFOS/O), Certified Fiber Optics Splicing Specialist Course (CFOS/S) and Certified Fiber Optics Specialist in Testing & Maintenance (CFOS/T).

Departments Incorporations

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

CHICOPEE

Avidity Care Inc., 264 Exchange St., Ste. 2, Chicopee, MA 01013. Corey Briere, 16 Stewart St., South Hadley, MA 01075. Home health care services.

EASTHAMPTON

Tabbat Inc., 116 Pleasant St., Suite 158, Easthampton, MA 01027. Richard S. Lyman Jr., 96 Gunn Road, Southampton, MA 01073. Real estate holding company.

HATFIELD

Masssolar is Working Inc., 136 Elm St., Hatfield, MA 01038. Mark Sandeen, 10 Brent Road, Lexington, MA 02420. To create a public understanding of solar energy generation.

HOLYOKE

Gil’s Auto Repair & Performance Inc., 606 Main St., Holyoke, MA 01040. Gilberto Rivas, same. Auto repair.

Maruti Corp., 455 Homestead Ave., Holyoke, MA 01040. Shivani Patel, same. Package store.

LONGMEADOW

Brown & Brown Investment Advisory Inc., 734 Bliss Road, Ste. 4, Longmeadow, MA 01106. Registered investment advisor.

NORTHAMPTON

Rightway Drywall Inc., 206 Coles Meadow Road, Northampton, MA 01060. Brian Johnson, same. Drywall installation.

SOUTH HADLEY

Art Builders Inc., 311 Brainerd St., South Hadley, MA 01075. Deoclecio F. Artur, same. Construction and renovation services.

SPRINGFIELD

190 Bowdoin St. Development Inc., 11 Preston St., Springfield, MA 01109. Elisha Colgram, 304 Bay St., Springfield, MA 01109. To develop land at 190 Bowdoin Street in accordance with historic preservation.

Behavior Services of Western Massachusetts Inc., 1441 Main St., Ste. 900, Springfield, MA 01103. Kathleen Deniger, same. Autism behavior services.

WESTFIELD

Aura Nails & Spa Inc., 261 East Main St., Unit 10, Westfield, MA 01085. Youngran Chan, 20 Sunbriar Dr., Westfield, MA 01085. Nail salon.

TNN Transport Inc., 11 Lockhouse Road, Apt. A, Westfield, MA 01085. Anatoliy Tulchinskiy, same. Trucking.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

9312-3610 Quebec Inc., 23 Morningside Terrace, West Springfield, MA 01089. Miroslav Tkach, same. Trucking.

WILLIAMSBURG

Hilltown Village Inc., 106 Petticoat Hill Road, Williamsburg, MA 01096. Meghan Patricia Taylor, same. Practical, social, and emotional support services.

DBA Certificates Departments

The following Business Certificates and Trade Names were issued or renewed during the month of October 2015.

AGAWAM

ASD Plumbing & Heating
55 School St.
Stan Anisimov

GBB
540 Southwick St.
Christopher Catjakis

Feeding Hills Wellness Center
567 Springfield St.
Gina Manning

Paradise Destinations Travel
33 North St.
Danielle Plascik

HOLYOKE

Electric Cafe & Catering
10 Open Square Way
John Aubin

Lighthouse Holyoke
208 Pace St.
Josiah Litant

Mount Joe to Go
206 Maple St.
Peter Rosskothen

Scout Curated Wears
10 Lexington Ave.
Lorg Fischer-Dewitt

NORTHAMPTON

Behrens Collective
56 Meadow St.
Kory J. Behrens

Clinic Alternative Medicines
98 Main St.
Jennifer Nery

Euphoria Float Spa
241 King St.
Loria Schott

Northampton Radio Group
15 Hampton Ave.
Samuel Bush

Rhodes, Bixby & Wakefield
125 Pleasant St.
Keith Bixby

River Valley Company
330 North King St.
Rochelle Prunty

PALMER

Baldyga Service, LLC
11 Wanut St.
Bruce Baldyga

Jane Alden Convenience Store
1469 North Main St.
Mukesh Patel

SPRINGFIELD

A Pro’s Touch
169 Savoy Ave.
Yamil Santiago

A to Z Gate
465 Belmont Ave.
Benjamin Nguyen

All World Costume Jewelry
18 Eldridge St.
Foster White

BWF Inc.
354 Main St.
Joseph Pafumi

C.J. Bella’s Landscaping
38 Sunrise Terrace
Carlos Labella

Cedar’s Food Mart
405 Armory St.
Linda A. Gheit

Cotto’s Power Washing Inc.
16 Tyler St.
Alexander Cotto

Deb’s Auto Repair
250 Vergs St.
Albert Charles

Duke’s Barbershop
902 Carew St.
Juan Santana

Elsie’s Flower Shop
166 Main St.
Rebecca L. Kelly

Envy Nails
1777 Boston Road
Loan Nguyen

Escuadron de Limpiesa
26 Arch St.
Betty Duena

Forest Hills Landscaping
138 Gillette Ave.
David P. Robillard

J & D Polish & Deburring
33 Mohawk Dr.
Dennis Nelson

WESTFIELD

Ebenezer’s Bar & Grill
110 Elm St.
Ebenezer’s Westfield Inc.

French Twist Bakery
183 Highland Ave.
French Twist Bakery

Frosted Swirl Cupcakes
36 Jeremy Dr.
Frosted Swirl Cupcakes

Michael’s Towing
247 Elm St.
MCV Inc.

The Country Clipper
9 Russell Road
Sara Noska

The Groomer
77 Main St.
Tracy Durkee

Top to Bottom Cleaning
23 Reservoir Road
Lynn Cornelius

Whip City Music
126 Elm St.
Whip City Music

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Auto Kraft Service Center
44 Mulberry St.
Frederick Fruwirth

Beedle’s Baubles
179 North Blvd.
Galen Plourde

Direct Results
2005 Riverdale St.
John Epstein

Gorecki Enterprises Inc.
1285 Riverdale St.
Gorecki Enterprises

Park Square Realty
470 Westfield St.
PSQ Inc.

Sol’s Tire Service Inc.
953 Union St.
William R. Ellis

Speedway
341 Memorial Ave.
Speedway, LLC

Agenda Departments

SRC Government Reception

Nov. 19: The Springfield Regional Chamber will hold its annual Government Reception from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Carriage House at Storrowton Tavern, 1305 Memorial Ave., West Springfield. Sponsored by Baystate Health and Comcast with support from Columbia Gas of Massachusetts and Westfield State University, the reception provides business and community leaders with the opportunity to meet socially with local, state, and federal officials following the end of the formal legislative session. Last year, more than 200 people attended the event, including members of area select boards and city councils, as well as state representatives and senators. Reservations for the event are $50 for chamber members and $70 for general admission. To reserve a spot, visit www.springfieldregionalchamber.com or e-mail Sarah Mazzaferro at [email protected].

Neuroscientist to VisitSpringfield College

Nov. 19: The Springfield College Center for Wellness Education and Research (CWER) will host world-renowned neuroscientist and nutrition and diet expert Nicole Avena at 7 p.m. in the Fuller Arts Center. Avena’s presentation, “Why Diets Fail: Because You’re Addicted to Sugar,” will focus on years of research showing that sugar is addictive, and present a science-based plan to stop cravings. The event is free and open to the public. Author of more than 50 scholarly journal articles, Avena’s research suggests that overeating of palatable foods can produce changes in the brain and behavior that resemble addiction, findings that have jump-started an entire new field of exploration and discovery related to the obesity epidemic. She has presented her research to an array of audiences, including pharmaceutical companies, diabetes-prevention groups, food-industry marketing executives, nutrition groups, and obesity-education groups, and has contributed to articles in Men’s Health, Psychology Today, Bloomberg Businessweek, and WebMD. The New York Academy of Sciences, the American Psychological Assoc., and the National Institute on Drug Abuse have honored her research achievements. Housed in the Springfield College School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, CWER’s mission of is to serve as the region’s pre-eminent source for best practices in nutrition and physical-activity programming for young people.

Daily News

WESTERN MASS. — Do you know someone who is truly making a difference in the Western Mass. region?

BusinessWest invites you to nominate an individual or group for its eighth annual Difference Makers program. Nominations for the class of 2016 must be received by the end of the business day (5 p.m.) on Friday, Nov. 20. Nominations can be completed online by visiting www.businesswest.com and clicking ‘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.

Daily News

NORTHAMPTON — Gove Law Office, LLC announced that founding attorney Michael Gove has been chosen as a 2015 Super Lawyers Rising Star in Massachusetts.

Only 2.5% of lawyers are named to the Rising Star list after having first been nominated by their peers. Nominated attorneys are then vetted and evaluated by practice area using a rigorous, multi-phase process for their professional achievement and activities, including experience, honors, and education.

Gove is a 2001 cum laude graduate of UMass Amherst, where he received a bachelor’s degree in political science. In 2004, he earned his juris doctor degree from Boston College School of Law. He is admitted to the Massachusetts and Connecticut bars, the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts, and the U.S. District Court of Connecticut.

Gove Law Office, with offices in Northampton and Ludlow, is a bilingual firm with attorneys who can assist clients in both English and Spanish, providing legal representation in the areas of business representation, commercial lending, residential and commercial real estate, estate planning, immigration, and bankruptcy. For more information, visit www.govelawoffice.com.

Daily News

PITTSFIELD — The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) presented Berkshire Bank with the Lender of the Quarter Award for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2015, acknowledging the significant SBA activity of the institution.

Berkshire Bank closed quarter four with a total of 25 SBA loan approvals in Connecticut, ending the fiscal year with 43 loans. Last year’s total was 41.

Berkshire Bank was also recognized as Top SBA Lender in Western Mass., Vermont, and the Central and Capital regions of New York, highlighting the commitment of Berkshire Bank in fueling small businesses within each of the communities it serves.

Berkshire has a team of small-business banking professionals located in every region throughout its footprint trained to help customers find the best combination of services. For more information regarding Berkshire Bank’s Small Business Lending programs, call (800) 773-5601.

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — United Personnel was awarded 17th place out of 100 Top Women-led Business in Massachusetts, as identified by the Commonwealth Institute and Boston Globe Magazine in an awards breakfast held at the Seaport Hotel in Boston, marking the eighth straight year United Personnel was recognized on the list.

The rankings represent a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, business services, healthcare, education, human services, and retail. Cumulatively, these 100 women-led companies produce $70 billion in revenue annually and employ 70,000 people in Massachusetts. These nominated companies were selected for revenue, women in leadership board and management roles, diversity among staff, and innovation for 2014.

United Personnel’s ingenuity focused on improving recruitment, retention, and performance of contract employees as well as developing additional services to support the human-resources needs of clients. Additionally, United Personnel developed new search strategies to identify strong candidates for full-time hire in this tight labor market.

“We are both thrilled and honored to be recognized among such a well-respected group of companies, and hope to continue our growth and innovation in order to deliver great service to our clients and candidates,” said Tricia Canavan, United Personnel president.

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Drew DiGiorgio was appointed president and CEO of Consolidated Health Plans Inc. (CHP) by the Berkshire Hathaway board of directors, including CHP founder Kevin Saremi.

DiGiorgio has served as CHP’s president since 2013, and was previously director of sales and marketing. He began his career at CHP in 1995, shortly after receiving a bachelor’s degree in business from Framingham State University.

In his new role as CEO, DiGiorgio will provide oversight of the company, reporting to the board of directors. He will continue expanding CHP’s business services to best meet the needs of clients and customers, with a focus on quality service.

CHP is a claim administrator providing affordable health insurance and special risk solutions for thousands of policyholders worldwide. It offers student health and accident plans, employee health and dental plans, FSA and HRA administration, and participant accident insurance and backroom claim administration for carriers. Since 2012, CHP has increased its workforce locally by 26%, and continues to forecast stable growth.

Daily News

WARE — Country Bank recently announced that long-time employee Shelley Regin was promoted to senior vice president, Marketing & Retail Banking. In this position, she draws on her 20-year tenure with the bank to lead marketing and retail-banking efforts.

Country Bank President Paul Scully believes Regin’s vast experience makes her well-suited for this role. “In her new position, she will undoubtedly draw on her deep-rooted knowledge of our customers, our staff, and her experience in working both in the retail banking and marketing departments.”

Regin holds a bachelor’s degree from Western New England University and earned a certification from the New England School for Financial Studies, a Mass. Bankers Assoc. program at Babson College. She serves on the Carson Center Advisory Board and the River East School to Career Board.

Country Bank is a full-service, mutual, community bank serving Central and Western Mass. with 15 offices in Ware, Palmer, West Brookfield, Brimfield, Belchertown, Wilbraham, Ludlow, Leicester, Paxton, Charlton, and Worcester. For more information, call (800) 322-8233 or visit www.countrybank.com.

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SPRINGFIELD — On Thursday, Nov. 19, the Ad Club of Western Massachusetts and trustees of the Order of William Pynchon will honor the recipients of the 2015 William Pynchon Award: Gary Bernice, Harold Grinspoon, Ronn and Donna Johnson, and Sue Ellen Panitch.

Presented every year since 1915 by the Ad Club, the Pynchon award recognizes community service and volunteerism in Western Mass. The award is named for Springfield founder William Pynchon.

The 200 Pynchon medalists represent a cross-section of humanity. Past recipients have included activists, poets, a volcanologist, an aviatrix, inventors, and others who reflect the heritage and history of the region. The common trait shared by all is their passion for giving back to the community, in immeasurable ways, with no expectation of anything in return.

Those chosen for the award represent the highest examples of selflessness and community spirit. This year’s honorees are no different. They include a high-school band director, a longtime philanthropist, a husband and wife who help provide accessibility to those with childhood disabilities, and a tireless supporter of causes such as protecting the Connecticut River and raising money for local nonprofits.

The event will begin at the Museum of Fine Arts with induction and presentation of the Pynchon Medal at 5:30 p.m., followed at 6:30 p.m. by the Centennial Celebration at the Museum of Springfield History at the Quadrangle, 21 Edward St., Springfield. Tickets can be purchased at adclubwm.org.

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SPRINGFIELD — White Lion Brewing Co. and the Student Prince will celebrate Suit Up Springfield’s first-year anniversary with a Bowties and Beers community-wide fund-raiser tonight, Nov. 13, at the Student Prince, 8 Fort St., Springfield.

The event, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., will feature a draft-beer lineup by White Lion, and the Student Prince will donate 10% of all food and beverage proceeds from the evening to Suit Up Springfield to supports its mission.

Suit Up Springfield was founded by Justin Roberts, Development officer at American International College, to promote self-sustainability among men seeking employment through the provision of interview attire and professional mentorship. Roberts recently completed his term as board president, and the board of directors will introduce its incoming president tonight.

Men’s professional clothing donations are encouraged, and can be made at the door of the event. All proceeds go directly to helping Suit Up Springfield continue to provide attire along with the personal and professional development and mentorship programs to Springfield men.

Visit www.suitupspringfield.com for more details and ongoing updates.

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SPRINGFIELD — This holiday season, the Springfield Business Improvement District (SBID) will present a Downtown Holiday Market on Main Street, and will host a Springfield Store that sells Springfield items, including Falcons, Symphony Hall, and CityStage tickets; local college apparel; and Springfield restaurant gift certificates.

The SBID is asking to restaurants to donate $50 worth of gift certificates for the Business Improvement District to use for future promotions in exchange for the SBID selling gift certificates at the Springfield Store. If an establishment ses written-out gift certificates, the SBID can fill out the price for customers. If they’re pre-loaded, the SBID is looking to sell certificates in increments of $25. For more information, call (413) 781-1591.

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SPRINGFIELD — Western New England University is ranked in the top 3% of colleges and universities among the top 1,275 public and private institutions reviewed in the U.S. by the Economist. The rankings analyzed which institutions offered the best value for the education received.

This new ranking formula utilizes data from the national College Scorecard released by the U.S. Department of Education in September 2015, and factors in how much college students are projected to earn after graduating versus what they actually earn.

The Economist’s results showed a predicted salary for undergraduates from Western New England University of $47,947, while the reported salary 10 years after enrolling was $55,100. Western New England University over-performed by $7,153 in predicted annual salary.

The data is consistent with findings recently published by the Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program, a larger and broader study, where Western New England University is ranked in the top 17% of nearly 8,000 college and universities in the U.S.

“For students who want to know which colleges are likely to boost their future salaries by the greatest amount, given their qualifications and preferences regarding career and location, we hope these rankings prove helpful,” the Economist noted. “The college rankings are based on a simple, if debatable, premise: the economic value of a university is equal to the gap between how much money its graduates and former students earn, and how much they might have made had they studied elsewhere.”

There are 114 colleges and universities in Massachusetts. The Economist report placed six institutions from Massachusetts in the top 3% of best-value universities.

“As families compare institutions during the college-selection process, Western New England University understands that their return on investment is always a priority,” said Bryan Gross, vice president for enrollment at Western New England University. “A Western New England education balances academics with experiential learning and cross-disciplinary programs, which help produce graduates who are prepared for a successful career.”

For more information about Western New England University, visit wne.edu.

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HOLYOKE — On Friday, Nov. 20, the United Arc will hold a grand-opening event at its new Positive Parenting Resource Center located at 208 Race Street, Suite 2, Holyoke.

The Positive Parenting Resource Center has been providing services to families since 1998 through the United Arc, based in Franklin County. Over the past several years, the United Arc extended services to Hampshire and Hampden counties, and is excited to have this new location in Holyoke. The Positive Parenting Resource Center provides in home parenting training and skill development for parents with learning differences, and also offers supervised visitation services.

Positive Parenting Program Director Susan Jones invites the public to attend the grand opening. Networking with light refreshments will begin at 8:30 a.m. Welcoming remarks and the grand-opening ceremony will be held at 9:15 a.m. Expected attendees include Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse, state Rep. Aaron Vega, and Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce President Kathleen Anderson.

The United Arc is committed to ensuring that individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities have full access to systems and opportunities that uphold human rights, enhance growth and well-being, offer choice, and promote full inclusion in society. This mission is carried out by providing services, conducting advocacy, identifying resources, and creating community partnerships.

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LONGMEADOW — Four new board members have been elected to the Bay Path University board of trustees. Delcie Bean IV, Kathleen Devlin, John Heaps Jr., and Hamline Wilson will each serve a three-year term.

Bean is the founder and CEO of Paragus Strategic, IT, one of the fastest-growing privately held companies in America. He also established Tech Foundry, a nonprofit technology institute that seeks to solve the shortage of computer-science professionals in the region. Most recently, he has been working with Valley Venture Mentors and DevelopSpringfield to launch the Springfield Innovation Center, which will include his Innovation Café concept, providing a place where people can share ideas, energy, and great coffee.

Devlin is a recently retired executive director from Johnson & Johnson. She spent several years in the healthcare industry, where she was responsible for sales, training, hiring, and strategic alliances. In her role as executive director, she managed the interface with the Fortune 40 employers and the major insurers for the 250 operating companies under the Johnson & Johnson umbrella in the Northeast. Prior to her advancement to executive director, she was responsible for negotiating large contracts for Johnson & Johnson, and earlier consulted to nine bioscience, pharmaceutical, and device companies, as well as negotiating large contracts for Roche and Syntex Laboratories.

Heaps is president and CEO of Florence Savings Bank (FSB). He joined the bank in 1995 following a distinguished 24-year banking career in Western Mass. that began in 1971 at Valley Bank in Springfield. Since joining FSB as its president in 1995, the bank has grown its assets from $272 million to a $1.1 billion. Heaps is currently a board member of the Hampshire County Regional Chamber, the Western Mass. Economic Development Council, the Depositors Insurance Fund, and Savings Bank Life Insurance. He was recently named chairman of the Western Mass. Sports Commission.

Wilson is a retired insurance executive with a career that spanned more than 30 years with the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. In his last position, he was the senior vice president and managing director of investments for the Springfield-based Fortune 500 firm. Among his many professional memberships, he was an avid supporter of the Rotary and Jaycees, and he served as a trustee for Johnson Memorial Hospital. He is currently on the pension board for the town of Somers, Conn.

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MONSON — Monson Savings Bank recently announced the introduction of Apple Pay for use with the bank’s personal and business debit cards.

Apple Pay is a new mobile payment system that allows people to pay for purchases using certain Apple devices in more than 1 million (so far) participating stores and within participating applications.

This payment system is more secure than traditional debit- or credit-card payments because, when people add their credit or debit cards to their Apple Wallet, the card numbers are not stored on the device, nor on Apple’s servers. Instead, a unique device account number is assigned, encrypted, and securely stored in the secure element on the device. Each transaction is authorized with a one-time ‘token,’ or unique security code, instead of using the security code from the back of the credit or debit card. Additionally, cashiers do not see names, card numbers, or card-security codes. The process is also known as ‘tokenization.’

“We’re extremely pleased to offer our individual and business customers this new, secure and private way to pay with their Monson Savings Bank debit cards,” said Steve Lowell, president and CEO of Monson Savings Bank. “There have been far too many security breaches involving stolen credit and debit numbers, and everyone is rightly concerned about payment security these days. This technology does a lot to allay those concerns. And it’s also extremely convenient and easy to use.”

Apple Pay is compatible with the following devices: iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s, and iPhone 6s Plus; Apple Watch paired with iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 6s, 6s Plus, 5, 5c, or 5s; and iPad Pro, iPad Air 2, iPad mini 3, and iPad mini 4.

People can learn more about Apple Pay and how to use it at monsonsavings.com.

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EAST LONGMEADOW — W.F. Young Inc., makers of Absorbine pet, equine, and livestock products, announced it has acquired Pure Ocean Botanicals, LLC of Petaluma, Calif.

Pure Ocean Botanicals products include Pet Kelp powdered supplements for dogs and cats, Kelpies soft chews for dogs, and Pet Kelp jerky for dogs. The acquisition expands Absorbine’s position in the pet-care market from its current topical flea/tick and grooming products into nutritional supplements, providing pet retailers with a more robust lineup from this dedicated animal health and wellness company.

“Since W.F. Young made the strategic decision to focus significant growth efforts in the companion animal market, we are always on the lookout for acquisitions to expand our presence, in addition to developing products in-house,” said Ken Oh, general manager, Pet Division. “Pure Ocean Botanicals is a perfect complement to our existing philosophy and way of doing business — namely, offering quality products intended to enhance the lives of our pets.”

Led by David Grover, who will remain involved as a consultant, Pure Ocean Botanicals was established in 2009. “W.F. Young has the sales and marketing strength and expertise to bring Pure Ocean Botanicals products to a much broader market,” Grover said. “I’m looking forward to helping expand distribution and consumer awareness of all our kelp-based nutritional supplements for dogs and cats.”

Many veterinarians and animal nutritionists recommend kelp as a holistic source of the essential nutrients pets require. Kelp, a class of seaweed, is known to be nutrient-rich, and kelp living in the ocean waters of Nova Scotia produce a particularly high nutrient content of 70 vitamins and minerals. The blend of Nova Scotia kelp used in Pure Ocean Botanicals products is among the purest and most nutrient-rich available, the company says.

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LONGMEADOW — The Center of Excellence for Women in STEM at Bay Path University will welcome Dr. Joan Bennett as the first speaker in its Women in STEM Speaker Series. Bennett’s lecture, “Hurricane Katrina, Fungi, and Feminism: One Woman’s Story,” takes place Thursday, Nov. 19, at 4:30 p.m. in Mills Theatre at Carr Hall on the university’s Longmeadow campus, and is free and open to the public.

It took a weather catastrophe to provide Bennett the opportunity to link her scientific fascination with fungi with her passion to promote STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) for women. Her house, submerged by the waters of Katrina, was the perfect laboratory. Meanwhile, her new position at Rutgers University allowed her to become a key influencer and role model for emerging young women scientists. Shuttling between New Orleans and New Jersey, Bennett entered a chapter in her career that provides the basis for her lecture.

Bennett will talk about her life journey, share her research, and tackle the questions that are still being asked in the scientific community and beyond, such as: why do men still dominate in leadership positions in the science and technology disciplines? Why can’t we keep young women interested in STEM even from an early age? What does the current research tell us about the intersection of sex and science? And much more.

Bennett is a distinguished professor of Plant Biology and Pathology at Rutgers. A past president of both the American Society for Microbiology and the Society for Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology, she was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 2005.

She received her Ph.D. at the University of Chicago, and, after more than 30 years on the faculty of Tulane University in New Orleans, she came to Rutgers University in 2006 in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. At Rutgers, she was charged with founding an Office for the Promotion of Women in Science, Engineering, and Mathematics. At Rutgers, Bennett runs a laboratory that does research on the volatile organic compounds emitted by fungi.

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WARE — Country Bank President Paul Scully announced that Phil Goncalves has been promoted to senior vice president, Commercial Lending.

Goncalves has been with Country Bank since 1992 in the Commercial Lending department. He has 31 years’ experience in the financial-services industry and manages the bank’s Commercial Lending team.

“Being a long-time employee, Goncalves is a familiar face to Country Bank customers and community members. It is terrific to be able to recognize him for all his contributions to his team and to the bank,” said Paul Scully, president and CEO.

Goncalves earned his MBA at Western New England University with a concentration in the field of finance and economics. He also attended the Massachusetts School for Financial Studies and the National School of Banking. He is active in the community and serves on the board of Junior Achievement, the Randall Boys & Girls Club, and the STCC Foundation. In addition, he is an adjunct professor at local colleges.

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HADLEY — Autobahn Indoor Speedway will begin construction this winter at Hampshire Mall. Autobahn’s 35,000-square-foot site will be the largest indoor karting facility in Western Mass. and will be located at Center Court across from Café Square and Cinemark.

Autobahn offers European-style go-karting in a completely enclosed facility. Each adult kart has a 20-horsepower electric motor that reaches speeds up to 50 mph, and the junior karts reach speeds up to 25 mph. For novice groups of racers, the sophisticated timing system allows for regulated speed in order to maintain a safe racing environment.

Autobahn — which also markets itself for special occasions such as birthday parties and corporate team-building events — currently operates locations in Baltimore, Md. and Jacksonville, Fla., and has plans to open more facilities. The Hadley location is projected to be open by spring. For more information, visit www.autobahnspeed.com.

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SPRINGFIELD — With Thanksgiving quickly approaching, the Gray House in Springfield is requesting donations to help the families it serves enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving meal.

“We are looking for all types of food related to the Thanksgiving holiday meal, but especially turkeys,” said Dena Calvanese, executive director of the Gray House. “We appreciate all food donations, but it doesn’t feel like Thanksgiving without a turkey. Also needed are gravy, stuffing, potatoes, canned yams or sweet potatoes, vegetables, cake mixes, pie crust, and pie filling.”

She added, “the need for emergency food by families is greater than ever. We normally serve 60 to 90 families per week. However, we recently served 140 families in just four hours. With the holiday approaching, we are expecting an even greater demand.”

The Gray House is a small neighborhood human-service agency located at 22 Sheldon St. in the North End of Springfield. Food donations can be dropped off Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., or by appointment. It would be appreciated if food donations, especially those collected at drives, could be delivered between Nov. 16 and Nov. 20 or on Saturday, Nov. 21 between 9 a.m. and noon.

The Gray House mission is to help its neighbors facing hardships to meet their immediate and transitional needs by providing food, clothing, and educational services in a safe, positive environment. In 2014, the Gray House food pantry provided emergency food to nearly 8,000 people. For more information about the Gray House, visit www.grayhouse.org.

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SPRINGFIELD — The Melha Shriners will host its fifth annual “Fez’tival of Trees” from Friday, Nov. 27 to Sunday, Dec. 6 at the Melha Shrine Center on Longhill Street in Springfield. The event, created by Shriner Bill Faust and his wife, Debbie, is an opportunity for individuals and organizations to display colorful decorations for the holiday season and Christmas in particular.

“Every year is bigger and better, and this year is no exception,” said Bill Faust. “You will be beyond impressed by what you will see, and you will definitely leave with the spirit of all holidays within you.”

The Fez’tival of Trees will be held weekdays, 4 to 8 p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Sundays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Santa Claus will be available for photos Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Around Town Singers will perform a special holiday concert on Saturday, Dec. 5 at 6 p.m. In addition to the theme-decorated trees, which will be raffled off on the festival’s final day, there will be entertainment, refreshments, and a bake sale.

“This holiday season, come to the Melha Shrine Center … and you will feel as though you have truly stepped into a wonderland,” said Debbie Faust.

The cost of admission is $2 for adults; children under age 12 will be admitted free. Ample free parking is available. For more information, visit melhashriners.com.

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HOLYOKE — The Marcotte Commercial Truck Center will celebrate its grand opening with a ribbon cutting and open house on Wednesday, Nov. 18.

Last fall, Marcotte Ford acquired the site of what is now the Marcotte Commercial Truck Center at 933 Main St. in Holyoke. This past May, the company broke ground on a 16-bay, state-of-the-art truck-repair facility, which will accommodate the service and repair of all light-, medium- and heavy-duty trucks.

This expansion of the Marcotte brand will bring six to 10 new jobs to the area and will deliver an even better service experience to both new and established Marcotte customers, the company promises.

The ribbon cutting will taker place between 4 and 5 p.m., followed by a celebration event from 5 to 7 p.m. The public is invited to tour the all-new facility, see Marcotte’s new state-of-the-art equipment, and meet the team. Event invitees include Holyoke City Council members and government officials, regional Ford representatives, current customers, and key stakeholders.

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AGAWAM — Insurance Center of New England (ICNE) will host a breakfast seminar covering a range of financial topics related to the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.

The seminar will be held on Thursday Dec. 3 at the Delaney House, 3 Country Club Road, Holyoke. Registration begins at 8 a.m., and the seminar gets underway at 8:30 a.m. This event is free and open to the public, and a hot breakfast will be served. RSVP for the seminar by Monday, Nov. 23 by calling (413) 750-7150 or e-mailing Erika Noble at [email protected].

Keynote speakers for the seminar include Peter Whalen, regional manager for CheckWriters Payroll, who will be discussing IRS Forms 1094 and 1095, and Shemeka Browne-Pohlman, ACA compliance specialist with Insurance Center of New England, who will be discussing the so-called ‘Cadillac tax.’

“For 2016, another level of implementation is taking place with the Affordable Care Act, so it’s important for individuals, families, and business owners to stay informed of their rights and responsibilities under the act,” said William Trudeau, president and CEO of ICNE. “This seminar is another example of our commitment to serving as an information resource regarding the often-complex world of insurance.”

With roots extending back to 1866, Insurance Center of New England offers an expansive array of insurance products. The agency is headquartered in Agawam and has seven locations throughout the state.

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BOSTON — Mass. Department of Energy Resources (DOER) Commissioner Judith Judson announced that Daniel Knapik, who chose not to run for a fourth term as Westfield mayor this year, will serve as director of Green Communities, a division of DOER that works with all 351 Massachusetts cities and towns to find clean-energy solutions that reduce long-term energy costs and strengthen local economies.

Specifically, the division provides technical assistance and financial support for municipal initiatives to improve energy efficiency and increase the use of renewable energy in public buildings, facilities, and schools.

“We are excited to have Dan Knapik join the department as the director of our Green Communities division,” Judson said. “His years of municipal leadership will be a great asset as we work with every city and town to address their energy needs.”

Added Knapik, “I look forward to working on behalf of the Commonwealth’s citizens to further the energy and sustainability goals of the Baker-Polito administration.”

During Knapik’s time as mayor, Westfield undertook an aggressive and comprehensive program to modernize its school and city infrastructure. Under his leadership, many of the city’s schools and its City Hall have been renovated to include energy-efficiency components.

Prior to his election as mayor, he served on the Westfield City Council from 2002 to 2009. In the years leading up to his role in public service, he was a principal at Environmental Compliance Services Inc., of Agawam. He has worked in the environmental field since 1989.