Special Occasions: A chart of the region’s Banquet Facilities
Click HERE to download the PDF
Year: 2015
Lisa Pack
Holyoke Medical Center (HMC) announced that Lisa Pack has been named Nurse of the Year by the March of Dimes Massachusetts Chapter in the category of Labor and Delivery. This is the third consecutive year a Holyoke Medical Center nurse has received this elite distinction. “Lisa is highly deserving of this prestigious recognition,” said Spiros Hatiras, president and CEO of HMC and Valley Health Systems Inc. “Holyoke Medical Center prides itself on its exemplary team of professionals such as Lisa, who demonstrate consummate skill and deep compassion in providing critical nursing care.” Added Pack, “I am humbled to be recognized by the March of Dimes to be chosen for this award. I feel blessed to be a member of the Birthing Center staff, where I have now worked for 22 years since it opened. It is a job I love and where we work as a team to support and empower women to have the birth they desire. I am also deeply committed to MotherWoman and postpartum depression, for which I facilitate a weekly support group at Midwifery Care of Holyoke.” Pack will be honored at a reception in the Holyoke Medical Center lobby on Monday, Oct. 26 at 2 p.m.
•••••
Berkshire Hills Bancorp Inc. announced the promotion of Richard Marotta to president of Berkshire Bank and Sean Gray to chief operating officer of the bank. Marotta will be responsible for all aspects of administration, risk, and infrastructure, including people and systems, compliance, and credit. He has been serving Berkshire as executive vice president, chief risk and administrative officer since 2013. Gray will be responsible for the operating teams of the bank, including retail, commercial, small business, home lending, wealth management, and insurance. He has been serving Berkshire as executive vice president, retail banking since 2010. “Richard and Sean are results-driven, high-integrity leaders that have been integral to the growth of this company, and this promotion reflects their contributions. As we continue to execute on our strategic vision, their leadership and ability is increasingly important to our success,” said Michael Daly, CEO of the bank and the company. Additionally, the bank promoted three executives — George Bacigalupo, Josephine Iannelli, and Linda Johnston — to senior executive vice president, while promoting eight others to the executive team, broadening the responsibilities of these leaders and creating a more effective operating structure. They are Michael Carroll, executive vice president, chief risk and credit officer; James Curran, executive vice president, regional commercial leader, Central Mass. and Connecticut; Mark Foster, executive vice president, regional commercial leader, Eastern Mass. and ABL; Tami Gunsch, executive vice president, retail banking; Scott Houghtaling, executive vice president, regional commercial leader, New York; Allison O’Rourke, executive vice president, investor relations and financial institution banking; Deborah Stephenson, executive vice president, compliance and regulatory; and Gary Urkevich, executive vice president, IT and project management.
•••••
Miranda Rowe
United Personnel announced the promotion of staff member Miranda Rowe. Formerly an administrative coordinator in United Personnel’s main office in Springfield, Rowe has been promoted to a recruiter. In her new role, she will be assisting United’s Light Industrial and Professional divisions in sourcing and interviewing candidates. She will also oversee community-outreach activities including off-site recruitment, attending job fairs, and working with training programs to place graduates.
•••••
St. Germain Investment Management announced the hiring of Richard Bleser as vice president and portfolio manager, and Thaddeus Welch as portfolio manager. Bleser manages investment portfolios, assists with trading, and performs analytical duties on both the fixed-income and equity sides. He brings experience and knowledge in fund analysis and portfolio management. He was previously the chief investment officer at Berkshire Bank in Pittsfield. While at Meridian Capital Partners Inc., he was responsible for macroeconomic, S&P 500, and hedge-fund analysis. Prior to Meridian, Bleser was an equity analyst with Paradigm Capital Management Inc., where he generated long- and short-investment ideas in the small-cap specialty retail, leisure, and technology-distribution sectors. He began his career as a client analyst with Ayco Co., a Goldman Sachs Company. Active within the community, he has been involved with nonprofits and is also a trustee for the Berkshire Housing [401(k)] Plan. He holds bachelor’s degrees in economics and business administration from the State University of New York at Albany. Welch is responsible for managing trading activities and performing fundamental economic and sector research to assist in investment strategy development. He comes to the firm from Berkshire Bank in Pittsfield, where he managed portfolios in addition to providing analysis and research on market, corporate, and economic activities. Prior to Berkshire Bank, Welch was an assistant portfolio manager and a member of the investment committee at Spinnaker Trust in Portland, Maine. He received his bachelor’s degree in economics from Bowdoin College. He has completed all three levels of the CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) program.
•••••
Beetle Press, a public-relations and communications firm in Easthampton, recently welcomed Ruby Dillon to the team to serve as an editorial assistant. Dillon earned a bachelor’s degree in public relations this year from Champlain College in Vermont. While in college, she served as a PR intern for a mission-driven nonprofit that provides respite for cancer patients by giving them a therapeutic sail on Lake Champlain. Through this experience, Dillon realized her passion for standing behind a cause and has since worked to promote various nonprofits. Janice Beetle, principal of Beetle Press, said Dillon is a key Beetle Press partner, handling the development of press releases and overseeing internal writing and web projects as well.
•••••
Leesa Wallace
Kevin Matheny
The Employers Assoc. of the NorthEast announced that Leesa Wallace has joined EANE as its new director of Learning & Development, and Kevin Matheny will serve as the new controller. Wallace will spearhead the EANE learning and development offerings, designing and customizing a diverse array of more than 500 substantive training programs each year. She replaces Susan Miller, who served in the role of director of Learning & Development for more than 18 years. Wallace is a learning strategist, guiding individuals, teams, and organizations to help them identify their most critical needs and create solutions that have real impact. She helps strengthen the capacity of individual contributors, creates clarity and collaboration on teams, and teaches leaders how to engage and tap into the potential of their people. Matheny has more than 15 years of progressive management experience across a broad range of business functions and industry segments including manufacturing, property management, financial services, and not-for-profit. He guides EANE with a combination of talent, technical knowledge, and business acumen in all reporting, operations, internal controls, and compliance areas. He replaces Paul Correia, who will assume full-time responsibility for membership as the new director of Member Relations. With a focus on maximizing revenues via budgeting and other strategic initiatives, Matheny, a certified public accountant, is known for his ability to manage costs through improved efficiencies and the elimination of redundancies. He has increased profitability by seeking out lower-cost solutions, implementing stricter purchasing protocols, and reducing overhead costs.
•••••
Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) recently named Beth McGinnis-Cavanaugh the recipient of the Anthony M. Scibelli Endowed Chair and Gary Masciadrelli and Paul Thornton recipients of the Joseph J. Deliso Sr. Endowed Chairs. Each year, STCC faculty are nominated for an endowed chair by their colleagues and then invited to apply. Applications are reviewed by an award-selection committee composed of faculty and staff. Winners are then selected by the STCC Foundation executive committee. The awards include a $3,000 grant given to each recipient, half of which is applied to professional development for the recipient and half of which is given to the recipient’s academic department. The Anthony M. Scibelli Endowed Chair was established in 1992 to recognize and foster faculty excellence. McGinnis-Cavanaugh, professor of Physics and Civil Engineering, will donate her funds to STCC’s chapter of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) to fund service projects and cover event costs. She is the faculty advisor to the chapter, which she created last year. Established in 1993 by the family of industrialist Joseph J. Deliso Sr., the Deliso Endowed Chair is awarded annually by the STCC Foundation in recognition of excellence in teaching. Masciadrelli, a professor and department chair in Mechanical Engineering Technology, will use the award funds to update software in his department to an industry standard product called PC-DMIS for coordinate-measuring machines. Thornton, professor and tri-chair of Business Administration, said award funds will be used to purchase a new printer and flip charts for his department as well as a set of multi-walkers which will be used in team-building exercises with his students.
•••••
Dani Klein Williams, owner and lead photographer at Dani Fine Photography, was approached earlier this year by Amherst Media Publications about creating a book, set to be released in early 2016, focusing on the art and business of boudoir photography. Covering an array of topics in keeping with this theme, the book will comprise practical business advice as well as the step-by-step photographic techniques used by a successful professional photographer. For updates and more information on the progress of this project, follow the studio on Instagram and Facebook.
•••••
The Gilded Lily Florist, a Sixteen Acres business for more than 30 years, announced a new owner, Brian Grisel. A Springfield resident, Grisel began working in a flower shop during his teens and is currently a floral designer with more than three decades of experience. Previous clients include Katherine Hepburn, Andy Williams, Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King, Barbara Bush, Conan O’Brien, Mikhail Baryshnikov and Rudolph Nureyev, Lee Radziwill (sister of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis), the Baroness Philippine de Rothschild, Princess Maria Trubetskaya, Princess Irina Bagration, Countess Sophia Cheremteff, the Baroness Carmen Thyssen-Bornemisza, as well as several previous governors of Connecticut and local politicians and corporate heads.
HOLYOKE — Tonight, Oct. 19, at 6 p.m. in the Carriage House at Wistariahurst, Libby Franck will discuss the life and work of Harold Friermood, perhaps best known as the individual who got volleyball into the Olympics, but also the man whose volleyball collection would eventually become the seed for the Volleyball Hall of Fame in Holyoke.
Friermood was a man who succeeded by doing what he loved and sharing his expertise and skills with others. Franck is his daughter and a gifted storyteller. Admission cost is $7 for the general public, $5 for museum members, and free for all students (with ID).
For more information about Wistariahurst or to view a schedule of upcoming events, visit www.wistariahurst.org.
HADLEY — The Tom Cosenzi Driving for the Cure Charity Golf Tournament announced it has raised $103,000 to support Dr. Patrick Wen and his team of researchers in the Neuro-Oncology Department at Dana Farber Cancer Institute. In the last seven years, the tournament has raised more than a half-million dollars.
Due to the tremendous support that this year’s tournament attracted, the event was expanded to Crestview Country Club and Oak Ridge Golf Club. The four-player scramble drew 220 golfers and 250 banquet guests. It included a full day of golf, dinner, and a silent and live auction in the evening. AutoTrader was the event’s platinum sponsor.
“This tournament was created in memory of our father, who passed away from a glioblastoma brain tumor. Whether you were a sponsor, a golfer, a donor, or a volunteer, we would like to thank everyone for their participation,” said Carla Cosenzi, president of TommyCar Auto Group. “We are extremely proud to support Dana-Farber’s world-class researchers’ work to reduce and ultimately eliminate the burden of cancer.”
For more information on the Tom Cosenzi Driving for the Cure Charity Golf Tournament, visit www.tomcosenzidrivingforthecure.com.
WESTFIELD — A Plus HVAC of Westfield is one of nine New England-based contractors to receive a 2015 COOL SMART award. The firm, led by owner and President Nathan LeMay, has received this honor for three consecutive years.
The honors were presented recently at the annual golf tournament of the Air Conditioning Assoc. of New England. Sponsored by the Massachusetts/Rhode Island COOL SMART program, the awards are given out during the sporting event held in Stow. The winning contractors specialize in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning and are recognized for quality installation of energy-saving equipment and their overall contributions to the program.
COOL SMART is a high-efficiency heating and cooling rebate program for residential customers of National Grid, Eversource, Unitil, and the Cape Light Compact. These program administrators sponsor the awards and the tournament to recognize contractors in Massachusetts and Rhode Island for outstanding service and an ongoing commitment to energy efficiency. Launched in 2004, COOL SMART promotes the purchase and installation of Energy Star-qualified and high-efficiency air conditioners, heat pumps, and water heaters. Awards are distributed annually to recognize outstanding contractors for leadership, quality work, and active program participation.
“For the past decade, we have witnessed more and more contractors participating in COOL SMART,” said Kevin Parse, Unitil program coordinator. “This program is important to public health because greenhouse-gas emissions and pollution are reduced by up to 30% as a result of their outstanding work. On behalf of Eversource, we are proud to be affiliated with the program and its committed contractors throughout the region. We applaud A Plus HVAC for its third consecutive win and hope to see even more participants next year.”
To learn more about becoming a COOL SMART contractor, or for general program information, visit www.masssave.com or call (800) 473-1105.
NORTHAMPTON — Webber and Grinnell Insurance Agency announced several recent changes at its North King Street office in Northampton.
Mat Geffin has been named vice president and equity partner at Webber and Grinnell. He started at the agency in 2009 as vice president of business development in the commercial-lines department, and quickly established himself as a leader at the agency. Geffin leads the sales efforts at Webber and Grinnell, in addition to managing a large book of business encompassing the construction, habitational, manufacturing, and nonprofit market niches. He is an active board member for the United Way of Pioneer Valley, Tech Foundry, and the philanthropic services committee at the Community Foundation.
Jenna Rodrigue has been promoted to commercial lines supervisor. She leads a team of eight business-insurance specialists and is responsible for the day-to-day service of the agency’s commercial clientele. She began her career at Webber and Grinnell 12 years ago as a commercial lines customer-service representative.
Kathy Cusson has been named personal lines supervisor. Part of the Webber and Grinnell team since 1989, she leads a staff of nine and is responsible for the day-to-day servicing of the agency’s personal-lines clients.
In addition, Webber and Grinnell recently unveiled a new look and logo. “We felt it was time to contemporize things at the agency,” said President Bill Grinnell. “We wanted a logo that reflects our progressive culture and makes a statement to current and future clients.”
Webber and Grinnell has been serving personal and business insurance clients throughout the Pioneer Valley for more than 100 years. For more information about its services, call (413) 586-0111 or visit www.webberandgrinnell.com.
GREENFIELD — Michael Tucker, President and CEO of Greenfield Cooperative Bank, announced that April Healey has joined the bank as a mortgage originator at the bank’s main office, 63 Federal St., Greenfield.
Healey has more than 14 years of experience in real estate, most recently at a local, regional bank. She will be responsible for originating residential mortgage loans in Franklin and Hampshire counties.
She attended Holyoke Community College and has held various positions with the Realtor Assoc. of Pioneer Valley, including director and chairperson of its Realtor Public Image Committee.
Greenfield Cooperative Bank and its Northampton Cooperative Bank division is a community-based institution with more than $525 million in assets and $60 million in capital reserves. The bank provides residential mortgages, commercial loans, and deposit products at 10 offices in Western Mass.
EAST LONGMEADOW — Aaron Smith, P.C., a certified public accounting firm serving individuals and businesses in the Pioneer Valley, supplied 10 volunteers for the United Way of Pioneer Valley Day of Caring last month.
The Day of Caring is the largest day of service in the Pioneer Valley, bringing more than 1,000 people together to complete community-service work throughout the region. Aaron Smith employees participated in the Day of Caring by working with a local YMCA to close up a summer camp for the season. Camp Weber, part of the West Springfield YMCA, has been serving young people for more than 150 years. Generations have enjoyed the 75 acres of wooded property located on Dewey Street, which needs a thorough cleaning at the beginning and end of each season.
“It was a pleasure working with Camp Weber as part of the United Way Day of Service,” said Joanna Smigiel of Aaron Smith. “We helped by sweeping out the various buildings at the camp and cleaning refrigerators, sinks, cabinets, and washrooms. We also moved picnic tables inside for the winter, moved various supplies into an indoor storage unit, and generally cleaned up the grounds.”
The Day of Caring was established to promote the spirit of volunteerism, increase awareness of local human-service organizations, and demonstrate how people working together for the common good can accomplish great things.
“It’s such a rewarding experience to help an organization that brings joy, education, and life skills to our area youth,” said Scott Betsher, certified public accountant and director at Aaron Smith. “We pride ourselves on our relationship with the United Way of Pioneer Valley, knowing that what we do together really makes a difference in the communities we serve. We are not afraid to roll up our sleeves to get the job done. This is how we approach our volunteer work and how we work on your business.”
BOSTON — Should a landlord’s mistake handling a security deposit give a tenant a defense against eviction? That is the question the Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) will decide after hearing oral arguments on Thursday, Nov. 5, a decision that could have major ramifications for landlord-tenant law and rents in Massachusetts. On Tuesday, the court received an amicus brief from Amherst attorney Peter Vickery on behalf of the statewide group MassLandlords.net.
“The short answer is no,” says Vickery. “A security-deposit mistake does not give a tenant a defense against a landlord’s claim for possession.”
The question came up in the case of Meikle v. Nurse, where the landlord had not followed all the rules regarding security deposits. The judge allowed the tenant’s security-deposit counterclaim, but — because the dollar value of the counterclaim was outweighed by the rent the tenant owed — the judge granted the landlord possession. The tenant, represented by the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau, appealed, and the SJC opted to take it up from the Appeals Court’s docket.
“It’s about the distinction between a counterclaim and a defense,” said Vickery, whose practice focuses on civil litigation, particularly in the areas of landlord-tenant and employment law. “Nobody disputes that, if a landlord who is suing for rent and possession has violated the security-deposit laws, then the tenant can raise that as a counterclaim. The statute makes that clear. The statute also says that some claims and counterclaims can also serve as defenses. There’s a list of them in Chapter 239, Section 2A. Security-deposit violations are not on that list.”
According to the brief filed by the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau, the counterclaim is also a defense because another part of Chapter 239 (Section 8A) says that a tenant may raise any claim “by defense or counterclaim.” But, Vickery argues, the word ‘or’ really matters.
“The word ‘or’ is disjunctive,” he noted. “Colloquially we use it to mean ‘and/or,’ but in statutes and other legal documents, it means ‘one but not both.’ If the Legislature had intended to abolish the distinction between counterclaims and defenses, it would have done so. But instead it used the word ‘or.’ And it could have included security-deposit violations in the list of defenses in section 2A, but it chose not to.”
Security deposits are supposed to help a landlord guard against the risk of property damage. But many landlords are already reluctant to take security deposits because the rules about them are complicated and it is easy to make a mistake.
“We routinely receive requests for help where either the landlord or in some cases the bank has messed up compliance with the complicated security-deposit law,” said Doug Quattrochi, executive director of MassLandlords.net. “It’s not surprising Harvard Legal Aid is confused.”
Even a simple mistake can lead to the landlord paying the tenant treble damages (three months’ rent) plus legal fees. This encourages landlords to refuse security deposits and lower risk through higher rents. If the SJC decides that security-deposit violations do give rise to a defense against possession, even fewer landlords will ask for security deposits, and rents will rise accordingly.
MassLandlords.net was launched in February 2014 as the first professionally staffed trade association for landlords in Massachusetts. Vickery is a a graduate of Boston University School of Law and a former member of the Governor’s Council.
BOSTON — Continuing a series of initiatives to combat the opioid epidemic, Gov. Charlie Baker unveiled legislation to provide medical personnel with the power to intervene with patients suffering from addiction, control the spread of addictive prescription opioids, and increase education about substance-use disorder for providers and in the community.
The bill, titled “An Act Relative to Substance Use Treatment, Education and Prevention,” contains several additional provisions developed by the Governor’s Opioid Working Group to address prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery.
“Combating the opioid epidemic in the Commonwealth calls for a comprehensive approach, and filing today’s landmark legislation is a critical step toward creating more effective treatment pathways and better controlling opioid-prescribing practices for first-time patients,” Baker said. “Our administration has already implemented a series of the working group’s recommendations to tackle this epidemic from every angle, ranging from prevention to recovery support.”
This bill calls for new requirements for practitioners, educators, and communities and amends the civil-commitment statute to specify that women committed for substance-use treatment may be sent to new secure treatment units approved by the departments of Public Health and Mental Health, and ends the practice of sending women to MCI Framingham for treatment.
Further, medical professionals will be granted the authority to involuntarily commit an individual for treatment for 72 hours if they pose a danger to themselves or others. Currently, individuals suffering from substance-use disorders can be held for treatment only through an order from the courts, which are not always in session, limiting access for families and patients in need of a 24-hour ‘front door’ to treatment for a substance-related emergency.
To better control opioid-prescribing practices, the legislation contains a provision limiting patients to a 72-hour supply the first time they are prescribed an opioid or when they are prescribed an opioid from a new doctor. Practitioners will also be required to always check the Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) prior to prescribing an opioid to a patient, and will be required to fulfill five hours of training on pain management and addiction every two years.
“Our administration is utilizing every tool in the toolbox to fight the opioid crisis tainting every corner of the Commonwealth,” said Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, adding that the bill “serves as the latest call to action to execute a dynamic strategy, and we look forward to working with the legislature to enact meaningful laws to help our citizens.”
A full update on the progress of the Governor’s Opioid Working Group can be found at www.mass.gov/stopaddiction.
AGAWAM — Tim Irwin and Chris Mader of OMG Inc., have been named in the annual 30 Under 30 Awards given jointly by Young Fastener Professionals and the Fastener Industry Coalition.
“To be recognized by this prestigious group is certainly a high honor for these two outstanding individuals, and also for OMG,” said Hubert McGovern, president of OMG. “We are very proud of their accomplishments and for this great industry recognition.”
The 30 Under 30 Awards are given annually to young industry professionals who are making a difference in the fastener industry. Ideal candidates are leaders who are driven, motivated, and passionate about their jobs and the future of the fastener industry. Individual nominations are selected based on several criteria, including their contribution to measurable results in the form of cost savings, sales increases, and design-efficiency increases.
Irwin is a product manager with FastenMaster, where he is responsible for the LOK line of structural wood fasteners. He was cited for his team leadership as well as significant contributions he has made on the success of the FlatLOK, the ThruLOK, and the FastenMaster business as a whole. In his role as product manager, he has been able to significantly impact sales revenue and profits and has demonstrated a keen ability to drive product development based on end-user needs.
Mader is a codes/approvals support engineer for OMG’s Roofing Products division, responsible for helping evaluate new products, as well as developing and maintaining technical product specifications, maintaining code approvals, and keeping abreast of technical changes and advancements in the commercial-roofing industry. He has been instrumental in helping OMG understand critical compliance standards and requirements for products sold in various international markets and for his work with products designed to secure solar PV racking systems to commercial roofs.
The winners from this year’s 30 Under 30 Awards will be recognized at the National Fastener Industrial & Mill Supply Expo in Las Vegas on Saturday, Oct. 21.
Headquartered in Agawam, OMG Inc. is North America’s largest manufacturer of specialty fasteners and products for commercial and residential construction applications. The company operates two business units: OMG Roofing Products and FastenMaster.
SPRINGFIELD — The Museum School at the Springfield Museums is currently offering courses and experiential learning opportunities for both children and adults. Spaces are still available for fall courses and trips. Gift certificates are also available, and make unique and memorable gifts during the holidays.
All courses are led by experienced and supportive instructors, in topics tied to the museums’ collections and special traveling exhibits. Fall courses for young people include explorations in astronomy and health science, and courses that feature parental involvement, like ‘candy chemistry’ and a creative-writing workshop for home-schooled children and their parents.
Offerings for adults during the fall session include lectures in “Art & Architecture in the Year 1500: Italy, Inca & Asia,” as well as drawing, painting, and sculpting classes. There are also holiday-themed courses in the culinary arts (“Harvest Festivals”), floral design, and classes in the use of origami to create ornaments and gift boxes. Many courses are one-day offerings, allowing even the busiest adults to participate.
Adult travel opportunities are also being planned, including excursions to see the ancient ruins of Peru, the national parks of the Old West, and the French Riviera and Provence.
For complete course descriptions, travel itineraries, fees, and to register, visit springfieldmusuems.org under the ‘Learn and Travel’ tab, or call (413) 263-6800, ext. 377 or 382.
BOSTON — The state’s total unemployment rate dropped to 4.6% in September, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development announced Thursday.
The preliminary job estimates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate Massachusetts lost 7,100 jobs in September. The job losses occurred in the education and health services; trade, transportation, and utilities; construction; and manufacturing sectors. However, year-to-date, Massachusetts has added 46,900 jobs.
The preliminary estimates show 3,406,700 Massachusetts residents were employed in September, and 163,100 were unemployed, for a total labor force of 3,569,800. The labor force decreased by 21,900 from 3,591,700 in August, as 17,200 fewer residents were employed and 4,600 fewer residents were unemployed over the month.
The statewide unemployment rate in August was 4.7%. Over the year, the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell 1.0% from 5.6% in September 2014. The September state unemployment rate remains lower than the national rate of 5.1% reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
“The Massachusetts unemployment rate continues to decline. Although the state experienced job losses in September, the overall jobs picture is strong,” Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Ronald Walker II said.
The state’s labor force participation rate — the total number of residents 16 or older who worked or were unemployed and actively sought work in the last four weeks — decreased 0.4% to 64.9% over the month. The labor-force participation rate over the year has decreased 0.6% compared to September 2014.
September 2015 estimates show that 3,406,800 residents were employed, and 163,100 were unemployed. There were 35,400 fewer unemployed persons over the year compared to September 2014.
The largest private-sector percentage job gains over the year were in professional, scientific, and business services; leisure and hospitality; and education and health services.
SPRINGFIELD — Advanced manufacturing in New England and the skills gap will be discussed as part of a national report produced by Deloitte Consulting, LLP and the New England Council at the Professional Women’s Chamber (PWC) Headline Luncheon at the Western Mass. Business Expo on Wednesday, Nov. 4, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the MassMutual Center.
Alison Lands, senior manager for Deloitte Consulting’s Strategy and Operations practice and co-author and editor of “Advanced to Advantageous: The Case for New England’s Manufacturing Revolution,” will present highlights of the report as well as the strength of this backbone industry and the skills-gap challenges facing it.
According to the report, the industry sector has evolved to encompass aerospace and defense, medical devices and biotechnology, complex electronics, precision machining and optics. Despite the difficulties of the recession, advanced manufacturing has proven to be a resilient sector of the economy and is poised for a revolution.
However, it faces numerous challenges. It no longer relies on unskilled labor but rather requires a workforce skilled in technology, innovation and information. In addition to a generation of workers facing retirement, there exists a dearth of skilled workers qualified to work in manufacturing as well as an underskilled labor pool to fill available job vacancies within the industry. In addition, the report notes, the industry “suffers from a lack of brand awareness that keeps talent at arm’s length from meaningful employment opportunities.”
Lands will discuss the evolution of the industry, the challenges associated with such a skills gap, and the opportunities that New England can capitalize on to serve as accelerators for growth.
With a background in economics and more than 15 years of experience in public administration and professional services, Lands partners with leaders of state, local, and regional agencies to achieve results in the areas of health and human services, economic and workforce development, disaster recovery and resiliency, and transportation.
She holds a master’s degree in public and economic policy with a concentration in urban policy from the London School of Economics, a master’s degree in public administration with a concentration in urban policy from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, and a bachelor’s degree from Trinity University.
Prior to joining Deloitte Consulting, she served as the senior economic-development specialist for the city of San Antonio, Texas.
James Brett, president and CEO of the New England Council, will join Lands for the presentation, made possible by the office of U.S. Rep. Richard Neal.
Advance registration for the luncheon is suggested, the cost is $40 per person. While this luncheon is included in the PWC Headline Luncheon Season Pass, season pass holders are required to pre-register. Registrations may be made online at www.professionalwomenschamber.com or by e-mailing [email protected].
AMHERST — Author and dance educator Sakina Ibrahim will facilitate a workshop for parents and their children using her acclaimed book Big Words to Little Me, an event sponsored by Clinical & Support Options Inc. and taking place on Wednesday, Nov. 18 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Bridge Family Resource Center, 101 University Dr., Amherst.
This workshop is for caregivers and their children (ages 9 and older) and serves as a creative approach to self-development and communication that focuses on addressing personal and collective challenges in order to discover the power of choice and determination. Using movement, dramatic arts, and Ibrahim’s book, each parent and child are guided toward methods of empowerment, self-discovery, and bonding. Free dinner and free child care will be provided
This workshop is free, but space is limited, and pre-registration is required. For information, call Bridge Family Resource Center Director Kristal Cleaver at (413) 549-0470.
SPRINGFIELD — The Massachusetts secretary of state has given final approval to the merger between the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield (ACCGS) and the Springfield Chamber of Commerce to officially form the Springfield Regional Chamber.
At a meeting of both the ACCGS and the Springfield Chamber, the membership of the ACCGS and the Springfield Chamber voted in person and by proxy to unanimously approve the merger and create the new organization. The creation of one unified organization was the result of more than two years of discussions, comprehensive analyses, reviews of best practices, and benchmarking against chambers across the country.
Under the previous model, the ACCGS served as an umbrella organization providing services and benefits to a collective of affiliate chambers: the Springfield Chamber of Commerce, the Professional Women’s Chamber of Commerce (PWC), and the East of the River Five Town Chamber of Commerce (ERC5). The new organization reflects the merger of the ACCGS and Springfield into one organization.
“Our region is one economic marketplace,” said chamber President Jeffrey Ciuffreda. “This merger better reflects the regional thinking of our membership, and, as a result, we have a clearer and strengthened vision, stronger collaborations with existing regional partners, and greater opportunities for new ones. It enables the chamber to grow so that its members can grow, too.”
He added that the move “also allows us to have a stronger, more unified voice to better shape policy on Beacon Hill and in Washington,” and noted that the merger also allows the chamber to have an increased regional presence to help drive growth, a more cohesive structure, operational efficiencies, and more effective and impactful use of resources. “In the end, this merger should provide for an increased level of service to our members so that we can maximize their financial investment in us.”
While the ERC5 voted not to merge, the Springfield Regional Chamber will continue to provide services to these members through the remainder of their membership term. “We continue to work with the ERC5 and its leadership to identify mutually beneficial ways to work together to strengthen the region as a whole,” said Ciuffreda.
Meanwhile, the Springfield Regional Chamber has debuted its new logo. According to Nancy Creed, the chamber’s vice president of marketing and communications, the new logo has a more modern look. “We wanted the logo to better reflect what we do rather than who we are,” she said. “Many still don’t understand what a chamber does, but this logo, specifically the words ‘Connect to Commerce,’ clearly reflect our purpose.”
The logo, created by Creed with assistance from consultant Gary Czelusniak, centers around the number two because, as Creed noted, “partnerships take two for success — the chamber and a business, the chamber and the region, the chamber and its members, not to mention the businesses and consumers, businesses and employees, and the list goes on. Success is all about working together and building relationships.”
She said the choice of colors also are significant, noting that orange represents enthusiasm, creativity, success, strength, and endurance, and is a color highly accepted among the younger generations. “Believe it or not, seeing the color orange actually increases the oxygen supply to the brain and stimulates mental activity, and people associate orange with good value.”
She said grey, on the other hand, is associated with power, strength, authority, prestige without being overly formal, reliability, and stability. “Grey is also perceived as long-lasting and classic. That holds true for us since we have been connecting people to commerce for more than a century.”
Springfield Regional Chamber members in good standing can use the new logo on their websites as a means of communicating to consumers their commitment and investment in the chamber.
The chamber is also working on a new website, www.springfieldregionalchamber.com, and chamber staff have all transitioned to the new domain name for their e-mail addresses.
BOSTON — Gov. Charlie Baker has proclaimed October Cyber Security Awareness Month in Massachusetts in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security’s National Cyber Security Awareness Month, to engage and educate the public and private sectors about preparedness for issues related to cybersecurity.
“This month is a great opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity for the people of Massachusetts, our businesses, and state government,” Baker said. “The cybersecurity field also represents a great opportunity for Massachusetts to utilize the multi-disciplinary collection of assets and capacities in our universities, our industries, and our government to be a leader globally in cybersecurity services.”
Added Kristen Lepore, secretary of the Executive Office for Administration and Finance, “MassIT’s Enterprise Security Office is essential to ensuring the security of the state’s data. Their collaboration with the federal government and national groups like the Multi-State Information Sharing & Analysis Center (MS-ISAC) allows the state to share best practices about cybersecurity with our partners at the local level.”
According to Kevin Burns, the Commonwealth’s chief information security officer, “we recognize that the single most important element of cybersecurity for constituents is safeguarding their private, personal information. Ensuring privacy and security to the greatest possible extent is central to our work, and to help us in that endeavor, we are fortunate to actively collaborate and partner with the nation’s most critical players in this space — from the Department of Homeland Security and the Multi-State Information Sharing & Analysis Center to industry-leading private-sector organizations.”
To raise awareness throughout the month of October, MassIT will post new content on the state’s cybersecurity homepage, www.mass.gov/cybersecurity. A digital cybersecurity awareness campaign using billboards will also run throughout the state as part of the state Department of Transportation’s Public Service Announcement Program.
NORTHAMPTON — Beloved Earth, the Pioneer Valley’s first green cleaning company, has promoted Lynn Moynahan to the position of assistant vice president in charge of the residential services division.
Beloved Earth co-founders David and Terra Missildine serve as company president and vice president, respectively. David oversees commercial services, and Terra oversees general operations.
Moynahan has been with Beloved Earth for three years and previously served in the role of residential services manager for Hampshire County only. In her new position, Moynahan will oversee the entire residential services team, including managers in other counties.
Beloved Earth employs a total of 12 staff members in its two divisions. The business primarily serves Hampshire County, but also Hampden and Franklin counties. To learn more about the company’s products and services, visit belovedearthcompany.com.
SPRINGFIELD — Beginning Monday, Nov. 2, the Realtor Assoc. of Pioneer Valley will sponsor a 40-hour, 14-class sales-licensing course to help individuals prepare for the Massachusetts real-estate-salesperson license exam. The course will be completed on Dec. 9. Tuition is $359 and includes the book and materials.
The course curriculum includes property rights, ownership, condos, land use, contracts, deeds, financing, mortgages, real-estate brokerage, appraisal, fair housing, consumer protection, Massachusetts license law, and more.
Classes meet Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings from 6 to 9 p.m. at the association office, 221 Industry Ave., Springfield. The course is taught by practicing area real-estate attorneys Mary Eaton, Tracie Kester, and Jack Lapomardo. For an application, contact Joanne Leblond at (413) 785-1328 or [email protected].
CHICOPEE — Losing a pet in a house fire can be life shattering. While a human’s first instinct is to run from the fire, a pet’s first instinct is to hide. Because of this, pets are more vulnerable to injury from flames and smoke inhalation.
While fire-rescue teams manage to rescue pets from burning homes, they cannot revive them unless they have the proper equipment — pet oxygen masks. To make sure local fire departments are equipped with proper resources, the Good Dog Spot in Chicopee has donated two pet oxygen masks to the Chicopee and South Hadley fire departments.
These masks are specially designed in a cone shape to fit the noses and muzzles of dogs and cats. Equipped with a rubber seal, they are a comfortable fit for any size pet and help keep their mouths closed. In pet CPR, the pet’s mouth is closed, and breaths are delivered directly into the nostrils. Pet oxygen masks mimic the action of CPR and provide a strong flow of oxygen.
ENFIELD, Conn. — Barnes & Noble shoppers in Enfield, Conn. can help support Link to Libraries this week. When purchasing any item between Thursday, Oct. 15 and Saturday, Oct. 17, tell the cashier, “I support Link to Libraries.” A percentage of the purchase will benefit Link to Libraries, helping to make education matter for underserved youth in Western Mass. and Northern Conn.
Those who can’t attend the Barnes & Noble book fair at 25 Hazard Ave. can support the organization online by visiting bn.com/bookfairs between Thursday, Oct. 15 and Thursday, Oct. 22 and entering book-fair ID 11692266 at checkout.
NORTHAMPTON — Cooley Dickinson Health Care awarded a total of $15,000 in grants to help local communities understand how they can improve access to healthcare services.
Better transportation to healthcare services surfaced as a need last year when Cooley Dickinson worked with the United Way of Hampshire County and the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission to study transportation to healthcare. In March, Cooley Dickinson released the report “Getting to Healthy,” which highlights transportation challenges and offers recommendations for further study and action.
“We learned from our most recent community-health needs assessment that transportation is a significant challenge to many people in our area,” said Jeff Harness, director, Community Health and Government Relations, Cooley Dickinson Health Care. He noted that access to reliable transportation is critical to daily life, whether getting to work or shopping, meeting family and friends, or seeking healthcare.
One municipality and two local agencies will dig deeper into this issue with grants that were awarded in September:
• The Hilltown Community Development Corp. (CDC) will use $11,800 in funding to study and improve transportation to healthcare for older residents and people with disabilities across a 15-town area spanning the northern and southern hilltowns of Western Mass. “We look forward to this partnership to improve the lives of rural residents,” said Dave Christopolis, executive director of the Hilltown CDC. “This funding will also help the greater community understand the needs in the rural towns we serve.”
• The city of Northampton’s Department of Planning and Sustainability will use $2,500 in funding from Cooley Dickinson to develop a complete streets guide to assist with improving Northampton’s walkability. Wayne Feiden, Northampton’s director of planning and sustainability, added that the grant will allow the city “to engage the community on how a complete street should look and function. Helping the community envision different scenarios will be enormously helpful as the city gears up to write a complete streets pedestrian plan next year.”
• A $700 grant to the Amherst Survival Center will support its pilot project aimed at getting clients to medical appointments.
Of the “Getting to Healthy” report and the grant projects the participants will undertake this year, Harness said he hopes the initiatives will be a catalyst for action. “These grants allow funding for innovative ideas to improve access not only to healthcare but to the things in life we all need to fully participate in society.” To access the report, visit bit.ly/1anA5LA.
According to Harness, the community health grants are part of a larger goal of improving the health of local residents. Cooley Dickinson conducts community health needs assessments and develops community health improvement plans as part of its organizational mission as a nonprofit healthcare system. The grant projects are due to be completed by April 2016.
FLORENCE — Locally owned Brew Practitioners, LLC has slated a grand opening on Saturday, Oct. 10, of its brewery and taproom at 36 Main St.
The event will begin at 1 p.m. Brew Practitioners expects to host local bands True Jacqueline and Ex Temper starting at 2 p.m., as well as a local Celtic band, Wild Thyme, starting at 5:30 p.m. The Bistro Bus Food Truck will offer fare starting at 4 p.m.
Brew Practitioners serves six classic beer styles — White, Yellow, Orange, Red, Brown, and Black — on tap year round, though other special and practice beers will be offered from time to time.
Brew Practitioners is a majority women-owned entity, and all the practitioners come from diverse walks of life, culturally and geographically. A group of professionals and long-time friends, the practitioners have decades of business experience in the operational and service, engineering, finance, law, and agriculture fields.
Brew Practitioners’ philosophy about beer is simple: no beer names that leave guests wondering what they just ordered, and no ingredients that make them ask, “should anyone be drinking that?”
The brewery is small, which is the way the practitioners like it. The 3 BBL Electric Brewery system is efficient, high-tech, and environmentally friendly, and ingredients and equipment are sourced locally when possible. Brew Practitioners is also affiliated with Ale Aboard, LLC, a brewery tour bus.
For more information about Ale Aboard or Brew Practitioners, visit www.brewpractitioners.com, or contact owner and General Manager Tanzania Cannon-Eckerle at [email protected] or (413) 584-2444.
SPRINGFIELD — On Wednesday, Oct. 21, Goodwill Industries of the Pioneer Valley will mark 90 years of service to the community with an evening gala at the Basketball Hall of Fame. Tickets are $90 each and include dinner and a concert performed by the Berkshire Hills Music Academy.
In addition, all Goodwill retail stores will be providing additional bargains to help celebrate the anniversary.
“Ninety years is a very long time, and we are particularly proud of our program participants,” said Steve Mundahl, president and CEO. “We have helped more than 15,000 people with disabilities access employment and work training. One of our newest programs, adult foster care, helps individuals to live in private homes rather than in institutional settings.”
Goodwill Industries of the Pioneer Valley offers employment and training programs, adult foster care, and community-based day services, while operating nine retail stores in Hampden and Hampshire counties.
AGAWAM — Survivor Journeys invites the community to its first annual Halloween Gala on Friday, Oct. 30 at 6 p.m. at Storrowton Tavern Carriage House.
The cost of the gala is $50 per person and includes dinner, music, and dancing. A cash bar will be available. Entertainment includes psychic mediums Nicky Taylor and Drianna Buonaducci, as well as practitioners from the Feeding Hills Wellness Center. Costumes are optional.
Survivor Journeys provides social and emotional support services to cancer survivors, families, and caregivers. Services are built on collaboration with local providers and cancer survivors, along with regional and nationally recognized cancer organizations.
Survivor Journeys, which serves adults, young adults, and pediatric cancer survivors, was co-founded by Dr. Jay Burton, founder and medical director of the Primary Care Cancer Survivorship Program of Western New England, and Maryann Palealogoupolus, a licensed independent clinical social worker.
Survivor Journeys also announced that the organization will benefit from the generosity of S. Prestley and Helen Blake, who have offered a $25,000 matching grant challenge to the organization. The Blakes will match all funds raised by the end of year, up to $25,000.
Visit survivorjourneys.org to register for the gala or for more information about support groups and developing programs.
TURNERS FALLS — Brick & Feather Brewery, the first brewery in Turners Falls, will open today, Oct. 9, at 5 p.m. Located in the former Alpha Stone building at 78 11th St., the new brewery features a spacious tasting room where patrons can sample two new beers and purchase beer to take home in refillable growler containers.
“I have spent the last eight months renovating the space with my wife and father,” said Brick & Feather owner Lawrence George. “We are happy to finally welcome visitors.” Brewery hours for the opening weekend will be 5-8 p.m. today and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10.
George is a professional brewer with more than seven years of experience. A Vermont native, he learned how to brew as a teenager, watching his father (and business partner) ferment beers in their kitchen. After graduating college, he took up home brewing in earnest, and in 2008 left his job in the insurance industry to pursue as career as a professional brewer. After two apprentice positions, he completed the Craft Brewers Apprenticeship program with the American Brewers Guild in Vermont before becoming a brewer at Flying Fish Brewing Co. in New Jersey in 2009. From 2011 to 2015, he brewed at Berkshire Brewing Co. in South Deerfield.
Brick & Feather will specialize in Belgian- and American-style ales, with an emphasis on clean, crisp flavors set against a soft, rounded base. For more information, visit brickandfeatherbrewery.com.
EASTHAMPTON — Beetle Press, a public-relations and communications firm in Easthampton, recently welcomed Ruby Dillon to the team to serve as an editorial assistant.
Dillon earned a bachelor’s degree in public relations this year from Champlain College in Vermont. While in college, she served as a PR intern for a mission-driven nonprofit that provides respite for cancer patients by giving them a therapeutic sail on Lake Champlain. Through this experience, Dillon realized her passion for standing behind a cause and has since worked to promote various nonprofits.
Janice Beetle, principal of Beetle Press, said Dillon is a key Beetle Press partner, handling the development of press releases and overseeing internal writing and web projects as well.
Beetle, a former journalist, established the company in 1998. It offers writing and editing services and has a specialty in helping businesses and organizations connect with the media. For more information, visit www.beetlepress.com.
SPRINGFIELD — United Personnel announced the promotion of staff member Miranda Rowe.
Rowe, who formerly served as an administrative coordinator in United Personnel’s main office in Springfield, has been promoted to a recruiter. In her new role, she will be assisting United’s Light Industrial and Professional divisions in sourcing and interviewing candidates. She will also oversee community-outreach activities including off-site recruitment, attending job fairs, and working with training programs to place graduates.
“I am very excited to start my transition into being a recruiter,” Rowe said. “I love meeting new candidates each day and helping them achieve their goals.”
Tricia Canavan, president of United Personnel, added that “United’s philosophy of training and promotion from within is critical to our operations. We are so pleased that Miranda has capitalized upon these opportunities and earned the promotion within our organization.”
Founded in 1984, United Personnel connects more than 700 people with jobs throughout Western Mass. and beyond. From temporary and contract work to direct-hire placement, United provides clients with staffing solutions in a variety of industries and fields, including professional, administrative, medical, and light-industrial placement and vendor-on-premise project management.
SPRINGFIELD — Local law firm Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin, P.C., announced that attorney L. Alexandra (Alex) Hogan will participate in a panel discussion during a legal-career and networking event to support the career development of students at her alma mater, Bay Path University.
The event, to be moderated by Bay Path Legal Studies Chair Justin Dion, will be held at the university on Tuesday, Oct. 13 from 3:45 to 5:45 p.m.
During the event, Hogan will join four or five other panelists representing various areas of the legal system. The panel will share their career stories and field questions from students before breaking into smaller groups to allow students the opportunity to learn more about the legal profession and practice their networking skills.
“As a graduate, Bay Path is near and dear to me, and I’m happy to provide assistance for their networking program,” said Hogan, who earned her bachelor’s degree in legal studies at the university. “I am honored to be selected as a panelist to discuss my career with the next generation of legal professionals.”
Hogan concentrates her practice primarily in business, litigation, and bankruptcy law. She graduated from Western New England University School of Law in 2008 with cum laude honors. There, she was also appointed an assistant editor and became a published author in the Western New England Law Review. She graduated from Bay Path University with summa cum laude honors in 1996. She has been selected by Super Lawyers to the Rising Stars list and as a Top Women Attorney (2011-2014). Additionally, Hogan was recognized by Junior Achievement as a 2012 recipient of the Gold Peak Performance Award and was included in the BusinessWest 40 Under Forty class of 2013.
HADLEY — The Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce will host a ribbon cutting today at one of Hadley’s new businesses and one of the chamber’s new members, Arrha Credit Union. The ribbon-cutting party will be held at noon at the branch, located at 140 Russell St. in Hadley.
Arrha’s Hadley branch opened on Aug. 19, joining its branch in Westfield and main office in Springfield. Since joining the chamber, Arrha has become involved in the community and with the chamber. Light fare and refreshments will be served at the ribbon cutting, and all are welcome.
“It has been wonderful getting to know the Arrha management team,” said Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce Marketing and Membership Director Kim Alli. “It is a privilege to have Arrha join our local financial community. We look forward to creating a new relationship with Arrha and support them as a new chamber member and wish them great success.”
Added Bill Toth, Arrha’s Hadley branch manager, “we are happy to partner with the Amherst Area Chamber and look forward to making new business and personal relationships with other members of the chamber.”
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. Previous honorees include:
2015:
- Katelynn’s Ride;
- Judy Matt, president of Spirit of Springfield;
- MassMutual Financial Group;
- The ownership group of the Student Prince and the Fort; and
- Valley Venture Mentors
2014:
- The Gray House;
- Colleen Loveless, executive director of the Springfield chapter of Rebuilding Together;
- The Melha Shriners;
- Paula Moore, founder of YSET Academy and a teacher at Roger L. Putnam Vocational Training Academy; and
- Michael Moriarty, attorney, director of Olde Holyoke Development Corp., and supporter of childhood literacy programs
2013:
- Michael Cutone, John Barbieri, and Thomas Sarrouf, organizers of Springfield’s C3 Policing program;
- John Downing, president of Soldier On;
- Bruce Landon, president and general manager of the Springfield Falcons;
- The Sisters of Providence; and
- Jim Vinick, senior vice president of investments at Moors & Cabot Inc.
2012:
- Charlie and Donald D’Amour, president/COO and chairman/CEO of Big Y Foods;
- William Messner, president of Holyoke Community College;
- Majors Tom and Linda-Jo Perks, officers of the Springfield Corps of the Salvation Army;
- Bob Schwarz, executive vice president of Peter Pan Bus Lines; and
- The Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts
2011:
- Tim Brennan, executive director of the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission;
- Lucia Giuggio Carvalho, founder of Rays of Hope;
- Don Kozera, president of Human Resources Unlimited;
- Robert Perry, retired partner/consultant at Meyers Brothers Kalicka; and
- Anthony Scott, Holyoke police chief
2010:
- The Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation;
- Ellen Freyman, attorney and shareholder at Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin, P.C.;
- James Goodwin, president and CEO of the Center for Human Development;
- Carol Katz, CEO of the Loomis Communities; and
- UMass Amherst and its chancellor, Robert Holub
2009:
- Doug Bowen, president and CEO of PeoplesBank;
- Kate Kane, managing director of the Springfield office of Northwestern Mutual Financial/the Zuzolo Group;
- Susan Jaye-Kaplan, founder of GoFIT and co-founder of Link to Libraries;
- William Ward, executive director of the Regional Employment Board of Hampden County; and
- The Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield
SPRINGFIELD — Columbia Gas of Massachusetts recently awarded $10,000 to local charities through its parent company’s NiSource Charitable Foundation.
Three “Supporting Those in Need” grants were awarded to the Michael J. Dias Foundation, a sober house for men dealing with drug addiction; Healing Racism Institute, an organization with a mission to build a racism-free community; and the YWCA of Greater Springfield, a venerable organization providing shelter for women and children. The mission of the NiSource Charitable Foundation is to help create strong and sustainable communities where NiSource employees and customers live and work.
According to Andrea Luppi, manager of Communications and Community Relations, “Columbia Gas of Massachusetts is committed to give back to the organizations that are making a difference for our customers and the residents of the communities we serve. In addition to our financial support, our employees dedicate hundreds of hours working in shelters and food pantries, cleaning up neighborhoods, and supporting veterans. We take pride in helping those that help others throughout the 16 cities and towns that make up our service territory.”
An additional $12,500 was given to nonprofit organizations within the Brockton and Lawrence divisions of Columbia Gas of Massachusetts.
SPRINGFIELD — More than 50 contractors, builders, and green specialists filled EcoBuilding Bargains in Springfield last Friday, Oct. 2, for the first-ever Blue Jean Ball. The event, which featured food, beer, a raffle, and live entertainment, was created to thank partners who have helped the Center for EcoTechnology build a greener community.
“We wanted to have a space to genuinely thank all of our partners who help us save energy and reduce waste,” said Green Building Sales Manager Susan Ash. “It’s because of them that we are able to have such an impact on this community.”
The raffle featured prizes like a wheelbarrow full of beer, a 60-inch smart TV, passes to local ski resorts, and more. Entertainment was provided by the Crescent Dancers, the Pioneer Valley’s premiere Middle Eastern dance troupe. The event was emceed by Hits 94.3 personality Meghan Rothschild, and Iron Duke Brewing Co. sponsored the beer. The event was sponsored by Broan-NuTone and Integrity Development & Construction Inc.
The Center for EcoTechnology offers a host of services to new-construction contractors who want to build green. Services include HERS ratings, LEED certification and LEED AP services, passive-house certification, code testing, infrared scanning, Energy Star certification, energy-performance design consultation, modular-plant Energy Star certification, and more. Details can be found at www.cetonline.org.
Some current projects that the New Construction department is working on include performing commercial diagnostic testing for the Hitchcock Center in Amherst and LEED services for Christopher Heights (84 units on Village Hill in Northampton), affordable-housing development Leyden Woods in Greenfield, and 38 multi-family units for Parsons Village in Easthampton.
SPRINGFIELD — The Gilded Lily Florist, a Sixteen Acres business for more than 30 years, announced a new owner, Springfield resident Brian Grisel.
Grisel began working in a flower shop during his teens and is currently a floral designer with more than three decades of experience. Having attended the University of Connecticut where he obtained a degree in horticulture and business management, he aims to bring a sense of style and sophistication to floral arrangements and has previously worked with florists in Farmington and West Hartford, Conn.; Westerly/Watch Hill, R.I.; and, most recently, Springfield.
Previous clients include Katherine Hepburn, Andy Williams, Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King, Barbara Bush, Conan O’Brien, Mikhail Baryshnikov and Rudolph Nureyev, Lee Radziwill (sister of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis), the Baroness Philippine de Rothschild, Princess Maria Trubetskaya, Princess Irina Bagration, Countess Sophia Cheremteff, the Baroness Carmen Thyssen-Bornemisza, as well as several previous governors of Connecticut and other local politicians and corporate heads.
Regarding his floral style, Griesel said he is most influenced by the European Garden style but also displays contemporary, Japanese influences. “Our motto at the Gilded Lily is affordable elegance. We strive for unique design and great value in our floral arrangements,” he added. “The Gilded Lily uses Pioneer Valley-grown flowers when possible and has sourced with local farmers, which also give our arrangements a very unique look.”
The Gilded Lily is a full-service florist working with both fresh and silk floral arrangements and specializes in weddings, events, bar/bat mitzvahs, home decorating, and holiday decor. It serves the communities of Springfield, Wilbraham, Ludlow, Longmeadow, East Longmeadow, Hampden, Chicopee, Holyoke, West Springfield, Agawam, as well as Enfield and Somers, Conn.
CHICOPEE — The College of Our Lady of the Elms has received a research grant of $31,700 from the National Science Foundation (NSF) that will provide for international and domestic travel, field work, and collaboration with colleges across the U.S.
The funding will allow Nina Theis, associate professor of Biology at Elms College, to travel to Peru with two undergraduates to study tropical cucumber species in the field, as well as peacock flies — a type of true fruit fly that feeds on these cucumbers — and wasps that feed on the flies. It also will allow Elms students to attend national and regional conferences, as well as a workshop in Georgia. “This is an exciting time to be a science major at Elms,” Theis said.
The Elms project is part of a larger collaborative study of biological diversity, evolution, and speciation — the evolutionary process of species origination — in the tropics. The NSF funding for the entire project totals nearly $2 million, representing one of only 10 grant packages awarded by the foundation’s Dimensions of Biodiversity program this year. Marty Condon of Cornell College in Iowa is leading the research team, which includes participants from Elms College, the University of Iowa, the University of Georgia, and North Carolina State University.
Theis’ piece of the project focuses on her specific area of expertise; she studies fragrance in flowers and the effect of fragrance on insect attraction. Her component of this project will focus on the cucumber odors that attract the herbivorous peacock flies as well as the wasps.
In previous work, Theis has studied the fragrance in, and pollinator and herbivore attraction to, a variety of plants in the cucumber family. “We’re going to analyze the fragrances of the flowers and see if we can find out how these insects are attracted,” she said. Then she and her team will determine whether fragrance is a driver in host detection and specificity, or why specific flies and wasps are attracted to specific parts of the flower.
The field work will mean traveling to Peru, which is a valuable opportunity for Elms students. “Research is a great experience for any student,” Theis said. “It requires a lot of diligence and a lot of independence, and in order to get into graduate school these days, you have to have research experience.”
In addition to the field work, the grant includes funding for Theis to hire students to analyze the fragrance data over the summer. Two Elms students will also be invited to attend a bioinformatics workshop at the University of Georgia. Bioinformatics involves the techniques and software that analyze and interpret large biological data sets; the workshop will train these students in the latest methods, and that training will give them valuable experience in a fast-growing field of study. The students also will have the opportunity to attend scientific meetings and conferences.
Theis also is the director of the ElmSTEMs program, supported by a separate NSF grant of $620,620. ElmSTEMs awards scholarships to full-time Elms students majoring in fields such as biology, computer information technology, chemistry, or mathematics. The first group of ElmSTEM scholars started at Elms College this fall, and applications are being accepted for fall 2016.
“We have this STEM grant — it’s an educational grant: scholarships, money for students to get experience in STEM — and it’s really great synergism to have the STEM grant and the research grant at the same time,” Theis said. “Two of the things our STEM grant promises are that there will be scholarships and that our students will get research experience. And now we have the money to give our students paid jobs doing research on campus and a very high-quality tropical research experience.”
The following is a compilation of recent lawsuits involving area businesses and organizations. These are strictly allegations that have yet to be proven in a court of law. Readers are advised to contact the parties listed, or the court, for more information concerning the individual claims.
CHICOPEE DISTRICT COURT
Sysco Connecticut, LLC v. Family Roasters Inc. and Benjamin Vargas
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $3,439.12
Filed: 9/1/15
HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT
A.J. Virgilio Construction Inc. v. Bast Hatfield Construction, LLC and Galaxy Sutton, LLC
Allegation: Non-payment of services, labor, and materials: $73,867
Filed: 9/11/15
Cach, LLC v. Totally Cellular Inc. and Todd M. Demers and James R. Demers
Allegation: Non-payment on commercial credit agreement: $91,475.80
Filed: 8/31/15
Cach, LLC v. Totally Cellular Inc. and Todd M. Demers and James R. Demers
Allegation: Non-payment on commercial credit agreement: $84,214.09
Filed: 8/31/15
Nuevo Cuba Supermercado, LLC v. Sabrosura Supermarket Inc.
Allegation: Unpaid rent: $35,500
Filed: 9/1/15
PALMER DISTRICT COURT
Cach, LLC v. RP Auto and Peter Standre
Allegation: Non-payment pursuant to a credit-card agreement: $19,541.95
Filed: 9/1/15
SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT
Beacon Sales Co. v. A.P.T. Builders and Adam Trufant
Allegation: Default on commercial credit agreement: $5,903.56
Filed: 7/13/15
Gary Linski d/b/a Green Street Logistics v. 126 King Street, LLC
Allegation: Non-payment of services rendered: $12,500
Filed: 8/14/15
Perkins Paper, LLC v. Boston Natural Foods, LLC and Joseph B. Deluca
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $68,216.56
Filed: 7/20/15
The Vape Bar Escape, LLC v. The Big Cloud Vape Shop, LLC & Margaret Drollett
Allegation: Conversion, unjust enrichment, tortuous interference with business relations: $17,755
Filed: 7/6/15
Wellborn Cabinet Inc. v. Sterling Architectural Millwork Inc.
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $14,453.63
Filed: 7/15/15
WESTFIELD DISTRICT COURT
Marion’s Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Inc. v. Maurice Casey Inc.
Allegation: Non-payment for repairs, parts, and services to refrigeration systems: $8,686.51
Filed: 9/4/15
Local news hires, promotions, awards, and appointments October 6, 2015
Nancy Shendell-Falik
Nancy Shendell-Falik, who for the past two years has served in a dual position at Baystate Health as senior vice president/chief operating officer and chief nursing officer for Baystate Medical Center, has been promoted to president of Baystate Medical Center and senior vice president for hospital operations at Baystate Health. Her appointment becomes effective Oct. 1. “During her two years at Baystate, Nancy has propelled the organization as both a system leader and COO/CNO of Baystate Medical Center. Her new role is an important step in our journey toward becoming a fully integrated health system, ensuring that we deliver care most effectively and efficiently,” said Dr. Mark Keroack, president and CEO of Baystate Health. “As Baystate Health continues to develop a regional model of care, an important new directive for Nancy will be to help us to achieve a greater alignment between our five hospitals, physicians, and other community providers.” Baystate Health consists of Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Baystate Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield, Baystate Mary Lane Hospital in Ware, and its newest members, Baystate Wing Hospital in Palmer and Baystate Noble Hospital in Westfield. In Shendell-Falik’s new role, the presidents of Baystate Franklin Medical Center, Baystate Health’s Northern Region, Baystate Noble Hospital, and Baystate Health’s Eastern Region will report to her. Before coming to Baystate, Shendell-Falik — an experienced healthcare and nurse leader with years of success improving the quality of patient care, hospital efficiency, and patient satisfaction — served as senior vice president for Patient Care Services and chief nursing officer at Tufts Medical Center and Floating Hospital for Children in Boston. During her tenure there, she demonstrated a collaborative style of leadership in championing numerous initiatives to improve clinical quality, patient safety, and patient experience. She implemented a system of performance scorecards across all departments, served as executive sponsor of Tufts’ Patient and Family Advisory Council, and sponsored a novel leadership-education program. Prior to her work in Boston, Shendell-Falik served as senior vice president, Patient Care Services, at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in New Jersey. While at the 673-bed, regional-care teaching hospital, she led similar successful initiatives to improve quality and safety, implemented a nurse-residency program, and reduced nursing vacancy rates. Since joining Baystate in July 2013, Shendell-Falilk has encouraged new interdisciplinary collaborations as a way to further improve patient experience, and served as the architect behind developing standard attire for various caregivers to help patients identify who is providing their care. Also, under her leadership, Baystate Medical Center was named to an elite group of High Performing Hospitals in America by U.S. News & World Report for 2015-16. Shendell-Falik holds a master’s degree in nursing from New York University and a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Rutgers College of Nursing. She was a fellow of the prestigious Robert Wood Johnson Executive Nurse Program. She holds membership in numerous professional societies and organizations, including the Mass. Organization of Nurse Executives, the Robert Wood Johnson Executive Nurse Fellows Alumni Assoc., the National Assoc. for Female Executives, and the American Organization of Nurse Executives. She has published more than a dozen peer-reviewed articles in national journals on topics such as team-based care, achieving Magnet status, and implementing clinical practice guidelines. Keroack noted that Shendell-Falik’s appointment is a milestone in the history of Baystate Health, marking both the first female president and first nurse as president of Baystate Medical Center. “I am extremely excited about the opportunity to guide our nationally recognized hospital into the future,” she said. “I look forward to working collaboratively with staff and leaders of all Baystate facilities to deliver care that is compassionate, of the highest quality, and affordable. As I prepare to assume my new role, I am honored and humbled to be the first woman and nurse to hold this position at Baystate.” For more information on Baystate Medical Center, visit baystatehealth.org/bmc.
•••••
Jason Curtis
Tighe & Bond, a New England leader in civil engineering and environmental consulting, recently hired mechanical engineer Jason Curtis to bolster its growing mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) team. He has experience designing a range of institutional, educational, residential, healthcare, commercial, and combined heat and power projects throughout the region. He will work primarily out of the firm’s corporate office in Westfield. Curtis has managed projects from the conceptual design phase through construction administration. He has completed HVAC system designs and overseen the production of MEP and fire-protection construction documents. Known for working closely with owners and architects in design-coordination efforts, he also has performed energy models and life-cycle cost analyses to evaluate various prospective energy-conservation measures for renovation projects. “Jason is a welcome addition to our MEP team,” said David Pinsky, president and CEO of Tighe & Bond. “As the demand for our mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineering services has grown, we have expanded our staff to better serve our clients and provide more integrated services. We now have a robust MEP team of 10 that quickly respond to our clients’ needs.” Curtis earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Union College. He is licensed in both Massachusetts and Connecticut, and is registered in Accredited LEED AP Building Design + Construction. In addition, he is a member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers.
•••••
Regional accounting firm Whittlesey & Hadley, P.C. announced the following promotions to senior audit associate: Timothy Bessette, Nicholas Deets, Patrick Kelly, Caitlin Main, Alex McCabe, James Mercadante, Steve Norris, Andrew Pires, Michael Ray, and Kyle Rounseville. In addition, Rachel Hahn has been promoted to senior tax associate. In the firm’s wholly owned subsidiary, the Technology Group, LLC, Hadas Davis was promoted to senior network engineer, and Kenneth Blain was promoted to network engineer. “I am pleased to see our team’s dedication to accounting and technology excellence,” said Drew Andrews, the frm’s managing partner. “These promotions are the result of our clients’ continued satisfaction in all that we do for them.”
•••••
Elizabeth Fitzgerald
Joseph LeMay
Robert Spano
Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C. announced the hiring of three new associates: Elizabeth Fitzgerald, Joseph LeMay, and Robert Spano. Fitzgerald graduated summa cum laude from Elms College with two bachelor’s degrees, in accounting and information systems and in business management and marketing. She is currently enrolled in the MSA program at Elms. As an undergraduate student, she earned the Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship, the Margaret & Agnes O’Donnell Scholarship, and the Donald A. & Dorothy F. Axtell Grant Scholarship. Before pursuing accounting, Fitzgerald worked as a customer-service professional at a local bank. In her current position, she works closely with clients to meet their engagement needs and supports the lead accountant in matters including compliance testing and financial analysis. LeMay comes to MBK from Westfield State University. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business management and an MSA. He brings a background in bookkeeping, cost-accounting analytical research, and public-accounting experience to his position through various internships in both public accounting and private industry, including an internship with Meyers Brothers Kalicka. As an associate, his responsibilities include performing audit testing for various industries as well as tax returns for individuals and businesses. Spano holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from American International College, where he is currently enrolled in the MSAT graduate program. He specializes in field work and compliance testing. Before joining the firm, he completed an internship at a local firm, where he gained experience in taxation and fraud examination. “Elizabeth, Joseph, and Robert represent the next generation of accountants in our profession,” said Howard Cheney, partner and director of the firm’s Audit and Accounting practice. “They are young, vital, and motivated to provide quality service to our clients. At MBK, we believe strongly in the development of our next generation to ensure the continuity of the service we provide to our clients. We couldn’t have asked for better candidates.”
•••••
HUB International New England, a division of HUB International Limited, a global insurance-brokerage, risk-advisory and employee-benefits firm, announced multiple new hires in its East Longmeadow office to meet the needs of its expanding products, services, and customer demand:
Eileen Maxwell
• Appointed as an employee benefits client relationship manager, Eileen Maxwell will be responsible for assisting staff with client relations, service, sales, and administrative activities of new and existing group benefit accounts. With almost 30 years of experience, she has an extensive background in planning, evaluating, implementing, relationship building, and managing all aspects of employee benefits; and
Marayda Pagan
• Marayda Pagan joins the Personal Lines department as an account manager and will be responsible for assisting clients with their home, auto, and personal-liability umbrella coverages. She has held various positions in the insurance industry, starting out as an office assistant before being promoted to processor. She also held the position of Personal Lines manager. Cynthia Squires has been hired as the manager of Select Business for small to medium-sized business accounts in the Commercial Lines department. She has been in the insurance industry for almost 30 years and brings an extensive amount of knowledge and leadership skills to the agency. She will be responsible for the day-to-day management and servicing of small-business accounts, providing oversight and direction to commercial-lines staff, leading quality-control and product-analysis processes, managing departmental retention, acquiring new business goals, and staying on top of the latest industry changes and trends. “We’re thrilled to welcome Eileen, Marayda, and Cynthia on board during this exciting period of growth for the company,” said Timm Marini, president of HUB International New England, formerly FieldEddy Insurance. “Their respective experience will be an essential part in helping to further the agency’s goals of expanding our products and services while maintaining the highest level of service standards and best value to our clients.”
•••••
After 20 years at Dakin Humane Society, Executive Director Leslie Harris announced her resignation effective Oct. 2 to pursue a new opportunity at Quonquont Farm & Orchard in Whately. “Leslie’s vision and leadership has given Dakin incredible momentum and untold success stories,” said Charlotte Cathro, Dakin’s board treasurer. “Since joining the organization in 1995, Leslie grew Dakin from an all-volunteer, foster-based network to one with more than 60 employees between its two locations in Springfield and Leverett, a full-time spay/neuter clinic that has performed more than 60,000 surgeries, and a multi-million-dollar budget. I know I speak for the entire board in expressing my appreciation for Leslie’s stewardship of Dakin and wish her great success in her new role.” Under Harris’s leadership, Dakin Humane Society grew from serving 300 animals in its first year to more than 20,000 in 2014. She led the charge to merge operations with Greenfield’s Pioneer Valley Humane Society in 2006 and the expansion of operations to Springfield in 2009. Today, Dakin encompasses two adoption centers and the Community Spay/Neuter Clinic. Due to Dakin’s affordable, wide-reaching spay/neuter programs, intake of local homeless kittens has declined 46% in the past six years. Dakin has met its dual goals of eliminating euthanasia as a means of controlling pet overpopulation in the Pioneer Valley and guaranteeing the placement of every adoptable animal that arrives at its front doors. Harris currently oversees the organization’s $3.7 million budget. “It has been my honor and pleasure to serve as Dakin’s executive director,” Harris said. “This was a hard decision to make, given my love for animals and Dakin, but I know the organization will continue to thrive and evolve thanks to its dedicated staff and volunteers. I will continue to be an enthusiastic supporter of Dakin’s work.” Dakin’s board voted to appoint its recent president, Nancy Creed, to the position of interim executive director. The board will now conduct a search for a permanent replacement who, according to Cathro, “exemplifies our guiding principles, is committed to our mission, and can lead the organization into the next phase of its development, expand community goodwill, and challenge the Dakin nation to bigger and better things.” Dakin Humane Society is a local, nonprofit organization that relies solely on contributions from individuals and businesses that care about animals to bring its services to the community. For more information, visit www.dakinhumane.org.
•••••
Facial Cosmetic & Maxillofacial Surgery, P.C. announced the hiring of surgeon Justin Clemow. Clemow earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania, then attended the UConn School of Dental Medicine from 2003 to 2007, where he was awarded the Student Oral Surgery Award. In 2007, Clemow was accepted into the oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS) residency at the University of Florida Jacksonville. He obtained his medical degree from the University of Florida College of Medicine in 2011, completed an internship in general surgery at Shands Jacksonville Medical Center, and completed his OMFS training as the administrative chief resident in 2013. He was decorated with multiple awards during residency, including the Resident Advocate Award, Best Teaching Resident Award, and SICU Resident Award. After residency, Clemow worked for two years in private practice with Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery in Cleveland. He served as assistant clinical professor for the Case Western Reserve OMFS residency, provided level-1 trauma coverage at MetroHealth Medical Center, and also provided trauma and OMFS call coverage at Fairview Hospital, part of the Cleveland Clinic system. Clemow’s specific surgical interests include facial trauma and reconstruction, general anesthesia, corrective jaw surgery, obstructive sleep apnea surgery, and complex dental implant procedures, including bone grafting. He is a fellow of the American Assoc. of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery and a diplomate of the American Board of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons (board-certified). He maintains certification in BLS, ACLS, PALS, and ATLS.
•••••
Dress for Success (DFS) announced that it has appointed Gina Golash Kos to its board of directors. Golash Kos brings vast nonprofit leadership experience to the table — both in her role as CEO at Sunshine Village and in leadership positions in the region’s nonprofits. She is currently a trustee of Elms College and a member of the executive committee of the Regional Employment Board of Hampden County. She previously served on the board of trustees of Westfield State University and is a past chairperson of the boards of the Greater Chicopee Chamber of Commerce.
•••••
The board of directors of the newly-formed Springfield Regional Chamber has elected officers to lead the organization: Daniel Keenan, chair; Patricia Canavan, vice chair; Barbara-Jean Deloria, treasurer; and David Parke, clerk. “The leadership of our new organization is incredibly strong,” said chamber President Jeffrey Ciuffreda. “With their breadth of knowledge and experience, combined with the talent, commitment, and capabilities from the entire board, the Springfield Regional Chamber is poised for continued growth and to maximize the investment our members place in us.” Keenan is senior vice president of government and community relations for the Sisters of Providence Health System. He has been a member of the chamber’s legislative steering committee since 2006, previously serving as its chair. He had served on the board of directors of the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield (ACCGS) since 2010, most recently as its vice chair. Prior to joining SPHS, he served six terms as a Massachusetts state representative, holding several key committee assignments, including vice chair of Insurance, Ways and Means, and Taxation. Canavan is president of United Personnel. A member of the board of directors of the Springfield Chamber of Commerce, she most recently served as its vice chair. Canavan also served on the ACCGS board for the past two years. Canavan lends her leadership to other boards of directors, including the Baystate Health Foundation, Springfield Public Forum, and the Northampton Chamber of Commerce. Deloria is a senior vice president at Florence Bank. She was a member of the ACCGS board of directors since 2005 and served as its board treasurer since that time. She is a past president of the West Springfield Chamber of Commerce and Dress for Success Western Massachusetts and serves on the Mass. Small Business Review Board. Parke is a partner with Bulkley Richardson and a member of its business and finance department, focusing on general corporate and business matters, mergers and acquisitions, and other transactional work. He served on the ACCGS board for the past nine years and, according to Ciuffreda, was instrumental in the formation of the Springfield Regional Chamber. He serves on Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education Inc. and is past chair and current member of the Friends of the Homeless board of directors.
AMHERST AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.amherstarea.com
(413) 253-0700
• Oct. 30: Chamber Legislative Breakfast, 7: 15-9 a.m., at the Lord Jeffery Inn, 30 Boltwood Ave., Amherst. Sponsored by Eversource. Cost: $15 for members, $20 for non-members.
GREATER CHICOPEE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.chicopeechamber.org
(413) 594-2101
• Oct. 13: Table Top Expo & Business Networking Event, 4:30-7 p.m., at the Castle of Knights, 1599 Memorial Dr., Chicopee. Presented by the Greater Chicopee, Holyoke, Westfield, and Springfield Regional chambers of commerce. Exhibitor tables are $125 for members of the participating chambers. Cost to attend: $5 in advance, $10 at the door. Open to the public.
• Oct. 16: Lunch & Learn with Thom Fox, 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Hampton Inn, 600 Memorial Dr., Chicopee. “Want to Make More Money: All You Have to Do is Ask!” Cost: $15 for members, $23 for non-members.
• Oct. 21: Salute Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., at the Hadley Farms Meeting House, 41 Russell St., Hadley.
• Oct. 28: Business After Hours, 5-7 p.m., at Loomis House, 298 Jarvis Ave., Holyoke.
GREATER EASTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.easthamptonchamber.org
(413) 527-9414
• Oct. 8: Networking by Night, at the Cooley Dickinson Hospital Health Center Southampton. Join us and our host for a Fall Fiesta celebration, and enjoy a fun night of networking, interactive health stations, and appetizers provided by Meyers Catering. Sponsored by Dollars for Scholars.
• Oct. 19: Celebrity Bartenders, 6 p.m., at Opa Opa Brewery. Join in on all the fun and laughs as you help support funding this season’s holiday lights.
• Nov. 4: Networking by Night, 5-7 p.m., at Cooley Dickinson Hospital. Join the Greater Easthampton, Greater Northampton, and Amherst Area chambers along with our host, Cooley Dickinson Hospital, for a networking extravaganza. Sponsored by Duseau Trucking.
• Nov. 6: CheckPoint 2015 Legislative Summit. Registration and networking, 11 a.m.; welcome, lunch, and keynote speaker, noon to 1:30 p.m.; Chamber View Dialogue with chamber executives, followed by legislative response, 1:30-3 p.m.; cocktail reception with heavy hors d’oeuvres, 3-4 p.m. Keynote speaker: state Senate President Stanley Rosenberg. Also hear from Tim Wilkerson, regulatory ombudsman of Economic Policy Development at the Executive Office of Housing & Economic Development. Guests will have the opportunity to ask questions to invited legislators.
• Nov. 7: 15th Annual Greater Easthampton Chamber Viva Las Vegas Bowl-a-Thon, at Canal Bowling Lanes, 74 College Highway, Southampton. Two sessions: 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. A night of fun, laughs, music by DJ Jay Paglucia, and pizza as you help support funding this season’s holiday lights.
• Nov. 11: Monday Morning with the Mayor, 8-9 a.m., Burger King, Easthampton.
• 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 HOLYOKE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.holycham.com
(413) 534-3376
• Oct. 7: The Chamber Coffee Buzz Morning Networking, 7:30-9 a.m., at Dean Technical High School, 1045 Main St., Holyoke. The Coffee Buzz is a great way to jump-start your day with the opportunity to meet business and community leaders while enjoying coffee and a light breakfast. The Coffee Buzz series is sponsored by Lyon & Fitzpatrick, LLC. Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse will help launch the chamber’s new morning networking series. Public-school receiver Stephen Zrike Jr. will be the guest speaker. Free to the business community. Sign up online at holyokechamber.com or call the chamber office at (413) 534-3376.
• Oct. 13: Table Top Expo & Business Networking Event, 4:30-7 p.m., at the Castle of Knights, 1599 Memorial Dr., Chicopee. Presented by the Greater Chicopee, Holyoke, Westfield, and Springfield Regional chambers of commerce. Exhibitor tables are $125 for members of the participating chambers. Cost to attend: $5 in advance, $10 at the door. Open to the public. Call the Holyoke chamber at (413) 534-3376 to secure your table or sign up online at holyokechamber.com.
• Oct. 14: Autumn Economic Development Business Salute Breakfast, 7:30-9 a.m., at the Log Cabin, 500 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. Sponsored by Holyoke Medical Center, Ferriter & Ferriter Law, and Resnic, Beauregard, Waite and Driscoll. Rick Sullivan, president and CEO of the Economic Development Council of Western Mass., is keynote speaker. Other guests include Andrew Crystal, vice president at O’Connell Development Group Inc.; Marcos Marrero, director of the Holyoke Economic and Development Office; E. Denis Walsh of Weld Management; and John Aubin of Open Square. New members Holyoke Signs & Design, Elevation Art and Framing, Century Homecare, and Presley Law, PLLC will also be recognized, as well as FlynMar Rubber & Plastics’ 45th anniversary and Open Square’s 25th anniversary. Tickets include a buffet breakfast and cost $25 for members with advance reservations and $30 for all others. Reservations may be made online at holyokechamber.com.
• Oct. 21: Chamber After Hours, 5-7 p.m., at Northeast IT Systems Inc., 777 Riverdale St., West Springfield. Business networking event. Refreshments, 50/50 raffle, and door prizes. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for all others. Call the chamber at (413) 534-3376 to sign up, or visit holyokechamber.com.
• Oct. 22: Leadership Holyoke/Meet at Wistariahurst Museum, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. A leadership series with HCC faculty members participating as instructors and facilitators. Community leaders will participate as speakers. Sponsored by PeoplesBank and Holyoke Community College.
• Oct. 28: Murder Mystery Dinner, 6-9 p.m., at the Yankee Pedlar, 1866 Northampton St. Networking cocktail hour at 6-7 p.m., with full-course dinner to follow. Sponsored by Meyers Brothers Kalicka and Baystate Restoration Group. During “Mystery at the Masquerade,” trade clues with other guests and solve the crime at this night of masks and murder. Cost: $49.95 for members, $52.95 for non-members and at the door.
GREATER NORTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.explorenorthampton.com
(413) 584-1900
• Oct. 7: October Arrive @ 5 Open House, 5-7 p.m., at the chamber office. Sponsored by Pioneer Training, Innovative Business Systems, and Florence Savings Bank. Cost: $10 for members.
• 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.
GREATER WESTFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.westfieldbiz.org
(413) 568-1618
• Oct. 13: Table Top Expo & Business Networking Event, 4:30-7 p.m., at the Castle of Knights, 1599 Memorial Dr., Chicopee. Presented by the Greater Chicopee, Holyoke, Westfield, and Springfield Regional chambers of commerce. Exhibitor tables are $125 for members of the participating chambers. Cost to attend: $5 in advance, $10 at the door. Open to the public.
• Oct. 14: Oktoberfest After 5 Connection, 5-7p.m., at East Mountain Country Club, 1458 East Mountain Road, Westfield. Sponsored by Highland Valley Elder Services and MedExpress Urgent Care. Cost: $10 for members, $15 cash at the door for non-members. To register, call Pam at the chamber office at (413) 568-1618.
• Oct. 19: Long-term-care Planning, 4:30-5:30 p.m., at Holiday Inn Express, 39 Southampton Road, Westfield. Sponsored by Renaissance Advisory. Cost: free for chamber members, $30 for non-members. To register, call Pam at the chamber office at (413) 568-1618
NORTH CENTRAL CONNECTICUT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.ncccc.org
(860) 741-3838
• Oct. 20: Networking Lunch, noon-1:30 p.m. For more information, contact the chamber at (860) 741-3838 or [email protected]
• Oct. 22: Business to Business Expo, 4:30-7:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn, 1 Bright Meadow Blvd., Enfield, Conn. For more information, contact the chamber at (860) 741-3838 or [email protected]
NORTHAMPTON AREA YOUNG PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY
www.thenayp.com
(413) 584-1900
• Oct. 8: October Networking Social, 5 p.m., at McCray’s Farm. Join us for our monthly networking social, complete with fall fun such as pumpkin picking and hayrides. Cost: free for NAYP members, $10 for non-members. RSVP with the chamber.
PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S CHAMBER
www.professionalwomenschamber.com
(413) 755-1310
• Oct. 7: PWC Headline Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the Munich Haus, 13 Center St., Chicopee. Featuring Kathleen Corbett, former president of Standard & Poors, lead director of the MassMutual board of directors, and founder of Cross Ridge Capital. Cost: $30 for PWC members, $40 for general admission. Reservations may be made online at www.professionalwomenschamber.com.
• Oct. 20: PWC Ladies Night, 5-7 p.m., at Kate Gray, 398 Longmeadow St., Longmeadow. Enjoy complimentary wine and refreshments. Reservations are complimentary but required. Reservations may be made by contacting Gwen Burke at [email protected] or (413) 237-8840.
SPRINGFIELD REGIONAL CHAMBER
www.myonlinechamber.com
(413) 787-1555
• Oct. 7: Springfield Regional Chamber Business@Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., at Crestview Country Club, 281 Shoemaker Lane, Agawam. Featuring Duane Cashin, sales growth strategist, motivational speaker, sales trainer, business development consultant, and author. Saluting Noonan Energy (125th anniversary) and Adam Quenneville Roofing, Siding and Windows (20th anniversary). Sponsored by United Personnel. Cost: $20 for members in advance, $25 for members at the door, $30 for generation admission. Reservations may be made online at www.springfieldregionalchamber.com.
• Oct. 13: Table Top Expo & Business Networking Event, 4:30-7 p.m., at the Castle of Knights, 1599 Memorial Dr., Chicopee. Presented by the Greater Chicopee, Holyoke, Westfield, and Springfield Regional chambers of commerce. Exhibitor tables are $125 for members of the participating chambers. Cost to attend: $5 in advance, $10 at the door. Open to the public. Reservations may be made online at www.springfieldregionalchamber.com.
• Oct. 14: Springfield Regional Chamber Lunch-n-Learn, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., at La Quinta Inn & Suites, 100 Congress St., Springfield. “Creating Marketing Campaigns Perfect for the Holiday Season,” with local authorized Constant Contact representative Liz Provo. Cost: $25 for members, $35 for general admission.Reservations may be made online at www.springfieldregionalchamber.com.
• Oct. 23: Springfield Regional Chamber Super 60, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at Chez Josef, 176 Shoemaker Lane, Agawam. Honoring the region’s top performing companies. Featuring keynote speakers Emily and Oliver Rich – the Tea Guys. Cost: $50 for members, $70 for general admission. Tables of eight or 10 available. Reserve by Oct. 14. No walk-ins accepted, no cancellations after deadline. Reservations may be made online at www.springfieldregionalchamber.com.
WEST OF THE RIVER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.ourwrc.com
413-426-3880
• Oct. 6: West Springfield Mayoral Candidates Forum, 6 p.m., at West Springfield Town Hall. For more information, contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880 or [email protected].
• Oct. 7: Wicked Wednesday, 5:30-7:30 p.m., hosted By John P. Frangie, M.D., West Springfield. Wicked Wednesdays are monthly social events, hosted by various businesses and restaurants, that bring members and non-members together to network in a laid-back atmosphere. For more information, contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880 or [email protected].
• Oct. 28: Food Fest West, 5:30-8 p.m., at Chez Josef, Agawam. The event will feature the foods of area restaurants, including Chez Josef, Classic Burgers, Crestview Country Club, EB’s, Hofbrau Joe’s, Murphy’s Pub, Partner’s Restaurant, Pintu’s, and more. Proceeds raised by Food Fest West will go toward the Partnership for Education and the WRC Educational Fund, which provides grants to businesses for on-the-job training and continuing-education needs. Cost: $25 in advance, $30 at the door. Tickets may be purchased online at www.westoftheriverchamber.com. For more information, contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880 or [email protected].
News and notes about area businesses October 6, 2015
SC School of Social Work, Peace Corps Announce Fellows Program
SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield College School of Social Work and the Peace Corps announced the launch of the new Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program, which will provide graduate-school scholarships to returned Peace Corps volunteers. Program fellows will serve as interns in local, underserved communities while they complete their studies, allowing them to bring home and expand upon the skills they learned as volunteers. “We are delighted to partner with Springfield College to support our returned volunteers as they pursue higher education and continue their commitment to service,” Peace Corps Director Carrie Hessler-Radelet said. “Communities are moved forward by the selflessness of volunteers, and returned Peace Corps volunteers have unique skills and experiences to offer their local communities.” Selected applicants will receive a graduate fellowship while enrolled in the Springfield College Master of Social Work program. As part of the Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program, students will complete an internship, receive a stipend, and have tuition credits waived each year. “Springfield College was founded in 1885 with the mission of educating students in spirit, mind, and body in leadership for service to others,” said Springfield College Vice President and Provost of Academic Affairs Jean Wyld. “Given this mission, we are excited to partner with the Peace Corps and look forward to welcoming our Coverdell fellows to the School of Social Work. The college is pleased to collaborate with the Peace Corps for this new program and to extend the impact of the School of Social Work still further.” Peace Corps volunteers who are involved in the program will earn their master’s degree in social work from Springfield College. As part of the program, students will complete 1,050 hours of service in the field in partnership with more than 1,000 agencies in New England and New York. “There is a synergy between Springfield College’s mission to educate future leaders in service and the Peace Corps’ mission to create sustainable change through dedicated partnerships around the world,” said Francine Vecchiolla, dean of the Springfield College School of Social Work. “Our welcoming school community will offer abundant opportunities for a Coverdell fellow to help promote a better understanding of other cultures and a cross-cultural ethical mandate that is central to social-work education.” Through their internships, Coverdell fellows will apply what they learn in the classroom to a professional setting. They not only gain valuable, hands-on experience that makes them more competitive in today’s job market, but they also further the missions of the Peace Corps and Springfield College. By sharing their global perspective with the communities they serve, fellows help fulfill the Peace Corps’ commitment to strengthen Americans’ understanding of the world and its people. To learn more about the Coverdell Fellows Program at Springfield College, contact Karen Clark-Hoey at [email protected].
Rake in the Business Table Top Expo
Oct. 13: The Springfield Regional Chamber is once again partnering with the Greater Chicopee, Holyoke, and Westfield chambers of commerce on the 18th annual Rake in the Business Table Top Expo and Business Networking Event from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at the Castle of Knights, 460 Granby Road, Chicopee, sponsored by Nuvo Bank & Trust Co. The expo provides local vendors an affordable opportunity to exhibit products and services to consumers. Last year, more than 100 vendors participated in the event, including photographers, marketing firms, staffing firms, banks, entertainment venues, and health insurers. Exhibitor space is available for $125, which entitles the exhibitor to an eight-foot, skirted display table and two complimentary entry passes. Electricity is limited but available upon request. The Table Top Expo is open to all chamber members as well as the general public for a nominal fee of $5 per person in advance, $10 at the door. Reservations may be made online at www.springfieldregionalchamber.com. The event is sponsored by platinum sponsors Health New England, PeoplesBank, MedExpress Urgent Care, and Noble Visiting Nurse and Hospice Services; gold sponsors Nuvo Bank, Peoples United Bank, and BusinessWest; and silver sponsors Spectrum Business, Chicopee Savings Bank, Elms College, Dave’s Truck Repair, the Republican, Easthampton Savings Bank, and First American Insurance Agency. For more information or to exhibit, contact Sarah Mazzaferro at [email protected] or (413) 755-1313.
Women’s Fund Men of the Year Award
Oct. 13: The Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts (WFWM) will celebrate its inaugural Men of the Year Award recipients from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Twin Hills Country Club in Longmeadow. The Women’s Fund Men of the Year Award will honor three men from our region who, in their professional or personal lives, have made significant contributions to ensure economic and social equity for women and girls. More than 200 participants are expected to attend, including local and state elected officials. The event is open to the public and will include craft beers, dinner, and live music. Tickets cost $65 and may be purchased online at www.womensfund.net. “We are thrilled to host this inaugural awards event that will highlight how men are working with us to create a better world for women and girls,” said WFWM CEO Elizabeth Barajas-Román. “Together, we can make a difference.” The Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts is a public foundation that invests in local women and girls through strategic grant making and leadership development. Since 1997, the Women’s Fund has awarded more than $2 million in grants to nearly 100 organizations in the region.
Warm Up the Night
Oct. 22: The Family Outreach of Amherst will host its fourth annual Warm Up the Night event from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Lord Jeffery Inn, 30 Boltwood Ave., Amherst. The tent at Lord Jeffery Inn will be transformed into a strolling culinary extravaganza. Enjoy delicious small bites, sips, and tastes from an eclectic mix of local food vendors, including 30Boltwood, Bistro 63 at the Monkey Bar, the Blue Heron, Bread and Butter, Carr’s Ciderhouse, the Alvah Stone, Jasper Hill Farm, Sun Kim Bop Food Truck, and more. Features this year include a pig roast, live music by musicians the Winterpills and Roger Salloom, and a special appearance by local guitar legend J Mascis. Tickets are $45 per person. Visit www.chd/familyoutreach for more information or to register, or contact Rachel Condry at (413) 548-1272 or [email protected].
Western Mass. Business Expo
Nov. 4: Comcast Business will present the fifth annual Western Mass. Business Expo at the MassMutual Center in downtown Springfield, produced by BusinessWest and the Healthcare News in partnership with Go Graphix and Rider Productions. The business-to-business show will feature more than 100 booths, seminars and Show Floor Theater presentations, breakfast and lunch programs (the former featuring Harpoon Brewery CEO Dan Kenary as keynote speaker), and a day-capping Expo Social. Current sponsors include Comcast Business, presenting sponsor; Health New England, Johnson & Hill Staffing Services, MGM Springfield, and Wild Apple Design Group, director-level sponsors; the Isenberg School of Business at UMass Amherst, education sponsor; Better Business Bureau, professional sponsor; and 94.7 WMAS, media sponsor. Additional sponsorship opportunities are available. Exhibitor spaces are also available; booth prices start at $750. For more information on sponsorships or booth purchase, call (413) 781-8600, ext. 100.
