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Daily News

HOLYOKE — The Sisters of Providence Health System (SPHS) announced that three physicians have been named to expanded leadership roles for Mercy Behavioral Health Care and Providence Behavioral Health Hospital (PBHH) in Holyoke. The appointments are effective Jan. 1.

Maria Russo-Appel, MD, who has served as the chief medical officer of PBHH for the past year, has been appointed to the position of vice president of Mercy Behavioral Health Care. In this role, Russo-Appel will lead the psychiatric care and behavioral health service lines, including PBHH, for SPHS.

Also, Robert Roose, MD, MPH, who has been serving as chief medical officer of Addiction Services of SPHS for the past the two and a half years, will have expanded responsibilities in a dual role as CMO/vice president of Addiction and Recovery Services, Mercy Behavioral Health Care, and will assume both medical and administrative leadership responsibilities for all addiction treatment and recovery service lines. And Gaurav Chawla, MD, CPE, who has been serving as chief of Psychiatry, will assume the role of chief medical officer, Mercy Behavioral Health Care, and lead new SPHS initiatives in behavioral health such as integration of behavioral health in both primary care and integration into population health management.

As one of the largest providers of behavioral health services in western Massachusetts, Mercy Behavioral Health Care provides access to an entire continuum of high-quality inpatient and outpatient care for people of all ages, from children and adolescents to adults and seniors. Mercy Behavioral Health Care includes both the continuums of Addiction and Recovery Services, from Acute Treatment Services to Outpatient and Opioid Treatment Programs, and Behavioral Health, from inpatient psychiatric treatment to the programs within Brightside for Families and Children.

Daily News

BusinessWest Magazine has set Feb. 12 as the deadline for receiving nominations for the 40 Under Forty Class of 2016, the 10th class to be honored by the magazine.

The program recognizes rising stars within the Western Mass. community, which includes Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire Counties.

This year’s group of 40 will be profiled in the magazine’s April 18 edition, then toasted at the June 16 gala at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House in Holyoke.

The nomination form can be found online at businesswest.com — request basic information, and can be supported with other material, such as a résumé, testimonials, and even press clippings highlighting an individual’s achievements in their profession or service to their community.

Opinion

Mike Balise

Mike Balise

A few months before he succumbed to cancer, ESPN anchor Stuart Scott stood at the podium at the ESPY Awards to accept the Jim Valvano Award for Perseverance.

In his moving remarks, Scott, in essence, told those assembled that when someone’s cancer fight ends, we should refrain from saying that he or she “lost their battle.” That fight is often won, he went on, because the individual confronted the disease with courage, the conviction to live their life to their fullest, and determination not to let cancer dictate whatever time they had left.

Those words certainly rang true recently with the news that Mike Balise, co-owner of Balise Motor Sales, passed away at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute roughly 15 months after being diagnosed with incurable stomach cancer at the age of 50.

There is certainly no debate about who won this fight — Mike did.

He battled the disease with his indomitable humor, determination to continue, for as his long as he could, his work not only with the company, but within the community as well — efforts that ranged from raising awareness of the need for more cancer-treatment facilities in this region (and money to build those facilities), to buying winter coats for area young people in need.

Last September, BusinessWest talked with Mike and some members of his family about his fight, and his determination and courage certainly came through. So much so that one could easily make the argument that no story the magazine has published in its 32-year history resonated more with readers.

Indeed, there were countless calls and e-mails from individuals conveying the message that they were greatly inspired by Mike’s ability to battle a death sentence with poise, dignity, and a desire to focus not on his plight, but on how he could do even more to help others.

A common refrain from those who reached out was “I’ve never met Mike, but reading this, I wish I could.’’

Those comments, as well as Mike’s long track record of philanthropy and community involvement, resonated with the decision-makers at BusinessWest this fall when they convened to decide whom to honor with the magazine’s Difference Maker award next spring.

They considered and then chose to honor Mike knowing fully well that it was very likely that his seat would be empty at the gala in March. But he will honored along with the others who will be announced next month, because he has been, and remains, an inspiration in so many ways, and is thus clearly worthy of that title Difference Maker, and always will be.

And when his name is introduced to those gathered at the Log Cabin in March, it will not be through use of the past tense — because he isn’t done being a Difference Maker. His inspirational life — not simply those last 15 months or so — will ensure that this is the case.

As for that cancer fight — from the minute Mike was diagnosed, everyone knew how it would end. All those who knew Mike could also predict how the battle would be waged; with courage and conviction. And that’s why we shouldn’t say the fight was lost.

Because it wasn’t.

Daily News

SHEFFIELD — Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation announced the first round of deadlines for competitive grants in fiscal year 2016. Covering the period from January through March, the winter cycle of deadlines is open to regional nonprofits, students, and schools.

For Nonprofits

• Harvard Business School’s ‘Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management’ program (SPNM) is an intensive six-day program for nonprofit CEOs, presidents, or executive directors who are responsible for shaping the direction, policies and major programs of their organizations. Applications are due March 1 and the program runs in July.
• The Green Pastures Fund supports nonprofit organizations or public entities that encourage or preserve small, community-based agricultural ventures. Grants range from $1,000 to $3,000. Applications are due March 1.
• The James and Robert Hardman Fund for North Adams supports nonprofit groups, community organizations or public agencies that support the residents of North Adams and the neighboring communities of Florida and Clarksburg, Mass., and Stamford, Vermont. The fund prioritizes projects that support disadvantaged residents or enrich the cultural and natural environment. Grants range from $500 to $3,000. Applications are due March 1.
• The Fund for Williamstown supports innovative projects and services that benefit the residents of Williamstown. Letters of intent describing projects and their purpose are due March 15. Grants range from $500 to $2,500. Full grant applications are due April 15.

For Students

• The Alice and Richard Henriquez Memorial Fund /Youth World Awareness Program provides grants to students ages 14-22 for international travel and service. Grants range from $500 to $1,500 for individual applicants; larger grants may be considered for groups. Applications are due Feb. 1.
• The Simple Gifts Fund awards grants to young people ages 13-21 for participation in cultural or creative summer programs. Grants range from $200 to $800. Applications are due March 30.

For Schools

The James C. Kapteyn Endowment Fund honors excellence in teaching with a $10,000 prize for study or travel. Nominations from school principals or chief administrators are due Feb. 2.
The Lenox Education Enrichment Foundation supports projects that enhance the educational experience of students and teachers in the Lenox public schools. Grants range from $100 to $1,000. Applications are due Feb. 28.
Grant application forms for all the funds are online and can be found at www.berkshiretaconic.org/SearchGrants.

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Beginning Feb. 16, Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) will again offer a 16-week (two 8-week sessions) “Fast Track” option of the new certificate program in Customer Service Essentials. Students will earn 24 college credits that can transfer into an associate degree in business administration.

Customer service representatives are in demand in a variety of fields including financial services, call centers, manufacturing services, retail organizations, inside sales, and small business services. Working in customer service requires a good foundation of skills in marketing, computer literacy, communication, and business etiquette to support the needs of both the customer and the employer. These front-line employees are problem solvers and often considered the “face” of the companies they represent.

“STCC’s Fast Track Customer Service Essentials Certificate option provides an educational career pathway to employment in advanced customer service representative roles that are in high demand by local employers,” said STCC Vice President of Foundation and Workforce Training Robert LePage. “Students will work together in a structured group to support learning and team work.”

The Fast Track Customer Service Essentials Certificate program, requested by area industry partners, will place emphasis on essential workforce readiness skills to support graduates as they transition to employment. The program will include industry-enhanced engagement with guest speakers, company tours and speed networking (interview) sessions. Job placement assistance will be provided.

“The concepts learned in the degree courses will add to the workforce readiness skills that students develop in the certificate courses and prepare them for larger roles in the companies they join,” said Dean of the School of Business and Information Technologies Leona Ittleman.

Students will complete the program in two sessions (eight weeks each) starting Nov. 2 and ending June 27. Classes run Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Space is limited and financial aid is available to those who qualify. Information sessions will be held at FutureWorks on Jan. 8, Jan. 15, and Jan. 22. For more information, visit www.stcc.edu/csvc.

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Museum School at the Springfield Museums is currently offering classes and experiential learning opportunities for both children and adults. Spaces are still available for fall courses and trips. Gift certificates are also available.

All classes are led by experienced and supportive instructors in topics tied to the Museums’ collections and special traveling exhibits. Winter classes for young people include explorations of health science, engineering, and the chemistry behind baking, plus an exciting look into a dog’s world with a course tied to the upcoming special exhibit, “Wolf to Woof.” Age ranges for each class vary; check springfieldmuseums.org under ‘programs,’ then ‘classes’ for more information.

Offerings for adults during the winter session include lectures in the art and history of cheese making, an inside look at the Botanic Gardens of Smith College, as well as classes in sculpting, drawing, and painting (oil and watercolor). Many classes 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. Information sessions for those multi-day trips are taking place on January — day trips to museums in Boston and New York City — are also available.

For complete class descriptions, travel itineraries, fees, or to register, visit springfieldmusuems.org or call (413) 263-6800, ext. 377 or 382.

Daily News

SOUTH HADLEY — Adam Quenneville Roofing, Siding and Windows had the honor of replacing a roof for the Boy Scouts of America at the Moses Scout Reservation in Russell.

Once the summer home of Horace Moses, the Manor House and the 1,200 acres of property were donated to the Boy Scouts of America Western Massachusetts Council in 1945, after its previous campsite was destroyed by a hurricane. The building is about 100 years old and is one of many buildings on the property.

“The Manor House has not been used in about eight years,” said David Kruse, scout executive and CEO. “Thanks to Adam Quenneville and his team, we are excited to get it back up and running for this year’s summer camp.”

The Manor House is just one of the many buildings on the Boy Scout property in need of repairs. With the help of community and volunteer donations for supplies, Quenneville — owner of Adam Quenneville Roofing, Siding, and Windows — was able to do his part by donating the labor to replace the roof.

“As a father of three, two of which are young boys, this project was very important to me,” he said. “The Boy Scouts teach boys self-confidence, ethics, and leadership skills, which I believe are the foundation for great leaders.”

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Freedom Credit Union board of directors recently elected Glenn Welch as the new president and CEO, effective Jan. 4. Welch will succeed Barry Crosby, who has served as president and CEO of the state-chartered credit union since 2003. This past summer, Crosby notified the board of his intent to retire in early 2016.

“After conducting an extensive search that identified several superbly qualified candidates, we have decided that Glenn Welch is our choice to lead Freedom,” said Lawrence Bouley, chairman of the board. “Throughout the process, it was extremely important to us that the new president could build on the strong foundation already in place at Freedom. And to that point, we are grateful for the leadership that Barry Crosby has provided over the past 12 years.”

Upon learning of his appointment, Welch said, “I am grateful to serve as Freedom’s new president and to continue the organization’s 93-year tradition of serving the members, families, businesses, and communities of the Pioneer Valley. Also, I want to thank the board of directors for their confidence in me and their support.”

Added Crosby, “I am proud of my tenure at Freedom and enjoyed working with the board of directors, officers, and staff. During this time, the credit union grew from one branch into a network of 10 branches throughout the Pioneer Valley and an Operations Center in Springfield. Under Glenn’s leadership, I am confident that Freedom will continue that growth and our membership will value his knowledge and expertise.”

Most recently, Welch was executive vice president of Berkshire Bank following its acquisition of Hampden Bank. Prior to that, he was president and CEO of Hampden Bank for two years before the Berkshire Bank acquisition. During his 17-year tenure at Hampden, he held various positions, including president and COO, executive vice president, and senior vice president of Business Banking. Before joining Hampden, he served as vice president, Middle Market Banking Group at Fleet Bank.

Daily News

WEST SPRINGFIELDModern Salon has named the 2015 class of Excellence in Education honorees in its sixth annual program recognizing leadership and best practices among cosmetology schools. DiGrigoli School of Cosmetology was chosen to represent excellence in the category of Community Involvement, Marketing Innovation, School Culture.

“We received applications from cosmetology schools across the country and look forward to celebrating all the 2015 Excellence in Education honorees and sharing their stories. It is truly a great time to pursue a beauty education and career, and the program at DiGrigoli School of Cosmetology exemplifies that fact,” said Modern Salon Editorial Director Michele Musgrove.

Paul DiGrigoli, president and CEO of the DiGrigoli School of Cosmetology, added, “I’m so grateful to have such a stellar faculty and team. They have supported and created an environment of positivity and energy that constantly and continuously helps take our students’ minds and careers to another altitude. I am proud to say that the future professionals who graduate from the DiGrigoli School of Cosmetology have received jobs from some of the best salons in our area. We will continue to reach for greater heights to provide all of our students with higher education, and we are so honored to be receiving this prestigious award for the fourth year in a row.”

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Dress for Success of Western Massachusetts is receiving national recognition with the help of the Westfield News Group, LLC, which collected more than 200 pairs of shoes as part of Dress for Success’ #GivingShoesDay event. The collection earned Dress for Success of Western Massachusetts the number-two spot in the world for donations from a single donor, and eighth in the country for total donations that day.

The event was part of a national movement to “shoe their best” as the nonprofit organization once again turned #GivingTuesday into #GivingShoesDay on Dec. 1. For the fourth year in a row, #GivingShoesDay encouraged women to donate their professional shoes to one of more than 140 Dress for Success affiliates across the world, including Dress for Success of Western Massachusetts.

In addition to Westfield News, participating companies in Western Mass. included Insurance Center of New England, Renaissance, BusinessWest, MassLive, Printing Solutions, the Springfield Central Cultural District, the O’Connell Companies, and Eastfield Mall.

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — A video posted on Facebook recently has already received over 13,000 views and helped raise more than $16,000 for Baystate Children’s Hospital.

The short video follows a group of local children who wanted to bring some holiday cheer to the patients of Baystate Children’s Hospital. When the kids learned how some families couldn’t be home for the holidays, they figured they could bring the spirit of the season to them.

Robert Charles Photography and Ryan James Videography teamed up to help capture the visit. The resulting video has helped raise $16,173 for Baystate Children’s Hospital. The video debuted live on air with the Kellogg Krew at 94.7 WMAS on Dec. 16. The response was immediate. Before the interview was over, hundreds of people had already logged on to watch the video and begin making comments.

Robert Charles Photography, a portrait and commercial studio, holds an annual fund-raiser for Baystate Children’s Hospital. To date, it has been able to donate more than $80,000. The company hopes the video will help its get its total above $100,000 by the end of 2015.

The studio offers a special holiday package in exchange for a $79 donation; 100% of the proceeds benefit Baystate Children’s Hospital. The package includes a portrait session (to be photographed in 2016), an 8×10 signature print, and social-media images. The retail value is more than $300. For those looking to make a donation of a different amount, a link associated with the video allows viewers to make donations of any value.

“This time of year is about coming together as a community and helping those in need. Our hope is that the video will inspire viewers to consider making a small donation to help support the families of Baystate Children’s Hospital during the holiday season,” said Edward Zemba, president of Robert Charles Photography.

To view the video, visit www.rcpfamilies.com. For more information about the fund-raiser, call (413) 525-4263.

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Engineering students from Western New England University (WNEU) traveled to the campus of the University del Valle in Cali, Colombia, in late November to complete construction of team PANAMASS’ 800-square-foot, fully solar-powered home, as part of the inaugural Solar Decathlon Latin America and Caribbean 2015 competition.

Team PANAMASS’ entry is called the SMART house, which is based on five characteristics in its design: sustainable, modular, recyclable, aesthetic, and tropical. After 10 days of intense evaluation by a several panels of judges, the SMART house was awarded first place in Energy Efficiency and third place in Energy Balance.

This competition, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Colombian government, challenges university student teams around the world to design and build sustainable houses based on innovation and clean-energy technologies. Team PANAMASS is a partnership made up of students and faculty from Western New England University and Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá. There were 15 teams representing nine countries, including Panama, Peru, Mexico, Colombia, Uruguay, Spain, Germany, England, and the U.S. WNEU was the only participant representing the U.S.

Five Western New England University students and Engineering Professor Kenneth Lee were in Colombia for the construction phase of the house. Students include civil engineering senior Andres Otero and juniors Brian Wodecki, Jhonatan Escobar, Gabby Fosdick, and Katrina DiGloria. This competition provided the students with a unique international experience to work alongside with faculty and students from Tecnológica de Panamá and to experience Colombian culture for two weeks.

This solar decathlon embraced a theme of social-justice housing and encouraged designs built for tropical climates in high-density urban locations, and the use of recycled materials, affordability, optimal energy production, and maximum efficiency. The SMART house is built with recycled shipping containers and includes three bedrooms and one bathroom.

Daily News

WILBRAHAM — Jules Gaudreau, president of the Gaudreau Group in Wilbraham, was recently inducted as president of his industry’s national trade organization, the National Assoc. of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA).

“It will be a great privilege and responsibility to lead an association of over 42,000 professionals who help American families achieve financial security,” Gaudreau said. “I look forward to advocating on their behalf in Washington and throughout the country as I have done for over 25 years here in Massachusetts.”

One of the nation’s oldest and largest associations representing the interests of insurance professionals and financial advisors, NAIFA is the only organization that serves and represents insurance and financial advisors regardless of the products they sell or the focus of their practice. Members include insurance agents, financial advisors, multi-line agents, and health-insurance and employee-benefits specialists. NAIFA’s mission is to advocate for a positive legislative and regulatory environment, enhance business and professional skills, and promote the ethical conduct of its members.

The Gaudreau Group, founded in 1921, is one of the largest independently owned insurance agencies in the Northeast, serving more than 6,000 families and businesses across 14 states with a broad range of insurance and financial products. A perpetual Super 60 winner, it was recently honored in the Reader Raves awards from the Republican as the region’s best insurance agency. The Gaudreau Group and its affiliated wealth-management firm, Gaudreau-Wealth New England, employs 30 professionals.

“In my position, I am able to help individuals when they are most vulnerable, many times suffering a business or personal loss,” Gaudreau said. “It is in our enlightened self-interest to make our area a better place to work and live.”

Daily News

HOLYOKE — PeoplesBank announced the appointments of Natalie Jimenez, John Peterson, Kathy Caputo, and Victor Rodriguez Sr. as mortgage consultants. They join Lisa Baltronis and Beverly Orloski on the PeoplesBank mortgage team.

Jimenez joined PeoplesBank in 2012 and most recently worked in its Elmwood office, serving as head teller. She also has nine years of customer-service experience. She will be representing the Chicopee area and surrounding towns, and is a member of the Buy Chicopee Now program.

Peterson joined PeoplesBank in 2002, has seven years of loan origination experience, and most recently served as an assistant branch manager in our West Springfield office. He will be representing West Springfield and the surrounding area. He is a member of the West of the River Chamber of Commerce and a board member and co-secretary of the Kiwanis Club of West Springfield and Agawam.

Caputo is new to PeoplesBank and brings several years of lending experience to this position. She is well-versed in a wide variety of lending programs and will be covering the Northampton area and surrounding towns.

Rodriguez is also new to PeoplesBank and has more than 13 years of banking experience, serving in a supervisory capacity, most recently as a branch officer. He will be covering the areas of Holyoke and Springfield. He will represent PeoplesBank on the Buy Springfield Now and Buy Holyoke Now boards.

“Natalie, John, Kathy, and Victor bring a wealth of banking experience to their new positions as mortgage consultants,” stated James Sherbo, senior vice president of Consumer Lending at PeoplesBank. “Each of them values customer service as their top priority, and they are valuable additions to the PeoplesBank lending team.”

Daily News

LEE — Lee Premium Outlets announced that popular luggage retailer Samsonite — a leader in travel bags, luggage, and accessories — has opened at the center.

In addition, Lee Premium Outlets welcomed Destination Maternity Outlet, a leading retailer of women’s maternity clothing, through Dec. 31, as well as Anugraha Brows, a locally owned business that offers eyebrow threading and henna tattoos.

These additions, as well as upgrades around the center that include recent renovations to Maidenform and Sunglass Hut, aim to provide visitors with an improved shopping experience this holiday season. For details on holiday-shopping hours, visit premiumoutlets.com/lee.

Daily News

WESTFIELD — The board of directors of the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce elected new officers and directors at its recent annual meeting. They include Dan Burack, president; Dawn Thomas, first vice president and treasurer; Kevin O’Connor, second vice president; and Cindy Lacoste, secretary.

Burack is the owner of Tekoa Country Club as well as a real-estate developer. Thomas is a vice president and chief financial officer at Instrument Technology Inc. O’Connor is vice president of retail banking and marketing at Westfield Bank. Lacoste is a senior paralegal at Mestek Inc.

The new directors ratified include Andrea Allard, CEO of the Westfield YMCA; Calvin Annino Jr., managing partner of Annino, Draper & Moore, P.C.; Lt. Col. Brenda Hendricksen, 104th Wing executive officer at Barnes Air National Guard Base; Jay Kline, business and finance manager at Westfield Gas & Electric; and Ann Woodson, property owner of George’s Jewelers.

The remaining board of directors includes Ron Bryant, president of Baystate Noble Hospital; Todd Brown, vice president at Tighe & Bond; Vincent Carbone, vice president of operations at Savage Arms; Anne Faunce, branch manager at First Niagara Bank; Kenneth Magarian, director of advancement and college relations at Westfield State University; Kim Rexford, owner of Betts Plumbing & Heating; Ali Salehi, senior vice president of engineering and plant operations at Columbia Manufacturing Inc.; and Alfonso Santaniello, president and CEO of the Creative Strategy Agency Inc.

“Our board has never been stronger,” said chamber Executive Director Kate Phelon. “We make every effort to add diversity to our board that includes not only specific industry sectors, but all business sizes ranging from small to large. Our board is committed to implementing our strategic goals and to growing the chamber with their plethora of talent, experience, and skill sets.”

For more information about the chamber, visit www.westfieldbiz.org.

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — At its annual Holiday Gala on Dec. 3, the Springfield Museums announced a major naming gift made by Noel and Carol Leary. Carol Leary is president of Bay Path University, while Noel Leary is a retired real-estate association executive and consultant to not-for-profit organizations.

In recognition of their contribution, the Impressionist Art Gallery in the Michele and Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts will now be named the Carol and Noel Leary Gallery of Impressionist Art. The gallery houses paintings by such major artists as Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Auguste Renoir, and Paul Gauguin.

The Learys made their gift as part of the Museums’ capital campaign, titled “Seuss in Springfield: Building a Better Quadrangle.” The $7 million campaign will fund major improvements to the Springfield Museums campus and the creation of a new museum honoring Springfield native Theodor Geisel, a.k.a. Dr. Seuss.

“Carol and I wanted to help guarantee that this world-class museum complex will continue to be the crown jewel of Springfield,” Noel said. “Our financial advisor showed us how to combine current giving with a legacy commitment to achieve far more than we had ever considered.”

Added Carol, “we hope that our gift will serve as an inspiration to our colleagues and friends that something similar is indeed possible with a bit of planning.”

Springfield Museums President Kay Simpson noted that “Noel and Carol are long-standing and dedicated advocates for the Museums. We are truly honored by their display of generosity and for their leadership in bolstering our capital campaign.”

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — DevelopSpringfield recently awarded several façade-improvement grants through the Corridor Storefront Improvement Program (CSIP), which provides grants of up to $10,000 per storefront for exterior improvements to first-floor businesses located on State and Main streets in Springfield.

A grant of $30,000 was provided to Boynton Property Group for work related to its rehabilitation of the shopping plaza located at 666 State St. in the city’s Mason Square area. Funds provided were allocated toward new signage, enhanced lighting, and new windows to the plaza, home to a restaurant and beauty salon.

Silverbrick Group has been making major renovations to the former Morgan Square property at 1593-1607 Main St. The project includes redevelopment of the apartments, creating Silverbrick Lofts as well as renovations to first-floor commercial space. A grant of $60,000 was provided to support installation of new, energy-efficient windows and doors for six units on the ground floor. This contribution augmented the substantial investment by the project’s developers which, in addition to the newly refurbished apartments, also includes major repairs to masonry work on the upper stories of the property. Silverbrick is located in Springfield’s downtown Innovation District, a priority redevelopment area.

Finally, as a part of Nadim’s Mediterranean Grill’s recent redesign, DevelopSpringfield provided a $10,000 grant to aid in the façade enhancement, including new windows, signage, and awning. The restaurant, located at 1380-1390 Main St., has undergone a major redesign inside and out. Nadim’s made further investments to improve the inside dining room as well as the patio dining experience.

“DevelopSpringfield is pleased to support these Springfield businesses in their efforts to make lasting improvements, which impact not only their own activities, but also benefit neighboring businesses as well,” said Jay Minkarah, president and CEO of DevelopSpringfield. “We are proud to be among the partners working to support and strengthen longtime and new business ventures in our city.”

DevelopSpringfield’s Corridor Storefront Improvement Program was established in 2009 with the support of the city of Springfield and other private funders, to enhance the visual appeal of State and Main streets while providing assistance to businesses making investments in these two key corridors within the city. For more information on CSIP, visit www.developspringfield.com and click on ‘programs,’ or contact Minkarah at (413) 209-8808 or [email protected].

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Gray House recently inducted five new board members to three-year terms.

• Jan Rodriguez Denney is director of Elder Affairs for the city of Springfield. She holds a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from UMass and a master’s degree in human resources development from American International College. She serves on the board of Partners for a Healthier Community, Springfield Food Policy Council, Regional Employment Board, YWCA, Incorporated Emerson Wright Foundation, Greater Senior Services Inc., and Springfield College Board.

• Sean Ditto is a project executive with Consigli Construction Co. in Hartford, Conn. He has a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Norwich University.

• Karen Garcia is a family specialist with the New England Farm Workers Council. She works with the homeless to help them address their issues so they are able to sustain affordable housing.

• Sr. Catherine Homrok is one of the founders of the Gray House. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1959 after graduation from St. Jerome High School in Holyoke. She received her bachelor’s degree from Elms College and her master’s degree from Emerson College. Currently, she serves the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield as its director of Pastoral Ministries.

• Tina-Marie Quagliato is director of disaster recovery and compliance for the city of Springfield. She has been employed by the city for almost 11 years, with varying roles in housing, community development, and neighborhood stabilization. She is on the board of trustees for the Martin Luther King Jr. Charter School of Excellence in Springfield and the board of directors for the United Way of Pioneer Valley, Emergency Food and Shelter Program. She has volunteered with Keep Springfield Beautiful, Habitat for Humanity, Open Pantry, and the Mattoon Street Arts Festival.

The Gray House is a small, neighborhood human-service agency located at 22 Sheldon St. in the North End of Springfield. Its mission is to help neighbors facing hardships to meet their immediate and transitional needs by providing food, clothing, and educational services in a safe, positive environment. For more information, visit www.grayhouse.org.

Daily News

GREENFIELD — Richard Venne, president and CEO of Community Enterprises Inc., announced the appointment of Gary Daniele as director of Greenfield Community Employment and Training Programs. He is responsible for the effective management of all aspects of employment and training services in Greenfield, and will implement the organization’s mission and values by supporting individuals to make positive changes in their lives.

Daniele was previously employed by the state of Oregon as a branch manager for vocational rehabilitation. He has more than 25 years of experience in employment, vocational, and residential supports for individuals with disabilities, and was awarded the Department of Human Services Director’s Excellence Award in 2014. He received his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Roger Williams University.

Community Enterprises is a human-service organization that provides employment, education, housing supports, and day supports for people with disabilities. Headquartered in Northampton, it maintains 27 service locations throughout Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, and Kentucky. The Massachusetts offices include Springfield, Holyoke, Pittsfield, Greenfield, Worcester, Salem, Gloucester, and Somerville. The nonprofit organization, which started as a small program at Northampton State Hospital, has grown to a $22.5 million business.

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — MGM Springfield announced it has received its final state license approval from the Mass. Gaming Commission (MGC), clearing the way to begin construction. The MGC specifically found that all feasible measures have been taken to avoid or minimize impacts of the project and damage to the environment.

“We are grateful to the MGC commissioners for their detailed deliberations and patience with this process,” said Michael Mathis, MGM Springfield president. “This comprehensive review has helped MGM Springfield evolve into the most community-facing and integrated property MGM Resorts has ever built.”

Separately, the proposed design changes must still be approved by the city and the MGC. Updated MGM Springfield design plans were made public in September, and company executives appeared at a public presentation in Springfield in November to outline the design plan, highlighting changes that allowed for both design and cost efficiencies, as well as to provide a new project cost estimate of more than $950 million.

“This approval has been a year in the making,” Mathis said. “We are eager to bring this back to Springfield and work with the city to get final signoff for impactful demolition and construction.”

The Springfield City Council is expected to discuss and vote on a casino overlay district on Monday, Dec. 21. MGM Springfield representatives will be at the meeting.

The new year will be busy for MGM with the commencement of active construction. MGM Springfield construction-management representatives will host ongoing information sessions with interested minority-, women-, and veteran-owned businesses, and the opening of the relocated MGM Springfield Community Office.

Daily News

MONSON — For the sixth year in a row, Monson Savings Bank is asking the community to help plan the bank’s community-giving activities by inviting people to vote for the organizations they would like the bank to support during 2016.

“Every year we donate over $100,000 to organizations doing important work in the communities we serve,” said Steve Lowell, president of Monson Savings. “For several years now, we’ve been asking the community for input on which groups they’d like us to support, and we’ve been so pleased by how many people participate. We have learned of new organizations through this process, and we also just like the idea of asking our community for input. As a community bank, we think that’s important.”

To cast their vote, people can visit monsonsavings.com/in-the-community.html. On that page, they will find a list of organizations that the bank has already supported in 2015 and may provide up to three names of groups they’d like the bank to support in 2016. The only requirement is that the organizations be nonprofit and provide services in Hampden, Monson, Wilbraham, or Ware.

The voting ends at 3 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 15. The bank pledges to support the top 10 vote getters and will announce who they are by the end of January.

Daily News

PITTSFIELD — John Bissell, the new president and CEO of Greylock Federal Credit Union, is the first chief executive in Berkshire County to sign on to CEOs Against Stigma, the statewide workplace campaign created by the state chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI Mass). Bissell says he is committed to helping eliminate workplace stigma in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, starting with his 257 employees.

“Every one of us has a friend or family member who has struggled with mental-health issues,” Bissell said. “It is time to demonstrate that we care about them, and that we support them in meeting their mental-health challenges.”

Mental-health disorders affect one in five adults and are the leading cause of workplace disability. But they are often not discussed in the workplace because of the stigma that surrounds them. CEOs Against Stigma is designed to create a stigma-free workplace by changing misconceptions about mental illness so people can speak freely about the conditions that affect them and their families. That change starts at the top.

“I believe bringing these issues and challenges out in the open, free from stigma and stereotype, is a vital step to helping all of our employees and colleagues to lead full and productive lives,” Bissell said.

By signing the pledge, he promises to promote a stigma-free environment by encouraging more dialogue about mental-health conditions, providing information to both managers and employees to keep them better informed, and bringing NAMI’s In Our Own Voice presentations into the workplace. Recognized by a leading national mental-health researcher as the most effective anti-stigma program in America, IOOV features two people sharing their personal stories of recovery. These presentations are an important component of the campaign.

“CEOs Against Stigma is moving full steam ahead to change work environments across the state,” said NAMI Berkshire County Executive Director Brenda Carpenter. “We are proud to have Mr. Bissell and Greylock Federal Credit Union as the first in Berkshire County to join our team.”

CEOs Against Stigma is working to sign 250 executives to the campaign and reach a half-million employees. Any Massachusetts company with at least 50 employees can join. For more information about CEOs Against Stigma, visit ceos.namimass.org.

Daily News

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Mall announced a special holiday performance of Dan Kane’s Rising Stars. They have provided entertainment for holiday shoppers at Holyoke Mall for the last 10 years and will be performing once again on Saturday, Dec. 19 from 1 to 4 p.m, near the Guest Services Center located on the lower level near Sears Court. They will perform holiday classics along with some pop favorites.

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Museums have announced a slate of activities for the upcoming holiday vacation week. Visitors can enjoy a combination of fun activities, planetarium shows, and performances by some of the region’s best family performers, as well as the popular Seussian Holiday gingerbread exhibit at the Springfield Science Museum.

“Week of Wonder” events kick off on Saturday, Dec. 26 with all four Springfield Museums open regular hours, plus activities at the Hasbro Games Art Discovery Center and shows at the Seymour Planetarium. On Sunday, Dec. 27, the activities and events shift into high gear with a lively, interactive performance by Otha Day titled “Drum to the Beat” from 2 to 3 p.m. in SIS Hall, Wood Museum of Springfield History.

Performances on subsequent days will include:

• Mon., Dec. 28, 11 a.m.: Magician Scott Jameson (Davis Auditorium, D’Amour Museum). Marvel as umbrellas are plucked from thin air, drawings are brought to life, and basketballs are juggled.

• Tue., Dec. 29, 11 a.m.: Toe Jam Puppet Band performs “Toe Jam in Outer Space” (Davis Auditorium, D’Amour Museum). The show includes a spacey dress-up puppet show, some anti-gravity dancing, and original songs from the CD Toe Jam In Outer Space!

• Wed., Dec. 30, 11 a.m.: Interactive comedy magic and juggling. Join Robert Clarke for a charming and hysterical show featuring slight of hand, gravity-defying tricks, and comedy.

Other activities include:

• Seymour Planetarium Shows, 11:15 a.m., noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m., Science Museum;

• Art Discovery Center, Noon to 4 p.m., GWVS Art Museum;

• Art Activities (Dec. 27-30 only), 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Science Museum, science workshop; and

• Family Science Adventures (Dec. 27-30 only), 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Science Museum.

“Week of Wonder” is part of the Museums’ Family Fun series. MassMutual is the 2015-16 premier sponsor of the Springfield Museums.

Admission is $18 for adults, $12 for seniors and college students, $9.50 for children 3-17, and free for children under 3 and museum members. General admission is free for Springfield residents with proof of address. Regular hours are Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Museums are also open Monday, Dec. 29 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit springfieldmuseums.org.

Daily News

BOSTON — Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito announced that the final economic trigger was met in order to lower the state’s income tax from 5.15% to 5.10%. The income-tax cut for all Massachusetts residents will become effective on Jan. 1.

“Meeting the requirements needed to reduce the income-tax rate is a sign that the Massachusetts economy remains strong,” Baker said. “Allowing citizens across the Commonwealth to keep more money in their pockets will allow the state’s economy to continue growing in 2016.”

Added Polito, “the will of the voters has persevered. It’s been 15 years since the voters first made this decision, and every chance we get to provide more discretionary income is a good day for the Commonwealth and the taxpayers.”

Kristen Lepore, secretary of the Executive Office for Administration and Finance, noted that “the fiscal year 2016 budget revenue assumed effects of the lower tax rate to 5.10% and has been accounted for in the balance sheet. This is good news for the taxpayers with no new impact on the state’s fiscal outlook.”

A ballot initiative passed in 2000 called for the state’s income tax to be reduced to 5% over time. Legislation was passed in 2002 that tied reducing the tax rate by 0.05% each tax year (until the Part B income tax rate is 5%) to certain economic triggers. First, the inflation adjusted growth in baseline tax revenues for the preceding fiscal year has to exceed 2.5%. The second trigger, completed on the 15th of each month between September and December, certifies that the inflation-adjusted growth in baseline tax revenues over the previous three months of the current calendar year compared to the same periods of the prior calendar year is greater than zero. Once the statutory triggers are met, the rate is lowered by 0.05% until it reaches 5% percent.

The charitable deduction will be restored the year after the tax rate is lowered to 5%. The last time all growth thresholds were met was in 2014.

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Museums recently created an entirely new, mobile-friendly website highlighted by new and expanded information on the museums’ combined collections. The site uses the same URL address as the previous website, springfieldmuseums.org.

The website was created through the combined efforts of Merideth Ross, design and website manager for the Museums, and Joseph Casciano, the Museums’ administrative and social-media associate. Additional development assistance was provided by Noah Kuhn of Pilotmade in Amherst.

The Museums’ new website is optimized for mobile browsing, a critical feature in an age where more website visitors are using tablets and smartphones than ever before. The site has also been reorganized based on feedback gathered from a ‘card sort’ survey of site users, creating a more intuitive navigation. Other useful features include an easy-to-use portal for online donations and enhanced functionality to house additional content like videos and a new blog.

A major new element of the redesigned site is the presence of high-quality photos and background information on many spotlight objects from the Museums’ combined collections. This new feature will allow the Museums to reach an even wider audience with information about their signature collections, from antique Asian and Islamic art to scientific and anthropological specimens; from rare cars and motorcycles to Currier & Ives prints. Visitors to the site can browse these items by category or tag, and can search the collections using any keyword. As with other major museums, digitization and online access of images and catalog data will be a major focus for the Springfield Museums in the coming years.

“We are very excited to introduce this new website, which will allow us to share information on the unique breadth and quality of our collections, events, and exhibits in a way that is flexible and easy to access,” said Springfield Museums President Kay Simpson.

The site will continue to expand in the future to include more collections data, an online store, and articles offering a look at the people and stories behind the Museums’ exhibits and events.

Daily News

NORTHAMPTON — Corina Belle-Isle has joined Gage-Wiley & Co. Inc. in a dual role, serving as a financial advisor and also holding a new position the investment firm recently created: director of business development.

In her leadership position, Belle-Isle will work with President Christopher Milne to set firm and wide objectives and identify methods to reach these goals. She also will have a responsibility to develop, coordinate, and implement plans designed to increase existing business and capture new opportunities.

“Creating this new leadership position represents one more incremental step in our long-term goal of advancing Gage-Wiley as a comprehensive boutique wealth-management firm mand ensuring we are well-positioned to support the growing and complex needs of our clients,” Milne said.

Belle-Isle’s varied background includes experience in financial services, real estate, corporate sales and marketing, small-business ownership, and nonprofit development. Rounding out her business knowledge and experience are her creative pursuits; last year, she served as the principal and curator of the Quinn Marin Gallery Project in Rockport.

“The common thread among all her experiences is a demonstrated success in business development and building strong relationships,” Milne said.

Daily News

PITTSFIELD — Berkshire Bank announced that Kathryn Dube has joined the bank as first vice president and wealth business development leader.

Dube brings more than 30 years of banking and financial-management experience to her new role. She has held progressively responsible positions in retail banking and wealth management in the Western Mass. and Connecticut markets. Prior to joining Berkshire Bank, she served as senior vice president of private banking at TD Bank, where she was responsible for sales of wealth products and services and generating new assets. She served as senior vice president, regional retail market manager for TD Bank as well, managing a network of 35 stores and $2 billion in deposits.

Dube holds Series 7 and 66 FINRA licenses. She attended the University of Connecticut, New England College of Finance, and Bryant College. Involved in numerous community endeavors, she is the current chair of the United Way Women’s Leadership Council in the Pioneer Valley, a member of the organization’s board of directors, and co-chair of the Endowment Committee for the United Way. Having previously served as chair and vice chair for the United Way of Pioneer Valley, she was selected as the organization’s Volunteer of the Year in 2014.

Daily News

CHICOPEE — Chicopee Savings Bank recently welcomed Christopher Casale to its Financial Services Center as an investment services sales associate.

Casale has been advising clients on investments and insurance as a registered representative for more than 30 years. In 1982, he started his career with E.F. Hutton & Co. and most recently worked at United Bank, where he served as a personal banker and assistant vice president of investments.

Casale has earned his Series 7, 63, and Investment Advisor Representative designation through LPL Financial as well as his license in life, accident, and health insurance. He graduated in 1982 from American International College with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

Departments People on the Move

The Massachusetts Board of Higher Education formally approved Ramon Torrecilha, a lifelong educator, as the 20th president of Westfield State University (WSU). A lifelong educator, he is currently a professor of sociology at California State University Dominguez Hills. “I am delighted by the appointment of Dr. Ramon Torrecilha as the new president of Westfield State and look forward to working with him,” said Carlos Santiago, state commissioner of Higher Education. “I want to thank the Westfield board of trustees and the search committee for delivering an exceptional pool of quality candidates, and congratulate them on an outstanding selection.” Torrecilha will be the first Latino to serve as president in the university’s 176-year history. He is scheduled to begin his term on Jan. 25. Westfield State’s presidential search process officially launched in January 2015, with a search committee comprising 13 members of the campus community. The pool of candidates was narrowed to a semi-finalist group of 13 in August, and on Sept. 29, the presidential search advisory committee announced three finalists: Torrecilha; Damian Fernandez, CEO and head of school at Ethical Culture Fieldston School; and Linda Vaden-Goad, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at Framingham State University. On Oct. 28, the WSU trustees voted to recommend Torrecilha as the final candidate, and the state Board of Higher Education approved the choice this week. Previous to his current role at California State University Dominguez Hills, he served as provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, where he designed and implemented a cohort-based, first-year initiative to increase student retention and graduation rates. As provost, he invested in student research and supported more than 200 undergraduate research projects. He provided leadership and support to secure more than $16 million in grants and contracts and $600,000 to support faculty research and creative activity. Torrecilha also served as executive vice president of Mills College in Oakland, Calif., during which time he served as acting president on two separate occasions. His many accomplishments at Mills include the design, implementation, and successful achievement of a capital campaign that raised more than $130 million dollars on behalf of women’s education. He also led a successful campus reaccreditation process resulting in an eight-year renewal from the Western Assoc. of Schools and Colleges and increased the alumnae participation rate by 10%. Torrecilha earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in sociology from Portland State University and his Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Wisconsin Madison.

•••••

Eight lawyers from Bulkley Richardson have been named to the 2015 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list of top lawyers in the state, and two lawyers from the firm have been named to the 2015 Massachusetts Rising Stars list of top up-and-coming lawyers. No more than 5% of lawyers in Massachusetts are selected for the Super Lawyers list, and no more than 2.5% are selected for the Rising Stars list. The following Bulkley Richardson lawyers were named to the 2014 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list:
• Francis Dibble Jr., whose practice areas include business litigation, health law, and antitrust litigation;
• J. Patrick Kennedy, whose practice areas include business litigation, banking and intellectual property litigation;
• Kevin Maynard, whose practice areas include business litigation, general litigation, and nonprofit;
• David Parke, whose practice areas include business/corporate and mergers and acquisitions;
• John Pucci, whose practice areas include criminal defense (white collar);
• Donn Randall, whose practice areas include banking and business litigation;
• Ellen Randle, whose practice focuses on family law; and
• Ronald Weiss, whose practice areas include mergers and acquisitions, closely held business, and estate planning and probate.
The following Bulkley Richardson lawyers were named to the 2015 Massachusetts Rising Stars list:
• Michael Roundy, whose practice areas include business/commercial litigation, tax appeals, and medical malpractice (defense); and
• Kelly Koch, whose practice areas include family law and estate planning and probate.
Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The annual selections are made using a patented, multi-phase process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates, and peer reviews by practice area.

•••••

Kenneth Albano

Kenneth Albano

Bacon Wilson, P.C. announced that attorney Kenneth Albano was recently honored with the Esteemed Service Award from Behavioral Health Network Inc. (BHN). Albano was presented with the award during BHN’s annual meeting, in recognition of his 20-plus years as a member of BHN’s board of directors and his related board service. “I am grateful to BHN for this recognition,” Albano said. “The services BHN provides are essential to the wellness of so many in our community who may be struggling with addiction or other life crises. I am honored by this award, and it has been my honor to serve this excellent organization for so many years.” Behavioral Health Network is a growing non-profit, community behavioral-health service organization, and has served the needs of children, adults, families, and communities in Western Mass. since 1938, offering tools and treatments for those with mental illness, substance-use disorders, or intellectual disabilities. Albano is a senior partner with Bacon Wilson and a member of the firm’s corporate, commercial, and municipal practice groups. In addition to his work with BHN, he has worked with the American Cancer Society, Make-A-Wish, and the ALS Assoc., and he serves as board chair of the March of Dimes Western MA Division and on the board of the New England Chapter of the March of Dimes. In June, Albano was honored with the Mass. Bar Assoc. Community Service Award in recognition of his exceptional volunteer work.

•••••

Country Bank President and CEO Paul Scully announced that Eric Devine has been promoted to first vice president, Information Technology. Devine has been with Country Bank since 2006 in the IT Department, working most recently as the Information Technology Services officer. “Eric is a dedicated and driven member of our team. I am pleased to have the opportunity to recognize him for his outstanding leadership over the last few years,” Scully said. Devine studied at Sacred Heart University with a concentration in information technology and graduated from New England School for Financial Studies in 2012. He is very active in the community, serving on the program advisory committee for Porter and Chester Institute, working on the annual SIDS Road Race committee, and supporting the Griffin’s Friends Children’s Cancer Fund as a runner and charity fund-raiser. In addition, he served as the 2015 Springfield grand parade marshal for the annual St. Patricks Day Parade in Holyoke. He was elected to BusinessWest’s 40 under Forty in 2015.

•••••

Aaron Smith, P.C., a certified public accounting firm serving individuals and businesses in the Pioneer Valley, announced the addition of two new staff accountants, Trent Domingos and Emily Sit. Both are responsible for audits, reviews, and compilations. “We are pleased to add two staff accountants to our team, as this allows us to maintain a high level of excellence and personal attention that our clients have come to expect,” said David Padegimas, CPA, managing director of Aaron Smith, P.C. Domingos is a graduate of Fairfield University with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. He previously served as a tax intern at Therrien & Associates, P.C., in Wilton, Conn. At Fairfield University, Domingos was a four-year member of the varsity rowing team. “I am excited to join the team. I look forward to growing as an accountant in this position and contributing to the distinguished reputation that Aaron Smith, P.C. has established,” Domingos said. Sit is a graduate of the UMass Isenberg School of Management with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and accounting. She is expected to obtain her master’s degree in accounting in May. Prior to joining the team at Aaron Smith, P.C., she was employed by IBM Corporation as a financial analyst. She is fluent in English and Chinese, and enjoys gardening in her spare time. “Aaron Smith, P.C. has an excellent track record of great customer service,” Sit said. “I am thrilled to continue my passion for accounting in a well-respected firm.” CPAs at Aaron Smith, P.C. continually invest time and resources into furthering professional education, using state-of-the-art computer technology and developing extensive new business relationships.

•••••

Ruth’s House, the assisted-living residence at JGS Lifecare, announced the appointment of Samantha Panniello as dining services coordinator. As an experienced executive and catering chef, she brings a new dimension to the facility’s signature kosher dining and banquet menus. Panniello brings more than 10 years of experience to Ruth’s House. Formally trained at the Connecticut Culinary Institute, where she was recognized for excellence and graduated at the top of her class, she worked as a chef for both Springfield College and UMass Amherst before becoming kitchen manager of the Federal in Agawam and Vinted in West Hartford, Conn. where she was named head chef. While at Vinted, the restaurant received a rave review by the New York Times, praising its “rich tastes on small plates.” Panniello also landed an executive chef position at Lego in Enfield, Conn., and most recently served as head chef of Marketplace/Back Street Bistro in Springfield. “We’re proud to welcome Samantha to coordinate our dining services. She brings tremendous talent, enthusiasm, and experience to our culinary team,” said Joelle Tedeschi, executive director of Ruth’s House. “Our residents are in for a treat.”

Chamber Corners Departments

GREATER CHICOPEE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.chicopeechamber.org
(413) 594-2101

• Dec. 16: Salute Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., Castle of Knights, 1599 Memorial Dr., Chicopee. Sign up online at www.chicopeechamber.org.

• Dec. 17: Mornings with the Mayor, 8-9 a.m., hosted by Chicopee Industrial Contractors, 107 North St., Chicopee. Cost: free for chamber members.

 

GREATER EASTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.easthamptonchamber.org
(413) 527-9414

• Jan. 21: Join with your fellow Greater Easthampton Chamber members, 5-8 p.m., as we elect directors and officers for 2016, along with annual awards voted by members. Hosted by the Delaney House, 3 Country Club Road, Holyoke. Sponsored by Easthampton Savings Bank. Business Person of the Year: Janel Jorda, Web-tactics Inc.
Business of the Year: Duseau Trucking, LLC. Community Service of the Year: Greg Malynoski, Look Memorial Park and Garden House. Presidents Award: to be announced at dinner. New this year,
Ambassador of the Year: to be announced at dinner. Tickets: $35 per person. Register online at easthamptonchamber.org.

 

GREATER HOLYOKE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.holyokechamber.com
(413) 534-3376

• Dec. 16: Chamber After Hours, 5-7 p.m., hosted and sponsored by the Delaney House, 3 Country Club Road, Holyoke. Business networking event includes a 50/50 raffle, door prizes, and money (scratch ticket) wreath. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for the public. Call (413) 534-3376 or visit holyokechamber.com to sign up.

GREATER NORTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.explorenorthampton.com
(413) 584-1900

• Jan. 6: January Arrive @ 5, 5-7 p.m., hosted by Country Hyundai, 347 King St., Northampton, sponsored by Acme Automotive Center. Arrive when you can, stay as long as you can. A casual mix and mingle with your colleagues and friends. Cost: $10 for members.

• Feb. 3: February Arrive @ 5, 5-7 p.m., hosted by Union Station, 125A Pleasant St., Northampton, sponsored by Keiter Builders Inc. and others TBA. Arrive when you can, stay as long as you can. A casual mix and mingle with your colleagues and friends. Cost: $10 for members.

 

GREATER WESTFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.westfieldbiz.org
(413) 568-1618

• Dec. 18: Holiday Breakfast, 7-9 a.m., hosted by Westwood Restaurant & Pub, 94 North Elm St., Westfield. Platinum sponsor: Westfield State University. Gold sponsor: Savage Arms. Silver sponsors: Easthampton Savings Bank and Walmart. Call Pam at the  chamber office at (413) 568-1618 to register, donate a raffle prize, or sponsor the coffee bar.

• Jan. 11: Mayor’s Coffee Hour, 8-9 a.m., hosted by Tiger’s Pride Restaurant, Westfield Technical Academy, 33 Smith Ave., Westfield. Free and open to the public. Call Pam at the chamber office at (413) 568-1618 to register.

SPRINGFIELD REGIONAL CHAMBER

www.myonlinechamber.com
(413) 787-1555

• Jan. 6: Business@Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., hosted by Western New England University, Rivers Memorial Hall, 1215 Wilbraham Road, Springfield. Sponsored by United Personnel and Colony Care. We’ll look at the upcoming presidential election, and you can vote. Featuring political consultant Anthony Cignoli and live polling by the Western New England University Polling Institute. Cost: $20 for members ($25 at the door), $30 for non-members. For more information, call Sarah Mazzaferro at (413) 755-1313.

Features

Circle the Date

BizDiffMakrsLOGO2011Kate Campiti says there are many enjoyable assignments that are part of BusinessWest’s Difference Makers program, which was launched in 2009.

However, she would not put the process of selecting a given year’s honorees in that category.

“That’s always the most difficult part of this,” she said. “There are always dozens of interesting, very compelling nominations,” said Campiti, the magazine’s associate publisher. “The groups and individuals are all making a difference in the community. We could practically choose any of those who were nominated.

“Our assignment, if you will, is to select nominees who can help us show the many, many ways in which a group or individual can make a difference within this community,” she went on, “while also allowing us to tell some very interesting, very inspiring stories.”

The members of the class of 2016, as chosen recently by the editors and publishers of the magazine, do just that, she added.

Without offering any specifics — the honorees will be profiled in the Jan. 25 edition of the magazine — Campiti said the stories, mostly well-known, but some less than others — are compelling and certainly add to the impressive list of groups of individuals honored since the first gala was staged at the Log Cabin in the spring of 2009.

“Previous honorees range from college presidents and chancellors to the directors of nonprofit agencies; from the founder of Rays of Hope to the brain trusts behind Link to Libraries; from those who help provide housing for those less fortunate to those who ride bicycles to raise funds for cancer research,” she said. “The stories are different, but there is a common thread — people devoting time, energy, and imagination to the challenge of bettering quality of life for people in this region.

“And this year’s class of honorees certainly honors that tradition,” she went on, adding that March 31 at the Log Cabin will be a night to remember.

Tickets for the event are $65 per person, with tables of 10 available, and can be purchased by calling (413) 781-8600, ext. 100. Sponsorship opportunities are also available.

Fast Facts

What: BusinessWest’s annual Difference Makers program
When: Profiles of the honorees will be published in the Jan. 25 edition; the annual gala is set for March 31
Where: The gala will be at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House in Holyoke
For More Information: Call (413) 781-8600

 

 

Opinion

Editorial

‘Headwinds.’

That’s the new (or not so new, actually) term the economists like to pull out when they’re talking about the future and what might happen locally, nationally, and globally.

And it’s an effective term, because it works really well. Headwinds slow something down — be it an airplane, a bird, or a golf ball — and you can’t actually see them. And sometimes they come unpredictably and with more force than anticipated.

In recent years, there has been no shortage of potential headwinds when it comes to the economy — everything from debt crises in Europe to gasoline prices (whether they go up or down); from the strength of the U.S. dollar (either growing or declining) to the so-called skills gap and the ability of employers to find good help.

But as we prepare to turn the calendar to 2016, the biggest headwind facing the local and national economy is uncertainty, and it is blowing rather hard. And if there’s one thing business owners hate, it’s uncertainty.

They don’t hate it as much as a long or deep recession, but it’s pretty close. Not knowing what’s going to happen is nearly as unnerving as knowing that something bad is going to happen or continue.

With uncertainty comes a lack of needed confidence, and, as everyone knows, it is confidence, on the part of both consumers and business owners, that dictates the direction the economy will take. And for 2016, there is no shortage of it, and it comes from many directions, such as

• Gasoline prices: They’re low and projected to go lower. That’s good, except that, at some point (and maybe we’re already there), low gas prices begin to be more of a drag on the economy, a headwind, than a benefit;

• Currency rates: The U.S. dollar is as strong as it’s been in a long while. That’s good for travelers but bad for exporters, and that includes many companies in this region;

• Politics: It’s not just a presidential election year, but one where Donald Trump continues to lead the polls and a dozen Republicans are still vying for the job. Almost anything can happen, and it probably will, and, as we said, business owners fear the unknown; and

• Global terrorism: Events such as those of the past month have the tendency to make people pause and wonder what’s going to come next. The current situation is certainly nothing like 9/11, when the entire economy froze and phones stopped ringing in offices across the country, but pauses of any duration are not a good thing.

As we move into 2016, it is our hope that all this uncertainty — all these headwinds — do not lead to an erosion in confidence that can put a damper on a recovery.

As the economists noted in BusinessWest’s annual Economic Outlook (see page 15), the Bay State is on a bit of a roll, and this region, while lagging behind the state as a whole, as always, has put together some solid years and generated real momentum.

It might be difficult for some, but this should be a time to slice through the headwinds, remain confident, and help dictate the course of economic progress rather than wait to see what happens.

But that’s a tall order, because confidence is a fickle emotion, and about the only thing we can be certain of heading into 2016 is continued uncertainty.

Agenda Departments

Santa’s Trains at Look Park

Through Dec. 24: This holiday season, Look Memorial Park is celebrating with a selection of running model trains whirling by displays of a whimsical wonderland of Christmas favorites and village landscapes. The Garden House, transformed into a Victorian-style train station, offers sights and sounds of the holiday season. Chat with authentic engineers, view themed holiday trees, and visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus before relaxing with a holiday cookie and hot chocolate. Each evening features a special guest conductor and station master from the community. Santa’s helpers will be happy to deliver your letter to Santa personally and let him know you are ready to visit him. Santa’s Trains at Look Park is open to the public daily from Dec. 10 to Dec. 23 from 4 to 8 p.m. and on Dec. 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This holiday event is free for all ages. Visit www.lookpark.org for information. Also, during Santa’s Trains at Look Park, step aboard the park’s train and take a one-mile ride on the Look Park Holiday Express to view more than 50 holiday light displays made by the park’s grounds and maintenance staff. The cost is $5. The train departs nightly every 20 minutes beginning at 4:20 p.m. The last departure is at 7:40 p.m. More than 20,000 visitors annually visit the park during the holiday season to visit Santa’s Trains, view the light displays, and share holiday dreams with Santa.

‘Firearms of Famous People’ at Museum

Through April 24: “Firearms of Famous People: From Target Shooters to Presidents,” a temporary exhibit of extraordinary firearms and memorabilia owned by well-known politicians, presidents, and celebrities, is now on view at the Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History. The exhibit, which was organized in cooperation with the Smith & Wesson Collectors Assoc., is on display through April 24, 2016 in a space adjacent to the Smith & Wesson Gallery of Historic Firearms. The exhibit includes three presidential pistols, including a .44 double-action Smith & Wesson revolver owned by Teddy Roosevelt, along with a belt knife used by Teddy’s Rough Riders during the Spanish-American War. Also featured is a .32 safety hammerless Smith & Wesson acquired by Franklin Delano Roosevelt when he was employed as an attorney in New York in the 1920s. The third presidential weapon is a .357 Magnum made especially for John F. Kennedy, featuring the handiwork of master engraver Alvin White. The revolver is fully engraved and inlaid with gold and silver, and bears the Great Seal of the U.S. on the side plate. This exhibit also includes three guns owned or used by movie stars, including a .32 caliber Smith & Wesson belonging to George Montgomery, well-known for his career as a film actor in many westerns. Clint Walker, best-known as the star of the Cheyenne TV series, owned a Smith & Wesson Model 3 that is on view. Also on display is a prop gun designed to look like a .45 caliber U.S. Army automatic pistol, used by Lee Marvin in the film Delta Force in 1986. Probably the two most famous gunmakers in the history of this country are Horace Smith and Daniel Wesson, and this exhibit features firearms connected to both of these innovators. Other firearms featured in this exhibit were owned by FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, Theodor Robert Geisel (the father of Dr. Seuss), and Christina Nilsson, one of the opera stars of the 19th century. Admission prices are $18 for adults, $12 for seniors and college students, $9.50 for children 3-17, and free for children under 3 and museum members. The fee provides access to all four museums. General admission is free for Springfield residents with proof of address.

‘Look Good…Feel Better’

Jan. 28: The Baystate Regional Cancer Program at Baystate Mary Lane Hospital and the American Cancer Society will present “Look Good…Feel Better,” a free program for area women from 10 a.m. to noon. The program teaches beauty techniques to women who are undergoing cancer treatment. The session offers support, information, and an enjoyable first step toward renewed self-esteem, self-confidence, and emotional recovery for cancer patients undergoing radiation or chemotherapy. Deb Rozzen, volunteer cosmetologist with the “Look Good…Feel Better” program, will be on hand to work with each woman and help them learn how to enhance their appearance using makeup techniques. Wig care, scarf and hat use, skin care, and nail care will all be discussed, and all participants will receive a free makeup kit. Sessions are limited to 12 people, are open to any woman undergoing cancer treatment in the area, and will be held at the hospital in Ware. Pre-registration by Tuesday, Dec. 22 is required by calling Camille St. Onge, oncology social worker at Baystate Mary Lane Hospital, at (413) 967-2245.

Difference Makers

March 31: The eighth annual Difference Makers award program, staged by BusinessWest, will be held at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House. Details on the event will be published in upcoming issues of the magazine. Difference Makers is a program, launched in 2009, that recognizes groups and individuals that are, as the name suggests, making a difference in this region. The magazine’s editor and publishers have chosen this year’s class, which will be profiled in the Jan. 25 issue.

Cover Story Economic Outlook Sections

Questions About Sustainability Cloud the Picture for 2016

Outlook 2016

By most accounts, the state’s economy — and area businesses — had a solid 2015. Performance didn’t match pre-recession levels, but it was an improvement over the previous three or four years. The question looming over 2016 is whether that performance can be sustained, and there are enough doubts, or reservations — created by everything from a stronger dollar to still-falling oil prices to uncertainty about who will win the White House next November — to keep confidence in check.

Dan Flynn calls it “soft confidence.”

That simple, two-word phrase goes a long way toward explaining the current state of the local and national economy and the general attitude concerning it among business owners.

Elaborating, Flynn, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Wholesale Banking for West Springfield-based United Bank, said many of the institution’s commercial clients are doing well — not as well as before the so-called Great Recession that started in 2008, but performance has been solid. Some even recorded their proverbial ‘best year ever’ in 2015, he noted, adding that most saw at least improvement over 2014.

Dan Flynn says many area businesses had a solid 2015

Dan Flynn says many area businesses had a solid 2015, but the question moving forward is whether that performance can be sustained.

But — and this is an important ‘but’ — these business owners are not at all sure that such performance is sustainable given a host of factors that are almost all well beyond their control. These range from global and domestic violence to still-spiraling healthcare insurance costs to extreme uncertainty about who will prevail in the 2016 presidential election — and what he or she might do after getting elected.

Thus, existing confidence is, well, soft.

“For most business owners, their inventory backlog or their job backlog is building, but they don’t have the confidence that this will sustain itself in 2016 or 2017,” Flynn explained. “They think it will, but it’s not like that flat-out ‘we’re confident, we’re going to hire a couple of extra people, we’re going to add a second shift.’ They’re not that confident.”

John Patrick agreed. The CEO of Farmington Bank, which recently made a foray into the Western Mass. market with locations in West Springfield and then East Longmeadow, said there is some optimism about the year ahead, but there are also serious doubts, enough to keep confidence from becoming deep or profound.

“The economy, especially the local economy, is all about confidence,” he noted. “And I wouldn’t say there is strong confidence in the marketplace relative to everything that’s happening around them.”

And by ‘everything,’ he meant factors ranging from terrorism in Paris and California to the ever-rising cost of health insurance.

Bob Nakosteen concurred, summoning another word to describe the current picture and outlook for 2016: ‘fuzzy.’

He would go into much greater detail, obviously, but Nakosteen, professor of Economics at the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst and co-editor of MassBenchmarks, the quarterly publication devoted to analysis of the Bay State economy, said that one word pretty much does the job.

Indeed, the outlook is fuzzy, as in not sharp, not clear, and, for the most part, not predictable.

“The picture is fuzzy, and through the fuzziness, we see a lot of positives, but we also see some risk,” he explained. “There’s a lot of internal strength in the U.S. economy, and it is going to overcome various weaknesses, and that means this state is going to do well. It’s a mixed picture, but the overall trend is positive. But do I have 100% confidence in what I just said? Absolutely not.”

That’s soft confidence personified.

“We’re in the middle of a slowdown … it’s not anywhere near a recession, but we’re definitely seeing some slowing,” Nakosteen went on. “The economy has been growing at 2% or a little less, and that’s not vibrant.”

John Patrick

John Patrick says a number of area manufacturers have seen exports impacted by the weakening of many foreign currencies.

Moving beyond ‘fuzzy,’ Nakosteen, like Flynn and others we spoke with, said there are a number of factors impacting the state and national economy — everything from a weak Canadian dollar, which is hurting exports to that country, to the fact that most Americans are not putting the money they’re saving at the gas pump back into the economy, to impressive job growth in the Commonwealth (if not Greater Springfield). Together, they make predicting what will come next an even more difficult assignment than it generally is.

Most observers are expecting growth to remain right around that 2% level, but it could go higher or lower depending on how matters evolve, especially that critical confidence level among business owners.

Money Matters

As he talked with BusinessWest about 2015 and what will likely happen in the year ahead, Nakosteen said there are certainly plenty of reasons to look at the glass and declare it at least half-full.

“Within the lack of clarity that we’re seeing, there lies a solid core of economic strength,” he explained, adding that the Bay State continues to match or outperform the nation overall, but it is very much dependent on the relative health of this country, as well as international markets, for its success.

As evidence, he cited some recent data showing that Massachusetts is experiencing an economic expansion in many ways reminiscent of the late ’90s, though without the impetus of the tech bubble that drove that cycle, meaning that this one is more well-rounded.

Gross state product is growing robustly, he went on — 7.1% for the second quarter compared to national GDP growth of 3.7% — and employment growth is steady, although limited geographically. The unemployment rate remains low by historical standards, and has been below the national rate since — and even before — the Great Recession.

“The current expansion appears to be on firm footing — the economy in the state has slowed down recently, but it’s still been a really good year,” he said while offering the global view.

“We’re expecting strong growth over the year or so,” he went on, using ‘we’ to mean the editors at MassBenchmarks. “It might be as strong as what we had up to the second quarter of this year, but pretty solid growth. How much of it makes its way out to the western part of the state remains to be seen.”

Flynn agreed.

“Overall, clients performed better over the past 12 months than the previous three to four years,” he said while generalizing the comments of business owners within the bank’s portfolio. “As a whole, they’re not seeing the same rate of return as before the recession, but they’re doing better than they were a year ago.

“And it’s across the board,” he went on. “You can take retail, manufacturing, wholesalers … generally, companies are performing better than they had.”

Given all that, though, the question looming over 2016 is whether that performance — by individual companies and the economy as a whole — can be sustained. And strong doubts about whether it can have led to heavy use of phrases such as ‘soft confidence,’ ‘fuzzy picture,’ ‘mixed signals,’ and the always-popular ‘cautiously optimistic,’ which Flynn said he’s heard repeatedly.

That’s because most all of the factors that will decide the fate of 2016 come complete with ‘ifs,’ ‘buts,’ question marks, and both points and counterpoints.

Take the jobs picture, for example. The nation’s economy added another 211,000 jobs in November after a gain of nearly 300,000 in October, a solid boost by most accounts that exceeded almost all expectations and propelled the stock market to a more than 2% gain the day the figures were released.


Click HERE to download a PDF chart listing the region’s largest employers


But do those numbers and the stated 5% national unemployment rate reflect real progress in what’s happening locally? The short answer is ‘no’ or ‘probably not.’

“I was in New York recently, and I heard a nationally respected economist who said that, if you really take a look at the numbers, unemployment on a normalized basis is closer to 9% when you take into consideration all the people who are unemployed and those working part-time who would prefer to be working full time,” said Patrick.

Like others, he noted that, overall, many employers have not yet reached — and likely won’t reach for some time — that threshold of confidence needed to add back some of those employees trimmed during extensive efforts during and after the recession to become more efficient and rightsize.

“Businesses are a little apprehensive about continuing to make significant investments in people, technology, and franchise, because they’re just unsure about what’s going to happen,” Patrick told BusinessWest. “And there many businesses that, because of the cost of healthcare, don’t want to go over that 50-employee number, and they’re trying to manage their business accordingly.”

Meanwhile, Nakosteen said, despite the start of work on the Springfield casino and a host of other construction projects across Western Mass., the employment needle has “barely budged” in the city of Springfield, meaning the jobless rate is still hovering around 9%, in sharp contrast to what’s happening elsewhere in the Commonwealth.

Bob Nakosteen says the Bay State added jobs at an impressive clip in 2015

Bob Nakosteen says the Bay State added jobs at an impressive clip in 2015, but by and large, those gains did not extend to Western Mass.

“Employment in the state has really grown at an amazingly fast clip over the past year to 18 months, but it’s not the same in Western Mass., as is usually the case,” he explained, adding that the Bay State has added 50,000 to 60,000 jobs over the past year, most of them in technology-related sectors, although healthcare and education remain solid contributors to such growth.

“A different picture emerges out here,” he went on, talking from his office on the UMass Amherst campus. “Springfield has added a few jobs but not many — at least it hasn’t gone down. The picture is better in the larger metropolitan area, but all the construction is in Springfield, so that’s where it should be recorded, but so far we’re not seeing it.”

Dollars and Sense

Another factor that is contributing to uncertainty is the stronger U.S. dollar. It certainly benefits those traveling overseas and has provided a huge boost for airlines and cruise lines, but overall, a strong dollar hurts exporters, including the many precision manufacturers that call the Knowledge Corridor home.

“I think many of the manufacturers in this region got off to a good start in 2015 and had good backlogs,” said Patrick, referring to companies on both sides of the border. “But companies within that corridor are usually producing a product that has export potential, and because of the strong dollar internationally, they’ve seen a lot of the orders slow down and some of them put on hold, with the buyer saying, ‘what we’ll do is wait for the dollar to drive down in value a bit.’”

There was some movement in that direction in early December, he noted, but overall, the dollar remains quite strong against all other currencies, and until a pattern of weakness occurs, exports will continue to suffer.

Nakosteen agreed, and said one country often overlooked when it comes to currency rates is Canada. It is a big trading partner, and at the moment that country’s dollar, also known as the ‘loonie,’ is in a hard spiral fueled by a host of factors, including falling energy prices and questionable monetary policy.

“Canada is our most important trade partner; a year ago, it was about one U.S. dollar to one Canadian dollar; now, a Canadian dollar is worth about 70 cents,” he explained. “What that means is for Candians, U.S. products are much more expensive, and you can see it in the export numbers — they’ve really dropped over the past year.”

As for falling oil prices, which analysts say will remain low for the foreseeable future, they are not producing a surge in consumer spending, as some had predicted, and in the meantime, they are taking a hard toll on the energy industry, which is having a ripple effect, in this country and elsewhere.

“We have not seen the surplus from lower gas prices turn into consumer spending — it’s going into savings or to reduce debt,” Nakosteen said. “It has not created the bump that was expected by everyone, including me.

“From everything I’m reading in the energy industry, low gas prices are here for a while,” he went on. “So it will be interesting to see if, over time, consumers start behaving a little differently and take this surplus and spend it.”

Still another factor is interest rates, which, after that strong November jobs report, are almost certain to rise after roughly seven years of stagnancy. The projected 0.25% increase, though minor, will finally bring some measure of relief to investors who have focused on low-risk options, such as bonds, which have yielded marginal returns. But the hike will also make borrowing more expensive, and this may slow the economy somewhat.

Cliff Noreen, president of Springfield-based Babson Capital, told Bloomberg News Radio recently that he welcomed the U.S. interest rate hike — “I think it’s about time; it’s been seven years, and we’ve been living with manipulated rates for that long, and we should go back to a more normal rate environment.”

“I think the biggest victims today are retirees — they retired with the assumption five or 10 years ago that they would earn a risk-free rate of 4%, 5%, or 6%; now, the risk-free rate is zero,” he told Bloomberg. “So they have to take more risk to make their return to live on, and they’ve been forced to invest in higher-risk assets like high-yield bonds and stocks, and they’ve had to adjust their asset allocation to make up for the zero-percent rate environment we’re in globally.”

CurrenciesChartCommoditiesChartOverall, Noreen said there were several surprises in 2015 — from falling commodities prices to spiraling foreign currencies (see charts) to gasoline prices that could have fallen further than they did — and all signs point to these conditions (and the negative impact and uncertainty they bring) continuing into 2016.

“We expect lower-than-normal investment returns for all asset classes,” he noted, “and slow economic growth globally, although things have been stabilizing, and continued very, very low interest rates that are in the process of rising.”

And there are still other factors to consider looking ahead, said Noreen, listing everything from a slowing of the growth rate in China to slowing corporate-profit growth in this country, and historically low yields on bonds, with many European countries, including Germany, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, gaining status in what Noreen called the “negative-rate club.”

As for the upcoming presidential election, Nakosteen noted that, while elections themselves typically don’t have an impact on the economy and individual presidents don’t often dictate fiscal policy, elections do generate anxiety, which has its own trickle-down effect.

Bottom Line

Speaking from experience, Patrick agreed, noting that the one commodity business owners dislike the most is uncertainty.

And because there is no lack of it at the moment — not just because of the election but all those other issues mentioned above — there is a corresponding shortage of perhaps the most important element for at least the short-term health of the regional and national economy: confidence.

There is confidence that the progress measured in 2015 can be sustained, but, as Flynn noted, it is soft confidence.

And as long as that condition remains, the picture for 2016 will remain fuzzy.

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

Company Notebook Departments

STCC, United Way Open Financial Success Center

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) opened Springfield’s first Thrive Financial Success Center on Dec. 3, with a ceremony in the President’s Conference Room in Garvey Hall. Thrive is a collaborative effort between United Way of Pioneer Valley and STCC to provide financial education and support services to students and community residents. It is supported by PeoplesBank, MassMutual, the Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation, the United Way of Pioneer Valley, and the STCC Foundation. “After the success of the Thrive Financial Success Centers at Holyoke Community College and in downtown Holyoke, we are thrilled to open a third Thrive Center at Springfield Technical Community College,” said United Way of Pioneer Valley President and CEO Dora Robinson. “At the United Way of Pioneer Valley, we believe basic financial literacy should be a key aspect of everyone’s education. No career goal or life’s ambition should be hindered because a person doesn’t know how to balance their checkbook or maintain a good credit rating.” Thrive @ STCC anticipates it will serve 400 individuals in its first year of operation. Program offerings include confidential benefits screening and enrollment, a money-skills class, individual financial coaching sessions, free income-tax prepatration through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, links to workforce-development and training workshops, and LifeBridge, MassMutual’s free life-insurance program. Thrive Centers currently operate in partnership with the United Way at Holyoke Community College and at the Picknelly Adult and Family Education Center in downtown Holyoke. “Building financial awareness and planning skills is essential to our students’ and our community’s economic prosperity,” said STCC President Ira Rubenzahl. “Many of our students are overburdened with outside financial struggles. Coupling career guidance with access to financial coaching will assist Thrive participants to make informed decisions that will make their lives easier, allow them to remain focused on their studies, and prepare them for future employment.”

Berkshire Bank Launches ‘Season of Giving’ Effort

PITTSFIELD — Berkshire Bank has launched its fourth annual “Season of Giving” campaign, which runs through the end of the holiday season. Through the campaign, bank employees will complete a variety of community-service projects throughout cities and towns that Berkshire Bank serves. Berkshire Bank employees are also inviting the public to join with them to support local children and families in need during this holiday season to further expand the collective impact. More than 200 Berkshire Bank employees will participate in the effort, with all of the service projects benefiting nonprofit organizations and families across Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, and Vermont. In addition to these local efforts, Berkshire Bank has teamed up with the American Red Cross to participate in their annual Mail for Heroes program, through which bank employees will send holiday cards to service men, women, and veterans who cannot be with their families during the holidays. In the Pioneer Valley, all Berkshire Bank branches and Berkshire Insurance Group offices have teamed up with the state Department of Children & Families to collect gifts for local families in need. Donations are being accepted at any Berkshire Bank location in Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties. The public is invited to stop by their local office to see which items are needed from the ‘giving tree.’ Bank employees will also volunteer their time with a variety of local nonprofit organizations during the holiday season, including Wreathes Across America and the Salvation Army. Berkshire Bank Foundation, the charitable arm of Berkshire Bank, also plans to contribute grants to local nonprofit organizations.

WNEU Offers Free Small-business Legal Assistance

SPRINGFIELD — The Western New England University Small Business Legal Clinic is now accepting applications from entrepreneurs and small-business owners seeking legal assistance for the spring 2016 semester. Under faculty supervision, law students assist clients with legal issues including choice of entity, employment policies, contract drafting, regulatory compliance, and intellectual-property issues relating to trademark applications and copyright. This is a free service available to local businesses. The Small Business Clinic at Western New England School of Law has assisted more than 300 small businesses, and is a solid resource for entrepreneurs who lack the finances to retain an attorney. By using the clinic’s services, businesses can avoid problems by getting legal issues addressed early and correctly. It also provides students with an opportunity to gain real-world experience. The Small Business Legal Clinic asks small-business owners to submit their applications by Thursday, Dec. 31. Applications received after that date will be considered if additional resources are available. Students will begin providing services in mid-January. For more information, call the clinic at (413) 782-1469 or e-mail [email protected].

Court Dockets Departments

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

CHICOPEE DISTRICT COURT

Horizons Engineering Inc. v. Chicopee Inn Inc., d/b/a Econo Lodge and Dinesh Patel
Allegation: Non-payment for services rendered: $16,350.50
Filed: 9/30/15

GREENFIELD DISTRICT COURT

West County Equipment Rentals, LLC v. Sugarloaf Nurseries and David and Charlotte Smith
Allegation: Breach of agreement for rental agreement: $7,771.88
Filed: 10/5/15

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT

Ciocca Construction Corp. v. Baystate Co. d/b/a Columbia Gas
Allegation: Negligence causing massive explosion, personal injury, and property damage: $590,000+
Filed: 10/7/15

Coyote Realty, LLC v. Total Wellness Center, d/b/a CleanSlate
Allegation: Breach of lease agreement: $220,000
Filed: 10/9/15

Earl and Stacy Lannon v. Kadant Black Clawson Inc.
Allegation: Product liability causing permanent personal injury: $286,743.16
Filed: 10/28/15

Kate Dunne, PPA Tara Dunne and Michael Dunne v. Baystate Ob-Gyn Inc., Debra J. Junnila, M.D. and Julie M. Bell, C.N.M.
Allegation: Medical malpractice: $1,100,000+
Filed: 10/5/15

New England Family Dentistry, P.C. v. Supreeth Veevanna and Children’s Dentistry of Chicopee, LLC
Allegation: Breach of contract: $60,000+
Filed: 10/14/15

Pablo Torres v. The Silverbrick Group and 15 Taylor, LLC
Allegation: Breach of lease agreement: $25,000+
Filed: 11/2/15

 

SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT

Brett Fongemie v. Champion Steel, LLC,  Mark E. Gervais, and Bruce B. Bouchard
Allegation: Non-payment of wages: $25,000
Filed: 9/22/15

Miriam Rivera v. Joe Dias d/b/a Care Improvement Inc.
Allegation: Breach of contract for home-improvement services: $10/13/15

Perkins Paper LLC v. Fiore’s Bakery, LLC
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $8,986.25
Filed: 10/20/15

Departments Picture This

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

40 Under Forty Reunion

Springfield Country Club hosted the most recent 40 Under Forty reunion on Dec. 2, as honorees from the past nine years came out to mingle, network, and enjoy the season.

Amanda Huston

Left to right: Amanda Huston (class of 2010) and Sean Wandrei (’10).


Jeremy Casey

Left to right: Jeremy Casey (’13), Michelle Desmarais, and Gregg Desmarais (’15).


Kristi Reale

Left to right: Kristi Reale (’09), Alfonso Santaniello (’14), and Bill Trudeau (’08).


Jeremy Leap

Left to right: Jeremy Leap (’13), Samalid Hogan (’13), Michael Gove (’07), and BusinessWest Editor George O’Brien.


Jeff Fialky


Left to right: Jeff Fialky (’08), Liz Rappaport (’14), and Sarah Tsitso (’07).

Date with Destiny

FSBEllen

Continuing a tradition of celebrating local talent in its marketing and community-outreach efforts, Florence Bank invited the public to meet renowned artist/photographer Ellen Augarten at a reception on Dec. 4 at the bank’s main branch in Florence. Augarten is a Northampton photographer and artist whose career spans more than three decades and whose body of work includes children and family portraits, and compelling Pioneer Valley images shown through the prism of double-exposure photography to add a dramatic look to each scene. Her work appears throughout each month in the bank’s 2016 calendars, which will be available shortly at each of the Florence Bank branches.

Another Exciting Chapter

Link to Libraries

The Link to Libraries Business Book Link program has a new sponsor at the Coburn School in West Springfield. Steve Mitus, executive vice president and chief financial officer at Balise Auto Group, and his wife, Moira, are sponsoring and reading to grade 4 students. Link to Libraries donates books to more than 400 sites in Western Mass. and Connecticut each year. More than 79,000 new books were distributed this fiscal year. For more information, visit www.linktolibraries.org.