Month: February 2016

By Maura Healey

It’s been nearly two years since the state declared prescription-drug and heroin addiction a public-health emergency. Since then, we’ve had an all-hands-on-deck approach from lawmakers, police and fire chiefs, health professionals, and community groups.

But our collective efforts haven’t been enough. Until we change the culture around how opioids are prescribed and dramatically reduce the number of pills available, people will continue to die.

Since 1999, the number of prescription painkillers sold in the U.S. has nearly quad-rupled. In 2014, there were 4.6 million opioid prescriptions written in Massachusetts alone — enough for nearly every adult in this state to have a bottle of pills. Meanwhile, overdose deaths have risen by more than 300%.

We won’t solve this crisis until we cut it off at its root, by reducing the use of prescription opioid painkillers like OxyContin, Vicodin, and Percocet. Cheap heroin is not a new problem; it’s been around for decades. What is new is that four out of five heroin users report having previously used a prescription opioid. These powerful drugs are a synthetic version of opium. They’re heroin in a pill.

The opioid epidemic is the direct result of years of overprescribing painkillers to everyday people, who get hooked on an extremely addictive substance, then turn to heroin when they can no longer afford to sustain an expensive pill habit.

While heroin is certainly a problem, three times as many Americans are hooked on opioids. Pharmaceutical companies told us for years that they weren’t addictive, but we know better now. Medical studies have shown that up to a third of long-term opioid users meet criteria for addiction, and that physical dependence can happen in as few as five days.

While the vast majority of prescribers are trying to do the right thing, we must end the illegal prescribing we know is taking place. My office has formed an investigative group to identify practitioners who are illegally prescribing opioids to people who shouldn’t have them. This partnership will allow state and federal law-enforcement agencies to share information about individuals who run ‘pill mills’ or prescribe to people with a history of substance abuse.

But to combat the opioid crisis more fully, we need societal change. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has proposed nationwide guidelines to help medical professionals across the country understand when and how opioids should be used, particularly for chronic pain. The pharmaceutical lobby and some sectors of the medical community have pushed back against these guidelines, calling them too restrictive. But here’s my view: thousands are dying, and something desperately has to change. Thirty-six other state attorneys general share that view and recently wrote a similar letter in support of the guidelines.

There’s another simple solution that can be put in place immediately. We need prescribers to check the state’s prescription-monitoring program every time they write a prescription for highly addictive drugs. The program can flag when a patient is receiving multiple prescriptions, doctor shopping, or showing signs of addiction. Right now, only one in four doctors checks. Gov. Baker has proposed that all prescribers check the prescription-monitoring program every time they write one of these prescriptions. When New York State passed a similar mandate in 2012, it saw a 75% drop in doctor shopping. This modest step can save lives and is time well-spent.

Those who continue to push back against safeguards like these should spend time with any of the thousands of parents across this state who have lost a child to opiate addiction. All too often, theirs are stories of high-school athletes and honor-roll students who became hooked on opioids after an injury. Others began by experimenting at a party — but if our medicine cabinets weren’t full of prescription painkillers, our kids wouldn’t have such easy access to them.

We can’t hear those stories any longer and fail to act. Other countries have figured out how to manage pain without releasing a flood of dangerous drugs into their communities. We need to do the same. If we don’t, the deaths will continue.

Maura Healey is the attorney general of Massachusetts.

The Need for Cyber-liability Insurance Keeps Rising

Insurance Sections

Everyone’s a Target

HackInsurance

While major data breaches in the world of retail make the splashiest headlines — understandable, when, like the 2013 Target hack, they compromise the records of tens of millions of customers — the truth is, the vast majority of cybercrime incidents are aimed at businesses with fewer than 100 employees. That’s where cyber-liability insurance comes in — products that not only protect companies from the myriad financial effects of a breach, but help them understand where their risks may lie, and how they can close the more dangerous gaps.

Bill Grinnell said he recently spoke with the owner of a construction-related business who was hit with a malicious program that froze his company’s computers and followed up with an extortion demand.

“More hacks are happening every day,” said Grinnell, president of Webber & Grinnell Insurance in Northampton. “You wouldn’t think of him as the type of business that might traditionally need cyber-liability insurance, and now he’s facing all these costs — having a company come in to get the computers up and running, potential lost business income if they can’t perform their jobs without what’s stored on the computers, then the cost of the extortion and potentially notifying people, all the customer-relations issues.

“That was eye-opening to me,” he went on. “Any business out there that has any type of sensitive records critical to the running of the business potentially needs this type of coverage.”

The good news, Grinnell said, is that businesses are more aware than ever about the threats that lurk behind seemingly safe computer screens.

Bill Grinnell says cyber-liability insurance used to be a hot topic only in certain industries, like financial services, healthcare, and retail — but that’s changing.

“It’s a relatively new insurance coverage, and it’s still evolving. We certainly talk a fair amount about it with clients interested in purchasing coverage, and demand is definitely increasing,” he went on, noting that, until recently, cyber liability wasn’t a hot topic outside of the retail, medical, and financial-services industries, but it’s becoming clearer that many other types of enterprise are at risk.

In a recent article on its website, Ross Insurance Agency in Holyoke noted that incidents like the Target breach in 2013 (70 million customer records exposed) and the Neiman Marcus breach around the same time (1 million customers affected) won plenty of headlines, yet a 2012 Verizon study revealed that 71% of breaches occur in businesses with 100 or fewer employees. Meanwhile, according to cybersecurity company McAfee, almost 90% of small and medium-sized U.S. businesses don’t use any form of data protection.

“This is one of the most forefront issues we have, something we talk about all the time,” Kevin Ross, vice president of Ross Insurance, told BusinessWest. “Coverage is becoming more widely available and broader in scope. We have not experienced any losses here with our clients, but we do know it’s a serious threat that can cause serious financial harm. Just because you haven’t had a fire doesn’t mean fire insurance isn’t important. We protect the financial integrity of clients from loss, and those losses could be severe.”

Indeed, cybercrime costs American businesses more than $100 billion per year, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

“Lack of an incident can breed complacency. Companies think they’re OK, but lack of an event doesn’t mean they’re OK; it doesn’t mean they’ve done a good job,” said Bill Trudeau, president of the Insurance Center of New England (ICNE) in Agawam, adding that, while certain organizations have more to lose because of their customer exposure, almost all companies save employee data digitally.

Bill Trudeau says hackers are always thinking up new ways to breach systems, and employers have to be prepared.

“Even in a small company, one that makes widgets and gets paid with checks, you could have some data-breach exposure with your employees, so it’s worth reviewing what kind of access you have,” he said. “If it happens to your 200 employees, it’s not going to be a heartwarming experience for you and your employees. You need to take a hard look at your computers and how you transmit information.”

Hefty Cost

According to the Ponemon Institute, which has been reporting on the cost of cybercrimes for the past several years, the cost to a company that falls victim to a data breach is $188 per record breached. Yet, business- and property-insurance policies typically exclude data risks from their terms, which has contributed to the emergence of cybersecurity insurance as a separate, standalone line of coverage.

That coverage typically protects against a wide range of losses that businesses may suffer directly or cause to others, and these come in two forms: first-party and third-party losses. Grinnell explained that third-party losses involve regulatory fines and lawsuits brought by affected customers, while first-party losses are what the business itself incurs up front, such as business-income loss, data-retrieval services, downtime, and notification of customers, to name a few. On average, first-party losses average about one-third of a breached company’s expenses.

“In a lot of small data breaches, say in a small store or a doctors’ office with 10 doctors, most costs are first-party costs,” Trudeau explained. “Then, later, you’re going to have liability claims because maybe someone did get injured, their identify got stolen, you may owe them compensation, or they could end up suing you, despite all your efforts. So a good cyber policy or data-breach policy has both coverage for first-party costs and a liability component that pays for these different injuries that have occurred.”

Some cybersecurity-insurance carriers pose a long series of questions on their application forms about the details of a company’s exposure to data risk, Trudeau said, and if the underwriter isn’t satisfied with the answers, they may not write the policy until certain practices have been changed and safeguards put in place.

Go HERE to download a PDF chart of the region’s Insurance Companies

“When it comes to a data breach which has occurred, a lot of what you do to take action up front can reduce your liability. If you self-report to authorities and if you have a turn-key response to it, that’s good,” he went on, noting that carriers that specialize in this type of coverage, like Beazley and Chubb, have turn-key response operations as part of the policy. “They’ve got forensic computer analysts that get into the system and see what went wrong, public-relations people who understand this issue — it’s not their first time trying to calm customers and the public as to what went wrong with your organization — and they also have third-party notification operations.”

Trudeau recommends that businesses hire a third party to poke around their computer systems and challenge their operations when necessary.

“People get used to their own surroundings and don’t know what they don’t know,” he said. “Just because you think your business isn’t super attractive to hackers doesn’t mean they’re not going to pick you. I think it’s important that people are always challenging their IT department or IT vendor, saying, ‘is this the best form of firewall?’

In fact, he added, ICNE works with a company that will provide an ethical hacker, which is someone not out to steal data, but to break into a system and then show the business what they found and how they got in.

“There has to be a discussion with the client about what they’re doing, how they’re identifying threats,” Ross added. “Everyone needs to be aware of it. Any time you’re dealing with any type of customer information, especially dealing with credit cards, Internet sales, anything that has to do with the web in any form or fashion, you could be exposed to liability should you be hacked and clients’ information be exposed. That’s the threat.”

Knowledge Is Power

The impact on businesses can be severe and long-term, the report noted, citing an Economist Intelligence Unit consumer survey conducted in 2013. It found that 18% of respondents had been a victim of a data breach, and, of those individuals, 38% said they no longer did business with the organization because of the breach. Meanwhile, 46% said they advised friends and family to be careful of sharing data with the breached company.

However, data breaches don’t always have malicious origins. According to the data breaches it serviced in 2013 and 2014, Beazley reported that the two most common sources of breaches are unintended disclosure, such as misdirected e-mails and faxes (31%), and the physical loss of paper records (24%), which is particularly prevalent among healthcare organizations.

Breaches due to malware or spyware represented only 11% of breaches in 2013 and 2014, but they have been increasing, the firm reported, with the total number of breaches in this category growing by 20% between 2013 and 2014. Due to heavy forensics costs — money spent to find out exactly how the breach occurred — these breaches are on average almost five times times more costly than unintended disclosure.

Still, considering the sheer number of cases of accidental data exposure, employers can take steps to prevent data theft, Ross noted. These include protecting every computer connected to the Internet or the internal network with anti-virus and anti-spyware software (including any laptops that connect wirelessly); installing security-software updates promptly to stay ahead of hackers; securing the company’s wi-fi network by requiring passwords or even configuring the wireless access point or router to hide the network name; securing computers and network components and requiring log-on passwords for all employees; and continually educating employees on security guidelines for computer, network, database, e-mail, and Internet usage, as well as penalties for violating those guidelines.

“The bad guys are always thinking up new things. It’s important to stay on top of it,” Trudeau added, noting that data breaches may not be doubling or tripling in frequency year over year, but they are rising slowly. The financial industry alone saw 642 incidents in 2014.

As a result, “the number of people willing to buy data-breach insurance continues to increase year after year, as more customers start seeing it as something that should be part of their insurance portfolio,” he went on. “You need to be vigilant of the fact that someone may have come up with some way to hurt your organization that you’re not aware of yet.”

Grinnell told BusinessWest that there’s still too many holes out there, due to nothing more complicated than complacency.

“A lot of people think it it’s big businesses getting hacked — ‘they won’t get me.’ I think that’s beginning to change, but there’s a long way to go,” he said. “We need to get the word out and let people know the exposures that lurk out there and help them address them, both through insurance means and making sure they have the proper firewalls in place to prevent attacks as much as possible.”

In other words, anyone can be a Target, and there’s ample evidence that some common-sense precautions — and perhaps a well-written insurance policy — can go a long way.

Joseph Bednar can be reached a [email protected]

Soaring Drug Prices Continue to Burden Consumers

Insurance Sections

No End in Sight

Maura McCaffrey says health plans work with drug companies to negotiate prices and with community physicians to assess patient needs, but rising costs continue to be a concern.

It’s a well-publicized issue in an election year, so it’s no surprise that lawmakers — including several presidential candidates — have been teeing off on soaring drug prices.

“Americans pay, by far, the highest prices for prescription drugs in the entire world,” Bernie Sanders recently noted. “A life-saving drug does no good if the people who need it cannot afford that drug.”

He pointed out that nearly one in five Americans between ages 19 and 64 did not get at least one prescription filled last year because they did not have enough money.

“There is no question that medicines help millions of people live healthier and longer lives, and can also prevent more expensive illnesses and treatments,” Sanders continued. “However, it is unacceptable that the United States now spends more than $370 billion on prescription drugs, and spending is rising faster than at any point in the last decade.”

Rising drug prices are having tangible effects on consumers, including those in Massachusetts. Among 16 carriers that recently testified before the state Division of Insurance, the first quarter of 2016 saw an average rate increase of 6.3%. They were asked to present the data used in determining their proposed rate filings for small-group plans in the second quarter of 2016. There are other reasons behind the increases, including the cost of expanding coverage under the Affordable Care Act, but drug prices are universally cited as a driving factor.

Meanwhile, even amid ever-louder complaints from lawmakers and the media, Pfizer, Amgen, Allergan, Horizon Pharma, and other manufacturers have raised U.S. prices for dozens of branded drugs since late December, with many of the increases between 9% and 10%, according to the Wall Street Journal. Overall, prescription-drug spending rose 12.2% in 2014, after just 2.4% growth in 2013, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services reported.

What’s Happening?

There are a number of factors at play, ranging from the fact that the U.S. government doesn’t regulate drug prices to rising development and production costs; it can take more a decade and more than $1 billion to get a new drug approved. Still, there’s plenty of opportunity, industry critics say, to bring relief to patients.

“Their argument is we can — we can raise prices on this, the market will bear it, people like this drug, they rely on it, their physician will write it,” Marco Rubio recently told an audience on a campaign stop, blasting drug companies. “And so, because we can, we do. And it’s just pure profiteering.”

Insurance companies are feeling the pressure, Maura McCaffrey, president of Health New England (HNE), told BusinessWest. “Health plans have a responsibility to manage the pricing of these pharmaceuticals.”

They do this in two major ways, she explained. The first is to work with a pharmacy benefit manager, a third-party liaison between drug companies and insurers, to negotiate the drug prices. “Over the past year, Health New England did a very large renegotiation with its pharmacy contracts, and that has been very beneficial to members in Western Massachusetts.”

The second strategy is HNE’s clinical care assessment committee, which includes both primary-care and specialty physicians and meets eight times a year to discuss new medications — how they compare with current offerings and who the most appropriate patients would be.

“We come up with clinical criteria to make sure the right people have access to the right medications,” McCaffrey said, adding that, if the drug in question treats an uncommon condition, the committee will go into the local medical community to find additional specialists who can speak to that topic.

Difficult Spot

At the gathering before the Division of Insurance, Elin Gaynor, HNE’s assistant general counsel, cited several recent examples of unsustainable drug prices, including $259,000 per year for a drug treating cystic fibrosis, $118,200 per year for a breast-cancer medication, and more than $100,000 annually for a new hepatitis C treatment.

“As a community, we must be willing to tackle some very tough questions,” added Michael Caljouw, vice president of Government and Regulatory Affairs at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. “What is the right price for new drugs and therapies? What is the appropriate use of them? Who decides? How can we achieve a better balance between medical advances and affordability?”

In making coverage decisions, McCaffrey told BusinessWest, safety and effectiveness always trump cost. “Then, if it looks to be a safe and efficacious medication, we look at what else is on the market and compare the safety profiles and efficacy profiles. The last thing we do is compare the cost profiles. We do this every time.”

Dr. Peter Bach, a physician and director of the Center for Health Policy and Outcomes at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, recently explained in the New York Times that drug manufacturers are hamstrung by the complexity of biology, government regulations, and shareholder expectations for high profit margins.

What they’re not saying, he went on, is that they take advantage of laws that force insurers to include virtually all expensive drugs in their policies, and an industry philosophy that demands that every new healthcare product be available to everyone — no matter its cost or how little it actually helps.

In late 2014, the New England Journal of Medicine detailed a number of ways drug companies take advantage of this system. For instance, they buy up the rights to inexpensive generic drugs, lock out competitors, and raise prices. In one example, albendazole, a drug used to treat certain kinds of parasitic infection, was approved 20 years ago and, as recently as 2010, had a wholesale cost of $5.92 per day. Three years later, it was $119.58.

“Many of these drugs remain key therapeutic tools. The number of prescriptions for albendazole has increased dramatically in part because the drug has increasingly been used to treat parasitic infections in refugees,” explained the report’s authors, Drs. Jonathan Alpern, William Stauffer, and Aaron Kesselheim.

“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends presumptive treatment of refugees arriving in the U.S. if they have not had prior treatment,” they went on. “Because the people who need albendazole are generally disadvantaged, the costs resulting from the enhanced demand and associated price increases are largely borne by the patients themselves through substantial out-of-pocket payments or by taxpayers through public insurers such as Medicaid and the Refugee Medical Assistance program.”

The albendazole situation is hardly unique, they added. “It is well-known that new, brand-name drugs are often expensive, but U.S. healthcare is also witnessing a lesser-known but growing and seemingly paradoxical phenomenon: certain older drugs, many of which are generic and not protected by patents or market exclusivity, are now also extremely expensive.”

For example, the price of captopril, which is used for hypertension and heart failure, increased by more than 2,800% between November 2012 and November 2013, from 1.4 cents to 39.9 cents per pill. Similarly, the price of clomipramine, an antidepressant also used for obsessive-compulsive disorder, increased from 22 cents to $8.32 per pill, and the price of doxycycline hyclate, a broad-spectrum antibiotic introduced in 1967, increased from 6.3 cents to $3.36 per pill.

The practice infuriated a number of U.S. lawmakers, who teed off on drug companies last month during a session of the Senate Special Committee on Aging.

“I find it so disturbing and unconscionable that a company would buy up a decades-old drug that it had no role in developing … and then would hike up the price to such egregious levels that it’s having an impact on patient care,” said U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, who chairs the committee.

Beyond the Status Quo

Solutions have been difficult to come by, but Bach suggests one: what if insurance companies weren’t required to cover all drugs? He explained that, in Europe, many countries reject a handful of drugs each year based on their high cost and relatively low effectiveness — so companies are forced to offer their products at attractice prices.

As a result, prices in Europe for prescription drugs are typically 50% below what U.S. consumers pay. The pharmaceutical industry might argue, he went on, that drug spending accounts for just 10% of all healthcare spending, but that equals around $300 billion per year — no small number.

And those costs are being passed on to patients. The Wall Street Journal noted that Lilly’s drug Cyramza will cost the average Medicare patient $2,600 per month without supplemental insurance — more than most Medicare-age people earn each month, before taxes.

It would make sense, Bach argued, to do one of two things: free insurers and government programs from the requirement to include all expensive drugs in their plans, or demand that policymakers set drug prices in the U.S. equal to those seen in Europe. “Either approach would be vastly superior to the situation we have today.”

The New England Journal of Medicine report offered another strategy for bringing prices under control. The authors suggest that substantial increases in the price of an unpatented drug could trigger the FDA to issue a public announcement seeking other manufacturers for generic versions of the product. Companies responding to such a request could receive expedited reviews of their manufacturing processes, and generic-drug user fees could be waived to further increase incentives for potential competitors.

Meanwhile, they concede, there is little that consumers can do.

“Some patients seek to acquire these drugs in other countries, since many of them are widely and inexpensively available outside the U.S., but such foreign sources may be of variable quality. Until regulatory and market solutions are implemented to reduce prices for these older drugs, patients requiring such drugs and the physicians treating them will continue to be faced with difficult choices.”

McCaffrey said Health New England is trying to maintain as much consumer choice as possible, but not at the expense of ballooning rates.

“Going into 2016, one of our top priorities is to make sure people have access to the medications they need,” she noted, “but at the same time make sure we can control premiums for them so they can afford the health insurance that gives them access to the medications they need.”

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Building Permits

Building Permits Departments

The following building permits were issued during the months of January and February 2016.

CHICOPEE

35 Center St., LLC
35 Center St.
$3,000 — Interior renovations

CIL Realty of MA Inc.
1230 Burnett Road
$427,000 — Construction of a 24’ x 40’ addition

City of Chicopee
927 Sgt. Tracy Dr.
$55,000 — Construction of handicap ramp

Deerfield Commons
180 Beauchamp Terrace
$48,000 — Strip and re-roof

Main Street Property Management, LLC
340 McKinstry Ave.
$85,000 — Renovations for gym and training facility

Padgette Street, LLC
150 Padgette St.
$150,000 — Build out of offices in existing warehouse

LUDLOW

C.A. Smith & Lumber
84 Hubbard St.
$5,000 — Install new siding

Lupa Game Farm
62 Nash Hill Road
$93,000 — New construction

Ronald Chiasson
570 Holyoke St.
$30,000 — Replace roof

NORTHAMPTON

Cooley Dickinson Hospital
30 Locust St.
$170,000 — Renovate cafeteria

Emerald City Paper
17 New South St.
$116,000 — Add walls to create four offices

Harry McColgan
518 Pleasant St.
$3,500 — Divide into two office spaces and add doors

New England Deaconess Association
25 Coles Meadow Road
$5,050,000 — Construct three-story residential building

Northampton Four, LLC
338 King St.
$95,000 — Redesign and modernize fascia and alter vestibule

Smith College
11 Arnold Ave.
$13,000 — Exterior repairs

Thornes Marketplace
150 Main St.
$110,000 — Renovations for Herrell’s

Thornes Marketplace
150 Main St.
$10,000 — Replace two damaged rafters

Unitarian Church
220 Main St.
$12,000 — New metal roof

PALMER

L.N. Berneche Inc.
2002 Calkins Road
$22,000 — New roof

Palmer Motorsports Park, LLC
58 West Ware Road
$20,000 — Construct 20’ x 120’ carport

SPRINGFIELD

Memorial Square Apartments
2295 Main St.
$6,545,000 — Full MEPF renovations

Memorial Square Apartments
2718 Main St.
$1,634,000 — Full MEPF renovations

Memorial Square Apartments
17 East Hooker St.
$1,634,000 — Full MEPF renovations

Springfield Water and Sewer
71 Colton St.
$383,000 — Office renovations

Walmart, Inc.
1105 Boston Road
$400,000 — General remodel

WD 2025, LLC
2025 Roosevelt Ave.
$230,000 — Construct 30’ x 100’ soil canopy building

Mercedes Dealership Planned for Site Off Turnpike in Chicopee

Commercial Real Estate Sections

At a Crossroads

When Peter Wirth and his business partner, Rich Hesse, commenced their search for a site to locate a Mercedes dealership that would serve Western Mass. and Northern Conn., they started, well, where one might think they would start — Riverdale Street in West Springfield.

There are more than a half-dozen dealerships already on that stretch for a reason — actually several reasons, he told BusinessWest, listing everything from traffic counts to accessibility (I-91 and the Mass Pike both have exits on or just off that road) to the fact that the bevy of brands there acts as a magnet for car shoppers.

But while their search started on that throughfare, it didn’t end there. Indeed, upon riding up and down Riverdale Street a few times, the partners came away unimpressed with available options and disenchanted by obvious challenges — from holiday-season bottlenecks to the long drives needed to turn around and get on the desired side of the street.

So they turned their attention elsewhere, and eventually found a site far less obvious, but with all or most of those aforementioned amenities found in West Side.

Indeed, Wirth and Hesse will soon close on the property just off Turnpike exit 6 and at the tail end of Route 291, which has been home to hotels with a succession of names, most recently the Plantation Inn, which closed several years ago. This is the site known to many as the long-time home of white statue known colloquially, and simply, as the ‘Country Ford guy,’ because it previously graced that dealership for many years.

By June, the partners expect to complete demolition and then start construction of a 35,000-square-foot facility that will bring a Mercedes dealership back to Western Mass. for the first time in more than a decade.

This is an $11.8 million undertaking when one factors in the purchase of the property, demolition, and new construction, Wirth — co-owner, with Hesse, of Mercedes Benz of Nanuet, N.Y. — told BusinessWest, adding that he believes this constitutes a sound investment.

And the location they eventually chose is a big reason why.

“It’s at the intersection of two highways, and it couldn’t be any easier to get to,” he said, adding that the site is convenient for most everyone living or working in the dealership’s large territory — from just west of Worcester to the New York line; from the Vermont border into the Northern Conn. region.

Wirth told BusinessWest that he and Hesse were approached by Mercedes about bringing the brand back to the 413 area code — the closest dealership is in Hartford — and the partners, after some research, concluded this was a market in which they and the German carmaker could thrive.

“Mercedes recognized that the Western Mass. and Northern Connecticut markets were somewhat underserved, and that there is an opportunity there for the brand,” he explained. “They asked us to partner with them to bring the brand back to the area.”

Those talks started roughly 18 months ago, he went on, adding that the search for a location commenced soon afterward, and it took most of 2015 to seal a deal. There were several priorities involved with that search, he said, adding that the dealership requires a minimum of four acres (the Plantation Inn site has six). Accessibility is also a major factor, as well as visibility, which this location also possesses.

It doesn’t have any other dealerships, he observed, adding that Mercedes is such a powerful brand, it doesn’t need help from other makes to draw people to the door.

“We decided fairly early on that we didn’t need to be there, and that there were actually several advantages to not being there,” he said of what amounts to an auto mile on Riverdale Street. “The Mercedes brand has enough attraction, enough pull, so that you don’t have to be where everyone else is.”

Wirth said the timetable, as currently constituted, calls for having the dealership open for business by the second quarter of 2017, and maybe the first quarter if everything falls into place smoothly.

As for the Country Ford guy, Wirth said it was still in residence on the property when the partners first looked at it, and they actually considered making it a part of the dealership.

But it now has a new owner, forever, and this Mercedes store will need a different identifier.

Wirth believes the Mercedes sign that adorns the property will be more than enough.

— George O’Brien

Bounce! Provides a Lift for Old Cinema Complex

Commercial Real Estate Sections

Getting a Jump on the Competition

Bill Merrill, center, with fellow managing partners Rob Doty (left) and Greg Morgan, expect things to be hopping at Bounce!

It was property basically slated to go dark. That was the fate awaiting the closed cinema complex at the Springfield Plaza … until a group of entrepreneurs with some imagination commenced a process to make it a part of a new wave in business and recreation — trampoline sports. Early returns suggest the facility known as Bounce! was a leap worth taking.

Bill Merrill couldn’t help himself.

When asked how many young people — and some maybe not so young — he expects to see at his new venture, Bounce! Trampoline Sports, on a given day, week, or month, he started by saying, “well, when the place is hopping…’” in a voice that would indicate that he’s used the pun many times before.

Which he probably has. In fact, Merrill would be considered a veteran in this still very young business of trampoline sports — this is his second franchise with the firm Bounce! — and that experience helps explain why he endeavored to bring this concept to Springfield.

And it certainly helped him answer that earlier question. Indeed, Merrill would go on to do that math a little later — he’s anticipating perhaps 150,000 to 200,000 ‘jumpers,’ as they’re called, on an annual basis. In the meantime, he speculated that this establishment, carved out of roughly half the old cinema complex at the Springfield Plaza, will in fact be hopping.

That’s because there isn’t a facility like it in Western Mass., and there are only a few within a 50-mile radius. Meanwhile, a detailed demographic analysis revealed that the Greater Springfield area has the requisite large population of individuals ages 6-18 to make something like this work.

So the $1.5 million investment Merrill and several partners made was not exactly a huge leap from an entrepreneurial standpoint — pun fully intended.

However, it was, and is, a highly imaginative and rather involved reuse of some underperforming commercial real estate, and a gambit that became reality soon enough to keep the competition from … well, jumping in ahead of him.

Merrill, who is also a franchisee with the third Bounce! location, in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., told BusinessWest that trampoline sports — another of those entrepreneurial trends that has moved from the West Coast to the Northeast — had been gaining considerable steam in New York and New England over the past several years. And he certainly wasn’t the only one scouting sites in the Springfield area, which was among the largest metropolitan areas in the Northeast that did have such a facility at the time.

Those searches were essentially called off, though, when Merrill and his partners went public with their plans at the closing on the lease last June.

Go HERE to find a listing of available commercial properties in Western Mass.

That was just as preliminary design work at the site was beginning, to be followed by extensive interior demolition and new construction that commenced in August and took five months to complete. Bounce! opened its doors on Jan. 29 and staged a grand opening a week later.

Early returns have been solid, and when he talked with BusinessWest, Merrill was looking ahead to the February school vacation as an effective barometer when it comes to whether his math — and his instincts — were right.

He thinks they’re on the money — literally and also figuratively — and he believes the Springfield complex has the facilities, location, and demographic footprint to be among the most successful trampoline centers in the country.

“I can say that because I’ve been to a lot of these parks,” he said. “This one is truly exceptional.”

For this issue and its focus on commercial real estate, BusinessWest takes a look at this different kind of business and how it has brought new life to a piece of property that was slated to go dark and sit idle.

Predicting an Early Spring

Bill Low, a broker with the Springfield-based commercial real-estate firm NAI Plotkin, said Merrill first approached him about finding a location for a trampoline-sports facility more than a year ago.

He didn’t appreciate then just how difficult it would be to secure a home for such a business, but it didn’t take him long to grasp the magnitude of the challenge.

It would come in several parts, but center on three main ingredients — location (that’s a priority for any retail business), parking, and finding the requisite open spaces and, especially, high ceilings — at least 20 feet is required.

“You need a specific type of property for this,” he noted. “And we launched an extensive search across this area. But there just weren’t many locations that fit the profile.”

Obstacle course at Bounce!

In other parts of the country, and even Eastern Mass., warehouses have been successfully transformed into trampoline centers, said Merrill, and a few of those were considered in this region.

But, generally, they either lacked the proper dimensions, were located in out-of-the-way industrial areas, had insufficient parking, or a combination of the above. Other than that, they were ideal.

Other types of facilities were considered, such as the former Circuit City location at the corner of Parker Street and Boston Road in Springfield, as was the prospect of building to suit, said Merrill, adding that none of the apparent options on the table were very attractive, pricewise and otherwise. And that’s when another alternative emerged, seemingly from out of nowhere.

Actually, it emerged in the view out the window of the 99 Restaurant at the Springfield Plaza, where the various players in the bid to bring Bounce! to Springfield were having lunch and discussing various options, including the possibility of building a facility on a pad site at the plaza across the street from the restaurant.

That’s when the subject of the cinema complex came up, with Merrill soon learning it had just been acquired by Cinemark, owner of the theater complex on Riverdale Street in West Springfield and others in the region, with plans to place a deed restriction on it to essentially keep additional competition from entering the market.

“They told me the plan was to have that building go dark, and my jaw dropped,” said Merrill, adding that he was dismayed at the prospect of opening a new business next door to such a dormant hulk.

Fast-forwarding a little, the discussion shifted to perhaps leasing a portion of the former theater complex, which, with this use in mind, was eventually sold back to Springfield Plaza owners the Davenport Companies and Albany Road Real Estate as a site for Bounce!

Working with Shelburne Falls-based architect Joe Mattei, Merrill and fellow managing partners Rob Dory and Greg Morgan soon took their concept from their imaginations to the drawing board, and then to the big screen — well, nine of them, actually, comprising roughly 35,000 square feet of jumping space.

That’s how many of the old theaters were leveled, in every sense of that construction term, to make way for a host of different experiences for those aforementioned jumpers.

There are several party rooms, for example, which, as that name implies, are smaller rooms designed to host birthday parties — a few dozen have already been booked — and other gatherings. There are also larger, general bouncing rooms, carved out of the larger theaters, including one with three basketball hoops set at various heights to test those who can now dunk thanks to a lift from a trampoline.

There is a room for younger children, complete with a bounce house, and two so-called Xtreme rooms. There, visitors can find American Ninja Warrior-style obstacle courses of varying levels of difficulty. There are also spaces for dodgeball games on trampolines, an activity that is growing in popularity, said Merrill.

The Springfield location hopes to draw from a wide area ranging from Northern Connecticut to New Hampshire; from the Berkshires to the western fringes of Worcester County, he went on, adding that, while young people and families comprise the primary target audiences, the facility is also hoping to draw students from the many colleges and universities across the area.

He notes that both geographic location and the quality of the venue are factors that will play into those expectations.

“Bounce! is really the Cadillac of this business,” he said. “There are several people doing this now, but these facilities set the standard.”

Uplifting Experience

Whether that standard will translate into business success remains to be seen, but all signs seem to indicate that this facility will indeed be hopping.

And if that’s the case, then it will mean a much different fate for a location that had seen the lights go out and was looking at a fairly dark future.

George O’Brien can reached at [email protected]

Certain Laws Can Help When You Become a Senior Citizen

Age-old Arguments

By ANN I. WEBER, Esq.

Ann Weber

When you become a ‘senior,’ defined variously as 60 to 70 or older, you become eligible for legal benefits that are not available to your younger compatriots.

While many of these laws are needs-based, some are not — for example, Social Security, Medicare, and others which are available to all of us. The following is a non-exclusive list of some of these laws which might be of interest.

Timing Social Security Benefits

When you turn 62, you become eligible for early withdrawal of Social Security benefits, and this is a great benefit for people who for one reason or another cannot continue to be employed or who do not have a long life expectancy. However, for individuals born between 1943 and 1954, the monthly benefit at age 62 will be 75% of the full monthly benefit at age 66.

If you can wait for benefits until you are 70, there is an additional 8% increase every year for the four years between 66 and 70. So, before making a decision about when to start collecting these retirement benefits, consider the differences, taking into account your estimated life expectancy and your financial situation. For people who can afford to wait or who are worried about outliving their resources, waiting to file might be a good option to consider.

Medicare Hospice

As you probably know, for beneficiaries who are 65 and older, Medicare pays not only for medical and hospital services, but also for some home services and medical equipment used in the home. Less well-known perhaps are the hospice services available to anyone with a prolonged, life-threatening diagnosis.

Although the diagnosis must state that death is likely within six months, hospice now allows not only palliative but curative care, with the result that many individuals end up renewing their eligibility for the program in six-month installments, sometimes multiple times, or graduating from the program entirely.

Hospice services include scheduled in-home care and emergency 24/7 care, which can often obviate the need for routine medical appointments and some emergency-room visits. In addition, Medicare hospice assigns a licensed, professional social worker to beneficiaries to help the patient and family deal with the social and emotional ramifications of an end-of-life illness. It is a comprehensive home-healthcare program, and it’s free.

Charitable Giving from Retirement Funds

As a general rule, any withdrawal from a traditional individual retirement account (IRA) results in income taxation of the full amount withdrawn. However, if you are 70 1/2, you can make charitable gifts from your IRA up to $100,000, receive a full charitable deduction, and have the amount contributed count toward your required minimum distribution.

If you are charitably inclined and meet the age requirement, this is a great way to partially fund your charitable gifts with money that would otherwise be going to Uncle Sam.

Declaration of Homestead

In Massachusetts, a homeowner receives automatic protection from unsecured creditors up to $125,000 so long as the owner or covered family member occupies or intends to occupy the property as his or her principal place of residence. With a declaration filed on the land records, this protection is increased to $500,000 in total for the property.

However, for individuals 62 or older, a homestead may be filed on each individual’s behalf, so, for example, for two homeowners 62 or older, the aggregate protection increases to $1 million.

Reverse Mortgages

A reverse mortgage is similar to a purchase mortgage in that it is a loan from a bank or mortgage company to an individual. However, instead of using the funds advanced by the bank for purchase of a residence, a senior homeowner (62 or older) can use a portion of his or her home equity as collateral and receive cash in return.

Reverse-mortgage payments are not taxable, nor are the payments considered countable income for purposes of MassHealth (Medicaid) eligibility. However, reverse mortgages have fees due upon origination and servicing fees annually which can be substantial, and the loan will have to be repaid with interest which has accumulated over the life of the loan when the homeowner dies or no longer lives in the home as his or her principal residence.

In the right situation, these loans can be life savers, but, because of the fees and technical provisions, it may be wise to consult with a knowledgeable attorney before committing.

Durable Powers of Attorney

Durable powers of attorney are used to allow one person, the agent, to act for another, the principal, in financial matters. These provisions can take place immediately or be triggered by incapacity. Though powers of attorney can be utilized by people of all ages, signing a durable power of attorney can be one of the most important steps you can take if you are getting older to make sure your financial affairs are handled by the person you want and in the manner you would choose.

Under the Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code enacted in 2012, power of attorney was given additional muscle. Specifically, in the event of an unreasonable refusal of a third party to honor the authority of a valid durable power of attorney, the agent can sue for damages. This can be really helpful if the failure to honor an agent’s directions — for example, in a sale or purchase of property — results in a loss to the principal.

There are many other laws and programs which are available to seniors on a needs-based basis which have not been covered here. Additional information can be found at local senior centers and various government agencies, or by contacting an elder-law attorney. n

Attorney Ann I Weber is a partner at Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin, P.C., and concentrates her practice in the areas of estate planning, estate administration, probate, and elder law. She is a fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and past president of the Hampden County Estate Planning Council, and has been recognized by Super Lawyers, Top Fifty Women Attorneys in Massachusetts, and Best Lawyers in America; (413) 737-1131; [email protected]

Drafting a Road Map for Defeating Cancer

Emperor of All Maladies Author Says the Pieces Are in Place

Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee says the so-called ‘cancer moonshot’ will provide a road map for advancing the fight against the ‘emperor of all maladies.’

As he delivered his talk, “The Changing Landscape of Cancer,” to a large audience at CityStage earlier this month, Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee had a PowerPoint presentation running on a large screen behind him.

In a way, it represented a seriously condensed but still highly informative version of his book, The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer, for which he won the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for general nonfiction, and it led with what amounted to a trailer for the Ken Burns-produced PBS film documentary based on the book.

One of the slides, kept on the screen for several minutes, depicted one of the now-famous full-page ads that ran in newspapers across the country in December 1969 with the screaming headline: “Mr. Nixon: You Can Cure Cancer.”

While one might debate whether those spots legally constituted false advertising, Mukherjee implied, they certainly amounted to wishful thinking — very wishful thinking.

Indeed, neither the nation’s president nor anyone else could cure cancer 47 years ago, he explained, because the scientific community simply didn’t know enough about the disease to remotely approach that ambitious goal.

Mukherjee said those ads, inspired by and paid for by Mary Lasker, the noted health activist, philanthropist, and champion of medical research, were a prime catalyst for what he called “the war on cancer 1.0” — a war declared far too early to result in even partial victory, but one that set the stage for later triumphs.

“We had no understanding of the physiology of a cancer cell, let alone what caused it to turn cancerous, and yet a war on cancer was launched without that understanding,” he told his audience, there, as he was, to celebrate the expansion of the Sr. Mary Caritas Cancer Center. “People have often said that this is like saying, ‘we’re going to the moon’ without having seen a jet engine; that’s what the situation was like.”

Nearly a half-century and seven U.S. presidents later (many of whom have declared what amounted to their own versions of a war on cancer), the situation is much different, said Mukherjee, because the world knows exponentially more about the physiology of a cancer cell and why a cell becomes cancerous.

And this new landscape certainly provides more optimism for the latest declared war on this disease — the so-called ‘cancer moonshot’ (a term that only reinforces Mukherjee’s analogy) — that was announced in January.

“We understand cancer at a cellular and molecular level that we didn’t understand before,” Mukherjee told BusinessWest prior to his talk. “We understand what causes cancer, we understand its progression, we understand some, but not all, of its risk factors, and we have not one, not two, but really several dozen important breakthrough therapies for several forms of cancer.

“The question now is how to deliver those therapies carefully, how to deliver them to the right people, how to pay for them, and much more,” he went on. “Meanwhile, there are many cancers that are difficult to cure and difficult to treat, and they will remain frontiers.”

In essence, the cancer moonshot is expected to yield a road map (a term Mukherjee would use early and often) — actually, several of them — for crossing those frontiers and answering all those questions, he went on, adding that this initiative will bring new layers of progress to what he called a “transformative impact” on understanding and treating the many cancers seen over the past half-century.

For this issue and its focus on the business of aging, BusinessWest took the opportunity to talk with one of the world’s leading cancer physicians about the stunning progress achieved to date and how the next chapter in cancer’s biography will unfold.

A Hard Cell

Reducing a few thousand years of conflict between humans and cancer down to a 55-minute presentation wasn’t easy, but Mukherjee, an assistant professor of Medicine at Columbia University and staff physician at Columbia University Medical Center in New York City, managed by focusing on basic science, the milestones in the history of cancer treatment, and the people who made them possible.

Thus, his powerpoint featured slides on everything from surgeon William Halsted’s 19th-century “radical mastectomy” to Mary Lasker’s newspaper ads, and on everyone from Rudolph Virchow, often called the father of modern pathology and noted for his early work on leukemia, to Sidney Farber, considered the father of modern chemotherapy, to Barbara Bradfield, a pioneer (she was patient zero) in the development of Herceptin, a treatment for breast cancer.

His lecture on the history of the disease and mankind’s attempts to cure it focused on several stages he detailed in his 594-page book. They include, more recently, ‘cancer as a disease of cells’ — the period roughly from 1860 to 1960; ‘cancer as a disease of genes’ (1970-1990); ‘cancer as a disease of genomes’ (1990-2010); and the current stage, ‘cancer as a pathway disease.’

He brought his audience from the first identification of cancer some 4,600 years ago by the Egyptian physician Imhotep to current events, including groundbreaking initiatives to rapidly determine the sequencing of genes in tumor cells, leading to new treatment platforms.

Describing what’s been accomplished to date, he used words such as “remarkable” and “unprecedented,” words he says are fitting given the resilience, complexity, and sheer uniqueness of the disease and each case of it.

“Every single cancer, at the genetic level and the genomic level, is its own cancer, and every single patient is its own patient,” he explained. “We knew this 100 years ago, but we really learned this 100 years later.

“There is no disease — and I will argue that there are few problems in human history — where the level of diversity of the problem, the level of complexity of the problem, is equal to the number of people who have the problem,” he went on, urging his audience to consider the magnitude of what he just said. “Cancer is that problem … and that makes it different than any other disease, and that’s what makes it the emperor of all maladies.”

But while his book, and his lecture, amounted to history lessons, Mukherjee said his current focus is obviously on what comes next, and this brings him back to the cancer moonshot.

“This is an incredibly important effort,” he told BusinessWest before his talk. “It clarifies what the goals are, and that is to have a transformative effect on cancer care over the next 100 years.”

When asked what the initiative, officially named Cancer Moonshot 2020, might accomplish by that date, he said simply, “a line in the sand,” before elaborating and returning to that analogy of drawing a road map.

“What will happen over the next four years is that we will clarify that road map, which will hopefully stay with us for the next 80 to 100 years to remind us what the big goals are and whether we met the goals or didn’t meet the goals,” he explained. “We may at times go off the road because we don’t understand something, but as long as we have a sense of what that landscape is like, we can stay on track.”

Again, there will likely be several road maps drawn, he went on, adding that there are, indeed, several fronts in any war on cancer.

One is obviously treatment, he said, noting that considerable progress has been made with some cancers, including blood cancers — leukemia and lymphomas — as well as lung cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, and prostate cancer.

Another front is prevention, which of course plays a huge role in the larger effort to stem the tide of the disease and greatly reduce the numbers of individuals who will die from it. And within the discussion concerning prevention lies the overarching question concerning whether cancer — or specific cancers — can indeed be prevented.

Some carcinogens, such as smoking, have been identified, said Mukherjee, adding that great uncertainty remains about how many more are still to be recognized. And this is a huge issue moving forward.

“That’s an open question on the table and a very important question: are there still out there major preventable chemical carcinogens — have we missed some?” he asked rhetorically.

“And if we haven’t missed some, what do we do about the fact that the rest of it is spontaneous errors, accidents when cells divide?” he went on. “That has many, many, many consequences, and there have been four or five highly controversial papers back to back in major scientific journals, one claiming the former, the second claiming the latter, one saying it has to do with cells making errors when they divide, the other making the claim that the environmental impact has been underappreciated, and there may be some hidden, unknown carcinogenic input.

“We need to sort that answer out,” he continued, “because it’s a fork in the road, whether we move in one direction or the other.”

There will be several similar forks to confront in the years to come, he said, adding that, beyond treatment and prevention, there are other large issues to be addressed, such as handling the cost of this battle, deciding how resources are to be committed, and drafting a plan for making this a truly international moonshot, not a solely American initiative.

Prescription for Progress

Almost immediately after Cancer Moonshot 2020 was announced, skeptics said it is as unlikely to achieve its stated goals as the initiative launched by President Nixon nearly five decades ago.

Mukherjee is far more optimistic. He notes that the pace of progress has greatly accelerated in recent years as more becomes known about the disease, and that enough will soon be known to not only draw a map, but enable society to reach its destination, one where cancer is far less the killer that it is now.

And he should know. After all, he wrote the book on the subject — a biography for which there are many chapters still to write.

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

As Dementia Population Rises, Memory-care Facilities Hone Their Mission

Peace of Mind

Anne Thomas (left) and Joelle Tedeschi say it’s critical that the Garden at Ruth’s House tailors programs to the individual interests and abilities of residents.

While researchers have hope, so far there’s no cure for Alzheimer’s and many other forms of dementia — conditions that currently affect some 5.3 million Americans but could soar in frequency as the massive Baby Boom generation heads into the golden years. That trend places greater importance than ever before on memory-care units, specialized neighborhoods in assisted-living and skilled-nursing facilities that seek not only to care for residents with dementia, but strive to give them back as much of their old lives as possible.

It’s not always easy to walk in someone else’s shoes, especially when that person suffers from dementia. But at Loomis House in Holyoke, they’re trying.

The training program for Loomis employees who work in the memory-care unit includes a mandatory activity called a ‘virtual dementia tour.’ They’re put through a sensory simulation including shoe inserts to make their feet uncomfortable, hazy goggles that mimic macular degeneration, headphones pumping in white noise like a ringing phone and an ambulance siren, and gloves to impair sense of touch.

“Then we ask them to do tasks. They quickly understand the frustration,” said Lori Todd, Loomis House administrator. “What we try to teach them is, you’re experiencing this for 10 minutes; imagine this all day long. Some people call it sundowning, but after eight hours, I’d be frustrated.”

A perceived need for better training led to the adoption two years ago of new regulations for Massachusetts nursing homes. Specifically, workers in specialized Alzheimer’s and dementia-care units are now required to undergo at least eight hours of initial training to care for such residents, and four additional hours annually. Proponents noted at the time that increased training is critical because roughly 60% of nursing-home residents have some form of dementia.

Lori Todd says Loomis House works to counsel and reassure families, who are often dealing with wrenching emotions around their loved ones’ dementia.

At Loomis House, which maintains two separate memory-care units totaling 41 residents — there’s always a waiting list — administrators have taken staff training seriously for much longer than that, Todd said. In fact, the way staff assesses and engages its Alzheimer’s and dementia population is indicative of a wider trend in senior care, one that acknowledges that dementia is not going away as the Baby Boom generation continues to stream into its retirement years.

For example, while many facilities place residents with dementia into one of three categories of memory function, Loomis uses seven, in order to develop as individualized and specialized a care plan as possible. “If you’re stage three, you may be able to do a 100-piece puzzle for an activity,” Todd said. “In further stages, you may still be able to do a puzzle, but it may be a four-piece puzzle so you’re not frustrated.”

That said, the goal is to maintain as much independence as possible for residents through an individualized plan that determines what activities will keep them active and engaged. “We have to get an understanding of who they were and what made them tick — basically utilize that information to develop a plan that will be of interest to them.”

Similar strategies are put into play at Ruth’s House in Longmeadow, an assisted-living residence operated by JGS Lifecare. It features the Garden, a 30-bed memory-impaired unit with a central kitchen and living area and an enclosed, secured outdoor courtyard.

“It’s very home-like, which is really important,” said Anne Thomas, vice president of residential health. “But the one thing that distinguishes us from others is our exceptional programming structure, which is really important to people with dementia. If they’re not given some structure, they don’t do well. They need that schedule, that routine.”

Joelle Tedeschi, executive director of Ruth’s House, explained that every new resident is evaluated by the resident care director to determine how they fit into the site’s programming, which includes sensory activities, art and cooking groups, cultural-enrichment programs, and much more.

“We try to find out as much as we can about each person and craft programs based on that,” Thomas added. “It’s about engagement, but also creating an environment as much like their real home as possible. All the things a person enjoyed before should continue here — it shouldn’t change.”

Like Todd, Thomas noted that the population is aging, and the number of Americans living with some form of dementia — currently 5.3 million — is only expected to rise, meaning more nursing homes and assisted-living facilities are making a commitment to taking care of this population.

“With dementia, unfortunately, there’s no cure in sight; we don’t see the disease going away,” Thomas said. “Our responsibility is to create a wonderful program. Boomers are very discerning; they have disposable income, and they expect a lot, and they should. We’re designing things that we as Boomers would want for ourselves and our parents.”

Individual Focus

That begins with meeting each resident where they are, Todd said.

“There’s a lot of emphasis on understanding that we are guests in the home of the people who move in here. When people come to the dementia unit, they stay here; this is their home,” she said, explaining Loomis’ long-time philosophy of person-centered care. “So, if they want to get up at a certain hour, they can have their medicine when they wake up, rather than right at 8 in the morning. The satellite kitchen is open 24 hours a day, and they can eat when they want.”

Tedeschi said the Garden provides a similar sense of autonomy, including no set times for going to bed or waking up, and a kitchen where eggs can be cooked to order at any time. “Some folks don’t want to be up early for breakfast, so we’ll make them breakfast right before lunch if that’s their preferred time.”

The touches of home — and even pampering — continue with amenities like a full-service salon, live entertainers who get residents singing and dancing, and rules that allow residents to bring their pets with them. In addition, family members often volunteer to lead enrichment programs.

“Just today, one of the resident’s families brought in some old tools, and the residents sat around and reminisced about their lives. There were tools there I couldn’t identify, but some of our residents worked on farms as children and worked all day with these tools, and they talked about it. It was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen.”

The Garden also recently introduced holistic-wellness activities including Reiki, aromatherapy, and reflexology, all conducted by student volunteers, said Mary-Anne DiBlasio, sales manager at JGS Lifecare, who has a background in alternative health. Meanwhile, a small activity room is being converted to a sensory meditation room.

In addition, JGS Lifecare takes part in the Music and Memory program, which works with residents’ families to develop a personalized playlist of meaningful songs, which they can play on donated iPods.

“We’ve seen some remarkable success stories with it,” said Alta Stark, director of marketing and public relations. “One woman’s daughter said she could tell immediately if her mother had her music therapy that day because she could have regular conversations with her. She said that had not happened for such a long time — it was like getting her mother back.”

Thomas is equally effusive. “I witnessed something walking through one day on the weekend — a resident in memory care was weepy, crying, and she wanted to go home. A life-enrichment person came over and consoled her, reassured her, got her iPod and earphones … and it calmed her down immediately.”

Tedeschi said it’s always a challenge to customize individualized programs when dementia has such a wide range of stages. Some residents can live relatively independently but need to be in a secure environment, she noted, while others wouldn’t even know how to press an alert pendant if they need help. “We need to anticipate what their needs would be. We have to customize a program for everyone and continue to add services according to their care needs.”

The complexity of caring for this population is why the Department of Public Health pushed for the new mandatory-training rules two years ago. In order to comply, staff members must be trained in the foundations of Alzheimer’s and other dementias, communication and connecting with these residents, techniques and approaches to care for this population, the components of person-centered care, working with families, the dietary needs of residents with Alzheimer’s and other dementias, social needs and appropriate activities in the care of such residents, recognizing and responding to caregiver stress, and preventing, recognizing, and responding to abuse and neglect of residents.

“Everyone who works here — even maintenance and housekeeping — has to have 12 hours of training,” Todd said. “And I’ve seen the benefits in training, retraining, and sensitizing. The regulations are strict, but it benefits the residents; it really does.”

Family Burdens

No one wants to admit their parent has dementia, Todd said, but the services provided in a specialized memory-care unit are critical when that decision looms.

“Most people who live here are a little more advanced than you see at home, and they’re at risk being in the community. Really, it’s a safety issue, and the caregiver can’t do it anymore,” she explained, noting that Loomis House provides a continuum of care that includes hospice services near the end of life.

It’s emotionally wrenching, she added, when someone understands that their loved one doesn’t recognize them in the same way anymore, but noted that Loomis provides a social worker to help families process that experience, and family support groups that help each other through the transition.

“At first, there’s a lot of fear, guilt, and anxiety,” she went on. “Then they begin to trust us. They see they can go home at night and their parents will be cared for. They have to trust that our people are caring for their parents because their parents can’t always tell them.”

Thomas agreed. “Sometimes it’s harder on the family than on the person who has this illness, to see that person changing before their eyes. That’s why we offer support groups for families.”

In addition, as part of the admissions process, Tedeschi said, families help residents assemble a shadowbox of photos and memories, to hang outside their room. Not only do the boxes help residents identify where their rooms are, they give the staff a better idea of what that person is all about. Families also fill out a profile about their loved one’s likes and dislikes, interests and hobbies, to help the staff build a satisfying daily routine.

Once they’re comfortable in their new home, DiBlasio said, “family members don’t have to be full-time caregivers anymore. We let sons be sons, daughters be daughters, and we become the caregivers. If we know the idiosyncrasies of the person, we can become part of the family, and they look at us as part of the team.”

The worst feeling a loved one can have, Thomas said, is the idea that “‘this is my mother; there’s nothing left to her.’ We want to demonstrate that this person has a lot left, and we want to bring that out in them. That’s our job, to bring out the best in the person so the family can experience that as well. The employees that work here find it gratifying that they can make a difference in many small ways, just by getting to know the person.”

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Access to Clinical Trials Expanding in Western Mass.

New Frontiers

Dr. Matthew Richardson (left) and Dr. John McCann say Baystate’s clinical-trials program both helps current patients and advances research down the road.

When Linda Tedone was diagnosed in September with multiple myeloma, it wasn’t long before her oncologist at Baystate Medical Center, Dr. Syed Ali, came across an opportunity not available to many patients — yet.

It was a national clinical trial, one of dozens in which Baystate patients are enrolled at any given time. In Tedone’s case, her chemotherapy includes a drug, carfilzomib, that was FDA-approved in 2012, but only for relapsed patients who had undergone other therapies. Now, researchers are studying its effectiveness for first-time diagnoses.

“They explained it to me and my family, and we talked about it and were very interested,” Tedone told BusinessWest. “I have a lot of confidence in Dr. Ali. Being in a clinical trial, not only do I have him and his expertise, but lots of other great minds are involved in this, all watching my progress. And I’m reacting well to the medication; the chemotherapy is doing exactly what Dr. Ali wanted it to do.”

A robust clinical-trials program at Baystate — patients are currently participating in about 60 different ones — is available for both adult and pediatric patients, depending on need and what’s available, said Dr. John McCann, a medical oncologist at Baystate who works with adult cancer patients.

“Basically, we’re an academic medical center, so we’ve had a clinical-trials program here for quite a few years,” he explained. “The newer clinical trials are focusing on the specific molecular features of patients’ individual cancers and bringing new treatments to the cancer center that we can use. Because we have an entire team of clinical researchers working with us, we’re able to do sophisticated clinical trials right here at home, so patients don’t have to travel to go to another academic medical center.”

He cited, as one example, a new trial that seeks to evaluate three immunotherapy drugs given simultaneously for patients with advanced melanoma. “It’s very important that patients get really leading-edge clinical trials right here in Western Mass.,” he added, noting that Baystate’s clinical-trials division accesses national trials through organizations like the National Cancer Institute, the National Institutes of Health, and pharmaceutical companies.

And Baystate isn’t alone. When Cooley Dickinson Hospital merged with Mass General Hospital in 2014, it opened up a referral pipeline for oncology patients being treated at CDH to enroll in the kind of clinical trials Mass General has been involved in for decades.

“We joke that doctors frequently have hallway conversations, and we have the same thing, except the hallway is Route 90,” said Avital Carlis, administrative director of the Mass General Cancer Center at Cooley Dickinson Hospital, which opened last fall. “And these relationships are where our connections to clinical trials emanate from.

“I’m very excited that the Mass General Cancer Center will be integrated with the clinical trials available there,” she went on. “Our doctors constantly review cases, and if a patient has unique circumstances, they’ll reach out to their colleagues in Boston, and the doctors in Boston might say, ‘great trial available,’ or ‘perfect match’ or ‘we really should get them in this,’ and we can get our patients involved in these clinical trials. There is a huge spectrum of trials open to us.”

Mercy Medical Center, like Cooley Dickinson, will soon be able to access trials through a new affiliation — in its case, with Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale-New Haven Hospital, with which is has signed a letter of intent to pursue a relationship that will enhance cancer care at Mercy.

The partnership with Smilow will create new opportunities for patients in Western Mass. to enroll in clinical trials for a wide variety of cancers, said Dr. Philip Glynn, director of medical oncology at the recently expanded Sr. Caritas Cancer Center on the Mercy campus.

Dr. Philip Glynn

“Trials are really important because people get a chance to see if a new treatment can help them — or help a population of patients in general,” he explained. “It’s almost like having a built-in insurance policy; you know you’re getting the most recent treatment. It’s been reviewed by experts, and you’re being very carefully monitored by your doctor.”

The downside, of course, is that previously unknown side effects may arise, and the treatment simply may not work.

“Ideally, you’re being carefully monitored so you can be taken off if it becomes clear it’s not working and there are another alternatives,” Glynn said. “Another downside is that some of these trials have placebos, and people don’t necessarily get the treatment they hoped they’d get.”

With more hospitals joining Baystate locally in providing access to clinical trials available nationwide, it’s a decision patients will increasingly have to answer.

Put to the Test

Simply put, Glynn said, a clinical trial is a research study, and patients participate to answer a question or help improve or advance treatment of a disease.

“In my field, oncology, patients volunteer for clinical trials that test new treatments, to see how they compare with current treatment standards. Sometimes they test lifestyle changes to see if it lowers the chances of getting cancer. Sometimes they test new ways of finding out if people have cancer — diagnostic studies.”

Typically, trials are divided into three types, he explained. Phase 1 trials, which are most commonly conducted in a university setting, aim to answer questions about safety in terms of timing, dosage, and side effects. Phase 2 — the type of trial most-often available locally — delves further into safety but focuses more on effectiveness. Phase 3 trials compare the new treatment with the current standard, by placing patients randomly (and blindly) into one group or the other.

Not everyone who wants to take part in a trial may do so, Glynn noted, due to any number of contraindication factors. “There are times people may want to be in a study but are excluded based on pre-existing conditions.”

But plenty are able to enroll, McCann said, noting that some patients inquire about what opportunities are available to try new therapies, while others are steered toward trials by their doctor.

“If a patient is eligible for a trial, we go through the process in detail and talk about risks and potential benefits,” he explained. “Then the patient makes the decision whether or not they wish to participate in the trial.”

Which means they’re well-informed of all known risk factors, he went on. “Every clinical trial has risks associated with it. We are committed to the highest standards in terms of minimizing risk and also explaining very clearly to patients what risks are associated with the treatment.”

In many cases, however, patients have reached a point of desperation, said Dr. Matthew Richardson, a pediatric oncologist with Baystate Children’s Hospital.

“For some conditions, where the prognosis with traditional medicine is poor or at least not optimistic, I think people are motivated to try new things,” he told BusinessWest. “They also realize it may help other children in the future. I think that appeals to many patients — that ability to help other families and other people’s children in the future.”

The goal of any clinical trial, particularly in phase 3, is to compare new treatments or tests to standard tests, and that can’t be done with just one or two patients; researchers need hundreds — and because certain pediatric cancers are so uncommon, no single center will be able to provide that, he explained. That’s why Baystate is part of the Children’s Oncology Group (COG), which gives patients there access to the same trials offered at other children’s hospitals across the country.

Richardson is one of several doctors — as well as pharmacists and people not directly involved in the medical community — who sit on an institutional review board (IRB) that evaluates clinical-trial opportunities to make sure they’re appropriate for Baystate, that the science is sound, and that potential risks are not worse than the standard treatment — or, if the risks are high, that the potential benefit outweights the risk.

“We conduct a very thoughtful analysis, through very extensive discussions, before a clinical trial even begins at the hospital,” he said. “And if a member of the IRB is involved in the clinical research, they’re not allowed to weigh in on approval.”

Expanding the Pipeline

An added benefit to clinical trials, Glynn noted, is that people feel gratified to be able to help advance new types of research.

“That’s absolutely true,” said Tedone, the Baystate patient. “I mean, this is definitely my journey, and I want to have success, but at the same time, I also know that, if this is going to work for me, it will work for other people and make their journey easier, too. I’m all about research, and we need to get rid of this horrible disease — get rid of all these cancers.”

Patients intrigued by opportunities to participate in this type of research have to be gratified by the new opportunities cropping up in Western Mass., from Mercy to CDH to, yes, a widening pipeline at Baystate.

We’re referring to UMMS-Baystate Health, a campus of UMass Medical School expected to open in Springfield in the fall of 2017. The project — a collaboration between the medical school, UMass Amherst, and Baystate Health — is intended to meet three goals: increasing access to students in Massachusetts seeking an affordable medical education, responding to the healthcare needs of the Commonwealth by increasing the number of Massachusetts physicians trained in urban and rural primary care, and applying academic research to improve population health, reduce health disparities, and make healthcare better integrated, more efficient, and more effective.

“It’s really a game changer for the region,” said Dr. John Schreiber, chief physician executive for Baystate Health, and one of the reasons is access to new avenues for clinical trials through UMass Medical School. “We’ll be able to offer patients in the Pioneer Valley much more than we have previously.”

And one of the goals for physicians coming out of the program is that they understand how to be part of a clinical trial and how to connect patients with experimental therapies. “We want to be able to access that across the Baystate system, not just in Springfield. The outlook is bright.”

With all the optimism over clinical trials, CDH’s Carlis stressed that eligibility criteria can be narrow. “What’s nice about our relationship with our colleagues in Boston is, many of these physicians are world-renowned experts in their field; they know these criteria backward and forward. So, if we think a patient might be eligible, there’s no assumption made until they speak with the people in Boston for a full criteria check.”

That said, the big picture is important. “Through clinical trials, we’re trying to identify where care is going in the future, what are the best combinations of drugs. It opens opportunities for patients they would not otherwise have access to.”

Glynn agreed. “Clinical trials are designed by experts to answer specific questions about therapies,” he explained. “It’s very important, especially today, because there are so many new therapies available for patients in oncology. We want to be able to offer patients as broad a spectrum of potential treatment options as we can.”

Seeking Answers

After all, Richardson concluded, these are matters of life and death.

“We’ve gone from acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children being a uniformly fatal disease to having some types of leukemia with a 90% cure rate,” he said. “And that’s only been through cooperative clinical trials.”

Tedone, who has been active in her trial for more than four months, tracks other cancer research as well.

“In the past few months, three new medications came out for my specific cancer; the FDA has approved them,” she told BusinessWest. “They’re making progress on my specific cancer by leaps and bounds, which is good news for me, that’s for sure.”

In the meantime, she said, “I’m being positive. I feel like I’m getting great care, and if I have lots of scientists watching me, that just more people on my side.” n

Joseph Bednar can be reached at

[email protected]

Erin Joyce Named Special Assets Officer at bankESB

EASTHAMPTON — Matthew Sosik, president and CEO of bankESB, announced that Erin Joyce was named special assets officer at the bank’s recent quarterly meeting.

Joyce joined the bank in October 2014 as special assets manager. She has had many years of banking experience within the local banking industry, the last six in the area of residential and consumer collections. She attended UMass and has completed numerous Center for Financial Training courses and received certificates and diplomas in many areas of finance, lending, appraisals, and compliance.

Joyce is a volunteer tax preparer for the IRS Volunteers in Tax Assistance Program. She was a parent volunteer and fund-raising coordinator for the Northampton Youth Football League and Northampton High School Booster club. She has also served as treasurer for the John F. Kennedy Middle School PTO.

Billy Beez Indoor Playground Coming Soon to Holyoke Mall

HOLYOKE — Billy Beez, an indoor play park for families, will soon open a new location at Holyoke Mall. In this jungle-themed facility, kids and kids at heart can run, jump, bounce, and climb in a space featuring slides, play zones, sports courts, obstacle courses, a toddler area, a café serving healthy and kid-friendly refreshments, and more.

The park, expected to open on the upper level across from Target in March, is designed so adults can play alongside their kids while supervised by the professionally trained staff.

“We’re revolutionizing the concept of family fun. Billy Beez offers families the opportunity to play together, while providing a safe and engaging environment for healthy activities and relationship building,” said Shaun Kriel, CEO of Billy Beez, adding that the center is an ideal spot for birthday parties, group outings, and community events, in addition to its daily entertainment offerings.

Billy Beez is now hiring about 60 experienced, responsible, and child-friendly staffers as play attendants, cashiers, cleaning crew, and party hosts. Résumés can be e-mailed to [email protected].

Sanders Invites Western Mass. to Feel the Bern at UMass Amherst Rally

BOSTON — U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders will host a rally today at UMass Amherst. The presidential candidate will discuss a wide range of issues, including getting big money out of politics, combating climate change, and making college affordable.

The doors open at 4:30 p.m. for the “A Future to Believe In Rally” at the Mullins Center on the UMass campus. This event is free and open to the public, but RSVPs are strongly encouraged. To RSVP, visit go.berniesanders.com/page/event/detail/rally/4sdg. Admission is first come, first served.

For security reasons, attendees should not bring bags and limit what they bring to small, personal items like keys and cell phones. Weapons, sharp objects, chairs, and signs or banners on sticks will not be allowed through security. Parking is available on-site.

Mass Insight Education Honors 11 Area Teachers for AP Work

BOSTON — Eleven teachers in Western Mass. have been honored with Mass Insight Education’s Partners in Excellence Award for helping students take advanced-placement (AP) courses with success as they prepare for college.

The winners include Melissa Ferris and Patrice Latrell, Taconic High School, Pittsfield; Carla Comeau and Jennifer Gaudette, Pittsfield High School; Jill Keenan, Jennifer Levesque, and Tawnya Tiskus, Westfield High School; Michelle Fontana, Christopher Rea, and Diana Sands, Ludlow High School; and Marissa Lapointe, Springfield Central High School.

The award recognizes 54 Massachusetts AP teachers for their outstanding contributions to student achievement and their dedication to college success during the 2014-15 academic year. The teachers were selected out of a pool of more than 600 AP teachers who participated in Mass Insight Education’s AP STEM and English program.

“The teachers Mass Insight supports in AP partnerships across the state are the backbone of the schools’ role preparing students for college success,” said William Guenther, president, CEO, and founder of Mass Insight Education. “We’re very pleased to recognize the AP teacher partners who have produced especially outstanding results with their high-school students.”

Mass Insight Education’s content directors selected the teachers based on their ability to increase their students’ access to AP classes, their students’ improved performance on the AP exams, and their students’ resulting college readiness.

The award recipients will be honored at Mass Insight Education’s Partners in Excellence Award Celebration on Tuesday, April 5 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Seaport Hotel in Boston. Eric Waldo, executive director of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Reach Higher initiative, will be the keynote speaker. Each award winner will be recognized for his or her achievement and will receive a check for $1,000.

Mass Insight Education (MIE) is a national nonprofit dedicated to improving student achievement and increasing college success through district restructuring and rigorous academic programs. This is particularly important within the urban ‘gateway’ communities in which MIE operates, as youth from economically challenged communities are not as typically afforded the personalized, high-caliber instruction that is provided in the AP environment.

Mass Insight Education’s AP STEM and English program encourages more students to take AP classes in an effort to increase their confidence while providing them with the academic skills they need to succeed in post-secondary education. The AP STEM and English program is a key part of MIE’s innovative College Success Campaign. Annually, more than 10,000 students at more than 75 Mass Insight Education partner schools take part in the program. These schools typically double or triple their enrollment in AP classes, and double the number of students earning qualifying scores on the AP exam.

To help students prepare for the AP exams, Mass Insight Education supports them in several ways, including hosting a series of weekend classes. The goal is to have students take an AP class as an introduction to the level of work they will need to do in college. The hope is that the experience inspires many to enroll in college who previously thought themselves incapable of that work. Getting a qualifying score earns them college credit, thus allowing them to finish college more quickly and at a lower cost.

Statistics show that 78% of Mass Insight Education students who took at least one AP math, science, or English course in high school attended a two- or four-year college after graduating high school. Ninety-three percent continued with two years of college, and 82% either graduated or are still in school four years after graduating from high school. Mass Insight Education also provides extra training for AP instructors to strengthen their teaching skills.

Tighe & Bond Opens New York Office

WESTFIELD — Tighe & Bond, a Northeast leader in civil and environmental engineering and consulting, opened its doors this month to a New York office in Dutchess County. The workplace at 62 East Market St. in Red Hook, N.Y. provides a strong base of operations to better serve the company’s growing list of clients in New York. Tighe & Bond is providing services in New York through T&B Engineering, P.C.

Project Manager Erin Moore is providing leadership for the establishment of Tighe & Bond’s newest office. A lifelong resident of New York’s Hudson Valley, she is an environmental engineer with more than 15 years of experience in the municipal water, wastewater, and stormwater industry.

“We are a firm that is committed to our clients and the longstanding relationships we have developed,” said David Pinsky, president and CEO of Tighe & Bond. “Locating and growing an office within Dutchess County allows Tighe & Bond to more readily respond to growing client service demands. Plus, Erin Moore has a strong local knowledge of the region and years of experience providing comprehensive engineering and environmental services, which is sure to benefit both existing and new clients.”

Tighe & Bond currently has more than 260 employees. Its other office locations include Westfield (its headquarters), Pocasset, Westwood, and Worcester, Mass.; Middletown and Shelton, Conn.; and Portsmouth, N.H. Founded in 1911, the firm provides engineering and environmental services for clients in the government, industry, healthcare, education, real-estate, energy, and water/wastewater markets.

Sports Travel and Tours President Jay Smith Elected to Travel Board

HATFIELD — Jay Smith, founder and president of Sports Travel and Tours, has been named vice chair of the executive board for the board of directors of the National Tour Assoc. for 2016. NTA is the leading business-building association for travel professionals in the packaged travel and tour industry.

Smith, whose sports-travel business entered its 20th year this fall, has served for four years on the NTA as a tour-operator board member and as its secretary last year. NTA was founded in 1951 and is now the leading business-building association for professionals serving customers traveling to, from, and within North America.

Smith founded Sports Travel and Tours in 1996. Its mission is to offer hassle-free trip options to sports fans so they can attend games and other events across the U.S. and Canada. Smith and his staff have successfully worked with tens of thousands of travelers while fulfilling dreams and ‘bucket lists’ worldwide.

Sports Travel and Tours has been the official travel company of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum since 2007. To celebrate its 20th year, the firm will be celebrating through Oct. 2 with various trip promotions around a ‘20’ theme.

For more information, visit ntaonline.com or www.sportstravelandtours.com.

Polish National Credit Union Supports Chicopee High Food Drive

CHICOPEE — Polish National Credit Union (PNCU) presented a check and food collected at its seven locations to Chicopee High School students during their annual spirit week food drive. The donations, which benefit Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen, were made possible by the generosity of PNCU employees and members, who were encouraged to support the students’ efforts.

“We were pleased to be a food dropoff location for the Chicopee High School students,” said Jim Kelly, PNCU president and CEO. “We are proud of our employees who led this effort. Great things can happen when people rally together.”

With only a week dedicated to the drive, students were shifting their focus from accepting food donations to monetary contributions. “Monetary donations were used to purchase more cans in bulk than are typically donated by students. We are thrilled to have the sponsorship of Polish National Credit Union this year,” said Lauren Foley, a senior at Chicopee High School. “Hosting efforts like this are so important to helping us with collections.”

Jennifer Gallant, chief financial officer at the credit union and a board member at Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen, noted that “the annual Chicopee High School canned-food drive is an extraordinary effort by students to raise money and collect food. Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen is extremely grateful for all the planning, dedication, and organization of the students every year.”

Homewatch CareGivers Welcomes Deborah Epstein

WEST SPRINGFIELD — Homewatch CareGivers announced the hiring of Deborah Epstein as business development manager for Hampshire and Franklin counties. She will work in tandem with Kate Tyler, who also works in those two counties.

Epstein comes to Homewatch CareGivers with a skill set in public relations, program development, and administration. She has a master’s degree in public health from the UMass Amherst School of Public Health and Health Sciences with a focus in health policy management and community health education. This complements her dual bachelor’s degree in management and psychology from Simmons College in Boston.

She also works as a marketing and health-promotion consultant for various organizations, including Orchard Medical Associates of Indian Orchard. She brings a wealth of experience through her work for Massachusetts General Hospital, Cooley Dickinson Hospital, Baystate Medical Center, various senior centers, and as coordinator of the Franklin-Hampshire RSVP Osteoporosis Exercise/Nutrition Program.

Epstein will begin her role immediately, seeking out partners in the medical community who can assist Homewatch CareGivers in building alliances to better serve Western Mass. residents in securing appropriate homecare options.

Hampden County Bar Assoc. Legal Help Hotline Serves Community

SPRINGFIELD — On Thursday, Feb. 25, Western New England University School of Law will host the Hampden County Bar Assoc. Legal Help Hotline call-in program. Residents with legal concerns and questions are encouraged to call for free legal advice. Volunteer lawyers from the Hampden County Bar Assoc. will answer all phone calls between 4 and 7 p.m.

“This program can assist people who have fallen through the cracks of the legal and criminal justice system,” said Noreen Nardi, executive director of the Hampden County Bar Assoc. “It helps provide equal access to justice for all segments of our diverse community.”

The Hampden County Bar Assoc. presents the Legal Help Hotline call-in program biannually. The most frequent types of calls are questions about criminal matters, domestic relations, consumer protection, housing, and employment law. Caller identity remains anonymous to the volunteer attorneys.

To use the Legal Help Hotline, call (413) 796-2057. Attorneys who would like to volunteer for the hotline should call (413) 732-4660.

UMass Announces Major Progress on Campus Renovations

BOSTON — The University of Massachusetts now spends three out of four capital dollars on renovation and repair and has significantly reduced its maintenance backlog in recent years, President Marty Meehan said this week.

In a letter submitted to state government leaders, Meehan noted that UMass has gone through a building boom over the past 20 years, largely in response to enrollment and faculty-innovation booms, but said the university over the past decade has placed a significant emphasis on maintenance and renovation.

“The building that has taken place across the UMass system has been critical to our ability to step forward and emerge as a great public university. While we have constructed new facilities, we have also recognized the need to repair facilities that aged over the years,” he noted.

One of the fastest-growing universities in the nation, the five-campus UMass system experienced a 44% surge in enrollment in the past two decades and built academic buildings and student housing to accommodate the increase of 22,000 students. It also constructed laboratories and other facilities needed as it emerged as a global research university.

But UMass also recognized that it had to repair as well as build, Meehan said, and has been guided in its efforts by Sightlines, a company that advises more than 400 colleges and universities across the nation and in Canada on facilities-management issues.
In his letter to state government leaders, President Meehan said recent reports from Sightlines show that:

• Between 2009 and 2015, UMass Amherst reduced its project backlog from $2 billion to $1.5 billion, achieving a 25% decrease;

• UMass Amherst saw deferred maintenance decrease significantly during this period, declining from $869 million to $596 million, for an even larger percentage reduction of 31%. This occurred at a time when backlog at public universities in the U.S. grew by nearly 20%, according to Sightlines;

• Sightlines calculates that the UMass system is on course to reduce its current $1.45 billion in deferred maintenance by nearly 40% to $900 million by fiscal year 2019, when the university’s current capital plan concludes; and

• It is also projected that the backlog for the UMass system will decline from $3.2 billion to $2.26 billion over the next three years.

Backlog refers to those facilities projects that should be handled over the next decade, and deferred maintenance is the term for projects that need to be addressed within three years.

“We are not declaring victory or minimizing the work that lies ahead, but I think it’s important to note that UMass has charted this prudent course,” Meehan said. 

Added Victor Woolridge, chairman of the UMass board of trustees, “the University of Massachusetts has taken the responsible course in addressing the needs of buildings that in some cases are 40-plus years old. We have taken on issues that we needed to confront in order to be able to provide really good students with the high-quality facilities they need to be able to compete in the contemporary environment.”

Meehan noted that, “on occasion, people ask me why UMass students need world-class facilities. And my answer always is, because our students are world-class.”

James Kadamus, vice president of Sightlines, added that “I think UMass is doing all the right things.”

Other key points in Meehan’s letter:

• Nearly three-quarters of the current UMass capital program is dedicated to projects that will reduce the five-campus system’s project backlog;

• Since 2008, UMass has included a maintenance reserve for every new building constructed by the university; and

• Enrollment at UMass has increased by 44.5% over the past 20 years, soaring from 51,044 to 73,761 students. Of the 22,717 students UMass has added, 14,673 are in-state students, while out-of-state students increased by slightly more than 8,000.

“We are pleased that students from other countries and states are choosing UMass,” Meehan said, “but we, of course, will always have a special commitment to Massachusetts students.”

Adam Quenneville Roofing & Siding Wins Award from Astec Roofing

SOUTH HADLEY — Adam Quenneville announced that his company, Adam Quenneville Roofing & Siding, was awarded the 2015 Astec Roofing New Dealer of the Year award, which is presented to a dealer who has completed the most work in the Northeast region, as well as had the highest customer satisfaction. In addition, Adam Quenneville Roofing & Siding was also named the number-one Astec dealer in the state of Massachusetts for 2015.

“We here at Astec hold our dealers to the highest standards in providing our strict specifications on each and every job,” said Scott Transue, a sales representative at Astec. “Adam Quenneville Roofing & Siding has outperformed even our strict standards of professionalism.”

Astec is a fluid-applied roofing solution which takes the same durable, protective, and energy-efficient principles the NASA space program uses. Its mission is to solve industrial problems, improve appearance, and save energy, while adding to the weathertight sustainability of restored roofs, walls, and industrial surfaces. 

“I would like to take a moment and thank my team,” Quenneville said. “I couldn’t have achieved this award or any of the success over the last two decades without them. It is very important to me that my team continues to learn the latest technology and trends, as well as continue to show dedication to our customers.”

Teri Anderson Named Executive Director of FHETC

GREENFIELD — Greenfield Mayor William Martin and Northampton Mayor David Narkewicz announced the hiring of Teri Anderson as the new executive director of the Franklin Hampshire Employment & Training Consortium (FHETC) and the Franklin Hampshire Career Center.

FHETC is the administrative entity established by the two mayors in 1981 to operate public employment services in the 50-community Franklin, Hampshire, and North Quabbin region. Utilizing federal and state funds associated with the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, the agency delivers services through one-stop career centers in Greenfield and Northampton, and a satellite office in the North Quabbin region.

The previous director of the center, Michael Truckey, retired in May 2015 after 38 years with FHETC. An interview team including representatives of the mayors’ offices, the career center, the Franklin Hampshire Regional Employment Board (REB), and the Mass. Division of Career Services conducted a thorough search process, looking for a person with the right combination of leadership, planning, and management skills to take on the job.

Anderson is past economic development director for the city of Northampton and brings many years of experience in planning, project development, grants management, and economic development.

Patricia Crosby, executive director of the Franklin Hampshire REB, which oversees workforce services in the region, quoted from the letter sent on behalf of the interview team to the mayors, saying, “we firmly believe that Teri has both the big-picture visioning and the day-to-day administrative skills needed for this important position, and that her deep knowledge of the Franklin/Hampshire region, planning expertise, and calm, steady presence will serve us well in this critical transitional period.”

Added Steve Kravetz, head of the Arbors at Amherst and past chair of the REB, “she has experience in business development and technical assistance as well. This will be a great asset to the agency in responding to the demand-driven focus of the new Workforce Act.”

Anderson has recently has held positions with Common Capital and the Mass Broadband Institute. In addition, Crosby noted, she is no stranger to the workforce-development activities of the Career Center and the REB, having served in the past on the board as a representative of the former Northampton mayor’s office.

“We find her smart, organized, diplomatic, thoughtful, and collaborative,” said Elsa Cline, past director of Finance for FHETC and a member of the interview team. “Those of us retiring feel the agency is in excellent hands.”

GoodWorks Insurance, CEMA Donate $15,300 to Operation Fuel

GREAT BARRINGTON — As a result of a partnership between GoodWorks Insurance and the Connecticut Energy Marketers Assoc. (CEMA), Operation Fuel recently received a donation of $15,300. The donation will be used to help more than 30 lower-income Connecticut families keep the heat and electricity on this winter.

For the second year in a row, GoodWorks — a regional independent insurance agency headquartered in Glastonbury, Conn., with additional offices in New Milford, Avon, and Columbia, Conn., and Great Barrington and Worcester, Mass. — launched the initiative by pledging a minimum $10,000 donation to Operation Fuel and promising to match up to $5,000 in donations from CEMA’s member companies. GoodWorks donates 50% of its operating profit to local charities through community grants.

Operation Fuel is a private, nonprofit program that provides emergency energy assistance year-round through its network of fuel banks to lower-income working families and individuals, the elderly, and disabled individuals who are in financial crisis.

“The generous support from GoodWorks Insurance and CEMA shows that we are all part of the operation. Without the support of the community, Operation Fuel could not do the work that we do,” said Operation Fuel Executive Director Patricia Wrice.

Plainridge Park Casino Revenue Up 12% in January

PLAINVILLE — Gambling revenue at Plainridge Park Casino increased by $1.3 million in January, snapping five straight months of revenue declines after a strong start last spring. The slots parlor brought in $12.5 million last month, the highest monthly total since October’s $12.9 million, according to the state Gaming Commission.

Plainridge is still unlikely to reach the $300 million it projected for its first year. It has collected $94.4 million in revenue in its first seven months, putting it on pace for $162 million for the year. However, historically, casino business tends to pick up in the spring, and casino officials hope the January boost continues in the coming months.

Professional Women’s Chamber Seeks Woman of the Year Nominations

SPRINGFIELD — The Professional Women’s Chamber (PWC) is seeking nominations for its Woman of the Year award. The award is presented annually to a woman in the Western Mass. area who exemplifies outstanding leadership, professional accomplishment, and service to the community.

This award has been given annually since 1954. The first recipient was Julia Buxton, treasurer of Buxton Inc., founder of what is now known as the PWC and the first woman elected to the Springfield Chamber board of directors. Other past recipients include Carol Campbell, Kitty Broman, Iris Holland, Sr. Mary Caritas, Nancy Dusek-Gomez, Gale Candaras, Arlene Putnam, Mary Reardon Johnson, Ellen Freyman, Jean Deliso, and Anne Paradis.

Candidates must be gainfully employed in a paid, full-time position and live or work in the Pioneer Valley. Any woman in the Pioneer Valley may be nominated; no chamber affiliation is required. Nominee achievements can be representative of a lifetime of work or for more recent successes.

Nomination forms are available online at www.professionalwomenschamber.com or by e-mailing event committee chair Jenny MacKay at [email protected]. The deadline for nominations is Friday, March 18.

HUB International New England Welcomes Eric Martinez

EAST LONGMEADOW — HUB International New England, a division of HUB International Limited, announced that Eric Martinez has joined the company as personal lines account manager. He will be based in the East Longmeadow office and will assist clients with their homeowner’s, auto, and personal-liability umbrella coverages.

Martinez joins HUB International with more than 10 years of experience in the personal-lines field. His past job responsibilities have included supervising and scheduling staff, resolving client issues, working to maintain carrier relationships, and assisting in planning and implementing marketing programs. His role at HUB International includes assisting in the day-to-day needs of clients, reviewing and updating policies and certificates, maintaining existing client relationships, generating new business, and keeping abreast of the changing market.

“Hiring exceptional employees is the reason that we can continue to delight our clients time and time again,” said Timm Marini, president of HUB International New England. “We are proud to be able to hire the best of the best. Eric’s personality and strengths will certainly be beneficial as we continue to expand into one of the largest agencies throughout New England.”

Have You Ordered Your Difference Makers Tickets?

HOLYOKE — The eighth annual Difference Makers award program, staged by BusinessWest, will be held at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House on Thursday, March 31.

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. This year’s class was profiled in the Jan. 25 issue, and their stories can also be read online at businesswest.com. They include Hampden County Sheriff Michael J. Ashe Jr.; Mike Balise, Balise Motor Sales, philanthropist (1965-2015); Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties; Bay Path University President Carol Leary; and John Robison, president of J.E. Robison Service and an internationally known advocate for people with autism.

Tickets cost $60, and tables of 10 are available. To reserve a spot, call (413) 781-8600, ext. 10, or visit businesswest.com/differnce-makers/difference-makers-event. Difference Makers is sponsored by EMA Dental, First American Insurance Agency, Health New England, Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C., Northwestern Mutual, PeoplesBank, Royal LLP, and Sunshine Village.

Four Executives Added to EANE Board of Directors

AGAWAM — Meredith Wise, president of the Employers Assoc. of the NorthEast (EANE), announced the addition of four executives to the 18-member EANE board of directors: David Leslie, controller of Glenmeadow Inc. in Longmeadow; William Manthey, vice president and chief financial officer at Bridgeport Fittings Inc. in Stratford, Conn.; Erin Gisherman Minior, CEO of Jewish Family Services (JFS) of Rhode Island in Providence; and Michael Rocheleau, executive vice president and chief financial officer of PTA Corp. in Oxford, Conn.

EANE board members offer concrete counsel and valuable perspectives that help the organization remain at the forefront of employment relations and drive member engagement.

Leslie oversees the accounting and information-technology functions at Glenmeadow. Over the 19 years he has been with the company, he has negotiated tax-exempt bond and private-placement issues that have funded expansions and major renovations at Glenmeadow. He has overseen the responses to random audits by the IRS and DOL, both with successful outcomes. He is on the board of directors for the Community Music School of Springfield and has served on the board of directors of the East Longmeadow/Longmeadow Chamber of Commerce and East of the River 5 Town Chamber of Commerce. He remains connected to chamber service, sitting on two committees of the Springfield Regional Chamber of Commerce. He is also an Aging Services surveyor for CARF International.

Manthey has been vice president and CFO at Bridgeport Fittings for 13 years, and has held CFO and administrative positions in general management for Connecticut manufacturing companies over the last 40 years. He is also a certified management accountant, a certificate he received in 1981. He is a former chair of the board for the Manufacturing Alliance of CT and negotiated its acquisition by EANE. In his spare time, he does volunteer work in the Cheshire, Conn. Lions Club and was a co-founder and now vice president of the Cheshire Half Marathon Foundation.

Minior is responsible for the workings of JFS and for all services under its mission to care for families and individuals throughout their life cycle. These services include the Counseling Center, Adoption Options, Lifeline RI, home care, the Kosher Mealsite in Cranston, R.I., and Kosher Meals-on-Wheels, AgeWell RI, and Moes Chitim (the annual Passover appeal). She joined the agency in 1997 as coordinator of elderly services and became director of professional services in 1999. Currently, she is a member of the CEO Council of the Assoc. of Jewish Family & Children’s Agencies. She has been active in leadership positions with the Somerset Council on Aging, the YMCA, and Big Brothers Big Sisters. She has an extensive clinical background in social work and is an experienced instructor and supervisor.

Rocheleau has been with PTA Corp. for more than 20 years. Besides serving as executive vice president and CFO, his additional duties include serving as the general manager of the Oxford, Conn. business unit. Prior to joining PTA, he served as CFO for a multi-state plastics manufacturer with international operations, vice president of Operations for a multi-plant manufacturer and distributor of stainless-steel and specialty alloys, and corporate controller for a security and alarm company with significant growth fueled organically and through acquisitions. Early in his career, he held progressively more responsible positions in financial and operational accounting.

Monson Savings to Offer Free Tax Preparation Through VITA

MONSON — The Ware branch of Monson Savings Bank is participating in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, which offers free tax preparation for those who qualify for this service.

Monson Savings Bank volunteers will help people prepare their federal and Massachusetts state taxes starting every Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m. and Thursday from 3 to 6 p.m. Those interested must call (413) 263-6500 to find out if they qualify and to make an appointment. The program is sponsored and funded by Springfield Partners for Community Action and United Way of Pioneer Valley.

“We are very pleased to help with this important program,” said Steve Lowell, president of Monson Savings Bank. “We see this as an extension of everything else that we’re doing to promote financial literacy as part of our Dollars & Sense activities.”

Added Paul Bailey, executive director of Springfield Partners, “we at Springfield Partners are pleased to have the opportunity to partner with Monson Savings to provide this important service to the Ware community.”

Although the VITA program traditionally completes more than 5,000 free tax returns annually, said Sylvia deHaas Phillips, senior vice president, Community Impact at United Way of Pioneer Valley, “we realize there are many more people who could benefit from this important service, and we are pleased to expand our partnerships to make this happen.”

Michael Case Appointed Board Chair at Holyoke Soldiers’ Home

HOLYOKE — Gov. Charlie Baker recently visited the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home to tour the facility and swear in Michael Case as the new chairman of the board of trustees. Baker was joined by local legislators and visited with residents to discuss the administration’s ongoing commitment to supporting the facility.

“Meeting the needs of the Commonwealth’s veterans and their families is a top priority for our administration,” Baker said. “I am pleased to announce Michael Case, a 35-year war veteran and a devoted public servant, as the new chair of the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home and thank [outgoing board chair] Steve Como for his work on the board over the years. The mission and importance of this home is crucial, and I thank the staff for their dedication to providing quality healthcare for our veterans.”

Case is a Vietnam veteran who has served for more than 35 years in the Air Force and with the Massachusetts National Guard. He has served in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iraq, and as part of rescue efforts during Hurricane Katrina. As a guardsman, Case also served as a police officer in Pittsfield for more than 20 years. During his career, he was promoted to the rank of sergeant and served as commander of the Special Reaction Team. Recently, Case has assisted other veterans as the Veterans Service officer for the town of Washington. He sits on the board of directors at Mycom Federal Credit Union in Pittsfield and was elected to the Washington Board of Selectmen and the Central Berkshire Regional School Committee.

The Holyoke Soldiers’ Home is a state-funded, fully accredited healthcare facility that includes full-time residential accommodations, an on-site dental clinic, and a multi-service outpatient department.

Springfield Regional Chamber After 5 to Celebrate March Madness

SPRINGFIELD — March Madness will be the theme for the Springfield Regional Chamber After 5 event on Wednesday, March 16 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Sponsored by Spherion Staffing, the after-hours networking event provides an opportunity for the business community to gather and network in an informal setting. Attendees will enjoy networking, trivia, and free-throw contests, as well as complimentary hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar, and complimentary admission into the Hall of Fame.

Sponsorship opportunities are available for as low as $100. Reservations for the event are $5 for members and $10 for the general public. Sponsorships and reservations may be purchased online at www.springfieldregionalchamber.com or by contacting Sarah Mazzaferro at [email protected].

DevelopSpringfield to Host Fifth Annual Celebrate Springfield Dinner

SPRINGFIELD — DevelopSpringfield will host its fifth annual Celebrate Springfield dinner event in celebration of the many accomplishments the community has achieved over the past year along with exciting new initiatives underway.

The event will take place on Thursday, March 10 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the MassMutual Center in Springfield. Festivities will include a reception with live music by the Eric Bascom Trio, auction activities, a cash bar, and hors d’oeuvres, followed by dinner, a brief program, and award presentations.

The platinum sponsor this year is MassMutual Financial Group. Many other local businesses and organizations are also supporting the event as sponsors and participants. Sponsorship opportunities are still available.

DevelopSpringfield will once again present its Partner in Progress Award to recognize the outstanding contributions of three individuals toward revitalization in Springfield. Honorees are selected for their leadership and ability to motivate and inspire others. This year’s honorees are Brian Connors, Springfield’s deputy director of Economic Development; Maureen Hayes, president of Hayes Development Services; and Ira Rubenzahl, president of Springfield Technical Community College.

In addition to the program and award presentations, greetings will be provided by Mayor Domenic Sarno followed by Jay Ash, secretary of the Commonwealth’s Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development. Jill Monson-Bishop of Inspired Marketing will serve as mistress of ceremonies.

The celebration is a benefit event; all proceeds will support DevelopSpringfield’s redevelopment initiatives, projects, and programs. More than 500 attendees, including state and city officials, leaders from the business and nonprofit communities, and local residents, are expected to come together in support of ongoing efforts to advance development and redevelopment projects, to stimulate and support economic growth, and to expedite the revitalization process within the city.

Tickets are $100 per person. Registration and sponsorship information is available at www.developspringfield.com or by contacting Paige Thayer at (413) 209-8808 or [email protected]. RSVP by Tuesday, Feb. 23.

Women’s Fund Names Liz Feeley Director of Philanthropy

EASTHAMPTON — The Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts announced that Liz Feeley was named director of philanthropy. She brings a wealth of blended experience in education and philanthropy to the organization.

Feeley received her bachelor’s degree in English from Lehigh University. After spending 21 years coaching intercollegiate women’s basketball at institutions such as Smith College, Princeton University, the University of Notre Dame, and Holy Cross College, Feeley took her penchant for building relationships into the field of philanthropy. She brings a background in strategic planning, team building, volunteer management, and designing sustainable programs to the Women’s Fund.

Feeley’s work at both Smith College and Stoneleigh-Burnham School, a day-boarding school for girls in Greenfield, brought to the forefront of her consciousness issues that girls and women face each day. She looks forward to building relationships around the Women’s Fund’s mission of creating economic and social equality for women and girls in Western Mass. through philanthropy.

Prior to arriving at the Women’s Fund, Feeley served as director of Development at Amherst Montessori School. Previously, as director of Development and Alumnae Relations at Stoneleigh-Burnham, she led a team that increased fund-raising by 133% and alumni participation in the annual fund by 50% in three years. As director of Development, she also launched an initiative that increased the number of major-gift donors by 35% in two years. In five years, her team took fund-raising at the school to an unprecedented level by implementing a strategy based on stewardship, cultivating relationships, brand identity, creating sustainable programs, social media, and in-person visits across the country and in Asia.

While at Stoneleigh-Burnham, Feeley was instrumental in the planning and implementation of a $1.2 million two-year campaign. Her team coordinated and hosted a Leadership Symposium and Gala to launch the campaign that successfully raised money for a new student-center complex. She partnered with volunteer groups of parents, alumni, faculty, students, trustees, and others in an effort to advance the mission of the institution.

Keith G. Roy Construction Appoints Joshua David Roy Vice President

WESTFIELD — Keith G. Roy Construction Inc., a construction and contracting company serving Massachusetts and Connecticut since 1946, announced that Joshua David Roy has been appointed vice president.

“Joshua is continuing a legacy of leadership at a local family-owned and -operated company,” said President Keith G. Roy.

Joshua developed his expertise by working side-by-side with both his grandfather, David, and his father, Keith, since his teenage years. He oversees and personally works on projects that include roofing; exterior builds, including decks and siding; as well as interior construction, including kitchens and baths. “I take particular pride in training our crew, project supervision, and customer service,” he said.

For more information about the company, visit kgroyconstruction.com.

Gove Law Office Welcomes Jaclyn Packard

LUDLOW — The Gove Law Office announced that attorney Jaclyn Packard has joined the firm, focusing her practice on civil and criminal litigation and trials, real-estate transactions, and estate planning.

“Jaclyn Packard is a wonderful addition to our growing law firm of professionals who represent the diverse practice areas Gove Law offers clients within the firm’s Litigation, Real Estate, and Estate Planning departments,” said Michael Gove, founding partner of Gove Law Office.

Having graduated cum laude from the Florida Coastal School of Law, Packard holds a license to practice law in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Florida. In addition to being a practicing attorney, she is an active supporter of the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life event and a volunteer with the Lawyer for a Day program.

The Gove Law Office, with offices in Ludlow and Northampton, is a bilingual firm with attorneys who provide guidance to clients in the areas of business representation, criminal and civil litigation, personal-injury law, commercial lending, residential and commercial real estate, estate planning, immigration, and bankruptcy. For more information, visit www.govelawoffice.com.

Health New England Announces New Branding, Launches New Website

SPRINGFIELD — Health New England recently launched an all-new corporate brand, marked by a blue and gray logo and tagline, “Where you matter.” To coincide with the new brand launch, the company also released its new public website, healthnewengland.org.

Health New England continues to offer health plans across three lines of business: commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid (its Be Healthy MassHealth plan). Although the company will begin using one logo to represent all lines of business going forward, the new branding will have no impact on the current plans or benefits available to members.

“We have been meeting the health care needs of our communities for more than 30 years. And now, we’re renewing our commitment to our members and business partners through our all-new logo and brand promise,” said Steven Webster, director, marketing and digital strategy. “We have a new look, and our commitment to members and our communities is as strong as ever.”

The new Health New England branding was developed after over a year of extensive research with brokers, employer groups, providers, and members, which revealed three key brand attributes: quality coverage, thoughtful service, and a human experience.

Health New England’s new public website offers a contemporary design, updated content, and simplified navigation. Last fall, the company relaunched its member portal, my.healthnewengland.org, offering new tools and information to help members manage their healthcare.

“It’s our goal to provide our members with a meaningful, simplified, and robust experience, working to help explain complex healthcare topics,” Webster said.

Based in Springfield, Health New England is a nonprofit health plan serving members in Massachusetts and Connecticut, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Baystate Health.

Milly Parzychowski Among Winners of United Bank Sales Contest

GLASTONBURY, Conn. — United Bank announced the winners of its 2015 Mortgage Loan Officer (MLO) Sales Contest, the bank’s second annual internal awards program that recognizes its bankers for achieving excellence in mortgage production, and a local mortgage loan originator, Milly Parzychowski, is among the honorees.

The final standings are based on the number of units and volume closed in 2015. Depending on an MLO’s production for a given year, they can be recognized in three categories: Chairman’s Club (including Chairman’s Club Champion), President’s Club, or Vice President’s Club. Parzychowski was named to the Vice President’s Club.

Parzychowski, who joined United Bank in 2011, is based at the Westfield branch and covers Western Mass. Her more than 40 years in banking and mortgage origination included loan officer roles at Mortgage Master Inc. and Family Choice Mortgage Corp. Parzychowski was also a branch manager at American Home Mortgage and at CNI National Mortgage, a loan originator with National City and Source One, and started her banking career as a teller at Valley Bank in Springfield. She is currently an MBA candidate at Bay Path University.

MBK Names Brandon Mitchell, Chris Marini to Senior Associate Roles

HOLYOKE — Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C. (MBK) announced the promotion of Brandon Mitchell, CPA, MSA and Chris Marini, MSA, MOS to senior associate positions.

Mitchell has been with MBK since 2013 and brings a strong technical skill set to his work, as well as a background in sales.

“Brandon has demonstrated a strong understanding of our clients and their industries in his time with our firm,” said MBK partner Howard Cheney. “He is resourceful and often takes the initiative to educate himself on his clients beyond the scope of his technical work, allowing him to enhance his relationship with our client base and deliver an even higher level of client service.”

Mitchell earned his MSA from Westfield State University. He is a member of the Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

For more than two years, Marini has demonstrated a dedicated work ethic to both clients and the firm. He is a team leader within the not-for-profit, HUD, and pension-audit niches.

“Since the very beginning, Chris has worked hard and demonstrated a commitment to growth and education,” Cheney said. “He is also an instrumental resource for computer and technology matters here at the firm, helping to spearhead a number of projects and initiatives as we continue to take our cloud-based computer environment to the next level. This has resulted in efficiencies which we are able to pass on to our clients.”

Marini holds a BBA with a concentration in accounting from the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst and earned his MSA from the University of Connecticut. He is a member of the Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants and the board of trustees for the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, and serves as a mentor for the Westfield State University Accounting Club.

Rob Poole Appointed Director of Business Programs at AIC

SPRINGFIELD — Rob Poole has been named director of business programs at American International College (AIC). He will oversee the undergraduate and graduate business administration programs.

As part of his responsibilities, Poole will lead the faculty in upgrading the curriculum and managing internship opportunities. The internship program will integrate with the business community to create placements that are mutually beneficial to the industry, students, and the college. In addition, he will focus the MBA program for the non-business major.

“Acquiring a technical area of knowledge as an undergraduate, while layering and applying business experience, significantly expands career opportunities,” he said.

Poole’s areas of expertise include accreditation, assessment, and internship programs. In addition to working as a private consultant, he has served as an assistant professor at Richard Stockton College and Bellarmine University. He graduated from Texas A&M University with a bachelor’s degree in economics, then received his master’s degree in systems management from the University of Southern California, and a PhD in production operations management from the University of North Texas.

STCC Foundation’s Not Just Business as Usual Event Set for April 14