2016 - Page 23 of 44 - BusinessWest

TommyCar Auto Group Awards Two Scholarships

By BusinessWest Staff June 21, 2016

Daily News

HADLEY — TommyCar Auto Group awarded two students with $1,000 scholarships to attend college this fall. Jennifer Moss of Hopkins Academy will be attending the University of Massachusetts. Olivia Kiritsis of Shepard Hill Regional High School will be attending Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Both students demonstrated excellence in the classroom and in the community. They were chosen from among more than 100 applicants.

The Tom Cosenzi Scholarship was established to honor the memory of Thomas E. Cosenzi. When he passed away in 2009, it was not only ownership of the TommyCar Auto Group that passed to his children Carla and Thomas, but his legacy of giving back to the community.

“The Tom Cosenzi Scholarship is dedicated to assisting high-school graduates in furthering their education,” said Carla Cosenzi, president of TommyCar Auto Group. “The combination of academic achievement and community leadership exhibited by these students underscores the core values of this scholarship.”

Country Bank Staff Create Blankets for Hospitalized Children

By BusinessWest Staff June 21, 2016

Daily News

WARE — Recently, the staff of Country Bank came together to support Baystate Children’s Hospital in Springfield. The Corporate Risk Department hosted a ‘blanket banquet’ and invited the entire bank staff to join them in creating ‘no-sew’ fleece blankets. To continue with the theme, the group also served a variety of comfort foods for all who helped with the project.

“We are so pleased with the response from all of our staff,” said Dawn Fleury, senior vice president and chief risk officer. “At the end of the event, we had 34 blankets to donate to the young patients at Baystate, who could use a little comfort at a very difficult time in their lives.”

Marianne Fresia Joins Team at Lee Bank

By BusinessWest Staff June 20, 2016

Daily News

LEE — Chuck Leach, president and CEO of Lee Bank, announced that Marianne Fresia was named assistant vice president, private banking and trust services. She will focus on attracting, growing, and retaining Lee Bank’s trust clients, and will serve as liaison to October Mountain Financial Advisors’ team for clients interested in wealth management.

October Mountain Financial Advisors, an alliance of Lee Bank and St. Germain Investment Management, was formed earlier this year. In her new role, Fresia will act as a conduit between retail banking, commercial banking, and October Mountain Financial Advisors to ensure that customers are aware of and have access to products and services from all areas.

Fresia joins Lee Bank after serving for six years as a financial trust administrator at Berkshire Bank Wealth Management in Lenox. Prior to her position in wealth management, she held various roles at Berkshire Bank in Pittsfield. Fresia has completed coursework toward achieving the Certified Trust and Financial Advisor (CTFA) designation and will sit for the exam in August.

Panel Discussion on Owner Succession Planning Slated for June 22, 23

By BusinessWest Staff June 20, 2016

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Vann Group and Epstein Financial Services will present “Building Your Exit: The Owner Succession Planning Process Defined,” part of the BusinessWest/HCN Lecture Series, on Wednesday, June 22 at the Student Prince/the Fort in Springfield, and Thursday, June 23 at Hadley Farms Meeting House in Hadley.

Registration both days will begin at 7:15 a.m., followed by breakfast and a panel discussion from 7:30 to 9 a.m.

One of the largest challenges facing business owners today is the question of how to get out of their business. These seminars will present a step-by-step breakdown of the succession-planning process and what to expect along the way, including the many benefits to transitioning business ownership.

Panelists include Kevin Vann and Michael Vann of the Vann Group and Charlie Epstein of Epstein Financial Services and Epstein Financial Group.

Admission is free, but RSVP is requested. Register online here, or call (413) 781-8600 for more information.

October Mountain Financial Advisors Welcomes Gary Schiff

By BusinessWest Staff June 20, 2016

Daily News

LEE — October Mountain Financial Advisors announced it has appointed Gary Schiff as managing director of the firm, which provides client-centered investment-management, financial-planning, and trust-administration services to clients in Berkshire County and throughout New England. Formed earlier this year, October Mountain Financial Advisors is an alliance of Lee Bank and St. Germain Investment Management, based in Springfield.

“We’re excited to welcome Gary to October Mountain Financial Advisors. As managing director, he will be leading our efforts in the Berkshires and our alliance with Lee Bank,” said Tim Suffish, senior vice president and head of equities at St. Germain Investment Management. “Gary joins us with over 30 years in the business of investments and banking, and a passion for delivering professional and accountable service to clients at the local level. It’s this consistency with our core beliefs, along with Gary’s experience in the industry, that will benefit all of our clients in the Berkshires and the region.”

Schiff most recently served as vice president, senior investment advisor with the Private Client Group at TD Wealth in Pittsfield from 2001 to 2016. Prior to his position with TD Wealth, he joined Bank of Boston’s Berkshire Region senior management team in 1995, and through successive mergers leading to TD’s current ownership, held senior positions at the bank in marketing, communications, government, and public relations. Schiff is a graduate of Middlebury College, received his master’s degree from Harvard University, and has attended the Cannon Financial Institute Trust School. He holds FINRA Series 7 and 66 registrations.

Schiff is presently a member of the Berkshire Funders’ Roundtable and serves as a corporator of the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Foundation, a member of the Congregation Knesset Israel Investment Committee, a member of the Berkshire County Estate Planning Council, and chair of the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires Investment Committee. He is a past director and president of the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce, past director of the Berkshire Economic Development Corp. and the Colonial Theatre, and a former member of the Lenox Planning Board, Berkshire County Regional Employment Board, and Berkshire Community College Business Advisory Committee.

Along with Schiff and Suffish, October Mountain Financial Advisors’ principal team includes St. Germain Investment Management’s Michael Matty, president and director; Richard Bleser, vice president, portfolio manager; Matthew Farkas, vice president, portfolio manager; and Thaddeus Welch, portfolio manager.

“I worked closely with Gary and Tim as portfolio managers with Banknorth Wealth Management. Together we served a significant number of individual, family, and institutional clients throughout Berkshire County and nationally,” said Chuck Leach, president and CEO of Lee Bank. “We’re all Berkshire residents, and October Mountain’s base in Lee enables us to again collaborate closely as a team that places the highest value on client relationships and locally made investment decisions.”

Dowd Insurance Agencies Enters Alliance with Quincy Mutual Group

By BusinessWest Staff June 20, 2016

Daily News

HOLYOKE — The Dowd Insurance Agencies announced it will enter into a strategic alliance with a subsidiary of the Quincy Mutual Group. Through Quincy Perpetuation Partners (QPP), the new subsidiary, Quincy Mutual will invest in a 20% ownership position in the Dowd Insurance Agencies.

The Dowd Insurance Agencies, a full-service agency, has been helping people and businesses in Western Mass. with their personal-insurance, commercial-insurance, and financial-planning needs for more than a century. Established in Holyoke in 1898 by James Dowd, it is the oldest insurance agency in the Commonwealth, with operations and management under continuous family ownership. Today, under the stewardship of John Dowd Jr., president and CEO; David Griffin Sr., executive vice president and treasurer; and Robert Gilbert Jr., chairman of the board, the Dowd Insurance Agencies provides counsel and coverage from five offices in Western Mass.

“When Quincy Mutual Group shared their vision and goals for QPP — to help locally owned independent agencies grow organically and through acquisition — we were all ears,” Dowd said. “What QPP offers fully supports what Dave and I want to accomplish, which is to ensure that the firm continues as a growing, family owned, and regionally strong independent agency.”

Added Griffin, “our roots and core beliefs have always focused on providing our customers with the best possible coverage and prices through our established network of industry partners and carriers. These values have helped us grow and maintain our reputation for more than a century. These same values have sustained Quincy Mutual Group for over 165 years, and we are proud to have them join with us.”

Dr. Jonathan Bayuk Honored with Continued Excellence Award

By BusinessWest Staff June 20, 2016

40 Under 40 Alumni Achievement Award

Dr. Jonathan Bayuk

SPRINGFIELD — Impressing a panel of judges as a committed, widely recognized advocate for families dealing with food allergies, as well as with his broader work in the field of allergy and immunology, Dr. Jonathan Bayuk won the second annual Continued Excellence Award at this month’s 40 Under Forty gala presented by BusinessWest..

BusinessWest launched the Continued Excellence Award last year to recognize past 40 Under Forty honorees who have built on the initial business success and civic commitment that earned them that honor.

When Bayuk, president of Allergy and Immunology Associates of Western Mass. and chief of Allergy and Immunology at Baystate Medical Center, was named to the 40 Under Forty class of 2008, he had created the Western Mass. Food Allergy Network and served on the boards of the New England Allergy Society and the Mass. Allergy and Asthma Society (he is currently president-elect of both), as well as maintaining his successful practice.

But he has since dedicated a tremendous amount of time and philanthropic support to other causes as well, including Homeward Vets, an organization that helps homeless veterans transition to self-sufficiency, and Team Henry, a group that promotes childhood wellness through exercise and nutrition. He also continues to coach several sports, serve on the board of Northampton Little League, teach medical students and residents, and organize events to help the region’s homeless.

“There were a number of excellent nominations for this year’s Continued Excellence Award,” said George O’Brien, editor of BusinessWest and HCN. “The judges could have picked any of these finalists, but they were obviously impressed with Dr. Bayuk’s work professionally, and within the community, since he was named a 40 Under Forty winner. His selection for this award speaks to the importance of healthcare to this region’s economy and Dr. Bayuk’s ability to grow his business and make a difference in this region.”
A panel of three independent judges — James Barrett, managing partner of Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C.; Delcie Bean, president of Paragus Strategic IT and last year’s Continued Excellence Award winner; and Janine Fondon, president and CEO of UnityFirst.com — considered dozens of submitted nominations and scored each one, narrowing the field to eight finalists. They then chose Bayuk as this year’s winner. The other seven finalists included:

• Michael Fenton (40 Under Forty class of 2012), Springfield City Council president and an associate at Shatz, Schwartz & Fentin, P.C.;

• Jeff Fialky (class of 2008), partner at Bacon Wilson and former chair of the Springfield Chamber of Commerce;

• Dena Hall (class of 2007), Western Mass. regional president of United Bank and president of the United Bank Foundation for Massachusetts and Connecticut;

• Amanda Huston Garcia (class of 2010), director of the Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership at Elms College;

• Amy Jamrog (class of 2007), wealth management advisor with Northwestern Mutual and owner of the Jamrog Group;

• Alex Morse (class of 2014), third-term mayor of Holyoke; and

• Meghan Rothschild (class of 2011), co-founder of chikmedia and marketing and PR manager with the Melanoma Foundation of New England.

Paragus Founder Delcie Bean Turns Over 40% of Stock to Employees

By BusinessWest Staff June 17, 2016

Daily News

HADLEY — After more than two years of strategic planning, in a deal valued at approximately $1.6 million, Paragus IT announced that its employee stock-ownership plan (ESOP), which distributes ownership of 40% of the company to its 40-plus employees, is officially a go.

“There has been a lot of celebration around here,” said Paragus CEO Delcie Bean. “While this is an announcement we have all been anticipating for over two years, the time seems to have only contributed to the excitement.”

While there have been a few recent high-profile ESOPs, including Harpoon Brewery and Chobani Yogurt, they are still fairly uncommon. What makes the Paragus ESOP especially unique are the reasons behind it. ESOPs are traditionally formed after the company has fully matured and when a major shareholder is looking to exit. For Paragus, it’s about fueling future growth by giving everyone a direct stake and a personal investment in the future of the company.

“I knew this was the right decision for myself and for Paragus because Paragus is a company that owes 100% of its success to the hard work of its incredible employees, or partners, as I like to call them,” Bean said. “As the only shareholder, I knew that anything I could do to further that spirit and attract new talent would be a sound investment. That’s why it made sense to give everybody some skin in the game. Now they aren’t just growing a company, they’re growing their company. Which means Paragus is here to stay, and we’re only getting bigger.”

Added Dennis Schilling, quality assurance officer, “it’s always been about us at Paragus. It’s never been one person pointing and the rest following. With the ESOP, Delcie has made official what has always been true. It’s a beautiful thing that he has taken his company, his dream, and carved off such a sizable piece of it for all of us.”

While Bean has no plans to step down, he has shaken up the management structure a bit. Just before the ESOP became a reality, he appointed former Paragus Operations Manager Jim Young to be president of the company. In his new role, Young is responsible for overseeing all day-to-day operations and making sure everyone on the leadership team and across the company is working together to realize Paragus’ vision. This allows Bean to focus exclusively on growth, acquisitions, and moving into new markets.

“It’s a brand-new set of responsibilities and challenges for me,” Young said. “But these changes will enable each of us to contribute to the greatest extent possible while ensuring decisions are being made quickly by the people best positioned to do so.”

Added Bean, “we don’t believe in growth for growth’s sake. Our growth is fueled by one singular objective that is bordering on an obsession — we are all completely committed to being the absolute best at what we do while simultaneously being the best place to work. Ask anyone here, and they will all tell you that nothing is going to stand in our way when it comes to our relentless pursuit of being the best.”

Family Business Center of Pioneer Valley to Host Dinner Forum June 21

By BusinessWest Staff June 17, 2016

Daily News

HOLYOKE — The Family Business Center of Pioneer Valley will host a dinner forum called “What It Was Like to Sell Our Company” on Tuesday, June 21 from 5 to 8:30 p.m. at the Log Cabin in Holyoke.

Attendees will hear the perspectives of four people who sold their business. They will discuss what they did right and wrong, what they thought and felt, what they wish they’d known, and what they want others to know.

The event will also include a presentation on “How to Obtain Commercial Credit Today” by James McGuinness, vice president of First Niagara Bank. He will discuss how banks and other creditors provide different sizes of loans, how loan parameters are different for various requests (working capital, equipment, property, etc.), how to prepare for a loan request, and when to seek assistance from an accountant, attorney, or others.

To register, call (413) 835-0810, or e-mail [email protected].

State Unemployment Rate Remains at 4.2% in May

By BusinessWest Staff June 17, 2016

Daily News

BOSTON — The state’s total unemployment rate remained at 4.2% in May, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development announced Thursday.

The preliminary May job estimates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicate that Massachusetts lost 6,400 jobs. Job losses were impacted by a temporary labor dispute in the information sector. In May, leisure and hospitality was the only sector to experience over-the-month job gains.

BLS also revised upward the state’s over-the-month job gains in April, reporting that 15,200 jobs were added compared to the 13,900-job gain originally reported. From December 2015 to May 2016, Massachusetts has added 30,500 jobs.

At 4.2%, the unemployment rate is down 0.7% over the year, with the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropping from 4.9% in May 2015. There were 26,600 fewer unemployed persons and 49,000 more employed persons over the year compared to May 2015. The Commonwealth’s May unemployment rate remains lower than the national rate of 4.7% reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

“The labor force continues to grow, with 7,000 more employed residents and 2,000 fewer unemployed residents in May,” Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Ronald Walker II said, adding that the education and healthcare sector and the professional, scientific, and business-services sector continue to generate the most jobs in Massachusetts.

The state’s labor-force participation rate — the total number of residents 16 or older who worked or were unemployed and actively sought work in the last four weeks — remained at 65.0%. The labor-force participation rate over the year has decreased 0.2% compared to May 2015.

Over the year, the largest private-sector percentage job gains by sector were in construction; professional, scientific, and business services; other services; and leisure and hospitality.

Colin Leduc Joins Webber & Grinnell as Account Executive

By BusinessWest Staff June 17, 2016

Daily News

NORTHAMPTON — Webber & Grinnell announced that Colin Leduc has joined the agency as an account executive. He brings insurance-agency experience to the firm, as well as knowledge gained during his many years as a recruiter for ADP.

Leduc was raised in Longmeadow and grew up working in his father’s sheet-metal shop in Holyoke. This experience greatly contributed to his passion for protecting the assets of local, family-owned businesses — and his decision to move to Webber & Grinnell.

“I spent my life watching my father work hard to provide for our family,” he said. “I was drawn to Webber & Grinnell because of their commitment to local businesses, as well as the work environment they provide for their staff.”

Bill Grinnell, president of Webber & Grinnell, noted that “Colin has a very dynamic personality and is a very strong addition to the Webber & Grinnell family. He’s very dedicated to helping the firm grow, especially in the field of family business.”

Seminar Aims to Unravel Mysteries of Medicare and Medicaid

By BusinessWest Staff June 15, 2016

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Medicare and Medicaid are two terms that can be confusing, yet necessary for many to receive proper care and support in retirement.

Western New England University (WNEU) will host a seminar on these topics on Wednesday, June 22 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. in the Center for Science and Pharmacy, Room 200. Presenters will offer ways to qualify for benefits, while also protecting what people treasure the most.

The seminar begins with a look at the Medicare rules and what someone should know if they or a loved one are entering a nursing home and require access to Medicare benefits. It continues with a discussion unraveling the mystery behind Medicaid, how to effectively prepare an asset-protection plan, and what someone should know now if they may soon need to access Medicaid support. These two government programs may seem complicated, but the presenters will explain that, with some advanced planning, help is within reach.

Presenters include attorneys Hyman Darling of Bacon Wilson, P.C. and Michele Feinstein of Shatz, Schwartz, and Fentin, P.C., and Deborah Hollingworth, licensed social worker with Greater Springfield Senior Services.

The event is free to the public. To register, call (413) 796-2260 or e-mail [email protected].

Irish Cultural Center Presents Talk on Connemara

By BusinessWest Staff June 15, 2016

Daily News

CHICOPEE — The Irish Cultural Center invites the public to a presentation by Mary Joyce on Tuesday, June 21 at 6:30 p.m. in the Library Theater at Elms College. She will speak about the beautiful area of Oughterard, Connemara, as well as adventures in County Galway and beyond. She will also talk about Connemara country cottages and their availability to the Connemara region.

The event is free and open to the public. To learn more, visit irishcenterwne.org.

A Chance to Manufacture Progress

By BusinessWest Staff June 15, 2016

Opinion

Editorial

If nothing else, the recently announced initiative to take Valley Venture Mentors’ accelerator model for helping startup businesses and customize it for existing manufacturing companies wins high marks for originality (see story, page 6).

But we hope — and fully expect — that it will achieve much more than it.

Indeed, we anticipate that it will provide an important spark for this sector — which is steeped in history and part of this region’s DNA — by opening new doors to opportunity and offering greater potential for overall sustainability.

As conceived by the quasi-public agency MassDevelopment, in conjunction with VVM and several other partners, including the National Machine Tooling Assoc., this initiative will attempt to do for small to mid-sized precision manufacturers what the accelerator does for startups: find them dance partners.

Those are the words that VVM co-founder and Executive Director Paul Silva used to sum things up, and while they need to be explained, they are nonetheless quite effective.

In the case of startups, dance partners are angel investors and venture capitalists willing to roll the dice and help entrepreneurs take an idea to the next level. In the case of existing manufacturers, such dance partners are original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) for which they can solve problems and fill orders.

With both constituencies, finding people to dance with is difficult. Startups are, as that name indicates, just getting started. They often don’t know where or to whom to turn for help with gaining the critical capital needed to take their concept forward. Meanwhile, small- to mid-sized precision manufacturers have their noses to the proverbial grindstone, both literally and figuratively.

Indeed, they are so involved with the day-to-day challenges of putting out parts for their long-time customers that they are often unable to look up and out toward potential new customers.

VVM’s accelerator program, while still in its relative infancy (its second cohort just completed its three-month tour of duty) has nonetheless been successful in linking startups with both insight and capital. Can it enjoy the same success with manufacturers?

There is general optimism concerning this project, but only time will tell.

Manufacturers that fit the profile described above are so busy that many may not even be able to find the time and energy needed to participate in a project that will help secure them new customers — and a more solid future.

But if VVM can recruit companies for this project, it stands to reason that it can succeed with its broad mission. OEMs need partners, and contrary to popular belief, they may well not know that a company in Springfield, Westfield, or Greenfield has the equipment, know-how, and talent to make a part currently fashioned hundreds or thousands of miles away.

Again, this initiative is bold, potential-laden, and quite imaginative. And it’s one more thing — critically important.

As we’ve said many times, for this region to effectively compete for jobs, it must be strong across many sectors of the economy. Precision manufacturing has long been a pillar of strength, but it is not what it once was.

VVM’s initiative holds vast potential for making this sector an even more vital force in the overall health and well-being of the region’s economy. v

Bryn Nowell Nominated for Pet-industry Social-media Award

By BusinessWest Staff June 15, 2016

Daily News

SOUTH HADLEY — South Hadley resident Bryn Nowell has been named a finalist in the BlogPaws 2016 Nose-to-Nose Pet Blogging and Social Media Awards. Her blog, A Dog Walks into a Bar (www.adogwalksintoabar.com), was selected by judges to compete in the Best New Pet Blog category at the BlogPaws Annual Conference in Phoenix on June 23-25.

The first social-media network for pet bloggers, BlogPaws (www.blogpaws.com) hosted its first pet-friendly social-media and marketing conference in 2010, and has grown annually into the biggest social-media event and conference of its kind, drawing attendees from all over the world. Nowell was one of 48 finalists in 12 categories chosen by a panel of industry professionals. From these 48, 12 winners will be selected by judges based on creativity, expertise, and performance in their respective categories.

“Our bloggers strive to be something at BlogPaws, not just to write something or create something,” said BlogPaws co-founder Yvonne DiVita. “It’s about learning, growing, and striving for excellence. BlogPaws rewards them with our Annual Nose-to-Nose Awards, sharing the 48 finalists leading up to our conference, then awarding the winners at a red-carpet ceremony at the close of our conference.”

A Dog Walks into a Bar is a site that focuses on “paws, pints, and prose — all things dogs and drinking.” Nowell, the author and site designer, decided to focus on the two things she loves, dogs and adult beverages. As such, the page includes product reviews, DIY ideas, giveaways, and insights on both industries.

Online Resource Aims to Keep River Users Healthy

By BusinessWest Staff June 15, 2016

Daily News

GREENFIELD — In time for the summer recreation season, the Connecticut River Watershed Council (CRWC) and 16 partners have launched the 2016 Connecticut River water-sampling program.

Water samples are tested for E. coli bacteria as an indicator for all types of other pathogens that could potentially make one sick. River users can visit the “Is It Clean” web page at www.connecticutriver.us to find bacteria test results at more than 147 river-access and recreation sites in Massachusetts, Northern Conn., Vermont, and New Hampshire. Samples are typically collected at each site weekly or bi-weekly, and test results are posted online 24 hours later, through early October.

“When weather gets warm, people head to our rivers to cool off and have fun, and they want to know if our rivers are clean. The data tells us that it is a good idea to stay out of the water for 24 to 48 hours after a heavy rain because bacteria levels could be high,” said CRWC Lower River Steward Alicea Charamut. “Heavy rain is often the cause of high bacteria levels. Bacteria can spike after a storm due to combined sewer overflows and polluted stormwater runoff from urban, suburban, and agricultural areas.”

Added CRWC Massachusetts River Steward Andrea Donlon, “cities and towns along the river are making significant investments to reduce pollution to our rivers, and this has made a tremendous difference. We want people to be able to explore and enjoy this wonderful resource. Our rivers are certainly much cleaner than they used to be, but it makes sense for river users to pay attention to this information so they know when it’s clean for swimming or boating.”

Water sample results are color-coded and map-based to offer guidance about whether the water is clean enough for swimming and boating. Results are a snapshot of river conditions at the moment the sample was taken, but give river users information they can use to make informed decisions and prevent potential illness. The website provides bacteria data for the Connecticut River and more than 20 tributaries, including the Chicopee River, Mill River in Northampton, Mill River/Lake Warner in Hadley, Farmington River in Connecticut, Ottauquechee and Black Rivers in Vermont, and many more.

West of the River Chamber Slates Annual Meeting for June 23

By BusinessWest Staff June 15, 2016

Daily News

AGAWAM — The West of the River Chamber of Commerce (WRC) annual meeting will take place on Thursday, June 23 from 7 to 9 a.m. at Chez Josef in Agawam. The event will kick off with the welcoming of new chairman Brian Houle and the incoming WRC board of directors. Guest speaker Lt. Governor Karyn Polito will address guests during the event.

Annual meeting tickets are available for $35 for chamber members and $40 for non-members. For more information and for tickets, contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880 or [email protected].

Berkshire Bank Employees Volunteer More Than 4,500 Hours on June 7

By BusinessWest Staff June 15, 2016

Daily News

PITTSFIELD — Berkshire Bank completed its Xtraordinary Day on June 7. This event marked the first year the entire bank participated in community-service events concurrently from 1 to 4 p.m., closing the entire financial institution as a united effort for community involvement.

During Xtraordinary Day, 95% of the Berkshire Bank team, 1,161 employees, completed 56 projects. From painting of elementary schools and cleanups of local parks to financial-literacy lessons, they contributed more than 4,500 hours of service, a value of $128,000. The projects helped 54 different nonprofit organizations and directly impacted more than 100,000 individuals across the bank’s footprint.

Berkshire Bank’s goal with Xtraordinary Day was to affect the communities that support it every day in a significant way, by being active and immersed in projects that would have a meaningful and lasting impact on these communities.

“Berkshire Bank’s Xtraordinary Day was intended to create a sense of unity through all of our employees and within our communities,” said Tami Gunsch, the bank’s executive vice president, noting that the day’s projects benefited nonprofit organizations and communities in Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, and Vermont.

In Berkshire County, projects included painting at Stearns Elementary School, Egremont Elementary School, and Boys & Girls Club Camp Russell; downtown guide assembly at Downtown Pittsfield; cleanup of Pittsfield parks, Greenagers Housatonic River Walk, and Berkshire Athenaeum; a home build with Northern Berkshire Habitat For Humanity; tree measuring with Trustees of Reservations at Bartholomew’s Cobble; and fourth- to sixth-grade literacy at Farmington River Regional School.

In the Pioneer Valley, projects included cleanup of Stanley Park, YMCA of Westfield, Southwick Rail Trail, West Springfield YMCA, Amelia Park Children’s Museum, Birthday Wishes, and Girls Inc. of Greenfield; a house build and restore for Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity; a bike build at YMCA of Greater Springfield; administrative duties at Children’s Study Home; tree planting at ReGreen Springfield; and truck unloading at Community Survival Center.

Springfield Museums Announce Summer Hours, Discounts for Military

By BusinessWest Staff June 15, 2016

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — This summer, visitors to the Springfield Museums will again be able to enjoy the Quadrangle seven days a week. From June 27 through Aug. 22, all four Springfield Museums will be open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Blake House Café will be open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The museums will be closed Monday, July 4.

General admission remains $18 for adults, $12 for seniors and college students with ID, and $9.50 for children ages 3-17. Admission is free for museum members, children under 3, and Springfield residents with proof of address. From July 11 through Aug. 8, members can take advantage of ‘member Mondays,’ when they will receive 20% off in the Museum Store and free general admission for one guest.

Also, the Springfield Museums have once again joined more than 2,000 museums across the country by participating in the Blue Star Museums Program, which provides free admission to active-duty military personnel and up to five family members from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The Blue Star Museums Program is a collaboration between the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, and the U.S. Department of Defense.

At the time of entry, military members must show a Geneva Convention Common Access card (CAC), a DD Form 1173 card (dependent ID), or a DD Form 1173-1 ID card. Participants will receive general admission to all four Springfield Museums. Planetarium shows or other special program fees are not included.

“We are proud and honored to continue our participation in this wonderful program this year,” said Kay Simpson, Springfield Museums President. “It’s one small thing that the Springfield Museums can do to support the individuals and families who sacrifice so much in serving our country.”

Elms College, WNEU to Establish Law School Agreement

By BusinessWest Staff June 15, 2016

Daily News

CHICOPEE — Elms College and Western New England University School of Law will execute a ‘3+3’ agreement this month that allows students to apply for admission to the law school and begin their legal education during their senior year at Elms College. This could shorten the time for students to earn both their bachelor’s and juris doctor degrees from seven years to six years.

This agreement is not limited to criminal justice or legal studies majors — any undergraduate student, regardless of major, can earn credits toward law school under this program.

“This is a significant opportunity for students in all majors who are interested in attending law school,” said Assistant Professor Kurt Ward, director of Criminal Justice and Legal Studies and director of ABA Paralegal Education at Elms College.

The 3+3 program agreement signing will be held on Wednesday, June 22 at the WNEU School of Law. Representatives of both WNEU and Elms College will be in attendance.

City’s New AHL Franchise Named Springfield Thunderbirds

By BusinessWest Staff June 15, 2016

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield’s new American Hockey League (AHL) franchise will take the ice for the upcoming 2016-17 season as the Springfield Thunderbirds. With hockey fans and local dignitaries looking on from center-ice seats at the MassMutual Center Arena, team officials announced the new name through a pulsating two-minute video on the arena’s state-of-the-art LED scoreboard.

“The Springfield Thunderbirds’ name represents the strength and pride of Western Massachusetts. It is a nod to our hockey past, a tribute to the men and woman of the Air Force who are so vital to this region, and a symbol of the new energy and spirit that is palpable in Springfield,” said Nathan Costa, Thunderbirds executive vice president.

Thunderbirds is an allusion to two previous Springfield AHL hockey team names, the Indians and the Falcons. The name refers to the animal of Native American legend that creates thunder and lightning by flapping its massive wings. Like the Falcon, it is also a fierce bird of prey. The name also refers to the famous demonstration planes of the U.S. Air Force and serves as an homage to Barnes Air National Guard Base and Westover Air Reserve Base, in Westfield and Chicopee, respectively.

The announcement follows a name-the-team campaign that solicited suggestions from the public in a survey coordinated in partnership with MassLive and the Republican. The survey received more than 2,600 responses.

“We would like to thank the thousands of fans who participated in this survey,” Costa said. “We were overwhelmed by the creativity and enthusiasm of those who submitted suggestions. Our fans wanted a name that honored the proud history of AHL hockey in Springfield while at the same time reflecting the new energy and excitement of this franchise. We believe the Thunderbirds captures this spirit.”

The logo features a bird’s head in bright blue with a curved beak against a background of red and yellow. The team’s name is picked out in yellow and white.

“The City of Springfield has a long and storied relationship with the American Hockey League going back to the days of Eddie Shore,” said U.S. Rep. Richard Neal. “For 80 years, professional hockey has been played in our community, and many fans could not imagine a season without a local franchise playing home games at the MassMutual Center. Next season, the Springfield Thunderbirds will take the ice in pursuit of their first Calder Cup. And we have the ownership group to thank for the efforts to keep a charter member of the AHL in downtown Springfield. I am certain that local fans will welcome this exciting new team to ‘the Nest,’ and that the 2016-17 season will be a successful partnership between the Thunderbirds and the Florida Panthers of the NHL.”

In coordination with the announcement, the franchise also launched its new website, www.springfieldthunderbirds.com, where fans can now place deposits for season-ticket memberships. In addition, the team’s social media handles are Springfield Thunderbirds on Facebook, @thunderbirdsahl on Twitter, and thunderbirdsahl on Instagram.

“Again, so thankful, but not surprised that these outstanding corporate citizens continue to step up for our city of Springfield,” Mayor Domenic Sarno said. “Their continued belief and investment in our Springfield is deeply appreciated. Now we need to pack the house to help assure that professional hockey is here to stay for many years to come. Drop the puck!”

Added Florida Panthers Executive Chairman Peter Luukko, “we are excited to have our AHL players take the ice next season with the Springfield Thunderbirds name and logo on their jerseys. This is the start of a new era for AHL hockey in Western Massachusetts, and we look forward to being a part of it.”

Founded in 1936 and now with franchises in 30 cities across North America, the American Hockey League serves as the top development league for the players, coaches, managers, executives, and broadcasters of all 30 National Hockey League teams. More than 88% of today’s NHL players are AHL graduates, and for the 15th year in a row, more than 6 million fans attended AHL games in 2015-16.

Incorporations

By BusinessWest Staff June 14, 2016

Departments Incorporations

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

AGAWAM

Survivor Journeys Inc., 2 South Bridge Dr., Agawam, MA 01001. Dr. Ajay Burton, 396 Inverness Lane, Longmeadow, MA 01106. Survivor Journeys is to provide social and emotional support services to cancer survivors, their families, and caregivers. Our services are built on collaboration with local providers and cancer survivors, along with regional and nationally recognized cancer organizations. We believe no patient, caregiver, or loved one should travel this journey alone.

AMHERST

Tedx Amherst, 47 Fearing St., Amherst, MA 01002. Stephen Chan, 430 Essex St., #4, Salem, MA 01970. Provides free multimedia education, introduces new discussions and ideas to build community, event, and conference planning.

BELCHERTOWN

TDS Social Inc., 841 Federal St., Belchertown, MA 01007. Teresa Dooley-Smith, same. Provides materials and training to professionals.

CHICOPEE

Torres Soto Consulting Corp., 257 Hampden St., Chicopee, MA 01013. Daniel Torres, 20 Lafayette St., Springfield, MA 01109. Business consulting services.

CONWAY

Public Emily Inc., 1101 South Deerfield Road, Conway, MA 01341. Emily Lichter, same. Artist management services.

CUMMINGTON

Pipe Line Awareness Network for the Northeast Inc., 17 Packard Road, Cummington, MA 01026. Kathryn Eiseman, same. To educate the public about fossil-fuel infrastructure and the alternatives; to protect the environment, the climate, health, safety and consumer interests from proposed and existing fossil fuel infrastructure; to study and promote efficiency measures, expansion of programs that manage “peak use” and other, lower impact energy solutions; to engage in legal and regulatory advocacy in connection with fossil fuel infrastructure and alternatives; and to promote, coordinate and assist the activities of other organizations and groups whose purposes are similar.

LONGMEADOW

Pro-Life of Pioneer Valley Inc., 180 Kenmore Dr. Longmeadow, MA 01106. Charles F. Glidden, 278 Whitney Ave, Holyoke, MA 01040. Organization set to educate and promote respect for life from conception to natural death and to defend the right to life for all human beings.

NORTHAMPTON

Sem Jewelry Corp., One Chapin Way, Apt. 7302, Northampton, MA 01063. Susan Mishiye, same. Online jewelry sales.

PALMER

Sousa Fine Floors Inc., 64 East Palmer Park Dr., Palmer, MA 01069. Steven Sousa, same. Installation, sales and maintenance of flooring.

PITTSFIELD

Ragam Inc., 120 Ontario St., Pittsfield, MA 012001. Varghese Athimoottil, 2 Vics Ct., Albany, NY 12205. Restaurant.

RTS95 Inc., 27 East Housatonic St., Pittsfield, MA 01201-6401. Akiva Talmi, same. Corporation service company.

Taconic Transport Inc., 1644 East St., Pittsfield, MA 01201. Jeffrey Eaton, 500 W. Main St., Johnstown, NY 12095. Business of trucking, transportation, and truck repair, in all aspects.

SPRINGFIELD

Springfield Community Land Trust Inc., 467 State St., Springfield, MA 01105. Thomas Taafee, 17 Walnut St., Northampton, MA 0060. Charitable purposes of: (1) to aid in the acquisition, improvement (through rehabilitation, new construction or otherwise) and making available (through ownership, acquisition, development or otherwise) at the lowest possible cost to persons and families of low income of every race, religion and nationality, of decent, safe and sanitary housing in the Springfield, Massachusetts metropolitan area (the “area”) and to stimulate, by example or otherwise, the construction, renovation or improvement of properties in the area and generally promote neighborhood improvement for the benefit of persons of limited means who desire to live and raise their families and to enjoy safe, sanitary and attractive homes in the area; it is the purpose of the corporation thereby to provide services to relieve the poor, distressed, underprivileged and indigent of every race, religion and nationality by enabling them to secure the basic human rights to a decent living environment and secure opportunity and thus to lessen the burdens of government. (2) promoting the social welfare by providing such housing through construction of new facilities in the place of blighted vacant, substandard or decadent sites, including those programs, projects, collaborations, and activities that address local needs, improve quality of life, or generate equitable economic development.

Springfield Family Support Programs Inc.,18 Gaucher St., Room 1-B, Springfield, MA 01109. Sharon Ann Jewell, 328 East Main St., Chicopee, MA 01020.

University of Thought Inc., 17 Windsor St., Springfield, MA 01105. Lawrence Kirkland, same. Sales of t-shirts, clothing, and apparel.

Waterdog Technologies Inc., 1391 Main St., Springfield, MA 01103. Delcie D. Bean IV, 112 Russell St., South Hadley, MA 01035. Buying, selling, marketing, and distributing software.

Doing Business As Certificates

By BusinessWest Staff June 14, 2016

DBA Certificates Departments

The following Business Certificates and Trade Names were issued or renewed during the month of May 2016.

AGAWAM

Jump Start Preschool
605 Springfield St.
Rachelle Hannoush

Mosh Electric
52 Peros Dr.
Viktor Moshkovskiy

Nails Shine & Spa
1325 Springfield St.
Giang Thai

S & M Landscaping
27 Kirkland St.
Steve Clay

Sweet Serendipity
16 Lealand Ave.
Angela Jordan

The Social
827 Springfield St.
John Liquori

HOLYOKE

Holyoke Pizza
213 South St.
Evren Turan

Holyoke Puzzles
304 Hillside Ave.
Barbara Bitgood

Paper City Clothing
358 Dwight St.
Carlos Pena

VK Restoration
92 Race St.
Vitek Kruta

LUDLOW

Da Vinci Inc.
115 Sewall St.
Patricia Cheria

Lafayette Woodworking
798 West St.
Joanne Lafayette

Turkish American Social Club
973 East St.
Lokman Yanbol

NORTHAMPTON

Casa Del Sol
207 Main St.
Edmundo Bedach

Eastside Grill
19 Strong Ave.
Debra Flynn

Hallow Inc.
196 Main St.
Robert Burdick

Karuma Center for Yoga
25 Main St.
Eileen Muir

Lia Northampton Inc.
293 King St.
William Lia

On Call Urgent Care, LLC
6 Hatfield St.
Kate Sorenson

Signomi
123 Hawley St.
Elena Zachary

PALMER

Flanders & Son
38 French St.
Shawn Flanders

Fordable Used Cars
1317 Main St.
Ivan Vlasyuk

SPRINGFIELD

Deb’s Fashions
188 Thompson St.
Deborah A. Burke

E & M Construction
19 Eddy St.
Egidio Robinson

Eldred Enterprises
205 Norfolk St.
Eric C. Eldred

Emily Alger Company
112 Dorset St.
Stephanie Lynn

Event Network
1000 West Columbus Ave.
Brandy Quick

Fan Yin Li
907 Carew St.
Fan Li

Fantastico Wraps
1500 Main St.
Nazario Settembre

Frank’s Flowers
838 Main St.
Irma’s Flowers

Free II Grow
8 Campus Place
John A. Dyer

Honey Bee Public Relations
11 Balboa Dr.
Azell Cavaan

Imperial Super Grocery
1072 State St.
Ronald Behnk

La Casa Del Reggaeton
72 Locust St.
Mercedes Tejada

Lularoe Pam McCray
87 Lakevilla Ave.
Pamela McCray

Mayar Market
1196 Saint James Ave.
Ibrahim Mustafa

Melissa’s Place
1555 Wilbraham Road
Melissa Chesbro

Near Photography
747 South Branch Pkwy.
Eli M. Schwartz

No Names Entertainment
27 Salem St.
Moyah Smith

Northeast Distribution
467 Cottage St.
Carrier Enterprise

Reef Dimensions
97 Somerset St.
Richard Steven

Salima Boutique
19 Ellery St.
Fatou Diaby

WESTFIELD

B-Clean Home & Office Cleaning
50 Pequot Place
Carol Iwanski

Esoteric Empire
929 Shaker Road
Christopher Harman

Longevity Massage & Skincare Therapies
59 Pochassic St.
Oleysa Lebedinskaya

McCabe & Son Home Improvement
15 May St.
Edward J. McCabe

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Janna Juice Bar
751 Union St.
Ibrahim Babetti

LSS Trucking
534 Union St.
Sergei Mineev

M.C.L. Mechanical Services
26 Kelso Ave.
Paul Lichwan

Real Clean Solutions
900 Riverdale St.
Shaun Texeira

Sewer Drain & Cleaning
60 Colony Road
Svad Disdarivec

The Last Call
126 Highmeadow Dr.
Eric Laizer

Throwbacks
450 Main St.
Sharroya Charles

Vasquez Construction
249 Westfield St.
Robinson Vasquez

WRB Auto Sales
194 Baldwin St.
William Bayton

Bankruptcies

By BusinessWest Staff June 14, 2016

Bankruptcies Departments

The following bankruptcy petitions were recently filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Readers should confirm all information with the court.

Atamaniuk, Shane P.
31 Coolidge Ave.
Turners Falls, MA 01376
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/05/16

Atmaca, Mehmet Cenk
Atmaca, Mustafa Cem
591 Moore St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/07/16

Auger, Kristina L.
25 Highland Village, Apt. A
Ware, MA 01082
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/30/16

Ayala, Felix M.
Perez, Anabel
154 Oak St., Apt. 2
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/30/16

Balicki, Ramona Marie
21 Hillcrest Park
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/04/16

Bayer, Cindy L.
346 Leyden Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/02/16

Bellavance-Grace, Beth L.
a/k/a Grace, Beth
53 Clark Ave. #7
Northampton, MA 01060
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/06/16

Beltrandi, Michael R.
516 Amherst Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 05/09/16

Berman, Adam D.
504 Blandford Road
Russell, MA 01071
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/06/16

Bianchi, Tina M.
626 Main St.
Hampden, MA 01036
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/13/16

Bongiorni, Elizabeth A.
84 Fenway Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/02/16

Boutin, Laura A.
330 Main St.
Indian Orchard, MA 01151
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/13/16

Bryant, Andrea L.
37 Harrison Ave.
Williamstown, MA 01267
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 05/12/16

Burnett, Stacie L.
a/k/a Poper, Stacie L.
a/k/a Morse, Stacie L.
a/k/a Ellis, Stacie
170 Orchard St.
Adams, MA 01220
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/02/16

Carroll, Larry J.
5 Pontoosic Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 05/05/16

Champagne, Steven M.
1246 Granby Road, Lot 46
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/11/16

Connaughton, Eleanor M.
53 Partridge Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/13/16

Dec, David Paul
21 Hillcrest Park
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/04/16

DiSanti, Anthony John
14 Kennedy Dr.
Huntington, MA 01050
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/09/16

Durgin, Michael L.
49 Bessemer St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/13/16

Faxon, James F.
Faxon, Holli R.
2052 Main St.
Three Rivers, MA 01080
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/05/16

Foley, Timothy J.
P.O. Box 1522
Northampton, MA 01061
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 05/05/16

Franciosi, Douglas A.
Franciosi, Deborah E.
49 Bardwell St., Apt. 2
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/13/16

Gerhardson, Jennifer M.
116 Mandalay Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/05/16

Gosselin, Kristi L.
a/k/a McLeod, Kristi L.
26 Pebble Mill Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 05/09/16

Hernandez, Sergio Luis
62 Groton St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/12/16

Herrmann, Pauline A.
73 Velma Ave.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/04/16

Jimenez, Pedro A.
67 Stonina Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/13/16

Jones, Beverly A.
188 Northampton Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/13/16

Kamansky, Dina J.
1020 Park Hill Road
Florence, MA 01062
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 05/11/16

Kavanaugh, Charles E.
17 Gardner Ave.
Sturbridge, MA 01566
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 05/13/16

Lassalle, Graciela
a/k/a Figueroa, Graciela
279 Hillside Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/13/16

Lepine, Amber Lise
44 Governor Dr.
Westfied, MA 01085
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 05/06/16

Lightworks Photography
Carpenter, Richard Alan
24 Prospect St.
Hatfield, MA 01038
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/09/16

Lindsey, Edward R.
173 Jason St., Apt 9
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/02/16

Lozada, John E.
10 Washington St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/10/16

Malossini, Lee D.
Malossini, Rosann D.
53 Claredon St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/06/16

Martinez, Rafael
a/k/a Gomez, Rafael
a/k/a Martinez-Gomez, Rafael
30 Jardine St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/06/16

Masso, Jose Gilberto
Masso, Kristina Marie
a/k/a Hollender, Kristina
56 Orange St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/10/16

Mastey, Richard S.
24 Keller Circle
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/12/16

McDonnell, Kevin J.
McDonnell, Melissa A.
PO Box 4931
Holyoke, MA 01041
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/01/16

Mena, Carmen
691 Carew St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 05/13/16

Mieltowski, John S.
P.O. Box 686
Palmer, MA 01069
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 05/02/16

Moran, Caryn L.
25 First St.
Lee, MA 01238
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/02/16

Nguyen, Dung
55 Perkins St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 05/12/16

O’Neill, John
9 Sycamore St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/11/16

Perez, Juan
402 Sumner Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/07/16

Phelps, Carole A.
99 Monastery Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/05/16

Polk, Maura A.
289 Morton St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 05/09/16

Poteat, Patricia D.
6 Lincoln St., #2
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/08/16

Powell, David F.
P.O. Box 86
Northfield, MA 01360
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/05/16

Quackenbush, Brad E.
71 Wachusett St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/07/16

Razaq, Choudhry A.
P.O. Box 347
Springfield, MA 01537
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 05/11/16

Richards, Lori S.
67 Gardens Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/03/16

Rose, Gregory A.
Rose, Lisa C.
210 Holmes Road
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/09/16

Shawn Roberts Woodworking
Roberts, Shawn W.
Roberts, Ann-Marie
366 North Brookfield Road
Barre, MA 01005
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 05/05/16

Simonelli, Pamela
a/k/a Simonelli-Robbins, Pamela
8 Laurel Hill Road
Sturbridge, MA 01566
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/10/16

Smith, Frederick E.
26 Cheapside St., 2nd Fl.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/05/16

Sullivan, Becky Ann
8 Wright St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 05/04/16

Tyminski, Jeanette M.
120 Old field Road
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 05/03/16

Windy Hill Farm
Shea, Raymond Edward
126 Haynes Hill Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 05/10/16

Real Estate Transactions

By BusinessWest Staff June 14, 2016

Departments Real Estate

The following real estate transactions (latest available) were compiled by Banker & Tradesman and are published as they were received. Only transactions exceeding $115,000 are listed. Buyer and seller fields contain only the first name listed on the deed.

FRANKLIN COUNTY

BERNARDSTON

218 Eden Trail
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Eden Pond Farm LLC
Seller: Dyer, Caryl A., (Estate)
Date: 05/04/16

BUCKLAND

5 Bray Road
Buckland, MA 01338
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Mindy K. Goodin
Seller: Garry J. Underwood
Date: 05/09/16

85 North St.
Buckland, MA 01338
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: D&S Village Rentals LLC
Seller: Joseph Kearney
Date: 05/12/16

CHARLEMONT

184 Warner Hill Road
Charlemont, MA 01339
Amount: $129,000
Buyer: Scott Randall
Seller: Beaman, Donald G., (Estate)
Date: 05/03/16

COLRAIN

34 Adamsville Road
Colrain, MA 01340
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Robert L. Slowinski
Seller: Marlene B. Brothers
Date: 05/05/16

5 Griswoldville St.
Colrain, MA 01340
Amount: $129,500
Buyer: Stephen A. Herzig
Seller: C. Leigh Morrell
Date: 05/12/16

CONWAY

180 Ashfield Road
Conway, MA 01341
Amount: $228,500
Buyer: Vickie L. Lovering
Seller: John F. Page
Date: 05/13/16

655 Reeds Bridge Road
Conway, MA 01341
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Brendan C. O’Connell
Seller: Edouard Beauvais
Date: 05/06/16

GREENFIELD

39 Brookside Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Charles A. Dart
Seller: Alma M. Garcia
Date: 05/09/16

714 Country Club Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: James A. Santos
Seller: Renee L. Wetterwald
Date: 05/11/16

733 Country Club Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $262,000
Buyer: Gheorghe Seremet
Seller: Ann B. Volpe IRT
Date: 05/02/16

233 Elm St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $129,608
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Sue E. Sojka
Date: 05/03/16

130 Leyden Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Matthew Brown
Seller: Kenneth A. Ward
Date: 05/02/16

86 Meridian St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $236,653
Buyer: FNMA
Date: 05/02/16

10 Parkway St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Lobsang Dorjee
Seller: Doris C. Cowdrey
Date: 05/13/16

6 Pine St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Abbe R. Bresciano
Seller: Ventura R. Perez
Date: 05/02/16

95 Wildwood Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Gregg S. Diefendorf
Seller: Derick Campbell
Date: 05/13/16

HAWLEY

54 East Hawley Road
Hawley, MA 01339
Amount: $127,500
Buyer: Timothy J. Clark
Seller: William M. Rice
Date: 05/09/16

MONTAGUE

75 Dell St.
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Nicole J. Johanneck
Seller: Nancy L. Krug-Springer
Date: 05/06/16

16 Greenfield Road
Montague, MA 01351
Amount: $169,070
Buyer: Caitlyn J. Moore
Seller: Troy M. Santerre
Date: 05/12/16

18 High St.
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $277,500
Buyer: Ventura R. Perez
Seller: Gregory R. Haas
Date: 05/02/16

70 Turnpike Road
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Jacob Stafford
Seller: Alice Cecile Cloutier TR
Date: 05/05/16

ORANGE

27 Eagleville Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $119,000
Buyer: Michael A. Dupont
Seller: Timothy E. Matthews
Date: 05/04/16

290 Main St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Randy A. Coffin
Seller: Lois M. Coffin
Date: 05/13/16

233 Walnut Hill Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $138,000
Buyer: Alexander S. Jess
Seller: Citimortgage Inc.
Date: 05/10/16

SHUTESBURY

499 Montague Road
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Jeffrey M. Salacup
Seller: Germann, Linda S., (Estate)
Date: 05/03/16

SUNDERLAND

84 Old Amherst Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Bruce A. Bennett
Seller: Daniel J. Radowicz
Date: 05/11/16

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

11 Albert St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $183,000
Buyer: Eric D. Jalbert
Seller: Callie A. Rapa
Date: 05/06/16

83 Alfred Circle
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $214,500
Buyer: Scott M. Weller
Seller: Keith Poirier
Date: 05/03/16

187 Country Road
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $207,000
Buyer: John J. Shea
Seller: Rosemarie P. Costa
Date: 05/02/16

30 Elmar Dr.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Mark D. Carlson
Seller: Thanh Kieu
Date: 05/02/16

102 Farmington Circle
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $460,000
Buyer: Frank J. Montagna
Seller: Hillside Development Corp.
Date: 05/13/16

33 High St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $147,971
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Jonathan D. Towle
Date: 05/05/16

27 Joseph St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $299,500
Buyer: Angel Quinones
Seller: John H. Eisenbeiser
Date: 05/11/16

1125 River Road
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $249,050
Seller: Robert J. Willey
Date: 05/12/16

359 Walnut St. Ext.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Rob Realty LLC
Seller: Ronald L. Degray
Date: 05/10/16

BLANDFORD

15 Woronoco Road
Blandford, MA 01008
Amount: $131,483
Buyer: Deutsche Bank
Seller: Eric S. Kusnick
Date: 05/12/16

BRIMFIELD

1012 Dunhamtown Brimfield Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Leeanna Babineau
Seller: William R. Starmer
Date: 05/03/16

148 Warren Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Jakub Szymura
Seller: FHLM
Date: 05/13/16

CHICOPEE

57 Arthur St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Jennifer A. Mainville
Seller: Stephanie M. Potter
Date: 05/02/16

54 Beverly St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Darnell Jones
Seller: Andrew D. Fredette
Date: 05/02/16

92 Fair St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $164,900
Buyer: Mary Baker
Seller: Gail C. Cunliffe
Date: 05/12/16

565 Lafleur Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Sergey N Dikan
Seller: Ronald E. Desroches
Date: 05/10/16

36 Mary St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $146,500
Buyer: Onexis Iturrino
Seller: Susan Moritz
Date: 05/10/16

840 Memorial Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $1,150,000
Buyer: Amerco Real Estate Co.
Seller: Frank D. Delmonte
Date: 05/02/16

409 Montcalm St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $172,000
Buyer: William Simmons
Seller: Christopher R. Nadeau
Date: 05/03/16

N/A
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $132,659
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Kimberle P. Schneewind
Date: 05/02/16

11 Ohio Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $122,507
Buyer: Bank New York
Seller: Enrique Texidor
Date: 05/04/16

40 Simonich St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Alex Parnicky
Seller: Patricia F. Kamansky
Date: 05/13/16

35 Villa Lane
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $244,000
Buyer: John P. Whiting
Seller: Linda J. Stewart
Date: 05/05/16

EAST LONGMEADOW

140 Chestnut St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $189,000
Buyer: Nicole Padilla
Seller: Michael J. Bagge
Date: 05/02/16

30 Clareside Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $258,000
Buyer: Stephanie F. Weibel
Seller: Donna H. Feathler
Date: 05/04/16

15 Cooley Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Jose A. Ruiz
Seller: Calabrese, Cipriano F., (Estate)
Date: 05/06/16

111 Day Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $256,000
Buyer: Daniel J. Langan
Seller: James Goodwin
Date: 05/02/16

49 Devonshire Terrace
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $520,000
Buyer: Mark A. Keroack
Seller: Albert V. Lupenski
Date: 05/13/16

114 Evergreen Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $393,000
Buyer: Robert J. Hensinger
Seller: Joshua J. Hastings
Date: 05/04/16

142 Gates Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $189,000
Buyer: Brendan McNeish
Seller: Caitlin B. Phelps
Date: 05/10/16

25 Granby St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $177,500
Buyer: John Occhialini
Seller: Linda M. Levesque
Date: 05/04/16

182 North Main St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $258,634
Buyer: 182 North Main Street LLC
Seller: Dennis Madden
Date: 05/02/16

513 Parker St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Jose M. Gomes
Seller: Dorothy Fiske
Date: 05/13/16

16 Peachtree Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $483,000
Buyer: John B. Cadigan
Seller: Cabot Real Estate LLC
Date: 05/06/16

HAMPDEN

182 Ames Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Caitlin Phelps
Seller: Pauly, Margaret B., (Estate)
Date: 05/10/16

45 Erica Circle
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Joshua J. Hastings
Seller: Richard C. Bewsee
Date: 05/05/16

311 Wilbraham Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Deutsche Bank
Seller: Jason Walbridge
Date: 05/13/16

HOLLAND

5 Collette Dr.
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: David D. Charbonneau
Seller: Margaret Mangiafico
Date: 05/05/16

6 Pine Tree Dr.
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $153,000
Buyer: Donald E. Burrows
Seller: William G. Davidson
Date: 05/02/16

83 Sturbridge Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $204,500
Buyer: Jennifer J. Lombardi
Seller: Patricia J. Scungio
Date: 05/02/16

76 Vinton Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $159,000
Buyer: Holly L. Brodeur
Seller: Richard A. Galli
Date: 05/06/16

HOLYOKE

529 Beech St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Dany Guzman
Seller: Milagros Rodriguez
Date: 05/02/16

73 Brookline Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Xelina L. Hernandez
Seller: Lindsey G. Brynjolfsson
Date: 05/09/16

43 Davis St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $126,500
Buyer: Marcos Reyes
Seller: Epifanio Velez
Date: 05/06/16

66 Ely St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $266,153
Buyer: Deutsche Bank
Seller: Beatriz Rodriguez
Date: 05/05/16

67 Fairfield Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $272,500
Buyer: Toshia L. Caravita
Seller: James M. Sweeney
Date: 05/03/16

10 Gilman St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $156,000
Buyer: Elizabeth A. Patenaude
Seller: Jennifer Flanzbaum
Date: 05/12/16

195 Huron Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Patrick J. Lacey
Seller: Brian W. Anderson
Date: 05/12/16

27 Jarvis Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $241,000
Buyer: Andrew J. Drewnowski
Seller: Frances A. Lyle
Date: 05/02/16

40 Mackintosh Terrace
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Paul B. Eggleston
Seller: Daniel C. Ross
Date: 05/05/16

33 Mayer Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $279,900
Buyer: Bruno Taborelli
Seller: Anne Marini
Date: 05/10/16

215 Mountain View Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $389,900
Buyer: Darrell M. Johnston
Seller: Catina Galanes-Grass
Date: 05/02/16

134 Sycamore St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $184,900
Buyer: William J. Edwards
Seller: Kevin Slate
Date: 05/05/16

304 Westfield Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $149,900
Buyer: April B. Nicotera
Seller: Michael J. McMullan
Date: 05/03/16

LONGMEADOW

171 Bel Air Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: William Magarian
Seller: Marie W. Hobdell
Date: 05/06/16

86 Blueberry Hill Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $560,000
Buyer: Shiraz Mardirossian
Seller: Virginia A. Hyde
Date: 05/12/16

78 Branch St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Kevin D. Mattia
Seller: Christopher A. Bazos
Date: 05/11/16

19 Chatham Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $455,000
Buyer: Melvin P. French
Seller: Glenn R. Markenson
Date: 05/06/16

122 Converse St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Robert A. Walsh
Seller: Anne L. Miller
Date: 05/04/16

273 Deepwoods Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $525,000
Buyer: Matthew Chelli
Seller: Rachael P. Kramer
Date: 05/12/16

75 Dover Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $410,000
Buyer: Michael Smith
Seller: Richard M. Reeves
Date: 05/06/16

111 Ferncroft St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $332,500
Buyer: Jessica A. Prokop
Seller: Judith C. Fraser
Date: 05/05/16

123 Green Hill Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $535,000
Buyer: Carmelo A. Palumbo
Seller: Muhammad Isa
Date: 05/12/16

822 Longmeadow St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $535,000
Buyer: Mark S. Bean
Seller: Low, Patricia H., (Estate)
Date: 05/13/16

961 Longmeadow St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Francis D. Murray
Seller: Mollie R. Plotkin
Date: 05/02/16

41 Pendleton Lane
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $1,037,500
Buyer: Saher Isa
Seller: Debra G. Polep
Date: 05/12/16

69 Tecumseh Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Mary M. Cahillane
Seller: Stanley J. McCright
Date: 05/02/16

409 Williams St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: William M. Collins
Seller: Arnold Cusano
Date: 05/13/16

LUDLOW

27 Brookhaven Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $179,900
Buyer: Darren M. Strempek
Seller: Linda A. Finch
Date: 05/06/16

18 Chapin St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $299,999
Buyer: CIL Realty Of Mass Inc.
Seller: Marco M. Vieira
Date: 05/11/16

114 Coolidge Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $149,900
Seller: Raymond K. Williams
Date: 05/10/16

66 Edison Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $182,500
Buyer: William Dupre
Seller: Jeffrey A. Laing
Date: 05/05/16

36 Elm St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Benjamin J. McPherson
Seller: Oleg Kovalev
Date: 05/06/16

21 Fern St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Kenneth I. Topham
Seller: Rebecca S. Alves
Date: 05/06/16

17 King St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Geoffrey K. Gordon
Seller: Kimberly M. Conrad
Date: 05/13/16

40 Mineral Spring Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $353,500
Buyer: Southern New England Conference
Seller: Norman Fuller
Date: 05/09/16

171 Wedgewood Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $324,500
Buyer: Benjamin J. Pickrell
Seller: Michelle K. Mongeau
Date: 05/13/16

MONSON

10 Beebe Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Sean M. Comerford
Seller: Robert F. Terbush
Date: 05/13/16

48 Silver St.
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $336,000
Buyer: Kenneth Bernard
Seller: Sandra M. Choquette
Date: 05/12/16

19 Wilbraham Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $194,750
Buyer: Sarah E. Bernat
Seller: Kenneth M. Bernard
Date: 05/12/16

PALMER

3080 Hillside Dr.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $152,000
Buyer: Tyler F. Allen
Seller: David E. Burns
Date: 05/03/16

6 Memory Lane
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $359,000
Buyer: Jeromy R. Roldan
Seller: Arthur W. Boutin
Date: 05/03/16

1036 Pleasant St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $122,000
Buyer: Jared Adams
Seller: Michael P. Barclay
Date: 05/13/16

39 Stimson St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $159,200
Buyer: Bank New York
Seller: Robert Pafumi
Date: 05/05/16

SOUTHWICK

8 Gargon Terrace
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $183,000
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Darold A. Lepak
Date: 05/04/16

119 North Lake Ave.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Marshall S. Harris
Seller: Gail Carneiro
Date: 05/06/16

15 Sterrett Dr.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Casey C. Berube
Seller: James P. Cool
Date: 05/02/16

SPRINGFIELD

109 Abbe Ave.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $132,956
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Ana L. Davila
Date: 05/12/16

35-37 Allison Lane
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Jorge L. Alvarez
Seller: Ruth K. Monge-Costa
Date: 05/03/16

16 Andover Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $160,500
Buyer: Tricia Twining
Seller: Martha F. Mitchell
Date: 05/09/16

115 Belvidere St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Marvel N Dixon
Seller: Raymond S. Hand
Date: 05/12/16

106 Berard Circle
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $183,000
Buyer: Gerard J. Grondin
Seller: Michael J. Tarantino
Date: 05/10/16

507 Boston Road
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $146,000
Buyer: Jose L. Santini
Seller: Flor Fuentes
Date: 05/10/16

85 Castle St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $164,900
Buyer: Elba M. Mendez
Seller: Carlton J. Banks
Date: 05/13/16

11-13 Chilson St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Winsome F. Morrison
Seller: Xiao T. Dong
Date: 05/10/16

261 Connecticut Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Patrick O’Neil
Seller: Zakhariy Tsikhotskiy
Date: 05/12/16

381 Cooley St.
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $4,670,000
Buyer: Jefferson Investors LLC
Seller: G&S Cooley Street LLC
Date: 05/13/16

62 Corey Road
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $189,900
Buyer: Francisco J. Aviles
Seller: Aleksandr Naumov
Date: 05/06/16

134 Derryfield Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Lismarie Galarza
Seller: Rachel M. Welsh
Date: 05/12/16

29 East Hill Road
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $122,000
Buyer: HSBC Bank
Seller: Christine R. Kiser
Date: 05/05/16

33 Eckington St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $146,826
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Louis E. Jones
Date: 05/05/16

44 Gail St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Francis Milord
Seller: Michael Gesin
Date: 05/09/16

29 Glen Albyn St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $117,570
Buyer: Marisol W. Cotto
Seller: Sean L. Calkins
Date: 05/10/16

116 Glenwood St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Debra M. Thornton
Seller: Nancy L. Hebert
Date: 05/13/16

77 Granger St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $136,000
Buyer: Martha C. McLaughlin LLC
Seller: TJM Properties LLC
Date: 05/04/16

55 Groton St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $115,950
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Michael A. Riley
Date: 05/03/16

255 Hartwick St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $154,460
Buyer: John E. Pike
Seller: James A. Ryan
Date: 05/13/16

5 Hickox St.
Springfield, MA 01101
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Lolita M. Hanley-Edmeade
Seller: Bretta Construction LLC
Date: 05/09/16

79 Jeffrey Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $152,500
Buyer: Ingrid Rohmund
Seller: Jeromy R. Roldan
Date: 05/03/16

45 Jonquil Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Stephen W. Wyszynski
Seller: Rebecca L. Taylor
Date: 05/06/16

89 Judson St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $124,000
Buyer: Andrew C. Robbins
Seller: Silver Hammer Properties
Date: 05/09/16

418 Liberty St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $152,000
Buyer: Peter Rodriguez
Seller: Legacy Realty Associates
Date: 05/09/16

41 Louis Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $120,619
Buyer: Juan B. Quintana
Seller: Marilyn J. Spaman
Date: 05/11/16

466 Main St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $222,000
Buyer: Aastha Bansri LLC
Seller: Richard Zaranek
Date: 05/06/16

2137 Main St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $862,000
Buyer: Semper Fi Properties LLC
Seller: Patton Realty Co. Inc.
Date: 05/10/16

48-50 Maryland St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $134,900
Buyer: Jose A. Marquez
Seller: Mario E. Mata
Date: 05/04/16

143 Methuen St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $136,900
Buyer: Daven Wilson
Seller: Richard W. Polastry
Date: 05/04/16

N/A
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $129,900
Buyer: Stephen P. Crafsic
Seller: Victoria A. Rondeau
Date: 05/05/16

54 Oak Hollow Road
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $175,480
Buyer: Luso FCU
Seller: Stephen E. Johnson
Date: 05/03/16

219 Pheland St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $136,000
Buyer: Ana I. Molina
Seller: Luis A. Velazquez
Date: 05/06/16

173 Russell St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Miciel Mariano
Seller: Nu-Way Homes Inc.
Date: 05/02/16

593 South Branch Pkwy.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $136,000
Buyer: Home Equity Assets Realty
Seller: Home Equity Assets Realty
Date: 05/05/16

501 Saint James Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Veden LLC
Seller: Beans Realty Inc.
Date: 05/06/16

55-57 Savoy Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $124,633
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Rafael Garcia
Date: 05/04/16

362 Stapleton Road
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $209,900
Buyer: Brenda Davis
Seller: Nelida Macias
Date: 05/13/16

980 Sumner Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Huan V. Huynh
Seller: Dieu H. Pham
Date: 05/13/16

152 Thompson St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $149,900
Buyer: Caroll Cohen
Seller: Ingersoll Grove LLC
Date: 05/04/16

65 Timber Lane
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Joshua L. Aliengena
Seller: Michael P. Zanarini
Date: 05/06/16

15 Van Horn Place
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $127,000
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Carmen L. Santiago
Date: 05/13/16

373 Water St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $160,500
Buyer: Victor Luzhanskiy
Seller: US Bank
Date: 05/13/16

Westford Ave.
Springfield, MA 01101
Amount: $143,167
Buyer: Greater Springfield Habit for Humanity
Seller: Jose Justiniano
Date: 05/04/16

172 Whittum Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Solmilarie Hernandez
Seller: Angela Cosenzi
Date: 05/03/16

870 Wilbraham Road
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $240,106
Buyer: Wilmington Savings
Seller: Frank M. Nagy
Date: 05/12/16

2222 Wilbraham Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $277,000
Buyer: Rosemary M. Wamaitha
Seller: Grahams Construction Inc.
Date: 05/09/16

TOLLAND

14 Lakeview Lane
Tolland, MA 01034
Amount: $395,000
Buyer: John D. Gigante
Seller: Charles W. Salkewicz
Date: 05/05/16

WEST SPRINGFIELD

888 Birnie Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Mikhail Sosnin
Seller: Paul P. Prokop
Date: 05/05/16

61-63 Bridge St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $136,000
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Harry N Allen
Date: 05/05/16

46 Calvin Circle
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Timothy T. Lemonde
Seller: Alfred L. Mutti
Date: 05/11/16

970 Elm St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $144,500
Buyer: Antonio Romero
Seller: Mohammed Sheikh
Date: 05/13/16

65 Herrman St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Suk Tamang
Seller: Daniel J. Stuck
Date: 05/13/16

147 Laurel Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $174,900
Buyer: Steven M. Klimczak
Seller: Mary Downey-Costello
Date: 05/13/16

105 Meadowbrook Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $212,500
Buyer: Megan Burke
Seller: Gary D. Hagar
Date: 05/09/16

874 Memorial Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $550,000
Buyer: Rindels Realty LLC
Seller: Lynn S. Chan
Date: 05/06/16

101 Poplar Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Daniel J. Stuck
Seller: Suzanne M. Krug
Date: 05/13/16

38 Ridgeview Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $155,400
Buyer: Elena Gurskaia
Seller: Kelly A. Salvador-Macadam
Date: 05/05/16

31 Thomas Dr.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Ali M. Ahmed-Sameem
Seller: Andrii Zhyhaniuk
Date: 05/12/16

139 Virginia Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Paul Weinberg
Seller: John F. Collins
Date: 05/05/16

134 Westwood Dr.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Matthew B. Gray
Seller: Mary E. McGuire
Date: 05/13/16

WESTFIELD

20 Chestnut St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Robert W. Gardner
Date: 05/13/16

55 Church St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Daniel E. Roy
Seller: William M. Geer
Date: 05/04/16

14 Hillside Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Dana Kiendzior
Seller: Gregory S. Reed
Date: 05/04/16

30 Jefferson St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $149,700
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Donald C. Nelson
Date: 05/04/16

28 Knollwood Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $188,000
Buyer: Thomas J. Keating
Seller: Casey C. Berube
Date: 05/02/16

Medeiros Way
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $273,000
Buyer: Western Mass Demolition
Seller: A. J. Virgilio Construction
Date: 05/06/16

98 Old Stage Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Robert A. Greenleaf
Seller: William F. Barry
Date: 05/02/16

127 Pineridge Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $338,000
Buyer: Christopher J. Strycharz
Seller: Daniel Bain
Date: 05/02/16

4 Rachael Terrace
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $419,900
Buyer: Christian A. Potter
Seller: Peter R. Plourde
Date: 05/02/16

54 Rachael Terrace
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $424,900
Buyer: Ryan D. Mahoney
Seller: Bruce L. Bradley
Date: 05/02/16

85 Root Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Antoni Grimaldi
Seller: Robert A. Greenleaf
Date: 05/02/16

109 Sackett Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $339,000
Buyer: Bruce L. Bradley
Seller: Renee D. Gonnello
Date: 05/02/16

Violet Circle #5E
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Yuriy Pavlyuk
Seller: Susan A. Hoey
Date: 05/13/16

50 Willow Brook Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $383,000
Buyer: Brett A. Stevens
Seller: Toni J. Halbach
Date: 05/06/16

WILBRAHAM

285 3 Rivers Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Buyer: Gilmar Realty LLC
Seller: Mark J. Palatino
Date: 05/09/16

39 Brooklawn Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $259,000
Buyer: Anthony M. Sibilia
Seller: Richard A. Sibilia
Date: 05/13/16

19 Carla Lane
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $387,125
Buyer: Michael J. Tarantino
Seller: AC Homebuilding LLC
Date: 05/10/16

80 Chilson Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $490,000
Buyer: Leo P. Dube
Seller: Francis J. Feeney
Date: 05/10/16

2 Crane Park Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Monson SB
Seller: CBA Realty Group 2 Corp.
Date: 05/03/16

684 Ridge Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Monson SB
Seller: CBA Realty Group 2 Corp,
Date: 05/03/16

7 Ridgewood Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $172,292
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Lois B. Skala
Date: 05/09/16

420 Soule Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Krista L. Ouimette
Seller: Andrew Jennings
Date: 05/13/16

6 Squire Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $585,000
Buyer: Allana R. Lee
Seller: Daniel Wittmer
Date: 05/02/16

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

39 Northampton Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $399,000
Buyer: David Robertson
Seller: Noemi R. Schwarz
Date: 05/02/16

30 Orchard St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Buyer: Hallie C. Hughes
Seller: Richard D. Fink
Date: 05/02/16

121 Pondview Dr.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Kimbel Harwood-Melbourne
Seller: Fanny B. Dontoh
Date: 05/04/16

BELCHERTOWN

9 Carol Ann Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $272,500
Buyer: Casey E. Nadeau
Seller: Daniel J. Giroux
Date: 05/03/16

14 Deer Run
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Shannon E. Hard
Seller: Christine Munro
Date: 05/09/16

800 Federal St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $299,900
Buyer: Nicholas C. Aquadro
Seller: Daniel J. Akey
Date: 05/02/16

1 Main St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Monson Savings Bank
Seller: CBA Realty Group 2 Corp.
Date: 05/02/16

51 Metacomet St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $289,900
Buyer: Spencer W. Shumway
Seller: Peter O. Zierlein
Date: 05/02/16

22 Poole Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Maria Gallo
Seller: Helen L. Barrington
Date: 05/10/16

88 Rural Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $374,000
Buyer: Robert W. Chapin
Seller: Francis S. Mercier
Date: 05/06/16

67 Shaw St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $284,900
Buyer: Xavier Cody
Seller: Robert K. Dubois
Date: 05/05/16

700 South Washington St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Kenneth L. Maryea
Seller: Jennifer C. Sunderland
Date: 05/11/16

356 South St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Eugene M. Ptaszkiewicz
Seller: Robert J. Cote
Date: 05/13/16

CHESTERFIELD

182 East St.
Chesterfield, MA 01012
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: UMassfive College FCU
Seller: Susan Steenburgh
Date: 05/12/16

CUMMINGTON

12 Bush Road
Cummington, MA 01026
Amount: $175,079
Buyer: Bank New York
Seller: Scott W. Wichowski
Date: 05/13/16

EASTHAMPTON

10 Chapman Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $255,500
Buyer: Rachel Keenan-Roberts
Seller: Bernhard W. Kober
Date: 05/12/16

19 East Green St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $126,900
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Darlene Orvieto
Date: 05/03/16

28 Everett St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $228,500
Buyer: Matthew Palmieri
Seller: Benjamin C. Snyder
Date: 05/04/16

8 Mayher St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Sarah C. Hunter
Seller: Arthur E. Press
Date: 05/06/16

37 Morin Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Megan M. Mason
Seller: Jesse C. Montgomery
Date: 05/13/16

8 Robin Road
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Colby E. Quinn
Seller: Odonnell, Suzanne F., (Estate)
Date: 05/13/16

GRANBY

7 Lanebrook Circle
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $197,000
Buyer: Loay Hemeedi
Seller: Robert F. Flynn
Date: 05/13/16

111 New Ludlow Road
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Megan E. Swain
Seller: Pamela Outhuse
Date: 05/05/16

19 North St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $268,000
Buyer: Steven R. Pelletier
Seller: Louis A. Santos
Date: 05/04/16

Pleasant St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $149,000
Buyer: Ryan Hedges
Seller: Mountain Stream Inc.
Date: 05/06/16

HADLEY

4 Bristol Lane
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $188,500
Buyer: Maureen M. Shea
Seller: Paula I. Chadis
Date: 05/12/16

27 River Dr.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $284,900
Seller: Valley Building Co. Inc.
Date: 05/12/16

HATFIELD

15 Elm St.
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $479,000
Buyer: Phoebe D. Sheldon
Seller: Stephen J. Cirillo
Date: 05/09/16

HUNTINGTON

25 Old Chester Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Joshua A. Mason
Seller: Nicholas P. Semenyck
Date: 05/03/16

NORTHAMPTON

89 Autumn Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Edward J. Gallivan
Seller: Gary E. Mongeon
Date: 05/06/16

200 Bridge Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $287,000
Buyer: Paul E. Bertram
Seller: M. K. Lawrence-Riddell
Date: 05/03/16

41 Chestnut Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Nira Harper-Elkins
Seller: Nira Harper-Elkins
Date: 05/12/16

301 Coles Meadow Road
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $169,700
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Gregory J. Laporte
Date: 05/02/16

137 Elm St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $695,000
Buyer: Justin Smith
Seller: Homeshire Properties LLC
Date: 05/12/16

132 Hawley St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $259,900
Buyer: Justin T. Stone
Seller: Jean A. Fater
Date: 05/05/16

71 Ice Pond Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $225,700
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Norrene A. Renkowic
Date: 05/02/16

41 Laurel Park
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $169,000
Buyer: Scott M. Braidman
Seller: Julia Flum-Stockwell
Date: 05/06/16

111 North Main St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Dylan Curtis & James LLC
Seller: Peter C. Zygmont
Date: 05/05/16

156 Overlook Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Michael Lawrence-Riddel
Seller: A. Denise Wood
Date: 05/03/16

179 South St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $324,500
Buyer: Gregory R. Graves
Seller: Steven Berlin-Chavez
Date: 05/09/16

47 Summer St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $660,000
Buyer: Caltess LLC
Seller: Hutchins Family Partnership
Date: 05/02/16

PLAINFIELD

98 North St.
Plainfield, MA 01070
Amount: $186,900
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Robin M. Burt
Date: 05/10/16

SOUTH HADLEY

85 Camden St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $117,500
Buyer: Daniel J. Giroux
Seller: Sarah J. Meyer
Date: 05/12/16

420 East St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $144,900
Buyer: Michael D. Robertson
Seller: Valerie A. McQuillan
Date: 05/11/16

24 Grandview St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Michael Nicholson
Seller: Gordon N McClaflin
Date: 05/13/16

47 Laurie Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $132,000
Buyer: Sarah A. Lapierre
Seller: MTGLQ Investors LP
Date: 05/12/16

501 Newton St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $2,415,000
Buyer: South Hadley Plaza LLC
Seller: JPMCC 2004 C3 501 Newton
Date: 05/06/16

9 Oakwood Circle
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Corey J. Harris
Seller: Jeanne B. Swindell
Date: 05/06/16

36 Roosevelt Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Michael A. McNicholas
Seller: Thomas E. Cleland
Date: 05/02/16

44 Woodlawn St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Michael E. McMahon
Seller: Jennifer L. Allard
Date: 05/06/16

WARE

92 Church St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $312,000
Buyer: Patrick M. Hughes
Seller: Harrison P. Quirk
Date: 05/05/16

17 Mountainview Dr.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $191,000
Buyer: Megan R. Neffinger
Seller: Vision Investment Properties
Date: 05/02/16

19 Shoreline Dr.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $175,500
Buyer: FHLM
Seller: Lorraine M. Chapman
Date: 05/02/16

WILLIAMSBURG

21 Goshen Road
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Amount: $194,000
Buyer: Charles W. Odowd
Seller: Joseph S. Barker
Date: 05/09/16

Building Permits

By BusinessWest Staff June 14, 2016

Building Permits Departments

The following building permits were issued during the month of May 2016.

AMHERST

Cyrano Properties, LLC
18 Kellogg Ave.
$7,500 — Add half bath to existing room on second floor of building

Mary Ellen Barden
76 North Pleasant St.
$74,000 — Interior remodel of existing CVS

Paul Shumway
316 College St.
$11,650 — Interior renovations in a nail salon

PCJ Riverside Partners, LLC
19 Montague Road
$15,000 — Interior renovations in pharmacy

NORTHAMPTON

Atwood Drive, LLC
8 Atwood Dr.
$28,000 — Renovate three rooms

Community Enterprises Inc.
441 Pleasant St.
$25,500 — Interior renovations

Northampton Arts Trust
33 Hawley St.
$750,000 — Install roof mounted solar array

Northampton Historical Society
46 Bridge St.
$30,000 — Strip and reshingle roof

Northampton Housing Authority
49 Old South St.
$246,000 — Furnish and install new roof

Pioneer Valley authority
54 Industrial Dr.
$601,650 — Install new roof

PALMER

Camp Ramah
39 Bennett St.
$125,000 — Foundation for new building

Michael’s Party Plus
1221 South Main St.
$20,000 — Interior renovations

SOUTH HADLEY

Mount Holyoke College
1 Silver St.
$786,000 — Re-roof

Mount Holyoke College
1 College St.
$45,000 — Renovations and alterations

Mount Holyoke College
33 Woodbridge St.
$53,000 — Construct a new accessory building

SPRINGFIELD

AIC
1000 State St.
$301,000 — Construct new stairs and vestibule

Bi-lingual Outreach Centers of Massachusetts
281 Franklin St.
$100,250 — Exterior renovations

Colebrook Partners South, LLC
511 East Columbus Ave.
$20,000 — Renovations for three new offices

Lorilee I, LLC
30 Belmont Ave.
$96,000 — Construct a temporary roof

MBC Properties, LLC
925 Carew St.
$17,000 — Build new addition on top of existing first floor

Mercy Medical Center
175 Carey St.
$130,000 — Renovations of suites 120 and 140

Mill Street Iconic, LLC
149 Mill St.
$975,000 — Reconfigure and repairs to existing building

Open Atelier
665 Boston Post Road
$210,000 — Remodel interior only for laundromat facility

Springfield College
40 Sheffield St.
$6,000 — Add interior office space

The City Church
51-57 Taylor St.
$30,000 – Construct new bathrooms on second floor

WESTFIELD

City of Westfield
Franklin Street
$598,000 — Bullens Field renovation

Joseph & Marie Flahive
10 Arnold St.
$3,400,000 — Construct a 2,697-square-foot bus terminal

Rosow Westfield, LLC
66 S. Broad St.
$7,500 — Interior renovations

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Chris Cejack
1053 Riverdale St.
$25,000 — Repair existing skylights

C’Jack Realty
1053 Riverdale St.
$30,000 — Cosmetic changes to interior

C’Jack Realty
1123 Riverdale St.
$657,000 — Rework existing Verizon Wireless

Salamon Realty, LLC
84 Myron St.
$72,000 — Renovate 3,067-square feet of office space

Banks Face Rising Need for IT Talent

By BusinessWest Staff June 14, 2016

Sections Technology

Hard Data

Young people studying information technology in college, or IT professionals seeking a career change, don’t always think about the opportunities afforded by the banking industry. But perhaps they should — banks are increasingly clamoring for top IT talent to support their digital platforms, maintain network servers, and tackle thorny cybersecurity threats. The challenge is wooing these individuals to a career path they may never have considered.

Steven Lowell occasionally visits high-school career days and speaks with students, so he knows how young people perceive banking jobs.

Steven Lowell

“Everyone thinks of the bank as either the teller or the loan officer,” said Lowell, president of Monson Savings Bank. Which is why students with an aptitude for information technology (IT) typically don’t think of the financial world as a viable career choice.

But they should, he said.

“Technology has come to the forefront and is a huge part of banking,” he told BusinessWest. “There’s definitely a lot of potential there for people who might be interested in a career.”

Indeed, opportunities have risen for IT talent in the era of online and mobile platforms — both to build and grow those platforms and in the broad realm of cybersecurity and data protection, for starters.

“From a cybersecurity perspective, there’s really a big push right now to make sure we have that talent on staff. It’s critical,” said Joseph Zazzaro, senior vice president and chief information officer at PeoplesBank. “People want their banking data as safe as possible. That’s what we strive to do. We all want that convenience, but it comes with a challenge from a security perspective. We’re always concerned with how to make things safer, always monitoring things, and you need the right people on staff to do it.”

The question, then, is how to attract those ‘right people’ to a field that doesn’t necessarily have cachet with young IT talent.

Joseph Zazzaro says bank mergers often pose opportunities to hire another bank’s IT talent if their role is being phased out.

“If you have a technical hotshot and there is an option of going to a more traditional financial services bank or to Google, that’s a pretty hard sell for a financial-services company,” Judy Pennington, director of human capital in the financial-services industry for Deloitte Consulting LLP, told Payment Source.

Meanwhile, Bruce Livesay, chief information officer at First Horizon National Corp., told American Banker that “the banking industry has gotten so much negative publicity through the past several years, it has made it more difficult to recruit people. We’re seeing fewer people feeling motivated to get into banking.”

Financial IT leaders offer plenty of reasons why they should change that way of thinking, however, starting with the fact that banks don’t start and end with the teller and loan officer.

Multiple Paths

Gary Urkevich, executive vice president, Information Technology & Project Management and Berkshire Bank, ticked off a number of areas where banks need strong IT talent, with those roles including project managers, business analysts, program managers, systems analysts, developers, report writers, infrastructure engineers, help-desk support technicians, desktop support technicians, and information-security analysts.

Gary Urkevich

Business analysts are a good case study, he said, in the way some finance professionals span the IT and business worlds.

“Typically, BAs are fairly technical, but, more importantly, they have a keen understanding of the line of business that they support,” he explained. “So a BA that supports mortgage lending would be expected to be well-versed in mortgage lending originations, operations, and compliance. This would be similar for BAs supporting insurance, finance, or deposit operations. Many successful BAs have transitioned to IT from long careers on the banking-operations side.”

Meanwhile, Urkevich went on, program managers own the IT oversight of a particular line of business, such as retail lending. Infrastructure engineers ensure that the e-mail, network servers, circuits, and phone systems are properly sized and working properly. Help-desk support technicians handle calls from users who have questions or issues accessing the banking systems. And information-security analysts work to ensure that the bank’s network, customer data, and company data are protected from malicious intrusion.

In short, that’s a long list of roles with widely varied responsibilities, but they all require some level of IT expertise at a time when computer technology is more critical to the industry than ever before.

To hear Lowell tell it, the recent technological evolution in banking is a direct response to what customers crave: convenience.

“Everyone wants to their bank to be more convenient, and the way to do that is through technology,” he said. “We’ve got people accessing us through all kinds of devices and through all kinds of different networks. We need to be able to serve all those needs.”

Click HERE for a chart of Computer Network IT Services in Western Mass.

Banks access IT talent to develop applications that are easy to use, and also to offer live support to customers who have issues accessing them, he noted. On the commercial side, they help businesses interact with the bank’s systems efficiently.

Of course, the more robust the digital platform, the greater the need for security, Lowell noted. “That has become such a huge issue. You cannot afford to have a breach in your financial system, so that’s getting a lot of emphasis right now. We’re constantly testing out the network to make sure we don’t have any openings, so people can’t get in and steal information. Cybersecurity issues are huge now.”

Urkevich agreed. “Cybersecurity has become a critical area of focus across many industries, including banking,” he told BusinessWest. “We are routinely investing in staff and systems to ensure that our network is protected.

Zazzaro said one key to attracting and retaining customers is offering competitive, easy-to-use products, and to maintain those products, IT staff are critical.

“We need to have the right personnel in place, supporting the infrastructure for customers on many channels, from digital channels to voice service, the call center. People want convenience, but they want to be able to talk to someone.”

At a time when digital channels are only expanding, though, banks often struggle to make their case to career seekers with a techie bent. One factor is that people see banks constantly merging and fear their career won’t be a secure one. Millennials are also known for seeking employers they believe in on a philosophical level, and banks don’t tend to occupy that ground in their psyche.

Which is why banks often wind up drawing talent from other banks.

“Most of us network to an unbelievable degree, so there’s a great opportunity for us when a merger occurs,” Zazzaro said. “I network with people all over New England, and I’ve seen employment positions filled by a person who lost their job, or their position changed, or they were able to find another great opportunity in the banking arena.”

Lowell agreed. “It’s difficult to find good people. We have a very experienced IT person who worked at another bank, and we were able to hire him because he lives in Monson, and it was a great move for him.”

In most cases, he added, strong tech skills are more important in a potential hire than financial experience, because banks are willing to provide plenty of internal training in their specific processes. “It’s very specific, so we know they’re not always going to come in with that knowledge, but it is something they can learn, and we provide opportunities to do that.”

By All Accounts

Considering the opportunities for skilled IT talent in banks, and the fact that continuous training is a given, Zazzaro asked simply, why not seek a job in banking?

“It’s cutting-edge,” he said. “A lot of things go on with banking, whether in house to support greater efficiencies or what’s happening in the back office; whether it’s customer-facing, bricks and mortar, or on the mobile side. All these things are extremely critical. If a young person is coming out of school, a bank can be a great opportunity to further their career and gain additional training — not just for greater efficiency for the bank, but to help build their careers, too.

In the end, Lowell said, IT talent ranks right up there with regulatory-compliance experts as critical 21st-century needs for financial institutions of all sizes.

“If someone was looking at a career,” he concluded, “I think they’d be well-advised to consider a bank.” u

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Businesses Need to Be Proactive to Cope with the New OT Rule

By BusinessWest Staff June 14, 2016

Law Sections

Work to Do

By Susan G. Fentin, Esq.

Susan G. Fentin

On May 18, the Department of Labor (DOL) finally released its highly anticipated revisions to regulations governing the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Under the FLSA, employees who are considered exempt under one of the so-called ‘white-collar’ exemptions are not entitled to be paid overtime if they work more than 40 hours in a workweek.

The threshold salary level for exempt status is currently $455 per week, which is equivalent to an annual salary of $23,660. However, under the revised regulations, on Dec. 1, the new minimum salary threshold will go up to $913 per week, annualized at $47,476. Any employee who is not making the minimum salary threshold will automatically lose their exempt status and be entitled to overtime pay. It’s estimated that 86,000 Massachusetts workers would then become entitled to overtime pay.

Fortunately, employers have time to decide how to handle this huge change. The first step is to conduct a wage/hour audit by identifying those employees whose minimum salary level falls below the new threshold. Employers should ask those employees to begin tracking their hours of work. Decisions about how to handle these workers will depend, in part, on whether the employee currently works more than 40 hours in a workweek and, if so, how many hours the employee generally works.

At the same time, companies should be reviewing their exempt employees’ job responsibilities to determine whether the job descriptions for these workers truly qualify them for exempt status.

In a recent case, Marzuq v. Cadete Enterprises, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit ruled that store managers’ claims for unpaid overtime could proceed to trial. In that case, one of the store managers, Gassan Marzuq, earned $825 per week, or $42,900 per year, in 2012, only slightly less than the new minimum salary level. So in Marzuq’s case, Dunkin’ Donuts might have sought to preserve his exempt status by raising his salary to the new minimum threshold.

But even if the manager’s salary meets the new minimum, that does not mean that he will pass the test for exempt status. Dunkin’ Donuts store managers spend a substantial amount of time substituting for crew members who miss their scheduled shifts, serving customers, and cleaning, in addition their other responsibilities, which include calibrating equipment, handling cash, training and supervising employees, and substantial paperwork. In his lawsuit, Marzuq claimed he had been misclassified as exempt and was therefore entitled to overtime pay whenever he worked more than 40 hours in a workweek.

Under the DOL regulations, a manager can be considered exempt even if he is serving customers at the same time that he is supervising employees. The issue is whether the manager’s exempt duties are his primary duty. Marzuq claimed that he spent most of the time, perhaps as much as 90%, performing non-exempt work. Courts reviewing exempt status will look at a number of factors, including the amount of time spent performing exempt work. Time alone, however, is not the determinative test; it is the ‘overall character’ of the employee’s position that determines whether exempt or non-exempt work is the employee’s primary duty.

The court found that, since the managers spent a large portion of their days performing manual labor normally assigned to a non-exempt worker, it was questionable how much time was actually spent in management roles. The court concluded that a jury should decide whether the managers’ work was truly exempt. It noted that, in addition to their work in non-exempt roles, administrative tasks were a relatively small portion of the workweek, store managers’ authority to problem solve or terminate an employee was apparently limited, and taking into consideration the number of hours worked by each manager each week and the fact that the non-exempt employees could receive tips, the non-exempt staff might actually make more per hour than their managers.

Looking at the overall character of the managers’ primary duty, the First Circuit determined that a jury should decide how many hours the managers regularly worked, how much time they spent in non-exempt work, and the portion of that non-exempt time in which they were performing both exempt and non-exempt duties. In addition, the court found there might be a jury question as to whether the managers had a substantial role in decisions affecting their crew members.

The bottom line here is that, even for those employees whose salaries are close to the new minimum, raising their wages to meet the new threshold won’t solve the problem if their job duties do not qualify for the exemption. So the court’s analysis here is significant for all exempt workers, even for those whose salary level may not need to change after the DOL’s final regulations are issued.

As a result, the time is ripe for employers to re-evaluate their exempt/non-exempt classifications. If you are concerned that some of your exempt workers may be misclassified, the new regulations will give you a reason to revise the classification without necessarily creating liability for past wages. Consult experienced labor and employment counsel if you need guidance on how to properly classify your exempt workers.

Attorney Susan G. Fentin has been a partner at Skoler, Abbott & Presser since 2004. Her practice concentrates on labor and employment counseling, advising large and small employers on their responsibilities and obligations under state and federal employment laws, and representing employers before state and federal agencies and in court. She speaks frequently to employer groups, conducts training on avoiding problems in employment law, and teaches master classes on both the FMLA and ADA; (413) 737-4753; [email protected]

Employers Navigate Challenges Posed by the BYOD Culture

By BusinessWest Staff June 14, 2016

Law Sections

Left to Their Own Devices

Whether or not a company explicitly allows it, employees in all fields are increasingly using their own laptops, tablets, and smartphones as part of their jobs. This practice, known as ‘bring your own device,’ or BYOD, certainly has its benefits, from flexibility to employee satisfaction to decreased IT costs. But it also brings risks — data security is a major one — and potentially thorny legal questions concerning company information being stored on private equipment. There may be no one right answer for all businesses, but well-written, clearly communicated policies are a good start.

Jeffrey Trapani understands the appeal of personal devices like laptops, tablets, and smartphones.

“Everyone’s grown accustomed to having these devices; it’s sort of an expectation,” said the partner with the the Springfield-based law firm Robinson Donovan, while pointing to his own phone. “I find myself sometimes looking at that instead of the giant screen next to me.”

In fact, in an ever-more mobile society, the lines defining the workspace are blurring, and more Americans find themselves using their personal devices, rather than — or in addition to — company-owned equipment, so they can access their work no matter where they are.

All good, right? Well, yes and no.

Certainly, the bring-your-own-device (BYOD) movement offers real benefits, from increased employee satisfaction — they can work more flexibly and tend to be more comfortable and productive on their own devices — to cost savings for employers, who don’t have to spend as much money on hardware, software, and maintenance.

“There are two competing schools of thought whether this would be a good practice,” said Amy Royal, founding partner of employment-law firm Royal, P.C. “Proponents point to the ease and comfort of using your own personal device. And I understand the convenience. If I have employees who are comfortable with their own device, smartphone, laptop, or tablet, they’re more productive, it’s easier for them to navigate their device, and it creates more employee satisfaction.

Amy Royal says it may be wise for a company to require personal devices used for work to be checked by IT staff periodically.

“Plus, it’s kind of annoying if I have duplicative devices — a work phone and a personal phone — and there’s cost savings to the company if they’re not responsible for furnishing those devices. Those are good things,” she went on.

However, the concerns the BYOD trend raises for employers are serious ones, she told BusinessWest. “You want to delve into the different considerations. Opponents would say it creates potential legal and security risks, and confidentiality and security issues.”

The key issue is not necessarily employees using their personal devices at work, said John Gannon, an associate attorney with employment-law firm Skoler, Abbott and Presser — it’s allowing employees to access the company’s secure network and sensitive data with those devices.

“It’s a broad area of concern,” he noted. “If employees want to do it, an employer will want to have specific policies geared toward people’s personal devices and accessing the employer’s network from those personal device, whether it’s a mobile phone, tablet, or laptop.”

The reason the BYOD question is so pervasive, said those who spoke with BusinessWest, is that even companies that forbid the use of personal devices for work purposes often find employees are doing it anyway. By establishing and clearly communicating policies surrounding personal devices, employers have a better chance of avoiding disputes, legal trouble, and security issues down the line.

Safe and Secure

It wasn’t difficult for Royal to quickly tick off a number of pitfalls made possible by transferring workplace data to a laptop or tablet.

“It poses significant risks to confidentiality when we have somebody using a personal device to access work on the company network and store information — proprietary information — on that personal device,” she said. “What if there’s a data breach? Or the employee could lose it, and the device could end up in someone else’s hands. Or, they could share their device with family members, and that could be a problem.”

Furthermore, she suggested, what happens when an employee leaves the company, which doesn’t always happen on the happiest of terms? They’re obligated to leave company-owned equipment at work, but what is the terminated employee’s responsibility when it comes to client or customer data left on their own device?

Go HERE for a list of Law Firms in Western Mass.

One solution is crafting policies — agreed to as a term of employment — that either forbid the storage of proprietary information on a personal device, or allow the company access to the device to wipe it clean, Trapani said, courses of action that touch on sensitive issues of balancing data security and employee privacy.

“The concern with these personal devices is what kind of data winds up on these things, and are you enabling the employee, if they’re leaving, to take it with them,” Gannon added. “Another big concern is if they lose the device. So, if you’re going to allow employees access to the network through their personal devices, you should have some way to log into those devices and wipe them clean if they’re lost or not returned after employment.”

With all the concern around what employees can take off the company network, perhaps equally important is what they can put on it.

“If you have a personal device you’re connecting to the company network, there’s a risk with that. It might not be supported with updated malware protection,” Royal said, noting that businesses backed by a strong IT department typically don’t have to worry about that on company-owned equipment.

“It’s important to iron out these considerations before allowing people to use their devices in the course of the job,” she added. “You want to develop a clear policy. Maybe personal devices need to go to IT periodically. You can set some kind of timetable in that regard, as well as who can access the device.”

John Gannon says storing sensitive company data on personal devices can be cause for concern — especially if they lose the device or leave the firm.

Gannon agreed. “The primary concern is data security, and personal computers that are in the office, that don’t go anywhere, typically have antivirus software that’s regularly updated by either internal IT people or IT management companies that come in and remotely monitor what’s going on the computers.

“If someone has their own device, they could be using it at home, where they may not have the same level of antivirus protection that networked computers have, and they may install something unknowingly, some virus or malware,” he went on. “Malware is a big one — something inadvertently downloaded to your computer that stays dormant, then, say, when you access a banking website, tries to steal your login credentials. It’s pretty dangerous stuff, and if you install that on your laptop, bring that to work, and connect to the network, there’s a chance of infecting the systems on the network.”

Where Does the Time Go?

Security issues are only one piece of the BYOD puzzle, however. Another piece involves wage-and-hour issues, particularly for non-exempt employees getting paid by the hour. Say an employer e-mails workers after hours, Trapani suggested, and an hourly employee responds to that e-mail at home, rather than opening it the following morning.

“Is there an expectation that’s something you have to compensate them for? You can lock yourself into a claim if you don’t.”

Gannon agreed, recalling a study claiming the average American checks their phone 150 times a day, and many of those checks come after work hours, but could involve work issues.

“If you do have non-exempt employees, you have to pay them for all their working time. And if they’re going home and accessing the network to check e-mails or take phone calls, technically that is working time,” he explained. “If that’s a couple e-mails a day over the course of a week, we’re talking about potentially a half-hour, 45 minutes of work. Over a year, that could cause problems. Employers find it difficult to track that time, so it’s a significant challenge for employers who want to give employees freedom to do things from home.”

Gannon said companies can address this challenge in one of several ways: Not allowing non-exempt employees to connect to the network remotely, or allowing only exempt employees to use their personal devices for work purposes, or allowing employees to work from home, but clearly delineating in the company handbook how to accurately report that time, or allowing overtime only with prior approval from a supervisor.

“It gives the employer some protection if the employee leaves, then claims to have worked all these hours, and you didn’t know about it. If you have a policy that requires them to seek approval beforehand, you may not have to pay for that time.”

Then there’s the question of reimbursing employees who use their own device — and, if companies choose to go this route, what legal ramifications it raises, Trapani said. For instance, is the business liable if an employee gets into a motor-vehicle accident while texting? Or, if a company is involved in a lawsuit, what is the employee’s obligation to surrender data on their phone or laptop in the discovery phase?

“Sometimes employers can get dragged into a lawsuit and want to see information on various devices,” Gannon noted. “You’ll want to have some kind of language in your bring-your-own-device policy that the information on that device could belong to the employer.”

In that circumstance, it would actually benefit an employer to reimburse the employee, or pay for a device that can be used for work and personal time, he went on. “If the employer pays for and provides these devices to the employee, it’s less of a privacy issue. If employees are using their own device, mostly for personal use, but for some work use, getting that information can be more challenging.”

Finally, Trapani said, there’s the age-old concern — updated for this high-tech era — of employees killing time while on the clock, and whether using their personal devices at work makes it easier. “There are performance issues. If you have a handheld device in front of you instead of a giant screen, are you looking at Facebook, or doing what you should be doing?”

Clear Communication

In the end, Royal told BusinessWest, the BYOD trend has been a net positive at many companies, but there’s risk in allowing it — risk that nonetheless can be managed with well-constructed, clearly communicated guidelines.

“It’s a collaborative effort involving a number of people, like IT, HR, your legal team, and also accountants — are you reimbursing your employees a certain amount for using personal devices, and what are the tax implications of that? You want to have a team looking at this practice before you roll it out.”

Trapani agreed. “Communication is important, not only so employees know what’s expected of them, but also so the people in charge understand the implications of new technology.

That said, Gannon noted, it’s difficult to craft a general BYOD policy, as a lot of it depends on the industry. For example, medical businesses bound by HIPAA from disseminating health information need to be more vigilant than some other industries about which employees can access sensitive data, and on what devices. But there are some universal recommendations.

“Certainly, you want to have a policy that sets out authorized and unauthorized use. And sometimes, the policy lets employees use their own device only if the IT people install software updates and an antivirus program, and gives them remote access if they need to clean out the device.”

A strong BYOD policy, at the very least, puts all employees on the same page, knowing exactly how their devices can be used and what happens when they leave the firm.

“Even if you don’t want to replace company devices by allowing the use of personal devices, you still want to tackle these kinds of issues,” she said. “Employees are probably using their personal laptop or smartphone for some business. That’s the reality.”

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Briefcase

By BusinessWest Staff June 14, 2016

Briefcase Departments

FutureCity 2026 Presents Development Strategy

SPRINGFIELD — An executive summary of the FutureCity 2026 economic-development strategy was presented to about 120 business and community leaders and stakeholders at CityStage last week. FutureCity is a joint initiative by DevelopSpringfield, the Springfield Regional Chamber of Commerce, and the city of Springfield’s Office of Planning and Economic Development. Its purpose is to build on the strategies identified in earlier studies such at the Urban Land Institute study of 2006 and the Rebuild Springfield Plan of 2012 — both of which identified tangible goals that continue to be the focus of public and private economic-development strategy in Springfield. Both plans recommended the importance of developing a long-term strategy for economic growth in the city that would ultimately benefit the entire region. “The goal of this project was to pinpoint and leverage the city’s attributes, including geographic location, infrastructure, workforce, and industries, and align these existing characteristics, assets, and conditions with pillars of realistic current and prospective market opportunities,” said Jeff Fialky, an attorney with Bacon Wilson and co-chair of the FutureCity initiative. “The objective was to develop an approach based upon realistic market opportunities that is obtainable rather than merely aspirational.” The FutureCity strategy was prepared by the nationally recognized real-estate and economic-development consulting firm Newmark Grubb Knight Frank, guided by a steering committee representing a broad spectrum of businesses and organizations over the course of a nine-month period. The consultants were charged with an ambitious scope of work which took place over nine months to include the following: assess existing conditions, analyze target industries, assess logistics and supply-chain capabilities, assess talent-development strategies, develop a list of recruitment opportunities for target industries, and identify strategic initiatives and an implementation plan with measurable deliverables. Newmark conducted over 100 interviews, which included city and state leaders, economic-development agencies, large employers, young professionals, elected officials, nonprofits, workforce-development organizations, real-estate and creative-economy experts, and more, in addition to deep dives into relevant data, peer-city comparisons, and several site visits to Springfield. Major themes emerging from the study include site and space readiness, centralization of small-business resources, development of a multi-generational workforce plan, development of a unified marketing and messaging plan, fostering collaboration and connectivity, strategically unifying economic-development efforts, collaboration, and a focus on Springfield’s unique strengths. “This was a very pragmatic exercise that shows there are many more pros than cons as we continue to market Springfield,” said Mayor Domenic Sarno. “As we have done with the Urban Land Institute and our Rebuild Springfield plans, we will follow through with this one, too. Now is our time. We will continue to capitalize on the synergy of our public and private collaborations and keep the momentum going as the ‘can-do city.’” Added Jay Minkarah, DevelopSpringfield president and CEO and co-chair of the FutureCity initiative, “the FutureCity economic-development strategy is designed to be a guide to action, not simply a plan to sit on a shelf. The plan includes over 170 specific recommendations along with metrics for measuring success, estimated costs, potential impact, and priorities, and identifies the parties responsible for implementation.” Funding was provided by the Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation, the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, the U.S. Economic Development Agency, the Springfield Regional Chamber, Smith and Wesson, and DevelopSpringfield. A link to the presentation can be found at www.developspringfield.com. Over the next few weeks, an executive summary and detailed report will be made available through DevelopSpringfield, the Springfield Regional Chamber, and the city of Springfield’s Office of Planning and Economic Development.

Springfield, Pittsfield Each Given $475,000 in Working Cities Challenge

BOSTON — The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston announced that Springfield, Pittsfield, Haverhill, Lowell, and Worcester will each receive $475,000 in the second round of the Working Cities Challenge, a competition for smaller cities in New England focused on building collaborative leadership, which is shown to be a critical element in economic growth for struggling post-industrial cities. The five communities put forward initiatives focused on neighborhood revitalization, workforce development, and improving access to economic opportunity. The cities will work on these initiatives over a three-year period, accompanied by technical assistance and a learning community for best-practice sharing. “I want to congratulate the winners of the Working Cities Challenge. Collaborative leadership is at the heart of this competition, and these five cities demonstrated significant capacity to reach across sectors and advance efforts on behalf of low-income residents in their communities,” said Boston Fed President Eric Rosengren. “I look forward to following the progress in the communities in the coming months and years.” Added Gov. Charlie Baker, “together with our partners in the private, philanthropic, and nonprofit sectors, we are proud to leverage greater resources to support and prepare communities for success. The Working Cities Challenge elevates local leadership, amplifying solutions from the community level to increase cross-sector collaboration and improve economic outcomes for low-income residents.” Last fall, 10 Massachusetts communities were each awarded $15,000 design grants through the Working Cities Challenge to strengthen their bids to the competition. The five winning cities were selected after a six-month design-grant period, which saw the cities refining proposals and adding partners from across their community. The Springfield Works Initiative will advance the city’s economy by enhancing and strengthening the connectivity between employers who need qualified workers and low- income Springfield residents who need meaningful employment. It aims to achieve this goal through an innovative collaboration between employers, educational institutions, service providers, community leaders, community-based organizations, government, and residents. The Springfield Works Initiative core team includes the Western Mass. Economic Development Council, the Springfield Office of Planning and Economic Development, the Regional Employment Board of Hampden County, MGM Springfield, Partners for Community Action, HAPHousing, Springfield Technical Community College, Western MA National Machine and Tooling Assoc., the Community Foundation of Western Mass., Tech Foundry, United Personnel Services, United Way of Pioneer Valley, and DevelopSpringfield. The Pittsfield Bridges: Transformative Movement (PBTM) initiative will support the journey from poverty to sustainability by collaboratively building community resources and removing barriers. The effort’s vision is for all people in Pittsfield to experience a just, thriving, and safe community. The PBTM’s goal is to improve individual, institutional, and social fairness and respect in the community and thus support individuals moving out of poverty. The PBTM’s core team includes Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity, the city of Pittsfield, the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, Berkshire Community College, BerkshireWorks Career Center, Berkshire United Way, Goodwill Industries, Berkshire Children and Families, Berkshire Health Systems, Berkshire Community Action Council, Downtown Pittsfield Inc., Pittsfield public schools, the local NAACP chapter, Pittsfield Community Connection, West Side Neighborhood Initiative, First United Methodist Church, Heart 2 Heart Ministry, Manos Unidas, Brien Center for Mental Health, Multi-Cultural Bridge, and Girls Inc. For more information on the Working Cities Challenge, visit www.bostonfed.org/workingcities.

Celia Grace Wins $50,000 at VVM Accelerator Awards

SPRINGFIELD — Twelve area startups won a total of $252,000 at the Valley Venture Mentors (VVM) Accelerator Awards on May 26, led by Celia Grace, whose founder, Marcelia Muehlke, calls her company a fair-trade, ethical wedding-dress seller that gives back and empowers women around the world. Muehlke, who won $50,000 at the ceremony at the MassMutual Center, launched the company several years ago after searching, fruitlessly, for a maker of fair-trade wedding dresses. Sensing both a need and an opportunity, she set about creating such a company. She traveled to Asia and set up a supply chain that could create high-quality garments that she and her clients could feel good about. She then began working with a group of women in a sewing group in Cambodia, contracted with a designer in New York, and got her business — and her dream — up and running. Today, Celia Grace sells dresses across the country and in Europe. The VVM award is just one in a long line of accolades, including a Grinspoon Entrepreneurial Success Spirit Award in 2011, a finish in the money at the UMass Pitch Competition in 2012, and a second-place finish at Valley Venture Mentors’ pitch contest during the Western Mass. Business Expo in 2012. About 500 people attended the May 26 ceremony. The other 11 winners of VVM Accelerator Awards, and their prize money, include:
• Homebody Holistics ($45,000), a maker of all-natural, hand-crafted, herbal cleaning solutions using no harsh chemicals or additives;
• Scout Curated Wears ($32,000), a designer, curator, and producer of thoughtful women’s accessories;
• DaVinci Arms ($21,000), a designer and manufacturer of firearms suppressors and accessories for mission-critical applications;
• Treaty ($21,000), a nanotechnology company whose flagship product is FogKicker, a biodegradable anti-fog solution made from nanocellulose;
• Prophit Insight ($19,000), a software company that helps healthcare providers identify and acquire unique sources of physician referrals;
• Livingua ($18,000), an app that connects travelers to locals who know the language and culture wherever and whenever they want;
• Name Net Worth ($15,000), a connective platform that leverages trusted relationships to measure and strengthen a user’s personal and professional networks;
• iRollie ($9,000), a niche-market phone-case manufacturer and online retailer featuring the rolling tray phone case;
• Need/Done Inc. ($9,000), instant help for kids at home from people their parents trust;
• Sumu ($7,000), which works with property managers and landlords to post fee-free apartments to help users find their next home; and
• AnyCafé ($6,000), a developer of hot beverage solutions for the future, including the Travel Brewer.

Legislation Filed to Cap Sick-time Accrual

BOSTON — Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito recently introduced “An Act to Reform Sick Time,” aimed at limiting sick-time accruals that have led to exorbitant payouts upon retirement from state government. The legislation would cap accrual of sick time for state employees in the Executive Department at no more than 1,000 hours, equivalent to six months of work. The bill grandfathers in approximately 5,800 current state employees who already have more than 1,000 hours accrued. Those employees would be capped at their current earned amount as of the date of enactment. Once the legislation is passed, the policy will take effect immediately. “Sick leave is a benefit designed to offer employees a way to deal with health and family issues, not a retirement bonus,” Baker said. “Bringing the Commonwealth’s sick-leave-accrual policy in line with other private- and public-sector employers just makes sense and is the fiscally responsible thing to do.” Added Polito, “this legislation ensures the use of sick time remains consistent with its intended purpose. Benefits for Executive Department employees will remain competitive while we implement an accrual policy that is fair to Massachusetts taxpayers.” Under current law, employees can accrue a maximum of 15 sick days per year, and those employees who retire are permitted to cash out 20% of unused sick time. In FY 2015, 378 employees had an accrual of more than 1,000 hours upon retirement. While this represents only about one-third the number of retiring employees, the cashouts for these employees accounted for nearly 80% of the total cashout cost. Based on the last three fiscal years, if fully implemented, a 1,000-hour cap on accruals would have saved an average of $3.5 million in cashouts per year. “Sick days serve an important purpose, but they must be used in an appropriate and accountable way for our compensation system to have the integrity and transparency taxpayers deserve,” said Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr. Added House Minority Leader Bradley Jones Jr., “recent media reports highlighting excessive sick-leave payouts in the public higher-education system clearly demonstrate the need to crack down on these types of abuses. The reforms proposed by the Baker-Polito administration will help to provide greater transparency and accountability to the state’s taxpayers.”

Habitat for Humanity Partners with Faith Organizations

SPRINGFIELD — Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity (GSHFH) announced an upcoming Circle of Faith build on 479 Allen St. in Springfield. This project is a partnership between GSHFH and 11 local faith communities who have come together to raise the funds for a Habitat home, and who will also contribute volunteers, in-kind materials, and amenities for the project. As an intentionally interfaith project, this build incorporates Christian, Islamic, and Jewish communities. These 11 faith communities include First Church of Christ in Longmeadow, Sinai Temple in Springfield, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in East Longmeadow, St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Longmeadow, the Islamic Society of Western Mass. in West Springfield, Christ the King Lutheran Church in Wilbraham, East Longmeadow United Methodist Church, Mercy Medical Center and the Sisters of Providence Health System in Springfield, St. Cecilia’s Parish in Wilbraham, and Foster Memorial Church in Springfield. Ellen Tougias, the point person for First Church of Christ in Longmeadow, says her church is “proud to be a part of the Circle of Faith Build for Habitat. We have committed to this project as part of our 30th-year celebration. It is one way that we have chosen to give back to our community in honor of this special year.” Mohammad Bajwa of the Islamic Society of Western Mass. referenced a piece of Scripture in relation to the project: “cooperate with one another, for doing good deeds and righteousness … surely God’s mercy is upon the good doers.” To kick off this partnership, the Circle of Faith communities and GSHFH hosted a “House Wrapped in Love” event at the Islamic Society of Western Mass. on June 1. The family-friendly event invited kids to paint what home, family, and love means to them on sheets of plywood that will then be used to build the walls of the new habitat house at 479 Allen St. Following this event will be several days of building on the job site, where the exterior walls of the home will start to take shape.

Unemployment Drops Across State in April

BOSTON — Local unemployment rates dropped in all labor market areas in the state during the month of April, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported. All 15 areas added jobs over the month, with the largest gains in the Springfield, Boston-Cambridge-Newton, Barnstable, Worcester, and Lowell-Billerica-Chelmsford areas. From April 2015 to April 2016, 14 areas added jobs, with the largest percentage gains in the Haverhill-Newburyport-Amesbury, Brockton-Bridgewater-Easton, Taunton-Middleborough-Norton, and Barnstable areas. In order to compare the statewide rate to local unemployment rates, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the statewide unadjusted unemployment rate for April is 3.9%, down 0.7% from the March rate. Last week, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported the statewide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 4.2% for the month of April. The unemployment rate is down 0.8% over the year. The statewide seasonally adjusted jobs estimate showed a 13,900-job gain in April and an over-the-year gain of 73,500 jobs. The unadjusted unemployment rates and job estimates for the labor market areas reflect seasonal fluctuations and therefore may show different levels and trends than the statewide seasonally adjusted estimates. The estimates for labor force, unemployment rates, and jobs for Massachusetts are based on different statistical methodology specified by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Leadership Pioneer Valley, Women’s Fund Partner on Alumni Discount

SPRINGFIELD — Effective immediately, Leadership Pioneer Valley (LPV) and the Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts will begin offering alumni of their programs a mutual 20% discount — just one part of a new effort between these organizations to strengthen and coordinate learning opportunities for emerging leaders in the region. Both LPV’s core program and the Women’s Fund’s Leadership Institute for Political and Public Impact (LIPPI) program seek to empower up-and-coming leaders and, ultimately, strengthen the region as a whole. However, each program has unique content and perspectives that, if taken subsequently, provide a comprehensive leadership experience. Graduates of the LPV program can apply for LIPPI at womensfund.net; graduates of LIPPI can apply for LPV at leadershippv.org. “The Women’s Fund is thrilled to participate in this collaborative effort with Leadership Pioneer Valley,” said Elizabeth Barajas-Román, CEO of the Women’s Fund. “We think this is a natural partnership for our organizations, as we both invest in creating strong communities through leadership development. Together, our participants will become the civic and business leaders of tomorrow who will help the region thrive.” Added Lora Wondolowski, executive director of Leadership Pioneer Valley, “this partnership makes so much sense as we feel our curriculums are complementary. Together, we are building a cadre of leaders who are making a difference in their careers and communities.” LPV is a nonprofit that works to identify, develop, and connect diverse leaders to strengthen the region. LPV’s core program challenges and engages emerging leaders from all sectors of the community from throughout the region. The curriculum consists of both classroom and hands-on, experiential learning that builds leadership skills, enhances regional understanding, and creates broader networks. The Women’s Fund is a public foundation that connects donors with the lives of local women and girls through strategic grant making and leadership development. Its signature, non-partisan program, LIPPI, is designed to address the need to provide women with the tools, mentors, and confidence they need to become powerful and effective civic leaders and elected officials. Further information on each program can be found at leadershippv.org and womensfund.net.

Local Farmers Receive Awards Totaling $117,500

AGAWAM — Recognizing that farming is essential to the region, the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation and Big Y awarded 47 local farmers from the Berkshires to the Pioneer Valley $2,500 each to make physical infrastructure improvements to their farms. Along with the support of sponsors Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation and MGM Springfield, farmers have already put to use the awards for farm-improvement projects. This represents a 42% increase in awards from the 2015 inaugural year. With the collaboration of local agriculture advocacy organizations Berkshire Grown and CISA (Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture), the applications selected for the Local Farmer Awards were announced in December. More than 120 farmers submitted applications describing their improvement projects. The award recipients are diverse: 32% have been farming for more than 20 years, and 23% for five years or fewer; and more than 40% of the farms have sales of more than $100,000, while another 30% recorded sales of less than $49,000. A winner from 2015 and 2016, Julia Coffey of Mycoterra Farm in Westhampton said, “we are thrilled to be a Local Farmer Award recipient. The projects that these awards have helped fund are making our farm more viable.” This year, Coffey is purchasing equipment required for outfitting a commercial kitchen that will allow the farm to begin manufacturing value-added food products with unsold fresh mushrooms. Jennifer Salinetti, owner of Woven Roots Farm in Tyringham, will install a permanent vegetable wash station which will directly impact the farm’s productivity. Gideon Porth of Atlas Farm in Deerfield will install a pump system for a new well to increase the supply of potable water for the farm’s packing house and greenhouses, which will double its current watering abilities. Harold Grinspoon, founder of the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation, who launched the Local Farmer Awards in 2015, noted that “farmers don’t typically ask for help. They are genuinely appreciative of these awards and use the money in creative ways for projects to help their businesses.” Charlie D’Amour, president & COO of Big Y, added, “through our partnership with the Grinspoon Foundation, we are providing one more way to help local growers thrive in our community.” The goal of the Local Farmer Awards is to strengthen farmers’ ability to compete in the marketplace so the region benefits from the environmental, health, and economic advantages of local farming. A farmer appreciation event is held yearly for all applicants and awardees to honor and recognize farmers and promote the importance of local farming.

Company Notebook

By BusinessWest Staff June 14, 2016

Company Notebook Departments

Steel Partners Recognizes OMG Inc. for Excellence

AGAWAM — Three kaizen teams from OMG Inc. have been recognized as 2016 Steel Partners Business System Hall of Fame winners. The announcement was made by Jeff Svoboda, president and CEO of Handy & Harman, a Steel Partners subsidiary. The Steel Partners Business System uses lean principles and tools, including kaizens, to increase sales, improve business processes, and reduce and eliminate waste and variation. Kaizen is a strategic activity where employees at every level of a company get together to work on a targeted improvement project. In manufacturing in particular, kaizens often demonstrate that big changes come from many small changes made over time. Kaizens are focused three- to five-day events that generally include defining a problem or goal, documenting the current state, brainstorming and developing a future state, implementing change, developing a follow-up plan and measurement metrics, presenting results, and celebrating success. “We complete over 40 kaizens a year, each involving on average a team of five, so for these three teams to be recognized by our parent companies is certainly a high honor for which we are very proud,” said Hubert McGovern, president and CEO of OMG Inc. A total of 19 employees participated in the three winning kaizens. Two of the kaizens were held at OMG’s headquarters location in Agawam, and one was held in the company’s Asheville, N.C. facility. “OMG is committed to lean manufacturing, and kaizens are just one of the tools we use to drive significant improvement to our overall effectiveness as a company,” said McGovern. “As a result of our lean initiatives, we’ve seen great progress throughout the company, including gains in reducing waste, improving product quality, and bringing value to our customers.” Some of the more significant results for these winning kaizens include a 66% increase in drain-assembly output; a 250% reduction in the need for overtime; a $10,000-per-day increase in sellable units assembled by a packaging team and a related $36,000 annual labor savings; and a $100,000 annual cost reduction related to quality improvement. Headquartered in Agawam, OMG Inc. is North America’s largest supplier of specialty fasteners and products for commercial and residential construction applications. The company operates two business units: OMG Roofing Products (www.omgroofing.com) and FastenMaster (www.fastenmaster.com). OMG is a subsidiary of Handy & Harman Group Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Handy & Harman Ltd.

Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center to Expand

HOLYOKE — The Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center (MGHPCC) announced a $1.6 million expansion of its state-of-the-art facility on June 1. The center is located in downtown Holyoke, at 100 Bigelow St. Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse; Rick McCullough, vice provost for Research at Harvard University; and MGHPCC Executive Director John Goodhue will be on hand. The Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center provides state-of-the-art infrastructure for computationally intensive research in the increasingly sensor- and data-rich environments of modern science and engineering. Computers at the MGHPCC run millions of virtual experiments every month, supporting thousands of researchers in Massachusetts and around the world. The MGHPCC was developed through an unprecedented collaboration among the state’s most research-intensive universities, including Boston University, Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Northeastern University, and UMass; the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; and private industry (Cisco and EMC). The member universities fund the ongoing operation of the data center, which is open for use by any research organization. For more information, visit www.mghpcc.org.

The Creative Opens Office in Thornes Marketplace

NORTHAMPTON — The Creative, a collaboration of three local businesswomen, has opened an office in Thornes Office Suites. The collaboration, which launched in April 2013, is made up of Janice Beetle, principal of Beetle Press; Ruth Griggs, principal of RC Communications; and Maureen Scanlon, principal of Murre Creative. Together, they provide strategic marketing, messaging, and design services. The trio provide flexible services to clients, combining forces to match clients’ needs and offering a full complement of agency services where necessary. The Creative provides its clients with the opportunity for comprehensive marketing and communications services, including assistance with advertising campaigns, branding, public relations, print collateral, strategic marketing planning, and fund-raising campaigns. For more information, call (413) 727-3354 or visit thecreativemarketing.net.

Country Bank Awards Scholarships to Students

WARE — Officials at Country Bank announced the presentation of 15 scholarships in the amount of $2,000 each to area high-school seniors. The newly formed Country Bank for Higher Education Scholarship was offered to graduating students within the region. The recipients needed to demonstrate a commitment to their communities through volunteerism and leadership by submitting an essay outlining their experiences. “We are so pleased with the response we received for our new scholarship format,” said Shelley Regin, senior vice president, marketing at Country Bank. “Each applicant had a unique perspective on their involvement in helping others, from taking the lead on building a playground to feeding the homeless on Christmas Eve and developing a summer STEM program for underprivileged kids. We were so inspired by the great work these students are doing in their communities and how they are making a difference in the lives of others.” The recipients include Lily White, Auburn High School; Patrick O’Brien, Queen of Heaven Academy; Dong Liang Dzindolet, Leicester High School; Caleb Carr, MA Academy of Math & Science; Sarah Springer, Minnechaug Regional High School; Alexander Reed, Olivia Murray, and Serena Sandoval, Palmer High School; Alexis Nason and Riley Mucha, Quaboag Regional High School; Brittany Como, Emily Rusack, and Olivia Kiritsis, Shepherd Hill Regional High School; Kyle Hill and Sadie Simons, Ware High School.

Chamber Corners

By BusinessWest Staff June 14, 2016

Chamber Corners Departments

AMHERST AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.amherstarea.com 
(413) 253-0700

• June 16-19: Taste of Amherst, on the Amherst Common, Thursday, 5-9 p.m.; Friday, 5-10 p.m.; Saturday, noon-10 p.m.; and Sunday, noon-4 p.m. This is a wonderful way to showcase your restaurant or business. Come join in the fun with more than 20,000 attendees throughout the weekend.  For more information, contact the chamber office at (413) 253-0700 or [email protected].

• July 18: 13th annual Golf Tournament, at Hickory Ridge Golf Course, Pomeroy Lane, Amherst. Schedule: 10 a.m.: full-swing pro clinic; 10:30 a.m.: registration, putting contest, light lunch; noon: shotgun start, scramble format; 5 p.m.: social hour, cash bar; 6 p.m.: dinner, awards ceremony, live auction. Hole-in-one, longest drive, closest-to-pin contests. Cost: $135 per player, $540 per foursome.

GREATER CHICOPEE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.chicopeechamber.org 
(413) 594-2101

• June 16: Mornings with the Mayor, 8-9 a.m., at the Arbors at Chicopee, 929 Memorial Dr. Free for all members.

• June 18: 5K Road Race and 2-Mile Walk, 9:30 a.m., starting at the Portuguese Club. Cost: $25, which includes race fee, T-shirt, and lunch at Munich Haus Biergarten after the race.

• June 22: Three-chamber Networking Event, 5-7 p.m., at Hadley Farms Meeting House, 41 Russell St., Hadley. The Greater Chicopee Chamber of Commerce, Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce, and South Hadley & Granby Chamber of Commerce will host “A Networking Night in the Tropics,” featuring island/beach music by Rum & Steel. Taste the food of the islands. Cost: $15 for members, $20 cash for non-members. For more information, call the chamber at (413) 594-2101.

GREATER EASTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.easthamptonchamber.org 
(413) 527-9414

• June 17: Second annual Speaker Breakfast, 7:30-9 a.m., at Williston Northampton School, 19 Payson Place, Easthampton. The keynote speaker is U.S. Rep. Richard Neal. How are your local business concerns being discussed at the federal level? Register online at easthamptonchamber.org or call the chamber at (413) 527-9414

• July 14: Networking By Night, 5-7 p.m., at the Oxbow Marina Sports Center, Old Springfield Road, Northampton. Register online at easthamptonchamber.org or call the chamber at (413) 572-9414.

• July 29: 32nd annual Golf Tournament at Southampton Country Club, 329 College Highway. Shotgun start at 9 a.m. Sign up early and save. Register online at easthamptonchamber.org or call the chamber (413) 527-9414.

GREATER HOLYOKE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

holyokechamber.com
(413) 534-3376

• June 15: Chamber After Hours, 5-7 p.m., at the Renaissance Manor on Cabot, 279 Cabot St., Holyoke. Mix and mingle with your friends and colleagues at this casual networking event. Refreshments and 50/50 raffle. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for non-members and walk-ins. Sign up at holyokechamber.com.

• July 13: Chamber Coffee Buzz Morning Networking, 7:30-8:30 a.m., at Ruwac Inc., 54 Winter St., Holyoke. Jump-start the day with this opportunity to meet business and community leaders while enjoying coffee and a light breakfast at this respected world leader in industrial vacuum systems. This event is free to members of the business community and is sponsored by Lyon & Fitzpatrick LLP.

GREATER NORTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.explorenorthampton.com
(413) 584-1900

• July 13: July Arrive@5, 5-7 p.m., at Cooley Dickinson Hospital. Joint event with Northampton Area Young Professionals. Sponsors: Brain Analysis & Neurodevelopment Center, Highview of Northampton, the Healing ZONE Therapeutic Massage.

GREATER WESTFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.westfieldbiz.org
(413) 568-1618

• June 13: “Wage & Hour Law Compliance” workshop, at Holiday Inn Express, 39 Southampton Road, Westfield. Registration/networking, 8:30 a.m.; workshop, 9-10 a.m. Presented by Karina Schrengohst, attorney with Royal, P.C. Refreshments will be served. Cost: free to chamber members, $30 for non-members. To register, call the chamber office at (413) 568-1618.

• June 17: June Chamber Breakfast, at the the Ranch Golf Club, 100 Ranch Club Road, Southwick. Registration, 7 a.m.; breakfast, 7:20, a.m.; program begins, 7:50 a.m. Keynote Speaker: Hampden County District Attorney Anthony Guilluni. Platinum sponsor: Mestek Inc.; gold sponsor: Berkshire Bank; silver sponsor: First Niagara Bank; coffee bar sponsor: Spherion Staffing. Golf Special: chamber members who are registered for the breakfast can golf for $45 with a cart following the breakfast. Call the golf shop to reserve your spot and mention that you are a chamber member. 50/50 raffle to support two Citizen’s Scholarships. Tickets: $25 for members, $30 in advance for non-members. To register, call the chamber office at (413) 568-1618.

• June 22: Three-chamber Networking Event, 5-7
p.m., at Hadley Farms Meeting House, 41 Russell St., Hadley. The Greater Chicopee Chamber of Commerce, Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce, and South Hadley & Granby Chamber of Commerce will host “A Networking Night in the Tropics,” featuring island/beach music by Rum & Steel. Taste the food of the islands. Cost: $15 for members, $20 cash for non-members. To register, call the chamber office at (413) 568-1618.

SOUTH HADLEY & GRANBY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

shgchamber.com
(413) 532-6451

• June 22: Three-chamber Networking Event, 5-7 p.m., at Hadley Farms Meeting House, 41 Russell St., Hadley. The Greater Chicopee Chamber of Commerce, Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce, and South Hadley & Granby Chamber of Commerce will host “A Networking Night in the Tropics,” featuring island/beach music by Rum & Steel. Taste the food of the islands. Cost: $15 for members, $20 cash for non-members. For more information, call the chamber at (413) 532-6451.

SPRINGFIELD REGIONAL CHAMBER

www.myonlinechamber.com
(413) 787-1555

• June 28: Springfield Regional Chamber Lunch ‘n’ Learn, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., hosted by Lattitude, 1388 Memorial Ave., West Springfield. “The New Overtime Rule — What Is It, and How Will It Impact Me?” Guest Speaker: Timothy Murphy, attorney with Skoler, Abbott & Presser, P.C. Cost: $25 for members, $35 for general admission. Reservations may be made online at www.springfieldregionalchamber.com.

• July 28: Chamber Golf Tournament, at the Ranch Golf Club, 65 Sunnyside Road, Southwick. Registration/course-side lunch: 11 a.m. to noon; shotgun start: 12:30 p.m.; dinner immediately following. Sponsored by Columbia Gas of Massachusetts, Florence Bank, Chicopee Savings Bank, and the MassMutual Center. Cost: $600 per foursome, $160 per individual golfer. Reservations may be made online at www.springfieldregionalchamber.com.

WEST OF THE RIVER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.ourwrc.com
(413) 426-3880

• June 23: Annual Meeting, 7-9 a.m., at Chez Josef, Agawam. The event will kick off with the welcoming of new chairman Brian Houle and the incoming WRC board of directors. Guest speaker: Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito. Cost: $35 for chamber members, $40 for non-members. For more information and for tickets, contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880 or e-mail [email protected].

People on the Move

By BusinessWest Staff June 14, 2016

Departments People on the Move

John Hunt

John Hunt has been named chief executive officer of Healthsouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Western Massachusetts in Ludlow. A speech-language pathologist by trade, he received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from UMass Amherst. Hunt’s career in rehabilitation has spanned almost 30 years as a clinician, director, administrator, private practicioner, consultant, and educator, both regionally and nationally. He has served as a guest speaker and lecturer on the topics of motor speech and swallowing disorders in the neurologically impaired population. His focus has been the improvement of patient care and superior clinical outcomes in the post-acute continuum.

•••••

Matthew Sosik, president and CEO of bankESB, announced the following:

Timothy Czerniejewski

• Timothy Czerniejewski, has joined the bank as Assistant Vice President and Credit Analyst. He served as a credit analyst for the last seven years at TD Bank, where he had been working since 2007. He is also a self-employed tax preparer and financial advisor with his mother under the name H&T Tax Services in Westfield. He obtained his bachelor’s degree from Western New England University. He is a Six Sigma White Belt, a certified tax preparer, and a Springfield Leadership Institute graduate, as well as a program committee member for the Springfield Boys and Girls Club, a volunteer at the Westfield YMCA, and a volunteer with Revitalize Springfield;

Lori Ingraham

• Lori Ingraham has been promoted to Vice President and Controller. She joined the bank as a teller/encoder in 1988 and was promoted to operations assistant in 1989. She became operations/audit assistant in 1991 and compliance/CRA manager in 1997. She was promoted to auditor in 1998, to assistant treasurer in 2006, and to assistant vice president controller in 2013. Ingraham graduated from Holyoke Community College and has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Westfield State University. She is a member of the Easthampton School Committee, Easthampton Dollars for Scholars, and the Easthampton Parent Council. She is the management committee chairperson and vice president of Friends of Hampshire County Homeless Individuals. She is also on the Westhampton Congregational UCC property committee and Christian education committee; and

Meagan Barrett

• Meagan Barrett has been promoted to Human Resources Officer. She joined bankESB in 2008 as a human resources assistant. She obtained her professional in human resources (PHR) certification in 2012 and was promoted to benefits specialist. Prior to working at the bank, she was a human resources generalist for Clarity Imaging and worked at CompUSA for 10 years, including as a human resources and operation manager. In her new role, she is responsible for employee relations, benefits, wellness, employee event coordination, and recruiting. Barrett has an associate’s degree from Holyoke Community College and was working towards a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Rhode Island College. She is involved with the Easter Seals 5K planning committee and Easthampton’s All-4-Kids event.

•••••

Greenfield Cooperative Bank (GCB) recently announced six promotions. The new assignments are:

Mary Rawls

• Mary Rawls, Vice President, Compliance. Rawls has more than 22 years of experience in banking, and is responsible for ensuring bank compliance with the numerous banking and consumer laws and regulations. She also coordinates various regulatory and compliance examinations for the bank;

Adam Baker

• Adam Baker, Commercial Loan Officer. Baker has more than eight years of experience in banking, primarily in commercial lending. He is based in the King Street, Northampton Cooperative division of the bank, and is responsible for developing new commercial-loan business in the bank’s market area, with a focus in Hampshire County;

Chelsea Depault

• Chelsea Depault, Commercial Loan Officer. Depault is based at the 62 Federal St. location of Greenfield Cooperative Bank, and is responsible for developing new commercial business in the bank’s market area, with a focus in Franklin County. She has more than seven years banking experience with GCB, most recently as a senior credit analyst;

Christine Gagnon

• Christine Gagnon, Residential Mortgage Originator for the Hampshire County marketplace. Gagnon’s new duties will complement in her current position of assistant vice president at the Northampton Cooperative division of GSB. She will be responsible for assisting consumers looking to buy or refinance their home and to develop mortgage business through ongoing relationships with local realtors. She has more than 18 years of experience in banking with Northampton Cooperative Bank;

Janet Rosenkranz

• Janet Rosenkranz, Loan Analyst. Rosenkranz has been in banking for the past 20 years, starting with Vanguard Bank and the former Springfield Institution for Savings. She will be based in the King Street, Northampton office and is responsible for monitoring commercial credits and will assist in managing the overall bank-loan portfolio; and

Kari Welch

• Kari Welch, branch Manager at the 67 King St. location of the bank’s Northampton Cooperative division. Welch has been with the bank for more than five years. She will be responsible for overall management of the King Street branch and its staff and operations.

•••••

F. Adam Yanulis

Following the firm’s recent stockholder’s meeting, Tighe & Bond announced the promotion of F. Adam Yanulis to Vice President of Business Development. Since joining the firm two and a half years ago, he has strengthened the delivery of the firm’s engineering services throughout New England. With more than 30 years providing leadership to the public-sector engineering community, many in the region know Yanulis well. Over the years, he has worked closely with numerous municipalities to facilitate engineering and environmental solutions for water-resource, stormwater, environmental, and other infrastructure challenges. Although he works primarily out of Tighe & Bond’s Westwood office, his involvement is region-wide. Yanulis serves as a commissioner for the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission, and sits on the board of directors of the Waterworks Museum in Chestnut Hill and the New England Water Works Assoc. He also is on the New England Water Innovation Network’s advisory committee, and a member of the Massachusetts Water Infrastructure Finance Commission steering committee. In addition, he is finishing his term on the board of directors of the American Water Works Assoc.

•••••

Tyler Leahy

van Schouwen Associates, LLC (vSA) announced the addition of Tyler Leahy to its business-to-business marketing team. In his new role as strategic communications manager, Leahy’s work will involve account management, writing, social media and content development, public relations, and business development. Leahy arrives at vSA with unique experience as a communications professional in the Pioneer Valley, working in the media as well as the nonprofit sector. He most recently served as staff writer for two local newspapers, the Chicopee Register and the Ludlow Register. “Tyler has a knack for tailoring communications to the demands of individual projects. His strategic and tactical marketing aptitude will be invaluable to our clients,” said Michelle van Schouwen, vSA president. Leahy graduated from Springfield College with a bachelor’s degree in 2015, majoring in communications and English.

•••••
Bay Path University announced that Melissa Morriss-Olson, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, is one of 23 senior-level administrators in higher education nationwide selected by the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) to participate in the 2016-17 Executive Leadership Academy. Morriss-Olson will participate in two seminars in Washington, D.C. on July 11-13, 2016 and June 19-21, 2017. She will also engage in readings, webinars, and a mentoring program. In addition, she will develop a professional experiential learning plan focused on specific areas of presidential responsibility. The academy is intended to help prepare provosts and vice presidents to serve as effective college presidents. Morriss-Olson joined Bay Path University in 2006 as a faculty member and founding director of the graduate programs in Nonprofit Management and Strategic Fundraising. In 2009, she became the university’s first Graduate School dean, during which time she was integral in establishing the Center for Distributed Learning and several new graduate degrees, and strengthening the graduate student-support infrastructure. She obtained a Ph.D. in educational leadership and policy studies from Loyola University of Chicago in 1995. Developing the talents of women and girls is a personal passion of hers, and she volunteers on behalf of a number of organizations that share this concern. “Melissa Morriss-Olson has taken Bay Path to new heights,” University President Carol Leary said. “As provost, she has spearheaded initiatives that have increased undergraduate enrollment and overseen the development of the university’s thumbprint — Bay Path’s distinguishing educational aspirations — and our Women Empowered as Learners and Leaders (WELL) program. She is an effective and natural leader, and her participation in the CIC Executive Leadership Academy will be an incredible milestone both for her and for Bay Path.”

Elms College’s Lean LaunchPad Weekend to Boost Startup Businesses

By BusinessWest Staff June 14, 2016

Daily News

CHICOPEE — In today’s competitive market, startups and small businesses need all the help they can get. The Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership at Elms College will hold a Lean LaunchPad weekend to help startups identify the specific problems their products or services can solve for customers. The weekend-long workshop, titled “Creating Customers and Value,” will help businesses fail less, save money, and discover target customers and ideal business models.

The Lean LaunchPad weekend course combines hands-on experience, customer interaction, and business fundamentals to entrepreneurship. Participants will dive deep into the ‘value-proposition canvas’ to understand product market fit; they will also learn how to turn ideas into statements that convince customers to buy.

The events will begin with a 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. session on Friday, July 29, and run from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, July 30 and 31. The workshop will include an “Idea Jam,” a look at business pitch concepts, team formation, networking, in-depth exploration of the value-proposition canvas, hands-on development of customer-value creation, an overview of market size and customer segments, and a business-pitch competition.

The facilitators for the Startup Lean Weekend will be Jeremy Casey and Rick Plaut.

Casey started Name Net Worth, a software startup company, in Springfield in 2014. His background as a serial networker, commercial lender, and communicator was the springboard to his transition from corporate America to entrepreneurship. He was president of the Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield (YPS), which was in its infancy when he joined. Over five years, he grew the board of directors and the membership, and has helped make YPS the top membership organization for young professionals in the region. He has conducted workshops with many high schools and colleges in the Northeast, and has mentored many startup organizations through Valley Venture Mentors, helping them get their businesses started and providing ongoing feedback as they grow.

Plaut became an entrepreneur in 2009 after 30 years as a corporate ‘intrapreneur,’ developing new products, customers, markets, and businesses. Currently founding his third enterprise, he is a partner in InCommN and was a partner at Universal Quality Machine. He and his partners at InCommN teach the principles of Lean LaunchPad to entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and businesses with a need for quick growth in new markets. He also shares the tools of Lean LaunchPad and the Business Model Canvas with students at a number of local colleges, including Smith, Elms, and UMass. He is also a mentor and facilitator for early-stage startups at Valley Venture Mentors, and is a board member and mentor for a variety of early-stage enterprises.

All events will take place on the Elms College campus. The cost is $250 per person or $150 for Elms alumni.

Springfield Museums Mark Centennial of Historic Motorcycle Ride

By BusinessWest Staff June 14, 2016

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Museums will host events tied to the launch of the Sisters’ Centennial Motorcycle Ride, a commemorative cross-country trip to honor the epic journey made by Adeline and Augusta Van Buren 100 years ago this summer.

In 1916, the Van Buren Sisters were the first women to cross the continental U.S., each on her own Indian Powerplus motorcycle built in Springfield. During their historic trip, they became the first women to reach the 14,115-foot summit of Pikes Peak, and reached San Francisco after 60 days of riding. In 2002, the Sisters were inducted into the American Motorcyclist Assoc. Hall of Fame, and in 2003 they were inducted into the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame.

Just as Adeline and Augusta did in 1916, Centennial Ride participants will begin their ride west in Springfield. The roughly 100 motorcyclists will gather on Monday, July 4 for dinner, music, and a viewing of fireworks from La Quinta Hotel in downtown Springfield. The next day, Tuesday, July 5, riders will attend an opening ceremony at the Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History at the Springfield Museums. The Wood Museum features the famous Indian Motocycle Collection, an expansive exhibit of vintage bikes, photographs, and memorabilia detailing the Springfield-based company’s proud history from its inception in 1902. Ride participants will also hear remarks from ride organizer Alisa Clickenger, Robert Pandya of Indian Motorcycle, and Wood Museum Director Guy McLain. That portion of the program will take place at 10 a.m. in SIS Hall at the Wood Museum, and is open to the public with paid museum admission.

Following those opening comments, riders will be able to tour the Indian collection and enjoy a new exhibit created in honor of Adeline and Augusta. “Crossing the Country to Cross Barriers: The Van Buren Sisters Ride into History” will feature a range of photographs taken on the trip and a variety of rare memorabilia items on loan from the Van Buren family. The exhibit runs from June 28, 2016 to July 30, 2017. Adeline and Augusta will also be the honorees at this year’s Indian Day Celebration at the Springfield Museums, which is scheduled for Sunday, July 24.

“We are thrilled that we’ve played a part in connecting the Van Buren family with the Springfield Museums and providing the inspiration for this new exhibit,” Clickenger said. “What a terrific way to formally start our event, by being able to bring our riders to the Springfield Museums to experience how and where our fabulous story began.”

Added McLain, “the Springfield Museums are honored to be the host location for this Centennial Ride launch event. The Van Buren sisters serve as important role models to women even to this day, and their story fits perfectly with our exhibits about Indian Motocycles and other women trailblazers, like aviator Maude Tait.”

Information about the Sisters’ Centennial Motorcycle Ride on July 5-23, as well as background on the Van Buren Sisters, adventure tours for women, and additional ride routes, can all be found on the event website, www.sistersmotorcycleride.com.

GoodWorks Insurance Profiled in National Magazine

By BusinessWest Staff June 14, 2016

Daily News

GREAT BARRINGTON — GoodWorks Insurance is booming while giving half of its growing profits to charities in Connecticut and Massachusetts, according to a profile in the May issue of Independent Agent, the national magazine for independent insurance agents.

When Chad Yonker, a former minority investor, took over GoodWorks as CEO in 2011, it was struggling financially despite growing sales. He recapitalized the firm. “Since then, the agency has more than tripled in size,” the magazine notes.

Based in Glastonbury, Conn., GoodWorks Insurance is an independent agency with additional Connecticut offices in Avon, Columbia, and New Milford, and Massachusetts offices in Great Barrington and Worcester. It’s marking its 10th anniversary this year.

GoodWorks’ corporate charter requires that a minimum of 50% of operating earnings be distributed to nonprofits. Its community grants support local nonprofits that work in education, healthcare, public safety, and community development. They include medical clinics, fuel-assistance programs, visiting-nurse associations, special education, the YMCA, and more.

GoodWorks’ 2015 sales were about $6 million, and the agency expects up to 50% growth for 2016. Yonker and the other agency owners decline compensation in order to boost the profit pool available for giving, according to the magazine. Its commitment to nonprofits has resulted in many growth opportunities.

Besides insuring families and small businesses in general, GoodWorks has special expertise in nonprofits, fuel dealers, aerospace, manufacturers, and surety bonds.

“We’re large enough to provide expertise and market access on par or even in excess of the large national brokers in our key areas of focus,” Yonker said. “We’re also small enough to provide the local, personalized service our customers expect.”

Besides the charitable mission, joint ventures and strategic partnerships with other service providers have spurred GoodWorks’ growth. “We also have won endorsements and endorsement expansions by trade associations in key areas of expertise,” Yonker said.

The most recent GoodWorks Insurance acquisition, Metayer Bonding Associates in Avon, is the largest surety-bond-only agency in the Northeast.

“It adds another critical tool to our specialized growth arsenal,” said GoodWorks Chief Operating Officer Paul Brian. “We’re making a big push to expand our contractor business in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, and nearby states.”

The full article can be read online at tinyurl.com/j9hua44. The agency’s website is www.goodworksinsurance.com.

Deadline Approaches to Register for Owner Succession Planning Event

By BusinessWest Staff June 14, 2016

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Vann Group and Epstein Financial Services will present “Building Your Exit: The Owner Succession Planning Process Defined,” part of the BusinessWest/HCN Lecture Series, on Wednesday, June 22 at the Student Prince/the Fort in Springfield, and Thursday, June 23 at Hadley Farms Meeting House in Hadley.

Registration both days will begin at 7:15 a.m., followed by breakfast and a panel discussion from 7:30 to 9 a.m.

One of the largest challenges facing business owners today is the question of how to get out of their business. These seminars will present a step-by-step breakdown of the succession-planning process and what to expect along the way, including the many benefits to transitioning business ownership.

Panelists include Kevin Vann and Michael Vann of the Vann Group and Charlie Epstein of Epstein Financial Services and Epstein Financial Group.

Admission is free, but RSVP is requested for both seminars. Register online here, or call (413) 781-8600 for more information.

Picture This

By BusinessWest Staff June 14, 2016

Departments Picture This

Email ‘Picture This’ photos with a caption and contact information to [email protected]

Accelerating the Process

Valley Venture Mentors staged its second annual Accelerator Awards banquet on May 26 at the MassMutual Center. The event, which celebrates entrepreneurship across the region, spotlighted companies that took part in the second accelerator program, and presented checks (as determined by a panel of judges) to this year’s finalists to help them advance their venture. A total of $252,000 was awarded to 12 finalists. From top to bottom: Devin (left) and Kevin Murray, the father-son team behind better.bike, stand beside one of their prototypes; Scott Foster, co-founder of VVM, addresses the audience of more than 500 people; the team at Any Café, which is trying to market a product that will allow the user to brew a cup of coffee any time, anywhere, poses with its concept; Lora Fischer-DeWitt, founder of Scout Curated Wears, a maker of jewelry, proudly displays her check for $32,000; Raymond Berry, founder of White Lion Brewery and a finalist in the first accelerator cohort, addresses the audience. With him is the company’s mascot. The top prize winner, Marcelia Muehlke, founder of fair-trade wedding-dress maker Celia Grace, talks about her company and what she plans do with the capital she won in a story HERE

BetterBike-VVM
SpeakerVVM
whiteLionSpeakerVVM
AnyCafe-VVM
ScoutCuratedWearsVVM

Giving Back

Robinson Donovan, a law practice based in Springfield and Northampton, is celebrating its 150th anniversary. The firm’s founder, an important political figure and instrumental businessman for the town of Chicopee, was a true public servant. As such, the firm will be donating to a nonprofit each month this year. The first few recipients have been chosen, including Providence Ministries Service Network, Friends of the Homeless Inc., the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, and Bay Path University.

From left, James Martin, partner at Robinson Donovan; Kathleen Bourque, vice president at Bay Path University; and Michael Giampietro, CFO at Bay Path University

Shawna Cobb, accounts payable/receivable at Robinson Donovan; Kathleen Lamoureux, legal secretary at Robinson Donovan; Andrew Morehouse, executive director at the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts; and Michael Simolo, partner at Robinson Donovan

Karen Blanchard, left, executive director at Providence Ministries Service Network, and Carla Newton, partner at Robinson Donovan.

Donut Day Doings

National Donut Day was June 3. The Salvation Army uses that day to bring attention to its programs and encourage contributions to help it carry out its mission. Among the local offices visited by donut-bearing representatives of the Salvation Army was BusinessWest, represented here by senior writer and donut enthusiast Joe Bednar (far right). Representing the Salvation Army are, from left, Laura Stopa, Market Mentors; Elaine Massery, Salvation Army board member; Keith Barrow, Salvation Army staffer, and Amanda Moyer, Market Mentors and Salvation Army board member.

Court Dockets

By BusinessWest Staff June 14, 2016

Court Dockets Departments

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

CHICOPEE DISTRICT COURT

Vincent Cole v. Wilson’s Paving & Construction Inc.
Allegation: Negligence in paving and installation of driveway: $5,800
Filed 5/4/16

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT

Alan Zaleski v. Paul Davis Restoration and Remodeling of Western Massachusetts
Allegation: Fraudulent practices and negligent repairs causing property damages and personal injury: $418,000
Filed: 4/13/16

John Lemke v. Corey Colonial Atrium Property Services Inc.
Allegation: Sewer system failure causing backup into plaintiff’s condominium: $188,000
Filed: 4/29/16

Luis Rodriquez v. Fountain Plating Inc.
Allegation: Plaintiff was not paid for time worked: $300,000
Filed: 4/28/16

Shaw Industries Inc. v. AMS Floors, LLC
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $45,170.65
Filed: 4/26/16

HAMPSHIRE SUPERIOR COURT

Ondrick Materials and Recycling v. O’Leary Group Inc., American River Nutrition Inc., TwoThree27, LLC
Allegation: Breach of construction contract: $53,133
Filed: 5/3/16

Valley Home Improvement Inc. v. Sun-Edison, LLC
Allegation: Non-payment of services rendered: $37,771.69
Filed: 4/18/16

NORTHAMPTON DISTRICT COURT

Pioneer Landscapes Inc. v. O’Leary Group Inc. and American River Nutrition Inc.
Allegation: Breach of contract and failure to pay for services rendered: $34,408.62
Filed: 5/2/16

Time Payment Corp. v. Topitz, LLC
Allegation: Suit on previous judgment: $9,035.27
Filed: 4/7/16

PALMER DISTRICT COURT

Country Homes Construction v. Joe Roth Contracting
Allegation: Non-payment of supplies and services rendered: $5,154.50

Rosette Garcia v. Orchard Imports
Allegation: Cost for repair of vehicle: $1,250
Filed: 4/28/15

SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT

Perkins Paper Inc. v. The First Chandler Corp. d/b/a/ Betsy’s Diner
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $27,102.98
Filed: 5/16/16

WESTFIELD DISTRICT COURT

Will Spath v. Van Pelt Precision Inc.
Allegation: Non-payment of loan: $31,207.90
Filed: 4/8/16

Marian Duggan-Markos v. The Bon Ton Stores Inc.
Allegation: Negligent maintenance of property causing severe injury when dressing room door came off hinges and fell on plaintiff: $6,028.18
Filed: 4/4/16

John Liptak, CPA v. Michael’s Towing Inc.
Allegation: Non-payment of accounting services rendered: $4,492.44
Filed: 5/4/16

Rebecca Davidson and Arthur Thomason v. Quabbin Valley Pool & Patio
Allegation: Breach of contract for installation of pool liner: $7,150
Filed: 5/11/16

Agenda

By BusinessWest Staff June 14, 2016

Agenda Departments

‘Leverage Technology to Do More with Less’

June 15: Comcast Business will present “How to Leverage Technology to Do More With Less,” part of the BusinessWest/HCN Lecture Series, at the Lyman & Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History, 21 Edward St., Springfield. Registration will begin at 7:15 a.m., followed by breakfast and a panel discussion from 7:30 to 9 a.m. The panelists — influential minds in the IT field — will discuss issues that every business IT department is being forced to deal with, including rising demands to make changes to existing systems, increasing efficiency and improving security, and how budget restrictions impact IT. Panelists include Michael Feld, CEO, VertitechIT, and interim CTO, Baystate Health and Lancaster General Hospital; Frank Vincentelli, chief technology officer, Integrated IT Solutions; and Patrick Streck, director, IT Services, Baystate Health / Information & Technology. Admission is free. To register, visit HERE or call (413) 781-8600 for more information.

Summertime Pops Concert

June 15: Shriners Hospitals for Children – Springfield will welcome the Old Post Road Orchestra for a free summertime pops performance on the hospital lawn from 7 to 9 p.m. The Old Post Road Orchestra (OPRO) is enjoying its 30th concert season as a volunteer community orchestra based in Wilbraham. OPRO’s mission is to provide quality symphonic music at convenient locations in and around Western Mass., and to offer people of all ages the opportunity to play their instruments in a friendly, community-based orchestra. This summertime pops performance will feature a guest vocalist, Anita Anderson Cooper. Trained at Westminster College and Boston University, she has worked as a professional musician, conductor, and teacher. Career highlights include solo performances at Carnegie Hall; leading roles with various opera, Broadway, and regional theater companies, and solo appearances through the Hampshire Choral Society. Recent conducting roles were with the Green Mountain District in Vermont and the Quabbin Valley Music Festival. Cooper has been a recipient of a National Endowment for the Humanities grant and studied Mozart’s music in Vienna, Austria. She currently teaches three choirs, music theory, and jazz at Amherst Regional High School; conducts the New Valley Singers in Holyoke; and is the soprano soloist for South Church, Springfield. Her Chorale recently won the WGBY television series Together in Song, and WGBY produced a special about the group. Light refreshments will be available at the concert. Lawn chairs are permitted, but alcohol, smoking, and pets are not. For more information, contact Lee Roberts at (413) 755-2307 or [email protected]. For more information about OPRO, visit www.opro.org/content/about-us.

Estate-planning Conference

June 16: Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin, P.C. announced that attorney Michele Feinstein will lead a full-day Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) symposium at the Hotel Northampton. With game-changing case decisions and new emerging regional trends, this day-long conference will provide attorneys with an in-depth update on Massachusetts estate planning. The event, running from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., will explore how the governor’s budget has potential to influence elder-law planning in conjunction with Medicaid. MCLE is a nonprofit corporation that provides hands-on educational programs and reference materials for attorneys. This continuing-education program arranges more than 250 presentations annually in a variety of in-person and online formats. Feinstein concentrates her practice in the areas of estate planning and administration, elder law, probate litigation, health law, and corporate and business planning, including all aspects of planning for the succession of business interests, representation of closely held businesses and their owners, and representation of physicians in their individual and group practices. She is a cum laude graduate of the Western New England University School of Law, and earned her bachelor’s degree and master of laws in taxation at Boston University. To register for the conference, visit mcle.org/store/cart. MCLE will offer a new-lawyers discount for attorneys who were admitted after 2013 and law students.

40 Under Forty

June 16: The 10th annual 40 Under Forty award program, staged by BusinessWest, will be held at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House in Holyoke, honoring 40 of the region’s rising stars under 40 years old. An independent panel of judges chose the winners, and their stories were told in the pages of the April 18 issue. The event is sponsored by Northwestern Mutual and Paragus Strategic IT (presenting sponsors), EMA Dental, Health New England, Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst, Moriarty & Primack, United Bank, and the Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield. This event is sold out.

Oral Health Drive

June 18: The Women’s Way, a program of United Way of Franklin County, is holding a community Oral Health Drive from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Greenfield Town Common. The Women’s Way volunteer group will be collecting items related to oral health, including toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss, and travel-size mouthwash, to help address the lack of access to oral-health screenings and services. Collection of items will also be accepted at various local businesses and at the United Way office, 51 Davis St., Suite 2, Greenfield, from June 1 to June 20. Some 48 million children and adults in the U.S. live in areas without enough dentists to provide routine oral healthcare. Millions more can get to a dentist but cannot afford to pay for dental care. Children without access to dental care use emergency-room services more often and face worsened job prospects as adults compared to their peers who do receive care. In Franklin County, access is even more limited for those who are low-income and receiving MassHealth dental benefits. Many dentists in the area do not accept MassHealth, and the dental benefits have been recently cut back. Just as the mouth is part of the body, oral health is a part of overall health. People cannot be healthy unless they have access to the dental services they need. Utilizing United Way’s Day of Action, the Women’s Way, working with the Health Care for All Oral Health Advocacy Task Force, is expecting to make a bigger impact in 2017 with an Oral Health Fair, in collaboration with service providers, providing services to area residents for free. “We’re very excited to be working with Health Care for All, Women’s Way, and area providers in anticipation of next year’s Day of Service. It is important to our mission and the community to ensure people have adequate access to basic dental services,” said Sandy Sayers, executive director of the United Way of Franklin County. “This year’s Oral Health Drive by the Women’s Way is just the beginning of addressing the community’s need and access to quality oral health care, as well as building awareness for next year’s Dental Fair.”

Sunbeam Social Club

June 20: Sunshine Village is introducing its Sunbeam Social Club, designed for people with memory loss and their family members. Sunshine Village has a long history of providing innovative programming for people with cognitive disabilities. Sunbeam Social Club will provide a safe, supportive, and engaging environment for people who often have fewer opportunities for socializing and fun. The debut of Sunbeam Social Club coincides with Alzheimer’s Awareness Day on Monday, June 20, the longest day of the year. The day is designed to shine a light on the millions of people living with memory disorders. The gathering will be held from 10 to 11:30 a.m. in the Community Room at the Emily Partyka Central Library at 449 Front St. in Chicopee. Group and individualized activities are planned, and refreshments will be served. Volunteers from Sunshine Village’s Community Based Day Program will be on hand, as well as local professional resources. “We are thrilled to introduce the Sunbeam Social Club,” said Sunshine Village Executive Director Gina Kos. “This program is intended to provide joy to both people with memory disorders and their care partners. People with vascular dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and other memory disorders are all invited to attend with their family members.” For more information or to register for the June gathering of the Sunbeam Social Club, call Sunshine Village at (413) 592-6142.

Frankel-Kinsler Classic Golf Tournament

June 20: JGS Lifecare will host its 36th annual fund-raising golf tournament, the Frankel-Kinsler Classic, at Twin Hills Country Club in Longmeadow to raise money for the purchase of a new wheelchair-accessible van and to fund employee scholarships. The Frankel-Kinsler Classic is named in memory of the late Michael Frankel, former chairman of the JGS Lifecare board of directors, and the families of Raymond and Herman Kinsler, longtime leaders and supporters, for their exemplary commitment to those served by JGS Lifecare. The Frankel-Kinsler Classic will include a barbeque luncheon at 11 a.m.; an 18-hole bramble; a pickle ball tournament; bridge, canasta or mah jongg tournaments; poolside fun; and an awards dinner ceremony. The pickle ball tournament, held at the Enfield Tennis Club, begins at 10 a.m.; poolside fun begins at noon; the shotgun start tee-off is at 12:30 p.m.; and the bridge, canasta, or mah jongg begins at 1 p.m. A cocktail reception begins at 5:45 p.m. with awards and dinner following at 6:30 p.m., with music provided by the Blood Brothers. Event sponsors include Harry Grodsky and Co. Inc., Astro Chemicals Inc., Berkshire Bank, Bolduc’s Apparel, Chicopee Savings Bank, Daniel Goodman, D.A. Sullivan & Sons Inc., Epstein Financial, Kaste Industrial Machine Sales Inc., Meyers Brothers Kalicka P.C., Michael and Martha Kinsler and family and Sue Ann (Kinsler) and David Spahr and family (in honor of Richard Kinsler), NEFCO, Simione Consultants LLC, and TD Bank. Additional sponsorships and raffle opportunities are still available. Members of the community are also invited to attend dinner at $60 per guest. For more information on the Frankel-Kinsler Classic, call Kimberley Grandfield at (413) 567-3949, ext. 1610, or e-mail [email protected].

‘Building Your Exit’

June 22, 23: The Vann Group will present “Building Your Exit: The Owner Succession Planning Process Defined,” part of the BusinessWest/HCN Lecture Series, on Wednesday, June 22 at the Student Prince/the Fort in Springfield, and Thursday, June 23 at Hadley Farms Meeting House in Hadley. Registration both days will begin at 7:15 a.m., followed by breakfast and a panel discussion from 7:30 to 9 a.m. One of the largest challenges facing business owners today is the question of how to get out of their business. These seminars will present a step-by-step breakdown of the succession-planning process and what to expect along the way, including the many benefits to transitioning business ownership. Panelists include Kevin Vann and Michael Vann of the Vann Group and Charlie Epstein of Epstein Financial Services and Epstein Financial Group. Admission is free, but RSVP is requested by June 14 for the first seminar and by June 15 for the second. To register, go HERE or call (413) 781-8600 for more information.

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‘Leverage Technology to Do More with Less’

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Frankel-Kinsler Classic Golf Tournament

‘Building Your Exit’

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