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Daily News

GLASTONBURY, Conn. — United Bank announced that four bank directors have been appointed to new positions as advisory directors. In addition, the bank also announced that two longtime bank board members have retired. The nine remaining board members will serve on both the United Financial Bancorp Inc. board of directors and United Bank’s board of directors.

The following departed the bank’s board of directors and will now serve as advisory directors: C. Perry Chilberg, Carol Moore Cutting, David O’Connor, and Richard Tkacz. Advisory directors are tasked with promoting the interests of the bank, providing counsel when necessary to management, identifying and recommending new business opportunities, and continuing to be ambassadors of the bank in their respective communities.

In addition, David Engelson and Rosemarie Novello Papa have retired from the bank’s board of directors as of United Financial’s annual meeting last month.

“By appointing advisory directors, we are able to leverage the decades of industry knowledge and the community leadership of Perry, Carol, David, and Rich,” said William Crawford IV, United Bank CEO. “They’ve helped guide United over the past several years and grow the bank into what it is today. Although they won’t be sitting in the boardroom, I know we will continue to rely on their insight and guidance like we’ve done since they joined legacy Rockville Bank’s and legacy United Bank’s board of directors.”

Added Robert Stewart Jr., chairman of the company’s board of directors, “two of these directors I’ve known for a long time, and four others I’ve had the privilege to work with since merging the legacy banks three years ago. I can confidently tell you the bank is stronger because of them thanks to the experience they’ve shared over the years and the reputation they’ve helped us earn among our customers, shareholders, and community stakeholders. In their new role, Perry, Carol, David, and Rich will continue to be valuable teammates for United Bank.”

In a joint statement on the retirements of Engelson and Papa from the Bank’s board of directors, Crawford and Stewart added, “on behalf of the United Bank team, we want to publicly express our sincere gratitude for David’s and Rosemarie’s steadfast service to the bank and the roles they played as directors and our ambassadors in the communities we serve. They earned the utmost respect inside and outside the bank, and their keen insight will be missed in our boardroom.”

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Central Cultural District (SCCD) has released a call to artists for a unique opportunity in downtown Springfield. The SCCD is searching for artists to host a solo show in the district’s Art Stop pop-up gallery program and sell their work in one of three locations downtown. Applications will be accepted through Friday, June 30.

Artists chosen will have the opportunity to sell their art in a gallery, receive marketing and a public reception courtesy of the district, and be awarded a $200 stipend. “This is a great opportunity for both emerging and professional artists,” said Morgan Drewniany, SCCD executive director. “Most public galleries don’t pay a stipend and charge a fee if works are sold. We are not only paying the artists for lending their work, but underwriting the cost of the program for them.”

The request for proposals (RFP) asks for proposals from artists of all mediums to show their work from August to October. Requirements for what the art should look like are fairly laid-back, to best enable creative expression.

The Art Stop venues range from a small community meeting space to a highly visible first-floor lobby, to a large community room. The SCCD hopes artists will draw inspiration from these differing spaces. The purpose of the program is to increase walkability in the cultural district, as well as create a source of income for local artists. This cycle adds the TD Bank Building at 1441 Main to the other three locations.

A joint reception will be held between four locations on Wednesday, Aug. 2, with artist talks, street art, and performances between the locations to encourage walking, and light food and drinks provided by the SCCD and artist hosts.

The RFP and more details can be found at springfieldculture.org/artistresources. Any questions can be forwarded to Drewniany at [email protected] or (413) 454-1195.

Daily News

WILBRAHAM — East Springfield Veterinary Hospital (ESVH) announced it has purchased Wilbraham Animal Hospital, which will operate under the Wilbraham name in a new, state-of-the-art animal hospital at 2424 Boston Road.

ESVH owners Amy Zander and Dr. Andrew Hersman, who began working at the family business in 1999 and 2005, respectively, before taking over ownership from their late father, Dr. Richard Hersman, also said they will add new positions due to their recent growth. Dr. Lynn Dgetluck, who formerly worked Angell Memorial West in Springfield, will join Hersman, Dr. Bill Anderson, Dr. Hannah Belcher-Timme, and Dr. Denise Chiminiello. The combined practice boasts 20 additional employees.

“We are extremely excited to offer our high level of pet care to a new community of pet parents. I think our Dad is smiling down,” Zander said. “We are also honored to have an incredible team and so thankful for their support during the growth process.”

Daily News

LONGMEADOW — JGS Lifecare will host the next Western Mass. Eldercare Professionals Assoc. (WMEPA) breakfast on Tuesday, June 27 in Gloth Auditorium at Leavitt Family Jewish Home, 770 Converse St., Longmeadow. Breakfast and networking begin at 8:30 a.m., followed by the program at 9 a.m. and tours at 10 a.m. for anyone who is interested.

Rick Forgay, CEO at Business Leadership Mastery, LLC will talk about generating more value, energy, and enjoyment in work, career, and life. Forgay has led, advised, and mentored corporate CEOs, executive teams, and entrepreneurs to success in business, careers, and life for more than three decades as a corporate executive, entrepreneur, and community leader. Through his energizing, engaging, and immediately actionable presentation, 
attendees will learn three keys necessary to inspire more passion in their work and life by doing what they love with clarity of purpose.

To RSVP, contact Mary-Anne Schelb at (413) 567-6212, ext. 3105, or [email protected].

40 Under 40

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Honoring the 11th class of successful young professionals

The Log Cabin in Holyoke was once again bursting with energy and excitement as more than 700 people packed the house to celebrate the 40 Under Forty class of 2017 — the 11th class of successful young professionals so honored by BusinessWest since the program’s inception in 2007.

SEE: the flipbook of this year’s 40 Under Forty!

Photos by Leah Martin Photography

Presenting Sponsors

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Daily News

HOLYOKE — Mike Hamel, owner of Summit View Banquet House and Hamel’s Creative Catering, has been named 2017 Business Person of the Year by the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce.

Hamel’s Creative Catering was established in 1990, but the Hamel family business roots go back to 1963, when his family owned and operated Hamel’s Market in South Hadley and Edgar’s Market in the Churchill section of Holyoke.

“Mike is an exemplary model of a home-grown success story. This is a great story of small business success,” said Kathleen Anderson, president of the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce. “It includes a family legacy, following a passion, having a dream, and overcoming obstacles to achieve something significant and lasting. We are very proud of Mike and his family, and congratulate them on this achievement.”

The award has been presented annually to an outstanding business person who is community-oriented, is innovative, possesses a high degree of integrity, and for business accomplishments in Greater Holyoke’s business community.

Marge Manton, treasurer and CFO of Loomis Communities and chairman of the chamber board of directors, also announced the selection of Harry Montalvo of bankESB to receive the Henry A. Fifield Award for Voluntary Service to the Chamber. The award is named for the late Henry A. Fifield, former Amped executive and civic leader who served in leadership positions with the chamber.

Montalvo’s service includes the chamber ambassador committee, the board of trustees of the Chamber Centennial Foundation, and chamber liaison between the two chamber boards. Montalvo has also been a mentor to many of the Chamber Foundation’s SPARK Launch Class graduates.

Both award winners will be honored at the Business Person of the Year and Fifield Volunteer Award Dinner on Wednesday, Oct. 25 at 6 p.m. at the Delaney House. Information can be found online at holyokechamber.com or by calling the chamber office at (413) 534-3376. Everyone is invited to attend.

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Following a nationwide search, Anthony Hayes has been selected as the new general manager for public broadcaster WGBY in Springfield. Hayes comes to WGBY with nearly two decades of executive experience in public TV and radio in Connecticut and Washington, D.C. He succeeds Rus Peotter, who retired last fall after leading the station for 15 years.

“Anthony is a visionary leader, and his extensive background in strategic development and engaging with audiences will advance WGBY’s mission and vital role in the community and across the region,” said Liz Cheng, Television Stations manager for the WGBH Educational Foundation, which includes WGBY.

Hayes will lead the station in its strategic planning, editorial operations, and community engagement, serving its public-media mission of advancing the educational and cultural life of Western New England.

“As a highly accomplished media executive, Anthony’s management skills, experience, and style will be a great fit for WGBY. His industry knowledge and community focus will be of tremendous value in leading our public-media initiatives,” said Crist Myers, chair of the WGBY board of tribunes.

Most recently, Hayes served as senior vice president for Engagement at Connecticut Public Broadcasting in Hartford, which includes CPTV and WNPR, where he guided fund-raising and sponsorship initiatives to develop new strategic opportunities and growth. Prior to that, he was at WAMU-FM, American University Radio, where he oversaw the sponsorship sales division and designed and implemented integrated fund-raising, communications, and outreach strategies, locally and nationally, that increased stakeholder engagement. Earlier in his career, he was with WETA, public TV and radio in Arlington, Va., where he managed corporate marketing and developed non-traditional revenue initiatives.

“I couldn’t be more pleased to have this opportunity to magnify the impact of this exceptional organization,” said Hayes. “I will work collaboratively and strategically to build upon WGBY’s rich history and advance its core mission, focusing on building a stronger community through engagement, learning, and understanding. I believe WGBY is poised to expand its reach throughout Western New England, and I am eager to lead the charge.”

Hayes holds a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from the New York Institute of Technology, and a master’s degree in media entrepreneurship from American University. He will join WGBY on July 10.

Daily News

HOLYOKE — On Sunday, June 25 at MacKenzie Stadium, the Valley Blue Sox, Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse, state Reps. Aaron Vega and John Velis, along with retired Lt. Col. Bennett Walsh, superintendent of the Holyoke Soldiers Home; and Col. Les “Anchor” Bradfield III, 439th Operations commander at Westover, will honor the World War I service of Holyoke resident and Medal of Honor recipient John MacKenzie and the 100-year anniversary of World War I.

This effort will also be supported by Holyoke Veterans Services, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, and the Massachusetts WWI Centennial Commission, and has been spearheaded by VFW WWI Centennial Commemoration State Director Brian Willette.

A pregame ceremony honoring MacKenzie will take place at 4:30 p.m. with Clark Eckhoff, owner of the the Blue Sox, who will dedicate the 2017 season to MacKenzie, a U.S. Navy boatswain mate who was awarded the Medal of Honor for saving his ship and crewmates aboard the USS Remlik on Dec. 17, 1917. Morse will also symbolically rededicate the stadium in honor of MacKenzie by mayoral proclamation, along with citations honoring MacKenzie from Vega, Velis, and state Sen. Don Humason.

The event will feature the Veterans of Foreign War WWI Centennial State Honor Guard, and Walsh will honor MacKenzie with a reading of the Medal of Honor Citation followed by the singing of the National Anthem as a WWI commemorative flag is raised along with the American flag. The WWI centennial flag with be flown for the remainder of the Blue Sox season.

Daily News

AMHERST — The Healthy Development Initiative, a community-focused research, education, and outreach program led by UMass Amherst faculty, will host its annual open house on Friday, June 23 from 3 to 5 p.m. and a family fun day for families with infants and young children on Saturday, June 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Both events will be held at the UMass Center at Springfield.

The public is invited to attend either or both events and learn more about the initiative, which is aimed at understanding and promoting the psychological and physical health and well-being of children, adolescents, adults, and seniors, according to its director, Kirby Deater-Deckard, professor of Psychological and Brain Studies at UMass Amherst.

“We are scientists and students who discover and share new knowledge about human development,” he said. “We do this in collaboration with community partners, who put this knowledge to work.”

At the open house for professionals and the public on Friday, there will be light refreshments, informal presentations about exciting new research discoveries and outreach activities, and tours of the laboratory and office at the UMass Center. The family fun day on Saturday will include snacks, games, hands-on activities, and prizes. Families will also be able to sign up to participate in research studies.

Launched in the spring of 2016, the Healthy Development Initiative’s projects include several new studies focusing on children’s development spanning infancy through adolescence, in families, schools, and neighborhoods. The studies are focusing on various aspects of cognitive and social-emotional development, including learning and mental-health outcomes. Funding has already been received from several agencies and organizations, and multiple new proposals are under review to support the research and outreach work.

Also underway are ongoing collaborations with several public and charter schools in the region to develop and test new curricular, intervention, and assessment tools for academic-year summer programs. In addition, the initiative has partnered with the UMass Amherst Center for Research on Families to seed new research projects involving UMass researchers with community partners in Springfield. This collaboration also includes a joint partnership with Project ACCess at Baystate Health and Partners for a Healthier Community, a Springfield-based effort to expand community-based research projects that will benefit the area’s population.

Other UMass Amherst members involved in the initiative include UMass and Five College graduate and undergraduate students working with faculty members Sara Whitcomb of the College of Education, and Erik Cheries, Youngbin Kwak, Jennifer McDermott, Joonkoo Park, Maureen Perry-Jenkins, and Ashley Woodman from the Psychological and Brain Studies department.

Daily News

BOSTON — Local unemployment rates increased in 16 labor-market areas, decreased in five areas, and remained the same in three areas in the state during the month of May, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported. Compared to May 2016, the rates were up in 24 labor market areas.

Thirteen of the 15 areas for which job estimates are published recorded seasonal job gains in May. The largest gains occurred in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, Barnstable, Worcester, Framingham, and Lowell-Billerica-Chelmsford areas.

From May 2016 to May 2017, 13 of the 15 areas added jobs, with the largest percentage gains in the New Bedford, Barnstable, Boston-Cambridge-Newton, Brockton-Bridgewater-Easton, and Haverhill-Newburyport-Amesbury areas.

In order to compare the statewide rate to local unemployment rates, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the statewide unadjusted unemployment rate for May was 4.1%.

Last week, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported the statewide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 4.2% in the month of May. The statewide seasonally adjusted jobs estimate showed a 2,900-job gain in May and an over-the-year gain of 58,300 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.

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Thunderbirds received a trio of American Hockey League business honors at the 2017 AHL Marketing Meeting presented by ExteNet Systems on Tuesday, as more than 200 representatives from the league and its member clubs gathered at the Arizona Grand Resort & Spa in Phoenix.

Team and league front-office personnel from throughout the AHL meet each summer to discuss best practices and innovative ideas in several areas, including ticket sales, corporate sales, and digital media.

In their inaugural season, the Thunderbirds saw tremendous growth in the areas of season tickets, corporate sponsorship, and group ticket sales. As a result, the Thunderbirds received three different honors for reaching year-to-year benchmarks.

First, the team was honored for achieving a greater-than-10% increase in per-game full-season equivalents, a statistic that tracks the combined sales of all ticket packages. The Thunderbirds’ corporate sales team also was recognized for having a greater-than-10% growth in corporate cash sponsorships generated in the market. Lastly, the organization reached the benchmark of a greater-than-15% growth in revenue for per-game group ticket sales.

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Advertising Club of Western Massachusetts announced four winners of the 2017 Pynchon Medal for community service. They will be honored at a banquet on Thursday, Oct. 19 at the Log Cabin in Holyoke.

This year’s winners include Bob Greeley, president of R.J. Greeley Co. in Springfield, honored for his work counseling people recovering from addiction; Judy Ingis, founder of Rachel’s Table, an organization dedicated to fighting hunger; Realtor Paul Sears for his work helping people access home ownership; and Susan Canning, founder of the KEVS Foundation, which helps young people access cardiac screenings and places defibrillators in schools and other locations.

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Healthcare Heroes, an exciting recognition program involving the Western Mass. healthcare sector, was launched this spring by HCN and BusinessWest. Sponsored by American International College, Bay Path University, Elms College, and Renew.Calm, with additional sponsorships available, the program was created to shed a bright light on the outstanding work being done across the broad spectrum of health and wellness services, and the institutions and individuals providing that care.

The deadline has been extended until July 10 to nominate individuals, groups, and institutions in the following categories: Patient/Resident/Client Care Provider; Innovation in Health/Wellness; Community Health; Emerging Leader; Collaboration in Health/Wellness; Health/Wellness Administration/Administrator; and Lifetime Achievement. The nominations will be scored by a panel of judges to be announced in the coming weeks. The winners will be chosen in July and profiled in the September issue of HCN.

Nomination guidelines are available at healthcarenews.com and businesswest.com/healthcare-heroes.

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — This year marks the 43rd year the Realtor Assoc. of Pioneer Valley has awarded scholarships to area high-school graduates about to enter college. This year, 20 students were awarded a total of $10,500.

The students were honored at a banquet on June 8 at the Log Cabin in Holyoke. Since 1992, 470 students have been awarded more than $276,000 in scholarships from the Realtor Assoc. of Pioneer Valley.

The 2017 recipients are Jacques Courchesne, Holyoke High School; Allyson Dubiel, Agawam High School; Kyle Engley, Westfield High School; Tawreak Gamble Eddington, the MacDuffie School; Hayden Gillooly, Miss Hall’s School; Alyssa Gonneville, South Hadley High School; Ian Hutchins, Northampton High School; Caitlin Kazunas, Hampshire Regional High School; Jaclyn Lepsch, Chicopee Comprehensive High School; Paiton Luis, South Hadley High School; Michael Maiewski, Northampton High School; Christopher Molta, Southwick Regional School; Rebekah Nevarez, Minnechaug Regional High School; Kirtana Palreddy, Longmeadow High School; Adam Phelps, Greenfield High School; Aniello Russo, Longmeadow High School; Jasmine Sabadosa, East Longmeadow High School; Makenzie Sullivan, Southwick Regional School; Nicholas Taylor, Longmeadow High School; and Samantha Zeno, Minnechuag Regional High School.

Daily News

LUDLOW — Duro-Last announced the opening of its newest site in Ludlow. The 60,000-square-foot facility manufactures custom-fabricated roofing membranes and accessories for Duro-Last Inc., and services the Northeast customer base. A grand-opening ceremony took place on June 20 at the facility at 84 Westover Road, Ludlow.

“We are excited about this investment in the Northeast region, and would like to thank our customers whose loyalty and support have made it possible,” said Duro-Last CEO Tom Saeli. “In addition to initially creating approximately 20 new jobs In Ludlow, this expansion demonstrates that we are committed to providing our contractors quicker access to the products they require to satisfy their customers’ needs.”

Daily News

EAST LONGMEADOW — HUB International New England, a division of HUB International Limited, announced the recipients of this year’s 2017 scholarship program. This year marks 30 years of HUB International presenting local high-school seniors with scholarships. The recipients plan to continue their study of business and enter college the same year as their graduation from high school. Scholarships are awarded based on each high school’s recommendation.

“Hard work really does pay off,” said Timm Marini, president of Personal Lines at HUB International New England. “We are delighted that, over the course of 30 years, HUB has been able to recognize so many bright and accomplished students. Providing these scholarships shows the importance of investing in emerging talent throughout our communities. It would be our privilege to have these students as future employees of HUB.”

Julia LeBlanc received HUB’s South Hadley High School scholarship, and will be attending Bentley University. Ludlow High School graduate Natalia Paulino is the recipient of HUB’s Ludlow scholarship and plans to attend Western New England University. Kelsey Allen is the recipient of the East Longmeadow High School HUB scholarship and plans to attend Bentley University. HUB’s Monson High School scholarship recipient is Yasin Abdul Wadud, who plans to attend Westfield State University. Finally, HUB awarded its Spencer High School scholarship to Stefyni Whitenett, who plans to attend Quinsigamond Community College.

Daily News

WILBRAHAM — The East of the River Five Town Chamber of Commerce (ERC5) awarded its inaugural Business of the Year honor to the Gaudreau Group.

The award recognizes an ERC5 business or organization that has made an outstanding contribution to the Massachusetts communities of Longmeadow, East Longmeadow, Wilbraham, Hampden, and Ludlow. In addition to exhibiting a commitment to excellence, the chamber said, the Gaudreau Group has made the Five Town footprint a better place to live.

“We are deeply honored to be the inaugural winner of this award. Everyone at the Gaudreau Group cares about the communities we serve. We’re proud of our efforts to make Western Mass. a better place to live and work,” said Jules Gaudreau, president of the Gaudreau Group.

Founded in 1921 and headquartered in Wilbraham, the Gaudreau Group is a fourth-generation, family-owned, independent insurance and financial-services firm that employs 30 professionals and insures more than 6,000 businesses and families in 14 states.

Daily News

When a property like Springfield’s Tower Square comes onto the market — as the property’s owner, MassMutual, announced Monday — the common reaction is to think that something is wrong, and that such a development is bad news.

Maybe that is the case here, but MassMutual is certainly spinning things a different way, and maybe the rest of us should be thinking in those terms as well.

In acknowledging that Tower Square, opened as Baystate West in 1971, was on the block, a MassMutual spokesperson said this action is being taken because of all the positive developments taking place in Springfield and the realization that commercial real estate downtown is ‘hot,’ or at least much hotter than it has been in some time. Selling now, he said, is a wise move from an investment perspective.

And it is hard to argue with that thinking. Indeed, it only makes sense that this iconic property is worth more now than it has been at perhaps any point in the past 30 years or so. And what’s that old adage about real estate, stocks, and just about everything else — ‘buy low, sell high.’

Thus, this news should be greeted enthusiastically on a number of levels. First, it should be taken as a sign that Springfield’s recovery, or renaissance, as some have called it, is real, and that, as MGM Springfield moves ever closer to opening its $950 million casino, even better times are coming for the City of Homes and its long-struggling downtown.

The news could also be taken as perhaps the start of a new era in the history of Tower Square, which has perhaps been the best mirror on the city’s health and well-being that we’ve had.

Indeed, when Springfield and its downtown were much healthier, Tower Square, or Baystate West, as it was called before 1996, was the unofficial symbol of success and vibrancy.

When it opened to considerable fanfare (it was Springfield’s first building of more than a dozen floors), it was the place to be. Its storefronts were full, and its ground floor and mezzanine were packed with people. Oldtimers (meaning people over the age of 50) can and often do tell stories about spending an entire Saturday in a two- or three-block area downtown, starting at Johnson’s Bookstore, moving on to Baystate West, then going to Steiger’s and Forbes & Wallace.

Almost all of those destinations are now gone — victims, some say, of the Holyoke Mall’s ascendance, but certainly victims of changing shopping habits and changing fortunes downtown.

By the mid-’90s, Tower Square had become, in essence, a symbol of Springfield’s decline. Most storefronts were empty, others were occupied by discount retailers, and the mall itself was eerily quiet and mostly devoid of people except for those lined up at Dunkin’ Donuts. When proponents of a downtown casino wanted to press their case for how the city needed a spark, they started by pointing to Tower Square and what wasn’t happening there.

So maybe Tower Square is once again becoming a symbol for Springfield, a symbol of its rebirth, of its soaring fortunes in the wake of the casino, Union Station, and a host of other developments.

Time will tell, obviously. No one really knows what kind of market will develop for this still-challenged property — many of its storefronts remain vacant, although occupancy remains solid.

Across this region and across the country, there are worries that traditional shopping malls will soon be obsolete, if they have not reached that state already. Whoever acquires the Tower Square property will have to be imaginative and diligent as they go about trying to build additional vibrancy and foot traffic.

For now, though, the sale of Tower Square should be taken as a positive development, and perhaps a sign that an exciting new era is set to begin for this landmark.

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Valley Blue Sox announced their makeup date from the previously scheduled Mercy kickoff clinic. The Sox will be hosting a free pre-game clinic for players age 8-12, presented by Mercy Medical Center and the Transforming Communities Initiative, at Mackenzie Stadium in Holyoke on Sunday, June 25 from 1 to 2:30 p.m.

Attendees will learn the basics of fielding, throwing, and hitting from Blue Sox coaches and players prior to Sunday night’s 5:05 p.m. game against the Mystic Schooners. They will also get to hang around for Blue Sox pre-game batting practice and warmups, as well as receiving a free ticket to that evening’s Military Appreciation Night.

Players are required to wear activewear and sneakers or cleats, and bring their own hat, glove, and bat. The camp is open to the entire region.

“It’s a great opportunity early in the year for some kids to come out, get some work in, meet the new players, and have some fun learning the game,” said Blue Sox General Manager Hunter Golden. “Our community clinics are always a hit, and we’re very thankful that both Mercy Medical Center and Live Well Springfield have stepped up to make this possible.”

The Blue Sox will begin their pre-game routine at 2:30 p.m., and the stadium gates will be open, allowing campers to come in early and watch the Blue Sox take infield, outfield, and batting practice, as well as see some bullpen sessions up close. Campers will have the opportunity to meet and mingle with the players at various stations throughout the night, which will cover all the basics of baseball, including hitting, fielding, throwing, and pitching.

One station in particular will be presented by the Transforming Communities Initiative and feature healthy snacks for the players to grab for a break, and a prize wheel from Fruits & Veggies (FNV).

Mercy and Live Well Springfield have partnered for the Transforming Communities Initiative to improve health by making healthier choices more accessible for all Springfield residents. The Blue Sox baseball clinic gives kids an opportunity to enjoy physical activity and healthy eating, while inspired by local heroes and national FNV celebrities.

“This collaboration provides an opportunity to promote healthy eating and active living while we work to increase access to healthy options for all Springfield residents,” said Doreen Fadus, vice president of Mission Integration and Community Health and Well Being, Mercy Medical Center. “Together with Live Well Springfield, we are making structural changes to the places where we live, work, play, and learn in an effort to support the healthier choices advocated by FNV.”

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — On Thursday, June 29, the Basketball Hall of Fame will turn Columbus Avenue into Hollywood Boulevard for a premiere of Grey Lady, a new film by Springfield resident John Shea. This is a one-time, exclusive event, and Shea hopes to reconnect with local luminaries and old friends.

Shea will be present at 6 p.m. for a benefit cocktail party before the audience moves into the theater at 6:45 p.m. He will also host an exclusive party after the film, and will take questions from the audience. Shea wrote and directed the film, and also plays a small role as an island police chief. This event is sponsored by Florence Bank. The bank’s president, John Heaps, has known Shea since the third grade at Holy Cross School.

It was Shea’s idea to bring his film home to Springfield (he is a Cathedral High School graduate) and donate the proceeds to local charities. Tickets to the benefit are $100, and proceeds will go to Gray House, the Bing Arts Center, and the Community Foundation’s Dr. John V. Shea Scholarship Fund. Party entertainment will be provided by the Eric Bascom Trio.

“The reason I’m doing this is to return as much as I can to the town where I grew up. I’m looking forward to renewing relationships with many of my Springfield friends,” said Shea, who calls Los Angeles home today. He has returned many times; he helped with the campaign to establish the new Dr. Seuss museum, has been a marshal in Holyoke’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and sang with the Springfield Symphony.

Tickets are available online at the Bing Arts Center at www.bingartscenter.org. For mail orders, send a check to Keith Sikes, 61 Texel Dr., Springfield, MA 01108. Checks should be made out to the Bing Arts Center. The Bing Arts Center box office will also be open Thursday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Daily News

HOLYOKE — The Providence Ministries for the Needy Inc. (PMN) board of trustees named Shannon Rudder executive director of PMN’s multi-human-services agency. First appointed interim director in May, Rudder previously served as executive director for MotherWoman Inc. in Hadley for four years. Prior to that, she was associate director of Housing Opportunities Made Equal Inc. in Buffalo, N.Y.

“Shannon’s leadership, contagious enthusiasm, solid business acumen, strong operational skills, team-building focus, and dedication to building strong community relationships will advance our mission into the bright future ahead,” said Jean Zaleski, board chair.

Rudder is currently on Springfield Technical Community College’s Foundation board; Mama’s Voice, a community-based participatory research project with Holyoke Community College; the grant review committee for United Way of Pioneer Valley; and United Way’s Women’s Leadership Council, and is an instructor at Bay Path University and Cambridge College. In addition, she has served as a guest lecturer at Springfield College, Smith College, and UMass School of Regional Planning. BusinessWest included Rudder in its 40 Under Forty class of 2016.

“We are thrilled to have Shannon as our new executive director,” said James Wall, chair of PMN’s personnel committee. “She brings a great breadth and depth of experience that will help take Providence Ministries to the next level.”

PMN is a member of the Sisters of Providence Ministry Corp. and is a mission-driven, nonprofit organization serving the Holyoke community with programs to feed, clothe, and shelter the poor and marginalized. These include Kate’s Kitchen, foodWorks at Kate’s Kitchen, Broderick House, Loreto House, McCleary Manor, Margaret’s Pantry, and St. Jude’s Clothing Center.

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Markens Group Inc. (TMG), an association-management and consulting firm, announced its newest full-service client, the American College of Governance Counsel (ACGC). Under this arrangement, TMG will manage ACGC’s day-to-day operations, and the association’s headquarters will be re-established in downtown Springfield.

Founded in 2015, ACGC is the association for corporate governance lawyers in the U.S. and Canada. It promotes high standards within the profession and advocates for broader adoption of best governance practices within business organizations. Through programs like its annual Colloquium, ACGC addresses today’s major corporate governance issues, including challenges to traditional models of governance, risk management, shareholder engagement, and an increasingly complex regulatory and enforcement environment.

“Top North American governance lawyers formed ACGC to foster a better understanding of the role that sound governance plays in successful strategic decision making,” said Frank Placenti, founding president of ACGC and leader of the governance practice at the global law firm Squire Patton Boggs, LLP. “Having been embraced by both the legal profession and the governance community, the college is ready to optimize our operations and accelerate our success. We believe TMG can help with that.”

Added Ben Markens, president and founder of TMG, “we’re thrilled to partner with ACGC. Over the years, we’ve developed methodologies and frameworks for driving operational efficiency and growth, and we’ve already begun to implement those for ACGC. Plus, we’re proud to bring national connections and unique industry ties to our own backyard here in Springfield.”

The only association-management company in Western Massachusetts — and one of only 80 companies worldwide to be accredited under the Association Management Company Institute’s standard for management best practices — TMG has helped associations and other nonprofit organizations to grow and achieve their goals for more than two decades. Other national association clients include the Paperboard Packaging Council, the Flexographic Pre-Press Platemakers Assoc., and the American Assoc. of Homeopathic Pharmacists.

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — MGM Springfield is advising of continued off-site road work in and around downtown Springfield to improve certain roadways, intersections, sidewalks, and traffic signals in advance of the resort opening in September 2018.

Last week, MGM Springfield stood alongside city officials to announce Main Street Refresh, a nearly $7 million combined project to prepare downtown Springfield for 10,000 people a day who will visit the new resort. Working in partnership, MGM Springfield is investing $5.5 million, and the city of Springfield more than $1.4 million in area improvements and enhancements. MGM will oversee work that includes intersection/signal improvements, utility upgrades, roadway reconstruction/paving, and pedestrian/bicycle enhancements (including handicap accessibility).

The road work planned for the weeks of June 19 and 26 is expected at the following streets and intersections: Dwight Street and I-291 off-ramp, Plainfield and Avocado streets, Plainfield Street (between Avocado and West streets), Plainfield and John streets, John Street (between St. George Road and Plainfield Street), and Union Street (between Main Street and East Columbus Avenue).

The nature of work to be performed at the streets and intersections listed above includes reconstruction of sidewalks and curbing, along with installation of wheelchair curb ramps, signal conduits, foundations, and pull boxes.

Additionally, at Union Street only (between Main Street and East Columbus Avenue), full-depth roadway reconstruction is expected to begin. During this work, Union Street will be closed to through traffic from Main Street to East Columbus Avenue. Access to Pride Gas Station, the Colvest Building, and 55 State Street will be maintained at all times. Typical construction hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Also, work is set to begin on Memorial Bridge to remove the concrete median and repave with asphalt.

“We are working hard to make sure every aspect of the community’s and our guest’s experiences will be top-notch,” said newly appointed MGM Springfield General Manager Alex Dixon. “These necessary traffic-flow upgrades will be worth any short-term pain they may cause, since the long-term reward will be the economic benefits a more accessible and welcoming downtown will achieve.”

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Deborah Jordan of Shamrock Financial in Wilbraham was named 2017 Affiliate of the Year by the Realtor Assoc. of Pioneer Valley (RAPV). The announcment was made during the association’s annual awards banquet held June 8 at the Log Cabin in Holyoke.

As the highest honor given to an affiliate member, the award is bestowed upon the one person who has shown outstanding service and devotion to the organization during the past 17 months in the areas of affiliate-related association activity, community service, and business activity.

A member of RAPV for five years, Jordan has served on the affiliate/Realtor, Education Fair & Expo, and community service committees. Her committee involvement includes the annual Benefit Golf Tournament, Playhouse Build for the Boys and Girls Clubs, and blanket and book drives to benefit Shriner’s Hospitals for Children – Springfield.

Jordan’s additional community activities include serving as president-elect for the Ludlow Rotary Club, volunteering with Revitalize CDC, and serving on the Buy Springfield Now Committee to promote home ownership.

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Thunderbirds announced the addition of Charles Venezia to the front-office staff as an account executive.

Venezia joined the Thunderbirds upon graduation from Western New England University, where he played football and was named an All-Academic team member for his conference three years in a row. On the field, he helped lead the Golden Bears to two conference titles.

En route to graduating with his degree in sport management, Venezia spent the 2016-17 academic year interning with the Thunderbirds during the club’s inaugural season.

Daily News

AGAWAM — The Employers Assoc. of the NorthEast (EANE) announced that its annual Compensation and Benefits Conference, themed “The Game Has Changed,” will be held on Thursday, July 20 at the Publick House in Sturbridge. It will focus on trends in employee compensation and benefits.

“The one-size-fits-all model no longer applies to employee compensation and benefits. Employers need to understand the demographic, legislative, and competitive dynamics that have created the trend toward personalization of employee benefits,” said Meredith Wise, EANE president. “Our conference this year is all about these outside influences that are game-changing.”

The full-day program will feature Lauren Stiller Rikleen, a nationally recognized expert on developing a thriving, diverse, and multi-generational workforce. She is the author of You Raised Us – Now Work With Us: Millennials, Career Success, and Building Strong Workplace Teams. Additional conference presentations will include “How to Survive High-deductible Health Plans,” “Is the 40-hour Work Week Dead?” and “The Trump Effect on Employee Compensation and Benefits.”

The cost for the program is $285 per person with discounts for three or more. Register at www.eane.org/special-events or by calling (877) 662-6444. The program will offer 6.25 credits from the HR Certification Institute and SHRM. Sponsoring the program are Johnson & Hill Staffing Services and the HR Certification Institute.

Daily News

BOSTON — The state’s total unemployment rate increased to 4.2% in May from the April rate of 3.9%, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development announced.

The preliminary job estimates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate Massachusetts added 2,900 jobs in May. Over-the-month job gains occurred in education and health services; leisure and hospitality; professional, scientific, and business services; information; and construction. The April estimate was revised to a loss of 800 jobs.

From May 2016 to May 2017, BLS estimates Massachusetts has added 58,300 jobs. The May state unemployment rate remains lower than the national rate of 4.3% reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

“During 2017, Massachusetts continues to experience large increases in the labor force,” Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Ronald Walker II said. “May’s labor-force participation rate of 66.7%, the highest rate since October 2008, allows for ongoing economic growth. As the pool of people actively searching for work increases, our workforce-development agencies remain focused on ensuring that the next generation of job seekers have access to next-generation job training.”

The labor force increased by 17,100 from 3,694,200 in April, as 4,900 more residents were employed and 12,200 more residents were unemployed over the month.

Over the year, the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased four-tenths of a percentage point from 3.8% in May 2016. There were 17,300 more unemployed people over the year compared to May 2016.

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 — increased two-tenths of a percentage point to 66.7% over the month. The labor-force participation rate over the year has increased 1.7% compared to May 2016.

The largest private-sector percentage job gains over the year were in information; construction; professional, scientific, and business services; and education and health services.

Daily News

WARE — Country Bank’s Employee Charitable Giving (ECG) program recently donated more than $40,000 to two causes, raising more than $30,000 to support the Jimmy Fund in April and giving $10,000 to the Easter Seals “Walk with Me” program held at Elm Park in Worcester on May 13.

Employees donated raffle baskets, paid to wear jeans on casual Fridays, and joined the online fund-raising team to support the Jimmy Fund, along with a matching donation from Country Bank.

“I am in awe of the commitment from the team at Country Bank and their support of this great charity year after year,” said Bonnie Trudeau-Wood, chair of the Employee Charitable Giving Program and Jimmy Fund coach for Country Bank. “We are very proud to be the coaches for this team and know that our efforts make a difference. We really hit a grand slam this year.”

The Easter Seals donation was boosted by a whoopie-pie auction. Denise Walker, senior vice president of Retail Lending, donated a batch of whoopie pies to the highest bidder, which raised $3,102. Additional donations came from casual Fridays, direct donations from the staff, and Country Bank’s matching program, along with being a walk sponsor.

“As a proud supporter of Easter Seals, I am so grateful that our staff supports such exceptional organizations,” said Alison Shilinsky, senior vice president of Human Resources. “While attending the Easter Seals ‘Walk with Me’ event on May 13, we were fortunate to have witnessed the impact Easter Seals has on the Worcester community and on the individuals who benefit from their services.”

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Healthcare Heroes, an exciting recognition program involving the Western Mass. healthcare sector, was launched this spring by HCN and BusinessWest. Sponsored by American International College, Bay Path University, Elms College, and Renew.Calm, with additional sponsorships available, the program was created to shed a bright light on the outstanding work being done across the broad spectrum of health and wellness services, and the institutions and individuals providing that care.

Nominations are now being sought — and will be accepted until June 29 — in the following categories: Patient/Resident/Client Care Provider; Innovation in Health/Wellness; Community Health; Emerging Leader; Collaboration in Health/Wellness; Health/Wellness Administration/Administrator; and Lifetime Achievement. The nominations will be scored by a panel of judges to be announced in the coming weeks. The winners will be chosen in July and profiled in the September issue of HCN.

The guidelines to consider when nominating individuals, groups, or institutions in these various categories are available at healthcarenews.com and businesswest.com/healthcare-heroes.

Daily News

AMHERST — UMass Dining took gold for the seventh year in a row at the American Culinary Federation-sanctioned competition held June 9 during the 23rd annual Tastes of the World Culinary Conference at UMass Amherst.

UMass Amherst chefs Pamela Adams, Matthia Accurso, Anthony Jung, and Robert Bankert competed against 14 other culinary teams from across the U.S. and Canada. Teams from schools such as Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Penn State used bronzino, grass-fed beef tri-tip, amaranth, Thai basil, fresh peaches, and raspberries to create their dishes.

The UMass Amherst team’s winning menu consisted of three courses and a buffet service. Their meal included a first course of chicken mousseline made with cauliflower cream, wilted arugula, charred red-pepper jam, and pickled cauliflower. Their second course of lemon-marinated, pan-roasted bronzino featured sweet potato-seafood croquette with sautéed snap peas, slow-cooked tomato, a red lentil-bacon puree and Jonah crab-mussel emulsion. For their third course, they delivered a contemporary pâte à choux swan with sautéed peaches atop vanilla kulfi in raspberry sauce garnished with candied cashews. The buffet service was tri-tip beef with mint and a Thai basil chimichurri, amaranth pilaf, sautéed Swiss chard, and charred carrots.

Skidmore College also achieved a gold for its menu.

“We’re extremely honored to be hosting this conference on campus this year,” UMass Amherst Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance Andy Mangels said. “The culinary talent for the 52 schools and 398 attendees represented is truly a reflection of the excellent state of college and university dining throughout the United States and Canada. It’s great to see the collaboration and energy of all the chefs and managers in attendance during the week.”

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, Chief Development Officer Kevin Kennedy, and Public Works Director Christopher Cignoli announced several major streetscape improvements to downtown Springfield in the anticipation of the grand opening of Union Station and MGM Springfield.

“I am extremely pleased to be able to announce yet another milestone in the continuing transformation of Springfield’s downtown,” Sarno said. “As we get ready for the grand opening of these two transformative developments, it is important for the city to ensure that we provide the best pedestrian experience for those living, working, and visiting Springfield.”

The city’s Main Street Refresh Project will target Main Street from Union Station to Central Street. Work will include numerous sidewalk repairs, tree plantings, intersection and crosswalk improvements, and enhancements to the railroad underpasses along Main Street, Dwight Street, and Chestnut Street. The project will also include a new pedestrian wayfinding system currently in the final phases of design.

The project is designed to complement MGM Springfield’s significant investment in downtown infrastructure. That work just getting underway includes signal improvements at key intersections, major utility upgrades, new paving, curb and sidewalk work for improved pedestrian access, and more. MGM Springfield will distribute regular communications to the city and residents to give notice of where and when travel disruptions may occur.

“All work being proposed for the Main Street Refresh Project will be coordinated with the work currently being completed by MGM Springfield,” Cignoli said. “Through this coordination effort, we can ensure that this work will be completed in a timely manner and with as little disruption to traffic as possible.”

The project will have a total cost of $6.9 million, including approximately $5.5 million from MGM Springfield and $1.4 million from the city of Springfield.

“With our grand opening in sight, we want to ensure that every aspect of the MGM Springfield experience is enjoyable for both visitors and residents,” said Michael Mathis, MGM Springfield president. “Improved access and wayfinding to downtown is a critical component of the overall vision for a stronger Springfield. We thank Mayor Sarno and his team for their thoughtful coordination of our combined efforts. As the off-site improvements continue, we will distribute regular communications to the city and the community at large so all can plan accordingly.”

The project is anticipated to start work immediately and scheduled to be completed by late spring 2018.

“This initiative is part of the city’s continued systematic approach to build on and capitalize on the significant economic-development projects occurring not only in the downtown but throughout the city of Springfield,” Kennedy said.

Daily News

CHICOPEE — James Kelly, president and CEO, announced that Tracey Egloff has joined Polish National Credit Union as vice president of residential lending.

Egloff has more than 20 years of experience in all aspects of residential lending, including loan origination, processing, underwriting, compliance, secondary market sales, and loan servicing. She began her career in banking at Northampton Cooperative Bank in 1992 and held various positions in the loan department. She was most recently the vice president of residential lending with successor institution Greenfield Cooperative Bank.

She holds a bachelor’s degree from UMass Amherst and is also a graduate of the New England School for Financial Studies at Babson College.

“Tracey’s strong background in all aspects of residential lending makes her a perfect choice for helping our members achieve their housing goals and objectives,” said Kelly. “We are extremely pleased to welcome her to the Polish National Credit Union family.”

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Lou Mayo, office manager with Real Living Realty Professionals in Wilbraham, was named the 2017 Realtor of the Year by the Realtor Assoc. of Pioneer Valley (RAPV). The announcement was made during the association’s annual awards banquet held June 8 at the Log Cabin in Holyoke.

As the highest honor given to a member, the Realtor of the Year award is bestowed upon the one person who has shown outstanding service and devotion to the 1,650-member organization during the past 17 months in the areas of Realtor activity, community service, and business activity.

A Realtor since 1997, Mayo has been a member of the RAPV board of directors since 2012. He was RAPV president in 2016 and also served on the professional standards, strategic planning, and finance committees, as well as the forms and building task forces.

At the state level, Mayo is a member of the board of directors of the Mass. Assoc. of Realtors (MAR). He is the chairman of the Mass. Assoc. of Realtors professional standards committee, a forms committee member, as well as a former member the MAR young professionals network committee. He is a MAR Leadership Academy graduate, and is currently a member of the MAR website task force.

At the national level, Mayo has attended many National Assoc. of Realtors (NAR) conferences and trade shows and holds the professional designations of Certified Residential Specialist (CRS), Graduate Realtor Institute (GRI), and Certified Buyer Representative (CBR).

Mayo’s community involvement includes providing support through charitable giving to Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Salvation Army, as well as serving as a member of the Granby Bow & Gun Club. In conjuction with the RAPV community service committee, he also contrubuted to the development and construction of four playhouses that were donated to local Boys and Girls Clubs.

“I believe strongly in the code of ethics and strive daily to achieve its highest ideals as a Realtor,” Mayo said. “In both my personal and professional life, I desire to uplift the image of the Realtor by embodying the knowledge, character, and wisdom of a top professional.”

Daily News

BOSTON — Gov. Charlie Baker nominated Ellen Randle of East Longmeadow to serve as an associate justice of the Probate and Family Court, Hampden County Division, and Karen Goodwin of Amherst to serve as an associate justice of the Massachusetts Superior Court. Randle has 32 years of legal experience and concentrates her practice in family law, probate disputes, and civil litigation, while Goodwin’s 31 years at the bar have focused on trial work in both the private and public sectors.

“Attorney Randle and Assistant U.S. Attorney Goodwin have, over the last three decades and throughout their impressive careers, demonstrated a strong commitment to serving Massachusetts’ families and their communities,” said Baker. “I am confident Attorney Randle’s and Assistant U.S. Attorney Goodwin’s experience will serve their respective courts well.”

The Probate and Family Court Department has jurisdiction over family-related and probate matters such as divorce, paternity, child support, custody, parenting time, adoption, termination of parental rights, abuse prevention and wills, estates, trusts, guardianships, conservatorships, and changes of name.

The Superior Court is a statewide court of general jurisdiction, handling both criminal and civil actions. The court’s 82 justices sit in 20 courthouses in all 14 counties of the Commonwealth. The Superior Court has original jurisdiction in civil actions over $25,000, and in matters where equitable relief is sought. It also has original jurisdiction in actions including labor disputes where injunctive relief is sought, has exclusive authority to convene medical-malpractice tribunals, has appellate jurisdiction over certain administrative proceedings, and may hold sittings for naturalization in any city or town. The court has exclusive original jurisdiction of first-degree murder cases and original jurisdiction of all other crimes.

“I am pleased with the nominations of two well-respected and skilled women attorneys from Western Massachusetts,” said Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito. “If confirmed by the Governor’s Council, their respective courts and communities will benefit greatly from Attorney Randle’s and Assistant U.S. Attorney Goodwin’s judgment and wisdom.”

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — MGM Springfield President Michael Mathis announced the appointments of Alex Dixon as general manager and Courtney Wenleder as vice president of Finance and chief financial officer. Dixon assumes responsibility for the resort’s day-to-day leadership and direction, including overseeing all operational aspects of MGM Springfield. Wenleder will direct and oversee the strategic financial planning, operational performance, and financial management of MGM Springfield.

Other personnel announcements include Marikate Murren’s promotion to vice president of Human Resources, and several additional senior management hires. Together, these positions will focus on strategic direction, workforce planning and development, and financial planning and oversight to help prepare for the resort’s September 2018 opening.

With 10 years of industry experience, Dixon was most recently the vice president and assistant general manager of the Horseshoe Casino in Baltimore. There, he helped to open the Horseshoe property both ahead of schedule and under budget.

“We are delighted to welcome Alex to the team at MGM Springfield,” Mathis said. “He brings broad industry experience and a passion for delivering hospitality on the East Coast, which will be incredibly valuable to the leadership and operations at MGM Springfield. He has a proven track record for success that will be instrumental in planning, opening, and initiating activities that will undoubtedly further strengthen the performance of MGM Springfield.”

Wenleder most recently held the CFO position at New York-New York Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, where she served for nine years and oversaw significant capital investments and property enhancements, including the introduction of the new retail esplanade. Prior to that she was the vice president of Finance and chief financial officer at Beau Rivage in Biloxi, Miss., where she oversaw the reconstruction of the resort following the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina.

“Courtney’s extensive experience with our resort operations at two of our company’s signature resorts will be a tremendous asset as our team prepares MGM Springfield to join our expanding regional portfolio,” Mathis said. “She will be instrumental in ensuring MGM Springfield achieves our financial and business goals.”

In her new role as Vice President of Human Resources, Murren assumes responsibility for planning and directing all aspects of the talent and human resources functions, including ensuring adherence to labor laws, regulations, and HR corporate policies and procedures for MGM Springfield. She will design and oversee the property’s execution of comprehensive strategies, initiatives, action plans, and processes to improve critical organizational performance in the areas of employee engagement and guest service. She was most recently the director of Human Resources for the property, a role she assumed last June.

The MGM Springfield team also has welcomed several additional senior managers, both new to MGM and relocating from other MGM facilities: Michael Custodio has been named director of Property Initiatives, Arlen Carballo is director of Financial Planning & Analysis, and Meagan Lippmann is Learning & Development partner. Rounding out the newest senior-management hires is Jason Randall as director, Talent Acquisition & Development.

“I’m excited to have all these talented individuals join the MGM Springfield team,” Mathis said. “The breadth of experience, the leadership qualities, and values of this team gives me a high degree of confidence in our ability to lead MGM Springfield through and past the next phase of our strategic journey of delivering on our enlivened vision for the South End.”

Daily News

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Community College’s (HCC) award-winning Gateway to College program graduated the largest class in its nine-year history June 6, presenting certificates to 33 high-school students who have been taking college courses at HCC.

Those students will now collect their diplomas from eight area high schools: Springfield, Holyoke, Westfield, Palmer, Longmeadow, Agawam, Minnechaug, and Belchertown. Among them, the students also amassed a total of 372 transferable college credits, or enough to fulfill the requirements for more than six associate degrees.

“What you achieved is nothing short of miraculous,” said Mark Guglielmo, the Gateway Fine Arts instructor and the keynote speaker for the graduation ceremony in HCC’s Leslie Phillips Theater.

Gateway to College is a national program that takes high-school dropouts or students at risk for dropping out and gives them the opportunity to earn their high-school diplomas as dual-enrolled college students.

“You gave us a second chance when you didn’t have to,” said student speaker Deborah Manus, from Holyoke. “This is the beginning of bigger and bigger things.”

Guglielmo, a visual artist who was new to HCC this year, told the graduates, their families, and guests how impressed he was with Gateway staff and how well the program works. “The one ingredient that has me coming back is love. The adults responsible love these young people. It’s so simple, but so hard for so many.”

The HCC Gateway to College program has consistently been one of the best-performing Gateway programs in the country, earning top marks for GPA, graduation rate, and retention rate. For the second year in a row, the program has received the Excellence Award from the national Gateway to College organization.

Since its founding in 2008, HCC’s Gateway to College program has helped 251 students earn their high-school diplomas while also getting an early start on college. More than half have continued onto college, and so far 30 have earned their associate degrees from HCC, and six have earned bachelor’s degrees. Six Gateway to College graduates earned their associate degrees from HCC on May 27.

“What I see in front of me are not the leaders of tomorrow, but the leaders of today,” said student speaker J’Anthony Smith Sr. of Holyoke. “The country’s pretty divided, but there’s hope in every single one of you sitting here today.”

HCC Gateway to College graduate Eimy Holguin of Springfield was also the valedictorian for the Springfield Public Schools Alternative High School graduation, which was held on June 8.

Daily News

WEST SPRINGFIELD — United Bank donated $5,000 to support the mission of Dress for Success to help women gain economic independence. The contribution will be used to fund the Foot in the Door program, a workforce-readiness program provided by Dress for Success Western Massachusetts.

Foot in the Door is a 14-week training program in which participants receive training modules consisting of career pathway and exploration, workplace readiness, employability preparation, and financial literacy. This curriculum is delivered by Springfield Technical Community College, and was created to address workforce needs and promote strategic economic development in the region.

Dress for Success removes typical barriers by providing transportation and daycare, which in many cases prohibit women from participating. When the women complete the course, they are provided a national workforce-readiness certificate and guaranteed an interview, and a suit to wear to the interview, at key local employers Baystate Health, Smith & Wesson, Columbia Gas, MGM Springfield, and United Personnel.

“It’s because of community partners like United Bank we are able to offer these essential programs for our clients,” said Dawn Creighton, board president of Dress for Success Western Massachusetts. “Workforce and skills gaps are growing challenges to employers. Programs such as Foot In the Door help break down barriers of employment.”

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield College has partnered with the Canyon Ranch Institute to implement and evaluate a public-health project on the Springfield College campus through June 28 titled Healthy Table. The goal of the program is to improve healthy eating, cooking, and shopping habits for individuals and families living in the vicinity of Springfield College.

“We are very excited about this partnership with the Canyon Ranch Institute because both Springfield College and Canyon Ranch Institute make healthy living and nutrition a top priority,” said Springfield College President Mary-Beth Cooper. “We are looking forward to utilizing our nutritional experts on campus to assist our neighboring community members with healthy-living opportunities.”

As part of the program, participants will be able to speak with experts regarding nutrition, learn how to cook nutritional meals, and shop for healthy meals on a budget.

“We’re really pleased to be partnering with Canyon Ranch Institute/Health Literacy Media to pilot this program with the Springfield community,” said Springfield College Assistant Professor of Nutritional Sciences Donna Chapman. “Everybody in the program has at least one risk factor for heart disease, and they are really eager to learn new approaches to healthy eating and cooking.”

In order to participate, individuals must be overweight, or at risk for or diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, or have high blood pressure or high cholesterol. Each class is co-taught by a chef and a registered dietitian, and there is no cost to participate in the program.

“The college received very positive feedback that participants enjoy this combination of hands-on cooking and nutrition classes,” added Chapman. “During our sessions, several participants commented that they started to make some healthy changes in their eating right away. They learned how easy it was to make homemade broths and soups that tasted great, and were far lower in sodium than the canned soups they would typically eat.”

As part of the program evaluation, the college is collecting data at the beginning and end of the course on the participants’ nutrition knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors, as well as clinical outcomes such as weight, blood pressure, waist and hip circumferences, and percentage of body fat. Researchers from Springfield College and Canyon Ranch Institute will analyze how these measurements change over time.

Departments Picture This

Email ‘Picture This’ photos with a caption and contact information to [email protected]
A photo essay of recent business events in Western Massachusetts June 13, 2017

Links to the Community

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Link to Libraries

Link to Libraries recently celebrated two local business partnerships. At top, Douglas Theobald (center) and Christopher Walker (left) from Moriarty & Primack, P.C. visited Bowe Elementary School in Chicopee, where they are sponsoring the school students and library as part of the Link to Libraries Business Book Link program for three years. The purpose of the program and sponsorship is to enhance the school library and to give new books to children in the school for them to build home libraries. Below, attorney Stephen Krevalin recently sponsored a field trip to the Basketball Hall of Fame for a grade 4 reading class from Walsh Elementary School in Springfield. They were treated to lunch, a scavenger hunt, new books, T-shirts, and a story hour as part of the sponsored trip, which is part of the Link to Libraries and Basketball Hall of Fame program offered to area schools and nonprofit organizations.

Service Above Self

The Rotary Club of Springfield

The Rotary Club of Springfield gave away $6,000 in service grants at its 102nd anniversary at the Fort Restaurant in Springfield on May 11. The Springfield Rescue Mission, Stone Soul Inc., New England Public Radio (NEPR), the Gray House, Springfield Museums, and Dakin Humane Society each received $1,000.
In addition, the Club presented Paul Harris Fellowship Awards to Peter Lappin, former director of the Western Mass. Office of Economic Development, and Springfield Rotarian Jack Toner.
Pictured from left: Sarah Gogal, project coordinator for the Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum at the Springfield Museums; Alicia Garcia, chairperson for the Rotary Club of Springfield Service Fund; Stacey Price, director of Development and Marketing at Dakin Humane Society; Lamont Clemons, vice president of the Rotary Club of Springfield; Laurie Rosner, president of the Rotary Club of Springfield; Greg Clark, stewardship officer for the Springfield Rescue Mission; Karon Tyler, board president at Stone Soul Inc.; Carlos McBride, director of the NEPR Media Lab; and Kathleen Lingenburg, board president of the Gray House.

Nearing the Finish Line

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As part of a multi-year capital improvement project, Thornes Marketplace has spent roughly $500,000 to make the eclectic and historically relevant downtown shopping center more accessible to people with physical disabilities. “We’re nearing the finish line,” said Thornes owner and property manager Richard Madowitz. “We were interested in updating and modernizing and, where feasible, making the building compliant to the extent physically possible. We’re very pleased with the improvements and the increased opportunities it will afford members of the public.” Renovations include the remodeling of several bathrooms, which are now fully handicapped-accessible; the addition of oak handrails along the walls of the grand staircases; and, in partnership with Herrell’s Ice Cream, the replacement of a staircase with a ramp, making the ice-cream parlor accessible from within Thornes for the first time in its nearly 40-year history. Pictured at top: Herrell’s President Judy Herrell stands on the new ramp. At bottom: Madowitz; Thornes Marketing Manager Jody Doele, and Thornes Facilities Manager Jon McGee sit on the stairs beneath the newly installed supplementary handrail.

As part of a multi-year capital improvement project, Thornes Marketplace has spent roughly $500,000 to make the eclectic and historically relevant downtown shopping center more accessible to people with physical disabilities. “We’re nearing the finish line,” said Thornes owner and property manager Richard Madowitz. “We were interested in updating and modernizing and, where feasible, making the building compliant to the extent physically possible. We’re very pleased with the improvements and the increased opportunities it will afford members of the public.” Renovations include the remodeling of several bathrooms, which are now fully handicapped-accessible; the addition of oak handrails along the walls of the grand staircases; and, in partnership with Herrell’s Ice Cream, the replacement of a staircase with a ramp, making the ice-cream parlor accessible from within Thornes for the first time in its nearly 40-year history. Pictured at top: Herrell’s President Judy Herrell stands on the new ramp. At bottom: Madowitz; Thornes Marketing Manager Jody Doele, and Thornes Facilities Manager Jon McGee sit on the stairs beneath the newly installed supplementary handrail.