Year: 2018

WEST SPRINGFIELD — Hofbrauhaus owners Joe and Liz Stevens will close its doors for good on April 1, the couple announced on Facebook on Wednesday.

“It is official — as of Easter Sunday, April 1, 2018 (and no, this isn’t an April Fool’s joke), the Hofbrauhaus will be closing its doors for good,” they wrote. “We thank everyone for their patronage and support over the years, but we are ready to move on and make some big, wonderful, exciting, and maybe a little scary changes in our lives. We will be exploring our options in the coming months and will keep you all posted when we have more important news to share. But for now, all we can say is ‘auf wiedersehen!’”

Hofbrauhaus, the German restaurant that became one of the region’s most iconic eateries, first opened its doors in 1935.

SPRINGFIELD — The Square One family continues to expand, thanks to its latest partnership with Ohana School of Performing Arts.

Ohana owner Ashley Kohl and her team are volunteering monthly to visit preschoolers at the Square One Tommie Johnson Child & Family Center in Springfield. All 150 children will receive lessons in creative movement and dance.

“Studies have long pointed to the physical benefits of dance when it comes to keeping children fit and working to combat childhood obesity,” said Kristine Allard, chief development and communications officer for Square One. “More recent research also points to the benefits of dance from the standpoint of emotional, social, and cognitive development, which is a critical component of our work at Square One. We are truly grateful to the Ohana team for bringing this opportunity to Square One.”

The volunteer support comes in conjunction with Ohana’s recent gift of $1,000 to support Square One’s work with children and families.

“Ohana is incredibly honored to work with Square One, sharing our mission of inclusion and spreading peace and positivity through performance,” Kohl said. “We share a common goal: to build a better community. Dance brings happiness, smiles, laughter … this is our chance to continue to make a difference in the lives of children through the magic of movement.”

HOLYOKE — Family Business Center’s dinner forum, originally scheduled for today, March 13, has been postponed until Wednesday, March 21 due to the snowstorm. Also, its location has been moved from the Delaney House to the Log Cabin in Holyoke.

The forum is a robust exploration of performance evaluations and how they tie to compensation and promotion, so as not be popularity contests, but instead be geared to the goals of the organization. A panel discussion will examine how some Western Mass. companies continue to figure this all out, including Karin Jeffers of Clinical & Support Options, Howard Cheney of Meyers Brothers Kalicka, and Beth Yohai of AIM HR Solutions, who will lead the conversation through such topics as performance management, the impact of the upcoming Massachusetts Pay Equity Act, defining comparable work, creating a meritocracy, and much more.

Also, Family Business Center strategic partner and board member Ross Giombetti and his colleagues at Giombetti Associates will present a mini-workshop on the ‘user manual,’ a document letting employees know everything they need to know about the company leader. They will walk attendees through the user-manual process, which includes reflecting upon your personality and behavior, drafting insightful commentary as to how you interact with the world, and refining the guide to ensure it contains impactful information.

The event will run from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Those already registered are asked to let Ira Bryck at Family Business Center know whether or not they can still come by calling (413) 835-0810 or e-mailing [email protected]. Anyone who is not registered but would like to come should also call or e-mail.

SPRINGFIELD — Credit-union representatives from the Massachusetts First Congressional District, including Arrha Credit Union, Freedom Credit Union, Greylock Federal Credit Union, Homefield Credit Union, and Pioneer Valley Federal Credit Union, recently met with U.S. Rep. Richard Neal in the Ways and Means Committee Library in Washington, D.C.

The goal of the meeting was to express their thoughts and viewpoints to Neal on pending credit-union legislation being brought forth in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“It is important to hear the voices of the credit-union industry and be part of the ongoing discussions,” said Michael Ostrowski, president and CEO of Arrha Credit Union. “We appreciate Congressman Neal’s efforts.”

SPRINGFIELD — Topgolf Swing Suite will deliver a new social experience to MGM Springfield when the resort opens later this year.

Becoming the first in the region available to the general public, the Topgolf Swing Suite will feature three high-tech simulators within a 2,800-square-foot suite and will open onto the resort’s outdoor plaza. Visitors can play in groups or practice solo while enjoying gourmet bites and inventive cocktails. When it’s time to take their shot, players will step up to a large, theater-style screen to try their hand at a selection of virtual games. Each simulator can fit up to eight players and offers fun no matter the guest’s skill level.

For pre- or post-round drinks, fairway fans can head to the lounge area to grab a cocktail or catch a game on one of the many high-definition TVs. On select nights, the venue will feature live musical performances.

“Our goal is for MGM Springfield to become a destination for the community and for the region. With entertainment experiences that can’t be found elsewhere, our resort should become the go-to place no matter what kind of evening you are looking for,” said Michael Mathis, president of MGM Springfield. “Those familiar with Topgolf already know how much fun is in store, and for those new to the experience, just wait. This is sure to be one of the most exciting corners of our resort.”

This collaboration marks the third Topgolf experience within the MGM Resorts’ portfolio, following the openings of the four-story flagship Topgolf venue at MGM Grand Las Vegas and the new Topgolf Swing Suite at MGM Detroit.

NORTHAMPTON — After years of using improvisation to help Western Mass. businesses work better, Happier Valley Comedy’s founder and president Pam Victor notes that, “if it weren’t for people, business would be easy. People are always the tricky part of working together. People need support working as a team with more joy and productivity.”

With that in mind, Victor’s company, Happier Valley Comedy, is unveiling a new team-building program with an interactive information session called “Creating a Crackerjack Team THROUGH LAUGHTER” on Friday, March 16 at 33 Hawley St., Northampton. And, yes, participants will be greeted at the door with their own box of Cracker Jacks.

According to ClearCompany, 97% of employees and executives believe lack of alignment within a team impacts the outcome of a task or project, and 86% of employees and executives cite lack of collaboration or ineffective communication for workplace failures. Victor is teaming up Stephen Butler of Butler Associates to flip those stats for the businesses of Western Mass. with a program that demonstrates how companies can strengthen team communication and collaborative skills and boost more efficient decision-making and flexibility with change using the tools of improv and experiential training.

“The sessions offer lessons and skills that are readily transferable to workplace settings,” said Stephen Butler, who also works at Amherst College as a trainer and OD specialist. “Perhaps of equal importance, the sessions are filled with laughter, which enables the learning to happen in an atmosphere of exploration and fun.”

The March 16 information session includes participatory demonstrations of team-building improv exercises, handouts about the value of improv training for professional development, a question-and-answer session, and review of a case study in how the program has benefited a local business.

The session will be led by Victor, founder and president of Happier Valley Comedy, where she runs the THROUGH LAUGHTER program and a full-curriculum improv comedy school, as well as producing regular improv shows in Western Mass., and Butler, an independent consultant and trainer with more than 40 years of experience designing and leading trainings.

The event runs from 3:30 to 5 p.m. The fee is $25 per person or $50 total for two or more employees. Participants must register in advance, as space is limited. For more information, visit www.happiervalley.com/creating-a-crackerjack-team.html.

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. — “Mayors Meet Millennials” is the title of the 2018 New England Knowledge Corridor Mayors’ Economic Forum, set for Thursday, April 26 at Goodwin College in East Hartford, Conn.

The program begins with coffee and conversation from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., followed by the conference program from 8:30 to 11 a.m. Participating mayors include Domenic Sarno (Springfield), Richard Kos (Chicopee), Marcia Leclerc (East Hartford), Erin Stewart (New Britain), and Luke Bronin (Hartford). Registration options and more information will be available soon.

HOLYOKE — Bank of America, a long-time annual investor in Providence Ministries’ Kate’s Kitchen, recently matched its monetary support with a day of service from a team of volunteers at Kate’s last week.

“I have been involved with community service since I was in high school. I feel it helps me stay connected to the community and that it is important to give back,” said Dwight Szarkowski, relationship manager, Sixteen Acres Financial Center, Bank of America. “Most of the morning, we did simple things to help prepare: restocking the food storage room, setting tables, and wrapping the utensils with a napkin so they could be easily distributed. When the doors opened, people came filing in. Most seemed to know the routine.”

But then something happened. Szarkowski sat down with a man and his two children and quickly found out that the gentleman was a single father of this boy and girl, around the ages of 9 and 10. “He shared with me the story of how they have been living in a shelter for over a year. He beamed with pride while telling me how they recently got their own apartment — how it has been hard work, but now that they are settling in to their new surroundings, he was going to be able to get his younger boy involved with sports and his older daughter in to art classes. He was happy to brag about how special each one of his kids are.”

Providence Ministries remains grateful for Bank of America as a partner and annual investor to continue its work meeting life’s basic needs of food, clothing, and housing for its most vulnerable neighbors. Given the rising numbers of those most vulnerable, including new neighbors from Puerto Rico, the organization notes, continued funding by Bank of America and other funders is even more critical in bringing daily meals to the people who need it most in the community.

SPRINGFIELD — In honor of Women’s History Month in March and International Women’s Day on March 8, Bay Path University will present the On the Move Forum in partnership with the Professional Women’s Chamber, the Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts, the Pan African Historical Museum USA (PAHMUSA), and Enchanted Circle Theater. The event will be held at CityStage in Springfield today, March 8, from 5 to 7 p.m.

This program is funded in part by Mass Humanities, which receives support from the Massachusetts Cultural Council and is an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. The On the Move Forum will explore the inclusive timeline of women’s history and the women’s rights movement through an interactive presentation, sparking community conversations about gaps and gains in that history.

The forum’s theme, “Know the Past, Chart the Future,” will use literature and philosophy to engage the audience in exploring the status of women regarding race, ethnicity, culture, age, sexual orientation, and the progress made since the first federally funded women’s conference in 1977.

During the program, an educational presentation will feature portrayals of essential historic figures from the timeline of the women’s movement, providing an opportunity for historic ‘conversations’ with Sojourner Truth, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Gloria Steinem, to name a few. Bay Path’s Leanna James Blackwell, director, MFA in Creative Nonfiction, and assistant professor of Creative Writing, will portray Steinem, and Priscilla Kane Hellweg, executive artistic director, Enchanted Circle Theater will present as Eleanor Roosevelt. Remarks will be given by young women leaders from Bay Path University as well.

“This is a great opportunity to walk through women’s history while supporting women in business and inspiring professional women at every level and college students to pursue their dreams — thus creating the world they want to live in,” said Janine Fondon, assistant professor and co-coordinator of the On the Move Forum with Melina Rudman at Bay Path University.

The On the Move Forum also includes a Table Top Business Expo by the Professional Women’s Chamber, as well as an interactive program to highlight women’s history, leadership, and trends.

“Our young women need to know of the history of the great women who paved the way for them — their stories will no longer go silent,” said LuJuana Hood, director of PAHMUSA, which is currently displaying an exhibit of figures in the women’s movement timeline.

Many local businesses, including PeoplesBank, Roberto’s restaurant, Sylvester’s restaurant, Pip Printing, and Cambridge College, have joined On the Move as sponsors. For tickets, call the CityStage box office at (413) 788-7033.

CHICOPEE — The board of directors at Pioneer Cold announced that Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Bryan Hedge has been elected president. He joined Pioneer in 2007 as vice president of Operations, and was promoted to chief operating officer in 2012.

Hedge will be responsible for all areas of Pioneer, including customer and employee satisfaction. A major part of his job will be to set priorities in strategy, asset utilization, and revenue growth, and to ensure operational excellence across the company.

As COO, Hedge was the operations leader and delivered consistent improvement in all areas, including safety, capacity planning and utilization, customer satisfaction, and productivity. As a result, Pioneer achieved industry-best operational metrics as benchmarked against industry standards.

Hedge came to Pioneer from Sleepy’s, where he was vice president, Logistics. Prior to that, he was vice president, Business Operations at CIS in Lenox. He also held executive-level supply-chain-management roles at Save-A-Lot Foods, Performance Food Group, and Springfield Foodservice. He spent 20 years with TruServ Corp., where he was consistently promoted to roles with increasing responsibility.

Hedge is an active member of the International Assoc. of Refrigerated Warehouses (IARW) and serves as a member of that organization’s supply chain operations committee. He also currently serves as treasurer of the North Atlantic Chapter of the IARW. He is also a member of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.

Pioneer Cold also announced two more promotions, with Susanne Gagnon becoming director of Operations and Michael Carr becoming Customer Service manager.

Gagnon served most recently as Customer Service and Transportation manager. She came to Pioneer in 2004 as a Warehouse manager and was promoted to Customer Service manager in 2006. Prior to joining Pioneer, she was with C&S for 10 years and was promoted to roles with increasing levels of responsibility, working on the ‘SWAT Team’ setting up and opening new distribution centers for three years, and was promoted to Warehouse supervisor, where she spent her last two years.

Carr joined Pioneer in 2003 as a Customer Service representative. In 2007, he was promoted to senior Customer Service representative and has spent the last 11 years in that role. Prior to joining Pioneer, he was a route sales/DSD delivery driver for a magazine and book distributor.

WESTFIELD — The Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce will present a St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast on Friday, March 16 at Westfield State University in Scanlon Hall located at 577 Western Ave., Westfield. Registration begins at 7:15 a.m., with breakfast at 7:30 a.m., and the program will begin at 7:50 a.m.

The guest speaker is Bo Sullivan, who was recently named executive director of the Irish Cultural Center in West Springfield.

The event is sponsored by Westfield State University and Republic Services. A 50/50 raffle will support three chamber scholarship awards, for one student each from the Westfield, Southwick, and Gateway Regional public schools. Corsages will be provided by Flowers by Webster. The chief greeter will be Chuck Kelly of Flowers by Webster.

The chamber will also recognize this year’s Sons of Erin Colleen, Mackenzie Hope Rogers, and her court: Maddeline Frey, Catie Laraway, Jasmine Malonchleb, and Brianna Weltlich. In addition, the chamber will recognize Sons of Erin Irishwoman of the Year Kara Herman, Irishman of the Year Peter Miller Sr., and Parade Marshall Joanne Miller.

The guests will also hear from Mayor Brian Sullivan, state Sen. Don Humason Jr., state Rep. John Velis, and Westfield State University President Ramon Torrecilha. WSKB 89.5 will broadcast live in Scanlon Hall. As guests arrive, they will be entertained by bagpiper Roger Bernier.

Contact Pam Bussell at (413) 568-1618 or [email protected] for tickets, sponsorships, or to donate a door prize. The cost is $25 for members and $35 for general admission. RSVP by Monday, March 9.

SPRINGFIELD — The Gray House will hold its 27th annual spaghetti supper on Monday, March 19 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Greek Cultural Center, 8 Plainfield St. in Springfield. All proceeds from the family-friendly event will help the Gray House provide food, educational services, and youth programming to neighbors living in poverty.

This year’s event sponsor is Freedom Credit Union, and platinum sponsors include PeoplesBank and the Springfield Chapter of UNICO National.
Tickets for the event are a minimum donation of $5. Children 6 and under are free, and all tickets can be purchased at the door.

Supper, dessert, and children’s activities are available, as well as the opportunity to win raffle prizes such as Okemo Mountain lift tickets, a Tree House Brewing Co. basket, and many others. The grand-prize raffle includes a foursome to the Ranch Golf Club, tickets to a Boston Red Sox game, and a 32-inch smart TV. Winners do not need to be present to win the grand-prize raffle, and entry tickets can be purchased in advance by calling (413) 734-6696.

This year, the Gray House will honor St. Michael’s Parish and Knights of Columbus Council #9960 of East Longmeadow. The event would not be possible without the support of the St. Michael’s Knights of Columbus and parishioners, said Teresa Liberti, executive director of the Gray House. “For over 20 years, they have been an integral part of making the spaghetti supper such a success. They are the ones who are cooking and serving the food for over 400 guests we have every year.”

FLORENCE — Molding Business Services of Florence has acquired Gros Executive Recruiters of Franklin, Tenn. Both firms provide recruiting and executive search services to the plastics industry.

Molding Business Services (MBS) was founded in 1998, and during those 20 years, its recruiting division has focused almost exclusively on the injection-molding segment of the plastics industry. Gros Executive Recruiters was founded in 1989 and serves the packaging, plastics-processing, and plastics-machinery markets.

MBS brings a deeper injection-molding network to Gros, while Gros provides MBS with penetration into the packaging and plastics machinery markets. Additionally, merging the two already-extensive industry databases produces a network of talent that will benefit the combined firms’ clients. Together, MBS and Gros have recruiting staff located across the U.S., in Massachusetts, Illinois, Tennessee, Vermont, and California.

“The synergies between the two firms are numerous, and our visions and goals couldn’t be better aligned,” said MBS President Jonathan Soucy. “We are excited about enhancing our reach and capabilities for our clients, especially at a time when the demand for talented individuals in our industry has reached critical levels.”

Former Gros Executive Recruiters owner and industry veteran Dennis Gros has been appointed president of the combined recruiting business. “The combination of MBS’s recruiting division and Gros Executive Recruiters is great news for hiring managers and for professionals who seek a career change,” he said. “In combining our resources, we will offer new programs designed to energize hiring in the plastics industry.”

Gros Executive Recruiters will become the sole recruiting brand of the combined entity and will operate as a molding business services company.