Day: September 9, 2019

SPRINGFIELD — United Personnel reported on Friday that employees’ most recent paychecks may have been stolen in a computer hack of the company that handles the company’s payroll software. Specifically, money paid on Aug. 30 through direct deposit may have been illicitly withdrawn from their accounts.

In a statement, United Personnel President and CEO Tricia Canavan said employees have been told to contact their banks immediately to taken any necessary steps to protect their accounts.

AkkenCloud, the software vendor used by United Personnel to process payroll, serves more than 650 staffing-agency clients and manages 14.8 million candidates.

“There are companies all over the country whose employees have been affected by this situation, and there is understandably a lot of anger,” Canavan said. “We are trying to help direct people on how to take action most effectively in order to get the funds returned to their accounts as quickly as possible.”

She added that United Personnel is working with the FBI, the attorney general, and local police on the matter.

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield College has advanced into the top 20 in its category in the 2020 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings. In the Best Regional Universities – North category, Springfield College is ranked 19th.

This year’s position represents a continuing rise in the rankings for Springfield College over the last 10 years. The college’s overall Best Colleges score has increased each year since the 2011 rankings. Also, Springfield College has moved up in the rankings in nine of the last 10 years, including jumping up nine spots from last year. The college has moved up 48 spots from its ranking in 2011.

“Our extraordinary rise in the rankings is confirmation of the commitment of our faculty and staff to cultivating academic excellence at Springfield College,” said Mary-Beth Cooper, president of Springfield College since 2013. “A Springfield College education, grounded in the Humanics philosophy, continues to be well-regarded.”

The college’s constant ranking in the top tier in its category is spurred by improved graduation rates and improved retention of first-year students. The ratings are based on such variables as peer assessment, graduation and retention rates, student selectivity, class size, alumni giving, and student-faculty ratio.

Springfield College was also ranked 15th in its category of the U.S. News Best Values rankings that showcase colleges with high quality and a lower cost, up four spots from last year. This is the fourth consecutive year that Springfield College has been listed in the Best Values category, which takes into account a college’s academic quality and net cost of attendance.

Springfield College was also ranked once again in the U.S. News A+ Schools for B Students category. Colleges in this category have strong ratings and accept a significant number of students with non-stratospheric transcripts.

HOLYOKE — SPARK EforAll Holyoke will celebrate graduates of its 2019 Summer Accelerator Program and award $5,000 in prize money at its upcoming Showcase & Celebration on Tuesday, Sept. 17 from 6 to 8 p.m. on at Wistariahurst, 238 Cabot St. in Holyoke.

Entrepreneurship for All (EforAll) began its second Accelerator Program in the Pioneer Valley this past May, and this second cohort will graduate from the intensive, 12-week program at the Showcase and Celebration ceremony. This cohort will continue to meet with their mentors for the rest of the year and meet with EforAll quarterly to compete for more cash.

The eight businesses have a range of business ideas, ranging from a mobile tailor service to a Spanish-language comic book series to a pizza and wine bar. These aspiring entrepreneurs have been meeting two times a week learning from experts in the region and covering a variety of topics about business and entrepreneurship. With the help of mentors, the entrepreneurs have developed solid plans to take their business to the next level. The winners of the accelerator will share in a $5,000 prize pool that will be announced at this celebration.

Dawn Leaks, CEO of Lioness, will be the keynote speaker of the evening, and attendees will also hear from a participant in the program. The public will be able to learn about all of the business ideas and speak with the entrepreneurs themselves as they’ll have their ideas and products on display.

A new Accelerator Program will take place in Holyoke this winter. Applications are now being accepted online; to find out more, visit www.eforall.org.

CHICOPEE — The Westover Job Corps Center has immediate openings for individuals seeking free career training in the nation’s leading industries, including advanced manufacturing, automotive repair, construction, finance and business, healthcare, and hospitality.

Offered by the U.S. Department of Labor, Job Corps is the largest nationwide residential career technical training and education program in the country and has been operating for more than 50 years. The program helps eligible young people complete their high-school education, earn college credits, train for meaningful careers, and connect with employment, apprenticeship, military, or higher-education opportunities. Job Corps centers also provide on-campus housing, nutritious meal options, basic medical care, uniforms and class supplies, and enrichment and recreation activities.

“The basic eligibility requirements for entering Job Corps are simple,” said Debra Carr, acting national director of Job Corps. “The applicant must be 16 through 24 years of age, have a low income, and have educational and employment barriers or deficits. The program strongly encourages any individuals who meet these requirements, and are seeking opportunity to further their education and career pathway, to learn more about the many benefits Job Corps offers.”

Job Corps is an open-entry and open-exit program that accepts new students on a weekly basis. To obtain additional information about the specific training programs and educational opportunities offered at the Westover Job Corps Center, interested individuals can visit jobcorps.gov or call (800) 733-JOBS.