Month: February 2020

SPRINGFIELD — The Edvocate, an online education magazine, has named American International College (AIC) among the best colleges and universities for people with disabilities.

The Edvocate highlighted institutions that have multiple programs, policies, and measures in place to help people with disabilities succeed in higher education. AIC placed in the top 10.

“The Supportive Learning Services (SLS) program at American International College provides professional tutoring services to students, as well as assistance with study skills, organization, and time management,” the magazine noted. “Students can also take advantage of the Center for Accessibility Services and Academic Accommodations (CASAA), which provides both academic and physical accommodations.”

CASAA provides resources, training, and direct services to ensure people with disabilities have a greater opportunity to achieve their goals, while SLS is a fee-based program that helps students with learning challenges achieve their dream of completing college successfully. The second of its kind in the country, SLS celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2018. This comprehensive program works with the whole student academically, socially, and emotionally, by providing one-on-one tutorial assistance in addition to skills and content workshops designed to fit the unique needs of each student. In addition to helping students hone academic skills, SLS staff can assist students with organizational skills and time-management strategies that can help them modify their learning environment and maximize their strengths.

“We are pleased that the commitment of the college to provide access and opportunity for every student is recognized,” said April Voltz, AIC’s dean of Academic Success. “American International College has long appreciated that people learn differently and have varying needs in the pursuit of their education. Learning specialists in the Supportive Learning Services program provide professional tutoring and academic coaching tailored to the learning style of the individual student. The Center for Accessibility Services and Academic Accommodations collaborates with members of the institution’s diverse community to ensure that all aspects of campus life — learning, working, and living — are universally accessible.”

Free Webinar to Tackle Interactive Process for Reasonable-accommodation Requests

SPRINGFIELD — Attorney John Gannon, a partner with Skoler, Abbott & Presser, P.C., will conduct a complimentary, informative webinar, titled “Processing the Interactive Process,” to discuss employers’ interactive-process obligations for reasonable-accommodation requests. The webinar will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 19 from 12:15 to 1 p.m.

The Americans with Disabilities Act requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to disabled employees, unless doing so would cause undue hardship to the business. Common accommodation requests include time off from work, modified working schedules, and changes to the work environment (seating, lighting, noise, etc.). Employers should engage in what is known as the ‘interactive process’ when presented with an accommodation request. This is the first step in evaluating whether a workplace accommodation can and should be offered.

“Reasonable-accommodation requests are among the most challenging compliance issues for human resource professionals,” Gannon said. “Rarely are there easy answers in this area that assure success against a legal challenge. I will go over the steps in the process and present a plan for HR to follow when evaluating and responding to reasonable-accommodation requests.”

A question-and-answer session will follow the presentation. Registration is required at skoler-abbott.com/training-programs.

Knights of Columbus Golf Tournament Slated for May 22 at Crumpin-Fox

BERNARDSTON — On Friday, May 22 at the Crumpin-Fox Club in Bernardston, the Greenfield Knights of Columbus, Council #133, will host its seventh annual charity golf tournament. This year, the Greenfield Council #133 recognizes the United Arc as its tournament partner.

Golfers will have the opportunity to play a course that continues to be recognized for its excellence. Golf Advisor ranked the course second on its Top Courses of Massachusetts list for 2018. Crumpin-Fox will be hosting the U.S. Open qualifier for Winged Foot on May 11, so golfers can expect the course to be at its best.

The event will be an 18-hole, four-person scramble with tee advantages for senior golfers. The entry fee of $125 per person includes greens fees, carts, lunch and dinner, and prizes for the winners. Those less inclined to tee off and who would rather enjoy the views of the 18th green while supporting a good cause can take in a meal at Zeke’s Grill. Dinner-only tickets are available for $30.

Raffles and a silent auction will feature lottery tickets, gift cards, a three-day Cape Cod vacation, Crumpin-Fox and Hopyard golf certificates, a mystery box, and more. There will also be a hole-in-one contest for a chance to win a new car.

The United Arc supports people living with intellectual and developmental disabilities in achieving the universal goals of inclusion, choice, and independence. Every year the organization provides services to individuals and their families in Franklin, Hampshire, Hampden, and Worcester counties.

In addition to the United Arc, proceeds from the event will be used to fund a number of Council #133’s worthy causes in Greenfield and Franklin County, including the Pan Mass Challenge, Baystate Hospital Wheeling for Healing, Farren Hospital Gift of Light, the Greenfield Homeless Shelter, monthly community meals, honoring veterans by placing flags on graves for Memorial Day and Wreaths Across America wreaths placed on graves at Christmas, several youth sports programs, and more.

To sign up or to get more information, call Lou Grader at (413) 774-2848, Dan Arsenault at (413) 774-5258, Bob Wanczyk at (413) 774-2465, Paul Doran at (413) 774-2801, or Joe Ruscio at (413) 768-9876.

Scout Curated Wears Supports Dress for Success Western Massachusetts

SPRINGFIELD — Scout Curated Wears started out as a local business and quickly turned into a nationwide sensation with its signature item, which converts from a wrap bracelet to a necklace. But the company is equally proud of its commitment to give back 10% of its net proceeds to support women’s organizations.

Dress for Success Western Massachusetts is one of the nonprofits that benefits from the generosity of Scout Curated Wears and owner Lora Fischer-DeWitt. “The support of Scout Curated Wears is critical to the ability of Dress for Success Western Massachusetts to impact the lives of hundreds of women in Western Massachusetts,” Executive Director Margaret Tantillo said.

Women in the Greater Springfield community benefit from both a network of support and programs developed by Dress for Success. These programs, which are designed to be responsive to both women and employers, include the Foot in the Door workforce-readiness program; the Boutique, which provides women with professional attire for interviews and employment; the Margaret Fitzgerald One-on-One mentor program; and the Professional Women’s Group, designed to promote employment retention and career advancement.

Fischer-DeWitt changes the lives of women who come through these programs by providing an annual contribution and by sponsoring Common Threads, an annual event celebrating of the accomplishments of women who have come through Dress for Success Western Massachusetts programs. This year’s event is scheduled for Thursday, April 16 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Springfield Sheraton.

Changing Perceptions, State Investments Spark Renewed Interest in Area’s Technical Schools

Cover Story

Turning the Corner

Joao Alves, Chapter 74 Vocational Director at Roger L. Putnam Vocational Technical Academy

It wasn’t so long ago that young people — and their parents — perceived technical schools as a last resort of sorts. But a profoundly changed labor market, a workforce crisis, and a series of investments on the part of the Commonwealth have changed all that. Today, these are increasingly seen as schools of choice because of their blend of academic and vocational programs, and their students are certainly in demand.

Joao Alves has been in and around what is now known as Roger L. Putnam Vocational Technical Academy for the better part of 40 years.

He attended the school, known then as Putnam Vocational High School, in the late ’70s. He started teaching there in the early ’90s, and has been there ever since, now taking the title of Chapter 74 vocational director, which means he’s in charge of making sure the school’s many programs meet established state standards. Over all those years, he has seen what amounts to serious pendulum swings when it comes to vocational education, from his days as a student, when the school’s enrollment was at its zenith and jobs in manufacturing and the trades were plentiful, to those days when he started teaching there, when such jobs were in sharp decline and interest in vocational programs was plummeting.

To … today, when, by all accounts, vocational schools are enjoying a resurgence of sorts — as evidenced by a lengthy waiting list for valuable slots at Putnam and similar situations at other area schools.

Indeed, fueled by a number of factors, from the retirement of Baby Boomers and the resulting infusion of jobs to a huge commitment from the state to meet workforce needs and address a widely recognized skills gap, vocational/technical schools — many of them now called ‘academies’ thanks to rebranding efforts undertaken years ago — are seeing heightened and what appears to be sustainable interest in programs ranging from machine tooling to allied health; from criminal justice to culinary arts.

“What we provide today is opportunity,” Alves said. “Whether the student is going to go out and work tomorrow, as soon as they graduate, or whether they go into the military, or whether they go on to college — they’re better prepared for those options.”

Joe Langone, principal of Westfield Technical Academy, formerly Westfield Vocational High School, agreed.

“There’s been a change in perception about technical schools and the students who attend them,” he told BusinessWest, adding that his school, with nearly 600 students, is at what he called max capacity. “I’m pleased that this has come about, but, sadly, it took a skills gap for people to become aware of what we’re doing, why we’re doing it, and how we’re doing it. All of a sudden, we find ourselves in a situation where people with trade skills are a commodity.

“We’re experiencing great shortages in a number of areas in our region, including healthcare, manufacturing, information technology, and education,” he went on, adding that these shortages result in part from the retirement or Baby Boomers, a trend that will only accelerate as more members of that generation reach their mid-to late ’60s.

David Cruise, president and CEO of MassHire Hampden County, concurred, and said a variety of forces — from those job opportunities to a stronger alignment of the academic and vocational programs at the area’s technical schools — have increasingly made them what he called the “schools of choice.”

Joe Langone says that, in today’s challenged workforce climate, technical-school graduates have become what he called a commodity.

“Over the past several years, both employers and parents have come to understand the importance of both college and career,” he explained. “And they find that the vocational/technical high schools offer a pretty robust academic program, but also prepare students with skills they either take to the labor market after graduation or pursue two- or four-year degrees. And with today’s labor market, where supply is in relative short supply across most industries, the value of a vocational/technical high-school education, which was always valuable, is now even more so.”

Langone said his school, like others, is responding to needs and concerns within the workforce with curriculum changes, new and updated equipment — often funded with help from community partners, including businesses that hire graduates — and new programs designed to help create a pipeline of workers for specific industry sectors.

“There’s been a change in perception about technical schools and the students who attend them. I’m pleased that this has come about, but, sadly, it took a skills gap for people to become aware of what we’re doing, why we’re doing it, and how we’re doing it. All of the sudden, we find ourselves in a situation where people with trade skills are a commodity.”

As an example, he cited his school’s Aviation Maintenance Technician program, created specifically to address the needs of companies like Gulfstream and Rectrix Aerodrome Center, located near Westfield’s Barnes Municipal Airport (more on that later).

And there may be more new programs and expansion of existing ones through a new line item in the state budget called the Career Technical Initiative. Proposed by the Baker administration, it calls for leveraging current vocational assets across the state to expand to three shifts of training per day — many currently have two, with night programs for adults looking to be trained or retrained in a vocational skill.

Cruise said the initiative would allow traditional high-school students, including many now on those aforementioned waiting lists, the opportunity to access vocational programs after school, between 2 and 5 p.m.

The goal is to add an additional 20,000 skilled technical workers to the workforce over the next four years, said Cruise, adding that such initiatives are certainly needed as companies search, often in vain, for workers, and the so-called ‘gray wave’ of retiring Baby Boomers gains intensity.

For this issue and its focus on Manufacturing and the Trades, BusinessWest takes an in-depth and how and why these institutions became the schools of choice and also at how they are helping to address the state’s workforce needs at this critical juncture.

Current Events

It’s called “Tiger Talk: In the Flow with Rob and Joe,” with Joe being Joe Langone and Rob being Rob Ollari, Student Services director at Westfield Technical Academy.

Students are seen in the Allied Health program at Roger L. Putnam Vocational Technical Academy, one of 22 programs at the school.

This is a weekly, hour-long show on Westfield Community Radio (WSBK) that features the two in studio talking about all things at the school — from the sports teams, nicknamed the Flying Tigers, to recent and upcoming events. But a good deal of that hour is spent taking to students about the programs they’ve chosen and why. On the Jan. 23 show, for example, they had several guests, including 10th-grader Caitlyn Carter, enrolled in the Electrical Wiring program. That’s not where she thought she’d be, as she told them candidly.

“I did not want to go into electrical wiring at all — I came here for either for culinary or automotive,” she explained, adding that she eventually chose the technical school over Westfield High, even though all her friends went to the latter, because she considered it the better option considering her ultimate goal — to become a Marine. “I was going to join automotive, because my grandfather knows everything in automotive. Then I thought, ‘electrical sounds pretty cool; let’s try that.’”

She also talked about the technical school being the better ticket to a good-paying job and how she was attracted to several of the non-traditional, or ‘non-trad,’ programs, as Langone called them, meaning those that have been traditionally (hence the term) dominated by men, or, in the case of Allied Health, women.

The program is one of several initiatives undertaken to build interest in technical programs and Westfield Technical Academy in particular, said Langone, and collectively they seem to be working.

“I remember my parents speaking about it, saying, ‘you have to go to college, you have to go to college, you have to go to college.’ I don’t recall anyone saying why were supposed to go to college, but that was sort of the golden rule.”

Indeed, the traditional period for applying for Westfield Vocational Academy — early spring — hasn’t really begun, but already the school has received more than 120 applications; it will only admit roughly 150.

That is one sign, amid many others, of the growing popularity of vocational programs, said those we spoke with, all noting that this represents a sea change from the way things were years ago.

For some perspective, Alves turned the clock back to 1993, when he came back to Putnam to teach, specifically in Metal Fabrication, Sheet Metal, and Welding. Actually, he went back further to when he was a student.

“When you came to this school, you knew there was work out there,” he recalled. “The connection was great; from school to industry was a good pathway, a clear pathway.”

Joe Langone, seen here with students and instructors in Westfield Technical Academy’s Aviation Maintenance Technician program, says it is now one of the most popular programs at the school.

Things were much different when he returned. “A lot of the bigger manufacturers had left, and the construction economy was very slow,” he told BusinessWest. “What I found was that the students were still focused on coming here for a trade — that was still the buzzword; you came to Putnam to work with your hands — but what I found was that, on the flip side, the jobs just weren’t there, so the numbers started to go down. We weren’t getting the same numbers of students, and some of the ones who were coming were not as focused because they didn’t think they were going to be able to get a job.”

Langone has similar recollections from when he attended Cathedral High School back in the mid-’80s.

“Back in those days, the perception, and I’m not sure how true it was, was that the highest-performing kids in Springfield went to Cathedral or Classical,” he said. “Things started to scale down from there, and Putnam was always viewed by my peers and from my parents’ generation as the point of no return; that’s where you went as a last resort. The perception was that if someone wasn’t going to be successful anywhere else, they at least might have a shot if they had a trade.”

Those sentiments were fueled by the common presumption by his parents — and by most in that generation — that, to get ahead, one had to go to college.

“I remember my parents speaking about it, saying, ‘you have to go to college, you have to go to college, you have to go to college,’” Langone recalled. “I don’t recall anyone saying why were supposed to go to college, but that was sort of the golden rule.”

Building Momentum

Back in the ’90s, Putnam struggled, Alves recalled, noting that it was the first of the state’s vocational schools to be labeled as ‘non-performing,’ thus requiring a turnaround plan, which was drafted — and executed.

“With a lot of hard work, a lot of good planning, and a lot of good people, we were able to change the image of the school,” he said, adding that these efforts were aided greatly by both a changing job market and the construction of a new Putnam.

“Parents and students started believing in the school again, and students started to come back,” he recalled. “And now, they’re performing at a higher level; they’re going on to be engineers, and if they’re in the health track, where traditionally they would go on to be RNs and LPNs, now they’re saying, ‘I can go on to be a doctor.’ And this helped attract more students.”

Today, Putnam, with 22 technical programs, ranging from Auto Tech to HVAC; Robotics to Graphics; Carpentry to Machining, is well-positioned to train people for a technology-driven economy, said Alves, and students (and their parents) are responding.

Indeed, enrollment is now roughly 1,200, not what it was when Alves was a student himself, but much higher than it was only a decade ago. And there are probably 300 to 400 people on the waiting list, a number that grows larger each year.

A somewhat similar pattern was followed at other vocational schools, and today, converging trends have the schools at or approaching capacity and looking for ways they can accommodate more students.

For starters, with the ever-rising cost of a college education and the often-crippling burden of college loans — Langone said he’s 53 and still paying off loans from his advanced-degree work — some are rethinking that golden rule. Meanwhile, as Cruise said, and others hinted strongly, the technical schools are now often considered a first, best option for many as they look to enter or re-enter the workforce.

This change, as noted, didn’t come overnight, but rather over the past 20 years or so, said Alves, adding that Putnam and other technical schools took a number of proactive steps to change perceptions and boost enrollment, including new programs and, in some cases, some rebranding and use of that word ‘Academy.’

But, as Langone noted with some regret, it took the skills gap and its very visible impact on the state’s economy, and especially its manufacturing and healthcare sectors, for these schools to gain the full appreciation they now enjoy.

Meanwhile, investments made by the Commonwealth have certainly helped these schools enhance existing programs and add new ones.

Langone said Westfield Voke has received more than $500,000 in grants over the past few years for its Aviation Maintenance Technician and Manufacturing programs, and more than $100,000 for that aforementioned Electrical Wiring program, in part to offer training to adults in the evening. It has applied for additional grants for its Culinary and Allied Health programs and is currently awaiting word.

The State of Things

As noted earlier, the state, recognizing the demographic patterns and hearing employers’ desperate pleas for qualified help, has made significant investments to counter those trends. The so-called Workforce Skills Cabinet (WSC) and its seven regional teams have worked together to design and implement a number of strategic initiatives that include:

• $67 million in capital skills grants awarded to the state’s technical schools covering some 230 training programs, supporting an additional 12,500 students;

• The Career Pathways Initiative, which aligns high-school curriculum to priority industries; the program has created 170 new pathways and attracted $4 million in philanthropic funding to complement state funding;

• The Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund, which has awarded $12 million in fiscal years 2019 and 2020 to retrain more than 1,560 individuals for employment in careers prioritized by WSC blueprints; and

• The Workforce Training Fund (WTF), which has awarded $10.7 million to upskill nearly 7,000 workers at 119 companies in priority sectors.

These investments have helped create a number of new programs, such as the Aviation Maintenance Technician program in Westfield, now among the most popular programs at that school, said Langone, adding that the first cohort of seniors from that program graduated last spring.

It was created specifically to address the workforce needs of the aerospace-related companies at Barnes, specifically for airframe and power-plant mechanics — “the outide and the inside of the airplane,” as Langone called it — and, thus, it is a good example of how the area technical schools are responding to emerging needs.

Interestingly, many of the recent graduates didn’t go to work at Gulfstream or Rectrix. Indeed, most went on to attend college.

“Only half of those 11 kids are interested on going to work as air-frame or power-plant mechanics,” he explained. “The other half are using it as a springboard to other aviation-related career clusters; I have a graduate who’s attending the University of Kansas at Wichita for Aviation Engineering. I have some others going to Bridgewater State for Airport Management.

These are examples, and there are myriad others, of how going to technical high school no longer means not going to college, said Langone.

Alves agreed, noting that many of Putnam’s graduates, perhaps half by his estimate, go on to attend two- or four-year colleges that will enable them to broaden their career opportunities in their chosen field.

“A lot of our students come here with a bigger picture in mind,” he said. “They come here for health, but not just to be a nurse — maybe, as I said, to be a doctor. Some come here for the HVAC program, but not necessarily to be a HVAC technician; they may aspire to be a mechanical engineer. A good portion of our students have that in mind from the get-go.”

If there is one challenge for area tech schools, and it’s one they couldn’t have foreseen 20 or even five years ago, involves infrastructure and capacity. Indeed, many industry sectors — again, manufacturing and healthcare are at the top of the list, but there are others as well — are calling for more skilled graduates, but the schools are at capacity.

“I wish I could take more, but our facility is maxed out for space and also maxed out when it comes to my ability to add more programs,” said Langone. “There are some technical programs I’d love to add, but I have no place to put them.”

Cruise said the Career Technical Initiative, as proposed by the Baker administration, will help address this problem by giving more individuals, including adults looking to be trained and students on those waiting lists, an opportunity to receive some training in a specific field.

Work in Progress

Returning to that Jan. 23 episode of “Tiger Talk: In the Flow with Rob and Joe,” Carter talked about she has some job interviews coming up — several of them, in fact — with companies she hopes to work for over the summer and perhaps land a co-op opportunity with later.

Those co-ops, traditionally for students in their junior years, often lead to permanent, well-paying jobs after graduation.

This is what Alves and Langone meant by ‘opportunity.’ And it’s what they meant when they talked about preparing students for whatever they wanted to do after graduation.

And it goes a long way toward explaining why there has been an attitude adjustment when it comes to the region’s technical high schools. u

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

Florence Casket Company Builds on a Tradition That Dates to 1873

Features

Plane Speaking

Bill Hogan

Florence Casket Co. has been making its mainstay products, wooden caskets, for nearly 150 years now. And it’s making them pretty much the same way, as well — by hand. But while this business seems frozen in time in some ways, this unique industry has seen change and evolution — and the company has more than kept pace.

There’s a good amount of history on display at the Florence Casket Co. plant in Florence, as one might expect at a company that’s been making the same product in the same building since 1873, as the plaque mounted near the front entrance proclaims.

Much of it is captured in the photographs hanging in the lobby, the conference room, and Bill Hogan’s spacious and somewhat cluttered office — testimony to the fact that the third-generation president wears quite a number of hats at this venture.

Many of those photos, including those in Hogan’s office, are portraits of first- and second-generation leaders of this unique business, including his maternal grandfather, Russell Christenson, who bought the company with a few of his siblings in the mid-’50s. In the conference room, meanwhile, there are several photos of the vintage horse-drawn hearses the company loans out to area funeral homes for special services — as well as framed newspaper accounts of those funerals, with the hearses featured prominently.

And in the lobby, hanging not far from a framed receipt — dated 1898 and given from the Florence Furniture Co., Manufacturers of Burial Caskets and Undertakers Supplies, to a Joseph Belanger for “boxes” and other materials — are two aerial photos of the factory.

One is relatively recent, maybe a decade or so ago. The other one, a black and white shot … Hogan isn’t quite sure, although he thought he could determine the date if he did a little research. There are a few clues, including an old rail line that’s been gone for decades, and a few cars — compared with the full parking lot of today — that look like they might be from the late ’20s or early ’30s.

Whatever the date is, the building certainly looks different on the outside than it does today — there have been several expansions. On the inside, though, most areas — from the lobby to most of the manufacturing spaces — probably look very much the same as they did back then.

Indeed, to walk into this factory, wedged between houses in a decidedly residential neighborhood, is to almost step back in time. While some of the equipment, including a CNC machine, are new, most everything else in this building is old — as in old world. Which is one way of saying they’re pretty much making caskets here the same way they did when the building was opened, when Ulysses S. Grant was in the White House, and when that picture was taken — whenever that was.

“We could buy machines that would do most of this mechanically, but we do it all by hand.” said Hogan, adding that, on a typical day, roughly two dozen caskets will be shipped out to funeral homes across a territory that covers most of the Northeast.

While in many ways time seems to have stood still at this company, the reality is that it hasn’t. Times have changed in some ways, from the amount of competition — there are far fewer companies doing this now, although some are national and even international giants — to the increasing popularity of cremation, which has certainly impacted demand for the wooden caskets this company specializes in — although demand is still steady.

“As much has cremation has crept in and become more and more popular, there are still a fair number of families that want to have a traditional funeral,” he explained, adding that this is especially true in the Northeast.

Craftsmen at Florence Casket assemble models the same way they were built in 1873 — by hand.

Overall, Florence Casket, while in some respects still doing business the way it did nearly 150 years ago, is also adapting to changing times by diversifying into everything from supplying cremation urns and metal caskets to making specialty caskets, such as oversized models, and even those for pets.

But its bread and butter remains fine wooden caskets, which are in many ways custom-made for each customer. The company’s strategy has been to generate more of the remaining business for such caskets in its territory by “going into untouched corners to find new customers,” as Hogan put it.

For this issue, BusinessWest visited this unique business to learn about a business where demand may be constant, but so too is change and the need to adapt to it.

Going with the Grain

Hogan began his extensive tour of Florence Casket — something he enjoys and does fairly often — in the shipping area, where several caskets, covered by protective wrapping, sat waiting to be delivered to one of dozens of funeral homes in the company’s client portfolio. He spent the next 40 minutes or so explaining the many processes involved with getting them ready for delivery.

He began by rolling open a large wooden door and pointing to a separate building in which vast stores of kiln-dried lumber — everything from pine to poplar; maple to mahogany — are kept. He then took BusinessWest on a journey that covered three floors — the top floor is essentially for storage of finished product — and more steps than one could likely imagine when looking at the final product. Steps that include planing, cutting, gluing, shaping, assembling, painting (staining), lacquering, sanding at many stages along the way, and installation of the interior fabric.

He also introduced some industry terms of a sort, such as ‘ears,’ the wooden pieces affixed to the side of the casket, to which the handles are mounted, and the ‘piece of pie,’ the wedge-shaped (hence the name) piece glued and then stapled into the front of the top of the casket.

Finished caskets are stored on the third floor of the company’s headquarters in Florence and then customized to meet the specific needs of clients.

The craftsmen making and assembling pieces are doing things pretty much the way they’ve been done for decades, said Hogan, as he pointed to some equipment that’s been in use from the very beginning, or so he’s been told.

Again, he knows much more about the chapter in the company’s story that began when his family bought it nearly 70 years ago — but through research and stories passed down, he’s been able to gain an appreciation of its full and long history.

And before giving his tour, Hogan provided an in-depth and quite intriguing inside look at his company and the casket business — which he stressed repeatedly is not the funeral business, although the two have always been intertwined, and were even more so decades ago, as we’ll see.

As for Hogan, he started working in the plant when he was very young; he said his grandfather would put him to work mowing lawns and handling other duties. Later, he worked on the floor during summers and school vacations. After graduating from Castleton College in Vermont, he returned to the family business in 1993, and “I haven’t looked back.”

“When I was kid, I didn’t necessarily picture myself doing this,” he explained. “But it was an opportunity that was presented to me, and it’s the path I chose; it was a good decision.”

Thus, he’s one of several third-generation members of the family involved with the business, and while some from the second generation are still active as well, including a semi-retired uncle who serves as a sales representative in Vermont, most have retired. But they still consult when called upon.

“The whole family has been a great sounding board for me when there’s been problems, questions, cares, or concerns,” he told BusinessWest. “They bring years of experience to the table.”

And there have been a number of matters on which to consult, he said, adding that, while the casket business is steeped in tradition and history, there has been change and evolution and the need to adapt to it.

As evidence, Hogan referenced the ‘showroom’ sign on another door to the building, even though it hasn’t actually served that role in quite some time.

A craftsman finishes ‘painting’ a casket, one of many steps in a very involved process.

“Many years ago — this is before my time, but it’s what I’ve been told — funeral directors would bring families here to look at caskets and choose a model,” he explained. “The funeral director would call down and say, ‘we’d like you to put a polar casket, a maple casket, and a cherry casket into the showroom for the family to see.’”

Later, funeral homes established their own small showrooms, he went on, adding that, when a particular model was chosen, the funeral director would call Florence and order a replacement. More recently, many of those showrooms have been given over to other uses, Hogan noted, and a number of funeral homes are displaying casket options through miniatures or simply photos on the internet, neither of which is ideal, but that’s nonetheless reality.

So after a model is picked, a call will be placed to Florence Casket for that item, he said. While the company has several of each type of casket (meaning the wood it’s made from) in those third-floor storage areas, it essentially makes each item to order, especially with the handles and interior fabric, which separates it from those competitors who stockpile inventory in huge warehouses.

“Our specialty is we manufacture everything as needed,” he explained. “Everything going tomorrow, we’re working on today; you can change colors, interiors, handles — you can customize them more than you can elsewhere.”

Board Meetings

Making things to order brings its own challenges, he went on, adding that, while some times of the year are busier than others — and winter in the Northeast, for whatever reason, probably the weather, is one of those times — work, like death itself, is constant and unpredictable.

“People don’t stop dying because it’s a holiday or because it’s the weekend or because the weather is bad,” he explained, adding that this makes the December holidays, and the time off that comes with them, sometimes difficult to navigate.

It also makes Fridays and Mondays, positioned on opposite sides of the weekend (when the business is closed), more hectic than the other days of the week. “So Mondays are essentially three days all wrapped into one.”

Indeed, BusinessWest visited on a Friday, and Hogan was interrupted several times to advise those making deliveries in time for the weekend.

Those deliveries are made almost exclusively within a Northeast territory that stretches from roughly Atlantic City, N.J. to the Canadian border, a coverage area chosen because it can be served from the Florence location with a fleet of trucks and vans.

As noted earlier, that territory was once home to a number of companies that made wooden caskets, but now there are just two — Florence and a company in Athol called Cambium Corp. There was a third, New England Casket in East Boston, but its factory burned to the ground almost a year ago, and the company is still in a state of limbo, said Hogan.

Meanwhile, there are a few large national players, including Batesville Casket Co. and Matthews Aurora Funeral Solutions, both based in Indiana with additional locations in other states.

New England Casket sold primarily to distributors, while Florence does not, which explains why the company hasn’t picked up much business as a result of that devastating fire, said Hogan. Instead, as noted, it has responded to the impact of cremations and other forces within the industry by working to add new customers within its territory. It has done this by going into those untouched corners that Hogan mentioned, and also stressing what differentiates it from other makers, specifically the quality and customization of the work.

This was on full display during Hogan’s tour, which essentially took the process from start to finish. On a tour that might take 40 minutes, he stops and explains each step. In real time, it probably takes about 40 hours, he noted, with some woods, such as oak and cherry, being more porous, thus needing more time to dry between coats of lacquer.

One of the last stops on the tour, the third-floor storage area, shows the depth of the customization process. Indeed, for each type of wood there are several different colors, or stains, and a variety of models. In cherry, for example, there’s everything from the Tanglewood to the Monticello to the Washington, each with customizable handles and panels. In mahogany, another of the higher-end options along with cherry, there are four options — Baldwin, Nantucket, Newport, and Simsbury — again, each one customizable.

Hogan said one of the keys to the company’s success is to have options for all tastes and price ranges, with mahogany and cherry at the high end, pine at the lower end, and woods like poplar, perhaps the most popular, in the middle.

Indeed, there are more than two dozen options in poplar, Hogan said. “We sell a lot of them because they’re reasonably priced and the finishes are brilliant.”

Bottom Line

Those models are part of the ongoing story at Florence Casket, which is closing in on 150 years of making both wooden caskets and history.

Those framed photographs in the lobby, conference room, and Hogan’s office reflect this history, but the real story is written on the shop floor, where they’re still doing many things the same way they were done in 1873.

The same way they did in that black-and-white photo — whenever it was taken.

It was Ben Franklin who said that, in this world, “nothing is certain except death and taxes.” For 147 years, this company been a constant as well.

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

HUB International Continues to Grow Its Footprint in the Region

Insurance

Deepening Its Roots

Timm Marini, president of Personal Lines

When FieldEddy Insurance entered the HUB International family a little over five years ago, it traded a name with a rich regional history for one backed by the resources of a large corporation. The result has been the best of both worlds — HUB’s clout improves the office’s ability to grow specific niches through talent development, while the company is still able to focus on local needs with an emphasis on building deeper relationships with customers.

The insurance company known as FieldEddy had more than 160 years of history and a still-growing geographic footprint in Western Mass. when it became part of the HUB International family in 2014.

It’s a move that simply made sense at the time, Timm Marini said, and he feels even more strongly about that five years later.

“It’s such a natural fit for us,” said Marini, president of Personal Lines at HUB International New England in East Longmeadow. “There’s a cultural mesh in that our focus and HUB’s focus has always been in delighting the customer.”

Several years ago, FieldEddy employees were tasked with coming up with tools and resources they needed to better ‘delight’ those customers, Marini recalled. “We got to about seven of them and looked at each other and said, ‘we’re going to go bankrupt trying to buy all this and do all this on our own.’ So we plugged into HUB, and that’s when we really became the market leader.”

While FieldEddy had grown dramatically through acquisition over the previous two decades, under the HUB name, the company took a more organic approach, Marini told BusinessWest, adding talent in specific growth areas, from cybersecurity to healthcare (in the wake of health-insurance reform in the Bay State, followed by the Affordable Care Act nationally).

But last year, it was back on the acquisition trail, purchasing the Insurance Center of New England in Agawam — a move, Marini said, that represented the same sort of ‘cultural mesh’ that FieldEddy and HUB did five years ago.

“They had some great talent on their team and a couple of niche markets that made sense for us,” he said. “We’re not just buying to get big. We’re buying to get better. If we can buy an organization or invest in an organization that helps us get better, that’s what HUB’s acquisition strategy country-wide is.”

“When there’s a catastropic event — a hurricane, a tornado — HUB is ready, and we’re communicating to our customers, we’re communicating to the marketplace, and we’re giving them better data than what you’d receive in the news. We’re getting ready for the event.”

The company undergoes a due-diligence process before making an offer, he explained, one that involves three questions. “Number one, is it a good fit? Number two, are they bringing something to the party to make us better? And number three, can we make it grow?

“This was a great cultural fit, with really educated people — just good, solid folks. That first piece of it was a home run,” Marini went on. “Then, they have talent that we didn’t have, and we’re getting that talent. HUB wants to bring levels of expertise and be able to delight our customers differently. We want different people on our teams, different resources available to us, that will help our customers.”

For this issue’s focus on insurance, Marini talked about how HUB continues to expand both its reach and its knowledge base in numerous ways.

Hub of Activity

HUB itself has been around only since 1998, with its first operations in Canada and Chicago. Its first acquisition after that was CJ McCarthy Insurance Agency in Wilmington, Mass. in 2000. It picked up FieldEddy 14 years later.

Today, Marini said, HUB is the largest independently owned agency in New England, the largest personal-lines agency in the country, and the fifth-largest agency in the U.S. overall. So, while the firm operates autonomously with local decision making, it does so with plenty of clout behind it.

“A lot of our talent investments, we could never do on our own,” he said, citing growth in areas like risk services and loss control, claims advocacy, and underwriters who specialize in specific niches.

Legalization of marijuana is one example. “We’ve made pretty significant investments in educating our brokers across the country and making sure we can handle the unique needs of that industry.”

As another example, “on the health side, we’re asking, ‘what do we need to do better for the customer?’ We’ve invested in health and wellness folks, people who can help mitigate exposures and help us all be healthier … we’ve invested in actuaries, underwriters, data-analytics experts, just to help carve out the information and make sure the pricing we receive from insurance carriers is the right one for our customers.”

“I believe we’ve tried to move away from just the transactional side of things. Price is important, coverage is more important, but most important is being that advocate — not just when the negative or adverse thing happens, but being there through the process, through the life of the product that you’re talking about. It’s not just the transaction.”

And in times of emergency, HUB brings more to the table than insurance, he added.

“When there’s a catastropic event — a hurricane, a tornado — HUB is ready, and we’re communicating to our customers, we’re communicating to the marketplace, and we’re giving them better data than what you’d receive in the news. We’re getting ready for the event.”

When a hurricane devastated Bermuda last year, he noted, “we had $10 million homeowner customers on the island. And when that happened, we had barges filled with emergency-care stuff out there. HUB coordinated it — paid for by us, by our carrier partners — and it had nothing to do with insurance, just to do with taking care of people.

“Again, as a small independent, we didn’t have the resources to do that,” he went on. “That’s really cool. To be able to communicate that and see it in action, it puts me to bed thinking we made the right decision five years ago.”

In general, Marini said, being part of a large national company is a healthy balance between local autonomy and broader resources.

“The budget is more regional and filters across, but my team is plugged into the process. We have growth initiatives and retention initiatives — again, focused on delighting the customer,” he told BusinessWest. “We say, ‘grow well, grow big, but don’t just be big — be great at what you do.’ And the greatness comes from our customer feedback.”

Knowledge Is Power

HUB International New England has also bolstered its educational outreach in recent years. For example, it recently sponsored a seminar with about 350 business customers about the new employee leave laws in Massachusetts, featuring Bill Alpine, director of the Commonwealth’s Department of Family and Medical Leave, and two attorneys.

“That whole educational process takes a real investment in your people, in your talent. And that’s one of the benefits of HUB,” he said, adding that the company offers a ‘HUB University’ program in Chicago, where employees are trained in specific industries and niches to be better able to serve certain types of customers.

“It could be as simple as one individual or one family that owns one home, or a high-net-worth individual with millions of dollars of assets, all the way to the largest corporations in the world,” he said. “We educate each one of those folks and determine their needs through an assessment, a conversation. It’s not just selling them a product, it’s really finding a solution — and having them understand up front what they’re buying.”

SEE: List of Insurance Agencies in Western Mass.

All insurance, after all, is assessing risk and deciding how to mitigate and cover it, he went on. Someone in a flood zone might decide, based on not having a flood in the past 100 years, that they’re OK with not covering that, but at least they’ve had the conversation.

“It’s an educated buying decision based on some expertise we bring to the table. It’s not just trying to sell a policy,” Marini said. “And how do you get there? We have to educate our employees, and they educate our customers. It’s a shared conversation, not a unilateral conversation.”

HUB takes part in national summits with industry experts as well, talking about hot trends and digging into coverage details, such as how to protect, say, someone’s vast wine collection from California wildfires. That’s a first-world problem to be sure, he noted, but if it’s something of value to the customer, then it’s important to HUB.

“Each person has specific things that are special to them,” he told BusinessWest. “Our responsibility is to find the right levels of protection for them.”

That involves forging relationships, he added.

“I think about some of the partnerships I have personally. The same guy has made my suits for 28 years. The same guy cut my hair for 34 years. Those are personal relationships — yes, they provide a service, and insurance is a service — but they’re real, personal relationships that bring different conversations than you have with your friends and your other acquaintances.

“I believe we’ve tried to move away from just the transactional side of things,” he continued. “Price is important, coverage is more important, but most important is being that advocate — not just when the negative or adverse thing happens, but being there through the process, through the life of the product that you’re talking about. It’s not just the transaction.”

Community Ties

Marini says HUB International New England has long maintained relationships of another kind as well — with the nonprofits and community organizations it supports with money, time, energy, and expertise.

“I still sit on six nonprofit organizations. It’s all about giving back to the community,” he said, adding that employees are encouraged to get involved as well, even if it overlaps with work time. “We encourage that; we don’t count it against their time. It’s good for our organization. We want to be in the community, frankly. It’s what we are. And HUB is the exact same way. It’s an expected part of the culture.

“We encourage everyone in the organization to be involved. It’s rewarded, not penalized,” he went on. “After all, this is a people business. We earn a lot of money, and we invest a lot of money. That’s something I’m proud of.”

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Why Electric and Hybrid Vehicles Are Gaining Traction

Autos

Shifting Lanes

For years, people have been aware — at least vaguely — of the benefits of electric cars, especially energy conservation and savings on gasoline. But according to at least one survey, a general lack of awareness still surrounds these vehicles, especially when it comes to their often-surprising road performance. Yet, electrics and hybrids are gaining momentum, as evidenced by the number and variety of models being introduced to the marketplace — a group that might soon include larger SUVs and trucks.

Brian Ortega sees the connection between electric cars and energy conservation in general.

“They’re popular for a multitude of reasons,” said the product specialist at Balise Hyundai in Springfield. “One, a lot of people are making the transition to having solar panels in their home or making other changes to be a little more eco friendly. People are becoming more aware of climate change, and they want to switch to electric cars.”

But here’s what many drivers of gas-powered vehicles don’t know — people drive electric cars for the performance, too.

“With full electric, there’s a lot more torque,” Ortega said. “When you hit the pedal, there’s no gears, nothing but electricity hitting the car, so your takeoff and speed on the vehicle and ability to get out of snow is a lot better on an electric car.”

Since the days when the Toyota Prius was the only option on the electric market, he told BusinessWest, manufacturers have gradually improved the performance and pickup of electric vehicles, as well as hybrids, which tap into both electricity and gasoline (more on that later). And with Hyundai, Nissan, and a host of other names starting to roll a wider variety of electric and hybrid cars out of factories, they’ve been gradually improving ride quality as well.

“A lot of people have the stigma that it’ll only perform so well, but when they come from a traditional sedan and see that it performs at the same level or better, they are always caught off guard by that,” said Ortega.

Carla Cosenzi, president of TommyCar Auto Group, which sells a number of electric and hybrid vehicles, agreed.

“I think people are shocked when they get in the car and realize the pickup they have,” she said. “When consumers look at electric vehicles, they usually don’t expect them to be as responsive as they are or have the torque they have.”

Whatever the reason, she went on, “we see electrification becoming more popular among manufacturers. It seems everyone’s research and design are focused on electrification now, and they’re definitely becoming more popular with consumers, for a number of reasons. For one thing, I think consumers are now more environmentally conscious than in the past, so if vehicles offer zero emissions, that’s better for the environment and more efficient than internal-combustion engines. The other piece is that these cars are more affordable than in the past.”

Ford has taken note of shifting attitudes on electrics and hybrids and pivoted accordingly, said Jeff Sarat, president of Sarat Ford Lincoln in Agawam.

Brian Ortega says charging stations for electric cars are more ubiquitous than they think — and Hyundai has an app to help locate them while driving.

“It’s interesting — for a while, Ford and Lincoln dropped all of their hybrid vehicles, but recently they brought back numerous versions of hybrids, both plug-in and traditional hybrids. Lincoln has a plug-in version of the Aviator coming out called the Grand Touring model. That’s something like a high-end luxury vehicle, and with the plug-in version, believe it or not, it gets more horsepower and torque than a regular twin-turbo V6 that comes standard in that vehicle.”

In addition, Ford will soon launch the all-electric Mustang Mach-E, which Sarat said is a whole new entry point into electric vehicles — perhaps a hipper one.

“I think this vehicle — and I’ve seen it, I’ve sat in it — is really going to take the electric world by storm, and going to battle the likes of Tesla because it looks better than the Tesla, has better range, and it’s also probably a fraction of the cost, which is nice.

“I think, forever, the common thought about electrics and hybrids was that these aren’t exciting cars,” he added. “The Mustang Mach-E and Aviator Grand Touring, those are exciting vehicles with plenty of range. That’s what we’re seeing in the newer vehicles.”

Engines of Change

To explain the difference between electric and hybrid vehicles, Ortega pointed out two that Hyundai sells: the Ioniq, a sedan, and the Kona EV, a small SUV.

The EV is strictly electric, while Ioniq has a plug-in hybrid and an electric hybrid,” he said. “With full electric vehicles, there’s only the charge, no gas. Hybrid is a mixture of an electric battery, electric drivetrain, and an actual gasoline engine. With the typical hybrid, you fill it up with gas, and it uses regenerative braking, so that, every time you step on the brake, it actually charges the hybrid battery, and gives you a little extra range in driveability.

Carla Cosenzi

“I think people are shocked when they get in the car and realize the pickup they have. When consumers look at electric vehicles, they usually don’t expect them to be as responsive as they are or have the torque they have.”

The plug-in hybrid allows you to go a farther distance between the charge that’s on the car and the gasoline you put into it. So, with a plug-in hybrid, if you get 52 miles to the gallon on gasoline, you get 30 additional miles of range from electricity.”

Ford has long been a player in this market with its Escape hybrid, a small SUV. “We sold thousands of those,” Sarat said. “And we still have the Fusion Energi with the plug-in hybrid; we sell a lot of those.”

The tipping point for many people, he believes, will be the emergence of electric and hybrid trucks and larger SUVs. He said the hybrid Escape was discontinued for a time when the difference between its gas mileage and that of a gas-powered model was small — say, 33 miles per gallon versus 28. Now that hybrid SUVs get well over 40 miles per gallon, though, the difference is more likely to attract buyers, and Ford hopes that’s the case as it develops a hybrid Explorer.

“That will fit seven people and get 40 miles per gallon,” he said. “Everyone wants that.”

Cosenzi said some electric cars in her stores have sold well for years.

SEE: List of Western Mass. Auto Dealers

“The Nissan Leaf won a number of awards and was one of the top-selling electric vehicles for the past couple of years — and was one of the first electric vehicles on the market,” she told BusinessWest. “I think people are really excited about the range. They get over 200 miles per charge, so that’s really appealing. Other things put a customer at ease, too — you can save money on maintenance and gas, and the manufacturer supports the battery life of the vehicle; Leaf has an eight-year, 100,000-mile battery warranty.”

She also cited Hyundai’s Ioniq and Kona as popular sellers, as well as the Sonata hybrid. Volkswagen offers an electric Golf and is developing other electric models. And Volvo has the T8 hybrid and announced an electric XE40 SUV that will go on sale this year. And TommyCar just acquired a Genesis franchise, which will introduce an electric car this year.

In short, Consenzi said, electric and hybrid models are starting to proliferate, and that speaks to manufacturers’ confidence in their sales potential.

“I think, even when we talk about the next two or three years, you’ll see huge growth. From everything we hear from manufacturers, all the research and design is going into electrification.”

Forward Progress

Long-term forecasts of electric and hybrid vehicles have fluctuated by year, but the national growth rate since 2013 still averages about 25% per year.

Several factors explain why growth isn’t even higher, according to a recent survey by research firm Altman Vilandrie & Co. of 2,500 American drivers. When asked what’s stopping them from buying such vehicles, 85% of respondents pointed to a perceived lack of charging stations, followed by cost (83%), and concerns over the range (74%). And 60% said they were simply unaware of electric cars.

Worries about range and charging-station location seem to go hand in hand, and manufacturers have noticed. Ortega said Hyundai has an app that connects with a car’s data screen — even if navigation isn’t installed — and points out all the charging stations in the area.

“Typically, you’ll always have one within two miles of where you are,” he noted. “Of course, on the highway, that’s where it becomes more spread out, but they tend to be readily available.”

Cosenzi added that today’s charging stations are much more efficient than they used to be. “People waited a long time for their car to be charged, but now it’s as quick as under 45 minutes for a full charge.”

As for cost, she noted that government rebates for electric vehicles are often aggressive, such as a $7,500 federal rebate and state rebates that vary by manufacturer, but tend to average around $2,500. “That’s quite an advantage for going electric, plus savings on gas mileage.”

Ortega agreed, noting that, after about $9,000 in rebates, drivers can lease an Ioniq for under $200 a month, no money down.

“It makes all the sense. It’s the cheapest lease you can get,” he said, adding that, “in the future, that’s going to be the route people go. You’ll have that performance as well as the savings. They’ll become more popular.”

The fuel savings, after all, remains a huge factor, Sarat said.

“My truck has a 35-gallon gas tank in it. I hate filling that up; it costs 75, 80 bucks. Nobody likes doing that,” he told BusinessWest. “Pretty soon we’ll have hybrid pickup trucks. To me, that’s exciting because I hate filling this gas tank. I like to be home at night, plug it in, and be done with it, and be able to go to work the next day or go skiing on the weekend.”

And maybe go a little easier on the environment, too.

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Republican Building Becomes Part of the Story Involving Newspapers, Real Estate

Commercial Real Estate

Sign of the Times

Republican Publisher George Arwady says the newspaper’s staff can fit into perhaps one-third of the space in the building on Main Street, prompting an effort to sell or lease that real estate.

The sign just went up on the top of the structure a few months back. But the Republican building on Main Street in Springfield has been for sale or lease, on one level or another, for the better part of a more than a decade now.

Thus, it has become part of a regional and national story involving newspapers and commercial real estate. Technology has changed, papers have consolidated operations, and staffs have become smaller — those last two trends accelerated by a sharp decline in the fortunes of most all newspapers as interest in print advertising has waned. Thus, those papers’ real-estate needs have changed accordingly. And sometimes dramatically.

So it is in Springfield and at the Republican, part of Advance Publications, where publisher George Arwady estimates that the business — meaning the non-commercial-printing side of the venture (he stressed that repeatedly) — now requires not even half, and perhaps not even a third, of the roughly 64,000 square feet in the office building opened more than a half-century ago.

“We had maybe 500 people working in this building in the heyday — that’s when we were producing three newspapers, the Daily News, Union, and Republican, that were all competing against each other. There were competing newsrooms, competing circulation departments … they threw things over the fence at one another,” said Arwady, who came aboard as publisher nine years ago but certainly knows the history. “We might have 100 non-production people here now; we certainly don’t need all this space.”

Which brings us back to that sign. It announces loudly what has been widely known for years now — that there are large quantities of what Jack Dill, a principal with Colebrook Reality Services, which is now marketing the property, described as flexible, conveniently located space available for lease or sale as business condominiums.

And if someone wanted the whole building (again, not the huge commercial-printing operation), they can have that, too, if the price is right, said Arwady.

Indeed, he said the staff at the paper could easily be relocated into 20,000 square feet of space, and perhaps even less, in any of a number of downtown office buildings.

The fact that there are a number of properties that could accommodate them, including all the major office towers and several other buildings, including Union Station, helps explain why there has been little movement on the Republican space over the years, and why the sign has gone up on the property.

“It’s a buyer’s market, and certainly not a seller’s market,” said Arwady, noting, as area commercial real-estate brokers and managers have for some time now, that there is what amounts to a relative glut of office space in downtown Springfield, at least when compared with much hotter markets such as Boston, Cambridge, and even Cleveland.

In that last city, another Advance newspaper, the Plain Dealer, has relocated to smaller quarters, and its now-former headquarters has been sold and redeveloped. Something similar has happened at a number of other Advance publications, said Arwady, including the one in Grand Rapids, Mich. (the Press), and the Gazette in nearby Kalamazoo, where he once worked, where the newspaper property was acquired by a hospital group.

“They kept a portion of the old building, designed by a famous architect, and they built a large addition with offices,” he explained. “And the paper moved into nice space three blocks away in downtown Kalamazoo.”

And in Grand Rapids, he went on, the Press building was sold and redeveloped; it is now part of what’s known as the Medical Mile, a renowned healthcare destination.

“We’ve done this stuff all over the country, so we’re experts,” Arwady said of the Advance group, noting that the story has been replicated, to one degree or another, with newspapers — and communities — of all sizes.

The pattern has continued regionally as well, with a number of newspaper properties, perhaps most prominently the Boston Globe’s former headquarters building on Morrissey Boulevard in Dorchester being sold and redeveloped.

The Globe left its 700,000-square-foot complex in 2018 after nearly 60 years at that location, and took up residence on Washington Street — not far from where it had operated starting in 1870. It sold the Dorchester property to developer Nordblom, which is reshaping it into something called BEAT (Boston Exchange for Accelerated Technology). Plans call for 360,000 square feet of office and 300,000 square feet of flex, light industrial, and lab space that will likely include a craft brewery.

“It’s a massive project; the site is being totally redeveloped,” said Dill, who attended Boston College High School across the street. “That’s an example of what’s happening in cities across the country.”

And the Republican almost had a success story to top all these others. That’s almost.

“The solution for each market has been different. And at the end of the day, all real estate is local, as Tip O’Neill said about politics, and you have to find solutions that are available and practical and economical in the place that you happen to be located.”

Flash back to 2013 when there were briefly three Springfield casino proposals vying for the coveted Western Mass. license. In addition to the South End blocks now occupied by MGM Springfield and a short-lived proposal to build where CRRC is now assembling subway cars, Penn National, which now operates the slots casino in Plainville, wanted to build a casino on a large parcel that included both the Peter Pan bus terminal (now home to the Way Finders headquarters under construction) and the entire Republican parcel, including the massive printing operation.

“Somewhere, I have an option to buy that’s this thick from Penn National,” said Arwady, placing his thumb and index finger roughly two inches apart. “They were going to take the whole shooting match and build me a new production facility — the city was trying to get me to go into the industrial park; we were going to move all the office people downtown. And they were going to pay for the whole thing.”

Since the MGM plan got the nod in Springfield and then with the Gaming Commission, Arwady has essentially been trying to forge a successful plan B, and he acknowledged that doing so will be somewhat challenging because the market remains soft in Springfield. But he nonetheless remains optimistic that the property can regain the vibrancy it had 30 and even 20 years ago.

This optimism is based on a number of factors, starting with that prime ingredient in commercial real estate — location. Indeed, the property is visible from — and lies almost underneath — I-91, and also just off 291. Meanwhile, the bus and train stations are right across the street.

Beyond location, the building, described by Arwady as a “concrete fortress,” has abundant free parking (a rarity in the downtown area) and flexibility in that he believes it can accommodate everything from retail to professional offices to a variety of different cannabis-related businesses.

“We even have a large vault,” said Arwady. “And a vault is the most attractive thing you can have, from a commercial real-estate perspective, for a cannabis company, because it’s still an all-cash business and they can’t use the banks.”

Dill told BusinessWest that he can envision a number of different potential redevelopment opportunities at the site, including office space, education-related uses, and perhaps co-working space. And flexibility — meaning the ability to respond to a market’s needs — is an important quality when redeveloping such structures, because each real-estate market is unique.

“The solution for each market has been different,” he explained. “And at the end of the day, all real estate is local, as Tip O’Neill said about politics, and you have to find solutions that are available and practical and economical in the place that you happen to be located.”

Over the past several years, a number of entities, from law firms to education-related facilities, have toured the property, said Arwardy, adding that he believes this interest will eventually translate into a transformation of the property into other uses — perhaps several of them.

This has been the trend — or the story — when it comes to newspapers and commercial real estate, and the story is ongoing. u

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

Historic Properties Take Center Stage in Lenox

Community Spotlight

A $50 million renovation will transform Elm Court, on the Stockbridge line, into a new resort.

Historic properties are getting a second act in Lenox these days.

Take the $60 million expansion and renovation at the former Cranwell Spa & Golf Resort. The Miraval Group, a subsidiary of Hyatt Hotels, purchased the property in 2016 for $22 million and has transformed it into a high-end wellness resort, called Miraval Berkshires Resort & Spa, featuring 102 guest rooms and suites, and a luxury, 46-room hotel, Wyndhurst Manor & Club.

Set to open in May, the complex known as Miraval Berkshires is the third Miraval property nationwide, following its flagship in Tucson, Ariz. — named among the top 20 destination spas in the world last year by Condé Nast Traveler readers — and a second location in Austin, Texas, which opened last year. Hyatt acquired Miraval in 2017, and Wyndhurst Manor & Club is part of Hyatt’s Destination Hotels brand.

The 29,000-square-foot spa in Lenox “was conceived to excite all five senses and encourage mindfulness and introspection,” according to the company, and will include 28 treatment rooms, an indoor/outdoor lounge pool, separate relaxation rooms for women and men, a salon, a sauna, a steam room, a retail boutique, and a courtyard that evokes “a sense of harmony with nature.”

The neighboring Wyndhurst Manor & Club, a renovated Tudor-style mansion built in 1894, will offer a more traditional hotel experience, but guests there can purchase day packages for Miraval.

“We are excited to continue the Miraval brand’s expansion with the upcoming opening of Miraval Berkshires, as well as to welcome Wyndhurst Manor & Club to the Hyatt family,” said Susan Santiago, senior vice president of Miraval Resorts, in a release. “These two properties will offer distinct and memorable travel experiences, and we look forward to inspiring once-in-a-lifetime, transformative experiences for all guests who visit our Miraval and Wyndhurst resorts in the heart of the Berkshires.”

Then there’s the Elm Court estate on the Stockbridge-Lenox line, constructed in 1886 as a summer cottage for William Douglas Stone and Emily Vanderbilt. It completed a series of renovations in 1919 and evolved into an inn in the ’40s and ’50s, hosting dinners, events, and overnight accommodations. It was eventually placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

These days, Travaasa Berkshire County is working on a $50 million renovation of the property to develop a new resort there, featuring 112 rooms, including 16 existing suites in the Gilded Age mansion. After a series of starts and stops, including a holdup in land court in Lenox and a pause for infrastructure improvements to the roadway and water and sewer lines, the project is now moving forward.

“Travaasa Berkshire County’s plan preserves and protects a beloved historic property, respects community character, conserves open space, and contributes to the hospitality culture of the region,” the project website notes. “A tasteful, responsible commercial use of this property by a financially healthy organization will revive a dormant estate, create living-wage hospitality jobs at all skill levels, and maintain the property on town tax rolls.”

Even the Mount, Edith Wharton’s English manor-style home during the early part of the 20th century, is making news these days. Her classic novel The Age of Innocence is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, and to mark the occasion, the Manor is displaying Wharton’s personal copy of the book.

“We have many, many of her works that either have bookplates or her signature — or both, as with this copy — and so, to finally have her own copy of The Age Of Innocence join this collection of her work, it’s amazing. It’s incredible,” Nynke Dorhout, the Mount’s librarian, told Northeast Public Radio recently.

Looking Ahead

Lenox is much more than its historical properties, of course. It’s also long been renowned for its cultural and recreational attractions, from Tanglewood, the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, to Shakespeare & Co., to the town’s collection of rustic inns and bed and breakfasts.

But the business community has seen new energy in recent years as well, with projects like a Courtyard by Marriott that opened in 2017 and features 92 rooms with panoramic views, an indoor pool, a large patio with firepits, a restaurant, and a 12,000-square-foot event space; the relocation of Morrison’s Home Improvement Specialists Inc. from Pittsfield and its adaptive reuse of a blighted building that had been vacant for 10 years; an apartment conversion at the Walker Street Residences by the Allegrone Companies; and the construction of Allegrone’s headquarters and co-working office space using green design and technology in a building on Route 7.

Lenox at a glance

Year Incorporated: 1767
Population: 5,205
Area: 21.7 square miles
County: Berkshire
Residential Tax Rate: $12.10
Commercial Tax Rate: $14.78
Median Household Income: $85,581
Median Family Income: $111,413
Type of Government: Board of Selectmen, Open Town Meeting
Largest Employers: Canyon Ranch, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Kimball Farms
* Latest information available

To address an aging population, town officials created a first-time-homebuyers program in 2016 in partnership with four banks that offers up to $10,000 in down payments to qualified applicants. They also changed zoning requirements to make it easier to build new apartments and condominiums or convert older housing stock into appealing residences, as well as adopting a Complete Streets policy that will make the town eligible for state funds to improve connectivity for pedestrians and bicyclists.

Meanwhile, to encourage companies to move to Lenox or expand, town officials have been focused on a five-year open-space plan that was adopted several years ago. In addition, the Berkshire Natural Resources Council, the regional land trust, has been working to develop a regional trail network with a long section passing through Lenox.

Add it all up, and this town of just over 5,000 is looking decidely to the future, while continuing to celebrate and restore its rich past.

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

When an Accident Happens, No One Wants to Be Undercovered

Insurance

Beyond the Bottom Line

If a customer wants insufficient coverage, Mark Lussier says, he or she should at least have a conversation about it and understand the risk.

Mark Lussier tells the story of a newly licensed driver backing out of her driveway in South Hadley who didn’t see the 85-year-old walking along the sidewalk. They met, and he fractured his hip and was in rehab for six months.

“Fortunately, the lawyers weren’t bloodthirsty, and they settled for the policy limit for bodily injury,” said the co-owner of Lussier Insurance in West Springfield, noting that, too often, lawyers aim for the maximum award, putting the defendant’s house and savings at risk.

Yet, “in its infinite wisdom, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has determined that $20,000 of bodily-injury coverage is all you need to be legal,” he told BusinessWest.

Then there’s property-damage coverage on auto-insurance policies, which has a minimum requirement of $5,000. “I had a case not too long ago where someone hit a hydrant and a parked car, and then a porch. I’m guessing $5,000 wasn’t enough to pay for all that stuff. But it’s interesting to see how many people have only $5,000 for property damage.”

Many bare-bones policies come from the direct writers like Geico and Progressive that saturate the airwaves with ads focused only on premium price. But, in reality, insurance customers can get policies for not much more than the bare-bones pricing of the online marketers, but with much better coverage, explained in detail, simply because of the flexibility Massachusetts insurers have enjoyed over the past 12 years — flexibility that, for the most part, didn’t exist before.

Indeed, for much of the past century, auto-insurance rates in Massachusetts were set by the state Division of Insurance. Anyone who requested a premium quote for a certain level of coverage would receive the same price from any number of companies, unless they were eligible for a group discount.

Managed competition, which began in 2008, allows insurance companies to offer their own rates. Although these rates may vary, they must still be approved by the Division of Insurance — hence the term ‘managed.’ The result is that Massachusetts drivers are able to compare the different rates, benefits, and services offered by the insurance companies competing for their business.

“So many people are gathering information online without talking to the agent to explain the coverage, so they don’t understand at all what they’re purchasing. It’s the same old story,” said Trish Vassallo, director of Operations at Encharter Insurance in Amherst.

And, while $5,000 won’t cover the cost of a telephone pole or guardrail, injuring a person with one’s car and being undercovered is usually far worse, she explained. But that doesn’t have to be the case, as the premium difference between $100,000 and $250,000 in coverage can be as low as $10 per year — well worth the peace of mind.

Trish Vassallo

“I don’t think there’s an agent in Massachusetts who doesn’t welcome clients calling and talking to them. We like getting away from billing questions and talking about the nuts and bolts of insurance. It’s what we live for — sharing knowledge. It’s so important to make sure you understand everything you’re getting. You don’t want to learn about it after a loss.”

“That’s what we explain to them. Accidents happen, and if a building is hit, $250,000 might not be enough, but it certainly gets you closer,” she said, adding that, if a pedestrian is hit and successfully sues, $100,000 isn’t going to cover the costs.

Auto insurance, like all personal lines, is all about understanding risks and making an educated decision on what one’s comfort level is, she said — and not just settling for the lowest bottom-line price.

Bundle of Options

Under managed competition, carriers have been able to offer individualized add-ons and rider endorsements, from accident forgiveness to gap coverages to good-student discounts, and local agents say it’s important to have a conversation to get the best price for the coverage that’s actually sufficient.

“Today’s market is all about packaging and bundling insurance, and when you shop just one product, you sell yourself short in the money game,” Vassallo said.

To that end, she said, picking up the phone and talking to an agent is far superior to pressing a few buttons online.

“It’s about educating yourself, and I don’t think there’s an agent in Massachusetts who doesn’t welcome clients calling and talking to them. We like getting away from billing questions and talking about the nuts and bolts of insurance. It’s what we live for — sharing knowledge. It’s so important to make sure you understand everything you’re getting. You don’t want to learn about it after a loss.”

Part of that education, Lussier added, is understanding what’s most important to insure.

“Why buy auto insurance? In the consumer’s mind, it’s to protect the car; that’s the thing they care about,” he said. “I was the same way when I was a brand-new driver. ‘Give me what I need, whatever’ — until you have a claim. One thing I hear is, ‘I thought I had coverage for that.’”

Under the prior, regulated system, insurance providers were required to apply specific surcharges for certain accidents and traffic violations. Now, insurance companies are permitted to develop their own rules, subject to state approval, for imposing surcharges for at-fault accidents and traffic violations.

They can also include a raft of incentives, such as bundling auto and home insurance when both policies are bought from the same carrier, offering multi-car discounts or AAA membership credits, or using disappearing deductibles to reward drivers for not having accidents over a long period of time.

Then there are away-from-home discounts for college students who are on their parents’ policies, yet spend much of the year away from home without access to the family car.

“A newly licensed driver can add $800 to $3,000 to a premium, depending on whether they have their own car or not,” Lussier said. “A good-student discount can take some bite off that, and then you can get a discount while they’re away at school. Some companies require you to be at least 100 miles away to give you the discount, some only 25.”

What parents should not do in that situation, Vassallo said, is take their child off the policy completely to save some money.

“You don’t want to do that — God forbid he gets in his roommate’s car and gets into an accident, and the roommate has minimal [coverage] limits, and now the family is looking at potential harm to their assets. Companies can give discounts for students who go off to college, but you should keep them on the policy. Even though they’re not a regular driver anymore, it still provides protection.”

Limited Thinking

One rule of thumb when it comes to liability and coverage, Lussier said, is to ask, ‘how much am I worth?’

“If I’ve got a house, a savings account, a 401(k), I have to protect that with bodily-injury [coverage], then $20,000 isn’t going to be good enough,” he told BusinessWest, noting that, often, the difference between coverage levels doesn’t translate to all that much in the annual premium. For instance, he asked, what if the difference between $100,000 and $300,000 is just $80 per year?

“Do you want to take a risk for 80 bucks a year? When an accident happens, we want to know that we had the discussion and that you’re OK with understanding the risk after considering your driving habits and where you drive and what you have to protect,” he explained. “You’re saving 80 bucks to have crappy limits. We can keep your crappy limits, but we want you to tell us that’s what you want.”

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

The GMC Sierra Puts Assumptions About Pickups to Bed

Autos Road Game

Road Game

Editor’s Note: This is the third installment of a new series for BusinessWest — car reviews of a sort. These are first-person looks, and some commentary, about some of the vehicles — and issues — that are, let’s say, in the news.

The GMC Sierra 2500 is one of many models that have become popular with people who not only use such a vehicle to work, but those who just want to drive a truck.

Remember that scene from American Graffiti?

OK, that doesn’t narrow it down, does it? There are lots of good scenes to remember, and lots of good lines, too. (I recall my first semester at UMass in 1975 when I was only 17 (drinking age was 18 back then); I must have told the bouncers at the Blue Wall a dozen times that I lost my ID in a flood. And none of them were creative enough to reply, like the old wino in that famous package-store scene, “I lost my wife, too; her name wasn’t ID, though.”)

I’m talking about the scene where the nerdy character (I forget his name) played by Charles Martin Smith, the one who lost his ID, is driving down the main drag in the handsome ride borrowed from Ron Howard’s character (I forget that name, too.) Anyway, two guys out cruising the strip come upon this vehicle and say, “that can’t possibly be you in that gorgeous car, can it?” — or words to that effect.

I thought of that line as I was out reviewing/test driving the 2020 GMC Sierra 2500 HD. People all along Route 57 were probably thinking, “that can’t possibly be you in that huge, gorgeous pickup, can it?” The suit and tie certainly didn’t help, but beyond that, this was a classic mismatch.

Perhaps never in the history of motorized vehicles has a driver seemed less suited to what he or she was driving. (Wait, there was Mike Dukakis in that tank back in 1988. If you missed it, Google it; the ad pretty much destroyed his presidential campaign.)

OK, I’m exaggerating about this mismatch thing, but not really. I can spell drywall, but that’s about it. Electric work? I’m like Michael Keaton’s character in Mr. Mom; when asked if he plans to use 220 volts in an addition onto his house, he replies, “220, 221, whatever it takes.”

“… it brings the best of two worlds — the truck world and luxury-car world — together, which is why it is appealing to people who need their truck to work, and people who don’t.”

I look more like Charles Martin Smith than Charles Martin Smith does. So what am I doing in a Sierra 2500? Reviewing it, that’s what, and maybe also dashing some cold water on the notion that pickup trucks are for … well, the kinds of people who have historically driven pickup trucks, especially as they become more well-appointed and look and feel more like cars — in this case, luxury cars.

Indeed, this 2500 has leather, heated seats, a heated steering wheel, ventilated front seats, Apple Carplay and Android Auto, a power sunroof, wireless charging, a Bose premium sound system, and a lot of other things you would expect to find in a luxury car. But it also has a Duramax 6.6-liter turbo-diesel engine, a six-foot bed, a GMC ‘Multipro Tailgate’ (more on that later), and the ability to tow between 14,500 and 18,500 tons of whatever you want to tow, depending on configuration.

In other words, it brings the best of two worlds — the truck world and luxury-car world — together, which is why it is appealing to people who need their truck to work, and people who don’t, said Shaun Cummings, commercial manager at Balise Chevrolet Buick GMC.

“We’re seeing everyone from the family man or woman to the contractor to the lawyer getting into trucks today,” he said, noting that this is especially true with the 1500 model. “And that’s because they’re not just trucks anymore; they have air conditioning, wireless charging, sunroofs, heated seats, and they continue to add things.”

Even business editors are giving them a look — in this case a detailed look that helps bring the broadening market for this model, and seemingly all pickup trucks, into perspective.

Hailing a Cab

While out driving this pacific blue metallic Sierra (cool color), I was thinking not only of Charles Martin Smith and his character, but Sister Mary Caritas, SP (Sisters of Providence), one of my favorite people in the world.

At 96, she’s not only still driving, but getting from here to there in a mid-sized SUV, as I learned in a recent conversation. Paraphrasing her comments, she said she’s been looking up at people her whole life — the only way anyone would dream of using the word ‘small’ in connection with the sister is in regard to how vertically challenged she is — and it was great to be looking down on someone, literally, for a change.

You can do that in this Sierra, believe me. You’re riding above pretty much everything on the road that has just four wheels — well above. (To those not well-versed in trucks, just getting in one can be a challenge for many, especially those of Sister Caritas’ height; I managed without a step, but most would need one.)

The author rides high for his test drive in the Sierra 2500.

Getting used to the height is just one of the assignments; there’s also the language of trucks, which is somewhat different from that of cars, especially if all you’ve known is cars.

For example, HD doesn’t mean high-definition; it means heavy-duty. And then, there’s phrases like crew cab, as opposed to regular cab or double cab, standard bed vs. long bed, and even Duramax, the engine produced by DMAX, a joint venture between General Motors and Isuzu in Moraine, Ohio.

There are a lot more people who know this language now, said Cummings, adding that many factors contribute to the increasing popularity of pickups in Western Mass. — and across the country, for that matter.

These include improved gas mileage (the 2500 gets 13 mpg, but the smaller 1500, the bread and butter for GMC, does even better), all those luxury-car-like amenities mentioned earlier, and decent lease rates, which are making trucks with higher sticker prices (the 2500 I test-drove listed for $73,250) more affordable.

“We’ve been doing a lot of leasing on these trucks lately,” he explained. “It’s made it more affordable for a lot of people.”

As for the Sierra 2500, this is a full-size, HD pickup, said Cummings, adding that it has undergone a complete a redesign for 2020, with a number of what he called “first-in-the-industry features.”

This list includes that aforementioned Multipro Tailgate, which has six different positions.

“It comes down so it makes a work station for you if you’re on the job site,” he explained, “or if you need a step to get in the bed. It also acts as load support, so if you’re putting a long piece of plywood in there, this will help. It’s a pretty cool innovation, and it’s exclusive to GMC.”

The model test-driven has the 6.6-liter Duramax diesel, but there is also a 6.6-liter V8 gas engine. There are also a number of trims, from the SLE (base price $54,395) up to the top-of-the line Denali (MSRP from $75,045). Regardless of the engine or trim, the 2500 has a basic mission life.

“It’s built to haul,” said Cummings. “It’s built to tow, it’s built to plow — it’s work truck; that’s what it’s made for.”

That said, while the 2500 is popular with those who need a ‘work truck,’ it’s also gaining the attention of those who have something large to tow, like a boat or a trailer or a few snowmobiles. Or who have a lot stuff to take to the dump (a large constituency). Or who need a truck for runs to Home Depot (although you can have almost anything delivered these days). Or people who just want to drive a pickup.

And there are lot of reasons why one would, as that trip down and back on Route 57 revealed.

In a commercial for the Chevy Silverado, the Sierra’s close cousin, now making the rounds during sports broadcasts, those doing the test drive are picked up in a helicopter and taken to what looks like a lumber camp, where they then tow several tons of logs up a hill on a dirt road. We were going to do that, but we didn’t have a helicopter, or any logs to tow, or a dirt road with a hill.

So we settled for the South End Bridge and Route 57 instead. The ride was smooth and even — although you are in a pickup, after all, and you do feel those bumps in the road — and there’s certainly plenty of power and acceleration. (I looked down at one point and realized I was doing almost 80, as in miles per hour, not kilometers, and it certainly didn’t feel like it.)

The cabin is huge and well-appointed; again, all the creature comforts are here. If you weren’t three or four feet off the ground and in a cab about four feet wide, you wouldn’t know you were in a truck. Which was the point of this exercise, or one of them.

Fueling Interest

Mike Dukakis sure looked out of place in that tank — he was the butt of jokes for months, and he’s probably still hearing about it. And maybe I did, too, in the Sierra 2500. But probably not. Times, and pickups, are changing.

Massachusetts isn’t destined to become Texas, Wyoming, or even Arkansas soon when it comes to the number of pickup trucks on the roads, but the numbers are climbing.

And the 2500 is one of the reasons why.

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

Atwood Drive Complex Has Become a Healthcare Destination

Commercial Real Estate

Changing the Landscape

An aerial drone shot of the Northampton/I-91 Professional Center on Atwood Drive.

Ken Vincunas says he started getting into drone photography years ago — well before most practitioners.

There was a lengthy learning curve, and in some ways it’s still ongoing, he acknowledged, but overall it’s been a fun, intriguing experience as the technology has improved and its capabilities have grown. Meanwhile, it’s become a very practical — and much-needed — work tool for Vincunas, president of Development Associates, the Agawam-based commercial real-estate management firm and developer.

Indeed, he uses drone shots to help market the myriad properties in the company’s portfolio from Greenfield to East Granby, Conn.; shots from above often provide a unique perspective.

Shots like the one on this page, which Vincunas took last fall — probably in the early morning, by the looks of the parking lot and the lack of traffic on nearby I-91. Perhaps better than any thousand words could — even these — the picture tells how the development on Atwood Drive in Northampton, known officially as the Northampton/I-91 Professional Center, has changed the landscape in that area, once home to the Clarion Inn and Conference Center (Vincunas told BusinessWest he has some powerful drone shots capturing the demolition of that facility).

Today, the site has become home to a wide range of businesses and institutions, including the Massachusetts Trial Court, now a major tenant in the third building to be developed on the property, known as 15 Atwood, the large one in the center of the picture.

But Cooley Dickinson Hospital (CDH) is the dominant tenant on the property, with facilities in all three buildings and a presence summed up with the collective ‘Atwood Health Center.’

The hospital, a Massachusetts General Hospital affiliate, has its name on 22 Atwood (Cooley Dickinson Health Care), which houses a number of facilities, from Atwood Internal Medicine to Hampshire Cardiovascular Associates; from integrated behavioral-health services to women’s health. Meanwhile, at 8 Atwood, the first building developed, CDH has located its occupational-therapy, physical-therapy, and speech-language facilities, and in 15 Atwood, opened last spring, CDH has placed general surgical care and infectious-diseases facilities and Oxbow Primary Care.

Thus, the facility has become a true healthcare destination, similar to the Brightwood section of Springfield’s North End, although, as Vincunas noted, it is home to a wide variety of tenants, including an engineering firm and an accounting firm slated to move into 15 Atwood later this year (buildout on the latter is much further along than the former).

Which means the parking lot generally doesn’t look anything like it does here. And it’s likely to become even more full in the coming months as Vincunas looks to fill the remaining spaces in 15 Atwood, roughly 8,000 square feet in total.

“We’re seeing a good amount of interest in this space,” he said while sitting at a table in one section if it. “We had one caller interested in the whole thing and several others interested in pieces of it.”

But he’s already looking beyond those spaces — both literally and figuratively — to the undeveloped property at the back of this parcel, adjacent to the highway. There is room for additional development there, he said, and already a search is underway for the anchor tenant or tenants needed to greenlight new construction.

“We have site-plan approval for another building, which is a significant milestone,” he said, adding that the permit will allow something between 40,000 and 50,000 square feet, somewhat smaller than the 66,000-square-foot 15 Atwood. “We’ll need someone there to be the anchor, as it was with these other buildings.”

For this issue, BusinessWest takes an in-depth look at the Atwood Drive complex and how it remains an important work in progress.

A Vision Comes into Focus

Despite how it might look to some, Vincunas stressed repeatedly that this venture was certainly not an overnight success.

Indeed, it’s been more than a decade in the making, he said, and the story really begins when the Clarion property, located on the north side of Atwood Drive, was acquired at auction by the O’Leary and Shumway families in the early ’90s. Other sites on both sides of the street were acquired over the ensuing years, and eventually a vision developed for a professional office complex, said Vincunas, one that would be built in stages as need — and anchor tenants — emerged.

“We’re seeing a good amount of interest in this space. We had one caller interested in the whole thing and several others interested in pieces of it.”

Redevelopment of the south side of the property, undertaken by a partnership of the O’Leary and Shumway families, with Development Associates as leasing agent and construction property manager, began with 8 Atwood, with construction commencing in 2011. It is now home to Clinical & Support Options, several CDH facilities, as noted, and New England Dermatology. The building known as 22 Atwood was built in 2012. It is now home to 17 different CDH services, including the diabetes center, fertility services, geriatrics, podiatry, radiology and imaging, rheumatology, and spine medicine.

Construction on 15 Atwood — led by the O’Leary family as managing partner, again in partnership with Development Associates — began in 2017, with the trial court as the anchor tenant; the facility had been located in cramped quarters in downtown Northampton and needed an upgrade.

Ken Vincunas stands in the space being built out for the construction firm BluRoc in 15 Atwood, the latest addition to the complex just off I-91 in Northampton.

The court, now occupying roughly 22,000 square feet, moved in last February, and since then, a number of additional tenants have signed on, including Cooley Dickinson, which moved in last fall; the state Department of Developmental Services; Assurance Behavioral Health; Staffier Associates, a mental-health clinic; OnaWay, LLC, an accounting firm relocating from Holyoke; and BluRoc, a construction firm now located in Hadley.

This diverse mix of tenants was drawn to the Atwood Drive complex by a number of factors, but especially accessibility (the site is just off exit 19 of the highway), parking, the large footprints available, and the ability to shape these spaces to fit specific needs.

“One of the big draws is the parking — it’s very hard to find a very large space with this kind of parking in Northampton,” Vincunas explained. “And it’s very accessible, which makes it attractive to a wide range of businesses and facilities like the courthouse.”

And also BluRoc, which will soon be occupying more than 6,000 square feet of space on the third floor of 15 Atwood.

“They have three offices in three different buildings in one little area, and they needed a consolidated office; they’re going to have 30 people here,” he said, adding that buildout of the space should be completed by late spring.

With the third and first floors fully leased, there are now just those two spaces remaining on the second floor, he said, adding, again, that there has been a good amount of interest expressed in those footprints.

Looking ahead to the last remaining parcel and development of that space, Vincunas said there is no definitive timeline on construction, but he believes there is solid demand.

Shutter to Think

The accounting firm OnaWay has its own aerial shot of 15 Atwood on its website, accompanied by the words “our new home in 2020 is underway, and we’re stoked to live and work where we call home.”

There’s a growing list of companies saying similar things about this location, which has been completely transformed over the past decade — from unused property and a tired hotel and conference center into a state-of-the-art professional complex and healthcare destination.

As Vincinas said, it wasn’t an overnight success, certainly, but it has developed — yes, that’s a photography term — into one of the better development stories in the region.

As that drone shot clearly demonstrates.

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

Five Manufacturing Trends to Watch in 2020

Features

The Future Is Now

Both the immediate and long-term future of the manufacturing industry will be defined by the development of several evolving trends and cutting-edge technologies. According to the Assoc. of Equipment Managers (AEM), many of these are poised to have a significant impact in 2020 and beyond, so it’s critically important for manufacturers to develop a keen understanding of what they are and how they will grow over time. Here are the five most notable trends the AEM sees impacting those within the industry, both this year and in the future.

Wearable Technology

Manufacturers of all types and sizes are increasingly looking into — and investing in — wearable devices with different sensors that can be used by their workforce. According to a recent article from EHS Today, electronic features found in wearable devices allow for organizations to monitor and increase workplace productivity, safety, and efficiency. In addition, employers are now readily capable of collecting valuable information, tracking activities, and providing customized experiences depending on needs and desires.

Predictive Maintenance

Effective equipment maintenance is central to the success of any manufacturer. So the ability to predict impending failures and mitigate downtime is incredibly valuable. Predictive maintenance gives manufacturers the means to optimize maintenance tasks in real time, extending the life of their machinery and avoiding disruption to their operations.

However, iIn order to successfully build a predictive maintenance model, manufacturers must gain insights on the variables they are collecting and how often certain variable behaviors occur on the factory floor.

5G/Smart Manufacturing

Smart factories are becoming the norm in manufacturing, and they rely on connected devices to leverage technologies like automation, artificial intelligence, and more. In addition, these devices are capable of sensing their environments and interacting with one another. As factories of the future continue to grow and develop, manufacturers need to realize that they must be able to adapt the networks that connect them, efficiently and effectively.

SEE: List of Largest Manufacturers in Western Mass.

VR and AR

When it comes to using augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) in manufacturing, the possibilities are endless. Whether it’s helping make processes more efficient, improving product design and development, or maintaining machinery more effectively, these technologies are capable of becoming game-changers in the coming years.

According to an article from PwC, manufacturers are becoming more adept at finding ways to incorporate these technologies within their organizations in an effort to drive a future defined by digital connectivity. In fact, one in three manufacturers have adopted — or will adopt — VR and AR in the next three years.

Cybersecurity

The importance of cybersecurity in manufacturing cannot be overstated. More and more connected devices are being integrated into organizational processes each day, so it almost goes without saying that the manufacturing industry needs to develop a keen understanding of how to best deal with them.

Commercial Real Estate Listings

A list of available commercial real estate properties for February 2020

Commercial Real Estate

For Sale for Lease

Picture This

Picture This

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

Accessible Design Award

At its annual awards gala, the Boston Society of Architects (BSA) presented Caolo & Bieniek Associates Inc. with the 2019 Accessible Design Award for its work at Westfield State University’s Davis Hall. The award honors design excellence in buildings that are accessible for people of all abilities, with an emphasis on projects that exceed the legal accessibility requirements in anticipation of diverse user needs and benefits. The residence-hall addition and renovation, designed in coordination with the university and Stegman+Associates Inc., includes new private and multi-user restrooms, providing access to all students.

Pictured, from left: Janet Stegman, owner, Stegman+Associates; Janet Chrisos, deputy director, Massachusetts State College Building Authority; Steven Taksar, vice president, Administration & Finance, Westfield State University; Curtis Edgin, president, Caolo & Bieniek Associates.

Grand Opening

The Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce celebrated the ribbon cutting and grand opening of Hadley Dental Care on Jan. 31. More than 50 community and business leaders stopped by to see the state-of-the-art technology and hear about the client-centric care offered by Dr. Tapan Pujara, DDS and Dr. Chaitalee Ganatra, DDS (pictured). The practice is located at 1 Mill Valley Road, Unit D, Hadley. A celebration followed the ribbon cutting next door at the Taproom, featuring networking, food, and prizes.

Charitable Champions List

Pioneer Valley Financial Group is one of 20 financial-advisory firms selected for the Invest in Others Charitable Foundation’s 2019 Charitable Champions List, which recognizes advisory firms for their exemplary efforts to give back to their communities by promoting a culture of philanthropy among employees and financial advisors. Invest in Others received dozens of applications, which were evaluated blindly by a judging panel made up of financial advisors. Applications were evaluated on criteria including employee benefits, company contributions, and philanthropic events and programs offered by the firms.

Getting a Boost

Led by state Rep. Carlos Gonzalez, the Springfield legislative delegation was able to secure a $250,000 appropriation for the UMass Center at Springfield. On Feb. 10, a ceremonial check was presented by the delegation at the center, located in Tower Square in downtown Springfield. At that event, UMass Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy introduced Jamina Scippio-McFadden as the new director of the center, which opened its doors in 2014. Pictured below: Scippio-McFadden and Gonzalez address those gathered for the check presentation.

From left, state Sen. James Welch, state Rep. Angelo Puppolo, McFadden, Gonzalez, state Rep. Bud Williams, and Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno gather around the ceremonial check.

Court Dockets

Court Dockets

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

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT

Matthew R. Hartman by his mother and next friend, Melissa Rymes v. Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District

Allegation: Negligence causing personal injury: $65,473.09

Filed: 1/02/20

CLP Resources Inc. v. JS Electric Inc.

Allegation: Failure to make payments for temporary staffing services: $53,411.74

Filed: 1/03/20

Mid-Hudson CPL, LLC v. Concrete Renovations Inc.

Allegation: Money owed for services, labor, and/or materials: $266,877

Filed: 1/07/20

IRMA Poster v. Erie Construction Mid-West Inc.

Allegation: Breach of contract, failure to perform services: $80,000

Filed: 1/13/20

Guy Libardi v. Friendly’s Restaurants, LLC

Allegation: Negligence; slip and fall causing personal injury: $48,115.43

Filed: 1/13/20

Adam Baktis v. Springfield College

Allegation: Broken crank on window caused glass to shatter on plaintiff’s arm: $50,000+

Filed: 1/15/20

Cynthia Connors v. Hampden Parks and Recreation Commission and town of Hampden

Allegation: Employment discrimination: $100,000+

Filed: 1/16/20

Agenda

Agenda

Real-estate Licensing Course

Feb. 19 to March 19: The Realtor Assoc. of Pioneer Valley will sponsor a 40-hour, 14-class sales licensing course to help individuals prepare for the Massachusetts real-estate salesperson license exam. The course will be completed on March 19. Tuition is $400 and includes the book and materials. For an application, call the Realtor Assoc. of Pioneer Valley at (413) 785-1328 or visit www.rapv.com.

Legal Interpreting Certificate Program

Starting Feb. 25: Interested in working as a legal interpreter? Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) will a training course that runs through April, with classes meeting Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Offered as a certificate program through the Workforce Development Center at STCC, this class is open to Spanish-, Portuguese-, Arabic-, and Russian-speaking students who would like to expand their interpreting skills in legal settings. Interpreting is a high-demand field, with jobs expected to grow by 19% through 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Large increases in the number of non-English-speaking people in the U.S. will drive growth, the bureau reports. The course will cover the most in-demand types of hearings, such as due-process hearings, unemployment hearings, and depositions. Students will learn legal terminology and procedural protocols needed to interpret for these various types of hearings. In addition, students will have the opportunity for intense practice through mock hearings, which will give them the experience and comfort level needed to apply for work in the field. Trained legal interpreters are in demand throughout Massachusetts and nationwide in law offices, schools, state agencies, and contracting agencies. For more information and to enroll online, visit stcc.edu/wdc/descriptions/legal-interpreting. To contact the Workforce Development Center office, call (413) 755-4225.

Springfield Rotary Club Luncheon

Feb. 28: Paul Aquila, registered principal with Raymond James Financial Services and founder of Longview Investments, LLC, a diversified financial-services firm offering wealth management in Connecticut and Massachusetts, will address the Springfield Rotary Club’s luncheon meeting on Friday, Feb. 28. He will discuss donor-advised funds — what they are, how to use them, and how they can help clients integrate their values into their investments. The Springfield Rotary Club meets every Friday at 12:15 p.m. in the MassMutual Room at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, and is a member of Rotary International. The Rotary luncheon with Aquila costs $18 per person and is open to the public.

Difference Makers Gala

March 19: The 11th annual Difference Makers gala will take place at the Log Cabin in Holyoke. BusinessWest launched its Difference Makers program in 2009 to celebrate individuals, groups, organizations, and families that are positively impacting the Pioneer Valley and are, as the name suggests, making a difference in this region. The class of 2020 is profiled in the Feb. 3 issue of BusinessWest. Tickets cost $75. To reserve a spot, e-mail [email protected] or visit businesswest.com. Difference Makers is sponsored by Burkhart Pizzanelli, Royal, P.C., Mercy Medical Center/Trinity Health of New England, and TommyCar Auto Group, and the Tom Cosenzi Driving for the Cure Charity Golf Tournement, MHA, and United Way of Pioneer Valley are partners. Additional sponsorship opportunities are available.

Women’s Leadership Conference

March 27: Bay Path University’s division of Strategic Alliances announced that producer, author, entrepreneur, educator, and, of course, top model Tyra Banks will bring her bold attitude, unique style, and well-honed business acumen to Springfield as the keynote speaker at the 25th annual Women’s Leadership Conference (WLC). This year’s theme, “Own Your Now,” will encourage conference guests to examine the forces that have shaped their careers, relationships, and aspirations; recognize what drives them and what holds them back; and empower them to confidently move forward. Suzy Batiz, who will deliver the morning address to open the conference, earned a place on Forbes’ list of most successful self-made women — and an estimated net worth of $260 million — by creating of a suite of eco-minded household products, including Poo-Pourri, a toilet spray she developed to combat bathroom odors. Patrice Banks (no relation to Tyra) will address the audience at lunchtime. She is the owner of the Girls Auto Clinic and Clutch Beauty Bar, an auto mechanic shop and beauty bar staffed by women. She is also the founder of the SheCANics movement, which looks to demystify car repair and engage more women in the automotive industry. Breakout sessions — focused on navigating the complicated relationships, personalities, and dynamics of the workplace and the impact those have on our careers and opportunities — will be led by bestselling authors and researchers including Laura Huang, Harvard Business School professor and author of Edge: Turning Adversity into Advantage; Emily Esfahani Smith, author of The Power of Meaning; Dr. Ramani Durvasula, licensed clinical psychologist and author of Don’t You Know Who I Am: How to Stay Sane in the Era of Narcissism, Entitlement and Incivility; and Jennifer Romolini, author of Weird in a World That’s Not: A Career Guide for Misfits. For further information on the conference and to register, visit www.baypathconference.com.

Women’s Leadership Luncheon Series

March 27, April 10, May 8, June 19: Women leaders of prominent area institutions will be the featured presenters at the spring 2020 Women’s Leadership Luncheon Series hosted by Holyoke Community College and the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce at the HCC MGM Culinary Arts Institute. At the four-part, monthly “Leadership in Your Future 2020” series, each of four presenters will sit at a different table each week and speak on a subject of their choosing. Over the course of the four-session series, they will rotate among the tables so guests have the opportunity to hear all the presentations. The four presenters are Theresa Cooper-Gordon, commissioner, Holyoke Housing Authority (“Self-Determination”); Priscilla Kane Hellweg, executive/artistic director, Enchanted Circle Theater (“In it for the Long Haul”); Jody Kasper, chief of Police, city of Northampton (“Rising to the Top”); and Christina Royal, president, Holyoke Community College (“Leading Through Change”). The luncheons run from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the HCC MGM Culinary Arts Institute, 164 Race St. Lunch will be prepared and served by students in the HCC Culinary Arts program. The series will provide an opportunity to learn from women leaders of area institutions and a chance for participants to network with their peers and gain insights on building their own careers. The cost is $150 for all four sessions. Seating is limited. For more information or to reserve a seat, contact Valentyna Semyrog at (413) 552-2123 or [email protected].

Unify Against Bullying Cut-a-Thon

April 4: Hair-salon owners and their teams are being asked to make a difference in the fight against bullying. Unify Against Bullying is looking for local and regional salons to participate in a one-day Cut-a-Thon, donating proceeds from haircuts, blowouts, and styling to the anti-bullying organization. Some salons will also offer temporary pink hair color — the signature color of Unify Against Bullying. In addition, each salon will add its own fun activities and promotions for the event. Although the main event is being held on April 4, some salon owners can choose the option to hold the fundraiser for the whole month to make it easier on their team. This year, Basia Belz, a Unify Against Bullying board member and owner of Vivid Hair Salon, located at 99 Elm St., Westfield, will chair the event. Salon owners who wish to participate can contact Belz at (413) 564-0062 or [email protected].

Elms College Executive

Leadership Breakfast

April 9: Elms College will host its third annual Executive Leadership Breakfast for the region’s business executives, state and local legislators, and community leaders. The keynote speaker for the event is U.S. Rep. Richard Neal. His talk, “Leadership in Turbulent Times,” will examine how our congressional delegation is providing leadership on issues that could impact the economy of the Western Mass. region. Neal was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1988. He currently serves as chair of the powerful tax-writing Ways and Means Committee. This annual event features talks by the region’s leaders on topics of relevance that impact all sectors of business and the economy in Western Mass. Corporate sponsorships are available for this event, and an invitation is required to attend. For more information on the various sponsorship opportunities or to request an invitation, call the Elms College Office of Institutional Advancement at (413) 265-2448.

Hooplandia

June 26-28: Hooplandia, the largest 3-on-3 basketball competition and celebration on the East Coast, will take place on June 26-28, 2020, hosted by Eastern States Exposition and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The event will feature hundreds of games for thousands of players of all ages and playing abilities, with divisions for young girls, boys, women, men, high-school elite, college elite, pro-am, ‘over the hill,’ wheelchair, wounded warrior, Special Olympians, veterans, first responders, and more. More than 100 outdoor blacktop courts will be placed throughout the roadway and parking-lot network of the Eastern States Exposition fairgrounds in West Springfield. Slam-dunk, 3-point, free-throw, dribble-course, vertical-jump, and full-court-shot skills competitions will be spotlighted. Themed state courts will be mobilized along the Exposition’s famed Avenue of States. Featured ‘showcase games’ will be held on new court surfaces in the historic Eastern States Coliseum and on the Court of Dreams, the center court of the Basketball Hall of Fame. A year-long community outreach effort will begin immediately. Registration will open on March 1, 2020. Information and engagement is available now through www.hooplandia.com or on Instagram: @hooplandia.

Chamber Corners: Upcoming Events

www.explorenorthampton.com

Chamber Corners

AMHERST AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.amherstarea.com
(413) 253-0700

• March 4: Driven By Community, 5-7 p.m., a multi-chamber event at Mercedes-Benz of Springfield with the Amherst Area Chamber, East of the River Chamber, Greater Northampton Chamber, West of the River Chamber, Hampshire County Young Professionals, and Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield. Sample food, drink, and learn something about area nonprofits. Meet someone new and learn more about businesses in your community. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for non-members.

• March 11: March After 5, 5-7 p.m., hosted by Pulse Café, Hadley. Our monthly networking event with a focus on healthy living and eating. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for non-members.

• April 2: Margarita Madness, 5-7:30 p.m., hosted by Insterskate 91 at Hampshire Mall. Presented by Steve Lewis Subaru. Mix, mingle, and network at our largest signature event of the year. Enjoy an evening of tasty margaritas and vote for your favorite. Local restaurants will showcase their fare, and dozens of raffles prizes will be donated by Amherst Area Chamber members. Cost: $35 pre-registered, $45 at the door.

• April 15: April After 5, 5-7 p.m., sponsored by Paciorek Electric at its DiamondBack Properties, LLC Building, 65D Elm St., Hatfield, with food and drink catered by Grill N’ Chill. Enjoy this night of networking with people from across the Valley. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for non-members.

GREATER EASTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.easthamptonchamber.org
(413) 527-9414

• Feb. 20: Books & Joe with Moe, 8:30-10 a.m., hosted by the chamber office, 33 Union St., Easthampton. This will be the second in a series of four meetings. Join like-minded individuals for an intellectual discussion sparked by reading books. Sponsored by Richard’s Fuel & Heating Co. and Freedom Credit Union. Cost: $99 per person for the entire series. Coffee and a light breakfast will be served. Participants are required to obtain their own copy of the book explored. For more information and to register, visit www.easthamptonchamber.org or call the chamber at (413) 527-9414.

• Feb. 25: Networking by Night, 4-6 p.m., hosted by Packard’s, 14 Masonic St., Northampton. We will enjoy a fun-filled evening of building friendships and business relationships, along with food, a cash bar, and networking. Cost: free for members, $25 for future members. Pre-registration is required and closes on Feb. 15. There will be no at-the-door registrations. For more information and to register, visit www.easthamptonchamber.org or call the chamber at (413) 527-9414.

• March 4, 11, 18, 25; April 1: Her Place at the Table, 7:45-9 a.m., hosted by the chamber office, 33 Union St., Easthampton. A five-part series designed to help women increase confidence and build leadership skills to be wildly successful and take their place at the table. Cost for all five sessions: $99 per person for members, $129 for future members. Pre-registration is required. For more information and to register, visit www.easthamptonchamber.org or call the chamber at (413) 527-9414.

• March 13: St. Patrick’s Day Luncheon, noon to 2 p.m., hosted by Summit View Banquet House, 555 Northampton St., Holyoke. Join us as we salute Greater Easthampton St. Patrick’s Day Committee award winners and enjoy a traditional corned-beef lunch. Cost: $25 for members, $35 for future members. Pre-registration is required; there will be no registrations at the door. For more information and to register, visit www.easthamptonchamber.org or call the chamber at (413) 527-9414.

• March 19: Books & Joe with Moe, 8:30 a.m., hosted by the chamber office, 33 Union St., Easthampton. The second meeting of the Chamber Book Club. For more information and to register, visit www.easthamptonchamber.org or call the chamber at (413) 527-9414.

• March 24: Speed Networking Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., hosted by Summit View Banquet House, 555 Northampton St., Holyoke. We are partnering with the Springfield Regional Chamber for another fun-filled networking event. Kick-start your day and join us for breakfast. Cost: $20 for members, $30 for walk-ins. To register, visit www.springfieldregionalchamber.com, e-mail [email protected], or call (413) 755-1310.

GREATER NORTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

(413) 584-1900

• Feb. 25: Nonprofit Resource Roundtable, 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Come together with nonprofit professionals for a monthly conversation facilitated by Kristin Elechko of Cascade Consulting. Cost: free. RSVP at www.northamptonchamber.com/chamber-events/workshops.

• March 4: March Arrive @5: Multi Chamber Networking Event, 5-7 p.m., hosted by Mercedes-Benz of Springfield, 295 Burnett Road, Chicopee. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for non-members. Register at northampton.chambermaster.com/events/details/2020-arrive-5-march-4-3807.

• April 1: April Arrive@5 netWORK, 5-7 p.m., hosted by Smith Vocational School, 80 Locust St., Northampton. Our netWORK Arrive@5 series will feature a nonprofit in the Greater Northampton Community and invite guests to participate in a project to benefit that organization. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for non-members. Register at northampton.chambermaster.com/events/details/2020-arrive-5-network-april-1-3808.

GREATER WESTFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.westfieldbiz.org
(413) 568-1618

• March 2: Mayor’s Coffee Hour, 8-9 a.m., hosted by Tighe & Bond, 53 Southampton Road, Westfield. Join us for coffee with Westfield Mayor Donald Humason. The event is free and open to the public. Pre-registration is requested so we may give our host a proper head count. For more information and to register, visit westfieldbiz.org/events or call (413) 568-1618.

• March 13: St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast, 7-9 a.m., hosted by Westfield State University, Scanlon Hall, 577 Western Ave., Westfield. Platinum sponsor: Westfield State University; coffee bar sponsor: Westfield Starfires; in-kind sponsor: Flowers by Webster. Join us for our annual St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast as we honor our 2020 Sons of Erin Colleen and her court, Irishwoman of the Year, Irishman of the Year, and Parade Marshal. Guest speaker is Associate Justice Edward McDonough Jr. of the Massachusetts Appeal Court. Cost: $28 for members, $43 for non-members. For more information and to register, visit www.westfieldbiz.org/events or contact the chamber at (413) 568-1618.

SPRINGFIELD REGIONAL CHAMBER

www.springfieldregionalchamber.com

(413) 787-1555

• Feb. 20: Third annual Fire & Ice Craft Cocktail Competition, 5:30-8 p.m., hosted by Springfield Country Club, 1375 Elm St., West Springfield. Cost: $50 for members in advance ($60 at the door), $60 general admission in advance ($70 at the door).

• Feb. 27: Leadership Institute professional development program kickoff, 1-4:30 p.m., hosted by TD Bank Conference Center, 1441 Main St., Springfield.

• March 6: Outlook 2020 hosted by U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., hosted by MassMutual Center, 1277 Main St., Springfield. Cost: $60 for members in advance, $80 general admission. Tables of 10 available. Reservation deadline: Feb. 26. No walk-ins will be accepted.

• March 24: Multi-chamber Speed Networking in partnership with the Greater Easthampton Chamber of Commerce, 7:15-9 a.m., hosted by Summit View Meeting House, 555 Northampton St., Holyoke. Cost: $20 for members in advance ($30 at the door), $30 general admission in advance ($40 at the door).

• April 7: Mayors Forum featuring Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, West Springfield Mayor Will Reichelt, and others, 7:15-9 a.m., hosted by the Delaney House, 3 Country Club Road, Holyoke. Cost: $30 for members in advance ($35 at the door), $40 general admission ($45 at the door).

• April 29: Beacon Hill Summit, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. A day at the State House in Boston, hosted by state Sen. James Welch and state Rep. Carlos Gonzalez. An opportunity to spend a day with members of the Baker-Polito administration. Includes lunch and reception. Cost: $180 for members, $225 general admission.

To register for any chamber event, visit www.springfieldregionalchamber.com, e-mail [email protected], or call (413) 755-1310.

WEST OF THE RIVER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.ourwrc.com

(413) 426-3880

• Feb. 27: Co-chamber Lunch ‘n’ Learn Seminar: “The State of Small Business in Western Mass.,” 12-1:30 p.m., hosted by Springfield Country Club, West Springfield. Enjoy lunch while learning about changes in small-business laws, minimum wage, PFML, and ways to overcome business challenges in Western Mass. Join us and ERC5 as we learn all there is to know. Register online at www.westoftheriverchamber.com. For more information, contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880 or [email protected].

• March 4: Driven by Community, a multi-chamber networking event, 5-7 p.m., hosted by Mercedes-Benz of Springfield in Chicopee. Join us as we network with some of the region’s chambers and organizations. Fun, food, and friends. Register online at www.westoftheriverchamber.com.

• March 19: Mayoral Breakfast, 7:30-9 a.m., hosted by Storrowton Tavern & Carriage House, West Springfield. Presenting Sponsor: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. Join us for an informative discussion with our mayors, who will update guests on all that is going on in our towns individually and collaboratively. To register or sponsor, visit www.westoftheriverchamber.com.

• April 16: Networking Lunch, noon to 1:30 p.m., hosted by Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Riverdale Street, West Springfield. Enjoy a sit-down lunch while networking with fellow chamber members. Each attendee will get a chance to offer a brief intro and company overview. You must be a member or guest of a member to attend. Cost: free for members (plus lunch), $10 for non-members (plus lunch). Attendees will order off the menu and pay separately that day. Please note, we cannot invoice you for these events. Register online at www.westoftheriverchamber.com.

YOUNG PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY OF GREATER SPRINGFIELD

springfieldyps.com

• Feb. 20: YPS Third Thursday Networking Night, 5-7 p.m., hosted by BarKaya! Enjoy complimentary, handcrafted appetizers and a cash bar. Cost: free for YPS members, $10 for non-members. Register at springfieldyps.com.

• March 19: YPS Third Thursday Networking Night, 5-7 p.m., hosted by Trinity Pub at the Irish Cultural Center. Enjoy complimentary appetizers, a cash bar, and live Irish music. Cost: free for YPS members, $10 for non-members. Register at springfieldyps.com.

• April 16: YPS Third Thursday Networking Night, 5-7 p.m., hosted by Towne Taproom. Enjoy complimentary appetizers and a cash bar. Cost: free for YPS members, $10 for non-members. Register at springfieldyps.com.

• May 2: Fourth annual YPS Adult Field Day, 9 a.m. to noon, hosted by Extra Innings and Train for Life of Chicopee. This throwback to elementary school is built with adults in mind for a team-building competition. Register at www.runreg.com/ypsfieldday. Registration includes participation in activities, after party and lunch from 350 Grill, T-shirt, DJ, prizes, refreshments, and more. Early-bird pricing and sponsorships are available.

People on the Move

People on the Move

Narayan Sampath

Holyoke Community College (HCC) recently welcomed Narayan Sampath as its vice president of Administration and Finance. He will serve as the college’s chief fiscal officer, managing the college budget and supervising the Business Office, Human Resources, Campus Police, Facilities, and Dining Services. He started Jan. 2. Among his previous roles, Sampath was administrative director of the Institute for Applied Life Sciences (IALS) at UMass Amherst, where he managed all day-to-day operations, including administrative, human resource, and fiscal affairs. He was also responsible for the execution of the $95 million capital grant from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center that led to the creation of IALS, now home to three centers with more than 250 college faculty members. From 2013 to 2015, he managed the Center for Emergent Behavior of Integrated Cellular Systems at MIT, funded by the National Science Foundation, and before that served as MIT’s financial administrator. From 2009 to 2011, he worked as grants administrator at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Originally from India, Sampath holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics in Mumbai. He earned an MBA from the International Business School at Brandeis University in Waltham. He has lived and worked in the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Nigeria, and Kenya.

•••••

Katherine Wilson

Steven Winn

Katherine Wilson, longtime president and CEO of Behavioral Health Network (BHN), announced she will retire on June 30. George Marion, BHN board chair, said the organization has named Steven Winn, BHN’s current chief operating officer, as Wilson’s successor. Wilson was instrumental in the formation of Behavioral Health Network in 1992 when four nonprofit mental-health organizations — the Child Guidance Clinic, the Agawam Counseling Center, Community Care Mental Health Center, and the Hampden District Mental Health Clinic — formed the new entity and appointed Wilson CEO. Since BHN’s founding, Wilson has built the organization from a $1 million annual enterprise into a leading behavioral-health agency in the region. Under her leadership, BHN has grown dramatically and now serves more than 40,000 individuals in the four Western Mass. counties, employs over 2,300 people, and has an annual budget of more than $115 million. Most recently, she was named a Healthcare Hero for Lifetime Achievement by HCN and BusinessWest and was celebrated in the book Power of Women published by the Republican. Under Wilson’s direction, BHN transformed an abandoned factory complex on Liberty Street in Springfield into a sprawling campus that includes BHN’s corporate headquarters, the innovative Living Room drop-in center, Cole’s Place recovery program for men, the 24/7 Crisis Center, an adult outpatient clinic, and its care coordination and outreach services. She also implemented the acquisitions of the Carson Center in Westfield and its affiliate, Valley Human Services in Ware. Winn joined BHN in 1995 as vice president and director of the Child Guidance Clinic. He was later promoted to senior vice president and since 2017 has served BHN as chief operating officer. He has extensive experience in the behavioral-health field and received a master’s degree in developmental psychology and a Ph.D. in clinical and developmental psychology, both from UMass Amherst. He went on to complete his fellowship at Yale University’s Child Study Center. After Yale, he became a staff psychologist at the University of New Mexico Children’s Psychiatric Hospital, where he also taught in the Department of Psychiatry as an assistant professor of Psychiatry. He is a licensed clinical psychologist in Massachusetts.

•••••

John Heaps Jr

Florence Bank announced that President and CEO John Heaps Jr. will retire on May 1, 25 years to the day after he took the top job, making him the bank’s longest-serving CEO. Heaps has grown the bank in terms of staff, the number of branches, the geographic regions it serves, and capital and assets. Florence Bank is a top-performing bank in the industry in the state, with record results over the past five years, according to both the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and the Depositors Insurance Fund. Heaps will be succeeded from within as president and CEO by Kevin Day, Florence Bank’s executive vice president. Day joined the bank 11 years ago as its chief financial officer. During Heaps’ tenure, Florence Bank’s capital has grown from $24 million to $161 million, and assets have grown from $283 million to $1.4 billion. The bank grew from four branches in 1995 to 11 now — and soon to be 12. The staff has doubled from 112 full-time employees to 221 now. Heaps grew up in Springfield and began his banking career in 1971 in marketing at Valley Bank, later Bay Bank, in Springfield. In 1987, he was first named a bank president for Bank of Boston, also in Springfield. In addition to serving on many nonprofit boards, he has also sat on many boards in the banking industry, including the Connecticut On-Line Computer Center Inc. (COCC), which provides core data processing to banks, including Florence Bank.

•••••

Christina Royal

Holyoke Community College President Christina Royal has been selected for a national fellowship for first-time college presidents administered by Washington, D.C.-based Aspen Institute. The Aspen New Presidents Fellowship is a new initiative designed to support community-college presidents in the early years of their tenure to accelerate transformational change on behalf of students. Royal and Luis Pedraja, president of Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester, were the only two community-college presidents chosen from Massachusetts. They are part of the inaugural group of 25 Aspen fellows selected from more than 100 applicants nationwide. The leaders, all of whom are in their first five years as a college president, will engage in a seven-month fellowship beginning in June 2020. The fellows were selected for their commitment to student success and equity, willingness to take risks to improve outcomes, understanding of the importance of community partnerships, and ability to lead change. JPMorgan Chase is funding the Aspen New Presidents Fellowship as part of New Skills at Work, a five-year, $350 million investment to support community colleges and other pathways to careers and economic mobility.

•••••

Jamina Scippio-McFadden, a senior program manager at UMass Center at Springfield, has been named director of the center by UMass Amherst. She has served as interim director for the past year. Scippio-McFadden’s wide-ranging community involvement includes serving on the executive committee of the Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts board of directors and the board of directors for the Hampden County Community Impact Foundation and Community Enrichment Inc. She is a member of the Springfield Museums African Hall Subcommittee and an organizing and charter member of the Western Mass. chapter of Jack and Jill of America Inc. She joined the UMass Center in 2014 as the director of Marketing and Community Relations, Student Services, and Academic Support. She was appointed program manager for business and community development in the center’s Office of Economic Development in August 2018. She was named interim director of the center in January 2019. Previously, Scippio-McFadden taught communications at American International College and served as a college administrator and faculty member at institutions in Florida and Georgia. She has 20 years of experience in the media industry, including television news, radio, newspapers, and public relations. She received her bachelor’s degree in communications from Bethune-Cookman College, where she graduated magna cum laude. She earned a master’s degree in communications from the University of Florida and is currently a doctoral candidate in education at UMass Amherst.

•••••

Bay Path University announced three new members of its faculty across the undergraduate and graduate divisions. Xiaoxia Liu, director, Applied Data Science, is a seasoned data scientist with years of experience across different industries, including healthcare, business solutions, and insurance. She has extensive experience in handling various data problems through teaching, statistical collaboration research, and advanced analytic/predictive modeling. Liu has authored more than 35 peer-reviewed journal articles, which have appeared in JAMA, Pain, Circulation, and other leading medical journals. She holds a master’s degree in mathematics and statistics from Georgia State University and a master’s degree in communication from SUNY Albany. Joshua Hamilton, program director and professor, is a fellow of the American Assoc. of Nurse Practitioners and is in private practice in Las Vegas, Nev. He has held a variety of faculty and administrative positions in the U.S. and abroad, and is an internationally recognized speaker at conferences and professional meetings. He holds a doctor of nursing practice degree from Rush University and is in the process of completing his juris doctor through Northwestern California University. Nisé Guzmán Nekheba, coordinator and associate professor, Legal Studies and Paralegal Studies, comes to Bay Path with more than 30 years of experience in both professional and academic settings. As a published author and a seasoned presenter, Nekheba is highly experienced in the areas of real property, family law, race and the law, immigration, Native Americans and the law, and law and religion. She is an award-winning academic professional and a member of the American Bar Assoc., the Assoc. of American Law Schools, and the Assoc. for the Study of the Worldwide African Diaspora. Nekheba simultaneously completed her juris doctor and master of divinity degrees at Harvard University, where she was the recipient of the Harvard University Baccalaureate Speaker Award.

•••••

Andrea Momnie O’Connor, a principal with the law firm Hendel, Collins & O’Connor, P.C., has been appointed to the panel of Chapter 7 Trustees for the District of Connecticut by the U.S. Trustee Program. O’Connor previously clerked for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Massachusetts. She graduated magna cum laude from Western New England University Law School, where she served as editor-in-chief of the Western New England Law Review, and cum laude from the University of Connecticut. She is an adjunct professor at Elms College, where she teaches legal research and writing. She was named a 2019 Rising Star in the area of bankruptcy law by Super Lawyers. Her practice focuses on bankruptcy, insolvency, and financial restructuring for business and consumer clients.

•••••

As part of its planned expansion of commercial banking talent and resources across the Northeast, KeyBank announced that Matthew Hummel has joined the bank in the newly created position of Commercial Banking team leader, reporting to market president James Barger. In his new role, Hummel will lead and expand the team of commercial bankers serving middle-market clients in Connecticut and Western Mass. and help drive KeyBank’s commercial business growth throughout the market. Hummel brings more than 30 years of commercial-banking experience to KeyBank, primarily from Bank of America’s Global Commercial Banking group, where he strategically aligned banking resources to the needs of middle-market companies requiring complex debt, capital markets, currency, treasury, and other financial solutions. He holds an MBA from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at Hartford, and a bachelor’s degree from Colby College. He has strong ties to the local community and has volunteered at a number of nonprofit organizations, including Smilow Cancer Center’s Closer to Free bike tour, Literacy Volunteers of America, and Habitat for Humanity. He has served as a Glastonbury Basketball Assoc. board member and boys travel basketball commissioner since 2005.

•••••

Christopher Smith

Comcast announced the appointment of Christopher Smith as vice president of Human Resources for the company’s Western New England region, which includes more than 300 communities in Connecticut, Western Mass., Western New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York. In this role, Smith and his team will support more than 1,600 employees and oversee all of the region’s human-resources functions, including talent management, recruiting, payroll, benefits, and training through Comcast University, the company’s internal training and leadership-development program. Prior to joining Comcast, Smith served for the past decade as HR vice president of NiSource, an 8,000-employee utility company based in Indiana that provides natural-gas and electric power to 4 million customers in seven states. Before that, he spent four years with the Pepsi Bottling Group, first as HR manager in Las Vegas and later as HR director in Newport News, Va., where he was responsible for 1,500 employees in 13 locations. In addition, he held various human-resources roles over the course of four years for Mead Johnson Nutritionals, a former division of the pharmaceutical manufacturer Bristol-Myers Squibb. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Indiana University and an MBA from the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza School of Business, where he recently served as an adjunct professor of Strategic Human Resources.

•••••

Dodie Carpentier

Dodie Carpentier, vice president of Human Resources at Monson Savings Bank, was recently elected president-elect of River East School to Career (RESTC). Carpentier joined RESTC as a board member in 2014, has previously held positions as clerk and treasurer, and is a member of the scholarship committee for this local nonprofit organization. Working under the umbrella of MassHire Hampden County Workforce Board, RESTC promotes K-16 career education and assists in preparing youth for the demands of the 21st-century workplace. In addition to volunteering for RESTC, Carpentier also serves as chairperson for the Monson Substance Abuse Community Partnership, is a member of the steering committee for Rays of Hope, is a read-aloud volunteer for Link to Libraries, and is a guitarist and vocalist for the Folk Group at St. Thomas Church in Palmer. She has worked at Monson Savings Bank since 2006 and has earned certificates in human resources management and supervision from the Center for Financial Training.

•••••

Allison Vorderstrasse, a faculty member and Ph.D. program director at New York University, has been named the dean of the College of Nursing at UMass Amherst. She will begin her appointment on July 1. Vorderstrasse currently serves as a faculty member and director of the Florence S. Downs Ph.D. Program in Nursing Research and Theory Development at New York University (NYU) Rory Meyers College of Nursing. An adult nurse practitioner with clinical experience, Vorderstrasse received her doctorate and master’s degrees in nursing at the Yale University School of Nursing, with specialties in chronic illness self-management research and diabetes. She received her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, N.Y. Prior to joining the faculty at NYU, she was an associate professor of Nursing and faculty lead for Precision Health Research at the Duke University School of Nursing. She taught at Duke University School of Nursing from 2009 to 2014. In 2014, she received the Duke University School of Nursing Distinguished Teaching Award. She was inducted as a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing in 2015, and in 2017 received the International Society of Nurses in Genetics Founders Award for Excellence in Genomic Nursing Research.

•••••

Kiyota Garcia

Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) announced the appointment of Kiyota Garcia as coordinator of the Academic Advising and Transfer Center, effective Jan. 27. In 2010, Garcia started working in the Academic Advising and Transfer Center, which provides continuous support to strengthen, nurture, empower, and educate students in making informed decisions that will guide their educational experience. Garcia holds a doctorate of education in educational psychology from American International College, a master’s degree in clinical psychology from American International College, and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Bay Path University. She will continue to work on advising initiatives that support the success of STCC students with a focus on retention and completion.

•••••

Angel Coriano

Homework House announced the hire of Angel Coriano as its new director of Programs. He will be responsible for the supervision of day-to-day program operations, including the tutoring and learning process, and will also work closely with local schools, student assessment and evaluation, along with curriculum development. Coriano is a lifelong resident of Holyoke and a graduate of Holyoke Public Schools. An alumnus of the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst, he has spent the last 10-plus years in the field of education.

Company Notebook

Company Notebook

Normandeau Technologies Inc. Can Help Companies Comply Kari’s Law

WEST SPRINGFIELD — Is your business telephone system compliant with Kari’s Law, which went into effect on Feb. 16? Normandeau Technologies Inc. (NTI) can help businesses determine compliance with the law. To reach NTI, call (413) 584-3131. Kari’s Law requires telephone systems to provide direct dial and routing to 911 with no prefixes or other button press, as well as on-site notification of a 911 call being made, with a ‘dispatchable location’ conveyed (for example, which floor and room of an office building a worker is on or which classroom a student is calling from). In addition to facing potentially devastating civil liabilities should a tragedy occur, businesses that fail to comply with the law risk fines, and may be subject to additional penalties for each day they remain non-compliant. With Kari’s Law now included within the amended Communications Act, the Federal Communications Commission has the power to enforce the rules, assign judgments, and collect penalties. Kari’s Law is named after Kari Hunt, who was tragically murdered in her hotel room in 2013 after multiple failed attempts by her daughter to dial 911. Medical examiners agree that, had her daughter been able to reach emergency services, Hunt would have survived the attack. The law is designed to ensure that anyone, anywhere can reach emergency services and that critical location data is provided with that call.

Springfield Museums Seeking Ubora, Ahadi Nominations

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Museums is seeking nominations for the 29th annual Ubora Award and the 11th annual Ahadi Youth Award. These prestigious awards — conferred by the African Hall subcommittee — are awarded to African-American people from Greater Springfield who have gone above and beyond in demonstrating commitment to fields of community service, education, science, humanities, and/or the arts. The nomination deadline for both awards is March 31. True to the Swahili word that comprises its name, the Ubora Award recognizes an adult of African heritage who exemplifies excellence in their commitment to creating a better community through service. Named for the Swahili word for promise, the Ahadi Youth Award is presented to a young African-American who excels in academics and performs admirable service to the Greater Springfield community. Eligible candidates must be age 19 or younger, live in or have strong ties to the Greater Springfield area, and be currently enrolled in grades 10, 11, or 12. A full list of past awardees can be found on the Springfield Museums website. The Ubora and Ahadi awards will be presented at a ceremony at the Springfield Museums in September. Nomination forms can be downloaded by visiting springfieldmuseums.org/ubora. Nominations may be e-mailed to [email protected] or mailed to African Hall Subcommittee, c/o Valerie Cavagni, Springfield Museums, 21 Edwards St., Springfield, MA 01103.

United Personnel Wins Best of Staffing Designation

SPRINGFIELD — United Personnel, a leading Springfield-based staffing firm serving Massachusetts and Connecticut, has won ClearlyRated’s Best of Staffing Client and Talent Award for the third consecutive year. According to ClearlyRated, this industry award recognizes staffing firms that have demonstrated exceptional service quality based exclusively on ratings provided by their clients and placed talent. The Best of Staffing designation serves as a credible point of differentiation for a firm’s commitment to service excellence, providing prospective clients and job seekers with qualitative data critical to vetting staffing and recruiting agencies. United Personnel is based in Springfield with additional offices in Northampton and Chelmsford, as well as New Haven and Hartford, Conn. The agency manages temporary, contract, and direct-hire placements in professional, administrative, information-technology, and light-industrial roles. Focused on placing highly qualified candidates with their clients, United Personnel received satisfaction scores of 9 or 10 out of 10 from a significant number of both clients and candidates placed in jobs, resulting in the Best of Staffing Client and Candidate recognition. These two awards are distinctions that fewer than 2% of all staffing agencies in the U.S. and Canada have earned.

Eversource Customers Benefit from Increase in Reliability

BOSTON — Eversource’s commitment to enhancing system reliability is significantly reducing the number of power interruptions that customers experience, with outages in the Commonwealth down by nearly 17% in 2019 compared to 2018, the company reports. This improvement stems from the energy company’s investments in strengthening and modernizing its electric system, including a program to install more than 1,000 smart fuses to the system throughout the Commonwealth. These smart fuses can automatically restore power to customers when a tree limb temporarily contacts wires and help to protect the electric system when a problem is detected, such as a current surge or overload. Eversource has invested more than $2.5 million to install more than 350 smart fuses on its electric system throughout Massachusetts since 2018. The energy company plans to expand the program in 2020 by installing more than 300 devices on the system throughout the state. In addition to its smart-fuse program, Eversource will continue to install smart switches, devices that enable system operators to remotely reroute power to customers in minutes. The energy company has installed more than 1,100 smart switches over the last five years and continues to replace utility poles with more durable structures, install hundreds of miles of covered wire, and conduct robust tree-trimming programs to ensure the reliable delivery of energy to customers. Eversource customers across New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Connecticut all experienced a significant improvement in reliability in 2019. January through December of this year represented the system’s strongest reliability performance across Eversource’s entire service territory since 2013.

Bay Path University Programs Rank Highly on Intelligent.com

LONGMEADOW — Intelligent.com has recognized eight Bay Path University degree programs as some of the best online degree programs available in multiple areas of study. The website is a free, privately supported online platform that’s editorially independent and claims to provide unbiased, accurate, and fact-based information on a wide range of issues surrounding education. According to the website, programs were evaluated on reputation, course strength, cost, faculty, and flexibility. In addition to their numerical rankings, Bay Path’s master of science in accounting and bachelor of science in health services administration degree programs were recognized as “Best Student Resources” in their respective categories, while its bachelor of arts in psychology – counseling foundations and master of science in nonprofit management and philanthropy programs were recognized as the “Best in the Northeast” out of all degree programs assessed in their respective fields. Bay Path’s master of science in leadership and negotiation program was awarded “Best Job Placement Rate” out of the 147 colleges and universities assessed. Other programs awarded include the master of science in applied behavior analysis, the master of science in higher education administration, and the master of fine arts in creative nonfiction, which ranked in the top 8% of creative-writing graduate programs reviewed.

STCC Kicks Off Fundraising Effort

SPRINGFIELD — In celebration of the leap year, the Springfield Technical Community College Foundation has launched a fundraising campaign called “Leap Forward” to support students. The foundation is asking alumni, parents, the community, and friends of the college to make a gift of $29 in the month of February. The contribution will go directly to support the students currently enrolled at STCC. To donate, visit stcc.edu/leap and click on ‘give now.’ The website gives donors the choice to donate in $29 increments, and each $29 represents support for one student. Donors also can enter any amount in an ‘other’ box. In addition, donors can use a drop-down menu to designate their gift for a specific category (where the need is greatest, general scholarship fund, Society of Women Engineers, Hispanic Assoc. in Higher Education, Arts at STCC, STCC athletics, or a named scholarship fund). STCC graduates said financial support from donors made a meaningful difference and were excited to hear about the “Leap Forward” campaign. For questions about the campaign or the STCC Foundation, contact Galanis at (413) 755-4529 or [email protected].

Wilbraham & Monson Academy Cuts Day Tuition by 20%

WILBRAHAM — Wilbraham & Monson Academy (WMA) announced a 20% cut in its day student tuition rate for the 2020-21 academic year. The tuition for Upper School day students will decrease from $42,500 to $34,000. The tuition reset, recently approved by the board of trustees, was made in part because WMA recognized the growing cost of private secondary education, which has outpaced growth in regional household median income. In turn, this has created uncertainty for local families about the attainability of an independent school education. The reset is paired with a new five-day boarding option, two recent $10 million bequests to the endowment, a $6 million library set to open this spring, and a new, 4,800-square-foot, state-of-the-art STEM Lab that will be ready for use in September.

MGM Springfield to Welcome Casual Italian Restaurant Costa

SPRINGFIELD — MGM Springfield will welcome Costa, a classic Italian restaurant serving housemade charcuterie, pizzas, pastas, salads, desserts, and more, to the resort’s food and beverage portfolio on Friday, Feb. 28. This will be Costa’s third outpost, having debuted as Osteria Costa at the Mirage Las Vegas and MGM National Harbor in 2018. Costa at MGM Springfield will be located in the Cal Mare space, which will close on Monday, Feb. 24. For reservations, visit Open Table or call (413) 273-5430.

Incorporations

Incorporations

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

AGAWAM

Julie Warzecka Inc., 59 Reed St., Agawam, MA 01001. Julie M. Warzecka, same. Real estate agency, sales, services, non-broker.

BLANDFORD

Metal Pushers BMX Inc., 30 Woronoco Road, Blandford, MA 01008. Bridgette Manos, same. A BMX team in the community for children to be a part of where local business’s sponsor the team for jerseys, number plates and yearly memberships

CHESHIRE

Jay Krishna Corp., 1613 South State Road, Cheshire, MA 01225. Gaurang Panwala, 155 Summer St., Lee, MA 01238. Package store.

CHICOPEE

Lloyd’s Transmission Inc., 955 Meadow St., Chicopee, MA 01013. Sean Lloyd, same. Transmission sales, services and sales.

CONWAY

McKenzie Property Management Inc., 64 Maple St., Conway, MA 01341. Matthew McKenzie, same. Real estate renting

GREENFIELD

Let’s Start A Revolution-Get Fit Together Inc., 13B Spruce St., Greenfield, MA 01301. Laura A. Burt, same. To create healthy, fit lifestyles for people and their families in Massachusetts.

PITTSFIELD

Innovent Global Inc., 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. John Fay, same. Travel nurse staffing.

LPGP Inc., 20 Keeler St., Building D, Pittsfield, MA 01201. William J. Lander, same. Food and beverage (service), bar and restaurant.

SPRINGFIELD

J Vasquez Trucking Inc., 218 Orange St., Springfield, MA 01108. Javier Vasquez, same. Transportation, cargo, in trucks.

L&F Grocery Inc., 1133 State St., Springfield, MA 01109. Nidia Lora Paniaqua, same. Convenient grocery store.

La Casa Del Dios Viviente, 11 Kimberly Ave., Springfield, MA 01108. Pedro L. Alicea, same. Christian house of worship.

Lake Shore Gardens Property Owners’ Association Inc., 1441 Main St., Suite 1100, Springfield, MA 01103. Vicki R. Kahaner, 709 Mitchel Field Way, Garden City, NY11530. To supply the members of the corporation with water, for domestic and other purposes, from a well on land privately owned by Donna Conforti and Paul Rissman.

Magnetiq Corporation, 178 Oakland St., Springfield, MA 01108. Benjamin J. Blake, same. Convenience stores.

Doing Business As Certificates

DBA Certificates

The following business certificates and trade names were issued or renewed during the month of January 2020.

AMHERST

The Dance Barn
26 Emily Lane
Randi Stein

Mary C. Paris
170 East Hadley Road, #103
Mary Paris

Meredith Fedorovsky
410 Old Montague Road
Meredith Fedorovsky

Outregis
170 East Hadley Road, #103
Regis Paris

Wagner Wood
305 Northeast St.
James Wagner, Joseph Wagner

Zhazy’s Kitchen
460 West St.
Xiao Yun Chen

CHICOPEE

Chicopee Family Dental
30 St. James Ave.
Zheng Shi

Coldwell Banker NRT
1421 Granby Road
NRT New England, LLC

Coldwell Banker Realty
1421 Granby Road
NRT New England, LLC

Connections Real Estate
18 Pervier Ave.
Daniel Stamberski

Enigma HVAC
5 Arcade St.
Kirill Konovalov

KG Virtual CFO
51 Lafayette St., #1
Katishia Gallishaw

L.A. Home Improvement
92 Beauregard Ter.
Karl Ferguson

Sal’s Barber Shop
824 Chicopee St.
Keith Carter, Saul Sanchez

Walgreens #17673
577 Meadow St.
Walgreen Eastern Co. Inc.

DEERFIELD

Art Deviation Gallery & Store
265 Greenfield Road
Joseph White Jr.

The Daylily
8A Sugarloaf St.
Marilee Kloc

EAST LONGMEADOW

The Design Shed
54-56 Prospect St.
Laurd Tondera

Elegance Barber
671 North Main St.
Jose Velasquez

Elite Therapeutic Massage
489 North Main St.
Jennifer Nogas

Embroidered Images
22 Glynn Farms Road
Anne Drapalski

Meadow Place Dental
200 North Main St.
Lawrence Life

Michael Epaul Photography
489 North Main St.
Michael Epaul

Pratte & Son Painting
40 Rankin Ave.
Steven Pratte

HADLEY

Affordable Autos of Hadley
11 Railroad St.
Cody Belden

Five Guys
335 Russell St.
Mass 5G, LLC

Hartsbrook Farm
219 Bay Road
Arthur West

JC Mattress Co.
8 River Dr.
Justin Carlson

K & J Transport, LLC
112 East St.
Kojo Essel

M. Jolly Trucking
45 Knightly Road
Matthew Jolly

Mobil
110 Russell St.
Gibbs Oil Co., LLC

Old Navy #6173
339 Russell St.
Old Navy

Teacher Happy Mail
240 River Dr., #1
Emily Gallik

HOLYOKE

Budget Home Improvement
288 Elm St.
Greysha Santiago

EZ Handyman Service
99 Queen St.
Steven Denesha

Fish Eye Digital Photography
92 Race St.
David Pikul

Kim’s Holiday Cleaners
20 Forestdale Ave.
William Kim

Reyes Income Tax and Bookkeeping
326 Appleton St.
Enrique Reyes

LUDLOW

All Seal Asphalt
41-43 Owens Way
Gerald Veautour

J & M Polishing
370 Fuller St.
Matthew Patrie

Katherine Dias at Expressions
271 East St.
Katherine Dias

NORTHAMPTON

B.A. Engineering
32 Laurel Park
Wilfred Morin

Better Marketing Realty
243 King St., Suite 100
Daniel Shermeta

Completely Ridiculous Predictions
12 Forbes Ave.
Gabriel Levey

Elise G. Young Writing and Educational Consulting
21 Western Ave.
Elise Young

Icarus Wheaten & Finch
95 Massasoit St.
Jordi Herold

Jake and Star Creatives
2 Linden St., Apt. 1
Jacob Tavares, Susanna Williams

Lucey Tech
88 Forest Glen Dr.
Ethan Lucey

Miranda’s on Main
263 Main St.
Silvia Naumburger

NOHO Nutrition, LLC
2 Conz St.
Jenny Weber

Norbert A. Belliveau
78 Main St., #401
Norbert Belliveau

Northampton Airport Wright Flight Inc.
160 Old Ferry Road
Daniel Bergeron

Sarah Hinton, L.M.T.
93 Main St.
Sarah Hinton

Vitality Fitness
85 Overlook Dr.
Cindy Torres

SPRINGFIELD

ABC Supply Co. Inc.
75 Page Blvd.
ABC Supply Co. Inc.

ABM Clothing
473 Boston Road
Beverly Thorington

Ace Shoe Repair
1215 Parker St.
Acacio Agostinho

Afterlife Tattoo Studio
181 Chestnut St.
David Bissaillon

Asian Bazaar
607 Dickinson St.
Purna Ramdam Kami

Carew Mini Market
158 Carew St.
Martin Severino

CSX Cleaning
114 Hampden St.
Hector Rusinque

Downtown Convenience Store
160 Worthington St.
Nafees Awan

Ernesto’s Home Repair
83 Villa Parkway
Juan Ernesto Zavala

Flores Cleaning Service
129 Suffolk St.
Neri Flores

Health New England Inc.
1 Monarch Place, Suite 150
Health New England

HNE
1 Monarch Place, Suite 150
Health New England

HNE Advisory Services Inc.
1 Monarch Place, Suite 150
Health New England

HNE Insurance Co.
1 Monarch Place, Suite 150
Health New England

Hulk Auto Repair & Detail
62 Fremont St.
Iris Marrero

L-A Auto Sales & Repair
118 Armory St.
Wassim Elkadri

La Rapidita Service
937 Worthington St., Suite B
Magaly Alicea

Latin Nails by Joana
874 State St.
Joana Marrero

Love Clothing
388 Dickinson St.
Francisco Vidal Perez

Medinas Painting
52 Freeman Ter.
Luis Medina

Mohamed Aisha
876 State St.
Ibrahim Mohamed Aden

Mutebi Home Improvement
62 Fern St.
Andrew Mutebi

My True Styles
75 Avon Place
Cynthia Abreu

Peachtree Realty
49 Cadwell Dr.
Kathleen Sweeney

Peter Paradise Photography
158 Forest Park Ave.
Peter Paradise

Prospect Variety
51 Prospect St.
Martin Severino

Queenie’s Island Cuisine
220 Worthington St.
Jelani Forbes

Rise & Walk Ministry
379 Oak St.
James Pafumi

Stone Pizza
1899 Wilbraham Road
Nasser Chehimi

SVS Services
18 Noel St.
Ivan Grechka

Tapia and Son Supermarket
1072 State St.
Ramon Tapia

Tranquility Day Spa & Salon
1655 Boston Road
Sky Beauty Corp.

The Tree R’s
237 Carver St.
Gabriel Davila

Worthy Worldwide Entertainment
317 Peekskill Ave.
Alfred Reid

WESTFIELD

Crossfit Swarm, LLC
4 Coleman Ave.
Brian Cook

Earth Organics CBD
192 East Main St.
Earth Organics, LLC

Liquid Grill
5 Kittredge Dr.
Michael Hadwin

Maple Wick Reflexology
51 Southwick Road
Suzyn Day Wellness

VIP Nail Spa
47 Southwick Road
VIP Nail Spa

WEST SPRINGFIELD

David’s Bridal Inc. #299
935 Riverdale St.
Shelley Harlow

Discount Office Furniture Inc.
2131 Riverdale St.
Kenneth Wytas

East Mountain Services, LLC
94 Doty Circle
Charles Cheung

Kentucky Fried Chicken
931 Riverdale St.
Rachel Blevins

Maxim Healthcare Services Inc.
25 Capital Dr.
Raymond Carbone

MI Group, LLC
84 Chilson Road
Renny Mathew

Quick Stop Oil
75 Union St.
Michael Vickers

WILBRAHAM

The Corner Studio
2805 Boston Road
Deborah Hannah, Danielle Shaughnessey

Danielle Shaughnessey Photography
57 Glenn Dr.
Danielle Shaughnessey

The Firefly Creative
348 Stony Hill Road
Brian Tracy

Bankruptcies

Bankruptcies

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

Austin, Darlene M.
62 Locust St., Apt 8
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/06/20

Bacon, Mary Jane
40 Thayer St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/07/20

Bay State Towing
Magee, Christopher G.
30 Fernwood Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 01/09/20

Bogacz-Lazzara, Staci A.
Bogacz-Lazzara, Megan M.
42 North Main St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/15/20

Boisvert, Edward
137 Horseshoe Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01022
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 01/06/20

Brino Brands
Membrino, Matthew R.
88 Linden St.
Williamstown, MA 01267
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/09/20

Briones, Paciencia
7676 Maple St., Unit 1005
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/15/20

Cialek, David J.
31 Depot Road
Hatfield, MA 01038
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/09/20

Fisher, Belinda
a/k/a Whitman, Belinda
198 Union Road
Wales, MA 01081
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 01/14/20

Fleming, Thomas K.
76 Nonotuck St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 01/07/20

Foti, Jean
88 Saint Jacques Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 01/13/20

Hill, Pamela L.
73 Bridle Path Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/14/20

Iellamo, Christopher Joseph
27 Stewart Lane
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 01/15/20

Joanides, Christos John
227 Southwick St.
Feeding Hills, MA 01030
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 01/08/20

Jones, Gaila R.
142 Morton St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 01/07/20

Landers, Jeffrey H.
1274 Park St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 01/09/20

Lightcap, Thomas K.
Lightcap, Ellen J.
60 White Fox Road
Feeding Hills, MA 01030
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 12/31/19

Majerowski, Thomas
49 Horseshoe Circle
Ware, MA 01082
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 01/07/20

Mao, Khey
68 Fargo St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 01/08/20

Murphy, Kathleen A.
1274 Park St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 01/09/20

Noe, Delaney A.
a/k/a Grant, Delaney
63 Chester Road
Blandford, MA 01008
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 01/11/20

Parker, Ronald E.
322 Main St., Apt. E
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/15/20

Piandes, Stacey J.
a/k/a Bartolomeo, Stacey
11 Maple St.
Southampton, MA 01073
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 01/14/20

Pierce, Wanda
150 Cloran St.
Springfield, MA 01103
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 01/09/20

Polk, Antonio V.
195 Arnold Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 01/13/20

Prophett, Jason
84 Pembroke Circle
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 12/31/19

Reyes-Calderon, Andy M.
18 Montpelier St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/07/20

Riesmeyer, Eric
210 Walnut St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 12/31/19

Star Productions LLC
Libera, Dominique Rochelle
34 River Road
Sunderland, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/03/20

Taxico, Inc.
Park Taxi
3 Crosby St.
Great Barrington, MA 01230
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/14/20

Vallon, Jordan R.
Vallon, Emily B.
6 McGilpin Road
Sturbridge, MA 01566
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/14/20

Wager, Timothy Brian
12 West Lake St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/07/20

Washburn, Trinity
55 White Loaf Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 01/06/20

Wilson, Jon Doren
Wilson, Theresa Rose
a/k/a Allard, Theresa Rose
300 Winsor St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 12/31/19

Wisnewski, Matthew M.
PO Box 131
Oakham, MA 01068
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 01/15/20

Woodson and Associates
Woodson, Shelley
16 Parrish Hill Road
Granby, MA 01033
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 01/12/20

Real Estate Transactions

Real Estate

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

FRANKLIN COUNTY

BERNARDSTON

222 Brattleboro Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Tammy J. Powell
Seller: Mary E. Glabach
Date: 01/15/20

530 Huckle Hill Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Jacob Hubbard
Seller: Patricia K. Cohn
Date: 01/17/20

497 Northfield Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Urban Veneer LLC
Seller: Gloria Funkhouser
Date: 01/27/20

BUCKLAND

14 Ashfield St.
Buckland, MA 01338
Amount: $282,500
Buyer: Patricia M. Heminger
Seller: William D. Connelley
Date: 01/27/20

77 Elm St.
Buckland, MA 01338
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Gary G. Blank
Seller: Elizabeth A. Carpenter TR
Date: 01/24/20

CHARLEMONT

17 Warfield Road
Charlemont, MA 01339
Amount: $162,500
Buyer: Margaret J. Veith
Seller: Robert A. Canuel
Date: 01/17/20

DEERFIELD

202 Mill Village Road
Deerfield, MA 01342
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Eric J. Covey
Seller: Smiaroski, Richard V., (Estate)
Date: 01/17/20

87 North Main St.
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Harold J. Wrisley
Seller: Scoville, Mary G., (Estate)
Date: 01/23/20

28 Thayer St.
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: J2K Realty LLC
Seller: William J. Babcock
Date: 01/28/20

GILL

88 North Cross Road
Gill, MA 01354
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Thomas W. Wyman
Seller: Alyn M. Hastings
Date: 01/17/20

GREENFIELD

312 Adams Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $229,000
Buyer: Sven T. Rhodes
Seller: Adams Weeks Realty LLC
Date: 01/28/20

234 Barton Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $209,000
Buyer: Samuel Veillette
Seller: Smith, Michael W., (Estate)
Date: 01/17/20

16 Coolidge Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $192,000
Buyer: Robert E. Shave
Seller: Paper, Sean M., (Estate)
Date: 01/16/20

308 Deerfield St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: LCS Realty LLC
Seller: Joseph Gorey
Date: 01/28/20

310 Deerfield St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: LCS Realty LLC
Seller: Joseph Gorey
Date: 01/28/20

57 Factory Hollow
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Michael J. Gexler
Seller: Doreen L. Gexler
Date: 01/28/20

44 Harrison Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $138,000
Buyer: Lyle L. Lavin
Seller: Constance Andrews
Date: 01/24/20

98 James St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Matthew F. Risch
Seller: James F. Pitchko
Date: 01/27/20

7 Legion Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $2,108,951
Buyer: NLCP 7 Legion MA LLC
Seller: CC MA Realty LLC
Date: 01/23/20

80 Munson St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $138,000
Buyer: Thomas A. Powers
Seller: Paul E. Hurwitz
Date: 01/16/20

43 Norwood St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Douglas R. McNamara
Seller: Anita Margaret Wall LT
Date: 01/27/20

55 Pierce St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Gallagher K. Hannan
Seller: Greenfield Paper Box Co.
Date: 01/17/20

57 Pierce St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Gallagher K. Hannan
Seller: Greenfield Paper Box Co.
Date: 01/17/20

145 Silver St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Philip M. Katsar
Seller: Samantha Torres
Date: 01/23/20

LEYDEN

18 Eden Trail
Leyden, MA 01337
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Jonathan R. Rice
Seller: Catherine C. Cayer
Date: 01/16/20

MONTAGUE

12 Carlisle Ave.
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Phillip E. Lucas
Seller: David P. Brule
Date: 01/16/20

42 Hayden St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Brian J. Gariepy
Seller: Witkowski Stephen F., (Estate)
Date: 01/28/20

218 Montague City Road
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Duane H. Weber
Seller: Troy Santerre
Date: 01/23/20

ORANGE

75 East Main St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $441,018
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Robert D. Anderson
Date: 01/21/20

157 West River St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $209,000
Buyer: Thomas Ward
Seller: John Gregory
Date: 01/17/20

SHELBURNE

45 Water St.
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Peter J. Moser
Seller: Marjorie A. Moser
Date: 01/28/20

SHUTESBURY

229 Leverett Road
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $263,000
Buyer: Jacob E. Kenney
Seller: Thomas Sepanek
Date: 01/27/20

1 Pelham Hill Road
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: David J. Bourgeois
Seller: Brittany E. Sawicki
Date: 01/15/20

WENDELL

208 Locke Hill Road
Wendell, MA 01379
Amount: $316,500
Buyer: Ellen M. Trousdale
Seller: Sharon Wachsler
Date: 01/15/20

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

572 Barry St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Hugh Cullen
Seller: George R. Ghareeb
Date: 01/27/20

69 Kensington St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: JLX Properties LLC
Seller: Justin David
Date: 01/24/20

22 Lakeview Circle
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $309,000
Buyer: Christopher K. Malloy
Seller: Bank New York Mellon
Date: 01/21/20

1443 Main St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Neri D. Morataya
Seller: Matthew M. Weiner
Date: 01/23/20

108 Oak Lane
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $261,000
Buyer: Michael A. Mandella
Seller: Dawn J. Rivest
Date: 01/15/20

BLANDFORD

104 Main St.
Blandford, MA 01008
Amount: $157,000
Buyer: Daniel M. Wead
Seller: William E. O’Brien
Date: 01/24/20

BRIMFIELD

138 Brookfield Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $295,900
Buyer: Sugar River NT
Seller: James J. Hoffey
Date: 01/24/20

63 Marsh Hill Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $569,000
Buyer: Shaun D. Comee
Seller: Robert Zepf
Date: 01/16/20

Mill Lane
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $1,000,000
Buyer: Hertans RT
Seller: David M. Lamberto
Date: 01/17/20

CHICOPEE

294 Britton St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $163,500
Buyer: Jason A. Spear
Seller: Lempke, Ronald R., (Estate)
Date: 01/24/20

695 Britton St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Scott A. Russo
Seller: Robert J. Russo
Date: 01/27/20

9 Canal St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: 9 Canal LLC
Seller: Thomas E. McMahon
Date: 01/24/20

248 Carew St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: David E. Lopez
Seller: Hall, Dona M., (Estate)
Date: 01/24/20

551 Front St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Juan D. Rios
Seller: Marshall Payne
Date: 01/24/20

292 Frontenac St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Alliance Real Estate Solutions
Seller: Chapdelaine, K. M., (Estate)
Date: 01/15/20

685 Fuller Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $492,444
Buyer: 685 Fuller LLC
Seller: Brian T. Gorman
Date: 01/22/20

505 Grattan St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Dung X. Nguyen
Seller: Khanh H. Dao
Date: 01/15/20

46 Linden St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $256,400
Buyer: Anthony Evborokhai
Seller: Ronald Cloutier
Date: 01/17/20

117 Pondview Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $227,000
Buyer: Sol M. Culhane
Seller: Perry R. Dulude
Date: 01/24/20

79 Providence St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $142,260
Buyer: Kelly G. O’Brien
Seller: Beverly G. Rossi
Date: 01/21/20

71 Roosevelt Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Liza A. Tuttle
Seller: Leclerc Holdings LLC
Date: 01/16/20

5-7 Stone Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Dillon Natle
Seller: Mina Al-Bayati
Date: 01/15/20

Sycamore Lane #10
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Richard P. Mienkowski
Seller: Grandview Dev Assoc LLC
Date: 01/28/20

EAST LONGMEADOW

57 Capri Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $605,000
Buyer: Owen C. Jarmoc
Seller: Steven W. Longmoore
Date: 01/27/20

64 Hanward Hill
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Aaron M. Porchelli
Seller: Susan M. Hearne
Date: 01/16/20

594 Parker St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Frederick B. Shea
Seller: Robert J. Lefebvre
Date: 01/27/20

43 Pease Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Lori Crum
Seller: Marco A. Scibelli
Date: 01/21/20

66 Smith Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Kristin M. Lapointe
Seller: Regina M. Retynsky
Date: 01/24/20

144 Tanglewood Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $422,000
Buyer: Cody N. Davis
Seller: Beverly E. Iuliano
Date: 01/17/20

51 Thompson St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $264,000
Buyer: Steven R. Weiner
Seller: William T. Raleigh
Date: 01/17/20

HAMPDEN

31 Glendale View Dr.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $608,175
Buyer: Citizens Bank
Seller: Mark A. Bourcier
Date: 01/24/20

438 Main St.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Mark A. Imbriglio
Seller: Leslie A. Glista
Date: 01/24/20

34 Springhouse Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $263,000
Buyer: Richard D. Ring
Seller: Bonnie Leaning
Date: 01/17/20

262 Wilbraham Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: David Clark
Seller: Fumi Realty Inc.
Date: 01/17/20

437 Wilbraham Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $309,000
Buyer: Michele Laffert
Seller: Michael D. Laffert
Date: 01/23/20

HOLYOKE

30 Lindor Heights
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Kathryn M. Zweir
Seller: Susan Goodchild
Date: 01/15/20

51 Longwood Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Julia A. Santiago
Seller: Darren O’Reilly
Date: 01/15/20

1117 Main St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $155,895
Buyer: Home Equity Assets Realty
Seller: Home Equity Assets Realty
Date: 01/21/20

80 South Bay State Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $184,000
Buyer: Joel M. Bierwert
Seller: Vanwijak Eowsakul
Date: 01/27/20

35 Saint James Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $257,500
Buyer: Jennifer A. Perez
Seller: Edward S. Scott
Date: 01/24/20

297-299 Sargeant St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Karol Makusiewicz
Seller: Barron, Raymond W., (Estate)
Date: 01/24/20

11 Sherwood Ter.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $122,000
Buyer: Edward C. Brunelle
Seller: Teresa A. Hodges
Date: 01/21/20

42 Washington Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Gregory M. Case
Seller: Cristal Redding
Date: 01/22/20

128 Westfield Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $149,000
Buyer: Wilmington Savings
Seller: Jose L. Colon
Date: 01/24/20

LONGMEADOW

19 Brittany Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $460,000
Buyer: Bruce I. Herzberg
Seller: Maziar Hashemi
Date: 01/17/20

Churchill Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Constantine Delis
Seller: Ramona O. Carando
Date: 01/24/20

176 Dunn Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $445,000
Buyer: Joanne Hetherington
Seller: Chelsea A. Samble
Date: 01/24/20

486 Maple Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Hans A. Doup
Seller: Antonio Digioia
Date: 01/22/20

LUDLOW

1528 Center St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $274,900
Buyer: Meaghan A. Schmieding
Seller: Logan S. Brown
Date: 01/27/20

483 Chapin St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $232,000
Buyer: Michael D. Armando
Seller: Eric R. Pollander
Date: 01/17/20

102 Longview Circle
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $307,000
Buyer: Alena I. Sas
Seller: Brian M. Liberty
Date: 01/16/20

783 Lyon St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $258,500
Buyer: Brian M. Liberty
Seller: Paul F. Lebel
Date: 01/16/20

MONSON

15 Hospital Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Twins & Mom Sports Center
Seller: Beeshsports LLC
Date: 01/28/20

7 Mechanic St.
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Robert P. Williams
Seller: Carolyn D. Szarlan
Date: 01/24/20

63 Moulton Hill Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $274,000
Buyer: Lawrence J. Scaglione
Seller: Ian M. Haskins
Date: 01/17/20

PALMER

22 Beverly St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Andrew J. Collins
Seller: Arthur L. Giard
Date: 01/17/20

9-11 Bourne St.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Joseph Bailey
Seller: Michael M. Batista
Date: 01/27/20

2 Glenn St.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Steven M. Tomlinson
Seller: Jonathan C. Bly
Date: 01/15/20

146 Jim Ash Road
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $342,900
Buyer: Jerald E. Jacobs
Seller: Steven E. Cormier
Date: 01/24/20

2214 Main St.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Donald P. Lafleur
Seller: David Swain
Date: 01/23/20

1040 Overlook Dr.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Dylan Allen
Seller: West, Claire M., (Estate)
Date: 01/15/20

RUSSELL

464 General Knox Road
Russell, MA 01071
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: David W. Motyl
Seller: Nicholas C. Weidhaas
Date: 01/27/20

195 Huntington Road
Russell, MA 01071
Amount: $180,001
Buyer: Justin D. Martel
Seller: David Motyl
Date: 01/27/20

20 Park St.
Russell, MA 01071
Amount: $183,500
Buyer: Robert M. William
Seller: Deborah J. Brodie
Date: 01/16/20

SPRINGFIELD

3 Ashley St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Lekeisha Walker
Seller: Aquarius Real Estate LLC
Date: 01/24/20

73 Atwater Road
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $462,000
Buyer: Joseph A. Pellegrino
Seller: Annette M. Pellegrino
Date: 01/17/20

34-36 Beechwood Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $136,000
Buyer: Ruby Realty LLC
Seller: Matthew J. Whitley
Date: 01/23/20

827-829 Belmont Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $226,000
Buyer: Kalpana Gurung
Seller: Davis Son
Date: 01/27/20

914-916 Belmont Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $192,000
Buyer: Jasnia Realty LLC
Seller: Norman C. Levesque
Date: 01/23/20

26 Brittany Road
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Alexis J. Veguilla
Seller: Ryan H. Flannery
Date: 01/24/20

31 Buena Vista Plaza
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $369,820
Buyer: JP Morgan Mortgage Acquisition
Seller: Fran A. Times-Mack
Date: 01/23/20

1009 Carew St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $169,900
Buyer: Luisa M. Melendez
Seller: Sandra J. Savenko
Date: 01/24/20

115 Carroll St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $148,000
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: William R. Pacheco
Date: 01/17/20

115 Catalina Dr.
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Nancy Rivera
Seller: Eli S. Santana
Date: 01/22/20

108-110 Colton St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Ming Tsang
Seller: Springfield Code Enforcement
Date: 01/21/20

61 Denver St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $144,000
Buyer: Yaritza Paula
Seller: Richard C. Hervieux
Date: 01/17/20

246 Dwight Road
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: SA Capital Group LLC
Seller: TD Bank
Date: 01/24/20

77 Eddywood St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Daniel E. Vincent
Seller: Christine M. Pandolfi
Date: 01/22/20

223 Emerson St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $184,000
Buyer: Benjamin E. Jenne
Seller: Laura M. Murphy
Date: 01/17/20

67 Jeffrey Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $132,000
Buyer: Christopher J. Behnk
Seller: Diana T. Sylvester
Date: 01/21/20

151 Gardens Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $118,000
Buyer: Melro Associates Inc.
Seller: Reginald A. Daigneault
Date: 01/28/20

103 Garnet St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $192,100
Buyer: Jason A. McClendon
Seller: Tompkins, Mary, (Estate)
Date: 01/27/20

212 Garnet St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $212,000
Buyer: Lisa M. Vasquez
Seller: Odessa Torres
Date: 01/28/20

14 Itendale St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $179,900
Buyer: Marva Lynch
Seller: JJJ 17 LLC
Date: 01/27/20

96-98 Johnson St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Edinshon B. Mejia
Seller: Joseph S. Mercure
Date: 01/28/20

128-130 Kensington Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Charles Bogues
Seller: K&S Holdings LLC
Date: 01/17/20

80-82 Knox St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $201,000
Buyer: David D. Guasco-Loja
Seller: Extremely Clean 2 LLC
Date: 01/22/20

165-167 Laconia St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Yao Agbemordzi
Seller: Michael Quiros
Date: 01/15/20

179 Longhill St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $5,500,000
Buyer: Ironsides Sumner LLC
Seller: Stoneridge Realty LLC
Date: 01/22/20

100 Main St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $635,000
Buyer: LW Self Storage LLC
Seller: Lockwood Global LLC
Date: 01/17/20

264 Main St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Alexis R. Marquez
Seller: Chad T. Lynch
Date: 01/21/20

77 McKnight St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $167,000
Buyer: Xiomara Bezares
Seller: Amat Victoria Curam LLC
Date: 01/21/20

41 Merrimac Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $239,500
Buyer: Billy Santiago
Seller: Tascon Homes LLC
Date: 01/21/20

35-37 Miller St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Jeffrey A. Morse
Seller: Luis Aguirre
Date: 01/27/20

100 Monmouth St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $207,000
Buyer: Luis A. Ruiz
Seller: Pierra A. Boursiquot
Date: 01/16/20

53 Moss Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Natalie Pizarro
Seller: Aerial Funding LLC
Date: 01/28/20

33-35 Nathaniel St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Francis Forson
Seller: Onota Rental LLC
Date: 01/15/20

123 Peekskill Ave.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Regina M. Digiovanni
Seller: Nancy Geurrandeno
Date: 01/24/20

124 Phoenix Ter.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $152,000
Buyer: Barbara A. Mason
Seller: Edward T. Longtin
Date: 01/24/20

91 Pinevale St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $1,300,000
Buyer: NPN Realty LLC
Seller: Phoenix Island LLC
Date: 01/24/20

163 Pineywoods Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Deutsche Bank
Seller: Adela Concepcion
Date: 01/27/20

242 Plumtree Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Scott Thrower
Seller: Craig M. Johnson
Date: 01/15/20

236 Prentice St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $269,900
Buyer: Huiming Huang
Seller: Bretta Construction LLC
Date: 01/16/20

38 Princeton St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Ramatulai Kanu-Kabia
Seller: Alden Pond Properties LLC
Date: 01/27/20

151 Quincy St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $224,500
Buyer: Danielle Johnson
Seller: Chad T. Lynch
Date: 01/24/20

122 Rhinebeck Ave.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $203,000
Buyer: Nicole O. Ogoke
Seller: John W. Cody
Date: 01/24/20

96 Rosewell St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Joseph M. Mateo
Seller: Patrick M. Swaby
Date: 01/27/20

62 San Miguel St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Maria Marrero
Seller: Wilmington Savings
Date: 01/27/20

33 Shady Brook Lane
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $173,000
Buyer: Nash Stanton
Seller: Declyn F. LLC
Date: 01/17/20

11 Sidney Place
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Anthony McNeil
Seller: Jahjan LLC
Date: 01/24/20

15 Strathmore St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $179,000
Buyer: Perdelisa Brown
Seller: Teresa A. Burr
Date: 01/27/20

6-10 Sumner Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $5,500,000
Buyer: Ironsides Sumner LLC
Seller: Stoneridge Realty LLC
Date: 01/22/20

16-20 Sumner Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $5,500,000
Buyer: Ironsides Sumner LLC
Seller: Stoneridge Realty LLC
Date: 01/22/20

24 Sumner Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $5,500,000
Buyer: Ironsides Sumner LLC
Seller: Stoneridge Realty LLC
Date: 01/22/20

28 Sumner Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $5,500,000
Buyer: Ironsides Sumner LLC
Seller: Stoneridge Realty LLC
Date: 01/22/20

105 Temby St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Edward G. Brush
Seller: Lori A. Maynard
Date: 01/24/20

49 Venture Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $162,000
Buyer: Martha A. Brodeur
Seller: Andrew A. Crespo
Date: 01/17/20

2 Washington Road
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Erica Canty
Seller: Joan Prince
Date: 01/21/20

27-29 Waterford Circle
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Cynthia L. Curtis
Seller: Willie B. Cuffie
Date: 01/17/20

140 West Alvord St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Jose J. Diaz
Seller: Insight Homes LLC
Date: 01/21/20

750 Wilbraham Road
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $170,100
Buyer: Tao Tran
Seller: USA HUD
Date: 01/16/20

2401 Wilbraham Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Michael J. Desimone
Seller: Hugh K. Martin
Date: 01/17/20

192 Wollaston St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $181,200
Buyer: Waleska Lugo-Dejesus
Seller: Derek J. Rose
Date: 01/21/20

SOUTHWICK

93 Berkshire Ave.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $249,000
Buyer: Richard J. Odell
Seller: Dawn M. Leborgne
Date: 01/17/20

6 Hidden Place
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $430,000
Buyer: Melanie A. Guillemette
Seller: Bernard F. Berard
Date: 01/22/20

392 North Loomis St.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $142,000
Buyer: Ronald Vandervlet
Seller: John M. Zomek
Date: 01/24/20

3 Robin Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $347,000
Buyer: Dawn Leborgne
Seller: Hasmukh L. Gogri
Date: 01/17/20

Sawgrass Lane #13
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $117,000
Buyer: Hamelin Framing Inc.
Seller: Fiore Realty Holdings LLC
Date: 01/22/20

TOLLAND

470 Colebrook River Road
Tolland, MA 01034
Amount: $161,376
Buyer: United Bank
Seller: Shawn J. Eriole
Date: 01/24/20

WALES

8 Reed Hill Road
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Brenda L. Dessert
Seller: Guy C. Lucia
Date: 01/17/20

WESTFIELD

1 Auburn St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $238,000
Buyer: Kevin Lugo
Seller: Eagle Home Buyers LLC
Date: 01/24/20

47 Bates Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $296,000
Buyer: Mark Hardy
Seller: Jutt, Anne M., (Estate)
Date: 01/15/20

6 Miller St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Anatolie Popescu
Seller: Prime Partners LLC
Date: 01/22/20

94 Rachael Ter.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $437,100
Buyer: Heng Zhang
Seller: Ruby Realty LLC
Date: 01/27/20

62 Pineridge Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $344,900
Buyer: Eddie Neal
Seller: William M. Cottengim
Date: 01/17/20

100 Riverside Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Sarah H. Underwood
Seller: USA HUD
Date: 01/17/20

125 Western Circle
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Alan R. Kelley
Seller: Susan N. Nieves
Date: 01/24/20

76 Westminster St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $194,900
Buyer: Brian C. Baker
Seller: Tristan P. Kiendzior
Date: 01/21/20

WILBRAHAM

281 3 Rivers Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $512,000
Buyer: Scott M. Gierlich
Seller: David J. Strickland
Date: 01/24/20

100 Burleigh Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Anita Duffy
Seller: Scott A. Fearn
Date: 01/15/20

18 Devonshire Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $269,900
Buyer: Alison L. Mapplethorpe
Seller: Andrew K. Fortune
Date: 01/24/20

59 Glenn Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $239,000
Buyer: Connor Courtney
Seller: Yongqi Chen
Date: 01/22/20

17 Hickory Hill Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: James W. Drummey
Seller: Robert S. Duffy
Date: 01/15/20

599 Main St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $451,000
Buyer: Gerard F. Bruno
Seller: Mountain Landscape Inc.
Date: 01/22/20

19 Overlook Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $382,500
Buyer: Kevin Hinchey
Seller: Thomas I. Nehmer
Date: 01/21/20

WEST SPRINGFIELD

46 Braintree Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Cameron Beaulieu
Seller: Marilyn M. Tomlinson
Date: 01/23/20

82 Harney St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $256,000
Buyer: Luis Rosario
Seller: David J. Bishop
Date: 01/23/20

49 Highland Lane
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $284,540
Buyer: JP Morgan Chase Bank
Seller: David A. Dickinson
Date: 01/21/20

23 Ridgeview Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $231,000
Buyer: Maddison Mayberry
Seller: Sharon A. Fortini
Date: 01/16/20

57 Upper Beverly Hills
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Casey J. Gomes
Seller: Martha A. Brodeur
Date: 01/16/20

33 Woodmont St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Molly S. Moynihan
Seller: Julie Thomson
Date: 01/24/20

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

67 North Whitney St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $590,000
Buyer: Historic Renovations & Rentals
Seller: Richard L. Shumway RET
Date: 01/17/20

7 Potwine Place
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $296,800
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Jane E. Weisner
Date: 01/16/20

45 Spaulding St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $387,920
Buyer: Jennifer A. Lorang
Seller: Luke Woodward
Date: 01/22/20

561 Station Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Katherine Verdickt
Seller: Thayer A. Greene
Date: 01/28/20

BELCHERTOWN

1130 Federal St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Michael A. Demento
Seller: Rakshitha Athukorala
Date: 01/23/20

37 Magnolia Lane
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Beverly E. Iuliano
Seller: JN Duquette & Son Construction
Date: 01/17/20

268 North Liberty St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Lisa Desroches
Seller: Erin C. Hebert
Date: 01/17/20

290 Rockrimmon St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $229,900
Buyer: David L. Brosseau
Seller: Property Group Inc.
Date: 01/23/20

129 Wilson Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Scott D. Surner
Seller: Paige L. Montague
Date: 01/16/20

EASTHAMPTON

3 Crown Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $336,100
Buyer: Allison S. Crawford
Seller: Christopher Cleland
Date: 01/27/20

181 East St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $620,000
Buyer: Scott A. Richards
Seller: Saltpath 2 TR
Date: 01/27/20

286 Loudville Road
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Jennifer M. Millard
Seller: L. A&R R. Laprade IRT
Date: 01/17/20

44 Maple St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $217,500
Buyer: James G. Mailloux
Seller: Warren Jones
Date: 01/23/20

84 Northampton St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Ronald P. Finnessey
Seller: Ronald P. Finnessey
Date: 01/22/20

4 West Lake St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Katelynn F. Tobin
Seller: Irene F. Borsuk
Date: 01/17/20

18 West St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $314,900
Buyer: Emery K. McClinton
Seller: W. Marek Inc.
Date: 01/17/20

62 West St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Brooke A. Johnson
Seller: Allison S. Crawford
Date: 01/27/20

GRANBY

242 Amherst St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $218,000
Buyer: Jonah Vaclavicek
Seller: Emily D. Souza
Date: 01/15/20

18 High St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Heather L. Cruz
Seller: John R. Blanchard
Date: 01/22/20

26 Smith Ave.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $214,500
Buyer: Gloria Lyons
Seller: Richard G. Archambault
Date: 01/27/20

NORTHAMPTON

5 Austin Circle
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $184,000
Buyer: Simon E. Scher
Seller: Alan J. Clemente
Date: 01/22/20

48 Austin Circle
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $211,000
Buyer: Arthur P. Dunphy
Seller: AJ Capital RT
Date: 01/17/20

110 Cardinal Way
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $530,000
Buyer: Jordan Chanler-Berat
Seller: Lynne D. Wallace
Date: 01/15/20

60 Clark Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $305,250
Buyer: Brian J. VanKoten
Seller: Thomas J. Parent
Date: 01/17/20

560 Elm St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Amanda S. Dembowski
Seller: Joy B. Bergman
Date: 01/15/20

68 Fort St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $341,000
Buyer: Christopher J. Kusek
Seller: Joel P. Westerdale
Date: 01/24/20

37 Hatfield St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $158,000
Buyer: Patricia Duffy
Seller: Wells Fargo Bank
Date: 01/21/20

201 Nonotuck St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $182,500
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Michelle A. Carrera
Date: 01/22/20

116 North Main St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Tyler J. Bladyka
Seller: Beverly G. Park
Date: 01/15/20

76 Sandy Hill Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Loom Properties LLC
Seller: Deborah A. Armstrong
Date: 01/17/20

400 South St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Donna Hoener
Seller: USA HUD
Date: 01/24/20

25 Spruce Hill Ave.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Laura Ross
Seller: Spencer C. Bridgman
Date: 01/17/20

24 Stoddard St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Ferdene I. Chin-Yee
Seller: Peter M. Schlessinger
Date: 01/23/20

89 Straw Ave.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $515,000
Buyer: Maha Moushabeck
Seller: Linda S. Youngblood
Date: 01/23/20

SOUTH HADLEY

83 Bardwell St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Deborah A. Tapp
Seller: Rioux, Thomas J. Jr., (Estate)
Date: 01/28/20

15 Berwyn St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Ryan J. Olszewski
Seller: Wesley N. O’Rourke
Date: 01/17/20

15 Kimberly Dr.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $262,500
Buyer: Daniel North
Seller: Jamison J. Buchanan
Date: 01/22/20

26 Lawn St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Kelly O’Reilly
Seller: John E. Duda
Date: 01/15/20

159 Lyman St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Stacie D. Manning
Seller: Remigiusz Paluszak
Date: 01/24/20

91 Ridge Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Nathaniel L. Mello
Seller: Michael J. Bakos
Date: 01/17/20

20 Susan Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Jason D. Bourque
Seller: Rebecca O. Mello
Date: 01/17/20

41 Susan Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Trang T. Tran
Seller: Morrissette, Gerard W., (Estate)
Date: 01/22/20

WARE

58 Church St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $229,900
Buyer: George H. Plouffe
Seller: Leon A. Gaumond
Date: 01/21/20

47 Gould Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $286,000
Buyer: Paul F. Russell
Seller: Edward P. Wloch
Date: 01/21/20

16 Pinecrest Circle
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Aaron L. Plankey
Seller: Paul F. Russell
Date: 01/21/20

WILLIAMSBURG

62 South St.
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Amount: $339,000
Buyer: Ambarish S. Walvekar
Seller: James H. Johnson
Date: 01/15/20

WORTHINGTON

44 Goss Hill Road
Worthington, MA 01098
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Squadrille FT
Seller: Benjamin E. Cenedella
Date: 01/23/20

217 Lindsay Hill Road
Worthington, MA 01098
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Michael J. Burke
Seller: Jane L. Reid-McAnulty
Date: 01/24/20

40 Old Post Road
Worthington, MA 01098
Amount: $184,000
Buyer: Marian J. Welch
Seller: Joseph D. Frost
Date: 01/23/20

Building Permits

Building Permits

The following building permits were issued during the month of January 2020.

CHICOPEE

Michael Bissonnette
99 Church St.
$6,800 — Roofing

Meadow Street Partners, LLP
307 Meadow St.
$2,500 — Construct parting wall to create two office spaces, construct two walls for storage space

Roger Walling
140 East Meadow St.
$49,000 — Roofing

EAST LONGMEADOW

Meadowbrook School
607 Parker St.
$1,358,246 — Demolish and replace modular classrooms

Redstone Pasta
642 North Main St.
$6,220 — Interior renovations

GREENFIELD

American Knight Transportation Inc.
357 Main St.
Erect sign attached to building

David Cooper
1385 Bernardston Road
$20,000 — Replace six panel antennas, remove three remote radio units, install nine new remote radio units and related equipment

HADLEY

UMassFive College Federal Credit Union
200 Westgate Center Dr.
$2,300 — Install sign

LEE

Berkshire Corporate Realty, LLC
480 Pleasant St.
$5,000 — Remove existing ceiling, wall, and floor finishes and remove obsolete HVAC, MEP, and data components within conference-room area

LENOX

Molly Lyon
84 Main St.
$122,500 — Remodel downstairs

MRG CRW Holdings, LLC
55 Lee Road
$2,980 — Construct exterior covered deck off ballroom

MRG CRW Holdings, LLC
55 Lee Road
$60,000 — Raise elevation of existing upper level of terrace, reconstruct steps, and create provision for vertical lift

LONGMEADOW

Springfield Charter Prep School
594 Converse St.
$3,850 — Install partition wall

NORTHAMPTON

Colvest Northampton, LLC
303 King St.
$23,000 — Demolish and dispose of brick building, including slab and foundation

Matt & Nick, LLC
199 Pine St.
$22,000 — Add new CMU wall to loading dock and revise exit landing

Northwood Development, LLC
15 Atwood Dr.
$140,000 — Fit out Suite 303

Northwood Development, LLC
15 Atwood Dr.
$550,000 — Fit out Suite 304

Traddles, LLC
60 Masonic St., Unit 1
$24,800 — Renovate existing offices

Unique Lodging, LLC
74 Bridge St.
$45,100 — Kitchen renovation

PALMER

Palmer Realty
1294 Ware St.
$1,981 — Sign for Pioneer Valley Urology, P.C.

Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield
1076 Thorndike St.
$206,800 — Roofing, drains, and accompanying insulation at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish

Town of Palmer
4105 Main St.
$175,000 — Install penetration firestopping assemblies in walls at Palmer High School

Mary Vinrich Inc.
1012 Central St.
$8,000 — Repair damage done by car hitting building

SPRINGFIELD

Breckwood Realty, LLC
455 Breckwood Blvd.
$75,000 — Alter interior tenant space for new location of Hong Kong restaurant

Financial Plaza Trust
1350 Main St.
$19,353.42 — Interior remodeling for new office space

Hoffman Financial Team
140 High St.
$15,000 — Ground-floor interior demolition of office building

Samir Patel
378 Boston Road
$25,000 — Interior remodeling

Ron Perry, Nick Perry
189 Brookdale Dr.
$35,000 — Partial interior demolition of non-bearing walls

Jeffrey Robiero
1701 Boston Road
$15,000 — Install partition walls in four locations on second floor

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Ron Ardilino
355 Union St.
$11,250 — Roofing

Planet Fitness
1464 Riverdale St.
$120,000 — Remove existing locker rooms and bathrooms and install new bathrooms and additional walls for separation

AIC to Offer Graduate Program in Cannabis Science and Commerce

SPRINGFIELD — American International College (AIC) will offer a master of science program in cannabis science and commerce beginning in the fall of 2020, the first of its kind in this region.

The 30-credit, hybrid graduate program is designed for individuals interested in a career in the cannabis industry and will provide students with an understanding of the science, business, and legal issues associated with the cannabis industry. The program offers education in the areas of basic science, including chemistry, horticulture, cultivation, uses, and delivery systems; business management, marketing, and operations; and federal and state laws and policies.

According to a March 2020 jobs report issued by Leafly, the world’s largest cannabis website, over the past four years, legal cannabis has supported nearly a quarter of a million jobs. That equates to a 15% annual uptick in employment. The multi-billion-dollar cannabis industry continues to be the single greatest job-creation engine nationally, growing at a faster rate than any other industry in the same timeframe.

In the Northeast, Massachusetts is among the top 10 states across the county where cannabis jobs exist. Moreover, reported retail sales to the Cannabis Control Commission were $420 million in 2019.

Smaller markets like Maine and Vermont, which previously legalized recreational marijuana without allowing sales, may finally see regulated stores open in the coming year. Still, in Vermont, the medical-marijuana industry realized $14 million in sales with nearly 300 jobs last year. Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island all have medical-marijuana dispensaries. With 14 dispensaries statewide, Connecticut served nearly 40,000 patients with estimated sales approaching $60 million, supporting nearly 1,400 jobs. New Hampshire also realized growth, albeit on a smaller scale, with a $22.5 million market and more than 400 jobs. Rhode Island has posted nearly 50% year-over-year growth, topping $50 million with more than 1,000 jobs.

“American International College is excited to introduce a graduate-level program that offers courses focused on developing business acumen in a field that is experiencing a meteoric rise,” said Mika Nash, AIC’s executive vice president for Academic Affairs. “AIC is positioning itself to be an educational leader in this flourishing industry in order to ensure our students have job opportunities upon graduation.”

With medical marijuana legal in 33 states and Washington, D.C., and recreational marijuana now legal in 11 states and the nation’s capital, the U.S. Cannabis Report 2019 Industry Outlook projects annual sales of medical and recreational cannabis will continue to rise over the next several years, reaching nearly $30 billion by 2025. Both nationally and regionally, this rapidly emerging market offers burgeoning employment and entrepreneurial opportunities for the future.

For more information regarding the AIC’s master of science program in cannabis science and commerce, visit www.aic.edu/cannabis.

Country Bank Donates More Than $900,000 to Nonprofits in 2019

WARE — Country Bank reported its donations to area nonprofits totaled $905,049 last year. Throughout 2019, more than 500 organizations in the communities the bank serves received donations, including the Children’s Trust, Ludlow Community Center Boys and Girls Club, Ronald McDonald House, Habitat for Humanity, Project Bread, and the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, among many others.

Recognizing the importance and overwhelming need to help organizations that address hunger, Country Bank provided monetary donations exceeding $100,000 to food programs throughout the region. The recipients of these funds included Friends of the Homeless, Springfield Rescue Mission, and the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, as well as many local food pantries.

“Our desire to support and enrich our communities is not only a part of our mission, it’s truly who we are,” said Paul Scully, president, and CEO of Country Bank. “Team members embody our standards of professional excellence every day by applying the bank’s iSTEP core values of integrity, service, teamwork, excellence, and prosperity. These values continue to guide our mission, especially through our community-involvement efforts.”

In addition, Country Bank’s employee charitable giving program raised more than $30,000 in 2019 through events such as jeans days, bake sales, and raffles.

“Our team volunteered more than 1,000 hours of personal time at various events within our communities,” said Jodie Gerulaitis, vice president of Community Relations. “These volunteer hours speak directly to our culture and our belief in helping others. Serving meals, filling backpacks for the homeless, and building beds for children in need are just a few of the ways we gave back to our communities.”

Tower Square to Unveil James Kitchen Sculpture Celebrating Springfield History

SPRINGFIELD — Tower Square announced today that it will unveil a James Kitchen sculpture in its Center Court on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at 11 a.m.

The 11-foot-high sculpture, titled “Tower Squares,” is comprised of intricate, stacked blocks, a la Dr. Seuss, filled with parts and pieces recycled from Springfield’s past. Visitors will discover a 1940s Indian motorcycle seat, pipe wrenches invented by Solymon Merrick in 1835, a clip-on ice skate patented by Everett Barney in the 1800s, a basketball hoop, ice tongs, hammers, gears that turn, doorbells that ring, faucets, and much more. The entire installation is interactive, inviting children and adults to explore its components.

“I asked myself, ‘what would connect the community with the fascinating history of Springfield?’” Kitchen said. “I wanted people to stop and think a moment, to connect, and to fall in love with Springfield’s rich and varied history. Add to this the memory of my mother and I reading Dr. Seuss, and it all fell into place.”

The statue will be a permanent feature of the building.

“When we began renovations at Tower Square under our new ownership, our first priority was to protect its legacy and be a part of its continuing history,” said Vid Mitta, managing partner of Tower Square. “I have seen Mr. Kitchen’s amazing work and requested that he create a monument for the Center Court at Tower Square. I am thrilled with the outcome.”

Added Fred Christensen, general manager of Tower Square, “we’re very familiar with the quality and caliber of James’ work. It is a great pleasure to support one of Massachusetts’ most innovative artists while celebrating and promoting Springfield’s rich history of innovation.”

Documentary on Callaway Plant in Chicopee to Air on the Golf Channel

CHICOPEE — On Tuesday, Feb. 18, the Golf Channel will air “The Ball That Changed a Town,” a 30-minute documentary chronicling the 100-plus year history of the Callaway ball plant (formerly the Spalding facility), the long-standing employees who bring the facility to life, and the cutting-edge technologies that produce Chrome Soft golf balls, used by some of the best golfers in the world, including Phil Mickelson.

The documentary will air on the Golf Channel on Feb. 18 at 10:30 p.m., and again on Wednesday, Feb. 19 at 5:30 p.m.

40 Under Forty Nomination Deadline Is Tomorrow

SPRINGFIELD — Time is running out to submit nominations for BusinessWest’s 40 Under Forty class of 2020. The deadline is 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 14.

Launched in 2007, the program recognizes rising stars in the four counties of Western Mass. Nominations, which should be detailed in nature, should list an individual’s accomplishments within their profession as well as their work within the community. Nominations can be completed online at businesswest.com/40-under-forty-nomination-form.

Nominations will be weighed by a panel of judges. The selected individuals will be profiled in the April 27 issue and honored at the 40 Under Forty Gala on June 25 at the Log Cabin in Holyoke. BusinessWest’s 40 Under Forty is is presented by PeoplesBank and Health New England, and sponsored by Mercedes-Benz of Springfield. WWLP-22News is the media sponsor, and the Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield is a partner. Other sponsorship opportunities are available.

MGM Resorts Chairman and CEO Jim Murren Steps Down

LAS VEGAS — MGM Resorts chairman and CEO Jim Murren has told the company’s board that he is stepping down, prior to his contract ending, the company announced Wednesday. He will serve in his role until a successor is appointed.

Murren has been CEO since 2008, and he has been with MGM, the parent company of MGM Springfield, since 1998. MGM said its board has formed a committee of independent directors to search for a replacement.

GSCVB to Present FeBREWary Beer-tasting Event Today at Table & Vine

WEST SPRINGFIELD — Today, Feb. 13, the Greater Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau (GSCVB) will present its FeBREWary beer-tasting event at Table & Vine, 1119 Riverdale St. West Springfield. This exclusive beer tasting begins at 5:30 p.m. and lasts until 7:30 pm. The event is open and free to the public.

This is the second year the GSCVB is offering this event along with Table & Vine. Local breweries taking part in the tasting include Abandoned Building Brewery, Amherst Brewing, Berkshire Brewing Co., Brew Practitioners LLC, Building 8 Brewing, Iron Duke Brewing, Hitchcock Brewing Co., New City Brewery, White Lion Brewing Co., and Wormtown Brewery.

Each of these local breweries will showcase their signature brews, some of which are award-winning and many of which use locally grown hops, fruits, and nuts to create interesting and unique tastes. The craft-beer scene in Western Mass. is flourishing, and this event is a way for craft-beer lovers to learn more about regional breweries and what they have to offer.

This event is also an opportunity to witness the positive impact local breweries have on the Western Mass. region. Breweries are strong contributors to the economy, locally and nationally. According to the Brewers Assoc., the craft-brewing industry contributed $79.1 billion to the U.S. economy in 2018 and generated more than 550,000 jobs.

Elms College to Host Regional Leaders at Black Issues Summit on Feb. 28

CHICOPEE — The Office of Diversity and Inclusion at Elms College will host its third annual Black Issues Summit in celebration of Black History Month on Friday, Feb. 28 from noon to 4:30 p.m. in the Alumnae Library.

This year’s summit will bring regional leaders and social-justice advocates to Elms College for an important dialogue on this year’s theme of “Housing, Health, and Education: Basic Human Rights.” The summit is open to the general public, the Elms community, and anyone who is interested in issues of social justice, equality, and diversity.

“The purpose of the Black Issues Summit is to provide an opportunity for meaningful dialogue about pertinent issues affecting the black community,” said Harry Dumay, president of Elms College. “We are honored to have Denise Jordan, Savina Martin, Frank Robinson, and Yves Salomon-Fernández as guest speakers this year, in addition to the artwork of Ryan Murray.”

Jordan is currently executive director of the Springfield Housing Authority, the third-largest authority in the Commonwealth. In 2008, she became the city of Springfield’s first African-American chief of staff and was longest-tenured person to ever occupy the seat, serving more than 10 years. She also worked for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for more than 20 years as a civil rights officer for the Executive Office of Health and Human Services. She is also a founding member of the Martin Luther King Jr. Charter School for Excellence, 5A Football, and the Massachusetts Women of Color Coalition. She serves as a trustee for Baystate Health, a board member for Square One, and a member of the Bay Path Advisory Council.

Martin is a minister who has spent three decades advocating on behalf of issues and symptoms related to poverty and homelessness, particularly black homeless veteran and non-veteran women. She is currently one of three state chairs with the Massachusetts Poor People’s Campaign: “A National Call for Moral Revival.” She has served as president of the Boston chapter of Union of the Homeless and as the executive director of the Women’s Institute for New Growth & Support, whose house for homeless women in recovery from substance abuse is named in her honor. In 1988, she was recognized with the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drum Major for Justice Award. She is a U.S. Army veteran and a member of the Kairos Center for Religious Rights and Social Justice at Union Theological Seminary in New York City.

Robinson, vice president of Public Health for Baystate Health, is responsible for helping to bridge healthcare gaps caused by social determinants of health. His innovations aimed at addressing community drivers or structural drivers of health, such as racism, include the Baystate Springfield Educational Partnership and the Baystate Academy Charter Public School. Among his many awards for community work are the city of Springfield’s 2008 Luminary Award, the 2009 Rebecca Lee Award from the Harvard School of Public Health and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the 2010 Lemuel Shattuck Award from the Massachusetts Public Health Assoc., the 2013 Power Couple of the Year Award (won jointly with his wife, Dora Robinson), and the 2014 Annual Human Relations Award from the National Conference for Community and Justice.

Salomon-Fernández is president of Greenfield Community College. She previously served as president of Cumberland County College in New Jersey and interim president of Massachusetts Bay Community College. She has served as a reviewer for the National Science Foundation and Johns Hopkins University Press, and is a member of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston’s Community Advisory Development Council and a corporator for Greenfield Cooperative Bank. She also serves on the board of Mass Humanities and the Opioids Task Force of Franklin County and the North Quabbin Region.

Registration will begin at noon, and presentations will begin at 1 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided. Following the summit, attendees are invited to participate in a debriefing session to provide feedback and thoughts on the issues discussed.

The event is free and open to the public, but advance registration is required. Visit www.elms.edu/summit to register. E-mail [email protected] for more information.

Kristine Bunch to Speak on Her Wrongful Incarceration on Feb. 19

LONGMEADOW — What happens when you’re wrongfully convicted of a crime, only to be exonerated after spending almost two decades in prison? Kristine Bunch, executive director of JustIS 4 JustUS Inc., will be on the Bay Path University campus on Wednesday, Feb. 19 to share her story of wrongful conviction.

After spending more than 17 years behind bars after she was arrested and charged with setting a fire that claimed the life of her 3-year-old son, Anthony, the Indiana Court of Appeals reversed the conviction. Bunch, who had earned undergraduate degrees in English and anthropology from Ball State University in prison, was released on her own recognizance — 17 years, one month, and 16 days after her wrongful arrest. Eight days before Christmas 2012, the prosecution dropped all of the charges.

“This is an extraordinary opportunity for the Bay Path community, and especially our students and future students, to hear Kristine’s remarkable story of overcoming the tragic injustice she suffered and her inspiring, relentless advocacy to secure justice for other exonerees,” said Gwen Jordan, chair of Bay Path’s Justice and Legal Studies Department and previously a staff attorney for the Illinois Innocence Project. “Kristine’s raw honesty provides a unique insight into the consequences of convicting the innocent and provides a pathway for all of us to help prevent future wrongful convictions.”

This free event, open to the public, will be held at Mills Theatre in Carr Hall, Bay Path University, 588 Longmeadow St., Longmeadow. For more information or to register, visit wrongfulincarceration.eventbrite.com.

Businesses Need to Be in Compliance with Kari’s Law

WEST SPRINGFIELD — Is your business telephone system compliant with Kari’s Law, which goes into effect starting on Sunday, Feb. 16? Kari’s Law requires telephone systems to provide direct dial and routing to 911 with no prefixes or other button press, as well as on-site notification of a 911 call being made, with a ‘dispatchable location’ conveyed (for example, which floor and room of an office building a worker is on or which classroom a student is calling from).

In addition to facing potentially devastating civil liabilities should a tragedy occur, businesses that fail to comply with the law risk fines, and may be subject to additional penalties for each day they remain non-compliant. With Kari’s Law now included within the amended Communications Act, the Federal Communications Commission has the power to enforce the rules, assign judgments, and collect penalties.

Kari’s Law is named after Kari Hunt, who was tragically murdered in her hotel room in 2013 after multiple failed attempts by her daughter to dial 911. Medical examiners agree that, had her daughter been able to reach emergency services, Hunt would have survived the attack. The law is designed to ensure that anyone, anywhere can reach emergency services and that critical location data is provided with that call.

Normandeau Technologies Inc. (NTI) can help businesses determine compliance with the law. To reach NTI, call (413) 584-3131.

Asnuntuck Community College Named to Military Friendly Schools List

ENFIELD, Conn. — Asnuntuck Community College (ACC) announced it has earned the 2020-21 Military Friendly School designation.

“We greatly value the service the veterans have provided to our country,” Asnuntuck CEO Michelle Coach said. “We understand the importance of having a Veterans Oasis Center on campus. These individuals have a place to work, relax, and also relate to other veterans within the college. It is an honor to have them on our campus.”

Asnuntuck, along with Tunxis Community College, will serve for the third year as a sponsor of the Hartford Yard Goats’ Military Family of the Game, at each home game during the 2020 season.

Beth Egan, ACC’s veterans coordinator, has direct contact with ACC’s active-duty and veteran students. “It is an honor for Asnuntuck to receive this recognition,” she said. “We pride ourselves on our philosophy that students come first. Our military and veteran students make up an important part of our community.”

Institutions earning the Military Friendly School designation were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey. More than 1,000 schools participated in the 2020-21 survey, with 695 earning the designation.

The 2020-21 Military Friendly Schools list will be published in the May issue of G.I. Jobs magazine and can be found at www.militaryfriendly.com.

“Our ability to apply a clear, consistent standard to colleges creates a competitive atmosphere that encourages colleges to invest in programs to provide educational outcomes that are better for the Military Community as a whole,” said Josh Rosen, Military Friendly’s national director.

River Valley Counseling Center Welcomes New Senior Grants Director

HOLYOKE — Rosemarie Ansel, executive director of River Valley Counseling Center (RVCC), has announced Kelly Gloster as its senior grants director. In this new role, she will oversee all grant programs to ensure the organization’s funded programs are compliant with grant rules and regulations based on the terms and conditions set by each funding organization. Gloster is also the program director for both River Valley Counseling Center’s School-Based Health Centers and HIV/AIDS Project.

“I have a particular interest in maximizing grant dollars to both better serve clients and achieve program efficiencies,” Gloster said. “My goals are to bring transparency to the grant-compliance activities, such as chart and documentation standards, data collection, and reporting requirements. I will also be looking to increase grant funding for River Valley Counseling Center programs, as we continue to serve the mental-health needs of our community.”

Prior to joining RVCC, Gloster was an assistant vice president of Grants and Government Relations at Landmark College in Vermont. She brings more than 20 years of grant-writing and grant-administration experience, and owned her own grant consultancy. She maintains a certificate in financial research administration. She also has extensive experience in the nonprofit and mental-health sectors, having worked as a foster-care supervisor, residential case manager, and crisis hotline counselor.

“We are fortunate to have an experienced grant writer joining our team as River Valley Counseling Center continues to grow as a nonprofit behavioral-health organization serving the Pioneer Valley,” Ansel said.

Gloster received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from UMass Amherst and a master’s degree in social work planning, policy, and administration from Boston College.

Financial Advisor Paul Aquila to Address Springfield Rotary Club on Feb. 28