Home 2020 March (Page 6)

Month: March 2020

Way Finders Names Laureen Borgatti Chief Operating Officer

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Way Finders Inc. named Laureen Borgatti its new chief operating officer. She has been employed by the organization for 27 years, serving in various administrative capacities, most recently as the organization’s chief of staff and chief administrative officer.

“Laureen has consistently demonstrated extraordinary leadership, and her institutional knowledge after so many years of service to the organization is invaluable as we chart our path for the future,” Way Finders CEO Peter Gagliardi said. “She has a deep understanding of the multitude of programs we administer, our complex staffing structure, and has built strong relationships with our partners and funders. Most recently, Laureen has served as our internal project manager for the construction of our new Housing Center, soon to be completed in April 2020. It has been an honor to work with her throughout the years, and I’m pleased to name her as Way Finders’ COO.”

Added Borgatti, “I am pleased to have the opportunity to serve as Way Finders’ chief operating officer and excited for what the future holds for our organization. It is a privilege to work side by side with our dedicated staff and partners every day and to witness firsthand the positive impact we are able to make in the lives of our clients and in communities throughout Western Massachusetts.”

Borgatti chairs the board of directors of the Human Service Forum, a membership organization that assists members in better addressing the needs of the people they serve throughout the Pioneer Valley. She sits on the board of directors for the new Housing Navigator, an initiative led by the Kuehn Charitable Foundation to develop an online search tool that will give people with low and moderate incomes the ability to quickly find available, affordable rental units anywhere in Massachusetts. She also serves on the board of directors of the Dakin Humane Society.

GCAi Launches Videos for Peter Pan’s App Marketing and Perks Rewards Program

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — While apps are nothing new, app marketing is. Most businesses with apps fail to move beyond the launch into actually engaging their customers in the benefits. That’s surprising because the benefits flow both ways — to the customer and to the company.

But there’s more. When the app is combined with a rewards program, things really accelerate. In fact, 80% of travelers purchase tickets through a rewards program. Combined with a travel app, customers gain convenience and benefits that, in this case, include free travel.

Riders on any Peter Pan bus right now will not only view a new app-marketing video but also a new Perks Rewards program video. In between the two marketing videos is a brief welcome message by company Chairman and CEO Peter Picknelly.

Garvey Communication Associates Inc. (GCAi) produced the three videos, which are already being shown on all routes in the Northeast Corridor. Each of them was produced by award-winning video producer Darcy Young, one of the only female video producers in the market. The concepts and scripts were developed by GCAi founder John Garvey.

“These videos always present a creative and production challenge for us,” Young said. “We have to capture the attention of a distracted bus passenger with something exciting, then shift to the sincere and more serious tone of the CEO, and then back to upbeat and engaging. It’s a lot of fun, but a lot of fine-tuning too.”

The app and rewards videos will be disseminated through digital marketing campaigns in specific markets on the East Coast in the near future. These videos are the third in a series of passenger videos produced by GCAi that began when Peter Pan Bus Lines separated from Greyhound Bus Lines in 2017.

The videos can be viewed at gcaionline.com/video.

The Big Broadcast Returns to Mount Holyoke on March 7

By
Daily News

HOLYOKE — The Big Broadcast returns to Mount Holyoke College’s Chapin Auditorium for its 15th edition on Saturday, March 7 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The snow date is Sunday, March 8.

This signature event at Mount Holyoke is created and directed by Mark Gionfriddo, who also stars as ‘Matt Morgan,’ and WWLP-TV22’s Brian Lapis, returning as emcee ‘Fred Kelley.’ Caitlin Jaene Mercer, a founding member of the Jazz Ensembles of Mount Holyoke College, appears with that ensemble in the recreation of a live radio broadcast from 1942. Mercer, a bass player and chanteuse, fronts the band Hippopotamous. For details on her career and links to her YouTube channel, visit www.caitlinjaene.com.

Tickets are available at the door or in advance at the UMass Fine Arts Center box office and the Odyssey Bookshop in South Hadley. For details, call (413) 545-2511 or (800) 999-8627, or visit www.fineartscenter.com.

Providence Behavioral Health Hospital to Discontinue Inpatient Psychiatric Services

By
Daily News HCN News & Notes

HOLYOKE — Facing serious psychiatrist shortages that will prevent its future ability to provide safe, quality care, Providence Behavioral Health Hospital, part of Mercy Medical Center, announced it has filed notice with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health of its intent to discontinue inpatient psychiatric services at Providence Hospital in Holyoke on June 30, including adult, geriatric, and pediatric services.

Collaborative planning is underway to help patients access timely psychiatric care and to help affected colleagues transition to new opportunities, including a comprehensive job-placement program.

While licensed for 74 inpatient psychiatry beds, Providence Hospital has regularly operated at fewer than 60 beds over the past two years due to persistent provider shortages that have now become critical.

Substance-use disorder services will continue at Providence Hospital, including the Acute Treatment Service (detoxification), Clinical Stabilization Service (post-detoxification), and outpatient substance-use disorder services, with an intensive outpatient program and a methadone clinic.

After the opening of two new methadone clinics in Springfield, Mercy will also consolidate its methadone clinic on Mill Street in Springfield into its methadone clinic in Holyoke by June 30, as a part of a separate filing. All patients will have individual meetings to ensure a smooth transition of care.

NAMI Western Massachusetts to Hold Annual Meeting on March 29

By
HCN News & Notes

AGAWAM — The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Western Massachusetts will hold its annual meeting on Sunday, March 29 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Chicopee Public Library, 449 Front St., in the Bazan Community Room located downstairs, which has elevator access. Light refreshments will be served.

Because the annual meeting on Jan. 12 did not have a quorum of members, NAMI Western Mass. must have another meeting to vote on a slate of officers and board members. The meeting is open to the public, but only current members are eligible to vote. Individuals whose membership has lapsed need to renew their membership either through the office or at the meeting in order to vote. Member attendance at this meeting is critical to the continuation of the NAMI Western Mass. affiliate.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness is the nation’s largest grassroots mental-health organization, providing advocacy, education, support, and public awareness so that individuals and families affected by mental illness can build better lives.

To view the slate of officers, board member information, as well as bylaw proposed changes, visit www.namiwm.org/home or call the office at (413) 786-9139.

Baystate’s Cardiac Surgery Program Honored by Society of Thoracic Surgeons

By
HCN News & Notes

SPRINGFIELD — Baystate Health’s Cardiac Surgery program received national recognition by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) for achieving a high level of clinical excellence on behalf of its patients.

Baystate has received the coveted 3 STAR ranking from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, the highest possible ranking bestowed by the organization, placing its award-winning Cardiac Surgery program among the top 10% in the categories of coronary artery bypass surgery, aortic valve replacement surgery, and mitral valve repair surgery. The new rankings place Baystate in the top 1% to 2% of more than 1,000 cardiac surgical programs in the U.S.

“Achieving such a distinction in one cardiac surgical procedure is certainly a significant accomplishment, but achieving this degree of excellence in three separate procedures is truly remarkable,” said Dr. Thomas Schwann, associate director of the Heart & Vascular Program and chief of the Division of Cardiovascular Surgery for Baystate Health. “These results are a testimony to the skill, dedication, and compassion of our entire Baystate cardiovascular team. Their expertise continues to build on the long tradition of innovation, clinical excellence, and compassionate, patient-centered care that have been the hallmark of our program for over 40 years.”