Day: May 3, 2021

HG&E Earns National Clean Energy Future Recognition

By
Daily News

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Gas & Electric (HG&E) has been recognized among a handful of utilities nationwide by the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) for its leadership in transforming to a carbon-free energy system, and is on the 2021 Utility Transformation Leaderboard.

This is a significant recognition, and only 10 utilities, including Southern California Edison, Green Mountain Power, and Consolidated Edison of New York, were cited for their leadership in carbon reduction.

According to SEPA, the transformation requires much more than clean-energy generation. The national organization launched the inaugural Utility Transformation Challenge to make a comprehensive, honest assessment of U.S. electric utilities’ progress toward a modern, carbon-free energy system.

SEPA conducted and analyzed multiple surveys designed to measure meaningful progress across multiple dimensions of utility infrastructure, programs, strategy, and operations. Survey responses were received from 135 individual utilities, representing more than 83 million customer accounts, or approximately 63% of all U.S. electric customer accounts. The report examines the utility industry’s transition to a clean and modern energy system by exploring four dimensions of utility transformation: clean energy resources, corporate leadership, modern grid enablement, and aligned actions and engagement.

“I am grateful for this prestigious recognition from the Smart Electric Power Alliance and appreciate the hard work of HG&E employees,” said James Lavelle, manager of Holyoke Gas & Electric. “As a public power utility, HG&E is committed to providing innovative and sustainable energy solutions to the community we serve through investments in a diverse power-supply portfolio, energy storage, efficiency and conservation programs, as well as development of emerging clean-energy technologies. The atate of Massachusetts has established a road map to net zero by 2050, and HG&E is well positioned to meeting this target, as well as the incremental targets set for 2030 and 2040.”

HG&E earned a number of recognitions for its commitment to advancing clean and renewable energy, including its designation as a Smart Energy Provider by the American Public Power Assoc., being awarded Energy Manager Today Project of the Year for the Mount Tom Solar & Energy Storage System; and being ranked third nationally in energy storage per capita by the Smart Electric Power Alliance.

The municipal utility has a large and growing renewable portfolio, with 94% of electricity coming from carbon-free resources in 2019.

“These leaders stand out due to their comprehensive efforts to transition to a carbon-free energy future and, most importantly, their results,” SEPA President and CEO Julia Hamm said. “We applaud the leaders for their progress and recognize that much work remains. The world does not have the luxury of time on carbon reduction.”

AIC to Present Spring Festival of Communication and the Arts

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Division of Communication and the Arts at American International College (AIC) will present a collection of student work during the Spring Festival of Communication and the Arts. As the end of an unusual academic year concludes, the festival will virtually celebrate student achievements in differing departments under the division’s umbrella. The launch date is May 4, and the site will remain online for viewing through the summer months.

The Criterion features a collection of student poems, essays, and artwork, many of which share insight into issues of the day, including college life during a pandemic, social justice, and the environment, under the guidance of William Steffen, assistant professor of English, and Kat Lombard-Cook, visiting assistant professor of Communication.

Express Yourself is a virtual museum featuring drawing, painting, collage, photography, and graphic-design works created under the tutelage of Kat Lombard-Cook; John Nordell, assistant professor of Communication; and Marty Langford, technology coordinator of Communication.

Each semester, AIC celebrates student artwork with an in-person art show in the West Wing Gallery of the Karen Sprague Cultural Arts Center. This semester, this virtual museum will feature student-created work. Concepts presented in the show include issues of social justice and migration, as well as visions of the world students want to see. In addition, this semester will feature a Grad Gallery, displaying the work of graduating seniors from AIC’s Division of Communication and the Arts. Culled from the students’ internship and capstone experiences, the gallery features photography, video, graphic design, and illustration.

The spring festival will also feature a Collective of Theater Work, said Frank Borrelli, Theater Arts director and chair of the Division of Communication and the Arts. “Even though this academic year has been an extraordinary one with classes focused on remote learning, students are still doing amazing work,” he noted. “This online festival provides an opportunity to utilize technology to share the student experience with a larger audience.”

For more information or to view AIC’s Spring Festival of Communication and the Arts, visit aic.edu/springfest or call (413) 654-1486.

Kumble Subbaswamy Elected to American Academy of Arts & Sciences

By
Daily News

AMHERST — UMass Amherst Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy has been elected as a new member of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences. He joins a distinguished roster of esteemed figures in the arts and sciences, business, philanthropy, and public affairs honored by the prestigious academy for their leadership and dedication to excellence.

The academy was established in 1780 by the country’s founders, including John Adams and John Hancock, to provide guidance to a young nation that would face challenges and need expertise and excellence to emerge stronger. “We are honoring the excellence of these individuals, celebrating what they have achieved so far, and imagining what they will continue to accomplish,” said David Oxtoby, president of the academy. “The past year has been replete with evidence of how things can get worse; this is an opportunity to illuminate the importance of art, ideas, knowledge, and leadership that can make a better world.”

According to UMass President Marty Meehan, “it is no surprise to any of us at UMass that the American Academy of Arts & Sciences recognizes what we see every day — Chancellor Subbaswamy is a transformational academic leader, and he continues to bring UMass Amherst to great heights.”

Added Subbaswamy, “I am grateful to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences for this honor, particularly in light of those who have come before me, and with me. It inspires me to work harder to advance further the ideals and mission of the academy.”

Subbaswamy was elected into the academy as one of seven leaders in the educational and academic leadership section. Serving as chancellor since 2012, he is the 30th leader of UMass Amherst and has emerged as a popular and well-regarded chancellor for his pursuit of academic excellence, promotion of research and outreach, and initiatives aimed at addressing campus climate, diversity, and culture. He has also made sustainability a campus priority and is focused on strengthening community relationships, supporting area communities, and increasing access to the university’s academic and research resources.

He has overseen the opening of new cutting-edge academic, research, and athletic facilities, including the Commonwealth Honors College, the Integrative Learning Center, the Life Sciences Laboratories, a new physical sciences building, the Isenberg School of Management’s Business Innovation Hub, the Football Performance Center, and a newly renovated Student Union building. Additionally, he has presided over UMass Amherst’s dramatic rise in the U.S. News and World Report Guide to Colleges rankings, where the university currently sits at 26th among the nation’s top public research universities.

Paragus Launches Podcast About Business, Technology, and Making IT Fun

By
Daily News

HADLEY — Paragus IT has been at forefront of the ever-changing technology field for more than a decade. Part of this is due to CEO Delcie Bean’s passion for talking to a wide range of business leaders about their thoughts and experiences. It’s this curiosity that led to the creation of Podagus, a Paragus podcast about business, technology, and making IT fun. Each episode, Bean sits with the leader of a business to talk about how technology is shaping their business.

Over the first three episodes, Delcie has spoken with a diverse selection of guests. Podagus kicked things off with Michael Tamasi, president and CEO of AccuRounds, a manufacturing business based in Avon. That was followed by conversations with Drew DiGiorgio, president and CEO of Wellfleet Insurance in Springfield, and Eileen McCaffery, executive director of the Community Music School of Springfield. And it’s not all shop talk — each episode ends with a fun and surprising lightning round that lets listeners get to know these leaders on a more personal level.

“One of the best parts of my job is the opportunity to engage with other CEOs and business leaders,” Bean said. “I’ve had so many fascinating conversations and learned so much that I thought it might be interesting for others as well. The Podagus podcast is a chance to reach out and expand the range of these conversations even further. It’s also a lot of fun.”

New episodes of Podagus are released every two weeks. It can be found on YouTube, Spotify, and iTunes.

BusinessTalk with Dr. Mark Keroack, president and CEO of Baystate Health

By
Business Talk Podcast Special Coverage

We are excited to announce that BusinessWest, in partnership with Living Local, has launched a new podcast series, BusinessTalk. Each episode will feature in-depth interviews and discussions with local industry leaders, providing thoughtful perspectives on the Western Massachuetts economy and the many business ventures that keep it running during these challenging times.

Episode 62: May 3, 2021

 George O’Brien talks with Dr. Mark Keroack, president and CEO of Baystate Health

Dr. Mark Keroack

BusinessWest Editor George O’Brien talks with Dr. Mark Keroack, president and CEO of Baystate Health. The two discuss a wide range of topics, including the current pace of vaccinations, strategies for improving those numbers, the challenges facing the country as it strives to reach herd immunity, and expectations for when the region, the state, and the nation might be able to reach something approximating ‘normal.’ Keroack provides keen insight into all these matters, and his takes certainly provide food for thought. It’s must listening, so join us on BusinessTalk, a podcast presented by BusinessWest in partnership with Living Local.

 

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