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Month: April 2023

Rob Madrid

By Contributor
Rob Madrid
40 Under 40 Class of 2023

President, Digiarks: Age 39

Rob MadridRob Madrid considers himself a marketer who has always used digital marketing as a primary tool.

Armed with an MBA from Western New England University and a bachelor’s degree from Springfield College, Madrid held positions with Weed Man Lawn Care, the American Hockey League, and the Basketball Hall of Fame. Before founding his own business, he was head of client strategy for MassLive.

“I bounced around, not because I was getting fired,” he said. “It was the budding entrepreneur in me getting impatient. Once I developed digital expertise, I felt I could be successful on my own.”

Madrid and a partner started Digiarks, a digital marketing and design firm, in 2021 with the founding principle “honest, smart, experienced digital marketing — no BS.”

“Our slogan is what we’re all about,” he said. “We’re about honesty and transparency on top of knowing what we’re doing.”

Last fall, after buying out his partner, Madrid asked his wife, Sara, to join the firm, bringing skills in content creation and account management. Digiarks also added a remote graphic designer.

“We really have two companies that work hand-in-hand,” he said. “Our graphic designer is the creative arm that compliments the traditional digital marketing company, which executes ad campaigns and other things.”

Madrid has become a popular speaker on digital-marketing topics. His advice for budding entrepreneurs? “Make sure you have a diverse skill set, because you’ll need to wear every hat.”

Another piece of advice is to “segment your time between administrative duties and prospecting, while making quality work the core of what you do. Quality work will turn into more business; that’s certainly been our experience.”

Inspired by the business book Good to Great, Madrid is committed to following the concept of striving to be the best in the world at what he can become the best in the world at, and avoid areas where he won’t be the best.

“We develop wonderful websites, high-quality ad campaigns, SEO marketing, and consulting,” he said. “By emphasizing these core competencies, we can focus on what we do best and make our clients successful.”

To Madrid, nothing is more important than Sara and their three children. While he hopes to see Digiarks succeed and grow, he will not let success compromise his ethics.

“Every day I ask myself, ‘will my kids be proud of me?’ That’s how I want to live and do business. That’s what guides me.”

 

—Mark Morris

Mike Marcotte

By
Mike Marcotte
40 Under 40 Class of 2023

President, Marcotte Ford: Age 39

Mike MarcotteHe calls it the ‘Marcotte Ford campus,’ and that name certainly works.

Indeed, where there was once a Marcotte Ford dealership on Main Street in Holyoke, started by his grandfather, Al, and expanded by his father, Bryan, there are now several businesses, including a new, larger dealership, complete with a popular café inside; a commercial truck center; and even a car wash.

Mike Marcotte, the third-generation president of this family business, has been instrumental in its expansion, and in many ways, he is continuing family traditions — of entrepreneurship, success in business, and getting involved in the community.

Like most in family-owned auto dealerships and groups, Marcotte said he “grew up in the business,” learning all aspects of it, from parts to service, as he was being groomed to take a leadership role. His favorite, though, was sales.

Al Marcotte

Al Marcotte

Bryan Marcotte

Bryan Marcotte

“It’s a joy, an experience — a ‘wow’ moment,” he said. “I enjoy seeing people be really happy as they drive away with their new or pre-owned vehicle.”

There have been many ‘wow’ moments for the dealership as well, including those new facilities mentioned above. The café inside the new dealership, called LugNutz, has become a popular eatery in the city, and it has hosted a number of community events for local organizations.

Marcotte is continuing this series of expansion efforts by winning designation as a Model E Certified Elite store, making the dealership one of the first Ford stores in the area to sell electric Ford vehicles. The company will also be investing $1 million in charging infrastructure.

Meanwhile, and as mentioned earlier, Marcotte is continuing and building upon not only a tradition of entrepreneurship, but a tradition of involvement in the community.

That includes everything everything from work at Chicopee Comprehensive High School, where Marcotte established a program where the company mentors, trains, and hires technicians who work at the school, to Holyoke Medical Center, where he serves as vice chair of the board; from the Holyoke Boys & Girls Club — another family tradition; the basketball courts there were recently named in honor of his father, who was on the board for many years — to support of Providence Ministries and especially Kate’s Kitchen, which provides more than 200 meals a day to those in need.

“The city has been so good to us, and we try to be good to the city and give back in every way we can,” he said. “And it’s not just me, but the whole staff.”

 

—George O’Brien

Jeffery Markham Jr.

By
Jeffery Markham Jr.
40 Under 40 Class of 2023

Program Officer, Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts: Age 37

Jeffery Markham Jr.Jeffery Markham Jr. is no stranger to the nonprofit world, having worked with them in many capacities, from volunteer efforts to convening them in a major public-health research project. Now, the tables have turned — literally.

“After working with nonprofits, it feels good to be on the other side of the table, giving dollars away, as opposed to trying to find them,” he said of his latest new role, as a program officer for Community Impact and Partnerships at the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, spearheading a grant process that will center on community participation in design and distribution of funds.

“We’re shifting our way of thinking toward giving away money in a more trust-based way,” he explained. “The whole school of thought around trust-based philanthropy is, instead of seeking to put some dollars toward a specific goal, the foundation deems it important to give to organizations in a way that puts them at the center of it and allows them to dictate how they want to spend their money.

“In that way, we’re looking to be in a relationship with organizations whose philosophy and overarching values are the same as ours and trust them to steward the money in a way they see fit, and that will have the most impact.”

Markham helps oversee distribution of resources from more than 60 funds at the foundation, delivering more than $3 million to organizations annually.

Before joining the Community Foundation, he was the research project manager for a $2.3 million National Institute of Health-funded research project in the School of Public Health and Health Sciences at UMass Amherst. The community participatory research project investigated the connection between stress and health outcomes in Black men in Springfield and its surroundings.

“It was a community-based resource project that involved community members in the development of the research,” he explained. “All too often, anchor institutions descend on communities, particularly communities of color and low-income communities, and extract information without bringing anything back or having them be a part of the process.”

Markham has also led projects at Caring Health Center and Martin Luther King Jr. Family Services, and has volunteered with Gardening the Community, Men of Color Health Awareness, Democracy Behind Bars, the Western Massachusetts Health Equity Network, and many others.

“I hold dear my commitment to lifting up folks in our community, particularly the young people coming behind me,” he said. “That’s a really important piece of my life — to lift up issues in our community and try to find solutions.”

 

—Joseph Bednar

Stephanie O’Leary

By Contributor
Stephanie O’Leary
40 Under 40 Class of 2023

Technology Assurance Manager, KPMG US: Age: 39

Stephanie O’LearyLongmeadow native and Bay Path University graduate Stephanie O’Leary observed that “I’ve completed all my schooling in a town that’s eight square miles.”

While that’s a fact, it’s also true that she’s really going places.

In her five years with KMPG US, a global network of professional firms providing audit, tax, and advisory services, O’Leary has earned three promotions and has been recognized for her dedication and leadership.

Technology-assurance positions tend to be male-dominated, but O’Leary noted that she was one of three women recently promoted in this area. “This was exciting to see because it shows KPMG’s commitment to advancing women and underrepresented groups.”

Since she joined the company five years ago, she has been involved in mentoring new hires and interns, and was selected as a national facilitator to help develop the next generation of KPMG employees.

“I enjoy helping new associates find their way,” she said. “At the same time, there are others in the company looking out for me.”

O’Leary stays involved with Bay Path, serving as president of the Alumni Assoc. Council and as the youngest member of the university’s board of trustees.

“I’m the first person in my family to graduate from college, and I believe everyone who wants an education should have access to it,” she said. “As a fairly recent graduate, I bring a fresh perspective to the board.”

O’Leary speaks regularly with prospective Bay Path students, helps others prepare for job interviews, and makes recommendations for internships. She also led a project to establish a campus food pantry. “It’s hard to get an education if you’re hungry,” she said.

At the Wildcat Pantry, students who may not have the means can get food and personal items to make it through their day and to graduation “If we can make a small difference in a student’s life on campus, I would like that to be part of my legacy as Alumni Association president.”

When a couple friends were diagnosed with cancer, O’Leary decided to train for the Boston Marathon, raising more than $14,000 for Dana-Farber cancer research.

“I thought I’d be a one-and-done marathoner, but they asked me back,” she said. This year, she had a patient partner, a 4-year old in remission from leukemia, and shattered her fundraising goal, collecting more than $15,000.

“When you run for a cause like this, it gives you a lot of perspective,” she said. “The people you meet are truly inspiring.”

 

—Mark Morris

Nick Pandolfi

By
Nick Pandolfi
40 Under 40 Class of 2023

Owner, Pandolfi Landscape Construction: Age 37

Nick PandolfiBy the summer of 2017, Nick Pandolfi was at a crossroads in his life and career.

He had a day job — working for the state as groundskeeper for the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Agawam. But he had a side hustle, if you will, on nights and weekends, doing hardscape installation work such as patios, retaining walls, sidewalks, and more.

He was developing a solid reputation with the latter, and it was starting to take up more and more of his free time — to the point where, eventually, he had to decide between one or the other.

So he took the route of an entrepreneur and made Pandolfi Landscape Construction his sole focus — and his passion.

He started with a small crew, some old equipment, and determination to make sure his life decision was the right one.

“We just started getting out there, working hard … word of mouth traveled quickly,” Pandolfi recalled. “We found ourselves hiring more people very quickly and just growing from there.”

The company soon expanded its portfolio of work to a full range of backyard renovations, including firepits, outdoor kitchens, and plunge pools. And it was certainly helped by the pandemic, which canceled vacations and gave people the time, and inclination, to make investments in their homes and backyards.

“That whole outdoor living experience has really taken off,” he said, adding that, three years after the start of the pandemic, business continues to be robust, and these kinds of investments continue. “And seeing that look on people’s faces when a project is done, and making them happy at the end of the day — that’s very rewarding.”

When not working, Pandolfi is usually in his own backyard enjoying time with his family — his wife, Taryn, and children Brody, Luke, and Gwendolyn — and attending the many sporting events involving his children.

He’s also active in the community. He served for several years on the Planning Board in Agawam, and currently donates time, energy, and talent to New Day Church in Enfield, Conn., the West Springfield Police Club, and Shriners Children’s New England. He said giving back is important, and certainly did so when he learned that a local school’s playground toys had been vandalized. That same day, he ordered new equipment, then assembled and delivered it when it arrived.

He did that quietly, just as he’s grown his business into a thriving venture.

 

—George O’Brien

Amanda Pham

By
Amanda Pham
40 Under 40 Class of 2023

Executive Director, Springfield Redevelopment Authority: Age 36

Amanda PhamAmanda Pham joined the Springfield Redevelopment Authority in 2010, at what would have to be called a watershed moment — for the city, the SRA, and her own career.

Indeed, the long-waited project to redevelop and re-imagine Springfield’s Union Station, built in 1929 but dormant and mostly vacant since the early ’80s, was entering a critical new stage. The pieces — most of them, anyway — were falling in place, and construction was set to commence.

Over the next several years, the clock was essentially turned back at the historic station, and it was returned to not only its former glory, but its former role — as a transportation hub and center of activity for the city.

And Pham, who has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting from Western New England University and American International College, respectively, played a critical role in this $94 million project, coordinating 13 federal, state, and local grants for the project, while also handling lease negotiations and creation of standard operating procedures.

“That was such a big part of my life at the SRA prior to my role as executive director,” said Pham, who has worked for the city of Springfield for 16 years, starting in the School Department and then the Community Development Department. “I got exposure to all the different levels of government; there was managing, tracking, and reporting — relationship building and connecting the dots. I got my first taste of Amtrak, MassDOT, and all those other agencies … it was a great learning experience, and it was great to be part of it.”

The work on the Union Station project not only provided invaluable experience, but it afforded Pham the confidence that ultimately led Mayor Domenic Sarno to appoint her executive director of the SRA in 2021.

She is the first woman to serve in that role, and presides over the agency at a critical time for it and the city, with the SRA taking on a number of important projects, including the redevelopment of several properties directly across Main Street from MGM Springfield, part of the Court Square Urban Renewal Plan, which covers most of the downtown.

Speaking about that project, and the state of the city overall, Pham said, “I felt such great energy before COVID, but then the pandemic pulled everything back. I’m looking to see much more activation. We have so much culture and so much pride in our city; we just need some resources to get back to where we were before COVID.”

 

—George O’Brien

Dallas Pilecki

By
Dallas Pilecki
40 Under 40 Class of 2023

Co-owner, Serendipity Psych: Age 35

Dallas PileckiGrowing up, Dallas Pilecki said, “I always wanted to help people. I had a passion for that.”

Opening Serendipity Psych with his business partner, Ariana Avezzie, put that passion to the test, due to some unfortunate timing: three months after the counseling practice opened in Westfield in December 2019, COVID-19 shut the world down.

It was a challenge, for sure, but also an opportunity. Pilecki, a licensed mental-health counselor, used the time to create free workshops, programming, and resource handouts for the community, and built partnerships with local agencies to provide mental-health services to the elderly. Meanwhile, he started delivering services via telehealth, which has become a permanent option, all in the name of making clients feel comfortable.

“We ask people if they want telehealth, in-person, or a community visit,” he said. “We meet people where they are.”

In the years before opening Serendipity, Pilecki worked for other practices, including Baystate Noble Hospital, where he worked on an opioid task force and organized a large community event in 2019 to raise awareness and break stigma around addiction. He’s still passionate about the value of seeking help.

“Serendipity has grown from us wanting to do things our own way and taking time with people who are going through so much more than what’s diagnosed,” he said of the model he and Avezzie created, which draws on the ‘spirit, mind, and body’ emphasis of Springfield College, where he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

“We’re fortunate to have done some pro bono work, and we work with local agencies on caregiver support; when someone is caring for someone with dementia or terminal illness, we offer help to the caregiver,” Pilecki said, adding that they see a wide range of clients, from children to older adults.

He compared his work to that of an “old-fashioned family doctor,” someone who takes the time to know a family’s whole story. “We want that rapport with clients. We want to know them, their jobs, what their stressors are, how they’re dealing with them. All those things matter to us.”

Getting back to that December 2019 opening, maybe ‘unfortunate’ is the wrong word for the timing. Maybe it’s the opposite of the right word.

“We were able to help people during a time when there was so much uncertainty. People didn’t know how to cope; they didn’t know what was coming next,” Pilecki recalled.

“It’s scary to trust somebody,” he added. “Maybe you’re telling us things you’ve never told anyone, but we’re here, and we’re grateful that people trust us.”

 

—Joseph Bednar

Israel Rivera

By Contributor
Israel Rivera
40 Under 40 Class of 2023

Interim Regional Manager, Families First; Holyoke City Councilor: Age 37

Israel RiveraHolyoke City Councilor Israel Rivera’s pursuit of a master’s degree in public administration from Westfield State University might not sound out of the ordinary, until he tells his backstory.

At age 19, Rivera was incarcerated for five years for drug-related charges. Upon his release, he gravitated to positive places in the community that he’d known since childhood. To get back on his feet, he sought out the Holyoke Boys and Girls Club and the Holyoke Housing Authority.

“I went back to my old roots with the intent on giving back to my community,” he explained.

After earning an associate degree from Holyoke Community College and a bachelor’s degree in sociology from UMass Amherst, Rivera held positions in community engagement and workforce development, before Families First recruited him as interim regional manager. There, he oversees two programs that build stronger families by encouraging parents to connect and network with each other.

“As parents grow their network, they gain confidence,” he said. “If one person is having a problem, another parent will share what has worked for them with a similar problem. It’s a beautiful thing.”

Rivera is proud to be part of this effort to build stronger families in Western Mass. “As a father of three, these programs strengthen my knowledge as a parent and a community organizer.”

In 2021, Rivera was elected to Holyoke’s City Council and now chairs its public safety committee. “When I took office, I did not think the other councilors would appreciate my background,” he said. “But many have been supportive and want to hear my perspective.”

He hopes his life example will start to change societal attitudes about people who made mistakes in their youth but have matured into adults who are positive citizens. “If we allow formerly incarcerated people to be in society, we have to gradually allow them to fully take part in society.”

For example, after a person is incarcerated, they often face legal discrimination when trying to improve their lives, he noted. “I have friends who would like to apply for a liquor license to open a restaurant or apply for a lottery license to open a bodega, but they can’t because of their past.”

Rivera said he shares his own experience to educate and inspire others about what’s possible. “When I was incarcerated, I dreamed about where I am today. So when someone asks how I’m doing, I say, ‘I’m living the dream.’”

 

—Mark Morris

Chelsea Russell

By
Chelsea Russell
40 Under 40 Class of 2023

Manager/CPA, Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C.; Age 29

Chelsea Russell“There’s never a dull moment.”

That’s not a phrase anyone not in accounting and auditing would probably use to describe that profession. But Chelsea Russell, who has chosen that field, means it when she says it.

“There’s a lot of variety, a lot of excitement — you can do the grind of the work, but you can also go out and meet people in the community and other business owners,” Russell said as she talked about the sum (that’s an industry term) of everything that goes into her career, especially the networking and relationship building, in addition to the number crunching.

Russell was trending toward business management while at Westfield State University, became inspired by one of her accounting professors to focus her career in that direction, and became further inspired by a talk delivered by Jim Krupienski, now a partner at Meyers Brothers Kalicka, on “a day in the life of an accountant.”

She pursued an internship at MBK, one that led — as these opportunities so often do — to a job at the firm. She currently serves as a manager in the Audit and Assurance Department, where she handles large audits in the not-for-profit, commercial, and employment-benefit-plan arenas.

She has become an emerging leader at the firm, serving as co-leader of the Not-for-profit Division, a member of the mission and vision committee, an internal trainer for the Audit and Assurance Department, a member of the Business Development team, and a mentor to audit and accounting associates.

But maybe her most noteworthy contribution at the firm, one she’s passionate about, is her work to develop its Community Outreach program, through which she has established monthly charitable opportunities for the firm to participate in. She has coordinated drives, awareness campaigns, and service for a wide range of organizations in Western Mass., including Square One, Dakin Humane Society, Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity, the Opera House Players, Friends of the Homeless, Rachel’s Table, and many others.

“It’s become a staple of who we are,” she said of the program. “I always wanted something to make my work more meaningful. I love what I do, and I love my clients … but there was more that we could do with the resources that we have. We’re in Western Mass., and there’s so much need in the community.”

When not working or coordinating support for nonprofits, Russell is engaging in outdoor activities — camping, hiking, kayaking, fishing, and more — with her husband, Tyler, and 8-month-old lab, Copper.

 

—George O’Brien

Kyle Snow

By
Kyle Snow
40 Under 40 Class of 2023

President, Snow & Sons Landscaping: Age 38

Kyle SnowBy his teen years, Kyle Snow was working hard at landscaping and snow removal — when weekends and summer breaks from school allowed him to. Even before that, at a very young age, he was busy working around the Greenfield shop of his family’s business.

Back then, he was already thinking about an eventual full-time role in the family business, but maybe not envisioning quite how dramatically he would grow the firm as its third-generation president.

Indeed, since graduating from UMass Amherst, where he studied business and landscaping studies, and working his way up the leadership ranks of Snow & Sons, he has led the company to exponential growth — to more than 110 team members, in fact, serving more than 2,000 customers across Franklin and Hampshire counties, as well as southern Vermont and New Hampshire, with landscaping, hardscaping, maintenance, fertilization, irrigation, gardening, and winter snow removal, and earning major contracts with the likes of Mount Snow, Yankee Candle, and many others.

In fact, the firm has become so busy that it has been shifting away from one-time services to full maintenance contracts. He’s gratified by that evolution, but emphatically credits his team for his success.

“They really work hard; they provide good service and a really good experience,” Snow said, adding that he’s proud to see his employees grow and develop in their roles. “We have a strong culture and people who do an awesome job providing services to all the customers — not just quality of landscaping, honestly, but the interactions they have with the customer base. We get the most compliments from customers about our people.”

In addition to his leadership of the landscaping enterprise, Snow has built an impressive real-estate portfolio, purchasing multi-unit residential properties across Franklin County over the past decade. Also, in 2022, he branched out and founded Sugarloaf Gardens, opening an expansive nursery located at the foot of Mount Sugarloaf in Sunderland, specializing in trees, shrubs, and perennials.

Meanwhile, under his leadership, Snow and Sons has expanded its philanthropic efforts, benefiting more than 25 Franklin- and Hampshire-county nonprofits over the past three years. On his own time, Snow also coaches basketball at Deerfield Elementary School, and the company maintains a town garden in its Greenfield hometown, planting annual flowers in three different locations.

“We try to be really involved with different efforts,” he said. “It’s important for us to be a part of the community.”

 

—Joseph Bednar

Ciara Speller

By
Ciara Speller
40 Under 40 Class of 2023

Evening Anchor, WWLP-22 News: Age 30

Ciara SpellerCiara Speller says she’s always been a storyteller.

At first, and for many years, she told stories through dance, something’s she’s still passionate about today.

“Through the arts, I was always able to tell a story,” she said, but along the way, she found there were other ways to communicate stories — through poetry, the student newspaper in high school, and other vehicles.

“I was moved to see that my words could touch other people and bring their stories to light,” she said, adding that this passion for telling stories, coupled with a long-held interest in watching the news, often with her grandmother, put her on path to broadcast journalism and, eventually, WWLP-22 News, where she currently serves as evening anchor.

She started as a reporter in 2017, arriving in Springfield soon before the story of serial killer Stewart Weldon broke, a case that brought national media to the area and provided Speller with both exposure and learning experiences on many levels.

She joined the anchor desk less than a year later, and there were other big stories to follow — COVID-19, the tragedy at the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke, Jan. 6, and many others. But it’s the day-to-day work of keeping area residents informed that Speller likes most about her work.

She told BusinessWest that she always pictured herself on the anchor desk, noting that there are many responsibilities there beyond reading the news, including writing, editing, deploying crews, proofreading, answering calls, making beat calls to police and fire departments, and, in general, setting the tone for that night’s broadcasts.

“I want to make sure that I’m delivering stories that are important to our community … I don’t want to let my community down,” she said. “They welcome me into their homes at night, and I always want to give it my best.

“I want to be like a conversation,” she went on. “I want it to come off as just having a chat — what’s going on — with my friends.”

Speller’s ultimate goal is to sit behind the anchor desk in a much larger market, but while she’s working in Greater Springfield, she has committed herself to getting involved in the community and making a difference there.

Indeed, she currently serves on the board of directors for Girls Inc. of the Valley, is a corporator for Monson Savings Bank, and has volunteered with the nonprofit I Found Light Against All Odds, which assists at-risk youths and their families through numerous charitable events.

 

—George O’Brien

Andrea St. Louis

By
Andrea St. Louis
40 Under 40 Class of 2023

Owner, The Tatted Professionals; Director, Jill Ker Conway Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center, Smith College: Age 36

Andrea St. LouisAndrea St. Louis has a number of titles and many different … let’s call them jobs, although some of them are more like passions.

She was just named director of the Jill Ker Conway Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center at Smith College. She is also the owner of a business called the Tatted Professionals, through which she takes many different titles — executive coach, writer, business coach, educator, and public speaker.

She’s also the author of the book 40 Days Lighter: A Devotional Journey for Women Determined to Live Free, an adjunct professor, book-club host, and TEDxSpringfield speech coach and emcee. She’s also an ordained minister at the All Nations Church in Springfield, as well as a youth leader and board member at the church. She has also been a board member for the Children’s Chorus of Springfield and a mentor with the Pass the Torch for Women Foundation. She’s also a mother of two.

That’s a lot of ‘alsos.’

But we need them to accurately convey all that St. Louis does professionally and in her community.

In her role at Smith, which recently expanded from entrepreneur in residence to director, she has developed and taught courses on entrepreneurship and facilitated workshops on entrepreneurship, innovation, ideation, effective pitching, and more.

And through her business, the Tatted Professionals, she is an executive coach, writer, business consultant, educator, and speaker who is committed to helping women leaders own their gifts and effectively tell their story.

She is a frequent speaker, having given a talk at the recent Women in Business Summit in Springfield, and also at the Women Business Owners Alliance Social Media Bootcamp, the On the Move Forum for Women Intergenerational Panel, and the 2021 Wellness for the Culture Saturday Wellness Workshop.

St. Louis said there is general theme or tone to her talks.

“I’m often talking about authenticity, what it means to show up authentically, and professionalism,” she explained, adding that these talking points refer back to the name she has given her business. “For me, tattoos are a symbol of how we bring ourselves to wherever we’re going. Tattoos are permanent; I know some people get them removed, but to me they are a permanent reminder to bring all of myself to the work that I do.”

She said she also helps clients, mostly women of color, tell their stories, step out of their comfort zone, and work through challenges. She’s speaking from personal experience, having done all that herself, and that’s why her voice, and her message, resonates.

 

—George O’Brien

Brian Sullivan

By Contributor
Brian Sullivan
40 Under 40 Class of 2023

Vice President, Northeast IT Systems Inc.: Age 35

Brian SullivanYou might say Northeast IT Systems was on a roll right from the start.

“I met my business partner while we were both in a bowling league,” said Brian Sullivan, the company’s co-founder, with Joel Mollison, and vice president. “We had a shared vision of what Northeast IT could be, and we opened the company in 2012.”

With a computer information systems degree from Holyoke Community College, Sullivan knew he had to convince people he was up to the challenge of making his business a success.

“My mom and dad have a hard work ethic, and that rubbed off on me,” he said, adding that he’s also benefited from a number of mentors through the years.

The company handles business-to-business technology needs, from simple help-desk requests to large projects, such as installing servers and network equipment. Sullivan sees Northeast as a partner for its customers.

“We will even assist companies in developing IT budgets to help them get the most out of their technology,” he said. “We treat every customer network and IT budget like it’s our own.”

He is most proud of partnering with the nonprofit technology training center Tech Foundry to bring interns to Northeast so they can experience what it’s like to work in the field. “It’s a great program to be part of because there was nothing before it that is geared to what we do.”

Sullivan and his colleagues put a priority on mentoring younger team members. “Whether they stay with us long term or not, it’s satisfying to see our team members grow personally and professionally,” he said.

He credits his wife, Shawna, for always supporting his “crazy” ideas. Last year, she suggested a community event to benefit people suffering from Crohn’s disease after she had successfully been treated for it. Sullivan pitched in and applied his experience organizing golf tournaments and other events. The result was the first running of the Movement 5K, raising more than $6,000 for the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.

Whether in his professional or personal life, Sullivan always tries to live up to the principles of treating others how he’d want to be treated, valuing communication, and delivering on promises. That philosophy seems to be paying off in the reputation of a firm that aims to … well, bowl clients over.

“Integrity is my number-one priority,” he said. “I’m a handshake guy, so your word is everything.”

 

—Mark Morris

Erica Swallow

By Contributor
Erica Swallow
40 Under 40 Class of 2023

Realtor, Turnberg & Swallow Team, Coldwell Banker Realty: Age 36

Erica SwallowErica Swallow’s résumé confuses people because she has worked in journalism, high-tech, and, currently, real estate.

“I have a broad range of interests, but the string that connects them all is feeling rooted to what I’m working on,” she said.

In 2019, she decided to put down roots in Western Mass. because of the high cost of housing in the Boston area. As a remote worker for a Boston-area tech company, Swallow researched houses within a 90-minute driving distance from work and fell in love with Springfield’s Forest Park district.

“I was blown away by the historic homes and having the 735-acre Forest Park next door,” she said.

When her company pulled all its remote workers back to headquarters, Swallow chose to stay in Springfield. After helping her mom sell the family home in Arkansas, then buy one for her in West Virginia, Swallow knew she had her next career.

“I’ve always known real estate was a powerful way for families to build equity and generational wealth,” she said. “I thought if I could help other families, this is where I want to be.”

Though she launched her real-estate career in 2020, her sales production last year led to inclusion in the Coldwell Banker International Diamond Society, placing her among the top 10% of Coldwell Banker agents worldwide.

As president of the Springfield Preservation Trust, Swallow is excited about taking part in her first large-scale building-rehab project at 7-9 Stockbridge St., the third-oldest building in the city’s downtown.

“When I came here, I wanted to build off the history that Springfield has, and this is exactly the kind of project I was hoping for,” she said. Once complete, the trust office will occupy the ground floor and lease the upper floors.

Swallow appreciates how much her life has changed from the days of growing up in poverty, and shared that her personal mantra is a quote by 13th-century poet Rumi, who encouraged people to “live life as if everything is rigged in your favor.”

“When you live from a place of empowerment, anything is possible,” she said.

Swallow used to think that making meaningful change in the world could only happen at the national level, but has since had a change of heart.

“I’ve learned that change gets made when you get involved locally,” she said. “I’ve made more change in my life in Western Mass. than I feel I’ve made in my whole career, and I’m still writing this part.”

 

—Mark Morris

Ashley Tresoline

By Contributor
Ashley Tresoline
40 Under 40 Class of 2023

Owner, Bella Foodie: Age 39

Ashley Tresoline

Personal chef and food educator Ashley Tresoline lives her company’s motto: “healthy starts from the inside out.”

“The idea is to help people live their best lives by using food to be healthy,” she said. “We also teach kids and adults how to make healthy food taste good.”

Tresoline grew up eating a normal, healthy diet influenced by her Italian grandparents. Then, about 10 years ago, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). “That turned my life upside down,” she recalled.

As she became more ill, Tresoline learned to focus on her diet and what foods can help with MS as well as other conditions. She became educated about the combinations of grains and vegetables that can lessen digestive issues and how it even matters what types of spices we put in our food.

“I studied all this and learned how to use my diet to help me be healthy every day, so when things are bad for me, my body is already in a state of being healthy,” she said.

Using her degree in business management and marketing from Springfield College, Tresoline started Bella Foodie to share her knowledge with others.

“I help my clients live their best lives,” she said. “That can range from supporting them through a health problem or working with someone who wants to be healthier and make their body function at the highest level possible.”

She also brings her message of good health into the community through the Boys and Girls Club of West Springfield and Girls Inc. of the Valley. “I love teaching cooking classes to these kids, because they become so engaged.”

During the pandemic, when in-person sessions weren’t possible, Tresoline hosted classes and connected with clients over Zoom, which helped extend her reach. That reach went worldwide with Food for Life, a show she developed for e360tv, an online streaming network.

“The show is about all things health and wellness,” she explained. “Our guests range from local to international people who share their expertise on a wide range of topics that affect health, food, and everything in between.”

To emphasize the importance of what we eat, Tresoline discussed the example of the seemingly healthy person who suddenly dies.

“We’ve all heard the story of someone who was really active in sports who died of a heart attack,” she said. “Chances are they had a terrible diet. No matter how good you look on the outside, you still need to be healthy on the inside.”

 

—Mark Morris

Saluting the Region’s Rising Stars

By
Opinion

Editorial

 

Inspiring.

There are many adjectives one can use to describe the members of the 40 Under Forty class of 2023 and their many — and varied — accomplishments. But ‘inspiring’ probably works best, and for a reason.

This was one of the main motivations for BusinessWest to start this recognition program in 2007. The goal was not to simply identify 40 rising stars each spring, but to inspire others by telling their stories, which are all different, but similar in that they chronicle success in the honorees’ chosen fields, but also strong involvement in the community.

These stories are impressive, but it is our hope, and our expectation, that they will inspire others to want to follow suit.

Let’s look at a few of these stories so you can see what we mean:

There’s Ashley LeBlanc, who told BusinessWest that it seems strange to be happy when someone is diagnosed with lung cancer. But she is, in some ways, because that diagnosis, especially if it comes early, can be one that saves a life. And helping to save and prolong life has become a kind of unofficial job description for her as nurse practice manager of Thoracic Surgery and nursing director of the Lung Cancer Screening Program at Mercy Medical Center in Springfield.

There’s Dave Fontaine Jr., who has not only taken his family’s business, the construction firm Fontaine Bros. Inc., to new and much higher levels in terms of sales, staff, and even a ranking as one of the Boston Globe’s “Top Places to Work.” He has also become a serial entrepreneur of note as president of F2 Ventures, and taken his company and his family to a new level of involvement in the community. Indeed, collectively, they support everything from Link to Libraries to the Forest Park Zoo to the Sr. Mary Caritas Cancer Center.

There’s also Chelsea Russell, manager and CPA at Meyers Brothers Kalicka. She has quickly become a leader and mentor at the company, and has also developed its Community Outreach program, which coordinates drives, awareness campaigns, and services for organizations that include Square One, the United Way of Pioneer Valley, Christina’s House, Rachel’s Table, and many others.

There’s Andrew Brow, the restaurateur who has grown his portfolio to three eateries in Western Mass. — HighBrow Woodfired Kitchen and Bar, the Kitchen by HighBrow at White Lion Brewing Co., and Jackalope Restaurant — while also becoming quite active in the community, serving on boards at Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School and Holyoke Community College, and using his talents in the kitchen to support a number of area nonprofits.

Then there’s Delmarina Lopez, who started a career in law and still uses her legal talents to help small business owners as a consultant. But she wanted to do something more meaningful with her time and energy, so she ran for, and won, a seat on Chicopee’s City Council as its Ward 3 representative.

There are 35 more stories like this, starting on page A8. Each is one is different, inspiring, and uplifting.

This is what we had in mind 16 years ago when we took an idea — to shine a bright light on the young talent in this region — and made it reality.

Like the 680 stories we’ve told, including the 40 this year, this program, and the way it has inspired others, is something worth celebrating.

 

Holyoke Community College, Western New England University Sign Joint Admissions Pact

By
Daily News

HOLYOKE — Western New England University (WNE) and Holyoke Community College (HCC) signed a joint admissions agreement this week intended to strengthen existing academic and student-support partnerships and facilitate an easier transfer pathway from HCC to WNE.

Representatives from the two colleges gathered at the Kittredge Center for Business and Workforce Development at HCC, where HCC President Christina Royal and WNE Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs Maria Toyoda put pen to paper.

“We’re really grateful to be able to expand our partnership with Western New England University and to be able to continue to strengthen the opportunities for students who want to start at HCC and transfer to Western New England,” HCC President Christina Royal said. “Students experience such a nurturing atmosphere here at HCC, and we are so grateful that Western New England recognizes that and helps to create a supportive environment for transfer students as they embark on their next level of education.”

The joint admissions program will serve as a guideline to simplify the transfer process for eligible HCC students to WNE after they complete their associate degrees and meet other conditions.

“I would echo the comments made by President Royal,” Toyoda said. “We are so proud to be collaborators and partners with an institution that believes as strongly as we do in preparing our students for the future of work. I also want to take the opportunity to recognize the faculty of both HCC and Western New England University, as well as the admissions staff and the advisors who make this possible and who put students’ success at the center of everything that they do.”

According to the agreement, students will be informed about the opportunity to participate in the joint admissions program when they apply to HCC. To qualify, students must earn a minimum cumulative 2.5 GPA and at least a C- or better in their major coursework, and complete their associate degree.

Students who satisfy the requirements are then eligible for several benefits, including guaranteed acceptance and junior status at WNE upon matriculation with an associate degree, 60 transfer credits, and waiver of the WNE general university requirements for students completing their associate degree and what’s known as the Mass Transfer General Education Foundation Block. Students seeking joint admission into specialized programs, including but not limited to business, engineering, computer science, chemistry, and biology, must satisfy all program requirements and earn the minimum cumulative GPA established for those programs.

Meredith-Springfield President Honored by Hampden County Sheriff’s Department

By
Daily News

LUDLOW — Meredith-Springfield Associates Inc., a plastics manufacturer specializing in bottles and hollow technical articles manufactured through extrusion blow molding and injection stretch blow molding, announced that President and CEO Mel O’Leary Jr. was honored on April 13 for his two decades as a second-chance employer as part of the Hampden County Sheriff’s Office’s All-Inclusive Support Services (AISS).

The award was presented by Hampden County Sheriff Nicholas Cocchi during the 24th annual AISS graduation ceremony at the Cedars in Springfield.

“I sincerely appreciate this honor, but what’s more important to me is the impact this program has on so many lives,” O’Leary said. “It doesn’t just benefit ex-offenders, but also their families and communities. People make mistakes, and giving them a chance to turn their lives around is very important to me. We’re proud to have helped hundreds of formerly incarcerated people transition back into the community with gainful employment.”

AISS helps formerly incarcerated people in all aspects of their lives as they move from incarceration into the community. In addition to educational and employment support, it offers a comprehensive range of services, such as parenting groups, assistance accessing housing and food benefits, behavioral-health and addiction-recovery services, and support groups. In 2019, Cocchi opened AISS to anyone in the community in addition to the justice-involved population.

“Our community partners, like Meredith-Springfield Associates Inc., are a crucial piece of the puzzle when it comes to empowering our formerly justice-involved people to create a life free from the elements that brought them to us in the first place,” Cocchi said. “Viable employment in an environment where management understands the human situation is one of the cornerstones of a successful path forward. We wouldn’t have one of the lowest recidivism rates in the nation without people like Mel believing in us and the people we work to help.”

O’Leary recalled that, when the opportunity to become a second-chance employer was first presented to him 20 years ago, he had to be convinced — but he’s glad he was. “We typically have a couple of people on each shift as part of the program,” he said. “Some are with us for six to eight months, but we’ve had others who have stayed with us for years and become valued members of our management team.”

O’Leary has spoken about the success of the program at Meredith-Springfield with other business leaders who are considering becoming second-chance employers, both locally and in other states. He was also interviewed, along with one of his employees who was in the re-entry program, for a recent episode of The Hustler Files podcast on WHMP.

Helix Human Services’ Taste of Margarita Event Returns on May 5

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Helix Human Services, formerly the Children’s Study Home, is bringing back by popular demand its annual Taste of Margarita event. The fifth annual Taste of Margarita will be held on Friday, May 5 at the Glass Room at Elegant Affairs in Springfield from 5 to 7:30 p.m.

Margarita samples from a variety of local restaurants, bars, and businesses will be offered to all guests. Attendees will have a chance to vote for their favorite margarita. Votes will be counted, and at the end of the night, “The Best Margarita in the Pioneer Valley” will be awarded.

“I’m excited that we are bringing back this very popular event and looking forward to a fun night with our agency friends, community partners, and supporters, while we raise money to support the children and families we serve,” said Yamilca Nogue, chief Development officer at Helix Human Services. “This is an event you will not want to miss; there will be live music, prizes, raffles, and more. Sponsorship opportunities are still available for anyone who may be interested.”

All proceeds will support children and families served by Helix Human Services throughout the Berkshires, Greater Springfield, and Cape Cod regions enrolled in its residential, educational, or community-based services.

Event sponsors of this year’s Taste of Margarita event include PeoplesBank. To sponsor, register, attend, or donate to the cause, visit helixhumanservices.org or contact Yamilca Nogue at (413) 636-3085 or [email protected].

Cooley Dickinson Hospital Receives $450,000 Grant for Alzheimer’s Services

By
Daily News

NORTHAMPTON — Cooley Dickinson Hospital has a received a $450,000 grant from the Eisenberg Family Trust to provide free services to older adults with Alzheimer’s disease and the family members who care for them.

The grant funds the Pioneer Valley Memory Care Initiative (PVMCI), a collaborative program that empowers older adults with dementia to improve their quality of life through personalized support in coordination with their medical care.

“We are extremely grateful and excited that the Eisenberg Family Trust is again supporting PVMCI,” said Dr. Rebecca Starr, director of Geriatrics at Cooley Dickinson and supervising geriatrician for PVMCI. “Alzheimer’s is a complex diagnosis that takes a huge toll on both patients and their families. The Eisenberg Family Trust’s grant allows us to provide services that too often fall through the cracks, but are critical for maintaining well-being.”

PVMCI was founded in 2020 with the support of the Eisenberg Family Trust. Over the past three years, the program has provided personalized services to nearly 200 patients with dementia and their family members. It has also hosted family support groups and educational programming, facilitated training for volunteers at partnering organizations, and convened local nonprofits to coordinate services. All these activities were made possible through the Eisenberg Family Trust’s grant funding and in part by a grant from Highland Valley Elder Services through funding under the Federal Older Americans Act. With the renewed grant funding from the Eisenberg Family Trust, PVMCI can deepen support for patients with Alzheimer’s and their families.

“The impact is incredible,” Starr said. “We hear from families every day about how important our support is for making their daily lives better.”

Click here to learn more about the Pioneer Valley Memory Care Initiative. To donate to support this free program, call the Development office at (413) 582-2256 or make a gift online by visiting www.cooleydickinson.org/givenow, selecting ‘Other’ for your designation, and writing in ‘PVMCI.’

Recognizing the Need to Compete

By
Opinion

Opinion

 

Amid some very concerning trends on outmigration — more than 110,000 people have left the Bay State for … well, somewhere else since early 2020 — Massachusetts House leaders have unveiled a tax-relief plan they believe will improve the state’s overall competitiveness.

The plan, which echoes much of what Gov. Maura Healey proposed in her own tax plan, would, among other things:

• Raise the estate-tax threshold from $1 million to $2 million and tax only the value of an estate that exceeds $2 million, and not the entire estate, as the law currently requires;

• Cut the rate on short-term capital gains from 12% to 5% in two years. During the first year, short-term capital gains would be taxed at 8%;

• Change how state corporate taxes are calculated to what is known as the ‘single sales factor,’ to line up with how most states tax companies now;

• Expand tax credits for seniors and renters; and

• Combine two existing tax credits — childcare and dependent care — to create one $600 credit per dependent, while eliminating the current cap.

The Senate has yet to release its tax plan, and there will be considerable debate before one plan — if there is one — eventually emerges.

But the House plan is cause for optimism in the Bay State. It shows that the chamber’s leaders get it when it comes to outmigration and the many ways in which this ongoing exodus is impacting the state and its business community.

This plan recognizes the need for Massachusetts to be able to compete for talent and then retain it, whether the employer is MassMutual, the University of Massachusetts, or even the New England Patriots.

The outmigration, as we’ve noted many times before, is a strong indicator that this state has become too expensive, both for individuals and the corporations that hire them.

There are many factors that go into this equation, including the skyrocketing cost of living, especiallly when it comes to housing. This is a problem that was many years in the making, and it will take many more years, and strong efforts to create more housing worthy of that adjective ‘affordable,’ before we can see any kind of relief.

But there are things this state can and should do now, such as raising the estate-tax threshold and cutting the rates on short-term capital gains, that can have more immediate results when it comes to making the state more competitive.

It is time to stem the tide, and this proposal is a step in that direction.

Holyoke Community College Trustees Choose George Timmons as Next President

By
Daily News
George Timmons

George Timmons

HOLYOKE — Calling him “creative,” “innovative,” and a “strong leader” who would be an “excellent ambassador for the college,” the Holyoke Community College (HCC) board of trustees voted in favor of George Timmons as the next president of HCC.

Timmons is now provost and senior vice president of Academic and Student Affairs at Columbia Greene Community College in Hudson, N.Y.

Robert Gilbert, chair of the HCC board of trustees, said Timmons is expected to start his term as HCC’s fifth president the last week of June, pending approval from the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education on May 9.

“We’re excited to have voted Dr. George Timmons as the fifth president of Holyoke Community College,” Gilbert said. “We’re looking forward to his leadership, his work with the entire community, and his ability to lead this institution for the success of the students, faculty, and staff.”

During deliberations, trustees noted that the strength of all four finalists for president made the exercise of of choosing difficult.

Besides Timmons, the other finalists were Noemí Custodia-Lora, vice president of the Lawrence Campus and Community Relations at Northern Essex Community College in Massachusetts; Tony Hawkins, former provost and vice president of Academic Affairs, Continuing Education, and Workforce Development at Frederick Community College in Maryland; and Arlene Rodríguez, provost and vice president of Academic and Student Affairs at Middlesex Community College in Massachusetts.

Each of the four finalists visited HCC earlier this month for a day and a half of tours, open forums, presentations, and interviews.

“I have struggled because each brings their own unique talents and skills,” trustee Vanessa Smith said, “but the one who embodies the whole package for me is Dr. George Timmons.”

After initially failing to reach a majority, the board ultimately voted for Timmons by a margin of 6-2-2. A third, ceremonial vote was unanimous.

“We had four very diverse candidates, but the candidate I could envision leading HCC is George Timmons,” trustee Yolanda Johnson said. “He is a leader who could build on what has already been accomplished under President Royal. He is well-prepared to build on that foundation, and he has a story that could resonate with our Black and Brown students and move the needle on enrollment.”

Smith recalled something Timmons said during one of his interviews that really sealed her choice: if approved as the next HCC president, he said, “I will be in and of this community.”

In August, Royal, who has been with HCC since January 2017, announced that she would retire after the 2022-23 academic year. Her last day will be July 14. Her last three weeks will overlap with Timmons’ first three at HCC.

“I’m thrilled that the process was inclusive of all voices in our community and that our board of trustees really took the feedback and the perspectives of all our constituency groups — faculty, staff, students, community — into consideration while deliberating,” Royal said, “and now I’m excited to be able to start the transition and prepare Dr. Timmons for serving as the fifth president to help set him up for success as he leads HCC into the future.”

Timmons, 61, holds a Ph.D. in higher-education administration from Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio; a master’s degree in higher education from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va., and a bachelor’s degree in financial management from Norfolk State University, also in Norfolk, Va.

He has held his position as provost and senior vice president of Academic and Student Affairs at Columbia-Greene Community College since 2019. Before that, he worked at Excelsior College in Albany, N.Y., where he held a number of administrative positions culminating with dean of the School of Liberal Arts.

Study Finds COVID Led to Significant Declines in Massachusetts School Enrollments

By
Daily News

BOSTON — After a decade of relative stability, COVID has wreaked havoc with Massachusetts public-school enrollments, and the U.S. Department of Education projects more declines by 2030, according to a new study published by the Pioneer Institute.

The figures should serve as a warning to vulnerable districts that they must be prepared for the financial, staffing, and facilities impacts that may accompany substantial drops in public-school enrollments.

“COVID triggered a significant enrollment drop, and most of those students haven’t returned to public schools. Declines are likely to continue through the current decade,” said Ken Ardon, author of “Enrollment in Massachusetts Public Schools, COVID and Beyond.”

Previous Pioneer reports in 2008 and 2012 found that statewide public-school enrollment fell by 35,000 students over a decade, or about 0.5% per year, with the biggest declines in Western Mass. and Cape Cod.

Between 2010 and 2019, overall state enrollment was stable, although 68 cities and towns lost more than 20% of their students and 33 saw enrollment rise by more than 10%.

Patterns were more difficult to deduce during the 2010-19 period. Small districts were slightly more likely to lose students, while growth was more generally found in the Boston area and on Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard.

COVID put an end to the relative stability. Between October 2019 and October 2020, statewide public-school enrollment fell by 31,000, or 3.3%. It declined by another 0.4% in the following year, and increased by just 2,200 students, or 0.2%, between October 2021 and October 2022. It’s clear that most of those who left have not returned.

The decline was largest among the youngest students; pre-K enrollment dropped by one-third, and kindergarten enrollment fell by 12%. White enrollment fell at three times the rate of non-white students. Pre-K and kindergarten enrollment has rebounded, but the decline is now beginning to make its way through middle grades. It’s not clear what happened to the students who left public schools during the pandemic, but there is some evidence that most of them switched to home schooling.

The U.S. Department of Education projects that K-12 public education enrollment in Massachusetts will shrink by 40,000, or 4.5%, by 2030. The data suggest that enrollment declines may be steeper in Western Mass. Construction of new housing or changes in migration could prevent some of the declines, but vulnerable school districts should be prepared for substantial drops.

Click here to read the full report.

Chicopee Industrial Contractors Promotes Deborah Dart to Vice President of Operations

By
Daily News

CHICOPEE — Carol Campbell, president and CEO of Chicopee Industrial Contractors (CIC), announced the promotion of Deborah Dart to vice president of Operations.

Dart started her career at CIC as a work-study student at Chicopee High School and has held many roles with the company. Her responsibilities include overseeing day-to-day operations and scheduling.

Chicopee Industrial Contractors is a leader in relocation service and machinery installations, celebrating more than 30 years in business.

Women’s Summit to Feature Inspiring Talk by TommyCar Owner Carla Cosenzi

By
Daily News

NORTHAMPTON — Carla Cosenzi, owner of TommyCar Auto Group, has been invited to speak at the upcoming Women in Business (WIB) Summit in Springfield. The summit will take place this Friday, April 28, and is expected to attract hundreds of women from various industries.

As a successful entrepreneur, Cosenzi will share her experiences and insights on how to start and grow a business. She will also discuss the challenges and opportunities for women in a male-dominated field.

“I am honored to be invited to speak at the Women’s Summit,” Cosenzi said. “I believe that it is important for women to support and inspire each other, especially in male-dominated industries. I hope to motivate and empower the attendees to pursue their dreams and achieve their goals.”

The Women’s Summit is a platform for women to network, learn, and share their experiences. It brings together women from diverse backgrounds and industries, providing them with an opportunity to connect and collaborate.

It’s Time to Nominate an Individual for the Alumni Achievement Award

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — When BusinessWest launched its 40 Under Forty program in 2007, it did so to identify rising stars across our region — individuals who were excelling in business and through involvement within the community — and celebrate their accomplishments.

In 2015, BusinessWest announced a new award, one that builds on the foundation upon which 40 Under Forty was created. Called the Alumni Achievement Award, it is presented to the 40 Under Forty honoree who, in the eyes of an independent panel of judges, has most impressively continued and built upon his or her track record of accomplishment. The presenting sponsor of the 2023 Alumni Achievement Award is Health New England.

Past winners include: 2022: Anthony Gleason II, president and co-founder of the Gleason Johndrow Companies (40 Under Forty class of 2010); 2021: Anthony Gulluni, Hampden County district attorney (class of 2015); 2020: Carla Cosenzi, president, TommyCar Auto Group (class of 2012), and Peter DePergola, director of Clinical Ethics, Baystate Health (class of 2015); 2019: Cinda Jones, president, W.D. Cowls Inc. (class of 2007); 2018: Samalid Hogan, regional director, Massachusetts Small Business Development Center (class of 2013); 2017: Scott Foster, attorney, Bulkley Richardson (class of 2011), and Nicole Griffin, owner, ManeHire (class of 2014); 2016: Dr. Jonathan Bayuk, president, Allergy & Immunology Associates of New England (class of 2008); and 2015: Delcie Bean, president, Paragus Strategic IT (class of 2008).

Click here to nominate someone for this award. Only nominations submitted to BusinessWest on this form will be considered. The deadline is Wednesday, May 10 at 5 p.m., no exceptions. The 2023 honoree will be announced at the 40 Under Forty gala on Thursday, June 15.

Candidates must be from 40 Under Forty classes prior to the year of the award — in this case, classes 2007 to 2022. For your convenience, a list of 40 Under Forty alumni can be found by clicking here and scrolling to the bottom.

Picture This

By
Picture This

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

 

Future of Journalism

Bay Path’s student digital newsroom and online student publication, Network News, hosted three area media professionals during Academic Achievement Day on April 11. The discussion highlighted the state of journalism and the future of a digital world filled with artificial intelligence, social media, and new technology.

Pictured, from left: Kaylah Sheppard, Network News reporter; Janine Fondon, assistant professor and chair of Undergraduate Communications at Bay Path; George O’Brien, editor and associate publisher of BusinessWest; Julia Deridder, 2022-23 Network News editor, Rebecca Wehner, 2023-24 Network News editor; Aprell May Munford, reporter at the Republican; and Vanessa Pabón-Hernandez, senior director of Education & Community Engagement at New England Public Media.

 

 

That’s Entertainment

After being shuttered by the pandemic for more than three years, the STCC College Theater Workshop has returned to Springfield Technical Community College, which will host free performances of six 10-minute plays on Thursday, May 4 at 11 a.m., Friday, May 5 at 7 p.m.; and Saturday, May 6 at 7 p.m. at Scibelli Theater in Building 2. “Laughing for All the Wrong Reasons: A Night of Dark Comedy” is free, but donations to the STCC College Theater Workshop will be accepted.

Pictured: Lauren Tracy and Malissa Boone rehearse a scene for the upcoming production.

 

Ignite!

Bay Path University staged its 26th annual Women’s Leadership Conference (WLC) in April at the MassMutual Center. The more than 1,500 attendees at the event, which had the theme ‘Ignite,’ heard from several keynoters and could take in a number of breakout sessions.

Springfield Health and Human Services Commissioner Helen Caulton-Harris (left), Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, and Bay Path President Sandra Doran

 

Robin Roberts, Good Morning America co-anchor, was the closing keynoter and was interviewed by Doran

 

MassMutual employee and Springfield native Victoria Ann Rodriguez was emcee for the event

 

Employees at MassMutual (a WLC sponsor) gather for a group photo at the conference

 

 

 

 

Agenda

By
Agenda

Massachusetts Undergraduate Research Conference

April 28: Organizers for the 2023 Massachusetts Undergraduate Research Conference (MassURC) announced that Christina Royal, president of Holyoke Community College (HCC), will be the keynote speaker at the conference. The keynote is titled “Hacking Ourselves: Learning, Unlearning, and Relearning” and will examine the concept of unlearning, discuss its relevance to learning through a research-based lens, and challenge students to think differently about their approach to life and educational journey. The 2023 conference will be entirely virtual. Royal’s keynote will be presented virtually from 10:15 to 11:15 a.m. on the conference day, with options for the public to view it through the MassURC website. The MassURC is a one-day conference at which undergraduate students from the 28 public colleges and universities within the Commonwealth present research, share knowledge, and learn from fellow students. The conference serves to broaden attendees’ understanding of research, showcasing investigations in more than 60 subject areas, including biochemistry, history, architecture, marketing, fine art, and sociology. Visit www.umass.edu/honors/massurc for more information and to register.

 

Pioneer Valley Conference for Women

May 4: The Pioneer Valley Conference for Women will host its first in-person event at the Marriott in downtown Springfield. The theme of the conference is “Let Go.” Leading the speaker lineup are Paulette Piñero, social entrepreneur, writer, and leadership coach, and Yvonne Williams, author of Tested Faith and It’s All About the Shoes. Each will provide a keynote address to an expected audience of more than 300 attendees. The conference highlights topics that were chosen by the women of Western Mass., based on current trends and interests. Alison Maloni, owner of Alison May Public Relations, news anchor for a national network, and bestselling author of Breaking in the News: Build Buzz for Your Brand, will emcee the conference. Local comedian Jess Miller will entertain attendees during a VIP Comedy Kick-off the evening before the conference; tickets cost $35. The cost to attend the Pioneer Valley Conference is $52, which includes breakfast, lunch, a swag bag, and an afternoon celebration with a female DJ and complementary wine and hors d’oeuvres following the full-day conference. The lunch sponsor is M&T Bank. The panel sponsor is Westfield Bank. The network sponsors are Smith Executive Education and USI Insurance. The small-business sponsors are Lovelace Design and Rooted Flowers. Keeping with the goal of accessibility, the conference will also be available virtually for those who are more comfortable watching through a screen. Sessions will be taped for future viewing. For more information on keynote speakers, sponsors, exhibitors, and panelists, visit sheslocal.org/pioneer-valley-conference-for-women.

 

Sundae Funday 5K and Family Fun Fest

May 6: Marianna Litovich, founder and executive director of All Our Kids Inc., announced the organization’s third annual Sundae Funday 5K and Family Fun Fest will take place on from 9 a.m. to noon at Stanley Park in Westfield. The event will kick off with a 5K run/walk and simultaneous family festival that is open to the public. Families can enjoy games, crafts, prizes, food, community information, and lots of entertainment. “This event helps All Our Kids raise awareness, celebrate foster and adoptive families, bring our community together, and have fun,” Litovich said. Anyone interested in registering to run or walk the 5K or sponsor this nonprofit fundraiser can visit fosteringaok.org/aok5k.

 

Whip City Animal Sanctuary Golf Tournament Fundraiser

May 13: Whip City Animal Sanctuary will host its third annual golf tournament fundraiser at St Anne Country Club, 781 Shoemaker Lane, Feeding Hills. The tournament starts at 12:30 p.m., with dinner following at 5:30 p.m. There will be contests, raffle prizes, a free T-shirt for the first 52 players, and a cash bar. The registration fee is $125 per player and includes a cart and dinner following the tournament. Additional details and forms can be found at whipcityanimalsanctuary.com or the sanctuary’s Facebook page, or by emailing Sonia Henderson at [email protected]. Whip City Animal Sanctuary is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides a caring, safe, long-term home for abandoned, rescued, and surrendered farm animals.

 

Mother’s Day Brunch, Concert

May 14: Judd’s Restaurant at Gateway City Arts has a full schedule of events planned for Mother’s Day, beginning with its Sunday brunch, served from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Following brunch at 2 p.m. will be a benefit concert for Safe Passage, featuring “Fantasie for Flute and Piano,” performed by Mosaic, the flute/piano duo of Sue Kurian and Meg Kelsey Wright. The concert, which is free and open to the public, will feature a kaleidoscope of unusual pieces: two fantasies by Gabriel Fauré and Albert Franz Doppler; two tangos by Astor Piazzolla and Brazilian composer Ernesto Nazareth; a folk-like, jazzy theme and variation by New Hampshire composer Gwyneth Walker; a haunting nocturne for alto flute and piano by Norwegian composer Johan Kvandal; and flute and piano solos by Arthur Honegger and Clara Schumann. The concert is part of the classical-music series at Gateway City Arts sponsored by GLC, the venue’s nonprofit arm. Donations for Safe Passage will be accepted at the door. Safe Passage provides survivors with the support and information to keep themselves and their children safe and to rebuild their lives in the wake of domestic violence. Learn more at safepass.org. Visit tableagent.com/springfield/judds-restaurant to make Mother’s Day brunch reservations.

 

40 Under Forty

June 15: BusinessWest will host the annual 40 Under Forty Gala at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House in Holyoke. One of the most anticipated events of the year, the gala will celebrate the class of 2023, which is announced and profiled in this issue of BusinessWest and at businesswest.com. The gala will feature a VIP hour for the honorees and sponsors, networking, the presentation of the Alumni Achievement Award, and introduction of members of the class of 2023. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit businesswest.com. This year’s 40 Under Forty presenting sponsor is PeoplesBank, and the 40 Under Forty Alumni Achievement Award presenting sponsor is Health New England. Partner sponsors include Comcast Business, Live Nation, the Markens Group, MGM Springfield, Mercedes-Benz of Springfield, the UMass Amherst Isenberg School of Management, and Webber & Grinnell Insurance.

 

Hooplandia

June 23-25: Registration for Hooplandia, a 3×3 basketball tournament and festival, is now open at www.hooplandia.com and includes levels of play for all ages and divisions. The tournament, presented by the Eastern States Exposition (ESE) and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, will take place on the grounds of ESE in West Springfield June 23-25, with special games at the Hall of Fame in Springfield. The event is expected to attract thousands of fans and players as hundreds of games take place across more than 70 courts. Divisions of play have been created to provide an all-inclusive environment for players of all ages and playing abilities. With brackets that include veterans, first responders, youth, wheelchair athletes, college elites, and many more, there’s a spot on the court for everyone. Players are invited to build teams of four, create their own unique team name and uniforms, and register at www.hooplandia.com. Team fees range from $75 to $190, with children under 8 and participants in the Special Olympics category being free of charge. Hooplandia has teamed up with Boys and Girls Clubs throughout the region as its designated philanthropic partner, providing $10 from every team registration to support the mission and programs of the clubs. Partnership opportunities for Hooplandia are available at a variety of levels to help underwrite all areas of play, including Boys & Girls Club youth, active military, veterans divisions, and more. Anyone interested should email [email protected]. Hooplandia welcomes participation from youth team referees, scorekeepers, Fan Village contest facilitators, and volunteers for myriad duties to help make this inaugural year a success. Those interested in participating in this groundbreaking event can fill out the volunteer form at www.hooplandia.com.

 

MOSSO Concert

July 23: MOSSO (Musicians of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra) will make its Sevenars Concerts debut in Worthington at 4 p.m. MOSSO and Friends, which opened the Westfield Athenaeum series, features violinist Beth Welty, horn player Sarah Sutherland, and pianist Elizabeth Skavish. They will perform Frédéric Duvernoy’s Trio No. 1 for Violin, Horn, and Piano; Trygve Madsen’s Trio, Op. 110 for Violin, Horn, and Piano; and Johannes Brahms’ Trio in E-flat Major for Violin, Horn, and Piano. Sevenars performances are held at the Academy, South Ireland Street and Route 112, South Worthington. There is no charge for admission to the performance, and no tickets are needed, although donations at the door are welcome ($20 or more per person is suggested to help defray expenses). For program details and information on Sevenars, visit www.sevenars.org.

People on the Move

By
People on the Move
Steven Musso

Steven Musso

Country Bank President and CEO Paul Scully announced the appointment of Steven Musso to the bank’s board of trustees at its annual meeting. Musso joins the board with more than 30 years of experience in the banking industry. He previously served as the chief operating officer for FinPro Inc., leading consulting engagements, running the consulting operation, and building the technology division. He has extensive experience working with banks on strategic planning, interest-rate risk analysis, and other consulting and advisory services. In addition, he has worked with various bank boards and management teams in financial institutions across the country. He holds Series 63 and 79 financial-securities licenses. Country Bank also appointed new corporators: Mary McGovern, executive vice president, chief financial and operating officer; G. Thomas Wolcott, first senior vice president, commercial banking; Dawn Fleury, first senior vice president, chief risk officer; Miriam Siegel, first senior vice president, chief culture and development officer; and Musso.

•••••

Emily Tower

Emily Tower

Florence Bank promoted Emily Tower to the position of vice president and branch manager of the bank’s main office in Florence. Prior to her promotion, she was the assistant vice president and branch manager in the Florence branch. A graduate of the New England School of Financial Studies, Tower brings more than 15 years of banking experience to her role. She has been with Florence Bank since 2006 and has worked in the Belchertown and West Springfield offices as well.

•••••

Eric Lesser

Eric Lesser

Bay Path University announced that Eric Lesser — attorney, educator, and former four-term state senator — has been elected to its board of trustees. Lesser was one of the original members of President Obama’s White House team. From January 2009 to July 2011, he served as special assistant to the president’s senior advisor, David Axelrod. Later, he served as the Council of Economic Advisers’ director of Strategic Planning. In 2014, Lesser was elected to the Massachusetts State Senate, representing the First Hampden and Hampshire district. As a state senator, Lesser led and served on numerous committees and commissions. He chaired the Joint Committee on Economic Development & Emerging Technologies; the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts, and Cultural Development, and the Senate Committee on Ethics. He also was vice chair of the Joint Committee on Transportation and co-chaired the Massachusetts Commission on the Future of Work. Among his many priorities, he was a key proponent of east-west rail, a leading advocate for civics education, a champion for alleviating student debt, and a national leader on the future of work. Lesser is currently a senior counsel at WilmerHale, a Boston-based law firm, where he is a member of the Public Policy and Regulatory Affairs Group. He earned his juris doctorate from Harvard Law School in 2015 and his bachelor’s degree from Harvard College in 2007.

•••••

Dr. Sarah Haessler

Dr. Sarah Haessler

Dr. Sarah Haessler, whose expertise in infectious diseases has been recognized at the local, state, national, and international levels, has been named chair of the Department of Medicine for Baystate Health. Haessler, who has served as interim chair of the Department of Medicine at Baystate since 2022, was appointed chair after a highly competitive national search. She is the inaugural female chair of Baystate Health’s largest clinical/academic department. Her tenure begins immediately. She received her medical degree from George Washington University School of Medicine and completed a residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in infectious diseases at Dartmouth Hitchcock in New Hampshire. She is board-certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in internal medicine and infectious diseases. Haessler joined Baystate Health in 2005 and since that time has held progressive leadership roles, including as the hospital epidemiologist for the health system, vice chair of the Department of Medicine, interim chief of the Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Care, and most recently interim chair of the Department of Medicine. Active in the field of academics and research, Haessler has trained and served as advisor and mentor for dozens of residents and fellows in the specialty of infectious diseases. She is currently an associate professor of Medicine at UMass Chan Medical School – Baystate. Since 2002, as either principal or co-investigator, she has completed numerous research projects and is currently co-investigator in Reducing Antimicrobial Overuse Through Targeted Therapy for Patients with Community-acquired Pneumonia.

•••••

City of Greenfield Community and Economic Development Director MJ Adams announced her intention to retire from city service, effective May 6. Adams played pivotal roles in advancing downtown revitalization efforts, coordinating stakeholder and state assistance in creating an expansion of the I-91 Greenfield Industrial Park, helping local businesses navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, and brokering the agreement to redevelop the former Wilson’s Department Store building. Adams joined city government in December 2015 as Community Development administrator and was promoted to Community and Economic Development director in September 2018. Her prior experience includes positions with the Franklin County Regional Housing and Redevelopment Authority and the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, and as executive director of Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity. The city will launch a search in the coming weeks for a new Community and Economic Development director. Adams has agreed to remain available during the transition process.

•••••

Daniel Coyne

Daniel Coyne

Barbara Fontaine

Barbara Fontaine

River Valley Counseling Center (RVCC) recently welcomed Daniel Coyne and Barbara Fontaine to its board of directors. Coyne is a certified addictions registered nurse with more than 10 years of experience in behavioral-health treatment. He served as director of Nursing at Swift River addiction campuses, and more recently as the director of Utilization Review on the quality team of Vertava Health. He holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from UMass, a bachelor of arts degree from Middlebury College, and a master of fine arts degree from the University of Florida. Fontaine is a certified alcohol/drug-abuse counselor with more than 15 years of counseling experience. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English and creative writing from San Francisco State University and completed the Alcohol and Chemical Dependency Treatment Services Program at Boston University in 2007. She started her career in substance-abuse treatment at Gosnold on Cape Cod and also worked at Habit OpCo in South Yarmouth. She has worked at Swift River in Cummington since 2016.

Company Notebook

By
Uncategorized

UMass Amherst Awarded $15 Million to Lead Regional Transportation Center

AMHERST — UMass Amherst will lead the New England Region 1 consortium — one of 10 regional university transportation centers (UTCs) — for the U.S. Department of Transportation under a five-year, $15 million grant. The goal of the centers is to advance state-of-the-art transportation research, technology, and safety. The colleges and universities comprising New England’s Region 1 consortium led by UMass Amherst include the University of Connecticut, MIT, the University of Maine, the University of New Hampshire, the University of Rhode Island, and Norwich University, as well as Bunker Hill and Holyoke community colleges. The UTC program has been congressionally mandated since 1987, and each consortium includes two- and four-year colleges and universities that form a unique center of transportation excellence on a specific research topic. There are five national centers, 20 Tier 1 centers, and 10 regional centers in the U.S. President Biden’s infrastructure package included $90 million in funding per year for the competitively selected UTC program grants. The DOT received 230 grant applications, which represents the largest number of applications ever submitted in the 35-year history of the UTC program.

 

AIC Launches Graduate Criminal Justice Program

SPRINGFIELD — Law-enforcement professionals looking to further their education can now get a master of science degree in criminal justice through American International College (AIC). The fully online program is designed to appeal to criminal-justice professionals looking to enhance their skills and credentials, as well as provide the next step for students completing their undergraduate degrees at AIC. The program is now accepting students for the summer 2023 semester, which starts Monday, May 22. The MS in criminal justice provides specialized knowledge of public policy, organizational management, and administrative processes, along with advanced graduate leadership and research training. In addition to foundational theories of criminology and criminal justice, students will explore policy design and implementation alongside emerging trends in the field. The program will provide the skills, knowledge, and practical experience needed to protect and serve the public through a wide range of careers, enabling students to develop as ethical and skilled decision makers in the various branches of criminal justice. The program offers students specializations including social justice and public policy, victim studies, executive leadership, homeland security, and intelligence studies. These specializations allow students to focus on an area of interest unique to their career goals. They can also serve as stand-alone certificates for those interested in enhancing their educational goals and learning activities that overlap across disciplines but remain connected by a single shared subject.

 

Hooplandia Partners with Local Boys & Girls Clubs

SPRINGFIELD — Hooplandia, a 3-on-3 basketball tournament and festival making its debut at the Eastern States Exposition (ESE) in June, announced on Thursday that its philanthropic partner will be Boys & Girls Clubs throughout Western Mass. Hooplandia takes place June 23-25 and will be hosted by the Eastern States Exposition and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Games will take place across more than 70 courts at ESE, and showcase games will be held at the Hall of Fame. As a community-forward, all-inclusive event, Hooplandia has vowed to donate $10 of every team registration to local Boys & Girls Clubs in support of the program’s mission and enrichment of the region’s youths. Additionally, Hooplandia has begun a partnership program with regional businesses to underwrite the cost of team registrations for young players from clubs throughout the region. Boys & Girls Clubs of America provide a fun, safe, and constructive environment for kids and teens during after-school hours. Community-based and led by professional staff, these programs offer students opportunities that allow them to succeed in school, develop leadership skills, and maintain healthy lifestyles.

 

LightHouse Holyoke Celebrates Transformational Youth Outcomes

HOLYOKE — LightHouse Holyoke, Personalized Education for Teens, recently celebrated its annual Raise Your Glass event at Mill One at Open Square in Holyoke. LightHouse is a personalized middle- and high-school alternative now in its eighth year in downtown Holyoke. LightHouse maintains an innovative collaboration with Holyoke Public Schools through Opportunity Academy, where students earn credit toward a Holyoke High School diploma in a program modeled after University Without Walls at UMass Amherst. The partnership allows a limited number of Holyoke Public School students to attend LightHouse along with privately enrolled students. LightHouse is accredited through the New England Assoc. of Schools and Colleges. At the annual Raise Your Glass event, speakers included musician, performer, and LightHouse graduate Nehemiah Caradwyn; Liam Russell, a current privately enrolled student and graduating senior; and Damasco Santiago, father of Jhaydon Santiago, also graduating this year, who is enrolled through the LightHouse partnership with Holyoke Public Schools.

 

Citizens Gives Nonprofits $397,000 in Financial-empowerment Grants

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Fifteen nonprofit organizations in Massachusetts will receive a total of $397,000 from Citizens through the bank’s Citizens Helping Citizens Manage Money program. The initiative helps strengthen communities by supporting programs, through direct funding as well as volunteerism, that give people the resources they need to be financially healthy and inspire them to pursue their goals. The announcement comes during Financial Literacy Month, a nationally recognized campaign that raises awareness of the need for more financial-literacy education. Through Citizens Helping Citizens Manage Money, the bank will provide $2 million in contributions to 150 nonprofits across the communities it serves. This years’ recipients in Massachusetts include two in Western Mass.: Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts and Way Finders Inc. Other recipients include ACT Lawrence Inc., Camp Harbor View Foundation Inc., Centro de Apoyo Familiar, Council for Economic Education, Economic Empowerment Trust Fund, Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción Inc., Massachusetts Affordable Housing Alliance, Merrimack Valley Housing Partnership Inc., Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship, the Children’s Museum, Neighborhood of Affordable Housing Inc., Urban Edge Housing Corporation, and Dress for Success Boston Inc.

 

Girl Scouts Receive $10,000 Grant from Davis Foundation

EAST LONGMEADOW — Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts (GSCWM) announced it received a $10,000 grant from the Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation in support of It’s a Girls World, one of the community-based programs it offers. The afterschool program engages Hampden County girls in grades K-6 in STEM, financial literacy, and health and personal-wellness topics. The Girl Scout Leadership Experience is a collection of engaging, challenging, and fun activities for girls to develop a strong sense of self, display positive values, seek challenges, learn from setbacks, form and maintain healthy relationships, and learn to identify and solve problems in their community. The support of contributors such as the Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation makes this possible. The Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation supports a variety of nonprofit organizations seeking to improve quality of life for those living in Hampden County.

 

Revitalize CDC Seeks Volunteers to Help Rebuild 12 Homes

SPRINGFIELD — Revitalize CDC’s #GreenNFit Neighborhood Rebuild is back after a three-year hiatus due to COVID-19. This year, a total of 12 homes in Springfield’s Memorial Square neighborhood — owned by low-income families with children, aging adults, military veterans, and people with special needs — will be worked on by 1,000 volunteers and more than 100 supporters. In addition, vacant lots will be cleaned up and Calhoun Park improved. Volunteers return each year from Maine to Virginia and work alongside the residents of Springfield. Families who benefited from past #GreenNFit events volunteer to help their neighbors on the next block. Revitalize CDC focuses on making meaningful improvements on homes to help reduce energy use, save money, and create a safe, healthy, and sustainable living environment for residents and the community. Improvements include installing or retrofitting HVAC systems to allow for a transition from fossil fuel to renewable energy, such as solar conversions; new roofs; energy-efficient windows, doors, and appliances; water-saving plumbing fixtures; electrical upgrades; mold remediation, lead abatement, and pest control; interior and exterior painting; and modifying homes for aging or disabled homeowners, such as building exterior access ramps. Revitalize CDC is still seeking donations, sponsors, and volunteers. Visit www.revitalizecdc.com for more information, the current list of supports, and to register.

Incorporations

By
Incorporations

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

AGAWAM

Big Rig Truck & Trailer Repairs Inc., 87 Ramah Circle South, Agawam, MA 01001. Emil Lachinov, same. Truck and trailer repair.

Regional Practice Expansion Consultants Inc., 70 Royal St., Agawam, MA 01001. Jacqueline Montanez, same. Medical practice growth consulting.

BLANDFORD

Air Plus Inc., 146 Otis Stage Road, Blandford, MA 01008. Julian Mecher, same. HVAC Services.

CHICOPEE

Exclusive Painters Group Inc., 35 Kimball St., Chicopee, MA 01013. Luis Carrion Rodriguez, 1060 Liberty St., Springfield, MA 01104. Painting and construction related services.

J&S Smile Pros Inc., 874 Prospect St., Chicopee, MA 01020. Sara Jambard, 5 Halon Ter., East Longmeadow, MA 01028. Portable dental practice.

EAST LONGMEADOW

GSD Cards & Collectibles Inc., 45 Saint Joseph Dr., East Longmeadow, MA 01028. Abel Lee, same. Sale of sports trading cards and memorabilia.

The Stoke Collective, LCA, 26 Williston Ave., Easthampton, MA 01027. Jen Sandler, same. Organizational consulting services.

INDIAN ORCHARD

JT Realty Associates Inc., 31 Kopernick St., Indian Orchard, MA 01151. Thaddeus Tokarz, same. Real estate services.

PALMER

Paws 4 Blue K9 Inc., 29 French Dr., Palmer, MA 01069. Janice M. Garabedian, same. K9 support services.

PITTSFIELD

Colbert Artists Management Inc., 180 Elm St., Suite 221, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Lee Prinz, same. Manager and agent of classical musicians.

SPRINGFIELD

Leena’s Place Inc., 660 Boston Road, Springfield, MA 01119. Jessica Morehouse, same. Restaurant with alcohol service.

Newer a Little League A Baseball Corp., 38 Bryant St., Springfield, MA 01108. Edwin Ferrer, same. Organization established to bring the sport of baseball to the community.

TURNERS FALLS

Sisson Accounting Services, PC, 55 Dell St., Turners Falls, MA 01376. Kathryn A. Sisson, same. Professional Certified Public Accountant.

WESTFIELD

Vendking Corp., 1257 East Mountain Road, Westfield, MA 01085. Alexsander Bloom, same. Vending machine and ATM servicing.

Doing Business as Certificates

By
DBA Certificates

The following business certificates and/or trade names were issued or renewed during the months of March and April 2023. (Filings are limited due to closures or reduced staffing hours at municipal offices due to COVID-19 restrictions).

EAST LONGMEADOW

Pioneer Athletic Center
21 Baldwin St.
Danielle McKinnon

Pioneer Valley Arms
50-58 Shaker Road
Kendall Knapik

TigerPress
50 Industrial Dr.
Jennifer Shafii

GREAT BARRINGTON

Awaken with Susan Inc.
140 West Ave., Suite B
Susan Quam

Bernal Woodworks Inc.
131 Monument Valley Road
Andrew Bernal

Connect First Consulting
389 Main St.
Lais Howard

Fairground Real Estate
631 Main St.
Eric Streuernagle

LaundryLand
11 School St.
Paula Kohler

The Little Store
88-90 Main St.
Victor Cella

Macony Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine
100 Maple St.
Berkshire Faculty Services Inc.

Marshalls #1362
354 Stockbridge Road
Marshalls of Massachusetts Inc.

MotherhoodWorks
50 Castle St., Suite 2
Ilana Siegal

Refill GB
152 Main St.
Jamie McCormack

Shire Glass Co.
87 Railroad St.
Matthew Meandro

TW McClelland LLC
597 Main St.
Thomas McClelland

Whimsy Media
211 Oak St.
Jordyn Cormier

HOLYOKE

FTF
475 Beech St.
Ronny Authier

Gold & Diamonds
50 Holyoke St.
Lavinia Oprea

The Hair Place
103 Chapin St.
Ronald Holland

Lovely Affairs
193 High St.
Jacqueline Bones

Maranatha Cleaning
183 Sargeant St.
Marcos Colon, Felicita Colon

QA Maintenance
98 Lower Westfield Road
Frances Russell

Rodriguez’s Holyoke Kenpo Karate
233 Maple St.
Lizabeth Rodriguez

Springfield Grocery
845 Main St.
Muhammad Khawaja

Through the Trees Photo
10 Cook St.
Kevin Fitzell

LENOX

Berkshire Roll Off
18 Crystal St.
Daniel Hunter

Catwalk Boutique
51 Church St.
Sherry Betit

Doctor Sax House
35 Walker St.
Bryan Binder

Holistic Balance and Bodywork
55 Pittsfield Road, Building 5, Unit B
Jermaine Gomes

LAM
194 Main St.
Leonard Miller

Sohn Fine Art
69 Church St.
Cassandra Sohn

Sports School Day Camp
194 Main St.
Leonard Miller

PALMER

D&M Auto Repair
1422 Park St.
Nathan Jensen

Dean P. Browne Home Improvement
203 State St.
Dean Browne

Wen Ming House
1427 North Main St.
Tian Hau Yang

SOUTH HADLEY

Cote Entertainment & Lighting
23 Grandview St.
Cote Entertainment & Lighting

SOUTHWICK

Aerogreen Urban Farm LLC
23 Bonnie View Road
Renee McGee

Crawl Mat
21 Babb Road
Denis Zinchenko

Echo Home Remodeling
10 Cedar St., Apt. 12
Philip Billington

Illuminated Girl Art
287 College Highway
Julie Seibert

Munm Brook Valley Camp
353 North Loomis St.
Stephanie Price

Southwick Services
1 Eden Hill Lane
Diana King

Total Home Services Inc.
445 College Highway
Anthony Whitehead

Tractor Supply Co.
673 College Highway
Jeff Stiles

Twin Pines Holistic Health
152 Berkshire Ave.
Chelsea Pratt

STOCKBRIDGE

Pecorino Provisions
36 Main St.
Claire Raposo

Wander and Whimsy Travels
36 East St.
Chelsea Bordonaro

WESTFIELD

The Crafty Chics
48 Stephanie Lane
Melissa Connors

Designed by Depino
57 Patriots Dr.
Laurie Depino

East Mountain Country Store
349 East Mountain Road
Clifford Laraway

Eastern Vehicle Recycling Inc.
88 Neck Road
Eastern Vehicle Recycling Inc.

Estelle Leeds Artists Management
26 Lady Slipper Circle
Estelle Leeds

Oksana’s Art
3 Sherman St.
Oksana Chepurenko

Pioneer Valley on the Move
94 North Elm St.
Rachel Burke

Rolling Hills Lawn Care LLC
23 Bates St.
Daniel Fontaine

Roof Maxx of Enfield
53 Murray Ave.
AG Home Infusion LLC

Sophy Nails and Spa
84 Main St.
Chansophy Lim

Thunder in the Valley Festival
99 Northridge Road
Unbroken Wings Inc.

Tribeca Gastro Bar & Grille
89 Elm St.
Connecticut Valley Restaurant Group

Bankruptcies

By
Bankruptcies

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

B’Shara, Michael D.
1C Castle Hill Road
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/30/2023

Blanchard, William F.
Blanchard, Suzanne T.
135 Edgewood Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/28/2023

Connolly, John James
Connolly, Diane Irene
21 Ferry Hill Road
Granby, MA 01033
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/23/2023

Cook, Bryan Joseph
18 Willard Road
Sturbridge, MA 01566
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/22/2023

Daviau, Peter T.
PO Box 5460
Springfield, MA 01101
Chapter: 13
Date: 03/24/2023

Devoe-Marsh, Lorie A.
a/k/a Marsh, Lorie A.
695 Mill St.
Feeding Hills, MA 01030
Chapter: 13
Date: 03/22/2023

Douglas, Haley A.
1384 Barre Road
Gilbertville, MA 01031
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/25/2023

Enman, Douglas J.
Enman, Tammy J.
23 Wenonah Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/24/2023

Frazer-Malone, Dawn L.
18 Drew Court
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/31/2023

Frisbie, Robert
85 Manchonis Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Chapter: 13
Date: 03/23/2023

Grande, Deborah
21 Meadow St.
North Adams, MA 01247-4215
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/29/2023

Guadeloupe, June Felicity
103 Leitch St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/24/2023

Karpoff, Marlena
97 Russellville Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/30/2023

Litwin, Jeffrey
21 Craig Dr., Apt 6F
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/24/2023

Menard, Robert A.
Menard, Angela J.
PO Box 88
Warren, MA 01083
Chapter: 13
Date: 03/23/2023

Nadeau, Mary Elizabeth
713 Britton St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 13
Date: 03/29/2023

Pereira, Amadeu P.
a/k/a Pereira, Amadeu Peneda
1256 Worcester St.
Indian Orchard, MA 01151
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/24/2023

Perez Santiago, Jose Antonio
901 Wilbraham Road
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/22/2023

Serrano, Nelson
17 Bushwick Place
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 13
Date: 03/24/2023

Smith, Thomas B.
305 Amostown Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/27/2023

Solano, Feafeld D.
32 Manilla Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/30/2023

Tobin, John H.
c/o Cathy Tobin
140 Boutin St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/24/2023

Together Physcial Therapy, LLC
Hurley, Robert F.
Hurley, Lisa Ann
152 Cheney St., Apt. 2
Orange, MA 01364
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/21/2023

Ward, Kathleen Mary
19 Mountain Road, Apt 10
South Deerfield, MA 01373
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/30/2023

Williamson, Henry G.
138 Main St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/29/2023

Building Permits

By
Building Permits

The following building permits were issued during the months of March and April 2023. (Filings are limited due to closures or reduced staffing hours at municipal offices due to COVID-19 restrictions).

CHICOPEE

Community Care Resources
41 Woodlawn St.
$4,800 — Install fire-alarm system

Emma Jopson
46 St. James Ave.
$18,000 — Air sealing and weatherization

Brian Lapointe
219 School St.
$26,000 — Demolish and dispose of existing two-story front porch, replace second-floor door with window, build one-story porch with roof, replace first-floor entry door, fix existing fascia and soffit at roof, replace shingles on half the roof

O’Leary-Vincunas No Two LLC
102 First Ave.
$15,000 — Create staff break room in existing warehouse facility

Drew Petrolati
269 Chicopee St.
$11,250 — Install tub replacement and wall surround system

Society Faith Methodist Church
191 Montcalm St.
$12,270 — Replace 10 windows

Lee Suhyun
116 School St.
$72,833 — Roofing

HADLEY

Home Depot USA Inc.
358 Russell St.
N/A — Install non-illuminated wall signs

LEE

200 Laurel LLC
200 Laurel St.
$12,200 — Convert existing motel to 16 apartments

Philip Levy, Rita Levy
880 East St.
$1,200 — Install four windows

Ericedis Olaverria
26 Railroad St.
$13,000 — Install 20 windows

Martin Robertson
1290 Cape St.
$16,000 ­— Add addition on back of existing studio space

PITTSFIELD

David Kahn
38 North St.
$34,000 — Roofing

Lori McHugh
307 Elm St.
$12,000 — Roofing

Ranchodji Inc.
16 Cheshire Road
$65,685 — Flooring

William Rhodes
161 Seymour St.
$74,150 — Install new wet and dry sprinkler system

NORTHAMPTON

Fitzgerald Realty Corp.
224 Prospect St.
$27,930 — Siding on second floor

Gleason Bros. Inc.
7 Pearl St.
$4,000 — Add partition wall

Livett Lovett & Crumberg
184 Main St.
$5,000 — Build half-wall to support new counter

Meadowbrook Preservation Associates LP
491 Bridge Road
$159,420 — Replace pool

Northampton Community Arts Trust Inc.
33 Hawley St.
$1,017,837 — New drainage for existing downspouts, new seating area, interior renovation to parts of building

Northwood Development LLC
15 Atwood Dr.
$9,000 — Create emergency egress

Nova Realty Holdings Inc.
9½ Market St.
$37,752 — Install roof-mount solar system

ServiceNet Inc.
48 Pleasant St.
$15,480 — Awning sign

SPRINGFIELD

1277 Liberty St. LLC
1355 Liberty St.
$120,000 — Alter space at previous Kmart building into new Fun City trampoline amusement park

Baystate Medical Center Inc.
759 Chestnut St.
$94,206 — Alter space for a new ships ladder and vestibule for elevator machine room access in Springfield Building

David Duncan Sr., Walter Patterson, Robert Sullivan
115 Progress Ave.
$37,000 — Add insulation to attic of Teamsters Local 404

The Republican Co.
1860 Main St.
$53,691 — Remove and replace fire-alarm system

Restoration Worship Center
1492 Boston Road
$190,307.50 — Roofing

Salvation Army of Massachusetts Inc. Adult Rehabilitation Center
840 Boston Road
$23,000 — Add insulation to roof and walls

Springfield Hobby Club Housing Inc.
307 Chestnut St.
$98,900 — Remove and replace Seniority House

Springfield Museums Corp.
74 Fairfield St.
$23,164 — Install accessible modular aluminum ramp to rear of building

Italian Consulate Office Opens in Downtown Springfield

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Italian government officially opened its Western Massachusetts Consulate of Italy office in Springfield on Monday, taking advantage of an offer from Paul Picknelly, president and CEO of Monarch Enterprises, who donated class-A real-estate space and other resources on the 25th floor of Monarch Place.

Picknelly, named honorary consul of Italy for Western Mass., recognized the need for the consulate to be re-established in Springfield. Western Mass. residents with business or important personal matters to conduct with or in Italy have had to travel to the Consulate General of Italy in Boston for years, an especially difficult hardship during the pandemic. Trade, tourism, Italian passports, dual residency, birth and death certificates, and other important business has required residents to travel, often several times, back and forth to Boston.

“When a family is experiencing a significant issue like the need to secure a birth or death certificate, this distance and challenge can be overwhelming while waiting to bury a loved one or provide proof of birth and nationality for other business. Some of the stories I’ve heard have been heartbreaking. This is something that we had to correct,” Picknelly said. “I am so happy that we have been able to bring the two governments together to do this in Springfield for all the people of Western Massachusetts.”

Arnaldo Minuti, consul general of Italy from the Boston consulate, attended Monday’s official opening, representing the Italian government. He was joined by Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, a first-generation son of Italian immigrants, and other mayors from throughout the region. Many members of the Italian-American community and business and civic leaders were also in attendance.

bankESB Promotes Ian Megraw to IT Officer

By
Daily News

EASTHAMPTON — bankESB recently promoted Ian Megraw to information technology officer.

Megraw joined bankESB in 2016 as a systems administrator. He has seven years of experience in banking and brings many strengths that have significantly contributed to the success of the IT department and the bank’s conversions since joining the team. He is a respected manager, strong technician, and an important part of the growing Hometown Financial Group family.

Megraw earned an associate degree in Business Administration and Network Administration from John Abbott College.

Legislation to Compensate Quabbin Communities for Reservoir Water to Be Heard April 26

By
Daily News

BOSTON — The Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources will hold a hearing on “An Act Relative to the Quabbin Watershed and Regional Equity” (H.897/S.447), filed by state Sen. Jo Comerford and state Rep. Aaron Saunders, on Wednesday, April 26, beginning at 1 p.m.

Beginning around 1927, four towns (Dana, Enfield, Greenwich, and Prescott) were disincorporated, evacuated, and then flooded to create one of the largest potable water sources in the U.S., known as the Quabbin Reservoir. Today, the Quabbin provides pristine drinking water to millions of people in Eastern Mass.

Under current law, the remaining communities surrounding the Quabbin (Belchertown, Hardwick, Pelham, New Salem, Petersham, Shutesbury, and Ware), which comprise the Quabbin watershed, receive minimal compensation for their efforts and sacrifice. These same communities do not have the ability to pull their own drinking water from the Quabbin.

The legislation seeks greater regional equity and provides for reasonable payments to Quabbin watershed communities for local municipal needs; water infrastructure, such as conduits, pipes, and hydrants; and nonprofit organizations providing health, welfare, safety, and transit services. The bill also requires more representation of Connecticut River Valley interests on a governing board.

The hearing will be held in person in Massachusetts State House Hearing Room A-2 and also livestreamed on the Legislature’s website; click here for the virtual link.

Members of the public who wish to provide oral testimony on April 26 should fill out a form by clicking here. Members of the public are also welcome to email written testimony to the committee at [email protected].

Institute for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Opens at Holyoke Medical Center

By
Daily News

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Medical Center has expanded services to open the Institute for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, led by Dr. Frederik Pennings, an internationally recognized expert in minimally invasive spine surgery.

“We are excited to announce the opening of the new Institute for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, under the renowned leadership of Dr. Pennings,” said Spiros Hatiras, president and CEO of Holyoke Medical Center. “His expertise will allow us to provide patients throughout the region and beyond with the high-quality medical care they need.”

Pennings is the only fellowship-trained spine neurosurgeon in the area. He has more than 25 years of training and experience in neurosurgery, with a background that includes multifaceted training, various leadership positions, professional recognition, clinical education, technology development, and published research. Prior to Holyoke Medical Center, he established the Minimally Invasive Spine Center of New England and the minimally invasive spine surgery program at UMass Memorial Medical Center.

Also joining the Institute for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery is Michael Bennett, a neurosurgery physician assistant for more than 20 years. He brings a wealth of clinical experience to the diagnosis, treatment, and recovery of spine-surgery patients, while also assisting on advanced procedures. Bennett has been part of Pennings’ team for 13 years.

The experienced spine-surgery team is able to tailor treatments using patient-centered, evidence-based, multi-disciplinary care with either traditional open-spine surgery or minimally invasive techniques. However, minimally invasive options generally offer important advantages over traditional procedures.

“Minimally invasive spine surgery approaches the spine through much smaller incisions than in an open procedure,” Pennings explained. “It is less traumatic to tissues, so most patients recover more quickly, with less blood loss and lower risk of infection.”

Common conditions that may warrant minimally invasive spine surgery include spinal stenosis, scoliosis, lumbar spondylolisthesis, cervical and lumbar disc herniation, and sacroiliac joint pathology.

The new Institute for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery at Holyoke Medical Center is located at 10 Hospital Dr., Suite 101, Holyoke. To learn more or make an appointment, call (413) 535-4860.

BusinessTalk with Dr. Negar Beheshti, chief medical officer for MiraVista Behavioral Health Center

By
Business Talk Podcast Special Coverage

We are excited to announce that BusinessWest 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.

Go HERE to view all episodes

Episode 159: April 24, 2023

George Interviews Dr. Negar Beheshti, chief medical officer for MiraVista Behavioral Health Center

Dr. Negar Beheshti

There was already a mental health crisis in this country before COVID. What the pandemic did was amplify the problem and bring some much-needed attention to it, according to Dr. Negar Beheshti, chief medical officer for MiraVista Behavioral Health Center. She is BusinessWest Editor George O’Brien’s guest on the next installment of BusinessTalk. The two discuss the breadth and depth of this crisis and the opportunities and challenges when it comes to helping those in need. It’s must listening, so tune in to BusinessTalk, a podcast presented by BusinessWest and sponsored by PeoplesBank.

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It’s Time to Nominate an Individual for the Alumni Achievement Award

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — When BusinessWest launched its 40 Under Forty program in 2007, it did so to identify rising stars across our region — individuals who were excelling in business and through involvement within the community — and celebrate their accomplishments.

In 2015, BusinessWest announced a new award, one that builds on the foundation upon which 40 Under Forty was created. Called the Alumni Achievement Award, it is presented to the 40 Under Forty honoree who, in the eyes of an independent panel of judges, has most impressively continued and built upon his or her track record of accomplishment. The presenting sponsor of the 2023 Alumni Achievement Award is Health New England.

Past winners include: 2022: Anthony Gleason II, president and co-founder of the Gleason Johndrow Companies (40 Under Forty class of 2010); 2021: Anthony Gulluni, Hampden County district attorney (class of 2015); 2020: Carla Cosenzi, president, TommyCar Auto Group (class of 2012), and Peter DePergola, director of Clinical Ethics, Baystate Health (class of 2015); 2019: Cinda Jones, president, W.D. Cowls Inc. (class of 2007); 2018: Samalid Hogan, regional director, Massachusetts Small Business Development Center (class of 2013); 2017: Scott Foster, attorney, Bulkley Richardson (class of 2011), and Nicole Griffin, owner, ManeHire (class of 2014); 2016: Dr. Jonathan Bayuk, president, Allergy & Immunology Associates of New England (class of 2008); and 2015: Delcie Bean, president, Paragus Strategic IT (class of 2008).

Click here to nominate someone for this award. Only nominations submitted to BusinessWest on this form will be considered. The deadline is Wednesday, May 10 at 5 p.m., no exceptions. The 2023 honoree will be announced at the 40 Under Forty gala on Thursday, June 15.

Candidates must be from 40 Under Forty classes prior to the year of the award — in this case, classes 2007 to 2022. For your convenience, a list of 40 Under Forty alumni can be found by clicking here and scrolling to the bottom.