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Month: April 2023

Bay Path University Appoints Eric Lesser to Board of Trustees

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Daily News

LONGMEADOW — Bay Path University announced that Eric Lesser — attorney, educator, and former four-term state senator — has been elected to its board of trustees.

“Eric Lesser has been a loyal and longtime supporter of Bay Path University, and he has a strong commitment to our mission and our students,” Bay Path University President Sandra Doran said. “His many years of public service at both the state and the national level have given him incredible knowledge and insight on government and policy that will add significant value to both our board and in furthering our initiatives at the university.”

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.

“Bay Path University is an anchor institution for the Greater Springfield area and has been on the vanguard of training a new generation of professionals in health sciences, technology, and business,” Lesser said. “I am especially grateful for their leadership opening new pathways for women from underrepresented communities, their continued dedication to serving the diverse people of Western Massachusetts, and the leadership role they’ve taken in life sciences, online and adult education, and other emerging trends in higher education. I look forward to joining the inspiring group of leaders who make up their board and helping to support their students and alumni.”

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.

Common Threads to Celebrate Women Supporting Women

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Time is running out to purchase tickets for Common Threads, an annual event to highlight the life-changing achievements of women engaged in Dress for Success Western Massachusetts (DFSWM). The event is scheduled for Thursday, April 13 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Springfield Sheraton. Tickets are on sale until Thursday, April 6.

Common Threads will feature networking, dinner, and a live auction leading into a program that will highlight multiple local women who have made tremendous strides toward financial stability and personal goals. To help reach a broader audience, the in-person program will be livestreamed, with the support of CJC Events, on the DFSWM Facebook page.

Xiomara Albán DeLobato, vice president and chief of staff for the Western Massachusetts Economic Development Council, will be the emcee for the event. Latoya Bosworth, life coach and soul stirrer, will serve as the keynote speaker. During the event, Marie-Ange Delimon of Tech Foundry will be given the Distinguished Alumna Award, Jill Scibelli will be honored as Volunteer of the Year, and Tanya Sears of Springfield College will be recognized as an Outstanding Contributor.

“Hearing the stories of the women in our programs will leave you inspired,” DFSWM Executive Director Margaret Tantillo said. “It’s amazing how much these women have overcome ― including poverty, abuse, addiction and more ― to provide a better future for themselves and their families.”

Dress for Success Western Massachusetts is part of a worldwide nonprofit organization dedicated to the empowerment of women as they take control of their personal and professional lives. Local programs include the Foot in the Door workforce-readiness program, the Margaret Fitzgerald One-on-One Mentoring program, the Professional Women’s Group, a digital-literacy program, and the suiting program.

Click here to purchase tickets. The cost is $75 per person or $750 per table for the live event.

World Affairs Council to Present U.S. Commercial Service Boston Office Director Jim Paul

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The World Affairs Council of Western Massachusetts will present James Paul, director of the Boston Office of the U.S. Commercial Service, on Thursday, April 27 at noon in the ninth-floor Community Room at 1350 Main St. in downtown Springfield.

The U.S. Commercial Service is a division of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration. Paul will discuss his agency’s Rural Export Center and many other resources that help Western Mass. organizations compete and win in the global marketplace. He will also brief on available assistance to enhance foreign direct investment, travel and tourism from abroad, and international student recruitment to the area’s high schools and universities.

Admission for World Affairs Council members is $5 ($20 including a box lunch provided), or $10 for non-members ($25 with lunch provided). Attendees may also bring their own lunch or choose not to eat.

To register or for more information, visit wacwestma.org or call (413) 733-0110.

bankESB Welcomes Audrey Chechile to Marketing Department

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Daily News

EASTHAMPTON — Audrey Chechile has joined the bankESB Marketing department as its Marketing Communications manager.

In this role, she will be responsible for managing internal and external communications content to drive brand awareness, engagement, and business development; managing the company’s marketing and sales-material development, inventory, and distribution; and managing bank-sponsored events and donations across the member banks of its parent company, Hometown Financial Group. She will be integral in supporting the Marketing department in providing the highest level of service and responsiveness to customers, communities, and business partners.

Prior to joining bankESB, Chechile was the Marketing manager at an automotive dealership group in Northampton, and before that was Marketing manager at Canna Provisions in Lee. She has more than 10 years of marketing experience in complex, regulated environments with emphasis in design, public relations, project management, event planning, and more. She holds a bachelor’s degree in public relations from SUNY Fredonia.

Paragus IT to Hold Technology Recycling Drive to Benefit Dakin Humane Society

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Daily News

HADLEY — Earth Day is right around the corner. For individuals and companies looking to get rid of their old computer equipment and do some good, Paragus IT will host a technology recycling drive on Friday, April 21 to promote sustainability and benefit Dakin Humane Society.

Paragus will take old, unwanted computers, laptops, printers, and other equipment and prepare them for reuse or make sure they’re properly disposed of. In exchange, Paragus will collect $5 per piece of equipment, all of which will benefit Dakin Humane Society.

“We’ve done this drive successfully in the past, and it’s a great opportunity for local businesses and individuals to recycle their old technology while supporting a good cause,” Paragus IT Marketing coordinator Jackie Deiana said. “Earth Day is a time when we all come together to do our part to protect our planet and its creatures.”

On April 21, between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., those looking to recycle equipment have two choices of drop-off sites: Paragus IT at 122 Russell St. in Hadley or Dakin Humane Society at 171 Union St. in Springfield. Paragus has also partnered with the Lexington Group, which has offered its vehicles and services for pick-up from local businesses. A minimum of five pieces of equipment and a minimum $50 donation are required for pick-up. Interested businesses can contact Jackie Deiana at [email protected] or (413) 343-1104 to reserve a spot.

Neal Announces $1 Million for Westfield State Nursing, Health Science Programs

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Daily News

WESTFIELD — U.S. Rep. Richard Neal joined Westfield State University President Linda Thompson to announce a $1 million earmark to enhance the university’s training capacity for nursing and health science students.

The allocation was made possible through congressionally directed spending from the Department of Education. Neal included funding for this project in the FY 2023 spending bill that was signed into law on Dec. 29, 2022.

“The Commonwealth has long been at the forefront of innovations in the healthcare field, making our state’s healthcare system the envy of the nation. We are fortunate to have some of the best hospitals in Western and Central Massachusetts, and institutions like Westfield State University are ensuring we have the skilled workforce needed to staff these facilities,” Neal said. “This funding will allow the university to improve and expand its nursing and health science programs, ensuring the next generation of healthcare professionals has access to the state-of-the-art technology and real-world experiences needed to succeed in their respective fields.”

Westfield State’s plans for this funding are threefold: to double the university’s simulation space that is utilized to develop students’ skills and confidence in applying healthcare practices, provide a new Easy Street simulation space that will allow healthcare students to apply concepts of home-based and community care in their learning, and provide new spaces for the practice of healthcare innovation.

“The funding appropriated for Westfield State University’s nursing and healthcare programs will create opportunities to reverse a healthcare professional shortage trend that has impacted a wide swath of our region,” Thompson said. “The critical, smart, and necessary move by Congress, led by House Ways and Means Chairman Richard E. Neal, will lead to the creation of systems that will reinforce and strengthen the health of the population. Westfield State University is eager to continue collaborating with our healthcare partners to provide top-level services to our communities through training and development opportunities for our students and others who may be interested in improving their skills.”

Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Announces 12 Inductees for Class of 2023

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Daily News

HOUSTON — The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced the 12 inductees in the class of 2023 to be celebrated during this year’s Enshrinement festivities on Aug. 11-12. The class announcement was made in Houston, the site of the 2023 NCAA Men’s Final Four, and was televised live on ESPN.

This year’s North American Committee inductees are Gene Bess, Pau Gasol, David Hixon, Gene Keady, Dirk Nowitzki, Tony Parker, Gregg Popovich, and Dwyane Wade. This year’s Women’s Committee inductees are Gary Blair and Becky Hammon. This year’s Direct Elect Committee inductees are the 1976 Women’s Olympic Basketball Team and Jim Valvano.

“The Naismith Hall of Fame class of 2023 is remarkable and truly embodies the breadth and impact of the global game today,” said John Doleva, the Hall’s president and CEO. “This class represents the game at every level and showcases the incredible efforts of individuals who are not only household names in the game, but also those who teach, coach, and counsel to men and women at the most organic levels of basketball. The ultimate achievement of a storied career is enshrinement in the Naismith Hall, and this class punctuates and defines what it means to be a Hall of Famer.”

The class of 2023 will be enshrined during festivities in Springfield, the birthplace of Basketball, as well as the Mohegan Sun, on Aug. 11-12. VIP packages and single-event tickets to the 2023 Hall of Fame Enshrinement Weekend are now available at hoophall.com/events/enshrinement-2023.

BusinessTalk with Robert Westerfield, vice president of Casino Operations at MGM Springfield

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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 156: April 3, 2023

George Interviews Robert Westerfield, vice president of Casino Operations at MGM Springfield

The sports betting era has begun in Massachusetts, and it’s off to a fast and intriguing start. On the next installment of BusinessTalk, Robert Westerfield, vice president of Casino Operations at MGM Springfield, talks with BusinessWest Editor George O’Brien about sports betting, March Madness, and what to expect moving forward. It’s must listening, so tune in to BusinessTalk, a podcast presented by BusinessWest and sponsored by PeoplesBank.

 

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