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Peter Pan Rolls into Its Fourth Generation

By
Melissa and Peter A. Picknelly (far left and right) with fourth-generation company leaders
Cover Story Features

Staying True to Their Routes

 

Melissa and Peter A. Picknelly (far left and right) with fourth-generation company leaders

Melissa and Peter A. Picknelly (far left and right) with fourth-generation company leaders Lauryn Picknelly-DuBois, Alyssa Picknelly-Dube, and Peter B. Picknelly. (Staff Photo)

The past five years have brought a raft of challeges to the world of tourism and transportation.

The biggest one? Survival.

“The worldwide pandemic was tough on our industry, and many other industries,” Peter A. Picknelly, chairman and CEO of Peter Pan Bus Lines, told BusinessWest. “For three years, we had the government using our tax dollars to tell people not to use our service.”

There’s a bit of edge in his voice as he brings up topics like shutting down travel, and then restrictions like social distancing that accompanied its gradual return.

“But we survived, and we’re thriving now. We’ve invested $25 million in new equipment in the last couple of years. We’re modernizing our fleet, which is what our consumer wants; they want a nice, clean, modern bus. And we’re continuing to expand our route structure,” he said, noting that Peter Pan serves about 100 locations in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states.

“We listen to our customers — where they want to go — and we expand where it makes sense. We recently expanded to Newark, New Jersey, and a suburb right outside of Baltimore called White Marsh. And we’ve added service on Cape Cod. We’re always looking at new areas.”

But the company is also looking to the future in other ways, most notably some emerging leadership from the fourth generation of this family business launched by Picknelly’s grandfather in 1933.

“You just don’t see workers commuting to work, and if they do, they’re not working Mondays and Fridays. I mean, the full-time office worker is just not rebounding. It’s better than it was, and it will eventually come back, I think, but some businesses are just going to thrive on people that work remotely.”

“I kind of grew up just learning from him and wanting to work here,” said Peter B. Picknelly, one of three children of Peter A. and Melissa Picknelly (the company’s vice president) now working at Peter Pan. A fourth is still in college and mulling career goals.

“I had no doubt in my mind that this is what I wanted to do,” added the younger Peter, who is the company’s director of Safety & Security. “I grew up going to school and trying to better myself so I could then come into the business. That’s what I always wanted to do.”

That’s a story his father can relate to. “I’m the third generation; Peter and his sisters are the fourth,” he said. “But I never forced them into it. When I grew up, some kids wanted to be baseball players or football players. All I wanted to do was follow my father and grandfather. And I can’t tell you how proud I am that our kids chose to do that — but it was their decision.”

Peter A. Picknelly

Peter A. Picknelly, standing before some portraits of his predecessors, says there are very few family-owned bus companies in the U.S. today.
Staff Photo

Other fourth-generation leaders at Peter Pan include Lauryn Picknelly-DuBois, who was promoted two years ago to controller, and Alyssa Picknelly-Dube, who is involved with the Maintenance division. (A fourth child is still in college and mulling career goals.)

“There are very few family-operated bus companies in the United States anymore,” their father said. “Here, the fourth generation is already set, and they’re still in their 20s. I think it assures our employees and our customers that we will be around for a long time. They are doing an amazing job.”

 

All Aboard

They’re doing it at a time when public-transportation demographics might be changing, but bus travel clearly remains important.

Peter Pan specializes in travel that’s longer than a typical work commute, but within 200 miles — a distance that can be covered as quickly as flying, once the airport time is factored in, the senior Picknelly explained.

These days, most travelers are between 18 and 35 years old or over 50, he added. “They may have an automobile, but the bus is more affordable. We go city center to city center. And parking can be extremely expensive in some areas, and hard to find.”

He added that the pandemic hit the work-commuter customer base hard, and it’s still struggling, at around 60% of pre-pandemic volume.

“You just don’t see workers commuting to work, and if they do, they’re not working Mondays and Fridays. I mean, the full-time office worker is just not rebounding. It’s better than it was, and it will eventually come back, I think, but some businesses are just going to thrive on people that work remotely.”

That said, the longer-distance service — say, Boston to New York or New York to Philadelphia — is booming, especially as gas prices have remained high and cities have gone to congestion pricing.

And gas prices do make a difference, he added. “You can instantly see it when gas prices go up. Our cost of operation goes up when fuel goes up — it’s our third-largest cost. But it’s outweighed by the fact that more people seek an alternative. When fuel hits $3, $4 a gallon, you can see an instant surge.”

That said, today’s buses are much more fuel-efficient, Picknelly said, and feature an anti-idling function that shuts them off when they idle at a gate or while parked for more than five minutes (but not while in traffic).

“There are situations when the idling won’t turn off — say it’s middle of winter and it’s freezing, and you want to heat up a little bit. That will override the five-minute idle shutdown,” Peter B. Picknelly said. “Same thing if it’s too hot — to keep the bus cool, it’ll override it.”

Other features of a modern bus include better-designed seats, video and Wi-Fi, and cameras that capture a 360-degree view of the bus for safety purposes.

Peter B. Picknelly

Peter B. Picknelly, director of Safety & Security, is one of three fourth-generation family members so far to have chosen Peter Pan as a career.
Staff Photo

As for those who drive the buses — the current fleet is about 200 vehicles — the younger Picknelly said the workforce crunch was severe a couple of years ago, but hiring has picked up considerably since. “We get a lot of applications every single day, so we’re able to be a little bit more picky when it comes to the driver force.”

His father noted that hiring is easier in some areas than in others. “We’re constantly hiring. But while Cape Cod and Boston are difficult locations, with our driver forces in New York and D.C., we have plenty of applications.”

Peter Pan has been receiving more applications these days from younger people, and the company has brought on employees in the process of getting their commercial driver’s license, and even reimbursed them for it.

“It’s a very good job if you like to drive and you want to deal with people,” Picknelly said. “Our drivers choose what routes they want to operate and when they want to work. Our position is, if you like doing what you want to do, you’re going to do a better job.

“But you’ve got to like to drive, and you’ve got to like to deal with people,” he added. “We can train just about anybody to drive a bus. But you can’t train someone to have good customer-service skills. And wanting to drive is just something you’ve got to have a passion for. Because that’s what we do.”

The younger Picknelly agreed. “It’s good getting these young people on board because most of the time they’re pretty loyal, and they want to stick with the company for a long time. We have people who have been here for so long because they came on when they were younger and were extremely loyal to the company, and that’s what we’re hoping to get now.”

 

Shifting Gears

Looking to the future, Peter Pan continues to find more ways to be the transportation mode of choice for its customers, especially younger riders, and that means making their travel plans easier.

To that end, the company recently announced a new strategic partnership with Trailways, extending its network of destinations, as well as a strategic alliance with Amtrak.

“So you can take a train somewhere, and then they’ll connect to a bus, and we can take you right to the city center,” Peter A. Picknelly said, and from there, rideshares can take over. “We’re also forming alliances with Ubers and Lyfts where you can coordinate being picked up wherever we drop you off, and instantly getting in an Uber and taking it to your final destination. Because of this coordination, more and more people are saying they don’t need to drive, particularly young people that live in the big city.”

“We can train just about anybody to drive a bus. But you can’t train someone to have good customer-service skills. And wanting to drive is just something you’ve got to have a passion for.”

Statistics bear that trend out. Last year, driver’s license applications actually went down, reversing a 50-year upward trend, he noted.

“It’s so convenient. If you go to Europe, taking public transportation is always involved, and you’re seeing more of that here. It’s way more convenient, and with the amenities in the vehicle, you can work or entertain yourself while you’re traveling. You can’t do that when you’re driving.”

Peter Pan also maintains a model of managing terminals — another one of Peter B. Picknelly’s roles — in its destination cities, with amenities like food, restrooms, a service counter, and a pickup area, instead of the model of picking up and dropping off on unattended corners.

“We don’t like picking up on a street corner like some of these other bus companies,” Peter B. added. “We like going into a terminal or a specific designated area, so they can have that one-on-one personal experience with our employees if they have an issue or have any questions or concerns. We’re a customer-driven business, so we like pleasing the customers.”

About 15% of Peter Pan’s business, meanwhile, is charter service to destinations not on the regular route plan.

“Charters are very big, and in the summer, it picks up a lot. There are people who go out to Saratoga Race Course on the weekend; that’s a very popular place. We’ll take them wherever.”

One shift that occurred over the pandemic years has been a move toward online booking, his father added.

“Prior to COVID, about 50% of our riders would buy their ticket a half-hour before departure, in person. Now, 90% of our sales now are in advance. Most people are booking within three days of their trip, online.”

But, as mentioned up top, the biggest story of the pandemic for Peter Pan was … well, simply surviving it, and coming out stronger on the other side, with plans for the future and a band of 20-something Picknellys ready to evolve into stronger leadership roles.

“We’re really proud of all of our staff,” their father said. “Listen, 40% of all bus companies didn’t make it through the pandemic. We did, and we’re thriving. We’ve had to change our focus on longer-distance trips, less commuter-related, more group travel, but we’re doing well.”

Peter B. Picknelly agreed. “In hindsight, COVID was horrible, but it made us think about how we could run things differently here, and it’s been beneficial.”

V-One Owner Charts Aggressive Course of Expansion, Growth

By
Paul Kozub says the need to keep the distillery in Poland busy
Features Special Coverage

At a Tipping Point

Paul Kozub with his children

Paul Kozub with his children, from left, Weston, Ela, Augustin, and Vincent, at the distillery in Kamien, Poland, that he acquired in 2019.

When asked about all that has changed since he first started finalizing plans for creating his own vodka label 20 years ago, Paul Kozub chose to start with the personal side of his life.

“Back then, I was a single guy living alone with not many cares in the world; now, I’m married with four kids under the age of 10,” he said, adding that this reality explains why he only visits the distillery he owns in Poland maybe once a year instead of three or four times, as he did earlier, and why he presides over maybe 20 in-store tastings a year instead of the 50 or 60 he was averaging a few years ago.

As for the business side of the equation, there have been equally significant changes. He started with one flavor in one region of the Bay State, the 413. Now, there are 10 flavors, including a lemon that changes colors and a hugely popular double espresso. And they are now available in eight states — the six New England states as well as New Jersey and Texas — although they can be shipped almost anywhere, as we’ll see.

And there’s that distillery in Poland, which Kozub now owns a 51% share in. He made that investment in 2019 in a critical step that saw him move from outsourcing production to overseeing (officially if not literally) every step in the process.

And while there have been huge leaps in overall growth — from 700 to 1,000 cases produced and sold per year early on to more than 20,000 today — there have been myriad challenges as well, everything from a global pandemic to the war in Ukraine (the distillery is only a few miles from the border); from huge swings in the cost of getting containers from Poland to the U.S. ($4,200 per shipment to $16,000 back down to $4,200) to the burgeoning cannabis industry (in states where cannabis is legalized, there is an accompanying decline in alcohol sales, Kozub reported).

But while looking back — and then ahead — Kozub chose to focus mostly on what hasn’t changed. The goal, then and now, has been to become a national and then international vodka label, and in some respects, that’s already been accomplished; he does sell some vodka in Poland, but not much, as V-One’s prices are higher than other brands because of how it’s made.

And while the original goal was to make a living selling vodka, something he could do when he was selling 1,000 cases a year, the overriding ambition has been to continually grow the label by taking it to more markets in more states and, eventually, more countries.

While that hasn’t changed either, this desire to grow has morphed into a critical need — because of that distillery and the importance of keeping it busy.

Kozub summed it all up directly, and poignantly.

“For me, V-One is at a crucial tipping point,” he explained. “We’re either going to stay small — a Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island business — or we’re going to get bigger, and a lot bigger, as a national brand or even an international brand.

“For me, V-One is at a crucial tipping point. We’re either going to stay small — a Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island business — or we’re going to get bigger, and a lot bigger, as a national brand or even an international brand.”

“And the decision has kind of been made for me because of the distillery purchase — the capacity that facility has and the need to keep it busy on a daily basis, which it is not right now,” he went on, adding that, with this decision — and a subsequent capital raise involving local investors — Kozub is moving forward aggressively with plans to more than double his current sales force and move into more states, starting with Florida, then New York, then other states on the East Coast.

It’s an intriguing next chapter in a story that has featured a number of plot twists and turns but a continued focus on the proverbial big picture and how to make it become reality.

V-One now boasts 10 flavors

V-One now boasts 10 flavors, and Paul Kozub hints that more additions to the lineup may be coming soon.
(Photo courtesy of Chris Marion)

For this issue, BusinessWest talked at length with Kozub about the latest, quite significant adjustments to the V-One business plan and how they provide more proof — yes, that’s an industry term — of how those original plans haven’t exactly changed. They’ve just been supersized.

 

Proof Positive

By now, most people around here know at least the basics of the V-One story.

With a small, $6,000 inheritance from an uncle and some entrepreneurial vigor that ran in the family (his father started Janlynn Corp.), Kozub put aside a career in banking — he was a commercial lender with TD Bank — to fulfill a long-held dream to launch his own vodka label.

That was in 2005. He started with a small still in his basement and soon made his way to Poland to meet with a world-renowned vodka expert for advice, but also inspiration. He made the critical decision to become the first producer of vodka made exclusively from organic spelt wheat (most other vodkas are made from corn).

Over the next 19 years, V-One has grown and evolved, adding new flavors, winning several awards, expanding its reach across New England and beyond, and increasing the number of cases sold each year. Along the way, there have been several milestones — from the opening of V-One’s world headquarters in the former St. John’s Church on Route 9 in Hadley to a rebranding that saw a new look to the bottles, to the acquisition and subsequent expansion of the distillery in Kamien, Poland, a multi-million-dollar investment fueled by a desire to take more control of the process.

“I’ll make this analogy … instead of buying milk from the store, we now own the cow. We need to keep the distillery busier, and we need to essentially double the business that we’re doing now.”

BusinessWest has chronicled the story, and along the way, Kozub has earned two of the magazine’s awards — inclusion in the inaugural 40 Under Forty class of 2007, then being named the magazine’s Top Entrepreneur for 2016.

As he noted at the top, he now has four young children — “life has gotten a little more complicated” — so that means fewer trips to Poland, although he was recently there for some end-of-fiscal-year matters, and more Zoom calls with his master distiller there.

“He has things handled pretty well as far as production goes, so I don’t need to go as much as I used to,” Kozub said, noting, again, that the critical to keep that distillery busy — at optimum output, the facility could increase production 10-fold — has prompted the latest adjustments to the business plan, capital raise, and plans to aggressively move into other states.

Paul Kozub says the need to keep the distillery in Poland busy

Paul Kozub says the need to keep the distillery in Poland busy — busier than it is now — is fueling the company’s aggressive plans for continued growth.

“Before, it was a case of wanting to grow; now, it’s kind of like we have to grow,” he told BusinessWest. “I’ll make this analogy … instead of buying milk from the store, we now own the cow. We need to keep the distillery busier, and we need to essentially double the business that we’re doing now.”

Elaborating, he said he has no real desire to produce other vodka labels in Kamien, only V-One. Which means producing more of it.

“And to do that, we need to put more people, more salespeople, on the street, and tell the V-One story,” he said, adding that this need to hire and ratchet up marketing efforts — although the company still relies heavily on social media — was the impetus for the recent capital raise.

“My next goal is to get V-One in at least five more states in the next 12 to 24 months,” he said, adding that Florida will be the next target.

 

Entrepreneurial Spirit

The Sunshine State should be a natural next step, Kozub went on, noting that, while consumption of vodka in Poland is higher during the colder months of the year — primarily because people there drink it straight — in the U.S., vodka is generally mixed with other ingredients that are put over ice, making it a warmer-weather choice.

“A place like Florida has great, year-round weather for vodka drinking,” he said. “And there’s obviously a lot of vacationing, a lot of people by the pool. You really don’t want to drink heavy drinks when you’re by the pool; you want lighter drinks like a vodka soda or mojito.”

As he noted earlier, entering new states and new markets is difficult — and expensive. With immense competition in the vodka aisle, there is a strong need to build brand awareness and gain a foothold. And this requires boots on the ground, he said, adding that, while V-One works with distributors, those large companies represent literally thousands of different labels.

“You have distributors in each market, but you also want to have someone talking to those bars and restaurants and liquor stores,” he told BusinessWest. “You need to have someone else telling the story because these distributors are selling 3,000, 4,000, maybe 5,000 other items, and they’re pushing the big brands, so the smaller brands just get left by the wayside.

“So you have to put someone in each market to tell your story,” he went on, adding that he is looking to bring on several additional salespeople in the coming months to do this storytelling.

While Florida is the next primary target, the goal, as he mentioned, is to be in a handful of other states within the next year or two.

New York is another primary target, he said, adding that the plan after making some headway in that all-important state is to move down the East Coast, perhaps into Virginia, Delaware, and North and South Carolina.

“We want to keep things on this side of the country for now,” he said, adding that the ability to ship products to different states (35 of them at present) enables V-One to expand its presence in that fashion. It’s a small but nonetheless meaningful arrow in the quiver, but one that is growing steadily and has potential to continue the growth trajectory.

Overall, expansion into a new state comes with a price tag of $100,000 to $250,000 for marketing, additional salespeople, and other expenses, he said, adding that this is just part of the cost of doing business.

And it’s a critical aspect of being at this important tipping point for V-One, as Kozub called it. As he noted, the company has progressed from wanting to grow to needing to grow.

“For me, it’s time to take that next big step,” he said, adding that he’s approaching this next phase for his company the way he has all those that have come before it — with a focus on that original dream of creating a vodka label and then taking it around the world.

Firms Say New Talent Drawn by Mission, Culture, Opportunity

By
Ashley Sullivan, president of O’Reilly, Talbot & Okun.
Environment and Engineering Special Coverage

Engineering a Youth Movement

Ashley Sullivan, president of O’Reilly, Talbot & Okun.

Ashley Sullivan, president of O’Reilly, Talbot & Okun.

 

Ashley Sullivan can think of plenty of reasons why someone might want to go into engineering.

“It is a very rewarding field where you get to see your work benefit your family and your community,” the president and CEO of Springfield-based O’Reilly, Talbot & Okun said. “And you’re always going to need civil engineers, so there’s job protection there. There’s so much opportunity in the field, whether you want to go into construction or consulting or the regulatory side. There’s a lot of different options, and each individual can find what’s right for them.”

That said, the industry is facing the same headwinds seen in other fields these days, ranging from construction to manufacturing to insurance: retirements outpacing the number of young people coming on board.

“We’ve had a lot of retirements; as quick as I hire, we have people retire or leave the industry,” Sullivan said. “We’re trying to grow, we’re trying to hire, and we make progress one year, and then a few months later, we might fall back. We’re trying to hire about five more by the end of the year, but, just like with everybody else, it’s been very challenging.

“Previously, being a smaller, local firm, we didn’t necessarily compete with the larger firms or state agencies because if somebody liked a small firm, they liked a small firm, versus a larger firm. Now we’re finding we’re going up against those agencies and larger firms,” she went on. “I’m not sure if that’s because of the hybrid or remote potential. We’ve really focused on the ones that want to work near where they live, but now it’s getting hard to do that. There are also a lot of competitive salaries out there, so we’ve had to adjust to that. It’s definitely a challenge.”

Westfield-based Tighe & Bond is at the other end of the hiring spectrum, boasting about 600 employees at 17 locations across the Northeast. The firm is growing significantly at a time when a surge of federal funding — from the $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2021 to the Inflation Reduction Act and CHIPS Act of 2022 — is creating plenty of opportunity for civil-engineering firms.

“They’re requiring technical talent throughout the country to do all the work that’s coming,” President and CEO Bob Belitz said, noting that the firm has more employees dedicated to recruiting and onboarding than in the past. “We’ve made an investment in that function because it’s such a big part of our business.”

He added that the firm’s broad footprint across the Northeast makes it easier to recruit and retain talent. “Before, if somebody was working for us and got married and moved to New Hampshire, Maine, or New York, they might have to leave us to go work for somebody else because we didn’t have offices there. Now we do. From a growth perspective, it helps to be able to transfer you among other offices.”

Bob Belitz

Bob Belitz says work opportunities for engineering firms are high right now, and so is the need to attract new talent.
Staff Photo

But with some turnover to be expected in a company this size, and with a goal of growing both organically and through acquisitions, Tighe & Bond needs to onboard more than 100 new employees each year, and doing so successfully requires it to stand out from its competitors in a number of ways, Belitz said, from its employee-ownership model to hybrid work schedules; from a strong benefits program to a broad mix of projects.

Sullivan said communicating the culture of a company to job seekers is also critical.

“When we’ve had conversations where we effectively communicate that, people are very interested in working here,” she said, adding that another factor is communicating a clear path to career advancement.

“One of the things I think is so great about engineering — particularly about civil engineering or the environmental engineering that we do — is that we make our community better.”

“I am looking for future business partners. You’re working with the people that are managing the business, you’re getting day-to-day experience in that, and there’s real, clear potential for somebody to be a stockholder, be on the board of directors, and guide the company sooner than they might at a larger company. We can give examples of that. So that’s something that we try to explain. We feel that, if we’re effective in communicating that, we’ll find the right people.”

 

Mission Driven

As a civil engineer teaching at a women’s liberal-arts college, Glenn Ellis, a professor of Engineering at Smith College, said his students often come to the field from a specific mindset — namely, social impact.

“The number-one thing I hear from students is they want to do some good for the world, to make the world a better place,” he told BusinessWest. “They’re very interested in sustainability. That’s the number-one draw for many students as an engineer. And you can really make an impact on all sorts of things.”

That line of thinking resonates with Sullivan. “One of the things I think is so great about engineering — particularly about civil engineering or the environmental engineering that we do — is that we make our community better,” she said. “We’re an important part of that, and you can see it.”

Ellis noted that the industry code of ethics now includes sustainability as a key tenet, which dovetails with what his students are demanding. But he also said young people are drawn to the sheer diversity of engineering and how broadly it impacts the world.

“The more young people know what an engineer is, the more they’re interested in it. Studies show that the reason why way fewer women than men are engineers is not because women leave these programs at a higher rate than men; they leave at the same rate. It’s that they don’t go into engineering programs to begin with.”

And the time to start capturing their interest, he added — not just for engineering but for all STEM fields, where women have been historically underrepresented — is not college or even high school, but middle school.

“I say to a lot of young people, ‘you know, everything you can see has been designed by engineers. Engineers literally designed the entire world.’”

“I think that’s the time to develop a STEM identity. When you ask kids in middle school if they want to be engineers, they say, ‘I don’t know what that is,’ or ‘that’s really boring; you just work on pipes and buildings.’”

Ellis spoke with one young girl who said she wasn’t interested in engineering, but she wanted to work in the medical realm, helping to design artificial limbs that will help people.

“I said, ‘that’s engineering — that’s bioengineering.’ Young people don’t know what engineering is, so you need to introduce them at a young age, show them that it’s not just building bridges and wearing hardhats. This is a creative profession, a collaborative profession. If you want to change the world, this is the place to do it.”

And employers know talented young engineers have options in choosing where to make their mark, so recruitment, onboarding, and benefits are all critical.

“When we think about our benefit programs, we need to think about things that are important to the younger generations,” Belitz noted, and these run the gamut at Tighe & Bond from student-loan assistance to wellness programs to pet insurance, but also include a strong focus on mentorship, learning, and professional-development opportunities, including the addition of a female mentoring program last year.

“We’re also always giving back to our communities, and we try to talk about that as much as we can when we’re recruiting people,” he went on. “Hopefully that total package, along with the work that we have in the backlog, is attractive to the younger and mid-career people, who are the hardest ones to retain.”

O’Reilly, Talbot & Okun, while a much smaller firm, is also in a growth mode.

“There is a lot of work to be done, and the clients need us to get their work done,” Sullivan said, adding that the industry is facing a bit of an experience gap as veterans retire and young engineers replace them.

“We knew this was coming, so you have to invest in your people and make sure that you’re narrowing that gap continuously,” she told BusinessWest. “One of the things that we’ve done — and that I continue to do — is really invest back in people, try to give them the skills and get them the training.

“And not just the technical training, but also business development, project management, and entrepreneurial skills that get you even further,” she went on. “That’s something that I knew I had to do five years ago, and I’ve continued to do that. We just finished a big team training about presentation skills, whether in a small meeting or a large group, but it was also about team building, communication, and all that.”

 

Making a Difference

Ellis said Smith has been graduating a few dozen engineers each year, and they’re entering a market that’s tilted somewhat to job seekers.

Conversely, for employers, “it’s very challenging,” Sullivan said. “It’s just really hard to find people right now. We’ve had some people with a verbal acceptance, and then a few weeks later, they get a counteroffer and stay where they are.”

Meanwhile, Ellis hopes more young people — particularly young women — get the message early on that this is a meaningful, impactful career with plenty of opportunity.

“Women are definitely more attracted to engineering when they can be involved in messy, complex societal issues, which actually is what engineering is all about. It’s all about taking math and science and solving problems for society,” he said.

“I say to a lot of young people, ‘you know, everything you can see has been designed by engineers. Engineers literally designed the entire world. You can go into it and move up in the world and make a difference.’”

DEI Strategies in the Workplace Take Many Forms

By
Special Coverage Workforce Development

Culture Shift

Nicole Polite, CEO of the MH Group. (Staff Photo)

 

Diversity, equity, and inclusion — commonly known as DEI — has become a well-recognized expression in the world of employment, human resources, and executive suites.

But Nicole Polite prefers the term DEIB, which incorporates the word belonging, and there’s a reason for that.

“The belonging factor is making sure that your employees feel like they’re part of a community or environment where they all feel connected, regardless of race, color, creed, and everything else,” said Polite, CEO of the MH Group, which provides a range of staffing services to client employers. “I’m glad belonging is being emphasized; I believe that’s a key factor. Because if you don’t feel like you belong somewhere, then it’s not a good space for you.”

While the term DEI has become politicized in some corners, Polite doesn’t see the concepts behind it fading in importance.

“We’re not going to move away from it. The world has changed so radically,” she said. “And the employees are the ones driving it. They’re the ones asking, ‘how are you supporting me? How do I belong here? What are the steps you’ve been taking to make sure that there’s representation here?’”

John Henderson, director of Learning and Development at the Employers Assoc. of the Northeast (EANE), agrees.

“In this politically and socially divisive world, how do we create a culture where people feel valued? That stems from the diversity, equity, and inclusion piece,” he said, before explaining what each of those terms means for EANE.

“As employees are more educated, they’re more authentic with themselves. And that creates a culture of self-value for employees, a stronger sense of belonging, which makes it easier for them to be fully engaged with the workforce.”

Specifically, he explained, diversity is about representation — not only in terms of race and gender, but in backgrounds, viewpoints, and experiences.

Then, “when you look at equity, it’s about recognition — recognizing what people need in order to be successful. As a business, what do my people need in order to be successful? And what you need and what I need might be totally different. That’s why equity is so important.”

Inclusion, meanwhile, is about the actions a business takes to make people feel like they’re included.

Dan Moriarty

Dan Moriarty says efforts to create a more diverse, inclusive workplace have to start at the top.
Staff Photo

“All three of those really create a sense of belonging. So it’s diversity, equity, and inclusion, and then you have the B, the belonging piece,” Henderson explained. “If I feel valued, if I feel trusted, if I feel I can be my authentic self at work, I feel like I belong.”

It’s a message more and more companies seem to be getting — and even reaching out for help in implementing, he added. “We do get a lot of calls and do trainings around that piece. We want people to understand that differences bring creativity and increased productivity. And when you foster a culture of respect and people feel that they belong, it increases retention rates, and it makes it easier to recruit people.”

Monson Savings Bank President Dan Moriarty has been actively been involved in DEI strategy for some time, not only at his own institution, but his past co-leadership of an executive council established by the Massachusetts Bankers Assoc. to promote DEI efforts across member institutions.

Adopting some best practices recommended by Mass Bankers, Monson Savings has created a DEI commitment statement, developed and implemented a DEI program that continues to evolve, provided DEI training to board members and employees, identified and monitored key performance metrics, and conducted periodic self-assessments of the program.

In addition, he said, the bank has reviewed numerous documents, including its strategic plan, along with communications, processes, and facilities, to ensure that potential barriers are identified and removed and that DEI expectations are reflected, while also conducting outreach and expanding the bank’s relationships with key community members and organizations.

John Henderson

John Henderson says businesses increasingly want to create a culture where people feel valued.
Staff Photo

“We’ve developed a program which is a lot about education and training, from board members to senior management to the entire staff,” Moriarty said, adding that the bank conducted an employee summit a few weeks ago to discuss topics aroud DEI that some might not be familiar with, and explaining the reasons why they’re important.

“As employees are more educated, they’re more authentic with themselves. And that creates a culture of self-value for employees, a stronger sense of belonging, which makes it easier for them to be fully engaged with the workforce,” he added. “If they feel valued, feel like they belong, they’ll be better employees and better people. I just want to enhance those communications and make DEI more transparent, both internally and externally.”

 

Welcomed, Valued, and Heard

Jackson Davis, who heads up the DEI program for MassMutual, said that organization’s strategy is focused on creating an environment that is equitable and inclusive for its employees, customers, business partners, and the communities it serves.

“When it comes to our workforce, we strive to create teams that reflect our customers and communities, fostering an environment where all employees are welcomed, valued, and heard,” Davis explained. “To do this, we’ve integrated DEI into all that we do, taking specific actions like monitoring and being transparent about our progress in increasing the overall diversity of our workforce, encouraging both a diverse candidate pool and interview panel for open positions, and providing employee benefits and supports that will help us attract and retain a diverse workforce.”

These benefits include a variety of things, from eight employee business resource groups to holistic, flexible benefits that are designed to meet the diverse, evolving needs of employees. And that investment in DEI isn’t just the right thing to do, he added; it pays off in many ways from a business perspective.

“Having a diverse workforce is important because it brings together different perspectives, which in turn can help us solve problems faster, innovate with more success, and go above and beyond for our customers in order to deliver them the best possible experience.”

“Having a diverse workforce is important because it brings together different perspectives, which in turn can help us solve problems faster, innovate with more success, and go above and beyond for our customers in order to deliver them the best possible experience,” Davis noted. “From a customer perspective, having a diverse and inclusive workforce allows us to better understand and meet the needs of those we serve.”

Bob Belitz, president and CEO of Tighe & Bond (see related story on page 20), agreed, noting that the civil-engineering firm’s roster of projects is so broad and affects so many different communities and demographics that it’s important to have team with backgrounds and experiences that are equally varied.

“I think that makes a difference, and we’re really committed to that because of the project portfolio we have,” he said. “We’re also trying to expand the schools that we recruit from, expanding our reach to produce more talent.”

A company that wants to be truly diverse may approach its strategy through many goals, Polite said, from training employees to recognize and prevent unconscious bias in their actions and comments to using gender-neutral language in outward communication, to making sure job postings and promotion opportunities reflect a commitment to diversity.

That doesn’t mean hiring based on checking demographic boxes, she added, but it may mean considering where and how employees are recruited — such as recruiting from a broader range of colleges or partnering with cultural organizations in the community or reaching out to staffing agencies that specialize in DEI.

“I also love it when I see employers have supplier diversity goals,” Polite said. “That tells an employee that they’re committed to diversity; that really shows inclusiveness as a organization. And that makes you, as a minority or someone from a different culture, feel more relaxed. It’s like, ‘OK, there is some commitment here.’ But if you don’t have those types of mechanisms set up, like how do you convey that to the job seeker? How do you convey that to your organization?”

 

Leading by Example

The answer to that question takes many forms, Polite said, but it has to begin at the top.

“You’ve got to start on the leadership level. Starting from the bottom up doesn’t typically work; you have to start from the top down. And you have to have some accountability with your initiatives, too.”

There, she paused for a moment to add that she’s trying to stay away from the word ‘initiatives’ when she talks to clients because it lacks a key sense of permanence.

“We’re trying to weave it into the employer mission, what they do every day. Initiatives change all the time, correct? So we want to make sure we’re not just doing initiatives; what can we can do on a daily basis?”

Henderson also spoke to the importance of executive leadership in crafting effective DEI strategies.

“We know it increases productivity, it increases employee engagement, it increases retention, and it makes it easier to recruit,” he said. “But some companies don’t know where to start; they’ll say to the HR person, ‘hey, create a DEI plan and implement it.’ And then the HR person has that responsibility.

“But it really has to come from the leadership,” he went on. “If the leadership is not a champion for any initiative, including DEI, it’s not going to stick. You can’t change the culture from the middle up or the bottom up. It has to come from leadership. When a leadership team decides it wants to focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, that’s a step in the right direction because it has to come from the top, not the middle.”

Moriarty agreed. “It has to start at the top. I had to start by providing leadership, advocating, training for DEI, and actively trying to foster a bank culture where we promote and support an environment where everyone feels valued and respected and has a strong sense of belonging. The goal is to have everyone be their authentic self at work.”

As Polite noted, it’s something companies of all types and sizes are taking seriously.

“I think employers are more committed than they’ve ever been. Even now, we still get a lot of requests for DEI training,” she said, adding quickly that the result must go beyond mere lip service.

“It still goes back to the commitment. As the leader of an organization, you have to draw the line and say, ‘this is what I’m going to commit to.’ A lot of employers have started to engage the topic of diversity and discrimination, and others have been too scared to touch it — not because they don’t believe in it, but they don’t want to offend, and they don’t know how to approach it.”

She recommends connecting with a consultant on hard questions — and, importantly, conducting internal surveys to gauge the workplace culture and reactions to any changes.

After all, Moriarty said, by creating a workplace where all feel welcome, the bank should become a more attractive employer for people from a variety of backgrounds.

“We’re fostering that culture where we can inspire our existing workforce, but also attract the diversity of experience from outside our walls, so they say, ‘hey, Monson Savings Bank is committed. They talk the talk and walk the walk.’”

The end goal, he noted, is a more diverse workplace, a more diverse vendor profile, and a more diverse customer base. “It’s definitely an ongoing journey along the path to do what’s right.”

Mid-year Tax Planning

By Contributor
Accounting and Tax Planning Special Coverage

With Legislation Stalled, 2024 Sees Few Changes

By Kristina D. Houghton, CPA

 

After overwhelming approval by the House Ways and Means Committee on Jan. 19, the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024 was sent to the House under rules that would limit the ability to amend the text but would require approval by two-thirds of the chamber.

After a delay caused by a minor revolt of some GOP members who were trying to get an increase in the state and local tax deduction limit added to the bill as well as modifications of the child tax credit, an agreement was made to consider those in a separate bill in the near future, so the legislation passed by the House is the same version that was passed out of committee.

The bill provides for increases in the child tax credit, delays the requirement to deduct research and experimentation expenditures over a five-year period, reinstates the depreciation and amortization add-back through 2025 for purposes of calculating the business interest limitation, extends the 100% bonus depreciation through 2025, and increases the Code Sec. 179 deduction limitation, among other business-friendly provisions.

“Standard deduction amounts for 2024 have been inflation-adjusted and are higher than they were last year.”

Unfortunately, the Senate never addressed the bill. Due to the large number of provisions that are retroactively applicable to the 2023 tax year, and in some cases even earlier, the original hope was to get the bill passed before the start of the 2024 filing season. Since that deadline has passed, the goal is still to get the bill passed as soon as possible to minimize the administrative burdens on the IRS. There is no current date set for a Senate vote, and with this being an election year, the likelihood is slim.

As a result, planning for 2024 will not be much different than 2023, but let’s summarize the few changes, primarily inflation-related adjustments, effective for 2024. Pay attention to these changes because they can hurt or help your bottom line. Use this information now so you can hold on to more of your hard-earned money when it’s time to file your 2024 federal income tax return in early 2025.

 

Individual Tax Changes

Retirement Savings

Key dollar limits on workplace retirement plans and IRAs increase in 2024. The maximum 401(k) contribution is $23,000. People born before 1975 can contribute an extra $7,500. These limits also apply to 403(b) and 457 plans.

SIMPLEs have a $16,000 cap, plus $3,500 for individuals age 50 and older.

The 2024 contribution cap for traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs is $7,000, plus $1,000 as an additional catch-up contribution for individuals age 50 and older.

The income ceilings on Roth IRA pay-ins are higher for 2024. Contributions phase out at adjusted gross incomes of $230,000 to $240,000 for joint filers and $146,000 to $161,000 for single filers.

2024 deduction phaseouts for traditional IRAs range from adjusted gross incomes of $123,000 to $143,000 for joint filers covered by 401(k) plans and $77,000 to $87,000 for single filers and heads of household. If only one spouse is covered by the plan, the phaseout range for deducting pay-ins for the uncovered spouse is $230,000 to $240,000.

 

Adoption Tax Credit

The adoption credit is taken on up to $16,810 of qualified expenses in 2024. The full credit is available for a special-needs adoption even if it costs less. The credit phases out for filers with modified AGIs over $252,150 and ends at $292,150.

 

Standard Deduction

Standard deduction amounts for 2024 have been inflation-adjusted and are higher than they were last year.

The income-tax brackets for individuals are much wider for 2024 because of inflation during the 2023 fiscal year. Tax rates are unchanged.

 

Capital Gains and Qualified Dividends

The favorable tax rates on long-term capital gains and qualified dividends do not change. But the income thresholds to qualify for the various rates go up for 2024. The 0% tax rate applies at taxable incomes up to $94,050 for joint filers, $63,000 for heads of household, and $47,025 for single filers. The 20% tax rate starts at $583,751 for joint filers, $551,351 for heads of household, and $518,901 for single filers. The 15% tax rate is for filers with taxable incomes between the 0% and 20% break point.

The annual gift tax exclusion for 2024 is $18,000 per donee. That means in 2024, you can gift up to $18,000 ($36,000 if your spouse agrees) to each child, grandchild, or any other person without having to file a gift-tax return or tap your lifetime estate and gift tax exemption. Annual gifts over the exclusion amount will trigger filing of a gift tax return for 2024, but no gift tax will be due unless your total lifetime gifts exceed $13,610,000.

 

Business Tax Changes

Depreciation

First-year bonus depreciation isn’t as valuable in 2024. Last year, businesses could deduct 80% of the cost of new and used qualifying business assets with lives of 20 years or less. This year, the 80% writeoff decreases to 60%.

However, Section 179 expensing is higher. $1,220,000 of assets can be expensed in 2024. This limit phases out dollar for dollar once more than $3,050,000 of assets are put into use in 2024.

Note that the amount of business assets expensed can’t exceed the business’s taxable income. Bonus depreciation doesn’t have this rule.

 

Pass-through Income

A key dollar threshold on the 20% deduction for pass-through income rises in 2024. Self-employed individuals and owners of LLCs, S-corporations and other pass-throughs can deduct 20% of their qualified business income, subject to limitations for individuals with taxable incomes of more than $383,900 for joint filers and $191,950 for all others.

 

Conclusion

It is difficult to do tax planning in anticipation of what might happen in Washington, especially with this being an election year and the great divide on tax policy between the parties. Maybe the best planning would be to plan for possible tax changes in 2025 depending not only on the party that wins the presidential election, but also on the mark-up of the House and the Senate.

It could well be time to accelerate gifting, accelerate income, and postpone deductions. Perhaps with optimism, you can imagine that those postponed R&D and interest deductions will give you a deduction at a higher tax rate, and maybe this can lessen the pain of accepting possible increased tax rates.

Finally, remember that this article is intended to serve only as a general guideline. Your personal circumstances will likely require careful examination and should be discussed with your tax adviser.

 

Kristina D. Houghton, CPA is a partner at the Holyoke-based accounting firm Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C.

Developer for Clocktower Project Brings Impressive Track Record to Springfield

By
Architect’s renderings of the Clocktower Building and the Colonial Block (below).
Commercial Real Estate Special Coverage

‘We Love Real Estate’

Architect’s renderings of the Clocktower Building and the Colonial Block (below).

Architect’s renderings of the Clocktower Building and the Colonial Block (below).
(Images courtesy of Pickard Chilton)

Colonial Block

Colonial Block

When Ed Woodbury was encouraged by close friend Tim Brangle, president of Chicago Consultants Studio, to closely consider the Clocktower Building project in Springfield, he immediately challenged him to back up that request.

“He said, ‘Ed … you should take a look at this,’” recalled Woodbury, president of Chicago-based McCaffery Interests, which has a wide and deep portfolio of urban development and redevelopment projects, many of them clustered in Pittsburgh, Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia, and the Windy City, and considers hundreds, if not thousands, of requests for proposals each year. “And I said, ‘why? Why do you think this is for us?’

“He spoke very highly of the city and its leadership, pointed out the inherent attributes of the Basketball Hall of Fame and the casino, and then gave a brief history of how Springfield had turned the corner from previous down times, if you will,” Woodbury said of Brangle, who has consulted with Springfield officials on the design of the casino and economic development surrounding it. “Naturally, none of that was familiar to us, so we looked at it, and the story happened to be true. And we liked that story.”

That’s a brief synopsis of how the Clocktower initiative, which involves three properties owned by the Springfield Redevelopment Authority — the Clocktower Building (113-117 State St.), the Colonial Block (1139-1155 Main St.), and a smaller building on Stockbridge Street — came to be part of that impressive portfolio.

On the McCaffery website, the project is listed among others like in size and character, including 1600 Smallman, the historic renovation of a 1921 structure in the Strip District of Pittsburgh into office spaces with views of the downtown skyline and the Allegheny River, and the Cork Factory project, an award-winning restoration and redevelopment of the Armstrong Cork Factory, also in Pittsburgh (more on that later).

In many ways, the Springfield project, which will add more than 90 units of market-rate housing to the mix, fits right in with these others, said Woodbury, adding that it involves redevelopment of historic properties, but also represents economic development and efforts to revitalize that area of the city.

“This will require multiple sources — you don’t just make one or two phone calls and someone says, ‘yeah, I like that project; I’ll fund it with you. It’s going to take more than a village — it’s going to take a little city.’”

“It’s a neat little project — it’s not big in our world,” Woodbury said of the Springfield initiative. “But I think we’re adding something to the downtown, both by the restoration but also through our development approach and how we look at projects and think about them.

“We don’t look at the buildings themselves,” he went on. “We look at the context of the buildings and where they sit — in this case, across from the casino and across from the MassMutual Center.”

From what he’s heard and seen himself — he’s now visited Springfield a few times — the city is in what he called the early stages of a rebirth, and this project could help bring it to the next stage.

“One of the things that adds to a rebirth is, in some cases, retail, but in a lot of cases, it’s getting people to live back downtown,” he said, “rather than working there, leaving there, and going back to their home in another part of town or one of the suburbs.”

While there are opportunities with this project, with a projected price tag of $55 million to $60 million, there are challenges as well, especially when it comes to funding, said Woodbury, listing the current economy and rising interest rates among those challenges, factors that will require more creativity when it comes to what he called the ‘capital stack,’ or the blend of resources that will be needed to make this project reality.

“This will require multiple sources — you don’t just make one or two phone calls and someone says, ‘yeah, I like that project; I’ll fund it with you,’” he said. “It’s going to take more than a village — it’s going to take a little city.”

Armstrong Cork Factory in Pittsburgh

Ed Woodbury says restoration of the Armstrong Cork Factory in Pittsburgh is one of several projects in the McCaffery Interests portfolio similar to the Springfield undertaking.
(Photo courtesy of Ed Massery)

The company has vast experience assembling needed funding, he went on, adding that he’s confident that the ‘little city’ he mentioned can come together, and that this project will play a significant role in Springfield reaching the next stages of a rebirth.

For this issue and its focus on commercial real estate, BusinessWest talked at length with Woodbury about McCaffery Interests, the Clocktower building project, and how this Springfield initiative fits the company’s mission — “to transform underutilized urban assets into dynamic destinations that serve modern lives as they intersect at work, home, and play.”

 

Landmark Decisions

Woodbury said McCaffery handles a broad range of work, from development to property management. And in that first category, it focuses on both redevelopment of existing (again, usually underutilized) properties to new construction.

But the common denominator, if you will, is that essentially all this work is carried out in cities.

“The focus has always been in urban areas,” he told BusinessWest. “We like the life, the vitality, and even the grit of cities.”

Most projects are in larger cities, including Pittsburgh, Chicago, D.C. and the surrounding area, and, most recently, Denver, where the company has several projects in various stages, including T3 RiNo, a mixed-use, 250,000-square-foot office project in that city’s burgeoning River North (RiNo) District.

“The focus has always been in urban areas. We like the life, the vitality, and even the grit of cities.”

Formed in 1991 by Dan McCaffery (Woodbury said he joined him “almost immediately”), the company’s first signature project was the revitalization of a former Saks Fifth Avenue store on Michigan Avenue in Chicago.

“We renovated it, leased it out, and put in Nike, Sony, and Cole Hahn; it was the height of what we call Main Street retail,” he recalled, adding that the project set the tone for other initiatives to come.

These include restoration of another historic property, 400 Post St. in San Francisco’s Union Square, that was destined to be torn down. “It was a great piece of real estate that had been overlooked for years,” Woodbury recalled. “We said, ‘heck, this is a cool, old building; let’s restore it.’ We put in a Disney store and a Borders Books.”

Reliance Building in Chicago

Restoration and redevelopment of the Reliance Building in Chicago, now home to the Hotel Burnham, is another project in the McCaffery portfolio similar to the one in Springfield.

As he cited those names, he noted that retail has certainly changed over the past few decades and especially the past several years; thus, the company now focuses mostly on mixed-use projects, be they new construction or renovation of existing structures, with retail on the ground floor and residential in the floors above — which is what is proposed for the Springfield project, as we’ll see.

And while McCaffery does most of its work in larger metropolitan areas, the company considers projects in communities across the country.

“We’re opportunity-focused — we search for unique opportunities and chase them,” Woodbury said. “The other thing is, we love real estate — old buildings, new buildings, it doesn’t matter; we love real estate.

“For us, it’s about finding high-quality real estate and exploring and seeing what we can do — with the land or existing properties,” he went on, adding that, with Springfield and its Clocktower Building initiative, what it can do — what it wants to do — is bring that aforementioned mix of uses, specifically retail on the ground floors and residential on the upper floors.

 

Lofty Expectations

Indeed, architect’s renderings of both the Clocktower Building and the Colonial Block portray well-lit shops with sidewalks crowded with passersby, elements certainly missing from the current picture — and missing for the past several years, in fact.

To make those colorful images become reality, McCaffery Interests will call on 34 years of experience with dozens of projects in several different cities and high levels of creativity with putting together a needed funding stack.

As he talked about the Springfield initiative, Woodbury said there are several projects in the portfolio that are somewhat similar — maybe not in terms of overall size and scope, but certainly in terms of restoring landmark properties, using historic tax credits to finance the work, and creating higher levels of vibrancy in downtowns or other key districts.

These include restoration and redevelopment of the Reliance Building in Chicago, now home to the Hotel Burnham, which was built in 1895 and is listed among the 100 most historically significant skyscrapers in the world.

“It’s one of the original high-rises in Chicago and one of the first places where an elevator was utilized in high-rise construction,” he explained. “We renovated it, but didn’t return it to an office building; we converted it to a hotel with restaurants on the ground floor.”

His short list also includes restoration of the Armstrong Cork Factory in Pittsburgh, originally constructed in 1901, and converted into 297 loft apartments, a project that earned several awards, including an Award for Excellence in 2009 from the Urban Land Institute and a Western Pennsylvania Golden Trowel Award in 2007.

“We took a building that was old and abandoned and invested side by side with a great partner in Pittsburgh and put the property on the historic register,” he said, adding that the project is one of the key contributors to growing vibrancy in the Strip District.

Springfield’s Clocktower Building and Colonial Block are similar in that they both boast considerable amounts of history — and have been largely vacant for several years now.

And, in Woodbury’s estimation, they have a future that can be as significant as their past.

“The Clocktower Building has great bones to it, and it’s the same with the Colonial Block,” he said. “The Clocktower Building is older, and some of the renovations over the years have unfortunately disrupted its historic character, but it adds a nice scale to the street — State and Main — which is fun to say, because it’s literally State and Main.

“And the Colonial Block was originally residential on the upper floors, which lends itself nicely to converting it back to that,” he went on, adding that, overall, Springfield is “looking forward being optimistic about what a city can and should be — and those are the kinds of places where we like to work.”

As for the challenges ahead, especially funding, Woodbury returned to that notion of this project needing not a village, but a small city of resources contributing to the capital stack.

“Federal and state tax credits are going to be a big source — they will be the lead bell cow in our funding stack,” he explained. “But there will be some funding needed from the State House, there might be some funding needed from the city, and then there’s obviously some private monies to be put in place as well; all of those food groups will come into play.”

The overall goal is to start construction late this year or early next year, he said, adding that it will be 24 months from when the company submits final drawings until the first tenants — residential and commercial — can move in.

Woodbury is confident this goal can be met, and equally confident that this initiative can do what so many other projects in the McCaffery portfolio have: revitalize not only real estate, but entire neighborhoods and cities.

HCC Awarded $832K to Boost Clean-energy Workforce 

By
Daily News

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Community College (HCC) has been awarded an $832,000 grant to help train workers for jobs in the clean-energy sector. 

The two-year grant, announced earlier this month, was part of an overall $3.4 million allocation from the Healey-Driscoll administration to three higher-education institutions for climate-related workforce-training initiatives.  

HCC was the only institution in Western Mass. to receive funding. Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology and Roxbury Community College, both in Boston, also received grant awards of $1.3 million each. 

“This is a great opportunity for the region,” said Kermit Dunkelberg, HCC’s assistant vice president of Adult Education and Workforce Development. “The state is putting a lot of investment into the clean-energy sector, for a lot of reasons. To their credit, the Healey administration is very interested in getting some activity going in the western part of the state.” 

Overall, the grants will lead to green-industry-specific training for an estimated 400 individuals, 150 of them through HCC. 

Dunkelberg said HCC and its community and industry partners will spend the next few months developing training programs in five areas: EV (electric vehicle) charging station installation; energy auditing, solar installation, green industry supervision and management, and green careers job readiness. 

“You’re starting to see electric vehicle charging stations more commonly now, but there is still a need to build a lot more of them, and there needs to be people trained to do it,” Dunkelberg said. “And then, car companies will be able to sell more electric vehicles. All these things are connected.” 

For instance, he said, auto dealer Gary Rome wrote a letter in support of the grant. 

Dunkelberg said there are businesses looking to get into the emerging EV station market, but it’s difficult to start operations without enough trained employees. “It’s a chicken-and-egg problem. We’re going to be training people while these companies are trying to get their businesses going.” 

Electricians, he said, are critical in this emerging industry. “In the clean-energy sector, one of the biggest choke points, if not the biggest choke point, is the availability of enough training electricians to do the work. To work as an EV charging station installer or a solar installer, you don’t have to be a licensed electrician, but you have to have some experience as an electrician.” 

HCC’s partners in the grant include Holyoke Gas & Electric, Springfield Works, and the Coalition for Equitable Economy (CEE), an organization that supports businesses owned by people of color. Holyoke Community College is a federally recognized Hispanic-Serving Institution, which was one of the eligibility requirements for the grant.  

“We’ll be doing some small-business development with the coalition with the goal of creating more opportunities for people of color,” Dunkelberg said. 

He added that he expects training to begin in early 2025, if not sooner. 

“HCC does a lot of work in the healthcare space,” he noted. “This grant will enable us to provide opportunities in a totally different sector. There’s a lot to learn here and new relationships to establish — quite a bit of groundwork to be done.” 

Florence Bank Presents 2024 President’s Award to Three Employees 

By
Daily News

FLORENCE — Florence Bank announced that it recently presented its 2024 President’s Award to three staff members for exceptional service. 

Established in 1995, the President’s Award recognizes outstanding performance, customer service, and overall contributions to Florence Bank. Those named are nominated by their colleagues at the bank. 

This year’s award recognizes Kim Downing, branch manager and assistant vice president in the Chicopee branch; Michele St. Germain, senior teller and customer-service representative in the West Springfield branch; and Christina Mullen, loan servicing manager in the main office in Florence. 

With 38 years in the banking industry, Downing was recognized for her communication, team management, and customer-service skills. She was also saluted for her commitment to community service. She currently serves as a board member of the Therapeutic Equestrian Center and sits on the gala committee for the Boys & Girls Club of Chicopee. 

St. Germain has 36 years of banking experience and was saluted for her ability to quickly and effectively respond to customers’ needs, her positivity, mentoring colleagues, and communicating effectively. She was also recognized for handling customer transactions courteously and for supporting the teller operations manager and tellers to ensure efficient operations. 

In her role at the bank, Mullen is responsible for servicing residential mortgages and consumer loans. She was lauded for her attention to detail and ensuring that her staff provides outstanding customer service at all times. She has 34 years of experience in the industry. 

“These employees have given their peers excellent reasons to nominate them,” said Matt Garrity, president and CEO of Florence Bank. “They are hardworking, determined, patient, enthusiastic, and compassionate — qualities we value at Florence Bank.” 

Whittlesey Celebrates Annual Community Day with Volunteer Initiatives 

By
Daily News

HARTFORD, Conn. — On June 14, Whittlesey, one of New England’s largest regional CPA and consulting firms, continued its annual day of volunteerism with various projects across Connecticut and Western Mass. 

For more than a decade, Whittlesey team members have stepped away from their desks to engage in activities that directly impact the communities where they live and work. This year, Whittlesey mobilized team members throughout the region to collaborate with the Bushnell Park Conservancy, the Diaper Bank of Connecticut, and the Zoo in Forest Park. Volunteers engaged in a variety of activities, including park cleanup efforts, mulching, planting flower beds, and repairing and painting fences. At the Connecticut Diaper Bank, team members sorted and repackaged diapers to support families in need. 

“Our dedication to community service extends beyond our professional roles,” said Drew Andrews, CEO and managing partner at Whittlesey. “Our annual Community Day exemplifies our belief in giving back to our communities. Partnering with these extraordinary organizations this year has been an honor, and we are excited about the difference we can make together.” 

Whittlesey’s Community Day is part of a broader series of initiatives the firm undertakes throughout the year, underscoring its core belief in the power of community engagement. The firm takes pride in its longstanding partnerships with diverse nonprofit organizations and the real-world impacts they achieve together. 

Food Bank Prepares for Spike in Food Assistance This Summer 

By
Daily News

CHICOPEE — As schools close for the summer, nearly 27,000 children in Western Mass. face the harsh reality of not having enough food. Despite all Massachusetts students having access to free breakfast and lunch during the school year, the summer months leave many families struggling to fill the gap, relying heavily on the Food Bank’s 180-plus member food pantries and meal sites.  

Every month, the Food Bank provides approximately 1 million meals to more than 100,000 people. Hunger exists in every county across the Commonwealth, with Western Mass. seeing some of the highest levels of food insecurity. Berkshire and Hampden counties rank in the top five, according to Greater Boston Food Bank’s fourth annual statewide report.  

While a significant number of food-insecure households in Western Mass. live above the federal poverty limit, people still struggle to provide enough food for their families. The high costs for rent, mortgage payments, electricity, childcare, and transportation strain budgets and make it difficult for families to afford nutritious food.  

These challenges disproportionately affect single parents, particularly Black and Latino single parents. In addition to the financial strain of operating on a single income, these parents face systemic racism that manifests in employment and wage discrimination, as well as in the physical landscape of their communities. Planning decisions often isolate them from essential resources like full-service grocery stores, childcare, and transportation, further compounding their difficulties.  

“The summer months are challenging for families,” said Jillian Morgan, director of Development for the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts. “Without school meals, many families must look elsewhere for food assistance. To meet the increased need, the Food Bank has launched a summer hunger appeal to ensure our food-assistance network can meet the demand.”  

With every dollar donated, the Food Bank donates the equivalent of three meals through its network of food pantries and meal sites. By supporting the summer hunger appeal, donors can make a significant impact on the lives of children and families this summer and beyond.  

Visit foodbankwma.org to make a secure online donation. For more information on childhood hunger, visit foodbankwma.org/summer-hunger. 

Picture This

By
Critical Funding
Picture This

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

 

Critical Funding

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Bureau of Substance Addiction Services recently awarded Mercy Medical Center a grant totaling $1,171,322 million to support the hospital’s consult services for substance-use disorder.

Critical Funding

Pictured, from left: state Rep. Orlando Ramos; Dan Keenan, regional vice president, Advocacy and Government Relations, Trinity Health Of New England; Maria Mead, Behavioral Health clinical supervisor at Mercy; Edna Rodríguez, Mercy’s director of Behavioral Health; Mercy President Dr. Robert Roose; state Rep. Shirley Arriaga and her daughter; state Rep. Carlos González; and state Sen. John Velis.

 

 

Supporting the Vision

Leaders from the Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation recently visited Square One to celebrate the foundation’s $500,000 gift toward the construction of Square One’s new home. The Davis Foundation was among the first funders to support the project, awarding Square One $50,000 in 2022 to complete a feasibility study to gauge support.

Davis Foundation.

Pictured, from left: Dawn DiStefano, president and CEO of Square One; Kiley O’Meara, Laurel Ferretti, and Drew Davis from the Davis Foundation; Kris Allard and Maria Bedard from Square One; and Paul Belsito, executive director of the Davis Foundation.

 

Community Grants

In a celebration on May 14 at the Garden House at Look Park, Florence Bank awarded $150,000 to 40 area nonprofits through its annual Customers’ Choice Community Grants Program. Through this annual program, launched in 2002, customers are invited to vote for their favorite local nonprofit in hopes it will receive a share of grant funding. In 2023, roughly 7,168 votes were cast.

 

 

Grand Opening

Fill-It Self Storage, located at 575 North Road in Westfield, recently celebrated its grand opening. The 34,500-square-foot facility, consisting of six buildings and 232 units, offers climate-controlled and drive-up units. The grand opening was attended by Westfield Mayor Michael McCabe, state Sen. John Velis, and state Rep. Kelly Pease. Peter Houser of Wilbraham and Philip Houser of Pittsfield are the owners; Peter also owns 109 Apremont Way in Westfield, where Bright Ideas Brewing recently opened.

 

 

Celebrating 35 Years

Fill-It Self Storage, located at 575 North Road in Westfield, recently celebrated its grand opening. The gathering was attended by approximately 125 residents, community members, board members, and staff members and included the distribution of the 2023 annual report, which highlights the community’s achievements and future plans. The event also included the official adoption of SPICES (simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality, and stewardship) as part of Lathrop’s values.

 

 

Open Wide

The second-floor clinic of Building 20 at Springfield Technical Community College was transformed into a bustling hub of oral healthcare on April 27 as STCC hosted its sixth annual Community Dental Day. The event, a partnership between STCC, the Valley District Dental Society, and the Massachusetts Dental Society Foundation, included over 75 volunteers, including general dentists, oral surgeons, periodontists, a pediatric dentist, and an orthodontist.

Pictured, from left: STCC President John Cook; Dr. Andrea Fallon, who has a dental practice in Southampton; and Dr. Michael Nardi from the Valley District Dental Society.

Pictured, from left: STCC President John Cook; Dr. Andrea Fallon, who has a dental practice in Southampton; and Dr. Michael Nardi from the Valley District Dental Society.

Agenda

By
Agenda

Healthcare Heroes Nominations

Through July 29: In the spring of 2017, BusinessWest and its sister publication, the Healthcare News, created a new and exciting recognition program called Healthcare Heroes. It was launched with the theory that there are heroes working across this region’s wide, deep, and all-important healthcare sector, and that there was no shortage of fascinating stories to tell and individuals and groups to honor. That theory has certainly been validated. But there are hundreds, perhaps thousands of heroes whose stories we still need to tell. And that’s where you come in. Nominations for the class of 2024 are due Monday, July 29, and we encourage you to get involved and help recognize someone you consider to be a hero in the community we call Western Mass. in one (or more) of these eight categories: Care Provider, Administrator, Emerging Leader, Community Health, Educator, Innovation, Collaboration, and Lifetime Achievement. Nominations can be submitted at businesswest.com/healthcareheroes/nominations.

 

Dulye Leadership Experience Virtual Leadership Program

June 26: Dulye Leadership Experience will present a Culture Chat titled “The Shift You Need to Make When You Become a Leader.” This free virtual program begins at noon. Prominent LinkedIn leadership voice Evan Hickok will provide tips for avoiding the biggest barriers that cause 60% of new managers to fail within the first 24 months in their role. This one-hour session is ideal for current managers and professionals seeking a future management role. Hickok has leveraged his interest in building high-performing teams into a weekly newsletter, “Lighthouse Leadership,” and content creation on LinkedIn. He has held leadership roles in engineering and manufacturing at General Electric and General Dynamics, and has designed complex systems for the U.S. Navy and served as a program manager for multi-million-dollar projects with demanding customers. Throughout his two-decade experience in major corporations, he has conducted extensive research on the differences between successful and struggling teams. He created an onboarding process for a Fortune 100 company that accelerated the productivity of more than 500 new hires by accelerating their connections. Culture Chat is a career-focused program that fosters conversations and connections with professionals from different industries and companies. The interactive program format features a mini-workshop with the expert followed by small group discussions. Reserve a virtual seat here by visiting www.eventbrite.com/e/dle-culture-chat-the-shift-you-need-to-make-when-you-become-a-leader-registration-907236798687?aff=oddtdtcreator. There is no fee to attend, thanks to the sustained sponsorship of the Dulye & Co. consulting firm.

 

Free Fraud, Scams, and Cybersecurity Seminar

June 26: Monson Savings Bank will host a free seminar from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Twin Hills Country Club in Longmeadow. The seminar will be focused on helping attendees from businesses grow their awareness of risks and prevention methods related to fraud, scams, and cybersecurity. In the no-cost seminar, expert speakers Heather Arbour, Monson Savings Bank vice president, BSA/fraud officer, and compliance manager; Paul Shepardson, Monson Savings Bank assistant vice president and digital systems officer; and Charlie Christianson, owner and technology and security professional with CMD Technology Group Inc., will share with attendees how to protect themselves and their businesses from fraud and scams, how to identify scam-prevention methods, how to create a risk assessment for their current business practices, how to develop security procedures for their business and employees, and how to respond to events where a business may be at risk for fraud or a scam.

 

Yidstock

July 11-14: Tickets are now on sale for Yidstock: the Festival of New Yiddish Music. Now in its 12th year, Yidstock brings the best in klezmer and new Yiddish music to the stage at the Yiddish Book Center in Amherst. Highlights this year will include the Klezmatics, Frank London, Eleanor Reissa, Judy Bressler, Daniel Kahn, and many more. Concert passes are available and include admission to all concerts and the two dance workshops. Individual tickets are also available for purchase for those who can only attend for part of the weekend. This year, livestream concert passes will allow friends from afar to experience Yidstock from the comfort of their homes. These passes only include access to the seven concerts; they do not include access to talks, workshops, or the film screening. Visit yiddishbookcenter.org/yidstock for more information and to purchase tickets.

 

Party for a Purpose

Sept. 19: With the goal of making sure Square One’s children have a new, state-of-the-art, outdoor learning and playspace, Friends on a Mission will host its annual Party for a Purpose to raise funds for the playground project at Square One’s Tommie Johnson Child & Family Center in Springfield. Now in its second year, Friends on a Mission started with a trio of friends — Bob Perry, Walter Tomala, and the late Jenn Schimmel — who set out to spend time together while giving back to the community. Their inaugural event held last fall raised more than $38,000 for Make-A-Wish of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. With early sponsorship support from PeoplesBank and Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C., this year’s Party for a Purpose, featuring cocktails, food, and festivities, will be held at 5:30 p.m. at the Delaney House in Holyoke. Interested sponsors should contact Perry at (413) 530-3787. For tickets, visit www.startatsquareone.org.

Company Notebook

By
Company Notebook

Greenfield Savings Bank Donates $50,000 to Iron Horse Music Hall

NORTHAMPTON — Greenfield Savings Bank announced it is making a donation of $50,000 to the Parlor Room Collective in support of its $750,000 capital campaign to revive the Iron Horse Music Hall in downtown Northampton. The Parlor Room Collective, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to enhance the health and vitality of the community through the power of music, purchased the Iron Horse last fall and launched a capital campaign to raise funds for renovations and updates to the historic music venue. Updates included expanding to the neighboring storefront at 18 Center St. and putting in 10 bathrooms on the first floor. The Iron Horse reopened its doors to the public for the first time on May 15 to a sold-out crowd with Taylor Ashton and Rachael & Vilray playing to an audience eager to celebrate the return of this beloved venue. Chris Freeman, executive director of the Parlor Room Collective, said the gift from Greenfield Savings Bank will help cover the costs of the extensive renovations that have made the Iron Horse a more accessible space, as well as the startup costs for the restaurant and the staff more than doubling in size to account for the new venue and restaurant. Along with the bar space and bathrooms, Iron Horse updates include flooring, lighting, HVAC, and a new sound system. These updates prioritize the customer and artist experience, making the space more comfortable and accessible than ever before.

 

Kuhn Riddle Rolls Out New Name, Logo

AMHERST — Kuhn Riddle Architects, an Amherst firm established in 1988 by John Kuhn and Chris Riddle, has rolled out its new name and new look. The firm is now Kuhn Riddle Architects & Designers and is headed by its second generation of leadership, President Aelan Tierney and Principals Jonathan Salvon and Charles Roberts. The firm worked with a Northampton-based creative studio, Transit Authority Figures, to develop a logo, signature colors, fonts, and a name that reflects the firm’s foundation, as well as its transitions, growth, and views toward the future. The new Kuhn Riddle logo is built on a simple grid using elemental shapes to create a symmetrical, abstract ‘KR’ monogram. These forms, each consisting of a quarter-circle and a triangle, face each other and together form a square. The new logo reflects Kuhn Riddle’s dedication to smart and creative problem solving rooted in timeless foundational principles. The font used in the new logo recalls the Goudy Old Style used in the original firm logo, yet has its own history, weight, and meaning. The new font, called Martina Plantijn, was developed by the Klim Type Foundry and named after the strong and formidable Dutch businesswomen who ran the Plantin-Moretus publishing house — then the world’s largest — in the early 17th century. As a woman-owned business, Kuhn Riddle takes inspiration from Plantjin’s entrepreneurial spirit and the family-owned company’s legacy of empowering women, which inspired a series of women descendants who went on to manage the business for much of the next three centuries. To complement the new logo, the firm chose deep blue and radiant yellow, color hues that are unique, bright, and friendly.

 

Eversource Named Among Climate Leaders by USA TODAY

BOSTON — For a second consecutive year, Eversource Energy has been recognized by USA TODAY and Statista Inc. as one of America’s Climate Leaders for 2024. Ranked among the top utilities on the list, this distinction highlights the energy company’s efforts to reduce its greenhouse-gas emissions intensity, which is rooted in a commitment to sustainability throughout its operations. The USA TODAY list of America’s Climate Leaders recognizes the top 450 companies across the U.S. that have achieved the greatest reduction in their operational emissions intensity between 2020 and 2022, a measure of the amount of scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gases a company produces relative to its revenue. Following Eversource’s recognition in last year’s list, the company is ranked fourth in the Energy & Utilities category and 173rd overall for 2024.

 

Enlite Cannabis Dispensary Opens in Indian Orchard

INDIAN ORCHARD — Enlite Cannabis Dispensary celebrated the grand opening of its newest location at 479 Main St., Indian Orchard on June 4. The grand-opening event commenced with a ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring special guests, including state Sen. Adam Gomez, Mayor Domenic Sarno, and Ward 8 City Councilor Zaida Govan. As a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) and social-equity dispensary, Enlite is committed to fostering diversity and inclusion within the cannabis industry. The Indian Orchard location marks Enlite’s second opening in Western Mass., reinforcing the company’s dedication to expanding access to high-quality cannabis products in the region. In conjunction with the grand opening, Enlite hosted a food drive to support the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts.

 

UMass Amherst to Join NSF SafeInsights Project

AMHERST — The Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences at UMass Amherst has joined the newly announced U.S. National Science Foundation’s (NSF) SafeInsights, a five-year, $90 million research and development infrastructure for inclusive education research. Led by OpenStax at Rice University, SafeInsights is a large-scale education research hub that will safely connect digital learning platforms and educational institutions to learn about learning. This initiative represents the NSF’s largest single investment in R&D infrastructure for education at a national scale and will be the first national infrastructure of its kind. SafeInsights includes a multi-disciplinary network of 80 collaborating institutions and partners, including major digital learning platforms that currently serve tens of millions of students. Lan and UMass Amherst will join together with researchers and large-scale, digital learning platforms to enable privacy-preserving research studies to better understand student learning. According to national polls conducted by the Data Quality Campaign, 86% of teachers recognize the importance of research in effective teaching. However, the majority of teachers must individually piece together research-informed teaching and learning strategies, often with limited resources. SafeInsights will enable research studies that help researchers understand how students learn best, no matter who they are, what they are learning, or how they are learning. The insights gained can lead to the development of better, research-informed teaching tools and practices, promoting educational equity. SafeInsights stringently protects learner privacy. It uses a unique technique called ‘secure data enclaves,’ which unlocks valuable insights without revealing any student information to researchers or moving student information from the learning tools that it safely lives in today.

 

PeoplesBank Partner NYMBUS Wins FinTech Futures Award

HOLYOKE — FinTech Futures, the global market intelligence platform for financial-services technology, has named NYMBUS the Excellence in Tech winner for Core Banking System at the recent Banking Tech Awards USA ceremony held in New York City. The awards, recognizing the outstanding achievements and successes in the banking and FinTech industry across the U.S., included many of the most well-known and well-respected brands within the industry. Nymbus is a leading technology partner for PeoplesBank. “We are incredibly excited for this recognition for the NYMBUS team and their staff partners here at PeoplesBank,” said Aleda De Maria, executive vice president for Consumer Banking and Operations at PeoplesBank. “We believe that banks need to be able to offer the best technology for their customers, to create a simple banking experience. We are proud to align ourselves with an award-winning tech partner, which has allowed us distinguish ourselves in a competitive category.”

 

Westover Metropolitan Airport Launches New Website

CHICOPEE — Westover Metropolitan Airport announced the launch of its new website, westoverairport.com, designed to streamline the user experience and provide valuable information for travelers, pilots, and aircraft tenants. For close to five decades, Westover Metropolitan Airport has been committed to ensuring safe, convenient, and cost-effective travel. Situated in Chicopee, Westover Municipal Airport’s strategic location offers easy access to major highways. The newly launched website aims to further enhance the airport’s commitment and reputation to exceptional service by providing a user-friendly platform to access essential travel and destination information. Westover Metropolitan Airport benefits from the worldwide reputation of Westover Air Force Reserve Base, but it is important to provide the distinction between the military facility and high-profile operations and the civilian operations. The new website’s focus will help achieve that.

 

Summerlin Floors Makes Donation to Greenfield Community College

AMHERST — Summerlin Floors, woman-owned flooring business based in Amherst, made its annual donation of $2,500 to Greenfield Community College (GCC) in memory of Erin Summerlin, daughter of owner Ann Bronner, who hopes the gift makes a lasting impact and positive contribution toward the educational community. Bronner, a GCC alumna, aims to support the future generation of scholars and give back to the GCC community.

 

Goodwill Receives Grant from Eversource Foundation

PITTSFIELD — Goodwill Industries of the Berkshires and Southern Vermont announced it has received a grant of $1,200 from the Eversource Foundation for its Soar for Success program. In the last year, Goodwill’s Soar for Success program served 53 individuals with job coaching and other services, while providing 1,168 vouchers for clothing and household items to individuals in need. Goodwill’s Soar for Success job-training program focuses on teaching essential employment skills, provides interview and work-appropriate clothing, and helps community members secure meaningful work. The program is offered free of charge to all Berkshire County residents.

People on the Move

By
People on the Move
Vanessa Pabón-Hernandez

Vanessa Pabón-Hernandez

The Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts recently appointed Vanessa Pabón-Hernandez CEO of the philanthropic organization, effective June 17. A native of Springfield’s North End and a driven, longtime mentor of women and champion for social change and empowerment, Pabón-Hernandez succeeds Donna Haghighat in the key role for the nonprofit. Throughout her 25-year career, Pabón-Hernandez has supported women and Latinx community members, first as a marketing strategist in business for herself and later in roles that include program director for the YMCA North End Youth Center, founder of a community-based digital storytelling center, and executive producer at New England Public Media, a role she left in early June after 14 years to accept the CEO position at the Women’s Fund. Pabón-Hernandez has experience as a program developer, grant writer, mentor, facilitator, consensus builder, and storyteller. Inspired by a strong, independent mother who helped facilitate her path, she defied the odds several decades ago as a young, single mother, earning two associate degrees at Springfield Technical Community College before launching her own business as a marketing strategist for political candidates and area businesspeople. She mastered the art of storytelling to advance social change, entered the nonprofit sector, and, over 25 years, led and founded innovative programs in marginalized communities that have allowed thousands of individuals to access resources, leverage their strengths, and drive their own career paths. She has received the Unsung Heroine award from the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women and was named to BusinessWest’s 40 Under Forty. She was also the grand marshal for the Springfield Puerto Rican Parade.

•••••

Kenneth Askins

Kenneth Askins

James Hagan, president and CEO of Westfield Bank, announced that Kenneth Askins has been appointed to the role of mortgage loan officer. He is responsible for the Connecticut towns of Granby, Bloomfield, West Hartford, and surrounding communities, and will be based out of the bank’s 12 East Granby Road location in Granby, Conn. Askins will develop and maintain business relationships with prospective home buyers, Realtors, builders, and colleagues. He has 23 years of experience in the mortgage industry, working as a mortgage loan officer at local competitive banks prior to joining Westfield Bank. He has been recognized as a top performer multiple times throughout his career.

•••••

MassMutual announced that accomplished cybersecurity executive and veteran Eric Boateng has been named head of Enterprise Cyber Security. In this role, he will be responsible for leading the company’s cybersecurity and cyber risk-management strategies and safeguarding MassMutual’s information assets. Boateng most recently served as vice president of Cyber Security, Technology & Resiliency Risk Oversight for American Express. In this role, he developed and implemented the technology risk-management program strategy that included cybersecurity and risk management, while providing effective oversight and credible challenge to American Express’s information-security and technology activities. Prior to that, he held various information and cybersecurity roles of increasing responsibility at New York eHealth Collaborative, Roundpoint Mortgage, Georgia Department of Human Services, and Lockheed Martin. Prior to his career in the private sector, Boateng served two decades as an officer in the U.S. Navy, where he managed multiple IT initiatives and programs, employing industry information security risk-management frameworks and best practices for the U.S. Department of Defense. He earned a bachelor’s degree in information technology from the University of Central Florida, a master’s degree in management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a master’s degree in information technology from Carnegie Mellon University, and a professional degree as a computer systems engineer from Columbia University.

•••••

Joyce Hampton

Joyce Hampton

Elms College named higher-education executive Joyce Hampton its new vice president of Academic Affairs following an extensive search. Reporting directly to President Harry Dumay, Hampton is responsible for the strategic oversight and management of the college’s academic affairs. Her appointment is effective June 3. For 34 years, Hampton has worked at Elms College, where she has progressively risen through the academic ranks as assistant professor, associate professor, and full professor. She has served as director of English as a Second Language and International Programs, associate academic dean, dean of Student Success and Strategic Initiatives, and most recently, associate vice president for Strategic Initiatives and dean of the School of Arts, Sciences, and Professional Programs. She holds both a doctoral degree and master’s degree in education from UMass Amherst and a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Texas.

•••••

Cathy Velez

Cathy Velez

Berkshire Bank announced that Cathy Velez has joined the bank as managing director of Retail Banking and Deposit Operations. As a senior leader, she will oversee the bank’s financial-center network, retail sales and service delivery, and branch operations. She will also direct the execution of the retail banking strategy to drive short- and long-term growth, business-line initiatives, and major divisional projects. Velez joins Berkshire Bank with more than 25 years of extensive experience in banking. Most recently, she served in multiple senior retail and private banking roles for Webster Bank.

•••••

Sandri Energy announced the appointment of Leslie Cernak as vice president of Operations, overseeing the Heating Fuels, Commercial Fuels, and Mechanical Services divisions. With more than 36 years of experience in the fuel-oil and propane industry, Cernak brings considerable expertise to the team. Previously, she served as vice president and treasurer at Cernak Fuel Corp. in Easthampton until its acquisition by HOP Energy LLC in 2018, where she continued to contribute in compliance and legal support roles. Cernak remains deeply engaged in industry affairs and currently holds the position of events chairperson on the executive board of directors for the National Energy and Fuels Institute. She recently earned a master’s degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Law for legal studies in energy and natural resource law. Sandri Energy also announced the promotion of Rudy Herzig to manager of HVAC, Plumbing, Sales, and Service. Herzig started with Sandri in 2003, became a licensed oil burner technician in 2004, and quickly advanced to the position of lead installer. He excels with troubleshooting heating and cooling system issues, and he takes pride in providing quality service for Sandri customers. For the past several years, he has been in a service manager support role, gaining management experience. He looks forward to growing professionally with his new role and guiding Sandri’s service department with exceptional customer service.

•••••

bankESB recently promoted Melissa LaBonte to assistant vice president, Core Systems. LaBonte has 23 years of banking experience. She was promoted to Core Systems manager in 2018 and promoted to Core Systems officer in 2021. She joined the bank in 2001 as a teller, and over the past two decades has held a variety of roles in the Collections, Finance, and Strategic Projects departments. She has an associate degree in business administration and accounting from Holyoke Community College and earned a project management diploma from the Center for Financial Training.

•••••

MountainOne announced that Seth Shepard has been promoted to financial advisor. In this role, Shepard determines a client’s financial objectives, offers strategic advice on products and services to meet client goals, and manages client assets through portfolio design and retirement solutions. His focus is on asset management, portfolio management, retirement planning, and college-education planning. Shepard has been with MountainOne Investments since 2022, most recently as a paraplanner. He is a member of MountainOne’s communications committee and previously served on the MountainOne 175th celebration committee. Prior to joining MountainOne Investments, he was an account manager with Girardi Distributors in Pittsfield and a football coach at Mount Ida College in Newton. He holds a bachelor’s degree in coaching and event operations from Johnson & Wales University.

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

R Q Trotski Inc., 10 Columbus St., Apt. 2, Agawam, MA 01001. Anatolii Trotskovets, same. Home remodeling.

GREENFIELD

Law Office of Mary Anne Royle, PS Inc., 277 Main St., Suite 400, Greenfield, MA 01301. Mary Anne Royle, same. Legal services limited to the issues of federal law.

HOLYOKE

Connect, Develop, Play Inc., 514 Main St., Holyoke, MA 01013. Kimberly Melendez, 22 Mt. Vernon Road, Chicopee, MA 01013. Sports complex offering physical activity, nutrition guidance, athletics mentorship, and tutoring.

Jose Fernando Inc., 98 Lower Westfield Road, Holyoke, MA 01040. Fernando Soto, same. Sales consulting services.

Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 104 Scholarship Fund Corp., 86 Lower Westfield Road, Holyoke, MA 01040. Michael Langone, 91 Chalmers St., Springfield, MA 01118. Raises college scholarship funds and distributes awards to high-school students on the basis of their performance in school, demonstrated interest in the labor movement, and other criteria.

PITTSFIELD

3N Management Corp., 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Mikerlange Pierre, 289 Elmwood St., North Attleborro, MA 02760. A parent holding company specializing in the strategic oversight, financial management, and operational support of its subsidiaries in diverse sectors.

Black Tie Protection Services Inc., 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Kevin Schroeder, 2 Lake St., Suite 8, Monroe, NY 10950. Provides watch guard, guard, and private investigation services.

Heller Inc., 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Robert Heller, same. Consulting services.

Netart Group SRO, 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Sergej Masojedov, same. Data-processing travel agency.

Shadowboxing USA Inc., 146 1st St., Pittsfield, MA 01201. Apryl Breeding, 86 Madison Ave., Pittsfield, MA 01201. Nonprofit organization established to engrage in a broad range of strategies to promote community health, education, and development through the engagement of activities.

Zenvibe Collective Ltd., 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Qing Tan, same. Trading.

SOUTH HADLEY

M&J Deburring Inc., 27 Foch Ave., South Hadley, MA 01075. Melissa Oslin, same. Metal-finishing services.

SPRINGFIELD

Dragon Castle Inc., 338 Cooley St., Springfield, MA 01128. Mei Nuan Li, same. Restaurant.

Forged by Fire Inc., 180 St. James Ave., Springfield, MA 01109. Donald Coleman, 51 Stuart St., Springfield, MA 01119. Nonprofit organization to aid the homeless and formerly homeless with short-term housing, provide counseling and educational services, and solicit funds to aid in carrying out the mission of the corporation.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Amjad RB Inc., 425 Union St., #18, West Springfield, MA 01089. Mohammad Amjad Burhan, same. Franchise restaurant.

Oliveiras Drywall Corp., 1207 Morgan Road, West Springfield, MA 01089. Werley Teixeira de Oliveira, same. Home improvement and remodeling.

VCV Quality Flooring Inc., 39 Talcott Ave., West Springfield, MA 01089. Valeriu Cojocaru, same. Flooring contractor.

WILBRAHAM

The Valley Impact Project Inc., 63 Soule Road, Wilbraham, MA 01095. Thalvan Bui, same. Nonprofit organization providing financial assistance to individuals and families facing economic challenges who may not qualify for support on a large scale.

Doing Business as Certificates

By
DBA Certificates

The following business certificates and/or trade names were issued or renewed during the month of May 2024.

AMHERST

A&L Properties
48 Valley View Dr.
Luis Sumba, Andrea Gerron

Amherst Office Park, Realty
441 West St.
Donald LaVerdiere

DMO Construction
213 North East St.
Deborah Misterka

Empowering Neurodivergence
171 Clark Hill Road, #139
Sheraden Bobot

KMF Appraisals
236 South East St.
Kathleen Foster

Kuhn Riddle Architects & Designers
28 Amity St., Suite 2B
Aelan Tierney

Lisa’s Hair Design
1 Spencer Dr.
Lisa Connor

Paramount Tax
30 Boltwood Walk
Jeffrey Fry

Quabbin Advisors LLC
447 West St.
Megan Donnelly

Pioneer Ed Strategies
56 Hunters Hill Circle
Gregory Runyan

Resurge Catalyst LLC
6 University Dr., Suite 206
Michael Wright

Simply Ten
16 Cranberry Lane
Susan Chinman

Whiskers
129 Brittany Manor, Unit B
Amelia Leonard, Sophia Peary Miller

HADLEY

Barn Out Back LLC
30 Lawrence Plain Road
Gregory Dursza

Bloom Local
233 Bay Road
Lucas Abbott

Dwight Home
27 Maple Ave.
Thomas Dwight

Flagship Drumline
257 Russell St.
Flagship Entertainment

Here We Grow
123 Russell St.
Ryan Matte

K&J Transport Group LLC
112 East St.
Kojo Essell

Nueva Skin Studio
108 Russell St.
Lia Montalvo

Sweet C Massage
108 Russell St.
Carolyn Lloyd

Towneplace Suites
237 Russell St.
Laxman Parmar

VIP Petcare
335 Russell St.
Community Vet Clinics LLC

Walmart #2683
337 Russell St.
Walmart

HOLYOKE

Aerie by American Eagle
50 Holyoke St.
AE Outfitters Retail Co.

Beyond Carpentry
1056 Main St.
Michael Hoar

Crown Fried Chicken & Grill
915 Main St.
Nasir Awan

Holyoke Motors
263 Hampden St.
Hasan Kuruca

Holyoke Pizza
213 South St.
Evren Turan

KW Property Management
97 Locust St.
Kenrick Williams

Norman Jacques Tax Preparer
25 Columbus Ave.
Norman Jacques

Pickles Pub Pizzeria
910 Hampden St.
Jodi Dulude

RC Realty Business
1971 Northampton St.
Juan Rivera Baez

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers
27 Holyoke St.
Red Robin International Inc.

PITTSFIELD

Absolute Construction Partners
82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100
Absolute Construction Inc.

Alan Honig Building and Remodeling
64 Joan Dr.
Alan Honig

Artistry Nails by Chloe
5 Cheshire Road
Chloe Martin

B&P Property Services
11 Samson Ave.
Adam Haas

Berkshire Heath Pediatrics
758 East St.
Berkshire Faculty Services Inc.

Berkshire Heart and Mind Therapy
100 Wendell Ave.
Colleen Passetto

Congregation Knesset Israel
16 Colt Road
Knesset Israel Synagogue

Haddad Subaru
652 East St.
George Haddad

Haven Driveways
90 Highland Ave.
HLP Realty Holdings LLC

Iglesia Castillo Fuerte
97 Edward Ave.
Maria Arias

International Golf Course Agronomist
98 Spadina Parkway
Richard Bator

John O’Neil Masonry
580 Lakeway Dr.
John O’Neil

Lock Shop of Berkshire County
24 Dalton Ave.
Berkshire Lockshop Inc.

New Asian Garden Inc.
1-3 Newell St.
New Asian Garden Inc.

New Move Massage LLC
36 Dorchester Ave.
Cindy Gagliardi

Next Step Addiction Counseling
150 North St.
Nancy Reis

Nova Computer Services
1440 East St.
Bug Busters CS Inc.

Renovation360 LLC
86 Maplewood Ave.
Jersey Osorio

VIP Petcare
457 Dalton Ave.
Community Veterinary Clinicals LLC

SOUTH HADLEY

7-Eleven 15405B
426 Newton St.
Bandesha Corp.

Diamond Automotive
1 Industrial Dr.
Diamond Tools & Equipment Inc.

Mountain View Strength LLC
138 College St.
Sean Maher

SVG Athletics
749 New Ludlow Road
Savage Athletics

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Andrea Renee Creations
616 Main St.
Andrea Renee Creations

Capital Enterprises
172 Harwich Road
Capital Enterprises

Flash Car Wash
30 Wayside Ave.
Balise Riverdale LLC

Nippon Grill
935 Riversale St., Unit F105-107
Riverdale Cuisine Inc.

Bankruptcies

By
Bankruptcies

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

Bacon, Robert
Bacon Sheryl
162 Lafayette St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Date: 05/08/2023

Brunt, Jason
129 Strong St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Date: 05/13/2023

Cardaropoli, Christopher D.
Cardaropoli, Joanne R.
27 Wisdom Place
Greenfield, MA 0130
Chapter: 7
Date: 05/08/2023

Lapierre, Rileyann
128R Main St.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Date: 05/11/2023

Lazarick, Jaimie L.
3053 South Main St.
Bondsville, MA 01009
Chapter: 7
Date: 05/11/2023

Luchock, Mike J.
75 South St.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Date: 05/15/2023

Malphrus, Melody A.
a/k/a Lent, Melody A.
28 Honeysuckle Dr., Unit 6212A
Chicopee, MA 01022
Chapter: 7
Date: 05/10/2023

Ogata, Janaina
358 Union St.
Ashland, MA 01721
Chapter: 7
Date: 05/12/2023

Roberts, Albert Arthur
222 Windemere St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Date: 05/10/2023

Sheerin,Timothy J.
121 Pine Grove Dr.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Date: 05/14/2023

Usher, Judith A.
193 Oak St.
Indian Orchard, MA 01151
Chapter: 7
Date: 05/11/2023

Real Estate Transactions

By
Real Estate

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

FRANKLIN COUNTY

ASHFIELD

83-F Bear Mountain Dr.
Ashfield, MA 01330
Amount: $416,000
Buyer: Laura J. Fenn
Seller: Pasha Realty LLC
Date: 05/14/24

1480 Cape St.
Ashfield, MA 01330
Amount: $206,000
Buyer: Michael P. Boutwell
Seller: Melissa Fantasia-Lagares
Date: 05/17/24

BUCKLAND

143 East Buckland Road
Buckland, MA 01338
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Diana Weathehrby
Seller: June E. Ovitt
Date: 05/20/24

CHARLEMONT

23 Laurel Lane
Charlemont, MA 01339
Amount: $525,000
Buyer: Benjamin T. Harrington
Seller: Barbara Ann Beall FT
Date: 05/14/24

30 Windy Hill Road
Charlemont, MA 01370
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Megan E. McDonough
Seller: Anemore M. Benedetti
Date: 05/16/24

COLRAIN

42 Shelburne Line Road
Colrain, MA 01340
Amount: $475,000
Buyer: Amanda Iglesias
Seller: Jennifer A. Blythe
Date: 05/14/24

 

DEERFIELD

147 North Main St.
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $18,250,000
Buyer: Agnl Case LLC
Seller: Hardigg Industries LLC
Date: 05/22/24

ERVING

14 West High St.
Erving, MA 01344
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Silas A. Clish
Seller: Elena L. Laclaire
Date: 05/17/24

5 Warner St.
Erving, MA 01344
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Matthew C. Sullivan
Seller: Georgian-Lucas Int.
Date: 05/15/24

GREENFIELD

1 Coombs Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $131,999
Buyer: Ed’s Enterprises LLC
Seller: Fidelity & Guar Life TR
Date: 05/22/24

227 Green River Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $212,000
Buyer: Benegan 2 LLC
Seller: Martino IRT
Date: 05/15/24

158 Log Plain Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Christopher J. Marano
Seller: Wilfried F. Voss
Date: 05/24/24

68 Mohawk Trail
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $550,388
Buyer: Blue Sky Estate LLC
Seller: Cheryl A. Ingersoll
Date: 05/23/24

74 Mohawk Trail
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $550,388
Buyer: Blue Sky Estate LLC
Seller: Cheryl A. Ingersoll
Date: 05/23/24

34 Phillips St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $307,100
Buyer: Alex Cowley
Seller: Dawn M. Leahy
Date: 05/15/24

24 Temple Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Adrienne Craig-Williams
Seller: Barnard, Catherine F., (Estate)
Date: 05/15/24

LEVERETT

4 Jackson Hill Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Amy B. Lohman
Seller: Gurunam K. Khalsa
Date: 05/22/24

340 Long Plain Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Amount: $675,000
Buyer: Caitlin Marquis
Seller: Peter Derrico
Date: 05/13/24

MONROE

7 School St.
Monroe, MA 01350
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: June Ovitt
Seller: Diana M. Noren
Date: 05/20/24

MONTAGUE

8 13th St.
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Branson Builders LLC
Seller: Ninteen James Ave RT
Date: 05/15/24

7 Walnut St.
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Krista L. Leveille
Seller: Karen A. Douglas
Date: 05/14/24

NEW SALEM

1 South Main St.
New Salem, MA 01355
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Quabbin Stop LLC
Seller: Steinberg Thomas FT
Date: 05/15/24

NORTHFIELD

878 Old Wendell Road
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $517,000
Buyer: Cristopher Knight
Seller: Deborah J. Bruno Int.
Date: 05/20/24

ORANGE

21 Chestnut Hill Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: William T. Straub
Seller: Courtney A. Fifield
Date: 05/17/24

12-14 East Main St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $800,000
Buyer: Lamayas Earthworks LLC
Seller: M. Jemms Orange I LLC
Date: 05/16/24

50 East Main St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $1,500,000
Buyer: Lamayas Earthworks LLC
Seller: M. Jemms Orange I LLC
Date: 05/16/24

166-168 West Main St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $700,000
Buyer: Lamayas Earthworks LLC
Seller: M. Jemms Orange I LLC
Date: 05/16/24

168 West River St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $249,900
Buyer: Shaun Lafleur
Seller: David Bergeron
Date: 05/16/24

ROWE

23 Newell Cross Road
Rowe, MA 01367
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: David Norcross
Seller: Clifford F. Paige
Date: 05/13/24

312 Zoar Road
Rowe, MA 01367
Amount: $470,000
Buyer: George & Julie Baeder TR
Seller: Unitaian Universalist Row
Date: 05/22/24

SHUTESBURY

59 Briggs Road
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Sarah Doire
Seller: Jemie H. Sullivan
Date: 05/17/24

33 Sojourner Way
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $775,000
Buyer: Naomi Kaul
Seller: Matthew G. Snover
Date: 05/23/24

SUNDERLAND

62 Plumtree Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Caroline O’Connell
Seller: Joanna D. Morrow
Date: 05/21/24

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

89 Cherry St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $488,000
Buyer: Joseph Kukharchuk
Seller: Christopher W. Brunelle
Date: 05/15/24

18 Deer Run Road
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Federal Hm Loan Mtg Corp
Seller: Sinan Turan
Date: 05/13/24

637 North St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Daniel Hernandez
Seller: Melisa A. Fecat
Date: 05/17/24

280 North St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Jake D. McKittrick
Seller: Melissa B. Grant
Date: 05/22/24

1259 North Westfield St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Melissa B. Almquist
Seller: Londono, Elvia, (Estate)
Date: 05/20/24

62 Northwood St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $405,000
Buyer: Ramon Lopez
Seller: Timothy Potito
Date: 05/23/24

118 Parker St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $292,000
Buyer: Denise Monday
Seller: Walter B. Robinson
Date: 05/15/24

6 Pheasant Run Circle
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Lesley A. Dinsmore
Seller: Megliola Realty LLC
Date: 05/24/24

309 River Road
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: James Acerra
Seller: Minellajoseph, Anthony, (Estate)
Date: 05/16/24

18-20 Summer St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Haskell Holdings LLC
Seller: 716 Spring Valley LLC
Date: 05/22/24

BRIMFIELD

1494 Dunhamtown Brimfield Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Jorge A. Rivera-Diaz
Seller: Arelis O. Morales
Date: 05/16/24

73 Hollow Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Alexis Tunney
Seller: Linda Weston
Date: 05/17/24

98 Hollow Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $445,000
Buyer: Ryan B. Connolly
Seller: Tamarkin FT
Date: 05/24/24

55 Lyman Barnes Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $850,000
Buyer: Nicholas P. Nelson
Seller: Mark E. Salomone
Date: 05/13/24

CHICOPEE

39 Algonquin St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Abbas Younes
Seller: Cam Ventures Holdings LLC
Date: 05/17/24

10 Bill St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Andres Torres-Rodriguez
Seller: No Limit Assets LLC
Date: 05/16/24

123 Casino Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Enrique Santiago
Seller: Michael A. Casimiro
Date: 05/24/24

47 Cecile Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Joseph Ercolino
Seller: Jacob J. Santana
Date: 05/15/24

50 Chateaugay St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $358,000
Buyer: Dzmitry Rusakevich
Seller: Waleed K. Okal
Date: 05/24/24

Chester St., Lot 620
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Andres Torres-Rodriguez
Seller: No Limit Assets LLC
Date: 05/16/24

503 Chicopee St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $258,400
Buyer: Rafael L. Ramirez-Lopez
Seller: Glen E. Rostocki
Date: 05/15/24

232 Exchange St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $126,000
Buyer: 236 Exchange LLC
Seller: Thomas J. Bardon Irt
Date: 05/17/24

25 Garland St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $313,500
Buyer: Anthony M. Montero
Seller: Kathleen M. Blanchard
Date: 05/16/24

14 Garrity St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $302,000
Buyer: Wayne P. Desroches
Seller: Cynthia Field
Date: 05/24/24

348 Hampden St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Alyssa Johnson
Seller: James R. Kenney
Date: 05/17/24

44 Hillcrest St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Jessica P. Leary
Seller: Barbara J. Colkos
Date: 05/15/24

7 Kimball St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Edwin Adames
Seller: Pah Properties LLC
Date: 05/20/24

55 McCarthy Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Michael J. Galarneau
Seller: Revampit LLC
Date: 05/20/24

1512 Memorial Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Aakash Patel
Seller: Fandave LLC
Date: 05/17/24

1514 Memorial Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Aakash Patel
Seller: Fandave LLC
Date: 05/17/24

203 Montcalm St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Hector L. Texidor
Seller: Feliciano Bonilla
Date: 05/14/24

7 Munger Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Fumi Realty Inc.
Seller: James A. Occhiuzzo
Date: 05/24/24

101 Narragansett Blvd.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Joseph G. Lafreniere
Seller: Brad M. Moreau
Date: 05/17/24

108 Oakwood St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Paul Giguere
Seller: Jendrysik, Irene A., (Estate)
Date: 05/21/24

43 Rochester St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Brittany Carlson-Cormier
Seller: Katelyn E. Bartish
Date: 05/17/24

61 Saint Anthony St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Nancy Tahir
Seller: Bruce E. Audet
Date: 05/24/24

50 Saint James Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Damien K. Montiero
Seller: Manar Aldulaimi
Date: 05/23/24

101 Skeele St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Kara Grimaldi
Seller: Eugene J. Witczak
Date: 05/24/24

487 Springfield St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: Margaret F. Landry
Seller: Round Two LLC
Date: 05/17/24

EAST LONGMEADOW

30 Bayne St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Samantha Stewart
Seller: Richard W. Santasiere
Date: 05/16/24

27 Fairview St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $302,000
Buyer: Shane J. Paradise
Seller: Thaw Dar
Date: 05/14/24

24 Hillside Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Thomas J. Harrison
Seller: Labroad, Walter F., (Estate)
Date: 05/16/24

19 Juniper Lane
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Robert J. Braconi
Seller: Kyle J. Mailman
Date: 05/22/24

10 Lester St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $405,000
Buyer: Lee Carr
Seller: Maria V. Wheeler
Date: 05/24/24

20 Lynwood Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $249,000
Buyer: Patrick McMann
Seller: Tyler W. Simmons
Date: 05/14/24

GRANVILLE

684 Main Road
Granville, MA 01034
Amount: $645,000
Buyer: Wayne Goodall
Seller: T. Ii Julie Ann Greek John
Date: 05/17/24

145 Sodom St.
Granville, MA 01034
Amount: $600,000
Buyer: 145 Sodom Street LLC
Seller: Miles S. Ericson
Date: 05/21/24

HAMPDEN

193 Raymond Dr.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: David Heming
Seller: Edward T. Leyden
Date: 05/21/24

43 Rock A. Dundee Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $530,000
Buyer: Kathleen Dziura
Seller: Stephen L. Haskins
Date: 05/22/24

HOLLAND

2 Old County Lane
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $251,000
Buyer: Carlos Figueroa-Mendez
Seller: Ellis George R
Date: 05/15/24

65 Union Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $407,000
Buyer: Nikki L. Simonelli
Seller: Allen J. Czamara
Date: 05/23/24

5 Wood Lane
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Tina M. Huff
Seller: Hampden Solutions LLC
Date: 05/13/24

 

HOLYOKE

847-849 Dwight St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Crystal Torres
Seller: 125yale LLC
Date: 05/14/24

1205 Dwight St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Anthony J. Case
Seller: Bruce A. Sicard
Date: 05/24/24

27 George St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $426,000
Buyer: Jocelyn Brown
Seller: Laurie C. Kaeppel
Date: 05/14/24

324 Hillside Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: David Langlois
Seller: Pah Properties LLC
Date: 05/24/24

350 Homestead Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Jennifer E. Sawyer
Seller: John L. Labelle
Date: 05/17/24

49 Howard St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: B. & B. Realty Partners LLC
Seller: Secretary Of Housing & Urban Development
Date: 05/23/24

49 Howard St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $180,389
Buyer: Harborone Mortgage LLC
Seller: Kathryn M. Hoar
Date: 05/21/24

45 Laura Lane
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $363,000
Buyer: Craig T. Peltier
Seller: Anita G. Strong
Date: 05/22/24

9-11 Pearl St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $477,000
Buyer: Kevin Young
Seller: Jeremy V. Croake
Date: 05/24/24

167 Pearl St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $236,000
Buyer: Deborah Cooper
Seller: Erin K. Bartuska
Date: 05/17/24

77 Queen St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $286,093
Buyer: Philip T. Gunderson
Seller: Rachel E. Dworkin
Date: 05/15/24

466-468 South St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Rolando Rivera
Seller: Peter D. Hotz
Date: 05/15/24

24 Springdale Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $126,500
Buyer: Naples Home Buyers TR
Seller: Woodrow, Amy S., (Estate)
Date: 05/15/24

LONGMEADOW

144 Academy Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $547,950
Buyer: Lauren Mazzoli
Seller: Keun K. Lee
Date: 05/16/24

101 Chiswick St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $361,500
Buyer: Michael Gortakowski
Seller: Sudnick, Barbara E., (Estate)
Date: 05/17/24

56 Dartmouth Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $536,000
Buyer: Shayla Fulton
Seller: Timothy A. Taylor RET
Date: 05/23/24

112 Grassy Gutter Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $429,900
Buyer: Jeffrey W. Trace
Seller: Nancy C. Kruc
Date: 05/13/24

80 Lawnwood Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Kevin R. Wood
Seller: Robert C. Reilly
Date: 05/22/24

16 Pleasantview Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Jenna Mancuso
Seller: 16 Pleasantview Ave. LLC
Date: 05/17/24

84 Willow Brook Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $991,000
Buyer: Sara Tobin
Seller: Andrea S. Martin
Date: 05/23/24

LUDLOW

76 Americo St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $395,000
Buyer: Nuno G. Guerra
Seller: Jose L. Fragoso
Date: 05/22/24

88 Barna St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Z&M Investments LLC
Seller: Adkins, Danny Ray, (Estate)
Date: 05/23/24

26 Chapin St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $383,000
Buyer: Isaac Flores
Seller: Sandra L. Dudek
Date: 05/13/24

258 Fuller St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $334,000
Buyer: Jack A. Davis
Seller: Chandler C. Noga
Date: 05/23/24

81 Parkview St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Matthew P. Santucci
Seller: Derrek J. Santucci
Date: 05/15/24

52 Prospect St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $187,500
Buyer: Sareen Properties LLC
Seller: Lisa Judkins
Date: 05/15/24

52 Prospect St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $209,000
Buyer: Silver Snake Prop LLC
Seller: Sareen Properties LLC
Date: 05/15/24

54 Stevens St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Michelle A. Santos
Seller: Joshua Soares
Date: 05/20/24

308 Ventura St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $555,000
Buyer: Jacob Stokowski
Seller: Linda B. Lastoff
Date: 05/21/24

391 West Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Anthony Robare
Seller: Sareen Properties LLC
Date: 05/17/24

729 West St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $610,000
Buyer: Gorden Chu
Seller: Daniil Gerasimchuk
Date: 05/23/24

MONSON

37 Bridge St.
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Cascade Funding Mtg. TR HB4
Seller: Jean R. Rodich
Date: 05/24/24

244 Main St.
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Alec Barkett
Seller: Finnegan Properties LLC
Date: 05/24/24

PALMER

17 Alden St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $232,000
Buyer: Patriot Real Estate Holdings LLC
Seller: Shirley M. Nichols
Date: 05/15/24

2 Breckenridge St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $1,669,000
Buyer: Aubuchon Realty Co. Inc.
Seller: Csj Properties LLC
Date: 05/24/24

72 Laurel Road
Palmer, MA 01095
Amount: $419,000
Buyer: Peter J. White
Seller: Jay S. Levine
Date: 05/17/24

1077 Park St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $252,000
Buyer: Christopher M. Fernandes
Seller: Bharat Patel
Date: 05/24/24

378 Rondeau St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $430,000
Buyer: Allison Tambolleo
Seller: Michael W. Swain
Date: 05/22/24

6-8 Ruggles Court
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: John Minnie
Seller: Daniel B. Donovan
Date: 05/17/24

74 Ruggles St.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Darrell J. Jonassaint
Seller: RL Properties LLC
Date: 05/23/24

1115 Ware St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $629,000
Buyer: Michele Luszcz
Seller: Suzanne M. Rohrbacher
Date: 05/17/24

RUSSELL

400 Dickinson Hill Road
Russell, MA 01071
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Dakota Blakesley
Seller: Joshua MacDonald
Date: 05/17/24

SPRINGFIELD

94-96 Abbe Ave.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $169,255
Buyer: Pah Properties LLC
Seller: Betsy A. Cavanaugh
Date: 05/24/24

67 Alden St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Clintona Wiley
Seller: Roderick Barton
Date: 05/21/24

53 Aldrew Ter.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $294,000
Buyer: Brian B. Gutierrez
Seller: Kevin W. Hanna
Date: 05/13/24

165-167 Arnold Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: Carlos J. Arroyo
Seller: Gary A. Daula
Date: 05/17/24

128 Avery St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Pah Properties LLC
Seller: Willie J. Wright
Date: 05/22/24

135 Bairdcrest Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $210,700
Buyer: Nicole M. Sanders
Seller: Massmutual FCU
Date: 05/22/24

21 Barton St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Vasquez Remodeling Inc.
Seller: Richard Melikian
Date: 05/22/24

1295 Bay St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Jorge J. Rivera
Seller: Pah Properties LLC
Date: 05/17/24

40 Beech St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $149,730
Buyer: Asset Backed Funding
Seller: Deborah Perkins
Date: 05/21/24

102-106 Belmont Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $1,850,000
Buyer: BC Belmont LLC
Seller: Cni Corp.
Date: 05/23/24

29 Benz St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $172,000
Buyer: Melro Associates Inc.
Seller: Amy E. Anderson
Date: 05/15/24

42-44 Blodgett St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Sherrelie M. Alvarado
Seller: Gary A. Daula
Date: 05/17/24

93 Bowles St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $284,900
Buyer: Rosemary Hernandez
Seller: Agustin Sosa
Date: 05/16/24

44-46 Bristol St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Rengui Qiao
Seller: Wmpsa LLC
Date: 05/15/24

408-410 Carew St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: 408 Carew St. LLC
Seller: Felix Torres
Date: 05/16/24

15 Cedar St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: A. M. Stephens-Williams
Seller: Real Estate Investments Northeast LLC
Date: 05/17/24

58 Champlain Ave.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: John Wynne
Seller: Terrence K. Boyer
Date: 05/21/24

55 Chesterfield Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $377,500
Buyer: Sean Milbier
Seller: Bri E. McCarroll
Date: 05/20/24

11-15 Clantoy St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Alex Figueroa
Seller: B9 Industries Inc.
Date: 05/20/24

89 Cliftwood St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Wicked Deals LLC
Seller: Springfield Forth Properties LLC
Date: 05/21/24

89 Cliftwood St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Xiumei Ye
Seller: Wicked Deals LLC
Date: 05/15/24

84 Clydesdale Lane
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Austin C. Nemec
Seller: Maribel Dones
Date: 05/13/24

69 Dexter St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $412,000
Buyer: Nixzaliz Ramos
Seller: Real Estate Investments Northeast LLC
Date: 05/14/24

169 Dickinson St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Aminder Singh
Seller: Robert A. Lyons
Date: 05/17/24

14 Dorchester St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $121,000
Buyer: Jjj17 LLC
Seller: Cioccolate RT
Date: 05/23/24

127 Drexel St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Destiny N. Clark
Seller: James T. Doling Irt
Date: 05/15/24

57 Elaine Circle
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $630,000
Buyer: Bharatkumar Patel
Seller: Luis R. Cotto
Date: 05/24/24

48 Fair Oak Road
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Henry Nguyen
Seller: Elizabeth J. Ethier
Date: 05/20/24

24 Fairmount St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $244,217
Buyer: Movement Mortgage LLC
Seller: Joseline Arroyo
Date: 05/24/24

95 Fenimore Blvd.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Kurt Binderberger
Seller: Plata O. Plomo Inc.
Date: 05/16/24

63 Freeman Ter.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $273,000
Buyer: Laurien M. Cruz
Seller: Robert Hines
Date: 05/23/24

12 Frontenac St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Fernando Pena
Seller: Dionisia P. Velez
Date: 05/24/24

158 Gilbert Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Eunnindy Sanon
Seller: Edwan Alzuhairi
Date: 05/24/24

66-68 Gold St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Francisco A. De Souza
Seller: Sgds LLC
Date: 05/13/24

524 Goodwin St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Hector R. Berrios
Seller: Roberto Rivera-Negron
Date: 05/23/24

98 Granger St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Evan Anair
Seller: Seifert FT
Date: 05/17/24

38 Hadley St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $292,000
Buyer: Jennifer Bresnahan
Seller: TC & MA LLC
Date: 05/24/24

40 Hamburg St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Richard Pack
Seller: Targaryen RT
Date: 05/14/24

131 Harvard St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Chamber Investment Group LLC
Seller: Patricia A. Mackay
Date: 05/17/24

110 Homestead Ave.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $200,100
Buyer: Sareen Properties LLC
Seller: Mcintosh, James W., (Estate)
Date: 05/20/24

37 Kathleen St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Christopher Perez
Seller: Bradley Rolland
Date: 05/14/24

1174 Liberty St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Yadira Baerga
Seller: Equity TCo
Date: 05/24/24

344-346 Main St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Cornelio R. Santos
Seller: Joseph M. Pafumi
Date: 05/13/24

61-63 Mansfield St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $326,000
Buyer: Nataly Pena
Seller: Luis A. Feliciano
Date: 05/15/24

220 Maple St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $739,000
Buyer: Xiao H. Huang
Seller: Emily Le
Date: 05/21/24

14 Mary St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Anna L. Martinez
Seller: Nadia P. Palmer
Date: 05/24/24

78 Mayflower Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Nicole Floria
Seller: William F. Baker
Date: 05/15/24

457-459 Newbury St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Veronica Vila
Seller: Pedro M. Rivera
Date: 05/14/24

491-493 Newbury St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Adilia M. Perez-Esteban
Seller: Rosa P. La Paz
Date: 05/24/24

236 Oakland St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $420,000
Buyer: Andy Martinez
Seller: North East Construction Services Inc.
Date: 05/24/24

271-277 Oakland St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $1,361,384
Buyer: Deen Orange 47 LLC
Seller: OM Orange LLC
Date: 05/17/24

Orange St.
Springfield, MA 01101
Amount: $1,361,384
Buyer: Deen Orange 47 LLC
Seller: OM Orange LLC
Date: 05/17/24

190 Orange St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $1,361,384
Buyer: Deen Orange 47 LLC
Seller: OM Orange LLC
Date: 05/17/24

198 Orange St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $1,361,384
Buyer: Deen Orange 47 LLC
Seller: OM Orange LLC
Date: 05/17/24

423 Orange St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Alden Pond Properties LLC
Seller: First Landing Investments LLC
Date: 05/24/24

423 Orange St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: First Landing Investments LLC
Seller: Felicia Knox
Date: 05/24/24

352-354 Page Blvd.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Traci A. Leary
Seller: Equity Trust Co.
Date: 05/24/24

573 Plumtree Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Miguel Arroyo
Seller: Sherrie A. King
Date: 05/14/24

18-20 Price St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Phantom Holdings LLC
Seller: Karen E. Charbonneau
Date: 05/17/24

22 Regal St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $317,000
Buyer: Adam Sharpe
Seller: Andrew J. Roissing
Date: 05/15/24

76 Ridgeway Circle
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $435,000
Buyer: Tina M. Johnson
Seller: David E. Meehan
Date: 05/15/24

55-57 Rittenhouse Ter.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Matthew Derderian
Seller: Allen T. Wilson
Date: 05/15/24

90 Rockland St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Jane L. Alinovi
Seller: Hsbc Finance Corp.
Date: 05/14/24

335 Roosevelt Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Krystal Winkle
Seller: Shirley Gentile
Date: 05/15/24

72-74 Shamrock St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Holly Ashton
Seller: Thoi Phan
Date: 05/16/24

1450 South Branch Pkwy.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $430,000
Buyer: Donna M. Petrone-Carter
Seller: Susan M. Kupiec
Date: 05/22/24

878 Saint James Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Selpan Holdings LLC
Seller: 716 Spring Valley LLC
Date: 05/22/24

884 Saint James Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Selpan Holdings LLC
Seller: 716 Spring Valley LLC
Date: 05/22/24

890 Saint James Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: Selpan Holdings LLC
Seller: 716 Spring Valley LLC
Date: 05/23/24

111 San Miguel St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $289,900
Buyer: Jocelyn A. Rosa
Seller: Allan Comberbatch
Date: 05/21/24

18 Stuyvesant St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Samantha Rodriguez
Seller: Nkz Realty Inc.
Date: 05/17/24

44 Thyme Lane
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $182,000
Buyer: Sareen Properties LLC
Seller: Richard A. Lewis
Date: 05/17/24

95 Upton St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Rayshon Ward
Seller: Extremely Clean
Date: 05/16/24

24 Wareham St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $289,333
Buyer: Jennifer C. Smyth
Seller: Rebecca Hayward
Date: 05/17/24

201 Westford Circle
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Jacquelyn J. Day
Seller: Pellisas Construction Inc.
Date: 05/20/24

47 Westminster St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Ovidia C. Lopez-Macario
Seller: Long River Realty LLC
Date: 05/24/24

249-251 White St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Francis Rivera-Rincon
Seller: Jorge Severino
Date: 05/21/24

133 Winton St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Javier F. Cruz
Seller: Jorge L. Agosto Torres
Date: 05/24/24

41 Woodside Ter.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $1,850,000
Buyer: BC Belmont LLC
Seller: CNI Corp.
Date: 05/23/24

454-456 Worthington St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $338,800
Buyer: Springfield Redevelopment Authority
Seller: Hastings Hill Realty LLC
Date: 05/24/24

484 Worthington St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $338,800
Buyer: Springfield Redevelopment Authority
Seller: Hastings Hill Realty LLC
Date: 05/24/24

SOUTHWICK

33 Congamond Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $334,000
Buyer: Kathryn E. Coward
Seller: John D. Coward
Date: 05/24/24

246 Feeding Hills Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Justin Burtchell
Seller: Tirone Development Corp.
Date: 05/24/24

126 Hillside Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Nicolas Hibert
Seller: Beth A. Nolan
Date: 05/20/24

51 Lakemont St.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $950,000
Buyer: Josephine A. Iennaco
Seller: Frank Grillo
Date: 05/20/24

78 South Longyard Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $676,000
Buyer: Gerri L. Hatch
Seller: Steven P. Beals
Date: 05/17/24

69 Will Palmer Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: David W. Berry
Seller: WWD LLC
Date: 05/13/24

TOLLAND

248 Owls Nest Lane
Tolland, MA 01034
Amount: $400,788
Buyer: Adriana Behari
Seller: Anthony Simari
Date: 05/24/24

WEST SPRINGFIELD

70 Almon Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Tamara Tsyganenko
Seller: Finance Of America Reverse LLC
Date: 05/14/24

489 Gooseberry Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $490,000
Buyer: Peter A. Costella
Seller: Michael F. Shirley
Date: 05/14/24

65 Greenleaf Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $292,000
Buyer: Jill A. Perreault
Seller: Fox, Janet Elizabeth, (Estate)
Date: 05/16/24

84-86 Hampden St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Url Properties LLC
Seller: John A. Sandillo
Date: 05/22/24

60 Hyde Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $600,000
Buyer: Stanislav Nester
Seller: Dans Construction Service Inc.
Date: 05/24/24

24 Jensen Circle
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Alexandra Levinson
Seller: Ilya Okhrimenko
Date: 05/24/24

138 Lancaster Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $299,900
Buyer: Thomas A. Cardone
Seller: John M. Gillis
Date: 05/17/24

24 Larivee Lane
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: Antonio Correia
Seller: Stanislav L. Nester
Date: 05/24/24

9 Plateau Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Michael Stancill
Seller: West Jam Man LLC
Date: 05/15/24

19 Queen Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Fernando L. Aguirre
Seller: Billy Velazquez
Date: 05/24/24

49 Tatham Hill Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $420,000
Buyer: David T. Goudreault
Seller: Mark J. Kidman
Date: 05/24/24

52 West School St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Alison P. Figucia
Seller: Eric Vick LLC
Date: 05/15/24

90 Worthy Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $267,000
Buyer: Briana Doyle
Seller: Richard J. Kelleher
Date: 05/15/24

WESTFIELD

31 Bristol St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: William Raleigh
Seller: Robert L. Brueno
Date: 05/16/24

29 Cedar Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $369,900
Buyer: Svetlana T. Paliy
Seller: Ma Home Buyers LLC
Date: 05/16/24

37 Coolidge Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: John V. Zocco
Seller: Amy L. Damour
Date: 05/23/24

30 Deepwoods Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $445,000
Buyer: Connor Costello
Seller: David Pacheco
Date: 05/22/24

1342 East Mountain Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $565,000
Buyer: Sean Hurt
Seller: Michael P. Dupuis
Date: 05/14/24

18 Glenwood Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Kmak LLC
Seller: Joyce E. Cline
Date: 05/24/24

124 Granville Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Jennifer Cortis
Seller: Wayne J. Lawrence
Date: 05/21/24

19 Harrison Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Hector Abreu
Seller: Next Phase Properties LLC
Date: 05/22/24

308 Hillside Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Colby S. Mulligan
Seller: Jose Quinones
Date: 05/23/24

21 Holland Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $395,000
Buyer: Kaya J. O’Connell-Karl
Seller: Kibe, Linda Louise, (Estate)
Date: 05/13/24

42 Loomis Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Ellen Kidman
Seller: Peter A. Costella
Date: 05/24/24

33 Lynnwood Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $273,000
Buyer: Andrii Zhyhanuk
Seller: Gerald L. Paist
Date: 05/15/24

64 Mill St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Kathryn Booher
Seller: Westfield Technical Academy
Date: 05/16/24

Northwest Road, Lot 2
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Victor Archakov
Seller: Lucas, Stephen W., (Estate)
Date: 05/21/24

Northwest Road Lot 3
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Victor Archakov
Seller: Lucas, Stephen W., (Estate)
Date: 05/21/24

44 Pinewood Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Xavier Pizarro-Rivera
Seller: Danielle C. Cousineau
Date: 05/21/24

49 Pochassic St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $420,000
Buyer: Charles Macmillan
Seller: SA Holdings 2 LLC
Date: 05/15/24

467 Springdale Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $550,000
Buyer: Megan Simmons
Seller: Sean D. Welch
Date: 05/14/24

65 Springfield Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $1,800,000
Buyer: Waystar Mass Holdings LLC
Seller: Kenia Associates LLC
Date: 05/23/24

86 White St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $159,000
Buyer: Rnegron Home Improvement LLC
Seller: Congamond Management LLC
Date: 05/13/24

28 Woodbridge Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Brittany Dalton
Seller: Elizabeth Bechthold
Date: 05/22/24

103 Woodside Ter.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Shaunna E. Feyre
Seller: Max T. Balukonis
Date: 05/23/24

WILBRAHAM

7 Butler Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Evan M. Grimes
Seller: Michael P. Scarfe
Date: 05/13/24

3 Hickory Hill Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $446,400
Buyer: Madhawa P. Gamage
Seller: Custom Homes Development Group LLC
Date: 05/13/24

7 Iroquois Lane
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $710,000
Buyer: Christopher E. Jones
Seller: Ricca FT
Date: 05/16/24

18 Maplewood Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $472,500
Buyer: Michael A. Siciliano
Seller: Carol L. Habel NT
Date: 05/14/24

5 Millbrook Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $479,000
Buyer: Andrew S. Bechthold
Seller: Christine J. Scibelli
Date: 05/22/24

3 Porter Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $580,000
Buyer: Robert Checkosky
Seller: Alan J. Douglass
Date: 05/24/24

106 Sandalwood Dr., Lot 106
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $519,900
Buyer: Kelly Josephiac
Seller: AC Homebuilding LLC
Date: 05/22/24

Stirling Dr., Lot 26V
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Bretta Construction LLC
Seller: D. A. K. S. T
Date: 05/22/24

2-4 Verge St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Tim Real Estate LLC
Seller: Roger H. Lavoie
Date: 05/24/24

6 Woodside Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Joanne E. Browsky
Seller: Gary M. Weiner
Date: 05/24/24

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

344 East Hadley Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Kwan H. Lee
Seller: Peter H. Robson
Date: 05/17/24

344 Flat Hills Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $935,000
Buyer: Claudia Brown
Seller: Lucinda Nuthmann
Date: 05/14/24

14 Indian Pipe Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $625,000
Buyer: William A. McLeod
Seller: Patricia P. Garmirian
Date: 05/23/24

45 Leverett Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $444,000
Buyer: Puffers Properties LLC
Seller: Thomas Crossman
Date: 05/17/24

70 Stony Hill Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Edward A. Wolkoff
Seller: Carla R. Savetsky FT
Date: 05/21/24

BELCHERTOWN

9 Autumn Lane
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Mary L. Asiimirwe
Seller: Crystal Wilson
Date: 05/13/24

65 Daniel Square
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $256,000
Buyer: American Acquisition Trust 2019-HB
Seller: Gertrude Blanchette
Date: 05/23/24

28 Meadow Pond Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $481,000
Buyer: Joshua Steffen
Seller: Kenneth F. Leonard
Date: 05/15/24

500 North Liberty St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $1,210,000
Buyer: Christopher R. Creed
Seller: Daniel R. Leitl
Date: 05/15/24

95 Oakridge Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $460,000
Buyer: Jeremy Farquhar
Seller: Alan J. Brown
Date: 05/24/24

Woodland Lane, Lot E
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $214,000
Buyer: Sara S. Beaulieu
Seller: Bell Property Corp.
Date: 05/21/24

35 Woodland Lane
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $678,000
Buyer: Jessica Fitzpatrick
Seller: Jhp Builders LLC
Date: 05/24/24

CHESTERFIELD

189 East St.
Chesterfield, MA 01096
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Jesse Paszko
Seller: Kevin A. Graham
Date: 05/23/24

EASTHAMPTON

29 East Maple St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: Jacquelyn A. Scalzo
Seller: Charlotte C. Lawrence
Date: 05/15/24

57-59 Ferry St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Krystal Bouthillette
Seller: Dubois, Loraine E., (Estate)
Date: 05/15/24

25 Golden Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $426,500
Buyer: John M. Kramer
Seller: Everain Orchard LLC
Date: 05/15/24

108 Hendrick St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $332,500
Buyer: Mariah T. Lapiroff
Seller: Thomas E. Besko
Date: 05/22/24

155 Park St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Jasper Cowley
Seller: Sohpie M. Bak IRT
Date: 05/17/24

13 Sutton Place
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Nathan Rosazza
Seller: Durfraine, Jeanne B., (Estate)
Date: 05/14/24

GRANBY

Batchelor St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Benjamin C. Douglass
Seller: Thomas Herbert
Date: 05/15/24

173 Batchelor St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Cascade Funding Mortgage TR Hb9
Seller: Elisabeth M. Hooten
Date: 05/15/24

HADLEY

4 Bayberry Lane
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $800,000
Buyer: Yee W. Lau
Seller: Lynne P. Dziok
Date: 05/15/24

6 Moody Bridge Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $682,000
Buyer: Ann D. Wambolt
Seller: Helen L. Kapinos
Date: 05/17/24

299 Russell St.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $1,525,000
Buyer: 299 Russell St. LLC
Seller: Fdf Realty LLP
Date: 05/22/24

25 West St.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $600,000
Buyer: Shannon M. Driscoll
Seller: Byron FT II
Date: 05/22/24

HATFIELD

12 Dwight St.
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Naples Home Buyers TR
Seller: Barsh, Nancy A., (Estate)
Date: 05/21/24

HUNTINGTON

12 Church Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $367,000
Buyer: Stonelea Farm LLC
Seller: Stonelea Farm Ft
Date: 05/23/24

NORTHAMPTON

11 Bernache St.
Northampton, MA 01053
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Ethan Doss
Seller: Guadalupe D. Mendez
Date: 05/22/24

14 Burncolt Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $453,000
Buyer: Thomas J. O’Leary
Seller: Tamara M. Lewis
Date: 05/20/24

25 Elizabeth St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Gregg Simonsen
Seller: Justin Smith
Date: 05/16/24

566 Elm St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $675,000
Buyer: Alexandra James
Seller: Marisa Mendonda
Date: 05/24/24

629 Florence Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $540,000
Buyer: John P. Beno
Seller: Anthony A. Dastoli
Date: 05/13/24

27 Higgins Way
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $1,250,000
Buyer: Kimberlee A. Kusiak
Seller: David Overfield
Date: 05/24/24

1089 Westhampton Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $1,850,000
Buyer: Mineral Hills NT
Seller: Bonnie L. Sachs RET
Date: 05/17/24

PELHAM

79 Daniel Shays Hwy.
Pelham, MA 01007
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: John Webber
Seller: Timothy Doire
Date: 05/17/24

153 North Valley Road
Pelham, MA 01002
Amount: $617,000
Buyer: Rachel A. Borson RET
Seller: Martin J. Miller
Date: 05/20/24

202 North Valley Road
Pelham, MA 01002
Amount: $480,000
Buyer: Marlena A. Springstubb
Seller: Miranda Dow
Date: 05/16/24

SOUTH HADLEY

44 Abbey St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Cheryllisa Tagalan
Seller: Bryan M. Gleason
Date: 05/14/24

39 Carew St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Brian L. Eliza
Seller: Jan I. Dickinson
Date: 05/22/24

17 Foch Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: 4 Dunn RT
Seller: Karen A. Nelson
Date: 05/17/24

8 Ralph Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $351,700
Buyer: Tsi-Yi T. Hauang
Seller: Mary D. Lambert
Date: 05/15/24

SOUTHAMPTON

15 Hillside Meadows Dr.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $515,000
Buyer: Charlotte C. Lawrence
Seller: James P. Kelly
Date: 05/15/24

123 Russellville Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: Carolyn Zaikowski
Seller: Edward K. Schlieben
Date: 05/17/24

WARE

84 Church St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Brodi K. Willard
Seller: David M. Lindsey
Date: 05/17/24

23 Clifford Ave.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Evan G. Halliday
Seller: Ontour Properties Inc.
Date: 05/21/24

86 Coffey Hill Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $480,000
Buyer: Steven M. Koblich
Seller: Ronald J. Riggenbach
Date: 05/24/24

70 North St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Delmy Y. Contreras
Seller: J. & S. LLC
Date: 05/14/24

WESTHAMPTON

Hathaway Road
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Jennifer M. Milikowsky
Seller: Francis B. Rauch LT
Date: 05/23/24

5 Pine Island Lake
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $525,000
Buyer: Sarah Osgood-Felten
Seller: Cohen-Karis RET
Date: 05/24/24

12 Pine Island Lake
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $925,000
Buyer: Steven Weinsier
Seller: Brenda Salyer
Date: 05/15/24

WORTHINGTON

239 Huntington Road
Worthington, MA 01098
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Thomas Fisk
Seller: Stephen J. Fisk
Date: 05/16/24

63 Old Post Road
Worthington, MA 01098
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Collin A. Cichy
Seller: Joshua Drawe
Date: 05/23/24

508 Old North Road
Worthington, MA 01098
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Sean Moore
Seller: Sharon E. Slater
Date: 05/15/24

Building Permits

By
Building Permits

The following building permits were issued during the month of May 2024.

CHICOPEE

1260 Memorial Drive LLC
1260 Memorial Dr.
$20,780 — Siding

J&N Salema Family
480 Burnett Road
$155,000 — Tenant fit-out for laundromat

Solenis LLC
1111 Grattan St.
$49,360 — Roofing

TD Bank BGIS US LLC
693 Memorial Dr.
$68,641 — Roofing

EASTHAMPTON

D&B Prismaric Holdings
250 Northampton St.
$25,000 — Demolish interior finishes and non-load-bearing walls

Easthampton Savings Bank
52 Main St.
$82,850 — Roofing

Hilltown Cooperative Charter Public School
1 Industrial Parkway
$72,000 — Roofing

HADLEY

Aldi LLC Massachusetts
354 Russell St.
N/A — Install self-checkouts

NORTHAMPTON

Alloy LLC
5 Fulton Ave.
$25,000 — Demolish office building and garage

AXL LLC
41 Strong Ave., Unit 1
$65,000 — Install wheelchair lift and create hallway

Cago Enterprises LLC
17 Brewster Court
$4,988 — New decking and railings

Clinical & Support Options Inc.
29 Industrial Dr. East
$72,000 — Install modifications to existing sprinkler system

D.A. Sullivan & Sons Inc.
84 North St.
$23,800 — Replace dry fire system with wet system in apartment conversion

Florence Congregational Church
130 Pine St.
$105,000 — New fire-suppression system in sanctuary, including green room, bathrooms, office, foyer, and organ chamber

Healthy Neighborhoods Group LLC
47 High St.
$2,084.28 — Insulate attic floor and rim joist, replace bath hose and gable vent

Smith College
8 College Lane
$19,301,719 — Construct new building with offices and classrooms

Smith College
16 Paradise Road
$597,675 — Roofing

TNT Properties LLC
412 Linseed Road
$89,350 — Install in-ground pool

Town of Williamsburg
16 Main St.
$99,000 — Install rooftop solar system

PITTSFIELD

Berkshire Medical Center Inc.
725 North St.
$69,150 — Install automatic fire sprinkler

KO Resources LLC
501 Dalton Ave.
$5,279 — Build, cover, and install doorway awning

Daniel Powers
110 East Housatonic St.
$7,562 — Remove and replace two windows

RKE Realty LLC
100 West St.
$11,000 — Build two offices

Seven Oh Three Nominee Trust
703 West Housatonic St.
$3,000 — Repair failing beams on first floor

Somnath LLC
1055 South St.
$189,500 — Install new automatic fire sprinkler system

 

South Street Associates LLC
153 South St.
$198,995 — Roofing

Starbase
343 Pecks Road
$32,209 — Modify existing fire sprinkler piping to supply coverage within renovated section of building

WBRK Inc.
55 Grand Ave.
$50,000 — AT&T to modify existing equipment, adding three antennas and replacing surge arrester with associated cable

Winadu Real Estate Co. LLC
710 Churchill St.
$2,000 — Enclose electric water heaters

SPRINGFIELD

271 Page Blvd LLC
271 Page Blvd.
$93,000 — Erect storage building

Baystate Medical Center Inc.
759 Chestnut St.
$156,129 — Alter interior space for renovations to family waiting room on fourth floor of Chestnut Building

City of Springfield
1015 Wilbraham Road
$515,000 — Install bleachers for home-field grandstand and press-box section of Duggan Athletic Field

City of Springfield
1015 Wilbraham Road
$100,000 — Install bleachers for visitors section of Duggan Athletic Field

KAGR2 Springfield 3550 LLC
3550 Main St.
$91,000 — Alter interior office space in Suite 204 of Pioneer Renal Care

Pearson Medical Development Co. LP
275 Bicentennial Highway
$413,125 — Alter interior space for expansion of Nardi Family Dental

Springfield Parking Authority
150 Bridge St.
$64,500 — Install three new interior doors through brick walls at Columbus Center

bankESB Hires George Michelakis as Branch Officer in Amherst 

By
Daily News

EASTHAMPTON — bankESB recently hired George Michelakis as branch officer of its 253 Triangle St. office in Amherst. 

George Michelakis

Michelakis has 15 years of banking experience. He was previously a financial center manager at Berkshire Bank and, before that, a branch operations administrator at People’s United Bank. He brings an extensive background of retail banking leadership experience to his new role, where he will manage the Amherst office team while remaining engaged in the community. 

Michelakis has an associate degree in marketing management from Holyoke Community College and is an avid volunteer with many different organizations in Western Mass. 

Berkshire Money Management Welcomes Katrina Fitzpatrick, Lusha Martin

By
Daily News

GREAT BARRINGTON — Berkshire Money Management welcomed two new staff members to its Great Barrington office: Operations Support Partner Katrina Fitzpatrick and Front Office Coordinator Lusha Martin.

Fitzpatrick’s goal is to continuously make Berkshire Money Management and its processes more efficient. She works closely with Chief Operating Officer Natalie Wheeler to assess company needs and identify opportunities for improvement, while and developing strategies for addressing both.

Fitzpatrick is a graduate of Westfield State University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in business management with a concentration in finance and a minor in economics. Prior to joining Berkshire Money Management, she worked as a branch specialist at Greylock Federal Credit Union.

Martin manages the daily needs of Berkshire Money Management’s Great Barrington office, welcomes clients and guests, and manages the phone lines for the Dalton and Great Barrington offices.

Before arriving at Berkshire Money Management, Martin owned and operated Bakin’ Bakery in Sheffield. She also brings more than two decades of experience in office management to the team and is in the process of earning an associate degree in business careers at Berkshire Community College. She has raised funds for various nonprofit organizations, including the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and she is a member of the board of directors for Stanton Home in Great Barrington.

Big Brothers Big Sisters Point 5K Fundraiser Returns 

By
Daily News

GREENFIELD — On Thursday, July 18 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Franklin County Fairgrounds, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western Mass (BBBSWM) will host its annual Point 5K fundraiser with a rodeo-themed twist. 

Participants will enjoy a 546-yard dining experience featuring food and drinks from local businesses, including Buckland Pizza, the Food Booth, Ciesluk Farmstand, and the Brewery at Four Star Farms. Local artist DJ Lazer Chicken will bring his musical talents to the event. 

“This is the first Point 5K as BBBSWM,” said David Beturne, CEO of BBBSWM (formerly BBBS of Franklin and Hampden Counties). “We’re excited to use the event as an opportunity to reintroduce ourselves to Franklin, Berkshire, and Hampden counties.” 

Added Chief Growth Officer Chris Thompson, “we couldn’t put on events like this or support our 400-plus matches without great partners in the community. This year we have several partners helping us with the event. I’d like to highlight and thank our presenting sponsor, Greenfield Savings Bank, for their support of the event and our mission of youth empowerment.” 

For tickets and more information, visit bigbrotherssisters.org or the organization’s Facebook page. 

Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring programs change the lives of children. Statistics show that children who are mentored are less likely to use unprescribed drugs, are more successful academically, and have better peer and family relationships. Mentoring helps youth reach their highest potential. 

Eversource Ready for First Heat Wave of Season 

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — With temperatures expected to be in the 90s along with high humidity over the next several days across the region, air conditioners and fans will be working overtime at many homes and businesses. 

During the summer months, Eversource customers in Massachusetts use about 40% more electricity to keep cool when the mercury soars. While high electricity usage during a heat wave can put a strain on the electric system, the energy company is prepared to meet the increased demand, and its crews are ready to respond to any outages or issues that may arise. Remote system operators are also constantly monitoring the system and are ready to reroute power and shift other resources as necessary.  

“Our crews are focused on working safely to ensure reliable electric service for our customers year-round, especially during these hot and humid days when many customers will have their fans and AC units running in full force,” Eversource President of Regional Electric Operations Craig Hallstrom said. 

“We begin preparing well in advance for the increased demand we typically see this time of year by conducting ground and aerial inspections of the electrical system so we can proactively detect and address any issues,” he added. “As we all use more energy during the summer months, we also want to make sure our customers are aware of the simple steps they can take to help manage their usage and save money on their electric bills.” 

Eversource offers the following tips to manage energy usage this summer: 

  • Keep air conditioners set as warm as comfort allows. For every degree higher on the thermostat, the air conditioner will use 1% to 3% less electricity.
  • Don’t block air flow. Keep air vents and heat pump vents clear of obstructions such as furniture, curtains, and rugs.
  • Operate major appliances during the cooler parts of the day. Energy is conserved by using appliances that create heat, like clothes dryers and dishwashers, early in the morning or late in the evening. There is also less demand on the electric system during these times.
  • Keep blinds closed to prevent unwanted direct sunlight from entering a home through windows. Using curtains, shades, and blinds can lower indoor temperatures by up to 20 degrees.
  • Switch to Energy Star-certified LED lights. The energy-efficient bulbs run cooler and last up to 25 times longer than incandescent lights.
  • Set ceiling fans to rotate counterclockwise and at a higher speed in the summer to circulate the air more effectively, creating a cooling wind-chill effect. Remember to turn the fan off when leaving the room.

To learn about the many energy saving programs available, visit eversource.com. 

MountainOne Donates $10,000 to Berkshire Community Action Council 

By
Daily News

NORTH ADAMS — MountainOne announced recently donated $10,000 to the Berkshire Community Action Council (BCAC) as part of its 2024 Community Dividend Program. 

The BCAC is a nonprofit human-service organization that assists low-income residents of Berkshire County toward achieving sustainability and self-sufficiency. Working with the community to find creative and maintainable solutions that promote economic stability and alleviate the destabilizing effects of poverty for those in Berkshire County, the BCAC has had “self-sufficiency and dignity for all” as its vision since incorporating in 1966. 

MountainOne’s donation is earmarked specifically for the BCAC’s Warm Winter Clothing Program, which provides children age 12 and under with new coats, boots, hats, mittens, and gloves. While the cold-weather season is still months away, MountainOne is providing these funds now because preparations for the program span all four seasons. Families are provided with the opportunity to shop for items at the Children’s Winter Boutique at BCAC, allowing them the opportunity to chose items that best suit their children’s taste, style, and comfort. 

The Community Dividend Program at MountainOne supports nonprofits throughout the Berkshires and South Shore, particularly organizations that positively impact community members most in need. 

“It is our privilege to fund this critical program that supports children and their families during some of the most challenging months of the year,” said Robert Fraser, MountainOne’s president and CEO. “MountainOne places the safety and well-being of children as a top priority of our Community Dividend Program.”  

In addition to corporate sponsorship, BCAC offers the ability to for community members and groups to sponsor a child during the winter. For further details on the Warm Winter Clothing Program, visit bcacinc.org/winter-clothing-program. 

Greenfield Recreation Department Celebrates Debut of New Bocce Courts 

By
Daily News

GREENFIELD — With a ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 14, the Greenfield Recreation Department is unveiled new bocce courts on Gerrett Street, parallel to Beacon Park. 

“In Greenfield, we strive to offer engaging and accessible recreation opportunities for the enjoyment of every person who visits our parks,” Recreation Director Christy Moore said. “These bocce courts will provide a space that fosters intergenerational recreational opportunities. Bocce ball is the ultimate blend of skill, strategy, and socialization for all ages and abilities.” 

Construction for the bocce courts began in April after Clark and Sons Inc. received the construction contract. The project included the installation of two bocce courts, various site work, concrete sidewalks and viewing areas, landscaping, benches, a parking area, water fountains, and Americans with Disabilities Act improvements near the baseball field and tennis courts. 

“Our Recreation Department continues to transform Greenfield into a vibrant recreation destination,” Mayor Ginny Desorgher said. “We are thrilled to welcome the new bocce courts, and I am excited to see them become a well-utilized fixture in the community.” 

The bocce-court project received funding from several sources, including Community Preservation Act monies, capital expenses, and the Disability Access Fund. The contract award was $112,100. 

The Recreation Department also continues to implement several amenity improvements across the city’s existing recreation sites. Earlier this spring, the department oversaw the resurfacing and repainting of the Hillside Park basketball court and installed cornhole boards and ping pong at the Green River Swimming and Recreation Area. Additional improvements, including trail maintenance work, trail mapping, and a pickleball feasibility study, are anticipated to be completed later this year. 

Baystate Health Awards $500,000 in Better Together Grants to Community Initiatives 

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Baystate Health, in partnership with the Community Benefits Program, announced the recipients of the 2024 Better Together Grants. 

This year, proposals considered focused on advancing youth well-being through strategic interventions that seek to decrease adverse youth mental-health outcomes. Projects funded by Better Together must apply a framework of social determinants of health, be evidence-based, include routine performance evaluation, and align with Baystate’s community health needs assessment. 

“We recognize that addressing youth mental health is not limited to clinical and traditional medical settings,” said Dr. Tyonne Hinson, senior vice president and chief Diversity, Health Equity, and Inclusion officer. “These grants were awarded to organizations implementing initiatives that focus on the development of strategies and practices to address social determinants of health, access, and the social environment to make our communities a healthier and safer place to live.” 

Baystate Health announced the five winning proposals of the 2024 Better Together grants, totaling $500,000 in funding: 

  • Community Legal Aid ($100,000 for its Family Preservation Project);
  • Follow My Steps Foundation ($100,000 for its Steps to Empowerment Program);
  • Latino Counseling Center ($100,000 for its Mindful Connections/Conexiones Conscientes);
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Family Services ($100,000 for its Beat the Odds Project); and
  • Springfield Pride Parade Organization ($100,000 for its Safe Space Program).

Funding for the Better Together grants is made possible through the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s determination-of-need requirements. In addition to funding the grantees, Baystate Health has also contracted with the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts to provide technical assistance and evaluation support to the grantee cohort over the next one to two years. 

BusinessTalk with Nicole Nell, president of Visual Sound Productions

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 218: June 17, 2024

Editor Joe Bednar talks with Nicole Nell, president of Visual Sound Productions

A former competitive dancer who later found a passion — and skill — for DJing, Nicole Nell has forged an intriguing career, both as DJ Nicki Nell and as president of Visual Sound Productions, an award-winning, multi-operational production company. On the next episode of BusinessTalk, Nicole talks to BusinessWest Editor Joe Bednar about all of that, as well as her exciting project to renovate a historic building 130 Union St. in Springfield and turn it into her company’s headquarters — and what she hopes will be a bustling center of activity in the heart of downtown. It’s must listening, so tune in to BusinessTalk, a podcast presented by BusinessWest.

Also Available On

Summer Session II Classes Begin July 8 at Holyoke Community College 

By
Daily News

HOLYOKE — Registration is open for Summer Session II classes at Holyoke Community College (HCC). Classes begin Monday, July 8 and run through Aug. 23. Course offerings can be viewed at hcc.edu/summer-2024. 

Registration is also open for the fall 2024 semester, which starts on Tuesday, Sept. 3. Full 15-week semester classes begin Sept. 3. 

HCC will also be running three accelerated fall flex start sessions: Flex Start I classes also begin Sept. 3 but run for seven weeks until Oct. 23; Flex Start II classes begin Monday, Sept. 16 and run for 12 weeks; and Flex Start III classes begin Monday, Oct. 29 and run for seven weeks. 

“Whether it’s for summer or fall, our admissions staff is available to guide prospective students through every step of the application process,” said Mark Hudgik, interim dean of Strategic Recruitment Initiatives, Admissions, and Financial Aid.  

Fall course offerings can be viewed at hcc.edu/fall-2024. Prospective students interested in starting this summer or fall can find more information at hcc.edu/admission or by calling (413) 552-2321.  

Students interested in visiting campus should contact the HCC Admissions office at [email protected]. 

MountainOne Announces Officer Promotions

By
Daily News

NORTH ADAMS — MountainOne announced the promotion of several employees in the North Adams office to new positions, acknowledging their hard work, dedication, and impactful contributions to the company.

“We are proud to recognize the talent and dedication of our Mountaineers with these well-deserved promotions,” said Robert Fraser, president and CEO. “Their hard work, leadership, and commitment to our values plays a vital role in MountainOne’s growth and success. We look forward to their continued contributions as they step into these new roles.”

Betsy Kapner has been promoted to vice president, Marketing manager. She joined MountainOne in 2013 and has deep knowledge and expertise in marketing compliance requirements. She demonstrates an ongoing commitment to professional development and excels at meeting deadlines, collaborating effectively with colleagues, and contributing meaningfully to every project.

Jessica Andrews has been promoted to assistant vice president, Deposit Compliance & Fraud Administration officer. Since joining in 2005, she has developed a deep understanding of the deposit compliance environment and helps leads the administration of the bank’s fraud-reporting platform. Her involvement in compliance projects demonstrates her leadership and commitment to MountainOne’s core commitment of regulatory accountability.

Lisa Mineau has been promoted to assistant vice president, senior Human Resources Operations officer. Over her 43-year career, she has adapted to change and taken on increasingly significant responsibilities. She started as a teller at North Adams Hoosac Savings Bank and then as a customer-service representative in community banking before finding her passion in human resources in 2002. Her recently enhanced role includes oversight of payroll, benefits, and personnel administration.

Massachusetts Legislature Approves Sales-tax Holiday Weekend Aug. 10-11

By
Daily News

BOSTON — On Thursday, the Massachusetts Legislature approved Aug. 10-11 as a sales-tax holiday weekend for Massachusetts. On those days, the Massachusetts sales tax of 6.25% will be suspended for most items that retail for less than $2,500.

The holiday welcomes Massachusetts residents to visit retailers and small businesses around the state. A spike in consumer activity routinely boosts indirect tax revenues. According to the Department of Revenue, during the 2023 sales-tax holiday, indirect tax revenues due to increased economic activity were approximately $3.54 million.

“I am glad to see the sales-tax holiday be approved in the Legislature today, giving our residents a great chance to get outside and embrace their local businesses and community at a little bit of a discount,” state Sen. Adam Gomez said. “This annual holiday gives a boost to our small-business owners and consumers, and I am proud to support this measure annually.”

Construct Announces Annual Meeting on June 26

By
Daily News

GREAT BARRINGTON — Construct will hold its 2024 annual meeting on Wednesday, June 26 from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at the Egremont Barn, 17 Main St., South Egremont. All interested South Berkshire residents are welcome to attend to learn about Construct’s recent accomplishments and get a preview of what’s in store for the year ahead. Light refreshments will be served.

Registration is requested by emailing [email protected]. Registration is free and open to the public.

“The annual meeting is an important event for Construct, serving as our one public meeting of the year,” said Jane Ralph, Construct’s executive director. “Given the pressing need for affordable housing in the Southern Berkshires and the innovative approaches Construct is implementing, we are eager to provide an opportunity for anyone interested to gain deeper insights.”

Construct is currently transforming a Gilded Age mansion, Cassilis Farm, into 11 apartments, and is hosting a designer showhouse on the property to raise awareness and funds.

Based in Great Barrington, Construct has been the leading nonprofit provider of affordable housing and supportive services to South Berkshire County residents in need for more than 50 years.

Tessa Lucey Appointed to Westfield State University Board of Trustees

By
Daily News

Tessa Lucey

WESTFIELD — Tessa Lucey has been appointed to the Westfield State University board of trustees. She replaces trustee and former Chairman Robert Martin, whose 10-year term ended March 1. He remained in holdover status by the governor’s office until Lucey’s appointment on May 6.

Lucey has more than 20 years of experience as a compliance officer, including extensive professional experience in healthcare and higher-education compliance, operations, labor relations, policy development, program implementation, investigations, government reviews, and audits.

She is currently director of Compliance Services and chief privacy officer at the University of Vermont in Burlington. Prior to this position, she was corporate Compliance officer and chief privacy officer at Hallmark Health System in Medford. Prior to her position at Hallmark Health, she was director of Compliance and chief privacy officer at South Shore Hospital in Weymouth.

In addition to her bachelor’s degree in business with minors both psychology and women’s studies from Westfield State University, Lucey earned a master of healthcare administration degree from Simmons College.

“Returning to Westfield State University as a trustee fills me with immense pride,” she said. “WSU not only provided me with the knowledge and skills to succeed in my career, but also provided me with a solid foundation to succeed in life. I am looking forward to giving back by working with the board and with university leadership to ensure the continued success and impact of the university for generations to come.”

The 11-member Westfield State University board of trustees is appointed by the governor. Each member is appointed for a five-year term, with the possibility of one additional term of five years.

“Tessa’s business and higher-education experience will complement the work of the board,” said Linda Thompson, president of Westfield State University. “Her connection as an alumna is certainly something we appreciate. Tessa’s connection with Westfield State makes this appointment meaningful and personal. I very much look forward to working with her as a board trustee.”

Pullman & Comley Celebrates Opening of New Springfield Office

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Pullman & Comley, one of the largest full-service law firms based in Connecticut, celebrated the opening of its new Springfield office on June 11 with a ribbon cutting and reception welcoming local business and government leaders, clients, and friends, including Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno and Diana Szynal, president of the Springfield Regional Chamber.

The new space is on the ninth floor of Tower Square at 1500 Main St. downtown. Pullman & Comley opened its original Springfield office, the firm’s first in Massachusetts, in 2019. It has Connecticut offices in Bridgeport, Hartford, and Westport, as well as in White Plains, N.Y. and Wakefield, R.I.

“Nearly five years ago, Pullman & Comley opened its first office in Massachusetts, and we’re thrilled to reaffirm the commitment to our clients in this area by opening a new office right here in downtown Springfield,” said Lee Hoffman, chair of the firm. “Our attorneys are deeply connected with the community in Western Mass., and we look forward to continuing to build on that foundation.”

Pullman & Comley has several prominent local attorneys located in the Springfield office, including business, real estate, and litigation attorney James Martin, who is recognized as a leading automotive franchise attorney throughout New England. Laura Bellotti Cardillo, vice chair of the firm’s Property Tax and Valuation practice, has been instrumental in the growth of the firm’s Springfield office. She represents commercial property owners and lessees seeking equitable assessments of their real and personal property interests in municipalities throughout Massachusetts.

Other key Pullman attorneys doing work in Massachusetts include Megan Carannante, Joshua Hawks-Ladds, Brion Kirsch, Frederic Klein, and Tabitha Ayer. The focus of the office will continue to be legal matters relating to business and finance, real estate, property tax and valuation, labor and employment law, and litigation. Sharpening that focus will be the new office’s videoconferencing capabilities that connect seamlessly with conference rooms in other Pullman & Comley offices to better serve clients in the region.

Registration Deadline for Hooplandia Is June 14

By
Daily News

WEST SPRINGFIELD — Registration for Hooplandia, the second annual 3×3 basketball tourney and festival, ends Friday, June 14. Visit www.hooplandia.com to register for all ages and divisions.

The tournament, presented by Eastern States Exposition (ESE) and the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, will take place June 21-23 on the ESE grounds in West Springfield, with select youth championship games at the Hall of Fame in Springfield.

Divisions of play have been created to provide an all-inclusive environment for players of all ages and playing abilities. Players are invited to build teams of four, create their own unique team name and uniforms, and register at www.hooplandia.com.

Hooplandia is also seeking basketball enthusiasts to step up and join the volunteer team as scorekeepers. Volunteers receive perks, including a ticket to the Big E and Hooplandia swag. Fill out the volunteer form on www.hooplandia.com. For more information, call Samantha DePergola at (413) 205-5052.

Hans Jung Joins KeyBank as Senior Commercial Banking Relationship Manager

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Daily News

Hans Jung

HARTFORD, Conn. — KeyBank announced that Hans Jung has joined the bank as senior relationship manager within its Connecticut and Western Mass. middle-market Commercial Banking team. In this role, he will work with companies with annual revenues from $10 million to $2 billion, offering a range of corporate finance solutions, treasury management, and liquidity solutions tailored to meet their unique business needs.

In addition, Jung will work with private-equity sponsors to support their investment strategies with acquisition financing. With extensive experience advising clients and providing comprehensive financial solutions, including M&A transactions, he will support the growth and success of KeyBank’s middle-market clients and report to Matthew Hummel, market president and Commercial Banking executive.

Jung brings an extensive background in corporate finance, transaction banking, trade finance, capital markets, and liquidity management, cultivated from previous underwriting, portfolio-management, and relationship-management roles with Santander Bank and Webster Bank, among others. He is committed to community involvement, actively volunteering with organizations such as the Metro Hartford Alliance, LISC, and the United Way. He also served as chairman of the Audit Commission for the city of Hartford, a board member of the Connecticut China Council, and a program committee member for ACG-CT.

Jung is a CFA charter holder with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in finance from Boston College.

Local Head Start Leader Re-elected to Statewide Board of Directors

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Nicole Blais

SPRINGFIELD — Nicole Blais, CEO of Holyoke, Chicopee, Springfield (HCS) Head Start Inc., was recently re-elected to the Massachusetts Head Start Assoc. (MHSA) board of directors and will also serve as treasurer.

MHSA serves as the voice of nearly 30 Head Start and Early Head Start programs across Massachusetts. The not-for-profit membership organization provides collaborative learning opportunities, leverages partnerships, and advocates for Head Start programs.

Blais has spent most of her entire career with Head Start. Beginning in 1996 as the Parent Education and Support specialist for HCS Head Start, she was responsible for ensuring that Head Start performance standards and other regulations related to parent involvement were upheld at all times. For a decade, she developed and implemented various parent and family engagement programming — such as Parenting in the 21st Century, Men Involved in the Lives of Kids, Family Fun Nights — and other parent-driven activities; supervised a team; and began making a name for herself speaking and presenting throughout the Commonwealth as well as at National Head Start Assoc. conferences across the country.

In 2012, Blais transitioned to the position of director of Community Engagement, where she spent almost another 10 years supporting the work of HCS Head Start. In this role, she identified, maintained, and grew collaborations with outside agencies and community initiatives, local media outlets, political and community leaders, and funders.

The next phase of her career came when her mentor, Janis Santos, HCS Head Start’s longtime CEO, announced her retirement. In 2021, amid the pandemic, Blais began her role as CEO of the organization.

Blais serves the community in other ways, including roles as a Springfield Regional Chamber ambassador and Holyoke Rotary Club member. She attended the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and did her graduate studies in nonprofit management & philanthropy at Bay Path University.

Peter Pan Bus Lines, Trailways Form Strategic Partnership

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WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — Peter Pan Bus Lines and Trailways, the largest and oldest network of independent motorcoach operators in North America, have announced a new strategic partnership effective immediately.

The new alliance adds Peter Pan destinations to trailways.com and trailways.ca, and many Trailways destinations to peterpanbus.com, providing customers with even more reliable, convenient, and affordable ground travel options.

Just in time for the busy July 4 holiday weekend, the companies have debuted overnight service connecting major cities such as Toronto and Montreal with Boston, Providence, Hartford, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C. The alliance has also seen transportation restored between rural communities for the first time since the COVID pandemic. Entire regions of the Northeast, from the Adirondacks to Cape Cod, are now reconnected by ground transportation as a result of the partnership.

“Connectivity is the lifeline of communities across North America. We are so proud of this partnership with Peter Pan and the quality service, yet affordable pricing, it will bring to so many cities,” said Alex Berardi, president of trailways.com and trailways.ca.

Peter Picknelly, chairman and CEO of Peter Pan Bus Lines, added that “few family-run private bus companies, like Peter Pan and Trailways, continue to operate regular scheduled route services. We are very pleased to have our companies working together to make travel throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states more convenient and affordable for all passengers.”

Tickets are available now. Customers looking for information about service, schedules, arrival and departure times, and fares are encouraged to visit peterpanbus.com, trailways.com, or trailways.ca. The new services are powered by technical integrations from Transcor Data Services of Jacksonville, Fla.

Garvey Law, LLC to Celebrate Grand Opening of West Springfield Office

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WEST SPRINGFIELD — Attorney Katherine Garvey, founder of Garvey Law, LLC, announced the grand opening of the firm’s West Springfield office on Thursday, June 20 at 1 p.m. at 1312 Memorial Ave. Garvey Law, LLC, an all-female law firm specializing in Massachusetts and Connecticut real estate, estate planning, and probate law, recently celebrate its fourth year in business.

“It’s an incredible feeling,” Garvey said of opening her first official location. “It’s amazing to know that if you work hard and focus on providing excellent customer service to all of your clients and partners, you can grow something from an idea into a full-scale business with its very own location.”

The grand opening will feature sliders from local food truck, Macken’s Specialty Sliders, as well as refreshments and a raffle drawing.

New England Public Media Journalists Win Four Awards

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Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — New England Public Media (NEPM) recently announced four awards won by journalists with the organization.

At the recent Health Journalism Conference hosted by the Assoc. of Health Care Journalists (AHCJ) in New York City, NEPM reporter Karen Brown earned second place in the Public Health category for her three-part series, “Safe Bet: Is Mass. Fulfilling Its Problem-gambling Mandate?” Brown is also the host and producer of NEPM’s new podcast, “The Secrets we Keep.”

In addition to AHCJ’s recognition, the NEPM newsroom received accolades from the Public Media Journalists Assoc. (PMJA). The PMJA awards recognize the best in public-media journalism produced in one year from across the country. Stations competed against others with similar-sized newsrooms; NEPM competed in Division A, representing stations with 8 to 15 full-time staff.

NEPM reporters Dusty Christensen and Nirvani Williams both won PMJA awards. Christensen’s investigative piece, “Records Obtained Under New Mass. Law Show Holyoke Police Dismiss Nearly All Civilian Complaints,” secured second place in the Digital Writing category, while Williams’ feature, “New Law Takes Effect, but Still Not Easy for Undocumented Immigrants to Get Mass. Driver’s Licenses,” earned first place in the Government and Democracy Feature category.

“This year, we had over 1,450 entries from 144 different organizations in our awards contest,” PMJA Executive Director Christine Diers said. “We’re proud to be able to recognize the great journalism across the country through this contest.”

Reporter Nancy Eve Cohen’s outstanding work on clergy sexual abuse was recognized by the Radio Television Digital News Assoc. (RTDNA) with a regional Edward R. Murrow Award in the Hard News category. Her story, “‘I Don’t Know Who Is Stopping This’: Advocates Urge Mass. AG to Issue Report on Clergy Sexual Abuse,” on the apparent delay in an attorney general report on what had occurred at the Springfield, Worcester, and Fall River dioceses, was honored. Cohen followed her award-winning work with “‘Another Level of Coverup’: How a Mass. Law Prevents Clergy Abuse Survivors From Getting Justice” and “Western Mass. Actor Depicts Clergy Abuse Survivor Who Rejects Church Settlement — Like He Did.”

The regional Murrow Award winners are chosen from all stories in a designated region, in this case Region 10, which includes Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Cohen will now advance to the national RTDNA Murrow Awards competition, winners of which will be announced in August.

“All four of these award-winning stories are great examples of enterprise reporting: reporters talking to sources, examining documents, and digging for more information,” NEPM News Director Sam Hudzik said.

Hudzik added that he is grateful to NEPM’s staff and listeners for their support, emphasizing the importance of sustaining in-depth reporting in Western Mass.

West Springfield Big Y Store Announces Reopening

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Daily News

WEST SPRINGFIELD — Big Y Foods Inc. announced the reopening of its Family Market at 503 Memorial Ave., West Springfield. The project included major renovations in many areas of the store and various new additions in response to changing customer needs.

One of those additions is an expanded Hispanic grocery section featuring traditional ingredients and pantry staples from across Latin America, including Brazil and the Caribbean.

The kitchen now features a curated selection of ready-to-eat items, like empanadas, quesadillas, and burrito bowls. Meanwhile, a variety of specialty meats are featured in the butcher shop, and the seafood department includes octopus and a variety of frozen fish. For dessert, the bakery department features tres leches cake and more. And the produce department now features a selection of tropical fruits and vegetables like plantains, ajicito peppers (used for making staple sofrito), an expanded selection of roots, sugar cane, chayote, an assortment of chili, and more.

“We had a ton of demand for these types of products. People were having trouble finding them in the area and started requesting them,” said Sean Thompson, West Springfield store director. “It’s very exciting for us to be able to get our customers what they want. We’re looking forward to customer feedback and invite everybody to come out and tell us what they think.”

The renovation efforts began in February 2023. The remodel and new section are part of the company’s broader strategy to modernize its retail spaces to create a more enjoyable shopping experience for both customers and associates. The upgraded sales floor now features new décor with a farmer’s-market-style open-air entrance; an expanded grab-and-go section with an added self-serve pizza section; a renovated meat and seafood department; all-new, energy-efficient refrigerated cases; and upgraded flooring throughout. The exterior façade was also given a more modern look.