WESTFIELD — Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity (GSHFH) is hosting a high-energy pickleball tournament at the Picklr, 415 East Main St., Westfield, on Sunday, March 29 from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., bringing together players of all skill levels for a full day of fun in support of affordable housing in Western Mass.
The tournament is a two-player team round robin event, with the day divided into timed sections based on skill level to ensure competitive and enjoyable play for everyone. Registration is required, and tickets cost $50 per person. All proceeds from the event will benefit Greater Springfield Habitat and its mission to build strength, stability, and self-reliance through shelter. In addition to tournament play, attendees will have the opportunity to purchase raffle tickets and Habitat merchandise throughout the day.
“This tournament is about more than pickleball — it’s about community,” said Aimee Giroux, executive director of Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity. “Every serve, rally, and point played helps us move closer to a future where everyone has a safe and affordable place to call home. We’re grateful to the Picklr and to everyone who shows up to support this important work.”
GSHFH is also seeking event sponsors to help make the tournament a success. Sponsorship opportunities include four levels: ace sponsor ($1,500), kitchen sponsor ($1,000), court sponsor ($750), and community sponsor ($500). Sponsors will receive recognition and visibility while directly supporting affordable housing efforts in the region.
For registration details, sponsorship information, and event updates, visit habitatspringfield.org/pickleball.
EAST LONGMEADOW — The East of the River Five Town Chamber of Commerce (ERC5) announced an upcoming collaborative event to demystify the college financing process for students, parents, and guidance counselors.
This event, slated for Thursday, Feb. 12 from noon to 1 p.m. in the Schwartz Campus Center at American International College (AIC), will feature contributions from prominent community leaders, including Amie (Guerra) Miarecki, president of Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts; Dawn Creighton from Liberty Bank; and the team at AIC. The ERC5 is also a key partner in this initiative.
Navigating the financial aspects of college can often feel overwhelming, particularly when it comes to understanding the paperwork, scholarships, grants, work-study options, and federal student loans. This event is designed to provide essential information and resources to help families make informed decisions about financing higher education.
Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with experts who will share insights on available financial aid options and answer questions about the college financing process. The goal is to empower attendees with the knowledge they need to successfully navigate the financial choices for higher education. Click here to register.
Wrestling icon Ric Flair was a special guest at the 40 Under Forty gala in 2015, pictured here meeting honoree Eric Devine, then Information Technology Services officer at Country Bank. File Photo
In 2007, Sarah Tsitso was more than a decade away from her current role as executive director of the Zoo in Forest Park, where she leads year-round efforts in the realms of animal conservation and community education.
Back then, she was an editor for Turley Publications, not sure where her road would take her. But she does remember a big moment of encouragement — being named to the inaugural class of BusinessWest’s 40 Under Forty.
“Receiving this award in 2007 — its first year — was so unexpected and so humbling,” Tsitso said. “At the time, I was a newspaper editor and the mother of a young daughter, just slogging through, doing my best at both jobs. I had no idea why anyone would want to honor my accomplishments.”
“That 40 Under Forty recognition is still one of my proudest moments. I am forever grateful to have been an inaugural member of this amazing, ever-expanding club.”
Some years later, she was back on stage as a 40 Under Forty gala co-emcee — she calls it “a banner, full-circle year for sure.” Meanwhile, each June, dozens of former winners attend the gala to celebrate yet another class and stay close to a community of young professionals who impact Western Mass. in countless ways through their career success and community involvement. This year, the 20th such class will be chosen — and the nomination deadline of Feb. 24 looms (more details on that later).
“In the years since 2007, I have seen so many incredible, talented people from this region cross that stage,” Tsitso said. “Looking back now, with my daughter grown and my journalism days behind me, that 40 Under Forty recognition is still one of my proudest moments. I am forever grateful to have been an inaugural member of this amazing, ever-expanding club.”
There’s a reason the 40 Under Forty trophy is one of the most coveted prizes in the region, and certainly a badge of honor for a club that will soon comprise — after the class of 2026 is revealed in our April 27 issue — a whopping 800 young professionals.
Well, mostly young. Some of the earlier winners are in their late 50s now, and have gone on to build even more successful careers. Some have even been honored by BusinessWest again as Difference Makers, Women of Impact, or Healthcare Heroes.
Tara Brewster, an honoree in 2009 and a co-emcee in 2022, will return to co-emcee the 20th edition of 40 Under Forty this June.. File Photo
And 13 have won the prestigious Alumni Achievement Award (called the Continuing Excellence Award in its early years), which, since 2015, has been given to the previous 40 Under Forty honoree who has most built upon his or her accomplishments. Those winners, starting with the most recent, include Jeff Fialky, Meghan Rothschild, Amy Royal, Anthony Gleason III, Anthony Gulluni, Carla Cosenzi, Peter DePergola, Cinda Jones, Samalid Hogan, Scott Foster, Nicole Griffin, Dr. Jonathan Bayuk, and Delcie Bean — a regional who’s who in a number of fields, from law to technology to healthcare.
On the Map
For Tara Brewster, being chosen as a 40 Under Forty honoree in 2009 was an impactful moment, and one she still thinks about often. Now vice president of Business Development and Philanthropy at Greenfield Savings Bank, she then co-owned the men’s clothing shop Jackson & Connor in Northampton.
“We started planning for our business in 2007, and we opened the doors in 2008. In some ways — in many ways — I had no idea what I was doing,” she recalled. “As a first-time business owner after recently moving back from New York City to my hometown, I realized that, to be successful, you had to be all in on your business, your customers, and on the community that you are serving.
“Being recognized by BusinessWest and the community, for my work and role in the region, in 2009 was unexpected, and completely launched who I was and who I would become,” she went on — and as she built an impressive career and became a force in community philanthropy and volunteerism, she was later honored by BusinessWest as a Difference Maker in 2022 and a Woman of Impact in 2025.
But thinking back on that first honor, Brewster noted that “regional awards like this one not only put an individual and a business on the map, they also give someone a pathway toward destinations of higher achievement and success. I want to thank BusinessWest for taking chances on up-and-coming professionals in Western Massachusetts. It makes other people take notice and see opportunity where they may easily not have seen the potential for greatness.”
Brewster will return to the 40 Under Forty stage for the third time this June at the MassMutual Center in Springfield. She co-emceed the event in 2022 with White Lion Brewing Co. owner Ray Berry, and will co-emcee this year again with BusinessWest Editor Joe Bednar, who co-emceed the event every year from 2010 through 2021, as the magazine’s then-senior writer.
“I’m excited about the 20th,” Bednar said. “The short profiles we write about the honorees are my favorite assignment of the year — it’s fun trying to get to the essence of someone in 400 words. And the event itself is always a great time; the energy in the room is electric. I turned over emceeing duties to former winners a few years ago, but I really wanted to be part of the presentations for the 20th. And to share that stage with Tara, one of this region’s true stars, makes it even better.”
Brewster, for her part, is thrilled to return. “For me, being involved in the 20th 40 Under Forty is a true homecoming. It feels like returning to who I was at 30 years old. In the past 17 years, I have learned so much about myself, this community, grown my professional network, and worked hard to make others proud of the investments that they made in me.
“I hope that other 40 Under Forty alums will join me that evening in giving their former selves a hug and their current selves a high five for still being in the world, playing the game, and making a difference for others,” she added. “Thank you, BusinessWest, for the continued opportunity to shine brighter than I did yesterday.”
Time Is Running Out
As noted earlier, BusinessWest is now accepting nominations for its 20th annual 40 Under Forty awards. As usual, honorees are chosen not only for their career achievements, but for their service to the community. Winners hail from a host of different industries; many are advancing the work of long-established businesses, while others have created their own entrepreneurial opportunities.
Both 40 Under Forty and Alumni Achievement Award winners are chosen by independent panels of regional business leaders who will be announced soon.
40 Under Forty nominations must be submitted by Feb. 24 at businesswest.com/40-under-forty-nomination-form. Alumni Achievement Award nominations must be submitted by April 9 at businesswest.com/40-under-forty/alumniachievementaward.
It’s true that manufacturing has been driven by precision and innovation, so any way you can gain the advantage over a competitor is always welcomed. This means it is important for manufacturers to embrace innovation themselves, to better create innovations for customers.
Artificial intelligence (AI) has become an important part of this. It has moved well beyond experimentation and is now in the mainstream, and it’s time for manufacturers to embrace it. It is also helpful to think of AI search as a new opportunity to connect with the audience.
Why? Because it plays a clear role in how manufacturing companies are evaluated, especially when you’re deciding which companies or partners to trust. It has become a signal of credibility, readiness, and professionalism.
Here are some ways AI search helps strengthen business growth for manufacturers.
AI Search Signals Modern Capability and Industry Relevance
Manufacturers and their customers now operate in an AI-driven information environment. Search engines, recommendation systems, personalization tools, and automated support have set new expectations for speed and relevance. When a manufacturer’s marketing feels generic or outdated, it often suggests the systems supporting it haven’t kept pace.
A manufacturing company that actively uses AI signals that it understands the business environment. AI-powered research, audience analysis, and content optimization allow marketing strategies to align more closely with how people search, browse, and make decisions today. When AI is integrated thoughtfully into a manufacturing company’s marketing approach, it communicates that the brand or agency isn’t relying on outdated tactics, but building for how customer behavior is right now.
Clear Information Builds Confidence Through AI Search
Trust doesn’t come simply from claiming to use AI, and in manufacturing, trust is built on clarity. It comes from being clear about how it’s used. Buyers are likely cautious of vague promises or black-box solutions that sound impressive but offer little insight into process or accountability.
AI search prioritizes companies that clearly explain what they do, how they do it, and why it matters. Manufacturers that publish structured, accurate, and informative content send a strong signal that they understand modern discovery behaviors. This positions them as current, capable, and relevant within their industry.
As AI becomes more prominent, manufacturers that align their content with these systems are better-positioned to be trusted.
AI Search Supports More Relevant Buyer Experiences
Relevance is one of the strongest drivers of trust. AI allows marketing efforts to be more precise, timely, and personalized across channels. Content can better match search intent. Ads can adapt to performance signals in real time. Reporting can surface insights that matter to your actual business goals rather than vanity metrics. This is how manufacturers can generate leads — by leveraging AI and the insights that are generated from it.
It’s all about formulating digital marketing campaigns that feel intuitive and aligned to a manufacturing-oriented audience. This helps your audience feel understood and valued, which over time will encourage business growth. Over time, consistent relevance reinforces the sense that the brand behind the experience knows what it’s doing and is paying attention.
Strong AI Visibility Shortens the Sales Cycle
Manufacturing companies dream of shortened sales cycles, and this could be possible by leveraging AI. You need a digital marketing strategy that leverages AI that also aligns with business goals. This means adapting as consumer behaviors change.
AI-forward manufacturers tend to appear more scalable, resilient, and prepared for what’s next. They show that they are investing in systems that support growth, insight, and adaptability, rather than reacting to change after it happens. That forward-thinking mindset reduces risk and increases confidence in the partnership. This is something that the audience values.
Bottom Line
At its core, AI as a brand trust signal is all about being keeping manufacturing companies at the forefront of innovation. When AI is used thoughtfully and communicated clearly, it signals competence, transparency, and long-term thinking. It can also help improve business growth and generate more leads.
Brick Marketing, a Boston-based digital marketing agency, drives digital marketing strategy and implementation that solves complex challenges, achieving business, sales, and marketing goals by offering a combination of expert digital marketing services, training, and consulting solutions.
When Valentine’s Day arrives each February, chocolates, dinner reservations, and flowers naturally come to mind — especially flowers, as Valentine’s Day is the biggest day of the year for floral sales in the U.S., with Americans spending nearly $3 billion on blooms alone. These gestures are often how we show love to others. But what if, this year, Valentine’s Day became just as much about showing care and compassion for yourself as it is about celebrating someone else?
Self-love is not a trendy buzzword — it’s a foundational element of mental and emotional wellness. This February, MiraVista Behavioral Health Center is using the holiday to remind people that loving yourself deeply and intentionally is as important as any romantic relationship. Rather than seeing Valentine’s Day only as an outward-facing celebration of partners, MiraVista encourages the community to pause, reflect, and honor the relationship we have with ourselves.
At its core, self-love means giving yourself the same compassion, patience, and care that you freely give others. It means acknowledging your worth not because someone else validated it, but because you recognize it. Mental wellness experts agree that this inner kindness fuels resilience, supports emotional balance, and strengthens our ability to connect with others. For example, practices like mindful self-compassion are shown to diminish harsh self-judgment and support emotional well-being.
For many, this Valentine’s Day is an invitation to shift perspective. Instead of focusing solely on outward expressions of love, we can look inward and intentionally choose to nurture our own mental and emotional needs. After all, how we treat ourselves sets the tone for all other relationships in our lives.
Karen Rossacci
“At its core, self-love means giving yourself the same compassion, patience, and care that you freely give others. It means acknowledging your worth not because someone else validated it, but because you recognize it.”
As chief Nursing officer at MiraVista and TaraVista Behavioral Health Centers, I know well the connection between self-care and overall wellness — and I have seen firsthand how self-attunement can be transformative.
Self-love isn’t selfish. It’s a vital part of staying mentally well. When we honor our own needs — our thoughts, emotions, boundaries, and health — we cultivate strength and clarity that radiate outward into every part of our lives.
It’s important to note that self-love doesn’t mean perfection or constant happiness. Rather, it’s about acceptance — recognizing that you are worthy of care even on your hardest days. True self-love begins with listening. Listen to your body when it needs rest, your mind when it needs calm, and your heart when it needs reassurance. Those are not signs of weakness — those are signs that you are human and deserving of care.
So just how does one practice self-love this Valentine’s Day? Here are a few tips grounded in mental wellness principles.
1. Start with Kind Self-talk
Instead of focusing on flaws or failures, rehearse affirmations that acknowledge your strengths. For example: “I am worthy of peace and joy.” This shifts internal dialogue from criticism to compassion. Reinforce all those characteristics that make you you — and what it is you love about yourself.
2. Prioritize Your Well-being
Schedule time for activities that restore and nurture you — whether that’s a walk outside, journaling, meditating, or simply sitting quietly with a warm cup of tea or cocoa. Making time for these things isn’t indulgence — it’s self-respect.
3. Set Healthy Boundaries
Self-love means protecting your energy. Saying ‘no’ to extra obligations when you’re overwhelmed is not rude — it’s necessary. Respecting your limits helps prevent burnout and preserves your emotional reserves.
4. Connect Authentically
Reach out to friends, family, or a community that supports you — but do so in ways that feel nourishing. Genuine connection matters, but it should uplift, not drain, your spirit.
5. Celebrate Small Wins
Maybe today you woke up on time. Maybe you reached out for help. These small actions are worthy of acknowledgment. Self-love happens in the everyday as much as in the big moments.
Bottom Line
Caring for yourself is not a one-day event, but an ongoing practice. Loving yourself is like tending a garden — it needs steady attention, patience, and trust that what you’re doing feeds growth. Some days will bloom beautifully — and some days will not. And that’s OK. Love remains.
So, as this Valentine’s Day approaches, encourage yourself to see the holiday as an opportunity not just to give love, but to receive it from within. Whether you celebrate with others or spend a quiet evening on your own, the most enduring love you can nurture is the one you give yourself. Sometimes, the best person to spend time with is you.
Karyn Rossacci is chief Nursing officer at MiraVista Behavioral Health Center in Holyoke and TaraVista Behavioral Health Center in Devens.
Dr. Jackie Fix shares a moment with a kitten during an exam.
Second Chance Animal Services, a nationally recognized nonprofit improving the lives of pets through veterinary care, adoption, and community programs, recently announced the launch of Behind the Paw, an immersive experience designed to introduce qualified job applicants to careers in mission-driven animal welfare.
Behind the Paw offers applicants the rare opportunity to spend a few hours or a full day alongside Second Chance staff in departments including veterinary services, shelter and animal care, reception, development, and more. Participants observe real-world operations and learn how each role contributes to Second Chance’s mission of helping pets stay healthy, stay in their homes, and find new beginnings.
“As one of the fastest-growing nonprofit animal welfare organizations in Massachusetts, Second Chance is always looking for compassionate, dedicated people who want to make a difference,” said Sheryl Blancato, CEO of Second Chance Animal Services. “Behind the Paw gives qualified applicants the chance to see firsthand what mission-driven work looks like and how every team member plays a vital role in saving and improving pet lives.”
Second Chance helps more than 64,000 pets each year through affordable veterinary care, community programs, adoption services, and shelter support. As demand for its services continues to increase, the organization is expanding programs and developing innovative community initiatives, creating a continual need for skilled, values-aligned professionals.
Behind the Paw is specifically designed for individuals who are qualified to work in roles such as veterinarian, veterinary technician/assistant, animal care technician, veterinary reception, and development/fundraising.
“Behind the Paw gives qualified applicants the chance to see firsthand what mission-driven work looks like and how every team member plays a vital role in saving and improving pet lives.”
Qualified participants may explore opportunities for both current openings and roles that may become available in the future. When no current openings exist, applicants may be added to Second Chance’s talent priority list, ensuring they are among the first considered for new or upcoming positions as the organization continues to grow.
Behind the Paw is for qualified job applicants only; students enrolled in veterinary, vet tech, animal science, or related programs can apply to Second Chance’s dedicated intern/externship program instead, which is tailored to meet academic and hands-on training requirements.
“Second Chance is not just a workplace, it’s a mission,” Blancato said. “Every person who joins our team helps us keep pets with the families who love them and expand access to affordable veterinary care across Massachusetts. Behind the Paw helps prospective team members experience that purpose before they apply.”
SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Symphony Orchestra (SSO) announced that its fourth annual Fearless Women Awards are open for nominations, honoring local women who embody courage, resilience, and empowerment. Women are nominated by their peers, and nominations are being accepted until Friday, Feb. 13 at 5 p.m.
Nominations can be made through a form on the SSO website at springfieldsymphony.org. This year’s Fearless Women will be recognized on stage at the SSO’s performance of “Gershwin and a Woman’s Voice” on Saturday, March 14 at 7:30 p.m.
Those who nominate a Fearless Woman can choose among five inspiring categories that most embodies the individual, including bravery, advocacy, passion, perseverance, and authenticity. Last year’s Fearless Women Awards honored seven local women, and since its inception, the awards have recognized more than 20 women in the region.
Those being honored will receive two tickets to the March 14 SSO concert, as will the individual who nominated them, and there will be a welcome reception for honorees, their guests, and nominators in the Mahogany Room prior to the concert. The Fearless Women will then be recognized on stage at the start of the performance. The honorees will receive a plaque in recognition of this honor.
“The fourth annual Fearless Women Awards celebrate the remarkable women whose courage, creativity, and commitment elevate our community and inspire us all,” said Heather Caisse-Roberts, president and CEO of the SSO. “They reflect a deep dedication to lifting others, fostering connection, and creating meaningful, lasting impact through their everyday actions. We are proud to recognize their achievements and to shine a spotlight on these amazing women in our very own Symphony Hall.”
NORTH ADAMS — MountainOne Bank announced the promotion of Kyle Shepard to assistant vice president of Loan Operations and business analyst manager.
In his role as AVP of Loan Operations, Shepard oversees the daily functions of the Loan Servicing department, including payment processing, escrow management, and collections. As business analyst manager, he supervises a team responsible for developing and implementing strategies and procedures that strengthen operational efficiency, enhance customer service, and mitigate risk.
Shepard joined MountainOne in March 2014 as a personal banker. Over his nearly 12 years with the organization, he has advanced through a series of roles including electronic banking specialist, customer care liaison, and operations analyst. Most recently, he served as AVP, operations manager prior to his promotion. He is a graduate of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts with a degree in business administration and management, as well as an accredited ACH professional.
“We’re proud to recognize Kyle’s continued growth at MountainOne,” said Mike MacArevey, senior vice president, senior operations officer at MountainOne. “His strong analytical skills, operational acumen, and dedication to the customers and communities we serve are highly valued. We look forward to all that Kyle will bring to his new role.”
NORTHAMPTON — On Sunday, Feb. 22, Paul & Elizabeth’s will host a brunch to benefit Cancer Connection, sponsored by bankESB. The restaurant in Thornes Marketplace is generously providing its space, food, and staff for this event to raise money for Cancer Connection, while bankESB is providing a $5,000 sponsorship to underwrite the brunch.
“We are thrilled not only to have bankESB’s financial support, but that they immediately stepped up to be our exclusive sponsor for this brunch,” Cancer Connection Executive Director Chelsea Kline said. “Their generosity means that all proceeds will go directly to our programs and services — and it speaks volumes about bankESB’s commitment to our community.”
New York Times bestselling author Catherine Newman will be the host for the brunch. Newman is the author of the memoir Waiting for Birdy; the novels We All Dream of Impossible Things, which explores a friendship impacted by cancer, Sandwich, and, most recently, Wreck, which was a Good Morning America Book Club Pick in November. She will share a short reading from Wreck and will offer her trademark wisdom, empathy, and humor as she is interviewed by local radio host and comedian Kesley Flynn.
Paul & Elizabeth’s founder Paul Sustick is a longtime champion of Cancer Connection and offered to host a brunch on Sunday, when the restaurant is typically closed, to raise awareness and money for the organization.
“In the middle of an epically cold winter, we can’t wait to gather for amazing comfort food, conversation, humor, and bolstering our programming for the coming year,” Kline said. “The support of Paul & Elizabeth’s and bankESB made all this possible.”
Click here for more information and tickets (if still available).
GREAT BARRINGTON — The South Berkshire Community Health Coalition, a program of Railroad Street Youth Project, has partnered with the South Berkshire Rural Health Network to offer monthly Kitchen Table Talks/Community Care Sessions at the Great Barrington Family Resource Center, 141 West Ave., on the last Tuesdays of February, March, and April from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Combining two synergistic programs, Kitchen Table Talks/Community Care Sessions are designed for parents and caregivers interested in building their knowledge and communication skills with their children around big issues including substance use while receiving meaningful support, care, and belonging in a wellness setting.
“Parenting is hard, prevention matters, and the most effective support meets people where they are,” said Jennifer Goewey, director of the Southern Berkshire Rural Health Network. “I am excited for parents and caregivers to have this opportunity to share, learn, and prioritize their own well-being — something that is both important and too often sacrificed.”
Each session begins at 5:30 p.m. with a Kitchen Table Talk and community dinner. Kitchen Table Talks provide a supportive, peer-to-peer environment where a trained facilitator guides fellow parents through a prosocial, preventive approach to helping parents and caregivers improve communication with their children and other youth in their lives. This will be followed at 6:30 p.m. with a Community Care Session, with offerings such as guided meditation and light movement, all led by a wellness provider.
The Tuesday sessions will be held on Feb. 24, March 24, and April 28. Childcare will be provided to attendees.
For more information about these events, including registering or arranging for free childcare, contact Laura Rodriguez, director of the South Berkshire Community Health Coalition, at (413) 717-7070 or [email protected].
With new episodes airing every other Monday, BusinessTalk features in-depth interviews and discussions with local industry leaders who offer thoughtful perspectives on the Western Massachusetts economy and the many business ventures that keep it running. BusinessTalk is sponsored and presented by Greenfield Cooperative Bank.
George O’Brien talks with Diana Szynal, President and CEO, Springfield Regional Chamber
Chambers of commerce have evolved over the years, and they are in many ways smaller than they were decades ago, in terms of both membership and staff. But their mission remains vital, and in many ways, chambers are more important now than ever. That’s one observation from Diana Szynal, president and CEO of the Springfield Regional Chamber, as she talked with Contributing Writer George O’Brien for the latest installment of BusinessTalk. The two sat down to discuss everything from the upcoming schedule of events, starting with the annual Outlook lunch, to the chamber’s rebranding efforts, to the way it provides a strong, clear voice for businesses of all sizes. It’s must listening, so tune into BusinessTalk, a podcast presented by BusinessWest over both audio and video platforms, and sponsored by Greenfield Cooperative Bank.
BOSTON — M&T Bank announced the appointment of Jeff Carpenter as its new regional president for Massachusetts. With more than two decades of corporate and specialty banking experience, Carpenter brings deep regional knowledge, financial expertise, and a strong record of leadership to this role, reinforcing M&T’s commitment to delivering exceptional service to its customers.
Carpenter has served as executive vice president, head of Specialty and Corporate Banking since 2023. In his expanded role as regional president, he will guide M&T’s regional leaders, including members of its retail banking, business banking, commercial banking, wealth management, government banking, and charitable teams, as well as leading the collaborative, Boston-based team. An active member of the Boston community, he will continue to serve on several boards, including the YMCA of Greater Boston, Just Living Communities, and the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce.
“Jeff’s appointment underscores M&T Bank’s commitment to strong, local leadership in Massachusetts as we continue to grow our presence across New England,” said Augie Chiasera, M&T Bank’s senior executive vice president and head of Community Markets. “Having been part of M&T for years, Jeff brings a deep understanding of our culture and strategy and will now lead an already strong, deeply engaged team in Boston. With his extensive experience in specialty and corporate banking and understanding of capital markets, Jeff is well-positioned to drive growth, strengthen client relationships, and deepen our community impact across the Commonwealth.”
Prior to joining M&T Bank, Carpenter led several Capital Markets, Commercial Banking, and Credit teams at People’s United Bank, Banco Santander, and Sovereign Bank. He holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from Bentley University.
“I am honored to be given the opportunity to lead this extraordinary team as M&T deepens its impact while supporting innovation in Massachusetts,” Carpenter said. “Choosing where to bank is personal. M&T combines the strength of a large bank with local, tailored service, allowing us to support customers and communities in meaningful ways. I look forward to working across the team to strengthen client service and deliver results that help people grow their businesses, buy homes, and reach their goals.”
SPRINGFIELD — As part of its year-long 90th anniversary celebration, Big Y announced a student art contest, providing an opportunity for students in the local market area to showcase their creativity and express themselves through original works of art.
Participants are encouraged to bring their imagination to life by creating artwork that showcases “What Big Y Means to You.” The contest will award prizes to students in three grade brackets: K-4, 5-8, and 9-12, along with a donation to the school the student is registered as attending.
Now through March 2, art submissions can be brought to an Big Y location. Winning entries will earn a gift card, recognition, and support for their schools. For complete contest details, submission guidelines, and deadlines, visit www.bigy.com.
“As part of our 90th anniversary celebration, we are proud to offer a fun and meaningful opportunity for talented and creative students in our local market to engage with us through an art contest,” the Big Y community committee stated. “We look forward to seeing the imagination and creativity that students bring to their submissions, while also giving back to three area schools.”
GREENFIELD — Greenfield Community College (GCC) will host a Black History Month event, “The Sound of America: Negro Spirituals as Narratives of Freedom,” on Friday, Feb. 20 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the GCC Dining Commons. The event is free and open to the public, with light refreshments provided.
The program features a performance and lecture by Perry Brisbon, an acclaimed operatic tenor and director of Turning Point, University Choir, and the Templeton Honors College Chorale at Eastern University. Through live performance and commentary, Brisbon will explore traditional Negro spirituals and their profound influence on American music, including blues, gospel, jazz, classic soul, rock and roll, and hip-hop.
Negro spirituals emerged from the lived experiences of enslaved African Americans and served as powerful expressions of faith, resistance, hope, and the pursuit of freedom. This event highlights their lasting cultural and musical legacy, tracing how these songs shaped the foundations of American music across generations.
The event is presented by GCC’s Office for Institutional Mission, Culture and Climate as part of the college’s Black History Month programming. Community members are encouraged to RSVP by visiting gccfor.me/sound-of-america.
Greenfield Community College is an AA/EO institution. For disability-related accommodations, call the Office of Disability & Accessibility Services at (413) 775-1812.
For Dan Dziuban, running a business is a lot like skateboarding and snowboarding.
“When you fall down, you’ve got to get right back up,” he said, offering one of many analogies between these activities, all of which feature twists and turns, trial and error, aches and pains (of either the figurative or literal variety), a fast pace, and an always-changing landscape.
Watch more from this year’s Top Entrepreneurs:
Success in all these realms also requires persistence and some luck, said Frank Langone, Dziuban’s partner in the venture known as Theory Skate Shop, which is coming up on 30 years of growth, evolution, thrills, spills, no less than 18 moves within the Holyoke Mall, and rewards on many different levels.
“It’s been a real roller-coaster ride,” Langone said. “There have been a lot of ups and downs, but mostly, it’s been a lot of fun.”
More ups than downs, to be sure, for Theory, which also sells apparel, including its own brand of clothing, and a wide range of accessories, and now operates two locations, with the other in Northampton, and has a strong online presence as well.
But it’s not just the retail aspect of this venture that has earned Dziuban and Langone BusinessWest’s coveted Top Entrepreneur honor, first awarded 30 years ago. There is also the manner in which they have promoted these sports, and especially skateboarding, bringing the sport more into the mainstream and greatly upgrading facilities locally.
Indeed, they have worked with several area communities to design and build skateboard parks — the latest such initiative is in Westfield — and there have also been summer camps, an indoor skateboard park they operated in Springfield for 14 years called Junction, videos, skating events, and more to bring people into the sport — and sometimes, through their influence, into the professional ranks.
“We’ve had three local guys come up and become professional skateboarders, and one become a professional snowboarder who’s left a huge mark on the sport; he grew up riding at Blandford, shopping here, and working for us,” said Dziuban, adding that helping people get into these sports and then watching some excel at the highest level is among the greatest rewards from all their hard work.
Another is seeing and hearing from young people who attended their skateboard camps and frequented the indoor skateboard park and have not forgotten those experiences.
“You’ll be in a restaurant, and someone will tap you on the shoulder … you don’t recognize him because it’s 20 years later and he was just a kid then, but he’ll tell you how much the skate park impacted his life, kept him out of trouble, kept him busy,” Dziuban said. “You could be in Rhode Island and that would happen, and it would happen all the time. And that’s very rewarding.”
“You’ll be in a restaurant, and someone will tap you on the shoulder … you don’t recognize him because it’s 20 years later and he was just a kid then, but he’ll tell you how much the skate park impacted his life, kept him out of trouble, kept him busy.”
Our story begins in the mid-’80s, with both Dziuban and Langone becoming part of what could be called the rise of skateboarding, fueled by highly visible professionals, especially Tony Hawk, who pioneered vertical skateboarding and would go on to become a successful entrepreneur — with his own skateboard company, Birdhouse — and philanthropic, helping to build skateboard parks around the world.
Dziuban and Langone have essentially followed this pattern within the 413 and a little beyond. They started with a small store on Main Street in West Springfield in 1998, and would go to set up headquarters, if you will, in the mall. They would diversify — into snowboarding, as that sport became more popular, and also into footwear and a wide array of clothing, including Theory branded items, while also getting involved in the community, especially with building skateboard parks and operating skate camps. They would add several other locations over the years, most of which did work out long-term.
Which brings us back to Langone’s reference to a roller-coaster ride, which this has been — a fun, rewarding thrill ride that has become a story not only of entrepreneurship, but of giving back; not just doing business in a community, but becoming a positive force within that community.
For this issue, we talked with Dziuban and Langone about the ride, about grabbing some air, as they say in the skateboarding world, and about the possible next chapters in an intriguing story.
Ramping Up
As he talked with BusinessWest in the Holyoke Mall just before it opened for the day earlier this month, Dziuban referenced the new Dick’s House of Sport soon to open in the old Sears footprint, just a few doors down from Theory’s current location.
The new Dick’s will be massive — and interactive — with batting cages, rock-climbing walls, a turf field, and much more, in addition to its vast inventories of sporting goods. Dziuban was asked if he worried about what would seem to be intimidating new competition.
Frank Langone says being an entrepreneur is much like mastering a skateboard or snowboard — there’s lots of trial and error. Photo by Bob Zemba, Simple Truth Imaging
“The younger me would definitely be worried about what this might mean for us,” he said. “This older me? I can see how this will be good for the mall and bring more people here — and possibly to our store. I’d prefer to focus on the positive aspects of this.”
Those comments show a maturity that comes with nearly three decades of experience in retail; time in the trenches that has included countless learning experiences on many levels; coping with new challenges like COVID and, more recently, tariffs; and, as noted earlier, some falling and getting back up again.
Before doing it in business, both Dziuban and Langone were doing it on skateboards on the streets of Springfield.
“Someone in the neighborhood got a board … you tried it, and then you wanted one,” Dziuban recalled, adding that this pattern was being repeated countless times across the region and the country.
“A friend of mine and I … we bought our boards together and started from there,” Langone said. “We met new people, and then Dan and I met eventually down the line.”
In addition to some passion for the emerging sport of skateboarding, Langone, who left for California for a year in the mid-’90s before returning to Western Mass., and Dziuban also shared some entrepreneurial blood, if you will. Langone’s father owned a flower shop in Springfield’s South End, and Frank worked there growing up. Meanwhile, Dziuban’s father operated a cleaning service.
So they knew what they were getting into — sort of — when they opened their first store on Main Street in West Springfield, looking to tap into the growing popularity of the sport.
“I just had an idea — I thought starting a shop would be a cool thing to do, and Dan agreed. We pooled our money together and got started,” said Langone, who also worked for a time at the Board Room, one of the region’s first skateboard shops, in Northampton.
“When you’re 23 or 24 years old … at that age, you pretty much think you can do anything.”
Neither one quit what would be considered their day job as they set up shop — Langone was still working at the flower shop, and Dziuban was still stocking shelves in the frozen food aisle at the Food Mart on Allen and Cooley streets in Springfield — and they couldn’t afford to pay themselves for a while, either.
But they were laying a foundation for a business — and a brand.
Indeed, the name originated with a class in criminal theory that Dziuban was taking at Westfield State University, and the logo, an ornate ‘T,’ which has stood the test of time, was created by his roommate, a graphic design major.
Soon after they opened and established a firm footing, they started laying another foundation, this one for work in the community, specifically with West Springfield to create its first skate park within the city’s Cooks Park.
“We had built a lot of ramps for ourselves over the years, so we knew what to do, and we played a pivotal role in getting that park built,” said Dziuban, adding that they did so thinking the facility would be for the community, but also inspire more people to take up the sport.
The partners would soon get involved in more parks in communities such as Belchertown, Amherst, Monson, and Sturbridge, he went on, joking that, before long, the business had what could be called a construction division, often converting little-used tennis courts into skate parks.
Summer skate camps, like the one seen here, are among the many ways Theory and its founders get involved in the community and give back.
Meanwhile, the two partners started conducting summer skate camps — they still participate in city-run camps in Agawam and Westfield — that bring more people into the sport and forge some relationships that have lasted for decades.
And in 2000, they started created their first skateboard video, called “Thesis,” featuring local skateboarders on the Theory team. It was designed to promote both the sport and the company, and it would be the first of many.
“It was the first of its kind for this area,” Dziuban said. “We premiered it at CityStage — there more than 400 people there; it sold out. That video was on VHS, we sold 1,600 copies — it was very well-received, and that was the tipping point for us doing eight more of those videos, and business boomed after that.”
On a Roll
Looking back on the early years, the partners acknowledged that, while there was some of that fear that comes with opening any kind of business, there was also a certain confidence that comes from youth — and perhaps from being able to master difficult skateboarding maneuvers.
“When you’re 23 or 24 years old … at that age, you pretty much think you can do anything,” Langone said.
Dziuban agreed, adding, “in all honesty, we didn’t have much time to think. We opened the store, then we built that skateboard park in West Springfield, and every year we were doing a new skateboard park or a new store or trying something new. There was no time to relax and little time to think.”
Soon after getting started, the partners would add snowboard equipment to the mix, as many skate shops have, bringing needed diversity to a business focused on a sport that more or less shuts down for the winter months. The sports are similar in many respects, and many who skateboard also snowboard.
They eventually set up a holiday pop-up store at the Holyoke Mall in 2006, an experience that would lead them to become year-long tenants there, although not with enough confidence to sign anything approaching a long-term lease.
Which explains the 18 moves within that facility, said Dziuban, humorously noting that he knows every inch of the mall because he’s operated in every corner of it.
“Sometimes, there were two moves in the same year,” he recalled. “It was every six months for a few years.”
The moves within the mall — in addition to four moves in West Springfield earlier in the life of the company — reflect the newness and trial-and-error aspect of this specific niche within retail, the partners noted.
And with the successes have come some setbacks. Indeed, Dziuban and Langone have opened shops or acquired existing facilities in various locations, including Amherst and Northern Connecticut, that have not worked out. There was also Junction, the indoor skate park that, though it eventually closed, was a huge part of the business and its efforts to introduce people to skateboarding.
“We were out there all the time, skating with everyone, teaching skate camp, working there — we were becoming friends with our customers. It was amazing,” Dziuban said.
“We were throwing a lot of darts, and we were younger and more eager to try things,” said Langone, adding that, collectively, these were learning experiences that have made Theory a stronger company and the partners wiser entrepreneurs.
Today, there are the two locations — in addition to two large booths at the Big E they’ve had for 20 years now — as well as the summer camps and events at the skate parks.
“We do ‘come skate with us’ events on Wednesday nights; we have a DJ, sometimes we have food, we have prizes for best trick,” Dziuban noted. “We have go-skate events, which are all-day events; we do a Halloween event … we do a bunch. We’re out there interacting with the skateboard community and doing everything we can to keep it fun.”
Such efforts are more difficult on the snowboarding side of the equation — the company used to run bus trips to area ski resorts — but the partners do what they can to build enthusiasm for that sport as well.
Meanwhile, Theory has diversified into brands, and products, that are not skate- or snowboard-related, especially at the mall location, which boasts everything from outdoor clothing (Patagonia and the North Face) to Yeti coolers and accessories, to a wide range of shoes and even sunglasses and backpacks. As for the Theory brand itself, it can be found on everything from T-shirts and hoodies to jeans and baggy shorts.
“The good thing is the skateboard culture itself is popular,” Dziuban said. “The clothing brands, the shoes … you don’t necessarily have to skate to want to buy those products.”
Overall, business has been good, but there is a fickleness to sporting goods in general and some specific sports, like skateboarding and snowboarding. Indeed, Langone and Dziuban referenced how the snows of last December, a stark departure from the past several years, to be sure, helped fuel sales of snowboards during the holiday season — and also how the recent years with little snow before January didn’t drive such sales.
“If you can’t see snow in your backyard, you’re not even thinking about snowboarding,” Langone said. “And with skateboarding, one day it’s really cool, and everyone wants a skateboard for Christmas, and then, five years later, every kid wants a soccer ball, and skateboarding is not cool.”
Dziuban agreed. “The thing about skateboarding and snowboarding is they’re both so volatile,” he explained. “The weather affects snowboarding, and skateboarding comes in and goes out of popularity. So we don’t have much time to think about what the business plan should be. The business plan is pretty much sent to us by the customer.”
Making the Jump
Right now, the plan calls for continuous efforts to listen to those customers and respond accordingly, growing the internet sales side of the business, and continuing to get involved with efforts that simultaneously promote the sport and bring new facilities to area communities.
The latest initiative is in Westfield, where the partners, along with Jeff Burke, a Theory team rider who came up through its skate camp, have helped design, coordinate, and raise money for a $1.6 million skate park facility in Amelia Park.
It’s the latest example of how these entrepreneurs have always been more then retailers. They’ve also been promoters — of skateboarding and snowboarding, to be sure, but also safe, healthy communities.
Previous Top Entrepreneurs
• 2024: John and Chris DeVoie, owners of Hot Table
• 2023: The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts
• 2022: Benson Hyde and Bruce McAmis, co-owners of Provisions
• 2021: Dinesh Patel and Vid Mitta, owners of Tower Square in Springfield
• 2020: Golden Years Homecare Services
• 2019: Cinda Jones, president of
W.D. Cowls Inc.
• 2018: Antonacci Family, owners of USA Hauling, GreatHorse, and Sonny’s Place
• 2017: Owners and managers of the Springfield Thunderbirds
• 2016: Paul Kozub, founder and president of V-One Vodka
• 2015: The D’Amour Family, founders of Big Y
• 2014: Delcie Bean, president of
Paragus Strategic IT
• 2013: Tim Van Epps, president and
CEO of Sandri LLC
• 2012: Rick Crews and Jim Brennan, franchisees of Doctors Express
• 2011: Heriberto Flores, director of the New England Farm Workers’ Council and Partners for Community
• 2010: Bob Bolduc, founder and CEO of Pride
• 2009: Holyoke Gas & Electric
• 2008: Arlene Kelly and Kim Sanborn, founders of Human Resource Solutions and Convergent Solutions Inc.
• 2007: John Maybury, president of Maybury Material Handling
• 2006: Rocco, Jim, and Jayson Falcone, principals of Rocky’s Hardware Stores and Falcone Retail Properties
• 2005: James (Jeb) Balise, president of Balise Motor Sales
• 2004: Craig Melin, president and CEO of Cooley Dickinson Hospital
• 2003: Tony Dolphin, president of Springboard Technologies
• 2002: Timm Tobin, president of
Tobin Systems Inc.
• 2001: Dan Kelley, president of
Equal Access Partners
• 2000: Jim Ross, Doug Brown, and Richard DiGeronimo, principals of Concourse Communications
• 1999: Andrew Scibelli, president
of Springfield Technical
Community College
• 1998: Eric Suher, president of E.S. Sports
• 1997: Peter Rosskothen and Larry Perreault, co-owners of the Log Cabin Banquet and Meeting House
• 1996: David Epstein, president and co-founder of JavaNet and the JavaNet Café
Dave Fontaine inside the new East Longmeadow High School, now under construction.
Bill Laplante says it wasn’t that long ago when a whole-house renovation with a price tag of $400,000, $500,000, or more was extremely rare.
Now, it’s commonplace,” said Laplante, owner of East Longmeadow-based Laplante Construction, which specializes in high-end homes, remodeling, and some light commercial work. “People are staying where they are and just putting the money into the house.”
Still, somewhat high interest rates have something to do with this surge in large-scale remodeling, he said, adding that many people bought their current homes at roughly 3% and are now looking at something just north of 6% (and it’s been higher the past few years) if they want to buy something new. So, in many respects, it makes sense to invest in the current home and stay in it, he went on.
This thinking helps explain why 2025 was one of the best the company has recorded, said Laplante, and also why 2026 is lining up to be another very solid year. “It was probably the largest-volume year in our history. We had a very, very, very good year — we had a lot of projects.”
“There were a lot of questions early last year regarding interest rates and whether they would go down or go up. I think people are feeling a little more comfortable with what they’re seeing recently.”
Bob Provost, co-owner of Greenfield-based general contractor Mowry & Schmidt, agreed, noting that 2025 was a good year for the company, with a diverse mix of projects, including the new hockey rink at Northfield Mount Hermon School and renovation of the former Greenfield Public Library into part of what could now be called the Greenfield Savings Bank campus in the heart of the city’s downtown.
“This past year was a very good for us, and it’s looking very promising for 2026 as well for both commercial work as well as residential,” he told BusinessWest. “There were a lot of questions early last year regarding interest rates and whether they would go down or go up. I think people are feeling a little more comfortable with what they’re seeing recently, and mortgage rates are lower than they have been. All this bodes well for builders.”
Mark Sullivan, president of Northampton-based D.A. Sullivan & Sons, which specializes in commercial and institutional work, agreed. He said the firm handled a lot of work for colleges during the summer break — he calls them ‘summer slams’ — as well as municipal projects in Chicopee and other communities, and has a good amount of similar work on the books for 2026.
There are some issues and headwinds confronting builders — finding enough help remains difficult, scheduling becomes more of a challenge as the volume of work increases, and Dave Fontaine Jr., president of Fontaine Brothers Construction in Springfield, noted that a slowdown in private sector work in the eastern part of the state is creating more competition for public projects, such as a new middle school in East Bridgewater that the firm bid on.
Bill Laplante says a good number of whole house renovations contributed to a record year for his company. Staff Photo
“Because the firms that generally focus on private work in Eastern Mass. are slow, we’re seeing a lot more competition for work throughout the rest of the state,” he explained. “We just interviewed for the project in East Bridgewater; generally, there would be anywhere between three and four other firms competing, but on that project, I think there were a total of nine firms that submitted bids.”
Still, for the most part, these are good times for construction firms, which are taking full advantage of somewhat greater stability on the national and global fronts (as of mid-January, anyway) and accompanying confidence among business owners and residents alike to move forward with projects.
“We just interviewed for the project in East Bridgewater; generally, there would be anywhere between three and four other firms competing, but on that project, I think there were a total of nine firms that submitted bids.”
Meanwhile, there is a solid amount of public work taking place and on the drawing board, which is good news for firms that specialize in that kind of work, including Fontaine.
Indeed, the firm is moving toward the conclusion of one major school project locally (East Longmeadow High School), in the middle stages of another (Agawam High School), and getting ready to start a third (the new Longmeadow Middle School). And there are projects in other corners of the state as well.
And if all goes well, the company will have to balance all that with construction of a new courthouse in Springfield, one that will likely have a price tag approaching or exceeding $500 million — Fontaine is one of the lead players in a proposal (one of 11 now being considered by the state’s Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance) to build a 15-story courthouse roughly across State Street from the current facility.
When asked if the firm could handle all that, Fontaine laughed and said, “I hope that’s a question we have to answer; we’ll manage somehow.”
Renovation of the former Greenfield Public Library into part of the Greenfield Savings Bank campus is one of many projects in the Mowry & Schmidt portfolio.
Right now, most construction firms are managing quite well, and while all those we spoke with cautioned that the scene (globally and nationally) could change quickly, the outlook for 2026 is generally positive.
Going Up
Laplante told BusinessWest that, while there was a solid mix of work in 2025, with residential and light commercial contributing to that solid bottom-line performance, it was the high-end renovations that stood out and gave the year some definition.
As he noted, there were more of them, and they signify a trend that likely has some staying power until interest rates come down significantly.
And when he talks about whole house renovations, he means whole house.
“They want a new kitchen, they want new appliances, they want all the bathrooms done over, they want to change out the windows, the siding … everything,” he said, adding that, depending on the size of the house — and most of these are quite large — the final price tag can exceed $400,000, $500,000, or even $600,000.
This new home in Longmeadow is one of many built by Laplante Construction in 2025.
As noted, Laplante’s firm did several of those in 2025, most in Longmeadow, East Longmeadow, and Wilbraham. In addition to these renovations, the firm built roughly a dozen high-end new homes — in Western Mass. and also on the Cape, where the company opened a satellite office a few years ago to better serve customers looking to build there or renovate existing homes.
There were also several commercial projects of various sizes and in different stages of completion, including a dental office in East Longmeadow, a warehouse building for Revitalize CDC in Springfield, and another warehouse for GoGraphix in East Longmeadow.
Commercial work comprises just 20% of the firm’s book of business, but it’s an important part of the portfolio, he noted, adding that the company has more from that sector on the books for 2026, including a 24,000-square-foot memory care facility expected to break ground in the spring.
Meanwhile, there is a steady diet of more residential work, especially those high-end renovations, slated for 2026, said Laplante, adding quickly that, as the volume of such work increases, getting on the schedule becomes more of a challenge.
“We have a dozen new home starts, the memory care facility, and more renovation work in the pipeline, to the point where we’re having to push out when it comes to scheduling them,” he explained. “One of the tough things is that we can’t start a major renovation in a month now … we’re having to space them out and schedule them well ahead of time and make sure we get everything ordered and ready to go.
“Overall, we have work on the books for 2026 that should make it as good if not better than 2025,” he went on. “We have a lot in the pipeline.”
Sullivan echoed those sentiments. He said 2025 was a solid year, joking that the firm took on maybe a few more summer slams than it should have, but it fit them all in.
“You can’t start until the students are out, and you have to finish before they get back,” he said, adding that firm handled work at Smith, Mount Holyoke, UMass Amherst, and other schools. “Everything gets squeezed in the middle, so you’re behind before you start, so those are always anxious projects, but they’re interesting.”
In addition, the firm had several anchor projects, as he called them, including renovation of the former public library in Chicopee into meeting space and ongoing renovations to City Hall there (see related story, page 13), as well as a library addition in Fitchburg, work at the Eaglebrook School in Deerfield, projects at UMass Amherst, and other initiatives.
He said colleges and municipalities have the resources and confidence to move ahead with projects after a few sluggish years following COVID.
And for 2026, the company already has a good amount of work on the books.
“We entered the year with probably 60% of our targeted year, which is where we want to be, and we have a few potential projects queued up,” he said. “They haven’t been finalized, but they’re trending in that direction, and if they happen, we’ll be over our annual volume goal.”
Firm Foundation
Provost offered similar sentiments, noting that, while the outlook is mostly positive, things can change quickly — and profoundly — and this is why diversity is so important for builders, including his firm.
“Being in this area, being in Western Mass., and especially Franklin County, for us, there’s always been a need to stay diverse,” he noted. “You never know where the market’s leaning, so we stay busy in both residential and commercial.”
The latter comprises 65% to 70% of the portfolio, he went on, adding that recent projects in that realm include the ice hockey arena at Northfield Mount Hermon, a $12 million undertaking that will be ready for the 2026-27 season, as well as the historic renovation of the former Greenfield Public Library, a project nearing its completion.
On the residential side, Mowry & Schmidt handles both new construction and renovation, with many extensive projects in that latter category.
“We do a lot of bathroom, kitchen, and addition remodels; we’ve got one going now that involves a sunroom addition, new mudroom entry, and full kitchen addition — basically a whole house renovation,” Provost said, echoing Laplantewhen he noted that more people are staying put and investing in their current home rather than trying to find another one, especially as prices increase and interest rates remain somewhat high.
And there is plenty potentially coming onto the books in 2026, he continued, adding that the firm is bidding on a number of projects — with many customers leaning toward the design-build model, with one firm handling both under a single contract.
By and large, there is confidence within the private sector, on both the commercial and residential sides of the ledger, to move ahead with projects.
“There was a stretch over the past six to eight months where people were a little uneasy,” Laplante said. “But I think they’re starting to relax and say, ‘the world isn’t such a bad place,’ and move forward and don’t worry about everything.”
Fontaine agreed, but said there is still a good amount of volatility to contend with, and the broad construction sector is especially vulnerable to such forces. “I think we’re seeing a market slowdown in the private sector, particularly in Eastern Mass.”
This slowdown began more than a year ago, by most accounts, he went on, adding that it has been fueled by still-high interest rates and uncertainly about if, when, and by how much they will fall, but also by tariffs and price increases on certain products.
Still, Fontaine is busy, with those school projects, in this market and elsewhere; other public sector work, such as an extensive renovation and expansion of Jones Library in Amherst (a project delayed by cost escalation and redesigns) and a public safety complex in Easton; as well as private sector work such as the $70 million initiative to expand and modernize Fairview Hospital in Great Barrington.
The firm generally handles a dozen or so projects at a time, he said, adding that it’s always working to keep a steady flow of work in the pipeline and balance out the projects that are being wrapped up with new initiatives.
And that’s the case with projects like East Longmeadow winding down (it will be ready for the new school year), and others, like Fairview Hospital and Jones Library, just getting started. And bidding never stops for new projects, such as the new middle school in East Bridgewater, Fontaine said, adding that it can be — and often is — several years between when a project first comes on the radar and when a shovel is put in the ground.
The firm is awaiting word on that project, as well as the courthouse — no word on when that verdict will be handed down — while also keeping a vigilant eye out for new opportunities.
By most accounts, there will be a good supply of them in the near future as confidence builds — and individuals, businesses, and municipalities look to build.
Daniel O’Neill, Patient Simulation Information coordinator at the SIMS Medical Center at STCC.
When healthcare program students in Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) step into a patient room at the SIMS Medical Center, they’re entering a high-tech learning environment designed to mirror the real world of healthcare.
Daniel O’Neill, Patient Simulation Information coordinator at the SIMS Medical Center, helps make those experiences possible.
“I’m one of two simulation coordinators,” said O’Neill, referring to himself and his colleague, Daniel Taibbi. “Together, we oversee a team of 15 employees who essentially build small movie sets so that students can practice high-fidelity healthcare simulations in a risk-free environment.”
The SIMS Medical Center hosts about 16,000 simulated experiences each year for students enrolled in 26 degree and certificate programs. O’Neill and his team ensure each scenario runs smoothly and meets national accreditation standards.
Accreditation by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare is no small point of pride. Last year, SIMS Medical Center earned this designation, making it one of only a few simulation centers in Massachusetts to reach that level of recognition, which is considered the gold standard in healthcare simulation and serves as a benchmark for excellence in patient simulation.
“These patients can blink, breathe, cry, respond to pain, and more. With the exception of walking out of the bed, they can do everything a human patient can.”
The center’s fleet of approximately 120 high-fidelity robotic patients allows students to practice their clinical skills in a realistic but safe setting.
“These patients can blink, breathe, cry, respond to pain, and more,” O’Neill said. “With the exception of walking out of the bed, they can do everything a human patient can.”
Virtual Reality
Simulation offers a powerful advantage in healthcare education. Studies show students retain up to 80% of knowledge gained through simulated experiences. STCC graduates also complete their clinical onboarding more quickly than peers from other institutions, O’Neill said, because they arrive with extensive hands-on practice.
Faculty play a key role in the process. Professors define learning objectives, and the SIMS team brings those objectives to life. “It’s a deep partnership,” he said. “We make sure what we’re setting up aligns with their vision for student learning.”
O’Neill spends a growing portion of his time in training and development meetings with faculty, helping them understand and use emerging technologies to enhance student learning.
Since 2020, STCC has expanded its innovation lab, introducing virtual reality to multiple health programs. Students can step into immersive scenarios or even view care from a patient’s perspective.
“AI lets us create more realistic and dynamic encounters that reflect cultural, religious, and social diversity. It prepares students to care for people who aren’t just like themselves.”
One simulation left a lasting impact on a 6-foot-5 student who experienced what it was like to lie in a hospital bed with a tall doctor standing over him. “He took the headset off and said, ‘I never realized how intimidating that feels,’” O’Neill recalled. “From that moment on, he started sitting down when talking to patients. That’s empathy building — and it’s just as important as any clinical skill.”
The SIMS Medical Center is also embracing artificial intelligence (AI), which allows for more authentic patient interactions. “AI lets us create more realistic and dynamic encounters that reflect cultural, religious, and social diversity,” O’Neill said. “It prepares students to care for people who aren’t just like themselves.”
In recognition of his contributions, O’Neill received the 2025 Individual Contributor Award/Star Award, an annual honor presented to an employee who demonstrates outstanding dedication and signature contributions to the college community.
STCC President John Cook praised O’Neill’s impact on the SIMS Medical Center and on students preparing for healthcare careers.
“What a unique skill set,” he said. “Dan, we are so grateful for all that you contribute to a very high-profile asset for the college. Our SIMS Medical Center, with the talent of Dan along with staff and faculty colleagues, provides a national model for future-now healthcare in higher education.”
Patient Approach
O’Neill’s path to STCC wasn’t traditional. He previously worked in restaurant management, at Apple as an educator, in event production, and even as a photographer for Lego. He joined STCC nearly nine years ago, first as a part-time simulation operator.
“I’ve always loved building teams and improving systems,” he said. “This role lets me do that while helping students prepare for meaningful careers.”
Prospective students experienced STCC’s SIMS Medical Center during a recent Career Exploration Night, where live simulations showcased the technology and immersive learning opportunities available.
“It’s the best night of the year to see what happens here,” O’Neill said. “Our goal is to give students the skills and confidence they need before they ever step into a hospital.”
The vacant Cabotville Industrial Park poses a huge challenge for Chicopee officials. Staff Photo
John Vieau says he remembers the event vividly.
It was the fall of 2019. Vieau, a Chicopee city councilor at the time, was running for mayor, and he and many others were on hand for an event, a showcase of sorts, at the Silverbrook Mills Building, formerly Cabotville Industrial Park. Its owners had created two demonstration apartment units, and the event was essentially a party in anticipation of the 600 more to follow.
“We were all excited. I remember those beautiful demos — one-bedroom and an efficiency unit — high ceilings, beautiful views, granite counters, washer-dryer stacks. They were talking about renting the efficiencies for under $1,000 a month,” said Vieau, who would go on to win the election. “I realized the impact that would have on our renaissance that we were trying to create downtown; it would create foot traffic and bring residents who would be interested in goods and services downtown.”
To say things haven’t gone according to that script would be a huge understatement.
Indeed, the pandemic hit soon thereafter, and the plans for the huge, 700,000-square-foot mill, where those two demo units remain, have gone unfulfilled. The ensuing years have been marked by frustration, inaction, repeated scalingcback of plans, a court-ordered eviction of remaining commercial tenants in 2022 due to the property being deemed unsafe, the city being forced to step in pay for needed security measures, and more frustration and inaction, with the current owner “going dark,” the mayor said.
The matter reached a tipping point of sorts recently, when the city began the long, arduous process of taking the property for non-payment of taxes — something it really doesn’t want to do.
Instead, it would prefer to see the property redeemed — either by the current owner, 4 Perkins LLC, a subsidiary of Silverbrook Properties, or another entity — out of tax foreclosure, and then sold to a developer with experience with large mill conversions, said City Planner Lee Pouliot, adding that this remains a possibility, and it represents the best-case scenario at this point.
“We were all excited. I remember those beautiful demos — one-bedroom and an efficiency unit — high ceilings, beautiful views, granite counters, washer-dryer stacks. They were talking about renting the efficiencies for under $1,000 a month.”
“It has to be an entity that has knowledge of doing a conversion from the ground up and has a reputation particularly with public funders — because there will need to be public investment in this to make it happen,” said Pouliot, noting that the price tag for redeveloping the property could exceed $200 million. “Every public program that we could make it eligible for is in place; we just need the right partner now and a developer who can pursue them.”
Historic Chicopee City Hall is undergoing an ongoing, $30 million renovation. Staff Photo
While the Cabotville mill remains a source of frustration, especially as the region and state are in the midst of a housing crisis, there are plenty of positive developments in the second-largest city in Western Mass. These include:
• The start of work to convert one of the remaining parcels within the former Facemate complex into 105 units of workforce housing, with two more phases of that project to come — redevelopment of a brick warehouse and an indoor sports complex;
• The selection of a preferred developer for the redevelopment of the four remaining buildings in the Uniroyal complex, bringing light to the end of a tunnel the city has been in for nearly 45 years as it sought reuse of the property;
• Ongoing work to renovate City Hall, a complex undertaking that involves revamping spaces while city government operates, a game of musical chairs that has reached its second phase;
• The recent opening of the Hub, community space created from redevelopment of the city’s former public library, next door to City Hall;
• Advancement of plans to build replace Berry Elementary School with a new, $124 million facility to be built on the grounds of Szetela Early Childhood Center;
• Plans to move the School Department out of temporary facilities (its former home was closed due to poor air quality) and into the Westfield Bank Loan Center, formerly Williamson’s clothing store, in the heart of downtown, bringing about 80 employees, and more vibrancy, to that area;
• Renovations to Szot Park and Sara Jane Sherman Park;
• A chamber of commerce that is enjoying growth in membership, new initiatives, and the return of its popular tabletop expo (more on that later); and
• Plans to hire the city’s first Economic Development director in several years. The mayor said he has been handling most of those responsibilities in the interim, but the City Council voted to fund that office again.
For this latest installment of its Community Spotlight series, BusinessWest looks at the many converging storylines in Chicopee and the many forms of progress in the community.
Milling About
As they talked about the Cabotville complex, both Vieau and Pouliot stressed that they don’t want this to become “another Uniroyal.”
By that, they meant property the city was forced to take for tax title and then essentially find someone to develop it — a long, difficult, and expensive process that has been playing out for many years now.
Instead, as noted earlier, the city would much prefer that 4 Perkins secure another buyer, one that can take the stalled project forward. And this is where much of the frustration comes in, said the mayor, adding that such a prospective buyer came forward a few months ago.
“He went through the permitting process, but it all came apart at the end; he said his agreement with the owner didn’t work out. He was frustrated and upset,” Vieau said. “In the meantime, entities have been calling and saying they’re interested; it’s a wonderful shell and has so much potential, and it’s really a key to the success of our downtown.
Indeed, several hundred units in that complex would bring people and vibrancy to the downtown area, bolstering existing businesses and probably inspiring new ones, he went on, adding that this is what the city was anticipating at that party back in the fall of 2019.
Chicopee at a Glance
Year Incorporated: 1848 Population: 55,560 Area: 23.9 square miles County: Hampden Residential Tax Rate: $15.24 Commercial Tax Rate: $32.60 Median Household Income: $35,672 Median Family Income: $44,136 Type of Government: Mayor; City Council Largest Employers: Westover Air Reserve Base; J. Polep Distribution Services; Callaway Golf Ball Operations; Dielectrics; MicroTek * Latest information available
That anticipation has been replaced by large question marks, and time is becoming increasingly a factor as the property sits idle.
“Structurally, the building is in fine shape for being vacant,” Pouliot said. “The concern that we have, and it was similar with Uniroyal, is that the longer buildings sit vacant, the more and faster they deteriorate. So, while it is in good shape, it’s the right time to get a developer experienced with mill conversions to pursue it.”
And the mayor is hopeful that the recent publicity about the city beginning the lengthy process of taking the property will bring more potential buyers to the table or spur the current owner to take some action. Recouping lost years of taxes, liens, and the money the city has spent on security, sprinkler system repairs, and other work is a priority, he noted, but the bigger priority is transforming that dormant property into a catalyst for vibrancy and more redevelopment downtown.
While that process enters its next phase, one clouded by uncertainty, the four-decade-long saga at Uniroyal is entering another phase as well.
Indeed, a preferred developer, Wisconsin-based J. Jeffers & Co., has been chosen and it is in very early-stage work to reimagine the four remaining buildings in the complex — the office building, a small retail building, and two large production facilities.
The company has a deep portfolio of mill conversions and related projects, including conversion of the Milwaukee Grain Exchange into event space and conversion of the former Milwaukee Journal Sentinel building into 141 market-rate apartments, and Pouliot said it is looking at a $300 million investment in the Uniroyal buildings, redeveloping them into roughly 600 residential units (a mix of market-rate and workforce) and some commercial space.
The city was recently awarded a $450,000 MassWorks grant to look into infrastructure improvements in the Chicopee Falls area to support such a project, Pouliot said, adding that, when needed work is identified, the city will apply for additional grants from MassWorks to pay for them. Meanwhile, J. Jeffers will put its financial stack together from an array of sources, and conversion work will take place over the next several years.
Opportunities Knock
While the city continues work on those fronts, it can celebrate the completion of another project that took years to conceive and bring to fruition — conversion of the former library into the Hub.
The ceremonial ribbon was cut last fall, and the space started hosting programs in November. These include a series of business development courses, led by Samalid Hogan, CEO of Greylock Management Consulting, as well as several one-offs, said Pouliot, adding that the city will soon launch a webpage on the facility highlighting its use policies, with the goal of filling out the spring schedule.
The library project is part of a larger effort to renovate, modernize, and reactivate historic city properties, including City Hall, built in 1871, which sits next door.
The work there is ongoing, with the recent completion of what Pouliot calls “phase 2, sequence 1,” which involved renovation of the City Clerk, Facilities, and Registrar of Voters spaces. Next will come sequence 2, the Human Resources and Retirement Office spaces, due to be completed later this month.
“I like to say that we’re retrofitting and maxing out every square foot of this building, and being a mayor in a building that’s been under construction since I took office — it’s been a challenge,” said Vieau, who talked with BusinessWest in a temporary office carved out of a portion of what had been City Council chambers. He will move to a new office on the third floor (near the Law Department and the renovated auditorium, which now hosts council meetings) later this year, although he joked that he likes his current space and would prefer to just stay there.
The mayor’s historic office is now a conference room, with its waiting space now part of a larger office for the city clerk.
There will be more shuffling to come in a project that will be completed in 2028 — because the work is being undertaken as city government continues its work — and a total cost of nearly $30 million.
While change comes to City Hall, the old library, and hopefully (eventually) Cabotville, it is also coming to the Chicopee Chamber of Commerce, said Melissa Breor, its executive director, noting that the agency is adapting to the changing wants and needs of its members.
For example, the traditional chamber breakfast has been replaced on the schedule with monthly coffee hours at member businesses. These gatherings take less time to plan and execute, she explained, and they provide additional opportunities for members to network and showcase their businesses.
“We’ve adjusted the style of event to suit the schedules of our members,” she said, adding that the chamber runs at least two events a month — a coffee hour, an after-hours function, or one of its signature events — to give members opportunities to network.
Meanwhile, the chamber is turning back the clock in some respects and bringing back a tabletop business expo, slated for April at the Castle of Knights.
A slimmed-down version of the program staged years ago, which included several different chambers, hasn’t been undertaken since before the pandemic, but this edition will feature Chicopee chamber members (and non-members), said Breor, adding that it’s being brought back at their request.
“Our current members have been asking for something like this,” she said, adding that it’s been so long since a tabletop event has been staged that newer businesses may not be familiar with the format. Thus, the chamber will be doing some Zoom orientation meetings to help participants make the most of their opportunities there.
Elizabeth Gosselin Kouflie didn’t plan on taking over the family business, but she eventually found a passion for it.
Elizabeth Gosselin Kouflie says she can’t pinpoint the time when she first came to realize the COVID pandemic was likely to be the best thing to ever happen to Commonwealth Packaging.
But she started to get that sense when customers and potential customers didn’t even bother asking for a price on a job — which, in this business, is saying something.
“Normally, it’s ‘I’d like a quote on this many.’ Then, it was ‘how fast can you get me this; I don’t care what it costs.’ That’s when we knew this was going to be a real opportunity,” said Kouflie, adding that, as the world shut down and people couldn’t get the products they wanted, everything had to be shipped. And that added up to a banner year for Commonwealth, the company started by Kouflie’s father, Joe, in 1982, which she was now managing.
Indeed, in a business where margins are as thin as the cardboard sheets in the warehouse and customers can be lured away by competitors offering to do things for a few pennies less per item, Commonwealth recorded more than 20% growth year over year in 2020, said Kouflie, adding that the plant was busier than it had ever been.
“COVID opened my eyes to what we can produce out of this one-shift factory, and that’s what I want to get back to,” said Kouflie, who officially took ownership of the business in 2019 and has been bringing much-needed change to a company where there had been little of it in the three and half decades prior.
That includes a thorough renovation of the plant on Sheridan Street in Chicopee, its first in decades, as well as new machinery, the addition of a design team, better use of IT — and now AI — as well as a stronger push, with the addition of a sales rep, into Rhode Island.
It also includes marketing, something the company had never really done before, previously relying almost entirely on word of mouth and its reputation for quality and customer service in a business where there is so much emphasis on price.
Commonwealth has started to reach out to customers and potential customers with materials highlighting everything from Kouflie’s ties to Rhode Island (she graduated from Providence College and wears a PC sweatshirt in one marketing piece) to Commonwealth’s status as woman-owned, to the fact that its packages “go out first class” — literally.
Indeed, the shipping and safety supervisor’s name is David First Class.
“His last name is Class, and his middle name is First,” said Kouflie, adding that the marketing efforts, which began roughly a year ago, are starting to pay off.
“A lot of people are talking about Commonwealth right now — people are calling me up that never called before,” she noted, adding that the marketing piece targeting Rhode Island businesses is an example of efforts that have helped grow sales.
“I spent a couple of years just keeping the ship afloat and doing everything so I wouldn’t mess it up, because I was terrified of messing it up, and then I finally got comfortable a few years ago and made this my business. And we’ve changed quite a lot since then.”
“It’s working … we’re getting a lot of business,” she said. “People in Rhode Island love to do business with Rhode Islanders; it’s definitely getting some traction.”
These marketing efforts comprise one of many ways Kouflie is putting her stamp on the company (more on this later), while also maintaining its traditional focus on quality, service, and a ‘customer is king’ philosophy.
For this issue and focus on construction and manufacturing, BusinessWest talked at length with Kouflie about Commonwealth and how this is not her father’s packaging company — or your father’s packaging company — anymore.
A Cut Above
As she was earning her degree in business management at Providence College, Kouflie wasn’t sure what she was going to do with it. And eventually running the family business was not a thought that really crossed her mind.
Indeed, while she remembers getting rides on the forklift at the plant’s first location across from the Big E in West Springfield when she was young, and then holding a succession of summer jobs at the company during high school and college, she never intended to make Commonwealth a career.
All that changed in 2003, when, a year after graduating, she returned home to help her father care for her mother, who was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. There was an opening for a bookkeeper at Commonwealth; she took that job thinking it would be a temporary assignment, but soon settled in at the family business.
“It was kind of trial by fire — help out wherever you can,” she recalled. “I started doing all the HR stuff, started learning how to spec build, started taking orders … in a family business, that’s typically how it goes — you do whatever needs to be done, help out with the IT, build a web page, whatever.”
Tracing the history of the company, Kouflie said her father worked for Mount Tom Box in West Springfield, gradually moving up in the ranks. When management wouldn’t make him a partner, he bought his own box company, Loreno Packaging in West Springfield.
“He used to tell me that he’d run the boxes in the morning, take customers out to lunch, get the orders, and come back in the morning and run the boxes,” said Kouflie, adding that the business continued to grow over the years, but always kept that customer-focused flavor.
Never big into titles — she says they don’t mean much in a family business — Kouflie held many in the years after joining the business, including Human Resource manager, her role when she was named to BusinessWest’s 40 Under Forty class of 2011, when she was just 30.
In 2013, her father took a step back from the business to spend more time at home and be a caregiver, while also battling cancer himself. And Kouflie continued to take on more responsibilities.
“He stopped coming to the office every day … he gave me some freedom to show what I could do — as long as I did whatever he said,” she noted with a laugh. “I’d have to send him my monthly statements showing him what I did, and he would let me know all the things I could be doing better; that’s how we operated for six years.”
She officially took the helm when her father passed away in 2019, and, after a few years of essentially maintaining the status quo — while also coping with the challenges and huge opportunities presented by the pandemic — started putting her own mark on the business.
“Before, I was running the company the way my dad wanted me to — the same way we’d always done everything; it was just follow the dotted line and do what we’ve always done,” she told BusinessWest. “When he passed away, I spent a couple of years just keeping the ship afloat and doing everything so I wouldn’t mess it up, because I was terrified of messing it up, and then I finally got comfortable a few years ago and made this my business. And we’ve changed quite a lot since then.”
The Complete Package
When asked to elaborate, she said the business model has changed, with an emphasis on being more competitive on price, while also maintaining its traditional emphasis on quality and service.
Other changes have included the addition of a design staff with a full-time designer, putting in a CAD table, marketing, renovating the entire building, adding new machinery, updating computer hardware and software, and exploring the use of AI to streamline quoting and other processes.
These steps and others are positioning the company for growth in a highly competitive industry, one often described with the single word ‘cutthroat’ and dominated historically by “price, price, price, price, price,” Kouflie said.
But increasingly, quality is becoming more a factor for many customers, she went on, citing the example of a prominent regional brewer — for years one of the company’s larger customers (Commonwealth makes its beer trays), but one that left when a customer offered a lower price.
“They dumped me, and six or seven months later, they called and I asked if I could come and sit down,” she recalled. “With their new supplier, the glue wasn’t holding on the trays when they put the beer in; the trays are coming in, the bottles are dropping in, the boxes are blowing open, and the beer is going all over the floor. They lost so much product — the pennies they saved on the boxes, they lost in product.”
It’s a story that’s been repeated countless times over the years, she said, adding that, moving forward, the company is looking to retain existing customers and add new ones by more aggressively telling its story and stressing its many qualities and selling points.
These include everything from Kouflie’s Rhode Island ties to the recently garnered ‘woman-owned business’ status.
“It’s part of a multi-pronged effort,” she said of the latter. “I think it catches people’s eyes — there are not a lot of woman-owned box makers.”
Part of the storytelling will be a focus on people — from David First Class to Customer Service Manager Kim Weagraff, highlighted in a different marketing piece.
“We want to show the end users, the buyers, who we are — our people — and the fact that we’re a young group,” Kouflie said. “A lot of our customers feel like we’re their best friends, and a lot of customers think they can just call us up and we’ll take care of them, and we will. But we want our customers to think they’re our only customer, and that we’re sitting here waiting for them to call, and we’re going to take care of them.
“These kinds of things are helping them feel connected to Commonwealth,” she went on. “I like to say that we’re not your dad’s box factory anymore. Lots of box factories are run by older gentlemen who are set in their ways; we’re trying to show our buyers who we are.”
Whether Commonwealth can return to that frenetic pace achieved during the height of the pandemic remains to be seen, but Kouflie is pushing the envelope — or, in this case, pushing the two-piece folder box — to achieve continued growth.
