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Month: May 2026

Introducing BusinessWest’s 2026 Alumni Achievement Award Finalists

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Alumni Achievement Award Cover Story Features

In 2015, BusinessWest, created a new recognition program that would eventually be called the Alumni Achievement Award (AAA), recognizing those individuals who have most expanded upon the résumés that earned them membership in the now-800-strong 40 Under Forty club.

And while there is usually one winner each year (there have been two on a pair of occasions), we profile all the finalists for the award each year because … well, just being among the handful of top scorers is an achievement of note.

“Last year I was very surprised and honored to have been named a finalist for the 40 Under Forty Alumni Achievement Award,” said Jeffrey Fialky, managing shareholder at Bacon Wilson, P.C. and last year’s AAA winner. “Surprise gave way to astonishment when being named the recipient of the award.

“I was beyond humbled to receive this award among a pool of other candidates and finalists, all of whom represent the highest echelon of excellence throughout our region — personally, professionally, and through their contributions to the community,” Fialky added. “While there is only one named recipient, it is really a distinction that is shared among everyone who works to better our region through their hard work, dedication, and commitment to community — and for that I extend my congratulations to all nominees and finalists.”

The four finalists that rose to the top, according to a panel of three independent judges, including Fialky (see page 22), are James Krupienski, partner at Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C. (40 Under Forty class of 2010); Modesto Montero-Forman, executive director of Libertas Academy Charter School (class of 2020); Adam Quenneville, owner of Adam Quenneville Roofing and Siding (class of 2009); and Ciara Speller, evening anchor at WWLP-22 News (class of 2023).

Their stories on the following pages certainly convey continued excellence in the professional world, continued commitment to giving back to the community, or both. They also provide some looks into the personal lives of some outstanding individuals, each of them worthy of the award known as AAA.

The winner will be announced at the start of this year’s 40 Under Forty gala on Thursday, June 11 at the MassMutual Center. The presenting sponsor of this year’s Alumni Achievement Award is Baystate Health/Health New England.

Meet the 2026 Alumni Achievement Award Judges:

The previous year’s AAA honoree traditionally serves as a judge the following year, and Jeffrey Fialky is no exception, having won the award in 2025 following 40 Under Forty honors in 2008. As managing shareholder at Bacon Wilson, P.C., he chairs the law firm’s corporate and commercial department and is also a member of the municipal department. He specializes in sophisticated business, financing, and commercial real estate transactions, representing the interests of business owners and lending institutions, as well as municipalities and landowners. A board member with the Springfield Regional Chamber and a trustee with the Springfield Museums, he has also been involved with causes ranging from the United Way and the American Cancer Society to the Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield and Leadership Pioneer Valley. 

Rania Kfuri has been a convener, connector, and motivator in many ways over the years, having served in a wide variety of roles, from a stint working for the mayor of Chicago to an entrepreneur who developed a unique travel bag for young parents; from her time at Smith College, which she served in several roles, to a Philanthropy officer for Baystate Health, and her most recent role as vice president for Philanthropy, Sales, and Marketing at Glenmeadow, where she provided leadership and direction to key revenue-producing areas; developed strategies to secure annual, planned, and donor-directed gifts; and pursued partnerships with other local organizations. Named a BusinessWest Woman of Impact in 2025, she is deeply involved with a wide range of community groups and causes, including Revitalize CDC, Girls on the Run, the Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts, and the city of Westfield, where she served on a master plan committee. 

Julie Quink is managing principal at accounting firm Burkhart Pizzanelli, P.C., where she is involved in the accounting and consulting aspects of the practice and manages engagements of various sizes and complexity, as well as performing forensic and fraud-related services. Named a BusinessWest Difference Maker in 2026, she is a trustee of Baystate Health and Monson Savings Bank, chairperson of the Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School committee, a finance committee member of the East Quabbin Land Trust, board chair for Greater Springfield Senior Services, and treasurer of Square One, the Quaboag Hills Chamber of Commerce, Hardwick Rescue & Emergency Squad, and the Estate Planning Council of Hampden County. She is also an adjunct faculty member in Elms College’s MBA accounting program and a 2017 recipient of the MSCPA’s Women to Watch awards. 

The Four Finalists for 2026 are:

James Krupienski

Partner at Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C

Modesto Montero-Forman

Executive Director, Libertas Academy Charter School

Adam Quenneville

President, Adam Quennevile Roofing & Siding

Ciara Speller

Evening Anchor, WWLP-22 News

The winner will be announced at the start of the 20th annual 40 Under Forty gala on Thursday, June 11 at the MassMutual Center.
Click here to reserve your tickets today!

Presenting Sponsor:

James Krupienski

By
Alumni Achievement Award

Partner at Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C

It’s called ‘Barrett’s Barracks.’

It’s named after the late Jim Barrett, long-time managing partner at Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C., and it’s actually his former office.

It’s where the tax interns hang out, and this past year, the space had even more meaning for James Krupienski, one of the firm’s partners, who works closely with those interns. That’s because his son, Jimmy, was one of those who called the space home this past year, following a stint as an audit and accounting internship.

“It was nice to have him here and work with him,” said Krupienski, adding that Jimmy, who graduated earlier this month from Westfield State University, worked with some of his clients and had the chance to offer feedback on the job. “Your family thinks they know what you do, but they really don’t, and he really got a chance to see what I do, and having him at home go to bat for me for me when my wife asks me why I was working so late … that was helpful.”

Jim Krupienski when he was named to the 40 Under Forty class of 2010, and today (top)

Jim Krupienski when he was named to the 40 Under Forty class of 2010, and today (top)

Jimmy’s tax internship is poignant for many reasons, starting with the old ‘how time flies’ adage. Indeed, Jimmy is front and center in his father’s 40 Under Forty photo from 2010, wearing his ‘Westfield T-ball’ T-shirt.

He’s come a long way since then, and so has his dad, who is making a return appearance as an Alumni Achievement Award finalist after first achieving that honor last year. The award is given to an individual has built upon their résumé — as a professional, a leader, and someone who gives back — and Krupienski has done that on those fronts and many others, as we’ll see.

At the firm, he has grown into a respected leader, a partner focused on areas such as marketing and professional development, including work with the interns, while also setting a tone for community involvement. He does this through his own work within his hometown of Westfield — he’s been involved with everything from Little League (as coach and treasurer) to the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce; from the YMCA of Greater Westfield, where his daughter, Hayley, will be working this summer, to the Westfield State Foundation, which he now chairs — but also through support of firm-wide initiatives to back causes and agencies ranging from A Bed for Every Child to Habitat for Humanity to the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts.

“Jim’s philosophy highlights that, while an individual’s contributions are great, developing a strategic plan for firm-wide involvement compounds those efforts, creating a multiplier effect,” wrote Howard Cheney, another of the partners at MBK, who nominated him for the Alumni Achievement Award.

“Beyond individual contributions, Jim has played a pivotal role in his firm’s community involvement, leading monthly initiatives that encourage team members to engage with local organizations,” Cheney added. “Through sponsorships, Jim and his firm have supported more than 75 local organizations per year, with personal donations to many of them, highlighting his dedication to making a lasting impact in his community.”

“Jim’s philosophy highlights that, while an individual’s contributions are great, developing a strategic plan for firm-wide involvement compounds those efforts, creating a multiplier effect.”

Meanwhile, Krupienski has also grown as a respected leader and the mentor at the firm, one whose best talent might be the ability to listen.

Fast Facts

Age: 47

40 Under Forty Class: 2010

Title Then: CPA Manager, Health Care and
Pension Audit Divisions,
Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C.

Title Now: Partner,
Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C.

Walk-up Song: “Dream On” by Aerosmith

Years an AAA Finalist: 2

“Jim leads from intention, rather than from ego,” wrote Sarah Rose Stack, a marketing consultant for MBK and formerly its director of Marketing and Recruitment, who wrote a letter to the AAA judges supporting Krupienski’s nomination. “He makes the final call, but only after thoughtfully considering professional input.
I never felt small or unimportant working for him. Not every idea I brought forward was the right one, but I always felt safe presenting it. We arrived at the best solutions together.

“At the end of the day, what defines a leader is whether people feel seen, respected, and empowered in their presence,” Stack went on. “Jim makes people feel important. He makes them feel capable. He makes them feel safe to stretch and grow.”

When asked what he likes most about what he does, Krupienski paused a moment before listing client work and how he can help individual business owners with their issues, challenges, and growth opportunities, but also professional development and helping others get to … well, where he is right now.

“I’d love to retire at some point — I don’t want to be doing this when Im 75,” he said. “And the only way that’s going to happen is if we have a great team behind us. To see people grow and develop and how I can help with that in different ways, that’s very rewarding.”

As for Jimmy, he’ll be wrapping up his internship soon and then starting another one at the Hartford-based accounting firm CohnReznik.

“I wanted him to spread his wings a little bit … they’re a competitor, but not really a competitor,” said Krupienski, adding that the experience with the larger firm will provide another layer of experience and perhaps guide the direction his career takes.

That step is another example of the way Krupienski balances work, family, and community, taking leadership roles in each case. And it’s yet another example of why he is again a finalist for the Alumni Achievement Award. 

—George O’Brien

Ciara Speller

By
Alumni Achievement Award

Evening Anchor, WWLP-22 News

When Ciara Speller thinks back to 2023, she remembers a bittersweet year.

That’s the year she was elected to 40 Under Forty due to her success at WWLP-22 News — not just in front of the camera, but also away from it, with all the preparation, writing, editing, and more that goes into airing a newscast every weeknight — as well as her work in the community.

But her father, who was battling a rare form of bile duct cancer called cholangiocarcinoma, couldn’t attend the 40 Under Forty gala that June.

“He wanted to make it to the awards, but unfortunately he was too sick to make it. But he came down with my mom that weekend, so when I got home, I got to tell him all about it,” she recalled. “That was my last award that he saw.”

Ciara Speller

Ciara Speller when she was named to the 40 Under Forty class of 2023

That’s because Jeffrey Speller passed away just a few months later.

Ciara knew she wanted to turn her grief into something meaningful and impactful. So she and her mother launched the Jeffrey Speller Foundation ‘4 Change’ in his honor. Having raised and donated more than $50,000 over the past two years, the foundation’s mission is centered around creating opportunities for underserved youth to participate in golf programs. 

“He was an avid golfer who had a dream of providing resources for economically challenged youth,” Speller explained. “Golf is a really expensive sport. His own father passed away when he was a child, unfortunately, so he never got to experience the game until he could afford to do so as an older adult.

“He really credited golf with positively shaping his life, allowing him to climb up the corporate ladder, meeting so many great people — both in business and as friends,” she went on. “Golf is one of those sports that creates amazing partnerships and connections. And he said, ‘how great would it be if our underserved and economically challenged youth were exposed to the game at a younger age? Imagine what their lives could be.’”

These days, Speller doesn’t have to imagine — she’s already impacting those young lives through the game.

The foundation’s main fundraiser is an annual tournament that started with 80 golfers its first year, and will assemble 140 for the third annual event this Aug. 8 at Wyckoff Country Club in Holyoke — the track where her father’s ashes were scattered under a tree near the first hole.

“Golf is one of those sports that creates amazing partnerships and connections. And he said, ‘how great would it be if our underserved and economically challenged youth were exposed to the game at a younger age? Imagine what their lives could be.’”

That annual fundraiser has turned into a series of donations — to a local middle school golf program, the Springfield Ballers’ golf program, a nonprofit organization called the First Tee, and more, including donations of golf clubs to kids of all ages.

“Our motto is, ‘together, we’re changing lives for good,’” Speller said. “And we’ve expanded to helping families and children in need. For the holidays, we fully decorated a Christmas tree and outfitted it with gift cards — that landed with a mother who has cancer as well, somebody who understands what we went through, whose family is going through the same thing. Just to give them a little holiday cheer was amazing.”

Speller is also a dedicated cholangiocarcinoma advocate in other ways. In February, she spearheaded an awareness event and flag raising in Springfield, bringing the community together to honor those impacted by the disease; as part of the initiative, several landmarks across the city were illuminated in green. That same month, the Jeffrey Speller Foundation ‘4 Change’ hosted a celebrity bartending event, raising $10,000 to support patients, families, and programs in her father’s memory.

Fast Facts

Age: 33

40 Under Forty Class: 2023

Title Then: Evening Anchor,
WWLP-22 News

Title Now: Evening Anchor,
WWLP-22 News

Walk-up Song: “Golden”
by Jill Scott

Years an AAA Finalist: 1

All that is deeply gratifying, but so is Speller’s career anchoring the weeknight newscast at WWLP, for which she recently received a Merit Award from the Massachusetts Broadcasters Assoc. for her feature story on internationally acclaimed fashion designer (and Springfield native) Justin Haynes. In her role as anchor, she has reported on some of the region’s most impactful events, and has also contributed to the station’s Black history initiatives, hosting and producing segments that highlight the local community.

“I’ve always been a storyteller,” she told BusinessWest. “I have a degree in dance as well, and I found at a young age that I could tell stories with my words and with my emotions — and now, I can bring attention to communities that may not have a light shining on them,” she said, adding that her work often draws the attention of local leaders and decision makers, effecting positive change. “Just being able to highlight the good work that people are doing, the needs of the community, that’s been incredibly impactful.”

Meanwhile, this October, Speller will be honored at the 11th annual 100 Women of Color Gala, which recognizes high-achieving, community-minded women from across Connecticut and Massachusetts — a major recognition, to be sure.

“To think that what I’m doing — what I feel is a regular day in my life — speaks to people, that’s pretty cool,” she added. “And the foundation has become a huge part of who I am and my identity. I’m just happy to keep giving back and making a difference — and I hope to grow more and impact even more people’s lives.”

—Joseph Bednar

Modesto Montero-Forman

By
Alumni Achievement Award

Executive Director, Libertas Academy Charter School

When Modesto Montero-Forman was named to the 40 Under Forty class of 2020, the school he founded — Libertas Academy Charter School in Springfield — was already a burgeoning success story, expanding from just 90 sixth-graders at its start in 2017 to a full middle school. But plenty of growth was still to come.

“We found a building on Chestnut Street that served as our starter home — an office building that we converted into a school and blew out some walls to open a number of classrooms,” he recalled. “And the focus for the first portion of our history was really getting the school off the ground and getting the right academic performance.”

Modesto Montero-Forman when he was named to the 40 Under Forty class of 2020

Today, after adding a grade each year — with a slight pause for the pandemic — and expanding to both a middle and high school, Libertas Academy now serves just under 600 students in grades 6-12, having graduated its first senior class in 2025.

“As a college prep school, our goal is to prepare our students academically, socially, and emotionally for the demands of college. And last year was the first year that we got to do that. We’re proud to say that 100% of our students were accepted into a four-year college,” Montero-Forman explained, with 87% of them choosing to follow that higher-ed path.

While opening a school almost a decade ago was a major challenge, he added, “in the second half of our founding story, the focus has been on getting the high school right, ensuring that we have a robust college prep program and support. Our college team supports our students throughout the entire process, everything from SAT preparation to crafting their college list to writing the personal statements for their applications and working with families on the FAFSA.”

It all culminates in an energetic ‘senior signing day’ when the students’ achievements and future plans are celebrated. That all resonates with Montero-Forman, who has always described himself as forward-looking.

He said his upbringing — in a low-income, Christian home — fostered a sense of focus and a dedication to finding a way to make a difference in his community.

As an immigrant, he initially thought about becoming an immigration lawyer, but while in college, he worked for an Upward Bound program as a mentor and tutor, and was instantly drawn to working with young people in communities like the ones Libertas now serves, he told BusinessWest, explaining his path into the education world.

Part of that trajectory, in recent years, has been securing the school’s current home on Liberty Street, a new structure that Libertas leases, and raising $3 million from private individuals and foundations to outfit for its March 2025 opening.

“We just had classrooms before, no specialty spaces, and we knew that our students deserved and needed so much more than that,” he said. “So we were able to secure a partnership with a private developer here in Springfield who was able to work with us to design a school to fit our model. So now we have a gym, a cafeteria, an art room, a weight room, a music room, a library — all those things that we didn’t have before. And this is our permanent home.”

“Now we have a gym, a cafeteria, an art room, a weight room, a music room, a library — all those things that we didn’t have before. And this is our permanent home.”

Fast Facts

Age: 37

40 Under Forty Class: 2020

Title Then: Executive Director,
Libertas Academy Charter School

Title Now: Executive Director,
Libertas Academy Charter School

Walk-up Song: “The Realness”
by RuPaul featuring Eric Kupper

Years an AAA Finalist: 1

It’s also one of the highest-performing charter schools in Massachusetts. In the most recent MCAS results, students have shown dramatic increases in proficiency; the school ranks first in Massachusetts for student growth in math and third for growth in English language arts (ELA). Libertas is also one of only 13 school districts that is outperforming pre-pandemic performance in both ELA and math.

“Seeing our mission come to fruition — getting students to graduate from high school and, more importantly, persist in college — has been very gratifying,” Montero-Forman said, adding that those efforts include a scholarship program and other supports for alumni that help them stay on their path in college.

“Most of our students are, like me, first-generation college students. And that may not have been the trajectory they would have experienced in a different school system. I think we’ve played an integral role in showing them what was possible and preparing them academically, and then providing the right supports along the way so that not only could they envision themselves in those spaces, but they could actually be admitted into those institutions and now persist.”

Montero-Forman is persisting in other ways; he’s currently board president of the Healing Racism Institute of Pioneer Valley, and he was chosen for a program called the North Star Fellowship, through which he has worked to research and understand the education landscape in Connecticut, specifically Hartford, since it’s close to Springfield and serves a similar population.

“We are very much considering opening a second school in the Hartford community, hopefully by the fall of ’28,” he said.

He has also married since his 40 Under Forty recognition. “We are hoping to adopt,” he told BusinessWest. “I will continue to do good work here at Libertas, but growing my family and thinking about legacy and impact … that’s what I’m really excited about.”

—Joseph Bednar

Adam Quenneville

By
Alumni Achievement Award

President, Adam Quenneville Roofing & Siding

“Under Our Roof.”

That’s the name Adam Quenneville, president of Adam Quenneville Roofing & Siding, has affixed to a podcast he started a few months ago.

It features conversations with business leaders who are heavily involved in the community, said Quenneville, adding that he recently had Nate Costa, president of the Springfield Thunderbirds, on the show, and he was really looking forward to his next guest, Gary Rome, president and CEO of the Gary Rome Auto Group.

Adam Quenneville when he was named to the 40 Under Forty class of 2009

“He’s kind of my hero when it comes to involvement in the community, and I’ve told him that personally,” said Quenneville, noting that Rome, one of BusinessWest’s Difference Makers in 2022, has become a role model of sorts for him on the subject of giving back and getting involved. “That guy is a superstar.”

Without doubt. But Quenneville has become a hero to some, a role model to many others, and a superstar in his own right for the way he has created a culture of giving back at the roofing company he launched 31 years ago.

That’s especially true when it comes to the roofs the company donates to area nonprofits and others — an average of three to five a year now. The company has gifted roofs to Revitalize CDC, Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen, the YMCA of Greater Springfield for some of its properties, and, more recently, a 10,000-square-foot roof for the Ronald McDonald House in Springfield.

That was a project that hit home, said Quenneville, noting that the agency provides lodging and meal expenses for the parents of children enduring difficult healthcare journeys. Quenneville’s two children had extended stays in Baystate’s Children’s Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, which is why he’s such a strong supporter of that institution.

And he supports many others as well, as we’ll see, but first … back to those roofs.

Beyond nonprofits, the company, through its AQ Cares division, is now donating free roofs on an annual basis to a veteran, a first responder, and a teacher, with the public choosing winners among received nominations.

“He has made giving back a meaningful part of his company’s identity through charitable initiatives, sponsorships, and direct support of local causes.”

Overall, and like previous finalists for the Alumni Achievement Award, Quenneville is being recognized for building on an impressive résumé of both accomplishments in business and work within the community.

With the former, he has steadily grown his business, from a few crews to 10 on average, while also broadening the list of services to include siding, windows, gutters, roof repair, roof cleaning, and more. Annual revenues have grown from $4 million when he joined the 40 Under Forty club to nearly $20 million today.

In 2025, the company was named one of three national finalists for Roofing Contractor magazine’s Residential Roofing Contractor of the Year, eventually losing out to a company exponentially larger. 

His company has evolved with the times, said Quenneville, noting that, in addition to the podcast, he uses a YouTube channel to educate consumers who are more into research than past generations, with videos on a wide range of subjects, such as whether to repair or replace a roof. In many cases, it can be the former, he noted, adding that he often advocates for repair to keep roofing materials from filling up landfills.

“We’re releasing three long videos and two short videos per week along with blogs that match that content,” he said, adding that he works out of a studio in his office and creates the videos of another way of giving back.

Fast Facts

Age: 54

40 Under Forty Class: 2009

Title Then: President,
Adam Quenneville Roofing & Siding

Title Now: President,
Adam Quenneville Roofing & Siding

Walk-up Song: “Eye of the Tiger”
by Survivor

Years an AAA Finalist: 1

As noted earlier, beyond the donated roofs, Quenneville and his company have become involved with a wide array of area nonprofits, causes, and institutions, not only the YMCA of Greater Springfield and Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen, but also the Thunderbirds, UMass sports, and the Miracle League of Western Massachusetts.

As he talked with BusinessWest, he was lamenting recent headlines concerning budget cuts and the possible elimination of sports at South Hadley High School (he’s an alum), and how he intends to get involved and help the school continue those programs.

“I offered to put $1,000 up and then $100 for every roof we do between now and then,” he said, adding that the school will need hundreds of thousands of dollars to keep its sports, and efforts to help are in their early stages.

His planned involvement there is just example of how he has taken a leadership role when it comes to community involvement — and several giant steps toward emulating his role model, Rome.

“He has made giving back a meaningful part of his company’s identity through charitable initiatives, sponsorships, and direct support of local causes,” wrote Morgan Bennett, marketing director of Adam Quenneville Roofing & Siding. “His leadership has helped strengthen partnerships with youth organizations, nonprofits, and community events throughout the region.

“Adam’s example shows that true leadership is not only measured by growth and achievement,” she continued, “but also by how consistently someone shows up to support the people and communities around them.”

That’s what Quenneville celebrates with his new podcast, and it’s also the tone he sets at the company he started and has led to continued growth and impact within the community.

And that’s why he’s a finalist for another prestigious honor, the Alumni Achievement Award.

—George O’Brien

Cornering the Market

By
Features Special Coverage

Baystate Merger Is a Lifeline for Mercy —
but Poses Some Risks, Too

At a recent community forum where leaders of Baystate Health and Mercy Medical Center discussed why Mercy will be absorbed into the vast Baystate system later this year, Dr. Robert Roose positioned the move as a matter of survival.

“Mercy treats a population with the greatest proportion of Medicaid and Medicare patients of any hospital in the entire Commonwealth of Massachusetts,” said Roose, president of Community Hospitals for Trinity Health Of New England.

“That’s a community that needs care, but it’s one where the reimbursement does not match the cost of care,” he went on. “Medicaid reimburses, on average, about 62 cents on the dollar, Medicare about 85 cents. So there’s a financial equation that can be difficult to sustain. In addition to that, we know, with federal funding cuts and other changes to payments, that revenue will continue to decrease while costs continue to rise.”

Dr. Robert Roose

There’s a financial equation that can be difficult to sustain. In addition to that, we know, with federal funding cuts and other changes to payments, that revenue will continue to decrease while costs continue to rise.

At the same time, he said, Mercy has struggled with recruitment of critical specialties of providers — a reality that played out late last year when Mercy shuttered its obstetrics services, with most of those patients moving to Baystate Medical Center.

“So really, for the last decade, there have been questions around the long-term viability of Mercy Medical Center,” Roose went on. “Even as part of a large system like Trinity Health … it makes sense to strengthen the network of care here in Western Massachusetts.”

For Baystate, having a facility the size of Mercy — with its 191 licensed beds, 7,800 discharges per year, and 45,000 emergency room visits per year — simply close its doors would put far too much strain on other Baystate facilities, said Dr. Scott Lichtenberger, chief operating officer for Baystate Health.

“Springfield needs two hospitals, full stop,” he noted. “If Mercy Medical Center didn’t exist, Baystate could not absorb — not only at Baystate Medical Center, but even across our system — that kind of volume. So, to preserve services in the community and to be able to provide that kind of access, we have to have two hospitals.”

Those, in effect, are the arguments for a merger scheduled to take effect on Nov. 1: if Mercy can’t survive on its own, and if Baystate Health believes bringing a fifth full-service hospital into its system makes economic sense from a scale and efficiency perspective, then the move simply makes sense.

Not everyone is sure, however. Michal Horny, assistant professor of Health Policy and Management at UMass Amherst, told BusinessWest that there’s a good amount of evidence from across the U.S. that, when two hospitals very near each other merge, and are no longer in competition with each other, costs inevitably rise for patients.

“Any health plan that operates primarily in the Springfield area, before the merge, they had some leverage over hospitals — if you don’t strike a deal with one hospital, you can go to the other,” he explained. “After the merger, with two main hospitals in Springfield now part of a single system, no health plan can afford to operate in the Springfield area without having a contract with both those hospitals. So that gives the hospitals some very good bargaining power when negotiating prices.

“So what starts to happen is prices, on average, at both hospitals go up. I don’t know how much, but we’ve seen in other markets an average increase of about 6%. So that affects everyone with private insurance,” Horny explained (more on that later).

Dr. Scott Lichtenberger

“If Mercy Medical Center didn’t exist, Baystate could not absorb — not only at Baystate Medical Center, but even across our system — that kind of volume. So, to preserve services in the community and to be able to provide that kind of access, we have to have two hospitals.”

At the same time, while Baystate and Mercy leaders tout potential efficiencies, he noted, “as far as quality of care, the argument from the hospitals is that there’s better coordination and shared resources. Economists have studied this; it’s theoretically a valid point — but the evidence is not there. There doesn’t seem to be any improvement in quality.”

But for proponents of the merger, the survival of Mercy and its services in a community that needs them is an overriding positive.

“I am pleased that Baystate Health and Trinity Health have reached an agreement that will allow these two vibrant hospitals to continue serving our communities,” U.S. Rep. Richard Neal said, noting that, at a time of serious federal spending cuts, “this acquisition will expand access to healthcare and improve services throughout the Pioneer Valley and beyond.

“Together, these institutions represent more than three centuries of service to Western and Central Massachusetts,” Neal added. “Ensuring their viability and continued success is vital to the health of our families and our local economies, and this announcement represents a critical step in strengthening our regional healthcare system for generations to come.” 

Local Impacts

In their announcement on April 28 that Baystate Health and Trinity Health Of New England had signed a definitive agreement to transition Mercy Medical Center, its joint venture affiliates, and medical group entities in Massachusetts to Baystate Health, pending regulatory approvals, they made it clear that Trinity Health will continue to own and operate Brightside for Families and Children, Mercy LIFE, Mary’s Meadow at Providence Place, Beaven Kelly Home, and Saint Luke’s Home.

They also asserted that “Baystate Health will preserve Mercy’s nonprofit mission, community commitment, and legacy of high-quality care.” Both entities will continue to operate independently until the transition is complete this fall.

“Mercy and the Sisters of Providence have been a fixture in our community since 1874,” said Peter Banko, Baystate Health president and CEO, in a statement on April 28. “This is an investment in both the past and the future of healthcare and economic development in Western Massachusetts. Today, access forces too many patients to leave the region to seek care, and we need to ensure that care is compassionate, high quality, affordable, and local. We have been and will continue to be a pillar of our community — rooted here, serving here, and helping generations thrive here.”

One topic raised at the May 12 community forum — and one discussed at length in the article on page 22 about the region’s workforce outlook — is the difficulty recruiting people into a healthcare system that desperately needs them, and how the Baystate-Mercy merger will impact that equation for both institutions.

During the forum, Tania Barber, president and CEO of Caring Health Center in Springfield, asked what Baystate expects to happen when the most severe impacts from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) come to fruition next year and area residents start losing health coverage.

“The health safety net cannot absorb it. We know that there’s going to be an influx of individuals that will be coming to the hospital, coming to community health centers, and we know there will be staffing shortages — provider shortages, nursing shortages, it goes on and on,” Barber said. “Recruitment continues to be a challenge, so I’d like to learn a little bit more about how you will address the enormous amount of individuals who are going to utilize hospital services because they’re losing their insurance.”

Lichtenberger countered that frontline staffing levels are up at Baystate despite a recent series of high-profile layoffs, mostly administrative, throughout the system. “And as we get bigger, I think it becomes a more attractive place to recruit physicians. We’ve just got to make sure that this remains a destination place that people want to work and that people are proud to work.”

Despite a challenging landscape for healthcare staffing, he noted that Baystate plans to keep Mercy’s critical services operating — and having two hospitals within a mile of each other will bring advantages of efficiency — and even grow them.

For example, “the emergency room at Mercy Medical Center — again, pending regulatory approval — will remain open 24 hours, seven days a week,” Lichtenberger said. “And about half of the beds at Mercy are now available — we want to fill those beds. We want to grow services so that we keep more care here locally. And when we talk about filling those beds, that’s creating jobs.”

But the cost issue for patients — again, when health plans lose leverage in a less competitive environment — is still a matter of concern, Horny said.

“Even when insurance pays for a portion of their healthcare, if prices are higher, that inevitably translates to higher premiums. Insurance doesn’t absorb the increased costs — it shifts them to consumers. So eventually, you can expect premiums for plans in the Springfield area to go up.”

Drawing on data from the Health Care Affordability Lab, a Yale University-based group of economists who study healthcare markets and translate their research for various audiences, Horny noted that, while healthcare consumers and payers initially absorb health cost increases, it eventually hits employers as well.

“Employers usually don’t cut wages, but they’ll cut the number of available positions, so one of the downstream effects is fewer employment opportunities,” Horny said, which eventually translates to decreased state and federal revenues, and more uninsured people going without care — which could increase mortality.

Challenges Continue

Dean Sanpei, chief administrative officer and chief strategy officer for Baystate Health, also addressed the community forum, noting that virtually all Mercy employees that work specifically for that
hospital, and not in an administrative role at Trinity, will come over in the deal.

“We do think this can improve community care and our provision of care in the area,” he said. “There are synergies that are created when institutions are able to come together. You’re able to create more hubs and spokes. You’re able to create centers of excellence and places where you can focus higher specialties of care and get better outcomes. And you’re able to distribute services as needed, and effectively. So we’re hoping to bring all these synergies together and create a better process and better care for our community.”

Michal Horny

“No health plan can afford to operate in the Springfield area without having a contract with both those hospitals. So that gives the hospitals some very good bargaining power when negotiating prices.”

Sanpei also agreed with Lichtenberger that the expanded Baystate footprint in Springfield will make the system more attractive and an easier place to recruit physicians.

“As we recruit more physicians, we can open up more beds, and we can have more capacity,” he went on. “And as we’re able to do that, it enables those who live here, who want to have care here, to get care here — which helps all of us. It helps residents locally, but it also helps the health system because those dollars are not going to go east, they’re not going to go south; they’ll stay here. So that’s an opportunity for us as well.”

That said, Baystate certainly continues to face headwinds, like an expected $150 million impact from the OBBBA.

“This transaction doesn’t occur for us until November. Until that time, we will continue to have the challenges that we’ve had to date, and we’re going to continue to have to do the efficiencies that we’ve done to date. Those things, in many ways, are separate. Those challenges are going to continue,” Sanpei said.

To that end, he continued, “we’re going to have to continue to increase our operating efficiency. We’re going to continue to have to look at our expense structure, and that won’t necessarily change overnight. Once we have the joint entity, the synergies we have then will come into play, and it will be better moving toward the future.” ◆

Hire Concerns

By
Features Special Coverage Workforce Development

Numerous Factors Are Complicating the Region’s Job Market

Whatever else can be said for the job market — both nationally and in Western Mass. — job seekers have lost some leverage. Specifically, job openings aren’t as plentiful (in most sectors, anyway) than they were a year or two ago, meaning it’s tougher to hold out for a better offer, and not as easy to move around.

“What we’re seeing is a retraction of people moving jobs right now. Employees are staying put,” said Allison Ebner, president of the Employers Assoc. of the NorthEast. “We’re seeing that for a variety of reasons today; the economy is certainly one reason why employees are staying with the devil they know instead of jumping ship for a different job.”

Specifically, she noted, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported earlier this month that, for the first time since 2023, the cost of living has outpaced wage growth in the U.S.

“Basically, the inflation rate has outpaced the cost-of-living adjustment, that 3.5% average that many people probably got at the beginning of the year. It’s not even covering the cost-of-living increase today, between the rising gas prices and the rising food prices.”

At the same time, Ebner said, wages are leveling off after jumping up for a while post-COVID. “The only outlier we’re seeing is some variable pay for AI skills in general.”

Kevin Lynn, executive director of the MassHire Springfield Career Center, said the local labor market has seen a broad contraction in job opportunities, and cited a number of factors that have been problematic.

“What we’re seeing is a retraction of people moving jobs right now. Employees are staying put. We’re seeing that for a variety of reasons today; the economy is certainly one reason why employees are staying with the devil they know instead of jumping ship for a different job.”

“We have a benefits cliff here affecting both hiring and retention,” he told BusinessWest. “We have a federal immigration policy that is contracting our labor market. We have population decline locally and outmigration. We have a childcare crisis that is tamping down the available labor market. We certainly have developing AI/automation anxiety out there. We have federal funding uncertainty. We have a local criminal justice issue, getting ex-offenders re-employed. And we have this totally egregious Iran war which is causing our economy to slow.

“Judging from the most recent [BLS] Producer Price Index, we’re running into a really fun June, if not July, with a rise in prices,” Lynn added. “We’ve got all that around us, which gives us a picture of what I would term a struggling regional economy.”

In fact, he said, Hampden County has one of the weakest labor markets in the state, with a relatively high unemployment rate continuing to climb, and average weekly wage rates below the national average.

All this has contributed to a slowdown in employee movement, where both workers and companies are loath to make moves.

“Companies are making slower hiring decisions, when they have hiring decisions to make, and they’re seeing less turnover,” Ebner said. “And from what we’re hearing, the employers that have employee turnover, it’s not because workers are leaving to go to different jobs; the turnover is because of employees’ poor performance, attendance issues, or not meeting the employer’s standards.”

The slowdown in hiring is even manifesting itself in the most recent MassHire job fair at the Basketball Hall of Fame on May 18. When she spoke with BusinessWest the week before the fair, Ebner — who is also president of the MassHire Springfield board of directors — said vendor registration was running at about 60% the usual pace.

“They may pick up a few more, but that’s certainly a telltale sign locally that employees aren’t hiring,” she added. “There are still close to 30 coming, but usually it’s in the 45 to 50 range of employers coming to market their companies.”

Unhealthy Outlook

Lynn noted that the region is struggling with a bifurcation of wages — and a lot of posting activity in positions that are high-churn, low-wage, and not necessarily a living wage. And it’s happening most in healthcare.

Allison Ebner says employee engagement — even at the managerial level — is a rising problem for employers.

“Locally, healthcare is our dominant sector in terms of employment, and it’s contracting,” he said, pointing to struggles at local hospitals to employ frontline staffers, even before the recent announcement of Mercy Medical Center merging into Baystate Health later this year.

“What is that going to look like? What does that mean for employment?” he asked. “Crucially, a lot of healthcare workers — home health aides, CNAs, those lower kinds of lower-paying positions within the healthcare system, have an issue with a living wage. Can people survive on those wages?

“It’s really kind of an existential question for healthcare, where so much of what they do depends on Medicare and Medicaid funding to pay the bills, and they’re not doing a great job paying as it is,” he went on. “So, are they in a position to increase wages? I’m guessing not, so there’s a tension going on: people tend to think of where the jobs are, who’s hiring, what the jobs are — but increasingly, people are taking the next step and asking, ‘does this job pay a living wage?’”

It’s a question the healthcare industry must deal with sooner than later, said Ebner, who pointed to data from Lightcast, a global leader in labor market intelligence and workforce analytics, that notes that healthcare openings nationally currently outnumber unemployed job seekers by a five to one margin, and two-thirds of all job growth over the past year is in healthcare and social assistance.

“There was a predicted gain of 60,000 jobs in April, and it came in closer to 105,000, but it’s being skewed by a couple of industries; it’s not a true picture of all industries,” she said, and at the top of the list is healthcare. In fact, in 49 of 50 U.S. states, nursing is currently the top open job category. And that trend of healthcare demand outpacing staffing bodes poorly not just for the economy, but in broader ways.

“Healthcare is going to be a problem for us as people are living longer and Baby Boomers are retiring. They’ve done the math, and there’s simply not enough people to fill those healthcare jobs,” Ebner noted. “There’s a huge opportunity in home health and PCAs; they don’t have enough people to fill those positions. But it’s not a high-paying job.

“There’s a lot of talk right now about how about how the trades are working to draw students from high schools and colleges into electrical, HVAC, plumbing,” she added. “Those are considered AI-proof, and they’re high-income-earning. You could start as an apprentice and make a great wage very quickly. You can’t say that about PCAs.”

Data researcher Hannah Grieser, writing for Lightcast, cited a 2026 survey finding that 73% of healthcare executives say staffing shortages negatively affect their ability to provide high-quality care, pointing to several specific roles as acutely difficult to fill: among clinical roles, 98% of healthcare executives named physician specialists, and 86% primary care physicians. And among allied health roles, a majority of executives said radiology techs and ultrasound techs are tough to find.

“But across the healthcare workforce,” Grieser noted, “labor shortages are an ongoing challenge that’s expected to intensify.”

Meanwhile, Ebner continued, “COVID burnt out a lot of the healthcare workers. A lot of people opted out of that profession. They don’t have the same appeal post-COVID. So, healthcare is going to be in trouble and, with the level of urgency we’re at, needs immediate attention at the state and federal levels for sure.”

“Crucially, a lot of healthcare workers — home health aides, CNAs, those lower kinds of lower-paying positions within the healthcare system, have an issue with a living wage. Can people survive on those wages?”

Kevin Lynn says the main problem for companies isn’t finding people to hire, but finding the right people.

MassHire’s mission is to connect employers with skilled, motivated employees, Lynn said, but, increasingly, those workers aren’t finding the wage levels they need.

“Employers are in a push-and-pull position right now, and it’s been heightened with inflation and rising rents and mortgages,” he explained. “The cost of living in general has been escalating. People are saying, ‘I can’t take a job if I can’t find a home,’ or ‘I can’t take a job if I don’t make enough money to stay in my home.’ There’s more of that going on than ever now.”

That said, he noted, certain positions in healthcare — RNs, LPNs, and allied professionals come to mind — can find decent wages, and other sectors are similarly tiered when it comes to who’s making what.

“Also, the nonprofit sector continues to hire — again, it depends on the position, but they often do pay decent wages and have outstanding benefit packages to make up the difference. So that’s good. But on the flip side, human services, nonprofits, and healthcare are being hit by reductions in federal spending.”

Other sectors are relatively stable as well, including retail, logistics, and warehousing, but Lynn is concerned that the overall regional wage picture is outpacing what’s being seen locally.

“Read the national economic news, and you see economic numbers that are not great, but don’t look too bad, either. You get the sense locally we’re in a different ballgame.”

The Right Stuff

Lynn reiterated that matching employers with job seekers is much easier than finding the right workers, in terms of both skills and engagement. “We talk to different companies who are hiring, but struggling to hire at the same time because they don’t just want a body, but the right person.”

Ebner agreed. “Employers are definitely discouraged about the quality of the candidates they have. They’re not seeing the caliber of candidates that they’ve seen in the past from a customer service standpoint, from an innovation standpoint; they’re still struggling with employee engagement.”

Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace study recently reported a 21% employee engagement rate, she noted. “That means 21% of employees are fully engaged with their jobs. That’s a problem. An even bigger issue was manager engagement, which dropped from 31% to 22% over the last two years.

“These are the people that teach and educate and coach your employees,” Ebner went on. “This is something we talk to our members about regularly — manager development, and to be very careful about who gets to be a leader in your organization. Just because somebody did a great job working on the line as a project manager, or in an individual capacity, doesn’t mean they’re going to be a great leader. You’ve got to have someone with qualifications who shares your mindset, and then take those high-performing individuals and try them out in those roles to see if they’ll be a good leader.”

Meanwhile, among all the negative factors impacting the regional job market, Lynn pointed to immigration enforcement as a thorny one, though fewer people are talking about it right now.

“It’s definitely impacting healthcare, especially looking at long-term care; a lot of immigrants work in that field, and now that pool has started to dry up. When you see these ICE pickups, the optics don’t make people feel comfortable going out to find work.

“It’s almost like we put everything into a blender, and we’re not coming out with a great drink,” he added, referring specifically to decisions being made in Washington, D.C. “I’m worried about a potential recession. I lived through that in 2008; I don’t want that to happen. It’s tough to hire right now because there’s so much craziness going on.” ◆

Region Real Estate Brings Together Father and Son Mitch and Ben Bolotin

By
Commercial Real Estate

It’s Now a Family Business

Ben Bolotin was working in Boston, handling office leases and coping with the many forms of turmoil that came with the pandemic, when his father, Mitch, called and said he was busy, in a mostly good way, and could use some help.

So Ben headed west — “back home,” as he put it — to provide that help to Mitch, then a principal with Colebrook Realty Services in Springfield. The two worked together at Colebrook for a few years before Ben decided to start his own firm, which he would call Region.

Mitch stayed at Colebrook, where he had been a fixture for more than 30 years, but came to miss the way he and Ben worked together, so he eventually decided to leave and join him at Region.

That’s the condensed version of the story of how the two are building this emerging company together, assembling a diverse portfolio that includes a wide array of industrial, retail, and office properties; former churches; and, most recently, the Hampshire College campus, which recently went on the market in one of the region’s most closely watched stories.

The client list is intriguing and includes the owners of Tandem Bagel, who continue to add locations across the region, including the most recent addition in South Hadley, as well as ServiceNet, PeoplesBank, and myriad others.

“I had such a positive impression of my dad’s work. He was selling and leasing commercial real estate, but I also enjoyed the people he worked with, the people who were making things happen for Western Massachusetts.”

Region is an intriguing business story, one that has a number of starting points, if you will, beginning with a young Ben growing up watching his father, learning, gaining an appreciation for the business, and eventually deciding he wanted to join it.

“I had such a positive impression of my dad’s work,” he recalled, adding that he attended many meetings and many showings with his father. “He was selling and leasing commercial real estate, but I also enjoyed the people he worked with, the people who were making things happen for Western Massachusetts. He was great about introducing me to that world and introducing me to his clients, and I grew up respecting a lot of his clients.”

These include Jeb Balise, president of the Balise Auto Group — Mitch has worked with him for more than 25 years and has handled the sale of property he owned in Chicopee, among other projects — as well as Tom Dennis and Bill Stotler, developers who own several properties across the region.

These business leaders helped instill in Ben both an interest in real estate and an entrepreneurial spirit, and both come together in Region, which didn’t start out as a family business, but it is now, with the two generations, boasting 50 years of combined experience, working together and making each other better at what they do, as we’ll see.

And experience is just one of the key ingredients the two are bringing to the table with this venture. Others include expertise with certain types of properties, such as churches, which are coming onto the market in growing numbers, and technology.

“In this day and age, what commercial property owners and commercial tenants are expecting is really timely, high-quality service, paired up with a lot of experience and a very digitally native approach,” Ben explained, adding that this is what the Bolotins and a growing team are committed to delivering.

For this issue and its focus on commercial estate, we take an in-depth look at Region and how this father-and-son team developed a fondness for working together — and didn’t want to work apart.

Developing Story

Both Ben and Mitch stressed that operating a business together, as they are now, was never really the plan.

“The plan was no plan,” joked Ben, who noted that he was always interested in real estate and actually interned one semester at Colebrook while he was in college. And early on after graduating, he explored different paths within the industry, including work for a firm based in Boston that handled properties across the country.

“I was assisting in managing malls in California, retail properties in Georgia, downtown office buildings in the Loop in Chicago, and I was helping negotiate leases from an office tower in Boston,” he said. “I decided I was not close enough to the action.”

So, after a few other career stops, including one with a startup — a nod to his interest in business and entrepreneurship — he got much closer to the action, albeit at a challenging time and in a challenged place.

“I was doing downtown office leasing in the financial district of Boston in 2020, and very quickly it became businesses talking about ‘how much space can we give back?’” he recalled. “There was a long year of that.”

Things were a little different in Western Mass., he recalled, adding that this market doesn’t see the huge swings that larger metropolitan areas do.

“Western Mass. has a way of humming along and doing its thing,” he told BusinessWest. “Whether it’s people having access to their cars and not relying on public transit … there were certain aspects of the Western Mass. economy that I found to be very resilient, and my father was very busy and needed another set of hands.

“COVID actually brought us back together in a great way and allowed me to come home,” he went on, noting that the two worked together for a few years at Colebrook.

“What we found is that Ben and I worked really, really well together,” Mitch added. “We rounded each other off in a way that made me better at my job, and I loved working with him; we were on that path together.” 

“I was assisting in managing malls in California, retail properties in Georgia, downtown office buildings in the Loop in Chicago, and I was helping negotiate leases from an office tower in Boston. I decided I was not close enough to the action.”

In late 2023, Ben launched what would be considered his own startup, Region. “I was really interested in investing in a business, and it became clear that, for me, it was the right thing to do,” he explained.

Meanwhile, Mitch was staying put at Colebrook — for a while, anyway.

“That was the plan — Ben was going to leave, and I was going to stay,” Mitch said. “But I missed working with him — we did a lot of good things together. I wanted to continue working with him.”

Mitch eventually transitioned to Region in mid-2024, and he and Ben have been building the company together since then, investing in technology and adding new team members, while also building the book of business in many ways.

Overall, while they say the 413 faces the same challenges as other parts of the country, the two are optimistic about this region and its prospects moving forward.

“People are having to be a lot more thoughtful about how they’re spending their money and how they’re choosing to invest,” Ben said. “But I think there’s a lot of drive and will to continue to invest in Western Massachusetts.”

Space Exploration

As noted earlier, Region has a diverse portfolio of clients and properties. The firm handles leasing for two Colebrook-managed properties — 1441 Main St. in downtown Springfield (co-owned by Jeb Balise) and the PeoplesBank building in Holyoke — and also does work for PeoplesBank, including the securing of office space in downtown Hartford and branches in Hartford and Avon, Conn., and the sale of a closed branch on Sumner Avenue in Springfield to Arrha Credit Union.

The company also handles 11 Interstate Dr. in West Springfield, where its own offices are located. Region has succeeded in retenanting the large office building, which was vacant only a few years ago, but is now more than 60% occupied, with a diverse array of tenants.

Region is now also handling some work for ServiceNet, the mental health and human services provider with facilities across the region.

“We’ve been working with them to source a number of different needs of theirs up and down I-91,” Mitch said, adding that the Region portfolio now includes a wide array of clients, some with ongoing needs and others with “one-off real estate deals,” as he described them.

And the portfolio of properties runs the gamut, from industrial properties in Springfield and Leicester to medical office space in West Springfield; from retail space in Belchertown, West Springfield, and Longmeadow to a former church in Littleton, as well as several parcels of land. Actually, the firm has developed a niche with former churches and has handled the sale of several of them.

“There are not of folks who have a lot of experience working with congregations, so we’ve gotten referred to many groups,” Ben said. “A lot of congregations are struggling post-COVID, and many of them are looking for guidance. It’s a very specific part of the marketplace, and there’s not a lot of folks that are finding ways to help those groups.

“They approach us oftentimes, asking for insight and advice on how to dispossess a property when they no longer have a congregation to support it,” he went on, adding that the company has sold churches in Acton, Lowell, and other communities well outside the region, evidence of how the company’s reputation in this realm is growing.

The Hampshire College sale represents another important opportunity for the company. Region, which has been doing some work for the college for a few years, is putting together an offering memorandum for the property, Mitch said, noting that the assignment represents an important assignment for Hampshire College and the town of Amherst.

“There hasn’t been a college sold in the Pioneer Valley,” he acknowledged. “That said, we have worked on larger and equally complex, multi-dimensional commercial and specialty properties. We combine deep local market knowledge with national reach, and we’re well-equipped to manage a transaction of this scope.

“We’ve also worked on behalf of Hampshire College for several years, so we know the property and the institution well,” Mitch went on. “We’re from here and have a strong vested interest in a successful outcome for Hampshire College and the community.”

“What we found is that Ben and I worked really, really well together. We rounded each other off in a way that made me better at my job, and I loved working with him; we were on that path together.”

Getting back to the business and the dynamic the two have created at Region, the two stressed, again, that there were never plans to work together — until they decided to do just that.

And Mitch believes Ben’s experiences with businesses of different sizes and in different markets helped create a positive family business environment, when tension generally rules in so many other cases of generations working together in the same space.

“Ben came to the party with his own work experiences and his own capabilities,” Mitch said, adding that he brought different perspectives to the company.

Ben agreed. “From those years working in Boston, I had a lot to bring to the Colebrook team right away and how we worked together,” he recalled. “There’re so many other experiences about how offices work and how Boston teams function. Immediately, I was able to add value from a different perspective.”

Added Mitch, “I tell people this: I think I’ve done a good job over the years, but Ben has made me a better broker with the things that we’ve have brought to the team in terms of client satisfaction, a technology base, systems, an efficiency base — from his business experience, he learned a lot of different things that have funneled and shaped our region in many ways.”

Bottom Line

As for returning to this market from Boston — something that rarely happens, and that area economic development leaders would certainly like to see more of — Ben said that, contrary to what might be popular opinion, there are opportunities for young people in the 413.

“A lot of my friends and young people have gotten sucked into the major cities,” he told BusinessWest. “I think there’s a lot of opportunity here for people my age because business owners are aging out.”

bankESB Promotes Meagan Barrett to Senior Vice President, Human Resources

By
Daily News

Meagan Barrett

EASTHAMPTON — bankESB announced the promotion of Meagan Barrett to senior vice president, Human Resources, based at the company’s headquarters at 36 Main St. in Easthampton.

Barrett brings nearly two decades of dedicated service to bankESB, having joined the bank in 2008 as a human resources assistant. Over the course of her tenure, she has steadily advanced through leadership roles, demonstrating a strong commitment to employee engagement, operational excellence, and organizational culture.

In her new role, Barrett oversees all human resources functions for the organization, including employee engagement, employee relations, talent acquisition, and HR operations such as payroll, benefits, and compensation management. She currently leads a team of 10 HR professionals and plays a critical role in shaping and sustaining the company’s culture.

“Meagan’s leadership, vision, and deep understanding of our organization have been instrumental to our growth and success,” said Matt Sosik, president and CEO at bankESB. “Her commitment to fostering a positive workplace culture has helped our organization earn multiple USA TODAY Top Workplaces awards and successfully navigate periods of significant growth and change.”

Barrett has been a driving force behind bankESB’s award-winning workplace culture. She has played a key leadership role in maintaining and strengthening that culture through eight strategic mergers, supporting the expansion of bankESB’s parent company, Hometown Financial Group’s footprint to more than 730 employees across Massachusetts, Northeastern Connecticut, and Southern New Hampshire.

Prior to joining bankESB, Barrett gained more than a decade of experience in human resources and operations, including serving as HR & Operations manager at CompUSA. She holds an associate degree in liberal arts from Holyoke Community College and pursued studies in psychology at Rhode Island College. She also earned her professional in human resources (PHR) certification in 2012 and maintains ongoing professional development. In addition, she holds certifications in employee engagement and Predictive Index.

HCC to Host Fair Housing and Civil Rights Conference May 27-28

By
Daily News

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Community College (HCC) will host the 20th annual Fair Housing and Civil Rights Conference on Wednesday, May 27 from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Thursday, May 28 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The two-day conference will begin in the college’s Leslie Phillips Theater (Fine & Performing Arts Building, second floor), with sessions in the HCC Kittredge Center for Business and Workforce Development and the college’s Learning Collaborative (Frost Building, second floor), all on the main HCC campus, 303 Homestead Ave.

This long-standing conference brings together elected officials, community leaders, and participants from across the state and region for meaningful dialogue, learning, and connection. The event will feature speakers, panel discussions, and workshops on topics that are expected to include environmental justice, fair housing, protecting immigrant neighbors, tenant organizing, and more. HCC President George Timmons will give opening remarks on Wednesday at 1 p.m. in Leslie Phillips Theater.

For the full conference schedule, visit fhcrconference.com/workshop-speakers.

Massachusetts Gains 8,500 Jobs in April as Unemployment Rate Remains at 4.7%

By
Daily News

BOSTON — The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) released Massachusetts unemployment and job estimates for April, with preliminary data indicating that payroll jobs increased by 8,500 for the month, following a revised increase of 7,200 jobs in March.

Massachusetts has added more than 21,600 payroll jobs, including 19,600 private sector jobs, since September, and has outpaced the country over the past six months. Preliminary data also shows the April unemployment rate remained at 4.7%, and labor force participation rate decreased slightly to 65.6%. May unemployment and job estimates are scheduled to be released on June 22.

BLS categories with the strongest growth month-over-month for Massachusetts employment in April include construction, private education and health services, and professional and business services.

“The recent period of employment expansion continued in April, outpacing the rest of the country, with most sectors gaining jobs,” said Mark Rembert, chief economist for EOLWD’s Department of Economic Research. “Job posting activity remains strong across sectors, with encouraging signals that the Commonwealth’s high-tech industries are seeking more workers as well.”

Company Notebook

By
Company Notebook

Dean’s Beans Named Rural Business of the Year

ORANGE — The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) named Dean’s Beans Organic Coffee as the Rural Business of the Year for Massachusetts, recognizing the company’s long-standing commitment to ethical sourcing, employee ownership, and rural economic development. Headquartered in Orange, Dean’s Beans Organic Coffee is a worker-owned coffee roaster serving customers nationwide. Since its founding in 1993, the company has maintained continuous operations in the rural community, supporting local jobs and sustaining manufacturing capacity in a region with limited large-scale employers. Dean’s Beans is known for its commitment to environmental stewardship and ethical sourcing. The company exclusively sources certified organic, fair-trade, and shade-grown coffees from smallholder farmer cooperatives, building long-term partnerships that support rural farming communities while meeting growing consumer demand for responsibly produced products. Its coffee is distributed through wholesale, retail, and direct-to-consumer channels, reaching independent cafés, food co-ops, workplaces, and households across the U.S. In 2021, Dean’s Beans transitioned to 100% worker ownership, becoming a cooperative owned and operated by its employees. The company plays an active role in the Orange community by providing year-round employment, supporting local organizations through donations, and encouraging employee volunteerism. Its continued presence demonstrates how a small business can remain competitive while keeping ownership, jobs, and community engagement rooted locally.

UMass Amherst Opens Hub for Public Health, Health Sciences

AMHERST — UMass Amherst recently celebrated the opening of its new $43 million School of Public Health and Health Sciences (SPHHS) Hub, which unites the school’s six departments under one roof for the first time. University, state, and local leaders gathered for a ribbon cutting for the 26,800-square-foot building that features a multi-story commons with exposed wood construction and a sweeping staircase, creating a gathering space for study and schoolwide events. The project, which broke ground at North Pleasant Street and Eastman Lane in May 2024, anchors a new plaza that opens toward the campus core and connects directly to the 1958 Totman Gymnasium, which houses the SPHHS Department of Kinesiology. UMass Amherst alumni were involved in virtually every aspect of the project, from design and general contracting to landscape architecture and mechanical engineering. The hub incorporates a biophilic design approach, using wood finishes and extensive natural light to enhance learning environments. Nearly all interior spaces — about 92% — offer views of the surrounding landscape or sky. Outside, a landscaped bioretention system was engineered to manage stormwater runoff and improve water quality. The building was designed to support contemporary approaches to team-based learning. Other features include flexible classrooms, hotel office space for faculty, offices for all student advising and career planning staff, the dean’s office, conferencing facilities, and open areas for collaboration. Designed by Boston-based Leers Weinzapfel Associates, the hub is built to the LEED Gold certification standard.

Country Bank Cuts Ribbon at New Springfield Banking Center 

SPRINGFIELD — Country Bank recently celebrated the grand opening of its new Springfield banking center at 1500 Tower Square, expanding its footprint and deepening its commitment to one of the region’s most dynamic communities. Marked by a celebration with city leaders, regional partners, and members of the Springfield business community, the event, hosted by White Lion Brewing Co., reflected the bank’s focus on local partnerships and community connection. Since opening its doors, the Springfield team has been dedicated to delivering accessible, relationship‑driven banking while supporting the city’s diverse population, including tailored outreach and services for the Latino community and local businesses looking for a trusted banking partner, said Mary McGovern, president and CEO of Country Bank. The new location is designed to be welcoming, convenient, and rooted in the needs of the people it serves, she added.

Monson Savings Bank Celebrates Local Nonprofits 

MONSON — Monson Savings Bank recently welcomed local nonprofit partners to its recent Community Giving Initiative reception at the bank’s loan and operations center. The celebratory evening brought together nonprofit leaders, community members, and bank leadership to honor the nonprofit organizations selected through the bank’s Community Giving Initiative, a charitable program shaped entirely by community participation. Earlier this year, local community members were invited to cast votes for their nonprofit organizations of choice, ensuring that the bank’s charitable contributions directly reflect the values and priorities of the communities it serves. The 2026 Community Giving Initiative recipients include I Found Light Against All Odds, Magic for Maddie, Friends of Hampden Seniors, South End Community Center and Springfield Ballers, YWCA of Western Massachusetts, Monson Free Library, Springfield Jewish Community Center, CLUBOH, Aida’s Food Truck, and the Miracle League of Western Massachusetts.

Dulye Leadership Experience Closes After 18 Years

PITTSFIELD — After 18 impact-driven years, the Dulye Leadership Experience (DLE) took its final bow on May 8. Launched in the depths of the 2008 economic crisis through an innovative partnership with Syracuse University, the DLE evolved into an independent, fee-free catalyst for learning, connection, and career advancement that inspired thousands across the Berkshires and beyond. Throughout its run, it operated as a pro bono initiative, made possible by the sustained investment of founder Linda Dulye and her Pittsfield-based company, Dulye & Co. This transition does not affect the operations of Dulye & Co.’s consulting business from its downtown Pittsfield office. Propelled by Dulye’s philanthropic commitment to giving back so others can move forward, the DLE delivered pioneering, professional development programs at no cost. Nationally acclaimed speakers and cutting-edge topics distinguished the DLE’s dynamic mix of immersive retreats, workshops, webinars, coaching sessions, newsletters, podcasts, community service, and conversations. Over the years, delivery platforms expanded from exclusively in-person to fully remote during the pandemic, and ultimately to a flexible mix of hybrid, virtual, online, and in-person experiences.

Amelia Park Children’s Museum Announces Farm in the Woods

WESTFIELD — Diane Chambers, executive director of Amelia Park Children’s Museum, announced plans for an outdoor playscape called Farm in the Woods, scheduled to open this summer. In 2025, the museum was awarded a grant through the Beveridge Family Foundation for concept, construction, and fabrication of the outdoor play space. The funding allowed the museum to hire Panoptic Design/Build, a museum exhibit designer and fabricator based in West Springfield, to create designs. Panoptic designer Terra Fletcher explained that “the Farm in the Woods is intended to bring out the best parts of growing up on a farm in New England: curious observation, secret hideaways, exciting adventures, and always something new to discover. It examines the place of farms in the broader ecosystem, exploring themes of biodiversity and connectedness with playful interactives. We look forward to visitors coming here for the classic outdoor fun of sand, slides, and garden beds, and returning again and again with their friends and families to keep building curiosity and resilience.”

Tom Cosenzi Driving for the Cure Golf Tournament Raises $160,000

NORTHAMPTON — Organizers of the Tom Cosenzi Driving for the Cure Charity Golf Tournament announced that its 17th annual event raised $160,000 in support of brain cancer research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Founded in memory of Tom Cosenzi, who lost a courageous battle with glioblastoma, the tournament has become a cornerstone community event, honoring his legacy while funding groundbreaking research. To date, the tournament has raised more than $1.9 million in support of Dr. Patrick Wen and his team at Dana-Farber. The success of the 17th annual tournament was made possible through the support of sponsors, partners, and participants, including presenting sponsor Teph Seal and platinum sponsor General Contracting Solutions. Building on last year’s success, the 18th annual Tom Cosenzi Driving for the Cure Charity Golf Tournament will take place on Monday, Sept. 21 at Twin Hills Country Club in Longmeadow. General Contracting Solutions will serve as the 2026 presenting sponsor. Other sponsorship opportunities are now open. Businesses and individuals interested in supporting the event are encouraged to get involved early to maximize their visibility and impact. To learn more about the tournament, sponsorship opportunities, or to register, visit tomcosenzidrivingforthecure.com.

Baystate Academy Charter Public School Recognized

SPRINGFIELD — Baystate Academy Charter Public School announced it has been recognized as a 2025-26 Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Distinguished School for the fourth consecutive year. It is among a select group of high schools across the U.S. to receive this honor for its commitment to increasing student access, engagement, and achievement in career-connected learning. Through its PLTW biomedical science program, Baystate Academy is helping students develop transferable skills needed to succeed in an evolving future. This program provides students with real-world experiences to support its mission of training and exposing students to the health science industry. PLTW is a national nonprofit organization that creates transformative learning experiences and empowers students to develop in-demand knowledge and skills for future careers.

Local Farmer Awards Issue More Than $270,000 in Grants

AGAWAM — The Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation (HGCF), and its Local Farmer Award partners announced the 2026 recipients, granting more than $270,000 to 128 farmers across Western Mass. With this year’s awards, the program’s total investment in local agriculture surpasses $2 million — marking a major milestone in its 12-year commitment to strengthening the regional food system. The 2026 winners represent a diverse mix of farms of varying sizes across the four counties of Western Mass. Funds of up to $2,500 will help support projects such as fencing, cattle chutes, headlocks, calf housing, and feeding systems; greenhouses, hoophouses, energy curtains, and irrigation inside structures; cold storage, wash stations, and processing equipment; and no-till preparation, cover cropping, composting, and pest management. This program is made possible through community funding from the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation, in partnership with Big Y, the Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture, and the Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation. Additional support is provided by PeoplesBank; Ann and Steve Davis; the Elizabeth & Charles D’Amour Family Fund at the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts; Audrey and Chick Taylor; Andrew Associates; DeNucci, Crosby, & Associates – Merrill Lynch Wealth Management; Eastern States Exposition; Farm Credit East; Hood; Three County Fair; bankESB; Baystate Health; Franklin First Federal Credit Union; and Country Bank.

Summerlin Floors Marks Fifth Year of Donating to GCC 

AMHERST — Summerlin Floors, a woman-owned flooring business based in Amherst, has made a $2,500 to Greenfield Community College (GCC) for the fifth year in a row. This annual gift reflects the company’s continued dedication to supporting student success at GCC in honor of the owners’ beloved daughter, Erin Summerlin. Ann Bronner, owner of Summerlin Floors and a GCC alumna, is deeply committed to giving back and supporting the next generation of students. Guided by her belief in the transformative power of education and the strength of community, she strives to ensure students have the tools needed to succeed both academically and personally. Through the company’s charitable initiative, Summerlin Supports, Summerlin Floors makes ongoing contributions to causes that matter most to the company’s leaders. This year’s gift, made on April 26 in honor of Erin’s birthday, is a heartfelt tribute celebrating her life and lasting legacy.

MCLA Pathways Campaign Surpasses $30 Million Goal

NORTH ADAMS — Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) officially certified that Pathways, the Campaign for MCLA has raised $32.7 million, surpassing its original $25 million goal by nearly $8 million. With continued momentum and three months left of the campaign, surpassing the fundraising goal early reflects the sustained confidence of alumni, friends, and supporters in the college’s mission and future. Funds raised through Pathways, the Campaign for MCLA have supported scholarships, athletic facility enhancements, travel opportunities for students, and professional development for faculty members. The campaign’s success has helped the MCLA endowment reach the highest level in the college’s history, and MCLA’s reserve fund has doubled over the past five years to $27 million, reflecting a sustained commitment to long-term financial health.

AIC Raises $228,090 During AIC Gives ‘26

SPRINGFIELD — American International College (AIC) raised $228,090 during AIC Gives ‘26, the college’s annual Giving Day campaign held April 7-9. The campaign brought together alumni, students, faculty, staff, and friends in support of scholarships, academic programs, athletics, and campus initiatives. A total of 856 donors contributed during the campaign, reflecting broad support from across the AIC community. Strong participation and enthusiasm prompted the college to extend the campaign beyond its original 48-hour timeframe, allowing even more donors to take part. Contributions came from 28 states, one territory, and 13 countries, reflecting the broad reach and global support of the AIC community. This year’s campaign demonstrated the collective commitment of the AIC community to expanding access, creating opportunity, and enhancing the student experience. Gifts of all sizes will provide immediate support for current and future students, helping to strengthen programs and resources across the college.

Early Learning Agencies Launch New Collaboration

SPRINGFIELD — The region’s leading providers of preschool programming came together recently to formally launch Foundations for Success Springfield. State and local leaders from Springfield Public Schools, HCS Head Start, the YMCA of Greater Springfield, and Square One gathered on the steps of Springfield City Hall to share news of the collaboration. Foundations for Success Springfield is designed to connect parents, caregivers, and community programs with personalized guidance to ensure every child has the foundation to build a strong, bright future. The initiative will bring together educators, the community, and families to nurture growth and development, and improve quality of life for children in the Greater Springfield area. It is designed to support families in navigating early childhood systems, including developmental support and educational placement, which is known to be an overwhelming experience for families of young children.

Hillcrest Educational Centers Honored with Award from AIM

PITTSFIELD — Hillcrest Educational Centers, a private, not-for-profit agency that provides individualized and comprehensive clinical, psychological, and special education services for children, adolescents, and families in Berkshire County and the Northeast, is the winner of the 2026 John Gould Education and Workforce Development Award from Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM). The organization was honored in front of 500 Massachusetts business leaders at the AIM annual meeting on May 7. The students served by Hillcrest in non-residential and residential programs have complex psychiatric, behavioral, and/or developmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorders, and a variety of high-risk behaviors. Its mission is to address the significant needs of students during a critical time in their lives, providing them with essential skills that will enable them to achieve enduring, positive change. Hillcrest was started in 1985 as an organization that provided residential programs. While the agency still provides these residential services, Hillcrest today also offers non-residential day programs and services for emotionally or behaviorally disturbed students at its Hillcrest Academy, as well as general family dentistry at Hillcrest Dental Care.

Greenfield Cooperative Bank Introduces New Mortgage Program 

GREENFIELD — Greenfield Cooperative Bank (GCB) announced the launch of Co-op Cares, a new mortgage program designed specifically for employees of 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. Built with the needs of mission-driven professionals in mind, Co-op Cares offers meaningful benefits to help make homeownership more accessible for those who dedicate their careers to giving back. The Co-op Cares program offers a variety of benefits, including reduced annual percentage rates and choosing between a fixed-rate mortgage with predictable monthly payments or an adjustable-rate mortgage that offers potential interest rate savings initially but may fluctuate over time. 

Tech Foundry Awarded Laptops by Connected and Online Program 

SPRINGFIELD — Tech Foundry, a regional leader in IT workforce development and training, recently received a donation of 30 laptops to its Tech Hub programs through the Connected and Online Program, overseen by the Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI), a division of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative. The Connected and Online Program is designed to increase access to education, workforce development, and healthcare services with a particular focus on Gateway Cities and rural communities. The donated laptops will be used for Tech Hub’s digital literacy community workshops hosted throughout Western Mass. MBI is working to extend high-speed internet access and availability across the state. To achieve this, it uses state and federal funding to launch infrastructure expansion programs that target areas of the state that lack high-speed internet access, as well as digital equity programs that tackle barriers to internet adoption and increase availability, addressing critical issues around affordability, enhanced public Wi-Fi, the need for internet-enabled devices, and digital literacy training.

Building Permits

By
Building Permits

The following building permits were issued during the months of April and May 2026.

CHICOPEE

Agilent Technologies Inc.
711 East Main St.
$45,000 — Install RF cable, DAS antennas, and amplifier/batteries

NPSSA Chicopee LLC
425 Meadow St.
$71,315 — Construct structural pads for four battery storage units

River Mills Assisted Living
7 River Mills Dr.
$109,267 — Gypsum wall and ceiling repairs, interior insulation, and finish work due to sprinkler pipe break

Stephen Spano
33 Yelle St.
$12,650 — Roofing

EASTHAMPTON

Cabs Realty LLC
130 Cottage St.
$9,600 — Roofing

Jocelyn Cleary, Thomas Cleary
350 Main St.
$7,125 — Install ductless mini-split system

Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield
35 Pleasant St.
$42,000 — Interior demolition of non-bearing partitions and finishes

HADLEY

Anne Hukowicz
326 Russell St.
N/A — Reface existing free-standing ground sign

Anne Hukowicz
326 Russell St.
N/A — Roof repair

LENOX

Brewha LLC
55 Pittsfield Road
$18,574 — Extend fire sprinkler dry system to protect new addition

Patrick Li
383 East St.
$16,350 — Roofing

North Sandy Brook LLC
80 Church St.
$8,055 — Install new fire suppression system in kitchen

Spigalina LLC
80 Main St.
$7,600 — Plaster removal, insulation, sheetrock, and replace window in second-floor apartment above Frankie’s Ristorante

United Church of Christ
55 Main St.
$6,882 — Insulation and air sealing

NORTHAMPTON

74 Coles Meadow LLC
74 Coles Meadow Road
$14,300 — Demolish in-law kitchen, add two walls

244-280 King Street LLC
280 King St.
$413,650 — Install rooftop solar

Blue Mountain Properties LLC
76 Maple St.
$3,000 — Add bathroom, replace doors, repairs to Pilates studio

Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce Inc.
99 Pleasant St.
$30,389 — Roofing

Hampshire, Franklin & Hampden Agricultural Society
54 Fair St.
$12,000 — Build four platforms

Hampshire, Franklin & Hampden Agricultural Society
Old Ferry Road
$25,770 — Insulation and weatherization

Nonotuck Mill LLC
296 Nonotuck St.
$675,000 — Renovate second floor of office building

Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield
101 King St.
$334,355 — Roof replacement, steeple removal, and window painting/restoration

Smith College
112 Elm St.
$29,218 — Replace seven windows

PITTSFIELD

Berkshire County Children’s Advocacy
63 Wendell Ave.
$32,500 — Roofing

Berkshire Hospitality Group LLC
1 West St.
$165,000 — Install wireless communications facility

C&A Rentals Management LLC
105 Fourth St.
$105,000 — Install photovoltaic solar system

City of Pittsfield
105 Wahconah St.
$418,989 — Selective demolition, hazmat removal only

Cloverdale Properties LLC
195 Cloverdale St.
$4,000 — Install pre-manufactured shed

J. Edward Dery Inc.
54 Bradford St.
$19,554 — Replace gas-fired rooftop unit

OBCC Holdings LLC
74 Downing Parkway
$180,000 — Place pre-fabricated portable storage units outside building

Scarafoni Associates Nominee Trust
100 North St.
$4,600 — Repair exterior door

Wendy’s Properties LLC
556 Hubbard Ave.
$15,500 — Change out rooftop unit

Yarmosky Realty Co.
Inc./200 Elm HC LLC
200 Elm St.
$42,000 — Roofing

Time to Inspect Workplace Policies

By Contributor
Opinion

By Michael Lewis, Esq.

Federal workplace enforcement has picked up speed. The EEOC continues to pursue discrimination, accommodation, and retaliation claims. OSHA has renewed its focus on heat hazards. The NLRB has adjusted charge-handling guidance in ways that can shape how workplace disputes start, spread, and settle. For employers, the point is simple: now is the right time to inspect your policies, your records, and the choices your managers make every day.

The risk rarely begins in court. It usually begins earlier, with a charge, an inspection, or a demand for records. At that stage, agencies tend to look for the same things: a written policy, a clear paper trail, and proof that the company followed both. When the file tells a scattered story, the problem grows. When the handbook says one thing and supervisors do another, the gap invites scrutiny.

The EEOC’s recent activity reflects a steady push toward disability issues, retaliation claims, and broader workplace practices, not just one-off incidents. That should force a hard question. If an employee requests an accommodation tomorrow, would your managers know the next step? If an employee reports bias, would your team respond and document the response in a way that holds up under scrutiny? A policy alone will not carry the day. Your records, training, and follow-through will do that work.

OSHA’s renewed attention to heat hazards carries the same lesson. Employers with outdoor crews or hot indoor worksites should not treat heat as a seasonal annoyance. They should treat it as a safety issue that requires a concrete plan. Water, rest, training, supervisor awareness, and site-level judgment all count. So does documentation. If an inspector arrives after a stretch of high heat, you will want more than a binder on a shelf. You will want records that show what your company actually did.

Labor enforcement also remains active, even for non-union employers. Many business owners still assume labor law concerns only union shops. That assumption can create avoidable risk. Employee complaints about pay, schedules, staffing, safety, or workplace rules can raise labor issues in an ordinary workplace. When a manager reacts too quickly or writes a rule too broadly, a routine personnel issue can turn into a charge.

Prevention carries real value. A sound handbook, current policies, manager training, and disciplined recordkeeping can stop problems before they spread. They can also put an employer in a far stronger position when an agency comes calling. Early review usually costs far less than late repair.

Now is a smart time to ask a few blunt questions. Do your accommodation procedures work in practice? Do your wage-and-hour records hold together? Do your safety policies match conditions on the ground? Do your managers document facts, or do they leave gaps for someone else to fill?

Business owners do not need more paper for paper’s sake. They need policies that fit the workplace, records that tell a clear story, and guidance that catches trouble early. A focused review now can spare a great deal of cost, distraction, and strain later. Early attention often marks the difference between a contained problem and a long, expensive fight.

Attorney Michael Lewis is an associate in the Springfield office of Halloran Sage. His practice areas include litigation and dispute resolution, labor and employment, discrimination claims, non-competes and restrictive covenants, and labor disputes.

People on the Move

By
People on the Move

Morgan Harrington

Bacon Wilson, P.C. announced that Morgan Harrington joined the firm in early March. She will advance her career as an associate attorney in the firm’s Commercial Real Estate department. Harrington earned her juris doctorate from Western New England University School of Law in 2025 and her bachelor’s degree in political science and criminal justice from Roger Williams University in Rhode Island. Prior to joining Bacon Wilson, she began her legal career as an associate at a local civil litigation firm, where she focused on analyzing and evaluating insurance claims and providing strategic legal guidance on liability, settlement options, and case resolution. She also served as a law student extern with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Springfield, where she conducted legal research and drafted memoranda on criminal law issues, supporting federal prosecutors in ongoing investigations and prosecutions. In addition, she assisted in the preparation of trial materials, including discovery organization. During her time at Western New England University School of Law, Harrington received several honors, including the CALI Award for Intellectual Property Survey, recognition as runner-up for Best Oral Argument, and Dean’s List distinction. She also served as community outreach coordinator for the Women’s Law Assoc. and worked as a student clinician in the small business practicum. She will primarily work out of Bacon Wilson’s Springfield office, focusing on commercial and corporate real estate and business transactions. She is currently admitted to practice law in the state of Connecticut and is pending admission to the Massachusetts Bar. She is also an active member of the Connecticut Bar Assoc.

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The Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) board of trustees voted to select Diana Rogers-Adkinson as the institution’s 13th president, pending approval by the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education. She will succeed President James Birge, who announced his retirement after more than a decade of leadership at MCLA. Rogers-Adkinson currently serves as senior vice chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs and chief academic officer for the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, where she provides system-level leadership for 10 universities serving approximately 80,000 students. A tenured professor and published scholar, she holds a PhD from Kent State University and brings a distinguished record in academic leadership, fiscal stewardship, and a deep commitment to equity and access in public higher education.

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Jean Canosa Albano

The University of Rhode Island’s Graduate School of Library and Information Studies (GSLIS) announced that its Alumna of the Year for 2026 is Jean Canosa Albano, assistant director of Springfield City Library. Upon graduating from URI GSLIS in 1995, Albano worked as a young adult librarian at Springfield City Library. She moved up through roles such as assistant supervisor and manager of Youth Services, then manager of Public Services at the Mason Square Branch Library. In 2016, she was promoted to assistant director for Public Services at Springfield City Library, a role where she has shined for a decade. While committed to working for her library, Albano has also long been committed to the larger Springfield community. She has served as a trustee at the Wilbraham Public Library, an outreach advisory board member for the YMCA of Greater Springfield, a member of the Massachusetts State Advisory Council for Libraries, policy council community representative and board of directors member for Holyoke Chicopee Springfield Head Start, board member for Art for the Soul Gallery, public relations committee member for the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, and vice president of Springfield Public Forum. She has served on the boards of the Massachusetts Library Assoc. and the New England Library Assoc., and made conference presentations for those associations as well as for the national American Librarian Assoc. and the Public Library Assoc. Bilingual, Albano has served English- and Spanish-speaking members of the Springfield City Library community, providing and advocating for library services for non-English speakers. She was named a Woman of Impact by BusinessWest in 2018.

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Jennifer Cournoyer

The Springfield Technical Community College board of trustees voted to recommend Jennifer Cournoyer as the next president of STCC. The recommendation is subject to approval from the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education and commissioner of Higher Education on May 19. If approved, she would be the seventh president of STCC and the first woman to lead the institution. Cournoyer, who serves as vice president for Academic and Student Affairs at River Valley Community College in Claremont, N.H., brings more than 12 years of experience in two-year colleges across New England. Cournoyer holds a doctorate in higher education administration from Northeastern University, a master’s degree in library and information science from the University of Rhode Island, and a bachelor’s degree in English and Spanish from Stonehill College. She has held the position of vice president for Academic and Student Affairs at River Valley Community College since 2019. Before that, she was director of Library Services & Academic Supports at Quinebaug Valley Community College in Danielson, Conn.

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David Ricci

Joshua Stebbins

Westfield Investment Services, located at Westfield Bank, announced new title appointments for David Ricci and Joshua Stebbins. Ricci, who previously served as LPL investment advisor representative, has been appointed to assistant vice president, LPL investment advisor representative. With nearly 40 years in the investment and retirement industry, he joined Westfield Investment Services in 2017. He holds FINRA Series 7 and 66 licenses with LPL Financial as well as Massachusetts and Connecticut life and variable insurance licenses. Stebbins, who previously served as LPL investment advisor representative, has been appointed to assistant vice president, LPL investment advisor representative. He joined Westfield Bank in 2014 before transitioning to Westfield Investment Services in 2016. He holds FINRA Series 7 and 66 licenses with LPL Financial as well as Massachusetts and Connecticut health, life, and variable insurance licenses. He is an alumnus of Westfield State University and holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and economics, with a concentration in actuarial science.

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The Downtown Amherst Foundation (DAF) has named Claudia Pazmany its new executive director, bringing a familiar downtown leader back to Amherst in a role focused fully on the foundation and its signature cultural enterprise, the Drake. Her first day will be June 1. Pazmany previously served as executive director of the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce from 2019 to 2024, where she was a visible advocate for local businesses and the vitality of downtown. She most recently served as chief development officer for Martin Luther King, Jr. Family Services in Springfield, helping advance fundraising, partnerships, and new initiatives. That combination of downtown knowledge, nonprofit leadership, and community-building experience makes Pazmany well-positioned to guide the foundation’s next chapter.

•••••

Julissa Colón

Holyoke Community College (HCC) announced that Julissa Colón has been selected as the college’s first dean of Student Experience. Colón, a 2013 graduate of HCC, started working at the college in 2010 as a clerk for the Gateway to College program and earned her associate degree in liberal arts. With the help of HCC’s Pathways Program, she transferred to Smith College, where she received a bachelor’s degree in Latin American studies and history and was subsequently hired as special programs coordinator for Gateway to College. While continuing to work full-time, she earned a master’s degree in public administration and a graduate certificate in gender leadership and public policy at UMass Boston. In 2020, Colón was hired as the inaugural director of El Centro, HCC’s bilingual support program. Now, as the first dean of student experience, she oversees new student programs, including orientation; Student Engagement, which includes student clubs and activities; wellness programs, including the college’s on-campus partnership with the Center for Human Development; and Commencement. She also serves as chair of the HCC Care Team and as the student conduct officer.

•••••

Michael Missle

bankESB announced the appointment of Michael Missle as vice president, Cash Management. Missle has 25 years of banking experience and expertise in treasury and payment services. In his new role, he will lead the bank’s cash management strategy, delivering innovative solutions to help business clients optimize liquidity, streamline operations, and enhance financial efficiency. Prior to joining bankESB, Missle served as vice president of Cash Management at HarborOne Bank, where he was responsible for developing and managing comprehensive cash management services. Before that, he held the role of vice president, Application Services at Brookline Bank, overseeing critical banking technology platforms. Earlier in his career, he served as director of Payment Services at Middlesex Savings Bank and head of Cash Management at Boston Private Bank & Trust Co., where he played a key role in advancing payment systems and client service capabilities. Missle holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Vermont. He is an active member of the University of Vermont Alumni Assoc. and the Camp Bauercrest Alumni Assoc. He was previously a soccer coach for Framingham United, reflecting his commitment to community involvement and mentorship.

•••••

Pittsfield Cooperative Bank announced the promotion of Felicia Sayers to assistant vice president, branch manager of the Williams Street branch. In this role, she will oversee all branch operations, lead and develop staff, and strive to deliver a high level of personalized service. Sayers joined the bank in July 2025 as assistant branch manager of the South Street branch and quickly made a positive impact through leadership, operational expertise, and dedication to customer service. Her ability to support team development while maintaining strong performance standards helped drive success within the branch. Sayers has extensive banking experience, including previous roles at Greylock Federal Credit Union and TD Bank, supervising teams, managing branch operations, and consistently earning recognition for customer satisfaction and sales performance. She is deeply involved in the Berkshire community, volunteering for more than a decade with local organizations, including Labor Lenten of Love, Berkshire Dream Center, Habitat for Humanity’s Women’s Build, and Thanksgiving Angels, among others.

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Holyoke Community College (HCC) Transfer Affairs Coordinator Mark Broadbent received a lifetime achievement award from the New England Transfer Assoc., a nonprofit association of transfer professionals from two- and four-year colleges and universities. Broadbent was presented with the Dr. Mary E. Dunn Lifetime Achievement in Transfer Award at the association’s 2026 annual conference, which was held April 13-15 at the Hotel Northampton. The award recognizes individuals who have made significant and sustained contributions to transfer in New England through their advocacy, leadership, and mentoring. Broadbent has worked at HCC since 1990 and served as coordinator of Transfer Affairs for 34 years. He earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Syracuse University and a master’s degree in psychological services from Springfield College. He started working at HCC as a Springfield College intern and then moved into Admissions and the TRIO program before landing in his current position.

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Mark Broadbent

Pianist, composer, and bandleader Paul Arslanian has been named a Jazz Hero by the Jazz Journalists Assoc. in its 26th annual recognition of “activists, advocates, and altruists of jazz” across the U.S. For the past 16 years, Arslanian has led the Northampton Jazz Workshop, a year-round organization that brings leading jazz musicians from New York City, Boston, and Philadelphia to Northampton nearly every week to perform with the Green Street Trio. Performances are followed by Arslanian-curated jam sessions featuring students, professors, teachers, and other local jazz musicians. Arslanian is also an advisor to the Northampton Jazz Festival, having served as executive producer for 14 years. In that capacity, he led the creative direction of the festival, seeking out and booking jazz musicians as well as directing all aspects of producing the concerts on Jazz Fest Day each year. In 2018, Arslanian founded the Jazz Artists in the Schools program with JFK Middle School and Northampton High School, collaborating with school band directors to bring in working jazz musicians each semester for workshops and clinics with students.

•••••

Greenfield Cooperative Bank (GCB) announced the promotions of seven individuals on the team. These promotions reflect the bank’s commitment to recognizing internal growth, attracting experienced talent, and strengthening its focus on technology, community engagement, and lending services.

• Michael Buckmaster is being promoted to executive vice president, Commercial Lending. He has been with the bank since 2020, leading the commercial lending team, and has more than 30 years of experience in banking. He will continue to lead commercial lending activities as EVP.

• Sean Sormanti is being promoted to executive vice president, Human Resources. He has been with the bank since 2019, leading the Human Resources department, and has more than15 years of experience in human resources and benefits administration. He will continue to lead human resources activities as EVP.

• Shelly Malo is being promoted to vice president, mortgage originator. She rejoined the bank in 2024 as senior mortgage originator, after previously working at Greenfield Co-op for eight years in the early 2000s.

• Matthew Donovan is being promoted to assistant vice president, commercial lender. He joined the bank 2023 as a senior credit analyst with several years of credit experience working for America Honda Finance. He was promoted to commercial lending officer last year and will now be an AVP working in that role.

• Kristen Canedy is being promoted to branch manager officer. She joined the bank in 2020 and quickly rose through the ranks to become branch manager of the Northfield Branch in 2024. She and her team shepherded the Northfield customers through the recent renovations to the building. She will now be an officer of the bank.

• Harlin Glovacki is being promoted to branch manager officer. Harlin joined the bank in 2022 and advanced quickly to become branch manager of the Shelburne Falls branch in 2024. He assists the Treasury Management team that shares the Shelburne Falls branch and will be completing the New England School of Financial Studies program this year. He will now be an officer of the bank.

• Marina Connor is being promoted to assistant branch manager and lead training officer. She started with the bank as a teller in 2017 and has risen to assistant manager while also acting as lead trainer over the past several years. She has developed, maintained, and led the training program for the entire retail division over that time and will now do so as an officer of the bank.

•••••

Telia Marks-McCall

Telia Marks-McCall will join Northfield Mount Hermon’s leadership team as director of Athletics, effective July 1. Marks-McCall will lead NMH’s highly competitive athletics program, comprising 33 sports and almost 70 teams. She will provide strategic vision and day-to-day leadership for all aspects of the program, which promotes physical well-being and competitive integrity while staying true to the school’s educational mission, values, and commitment to developing citizens and scholars. Marks-McCall comes to NMH from Maryvale Preparatory School, where she’s served as director of Athletics and head girls’ basketball coach, overseeing six championship titles and three runner-up finishes across athletic programs while supporting nationally ranked teams in soccer and lacrosse. Her previous positions include director of Athletics and Auxiliary Programs and head basketball coach at Miss Hall’s School, where she led the development of a comprehensive strategic plan for the program. She also brings athletics administrative experience at the collegiate level, at Quinnipiac University and the University of Iowa. Marks-McCall holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Virginia and a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Quinnipiac. At Virginia, she was the basketball team’s Rookie of the Year. After college, she spent two years playing professionally in Luxembourg and Finland, which helped her bring a global perspective to her approach to athletics and leadership.

•••••

The Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP) announced the appointment of Dana Sullivan as its new chief financial and operating officer (CFOO). She comes to MHP from the Massachusetts Executive Office for Administration and Finance, where she was chief of Strategy and Operations and acting chief financial officer. She managed the day-to-day financial operations of $6 billion in operating and capital expenses across 12 departments, including human resources, insurance, and local aid. Earlier, Sullivan served as acting undersecretary of Human Services with the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, supervising six agencies, including the Department of Developmental Services, the Department of Children and Families, and the Department of Transitional Assistance. In addition to her extensive financial management and operations experience, Sullivan brings to her new position a strong focus on relationships, partnerships, and collaboration.

Doing Business as Certificates

By
DBA Certificates

The following business certificates and/or trade names were issued or renewed during the months of April and May 2026.

AMHERST

Amherst Insurance Agency
5 Shays St.
Gregory Keochakian

The Dance Barn
26 Emily Lane
Randi Stein

Empower Arts
57 Farmington Road
Lee Goodwin

Hospice of the Fisher Home
1165 North Pleasant St.
Maria Rivera

Integrative Health & Fitness Studio
409 Main St., Unit 110
Caren Figliolini

Kara Brown Coaching
208 Grantwood Dr.
Kara Brown

Lian Reed Esthetics LLC
479 West St., Suite 6B
Lian Reed

Marshall Steinbeck Collision
53 South Prospect St.
Glenn LaPlante

Medicare Counselors
5 Shays St.
Gregory Keochakian

GREAT BARRINGTON

The Berkshire Galleries of Great Barrington
964 Main St., Suite 6
Christopher Nolan

Catwalk Boutique
329 Stockbridge Road
Berkshire Humane Society

The Center
40 Railroad St.
Kari Harendorf

Great Barrington Farmers’ Market
18 Church St.
Dennis Iodice

The Housatonic Building Co.
95 Van Deusenville Road
Benjamin Skeen

Magic Touch Lawn Care
231 North Plain Road
Robert Barrett

Peace Mountain Yoga
26 Manville St.
Frances Alexander

Purradise
301 Stockbridge Road
Berkshire Humane Society

Undergrowth LLC
47 Railroad St.
Michal Strawbridge

HADLEY

Awakened Heart Healing Arts
245 Russell St.
Asherah Allen

Cedar Rose Naturopathic
226D Russell St.
Jessica Eisenheim

David Mokrzecki Farm
26 Stockbridge St.
David Mokrzecki

E.A.T. Honey
9 Cemetery Road
Emily Focosi

Fractal Forge Inc.
134 Rocky Hill Road
Christian Rahn

Hadley Nail Spa
207 Russell St.
Orchid Nguyen

River Valley Irrigation
57 Bay Road
Eric Labrecque

Seymour Interior Decorating
9 Maplewood Terrace
Jennifer Seymour

Sisu Wellness Center
100 Russell St.
Natasha Perrone

Spectra Venue Management/Mullins
200 Commonwealth Ave.
Joe Fallon

HOLYOKE

Craig’s Cleaning Service
8 Gordon Dr.
Craig Haslam

Dollar Deals & Décor
365-369 High St.
Zeeshan Ali, Faqir Hussain

Halldor’s Handyman Services
37 Dale St.
Halldor Hildigunnarson

The Healing Helix
81 Jarvis Ave.
Lauren Stauble, Angela Garcia

MirahAmirah Productions
23 School St.
Amirah Thomas

The Parlorfaded Co.
230 Sargeant St.
Jose Dones

R&R Services
10 Columbia St.
Ricardo Maisonett

Samcutzit
98 Lower Westfield Road, Suite 101
Samuel Ortiz Caraballo

Vallis Outpost
95 Vermont St.
Bryan Scott, Justin Bresnahan

NORTHAMPTON

Absolute Zero
229 Main St.
Meng Qin Wang

Alchemy Healing Center
17 New South St., #108
Leta Herman

Bear River Landscaping
351 Bridge St.
Mary Johnson

Born Perfect
17 New South St., #108
Jaye McElroy

Brownell’s Barely Pickles
114 Woodland Dr.
Michael Brownell

Leyton Landscaping & Construction
351 Bridge St.
Mary Johnson

Mike’s Tees
81 Conz St., Unit 102
David Edwards

MJD Photography
74 Ryan Road
Michael Denno

Moon Sanctuary Massage
13 Old South St., Suite 26
Emet Aron

Nails of America
11 Bridge St.
Oanh Phuong Tran

Robinson Real Estate
35C State St.
Steven Slezek

Shah’s Halal Food
80 Main St.
Yogeshbhai Patel

The Tsepo Foundation
18 Nagle Court
Robert Wenz, Margie Wenz

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Bayram Barbershop
338 Memorial Ave.
Bayram Barbershop

Calico Color Creations
22 Oxford Place
Calico Color Creations

A Dose of Beauty
150 Front St.
A Dose of Beauty

First and Lasting Impressions
110 High Meadow Dr.
First and Lasting Impressions

MBS Wellness Center LLC
119 River St.
MBS Wellness Center LLC

VA Financial Services
442 Main St.
VA Financial Services

Well House Beauty Studios
1680 Riverdale St.
Well House Beauty Studios

The Wellness Drip Inc.
1817 Riverdale St.
The Wellness Drip Inc.

Incorporations

By
Incorporations

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

AMHERST

HPWS Inc., 10 University Dr., Amherst, MA 01002. Harold Tramazzo, same. Restaurant.

CHICOPEE

Daigle’s Truck Repair Inc., 57 Fuller Road, Chicopee, MA 01020. Mar Anderson, same. Maintenance and repairs of trucks, trailers, car haulers, and RVs.

The Presidential Service Badge Foundation Inc., 185 Fletcher Circle, Chicopee, MA 01020. Miguel Rodriguez, same. Nonprofit organization dedicated to offering a nonpartisan look at the importance of service in the U.S. and how those ideas move beyond any person or party.

GREAT BARRINGTON

Michael B. Mullany DMD, P.C., 16 Pleasant St., Great Barrington, MA 01230. Michael Mullany, same. Dental practice.

HADLEY

Pioneer Valley Bitcoin Inc., 24 Norwottuck Dr., Hadley, MA 01035. Nathan Labarge, same. Corporation providing free and accessible financial education centered around the Bitcoin network and its associated technology, as well as bitcoin the money and its role as a global macroeconomic financial asset.

HOLYOKE

Santiago’s Construction Inc., 611 South Summer St., Holyoke, MA 01040. Jefferson Santiago Milla, same. Home improvement services.

LEE

The Campbell Foundation Inc., 1670 Cape St., Lee, MA 01238. Shane Morris, same. Corporation providing funding for cancer patients.

LONGMEADOW

Lifeready Academy Inc., 90 Fairview St., Longmeadow, MA 01106. Soyoung Kim, same. Educational services.

LUDLOW

Mass Pro Paving and Masonry Corp., 128 Moody St., Ludlow, MA 01056. Donald Fortier, same. Driveway paving and backyard remodeling.

MONSON

Nurse Advocacy Enterprises Inc., 20 Paradise Lake Road, Monson, MA 01057. Teresa Frykenberg, same. RN patient advocacy consulting.

NORTHAMPTON

Caterina Cianciulli PhD Inc., 206 State St., Northampton, MA 01060. Caterina Cianciulli, same. Neuropsychological and clinical services.

PITTSFIELD

Berrysleepy Anesthesia Group Inc., 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Eva Berry, same. Certified registered nurse anesthetist-owned company providing anesthesia care and locum tenens CRNA services to hospitals and surgical centers.

Divyabhav Corp., 524 North St., Pittsfield, MA 01201. Yogesh Patel, 78 Camp St., Milford, MA 01757. Printing, shipping, and stationery.

Kyra Health Inc., 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Sara Garson, same. Health insurance and ancillary insurance sales to companies and individuals.

Neon Mobile Inc., 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Alexander Kiam, 510 West 52nd St., Apt. 17D, New York, NY 10019. Develops and operates a mobile application that collects and analyzes user-consented data for technology and AI applications.

Photoshelter Inc., 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Andrew Fingerman, same. Provider of software as a service and digital asset management solutions that enable enterprises and professionals to store, organize, access, and share digital assets across their ecosystems seamlessly and in real time.

Solarmantle Inc., 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Sanjeev Kalyanaraman, same. Manufacturing.

The Pulsecheck Project Inc., 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Jasmine Saint Albert, P.O. Box 12, Whitman, MA 02382. Nonprofit corporation empowering caregivers and healthcare workers through holistic health, wellness, and support services that foster resilience; reduce burnout; and enrich physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being.

SOUTH DEERFIELD

American Monarch Inc., 281 Greenfield Road, South Deerfield, MA 01373. Victoria Tubbs, same. Butterfly conservatory.

SPRINGFIELD

Aurihear Technologies Inc., 1500 Main St, Suite 800, Springfield, MA 01115. Nanhan Xiong, 119 Industrial Dr., Unit 130, East Longmeadow, MA 01028. Trading.

Borinquen Enterprises Inc., 132 Lucerne Road, Springfield, MA 01119. Miguel Carrasco, same. Business that provides a variety of products or services under one umbrella and one location, making it convenient for customers to meet all their needs at once.

Kings Sports League Inc., 174 Arnold Ave., Springfield, MA 01119. Sakina Ibrahim, same. Creates a pipeline of success through sports, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and education; provides accessible athletic opportunities for youth ages 4-18 in inner-city Massachusetts communities; delivers educational programming that promotes life skills, leadership, and economic empowerment; and ensures no youth is denied participation due to financial hardship.

Restored Hope Project Inc., 17 Dartmouth St., Springfield, MA 01109. Debra Watson, same. Nonprofit organization providing food, support, and community resources to individuals and families in need, with a special purpose to feed the needy and homeless in Springfield and surrounding communities.

WARE

Thrifty Mama of Four Inc., 238 Monson Turnpike Road, Ware, MA 01082. Jennifer Mulcahy, same. Jewelry and metal sales.

WESTFIELD

Sears Mechanical Inc., 29 Parker Ave., Westfield, MA 01085. Michael Sears, same. Plumbing, heating, and gas mechanical services.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Legacy Finish Carpentry Inc., 33 Morton St., West Springfield, MA 01089. Eward King II, same. Residential carpentry.

WILLIAMSTOWN

Overland Holdings Corp., 22 Latham St., Williamstown, MA 01267. Luke Costley, same. Holdings company.

Celebrating Four Class Acts

By
Alumni Achievement Award Opinion

BusinessWest launched its 40 Under Forty program in 2007 to recognize the rising stars in the 413. It’s become an immensely popular initiative that has created a somewhat exclusive club, if you will, one that now boasts 800 members.

That’s a big number, and something to bear in mind when considering a spinoff from that original program, something we call the Alumni Achievement Award, which, as that name suggests, recognizes 40 Under Forty winners who have continued to build on their résumés, both professionally and with their work in the community.

This is a far more exclusive club and, in many ways, a more notable achievement, just because of those numbers.

Which brings us to our latest AAA competition, presented by Baystate Health/Health New England. There can be only one winner — and he or she will be announced at the 40 Under Forty gala on June 11. But we celebrate our finalists because it’s an honor just to be in that group. And their accomplishments provide us with a great opportunity to tell more stories about individuals who continue to excel and find new ways to give back and make a difference.

Each of our finalists has a unique story, but there are common denominators, especially a commitment to this region and using their talents to improve quality of life here. Each story is compelling, and each finalist is certainly worthy of being the next AAA winner:

• Jim Krupienski, part of the 40 Under Forty class of 2010 and a finalist for the AAA in 2025, has risen to the rank of partner at the accounting firm Meyers Brothers Kalicka, where he is a real leader and mentor to many young people entering the field. And he gives back to the community in many ways, whether it’s through his own work with the Westfield State Foundation or the Westfield YMCA, or the way he encourages the firm to support agencies ranging from the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts to Habitat for Humanity.

• When Modesto Montero-Forman entered the 40 Under Forty class of 2020, he had been leading the middle school he founded for three years. Now, Libertas Academy serves grades 6-12 — around 600 students in all — and graduated its first class of high-school seniors last year. He has also shepherded the school to a new, larger location, where it has been able to expand its educational and enrichment offerings, while overseeing some of the most impressive math and language arts performances in the state.

• Adam Quenneville launched his roofing enterprise, known today as Adam Quenneville Roofing & Siding, 31 years ago, and he was honored for that success with inclusion in the 40 Under Forty class of 2009. But not only has he continued to expand his client base — growing revenues by 500% over the past 17 years — but the company has also become well-known for its philanthropic endeavors, gifting roofs to numerous area nonprofits and donating free roofs annually to veterans, first responders, and teachers.

• It took Ciara Speller only three years since being honored in the 40 Under Forty class of 2023 for her success as evening anchor at WWLP-22 News. And it’s not hard to see why. Since that time, she has turned a personal tragedy — the death of her father to a rare form of cancer — into the Jeffrey Speller Foundation ‘4 Change,’ which raises tens of thousands of dollars every year to help young people participate in golf. Ciara’s father believed in the power of the sport to connect people and improve lives, and she is certainly seeing his vision to fruition.

As noted earlier, all four are worthy of the AAA award, and all four should be celebrated for all they’ve done, and all they continue to do in — and for — this region. 

Bankruptcies

By
Bankruptcies

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

Carmenatty, Saul
Claudio Ortiz, Isarelys
65 Cataumet Lane
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/31/2026

Champigny, Andre Joseph Guy
Champigny, Patricia Ann
208 Edendale St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/07/2026

Clapp, David
Neis, Kristen
3 South Longyard Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Chapter: 13
Date: 04/08/2026

Coleman, Ronnie L.
Williams, Barbara J.
1192 Bay St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 13
Date: 04/03/2026

Collins, Michael Anthony
283 Wildermere St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/07/2026

Colon, Maria I.
66 Sherwood Ter.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 13
Date: 04/09/2026

Cruz Lopez, Betsabe
a/k/a Aguirre, Betsabe
28 Saint James Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/01/2026

Cruz, Ivan A.
Cruz, Cynthia A.
a/k/a Czaporowski, Cynthia A.
570 North Liberty St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Chapter: 13
Date: 04/01/2026

Cummings, Shaun
Cummings, Kayla
30 Halladay Dr.
Feeding Hills, MA 01030
Chapter: 13
Date: 03/31/2026

Davis, Charles Allen
33 Leroi Dr.
Pitttsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/07/2026

Duran, Omar J.
793 Carew St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/14/2026

Ferriter, John
Ferriter, Katherine M.
45 McCarthy Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/09/2026

Fisher, Sheana Jean
Floran, Sheana Jean
199 Glendale Ave.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/31/2026

Fontaine, Raquel Burnett-Hanks
158 Stebbins St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Chapter: 13
Date: 04/13/2026

Frasher, Jeffrey
97 Mechanic St.
Orange, MA 01364
Chapter: 13
Date: 04/07/2026

Goodale, Peter Glen
290 Montague Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/10/2026

Hartin, Andrea C.
3 Perennial Lane
Hampden, MA 01036
Chapter: 13
Date: 03/31/2026

Hauver, Justin R.
Hauver, Kimberly A.
162 Mayflower Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 13
Date: 03/31/2026

Haverty, Scot D.
P.O. Box 266
Orange, MA 01364
Chapter: 13
Date: 04/01/2026

KELLEY AND KIDS CONSTRUCTION LLC
Kelley, Erika Jean
a/k/a Niles, Erika Jean
1260 Williamsville Road
Barre, MA 01005
Chapter: 13
Date: 04/15/2026

Kuznetsov, Dennis N.
88 New Bridge St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/10/2026

McCoy, Jasper Marc-Anthony
123 Mulberry St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Chapter: 13
Date: 04/03/2026

Meyer, Kathleen A.
52 Hillcrest Dr.
Bernardston, MA 01337
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/06/2026

Murphy, Michael A.
1 Berkshire Square, Unit 409
Adams, MA 01220
Chapter: 13
Date: 03/30/2026

Perry, Ronnie Domenick
Perry, Alexis Tia
a/k/a Johnson, Alexis Tia
113 Happy Hollow Road
Oakham, MA 01068
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/09/2026

Rogers, John West
164 Wenonah Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Chapter: 13
Date: 04/15/2026

Roman, Jesus M.
Roman, Martha L.
40 Clarendon St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 13
Date: 04/15/2026

Sanabria, Sammy
Sanabria, Nicole S.
18 Southern Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/01/2026

Scott, Mayra P.
a/k/a Gomez, Mayra
One Springfield St., Apt. 302
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/09/2026

Soto Rodriguez, Victor M.
32 Talcott St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/13/2026

Spatz, Alicia Debra
50 West Court
Holyoke, MA 01040-4620
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/11/2026

Sperlonga, Thomas P.
20 David Ave.
Lee, MA 01238
Chapter: 7
Date: 03/31/2026

Tanacea, Hannah Lee
729 Main St., #3
Warren, MA 01083
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/15/2026

Tobin Jr., Robert Gene
140 French King Highway
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 13
Date: 03/30/2026

Western Mass Enterprise, LLC
Bazukin, Lev
271 Granville Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Chapter: 7
Date: 04/13/2026

Williams, Alonzo A.
94 Grove St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 13
Date: 04/08/2026

Real Estate Transactions

By
Real Estate

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

FRANKLIN COUNTY

BUCKLAND

7 Hog Hollow Road
Buckland, MA 01370
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Quinn Lumsden
Seller: Laura A. Letendre
Date: 04/14/26

141 North St.
Buckland, MA 01370
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: James C. Bragdon
Seller: Daby Sr., Norman E., (Estate)
Date: 04/15/26

DEERFIELD

15 Crestview Dr.
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $925,000
Buyer: Connor Owen
Seller: Louis A. Velazquez
Date: 04/16/26

208 Greenfield Road
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $410,000
Buyer: Samuel Holmes Short
Seller: Troy Santerre
Date: 04/17/26

20 Industrial Dr. W
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $2,481,008
Buyer: 20S Deerfield LLC
Seller: Allards Farms Inc.
Date: 04/23/26

ERVING

34 Moore St.
Erving, MA 01344
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Erik Semb
Seller: Kenneth E. Zilisch
Date: 04/23/26

GREENFIELD

25 Barton Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $308,000
Buyer: Paula Mecagni
Seller: Jason D. Harrison
Date: 04/22/26

696 Bernardston Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $448,000
Buyer: Jeffrey J. Benoit
Seller: Bernard T. Ethier
Date: 04/15/26

202 Chapman St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Gerald D. Lashway
Seller: Marleen R. Sumner
Date: 04/13/26

231 Conway St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Benegan2 LLC
Seller: Goulston, Eileen L., (Estate)
Date: 04/22/26

435 Deerfield St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Central Arts LLC
Seller: Lisa L. Sandri
Date: 04/17/26

9 Hancock Lane
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Kaylee Ann Sayers
Seller: Jessica Matteson
Date: 04/24/26

21 Holly Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Unlimited Property Group LLC
Seller: Wicked Deals LLC
Date: 04/21/26

46 Kenwood St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Mary C. Collins
Seller: Daniel S. Kimball
Date: 04/17/26

132 Poplar St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $410,000
Buyer: Myles Mastrototaro
Seller: Jeffrey E. Richardson
Date: 04/22/26

28 White Birch Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Austin Ordoyne
Seller: Heath Hutchinson
Date: 04/14/26

259 Wisdom Way
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Victor M. Nieves Corsino
Seller: Janet L. Randall-Parda
Date: 04/17/26

HAWLEY

49 East Road
Hawley, MA 01339
Amount: $700,000
Buyer: Garrett J. Kopeski
Seller: Douglas F. Blough
Date: 04/21/26

153 East Hawley Road
Hawley, MA 01339
Amount: $580,000
Buyer: Stephen Lee Gingras
Seller: Hai Zheng Olefsky
Date: 04/17/26

MONTAGUE

1 Burnham St.
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $399,000
Seller: 1 Burnham Street LLC
Date: 04/15/26

12 Ferry Road
Montague, MA 01351
Amount: $297,000
Buyer: Christopher R. Ewell
Seller: RMAC TR
Date: 04/14/26

NORTHFIELD

181 Main St.
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $490,000
Buyer: Richard P. Berquist
Seller: David Kelly
Date: 04/24/26

719 Mt. Hermon Station Road
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $358,000
Buyer: Yvonne Simmermacher
Seller: Arpc LLC
Date: 04/21/26

22 Old Wharf Road
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Frank Dawedeit
Seller: Frances De Luca Hadsel
Date: 04/24/26

12-A Parker Ave.
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $312,000
Buyer: Janet E. Mayhew
Seller: Daniel James O’Brien
Date: 04/22/26

ORANGE

56 Shelter St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $271,900
Buyer: Arsak Ahmad
Seller: Athol Realty Investors LLC
Date: 04/22/26

222 West River St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Travis Flagg
Seller: Marwa Al-Rebaueei
Date: 04/16/26

313-315 Walnut Hill Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $505,000
Buyer: Kyle Nathan Burgos
Seller: Erik M. Maloney
Date: 04/16/26

SUNDERLAND

243 Amherst Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $152,000
Buyer: H2 Asset Solutions Inc.
Seller: Joanne E. Frazier
Date: 04/16/26

WARWICK

White Road
Warwick, MA 01375
Amount: $126,778
Buyer: Patricia A. Carolus
Seller: Steven & Leah Farley FT
Date: 04/15/26

172 White Road
Warwick, MA 01378
Amount: $281,200
Buyer: Robert W. Farley
Seller: Steven & Leah Farley FT
Date: 04/15/26

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

42 Anthony St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Juan C. Crespo
Seller: Luis D. Avila
Date: 04/15/26

14 Briarcliff Dr.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $440,000
Buyer: Nicholas J. Benoit
Seller: Jeffrey J. Benoit
Date: 04/15/26

157 Cambridge St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $259,000
Buyer: IM Home Improvement LLC
Seller: Wollmershauser, Joan M., (Estate)
Date: 04/24/26

12-A Castle Hills Road
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Denis W. Punch
Seller: Eric D. Peterson
Date: 04/24/26

67 Colemore St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $342,000
Buyer: Matthew Liimatainen
Seller: Sean Stevenson
Date: 04/17/26

25 Damato Way
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $711,000
Buyer: Dinesh B. Patel
Seller: Hailley K. King-Reome
Date: 04/24/26

554-556 Franklin St., Ext.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $520,000
Buyer: Zain Safdar
Seller: Amjad Real Estate LLC
Date: 04/17/26

29 Lincoln St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $271,000
Buyer: Maria Lempke
Seller: Craig M. Rovelli
Date: 04/17/26

1504-1508 Main St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Haljojo Restaurant Group LLC
Seller: Anthony R. Cirillo
Date: 04/15/26

999 North St., Ext.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Vladimir Zabedyuk
Seller: 999 North Street Ext. IRT
Date: 04/14/26

1086 North St., Ext.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Cesar Manuel Alfaro Lopez
Seller: J. A. Kratovil-Moriarty
Date: 04/23/26

384 Pine St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $441,000
Buyer: Joseph Bortolussi
Seller: David S. Walles
Date: 04/13/26

101-103 Sheri Lane
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Sadiye Yardi
Seller: Jose C. Silva
Date: 04/24/26

762 Suffield St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $283,000
Buyer: Hannah Boulais
Seller: Doreen J. Letendre
Date: 04/17/26

BRIMFIELD

11 Sturbridge Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Hitchcock Free Academy
Seller: Hopkins, James J., (Estate)
Date: 04/16/26

381 Sturbridge Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: 381 Sturbridge Road LLC
Seller: Gavin Racicot
Date: 04/17/26

CHICOPEE

107 Beauregard Ter.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Tyler Sostre
Seller: Chenevert Properties LLC
Date: 04/16/26

13 Beston St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Oscar Rivera
Seller: O. & L. LLC
Date: 04/21/26

104 Chateaugay St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $322,000
Buyer: Katelyn Amanda Bacon
Seller: Paula M. Goudreault
Date: 04/24/26

184 Chicopee St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Jacob R. Wright
Seller: Jeannette Boulerice
Date: 04/24/26

35 Dresser Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Joshua N. Menard
Seller: Rachel M. Farley
Date: 04/24/26

248 Hampden St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Joseph Melendez
Seller: Veteran Stan LLC
Date: 04/17/26

45 Hastings St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $376,000
Buyer: Cheryl Ocana
Seller: Solock, Charles H., (Estate)
Date: 04/17/26

41 Hicks St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Opendoor Property J LLC
Seller: Angelina Escudero
Date: 04/14/26

551 Lafleur Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $204,000
Buyer: N. Riley Realty LLC
Seller: Lengieza, Lorraine A., (Estate)
Date: 04/17/26

83 McKinstry Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Home Savers Group LLC
Seller: Micheal A. Parrish
Date: 04/14/26

1709 Memorial Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $281,000
Buyer: Jomyra Cruz
Seller: R. & R. Home Improvement
Date: 04/13/26

444 Montgomery St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $17,700,000
Buyer: Chicopee 444 MP Wrk7 LLC
Seller: Welltower OM Group LLC
Date: 04/24/26

88 Newell St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Mohammed Al Juboori
Seller: Sareen Properties LLC
Date: 04/16/26

24 Pendleton Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $221,892
Buyer: Movement Mortgage LLC
Seller: Antonio Diera Pitts
Date: 04/17/26

56 Percy St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Zoe T. Haas
Seller: Paul G. Black
Date: 04/21/26

505 Prospect St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $180,687
Buyer: Dreambighomes LLC
Seller: Michael A. Piedra
Date: 04/14/26

103 Royalton St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $236,121
Buyer: Campagnari Construction LLC
Seller: Campagnari Construction LLC
Date: 04/24/26

192 School St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $575,000
Buyer: A2Y Realty LLC
Seller: School Street RT
Date: 04/24/26

61 St. Jacques Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $299,000
Buyer: Nilda Izquierdo
Seller: Halifax Capital LLC
Date: 04/17/26

67 Streiber Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $525,000
Buyer: Stephanie Serrano
Seller: Daniel J. Blood
Date: 04/14/26

92 Truro St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Diane T. Kowalski
Seller: Diane T. Kowalski
Date: 04/15/26

33 Washington St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $410,000
Buyer: Rachel Mary Farley
Seller: Carolyn Roberta Johnston
Date: 04/24/26

59 West St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Phantom Holdings LLC
Seller: Bull Stack Industries LLC
Date: 04/14/26

26 Whitin Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: John Ashmore
Seller: Joseph W. Martino
Date: 04/24/26

EAST LONGMEADOW

106 Canterbury Circle
East Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $785,000
Buyer: Steven W. Longmoore
Seller: David P. Corcoran
Date: 04/24/26

16 Deerfoot Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $620,000
Buyer: Kevin Reynolds
Seller: Stephanie A. Gordon
Date: 04/16/26

66 Lee St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $699,900
Buyer: Jonathan W. Burnham
Seller: Steven M. Guay
Date: 04/22/26

82 Lee St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $575,000
Buyer: Georgina J. Hatch
Seller: Jonathan W. Burnham
Date: 04/22/26

44 Lynwood Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Phantom Holdings LLC
Seller: Palmer, Beverly E., (Estate)
Date: 04/22/26

HAMPDEN

261 Chapin Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $430,000
Buyer: Michael J. McLaughlin
Seller: Ian Edwards
Date: 04/15/26

175 Scantic Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $758,775
Buyer: David W. Cooley
Seller: Thomas M. Rosati
Date: 04/15/26

89 Woodland Dr.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $159,000
Buyer: Gretchen E. Caputo
Seller: Lewis G. Caputo
Date: 04/22/26

HOLLAND

15 Cherokee Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $407,500
Buyer: Dillon Hicks
Seller: Christopher Knight
Date: 04/14/26

2 Fenton St.
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $399,900
Buyer: Matthew Archer
Seller: Dominick Philip Daponte
Date: 04/22/26

HOLYOKE

308 Apremont Highway
Holyoke, MA 01085
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Caroline J. Karadimas
Seller: Nicole M. Sealander
Date: 04/13/26

126-128 Beech St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Phantom Holdings LLC
Seller: Andrew Rohan
Date: 04/14/26

97 Elm St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $495,000
Buyer: Augusta Aghaizu-Akukwe
Seller: 97 Elm Holyoke Rental LLC
Date: 04/24/26

21 Francis Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Jessica Lynn Deyette
Seller: Jailson Varela
Date: 04/16/26

76 Maple St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $4,238,254
Buyer: Pulaski Heights Ventures LLC
Seller: Pulaski Heights Inc.
Date: 04/17/26

53 Nonotuck St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Ryland M. Wright
Seller: Karen K. Galvin
Date: 04/16/26

15-17 O’Connor Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $412,000
Buyer: Noel Enrique Agosto
Seller: Caitlin Lugo
Date: 04/22/26

54 Taylor St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $405,000
Buyer: Maria S. Velez
Seller: Post Investment LLC
Date: 04/13/26

5 Timber Lane
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Sell 2 US LLC
Seller: Jason Casella
Date: 04/21/26

50 West Glen St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Lisa Bihler Lyle
Seller: Lakeview Loan Serving LLC
Date: 04/17/26

73-75 Walnut St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $700,000
Buyer: Phantom Holdings LLC
Seller: Bull Stack Industries LLC
Date: 04/14/26

77 Walnut St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $700,000
Buyer: Phantom Holdings LLC
Seller: Bull Stack Industries LLC
Date: 04/14/26

LONGMEADOW

53 Ashford Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $835,000
Buyer: Meredith B. Hagaman
Seller: Flaherty, Michael J., (Estate)
Date: 04/17/26

45 Bellevue Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $243,000
Buyer: Malia Homebuyers LLC
Seller: Michel E. Robitaille
Date: 04/21/26

184 Cambridge Circle
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $268,000
Buyer: William T. McCarry
Seller: Ronald Johnston RET
Date: 04/23/26

60 Exeter Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $652,025
Buyer: Amanda J. Mercado
Seller: P. J. Ramaswamy RET
Date: 04/16/26

59 Lawrence Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $775,000
Buyer: George Anthony Snowling
Seller: Orange Park Mgmt. LLC
Date: 04/21/26

141 Lincoln Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: Jeffrey Verge
Seller: Victoria Ellis
Date: 04/14/26

1650 Longmeadow St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $343,000
Buyer: Halil Ibrahim Kuzu
Seller: Daniel M. Edwards
Date: 04/14/26

Mill Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Christopher Burger
Seller: Rosanna Labonte
Date: 04/14/26

28 Revere Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $605,000
Buyer: Kimberly Paluch
Seller: Kimberly Adegoke
Date: 04/21/26

70 Tennyson Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $999,000
Buyer: John Thomas Walters
Seller: Chandravathi Loke
Date: 04/14/26

LUDLOW

10 Alden St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $635,000
Buyer: George D. Roumeliotis
Seller: Dwight Manganaro
Date: 04/24/26

48 Arnold St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: G. & Amelia Decosta IRT
Seller: Pamela J. Desilets
Date: 04/24/26

25 Dale St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: Samantha Lopez
Seller: Jeffrey S. Nadeau
Date: 04/24/26

6 Harvest Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $1,115,000
Buyer: Jeremy A. Lamontagne
Seller: Ian D. Premo
Date: 04/24/26

162 Highland Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Kazimierz Borawski
Seller: Helena N. Ferreira
Date: 04/17/26

7 Oakridge St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Ricky S. Moran
Seller: 7 Oak Ridge Street RT
Date: 04/17/26

37 Turning Leaf Road, Lot 88
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: John Griffin
Seller: Nguyen Lu FT
Date: 04/17/26

209-211 Ventura St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $399,900
Buyer: Daniel B. Dinis
Seller: Armand R. Lavoie
Date: 04/17/26

MONSON

1 Cedar Swamp Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $346,000
Buyer: Joshua T. McCarthy
Seller: Frank W. Hull
Date: 04/15/26

3 Maplelawn Dr.
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $244,500
Buyer: Cornerstone Homebuying LLC
Seller: Paul L. Bucklin
Date: 04/21/26

135 Peck Brothers Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $362,397
Buyer: Gitsit Solutions LLC
Seller: Levesque FT
Date: 04/13/26

PALMER

6 Barker St.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Joshua Jones
Seller: Timothy Marquis
Date: 04/17/26

135 Thompson St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $565,000
Buyer: Tesandra Cartagena
Seller: Stoney RT
Date: 04/14/26

RUSSELL

49 Glasgow Dr.
Russell, MA 01071
Amount: $424,900
Buyer: Daniel Hovelsrud
Seller: Barbara F. Winterson
Date: 04/16/26

SPRINGFIELD

83-85 Albert Ave.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Charlotte L. Williams
Seller: 2191 Page Blvd-83-85 Albert
Date: 04/13/26

33 Alberta St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Chenevert Properties LLC
Seller: Robert A. Arroyo
Date: 04/13/26

1962 Allen St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Alyssa O’Neill
Seller: Michael J. McLaughlin
Date: 04/15/26

622-624 Armory St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Trust Okorie
Seller: Livina Okorie
Date: 04/24/26

7 Ashbrook St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $368,000
Buyer: Clifton Roberts
Seller: Roger L. Thomas
Date: 04/17/26

914-916 Belmont Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Isaiah Williams
Seller: 716 Spring Valley LLC
Date: 04/13/26

42 Berkeley St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Springfield GA House
Seller: Novac Holdings LLC
Date: 04/24/26

13 Bither St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Sana O. Cooke
Seller: Neisha Nixon
Date: 04/23/26

51 Blake St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Nres LLC
Seller: Mason, Judy Ann, (Estate)
Date: 04/17/26

180-182 Bloomfield St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Naylor Nation Real Construction LLC
Seller: Nghe Van Ho
Date: 04/24/26

880 Boston Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $699,999
Buyer: Axis Holdings LLC
Seller: Direct Auto Realty East Inc.
Date: 04/15/26

744 Bradley Road
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Brandon Levesque
Seller: Richton & Wynne LLC
Date: 04/17/26

297 Breckwood Blvd.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Melissa A. Roman
Seller: Wicked Deals LLC
Date: 04/15/26

89 Crystal Brook Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $650,000
Buyer: David Maina
Seller: Grahams Construction Inc.
Date: 04/17/26

48-50 Dresden St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $458,000
Buyer: Rosanna Ceballo Gil
Seller: Nicki Chan Uy
Date: 04/24/26

433 Eastern Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Iglesia Bethsaida Inc. Chicopee
Seller: Temple Of Praise Ministries
Date: 04/13/26

34 Elsie St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: J. R. Hernandez-Bermudez
Seller: Senior Homebuyers LLC
Date: 04/21/26

107 Enfield St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Genesis Flores
Seller: Robert J. Lefebvre
Date: 04/17/26

49 Euclid Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: SA Banbury LLC
Seller: 49 Euclid LLC
Date: 04/17/26

23 Fairway Dr.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Amarilys Dejesus
Seller: Nicholas Benoit
Date: 04/15/26

67 Fallston St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $300,874
Buyer: David Z. Podworski
Seller: Jennica L. Halbert
Date: 04/15/26

143 Fieldston St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Jose Carrion-Martinez
Seller: Liang Chu-Lee
Date: 04/13/26

42 Florence St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $358,875
Buyer: Ana M. P. De Nunez
Seller: Angeljoy Galatians LLC
Date: 04/22/26

75 Gillette Circle
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Ryan Patrick Carmichael
Seller: Luis A. Diaz
Date: 04/23/26

18 Hillside Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $246,500
Buyer: Courtney Lemelin
Seller: Spring Park Properties Inc.
Date: 04/16/26

47 Holy Cross St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Carlos X. G. Concepcion
Seller: Kavanagh, Daniel T., (Estate)
Date: 04/21/26

89 Judson St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Sareen Properties LLC
Seller: Andrew C. Robbins
Date: 04/17/26

191 Laconia St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $303,000
Buyer: Elizabeth Abrew
Seller: Veteran Stan LLC
Date: 04/17/26

25 Laurelwood Lane
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $372,000
Buyer: Abraham Rivera Rios
Seller: Zulma E. Rivera
Date: 04/17/26

157-159 Lebanon St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $176,200
Buyer: London Realty LLC
Seller: Rosalie Sutton
Date: 04/21/26

266-268 Main St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $475,000
Buyer: A2Y Realty LLC
Seller: Main Street RT
Date: 04/24/26

121 Mallowhill Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $296,000
Buyer: Octaviana Williams
Seller: Teresa Bye Concepcion
Date: 04/24/26

49-51 Mansfield St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: Dahlia L. James
Seller: Samantha Diaz
Date: 04/17/26

43 Marmon Court
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Andrew Santana
Seller: Lori S. Armida
Date: 04/17/26

27 Montmorenci St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Luis A. Alvarado
Seller: Eulalia Alvarado
Date: 04/23/26

21 Mountainview St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $434,900
Buyer: Shakurah Abdul Raheem
Seller: Aad LLC
Date: 04/23/26

57 Narragansett St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $504,900
Buyer: Thayris Savinon
Seller: Gilberto Montano
Date: 04/24/26

15-17 Nye St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Cmj3 Dream Houses LLC
Seller: Senior Homebuyers LLC
Date: 04/24/26

15-17 Nye St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Senior Homebuyers LLC
Seller: Victor Sanchez
Date: 04/24/26

340 Oak St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Wellspring Coop Corp.
Seller: Greater New Life Christian Church
Date: 04/24/26

83 Oakdale St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Joseph Ryan Fearn
Seller: Jose L. Ortiz
Date: 04/22/26

96-98 Orange St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: Benjamin Dreyer
Seller: Juan A. Ortiz
Date: 04/24/26

195-197 Orange St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $420,000
Buyer: Angel Roa
Seller: Luis A. Lopez
Date: 04/24/26

52 Osgood St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Wilberth Rivera Rios
Seller: Linda Anthony
Date: 04/17/26

1128 Page Blvd.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Nicole M. Santos
Seller: Juan Acevedo Vargas
Date: 04/24/26

27 Parallel St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Jennifer Robblets
Seller: Emtay Inc.
Date: 04/17/26

509 Plumtree Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Janequa Davis
Seller: Dominic J. Savio
Date: 04/15/26

236 Pondview Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $435,000
Buyer: Jessica Rogers
Seller: Vegiard LLC
Date: 04/23/26

100 Progress Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $1,600,000
Buyer: Hann Realty Berkshire LLC
Seller: Progress Realty LLC
Date: 04/13/26

32 Sargon St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: MMM Home Buyers LLC
Seller: Mark C. Bousquet
Date: 04/22/26

831 South Branch Pkwy.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Victor L. Adaji
Seller: John O. Hayden
Date: 04/17/26

150 Seymour Ave.
Springfield, MA 01101
Amount: $434,000
Buyer: Winyon Nunez Diaz
Seller: Henderson Investments LLC
Date: 04/16/26

169 Slater Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $192,500
Buyer: Sareen Properties LLC
Seller: Ryan, Jean B., (Estate)
Date: 04/17/26

140 Slumber Lane
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Tammy J. Breton
Seller: Steven Al-Husseini
Date: 04/17/26

130 Spear Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Shauna Charette
Seller: Stephanie Serrano
Date: 04/14/26

35 Spruceland Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $555,000
Buyer: Keisha Green
Seller: Emily Le
Date: 04/16/26

148-150 Stafford St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Juan C. B. Rodriguez
Seller: Maria Isabel Rodriguez
Date: 04/17/26

46-48 Suffolk St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $455,000
Buyer: Agapito Lopez
Seller: Veteran Stan LLC
Date: 04/13/26

51-53 Suffolk St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Joseph Santaniello
Seller: Naples Home Buyers Inc.
Date: 04/15/26

135-137 Suffolk St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: Bridget Lorraine Pollard
Seller: Annette B. Eatmon
Date: 04/13/26

301 Tinkham Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: International Faith Out Reach Ministry
Seller: Michele Ellis
Date: 04/17/26

9 Utica St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $269,900
Buyer: Troy Doming
Seller: Henry E. Alvarado
Date: 04/17/26

31 Washburn St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $308,000
Buyer: Rajan Shrestha
Seller: Jovanny Cartagena
Date: 04/13/26

62 Washburn St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $467,000
Buyer: Jhimly Bienvenu
Seller: Claire Carter
Date: 04/17/26

365-367 Water St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $395,000
Buyer: Jordyn Newsome
Seller: Home Dreams LLC
Date: 04/23/26

23 Westernview St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: David Calhoun
Seller: Joseph F. Otero
Date: 04/24/26

15 Whipple St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $750,000
Buyer: Jafham LLC
Seller: Ddmns Realty LLC
Date: 04/22/26

624 Worthington St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $160,100
Buyer: Moriah L. Taylor
Seller: Robin L. Jones
Date: 04/14/26

SOUTHWICK

814 College Highway
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Mazal Real Estate LLC
Seller: Guarco Sr., Michael B., (Estate)
Date: 04/17/26

240 Hillside Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $730,000
Buyer: Aleksandr Ptselnikov
Seller: Brandon M. Clonch
Date: 04/16/26

7 Pineywood Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $274,018
Buyer: Christopher Foley
Seller: James Foley
Date: 04/17/26

WALES

6 Haynes Hill Road
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: Jacob Lafreniere
Seller: Naples Home Buyers Inc.
Date: 04/17/26

2 Woodland Heights
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $405,000
Buyer: Timothy Jones
Seller: Sean Valley
Date: 04/22/26

WESTFIELD

30 Deepwoods Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $466,000
Buyer: Jeffrey M. Mitchell
Seller: Connor Costello
Date: 04/23/26

14 Loring Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Bryant Keeney
Seller: Matthew Keeney
Date: 04/17/26

10 Marla Circle
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $625,000
Buyer: Branden Labrie
Seller: No Limit Assets LLC
Date: 04/21/26

42 Putnam Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Victor Harti
Seller: Keith R. Dearellano
Date: 04/13/26

74 South Maple St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Fitzgerald Home Solutions LLC
Seller: James P. Smith
Date: 04/15/26

1057 Shaker Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: James Fitzsimmons
Seller: 2026 Shaker Road IRT
Date: 04/16/26

WILBRAHAM

745 Glendale Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $700,000
Buyer: Brian J. Lawler
Seller: Dwayne T. Lipinski
Date: 04/16/26

1070 Glendale Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $625,000
Buyer: Matthew T. O’Neil
Seller: Vickey, Barbara A., (Estate)
Date: 04/24/26

172 Main St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Andrew Carlson
Seller: Phyllis C. Ervin LT
Date: 04/24/26

34-36 Maple St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $758,000
Buyer: Debra L. Szostkiewicz
Seller: Anthony C. Scibelli
Date: 04/17/26

3 Mohawk St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $975,000
Buyer: Anand D. Patel
Seller: Christopher Nascembini
Date: 04/14/26

19 Westernview Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $690,000
Buyer: Lisae RT
Seller: 19 Westernview RT
Date: 04/22/26

WEST SPRINGFIELD

86 Albert St.
West Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $269,900
Buyer: Emily Ciccolo
Seller: Tanya L. Samson
Date: 04/22/26

841 Amostown Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $298,600
Buyer: Joshua O’Brien
Seller: Geren, James Ginty, (Estate)
Date: 04/15/26

59 Day St.
West Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Vladislav Tsvor
Seller: Andrii Tverdokhlib
Date: 04/24/26

1422 Elm St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $1,500,000
Buyer: Ejl Realty LLC
Date: 04/24/26

66 Grandview Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Springfield Country Club LLC
Seller: Lets Rendezvous LLC
Date: 04/21/26

44 Lennys Way
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $700,000
Buyer: Angelino Placanico
Seller: Rusiecki FT
Date: 04/23/26

791 Morgan Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Ethan Schneider
Seller: Barbara J. Beckwith
Date: 04/13/26

34 Pebble Path Lane
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $412,000
Buyer: Nathan Labonte
Seller: Jessica Aliz Ortiz-Serra
Date: 04/21/26

224 Riverdale St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: O&L LLC
Seller: Petschke Jr., Charles E., (Estate)
Date: 04/24/26

31 Russell St.
West Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $410,000
Buyer: Alex O. Obutu
Seller: Tiago Moreira
Date: 04/15/26

41 West School St.
West Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: Victor Aranga
Seller: Wollen Makori
Date: 04/16/26

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

174 Lincoln Ave.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $1,200,000
Buyer: Theodore T. Allen
Seller: Alison I. Ash RET
Date: 04/16/26

132 Pondview Dr.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $417,125
Buyer: Michael Morgan
Seller: Ian C. Bearce
Date: 04/17/26

1114 South East St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $875,000
Buyer: Anthony Confrey
Seller: Johnson FT
Date: 04/16/26

12 Teawaddle Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $950,000
Buyer: Sean Byrnes
Seller: Thomas I. White
Date: 04/15/26

BELCHERTOWN

100 Bardwell St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $428,000
Buyer: Michael J. McDonald
Seller: David Joseph Kreps
Date: 04/13/26

29 Chestnut Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $547,000
Buyer: Joseph Cebula
Seller: Wicked Deals LLC
Date: 04/14/26

103 Daniel Shays Hwy.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $475,000
Buyer: Rachel M. Powers
Seller: Lisa Zahn
Date: 04/16/26

600 N. Washington St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $428,000
Buyer: David J. Kreps
Seller: Michael J. McDonald
Date: 04/13/26

EASTHAMPTON

19 Florence Road
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Heather Marie Dameworth
Seller: Carolyn J. Orlick
Date: 04/24/26

4 Gaugh St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Borg Johnson RET
Seller: Budlia LLC
Date: 04/17/26

18-20 Oakdale Place
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Hopkins Investments LLC
Seller: Matthew J. Clark
Date: 04/16/26

29 Sandra Road
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $479,000
Buyer: James Danglade
Seller: Michael J. Natale
Date: 04/14/26

7 Union Court
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $440,000
Buyer: Emily Merriman
Seller: Colin J. Hoyt
Date: 04/16/26

GOSHEN

12 Pine Road
Goshen, MA 01096
Amount: $469,900
Buyer: Michael T. Bender
Seller: Charles E. Amo
Date: 04/16/26

GRANBY

559 East State St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $592,000
Buyer: Maria C. Harris
Seller: Andrew D. Asselin
Date: 04/16/26

6 Jennifer Dr.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $420,000
Buyer: Maxim Tishchenko
Seller: Keith L. Sbriscia
Date: 04/24/26

HADLEY

8 Aloha Dr.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $727,000
Buyer: Andrew Hume Lind
Seller: Paul A. Kelley
Date: 04/17/26

83 Bay Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $749,000
Buyer: Peter J. Anzalone
Seller: Irene M. Rule RET
Date: 04/17/26

14 Hawley Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $440,000
Buyer: Anne Marie Cardin
Seller: Deborah Levenson
Date: 04/21/26

84 Russell St.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $537,500
Buyer: Robert Reinstadler
Seller: Pioneer Valley Rental Mgmt. LLC
Date: 04/22/26

11 West St.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $900,000
Buyer: Irene M. Rule
Seller: Marshall M. Steinbeck
Date: 04/17/26

HATFIELD

70 North St.
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $379,000
Buyer: Matthew Przybyszewski
Seller: Wilma F. Davis
Date: 04/13/26

59 North Hatfield Road
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $349,000
Buyer: Dante J. Vautrain
Seller: Hebert, Robert, (Estate)
Date: 04/24/26

HUNTINGTON

46 Bromley Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Jameson L. Leveille
Seller: Kazimierczak, Casimir
R., (Estate)
Date: 04/17/26

16 Knightville Dam Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Camdace A. Thayer
Seller: Mechanic Man LLC
Date: 04/23/26

NORTHAMPTON

815 Burts Pit Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $675,000
Buyer: Ceili Brennan
Seller: Sunwood Development Corp.
Date: 04/15/26

72 Emerson Way
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $970,000
Buyer: Tink Bess
Seller: Daniel J. Barrett
Date: 04/17/26

589 Florence Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $590,000
Buyer: Elizabeth A. Bouyea
Seller: Sam Pranger Silvaine
Date: 04/17/26

29 Ford Xing
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $925,000
Buyer: 29 Ford Crossing TR
Seller: Ulsh Ft
Date: 04/24/26

21 Locust St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $599,900
Buyer: Jahjan LLC
Seller: Westgate LLC
Date: 04/16/26

158 Main St.
Northampton, MA 01053
Amount: $287,500
Buyer: Eleanor Lee Troske
Seller: Duggan, Edward John, (Estate)
Date: 04/16/26

56 Mulberry St.
Northampton, MA 01053
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Mass Postal Holdings LLC
Seller: Huntley RT
Date: 04/21/26

195 Riverside Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $395,000
Buyer: Baz-4 Properties LLC
Seller: Christa Grenat
Date: 04/17/26

44 Sheffield Lane
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $953,000
Buyer: Mina TR
Seller: J. Riley Caldwell-Okeefe
Date: 04/17/26

PELHAM

16 North Valley Road
Pelham, MA 01002
Amount: $870,000
Buyer: Sally L. Taylor
Seller: Patricia Schumm
Date: 04/16/26

197-199 North Valley Road
Pelham, MA 01002
Amount: $445,000
Buyer: Jaime Pinero
Seller: Charles C. Walker
Date: 04/16/26

224 North Valley Road
Pelham, MA 01002
Amount: $648,000
Buyer: William Dunn
Seller: David L. Bosch
Date: 04/24/26

SOUTH HADLEY

573 Granby Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $13,100,000
Buyer: 573 Granby Road LLC
Seller: South Hadley Property Holding LLC
Date: 04/17/26

16 Grant St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $317,500
Buyer: Bernash Realty LLC
Seller: Ja Pro LLC
Date: 04/24/26

20 Hollywood St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Brittany N. Fernandes
Seller: Cynthia J. Charette
Date: 04/23/26

9 Lexington St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $318,000
Buyer: Chelsea Quinn Vigue
Seller: Anna Jane Rayno-Quirk
Date: 04/24/26

596 Newton St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Donald Wilkins
Seller: Jennifer Thantoni
Date: 04/24/26

44 San Souci Dr.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $711,989
Buyer: Leslie L. Kastrop
Seller: Matthew G. Lavallee
Date: 04/24/26

25 Woodbridge Ter.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $685,000
Buyer: Brenda M. Parrella
Seller: Julianne Roberts
Date: 04/24/26

SOUTHAMPTON

2 Geryk Court
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Frederickie A. Rizos
Seller: Antonios Rizos
Date: 04/24/26

12 Golden Circle
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $705,000
Buyer: Jessica Rohan
Seller: Anthony J. Lavinio
Date: 04/15/26

6 Madison Ave.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $600,000
Buyer: Jeffrey M. Rox
Seller: Marin E. Turner
Date: 04/22/26

WARE

375 Belchertown Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Gavin Racicot
Seller: Motyka, Ann M., (Estate)
Date: 04/17/26

24 Clinton St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $410,000
Buyer: Daniel Allen
Seller: Jessie Rivera
Date: 04/21/26

254 Greenwich Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Luke Wilson
Seller: Jeffrey S. Choiniere
Date: 04/15/26

4 School St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Network Realty Partners LLC
Seller: Wicked Deals LLC
Date: 04/16/26

WESTHAMPTON

221 Northwest Road
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $440,000
Buyer: Keith A. Desjardins
Seller: Scott W. Johnson
Date: 04/17/26

Picture This

By
Picture This

Kentucky Derby Party

On May 2, the Armory at MGM Springfield was the setting for hats, horses, and hors d’oeuvres to celebrate the 151st annual Kentucky Derby. The sold-out event raised much-needed funds for Square One’s programs and services. Since 2016, this annual event has become a signature fundraiser for Square One. Decked out in their derby best, about 250 guests watched the race on a giant screen, while enjoying traditional mint juleps and participating in raffles and a silent auction.
(Photos by Chris Marion Photography)

Launching Tech Careers

Tech Foundry, the regional leader in IT workforce development and training, was recently awarded $10,000 by the Liberty Bank Foundation to support its flagship Tech Launch program, which includes 14 weeks of classroom instruction followed by a four-week internship that empowers individuals with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the tech industry. On May 6, Liberty Bank First Vice President and Senior Relationship Manager Jeffrey Sattler and Community Outreach Officer and Tech Foundry board member Dawn Creighton (pictured at right and left of check) presented the donation to Tech Foundry CEO Tricia Canavan (center), who was accompanied by several Tech Foundry staff members and Tech Launch students.

New Space, New Chapter

On April 30, the Applied Mortgage Team of HMA Mortgage opened the doors to its new space at 15 College Highway, Unit A, Southampton. The community was invited to attend an open house and ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate this new chapter. The first-floor space offers improved accessibility, greater visibility, and a more open environment, while also allowing the team to host educational workshops, community events, and industry gatherings, further strengthening its role as a local resource and connector. Pictured: Lindsay Barron LaBonte (center), branch manager and senior loan officer, cuts the ribbon to signify the opening of the new office.

Inclusive Postsecondary Education Day

Westfield State University joined educators, students, and advocates at the Massachusetts State House to mark a historic milestone in inclusive higher education: the Commonwealth’s first official proclamation designating May 1 as Inclusive Postsecondary Education (IPSE) Day. The proclamation formally recognizes the importance of expanding access to higher education opportunities for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities across Massachusetts. Pictured: Westfield State students (from left) Mikey Osowiecki, Julia Bardakova, Katelyn Flaherty, and Joseph Drake meet with state Rep. Sean Garballey (center) for a tour of the State House.

Supporting the Gray House

Earlier this spring, the Gray House of Springfield received a $1,738.50 donation from the Advanced Public Relations class in Westfield State University’s Communication Department. Through their coursework, students enthusiastically developed and executed a campaign that raised both awareness and critical funds for the Gray House. This class has now raised more than $20,000 for local nonprofits over the past years. Pictured: the students with Gray House Executive Director Isabella Brady-Prankus (fifth from right) and Professor Suzanne Boniface (third from right).

 

Agenda

By
Agenda

Age of Excellence Award Nominations

Through June 14: Celebrating achievement, purpose, and possibility at every stage of life, Glenmeadow announced the opening of nominations for the Age of Excellence Awards: Celebrating Success Over 60 — now entering its third year of honoring remarkable community members. Building on the success of the past two years, this signature event continues to spotlight older adults whose lives reflect vitality, resilience, and meaningful contribution. The Age of Excellence Awards honor individuals age 60 and above who are making significant contributions in a wide range of pursuits. It may be through innovative career achievements, active community involvement, ongoing personal development, or outstanding commitment to others. Nominations may be submitted online at glenmeadow.org. Paper copy nomination forms are available at Glenmeadow’s concierge desk, or a PDF may be downloaded from the event page and mailed to: Age of Excellence Awards, 24 Tabor Crossing, Longmeadow, MA 01106. A distinguished panel of community leaders will thoughtfully review all submissions and select this year’s honorees. Award recipients will be celebrated during an inspiring ceremony on Wednesday, Sept. 2 at Twin Hills Country Club.

Financial Workshops

May 26-28: Greylock Federal Credit Union is offering three workshops to help the community better understand ways to prevent becoming the victim of a financial fraud or scam. “Frauds & Scams” will be offered in person on three different dates: Tuesday, May 26 at 2 p.m. at Becket Town Hall, 557 Main St; Wednesday, May 27 at 1:30 p.m. at the Guthrie Center, 2 Van Deusenville Road, Great Barrington; and Thursday, May 28 at 1 p.m. at Washington Town Hall, 8 Summit Hill Road. These workshops will host a discussion and include specific examples of frauds and scams, along with helpful tips to protect oneself and one’s finances online. For more information about these and other workshops and to register, visit www.greylock.org/cec.

Photographic Exhibit

May 28 to Sept. 5: A photographic exhibit highlighting Adams’ industrial heritage is coming to the Adams Theater lobby from May 28 to Sept. 5, with an opening reception on Thursday, May 28 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., which is free and open to the public. The show, titled “Up Close at the Limestone Plant: Industrial Photography in Adams, MA,” features fine art photography by Thaddeus Kubis and a 1990 archival series by photographer Stephen Szoradi, both chronicling the history and legacy of the Specialty Minerals Inc. (SMI) plant and limestone quarry, which has operated in Adams since 1848. Adams Theater collaborated with SMI to present this powerful look at the industrial history of Adams and the people behind it. SMI has employed generations of local residents and contributed significantly to the regional economy, but its commercial activities sometimes overshadow the steady beauty of the plant and quarry. Inspired Charles Sheeler’s photographs of Ford’s River Rouge plant, Kubis’s work conveys the contrast between the complexity of modern industrial operations and the stark elegance of the site’s natural and manmade structures. Also on display are a series of photographs and texts compiled in 1990 by Szoradi, who profiled past SMI employees who had already retired by 1990. For more information, visit www.adamstheater.org/events.

Happiness Festival Fundraiser 

May 30: Happier Valley Comedy in Hadley will present its Happiness Festival Fundraiser, a day-long celebration of local improv talent at Happier Valley Comedy, starting at 12:30 p.m. with the Happier Family Comedy Show, a family-friendly improv show for kids ages 5-13 and their grown-ups. Then, for adult-friendly fun throughout the day, the theater will showcase nine improv shows featuring popular independent teams. Closing out the festival at 8 p.m. will be a special performance from fan favorites the Understudies, who will perform a fully improvised musical. Festival attendees are invited to build their own festival as tickets will be sold individually for each of five show blocks. Attendees can come for a specific hour or stay until the festivities end after the raffle drawing at 9:30 p.m. All ticket holders also are invited to play improv games in the 6 p.m. open jam and purchase raffle tickets for exclusive night-out packages featuring local favorites like Amherst Cinema, Protocol, Herrell’s, High Brow, Cedar Chest, Stay Golden, the Springfield Symphony, and more. Tickets for shows and raffles, as well as a full schedule of the day’s events, are available at happiervalley.com. All proceeds from the Happiness Festival Fundraiser go toward Happier Valley Comedy’s 2026 fundraising goal.

Forest Park Zoo Wine Safari

May 30: The Zoo in Forest Park invites everyone on a trip around the world at its Wine Safari fundraiser from 2 to 6 p.m. Wine Safari pairs wine from different countries with an animal from the same region, allowing guests to sample wines and meet wildlife from destinations near and far — without the cost of airfare. The Zoo has partnered with MGM Springfield’s Food and Beverage team and the Culinary Arts program at Lower Pioneer Valley Career Technical Education Center (CTEC). The $55 ticket includes wine samples from 2 to 6 p.m. (while supplies last), charcuterie, small bites and desserts, and animal encounters and keeper talks from members of the Zoo’s animal care and education teams. This event is restricted to adults age 21 and older, and a pre-purchased ticket is required to attend. All IDs will be checked at the door. Tickets are limited and are on sale now at www.forestparkzoo.org/wine-safari. The Zoo will be open to the general public prior to the event on May 30 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., but will close to the general public at 1 p.m. to allow staff to prepare for Wine Safari.

Step into Summer Walk, Run, or Roll

June 1-7: Access Care Partners is encouraging community members to “move with purpose” by participating in its upcoming Step into Summer Virtual Walk, Run, or Roll. This flexible, inclusive event invites participants of all abilities to complete a 5K (approximately three miles) or engage in one hour of movement during the week — whether that’s walking, running, rolling, biking, dancing, or any activity that gets them moving. Participants can take part anywhere, from their neighborhood or a local trail to their own living room, and complete the challenge all at once or spread it out over the week. All proceeds from the event will go directly to Access Care Partners programs, which support older adults and individuals with disabilities throughout the community. Registration costs $25, which is applied towards the fundraising goals of participants, who are encouraged to invite friends and family to support their efforts through pledges or donations. Those who raise at least $100 will receive a thank-you gift. Visit givebutter.com/stepintosummer/join to register or learn more.

BFAIR in Bloom

June 4: BFAIR will hold its annual signature fundraising event, BFAIR in Bloom – Growing Opportunities for People with Disabilities, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Proprietor’s Lodge in Pittsfield. This garden party-themed evening serves as BFAIR’s primary fundraising initiative of the year, bringing together community members, local businesses, and supporters for a night of connection, celebration, and impact. Guests will enjoy curated tastings of beer, wine, and spirits from local vendors, paired with thoughtfully selected food, live music, raffles, and engaging fundraising activities. Funds raised from BFAIR in Bloom directly support BFAIR’s programs and services for adults with developmental disabilities and acquired brain injuries throughout Western Mass. These services include residential supports, employment opportunities, day programs, and family resources that empower individuals to lead fulfilling and independent lives. Community members and businesses are encouraged to attend, sponsor, or contribute to this impactful evening. Visit www.bfair.org/signature-event—bfair-in-bloom for tickets, sponsorship opportunities, or more information.

Edith Wharton Summit

June 4-6: The Mount, Edith Wharton Cultural Center will host the 2026 Edith Wharton Summit, bringing together leading scholars, cultural historians, writers, and Wharton enthusiasts from around the world for three days of inquiry, dialogue, and immersive programming. Held at the Mount — Wharton’s historic estate in Lenox — the summit will examine the enduring relevance of her life and work in a rapidly changing world. Guided by the question, ‘what is Edith Wharton’s relevance today?’ the gathering explores the contemporary resonance of Wharton’s writing, including her prescient observations on social upheaval and cultural transformation. The 2026 summit is supported by academic advisors Emily Orlando of Fairfield University and Laura Rattray of the University of Glasgow, and will celebrate a decade of scholarship published since the last major Wharton gathering in Washington, D.C. in 2016. Programming will feature new research and emerging perspectives from scholars across multiple disciplines, including literature, gender studies, art history, architecture, media studies, international development, and the humanities. Over the course of three days, participants will experience behind-the-scenes tours of Wharton’s home and library, guided explorations of Lenox and the surrounding region, readings, lectures, and panel discussions across the Mount’s historic interiors, Stable Auditorium, and gardens. Social gatherings, curated conversations, and intimate access to Wharton’s personal library and archives will deepen engagement with Wharton’s legacy and her continuing influence on literature and culture. The full program schedule and event details are available at edithwharton.org/2026-edith-wharton-summit.

Junior Achievement Golf Tournament

June 5: Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts (JAWM) will host its 28th annual golf tournament at Crumpin-Fox Golf Club in Bernardston, inviting community members and business leaders to enjoy a day of golf while supporting programs that empower local youth. The event begins with registration at 8 a.m., followed by a 10 a.m. shotgun start. The tournament offers participants a top-tier golfer package in support of JAWM’s mission to prepare young people for success in work and life. Proceeds from the tournament directly fund JAWM learning experiences provided to students ages 5-25 throughout Western Mass. and beyond. These programs focus on financial literacy, career readiness, and entrepreneurship, equipping students with the skills and confidence they need to thrive. Sponsorship opportunities are available for businesses and individuals looking to support JAWM’s mission while gaining visibility at a well-attended community event. To register or learn more about sponsorship opportunities, email Amie Miarecki at [email protected].

Western Mass. Baseball Hall of Fame Induction

June 5: The Western Massachusetts Baseball Hall of Fame committee announced six members of its 2026 induction class. This year’s inductees include Chad Paronto, former UMass Amherst and Major League Baseball pitcher with 177 MLB appearances; Bill L’Heureux, honored for his umpiring career spanning decades in Western Mass. and across America; Bob Bohl, a longtime figure in the baseball community in Ludlow and across the region, recognized for his influence and service to the sport; 2010 Amherst High School baseball team, celebrated for their Division 1 state championship season; Steve McKelvey, MLB agent and UMass Amherst professor, honored for his longtime service to the baseball community and contribution to the sports management profession; and Howard Herman (Gary Brown Award for Sports Media), a respected voice in sports journalism in Western Mass., whose coverage has elevated local baseball for decades. The induction banquet will take place at 6 p.m. at Wyckoff Country Club in Holyoke. The evening will feature dinner, recognition ceremonies, and reflections on the careers and accomplishments of this year’s honorees. The evening is presented by the Valley Blue Sox and its presenting sponsor, Westfield Bank. Tickets can be purchased online at www.valleybluesox.com.

Whip City Brewfest

June 6: The eighth annual Whip City Brewfest will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. at 12 Central St. in downtown Westfield. All proceeds from the event, featuring beer tastings from 30 craft breweries, will help Amelia Park Children’s Museum operate and maintain its facilities while continuing to bring fresh exhibits and programs to area children. In addition to unlimited beer tastings, the Brewfest will feature vendors, food trucks, live music, raffles, and more. Food trucks will include Macken’s Specialty Sliders, and North Elm Butcher Block. Skyline Beer Co. will offere its popular pretzels. Bands scheduled to perform are the Attik Band, Axis, and Whiskey Traveler. Tin Bridge Brewing Co. is the headline sponsor. Tickets are available in advance at whipcitybrewfest.com. General admission tickets cost $45 in advance, $50 at the door, for admission from 1 to 5 p.m. Special VIP early admission tickets, available only in advance, cost $55. VIP ticket holders will be admitted one hour early at noon and will receive an exclusive VIP goodie bag. The Brewfest is a 21 and older event. The first 500 guests will receive a commemorative tasting glass.

40 Under Forty

June 11: BusinessWest will celebrate the 20th annual class of its 40 Under Forty awards, the region’s most prestigious recognition program honoring outstanding young professionals who are shaping the future of Western Massachusetts. This year’s honorees are profiled in the April 27 issue of BusinessWest and at businesswest.com. The awards gala will take place at 5 p.m. at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, at which time this year’s 40 honorees will be celebrated, and the Alumni Achievement Award (AAA) winner will be revealed (see finalist profiles starting on page 14). Tickets cost $140 per person, and tables of 10 are available; reserve a spot at businesswest.com/40-under-forty. The 20th annual 40 Under Forty program is presented by PeoplesBank and sponsored by the Dowd Agencies, Mercedes-Benz of Springfield, and the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst. The AAA program is sponsored by Baystate Health/Health New England.

Community Shred Day

June 13: Monson Savings Bank invites the community to take an important step toward protecting their personal information by attending its free Community Shred Day from 9 a.m. to noon. at the bank’s 146 Main St., Monson branch. This annual event provides a convenient and secure way for residents to safely dispose of sensitive documents. Monson Savings Bank is once again partnering with PROSHRED of Wilbraham, a trusted professional shredding service, to ensure all materials are destroyed securely and on site. Community members are encouraged to bring documents that contain personal or financial information, including old tax returns, bank and credit card statements, medical records, bills, and other confidential materials. The event is open to everyone, regardless of whether they are a Monson Savings Bank customer.

STCC’s College for Kids

June 22 to Aug. 14: Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) announced the return of College for Kids, a summer program offering engaging, week-long academic experiences for students ages 11 to 16. College for Kids provides hands-on enrichment opportunities in science, technology, engineering, arts, business, and leadership, all within a supportive college campus environment. Programs run Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Organized by STCC’s Division of Workforce Development, the program introduces students to college-level subjects while encouraging creativity, critical thinking, and skill development. Visit the College for Kids page on at stcc.io/cfk to view the full schedule and course descriptions, and complete the registration. Tuition costs $260 per week.

‘Unlock the Potential of Your Property’

June 23: An informative seminar, “Unlock the Potential of Your Property with ADUs,” will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Lattitude Restaurant, located at 1338 Memorial Ave., West Springfield. The event is hosted by the Realtor Assoc. of Pioneer Valley. The seminar will focus on how accessory dwelling units (ADUs) can fit into one’s future plans, generate rental income, and provide flexible living space. Topics include zoning regulations, financing options, and design considerations. Expert presenters include attorney Christine Webster, Rana Morton of Goosehead Insurance, Tim Riley of Back Yard ADUs, and Oneida Fuentes of MassHousing. The seminar is open to the public but limited to 100 attendees. Complimentary appetizers will be served. The event is sponsored by Country Bank and PeoplesBank. To register, RAPV members can sign up online at rapv.com/membership/member-portal. Non-members can contact Laura Herring at [email protected] or (413) 785-1328.

Monson Savings Bank’s Dan Moriarty Elected to MBA Board of Directors

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MONSON — Dan Moriarty, Monson Savings Bank president and CEO, was elected to the 20-member board of directors of the Massachusetts Bankers Assoc. (MBA) at its annual meeting in May. Founded in 1905, the MBA is the only association representing FDIC-insured community, regional, and nationwide banks serving consumer and business clients across the Commonwealth.

“In today’s rapidly evolving banking environment, the voice and expertise of leaders like Dan Moriarty are invaluable,” MBA President and CEO Kathleen Murphy said. “Their leadership enhances our ability to advance key priorities, deliver high-impact resources, and serve as a strong advocate for our members. With their insight, we are well-positioned to anticipate industry shifts and support institutions serving diverse communities across Massachusetts.”

Added Moriarty, “I am honored to be elected to the board of directors of the Massachusetts Bankers Association, an organization that has played a vital role in supporting and advancing the banking industry for more than 120 years. At Monson Savings Bank, our mission is rooted in strengthening the financial well-being of our customers and communities. Serving on the MBA board provides an opportunity to share that perspective, contribute to meaningful industry dialogue, and help ensure that community-focused banking continues to thrive across the Commonwealth. I look forward to collaborating with fellow board members to advocate for policies and innovations that support sustainable growth and expand access to financial services for all.”

AIC Introduces Degrees in Fire Science, Public Administration

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SPRINGFIELD — American International College (AIC) has introduced new programs focused on preparing the next generation of public service leaders, including undergraduate degrees in fire science and emergency services and a fully online master of public administration (MPA).

Offered through the School of Business, Arts, and Sciences, the bachelor of science in fire science and emergency services blends science, strategy, and service through coursework that integrates fire behavior and protection systems with training in leadership, administration, and community risk reduction. The program also offers an associate of science degree option.

“Today’s emergency services leaders need more than courage,” said Michael Stevens, coordinator of Criminal Justice Degree Completion. “They need a deep understanding of hazardous materials, incident command, community risk reduction, and emergency management skills that matter when every second counts. That’s exactly what students will gain in our undergraduate program.”

Complementing these offerings, AIC’s master of public administration program prepares professionals to lead across government, nonprofit, public safety, education, and healthcare sectors. Delivered fully online in an accelerated format, the program emphasizes strategic management, data-informed decision making, ethical leadership, and effective communication.

Together, these programs open doors to careers in public service for students at all stages, from those beginning their journey to professionals ready to take the next step.

“Our MPA program equips students with the practical skills and ethical leadership needed to meet growing workforce demand in public service while reinforcing AIC’s commitment to strengthening the communities our graduates will serve,” said Susanne Swanker, dean of the School of Business, Arts, and Sciences.

The fire science and emergency services programs align with the Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education model developed by the U.S. Fire Administration and prepare graduates for careers in fire service, inspection, investigation, emergency planning, and disaster response. Bachelor’s degree graduates are also positioned for supervisory and administrative roles.

The MPA program offers concentrations in fire science and emergency services, emergency management, and criminal justice leadership and administration, allowing students to tailor their studies to specific areas of public service.

The fire science and emergency services programs will be offered on campus, with online options available through AIC’s Online Degree Completion program. Students may enroll in the fully online MPA program on a rolling basis through seven-week modules, with the next session beginning July 5.

For more information about these programs, visit www.aic.edu or contact the AIC Admissions team at (413) 205-3201 or [email protected].

Country Bank Pledges $100,000 to Support YWCA of Western Massachusetts

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WARE — Country Bank announced a $100,000 pledge in support of the YWCA of Western Massachusetts and its comprehensive, $7.5 million “Shifting the Paradigm” campaign, an initiative focused on expanding violence prevention programs, supporting survivors, and strengthening critical services across the region.

Dawn Fleury, chief risk officer at Country Bank, has also been appointed to the YWCA’s board of directors. “I am deeply passionate about ensuring women and children have access to the support and resources they need during times of crisis and am honored to serve on the board at YWCA,” she said.

The campaign will help expand the YWCA’s Children Who Witness Violence and Healthy & Empowering Relationship Education programs, while also supporting residential program renovations and increasing reserve funding needed to sustain long-term impact. These programs provide therapy and support services for children ages 3 to 18 who have witnessed or experienced violence, and educate middle- and high-school students on human trafficking prevention, bystander intervention, and healthy relationship dynamics.

“Country Bank, under the outstanding and visionary leadership of its president and CEO, Mary C. McGovern, is a true community partner,” said Elizabeth Dineen, YWCA CEO. “The YWCA of Western Massachusetts is deeply grateful for Country Bank’s overwhelming generosity and terrific financial support. Country Bank’s wonderful donation of $100,000 to the YWCA’s capital campaign is much appreciated and will be used to assist survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, human trafficking, and homelessness, as well as their children.”

The YWCA’s campaign comes at a critical time as organizations nationwide continue to face increased demand for services alongside funding challenges. Philanthropic support from partners like Country Bank will help offset reductions in federal funding and ensure continued access to life-changing programs and resources.

“As a community bank, we are committed to making a meaningful difference in the communities we serve by prioritizing philanthropic investments in humanitarian efforts,” McGovern said. “Supporting organizations like the YWCA of Western Massachusetts reflects our belief that strong communities are built by uplifting individuals and families facing significant challenges. We are proud to support the ‘Shifting the Paradigm’ campaign and help ensure critical services continue to reach those who need them most.”

bankESB to Host Free Shred Day on June 13

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EASTHAMPTON — bankESB invites customers and members of the community to a free Shred Day on Saturday, June 13 at the bank’s Easthampton office, located at 241 Northampton St.

Local residents can reduce their risk of identity theft by bringing old mail, receipts, statements and bills, canceled checks, pay stubs, medical records, or any other unwanted paper documents containing personal or confidential information, and shredding them safely and securely for free. Valley Green Shredding, a professional document destruction company, will be on site in the bank’s parking lot and can accept up to two boxes of documents per car. No appointment is necessary.

MorningBird Media to Host Grand Opening, Ribbon Cutting Today

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SPRINGFIELD — MorningBird Media, a woman-owned digital marketing agency based in downtown Springfield, will host its official grand opening celebration today, May 21, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Marketplace Building, 1365 Main St., Suite 240, Springfield.

The event will bring together local business leaders, elected officials, creatives, entrepreneurs, and community members for an evening focused on networking, collaboration, and celebrating continued investment in downtown Springfield.

The evening will feature a complimentary headshot clinic from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. followed by an official ribbon cutting at 6 p.m. with local dignitaries and the MorningBird Media team presented by the West of the River Chamber of Commerce and Executive Director Robin Francis.

The event will also showcase several local and women-owned businesses operating within and alongside the Marketplace Building, emphasizing the collaborative spirit growing within Springfield’s small business community.

Confirmed participating vendors and partners include Marketplace-based businesses Who Cooks For You Café, the Mocha Trade Company, Pioneer CRE, RCollaborative, and Minuteman Press, along with women-owned businesses Dream On Event Designs, providing event décor; and ETHYST Skincare, sampling its award-winning skincare.

Bulkley Richardson Continues Annual YMCA Camp Cleanup

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SPRINGFIELD — Bulkley Richardson returned to the YMCA’s Stony Brook Acres Day Camp in Wilbraham on May 1 for the firm’s annual day dedicated to preparing the grounds for campers to arrive next month. With 46 attorneys and staff coming out to the camp, the firm was able to make a major impact through projects such as painting picnic tables, mulching nature trails, power washing changing rooms, and doing necessary yard work on the 20-acre property.

“In 2024, we chose the YMCA as a firmwide community project to honor the legacy of our partner, Jeff Poindexter,” said Dan Finnegan, Bulkley Richardson’s managing partner. “His longtime commitment to the YMCA and giving back to the community has inspired us to continue this project, turning into an annual philanthropic event that we look forward to each spring.”

Greenfield Cooperative Bank to Host Two Free Document Shredding Events

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GREENFIELD — Greenfield Cooperative Bank announced two upcoming free document shredding events in partnership with Valley Green Shredding.

These events will take place on Saturday, May 30 from 9 to 11 a.m. at the bank’s Sunderland branch, located at 18 Amherst Road; and Saturday, June 6 from  9 to 11 a.m. at the Florence branch, located at 6 Main St.

At both events, people are invited to bring up to four grocery bags or two boxes of confidential documents for secure shredding. This service is provided free of charge to help individuals protect their personal information. The shred events are designed for personal use and not intended for businesses.

In addition to document shredding, Greenfield Cooperative Bank will be accepting optional monetary donations to benefit the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts.

“Hosting our community shred day has become something we look forward to each year,” said Anita Michonski, branch manager of the Sunderland branch. “Offering free shredding events is one simple way we can help folks safely dispose of sensitive documents and stay ahead of fraud.”

UMassFive College Federal Credit Union Appoints Lauren Duffy President, CEO

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Daily News

HADLEY — UMassFive College Federal Credit Union announced a planned leadership transition, as President and CEO Richard Kump prepares to retire following a distinguished career spanning more than 40 years in the credit union industry.

Lauren Duffy

Following a comprehensive and thoughtful selection process, the board of directors has unanimously appointed Lauren Duffy, currently executive vice president and chief operating officer, as the next president and CEO, effective June 1. Kump will continue to support UMassFive as a senior advisor to Duffy through the end of 2026.

“Lauren brings a deep understanding of our organization, our members, and the credit union philosophy,” said Jacqueline Watrous, chair of the board of directors. “Her leadership reflects a strong commitment to our employees and a clear alignment with the values that guide our work every day. We are fortunate to have such a strong and talented individual assuming this leadership position to guide UMassFive forward.”

Duffy is a 27-year veteran of the credit union industry, including the last 21 years at UMassFive. In her role as executive vice president and chief operating officer, she has played an integral role in shaping the credit union’s strategic direction and enhancing both member and employee experience. She has led numerous major initiatives, including core data processing, credit card, and digital banking upgrades, and also guided the evolution of UMassFive’s mission, values, and long-term vision.

“I am truly honored to step into this role and continue serving our members,” Duffy said. “UMassFive has always been rooted in strong relationships, trust, and a genuine commitment to helping people make informed financial decisions. I have a deep respect for the responsibility entrusted in me to lead this financial cooperative, and I look forward to collaborating with our skilled team in new ways to build on that foundation and continue supporting those we serve, as well as the greater Pioneer Valley.”

Duffy is actively engaged in leadership across the credit union industry and in the communities UMassFive serves. She serves on the board of directors of UMassFive-owned Member Advantage Mortgage, which she has chaired since 2021, and is a trustee of the Cooperative Fund of the Northeast, where she chairs the loan committee.

She is also deeply involved in legislative advocacy to promote and protect access to credit unions for all, representing Massachusetts on the Cooperative Credit Union Assoc. advocacy committee and serving as a PAC trustee for America’s Credit Unions. In addition, she contributes at the national level as a member of America’s Credit Unions’ advocacy policy committee.

Her community involvement includes engagement with organizations such as Northampton Public Schools, the Mount Holyoke College Alumnae Assoc., and Boston Children’s Hospital. She is a graduate of the UMass Isenberg School of Management MBA program, earning her degree in 2023.

Richard Kump

The board also expressed its deep appreciation to Kump for his leadership and lasting impact on the organization.

“Rich’s leadership has left a lasting mark on UMassFive,” Watrous said. “His commitment to our members, his care for our employees, and his dedication to the cooperative mission have helped shape the organization we are today.”

“It has been a privilege to serve UMassFive and work alongside such a dedicated team,” Kump said. “I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished together and grateful for the opportunity to support our members over the years. I’m fully confident the organization is in great hands and will continue to thrive well into the future.”

During his time as president and CEO, UMassFive grew from 37,000 members and $460 million in assets to more than 50,000 members and over $712 million in assets. He led the organization through significant historical moments and milestones, including the launch of its Commercial Services division, the successful merger with Northampton V.A.F. Federal Credit Union, the transition of its Wealth Management program, and navigating the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. He has also strengthened UMassFive’s commitment to community impact, helping lead record-setting years in charitable giving and community support.

Kump’s leadership also extended beyond organizational growth to broader impact across Massachusetts, particularly with his visionary leadership related to sustainability financing efforts. He was instrumental in bringing the state’s Mass Solar Loan program to life, which expanded access to residential solar and supported nearly 6,000 new solar installations throughout the Commonwealth between 2015 and 2020. UMassFive was a financing leader for that program, more than doubling the production of any other lender, with over 70% of UMassFive solar loans through the Mass Solar Loan program going to low-income qualified homeowners.

“UMassFive remains committed to serving our members with the same dedication and personal approach that have defined us for decades,” Watrous said. “We are grateful to draw on Rich’s legacy while looking ahead to a bright future under Lauren’s leadership, as we continue our commitment to supporting financial well-being for all.”

River Valley Co-op Purchases Land Beneath Original Northampton Store

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Daily News

NORTHAMPTON — River Valley Co-op announced the successful purchase of the property beneath its Northampton store, securing the co-op’s long-term home in the community it has served for more than two decades.

The purchase follows the expiration of the co-op’s original 20-year land lease at the end of December 2025. Through an option built into the original lease agreement, the co-op had the opportunity either to renew the lease at a higher rate or purchase the property outright. After careful consideration, River Valley Co-op turned to its community of member-owners for support in funding the purchase.

In December, the co-op announced it had surpassed its $1.5 million loan campaign goal through individual loans from co-op owners. Those funds made it possible to complete the land purchase, cover associated legal fees, and address needed property maintenance projects, including rock wall and parking lot repairs.

“We are deeply grateful to our member-owners whose enthusiasm and financial support made this purchase possible,” said Emma Woebbe, president of the River Valley Co-op board of directors. “This milestone ensures that our community-owned co-op remains permanently rooted in Northampton.”

While payments to member lenders will be comparable to previous rent expenses, ownership of the property is expected to save the co-op hundreds of thousands of dollars over time by avoiding escalating lease costs. More importantly, the purchase protects the co-op from future uncertainty related to lease renewals or unaffordable rent increases.

River Valley Co-op also expressed appreciation for its longtime landlords, Bill and Marcia (last names withheld by request), whose support helped make the Northampton location possible from the beginning.

“At a time when our startup food co-op faced rejection after rejection in trying to secure a location, Bill and Marcia welcomed us into the old quarry property and worked with us to make our vision a reality,” Woebbe said.

The Northampton site carries deep local history. The property was originally a city-owned rock quarry operating from 1870 to 1921, and stone from the quarry helped build many Northampton roads. Today, River Valley Co-op says it is “rock solidly” rooted in the community thanks to the support of its member-owners, customers, staff, and supporters, and it extends heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed to and championed this historic achievement.

Spring Art Walk Returns to Historic Lenox Village on June 6-7

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Daily News

LENOX — On Saturday and Sunday, June 6-7, the town of Lenox will host the 2026 Spring Art Walk. The event is a collaboration between the Lenox Chamber of Commerce, the Lenox Cultural District, and Gordon Fine Arts. Event hours are Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Lenox Art Walk has become one of the Berkshires’ premier outdoor arts festivals. The curated event features juried artists and artisans showcasing their work throughout downtown Lenox, with artist tents lining Main Street sidewalks and extending into Lilac Park.

Visitors can browse more than 50 booths featuring fine arts and fine crafts across a wide range of media, including painting, photography, sculpture, ceramics, jewelry, fiber arts, wood, metal, glass, mixed media, clothing, and handmade artisan goods. Downtown galleries and local merchants will also participate throughout the weekend, creating an expanded, gallery-style experience in the heart of Lenox.

In addition to the artist exhibits, attendees can enjoy live music performances and culinary offerings from local restaurants throughout the weekend. Visitors are encouraged to stroll downtown, meet the artists, explore the Church Street galleries and shops, and experience the vibrant arts and culture scene that defines Lenox.

The Lenox Spring Art Walk is free and open to the public. The event will take place rain or shine. For more information, contact the Lenox Chamber of Commerce at (413) 637-3646 or visit lenox.org.

NBSB Sponsors Habitat Playhouse Builds to Support Military Families

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Daily News

NORTH BROOKFIELD — North Brookfield Savings Bank (NBSB) announced its sponsorship of two playhouse builds through Habitat for Humanity MetroWest/Greater Worcester’s Operation Playhouse, a program dedicated to supporting local military and veteran families while strengthening local communities.

As part of this initiative, NBSB helped bring to life two custom-built playhouses, which were gifted to deserving military families. These playhouses are more than just structures — they are spaces designed to inspire creativity, provide joy, and create lasting memories for children and their families. NBSB is always looking for ways to give back, and partnering with Habitat for Humanity was a perfect fit to help make a meaningful impact on the lives of local military members and their families to recognize their service and sacrifice.

“At North Brookfield Savings Bank, we are deeply committed to making a positive impact in our community,” Marketing Manager Audrey Shampine said. “Operation Playhouse not only offered us a fantastic team-building opportunity but also allowed us to give back to those who have given so much for our country. Supporting our local military families through such a meaningful initiative was an honor, and we are grateful to have been part of it.”

The builds were completed with the help of NBSB volunteers, reflecting the collaborative spirit that defines both Habitat for Humanity and NBSB. Through hands-on involvement and financial support, the bank continues to invest in initiatives that uplift local families and foster meaningful connections.

NBSB remains dedicated to community outreach efforts and looks forward to continuing partnerships that make a lasting difference in the lives of the communities it serves.

Carl Cameron Promoted at Holyoke Medical Center, Valley Health Systems

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HOLYOKE — Spiros Hatiras, president and CEO of Holyoke Medical Center and Valley Health Systems, announced the promotion of Carl Cameron to executive vice president and chief operating officer.

“Carl has been with Holyoke Medical Center for over 25 years, and his dedication and commitment to the hospital and our community is unmatched. He has been a driving force in expanding the footprint of Holyoke Medical Center as we continue to grow in services and locations,” Hatiras said. “Carl has also implemented innovative technologies that have brought Holyoke Medical Center to the forefront of medical efficiency, while also helping to recruit and retain exceptional physicians and staff members.”

Cameron joined Holyoke Medical Center in 2001. His roles have included chief operating officer, vice president of Operations, chief information officer, and director of Information Systems. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in information systems from Western New England University. He also has a certificate in lean healthcare from the University of Michigan and is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

“I am proud to be a part of Holyoke Medical Center and Valley Health Systems and our ability to continuously adapt and thrive as an independent community hospital,” Cameron said. “Together with the strong leadership of Spiros Hatiras and the hard work of our entire team of physicians, nurses, and staff, we are fulfilling our vision as the best place for care and the best place to work.”

Dakin Humane Society Names Samantha Novak Associate Director of Marketing

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Daily News

Samantha Novak

SPRINGFIELD — Dakin Humane Society named Samantha Novak associate director of Marketing, according to Director of Development and Marketing Molly Biechele.

Novak will provide overall marketing, communications, and public relations strategy for the organization, with a specific emphasis on fostering and stewarding corporate and local partnerships. She will implement vision, priorities, and standards for all marketing activity, ensuring alignment across content, digital, design, public relations, and development efforts. In addition, she will be responsible for translating organizational goals into integrated, measurable marketing strategies that elevate brand awareness, community engagement, partnerships, and revenue.

“Sam brings an exceptional combination of strategic marketing expertise, relationship-building skills, and passion for mission-driven work to Dakin Humane Society,” Biechele said. “We are thrilled to welcome her to the Dakin team.”

Prior to joining Dakin, Novak was a senior marketing automation manager for Blackbaud, where she developed targeted nurture engagement programs for fundraising, grantmaking, and data intelligence product audiences; shaped marketing strategy; and executed campaigns.

She also served as a marketing specialist for Performance Food Group of Springfield, where she led negotiations with broker/vendor representatives and managed the end-to-end fulfillment process and implemented campaigns.

Novak has a certificate of nonprofit board education for corporate employees and is a root cause analysis practitioner. She earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Bay Path College.

Beacon Bank Announces Free Support for Visually Impaired Users at All Branches

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BOSTON — On the eve of Global Accessibility Awareness Day, Beacon Bank announced free access at all branches to an on-demand service that connects visually impaired users to live, real-time guides who provide assistance through an app using the camera and microphone on the user’s mobile phone.

The Aira Explorer service is available at the bank’s 145 branches, as well as for those who require additional assistance to access visual information in online banking and the bank’s mobile app. Among other things, it provides support navigating branches, reading statements, using ATMs, making transactions, and accessing online and mobile banking.

Every call is picked up by a professional visual interpreter who signs a confidentiality agreement and has rigorous training in privacy and security. Aira Explorer offers a number of minutes-based subscription plans, but the service is available at no cost for anyone with a free or paid account while visiting any Beacon Bank branch or using the bank’s online or mobile banking.

“We’re committed to providing welcoming, accessible banking services for all members of our community,” said Ian Perrault, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) specialist and liaison at Beacon Bank. “By offering Aira Explorer online and at all of our locations, we are helping ensure clients who need additional support can bank with greater confidence, independence, and ease.”

Everette Bacon, Aira’s chief of Blindness Initiatives, added that “banking is a high-detail, everyday task that can present barriers when visual information isn’t available. That’s why we’re especially pleased to work with Aira Explorer Access Partners like Beacon Bank that provide visitors with secure, high-quality visual interpreting so that they can bank with confidence.”

The Mount Welcomes Lauren Groff, Mark Strieter to Board of Trustees

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LENOX — The Mount, Edith Wharton Cultural Center announced the appointment of two new members to its board of trustees: bestselling novelist and short story writer Lauren Groff and landscape architect Mark Strieter, principal at Nelson Byrd Woltz. These appointments reflect the Mount’s continued commitment to bringing together outstanding voices in literature, design, and the arts to advance its mission as a vibrant center for intellectual and artistic exchange.

“We are thrilled to welcome Lauren and Mark to the Mount’s board,” said Barbara Cooperman, chair of the Mount’s board of trustees. “Lauren’s profound engagement with Edith Wharton’s work and her stature in contemporary American letters, together with Mark’s exceptional expertise in revitalizing cultural landscapes, each bring invaluable perspective as we continue to expand the Mount’s reach and shape the institution’s next chapter. We look forward to the creativity and leadership they will bring to our work.”

Groff is the New York Times bestselling author of the novels The Monsters of Templeton, Arcadia, Fates and Furies, Matrix, and The Vaster Wilds, and the celebrated short story collections Delicate Edible Birds, Florida, and, most recently Brawler. Strieter has focused throughout his career on revitalizing and interpreting complex cultural sites and ecological systems, working at the intersection of landscape, history, and public life. His portfolio spans urban and rural contexts alike.

“Lauren and Mark each bring a longstanding engagement with the Mount and with Edith Wharton’s enduring legacy,” said Susan Wissler, executive director of the Mount. “Lauren’s 2024 In Conversation program demonstrated the continuing power of literature to spark dialogue across generations, while Mark’s work on the Mount’s landscape master plan has helped us think more deeply about the estate as both a historic home and a significant cultural landscape. As we continue our evolution as the Mount, Edith Wharton Cultural Center, and embark on a new strategic plan, their insights will be enormously valuable.”

NBT Bank Recognized with 2025 Cigna Healthy Workforce Designation

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Daily News

NORWICH, N.Y. — Cigna Healthcare selected NBT Bank as a recipient of its 2025 gold level Healthy Workforce Designation for demonstrating a strong commitment to improving the health and vitality of its employees through a workplace well-being program.

“At NBT Bank, we believe supporting the well-being of our employees is essential to delivering the best possible experience for our customers,” NBT Bancorp President and CEO Scott Kingsley said. “We are proud to be recognized with the Cigna Healthy Workforce Designation, as it reflects our ongoing commitment to fostering a workplace where our employees can thrive.”

NBT is committed to supporting employees’ overall health and well-being by providing tools and resources that educate, engage, and empower them, including an employee assistance program and financial wellness support. The company also fosters connection and inclusion through initiatives like Wellness Champions, NBT Communities, and the Inclusion Roundtable, helping create a more engaged and supportive workplace.

“Employers that prioritize workforce vitality — by addressing workplace stress, promoting healthy behaviors, and fostering a sense of competence, autonomy, and connection — are supporting employee well-being and driving organizational success,” said Bryan Holgerson, president of Cigna Healthcare U.S. “As a company committed to creating better healthcare experiences and outcomes, we’re proud to recognize and celebrate employers who are building cultures of well-being across all dimensions of vitality.”

The Cigna Healthy Workforce Designation evaluates organizations based on the core components of their well-being program, including workforce insights, strategy and culture, health equity and social determinants of health, dimensions of vitality, and engagement and experience. Organizations recognized with this designation set the standard of excellence for organizational health and vitality.

Cigna Healthcare’s selection of NBT Bank with the gold level designation reinforces the company’s efforts and progress in 2025 toward nurturing a healthy work culture.

HCC Foundation Awards $405,000 in Scholarships

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Daily News

HOLYOKE — The Holyoke Community College (HCC) Foundation awarded $405,000 in scholarships to students for the 2026-27 academic year.

The foundation awarded 438 scholarships to 422 incoming, current, and transferring HCC students. Some students received multiple scholarship awards. Individual awards range from $500 to $5,000. HCC celebrated this year’s recipients and donors at a scholarship reception on May 14.

The HCC Foundation is a 501(c)(3) that works to advance the college’s mission, vision, and values. Founded in 1968 as the Friends of Holyoke Community College in response to a devastating fire that forced the college to rebuild on a new campus, the foundation now manages assets of more than $20 million, the largest community college foundation endowment in Massachusetts.

MountainOne Celebrates Teacher Appreciation Week with Surprise Deliveries

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Daily News

NORTH ADAMS — In celebration of Teacher Appreciation Week, MountainOne spent the week visiting and recognizing 75 first-grade teachers throughout the Berkshires and South Shore through storybook-themed deliveries created as part of MountainOne’s growing Storybook Program. The deliveries were designed to thank teachers for the important role they play in shaping young students, while also introducing classrooms to MountainOne’s literacy and financial education initiative featuring Mo the Spokesgoat.

Inside each custom-designed package, teachers discovered copies of MountainOne’s two original storybooks, “How to Climb a Mountain” and “Something to Save,” along with a newly released companion activity workbook filled with educational games, coloring pages, and age-appropriate financial literacy activities for students. The deliveries also featured a custom goat silhouette tote bag, a classroom flyer inviting schools to participate in future MountainOne storybook readings, a thank-you card reading “You’re the G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Teachers),” and a Mo the Spokesgoat plush for classrooms to enjoy.

The appreciation deliveries also serve as an introduction to the MountainOne Storybook Program, which brings MountainOne’s Storybook Team directly into schools for interactive classroom readings, where every student receives their own storybook and activity materials, along with a special visit from Mo the Spokesgoat himself. Deliveries were made to first-grade teachers at schools across Quincy, Scituate, Rockland, Pittsfield, North Adams, and Williamstown.

“Teachers inspire curiosity, confidence, and creativity in students every single day, and we wanted to find a fun and meaningful way to recognize that during Teacher Appreciation Week,” said Brenda Petell, MountainOne vice president, Community Engagement officer. “Our Storybook Program has become such a special way for us to connect with schools and families across our communities, and we’re excited to continue growing it with even more classroom visits and another new storybook release coming soon that we can’t wait to share.”

MountainOne’s Storybook Program continues expanding throughout the communities it serves, helping introduce children to themes like perseverance, saving money, goal setting, and community connection through original storytelling and interactive experiences.

MountainOne invites local schools, libraries, and community organizations to bring Mo’s Storybook Program to their students. To learn more or request a reading, visit mountainone.com/mo-storybook.