Window World of Western Massachusetts Announces Certifications

By BusinessWest Staff June 23, 2026

Daily News

BELCHERTOWN — Window World of Western Massachusetts announced that 22 members of its team have successfully completed the InstallationMasters certification program, making the company one of the most highly credentialed exterior remodeling teams in the region.

The certification program covers critical areas of the building envelope, including advanced water management, structural integrity, flashing systems, and thermal performance — all essential components for protecting homes in the demanding New England climate.

“Our team has always taken tremendous pride in their craft, but achieving this certification on such a large scale takes that commitment to another level,” said Nick Drost, owner and installation manager of Window World of Western Massachusetts. “By investing in nationally recognized training standards, we’re ensuring that every homeowner we serve receives an installation performed with the highest level of precision, consistency, and care. It’s about doing the job right the first time — every time.”

The InstallationMasters program is a nationwide training and credentialing initiative developed by the Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance. The program is designed to ensure installers are trained in current industry best practices and national installation standards for windows and doors in both remodeling and new construction applications. This accomplishment follows Window World of Western Massachusetts’ recent recognition as a Best of the Valley winner.

“For homeowners, properly trained installation teams provide more than quality workmanship — they provide peace of mind,” the company stated. “Proper installation is essential for maintaining energy efficiency, ensuring long-term performance, protecting manufacturer warranties, and helping prevent costly issues such as water infiltration and structural damage.”

Added Drost, “at the end of the day, homeowners are trusting us with one of their largest investments — their home. This achievement reflects our commitment to protecting that investment with the highest standards possible.”

Beacon Bank’s Gary Levante Named Finalist in BostonCMO ORBIE Awards

By BusinessWest Staff June 23, 2026

Daily News

BOSTON — In acknowledgement of his demonstrated excellence in driving business success, Beacon Bank Chief Marketing Officer Gary Levante has been recognized as a finalist in the inaugural BostonCMO ORBIE Awards.

The 2026 BostonCMO ORBIE Awards honor chief marketing officers with proven leadership and management effectiveness, business value driven by marketing initiatives, and engagement in industry and community endeavors. Finalists were selected through an independent, peer-adjudicated process led by prior ORBIE recipients in categories based upon the size and scope of their organization and responsibilities.

In his role, Levante is responsible for advancing Beacon Bank’s strategic goals by establishing the bank’s brand, deepening client engagement, and delivering integrated marketing and communications programs. He works closely with other members of the leadership team and board to strengthen the brand and deepen the bank’s connection to its employees, clients, and broader communities.

Monson Boasts Diverse Business Community

By George O'Brien June 23, 2026

Community Spotlight

Bryson Busiere says it started as a hobby.

Then it became a “second business.” And there are plans — it will take several years to a decade for them to become fruition — for it to become a full-time pursuit, a career.

Bryson Busier and his father, Marc, have guided their maple syrup business to continued growth and diversification.

We’re talking about Bryson’s Maple Syrup, an undertaking he started with his father, Marc, 15 years ago when he was in middle school. Together, they’ve grown it steadily to where they now tap 3,000 trees across four main properties, and produce 400 to 600 gallons of maple syrup a year.

They use it create a wide range of products, from bottled syrup to candy to some infused offerings, and sell them at craft fairs, farmers markets, and other events across the region and throughout the year, although summer and the holidays are the busiest times.

“We typically do one fair each weekend,” said Busiere, who works in construction by day, adding that the Pioneer Valley Wine Festival in Brimfield was one of recent stops. “But we’re looking at doing two or three, depending on the week. We’re trying to branch out a little more now that we’re making enough syrup to be able do that.”

Bryson’s Maple Syrup is part of an eclectic business community in Monson that includes many small businesses and second businesses, shops along Main Street, and several agriculture-related ventures.

And it’s one of many converging stories in this town of roughly 8,000 people. The biggest, of course, is the redevelopment of the former Monson Developmental Center (MDC), a saga that started when the institution officially closed in 2012 — although speculation began long before that as operations wound down at the complex — and has moved in mostly slow motion for most of that period.

But the pace of progress has accelerated in recent years, starting with the acquisition of the property by Westmass Area Development Corp. And the pace quickened further last month with town meeting approval of a zoning change to create a planned village district that will include housing, commercial, and retail spaces.

What for many years was conceptual is now real, and it will become more real as demolition continues, with the site, which includes more than 30 buildings, due to be fully cleared roughly a year from now, Westmass President and CEO Jeff Daley said.

Meanwhile, numerous other storylines are taking shape in this community, Town Administrator Jennifer Wolowicz said, including:

• A comprehensive reconstruction of a mile-long stretch of Route 33 (Main Street). Now in the planning and public-hearing stage, the projected $15 million initiative is scheduled to start in 2028 and will be the first major reconstruction of the street in roughly a century;

• Expansion of the Board of Selectmen from three members to five; and

• Plans to apply for a grant from MassDevelopment to eventually undertake infrastructure work on a stretch of Route 20 that goes through Monson, Palmer, and Wilbraham to encourage more commercial development there.

The Route 20 initiative — and the MDC project, for that matter — are efforts to bring more development, vibrancy, and people to the community, but without changing the rural character of the town that its residents value, Wolowicz noted.

“Getting this property transferred over to Westmass for oversight and now ownership will provide Monson with an opportunity,” she said. “And opportunities can look and feel different for everyone. I’m sensitive to the historic charm that Monson has, and I’ve loved it since I moved here myself.

“I’ve talked to a lot of people who have lived here their whole lives, and generations before them, who are excited about the project,” she went on. “They’re looking at it as an opportunity to downsize from the large home that they’re still living in because their children have grown and moved and have homes of their own; Monson does not have any 55-and-over communities to offer to our seniors.”

For this latest installment of its Community Spotlight series, BusinessWest takes an in-depth look at Monson and the many developing stories there.

Progress Report

Craig Swietzer, president of Monson-based Sweitzer Construction, has served on the town’s Planning Board for decades now.

He recalls maybe one subdivision plan in all that time, with all other housing being essentially one-offs. So he can understand why there might be some apprehension about the MDC site and plans for more housing than the community has seen over the past several decades combined.

But he believes most of that apprehension has been alleviated through a thorough review process of Westmass’s plans, coupled with strong desire to see something happen with the long-dormant property — something that will generate tax revenue for the community — as well as recognition that housing of various forms is needed, and will come in phases at the MDC site over the next several years.

Jennifer Wolowicz

“Opportunities can look and feel different for everyone. I’m sensitive to the historic charm that Monson has, and I’ve loved it since I moved here myself.”

“The town gets it,” he told BusinessWest, adding that the vote to approve the village district was nearly unanimous, for all those reasons. “It’s easy to be afraid that this thing is going to be huge and there’s going to be 1,000 new residents, but it’s not going to be like that.
It’s going to be market-driven; we anticipate slow, steady, sensible growth.

“Obviously, some adjustments will be needed, like fire and police, but I think this growth can be absorbed efficiently,” he went on, adding that, given the decline in enrollment in town schools, additional students can be absorbed without any new building needed.

Wolowicz agreed, noting that there is some apprehension and negativity concerning the MDC project, but mostly relief that a site that had been vacant for so long is finally being developed, as well as optimism about the various housing options that might emerge at the site.

“One of the things that we hope will be part of this is a mixed-use type of property where you’ll have cluster housing with single-family homes, but you’ll also have a 55-and-over living community that also has some businesses connected to it, like an occupational therapist business or a coffee shop,” she said, adding that, while the property is in Monson, it is near the border with Palmer, and could benefit the residents of that community as well.

Jeff Daley says demolition of the buildings at the MDC site should be concluded by the summer of 2027, with infrastructure work to follow.

Daley agreed. When it comes to the market, he anticipates there will be solid interest in housing of various types in a community just a mile or two off the Palmer turnpike exit — and only a few hundred yards from the planned east-west rail station in town — and a project that will provide a more affordable alternative to the sky-high prices in Greater Boston and the comparatively high prices in the Worcester area.

“It’s a four-minute ride to the Palmer exit,” he said, adding that, overall, the goal will be to use Westmass’s experience in site development and housing construction to create homes that will be more affordable than those built in other locations and by other developers.

As for the timetable moving forward, demolition of the site is the next priority, Daley said.

“Our goal is to have everything on the ground and the site basically cleaned and ready for development by June 2027,” he noted, adding that the contractor, Associated Building Wreckers, is on pace to meet that goal.

After demolition will come infrastructure work — water, sewer, and electricity — and then market-driven development.

“We’re putting together a development plan for how the site could lay out in the future,” he said. “When that comes to fruition, we’ll likely be the land owner, and a good chunk of the developments will happen with us or through us managing those.

“At the of the day,” he added, “our estimate is that it will be $300 million to fully develop the site with all the infrastructure that needs to be done and the housing and commercial use — and anywhere from 10 to 20 years of work.”

Sweet Success

Busiere told BusinessWest that the family maple syrup venture has grown and evolved over the years.

Indeed, that branching out he mentioned has been happening on many levels, starting with the number of taps. But it also includes the roster of events where the company has a presence, the portfolio of products sold, and a “help yourself farm store” in front of the family home, a miniature sugar house, as he put it.

As for the products, there are now 50 to 75 of them, depending on the year, and these include maple syrup, maple candy, maple cream, and a variety of infused maple syrups, including coffee, cinnamon, and many others.

Most of these items are produced at the sugar house in Monson, but the company also rents out a commercial kitchen for some of its items, including maple-coated peanuts and walnuts as well as a planned maple mustard.

“We’re on track to double in size for the next several years,” he said, adding that the long-term goal is to make this a full-time venture, perhaps in a decade at the current rate of growth and progress.

“It’s easy to be afraid that this thing is going to be huge and there’s going to be 1,000 new residents, but it’s not going to be like that. It’s going to be market-driven; we anticipate slow, steady, sensible growth.”

As noted earlier, Bryson’s Maple Syrup is part of an eclectic business community in Monson, one that includes few large employers, but many smaller, venerable institutions, from Monson Savings Bank to the Woodbine Country Store, a fixture on Main Street for generations.

James Przypek, CEO of the Quaboag Hills Chamber of Commerce, which serves 15 communities, including Monson, said the community boasts a wide range of businesses in sectors ranging from construction to telecommunications; from HVAC to farming and the growing realm of agritourism.

Indeed, ventures such as Echo Hill Orchards Winery & Distillery and Silver Bell Farm, known for its elaborate holiday lighting displays, are helping to make Monson a destination.

“Silver Bell is an amazing attraction — people keep coming back for it,” he noted, adding that the community features many smaller businesses, from cookie makers to roadside farm stands that give it a unique flavor .

As for Sweitzer Construction, it has been part of the Monson landscape for more than 40 years now. A family business, it covers two generations, with Craig and his wife Pat at the helm, and sons Brian and Michael serving as project managers.

The company specializes in in high-tech, design-build work that includes dental construction, a unique niche, but also medical facilities, commercial and manufacturing construction, and, most recently, cannabis facilities.

The business has grown steadily over the years — from its portfolio of projects to its team — and is looking to sustain that growth and “feed the machine,” as Craig put it.

“That can be the tricky part,” he said. “To keep up the volume and the numbers that we need, sometimes we travel more than we like to, but that’s the nature of the beast.”

Elaborating, he said the company has, over the years, expanded its geographic base, both to serve long-term customers, such as Attleboro-based Rust-Oleum, and to secure new work, such a recent project in New Haven.

Overall, each project is unique and brings its own set of challenges, Pat added. “There are a lot of projects that are complex, and they’re really fun — it’s not the same production work over and over. They’re unique projects, and we’re lucky to have a lot of customers like that.”

Federal Agencies Are Sharpening Workplace Enforcement

By Contributor June 23, 2026

Law

Advice for Employers

By Michael Lewis, Esq.

Michael Lewis

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, your training, and your 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.

“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.”

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 record keeping 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.

If you would like to review your handbook, audit key employment policies, train managers, or prepare for agency scrutiny before it arrives, reach out. Early attention often marks the difference between a contained problem and a long, expensive fight.

Michael Lewis is an associate in the Massachusetts office of Halloran Sage.

What Business Owners Are Saying About Their Futures

By Contributor June 23, 2026

Wealth Management

The Quiet Countdown

By Alyssa Mandeville

Ask most business owners when they plan to step back from the company they built, and the honest answer is usually “not yet.” But new national research suggests that day is closer than many of them let on — and that the years immediately surrounding it deserve far more planning than they typically get.

Raymond James recently released its 2025 Business Owner Report, a survey of 540 privately held business owners conducted in April 2025. The headline finding is striking: 88% of owners plan to financially exit their business, in part or in full, within the next decade. More than half — 56% — expect to transition their financial stake within just five years. Whether they realize it or not, a large share of the business community is already inside the runway to a major transition.

The encouraging news is that most owners are not flying blind. Eighty-five percent reported having a transition plan in place. That is a meaningful figure, and it reflects a generation of owners who take the responsibility of a smooth handoff seriously — to employees, to customers, and to the families who depend on the business. The harder question is whether those plans extend beyond the operational handoff to the personal financial picture that surrounds it.

That picture is more concentrated than many owners appreciate. The survey found that 44% of owners say their business represents more than half of their total wealth, and nine in 10 say it accounts for at least one-quarter. Among Baby Boomers, the concentration is more pronounced still: 31% reported that more than three-quarters of their personal wealth is tied up in the business — a rate nearly three times higher than among their Gen X and Millennial counterparts.

Concentration like that is the natural result of decades of reinvesting in something you believe in. But it also means that a single event — a sale, a partial recapitalization, or a transfer to the next generation — can reshape an owner’s entire financial life in a matter of months. When most of your net worth is illiquid and bound to one enterprise, the transition is not just a business decision. It is the single largest personal wealth event most owners will ever experience.

What strikes me most about the data is what owners intend to do next. Nearly two-thirds (63%) say they plan to keep working in their business or start or invest in a new venture after they exit their current financial stake. This is not a generation looking to disappear; they are looking to redeploy. And 85% expect they will need a capital infusion to fund their next stage of growth, though there is little consensus on whether that capital should come from private equity, lending, or personal resources. The appetite to build again is alive and well — but it requires liquidity, and liquidity requires planning.

That is where the window matters. In our experience, the 18 to 24 months before and after a transition are the most consequential — and the most overlooked. It is the period when succession structure, income and estate tax mitigation, estate planning, risk management, investment objectives, and short-term personal cash flow all collide at once. Decisions made hastily in that window, or deferred until after a deal closes, are difficult and sometimes impossible to undo. Decisions made deliberately, well in advance, are where real value is preserved.

The practical takeaway for owners is not to rush toward the exit; it is to start the conversation earlier than feels necessary. If you are among the 56% who anticipate a transition within five years, the planning work ideally begins now, not when a buyer appears or a family member raises a hand. And if you are among the 44% whose wealth is heavily concentrated in the business, diversification and liquidity planning deserve a seat at the table long before any transaction is on the horizon.

Business owners are some of the most capable planners I know — it is how they built what they have. The opportunity this research highlights is to bring that same discipline to their personal financial lives, and to treat the transition not as an endpoint, but as the next phase of a long and deliberate plan. The countdown may be quieter than it sounds. The owners who thrive will be the ones who start preparing while there is still plenty of time on the clock.

Alyssa Mandeville is senior vice president, head of Wealth Management at PeoplesBank.

Wall Street Goes Orbital with SpaceX IPO

By Contributor June 23, 2026

Wealth Management

Preparing for Takeoff

Brendan Roberts

SpaceX conducted its initial public offering last week at a $1.77 trillion market cap, making it the largest IPO ever; it has surged significantly since. By trading at this valuation, it became a top-10 market cap company on day one, leapfrogging Tesla itself in in the process. SpaceX is also projected to do less than two-thirds the revenue of Tesla this year, all while having negative cash flow.

To put that in perspective, when Google first became public in 2004, it was a $23 billion market cap and didn’t even place in the top 100 companies by market cap. Meta Platforms (Facebook) debuted in 2012 at a $104 billion market cap, placing it inside the top 25 most valuable companies at that time, surpassing heavyweights like Amazon, Citigroup, and McDonald’s.

Artificial intelligence continues to permeate markets the same way the internet captivated the world when it went mainstream in the late ’90s. The IPO window is open, and SpaceX is just the beginning.

Later this year, the companies behind ChatGPT (OpenAI) and Claude Code (Anthropic) are in a full sprint to list their shares publicly as well. They have seen the fastest product adoption since smartphones, the internet, and social media. If you thought launching rockets into space was ambitious, these companies double their revenue every few months. Despite the macro headwinds from multiple global conflicts, persistent inflation, and lower-income consumers under pressure, the markets continue to creep higher.

Although there are many different polarizing conversations to have about AI and IPOs, we now must consider how these firms fit into our world of investing. Are owning these companies considered high-risk? Is it appropriate for people entering retirement to hold a position like SpaceX, Anthropic, or OpenAI? Are passive indices such as the S&P 500 eventually going to have exposure to these companies? What about my retirement funds? These are the type of client questions we’ve received — and they are timely conversations to have with your financial advisor.

Is Passive Index Investing at Risk?

Passive indexing, the S&P 500 as one example, gives you broad exposure to the U.S. economy by proportionally allocating capital to the largest public companies by market cap weighting. New risks may arise, however, if companies like SpaceX, Anthropic, OpenAI, and others are included in the index well before they generate positive cash flow. If a company cannot generate positive cash flow, it makes it more difficult to support paying a dividend or buying back company stock. Therefore, it’s very unlikely a company can return capital to shareholders until they do generate positive cash flow.

This means, as an investor, most (if not all) of your investment returns must come from price appreciation through the stock price heading higher, which is driven by investor sentiment.

“Artificial intelligence continues to permeate markets the same way the internet captivated the world when it went mainstream in the late ’90s. The IPO window is open, and SpaceX is just the beginning.”

Although this is certainly a possibility, as it is with any stock, an investor must consider the risks of the stock itself, in addition to the market dynamics at play, to potentially make a positive return on their investment. Many of the early insiders who owned these companies prior to the IPO have already made a ton of money and will advantageously use the IPO as an exit strategy — i.e., sell their shares to capture some, if not all, of their profits.

However, there are lockups involved for insiders and employees, meaning they cannot divest their shares immediately when the stock first begins trading. This could result in many months (if not years) of selling pressure as investors look to ring the register on a company they’ve already made a lot of money from. One may question, what about the passive indices? Won’t they be forced to buy the IPO since it’s projected to be a top 10 market cap company? Not necessarily.

Bending Rules Based Investing

The Nasdaq Composite is an index comprised of the 100 largest non-financial companies listed on the exchange. This index is already dominated primarily by tech, software, and telecommunications sectors. Previously, a stock would have to be a public company for at least three full calendar months before being considered for inclusion in the index.

Surprisingly, Nasdaq implemented a new ‘fast entry’ rule effective May 1 of this year, by which the top 40 non-financial companies can be fast-tracked into the index in as little as 15 days. This is a rule change that occurred just months before the SpaceX IPO, which raised concerns for many investors.

The S&P 500 index has a rule where a company would have to demonstrate cumulative GAAP profitability over the most recent four consecutive earnings reports to qualify for inclusion in the index. Previously, S&P Global considered making an exclusion for ‘megacap’ companies like the three IPOs discussed today, but they recently changed their tone and said they will not make any exceptions. This means it will likely be some time before SpaceX is included in the S&P 500, as it is not likely to meet the profitability metrics in the near term required for inclusion.

S&P Global is in a difficult position because, if they do not include SpaceX, it could result in a tracking error and possibly worse performance than funds that do choose to allocate capital to the company. Alternatively speaking, if they manipulate their own rules to try to include a company with no cash flow, it could compromise their rules-based investing approach, which has worked for decades.

Active Versus Passive Investing

Actively managed investing involves someone selecting the investments rather than getting exposure to a defined basket of investments as determined by an index fund. For example, someone about to enter retirement or already in retirement may not view SpaceX as an appropriate investment for them, given it’s considered high-risk as measured by its lack of profitability, lofty valuation, and continuous share dilution, among many other risks.

Something else to consider is the tax consequences of where you choose to hold the stock. If the SpaceX IPO is not successful and the stock price falls significantly, you could benefit from realizing a loss in a taxable account as a tax write-off as opposed to a retirement account, where you could not write it off.

Conversely speaking, if SpaceX makes new highs and you have significant gains in a taxable account, you would have to factor in capital gains tax when choosing to sell the position. If it were held in a retirement account, there would be no tax consequences to selling the position at a gain. (With any financial advice, it should be tailored to the individual, family, or institution.)

Unfortunately, there is not a one-size-fits-all solution to decide if these IPOs are appropriate investments for you or not. Fortunately, there are plenty of capable investment professionals to have this conversation with you and help determine what is appropriate for your situation.

We will be watching these IPOs intently in the coming months. Although the prospect of exposure to such a disruptive and innovative company is compelling on the surface, we remind investors to proceed with extra caution with IPOs, especially when they are widely hyped and sought after by the public.

Brendan Roberts is a portfolio manager at St. Germain Investment Management, serving in a dual role as both an advisor and a member of the firm’s investment policy committee. His responsibilities include equity research, trading, and financial advising.

St. Germain Investment Management does not intend or suggest investment advice through this information. This information is provided for educational purposes only and should not be construed as advice. This presentation has been prepared without consideration to the circumstances and objectives of a particular individual; therefore, investment vehicles mentioned may not be suitable. Investors should carefully consider risks, investment objectives, fees, and potential expenses before investing. Individual results may vary, and past performance does not guarantee future results. Market and economic conditions beyond our control, such as inflation, interest rates, and other exogenous events, may or may not have played a role during the time period, and such conditions or material data, whether in whole or part, does not suggest similar investment outcomes in the future or that such conditions would prevail in like fashion. Neither the data nor rate of return reflect the particular objectives or investment goals of any individual, group, or company at St. Germain Investment Management.

What the SpaceX IPO Means for the Market

By Contributor June 23, 2026

Wealth Management

Exploring New Frontiers

Jeffrey Liguori

Momentum behind all things outer space is building rapidly. The aerospace field is advancing quickly toward ambitious goals beyond mere exploration, such as in-space manufacturing, lunar data centers, space-based solar power, lunar mining for rare earths and metals, and space tourism. Space is nearly a $700 billion industry today and likely to surpass $1 trillion in about five years, and $2 trillion by 2040.

For years, exploring and working outside of the Earth’s atmosphere has been almost entirely driven by the governments of sovereign nations, largely dominated by the U.S. and Russia, with China emerging as a powerful competitor in more recent years. Private contractors dabbled in space travel as early as 1982, but with intermittent success, constrained by the enormous amounts of capital required to support an ongoing effort. That all changed in 2002, the year that SpaceX was founded.

Elon Musk tasked SpaceX with slashing the cost of reaching space to unlock bolder exploration and broaden access, with the long-term aim of making humanity multi-planetary. To bring that vision within reach, SpaceX is building fully reusable rockets and spacecraft that could one day help establish a self-sustaining city beyond Earth.

It is no surprise, given the size of the industry and the bold ideas of the company and its founder and CEO, that the SpaceX initial public stock offering was the largest ever, with a $1.77 trillion market capitalization, or total value, when shares began being sold to the public this month. Until now, the IPO for Visa in 2008 was the largest ever, valuing that company at $20 billion.

All this makes SpaceX the eighth-largest public company by value on the planet, and one of only two in the top 10 with fewer than 20,000 employees.

Market Indexing and Institutional Buying

While the overall valuation of SpaceX is massive, the company is only selling about 5% of all shares, which means investors only have to deploy between $6 and $8 billion to support the offering, with all proceeds going directly to the company. Musk will retain approximately 42% of equity (with about 85% voting power) after the IPO.

The pattern in many ‘hot’ IPOs is familiar: a strong opening surge followed by a cooling-off period over the next 12 months. Visa was no exception, climbing roughly 50% in its first month as a public company before briefly trading below its IPO price a year later. For patient shareholders, however, the outcome was far more compelling: the total return of Visa shares since coming public is about 2,500%, versus roughly 725% for the S&P 500 through May 31, 2026.

Visa’s macroeconomic backdrop in the throes of the Great Financial Crisis was far different from today’s market, where equities are hitting new highs almost daily. And past performance is no indication of future results.

Given SpaceX’s expected size at listing, the company is likely to join the Nasdaq soon after its IPO, creating a potential technical tailwind for the shares. Because many ETFs and other passive funds are required to track the index, inclusion would likely trigger incremental buying demand. Analysts expect that index-related flows could begin roughly 15 days after the offering, providing an additional source of near-term support for the stock.

“This year, individual investors have shown a strong tendency to chase winning stocks, which can make market moves bigger and more volatile.”

The expected timeline is as follows: Nasdaq inclusion roughly 15 days following the IPO, following a rule change that allows SpaceX to qualify. S&P 500 inclusion is likely to be delayed by approximately 12 months because the index did not change its rules. (A company must be profitable for addition to the S&P 500, and despite lobbying efforts on behalf of SpaceX, which isn’t currently profitable, Standard & Poor’s refused to change its rules.)

The Active Retail Investor

You and I — the retail investor — may matter more to SpaceX’s IPO than index funds or other passive buyers. This year, individual investors have shown a strong tendency to chase winning stocks, which can make market moves bigger and more volatile. Much of that buying has been concentrated in semiconductor names such as Nvidia, Micron, SanDisk, and Advanced Micro Devices, as well as in leveraged ETFs tied to those trades.

Those gains are now large enough that retail investors could have an outsized influence on the IPO. If even a small share of recent profits is redirected into SpaceX, demand could be powerful relative to the limited number of shares available for trading.

That could lead to two clear outcomes. First, strong retail demand could push the stock well above expectations after the IPO. Second, investors may sell other recent winners to free up cash to buy SpaceX, which could create short-term pressure in parts of the broader market, especially in leveraged funds, where selling can have an amplified effect.

Investor enthusiasm around a SpaceX IPO may be adding fuel to an already stretched stock market. Many Wall Street strategists warn that AI-driven gains have pushed valuations toward historically elevated levels, increasing the risk of speculative excess. SpaceX could intensify those concerns: at nearly 110 times revenue and with no current profitability, its valuation would reflect exceptionally high expectations for future growth. Even at the peak of the late-1990s tech bubble, valuations generally topped out around 10 times revenue, making SpaceX’s projected multiple extraordinary by historical standards.

Still, the IPO market may suggest a different conclusion. More than 1,100 companies went public during the buildup to the tech bubble from 1998 to 2000 before the market eventually broke. By contrast, only about 235 IPOs have come to market over the past three years, including SpaceX and others expected later this year. If IPO volume offers any signal about the broader market, the current rally may still have room to run.

As always, it is difficult to predict if the SpaceX IPO moves the market to even loftier heights, or marks a turning point whereby stocks come back to earth. Either way, it will be one hell of a ride — pun intended.

Jeffrey Liguori is executive vice president of Bradley Foster & Sargent Inc.

Why a Negotiated Contract Is Critical

By Contributor June 23, 2026

Law

If It Cannot Run the Deal, It Cannot Protect the Business

By Tanzi Cannon-Eckerle, Esq.

Contracts are supposed to reflect the ‘meeting of the minds’ of the contracting parties. Yes, that is a legal term. It means the contract is supposed to be well thought out, and that, when Monday morning arrives and something goes sideways, as it inevitably does, both sides should understand the deal the same way.

A contract should not be a stack of recycled clauses, optimistic assumptions, and whatever someone copied from the last transaction. It should be a negotiated operating framework that turns business expectations into actual obligations, decision rights, escalation paths, and exit routes. If the document does not tell the business what performance is expected and what happens when performance slips, costs rise, or milestones move, it is not done. It is simply signed. And those are not the same thing.

By the way, I have heard from many business owners that they do not want to jinx the deal or upset the other company by negotiating or making changes to the contract. Negotiating material terms of the contract is not an offensive act. It is a thoughtful and prudent act, and it is expected by the courts. Furthermore, most companies want to do business with savvy companies that have transparent and honest business practices. A heavily negotiated contract is the epitome of transparent — when you draft what you mean.

When the Contract Is Vague, the Dispute Is Already Brewing

Most contract failures do not begin with villains or cinematic betrayal. They begin with imprecision. Most people leave the signing table thinking the business terms are clear, and then the team responsible for delivery opens the agreement and finds words like ‘timely,’ ‘reasonable,’ ‘commercially acceptable,’ and ‘best efforts.’

“A contract should not be a stack of recycled clauses, optimistic assumptions, and whatever someone copied from the last transaction. It should be a negotiated operating framework that turns business expectations into actual obligations, decision rights, escalation paths, and exit routes.”

Those are legal terms with legal meaning for sure. But for operational purposes, those phrases are only workable right up until a launch date slips, a service level is missed, or a deliverable turns out to be neither clearly defined nor practically achievable. The terms need to be clearly defined in plain language and measurable. Otherwise, operators are set up to fail, and a dispute is teed up for the first round of litigation.

What smart leaders do instead: they force the contract to say what the deal actually is. Deadlines. Service levels. Acceptance criteria. Payment triggers. Dependencies. Who approves what. What happens if any of those things fail. If a supplier reads a delivery date as aspirational and the customer has built a production schedule around it as fixed, the dispute did not begin later. It began in the drafting. The same goes for “full onboarding support,” “industry standard quality,” or “small event.” Those are not terms; those are opinions. If the contract leaves core obligations to assumption, the parties are not aligned. They are simply optimistic. Draft what you mean.

Boilerplate Is Where Leverage Hides

Executives sometimes treat boilerplate as background noise — the legal equivalent of the fine print nobody reads on the back of the shampoo bottle. That is a mistake. Those supposedly standard provisions often determine where a dispute gets decided, how notice must be given, whether a missed deadline can be cured, what damages are recoverable, and whether a party can force performance or is left holding a claim for money after the operational damage is already done. Boilerplate is often where the real allocation of business risk is hiding in plain sight. Don’t just cut and paste.

I have seen contracts Frankensteined together from well-loved templates where one clause requires litigation in Massachusetts and another mandates arbitration in New York. That is not efficiency. That is deferred cost wearing a nice suit. The same is true when a company signs a form saying time is ‘of the essence’ while the internal team is quietly thinking, ‘well, within reason.’ If the contract says one thing and operations is prepared to do another, legal will eventually be cleaning up the misunderstanding with invoices attached.

The operational takeaway: treat every clause that affects timing, money, remedies, notice, forum, exclusivity, or termination as a business term. If it changes leverage when something goes wrong, it is not filler.

If You Did Not Negotiate the Exit, You Did Not Finish the Deal

A surprising number of contracts explain (at length) how to begin a relationship and then get very coy about how to end one. That is a problem. There is nothing wrong with a prenup. Every meaningful agreement should address not only termination for cause and termination for convenience, but also what happens when one party signals ahead of time that it is not going to perform. That is called ‘anticipatory breach.’

It is not letting anyone off the hook, either — it is smart and practical and anticipates that things happen. If your supplier tells you in June that it cannot possibly make a September delivery, you should not be forced to sit there politely until the formal breach date arrives like some sort of legal waiting room.

What belongs in the contract: clear, practicable, and articulable exit rights. Who can terminate, on what grounds, after what notice, with what cure period, and with what post-termination duties. Can the customer walk for convenience on 30 or 60 days notice? Does the vendor get paid for work properly performed and non-cancelable commitments? Is there transition support or data return? And if anticipatory breach is in play, define what statements or conduct count, whether adequate assurances can be demanded, and how long the other side has to respond.

Remedies Deserve the Same Level of Practical Thinking

If delay creates measurable but hard-to-prove harm, liquidated damages may make sense, but only if they are drafted as a reasonable pre-estimate of likely loss. In real life, that means tying the number to something you can explain with a straight face: downtime costs, lost margin on delayed production, replacement costs, service credit exposure, or the carrying cost of idle labor and equipment. Where money is not enough, the contract should also preserve the right to seek specific performance and injunctive relief. Courts do not hand those remedies out automatically. If they matter, draft it.

A Signed Contract Still Needs an Owner

Even an excellent contract can fail if nobody owns execution after signature. This is why contract management should not be treated as clerical aftercare. It should be part of someone’s official duties, with authority and accountability to monitor milestones, approvals, change orders, notice deadlines, renewal dates, pricing adjustments, service levels, insurance certificates, and termination triggers. Once the agreement is signed, someone should be responsible for translating it into operational reality for the people who now have to live inside it.

What that looks like in the real world: a company misses an automatic renewal cutoff because no one owned the calendar, and suddenly it is committed to another year of underperforming service it never wanted. Strong contract management does not eliminate risk. It catches the problem before it grows teeth.

What Smart Operators Negotiate Up Front

For CEOs and COOs, the playbook is not academic. It is operational discipline in legal form:

• Write in executable terms. If the people running the deal cannot tell what happens next, the document is not ready.

• Negotiate for failure, not just success. Define what counts as breach, anticipatory breach, delay, non-conformity, and inadequate assurance.

• Build an exit before you need one. Termination rights, cure periods, transition support, data return, and payment consequences should be explicit. This is not expecting failure; it is just being prepared.

• Match remedies to real business harm. Use liquidated damages where losses are hard to measure, and preserve specific performance or injunctive relief where money is not enough.

• Assign an owner after signature. Contract management should be an actual responsibility, not an assumption. It is an essential function.

• Document changes while the relationship is healthy. If scope, pricing, or deadlines move, the paper should move with them. Review contracts often.

Heavily negotiated contracts are often the cheapest contracts a company will ever sign. The time spent clarifying scope, defining remedies, pressure-testing exit rights, and aligning the document with actual operations is almost always less expensive than litigating ambiguity later. A good general counsel does not just mark up clauses and hand back a cleaner draft. The job is to translate business reality into contractual architecture that protects the company when the relationship is working — and when it is not.

The Bottom Line for CEOs and COOs

Most contract disputes do not begin with dramatic table-flip moments. They begin with avoidable ambiguity, weak ownership, and a document that never captured how the business expected the relationship to function in real life. A contract must clearly express the deal, define the early warning signs of failure, and provide a practical off-ramp when performance breaks down. When that work is done well up front, companies spend less time arguing about what they meant and more time doing what they set out to do.

For more information about drafting contracts or fractional general counsel services, reach out to Tanzi Cannon-Eckerle at General Counsel by Cannon, PLLC, a New England-based labor and employment and business law firm offering fractional general counsel services in New England; [email protected]

BusinessWest Accepting Nominations for 2026 Healthcare Heroes

By BusinessWest Staff June 22, 2026

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — BusinessWest and HealthcareNews.com are now accepting nominations for the 10th annual Healthcare Heroes awards. Nominations for the Healthcare Heroes class of 2026 are due by Thursday, July 23, and may be submitted online by clicking here.

The Healthcare Heroes program was created in 2017 to honor the individuals and organizations working across the region’s vast, diverse, and essential healthcare and wellness sector. These leaders, innovators, and collaborators have devoted their careers to improving the quality of individual lives and the health of entire communities.

Since its inception, Healthcare Heroes has more than fulfilled its mission of identifying truly inspirational people and organizations — and sharing their compelling stories. Year after year, the program has highlighted outstanding achievements and contributions from throughout the healthcare and wellness industry.

For more information, contact Heather Leclerc, Marketing and Events director, at (413) 781-8600, ext. 100, or [email protected].

bankESB Promotes Stephanie Vincelette to VP, Human Resources Operations

By BusinessWest Staff June 22, 2026

Daily News

Stephanie Vincelette

EASTHAMPTON — bankESB announced the promotion of Stephanie Vincelette to vice president, Human Resources Operations, based at the bank’s 36 Main St. office in Easthampton.

Vincelette joined the bank in 2012 as a part-time payroll specialist and has steadily advanced throughout her tenure, demonstrating a strong commitment to operational excellence and employee support. She has held several key roles in the Human Resources department, including payroll manager and human resources operations officer. Most recently, she served as assistant vice president, Human Resources Operations.

In this expanded leadership role, Vincelette oversees the operations side of Human Resources, including payroll, benefits, compensation strategy, compliance, HRIS, and overall HR administration. The Human Resources Operations team serves as a shared services function across Hometown Financial Group, the parent company of bankESB, bankHometown, TruNorth Bank, and Hometown Mortgage, and has grown into a team of five under her leadership.

Vincelette holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Western New England University and is certified as a senior professional in human resources (SPHR). Her career progression reflects both her adaptability and her leadership throughout a period of organizational growth, including multiple mergers and acquisitions that expanded the scope of her responsibilities. She has played an integral role in scaling HR operations to meet evolving business needs.

“I’m passionate about mentoring, coaching, and developing our team as we continue to grow,” Vincelette said. “I truly believe a leader is only as strong as their team, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without their hard work and support.”

West of the River Chamber to Celebrate Opening of Cannabis Hut Dispensary

By BusinessWest Staff June 22, 2026

Daily News

WEST SPRINGFIELD — The West of the River Chamber of Commerce will welcome its newest member, Cannabis Hut Dispensary, with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, June 23 from 10 a.m. to noon at 1010 Union St. in West Springfield.

Cannabis Hut Dispensary is a locally owned and family-operated business committed to providing quality products, exceptional customer service, and a welcoming experience for adult consumers in the community. The new dispensary represents continued investment in West Springfield’s local business community and economic growth.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony will bring together chamber members, local business leaders, community supporters, and elected officials to celebrate this new addition to the local business landscape.

“We are excited to welcome Cannabis Hut Dispensary to the West of the River Chamber of Commerce and celebrate the opening of this family-owned business,” said Robin Wozniak, executive director of the chamber. “Supporting local entrepreneurs is at the heart of our mission, and we look forward to their success as part of our business community.”

Community members are invited to attend the celebration, meet the Cannabis Hut team, and learn more about the business.

United Way of Pioneer Valley to Host CLC Leaders Lounge Celebrating Summer Step Up

By BusinessWest Staff June 22, 2026

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — United Way of Pioneer Valley (UWPV) will host a Community Leadership Connect (CLC) Leaders Lounge on Wednesday, July 9 from 8:30 to 10 a.m. to celebrate the Summer Step Up (SSUP) initiative and connect critical community resources. The event will be held at UWPV’s offices in the TD Bank building, 1441 Main St., Springfield. Click here to register.

The Summer Step Up grant expands access to summer learning in early education across the region. Funded through the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and administered by United Way of Massachusetts Bay, the grant is supported locally by United Way of Pioneer Valley, which provides oversight and resource coordination for participating agencies. In Springfield, grantees include Square One and the Springfield Boys & Girls Club; in Holyoke, grantees include Valley Opportunity Council and Holyoke Public Schools. Together, these local agencies are receiving $300,000 to broaden summer learning opportunities for area children.

This summer’s funding will support approximately 158 youth in six weeks of summer programming throughout July and August, with transportation provided so that more families can take part, and will fund 541 hours of professional development for early education staff.

Created in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic, the grant helps families with young children access expanded summer education as their children prepare to enter school age and transition into the coming school year. The programming’s earlier success in preparing youth for school led to its continuation and expansion, allowing more children and families to benefit each year. The funding supports increased professional development for early education staff, transportation assistance, and enrollment of children whose families do not have a childcare voucher.

As part of UWPV’s CLC Leaders Lounge series, the July 9 coffee hour will bring grantees together with the local resources they have identified as most critical to the families they serve. These include United Way Pioneer Valley’s own direct services — its Basic Needs and Financial Wellness programs — alongside regional partners the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts and 413Cares, a local online resource directory. Each week, UWPV’s Basic Needs programs serve between 400 and 600 households, and its Thrive Financial Wellness program supports roughly 500 individuals each year. UWPV is a member agency of the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts and an outreach partner for 413Cares.

The CLC Leaders Lounge is an ongoing offering of United Way Pioneer Valley that convenes local leaders to solve problems collaboratively and support leadership development across Western Mass. This session is designed both to highlight summer early education programming through Summer Step Up and to help partners connect programs and resources more effectively for the families who depend on them. Grantees, those involved in the resources being highlighted, and anyone interested in — or who has something to add to — the conversation on supporting families through early education, both in and outside of school, are welcome to attend.

James Krupienski, Partner, Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C.: Leading by Example

By Ryan Leary June 22, 2026

Business Talk Podcast Special Coverage

With new episodes airing every other Monday, BusinessTalk features in-depth interviews and discussions with local industry leaders who offer thoughtful perspectives on the Western Massachusetts economy and the many business ventures that keep it running. BusinessTalk is sponsored and presented by Greenfield Cooperative Bank.

Go HERE to view all episodes

Episode 259: June 22, 2026

George O’Brien talks with James Krupienski, Partner at Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C, and 2026 Alumni Achievement Award Winner

When James Krupienski was named to BusinessWest’s 40 Under Forty class of 2010, he was CPA manager for the Health Care and Pension Audit Divisions at Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C. (MBK). Now, he’s one of six partners who together manage all operations at the firm. But it takes much more than a change in title to be named Alumni Achievement Award winner, as James was earlier this month. That prestigious honor reflects how much an individual has accomplished since joining the 40 Under Forty club, and James has excelled not just at his job, but as a mentor to many young people entering the accounting field, and as someone who gives back to the community in many ways, both through his own volunteerism and the way he encourages the firm to support local causes. On the next episode of BusinessTalk, James talks with BusinessWest contributing writer George O’Brien about all of that, and why it’s so gratifying. It’s must listening, so tune into BusinessTalk, a podcast presented by BusinessWest over both audio and video platforms, and sponsored by Greenfield Cooperative Bank.

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STCC Earns Second Place Nationally in Community College Innovation Challenge

By BusinessWest Staff June 22, 2026

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) students earned second place in the 2026 Community College Innovation Challenge (CCIC), a prestigious national competition sponsored by the American Assoc. of Community Colleges (AACC) in partnership with the National Science Foundation (NSF).

STCC was one of only 12 community colleges nationwide selected as finalists and the only community college in Massachusetts to advance to the competition’s final round. The student team presented its innovative project, HydroShield, during a poster session on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on June 9 before congressional leaders, including U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, STEM leaders, and a panel of judges.

HydroShield is a replaceable washing machine filter designed to capture microplastic fibers before they enter waterways. The low-cost system uses a specialized coated textile layer and a sensor that alerts users when the filter needs replacement. The innovation aims to reduce microplastic pollution, improve water quality, and address long-term environmental health concerns.

The STCC team consisted of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society students Shahmeer Ali, Vincent Githiri, and Sophia Landrau, who graduated in May with an associate degree in biology. The team worked under the guidance of Associate Professor of Biological Sciences and PTK advisor Reena Randhir.

“Congratulations to our talented students for this remarkable accomplishment,” said John Cook, STCC president. “As Massachusetts’ only technical community college, STCC has always focused on connecting classroom learning with practical solutions that improve lives and strengthen communities. We are incredibly proud of Shahmeer, Vincent, and Sophia for earning national recognition under the guidance of Dr. Randhir, who recently was honored as Faculty of the Year at STCC.”

Randhir described the accomplishment as “an extraordinary achievement for Sophia, Shahmeer, and Vincent, and a proud moment for us.

“Their success reflects months of research, teamwork, and perseverance. Their courage to believe that their ideas can protect our water, advance U.N. One Health, and create meaningful change is truly inspiring,” she added. “I am deeply grateful to the organizers [AACC and NSF[, inspiring interactions with the other brilliant finalist teams, and for the priceless friendships we formed along the way.”

The Community College Innovation Challenge, now in its 10th year, encourages entrepreneurial thinking among community college students by challenging them to develop science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)-based solutions to real-world problems. This year’s finalist projects addressed issues ranging from food insecurity and water quality to search and rescue operations, energy efficiency, infrastructure, education accessibility, and fraud prevention.

As finalists, the STCC students participated in an Innovation Boot Camp in Washington, D.C., where they worked with entrepreneurs, industry experts, and business leaders on topics including strategic communication, stakeholder engagement, business planning, and marketplace dynamics. The experience culminated in presentations before judges and a public showcase on Capitol Hill.

According to AACC, the 2026 finalist projects showcased student-led innovations that protect the environment, improve infrastructure, and advance public health and safety.

“You have distinguished yourself as creative thinkers and problem solvers,” AACC President and CEO DeRionne Pollard told the students during the event, according to a Community College Daily article.

The first-place award was presented to SUNY Broome Community College of New York for its Hands-on Quantum Education project. STCC earned second place for HydroShield, and De Anza College of California received third place for the Micro-Buoy project.

Massachusetts’ Unemployment Rate Drops to 4.5% in May

By BusinessWest Staff June 22, 2026

Daily News

BOSTON – The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) released Massachusetts unemployment and job estimates for May, with preliminary data indicating that payroll jobs decreased by 2,900 for the month, following a revised increase of 7,400 jobs in April.

Massachusetts has added more than 17,600 payroll jobs, including 14,100 private sector jobs, since September. Preliminary data also shows the May unemployment rate dropped to 4.5%, and labor force participation rate decreased slightly to 65.4%.

BLS categories with the strongest growth month-over-month for Massachusetts employment in May include government; education and health services; trade, transportation, and utilities; and information.

“The unemployment rate fell this month to its lowest level since last August,” said Mark Rembert, chief economist with EOLWD’s Department of Economic Research. “At the same time, we continue to see shifts in the labor force as more older workers retire. Combined with elevated job posting activity, these trends suggest the labor market could continue to tighten through the summer.”

The Reese Fund to Host Day of Compassion on June 24

By BusinessWest Staff June 22, 2026

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — On Wednesday, June 24, the public is invited to come together, online and in person, for a powerful, 24‑hour Day of Compassion fundraiser supporting the Reese Fund, created in honor of Reese, a dog who endured unimaginable cruelty at the hands of a human. Today, the fund provides emergency medical and recovery care for animals who have experienced severe neglect, cruelty, or abuse.

Participants’ generosity will also help support the Reese Pet Food Initiative, a new partnership with Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen in Chicopee. This program provides pet food and supplies, both onsite and through a mobile delivery service, to families who need extra support to keep their pets healthy, safe, and at home where they belong.

From midnight to midnight on June 24, the organization will raise funds online, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., all are invited to stop by the Thomas J. O’Connor Animal Control and Adoption Center at 627 Cottage St. in Springfield for an in‑person pet food drive. Among the requested items are dog and cat food (wet and dry), treats (no rawhides), and new toys.

Attendees will be able to enjoy lunch from Wandering Waffles and check out the exclusive Reese Day T‑shirt, available both online and onsite at TJO for one day only.

“Please consider making a gift on June 24 to the Reese Fund Day of Compassion,” organizers said. “We have a goal to raise $10,000 for the Reese Fund and to collect 400 pounds of pet food for Lorraine’s. Together, we can give animals a second chance, keep pets fed, and strengthen the bond between people and their animals.”

CISA Helps Drive the Region’s Farming Community

By George O'Brien June 22, 2026

Cover Story Features

Experts in Their Field

Jennifer Core is certainly familiar with the myriad challenges facing the region’s farms these days.

Indeed, she and her husband, Olivier Flagollet, operate Heddy Bell Farm, a livestock farm in rural Warwick, specializing in beef, lamb, pork, Thanksgiving turkeys, and more.

“We see it all, every day,” said Core, who, through that operation, became familiar with, and supportive of, the nonprofit agency CISA (Community Involved with Sustaining Agriculture) and its broad mission to build a stronger, more resilient, and more just local food system.

So supportive, in fact, that when longtime Executive Director Phil Korman retired in 2025, she sought to succeed him in that role.

One of CISA’s primary missions is to promote the region’s nearly 2,000 farms and everything they produce.

“CISA has been this cherished place in my heart and mind for a long time,” she said. “I feel fortunate to have landed at CISA, where we celebrate all the farms in this area and talk about the issues that impact farms, educate and engage the community — and now, I get to see it from the other side.”

For this issue, we talked at length with Core and others at CISA about the state of farming in Western Mass., and about CISA’s mission and how it carries it out.

Regarding the former, she said this region boasts a strong, vibrant farming community, one that is diverse — everything from livestock to vegetables; hay to fruit trees — and features many young, first-generation operators. But it’s also one that, like farms across the country, faces numerous challenges.

“According to a recent legislative report, two-thirds of the farms in Massachusetts are earning about 95.5 cents for every dollar they spend on their farm operations.”

They range from various climate change-induced weather extremes — at present, it’s persistent drought — to succession issues involving the many family farms that remain, to the pressures facing all large landowners during an ongoing housing crisis.

And then, there’s simple economics.

“According to a recent legislative report, two-thirds of the farms in Massachusetts are earning about 95.5 cents for every dollar they spend on their farm operations,” she said. “And that’s important to understand … that’s not sustainable, and that’s why many farmers need multiple careers.

“If I were ever to be stuck on an island with one other person in the world, I would want it to be a farmer — because farmers tend to know how to do a lot of things, how to problem solve, and how to work really hard creatively,” she went on. “And that is asked of them every day in this economy, in the recent past and moving forward.”

From left, Claire Morton, Margaret Christie, and Jennifer Core handle the many aspects of CISA’s broad mission.

And CISA exists essentially to assist farmers with all they must confront, said Margaret Christie, special projects director, who has been with the agency almost from its beginning in in the early ’90s. And this assistance comes in many forms, from workshops on issues ranging from succession to irrigation to climate change, to targeted programs such as the Local Hero ‘buy local’ campaign and an emergency farm fund that provides zero-interest loans to assist farmers and farm businesses struggling to meet their immediate needs in the aftermath of severe weather events and other emergencies.

“We try to be a one-stop shop, which doesn’t mean we can solve every problem that every person has,” said Christie, who, like others we spoke with, described CISA as a resource, but also an important connector, linking farmers with experts and information.

Claire Morenon, CISA’s communications manager, agreed, noting that many of the agency’s initiatives, and part of its mission, is to create opportunities to both support the region’s farmers and address food insecurity issues in the region.

Such efforts include the Senior Farmshare program, which subsidizes summer CSAs for low-income seniors, and HIP (Healthy Incentives Program), which offers individuals and families in the Bay State receiving SNAP benefits an automatic rebate on purchases of fruits and vegetables from farmers markets, farm stands, mobile markets, and CSAs.

“We talk about that program being a win-win program — it increases food access for low-income people, but it’s also an important revenue stream for farmers,” Morenon said. “In larger conversations about policy and how we want to see our local food system be supported in a more general sense, we’re thinking about solutions that are at the intersection of benefiting the larger community, but also providing really important financial support for farms.”

By the Numbers

Core told BusinessWest that the latest census data shows there are nearly 2,000 farms across Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden counties (CISA’s service area), 94% of them are family farms, and about one-third of them sell directly to consumers through farmstands, CSAs, and farmers markets. The value of what’s produced in the three-county area is more than $162 million, she noted, adding that this is more than one-third of what’s produced across the Bay State.

The buy-local thrust so critical to its messaging is essentially how CISA started.

The most popular crops are mixed vegetables, feed corn, hay, and tobacco, she went on, adding that many of those managing area farms would be considered first generation, an encouraging sign for the region.

“The vast majority of the farms in this area are new and beginning farmers, meaning they’re first-generation farmers,” Core said. “Many came to this region for school — our higher education activities in this region draw young people, and we’re talking more about food systems at the university level than ever, which piques a lot of interest.

“A lot of folks who come to farming from a values perspective or an academic interest may not stay in production farming,” she went on. “But they may end up in ag-adjacent careers, system careers, so it is driving a tremendous amount of economic activity.”

When asked how these farms, and all the region’s farms, are doing, she said they are holding their own given all they have to contend with.

“There are a few compounding factors at play right now. Climate is one; the norm now is that farmers have to be ready for any possibility all the time, and that’s a pretty risky endeavor and a costly endeavor. We’ve had late frosts, we’ve had early frosts, we’ve had drought, we’ve had extreme precipitation events, flooding events … and all of those take a toll on crop production in our area.

“That is combined with incredibly increased input costs,” she went on, listing everything from gasoline to fertilizer. And then, there’s a pinch in the agricultural labor market with recent immigration efforts, “which have created an incredible amount of stress on the agricultural workforce, which is a very skilled and valued workforce in our area.”

All this helps explain why many farmers need other sources of income, usually second jobs, said Core, adding that this is an understandably difficult proposition given how taxing farm work is.

“We try to be a one-stop shop, which doesn’t mean we can solve every problem that every person has.”

And it also explains why farm owners are feeling extreme pressure when it comes to keeping their land devoted to farming.

“There’s tremendous development pressure — both housing and solar pressure,” she told BusinessWest. “It’s a lot easier to put solar on agricultural land — it’s flat and accessible. And there’s a vulnerability in farming … when we think about farm transitions and succession planning, that’s a very vulnerable moment for the farmland itself if it’s not protected.

“We’re lucky to live in a state that has exceptional farmland protection programs — that’s something we should all be proud of, that our taxpayer dollars do protect farmland,” she went on. “But farmers are particularly vulnerable for financial reasons; most of the farm equity serves as retirement funds for retiring farmers, most of the time. Balancing and weighing the tradeoffs of how you can pass the business on to another grower or whether you need to liquidate your assets is a tricky moment and an incredibly personal decision, but a decision that could actually impact all of us.”

Planting Seeds

When asked what climate change has brought to this region and those 2,000 farms, Christie said it’s not one specific pattern such as warmer temperatures or more rain.

Profitability has become a key issue for area farms.

“The short answer is that weather is less predictable and more extreme, meaning that we’re more likely to have drought and more likely to have floods,” she explained. “Our rain tends to come in bigger, more precipitous events — we get more rainfall in shorter periods of time rather than more gentle rainfall that is spread out, and that causes drainage problems and erosion problems, and can cause flooding, as we saw in 2023.

“Sometimes, people think that, ‘well, if the climate’s getting warmer, we’ll just be able to grow things that normally don’t grow well here because we’re too far north — all we have to do is shift our product mix,’” she went on. “But, in fact, the weather is getting more erratic and more extreme, so it’s more difficult to plan and make adjustments.”

Helping farmers cope with these extremes and unpredictability is just one of many forms of assistance provided by CISA, she continued, adding that such help generally falls into one of three buckets: business support, including training and technical assistance for both farm and food businesses; promotion of local farms and communication about agriculture and local food; and “making the system work bett`er,” as she put it, meaning the larger system of both farming and food access.

And a big part of that category is advocacy, she went on, adding that this takes many forms, including work to monitor progress on both the federal and state farm bills now working their way through the legislative process, and help ensure that they support that constituency.

Overall, CISA does act as a connector, Christie said, adding that, for some issues, the agency can and will refer farmers to groups such as the UMass Cooperative Extension for production issues, and Land for Good for succession matters.

Promotion of the region’s farms is one of the key aspects of CISA’s mission, Morenon said, adding that the primary goals are to inform area residents of all that is produced in the region and then encourage local buying.

And a key instrument in this work is the Local Hero campaign, the longest-running ‘buy local’ program in the country. It has grown into a comprehensive public awareness and marketing effort with 400 local business members, including farms, farmers markets, distributors, butcher shops, and more.

“This was one of the first ideas that CISA was founded on — the idea that using mainstream media tools to promote local farms and local farm products could be a really powerful way to help farms survive, and not just survive but thrive,” Morenon told BusinessWest, adding that the initiative includes advertisements to alert residents about what’s in season as well as an online database of farms that are part of CISA’s program, detailing what they grow and where their products can be found.

“A lot of other communications work is about helping farmers and other local food businesses tell their own stories,” she went on. “And that’s about highlighting the people who are part of this larger food system and helping them make connections to the community around them.”

This buy-local thrust was essentially how CISA started, she continued, adding that it has branched out in different directions since, including technical assistance and programs designed to address both food insecurity and the needs of farmers.

And that technical assistance takes several forms and addresses a number of issues, from immigration to disaster response, with many of them involving the larger issue of profitability, said Christie, citing those numbers mentioned earlier, as well as the attention given to inflation and the higher cost of going to the grocery store.

Often lost in that dialogue is the plight of farmers producing those products.

“We have prioritized low prices for food, even though, right now, food prices feel high to many people, and they’re not wrong — food prices are high,” she noted. “No one would blame people for wanting prices to come down, but it’s also true that we don’t really pay enough for food to ensure that farmers can pay their workers well, take care of their land, and make sure that their own families are able to be comfortable and send their kids to college and plan for retirement.”

Educating the public on such matters is just one of the many ways CISA goes about its mission of helping farmers grow crops, but also grow their business.

Greenfield Savings Bank’s State House Visit Emphasizes Collaboration

By Joseph Bednar June 22, 2026

Features Special Coverage

Back on the Bus

Secretary Eric Paley says Massachusetts will not thrive as it should unless all regions of the Commonwealth, from the 413 to the 617, are doing well.

Eric Paley calls it “one of my biggest concerns — maybe my biggest concern that keeps me up at night.”

Specifically, “we have a very robust economy, but there’s tremendous economic dispersion. So how do we handle the fact that we have this K-shaped economy throughout Massachusetts?” said Paley, Massachusetts’ secretary of Economic Development, using a term for an uneven growth environment where different segments of the economy or population experience different outcomes.

And in grappling with that question, he knows he’s accountable to not only dozens of sectors, but 351 municipalities.

“The people on the ground, they’re the ones who know what matters in their community,” he went on. “So we can’t sit here thinking we know all the answers to solving the problems in those communities.”

In the spirit of mutual education, communication, and collaboration, Greenfield Savings Bank hosted its third annual bus tour to the State House on June 3, bringing about 50 regional business and nonprofit leaders to Boston to speak with legislators and department and committee chairs about economic development, discuss issues ranging from housing to clean energy to transportation, and hear about the legislative process that moves the needle on all of it.

The importance of those “people on the ground” is why Paley conducts roundtables in local communities, he said, in addition to the one that came to him on this occasion, as he gave the main address over lunch in a Senate meeting room.

“It’s why I want to talk to the bankers — because the bankers tend to invest in and support businesses that, on paper, make no sense whatsoever. It’s because they know the people, and they’re willing to commit and support those people,” he said. “Sometimes people have misconceptions about bankers, but community banks step up in ways that are extraordinary, and I see it all the time.”

Tara Brewster, Greenfield Savings Bank’s vice president of Business Development and director of Philanthropy, said the annual trip keeps building on previous successes.

“We have new people on the bus each year, making meaningful connections with each other in the 413 as we travel to the 617, to the State House, to make meaningful connections with the elected officials there,” she told BusinessWest on the ride home. “We heard from so many amazing elected officials, senators, representatives, chairs, all listening about how they want to help all of Massachusetts strengthen each other.

“We have amazing elected officials, and we know they do the hard work every day, every week, every month, to really champion us in Western Massachusetts, and it was time for us to start doing some of our own heavy lifting for them,” Brewster added, describing how the annual trip came together two years ago. “So this has been such an incredible trip, so meaningful, toward collaboration, friendship making, bridge building, and convening of Western Mass. constituents, both nonprofit and for-profit.”

“The people on the ground, they’re the ones who know what matters in their community. So we can’t sit here thinking we know all the answers to solving the problems in those communities.”

Paley pointed to a February report by JPMorgan Chase & Co. that surveyed business owners nationwide. Among Massachusetts employers, positivity about their own business was well above the national average, but when asked about the overall economy, they were much less positive than the national average.

“When I go to groups of business owners, a lot of people start shaking their heads and tell me, ‘I worry about it.’ But why are we so negative?” he went on. “I think some of it is, we are disproportionately affected by a lot of the federal policies today. The whole country’s felt a lot of volatility around this. You think of something like tariffs — we are a very heavy exporter of money. That doesn’t explain it alone, but that is key.

“Then there’s immigration — we are a top five immigration state. I didn’t know that we have more immigration per capita in Massachusetts than Texas does; that kind of blew me away. But as we’ve seen ICE crackdowns and all this anti-immigration stuff, the sense that people can’t get visas, borders are closed … I think that’s created a lot of anxiety. Some people are not coming to work because they’re so worried about raids.

“And then the biggest one that I think is unique to us is our research economy, which is a huge engine of our overall economy,” Paley explained. “We get more federal research dollars than any state in the country, and there’s been a huge cutback in federal research. So a lot of the universities are really struggling. UMass is a really great example of that, but every major research institution has massive uncertainty.”

Developing Matters

Peter Albero says legislators have responded positively to Greenfield Savings Bank’s annual bus trip.

In another session on June 3, Carole Fiola, House chair of the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, addressed a number of topics, including the importance of both collaboration and persistence when it comes to getting things done — because no projects move as quickly as their proponents would like.

As one example, she cited South Coast Rail, a $1 billion project connecting Boston and Southeastern Mass. that was 30 years in the planning and development before coming to fruition last year.

“With 351 cities and towns, everyone wants the attention of the administration; everybody wants that infrastructure grant, right?” Fiola said. “So you’ve got to be focused, you’ve got to have a good message, you’ve got to have an idea of how the funding streams can work, and the private-public partnerships that would be needed.”

Especially over a 30-year timeline, she added, “administrations change. Some of the community leaders change. And as elected officials move and change, priorities can change — but if your priority hasn’t changed, you’ve got to stay with it. I can’t repeat that enough because, finally, after 30 years, it happened.”

Later, Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities Juana Mattias said constituents need to bring similar energy and persistence to matters like housing stock, which has become a serious concern for communities of all sizes across Western Mass.

“Showing up to those town meetings, showing up to those discussions and saying, ‘this is where the business community stands,’ ‘this is where the nonprofit community stands,’ writing op-eds in your local newspaper, all makes a huge difference,” Mattias noted. “We have to organize and understand, who are the partners at the state level, at the regional level? What are the stories we’re bringing to the forefront?

“It’s reminding [state and local leaders], ‘you had an opportunity to raise your family. Your kids had an opportunity to leverage the public school system. What we want to do is make sure that other people have the same opportunity.’ It has huge implications on our ability to remain the state that we are. So organizing and leveraging your voices is critically important.”

Others who spoke to the bus trip participants included state Sens. Jo Comerford and Barry Finegold and state Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa, and the day concluded with a tour of the State House. But the liveliest conversation emerged from Paley’s talk, which touched on everything from Community One Stop for Growth, a streamlined application portal and collaborative review process of grant programs, to a recent effort to lower LLC filing fees for small businesses.

“We are a global competitor. People don’t even realize, if Massachusetts were a country, we would be the fourth most productive economy in the world by GDP per capita,” he said. “So we want to attract global investment. We get a lot of it anyway, but we need to really build business development programs and activities around this.”

He also touted a ‘one Massachusetts’ model, noting that “people in Greater Boston need to understand Boston ultimately will not thrive if the whole state is not thriving. The rest of the state also needs to appreciate it; if the region inside 128 or 495 is not thriving, the rest of the state won’t. We are one state.”

“We have amazing elected officials, and we know they do the hard work every day, every week, every month, to really champion us in Western Massachusetts, and it was time for us to start doing some of our own heavy lifting for them.”

Paley also discussed continuing conversations around affordability in Massachusetts and how that affects outmigration, and, as a related matter, the importance of talent capture amid all that movement. “We think we have the best talent engine in the world,” he noted, “but a disproportionate percentage of it leaves.”

Keeping the Conversation Alive

State Sen. Jo Comerford addresses a gathering of about 50 Western Mass. business and nonprofit leaders at the State House.

A former venture capitalist who shifted to a career in public service, Paley said he’s constantly learning new things every day, and those emphases on learning, communication, and listening framed a busy day in Boston for the Western Mass. contingent.

“I’m learning stuff I’ve never seen before, being challenged in ways I’ve never been before,” he said. “I literally feel like the limit might be my capacity to learn as fast as I want to learn. I remember feeling like that in college, wishing there was a way to inject the knowledge. I feel that way again. It’s been incredibly exciting and challenging.”

Peter Albero, president and CEO of Greenfield Savings Bank, said he hoped all the guests on the bus trip embraced the same spirit of learning and collaboration.

“We think it’s important for Greenfield Savings Bank to bring all these organizations in Western Massachusetts to Boston to voice their concerns and hear directly from the legislators about what they’re doing to address those concerns,” he told BusinessWest.

“We think, as a community bank, one of our main missions is to bring the community together, and we think this is one of the best ways we can do it,” he added. “This is our third year in a row doing this, and when we talk to legislators, they think it’s important for us to continue to do this year in and year out. So we’ll be back next year and in the years to come.”

Dr. Andrew Lam Keeps Writing New Chapters

By George O'Brien June 22, 2026

Features Special Coverage Where Are They Now?

Dr. Andrew Lam inside the restored Brewer-Young mansion

Where Are They Now?

It’s called the ‘Cobra Effect.’

And Dr. Andrew Lam is more than happy to explain.

“In India in the 1800s, the British in Delhi had a problem: there were too many cobras. So they said, ‘let’s make a bounty on cobras; if the people bring us a dead cobra, we’ll pay them,’” he explained. “At first, it seemed to be going great; they were getting all these cobras, and the native cobra population declined. But for some reason, the cobras kept coming, and they realized people were breeding cobras so they could get paid for them. So they stopped doing the bounty, and then the people released their cobras into the wild because they were worthless, and that increased the cobra population.

“It was a classic backfiring of a well-intended policy,” Lam went on, noting that he made this case part of a chapter in his latest book, called What Could Possibly Go Wrong? Unintended Consequences, Unnecessary Blunders, and the Urgency of Avoiding Tomorrow’s Mistakes.

It is expected to be released early next year, said Lam, who gave BusinessWest a sneak preview of sorts — a breakdown of tentatively titled chapters and cases to be explored within them.

In the chapter called “Resist the Easy Fix,” he looks at China’s one-child policy, price freezes, and rent controls. In one called “Assume Your Invention Will Be Misused,” he explores the work of the Wright Brothers, Alfred Nobel, and Richard Gatling, as well as developments such as AI. And in a chapter called “Do Good Carefully,” he addresses Prohibition and the Bay of Pigs.

We’ll get back to What Could Possibly Go Wrong? later. It represents just that latest … well, chapter in Lam’s story, and there are many of them, all ongoing.

Dr. Andrew Lam has written four books, with a fifth slated for release next year.

Let’s start with his day job. He’s a senior partner at New England Retina Consultants and professor at UMass Medical School. And there are his books, several of them now. The others are Saving Sight, in which he describes his life as a retinal surgeon while also telling the stories of doctors whose inventions make saving sight possible; Repentance, an award-winning novel drawn from the heroic story of a Japanese-American regiment that fought in World War II; Two Sons of China: A Novel of the Second World War; and The Masters of Medicine: Our Greatest Triumphs in the Race to Cure Humanity’s Deadliest Diseases.

And then, there’s his work in the community of Longmeadow. He started on the Historical Commission, later served on the Finance Committee, and, in 2024 was elected to the Board of Selectmen.

“I enjoy doing everything I can to help make Longmeadow better,” he said. “And I’m particularly passionate about helping to steer a prudent fiscal course.”

Meanwhile, Lam and partners Henry Clement and Chris Orszulak restored the historic Brewer-Young mansion on Longmeadow Street into co-working space called Modern Workspace. The venture, which had to endure its own battle to win approval from town board and, ultimately, town meeting voters, has successfully transformed the landmark, which had fallen into deep disrepair, into home for a wide array of professionals.

And just this past week, Lam gave the keynote speech as Longmeadow celebrated the nation’s 250th birthday party with an event on the town green.

Most of the above has happened since he was named a 40 Under Forty winner in 2014. Back then, he had two books published — Saving Sight and Two Sons of China — and was just starting to get involved with the town, on the Center School Council and Longmeadow Soccer Assoc., for example.

He’s added to the résumé in both realms, especially as a public servant, which he finds rewarding, but worlds apart from his work as a retinal surgeon, as he explained.

“I don’t think there’s anything as antithetical to the skills and attitude of being a surgeon as being in government,” he said. “As a surgeon, you learn to be decisive, and sometimes the stakes are extremely high. In government, it’s the exact opposite; it moves like molasses, and things that seem like common sense take a long time because of the process.”

For this latest installment in its Where Are They Now? series, we look at the many aspects of Lam’s life and career, and how he makes time for them all.

Learning from History

Dr. Andrew Lam in 2014, when he was named to the 40 Under Forty.

In his address to those assembled at Longmeadow’s 250th celebration, Lam offered some history lessons about men from Longmeadow who left their homes to travel to Boston the day after the battles of Lexington and Concord — men whose names now grace streets and open spaces in town: Captain Simon Colton, Medad Stebbins, and others.

He also offered some thoughts on the nation’s first 250 years and the forces that have shaped its trajectory.

“History shows us the story of American progress is not a straight line upward,” he said. “It has always involved setbacks, disagreements, sacrifice, and renewal. It has included grievous errors, from slavery to prejudice, nativism, and some wars fought abroad that contributed to untold havoc and suffering.

“We’ve made mistakes, but the difference between us and the monarchies and dictatorships of the past and present is that our system allows us to recognize those mistakes and correct them,” he went on. “We do not have to pretend we are perfect. We can believe we have an excellent form of government and that America can be a force for good in the world, without insisting that we are exceptional or somehow better than people in other nations.”

These comments display Lam’s passion for history, public service, and learning lessons from past mistakes with an eye toward not repeating them. And these passions have driven his writing, which covers considerable ground — from China during World War II to efforts to cure deadly diseases — and different genres.

“A smart author would only do the same kind of book every time because you make a ton of connections with reviewers and readers,” he explained. “When I did the historical novels, I got lots of connections with people who write blogs and reviewers and podcasts on that subject. And with the medical books, I made a lot of connections. But I can only write well if I’m really interested and fascinated by the subject.”

This mindset includes his latest effort, which is much more than a comprehensive listing of things that have gone wrong over the years, everything from plastic bag bans to desegregation busing; tariffs to geoengineering; the ill-fated bullet train between Los Angeles and San Francisco to overreaction to the ‘shoe bomber.’

It’s also a look into what drives these failures — the cognitive biases, emotional drivers, and systemic blind spots that consistently derail even the most thoughtful plans.

“With optimism bias, we plan for perfection,” he explained, adding that this mindset drives everything from cities staging the Olympics to towns (like Longmeadow) building new DPW facilities, to people scheduling their day and leaving for appointments. And this bias helps explain why things go wrong — and why people are late.

“People expect there to be no traffic, no parking problems — we do this all the time in our daily lives; we’ll leave at the last second, for everything,” he said, adding that this is just one tiny example of how thinking everything will go right is a major contributor to things ultimately going wrong.

By cataloging some of the more infamous things that have gone wrong over the years, Lam hopes these cautionary tales can perhaps prevent future calamities on many different scales.

“This book covers our worst mistakes in government, business, medicine, the military, and more,” he said. “The idea is to learn lessons from these errors and apply them to future problems.”

The Write Stuff

Like most authors, Lam said that, even before his latest book has been published, he’s thinking about the next one.

He has an idea, but isn’t ready to share it just yet. Suffice to say it will address something he’s passionate about — and that certainly covers a lot of ground.

Firm Commitment

By Joseph Bednar June 22, 2026

Features Law Special Coverage

From left: Frederick Sullivan, Meghan Sullivan, Gordon Quinn, and Layla Taylor.

Early in 2000, on one of her first days on the job at Sullivan, Hayes & Quinn, Meghan Sullivan visited a lead smelting and refining plant in New York, one of the firm’s clients.

Her father, Frederick, the founding partner who co-created the firm in 1976, asked the plant manager to give her a tour.

“I thought, all right, I’m going to go walk around the plant. And all of a sudden, I’m being sized up for the respirator mask for my face,” said Meghan, now managing partner. “I was in there climbing ladders to look down into smelters, and when I came out, I asked, ‘why did you make me spend three hours doing that?’ And he said, ‘so you understand.’

“It was a wonderful learning moment — that we are obligated to understand a client, more than just what their statement of purpose is when they file their incorporation, and to have as broad an experience as possible, so we can picture it when our client calls and says, ‘this is the issue we have today.’ We’re able to understand it and picture it so that we can give relevant advice, not just something out of a book that’s theoretical.”

And plenty has changed in the 50 years since Frederick Sullivan and Dick Hayes hung a shingle in Springfield. As the firm reflects on this milestone year, its attorneys also recognize the many changes that have emerged in labor and employment law over a half-century.

“When I joined the firm in 1990, there was no Family Medical Leave Act. The American Disabilities Act came online later in the year I joined,” Partner Gordon Quinn said. “The whole concept of sexual harassment in employment, was still a novel legal claim. And there’s been an explosion of laws that have happened since then.

“Just look at the leave laws,” he went on, citing not just the federal Family and Medical Leave Act, but Massachusetts’ Earned Sick Time and Paid Family and Medical Leave laws. “It’s become a much more challenging environment for employers because of this mushrooming of laws.”

“We’re able to understand it and picture it so that we can give relevant advice, not just something out of a book that’s theoretical.”

Frederick couldn’t have predicted all of that, but said he fell in love with this area of the law at at an early age and found someone equally enthusiastic when he met Hayes, and the rest is history — a constantly changing, evolving history.

In the beginning, he said, the primary focuses were union organizing, collective bargaining, strikes, and wage and hour issues, all working on behalf of the employer, as remains the case today. “But we have seen great changes within the discipline. And we were able to stay abreast of it — and try to stay ahead of it.”

“We’re all nimble,” Partner Layla Taylor said, and that goes for tools of the trade as well as ever-changing laws and regulations. “One of the things I’ve appreciated since I’ve been here is, whenever there’s a new technology or there’s a new thing that we need to adopt, we’re pretty quick to adopt it. We all recognize that we need to be able to speak with the same tools as our peers.”

The firm is also deeply collaborative, Quinn said.

“If I have an issue or a question about immigration law, I know I’m going to be talking to Layla. Or if there’s something that could involve a criminal issue, I’ll talk to Meghan. If it’s a really heavy-duty labor law issue, I’ll talk to Fred. We all have open-door policies, and we’re all in constant communication. We talk to each other.”

“We always looked upon ourselves as the partners of the entrepreneur, trying to accomplish what the entrepreneur sought, but to do it in a lawful way, in a way that was really the right way when it came to employees.”

And not only at formal meetings, he added. “We just go into each other’s offices. If it’s a complex issue, I’ll say, ‘have you handled an issue like this before?’ And that’s invaluable. We’re not all cubbyholing in our offices. We all interact with each other, ask each other questions. And I’ve found that very rewarding. I’ve always felt secure in the advice I give, not only from the research I do, but also being able to talk to people and work it out and think about things from a different perspective.”

Proactive Strategy

The partners emphasized that their roles don’t stop with actual issues that arise, and the negotiation and/or litigation that follows. That’s where experiences like the lead plant tour come in — Sullivan, Hayes & Quinn prioritizes understanding a client’s business inside and out, so they can identify potential employee issues and legal landmines that might arise, before it’s too late.

“As much as everyone wants to avoid litigation, we all feel very fortunate that we consistently have clients who are just inclined to do what they’re supposed to do — to do the right thing and be fair,” Meghan said. “So that’s nice, when we come in and navigate situations that can feel very complex. We also know that our clients are partners with us in trying to make sure that the way that they’re treating their employees is the way that they would want to be treated, or would want their own family members to be treated.”

Quinn agreed. “A typical question might be, ‘we have an employee, and there’s an absentee issue there.’ We try to be proactive, obviously, to help them navigate those laws to avoid what we call landmines — a misstep that could lead to costly litigation and vast defense costs. So the proliferation of all these laws — and that’s just in the leave and absence area — have made it a lot more interesting for us, and a lot more challenging for our clients.”

From the very beginning, Frederick said, “going back to the days of Dick Hayes and myself, we always looked upon ourselves as the partners of the entrepreneur, trying to accomplish what the entrepreneur sought, but to do it in a lawful way, in a way that was really the right way when it came to employees, because that went to the question of productivity, too.

“So it’s been an interesting 50 years, with the people that we’ve met. We’ve worked with casinos. We’ve worked with convents. We’ve worked with zoos, hospitals, colleges, museums, public sector employers in schools and towns … just about every type of employer. And we’ve met wonderful people along the way who basically wanted to do the right thing. They wanted to be successful, and they realized there is a real art to managing people.”

Meghan said she enjoys the educational aspect of the job, as it applies to helping companies understand how — and why — to do the right thing.

“I love doing trainings. Whether I’m presenting to college professors or third-shift factory workers, I know that I have an ability to take this abyss of legal compliance and make it understandable.

“Every employment law, just like every labor law, gets presented as if it’s an employer’s obligation and an employee’s right,” she went on. “But frequently, they’re mutual rights and mutual obligations. So I love that part of the work that we do, where we get to go into this diverse set of workforces with vastly different types of jobs and talk about what it means to be an employee or a supervisor and the fact that it is mutual.”

And she understands the limits of legal consulting, especially when it runs into bottom-line issues. “I very much appreciate when we are dealing with people who want to do the right things. But we know they can’t just do everything that someone demands because every budget is only so large, and they need to have the ability to make payroll after that.

“But when we help a client navigate a murky situation, and the result of it is satisfactory to the employer, but also satisfactory in a way that that employee-employer relationship is not completely disturbed or that doesn’t lead to a massive morale issue, that’s always a happy day. To resolve a situation artfully means considering the bigger picture of what it means to be a manager or a supervisor, and you still need a workforce that wants to continue.”

Never a Dull Moment

Whether it’s working with issues of discrimination and harassment, wage and hour, labor relations, workplace safety, or any number of other employment matters, the constant evolution of workplace laws is, on a personal level, very intellectually fulfilling, Taylor said.

“If you’ve been doing this long enough — and all of us here have been — you start seeing the history of the American workforce, and how that evolves. And it’s a really fascinating thing.”

Indeed, the team brings plenty of institutional knowledge to work every day; Taylor came on board in 2003, the most recently of the four.

“Not only has there been a proliferation of laws, but the administrative agency involvement in the legal process has evolved,” she said. “And now we’re starting to see emergent things that we hadn’t seen before. AI is one of them — and the impact that’s having on the workplace. So, intellectually, you’re not going to get bored because there’s always going to be something new.

“Sometimes we’ll start with a client from its business inception, so we’re looking at compliance; we’re looking at getting things right from the start,” Taylor added. “But sometimes we’re actually helping clients at the end of their life, in their succession planning and how that’s going to work. We get involved with purchase and sale. We get involved with reductions in force. It’s a really fascinating thing we do. Every day we come in, it’s a little bit different.”

“I’ve always felt secure in the advice I give, not only from the research I do, but also being able to talk to people and work it out and think about things from a different perspective.”

Frederick praised not only the experience of his team, but their creativity.

“It takes creativity, it takes foresight, it takes anticipating where the judicial boards are going to be going, how people are going to be thinking. And 99% of the professionals are routine in their approach: the law says yes, the law says no,” he explained. “I think what has made the people who have worked for this firm different is that they are creative in how to accomplish what should be accomplished.”

That’s part of why so many clients are long-term — including the firm’s very first client, a third-generation metallurgy enterprise, which is still on board.

“It’s very rewarding, working with the variety of clients that we have, not just private sector, but public sector as well,” Quinn said. “And when you have public sector clients in towns and cities and schools, they have another layer of laws that regulate how they interact with their employees. Whether it’s collective bargaining or dismissal decisions or disciplinary decisions, being able to work with them and guide them through that process is … well, they say variety is the spice of life. And we see a lot of variety here.”

Sharing the Wealth

By Joseph Bednar June 22, 2026

Features Special Coverage Wealth Management

Merrill Gagne knew his $10,000 matching investment in a Franklin County gift card promotion last year — making each $25 card worth $50 at participating stores, restaurants, and other businesses — was going to be popular when one woman wanted to buy 200 of them.

“She basically wanted to use it to pay for her wedding venue,” he laughed. “That’s smart — I get it. So we had to put a limit on it.”

The more obvious sign the promotion was a hit was the fact that the 400 cards sold out in three hours. Earlier this month, the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce Gagne issued a second round of gift cards doubled by another $10,000 donation from Gagne, and they sold out as well — this time, in just 17 minutes.

The idea — like other such programs in the Valley, like the doubled gift card Scott Keiter has funded with the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce for a few years now — is to use philanthropy to boost local businesses. And for Gagne, president of Gagne Wealth Management Group in Greenfield, who has given back like few business owners have over the years (much more on that later), it just made sense.

“It’s just the idea of trying to infuse some cash into the businesses so that people are buying gift cards and then spending it locally,” he said. “You’re really benefiting local businesses because people are coming back and spending their card, and the money goes back into the community.”

Jessye Deane, executive director of the Franklin County Chamber, has worked with plenty of nonprofits and sees the good that can come from giving — and the joy of celebrating that support in a public way.

“But with Merrill, it’s less about celebration and more about the impact. That’s always what stands out,” she said, adding that this is the only countywide gift card match in the Pioneer Valley, encompassing 26 towns.

“Instead of a generic gift card or an Amazon gift card, this is a card that guarantees the money secures local spending in a way that’s really unique. People can choose where to spend it, but also find new favorite businesses to fall in love with, and really increase their foot traffic.”

Hannah Rechtschaffen says Merrill Gagne’s philanthropy not only benefits the GBA, but inspires others to do the same.

Hannah Rechtschaffen, director of the Greenfield Business Assoc., is celebrating Gagne’s community support as well, touting a challenge grant created last year whereby he donated $10,000, which the GBA then had to match through its own fundraising, followed by another $15,000, which it again had to match, for a total of $50,000 toward the association’s work to promote the economic and civic vitality of the Greenfield business community.

“People want to feel a part of something,” Rechtschaffen said. “You need that leader. You need someone to say, ‘I will take a gamble on you, on your organization, on what you’re telling me you’re going to accomplish.’ Without that person, it is harder to go after other large gifts. But when I can go to someone and say, ‘look, Merrill Gagne is willing to vote confidently in our favor. Will you join him in that?’ — it puts me in a different position as a fundraiser. So it is a gift in itself for him to take that kind of chance.”

The success of that $25,000 challenge gift has already helped catalyze a broader wave of support for the GBA’s vision. In February, it inspired a successful fundraising event at JaDuke Center for the Performing Arts (co-sponsored by Gagne), where business owners, community members, and local leaders came together to dance, sing, and raise more than $31,000 to support the next phase of the association’s organizational growth.

“I just think Merrill is a real standout when it comes to the way he sees his business fitting into the greater ecosystem,” Rechtschaffen said, adding that Franklin County may not have as much investment capability or as many angel investors as larger counties, but they exist, and may just need motivating.

“Merrill is part of this conversation of who could be involved more, and how do we get them involved? How do we get them thinking about themselves as philanthropists, as impact investors, and really being a part of things? In that way, he’s driving a lot here — it’s not just simple sponsorship.”

National Reach, Local Impact

Jessye Deane says Merrill Gagne’s gift card match not only excites local consumers, but keeps money circulating at local businesses.

When BusinessWest sat down recently with Gagne in his Main Street office in downtown Greenfield, he said giving back has long been part of his business model, especially with a concept he calls philanthropic marketing.

“That is, putting as much good out into the world as possible without expecting any return, just assuming that it’ll eventually all be paid forward, as they say,” he explained. “And living in this community, I grew my whole business over the last two decades under the premise, and the promise, that we were going to give back and do good things.

“We’re licensed in 42 states,” he went on. “So it allows us to not only draw from Boston, but we have clients all over the country, as far as Alaska. We can literally jump on a Zoom or a Teams meeting at any time. It’s fantastic. But all of those dollars that those clients are paying come back to Franklin County.

“That allows us to grow from an economy of scale perspective — I mean, we’re just shy of a billion dollars in assets under management. And that gives us the ability to have all that revenue come back here and support the local community in as many ways as we can.”

Gagne’s community efforts include fully sponsoring the Learn to Skate program with the Franklin County Hockey Assoc., backing Greenfield Minor League Baseball, spearheading holiday food drives, generating support for the Greenfield Public Library, and serving as a leader and donor for the YMCA, the United Arc, Rachel’s Table, and the Children’s Advocacy Center.

He has also established match incentives for the Children’s Advocacy Center, Community Action Pioneer Valley, and, as noted, the GBA and the chamber.

Meanwhile, he has developed a relationship with JaDuke since it opened its Greenfield location in 2025.

“I worked with [executive director] Kim Williams right away in order to foster a program where we would pay for any kid that doesn’t have access to the money to be able to pay for dance classes, and then pay for their dresses and their dance recitals, so they can go perform on the main stage,” Gagne said. “So it’s not their parents choosing whether they’re going to spend the money on it or not, because we’re going to cover that cost for them.”

And on Monday, Sept. 28, the Gagne Wealth Impact Invitational will debut — a first-of-its-kind golf tournament at the Crumpin Fox Golf Club in Bernardston. All tournament expenses, including lunch, dinner, and an open bar, have been underwritten by Gagne Wealth Management, and 100% of all entry and raffle fees are awarded to the top three nonprofit organizations selected by participating players.

“We always started with children and local families,” Gagne said. “Like, 10 years ago, with the Franklin County Hockey Association, we decided we were going to pay for all of the ice time for the Learn to Skate program — because if a family has to choose between spending 500 bucks on ice time or not, they’ll choose not. But if it was free, it would provide access, and those kids then go on to feed the hockey program — which has literally quadrupled in size in the last five years.

“People don’t always put their money where their mouth is. They always have an opinion, but they’re not willing to listen, step up, and be the difference in the world. So that’s what we’re trying to do, and it’s really easy to start out with children and families,” he went on.

“I’ve been told, ‘my kid just loves hockey now. He’s changed. He doesn’t want to be on video games anymore; he just loves being out there on the ice. And I never would have had the money to be able to do that. It’s really changed our family.’ I’ve heard that story dozens of times.”

Future Focused

Gagne didn’t wait for his degree from the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst to start working; he paid his way through college by interning as a financial advisor.

“I grew up very poor in downtown Springfield, so I knew that the only way [to attend college] would either be to take on debt, or to work. And I always knew, early on, that I’d be good at managing money.”

Now, about 20 years into his business, he has evolved from an early focus on estate planning to a wide-ranging, higher-end, boutique wealth management firm, one that serves both individuals and businesses. “We do full-level estate planning, financial planning, and then income and wealth management all together.”

The average client, he added, is past what’s known as the accumulation phase and into the distribution phase — in other words, figuring out what to do with their money.

“That’s the fun part. And then also, how do I leave it to my kids? How do I leave it to charity?” he said. “Most of my clients don’t even know what a qualified charitable donation is — at age 70½, you can take IRA money pre-tax and give it to charity at $100,000 a year and never pay taxes on it. I see people all the time who take all the money out, then cut a check out of their checkbook. It’s after-tax money, they do the donation, and they never get to deduct it.”

“With Merrill, it’s less about celebration and more about the impact. That’s always what stands out.”

Besides this educational aspect, Gagne enjoys the fact that no day is the same — because all clients are different. “I have a CFA, a CFP, a full suite of advisors in my office who all work for me only, and only my clients. And we customize every single person’s portfolio to their risk tolerance, where they’re at, their goals, what they care about. There’s not a single client in my books that’s the same. I mean, the concepts are the same, but the stories are different.

“My job is being with people,” he went on. “And when I’m in front of people, we talk about finance for, like, three minutes, and the other 97% of the meeting is therapy. We’re talking about how you’re feeling, what’s going on, divorces, children, grandchildren, babies, all that stuff. It’s almost like going to like a family reunion every time I see a new client. We catch up on life. It’s such a rewarding thing, being able to be there for people when they need you the most.”

As for business clients, Gagne is gratified to help them strategically grow, figure out what their markets are, and work effectively in that space as well. Rechtschaffen sees him as a local success story, one who wants to pay that success forward.

“Merrill has been in this community for a very long time. And he’s choosing to be here,” she said. “He could take his business anywhere. And I hear a lot of business owners say that: ‘I could do this anywhere.’ But people are choosing to be here.”

And some of them are choosing to do good outside their office walls.

“I think,” Gagne said, “if more people just gave because they want to be here and they want to be community-driven, it would be better for everybody.”

MountainOne Financial Appoints Edward Alfieri Senior Vice President, Operations

By BusinessWest Staff June 19, 2026

Daily News

Edward Alfieri

NORTH ADAMS — MountainOne Financial announced the appointment of Edward Alfieri as senior vice president, Operations. Alfieri joins the organization as MountainOne Financial continues to build a unified operational foundation following the merger of MountainOne Financial, MHC and Mechanics Bancorp, MHC. In this role, he will provide executive leadership for operational functions across the organization, supporting strategic initiatives, process improvements, technology integration, and long-term growth.

“Ed brings a unique combination of operational expertise, strategic leadership, and community banking experience,” said Joe Baptista, president and CEO of MountainOne Financial, MHC. “Throughout his career, he has demonstrated an ability to lead complex initiatives, develop strong teams, and drive meaningful organizational improvement. As we continue building for the future, his leadership will help strengthen our operational capabilities and support our commitment to delivering exceptional service across both institutions.”

Alfieri brings nearly three decades of banking experience to the role. Most recently, he served as senior vice president, Operations and Transformation at HarborOne Bank, where he led enterprise-wide operational and transformation initiatives focused on scalability, efficiency, technology, and regulatory compliance. During his 28-year career with HarborOne, he held progressively senior leadership positions spanning branch operations, retail administration, banking administration, and enterprise operations.

“I am excited to join MountainOne Bank and Mechanics Cooperative Bank during this important chapter in MountainOne Financial’s history,” Alfieri said. “The organizations have a strong reputation for community commitment, customer service, and long-term vision. I look forward to working with colleagues across MountainOne and Mechanics to strengthen operations, support growth, and help position the organization for continued success.”

Springfield College to Launch Communications and Creative Media Major

By BusinessWest Staff June 19, 2026

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield College announced the fall 2027 launch of its communications and creative media major, an innovative academic program designed to prepare students for leadership and creative careers in today’s rapidly evolving media and technological landscape.

The communications and creative media program offers students hands-on experience and industry-focused training in communication strategy, social media marketing, content production, and digital design. Specifically, students will develop social media content and create and produce podcasts, radio broadcasts, television shows, short-form content, and more.

The program will prepare students for careers in fields such as marketing, public relations, social media strategy, and, more broadly, roles in communication, creative content, and strategic brand messaging.

“In the era of AI, human creativity is more important than ever,” said Anne Wheeler, associate professor of Composition & Rhetoric and chair of the Department of Literature, Writing, and Journalism. “Students in this major will develop a practical understanding of emerging and evolving technologies and learn to leverage their creativity to develop messaging across a variety of media and industries.”

Through collaborative projects, multimedia production opportunities, and real-world communication experiences, students will develop professional portfolios while learning from experienced faculty and industry professionals. Students will complete a substantive internship experience and graduate with a polished professional portfolio.

“This new, interdisciplinary major responds to the rapidly evolving needs of industry for skilled, authentic, and versatile communicators,” said Rachel Rubinstein, dean of the School of Arts and Sciences. “Our students will learn from caring instructors who are experts in their fields, and will thrive in Springfield College’s warm, supportive, and welcoming community.”

STCC Celebrates Groundbreaking for Health and Patient Simulation Relocation

By BusinessWest Staff June 19, 2026

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) celebrated a major milestone in its commitment to healthcare education on June 17 with a groundbreaking ceremony for a $55 million project to relocate the School of Health and Patient Simulation to Scibelli Hall, also known as Building 2.

Federal, state, and local officials and stakeholders joined STCC leaders, faculty, and staff at Scibelli Hall to commemorate the beginning of renovations that will create a new home for more than 20 healthcare degree and certificate programs, as well as the college’s nationally accredited SIMS Medical Center.

During the ceremony, speakers highlighted the importance of the investment in strengthening the region’s healthcare workforce and ensuring students have access to modern, state-of-the-art learning environments. The event concluded with participants taking a ceremonial swing with a sledgehammer at a mock wall at Scibelli Hall.

The groundbreaking also marked a significant milestone in the tenure of STCC President John Cook, who has championed the project for years and worked closely with elected officials and state leaders to secure funding and move the initiative forward. The healthcare relocation project has been one of Cook’s top priorities during his decade-long presidency. He is stepping down at the end of June.

“The School of Health relocation project has been the highest priority in our campus master plan since 2019,” Cook said. “As we celebrate today a $55 million project, it is a testament to the value of our effort to ensure such vital programs have the classrooms, labs, equipment, and technology needed to ensure those do endure and persist.”

Among those participating in the ceremony were Cook, U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, state Sen. Adam Gómez, and Michael Knapik, chair of the STCC board of trustees.

“The importance of providing hands-on training that will help meet the needs of today’s workforce cannot be understated, and STCC has been leading that effort for decades,” Neal said. “As President Cook prepares for his next chapter in higher education, today’s announcement is a fitting tribute to all that he’s accomplished during his time at STCC. His focus has remained the same: providing high-quality, accessible education to students from all walks of life. It is because of his efforts that thousands of students have garnered the skills needed to build meaningful careers, support their families, and make lasting contributions to their communities.”

Added Gómez, “this project represents a meaningful investment in Springfield, our students, and the future of healthcare across Western Massachusetts. STCC has long served as a gateway to opportunity for residents throughout our region, and the modernization of the School of Health and Patient Simulation will provide students with the state-of-the-art facilities and training environments needed to prepare for in-demand healthcare careers. By strengthening our workforce pipeline and expanding access to high-quality education, we are investing in healthier communities and a stronger regional economy.”

Sarno thanked state leaders for the investment and the MassMutual Foundation for the philanthropic gift. He also applauded STCC’s leadership team. “I commend and thank President John Cook and the team at Springfield Technical Community College for bringing this cutting-edge health science educational tool to our Springfield community. STCC continues to be a great partner to Springfield and remains focused on education and training for a competitive regional workforce and meeting the needs of our community.”

Added Knapik, “this is an historic day for our campus as we celebrate today’s groundbreaking, which is the culmination of a great deal of hard work to advance instruction and learning for the next generation of students within our new School of Health and Patient Simulation — a partnership of the Commonwealth, STCC, and our donors and students. The board of trustees is grateful to the members of Springfield’s legislative delegation and the Healey-Driscoll administration for their extraordinary support for STCC and for making this day possible.”

The $55 million relocation project is funded through a combination of state, institutional, and philanthropic support, including $38 million from the Massachusetts Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance, $11.5 million from STCC board of trustees, $500,000 from the STCC Foundation, and $1 million from the MassMutual Foundation. The remaining funding comes from STCC’s capital budget. Officials set an estimated completion date of winter 2027-28.

The investment will support the relocation of healthcare programs from Building 20, an aging facility constructed in 1941 that has exceeded its useful life and required costly emergency repairs over the years.

The School of Health and Patient Simulation offers more than 20 associate degree and certificate programs and several shorter-term credentials. Approximately 500 students earn healthcare credentials through STCC each year. Students can choose from a range of programs, from nursing, dental hygiene, and physical and occupational therapy to surgical technology and radiology. The school also offers an open-admission health science degree with embedded certifications.

Students have access to the SIMS Medical Center, one of only a handful of nationally accredited simulation centers in the state, which features state-of-the-art patient simulators that mimic biological functions and physiological responses. An innovations lab features 3D printing and design, virtual reality training tools to create realistic patient scenarios in a safe environment.

The School of Health and Patient Simulation employs more than 120 faculty and staff and serves as a key contributor to the education, training, and workforce needs of the region’s healthcare industry.

College leaders said the relocation will enhance the student experience, expand opportunities for hands-on learning, and help meet growing demand for skilled healthcare professionals across Western Mass.

Armbrook Village Named Best Senior Living Community for 2026

By BusinessWest Staff June 19, 2026

Daily News

WESTFIELD — Armbrook Village has earned the honor of U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 Best Senior Living award in all three categories — Assisted Living, Independent Living, and Memory Care — in the publication’s fifth annual year assessment of assisted living communities.

Best Senior Living ratings are based on multiple aspects of a resident’s daily life. Considered categories include dining experiences, programming, safety, and the overall value of care given to each resident. As seniors and families search for the best option to match their loved one’s needs, well-being, programming, and quality of life are crucial. Out of the 540,000 consumer surveys completed by family, friends, and staff, only the highest-ranked communities are given the title of ‘best.’

“Between movie nights, educational lectures, art classes, and book clubs, Armbrook Village is known for its engaging social programming,” the facility stated. “With various brain-healthy choices on the community’s menus and an enthusiastic dining staff, a fine dining experience is offered to all residents at each meal. Caregivers are available 24/7, ensuring a safe environment for all residents and peace of mind for families.”

According to U.S. News & World Report Senior Living Director Liz Pearce, “whether seeking an active independent lifestyle or specialized care, U.S. News’ 2026 Best Senior Living ratings help families navigate these options by identifying communities where residents and their families reported the highest levels of satisfaction.”

Valley Blue Sox to Host Bark in the Park Tonight

By BusinessWest Staff June 19, 2026

Daily News

HOLYOKE — The Valley Blue Sox are set to host their annual Bark in the Park tonight, June 19, as they take on the North Shore Navigators. Fans are invited to bring their dogs to Mackenzie Stadium for a fun night of promotions that include a dog bandana giveaway, dog tickets, themed items, and vendors.

Anyone who brings their dog to the game is required to sign a waiver and must purchase a $5 dog ticket, in addition to the individual $7 ticket. All proceeds from dog ticket sales and $1 from every hot dog purchased will go to TJO Animals to benefit animals in need. Free parking is available on both sides of the stadium.

On Saturday, June 20, the Blue Sox will continue their promotional series as they host Pages with Paws night against the Newport Gulls.

Kuhn Riddle Architects & Designers Welcomes Clara Danso as Project Designer

By BusinessWest Staff June 19, 2026

Daily News

AMHERST — Kuhn Riddle Architects & Designers announced that Clara Danso joined the firm as a project designer in January.

Born in Ghana, Danso brings her educational and professional experiences from her years there, as well as her work experience in New York City with Adjaye Associates, a major international architectural firm.

She received her bachelor of architectural studies degree from Mount Holyoke College in 2017 and expects to receive her master of architecture degree from UMass Amherst in 2027. She recently completed the Architect Registration Examination, an important milestone on the path to architectural licensure. This accomplishment reflects her hard work, perseverance, and commitment to the highest standards of the architectural profession.

“Clara’s strong design perspective, dedication to thoughtful problem solving, and clear commitment to professional growth make her a valuable addition to Kuhn Riddle Architects & Designers,” the firm stated. “We look forward to the creativity, collaboration, and energy that Clara will bring to our projects and team in the months ahead.”

Upcoming SCORE Webinars Tackle Effective Pricing, Starting a Business

By BusinessWest Staff June 19, 2026

Daily News

WILBRAHAM — SCORE Massachusetts and Rhode Island announced two upcoming webinars.

“Price It Right!” is slated for Wednesday, June 24 from 11 to 12:30 p.m. Nothing drives profitability and demand more than effective pricing, and this webinar reveals what to consider when choosing the price for a product or service. Attendees will learn how the ‘4 C’s’ of marketing are critical in today’s digital world and how they affect pricing methodology. The webinar will also examine several pricing strategies, discuss the effects of price changes, and cover the importance of choosing the right sales channel. Click here to learn more and register.

“Simple Steps for Starting Your Business: Basics” is slated for Tuesday, July 7 from 6 to 8 p.m. Thinking about starting a business but not sure where to begin? This foundational webinar walks attendees through the realities of entrepreneurship — what it takes, what to expect, and how to set oneself up for success. They will learn the essential building blocks of business ownership, from mindset and legal structure to insurance and planning, guided by real-world entrepreneurial experience. Click here to learn more and register.

Real Estate Transactions

By BusinessWest Staff June 19, 2026

Real Estate

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

FRANKLIN COUNTY

ASHFIELD

527 Main St.
Ashfield, MA 01330
Amount: $439,000
Buyer: Franklin Reed Brown
Seller: 527 Main LLC
Date: 05/21/26

BERNARDSTON

269 Bald Mountain Road
Bernardston, MA 01337Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Taylor Everett
Seller: Brandon J. Grover
Date: 05/20/26

704 Brattleboro Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $475,000
Buyer: John Field
Seller: Peter J. Klimoski
Date: 05/22/26

CHARLEMONT

108 Main St.
Charlemont, MA 01339
Amount: $457,500
Buyer: Katherine M. Klemer
Seller: Pastrich-Klemer Real Estate Inc.
Date: 05/21/26

COLRAIN

108 Nelson Road
Colrain, MA 01340
Amount: $405,000
Buyer: John M. Peters
Seller: Drew, Beatrice R., (Estate)
Date: 05/21/26

DEERFIELD

71 Mathews Road
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $999,900
Buyer: Conor D. Mulroy
Seller: Douglas R. Kremm
Date: 05/22/26

ERVING

62 East Main St.
Erving, MA 01344
Amount: $228,000
Buyer: Axel Boy
Seller: Elite Real Estate Investment Group Inc.
Date: 05/18/26

GILL

182 Main Road
Gill, MA 01354
Amount: $495,000
Buyer: Stephanie Charlefour
Seller: Blast-Tech Inc.
Date: 05/19/26

GREENFIELD

714 Colrain Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $608,000
Buyer: Roy F. Knight
Seller: Thomas J. Meshako
Date: 05/19/26

89 Columbus Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $237,000
Buyer: Holly S. Phillips
Seller: Marilyn L. Brozo
Date: 05/20/26

11 Country Club Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Franklin & Main LLC
Seller: Mark R. Penfield
Date: 05/13/26

204 Country Side
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Donald J. Cormier
Seller: Mary C. Lung RET
Date: 05/11/26

15 Frederick Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $256,353
Buyer: Lakeview Loan Servicing LLC
Seller: Charles C. Balzer
Date: 05/15/26

18 Lillian St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $410,000
Buyer: Michael T. Finn
Seller: Paula A. Farrell
Date: 05/11/26

62 Peabody Lane
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $510,000
Buyer: Greer X
Seller: Elaine Henderson
Date: 05/14/26

36 West St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Iris C. Romero Valdez
Seller: Salim Abdoo
Date: 05/11/26

HEATH

12 West Branch Road
Heath, MA 01340
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Franklin Land Trust Inc.
Seller: Branch View Farm LLC
Date: 05/18/26

LEVERETT

66 Cave Hill Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Amount: $950,000
Buyer: Brittany E. Jenkins
Seller: Warren H. Morgan FT
Date: 05/18/26

87 Shutesbury Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Amount: $515,000
Buyer: Sandra Mamani
Seller: Barbarac Appel 2025 TR
Date: 05/20/26

MONTAGUE

8 Chester St.
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Marie S. Breheny
Seller: Phyllis M. Margozzi
Date: 05/20/26

NORTHFIELD

83 Captain Beers Plain Road
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $430,000
Buyer: Thomas A. Aurigemma
Seller: Tyler L. Inman
Date: 05/18/26

46 Maple St.
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Joseph Vicek
Seller: Katherine H. St. Clair
Date: 05/20/26

33 Riverview Dr.
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $136,000
Buyer: Jennifer Finch
Seller: Jennifer Finch
Date: 05/18/26

ORANGE

21 Dexter St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $212,647
Buyer: Freeedom Mortgage Corp.
Seller: David M. Bremer
Date: 05/14/26

23 East Myrtle St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $471,000
Buyer: Wilmery Frometa
Seller: Ahmed Aitmesaoud
Date: 05/15/26

26 East Myrtle St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: Corey Costa
Seller: Stanley R. Smith
Date: 05/15/26

216 Holtshire Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $465,000
Buyer: Irvin Ward
Seller: Abdullah Usman
Date: 05/11/26

44 Moss Brook Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $248,300
Buyer: Brandon Peterson
Seller: Trevor D. Richard
Date: 05/12/26

24 Russ St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $519,000
Buyer: Ryan Page
Seller: Kimberly Simpson
Date: 05/22/26

490 South Main St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $349,000
Buyer: Tyler Baldwin
Seller: Rogers, Douglas Alan, (Estate)
Date: 05/12/26

ROWE

Tunnel Road
Rowe, MA 01367
Amount: $129,000
Buyer: Anna J. Humbert TR
Seller: Leonard H. Roberts
Date: 05/22/26

SHUTESBURY

January Hills Road, Lot 3
Shutesbury, MA 01054
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Matthew Gomberg
Seller: Dolores M. Conway
Date: 05/12/26

WENDELL

41 Bear Mountain Road
Wendell, MA 01379
Amount: $630,000
Buyer: Joseph Belisle
Seller: Samuel Birch
Date: 05/13/26

WHATELY

69 Chestnut Plain Road
Whately, MA 01093
Amount: $475,000
Buyer: John P. Kennedy
Seller: Katherine E. Fleuriel IRT
Date: 05/12/26

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

390 Barry St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Daniel Cronin
Seller: Shelly McCombs
Date: 05/22/26

70 Independence Road
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $565,000
Buyer: Eric Morrison
Seller: Cindy Houle
Date: 05/13/26

74 Kensington St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Maya Andrea Indarjit
Seller: Yudelka Kotjahasan
Date: 05/22/26

100 Kensington St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Michelle M. Moriarty
Seller: Claudia C. Colon
Date: 05/12/26

74 Kensington St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Maya Andrea Indarjit
Seller: Yudelka Kotjahasan
Date: 05/22/26

646 Mill St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $395,000
Buyer: Niko Mario Passerini
Seller: Brian M. Rigali
Date: 05/19/26

104-106 Moore St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $610,000
Buyer: CCJ Properties LLC
Seller: Haskell Holdings LLC
Date: 05/19/26

91 Nicole Ter., Lot 9
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $650,000
Buyer: Andrew Anselmo
Seller: Hillside Development Corp.
Date: 05/15/26

112 North St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $417,000
Buyer: Jean Riendeau
Seller: Norman R. Lusignan
Date: 05/18/26

32 Oak Lane
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Zander FT
Seller: Kevin Lund
Date: 05/14/26

79 Simpson Circle
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $292,500
Buyer: Loriann Gulluni
Seller: Mark A. Maruca RET
Date: 05/14/26

180 Southwick St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $299,500
Buyer: Brooke Quesnel
Seller: Ian Fecteau
Date: 05/21/26

1026 Suffield St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Cheyenne Bowman Lowell
Seller: Raul P. Ferreira
Date: 05/18/26

74 White Fox Road
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $465,000
Buyer: Daniel Carlson
Seller: Chestnut Hill Homes LLC
Date: 05/19/26

BLANDFORD

79 Main St.
Blandford, MA 01008
Amount: $395,000
Buyer: Jennifer Peters
Seller: Mary B. Quimby RET
Date: 05/11/26

BRIMFIELD

55 Brookfield Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $525,000
Buyer: Daniel Stevens
Seller: Joel J. Klys
Date: 05/21/26

238 Brookfield Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Denis Eccleston
Seller: John D. Holdcraft
Date: 05/15/26

52 Washington Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $475,000
Buyer: Noah Proulx
Seller: Miaoli Wu
Date: 05/14/26

CHESTER

67 Bromley Road
Chester, MA 01050
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Cory Russo
Seller: Bho Realty LLC
Date: 05/11/26

12 Riverfront Road
Chester, MA 01011
Amount: $329,000
Buyer: Frank Small
Seller: Patrick Q. Forshay
Date: 05/12/26

CHICOPEE

110 Bonneville Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Amanda Brennan
Seller: Zajdel, John J., (Estate)
Date: 05/19/26

519 Chicopee St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: Oscar O. Ortega
Seller: Chelyka Diaz
Date: 05/21/26

91 Haven Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Charlie Vargas
Seller: Kmak LLC
Date: 05/22/26

87 Manning St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Stephen Walters
Seller: Orlando S. Danoys
Date: 05/15/26

583 McKinstry Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $475,000
Buyer: Kathy Jaracz
Seller: John D. Wilkie
Date: 05/12/26

Meadow St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $550,000
Buyer: Mayelin I. G. Mosquea
Seller: Selpan Holdings LLC
Date: 05/21/26

84 Montcalm St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $430,000
Buyer: Michelle Cosme Serrano
Seller: Vanessa Lauziere
Date: 05/22/26

444 Montgomery St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $17,700,000
Buyer: Chicopee 444 MP WRK7 LLC
Seller: Welltower OM Group LLC
Date: 05/11/26

405 New Ludlow Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Joshua Silva
Seller: Tammy K. Proulx
Date: 05/22/26

9 Post Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $510,000
Buyer: Victoria Czop
Seller: William Mantzios
Date: 05/20/26

535 Prospect St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $222,500
Buyer: Kmak LLC
Seller: Heather Lavallee
Date: 05/22/26

51 Trilby Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Stanley Godere
Seller: Richard A. LaPointe
Date: 05/22/26

17 Woodcrest Court
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Stacey Lyn Roy
Seller: Robert Lussier
Date: 05/20/26

111 Woodlawn St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Bertha Henri Alexandre
Seller: Michelle M. Dostie
Date: 05/21/26

EAST LONGMEADOW

Farmer Circle, Lot 13
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Pawel Misniakiewicz
Seller: Happy Acres LLC
Date: 05/11/26

303 Kibbe Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Dasaan Daniels
Seller: Cynthia C. Rice
Date: 05/22/26

63 Marshall St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01013
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Stephen Visconti
Seller: Maryann Roblinski
Date: 05/15/26

185 Vineland Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $645,000
Buyer: Tri Cao Nguyen
Seller: Michael Carabetta
Date: 05/22/26

HAMPDEN

24 South Ridge Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $938,000
Buyer: Todd C. Pelletier
Seller: Alfred J. Albano
Date: 05/22/26

`12 Woodland Dr.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Pro Olive LLC
Seller: Nicholas Turnberg
Date: 05/20/26

HOLLAND

6 Kimball Hill Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Dominique Howe
Seller: Daniel Maudsley
Date: 05/15/26

150 Stafford Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Garrett Molina
Seller: Beata Harwood
Date: 05/22/26

HOLYOKE

69-71 Elmwood Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $432,000
Buyer: F. E. De Los Santos Toribio
Seller: Pah Properties LLC
Date: 05/15/26

74 Granville St., Lot 269-274
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $314,000
Buyer: Christian Lucier
Seller: Crabtee, Wesley A., (Estate)
Date: 05/12/26

19 Greenwood Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Stefan Josef Czarnecki
Seller: Alexandra Margolis Field
Date: 05/22/26

934 Main St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Sariann Maldonado Pabon
Seller: DVK Property Management
Date: 05/12/26

964 Main St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Jose A. Vazquez-Garcia
Seller: Susan C. Lessard
Date: 05/13/26

1365 Northampton St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $2,750,000
Buyer: 1365 Northampton Realty LLC
Seller: Marian Center Inc.
Date: 05/11/26

61 Pine St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Ashton M. Weaver
Seller: Darwin Gomez
Date: 05/22/26

348 Southampton Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $317,000
Buyer: Gareth Steven Barcomb
Seller: Matthew Annis
Date: 05/22/26

106 Vermont St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: Lawrence M. Field
Seller: Michele M. Methot
Date: 05/15/26

121 West Meadowview Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: Brendon Mackeen
Seller: Jordan Koltz
Date: 05/22/26

LONGMEADOW

111 Ardsley Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $725,000
Buyer: Lada Zlotin
Seller: Michele Dow
Date: 05/22/26

31 Briarcliff Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $803,000
Buyer: Yeset Cervelo Fernandez
Seller: Thomas J. Carmody
Date: 05/22/26

27 Fairfield Ter.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $515,000
Buyer: Elizabeth B. Z. Holmes
Seller: Michael J. Grossane
Date: 05/11/26

68 Hazardville Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $540,000
Buyer: Sarah Jean Gernux
Seller: Paul Cangialosi
Date: 05/15/26

158 Homestead Blvd.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Carly Lombardo
Seller: Kimberly R. Fontaine
Date: 05/22/26

70 Hopkins Place
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Amanda Borofsky
Seller: Vincent J. Martucci
Date: 05/21/26

441 Inverness Lane
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $905,000
Buyer: Erin Stewart
Seller: Margaret E. Slitzky
Date: 05/15/26

20 Kimberly Circle
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $572,500
Buyer: Jimmy M. Omran
Seller: Christopher Bushey
Date: 05/12/26

642 Laurel St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $516,500
Buyer: James Chasco-Dimauro
Seller: Maryjane A. Wraga
Date: 05/19/26

357 Maple Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Logan Matthew Lacroix
Seller: Jesse David
Date: 05/15/26

58 Shady Side Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $650,000
Buyer: Quay M. Garriga
Seller: Lyons FT
Date: 05/18/26

93 Wyndward Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $687,500
Buyer: Sagar Patel
Seller: Jeffrey D. Kraez RET
Date: 05/22/26

LUDLOW

299 Fuller St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $391,000
Buyer: Sibel Pul
Seller: Joseph Michael Scurti
Date: 05/15/26

139 Hubbard St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $850,000
Buyer: HP Rum LLC
Seller: Carlos L. Figueiredo
Date: 05/13/26

116 Letendre Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Cory Bobowiec
Seller: Brandon R. Campbell
Date: 05/18/26

99 Marion Circle
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Anthony A. Twining
Seller: Emilio E. Santos
Date: 05/15/26

420 West St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Axel Kwawu
Seller: Carol Ann Nyzio
Date: 05/22/26

MONSON

247 Lower Hampden Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $420,000
Buyer: Franco Mercieri
Seller: Nancy J. Lewenczuk
Date: 05/22/26

12 Upper Palmer Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $665,000
Buyer: Jessica Reehl
Seller: Frank W. Kochanowski
Date: 05/20/26

PALMER

61 Beech St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $510,000
Buyer: Jodie Maroun
Seller: Cole A. Scott
Date: 05/21/26

1007 Foster St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $297,000
Buyer: Sovattra Naw
Seller: Rosemary Leduc
Date: 05/11/26

4415 High St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Ayron Katterman
Seller: WMass Residential LLC
Date: 05/20/26

4452 High St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: William Adams
Seller: Kim I. Koziol
Date: 05/22/26

82 Jim Ash Road
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $309,000
Buyer: Joy Ellen Cook
Seller: Lilliam S. Strange
Date: 05/21/26

1754 North Main St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: David R. French
Seller: Dembkowski, Elizabeth, (Estate)
Date: 05/15/26

16 Peterson Road
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $460,000
Buyer: Edward Barry
Seller: Bianchi FT
Date: 05/19/26

213 River St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $351,000
Buyer: Melkon Khachikian
Seller: Heather Anne Zebrowski
Date: 05/19/26

1242-B South Main St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $376,900
Buyer: James Hart
Seller: 51 Summit Avenue LLC
Date: 05/13/26

3102 South Main St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Patrick J. Cavanaugh
Seller: 3102 South Main St.
Date: 05/19/26

Ware St., Lot 1
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Mark D. Roy
Seller: Daniel H. Roy
Date: 05/15/26

362 Ware St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Mark D. Roy
Seller: Daniel H. Roy
Date: 05/15/26

SPRINGFIELD

14 Adams St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Tatiania Henry
Seller: Innovareno LLC
Date: 05/13/26

88 Agnes St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Karen Angelia Allen
Seller: Katie A. Verrochi
Date: 05/14/26

39 Balfour Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Mariah Finnerty
Seller: Hector V. Garcia-Alvarado
Date: 05/22/26

56 Balfour Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Jonathan Carl Francisco
Seller: Naples Home Buyers Inc.
Date: 05/21/26

71 Barber St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Kelin Brooks
Seller: Gauvin, Mary Jane, (Estate)
Date: 05/21/26

139 Bay St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Earl Jamieson Sinclair
Seller: Property Warehouse LLC
Date: 05/21/26

64 Berkshire Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: IHI Wave LLC
Seller: Real Estate Investors Northeast LLC
Date: 05/15/26

64 Berkshire Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Melissa Merced
Seller: Ihi Wave LLC
Date: 05/13/26

64 Berkshire Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Real Estate Investors Northeast LLC
Seller: City Enterprise Inc.
Date: 05/15/26

21 Bloomfield St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $485,000
Buyer: Pragya Verma
Seller: Spectra S1 LLC
Date: 05/12/26

186 Bolton St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $290,111
Buyer: Edouard W. Beauzile
Seller: McCarthy Jr., William G., (Estate)
Date: 05/12/26

285 Breckwood Blvd.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Analytical Sciences Marketing Group
Seller: Ronald F. Kleps
Date: 05/22/26

52 Breman St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: 52 Bremen LLC
Seller: Thomas L. Aveyard
Date: 05/12/26

16-20 Cambridge St.
Springfield, MA 01020
Amount: $540,000
Buyer: Kaissy Obeng Kwakye
Seller: D&E Innovations LLC
Date: 05/22/26

179 Carver St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Nia E. Green
Seller: Nunes, Gerald, (Estate)
Date: 05/13/26

26-28 Cherryvale Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $495,000
Buyer: Cozy Collective LLC
Seller: Michael R. Triggs
Date: 05/21/26

34 Chilson St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $460,000
Buyer: Van Thang Nguyen
Seller: Bretta Construction LLC
Date: 05/15/26

137 Cloran St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: JoeJoe Properties LLC
Seller: Ronald R. Bass
Date: 05/15/26

569 Cooley St.
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $395,000
Buyer: Anthony L. Tyson
Seller: Norma Maldonado
Date: 05/20/26

14 Drew Court
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Jonathan L. Soto-Landrau
Seller: Phaneuf, Paula J., (Estate)
Date: 05/11/26

51 East Canton Circle
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $308,000
Buyer: Yajaira R. Cruz
Seller: Sean Curran
Date: 05/15/26

29 Eddywood St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $470,000
Buyer: Evan Ingersoll
Seller: Joaquin Vasquez
Date: 05/15/26

61-63 Eloise St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $430,000
Buyer: Raul Frias
Seller: Solymar Diaz
Date: 05/19/26

73 Eloise St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Christopher Godin
Seller: Rosanne Linders
Date: 05/15/26

62 Firglade Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $465,000
Buyer: Alex Rafael Baez
Seller: Mary T. Mackley
Date: 05/13/26

15 Florida St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Alicia N. Rodriguez
Seller: Eric L. Melendez-Gerena
Date: 05/14/26

332-334 Forest Park Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $455,000
Buyer: Migelangel Lugo
Seller: Margaret J. Roeder
Date: 05/19/26

76 Hampden St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Orlando Ramos
Seller: Gaudreau, John, (Estate)
Date: 05/21/26

10 Hemlock St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Tharen Johnathon Ring
Seller: Gage M. Miller
Date: 05/21/26

115 Hood St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $204,000
Buyer: Federal National Mortgage Assn.
Seller: Patricia C. Clarke
Date: 05/11/26

11 Ina St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Demaris Cosme
Seller: Jjj17 LLC
Date: 05/13/26

89 Juniper Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Nery Bernal
Seller: Alexander R. D. Schipper
Date: 05/13/26

185 Kerry Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Brendaliz Cepeda
Seller: North Harlow 4 LLC
Date: 05/14/26

113 Lexington St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Nilo A. Cruceta
Seller: Freehold Properties LLC
Date: 05/15/26

1078 Liberty St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $317,000
Buyer: Elena G. Aguirre
Seller: Nadine I. Allen
Date: 05/22/26

17 Lombard St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Wanda M. Tiburcio Duran
Seller: Dawell Jose Bautista
Date: 05/18/26

96 Lyons St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $257,400
Buyer: Eric Martin Madrid
Seller: Slc Associates LLC
Date: 05/19/26

106 Magnolia Ter.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $420,000
Buyer: Kenneth J. Filow
Seller: Brooke E. Lacey
Date: 05/14/26

35 Merrimac Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Tailor Ridge Real Estate Investment LLC
Seller: 35 Merrimac LLC
Date: 05/21/26

61 Monticello Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Moise Haguma
Seller: Minnie Galloway
Date: 05/15/26

68-70 Mooreland St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $420,000
Buyer: Amanda Kennedy
Seller: Vaycheslav Foksha
Date: 05/22/26

491-493 Newbury St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Wanda Yazmin Henriquez
Seller: Adilia M. Perez-Esteban
Date: 05/15/26

103 Oak St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Lucy Njenga
Seller: Joshua M. Gonzalez
Date: 05/15/26

5 Oakhurst St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Luis A. Pagan Lopez
Seller: Evelyn Rivera
Date: 05/19/26

28 Old Lane Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Zachary Self
Seller: Christopher Nascembeni
Date: 05/20/26

53 Pidgeon Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $333,000
Buyer: Violet M. Hawil
Seller: Brittney Troisi
Date: 05/20/26

135 Pine Acre Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Nighthawk Realty LLC
Seller: Talbot, John Patrick, (Estate)
Date: 05/22/26

118 Quincy St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $236,000
Buyer: Claudio Santos-Marti
Seller: Enriquez Properties LLC
Date: 05/15/26

47 Ravenwood St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Thomas Crisostomo
Seller: Tri Nguyen
Date: 05/20/26

1251 Saint James Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $157,000
Buyer: Johnny East LLC
Seller: Bonnie Orcutt
Date: 05/12/26

25-27 Santa Barbara St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Brian Smith
Seller: David Cubi
Date: 05/22/26

890-892 St. James Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $523,000
Buyer: Lisa M. Lord
Seller: Selpan Holdings LLC
Date: 05/14/26

75-77 Sycamore St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $339,900
Buyer: Omar A. Galva
Seller: Bailey, Paul S., (Estate)
Date: 05/15/26

68 Tallyho Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $620,000
Buyer: Bradley FT
Seller: Vladimir Kulenok
Date: 05/14/26

120 Tapley St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $2,800,000
Buyer: JK Tapley LLC
Seller: Tapley 90 LLC
Date: 05/22/26

96 Tavistock St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $208,444
Buyer: Servbank SB
Seller: Bruce C. Detata
Date: 05/20/26

11 Thornfell St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Edwan Alzuhairi
Seller: Paquette, Richard L., (Estate)
Date: 05/20/26

66 Thornton St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Denisse Gutierrez Reyes
Seller: Carol J. Labaj
Date: 05/13/26

583 Union St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Tavernier Investments LLC
Seller: Deivi Tovago Margarin
Date: 05/15/26

78 West Bay Path Ter.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Francine V. Martin-Mighty
Seller: Unlimited Property Services LLC
Date: 05/21/26

30 West Hill Road
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Sean Monteiro
Seller: Keisha M. Herbert-Williams
Date: 05/21/26

8 Wilmont St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Anh Thi Kim Do
Seller: Do, Le T., (Estate)
Date: 05/12/26

SOUTHWICK

10 Revere Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $455,000
Buyer: Whitney Cass
Seller: Judith O. Zimmerman
Date: 05/12/26

16 Shaggbark Dr.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Walter Baranek
Seller: Jay A. Lisheness
Date: 05/22/26

112 South Loomis St.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Michael Daigle
Seller: Brian K. Phillips
Date: 05/14/26

2 Sugar Maple Lane
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $895,000
Buyer: Daniel R. Hess
Seller: Anthony J. Gabinetti
Date: 05/15/26

WALES

203 Union Road
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $615,000
Buyer: Peter Fisler
Seller: Daniel Arsenault
Date: 05/15/26

3 Woodland Heights
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Lucas R. Fontaine
Seller: Jarvais, Wilfred L., (Estate)
Date: 05/21/26

WEST SPRINGFIELD

57 Churchill Road
West Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Larkspur LLC
Seller: Mary L. O’Brien
Date: 05/21/26

20 Cottage St.
West Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $665,000
Buyer: Oscar R. S. Castillo
Seller: Powder 8 LLC
Date: 05/15/26

32 Glenview Dr.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $364,000
Buyer: Jared Deighton
Seller: Tianyi Zhou
Date: 05/15/26

Hazel St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $389,500
Buyer: David Graziano
Seller: Francis E. Labrie
Date: 05/22/26

15 High St.
West Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Nina Gauthier
Seller: Larkspur LLC
Date: 05/21/26

81 High St.
West Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $212,800
Buyer: Nations Lending Corp.
Seller: Ronald L. Dion
Date: 05/22/26

29 Lowell Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Omar Torres Troche
Seller: Pah Properties LLC
Date: 05/19/26

580 Main St.
West Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Matahari RT
Seller: Kraver FT
Date: 05/22/26

92 Norman St.
West Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $292,450
Buyer: Shahar A. Bakth
Seller: Frank A. Small
Date: 05/12/26

916 Piper Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Sergey Lezhnyak
Seller: Pavel Zhuk
Date: 05/18/26

139 South Boulevard St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $166,000
Buyer: Safar Group LLC
Seller: Dorothy Robinson
Date: 05/15/26

59 Woodmont St.
West Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Christina M. Richard
Seller: Jon R. Yarsley
Date: 05/18/26

WESTFIELD

465 East Main St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $1,975,000
Buyer: North Harlow 2 LLC
Seller: Massfield LLC
Date: 05/14/26

713 Holyoke Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Erica Zimmerman
Seller: Robin Sheldon
Date: 05/21/26

24 Jaeger Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Marina Ganon-Diaz
Seller: Honeyrock Home Buyers LLC
Date: 05/18/26

42-R Jefferson St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Max Coronel
Seller: Revampit Holdings LLC
Date: 05/13/26

57 Joseph Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Katie A. Verrochi
Seller: Cox Lt
Date: 05/14/26

19 Kellog St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $410,000
Buyer: David Soranson
Seller: 539 Lancaster St. Realty LLC
Date: 05/15/26

44 Llewellyn Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $520,000
Buyer: Michael Cronin
Seller: John Graziano
Date: 05/18/26

182 Lockhouse Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Matthew W. Boisvert
Seller: Declan P. Forde
Date: 05/22/26

336 Paper Mill Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $540,000
Buyer: Robert Taylor
Seller: Richard R. Guyott RET
Date: 05/19/26

21 Rider Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $420,888
Buyer: Brandon Lallier
Seller: Alina Gurt
Date: 05/15/26

544 Russellville Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $181,475
Buyer: Susan E. Moeller
Seller: Stephen J. Murphy
Date: 05/14/26

27 Sherwood Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Bho Realty LLC
Seller: Elizabeth N. Clarke
Date: 05/19/26

116 Westwood Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Kelly Ann Bacon
Seller: Bacon, Everett G., (Estate)
Date: 05/22/26

WILBRAHAM

2 Edward St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $670,000
Buyer: John Graziano
Seller: Frank Stellato
Date: 05/11/26

34 Main St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $597,200
Buyer: Clifford Foss
Seller: Michael A. Tranghese
Date: 05/15/26

12 Old Carriage Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $600,000
Buyer: Xiaochu Wang
Seller: Michael E. Petrick
Date: 05/14/26

14 Willow Brook Lane
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $1,200,000
Buyer: Robert R. Balicki
Seller: Theresa A. Fiorentino
Date: 05/18/26

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

148 Aubinwood Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $620,000
Buyer: Richard Allen Bishop
Seller: Douglas R. Rice
Date: 05/11/26

204 Aubinwood Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $833,500
Buyer: Heather Lerner
Seller: Jeffrey D. Blaustein
Date: 05/19/26

104 Spring St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $710,000
Buyer: 104 Spring St LLC
Seller: Romer, Robert H., (Estate)
Date: 05/15/26

252 West St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $269,900
Buyer: Srinivasarao Nadowada
Seller: Sandra Mamani
Date: 05/14/26

BELCHERTOWN

111 Aldrich St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $640,000
Buyer: Andrew Heath
Seller: Amy Porter
Date: 05/11/26

97 Gulf Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $419,000
Buyer: Christopher G. Boyko
Seller: Ballard FT
Date: 05/18/26

34 Sherwood Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $440,000
Buyer: Anthony P. Potito
Seller: Lana West
Date: 05/18/26

333 Stebbins St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $716,500
Buyer: Michael E. Moroge
Seller: Joseph Ting
Date: 05/22/26

4 Sunny Crest Lane
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $649,900
Buyer: Jeffry Shank
Seller: Vanessa Homes LLC
Date: 05/19/26

CUMMINGTON

Plainfield Road
Cummington, MA 01026
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Lawrence F. Remby
Seller: Lorraine French
Date: 05/13/26

506 Stage Road
Cummington, MA 01026
Amount: $169,000
Buyer: Lenor E. Fried
Seller: Stage Road Holdings LLC
Date: 05/20/26

State Road, Lot MULTI
Cummington, MA 01026
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Lawrence F. Remby
Seller: Lorraine French
Date: 05/13/26

EASTHAMPTON

1 Adams St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Lucien Lighthouse LLC
Seller: Sgs Holdings LLC
Date: 05/15/26

16 Arthur St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $999,500
Buyer: Carol M. Aubrey FT
Seller: Segal Property Mgmt. LLC
Date: 05/20/26

1 Ashley Circle
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $680,000
Buyer: Samantha Greenman
Seller: Brooke Fay Gerlach
Date: 05/19/26

40 Clark St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $580,000
Buyer: Autumn Gordon
Seller: Shani Ofrat
Date: 05/20/26

18 Davis St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $420,000
Buyer: Bruno So De Oliveira
Seller: William P. Roeder
Date: 05/14/26

11 Dragon Circle
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $880,000
Buyer: Allison A. Duke
Seller: Purple Heart NT
Date: 05/20/26

53 Florence Road
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Jennifer R. Coletta
Seller: Brenda S. Campbell
Date: 05/15/26

89 Garfield Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $765,919
Buyer: Joseph A. Allbright
Seller: Bradley J. Robbins
Date: 05/14/26

11 Laurel Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $545,000
Buyer: Anthony Aubrey
Seller: Hazel M. McCallum
Date: 05/14/26

65 Parsons St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $407,000
Buyer: Madeline C. Levy
Seller: A-Z Storage & Property LLC
Date: 05/20/26

35 Pleasant St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $825,000
Buyer: CTW Enterprises Inc.
Seller: Roman Catholic Bishop Of Springfield
Date: 05/20/26

39-43 Pleasant St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $825,000
Buyer: CTW Enterprises Inc.
Seller: Roman Catholic Bishop Of Springfield
Date: 05/20/26

16-26 Water Lane
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $840,000
Buyer: Anthony R. Witman
Seller: Phaneuf FT
Date: 05/15/26

30 Water Lane
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $840,000
Buyer: Anthony R. Witman
Seller: Phaneuf FT
Date: 05/15/26

5 Westview Ter.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $529,000
Buyer: Sandra L. Ginsburg
Seller: Lois J. Keefe
Date: 05/21/26

GOSHEN

146 West Berkshire Trail
Goshen, MA 01032
Amount: $264,000
Buyer: Lauren E. Graham
Seller: Carver Jr., Ernest J., (Estate)
Date: 05/18/26

GRANBY

Kendall St. E
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Philip Kraus
Seller: Breezy Acres LLC
Date: 05/11/26

HADLEY

109 Bay Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $484,000
Buyer: Michael R. Lively
Seller: Jeremy D. Ober
Date: 05/13/26

HATFIELD

57 Elm St.
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $650,000
Buyer: Elizabeth N. Clarke
Seller: Bho Realty LLC
Date: 05/18/26

Off Bridge Lane
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $219,000
Buyer: Gregory G. Zgrodnik
Seller: Joseph F. Zgrodnik
Date: 05/21/26

Off Main St.
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $219,000
Buyer: Gregory G. Zgrodnik
Seller: Joseph F. Zgrodnik
Date: 05/21/26

HUNTINGTON

127 Pond Brook Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Erin Silva
Seller: Thomas A. Palavra
Date: 05/12/26

MIDDLEFIELD

13 Tow Hill Road
Middlefield, MA 01243
Amount: $169,414
Buyer: Prl Title Trist
Seller: Thomas R. Troie
Date: 05/18/26

NORTHAMPTON

91 Brierwood Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $405,000
Buyer: Gurmeet G. Singh
Seller: Boston, Lanceson Armen, (Estate)
Date: 05/18/26

46 Columbus Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $1,150,000
Buyer: Catherine Weiss
Seller: Cheryl J. Cross
Date: 05/14/26

23 Gleason Road
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Jeffrey M. Mast
Seller: John H. Gordon
Date: 05/19/26

330 King St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $1,350,000
Buyer: River Valley Market LLC
Seller: Billmar Corp.
Date: 05/12/26

1 Kingsley Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $650,000
Buyer: Christopher J. Hibbard
Seller: Sandra L. Ginsburg
Date: 05/13/26

22 Lilly St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $955,000
Buyer: Scott Brown
Seller: Karkazis FT
Date: 05/20/26

60 Sheffield Lane
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $637,000
Buyer: Nina Gordon-Kirsch
Seller: Cynthia Larareo
Date: 05/15/26

284 South St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $557,000
Buyer: Nikki Davenbrie
Seller: Leo M. Campbell
Date: 05/15/26

SOUTH HADLEY

30 Bardwell St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $462,000
Buyer: Shaula S. Paul
Seller: Kenneth P. Vautrin
Date: 05/21/26

4 Elm St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Onstar Properties AA LLC
Seller: William J. Brown
Date: 05/20/26

150 Ferry St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Scott Family Properties LLC
Seller: David L. Hackett
Date: 05/22/26

77 Ferry St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $808,000
Buyer: Kellie Albert
Seller: Allison Avallon Duke
Date: 05/22/26

11 Hadley St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $842,900
Buyer: Newgen 1 LLC
Seller: Hadley St. SH LLC
Date: 05/12/26

20 Hillside Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Kristen M. Dearborn
Seller: Hing Seng
Date: 05/15/26

8 Lamb St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $248,000
Buyer: Bernash Realty LLC
Seller: Denise M. Blanchette
Date: 05/22/26

25 Ludlow Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Kyle Madden
Seller: Juraye Pierson
Date: 05/18/26

5 Maple St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $357,500
Buyer: Christopher Campbell
Seller: Jacques E. Gagne
Date: 05/22/26

105 Mountain View St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $442,000
Buyer: Kate Morrissey
Seller: Lynn M. Boucher
Date: 05/22/26

356 Newton St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $405,000
Buyer: David Shpak
Seller: Stay In Motion LLC
Date: 05/14/26

56 Old Lyman Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $603,000
Buyer: Samhita Bhattarai
Seller: Christopher Kleeberg
Date: 04/30/26

104 Pittroff Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $405,000
Buyer: Nikayla Lampkins
Seller: Tiffany Ducharme
Date: 05/20/26

24 Sunset Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Lyndsay Gauthier
Seller: Strange Sr., Roger W., (Estate)
Date: 05/20/26

25 Sunset Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Carey Dunlap
Seller: Marann T. O’Neil
Date: 05/21/26

10 Sycamore Parc
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $975,000
Buyer: Kareem Aboughazala
Seller: Ali Shahrestani
Date: 05/19/26

SOUTHAMPTON

11 Cold Spring Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Thomas S. Avila
Seller: Thomas S. Avila
Date: 05/11/26

38 College Hwy.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Kbip LLC
Seller: Charles F. Sr. & S. R. Perry TR
Date: 05/15/26

28 Cook Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $604,900
Buyer: Melissa F. Matarazzo
Seller: Thomas M. Bacis
Date: 05/22/26

28 Cook Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Thomas M. Bacis
Seller: 28 Cook Road LLC
Date: 05/22/26

69 High St.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Lauben LT
Seller: Heather A. Dragon
Date: 05/19/26

WARE

83 Beaver Lake Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: Chase Laprade
Seller: Jacob F. Crevier
Date: 05/12/26

125 Glendale Circle
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Appleton Grove LLC
Seller: Daine L. Smith
Date: 05/14/26

3 Williston Dr.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Jan Carol Torres
Seller: Marcus Pierre Lafountain
Date: 05/14/26

WESTHAMPTON

Chesterfield Road
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: McCutheon Development LLC
Seller: Joan C. Sarafin
Date: 05/15/26

Building Permits

By BusinessWest Staff June 19, 2026

Building Permits

The following building permits were issued during the month of May 2026.

CHICOPEE

AA&B Realty LLC
832 Meadow St.
$24,000 — Roofing

City of Chicopee
104 Baskin Dr.
$18,500 — Add failover emergency generator for power

EASTHAMPTON

150 Pleasant LLC
150 Pleasant St.
$10,000 — Frame wall, hang sheetrock, and repairs

City of Easthampton
50 Payson Ave.
$23,800 — Repair existing pond viewing platform

Dreki Soul
40 Maine Ave.
$7,374.45 — Insulation and air sealing

Riverside Industries Inc.
1 Cottage St.
$190,613.60 — Renovate space for business use, including new restrooms, break room, and office

LEE

LB Corp.
10 Valley St.
$34,160 — Plumbing

LENOX

Berkshire Retirement Community
40 Sunset Ave.
$65,000 — Replace 33 windows

Boston University
45 West St.
$36,410 — Roofing

NORTHAMPTON

City of Northampton
80 Locust St.
N/A — Demolish building, greenhouse, and storage barn at Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School and remove foundations

Clinical & Support Options
29 North Main St.
$8,213 — Move rear egress door and renovate bathroom

Cooley Dickinson Hospital Inc.
30 Locust St.
$603,500 — Remove existing linear accelerator and replace with new one

Cooley Dickinson Hospital Inc.
30 Locust St.
$45,000 — Modernize unmanned telecommunications facility equipment on roof

Cooley Dickinson Hospital Inc.
30 Locust St.
$7,120 — Sign

Smith College
8 Bedford Ter.
$95,740 — Repair concrete retaining wall and walkway

Smith College
Berenson Place
$10,473,420 — Mechanical, electrical, and life safety systems upgrade, including accessibility, acoustic and architectural finish improvements

Twin Building LLC
211 North St.
$19,500 — Add insulation

PITTSFIELD

Pasquale Arace
100 Fenn St.
$5,000 — Point brickwork and replace fractured bricks

Berkshire Concrete Corp.
550 Cheshire Road
$85,430 — Roofing

Fourteen Fifty East Street LLC
1450 East St.
$5,000 — Co

Exercise Caution with Data Centers

By Contributor June 19, 2026

Opinion

When a massive, $4 billion data center was first proposed for a mostly forested site in the north end of Westfield five years ago, it was a far different world when it came to data centers and how people viewed them.

Back then, there were concerns about electricity and water use, noise, and the development of large tracts of land for comparatively few jobs. But much of the focus was on tax revenue for individual cities and towns, and how data centers might be a boon for communities in Western Mass. with the requisite large tracts of land, and especially municipalities like Westfield and Holyoke, with comparatively cheap power, and lots of it.

But much has changed, especially in the past few years, and the potential benefits of data centers have been lost in a sea of surging public opposition to such facilities, locally and across the country. Indeed, such opposition — from citizens and local governments alike — is blocking or delaying at least 75 projects worth approximately $130 billion. U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont has called for a nationwide pause on data center construction, citing environmental and even ethical concerns about AI.

In Westfield, a project that has been dormant — some have gone so far as to say it’s been abandoned — has come under new scrutiny even as the developer, Servistar Data Center Campus, has been meeting with Mayor Michael McCabe and others to address concerns about local power, water, and environmental impacts. A moratorium is being considered.

It’s the same in Holyoke, home to the Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center, where the City Council is currently considering legislation to restrict data centers in the wake of a proposed $200 million project at the former Hampden Paper complex that has sparked controversy. The council is advancing a proposed moratorium on data centers while the city establishes new environmental and zoning regulations, a tactic being deployed across the country in cities like New Orleans, Tulsa, and Birmingham, and one of many designed to delay or block such developments.

In Lowell, a city in the eastern part of the state which is already home to one data center, officials recently voted to enact a one-year moratorium on data center development (and planned expansion of the existing facility) amid concern from residents.

While we are generally pro-development, especially at a time when this region needs new sources of jobs and all municipalities could use the tax revenue that such facilities can generate, we understand the calls for moratoriums and support their passage.

We need to better understand all the risks from construction of such massive facilities, not only to water and electricity supplies, but to the health of those in the cities and towns where they are proposed.

These centers have the potential to benefit the local economy in some ways, but in many locations across the country, they have proven to be very unpopular neighbors. So these communities would be wise to take a step back before taking some big steps forward.

People on the Move

By BusinessWest Staff June 19, 2026

People on the Move

Amanda Goewey

Michael Hogan

NBT Bank announced the promotion of Amanda Goewey to Business Banking officer and Michael Hogan to Commercial Banking relationship manager. In addition, James Truden has joined the company as branch manager for the company’s Lee office, and Marzena Jarosinska-Doherty has joined as branch manager for the Great Barrington South branch. In her new role, Goewey helps business banking customers clearly define their goals and then connect them with the financial tools that best support their business needs. She joined NBT in August 2023 with the merger of Salisbury Bank into NBT Bank. Most recently, she served as Massachusetts Market manager with responsibility for overseeing NBT’s eight branches in Berkshire County. She has more than 15 years of experience in banking, including positions in branch management, wealth

management, and home lending. Active in her community, Goewey is involved with youth coaching and the Great Barrington Rotary Club. In his new role, Hogan is responsible for new business development and management of a loan portfolio, along with

maintaining and building customer relationships in Berkshire County and Northwest Connecticut. He also joined NBT Bank in August 2023 through the merger with Salisbury Bank, and most recently served as Business Banking officer. He has nearly 10 years of experience in finance, commercial lending, and portfolio management, including prior roles in which he gained relevant experience in construction loan portfolio management and commercial lending support. Hogan is active in his community, serving as treasurer and coach with the Great Barrington Little League, and on the board of directors for the Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce. He is also a member of the current class of the Northwest Connecticut Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Northwest program. Prior to joining NBT, Truden served as store manager at TD Bank in Great Barrington for more than 15 years. He earned a degree in electrical engineering from Berkshire Community College and served as a sergeant and squad leader in the U.S. Army. Jarosinska-Doherty previously held leadership positions at JPMorgan Chase and Berkshire Bank. She attended the University of Cambridge in the U.K.

•••••

Wendy Wakefield

Monson Savings Bank announced the appointment of Wendy Wakefield as vice president, director of Residential Lending. In her new role, Wakefield will oversee the bank’s mortgage department, leading residential lending operations and supporting the bank’s continued commitment to helping individuals and families achieve their homeownership goals. She brings more than 20 years of experience in banking and financial services, including 13 years specializing in residential lending. She most recently worked at North Brookfield Savings Bank, where she was responsible for lending compliance, project management, and loan servicing. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business from New England College of Business and a project management certification from Cornell University. She plays an active leadership role internally at Monson Savings Bank, contributing to the bank’s audit, compliance, and CRA/fair lending committees. In these capacities, she supports key strategic and regulatory initiatives, helping to uphold the bank’s commitment to compliance, risk management, and responsible lending practices. Outside of her role at the bank, Wakefield is engaged in her local community as a participant in the Rutland Youth Soccer League.

•••••

Christopher Bone

Stephen Quiqley

Tighe & Bond announced the appointment of Christopher Bone and Stephen Quigley to the firm’s board of directors. Bone joins the board as an at-large director and currently serves as a vice president and Corporate Design manager. He has delivered some of the firm’s largest multi-disciplinary projects, including water and wastewater infrastructure projects, and served a key role in the statewide biosolids study for the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, examining the long-term future of wastewater sludge management. He has also led company-wide initiatives, including communities of practice furthering technical expertise, and previously served as co-chair of the diversity, equity, & inclusion committee. Quigley was elected to serve as an external board member. A former AEC executive, he currently runs his own management consulting firm, where he advises industry firms on strategic planning, growth strategies, and

ownership transition. He has a background in environmental engineering, with experience leading the North American operations within employee-owned AEC firms. Tighe & Bond extends its thanks to departing board members Lisa Robert (external director) and Environmental Business Line Leader Dan Rukakoski (at-large director) for their years of service and guidance. Both served the maximum two terms.

•••••

John Rose

Greylock Federal Credit Union announced the hiring of John Rose in the position of vice president, Consumer Lending. Rose will provide strategic leadership and management of all consumer loan products and lending operations at Greylock, including direct and indirect auto lending, credit cards, and personal loans. Rose brings almost 20 years of consumer lending experience to Greylock. For nearly 10 years, he worked at Rhinebeck Bank, where he served as senior vice president, Consumer Lending, leading a multi-channel division that included auto, home equity, and personal loans; mortgages; and credit cards.

•••••

Kuhn Riddle Architects & Designers announced the promotion of Ruoqi (Rosy) Zhong to senior architect, recognizing her outstanding contributions to the firm’s mission-driven design practice and her growing leadership in sustainable architecture. Over the course of her work with the firm, Zhong has been deeply engaged in several multi-family housing projects designed to meet passive house standards. She has helped advance design solutions that balance energy performance, constructability, resident comfort, and architectural quality. Her work demonstrates how rigorous sustainability goals can be integrated into projects that serve both people and place, and reflects the firm’s broader focus on creating resilient, environmentally responsible buildings that support healthier communities. In addition to her project leadership, Zhong has strengthened the firm from within by helping to develop and refine overall design standards. She has supported greater consistency across project teams, improved workflow efficiencies, and elevated the quality of design deliverables.

•••••

Kaci Nowicki

Greylock Federal Credit Union announced the promotion of Kaci Nowicki to vice president, Asset Quality and Real Estate. In that role, she will oversee underwriting and asset quality across Greylock, set risk standards, and align teams to support growth, new lending programs, and secondary market expansion. She will work closely with senior leadership to build scalable credit systems, improve risk governance, and position Greylock for future opportunities while leading teams. Nowicki began her career with Greylock in 2013. She serves on the board of directors for Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity, Berkshire Coalition for Suicide Prevention, and the newly established Footprints Family Foundation Inc.

•••••

PV Financial Group announced the addition of four new team members to the firm in 2026, continuing the organization’s commitment to growth, client service, and community impact. Joining the team are Operations Support Specialists Tony Salemi, Daniel Meyers, and Andrew Wands; and Financial Advisor Brendan Burke. Salemi joined PV Financial Group in January. A graduate of Pioneer Valley Christian School, he later completed certification through the Financial Advisor Training Institute, earning both his Series 7 and Series 66 licenses. He brings a diverse professional background with experience in CNC machining, the mortgage industry, and most recently as an independent financial advisor. Salemi is looking forward to contributing within a collaborative environment while helping clients take meaningful steps toward their financial futures. Meyers joined the firm in April, continuing the legacy of founding partner Charles “Chuck” Meyers. A graduate of the University of Vermont with a degree in political science and psychology, Daniel Meyers brings experience coordinating planning appointments, organizing schedules, and helping operations run efficiently. He looks forward to supporting clients as they work toward reaching their financial goals and retiring comfortably, while also supporting his local community. Wands joined PV Financial Group in April. He graduated from Westfield State University with a degree in finance and economics. Prior to joining the firm, he gained experience helping operate his family’s business through landscaping and floral arrangements for commercial and recreational clients. Wands is excited to help support the surrounding community while assisting clients in achieving their financial goals. Burke joined PV Financial Group in May. He earned both his undergraduate and master’s degrees in comparative literature with a concentration in film from UMass Amherst and Lund University. Prior to joining PV Financial Group, he worked on the distribution side of the financial services industry, positioning mutual funds, separately managed accounts, and ETFs to advisors while also consulting on practice scalability and efficiency. After years of supporting advisors and their clients, Burke is excited to work directly with individuals and families to help them accomplish their financial goals and retire successfully.

•••••

Bulkley Richardson announced that Dan Finnegan, the firm’s managing partner, has been spotlighted by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly as a Top Managing Partner in Massachusetts. Finnegan was chosen “for his exceptional work in growing firm revenue and talent while hitting major milestones this year.” This elite list of managing partners was published in a special section on May 25. “As managing partner, Dan recognizes the importance of workplace culture, fostering attorney and staff well-being, alongside the firm’s commitment to producing quality legal work, and he has prioritized attorney recruitment and retention to ensure steady growth to best serve our clients,” said Betsey Quick, Bulkley Richardson’s executive director.

•••••

Mackenzie Lagoy

Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C. announced the hiring of Mackenzie Lagoy. Lagoy first joined the team as a tax intern and has been recently hired as an associate in the firm’s Taxation department. Her professional focus includes taxation services, with concentrations in individual returns and family and independent businesses. Lagoy holds a bachelor’s degree from Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art and is slated to complete a master’s degree in accounting in December from the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst. She is also a member of CPAmerica and the Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants.

•••••

John Chavis

Alayana Anderson

Bacon Wilson, P.C. announced that John Chavis has been elevated from systems administrator to director of information technology, and Alayna Anderson has been elevated from marketing coordinator to marketing manager. Chavis recently celebrated his 21st anniversary with Bacon Wilson in March. Over the past two decades, he has played an integral role in supporting and advancing the firm’s technology infrastructure, helping ensure that its attorneys and staff have the tools they need to serve clients effectively. Anderson celebrated four years with the firm in May. Since joining Bacon Wilson, she has made a significant impact on the firm’s marketing and social media efforts, strengthening its brand presence and supporting initiatives that connect the firm with clients and communities throughout the region.

•••••

Holyoke, Chicopee, Springfield (HCS) Head Start recently gathered team members from across the organization for a Professional Development Day held at the Castle of Knights in Chicopee. As part of the celebration, HCS Head Start presented three Head Start Hero Awards, recognizing extraordinary service and commitment to the organization’s mission, to Sandra Zieminski, a long-time volunteer who has supported numerous initiatives throughout the years; Christina Compton, site director for the Parkside Early Learning Center in Ludlow, Westover Early Learning Center in Chicopee, and Robinson Gardens Early Learning Center in Springfield; and Juana Santiago, a teacher retiring from HCS Head Start. Also, the 2026 Janis Santos Scholarship, created to support current HCS staff, parents, and Head Start alumni pursuing education in the early childhood field, was awarded to Diana Learned, a teacher at the Parkside Early Learning Center who is currently pursuing her education at Bay Path University with the long-term goal of entering the field of special education. Finally, HCS Head Start is also celebrating two additional accomplishments from members of its leadership team. Alisha Durocher recently graduated from the Springfield Regional Chamber Leadership Institute, a 12-week leadership development program through Western New England University designed to strengthen skills in communication, strategic thinking, innovation, and leadership in today’s evolving business environment. And CEO Nicole Blais was recently honored at the Human Services Leadership Summit with the Human Services Innovation Award, which celebrates leaders across Massachusetts who are making a meaningful impact within the human services field through innovation, leadership, and commitment to community.

•••••

The trustees of Forbes Library presented the Gertrude P. Smith Trustees Award to both Debin Bruce and J.R. Greene for their dedication and volunteer service to Forbes Library on June 11. While serving as a trustee of Forbes Library, Bruce worked tirelessly to advocate and support the needs of the library so that it could best serve the community. Among her accomplishments was chairing the building and grounds committee, where she worked tirelessly to bring the library’s long-standing dream of a performance stage on the library’s grounds to a reality. Greene served as president of the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Library and Museum standing committee for many years. Always generous with his historical knowledge of Coolidge, he proved himself a steadfast presence for the committee and a champion for the importance of the collection and the museum.

•••••

Josh Jensen

Amherst College announced the appointment of Josh Jensen as vice president for Communications, effective July 1. Jensen will lead all aspects of the college’s communications and public affairs work, including media relations, digital strategy, internal communications, and brand stewardship. Jensen joins Amherst from Oberlin College and Conservatory, where he has served as vice president for Communications since 2021. At Oberlin, he led the full spectrum of marketing and communications, from print and digital marketing to social media, video, crisis communications, and overall strategy. Before Oberlin, Jensen spent five years at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Wash., where he served first as vice president for Communications and Public Relations and later as vice president for Enrollment and Communications. Earlier in his career, he held communications leadership roles at Connecticut College and Boston College. He holds a PhD in higher education from Boston College’s Lynch School of Education, an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management, and a bachelor’s degree in music, magna cum laude, from the University of Hartford’s Hartt School. He has also served as a teaching assistant at Harvard Extension School and as a marketing instructor at Newbury College.

•••••

Glenmeadow, a nonprofit senior living organization, announced the appointment of Scott Taylor as chief financial officer. He has extensive experience in healthcare finance, treasury operations, and strategic leadership. As vice president of Finance Support Services at Baystate Health, he managed financial operations across the health system, including treasury, capital financing, investment, and enterprise planning. Known for his leadership and communication skills, he consistently adds value and strengthens organizations. In his new role, Taylor will lead Glenmeadow’s financial strategy and operations, supporting the organization’s commitment to providing an exemplary, wellness-based lifestyle for older adults. He will oversee financial planning, budgeting, and long-range strategy, ensuring the organization remains well-positioned for continued growth and innovation. Taylor holds an MBA from the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Rhode Island. He is also a certified treasury professional.

•••••

Bulkley Richardson recently welcomed four law students to its 2026 Summer Associate Program. The robust program will introduce law students to the inner workings of a law firm, where they will receive mentorship from lawyers ranging from firm leaders and retired judges all the way through the ranks to junior associates, and gain exposure to the practice of law. Sebastiano D’Angelo is currently attending Suffolk University Law School as a trustee academic scholar. He is chief managing editor of the school’s Transnational Law Review and will serve as president of the Business Law Assoc. He was a judicial intern at the U.S. District Court for Judge Katherine Robertson and law clerk at two Massachusetts law firms. Sebastiano earned a bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude, in organizational communication from Assumption University. Lauren Franceschini, currently attending Western New England School of Law, is a member of both the Family Law Society and Women’s Law Society. She was a law clerk at Springfield Public School District and previously a paralegal at two southern law firms. Franceschini earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Elon University. Grace Guachione is currently attending Roger Williams University School of Law, where she is on the Rogers Williams University Law Review and Moot Court Board. She was recently a clerk for the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island for Chief Judge John McConnell Jr. Guachione earned a bachelor’s degree in business and finance at Saint Anslem College, where she was Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year and a NE-10 Conference nominee for basketball. Evan Naismith is currently attending the University of Connecticut School of Law, where he is vice president of the UConn American Constitution Society Chapter. He is a graduate of Commonwealth Honors College at UMass Amherst, summa cum laude, and co-valedictorian with a bachelor’s degree in legal studies. Previously, Naismith was an intern at both the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Office of U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern.

There Is No Easy Answer

By Contributor June 19, 2026

Opinion

Boston Globe business columnist Larry Edelman took a lot of heat — as in a LOT of heat — recently for suggesting that people working remote and hybrid schedules should get back to the office full time to support those businesses that, well, depend on the business crowd.

That’s because he’s worked remotely since the pandemic, and rarely comes to the office.

This stunning display of hypocrisy aside, asking people to return to the office five days a week — as Fidelity Investments has done, a move that helped inspired the column — seems a little like asking why there isn’t a Friendly’s around the corner anymore or a video store down the block.

Those days are gone, and they are not coming back, even if people will still suggest that, to help out those downtown businesses, it would be good if people came to the office. Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno did it for a while (not so much recently) to very lukewarm responses.

“Where and how people work, and how we simultaneously keep cities and their downtowns viable, is a very complicated matter, one that can’t be addressed by simplistic statements like ‘bring everyone back to work five days a week.’”

The reason for such responses was made clear in the days-long retort to Edelman’s suggestion, much of it coming in the form of reasons why working remotely works, why it makes sense, and why people are going to keep doing it.

These included everything from the price of gas and the sky-high cost of daycare to the amount of time saved by people who have long commutes, which have become more common as people struggle to find housing they can afford in and near the cities where they work.

But mostly, the comments noted that a one-size-fits-all, five-day-a-week work schedule, like the fax machine, is a relic of the past. The present and future call for flexibility and schedules that are far more likely to meet the needs of the employee, and not necessarily the employer or the downtown coffee shop or deli.

Which brings home the point that where and how people work, and how we simultaneously keep cities and their downtowns viable, is a very complicated matter, one that can’t be addressed by simplistic statements like ‘bring everyone back to work five days a week.’

It’s especially complicated in cities like Boston — where full, thriving office towers subsidize residential property taxes and city services — but also in municipalities like Springfield.

The downtown office towers there are very quiet, especially on Fridays, and even more so on Fridays in the summer. Meanwhile, a few restaurants have closed, and many others are struggling, in part because there are fewer workers getting morning coffee, going to lunch, or grabbing a beer after work.

It’s easy to say, ‘bring everyone back to the office.’ But that just isn’t going to happen. As we said, this is now a societal problem for which there is no easy answer.

Doing Business as Certificates

By BusinessWest Staff June 19, 2026

DBA Certificates

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

BELCHERTOWN

Ben’s Brickstore
442A State St.
Erik Homstead

Clairly Differently Stables
111 Federal St.
Claire Walton

CO Lawncare
442 State St.
Ann Shelton

Community Options Inc.
442 State St.Ann Shelton
Galaxy Automotive
50 Turkey Hill Road
Ali Soleimani, Wendy Soleimani

The Groom Co.
230 Allen Road
Angela Maslak

Jacqueline Jurkowski LICSW
53 South Washington St.
Jacqueline Jurkowski

Liberty Blues Landscaping
75 South Liberty St.
Michael Alblicki

Ms. Marlee’s Family Day Care
148 Metacomet St.
Marlee Galloway-Rosazza

The Suite at Liberty Woods
111 Federal St.
Brent Walton

NORTHAMPTON

Alexander Lane Construction
57 Prospect Ave.
Alexander Lane

Alexander W. Borawski Inc.
88 King St.
Robert Borawski

Ana Bandeira Chocolates
48 Main St.
David Haughey

BBQ Pellets Online
6 Conz St.
Seth Fischer

Broadview Services
16 Willow St.
Ryan Huey

Bumble & Spark LLC
110 Morningside Dr.
Amy Sugihara

Choclo Bakery and Café
62 State St.
Samuel Coates-Finke

Cool Trash Studios
142 Dunphy Dr.
Holly Rowland

Country Hyundai Inc.
347 King St.
Carla Cosenzi Zayac

David Poppie
55 Florence St.
David Poppie

Deep Trees
70 Sovereign Way
Summer Redko

Elisabeth’s Hair Design
30 North Maple St.
Elisabeth Gaddy

Greg’s Auto Repair
442 Elm St.
Jeffrey Tenczar

Health Care Resource Centers Northampton
441 Pleasant St.
Bruce Jarvie

High Five Books
141 North Main St.
Lexi Walters Wright

Hometown Fuel
2 Conz St., Suite 46
Sarah Nowak

JMC Construction
112 Oak St., Unit 8
Julio Lucero

Kelley Green Landscaping
30 Hatfield St.
Peter Kelley

Matusko Fire Protection
972 Park Hill Road
David Matusko

Mushroom Media Online
6 Conz St.
Seth Fischer

Route 9 Design and Build Inc.
104 North Elm St.
John Landry

The Tigerlily Salon
122 Main St.
Christina Luttinger

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Bueno Y Sano
935 Riverdale St., Unit G102
Bueno West Springfield LLC

Capital Realty Inc.
125 Capital Dr.
Capital Realty Inc.

Comfort Inn & Suites
106 Capital Dr.
Comfort Inn & Suites

Ezee Mart
50 Morgan Road
Galle LLC

Goodless Electric Co. Inc.
100 Memorial Ave.
Goodless Electric Co. Inc.

Lucky Sevens Carpet-ends
1752 Riverdale St.
Lucky Sevens Carpet-ends

A New Chapter
209 Elm St.
A New Chapter

Obeda Upholstery LLC
847 Piper Road
Obeda Upholstery LLC

Olympia Junior Hockey Inc.
125 Capital Dr.
Olympia Junior Hockey Inc.

Plato’s Closet
1472 Riverdale St.
Plato’s Closet

Preferred Auto
27 Heywood Ave.
Preferred Auto

Rosa’s Daycare
17 Beverly Ter.
Rosa’s Daycare

Spice Hut
1399 Westfield St.
Spice Hut

Sweets by Lali
20B River St.
LLS Hospitality Group

Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Hospital West Springfield
134 Capital Dr.
NVA VESH West Springfield Veterinary Management LLC

Picture This

By BusinessWest Staff June 19, 2026

Picture This

Funding the Future

The Liberty Bank Foundation recently donated $10,000 to River East School to Career in support of student career readiness and workforce development initiatives. Pictured, from left: Chloe Weirbrick, student, Palmer High School; Ree Migliozzi, math teacher, Palmer High School; Amy Scribner, partnership director, River East School to Career; Katie Pietrowski, corporate services supervisor, Quabbin Wire and Cable Co., and River East board of directors; Dawn Creighton, community outreach officer, Liberty Bank; Stephanie Maher, library director, Palmer Public Library, and River East board of directors; and Madeline Smola, assistant superintendent of development, Quaboag Regional High School.

Purse Bingo Fundraiser

PV Financial Group was the sole sponsor of Bingo Bags & Bubbly, a luxury purse bingo fundraiser recently held at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The event supported four local nonprofits — Christina’s House, the Michael J. Dias Foundation, Rachel’s Table, and YMCA of Greater Springfield’s Scantic Valley branch. The evening featured luxury purses, raffles, dinner, drinks, dessert, and networking — all in support of good causes, with 100% of funds raised going directly back to the nonprofits. Together, the event raised more than $22,000 for these organizations.

Investing in Community

Monson Savings Bank is supporting the South End Community Center (SECC) in Springfield with a $2,500 donation as part of its 2026 Community Giving Initiative. Pictured: Dan Moriarty, Monson Savings Bank President and CEO (left) and Michael Rouette, executive vice president and chief operating officer (right), present Tony Bergeron, South End Community Center executive director, with the donation. Monson Savings Bank’s Community Giving Initiative is an annual program that invites local residents to vote for nonprofit organizations they would like the bank to support.

Company Notebook

By BusinessWest Staff June 19, 2026

Company Notebook

MCLA Receives $1.2 Million for Early Education Center

NORTH ADAMS — U.S. Rep. Richard Neal joined Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) President James Birge; North Adams Mayor Jennifer Macksey; MCLA students, faculty, and staff; and state and local officials to announce $1.2 million in federal funding for the MCLA Early Education Center. This allocation was made possible through congressionally directed spending from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Neal included funding for this project in the FY 2026 spending bill. The Early Education Center will provide a space that meets the needs of working families throughout North County, while creating workforce development opportunities for students pursuing careers in early education. These funds will allow MCLA to renovate its Church Street Center into a high-quality facility that provides dedicated space for early education partners throughout North County. This space will provide a learning lab for students and childcare services for the campus and local community, benefiting a minimum of 30 families and reinstating 12 to 15 early childhood educator/staff positions.

Ryse Dance Fitness Studio Opens in East Longmeadow

EAST LONGMEADOW — Ryse Dance Fitness, a new dance and fitness studio founded by lifelong dancer and instructor Lyndsay Rysedorph, opened its doors to the community on May 30, offering dynamic classes designed to inspire confidence, strength, and joy through movement. With more than 30 years of dance experience and a passion for helping students grow both physically and mentally, Rysedorph created Ryse Dance Fitness as a welcoming environment where adults of all experience levels can feel empowered throughout their dance and fitness journeys. Ryse Dance Fitness offers classes for adults at every level, from complete beginners to advanced dancers and fitness enthusiasts. With a variety of dance and movement-based fitness offerings, students can find classes that meet them wherever they are in their journey while building strength, confidence, coordination, and self-expression along the way. In addition to dance and fitness classes, Ryse Dance Fitness also offers stretching and recovery-focused classes designed to help participants care for their bodies between more rigorous workouts and dance sessions. The studio will further expand its offerings with private lessons, birthday party packages, and studio space rentals available by appointment.

GCC to Expand Digital Access Following State Grant Award

GREENFIELD — Greenfield Community College (GCC) announced it has been selected as a beneficiary of the Connected and Online Program, a statewide initiative led by the Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI), a division of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MassTech). This initiative aims to bridge the digital divide by distributing internet-enabled devices to essential community organizations across the Commonwealth. Through this grant, GCC will receive a significant influx of technology to support its students, including 60 Dell laptops, 68 Dell Chromebooks, and 20 accessible keyboards and computer mice. The Connected and Online Program is a $28.5 million initiative funded through the U.S. Treasury’s Capital Projects Fund. It is specifically designed to increase access to education, workforce development, and healthcare services with a particular focus on rural communities like those served by GCC. These new devices will be integrated into GCC’s tech lending library, which also includes Wi-Fi hotspots and other tech equipment, all of which bolster the college’s ability to provide equitable access to education. Additionally, they will help students access teletherapy services offered by GCC’s Wellness Center, as well as virtual appointments with GCC’s peer tutors, advisors, faculty, and more.

Berkshire Money Management Recognized by USA Today

DALTON — Berkshire Money Management has been recognized on USA Today’s list of the Best Financial Advisory Firms 2026. Berkshire Money Management appears to be the only Massachusetts-based firm west of Worcester to be included on this year’s list. This award is presented by USA Today and Statista Inc., the world-leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider. The awards list can be viewed at usatoday.com. The Best Financial Advisory Firms 2026 list awards the top registered investment advisory (RIA) firms in the U.S. based on two dimensions: recommendations from financial advisors, clients, and industry experts, and both short-term (12-month) and long-term (5-year) AUM development analyzed using publicly available data. To be eligible for the award, firms must be registered as an investment advisory firm (RIA firm) with the SEC and/or at state level for at least one year, maintain a principal office in the U.S., have a clean disciplinary record, provide financial planning or portfolio management services to individuals and/or small businesses, and manage more than $500,000 in AUM.

Five CPA Societies Merge into New England Society of CPAs

BOSTON — The boards of directors and members of the state CPA societies of Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont have approved a merger to form the New England Society of CPAs, effective July 1. The regional organization is designed to expand value for members while building a stronger, more sustainable future for the profession. The merger unites five state societies into one member-focused organization that will provide enhanced advocacy, expanded learning opportunities, broader peer networks, and increased resources for accounting and finance professionals, their organizations, and future talent entering the profession. State-specific advocacy and local member engagement will remain a central focus, guided by local leadership, committees, and member communities in each state. The merger also strengthens the profession’s ability to address one of its greatest challenges: building the future CPA pipeline. By combining resources and expertise across the region, the organization will have greater capacity to expand outreach efforts that engage students and future CPAs and elevate awareness of accounting career opportunities throughout New England. The new society will maintain existing staff across the five states and is expected to have 14,500 members at its inception.

Bay Path Receives $100,000 to Advance Early Literacy

LONGMEADOW — Bay Path University has received a $100,000 grant from the Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation to support the university’s Bay Path Encircled Literacy Initiative, a one-year pilot program designed to strengthen early literacy instruction in Springfield Public Schools. The initiative will focus on equipping teachers and paraprofessionals from the same classrooms with shared training in the science of reading, an evidence-based approach to literacy instruction. By training educators together, the program aims to create consistent classroom literacy practices, enhance educator preparedness, and improve reading outcomes for students across underserved communities. The Bay Path Encircled Literacy Initiative is designed to serve as a scalable model that can be expanded to additional schools and districts in the future. Through collaborative professional development and practical classroom application, the program seeks to strengthen foundational literacy skills during the critical early years of learning. The pilot program will launch during the upcoming academic year and will bring together classroom teachers and paraprofessionals in a unified approach to literacy instruction rooted in research and best practices.

Country Bank Donates $5,000 to Support United Way, MSBDC

WARE — Country Bank recently donated $2,500 each to the United Way of Pioneer Valley and the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center (MSBDC) in support of their ongoing efforts to strengthen local communities and small businesses throughout the region. Country Bank has long supported the United Way of Pioneer Valley through both financial contributions and volunteerism. The United Way continues to make a meaningful impact across the region by supporting programs and initiatives focused on education, financial stability, health, and basic needs for individuals and families throughout Western Mass. The bank also supports the MSBDC at UMass Amherst, an organization dedicated to helping small business owners and entrepreneurs succeed through educational programs, mentoring, workshops, and strategic business guidance. Through these resources, businesses gain valuable tools and insight to help them grow, strengthen operations, and prepare for long-term success. Country Bank values partnerships that foster economic growth and create opportunities for local businesses and entrepreneurs. Organizations like the MSBDC help provide business owners with the support and knowledge needed to build strong, sustainable businesses that positively impact the communities they serve.

Springfield Thunderbirds Raise $28,000 for Rays of Hope

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Thunderbirds and the T-Birds Foundation announced a donation of $28,000 to Rays of Hope as a result of proceeds from the live jersey auction and fundraising elements from the T-Birds’ Pink in the Rink game on March 7. The team welcomed a capacity crowd of 6,793 fans for the ninth annual Pink in the Rink game, raising another impactful total through auctions of the team’s pink-themed, game-worn jerseys. Established during the Thunderbirds’ inaugural 2016-17 season, Pink in the Rink marks the launch of the Rays of Hope fundraising campaign each March, shining a spotlight on breast cancer awareness outside the traditional October awareness month. Each year, those fundraising efforts culminate with the annual Rays of Hope Walk & Run in downtown Springfield each October. Since the tradition began, the Thunderbirds have helped raise more than $200,000 for Rays of Hope, with every dollar staying local in Western Mass. to support patients, families, and the ongoing pursuit of a cure.

Advance Psychotherapy Practice Opens Expanded Location

LONGMEADOW — Advance Psychotherapy Practice announced the opening of its new expanded office in Longmeadow, located at 171 Dwight Road, Suite 203. The new Longmeadow office allows Advance Psychotherapy Practice to continue growing its presence in Western Mass. while offering a more accessible and expanded space for clients in Longmeadow, Greater Springfield, Enfield, and surrounding communities. As part of this expansion, the Longmeadow team is also looking for experienced psychotherapists to join its growing clinical team. Advance Longmeadow will provide compassionate, professional psychotherapy services for individuals, couples, families, children, and teens, with care available both in person and remotely. The Longmeadow team is led by Clinical Director Kelly Noga and Clinical Supervisor Katelyn Tower, alongside a group of experienced and specialized psychotherapists.

Window World of Western Mass. Recognized for Customer Service

BELCHERTOWN — Window World of Western Massachusetts received the 2026 Guildmaster Award from GuildQuality for demonstrating exceptional customer service within the residential construction industry. Out of nearly 2,000 eligible applicants, Window World of Western Massachusetts is recognized for consistently delivering superior customer care by achieving a recommendation rate of 90% or above from its customers surveyed by GuildQuality. In determining which businesses receive the 2026 Guildmaster Award, GuildQuality reviewed thousands of survey responses submitted by customers of Guildmaster candidates and considered two primary metrics for each candidate: the percentage of customers stating they would recommend the business to a friend, and the percentage of customers who responded.

ILI Raises More Than $36,000 to Support Free Programs

NORTHAMPTON — The International Language Institute of Massachusetts (ILI) raised more than $36,000 at its annual Giving Voice fundraiser on May 13 at the Northampton Center for the Arts. More than 150 community members, educators, business leaders, and supporters attended the event, which featured silent and live auctions showcasing donations from local businesses, artists, and community partners. Proceeds will support ILI’s Free English Program, which provides English language instruction and literacy services to immigrants and refugees throughout the region. The event was supported by corporate sponsors Dean’s Beans Organic Coffee, Greenfield Savings Bank, and Gateway Fiber, as well as numerous local businesses, artists, and individuals who contributed auction items and other support.

AIC Launches Redesigned MBA, New Data Analytics Programs

SPRINGFIELD — American International College (AIC) has introduced a redesigned master of business administration (MBA) program alongside new graduate offerings in data analytics to prepare professionals for leadership in increasingly data-driven industries. The redesigned MBA blends leadership preparation with analytics and evidence-based decision making across core business disciplines, including finance, marketing, operations, organizational leadership, and supply chain management. The MBA program reflects growing employer demand for leaders who can pair strategic thinking with data-informed decision making. Designed for working professionals and emerging leaders, the MBA is offered in online and hybrid formats with accelerated seven-week courses and entry points in the fall, spring, and summer. Students may complete the program in as little as one year. In addition, AIC is introducing a new master of science in data analytics program and a combined MBA/MS in data analytics pathway. The MS in data analytics prepares students to apply predictive modeling, machine learning, enterprise analytics, and data visualization to real-world organizational challenges. The combined MBA/MS in data analytics pathway prepares professionals to pair executive leadership skills with advanced analytics expertise. Applications are now being accepted for upcoming fall, spring, and summer entry points.

Custom-built Benches, Tables Donated to Irish Cultural Center

SPRINGFIELD — 94.7 WMAS and Audacy Springfield announced the donation of five picnic tables and four garden benches to the Irish Cultural Center of Western New England. This contribution aims to enhance the community experience at the center’s expansive athletic fields, providing comfortable seating for patrons, athletes, and families. The furniture carries a unique story of local craftsmanship and education. The pieces were hand-built during the Original Western Mass Home and Garden Show held at the Eastern States Exposition in March. The construction was a collaborative effort between students from Westover Job Corps and the Home Builders Institute, showcasing the skills of future tradespeople to thousands of event attendees. The Irish Cultural Center, located in West Springfield, serves as a hub for cultural preservation, sports, and community gatherings. The addition of these five picnic tables and four garden benches will provide much-needed infrastructure for the athletic fields, which host a variety of matches and community events throughout the year.

United Way of Pioneer Valley, White Lion Launch United Brew

SPRINGFIELD — United Way of Pioneer Valley (UWPV) and White Lion Brewing Co. announced a new community partnership with the launch of United Brew. Proceeds from this collaboration beer will directly support United Way’s mission across Western Mass. The public was invited to celebrate the launch on June 17, the event marking the official debut of the partnership and giving community members a chance to give back, one brew at a time. All proceeds from United Brew sales will benefit United Way of Pioneer Valley’s work connecting residents with the programs, resources, and support they need to thrive.

Beacon Bank Named Among America’s Best Regional Banks

PITTSFIELD — Beacon Bank has been recognized by Newsweek as one of America’s best regional banks for 2026, receiving the highest possible rating of five stars. Beacon Bank was selected from more than 8,800 banks and credit unions across the country that are committed to powering local economies by supporting businesses, financing community projects, and providing reliable access to everyday banking services. Results were based on a comprehensive research study that combined, among other metrics, financial benchmarking, a large-scale independent customer survey, and millions of digital reviews.

T-Birds, Sheriff’s Office Donate $5,000 to YWCA

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Thunderbirds, in partnership with the Hampden County Sheriff’s Office, recently presented a donation of $5,000 to the YWCA of Western Massachusetts prior to a T-Birds playoff game. The donation marked the culmination of the organizations’ collaboration for Domestic Violence Awareness Night on April 4 inside the Thunderdome. Proceeds were raised via online auction of specialty warmup jerseys that the Thunderbirds wore that evening. Founded in 1868, the YWCA of Western Massachusetts has spent more than 155 years serving the region. Central to its mission is supporting survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, while working to eliminate racism, empower women, and promote peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. Each year, the organization provides critical services to nearly 12,000 individuals across Western Massachusetts.

ECI, Route 20 Host Fundraiser to Support Local Veterans

WILBRAHAM — Two family‑owned Wilbraham businesses came together on May 20 to host a community fundraiser supporting local veterans, raising nearly $7,000 in a single evening. The event drew an enthusiastic crowd of residents and supporters, far exceeding expectations for its inaugural year. The fundraiser, co‑hosted by ECI and Route 20, was created to provide short-term financial assistance to veterans and their dependents for food, utility expenses, and transportation, offering critical support during difficult times. Throughout the evening, guests enjoyed food, celebrity bartenders (including Bax at Rock 102 and Leah Rantz at Lazer 99.3), raffles, live music, and opportunities to connect with local veterans. Organizers said the event’s success has already sparked interest in making the fundraiser an annual tradition.

Farm Credit East Cares Donates $40,000 to Mental Health Efforts

ENFIELD, Conn. — In conjunction with Mental Health Awareness Month, Farm Credit East announced that its Farm Credit East Cares Community Fund donated $40,000 to rural mental health initiatives throughout the Northeast. Multiple organizations across Farm Credit East’s eight-state territory of New York, New Jersey, and New England will receive funds to support their work in providing mental health resources to rural communities. Agriculture faces unique stressors like weather and economic uncertainty, coupled with the demanding nature of farm work. Dedicated resources to support the well-being of farmers, fishers, foresters, and their families are critical to manage these challenges. The Farm Credit East Cares Community Fund was established by Farm Credit East employees who raise contributions with a Farm Credit East match. The fund’s primary intent is to provide support for farm families and organizations impacted by disasters. Since 2011, Farm Credit East Cares has donated more than $1.5 million.

Incorporations

By BusinessWest Staff June 19, 2026

Incorporations

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

ADAMS

Jsquared Custom Home Improvements Inc., 86 East Hoosac St., Adams, MA 01220. Joseph Caradonna, same. Construction services.

BLANDFORD

Industrial Pneumatic Services Inc., 74 Main St., Blandford, MA 01008. Brenton Keefe, same. Compressed air sales and service.

CHICOPEE

Make It a Wrap Inc., 105 Exchange St., Chicopee, MA 01013. Kenneth Collins, 14311 86th Road, North Loxahatchee, FL 33470. Transport and delivery of Hispanic food to markets.

EASTHAMPTON

C&A Safety Contractors Inc., 19 Summer St., Easthampton, MA 01027. Alexander Pallante, 12 Old County Road, Southampton, MA 01073. MOT work.

FLORENCE

Rainbow Contra Dance of Western Massachusetts Inc., 476 Burts Pit Road, Florence, MA 01062. Riley Geistmann, 165 Ferry St., Easthampton, MA 01027. Promotes and supports gender-free traditional dancing (contra, square, English country, and folk) primarily but not exclusively for LGBTQIA+ folk and friends.

GRANBY

FRS CPA Inc., 52 Truby St., Granby, MA 01033. Frank Sousa, 125 Westgate Center Dr., #1042, Hadley, MA 01035. Any non-attest related services of a CPA, including tax prep, bookkeeping, and consultation.

HAMPDEN

Attorney Lisa L. Morace, P.C., 23 Pondview Dr., Hampden, MA 01036. Lisa Morace, same. Renders the practice of law to the public and all services thereto.

HUNTINGTON

Sunshine Brothers Inc., 22 East Main St., Huntington, MA 01050. Farhat Butt, same. Convenience store.

LEEDS

Northampton Baseball and Softball League Inc., 60 Chestnut Ave, Leeds, MA 01053. Timothy Recuber, same. Organizes youth baseball and softball in the Northampton area.

NORTH ADAMS

Iglesia Pentecostal con Cristo Hacia Adelante Inc., 86 North St., North Adams, MA 01247. Jesus Torres, same. House of worship.

NORTHAMPTON

Miss Piggy’s Boudoir Inc., 150 Main St., Suite 50, Northampton, MA 01060. Monica Fogg, 37 Carver Road, Shutesbury, MA 01072. Retail sales of lingerie, leisurewear, personal care items, and accessories.

PITTSFIELD

1977598 Ontario Inc., 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Bryan Altshuller, 24 Cimarron Crescent, Nepean, Ontario, Canada, K2G6E1. Real estate.

Charm Travel Inc., 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Ningning Tian, same. International e-trade, including import and export of products and cross-border provision of services.

Giant Global Payroll USA Inc., 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Matthew Brown, same. Employer of record services, acting as the legal employer for workers contracted to perform services for client companies.

Imperium Outreach Foundation Inc., 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Connor Barry, 101 East Broadway, Apt. 3, Derry, NH 03038. Martial arts education.

Realbio Tech USA Inc., 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Shaobo Su, same. Manufacturing of medical research and clinical diagnostic instruments and supplies, including the production of export reagents and the procurement, distribution, and sale of in vitro diagnostic products, including but not limited to laboratory reagent.

Software Safety Institute Inc., 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Lauren Zabierek, same. Nonprofit organization advancing the security and safety of software used by the public and critical infrastructure.

Valley West Insurance Inc., 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Vatche Saadtdjian, 8010 West Sahara Ave., Suite 140, Las Vegas, NV 89117. Insurance brokerage.

SPRINGFIELD

Double SS Express Inc., 72 Chapin Terrace, Springfield, MA 01107. Ray Reynoso, 72 Chapin Ter., Springfield, MA 01107. Delivery/courier services.

STURBRIDGE

Bennetts Road Assoc. Inc., 17 Bennetts Road, Sturbridge, MA 01566. Patricia Kritzman, same. Corporation organized to maintain the quality of Bennetts Road at its current level, including monitoring the condition of the road and culverts.

WESTFIELD

Proline Remodeling Inc., 36 Kellogg St., Westfield, MA 01085. Oleksandr Verezhak, same. Construction and remodeling services.

WILLIAMSTOWN

Immunologic Inc., 467 New Ashford Road, Williamstown, MA 01267. Jonathan Krant, same. Pharmaceutical consulting.

Bankruptcies

By BusinessWest Staff June 19, 2026

Bankruptcies

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

Aprile, Amanda A.
287 Riverglade Dr., Apt. 15
Amherst, MA 01002
Chapter: 7
Date: 05/05/2026

Aronstein, Steven
42 Clark St.
Florence, MA 01062
Chapter: 13
Date: 05/12/2026

Batch, Inc.
447 Longmeadow St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106Chapter: 11
Date: 05/11/2026

Benard, Aaron
Benard, Shaina Lee
16 Gargon Ter.
Southwick, MA 01077
Chapter: 13
Date: 05/13/2026

Case, Peter Jackson
44 Prospect Lake Road
Great Barrington, MA 01230
Chapter: 13
Date: 05/08/2026

Denson, Jocilynn
86 Temby St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Date: 05/08/2026

Fernandez, Menoscal
25 Highland Park Dr.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Date: 05/08/2026

Garcia, David
50 Gilbert Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Date: 05/04/2026

Headley, Crystal A.
a/k/aValdez, Crystal A.
34 Hobson St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Date: 05/01/2026

Kelly, Petrolin R.
150 Avery St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 13
Date: 05/15/2026

Ladriye, Jazmine Sarae
40 Laurel St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Date: 05/13/2026

McCray, Douglas A.
McCray, Jessica L.
125 Haynes Hill Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Chapter: 7
Date: 05/11/2026

Meczywor, Theodore Stanley
Meczywor, Kimberly Ann
215 Houghton St.
North Adams, MA 01247-2432
Chapter: 13
Date: 05/12/2026

Pennett, Sean N.
Fontaine, Andrea L.
195 Breckenridge St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Chapter: 7
Date: 05/04/2026

Radke, Brenda Ann
a/k/a Allain, Brenda Ann
1475 South Athol Road
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 13
Date: 05/15/2026

Rivera, Edwin
29 Beauchamp St., Apt. 2
Springfield, MA 01107
Chapter: 7
Date: 05/12/2026

Serrano, Carlos R.
13 Beverly St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Date: 05/14/2026

Shihab, Abdullah A.
3 Highland Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Date: 05/05/2026

Sierra, Rafael J.
65 River St., Apt. #4
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Date: 05/05/2026

Sugarman-Lash, Faolan
28 Walker St., Apt. 2
Lenox, MA 01240
Chapter: 7
Date: 05/13/2026

Watts, Timothy Allan
156 North St.
Ware, MA 01082
Chapter: 7
Date: 05/12/2026

Weinberg, Joshua D.
Dresser, Elizabeth A.
430 Exchange St.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 13
Date: 05/03/2026

Welden, Darrleen P.
23 Woodridge Road
Monson, MA 01057
Chapter: 7
Date: 05/07/2026

Zanolli, Robert Michael
826 East St., Apt. 19
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Date: 05/07/2026

The Colvest Group Strengthens Leadership Team with Two Appointments

By BusinessWest Staff June 18, 2026

Daily News

Domenick Villano

SPRINGFIELD — The Colvest Group announced two personnel moves: the promotion of Domenick Villano to vice president of Real Estate and the appointment of Patricia Murphy as controller. Together, they will support the company’s real estate, financial, and development efforts across the region.

Patricia Murphy

Led by CEO Frank Colaccino, the Colvest Group specializes in acquiring, developing, and managing office, retail, and mixed-use commercial properties, including projects focused on community revitalization and economic development.

Villano, who previously served as Real Estate manager, has been with the Colvest Group for more than three years. In his new role, he oversees leasing operations, tenant relations, and property management efforts across the company’s portfolio.

Before joining the Colvest Group, Villano worked as Real Estate manager for a B2B sales and e-commerce provider, overseeing a national portfolio supporting fulfillment, delivery, and office operations throughout the U.S. and Canada. He also spent seven years with a Springfield-based commercial real estate brokerage firm, working on office, industrial, retail, and land development projects.

“Domenick has become an integral part of our team and has consistently demonstrated strong leadership and industry expertise,” said Frank Colaccino, CEO of the Colvest Group. “His promotion reflects the value he brings to our organization and our confidence in his ability to help drive the company’s continued growth and success.”

As controller, Murphy oversees the company’s accounting functions, including financial reporting, budgeting, internal controls, and company filings. She is responsible for the financial oversight and reporting processes that support the organization’s operations and long-term growth.

Murphy, a certified public accountrant, brings more than 33 years of accounting experience, including previous leadership roles with Duc-Pac Inc., Vesta Corp., and regional accounting firms Burgess, Robb and Grassetti, in addition to Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C. She earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from UMass Dartmouth.

“Strong financial oversight is vital to every aspect of our business, from managing our existing portfolio to evaluating new opportunities and planning for future growth,” Colaccino said. “Patricia’s role is central to ensuring we have the financial discipline and controls needed to support the company’s continued success.”

The Colvest Group is currently advancing several notable projects in the region, including the Towne Shoppes of Longmeadow retail development and redevelopment efforts in Holyoke and Northampton.

Sounds of Springfield Brings Permanent Interactive Installation Downtown

By BusinessWest Staff June 18, 2026

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — As Springfield Cultural Partnership celebrates its 10th anniversary, the organization is announcing Sounds of Springfield, a permanent interactive public art installation featuring six sculptural outdoor musical instruments that invite visitors to create music in Tower Square Park.

A public ribbon-cutting ceremony, in partnership with the city of Springfield and Mayor Domenic Sarno, will take place Tuesday, June 30 at 10:30 a.m. at Tower Square Park, 1477 Main St., Springfield.

Featuring six sculptural outdoor musical instruments, Sounds of Springfield invites visitors of all ages to create music, experiment with sound, and experience public art through hands-on participation. The installation is anchored by a Sculptural Ensemble manufactured by FreeNotes Harmony Park and designed for year-round outdoor use.

“As Springfield Cultural Partnership celebrates its 10th anniversary, Sounds of Springfield reflects the kind of community-centered work we believe in most,” said Karen Finn, executive director of Springfield Cultural Partnership. “The arts have the power to bring people together across backgrounds and generations. Sounds of Springfield transforms a shared public space into a place where everyone is invited to create, connect, and belong.”

The project has brought together public, private, and community partners committed to expanding access to arts, culture, and creative experiences in downtown Springfield.

“Sounds of Springfield is another example of how arts and culture help make downtown Springfield a vibrant place to live, work, and visit,” Sarno said. “My administration is proud to support projects that strengthen downtown and bring people together through creativity and community engagement. I am grateful to Springfield Cultural Partnership and all of the partners who helped bring this project to life.”

Progress Report

Sweet Success

Advice for Employers

The Quiet Countdown

Preparing for Takeoff

Is Passive Index Investing at Risk?

Bending Rules Based Investing

Exploring New Frontiers

Market Indexing and Institutional Buying

The Active Retail Investor

If It Cannot Run the Deal, It Cannot Protect the Business

When the Contract Is Vague, the Dispute Is Already Brewing

Boilerplate Is Where Leverage Hides

If You Did Not Negotiate the Exit, You Did Not Finish the Deal

Remedies Deserve the Same Level of Practical Thinking

A Signed Contract Still Needs an Owner

What Smart Operators Negotiate Up Front

The Bottom Line for CEOs and COOs

Episode 259: June 22, 2026

George O’Brien talks with James Krupienski, Partner at Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C, and 2026 Alumni Achievement Award Winner

Sponsored by:

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Experts in Their Field

By the Numbers

Planting Seeds

Back on the Bus

Developing Matters

Keeping the Conversation Alive

Where Are They Now?

Learning from History

Proactive Strategy

Never a Dull Moment

National Reach, Local Impact

Future Focused

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